Chapter 5: Spellbound

(Hi Everyone! I am SOOOOO sorry that I haven't updated I am finally keeping up with my stories; I hope you love this chapter!)

"Infinite in mystery, is that of a heart, what it wants and what it needs are two different things…but no matter what we choose, it will impact our lives in ways we could never imagine. A true heart, would desire the comfort of knowing there are others who are able to relate and be related to, knowing that for once…they feel that they belong in this abysmal plane called "life"…"

*Nearly a week passes by*

Outside the high school was dreary as rain hailed from the skies and soaked the streets in its angered rampage. Jenna sat in her seat in algebra, staring out the window next to her. She and her friends, again, not too long ago ran as If their lives depended on it in that storm, the window she looked out was blurred due to the rain that continuously made pitter patter sounds upon its glass. Her teacher at the front kept babbling on about equations and seemingly brain itching problems, unaware of the husky's blank look on her lovely face, Jenna's paw kept scribbling random words or phrases in the pages on its own accord. Strangely, all these phrases had one thing in common, they either wrote out, "I Love Balto" or just "Balto" in general.

"And so your homework tonight will be to do problems 60- 80 on page 394. Extra credit goes to the people, who do the entire page, and so on that note, class dismissed." The bell rang for first hour to end and Jenna packed her necessities in a flash and zoomed out the class room door before anyone could crowd it. The hallway was bustling with life, every clique and posse crowding the surrounding walls jabbering away at the throes of everyday life.

"So, wait, he broke up with you for her?!"

"Man, I totally bombed my math test this morning."

"Sorry, I have to go to the library. I have a physics test I need to study for."

Jenna continued to swerve her way through the crowd, trying to easily (and if possible quickly) as she walked down the main stair case she eyes Sasha attempting to squeeze through the many people gathered in the main hall. She giggled to herself. The red husky was a blur as she masterfully maneuvered through the crowd making it through and stopping in front of her destination, the most fearful, most sinister class that has ever been conceived…Gym… Jenna walked through the gym's wide double doors, entering the large and vast coliseum like structure. It may have not been her favorite class, but there was an upside to this tragedy, she would be able to see a certain wolf dog... she smiled gently to herself, feeling a warm, fuzzy feeling deep in her chest that was unlike any other, could this be love?

Jenna strides quicker to the girl's locker room and to her disgust, the one person she rather not meet eyes with, was standing in front next to the door, giving her the most despicable grin to ever behold on a person's face. Her fur began to bristle, but managed to retain her coolness. She walked straight past Steele without even uttering a single word to him, until she felt a paw lunge and grip her arm.

"Steele, let go of me." Her voice dripped venom, but unfortunately, to Steele's ears that translates to another phrase. Instead, he brought her close to him and attempted kiss her.

"Hey!" She pushed his face away, "Steele, let go!"

"Come on Jen, I know your just playing hard to-"He was interrupted by a tap on his shoulder and a deep voice rang through the gym.

"Excuse me…"

Steele looked back only to be met with a flash of light. Steele released Jenna for a brief moment, rubbing his eyes and giving her a brief moment to retreat into the girl's locker room. She fast walked into the female coach's office.

"Coach Sidle?"

A very beautiful retriever turned in her seat to face Jenna, "Yes Jenna?" she asked sweetly.

"Steele…"

Coach Sidle sighed while shaking her head, "Again?"

Jenna only nodded her head and the retriever rose from her seat and left the room without another word. Something told her that Steele was not going to be performing activities INSIDE of class. She smiled to herself, knowing justice was being served. The locker room door opened and all you could hear was the yelling of the male coach, Coach Darkholme.

"Um, might I ask why Coach Darkholme is yelling at Steele for sexual harassment?" Jenna looked at the voice that walked in, and it was Colleen, her lyrical English accent echoed through the empty room. Jenna only looked at Colleen with her eyebrow raised; Colleen must have read her facial expression because she changed the subject immediately.

"So, what are we doing in Math?" she asked.

Jenna smiled, thanking to the heavens Colleen was not starving for gossip, "Just a few notes and equations we need to know for our final exams next week." Colleen nodded. The two girls began changing into their gym clothes as other girls entered the locker room, griping about either a boyfriend that won't give into their demands or the fact they didn't skip gym. As more girls pooled into the room, Jenna and Colleen made their way through the crowd and took their spots in their designated squads, soon the crimson furred husky spotted who she had been waiting to see for the whole day, Balto, the half dog, half wolf hybrid and the object of her indescribable affections. Following Balto was Hunter, a golden retriever mix and also the son of Alexis Sidle, the female gym teacher of the school as well as doubling as both Colleen's Martial arts sensei and her dance instructor. Jenna looked toward her friend just a couple spaces next to her, staring at Hunter with an obvious love-struck trance, Jenna giggled at her friend, secretly knowing the collie had a sort of crush on the mixed male, unbeknownst to Colleen, Hunter also bore a crush on her as well.

Steele was nowhere to be found; it looked as if Vanessa's dad sent him to the dean. This must be some kind of record for him. Balto and Hunter soon emerged from the locker room in grey t-shirts and navy blue gym shorts, the shirt seemed to hug rather tightly on Hunter's torso, showing off a bit of what he had going for him. Colleen couldn't help but look. Balto's physique wasn't much to behold, but he wasn't something to not look at either, his body was more focused on the speed and perfectly firm running legs. Jenna sighed a bit, she could stare at him all day, but she wasn't looking for any physical encounters with the hybrid, but to just be with him in general. She wanted to be in his arms, cuddled close to him in a loving embrace, wanting him to whisper sweet nothings in her ears.

The husky shook her head quickly, "Alright Jenna, snap out of it, this is only Balto, the cute, sensitive guy with a heart of a lover. Ok now I'm getting slightly ahead of myself-",her thoughts were interrupted by Coach Darkholme's whistle.

"Alright, 5 Minute Jog starting now! Get moving!"

The class' activities just consisted of a choice of basketball, self defense, or volleyball. Surprising enough, Colleen played Volleyball with Jenna while Hunter convinced Balto to spar with him, teaching Balto the basics on how to defend himself, by the way Hunter was speaking to him and encouraging meant that Balto was doing something right at the least.

"Alright, instead of an uppercut, try a high kick, in case your opponent happened to be taller than yourself."

Jenna took small glances at Balto as she played volleyball with two other friends of hers with Colleen.

"Great man! Looks like you'll be ready for when anyone messes with you!" Hunter exclaimed.

"Is this necessary Hunt?" asked Balto, keeping a good stance as he began sparing with the retriever in front of him."

"Is it necessary? Of course it's necessary! You want to someday beat the pulp out of Steele do ya?"

Balto delivered a high kick to Hunter's face, "Maybe…"

Hunter with lightning fast reflexes blocked the kick and spun away from Balto's foot and swiftly delivers a chop to Balto's neck, which he ducked to dodge, "Maybe?"

"Yea…Maybe, I really don't want anything to do with Steele personally. As long as he continues to be sent to the Dean, I'm content." Balto threw his paw to catch Hunter in the stomach, but was almost immediately blocked, "Maybe he'll get expelled at this rate."

"Who knows…you know his dad is one of the superintendents of the school, he could practically get away with anything he wanted with only getting a stern talking to." Balto's blood boiled slightly, Steele Is being treated like royalty at this school all because his dad is a school official, despicable…

Balto and Hunter continued to spar, only rarely managing to get a good hit on each other. The class period went on without any confrontations, but one question remains, who was the person who got Steele in trouble?

Minutes more pass, and Jenna and Colleen are walking together in the hallway towards lunch, chatting about the events in their gym class.

"So, how did both Mr. Darkholme AND Mrs. Sidle know about Steele harassing you?"

Jenna thought for a second, "You know, that is very odd…All I know is it was someone with a deep voice, Charlie maybe?" she answers.

Colleen shook her head, "No, Charlie doesn't have Gym with us… we must not know them." The two girls continued to dwell upon the situation, meanwhile Balto and Hunter rendezvous with another of their friends Thunderbolt.

"Hey Thunder, why weren't you in gym today?" asked Hunter.

Thunderbolt grinned, "Being a witness to that event with Steele."

"Wait, you mean-", Thunderbolt pulled out a digital camera, pressing a button that switches to gallery mode, showing the incriminating evidence of Steele in the act of harassing Jenna. Balto's blood boiled at the sight, but also he felt light hearted at the fact one of his friends may have helped in bringing Steele to justice. Hunter clapped Thunderbolt on the back in congratulations; Balto continued to smirk happily, "Steele could finally be kicked out!"

Jenna and Colleen sat with their friends, they couldn't help but notice that Sasha was looking at the door, but it wasn't for them, it was for a certain German shepherd.

"Hey Sash!" said Jenna.

Sasha did not reply.

"Um, Sasha?"

Sasha was too preoccupied with the door; it was like she was in some sort of trance.

Carmelita responded for her, "Um, Sasha is a bit off earth at the moment, she wants to see Charlie again."

"Again?" asked Vanessa from her book.

"Yea, again, she's kinda, well, in love."

"If that ain't the most obvious fact of the day, she's gaga for Charlie Barkin and even the most clueless person earth could get that." Interjected Dixie, she looks at Sasha's blank stare. "Odd, ain't it?"

Bess rolled her eyes on Carmelita's left, "It's not odd Dixie, and it's obvious that you haven't been in love. Can you blame Sasha? She fell for a handsome and compassionate canine, unlike that heartless mutt Jacob" If she could, she would have spat on his name, all of Sasha's friends despised Jacob for what he had done to Sasha; she deserved much better then someone so disrespectful and backstabbing. Jenna glared at the thought of Jacob; he sat where his jock friends were sitting, along with his latest catch, Sierra Claven, a very beautiful Shiba Inu and captain of the cheerleading squad.

"Gee, I wonder if he's already slept with her." Bess asked.

Everyone looked at Bess with their eyes widened. "Bess!" cried Vanessa, who placed her book down and her index finger marking her page, "That's a terrible thing to wonder about!"

"I'm just saying!" Bess waved her paws apologetically, "You may never know!"

Carmelita coughed once, "I'd rather not think about that thank you very much… I am eating." Carmelita took a bite of an apple she had in her lunch case and then took a sip of her soda.

"What is everybody talking about?" Sasha finally spoke as Charlie walked pass their table, everyone blinked once and looked at each other nervously.

"Um, nothing Sash, absolutely nothing!" Bess defended, giggling nervously.

Sasha blinked in confusion, "Um…ok, if you guys say so." She took a bite from the un-eaten sandwich in her tray and looked at Charlie who had just joined his table from the corner of her eye. Jenna couldn't help but smile, her friend was falling deeply for this guy but then, Balto caught her eye, and he was laughing and talking to his friends about Steele's very recent suspension, she had never seen him so happy and looking at the farthest table from Balto and Charlie's group was Steele's gang: Nikki, Kaltag, and Star, who looked rather…elated at the fact Steele wasn't there to order them around like lackeys.

"Hmm, I guess everyone is light hearted that Steele is not going to be around for awhile…oh well, at least I get to see Balto smile for once. It's a very handsome smile on him." She smiled; her eyes were sparkling faintly with the newfound discovery that Balto was the one she had been searching for all this time.

"Balto…I have to work up the courage to be alone with you…" she blushed a bit, thinking about how it would be if she was with him, in his arms, just not having a care in the world as they talk about how much they love one another. In Jenna's heart, she longed for those moments with someone she could love, and love her back with equal passion.

"I need to tell you how I feel…" Jenna took her eyes off of Balto and took a sip of her Sprite, returning back to her friend's apparent conversation.

"So Sasha, I heard you made friends with the cute exchange student a few days ago, eh?" Dixie asked.

Sasha giggled, "Yea, he's a really nice guy, and his name is Sly Cooper. Pretty mysterious isn't it?"

Out of the corner of the girls' eyes Carmelita was staring off at Sly with Charlie's group at their table, something strange welled up inside of her, something, that she herself couldn't explain without sounding like a complete nut, and yet…His and Neyla's little "welcome" party also gave off a negative feeling deep in her heart.

Jenna giggled, "Hey Carm, you alright?"

Carmelita shook her head, "Um, yea, spaced out for a bit." She returned to her lunch in silence.

Jenna smiled softly and looked at Balto, she could tell for that once in his life, he was truly happy.

The day passed with a silent ease, Balto sat in the final class of the day, patiently awaiting the bell to ring, Thunderbolt on his left jotting away at the assignment at hand. Balto continued to stare off into space with the assignment finished and neatly written underneath his elbow.

"Dude, you're already done?" Thunder's hushed voice broke through Balto's mind.

Balto looked at him, "yea, it's not really that hard." Thunderbolt continued to work as

Balto thought again, "I wonder how Jenna would react if I gave her my poem…hmm…she probably would have laughed at me…I dunno…it's odd, maybe I should check it, I haven't looked at it all-",Balto's thoughts were interrupted by the chime of the bell, he and Thunderbolt quickly packed their bags as their teacher imputed, "Remember! If you haven't finished this, it IS homework! And this time…please do it." On that note, Balto and Thunderbolt left out the door before anyone else could beat them to the punch. Vanessa left last, blushing as she passed Thunderbolt, the shepherd flashed her a quick smile, but she swiftly walked past him, red as if her cheeks were apples.

"Wow…Do you think she likes me?" He asked Balto next to him, who was vigorously searching his backpack.

"Oh no, please tell me I left that at home!" Balto exclaimed. Thunderbolt looked dumbstruck.

"Left what at home?" he tilted his head in confusion. Balto was starting to panic, "Oh come on that was in my backpack since Monday and now it goes missing, where are you?!"

Thunderbolt shushed his friend to be calm, "Whoa, take it easy man, whatever it is is probably at your house, so relax. It's not the end of the world." Balto took a deep friend, Thunderbolt was right, he had to remain calm. Or at least try.

On the other side of the School, Jenna was walking from her last class of the day, heading to her forensics club classroom.

"I wonder what were going to debate about today. I hope it's about the comment I made last meeting but we never got…to…" her mouth gaped; Steele was in the school, asking random people if they had seen her. Jenna turned on her heel and high tailed it out of the school, rushing out of the large double doors of the school, praying to the high heavens above that the malamute did not catch whiff of her.

(Balto's point of view)

Great, just fantastic…My poem is missing! I've lost the one thing that could possibly get Jenna to like me, and I blew it! Hunter, Thunderbolt and I walked out the school's other escape routes. They talked about how their day went and what they are planning to do for the weekend. As we walked a small wind was beginning to pick up, I guess the storm had yet to finish its self appointed duty to ruin anyone's day. We took shortcuts through the alleyways to avoid getting caught in the oncoming storm, and soon enough, we reached both Hunter's and Thunder's street.

"See ya later man, hope you find whatever you were looking for." Thunder waved at me goodbye, as I turned I could hear Hunter commenting, "He misplaced something?" I sighed, not wanting to be reminded about my very blunt move. With mustering up enough courage, I wanted to give the poem to Jenna the poem today. I wanted to show her how much I really did love her and maybe, just maybe, I would finally be able to love someone with them loving each other in return, like Charlie and Sasha loved each other… They've only been together for a few days now, and I could tell that Sasha could not take her eyes off of him. From what I heard, Charlie defended Sasha against a pack of mutts that attempted to bully them, but they managed to fend them off with their tails between their legs. Even at the cost of Charlie being almost mortally wounded.

All of a sudden I feel someone crash into me, but, it wasn't anyone larger then I am, in fact the person fell to the ground as they rebounded off of me.

"I'm sorry." She said in apologetic tone, I turn to face her and to my surprise, was my best friend's girlfriend herself, Sasha.

She picked herself up from the ground and brushed her shimmering fur off, I gave her a gentle smile, "It's alright, you're the girl Charlie is crazy for aren't you?"

Only now did she realize who I was, and she looked up at me, "Balto?"

"Yea, that's me." I looked around her; there was no one with her.

"Hey, where's Jenna?" I asked.

Sasha replied, "She's at Speech and Debate, Why you ask?" she tilted her head in confusion, but still retained her sweet, warm smile. Now I know why Charlie loves her so much, she is as kind and gracious as she is beautiful.

I couldn't help but blush at the smile, "Um…no reason." I blushed harder at the lie.

Sasha noticed this and gives me a playful smirk, "You like her don't you?" she knew my eyes couldn't lie; all they bore was the love I had for Jenna and her beautiful aura gave me the most powerful warmth my heart had ever felt.

"Y-yes…I do as a matter of fact…but Steele…he won't let me anywhere near her because I am…" I couldn't bear to finish that sentence; the pain of my hybrid nature stung me fiercely, the fear of forever loneliness swept over me like the dark cloud that was about to overtake the city once again.

Sasha finished it for me, "…Part Wolf?" she could sense the pain in my heart, the torment of being feared by all, and loved by so little…

Reflected upon Sasha's beautiful emerald irises I could see my face turn lifeless and dark, I turn away from her mirror like eyes.

"Hey, I'll…see you later." I said in a happy façade that couldn't even fool the most dumbest of person.

I turned my entire body away from Sasha, ready to walk away as I fell into a dark gloom.

I took a step away before I heard Sasha's sweet voice chime, "Wait, Balto!"

I turned back to her, waiting for her words, "I just wanted to say that…Jenna…."

, hesitation blanketed her voice, what was she trying to tell me?

"Jenna…likes you!" I stared at her with a small disbelief, but on that one sentence my heart soared to the highest heaven possible and I embraced Sasha in my arms, feeling myself ready to tear with indescribable happiness.

"YES!" I cried with such joy, giving Sasha a quick, thank you kiss on the forehead and placed her down. Running off in total and complete joy, this day had just taken a turn for the better! I ran as fast as I could, I was ready to give Jenna my poem, telling her how much I loved her, If Charlie could tell Sasha, and then I could most defiantly tell Jenna! I ran for what seems like minutes until I skidded to a stop to catch my breath, I probably ran a mile from where I left Sasha. But to be honest, I didn't really care, Charlie probably met up with her by now and she's a tough girl, I turned to walk the rest of the way when another person crashed into me. Sasha again? Did she have something more to tell me? I turned back around and the one person I really wouldn't expect to see face to face again in my life actually was here.

"Jenna?"

(End of P.O.V)

Jenna rubbed her head, "Sorry…" her eyes were closed and looking downward, she hadn't realized yet who she had bumped into.

Balto took a quick breath; "Um...its ok..." he was blushing furiously, "Here, let me help you." He offered her his paw. When Jenna looked up, she was the one blushing; the person she bumped into was Balto.

"Oh…h-hey Balto." Her face was a deep crimson, Balto himself was blushing an even deeper crimson, both with Jenna's appearance to him and of the knowledge Sasha had just shared with him. Balto offered his paw to her and Jenna took it without a slight hesitation and was lifted onto her feet. They stared at each other for the longest moment, Balto staring into her shimmering amber eyes, and Jenna staring into his large, golden eyes that seemed like two moons to her. The two canines' heart raced.

Balto spoke first, "Hey Jenna…um…what are you doing here?" he thought, never actually seeing her in this neighborhood before.

Jenna's ears perked, "What am I doing here?" forgot the main reason why she was running so fast and in an unfamiliar neighborhood, so she made up, "I'm just trying to get home." She hid the blush in her equally crimson fur; Balto saw this as a window of opportunity.

"Hey…umm…would you like me to walk with you? It's not safe to walk these streets alone." Balto rubbed his neck in his own feeble attempt to hide his blush.

Jenna eyes lit up and she nods, "Yes, I would like that."

Balto's eyes shone like large headlights, giving them the warmest and welcoming aura to Jenna. The two canines realized they were still holding paws, and sheepishly laughed and let go of each other.

Balto offered his arm in a gentlemanly way, "Stay close." His voice was soft and with an air of protectiveness.

Jenna takes his arm, knowing full well of the dangers of walking home in the alleyways by their selves. Sasha told Jenna about their tussle with one of the local gangs around the area, and with Balto wolfish features, she wouldn't put past her that Balto made the perfect means of invoking fear in those lowlifes.

She takes his arm, "No problem there." Balto couldn't help but blush as they take the short cut into the alleyway to Jenna's home. Throughout the entire length of the trip in the maze like alley, Balto stared straight at the path ahead, feeling a certain instinct inside of him confirming that the alley was void of life other than them. He breathed in their air around him, not smelling any close-by beings around them. The hybrid took great trust in his senses, the beautiful husky on his arm held to him tightly, putting her complete faith and possibly her life in him. Their hearts raced further, the closeness between them began to grow stronger and the heat shared was becoming hotter.

For what seemed like hours, were actually minutes when they reached the warm and comfy safety of Jenna's home, its unique structure sent a kind and welcoming aura, a top the door was the letters inscribed in a intricate cursive, "Parker" 's family name.

The two canines stepped onto the small stoop with its high hanging roof above it, the clouds were getting darker. Jenna pulled out her purse from her backpack and began rummaging through it for her house keys, Balto continued to look on at her lovely features, completely entranced. When Jenna finally took the keys out of her purse, she replaced her purse within her back pack's confines and turned to face the taller hybrid before her.

She blushed wildly, but retained her trademark smile at Balto, "Thanks, for walking me home Balto." She stared down at her keys fiddling with them as she half-heartedly chooses one.

Balto's face was a deep red, "N-n-no problem." Jenna looked up at him, her face getting closer to his, Balto's eyes began to close on instinct, his own face getting closer to hers. Their breathing was still; their hearts were pumping as if gasping for air in their rib cage, completely lost in time, their muzzles getting closer…

When you walk away
You don't hear me say please
Oh baby, don't go
Simple and clean is the way that you're making me feel tonight
It's hard to let it go

"Balto…"

The daily things
that keep us all busy
are confusing me that's when you came to me and said,

"This is finally happening…"

"Wish I could prove I love you
but does that mean I have to walk on water?
When we are older you'll understand
It's enough when I say so,
And maybe something's are that simple

"Jenna…"

"I've waited for this moment for so long…"

The world around them seemed to fade; the moment of truth for them is just millimeters away… their minds seemed to be in perfect sync.

When you walk away
You don't hear me say please
Oh baby, don't go
Simple and clean is the way that you're making me feel tonight
It's hard to let it go

"I Love you…"

Balto and Jenna's lips met in a soft and gentle kiss, Balto's eyes widened, this moment that he had dreamed for so long… has finally happened. The hybrid closed his eyes and pressed back into the kiss, unable to hold back any longer. He felt Jenna's paws snake their way around his neck as she deepens the kiss, causing them to take in each other's hot breath. Balto's own paws wrapped around Jenna's back, holding her close to his chest, keeping her there, close to his heart, where she belonged and will always have her place in. Forever more…

But deep in the shadows, two piercing blue eyes gazed on in hatred, their owner began to turn away from the sight in complete disgust, as he whispered darkly under his breath…

"Just wait wolf dog…just you wait…"

A/N:

(WOOT! One more chapter for you all, I really hope this has been a good experience for you to read cause let me tell you, I had so much problems with this chapter, but I am glad to see it finished for you all to read to your heart's content, therefore I am grateful that you all took your time to read this and please leave a comment, I would deeply appreciate it. Well, more chapters to come and I am sure you can't wait to see what happens next! Till next time!)