I honestly didn't want to come off as rude, or someone with an attitude because I am not rude or someone with an attitude.

And any girl here, literally any girl here, would kill to get a date with the Alpha. And there I was, getting asked out by said Alpha, and I refused.

"He isn't all that bad Rayne," said Ima. She was cozying up to him like she's done to no other male who's given me any kind of attention. I have no idea what her deal is.

"I never said he's bad," I replied to her. "I just think his sudden interest in me doesn't make much sense."

"You're biased. You've never liked him because of the way he ignored you. And now that he's not, you still hate him," she said in her knowing tone.

I just shook my head and walked towards the school cafeteria when I heard Dilja's shrill voice ring in my mind.

"Rayne where in the world are you? Your food is getting cold!" she said.

"I'm on my way," I replied before making sure my mindlink wall was up.

As I walked into the cafeteria, it took me a minute to find my table. And that is because I didn't expect some non-Omega girls to be standing at our Omega table.

As I approached, I saw it was Frida and some of her friends. When they saw me, they immediately began to leave.

Frida left last, before which she gave me a look as if deciding what to say, and then said, "You too."

I have no idea what that means.

She's from Valente's grade, so two years my senior, and she was my friend. Well, she used to be. Back when Renee was still here, she hung out with us and was pretty cool. But ever since Renee left, she'd become distant. And now, it's like we were never friends in the first place.

"What was that all about?" I asked, sitting with Irmelin and Glo on either side.

"Forget all that. Where were you? Did you like, drown in the shower or something?" Dilja asked me.

I looked up to see if Valente had come back, but he hadn't. His absence made me feel a little guilty, but I pushed those feelings aside.

Instead, my eyes landed on Eidis who was looking right back. She seemed pretty angry by the looks of her.

"I got locked into my stall," I said.

And that's all I needed to say for the girls to find Eidis in the room too.

"So that's why they were loitering about in the locker room. Otherwise they're usually the first to leave," said Irmelin.

"How'd you get out?" asked Asael.

I started eating my now cold pasta. "I think it's better if we don't discuss that," I said.

"Obviously someone opened the door for you. You couldn't have possibly gotten out another way," said Mordekai.

I decided not to respond except for my eyes going wide for a second as I realized how stupid my actions really were.

"Asael here got us invites to Frida's birthday party this weekend," said Gló, sounding pretty excited.

Irmelin and Dilja didn't seem as keen on the idea. Mordekai and even Asael were pretty neutral.

"How so? Do tell," I asked Asael. My teasing tone was enough to make him blush a little.

"I don't know. She just asked me to come," he said, clearly not saying everything.

"And then she said we could all come too!" said Gló.

"I think she invited us out of courtesy rather than actually wanting to," I replied, slightly laughing.

Mordekai and Dilja clearly agreed while Gló just pouted.

"Well I don't care. I'm going to go anyway. We rarely ever get invited to these parties," Gló said.

"And you are all coming with me," she added with a sense of finality.

Well, I don't want to go.

...

Gló was serious when she said she would be taking us to the party.

She had dragged the slightly reluctant Irmelin and Dilja to my home to get ready while Gramma and I were watching a movie Saturday night.

I had completely forgotten about the party and her coming over was a surprise.

I really didn't want to go, mostly because Valente was going to be there. So I told them they could get ready in my room, but I wouldn't go.

Valente had been avoiding me again for the past few days, and although I was used to this it hurt a little different, now that I'd seen a softer side of him.

Gló was about to throw a fit before Gramma took me into the kitchen 'to talk' and the girls went upstairs to my room to get ready.

I mean I love Gramma more than anyone, but I really didn't like these 'talks' with her. I could tell she was going to make me do something I didn't want to.

"Why don't you want to go?" she asked me.

I sighed.

"Ima?" I asked for her.

"Hey, this is all on you," she replied back.

"You're useless Ima," I told her.

I didn't know what else to say to Gramma, so I just told her the truth.

"Someone had asked me to go to Frida's party with them. I turned them down. So, if I still go, it might hurt their feelings," I said quietly.

She looked at me, smiling.

She held my face in her hands softly.

"Can you please think about you for a minute?" she said to me. "You're always all about what someone else would think. But Frida invited you, and you're with your friends. What's the big deal? You choose who you want to go with," she told me.

"Besides," she continued, "there's a really pretty dress in Renee's room that would look gorgeous on you. I want you to wear it," she told me.

She took my hand and walked me all the way to the room, her grip tight as if she would let go and I'd run away. After rummaging through her closet for a little bit, Gramma pulled out a dress I'd seen Renee wear before, and I couldn't believe I'd forgotten about it.

It was a mint green fitted dress, midi length, covered in lace front and back, with a halter neckline that looked stunning. It was really simple, nothing that seemed too much, and I guess I'd love to see how it looked on me.

The dress was so pretty, I was now considering going to the party just so I had a reason to wear it.

"Gramma is literally exploiting your weaknesses," Ima said.

And I could tell she was right. Although I am not a big fan of anything that isn't a pair of sweats or comfy sportswear, elegant and soft-colored dresses did speak to the tiny girly part of me.

"All right then, go on," Gramma said, handing over the dress to me.

As I walked into my room, all I could see was chaos. It's a good thing that I was prepared and didn't expect anything less.

"Rayne! Go change! Hurry!" Gló near screamed at me as she straightened Irmelin's hair, and Dilja sat in front of the mirror doing her make up.

I went to my attached washroom to change, and was quite happy with what I saw in the mirror looking back at me.

No bling, but it was party enough with the simple lace. It made my black hair look darker, and it complimented my champagne eyes well.

I tied my short hair in a small bun at the base of my neck, leaving a few tendrils loose. I curled them into soft waves that framed my face.

Once happy with my hair, I did my make up. I went with warm brown tones to contrast the cool mint of the dress, and when I was done, I realized I hadn't dressed up like this in a long time. And it was probably the first time for a party.

I am glad my torn lip and bruised cheek from the death match Valente and I had, had healed enough that it was all gone under a light layer of foundation, and some warm pink lipstick.

Thank you werewolf healing powers.

As I walked out of the washroom, I could see that the girls were almost done too, and I suddenly felt a little underdressed.

They wore gorgeous bright-colored dresses in fancy fabrics and bling, bold make up and styled hair as opposed to my cotton lace dress and simple look.

"Rayne, you look so beautiful," Irmelin said to me. She is truly the mom in our group.

"Really?" I said, incredulous.

"Really," Dilja said, nodding her head.

"Don't you think it's a little too simple? I mean look at you guys, you all look amazing," I said, smoothing down my dress, which didn't need any smoothing.

"Rayne. This look is so you. You wouldn't want to look like anybody else. You're beautiful in your own skin first. Stop second guessing yourself," Gló said, now pulling on her shoes.

Her words made me feel a lot better. And on the plus side, I won't be getting anyone's attention this way.

"You sure you don't want anyone's attention?" said Ima with emphasis on 'anyone'. I knew who she was talking about.

"Stop being annoying Imadis," I scolded her.

"Just saying," she replied. If wolves could smirk, she was smirking.

I sighed.

Okay.

Let's do this.