[b] Chapter II [/b]









Later Xena, Ashley and I sat on our beds in our dorm talking about the usual topic... boys! Xena was just talking about Jason's latest dilemma, when Ioleus barged in.

"Hay, guess what guys!"

"What Ioleus?" We groaned.

"Don't sound soo blue! There is a party at Kora's!!! A whole bunch of us are going! Let's go!" He said grabbing the nearest persons hand...(which happened to be Ashley) and dragged her out of the door.

"Wait up for us!" Xena called after him. "Come on 'kia! Let's go!"

"Ok!" We followed an overjoyed Ioleus down the road. Kora's was a restaurant/club that most of the cadets frequented. It was also the only place to go to around the academy. Unless you wanted to go to the next town for a half a days walk, you went to Kora's. When we reached Kora's the place was already packed.

"Hay! Ioleus! Over here!" Jason said standing up on a table in the corner. Ioleus helped us pick our way through the crowd of dancing people. A band was playing some up tempo music from a foreign land.

"Hay guys!" Ioleus hollered over the blaring music.

"Hay!" Herc said. "Kora just came for our order. Jason and I didn't know what you guys wanted, so we ordered cider all around...Is that ok?"

Everyone agreed with Herc. Xena took her place on her boyfriend's lap, Ashley sat next to them, followed by Ioleus, who sat next to Hercules and finally me. Xena started off a conversation about this morning's drill. She explained that her group ended up with Faducious this morn. Marcus, one of our many friends, decided to play a joke on Faducious. He took his place in the back, then when Faducious was trying to deal with someone getting stung by a bee, Marcus climbed up on the roof and started to throw water sacks (balloons) at him. Faducious honestly thought there was an attack going on and tried to get the students to safety. But no one could move for they were all too busy laughing. This had everyone of us laughing hard. Ioleus laughed so hard he fell in the floor.

"Honestly, Ioleus, I knew you weren't very smart, but I didn't know that you didn't know how to sit in a chair." Everyone was laughing so hard that we hadn't even noticed a slow song was on.

"Alex..." I mock sighed. "When are you going to learn some manners?"

"His manners seem fine to me..." Ashley said dreamily.

"Thank you...Allison was it?"

"Ashley."

"Whatever..."

"What do you want, Alex? Ioleus growled under his breath.

"Why to ask Amber here..."

"ASHLEY!!!"

" WHATEVER! Ashley here for a dance..."

"Really?" Ashley breathed.

"Uh...yeah...Really..."

Ashley got excited and grabbed Alex's arm. Pulling him onto the floor. Seeing Ashley dancing, Xena convinced Jason to dance too.

"I don't get it! Alex is a jerk! Why do all the girls like him? I don't know what they see in him."

"I don't know Ioleus. He must be doing something right. What do you think Makia?...Makia??"

"Huh?"

"I was asking why girls are attracted to Alex."

"Oh" I had been so absorbed in the stranger coming in the door that I didn't here Herc's question. The stranger had a cloak on that covered his face. My heightened senses told me he was evil. You see, I was a werewolf. One of the Gods' freaks of nature. Three nights out of the month I became the wolf...the rest of the time I have enhanced vision, a heightened sense of smell, long range hearing, acute instincts and amazing agility. Right now my instincts told me that something dangerous was coming.

" I don't really know for sure. I know that I'm not. Yes, he has an incredible body, but he has no personality...unless you count evil as a personality." I looked behind me at Alex and Ashley. [i]She sure looks happy though...[/i] I turn back and see Herc giving me a funny look.

"What?"

Herc leans forward and offers his hand.

"Dance with me." At first I was shocked. Then I thought...[i]Best friends dance together all the time, He's trying to be nice.[/i]

"Ok." I took Herc's hand and he lead me onto the dance floor. He stopped, turned around and put his arms around my waist. I wrapped my arms around his neck and laid my head on his shoulder.

"You really don't like Alex. Do you..."

"No." I sighed. "I don't know what they see in him. He's such a Jerk."

"That's what Ioleus said."

"Well, he's right. There's more to guys then muscles and hair. Some actually have feelings and brains."

"Am I the kind that has only muscles and hair, or the kind that has feelings and brains?" Herc teased.

"Well consider yourself lucky, you have both." I said squeezing him tight in a hug.

"Thanks Makia. I means a lot to me that some girls care about more then just looks."

Herc was a very popular guy. And the girls loved him...for his looks. It has always's bothered him.

"One day, Herc, you'll find the right girl. And she'll love all of you...not just your looks."

Herc was just about to respond when warning bells went off in my head. I jerked my head up to see Alex lead Ashley out the door. [i] Something is just not right about him...One minute he can't remember Ashley's name the next he's leading her out the door...holding her hand![/i]

"Makia? What's wrong?"

"I don't know Herc...But It looks to me I need to do the best friend thing..."I looked over the heads in the crowd. "XENA!"

Xena's head popped up a few seconds later. I made the motion to follow me and danger.

" Sorry Herc. We'll have to carry this discussion on later. Oh and I owe you a dance." I placed a kiss on his cheek and walked away. Xena and I met in the middle and headed out the door...