C11 Careful, gorgeous. I can hear your heartbeat

LAURA

"Hi, guys. You all know me, I guess. I'm here to make a toast to my girl Laura. She's new and mine. I hope you guys respect her just like you do to me."

"What's he doing?" I ask no one but myself. He holds me tight, bending me slightly. He tilts my neck to a side. Before I could get a grasp of the situation, he kisses me. He presses hard on my shoulder, making me stand stiff. Any wrong movement from me and that's bye-bye to my shoulders. He disengages from the kiss, pulling me away from the crowd. I follow behind like a programmed AI robot. Finally, he stops in a garden. He looks at and away from me, expecting me to tell or shout.

"I'm sorry, Laura."

"You're sorry? I thought Goofy was the bad guy, but you, you are worse."

He moves closer to me.

"Don't you dare take a step forward. I want an explanation now and without the sorry's and I didn't mean to'

ARTHUR

I can tell from her expression that she's really pissed off. I didn't really have much of a choice. I needed to do something quick before Asher could catch up on us.

"I know you're pissed, but I had to cover up with you. Arthur and I are like an item, and Asher was onto us. Let's say I redeemed the payback ticket for helping you out last night."

She stares at me full of disbelief and raging anger.

"You used me."

I immediately realize my wrong choice of words.

"Not in that way, Laura."

She steps away from me.

"I'm sick of people around here. I thought you were better. I had no friends or social circle, and then I found you hoping you could be a friend, but I was wrong. Thanks for letting me realize I would be making a wrong choice on confiding in you."

I see balls of tears form, slowly turning to droplets of tears. She turns away, walking hastily away from me. I feel bad. This time I made the wrong choice. I've always been the rational one, but this morning I chose Arthur over anything, knowing Asher could suspect already made me take swift action. Now I realize I broke the trust of an innocent girl, but it would be better that way. The only reason I got close to her was just because I thought she was Arthur's new girl until I realized she was just a sweet, kind, and innocent human. We had lots of things in common, but this might be the best way to end our friendship.

LAURA

I run to my room with tear-filled eyes. I walk into the room, hoping not to find Callie in there, and bam! She isn't. I turn to lock the door behind me, wiping the tears off my eyes with the sleeve of my top. I draw out my phone from my side pocket.

(Rings!)

"Great, I had to see your call first thing today."

I snort at that statement.

"First thing today? Your lazy ass is still in bed?"

"Wait," she cuts in. "Why does your voice sound so odd, like you cried?"

I sniff, dabbing my sleeves on my nose.

"Yes, I did, Kait."

"Woah, woah, I don't remember being so close to you. Don't call me Kait. We are not friends, dummy. You didn't call me hoping you'd get some comfort from me, right?"

I roll my eyes in my head. She's always thinking she's the knight in shining armor.

"No, ma'am. I have great news."

"Oh, so what's the great news?"

I pretend not to hear the sarcasm in her "great news."

I smirk.

"My school baseball captain is a wolf."

I wait for her response for a while.

"Go on, speak."up

"I'm sorry, what? Your school baseball captain is what?"

"A freaking wolf, I repeat in a hush tone, my eyes darting now and then to and away from the door."

(Heavy laughs and a thud sound)

"What was that?"

"I'm sorry, I fell off the bed laughing, and yes, laughing at you. Do you realize how dumb you sound? I couldn't tell the difference between us and those things until I had a complete two-year training, and lazy ass calls all of a sudden one day claiming a poor kid is a what? A wolf? Are you dying that much for recognition?"

I move the phone from my right ear to the left one.

"He had his eyes change colors, and he had this scent in him, something different but I'm familiar with. Want me to go on?"

She goes off for a while, not saying anything.

"Don't do anything. When you're back from the trip, I'll check him, and don't tell Snow or anyone from our side yet. Let's be sure before taking any drastic steps."

I end the call, feeling so elated with myself. It was nice to hear her choke back on her words. But then I stop to think…

If William is a wolf, what are the probabilities that his lover isn't? Besides, why do they have to keep their relationship a secret? I really can't believe I got screwed over by that awful being. I was kissed by a wolf. On normal bases, I would've thrown hell of a fit and continuous blushing, but not anymore.

I look down at my arm. No goosebumps, but I question myself.

"How did I really know he was a wolf?"

It just seemed like it called out to me itself that he was a wolf. I could feel it while he kissed me. Too bad he might have to die for real.

I feel my heart ache for no reason. I hold my chest.

"I'm not feeling sorry for these monsters, right? I've only known them for days, so what?"

A knock is heard on the door. I move towards the door, hoping it won't be Callie. I sniff harder.

"Hey."

I look at him full of disgust. I never liked him, so what?

"Callie isn't here. She's probably out or something."

I watch him place that same awful smug grin on his face.

"I didn't come here for Callie. I'm here for you, gorgeous."

I crease my eyebrows.

"And how may I help you, Goofy?"

He laughs.

"You can't help being cute. Who's Goofy? I'm the good-looking one here. You should be Goofy."

He stretched out his hand to my face. I instinctively block his hand with my shoulder.

"Calm down, warrior. You sure are a fighter. That was fast, a little too fast for even me."

I sigh loudly.

"Just talk and get out. I need some space and time to spend alone."

He pushes the door open, shoving me aside. He walks into the room, looks around, and sits on my bed.

"What are you doing? You can't just waltz in and sit on someone's bed."

He grins widely.

"Do I have to remind you, I'm wealthy, handsome, and strong. I can do anything I want, gorgeous. Besides, this isn't anyone's bed. It's yours."

I walk towards him.

"And how sure are you it's mine? Wanna place a bet?"

He catches something invisible in the air.

"I'm not much of a gambler, gorgeous, but I'mma tell you I can catch your scent in this bed."

I snort.

"Yeah, right. Are you some kind of cat or dog?"

"Cats? You must be kidding me, right? I'd prefer something bolder. Let's say wolf?"

I tense up a little.

"He's joking around, right?" I ask myself mentally.

"I'm joking around. It's typical for Callie to have brushes, makeups, and clothes littered everywhere, but you, on the other hand…"

He paused for a while, scanning me all through from my head to my toes.

"Let's say you are everything she's not, like in the opposite manner."

I frown at his statement. I walk towards him angrily, I grab him by his hands, drawing him up from the bed. He turns me over, causing me to fall on him, his arms wrapped around my waist. My heart thuds loudly. Everything seems to be placed in oblivion. I look into his brown eyes.

"Careful, gorgeous. I can hear your heartbeat."