Chapter 4: Missed (written on March 24th, 2015)
After many hours of playing in the field with my friend, Hutch, Loretta took us to the plaza of the Learning Center where a pile of food was kept. This was only one thing: lunchtime! Oh, boy, I was so hungry. I quickly got ahead of everybody else and dug in excessively.
"Calm down, Kate!" said Hutch. "It's just food."
"Don't you dare tell me that!" I told him. This was my long-lost gift.
Meanwhile, as all of us Betas ate, the future Omega was sitting next to one of the learning dens, watching us. I felt bad for him, so I decided to grab some meat and toss it over to him. He ate as fast as I did.
"Thank you," he said when he finished.
"*sigh* What am I going to do with you?" I sighed, sitting next to him. He chuckled at my expression.
"So how is your day so far?" he asked.
"Good until you showed up," I answered.
"I'm sorry about this."
"Don't be. I don't blame you for missing me."
"You don't?"
"No, Humphrey. We're both just afraid of change. I'm eventually gonna miss myself. Speaking of which, I should warn you." He gave me a worried look. "By the time Alpha School ends in the spring, I won't be my same self."
"What?"
"And neither will you." I pointed at his chest. "I will be an Alpha... and you... an Omega. We'll be on two sides. We'll be opposites..."
"What are you saying, Kate?"
"I'm saying we won't be able to have fun together anymore. We will be different in every way."
"So all those times where we'd frolic and run will be over? What makes you so sure?"
"My dad told me this before I left my home den. I just thought it was important that I share this with you because I don't want you to be missing me so much in the future."
"I see..." Tears began to come down his face. This wasn't what I wanted. I dreaded this.
"Humphrey, please! I told you: we're both afraid of change. I don't have much of a choice, you know. I have to be here. I need to become an Alpha."
"Oh, yeah, because becoming an Alpha is more important than our friendship!" he yelled.
"Humphrey..."
"No! If you wanted me to leave so bad, you could've just said so!" He ran away crying despite the danger of the Alpha School guards keeping everybody in. Suddenly, at the very same time, I felt water droplets on my shoulders. First, they fell haphazardly, then intensively. It was then accompanied by a chain of thunder. It was raining. I wanted to tend to Humphrey, but I couldn't leave. I just stood up and stared in the direction he left, feeling sorry for him... and myself.
I try to make friends... and all I do is lose them. It was because of our stupid ranks. Our friendship was now impossible, for we were different beings set apart by our ranked society. And I believed it would continue to be that way. As my Dad said, at the end of this, we probably wouldn't remember each other nor meet again after winter. Why did this have to happen? I guess I wouldn't know the answer to that until I learned more here.
After standing in the freezing cold rain for who knows how long, Loretta howled for all the Betas to take their food with them and seek shelter in the den she was in.
When Loretta started roll call, I stayed by the den's entrance, still looking out in the direction Humphrey left. Minutes later, Hutch came to me with a small bone in his mouth.
"Why so low?" he asked.
"Humphrey left."
"Isn't that what you wanted?" he pointed out.
"Yes but..."
"What did you tell him?"
"I told him the truth about the future." Somehow he understood.
"Ohhhh... That's not cool... Well, why did you tell him that?"
"I needed to tell him it so, in the future, he wouldn't be missing me so much."
"Ahh... Hm. You know... sometimes, it's not a bad thing to be missed. Would you think that my dad shouldn't miss me?"
"I know but Humphrey... He can get... obsessed with things."
"I see... but I don't think you need to drive a wedge between you two. Omegas can get pretty emotional."
"You're right... I'm such an idiot. I can't imagine being him right now in this cold rain. I feel so bad. Do you think he'll forgive me?"
"Kate, I'm sure he'll understand. Just give it time."
Give it time... It made sense. Time was all Humphrey had. Still, I couldn't help but feel bad knowing that, out there in this freaky weather, a wolf was running away from me...
(Hello! :) DogDrawler here! Man, is it good to be back. PLEASE, it would be nice if you good people could answer my polls and read my other stories. They're quick and interesting. Thank you for being my readers.)