Chapter 3: The Stowaway (written on December 15th, 2014)

Friends... what are they good for? Do they bring you bones? Do they uhh... scratch your back? For the most part, I bet they haven't but when it comes to Humphrey, you've walked into another domain.

Guess who I found hiding in the bushes?

"Humphrey? What are you doing here? You're gonna get in trouble!" I whispered.

"What? How did you find me?"

"I don't know. There's not that many bushes in the world that have a tail poking out."

"Fair point."

"Get outta' here!"

"Why? This is place is nice. Omega School smells like a dump."

"That's not my problem. Go!"

"It's too late Kate. The guards have returned. There's no way out."

"Ughhhhh... Why did you come here?"

"I wanted to see you again."

"What for?"

"So we could play! I miss you already."

"Look, Humphrey. I already miss you too but... I'm a Beta now. I got duties. Things to learn. Places to be. I need to make Alpha friends now." I turned around to leave, but he stopped me.

"Kate! You're just going to leave me here? What about our friendship?"

"Play with your Omega friends," I suggested.

"But... but..."

"Goodbye." I left. Soon, he started whimpering. "I'm not falling for it." He whimpered again. Ohh, the pain I endure when he does this. "Fine! Fine! But stay low, and don't say your name!"

"Say whose name?" asked the familiar pup, Can-do who happen to be overhearing us. Great.

"Oh, hi Can-do! Nice to meet you again. It's been a while since the Games. I see your parents groomed your mane. Your new look suits you."

"Groomed my mane? What are you talking about? It's always look this way."

"Oh... That's nice." I tried to keep my smile, but he looked right through me.

"Are you hiding something? I know that face when I see it."

"That face? What face? Am I making a familiar face?"

"*sigh* What is it?"

"What is what?"

"What are you hiding?"

"Hiding? Am I hiding something?"

"Yes!"

"I don't know what you're talking about?"

"Yeah, you do!"

"No, I don't."

"Yes, you—" *smack!* Hutch hit him in the back of the head, knocking him out cold. Before I could say anything, he went:

"Shhhh... Humphrey, get out of there." Humphrey came out of his hiding place. "I'll keep the secret."

"No!" I demanded. "Report him, so he can leave. He needs to be in Omega School."

"Why won't he go?"

"He umm... misses me."

"Aww... puppy love is it?"

"Gross! Heck no! Besides... he's an Omega. Not my type." I looked back at Humphrey and made a sound in disgust. I like him and all but not in that way.

"Come on Kate. Can I just stay for a few days? I wanna at least see what you do here." I looked at Hutch for approval. He nodded.

"One day starting tomorrow," I said. "After that, if you're still here, my dad will drag you out of here."

"Yikes! Deal!"

Then unexpectedly, the same cold gust of wind came again, colder than the last few. This time the clouds that have been above us for a while turned dark grey.

"What is up with the weather?" Humphrey asked. "It's starting to scare me."

"I know right," said Hutch. "It's weird. Weirder than the Omega."

"I'm not weird," he protested while cleaning his ears with his back left paw. They stared at him. "What? I'm not gonna use my front paws. Come on, don't you guys know anything about sanitation."

Suddenly, Can-do starting waking up.

"*moan* What happened to me? And why is it so cold?" Hutch hit him across the face. He fell back down.

"You didn't have to hit him so hard," I said, feeling sorry for him. Ehh, not really.

"I know, but I can't forget what he did to Humphrey after the Games..."


(Sorry this chapter is short. I'll make it up to you.)