Page 46 of The Alpha and His Song: Volume One

Me: Our homeroom.

Immy: Are you ok?

Me: Uh huh.

I hoped Keaton was ok. I should’ve helped him considering I know I could’ve taken Lisa. I smelled Keaton coming, like a normal person. Clearly. The song started again. I grimaced but at least it wasn’t hissing. Why was Keaton coming this way? Was it to see me?

The man filled the doorway of my classroom, and it felt like time stopped until the intercom interrupted our staring contest. Keaton was going to leave when I was desperate for him to stay so I spoke. He seemed to have forgotten he was punched in the face.

Did Lisa give him a concussion? My concern seemed to amuse him. I felt the electricity between us when I touched his face. He pulled me into him, and I swore he smelled my hair. I smiled and sat down in my seat when he left.

Yup. It was confirmed now there was definitely something wrong with me. I’m smiling because a hot guy smelled my hair. Come on, find this weird Odette. Nope. No part of me was weirded out over the fact I’d been smelled. I needed a therapist, as soon as possible.

Immy came into class and asked again, “Are you ok?” I shrugged. My friend touched my shoulder without shocking me like I managed to do to Keaton. Immy comforted me, “It will be fine.” Will it? Something in my head sang and hissed. It also made weird whistling noises around that lawyer.

Not to mention I could hear things I shouldn’t be able to, and Keaton had a new girlfriend who wasn’t me. Plus, I could SMELL the man coming. This was so far past ok it was insane. I shook myself because out of that entire list, the fact Keaton had a new girlfriend shouldn’t be on it.

I don’t know the man, but the thought of him with someone else made my heart clench. I looked outside when class started. The teacher cleared her throat, “Class, we have a new student.” She looked at me, “Please introduce yourself.” I hated this part of starting new schools.

I stood simply saying, “I’m Katie Karlton.” Then sat back down. The teacher looked startled when I didn’t do the whole spiel about where I came from but let it go. They were covering material my old school did in the first semester.

The song started again. God. Why was this happening? How did it stop? I looked out the window and saw Keaton. I studied the group he was with. Two of them were clearly his parents, but they honestly looked like they weren’t old enough to have children that were seniors. Neither did Roxie’s dad though.

There was a beautiful girl next to a man who also had to Keaton’s brother. His brother looked furious. Whatever Keaton told them had them all looking at each other in surprise. I wanted to look away but something lightly hissed in my head at the thought.

So, like a creeper, I watched them. They all turned, somewhat suspicious over something in their conversation. Keaton and Keith eventually turned back to walk into the school. I watched his parents and the man who was clearly his older brother.

Both women with them were calming down the men. Keaton’s dad had been calm in front of him, but now the man looked furious. Like if there was someone in front of him, he didn’t like a little bit, he’d rip their head off. His wife, Keaton’s mom, was running her hands up and down his arms.

How did Keaton’s mom get back to his dad so fast? She’d walked away upset about something, but she was suddenly right back next to her husband. I shook myself and looked at Keaton’s older brother. The woman with him was holding him tightly while twirling her fingers in his hair.

I could literally see him calming down. He looked into her eyes with so much love I had to look away. I wanted that, with Keaton. Wait, WHAT?! What was wrong with me?! Now I’m thinking I want Keaton to LOVE me? I just met him. Stop it. Stop this right now, Odette.

The bell rang and I shot up out of my chair. This place was making me go crazy. I ran to the bathroom and stared at myself in the mirror. I whispered, “Get it together.” Other people filled the bathroom. One girl smiled at me while the others looked suspicious.

I sighed and walked back out to find Immy was waiting for me. My new friend didn’t say anything which was new. We made it to our next class before anyone else. Immy said, “So, this morning has been very dramatic. Which, admittedly, I love.” I snorted and started laughing.

Immy added, “Lisa was suspended. Well, it’s in school suspension. That’s just so interesting.” I frowned, “Why? That’s what should happen considering she assaulted someone.” Immy laughed, “Well, Emmett will handle things at home. That’s what usually happens around here.”

I asked, “Is Emmett her dad?” Immy smiled, “No, he’s Keaton’s older brother.” I was confused, “Then how could he have anything to do with Lisa?” Immy carefully said, “He’s her landlord and her family's boss.” It seems there was a lot unsaid there.

Well, it didn’t seem fair to take it out on her family, but she hit Keaton so screw her. Ok, that’s it it’s official; I’ve lost the farm. Everywhere Immy and I went people looked at me with a mixture of suspicion and curiosity.

I finally asked Immy, “Is it me or are people staring at us?” Immy offered, “You’re new.” I snorted, “That’s evasive. They are looking at me as if I did something wrong, they don’t like me, or like I’m fascinating.” Immy tried again, “You are really pretty.”

I sighed, realizing she wasn’t going to answer me directly. We walked around the corner together. I knew before the song started that Keaton was around because I could smell him. Like a crazy super sniffing weirdo.

Maybe this is why mom left Tennessee the last time, it made you crazy. I was fine in Nashville though. Keaton needed to cool it on the cologne. Well, maybe not considering it smelled so good. Who sells chocolate chip pancake cologne?

No one, Odette. It’s probably body wash or deodorant. That made more sense. I watched a girl walk up to him and ask him out. My whole face fell. Was it going to be like this all year? I could answer my own dang question. Of course it was.

Keaton’s new girlfriend must not go to this school, and everyone saw him and Lisa fighting this morning. This was going to be the longest semester ever. I heard Keaton agree to go only as friends with a big group. Just like that I was happy again.

I didn’t have to think about Keaton with that girl. God, I needed to get out of driving lessons. I felt this way after a brief encounter this morning. My emotions were all over the place. My period must be about to start. That’s what’s going on. Clearly. That must be it.

I was irregular, but my mom said it was nothing to be worried about. It was apparently normal to have four or fewer periods a year. Whatever. Maybe I was getting one early. That explained everything. I was fine, just hormonal.

Immy nudged me when the teacher asked me to introduce myself. UGH. It had been an entire day of this. Everyone knew my name by now. Someone in the back coughed, “Snitch!” Huh? I looked back surprised when the girl flipped me off.