I draw closer and place my hand on the brown bulldog. It tenses under my touch but its fur is soft.
"Where did you get the chicken thigh from?" I ask Jake quite amused. He notices my amusement and chuckles
"I bought it over there" he says pointing to a shop.
I smile. "Well it served a good purpose" I say and he chuckles.
I pat the dog even more. It lies on the grass.
"I wonder who owns this dog? " Jake says.
"Yeah! Strange to leave such an aggressive dog on its own" I say
"Well I guess most of the aggressiveness came from the hunger it was feeling and if I hadn't come earlier, it would have had you for supper" Jake taunts and I frown making him laugh.
"If it had had me for supper it would have been your fault. Where in the world did you choose to hide Mr Winters?" I yell back and he doubles over in laughter.
"I told you, you wouldn't find it easy finding me and you said you can find me! So what's the point?" He asks raising a brow at me with a smirk on his cute face.
"The point is, you could have hidden somewhere close cos you went too deep" I state.
He smiles.
"Well , according to the rules of the game, you can hide any where you want" he states. I roll my eyes.
"You found my dog!"someone yells and we raise our head to see a man. I presume he'll be around his forties. He was bald and he was quite tall. He was clad in white shorts and a dark blue polo shirt.
"Ummm yes sir" Jake says.
"Oh am so sorry! Am sure he gave you a hard time" the man says
"Well he did give me a hard time" I point out
"But he's cool" I add.
"Thanks for finding him! I was very worried." The man says.
"You're welcome" Jake says and hands over the dog to the man. The man waves and leaves with the dog.
I watch as they disappear into a cluster of trees.
"Its 6pm. We better get going" Jake alerts.
I yawn. "Yeah"
We bought some ice cream and ate it.
The sun had already set and the sky was growing dark. Jake and I walk back.
"So did you like this stroll?" Jake asks with a smile.
"Well yeah! Except for the dog thing but so far it went well"
Jake sniggers.
"Am glad you liked it" he says as we reach the front door of my house.
"Thanks for saving my life Jake" I say.
He smiles. "Its okay" he says simply.
"Can I have your number?" Jake asks looking at the ground whiles rubbing his feet on the grass.
"Sure" I say and he hands me his phone. It was a cool phone. I dialed my number into it and handed it back to him.
"Well Goodbye" he says and I enter my house.
I spot Trina in the hall and I heard the aroma of baked cookies. Its obvious mom is in the kitchen
Trina sees me and she has a huge grin plastered on her face. I know she has a thousand and one questions to ask me. My sister can talk more than a radio! I know her so well.
"So where have you been?" Trina says in her sweet curious tone. She's started.
IÂ strode towards a couch and sat in it. Trina's grin doesn't falter from her face.
"I went out with Jake" I simply state.
Trina's eyes widen and she shrieks. I shush her.
"Where did you go to?" She asks. Curiosity was burning in her eyes and she was bustling with excitement.
"To the park. We were just taking a stroll" I state again
Trina makes a face.
"But Nicole! You hate strolls! The last time you went on one was like years or so" Trina states
"Yeah I know. But I decided to try" I say.
Trina laughs.
"So how did it go?" She asks in a bubbly tone.
I narrate everything that happened at the park excluding Jake's life story.
"I can't believe it! He actually saved you from that bulldog?" Trina yells quite ecstatic
"Which bulldog?" Mom says and I notice she's back from the kitchen holding a bowl of freshly baked gingerbread and chocolate cookies.
"Ummm Nicole was attacked by a bull dog" Trina explains and mom's eyes widen. She drops the bowl and the dining hall table and scurries to my side touching my hands, cheeks and neck.
"Are you okay sweetheart? Did it bite you? I would have to take you to the doctor for an injection. I don't want you to get rabies" she says with worry brimmed in her brown irises.
"Relax mom! I wasn't bitten" I say and she breathes out as if she was holding a breath.
"She was nearly attacked! But Prince Jake saved her life" Trina says with a wide grin.
Mom is shocked. She looks at me with her jaw almost hitting the floor.
"I can't believe it!" She says and hugs me
"Am glad you're okay!" She says into my ear and I smile.
She gets up.
"I prepared some gingerbread and cookies! You can go get some"mom says in a bubbly tone.
" mmm what's that wonderful smell? Is that cookies?"Dad says out of the blue. We all turned to look at him.
"Yes honey" mom says and embraces him. He kisses her on the forehead and Trina giggles.
"Am sure they'll be really delicious!" Dad says
"Yeah! I'm going to take a shower. I've been in the kitchen all day" mom says and leaves.
Dad looks at both of us.
"I guess that guy is gone" Dad says referring to me.
"Yeah. He left a while ago" I reply.
Dad nods.
"I don't like it when you hang around with such guys. They seem dangerous" dad states
A lump forms in my throat and Trina gasps.
"Dad! Jake isn't dangerous!" Trina says
"That's why I said he seems!" Dad clarifies.
"I'll be careful dad" I say.
"I saw a video on Facebook. You were beating up a girl with pink hair in school Nicole right?" Dad states and I swallow hard.
I nod.
"Trina! Can you leave me and your sister alone for a moment?" Dad asks.
"Sure dad" Trina says and walks onto her room.
"Your principal called me! She said she's fed up with your stupid attitude! She told me you are on one month suspension and I begged her to let you back in so you'll spend only two weeks in the house. Its no longer one month" Dad states.
"That's so sweet of you daddy" I say and give him a fake smile.
Dad clenches his jaw in annoyance.
"I wonder where you got that new attitude Nicole! But I'm going to make sure you change!"
"Do whatever you have to do dad! I'm not going to change! Ever!" I state and walk away.
"Nicole!" He calls and I stop dead in my tracks and turn to look at him.
"The principal says when you return, you have to sign an agreement" Dad says and I furrow my eyebrows.
"What agreement?" I spit annoyed.
Dad smiles amused by my reaction.
"An agreement of Good Behaviour till you complete and go to college" Dad says.
I can't help but laugh.
"Agreement of Good Behaviour? So silly" I say and dad frowns.
"You will sign that agreement!" Dad yells
"I wouldn't dad! " I yell back.
"That's your last chance or else you'll be kicked out of the school. And if you break the rules in the agreement you'll be kicked out" Dad yells.
"I don't give a shit if they kick me out of the school" I state and dad is shocked.
"You don't care about your future do you?" Dad asks.
I sigh.
"I'll leave you to make your own decision! I'm fed up with your stupid attitude too" dad states and leaves.
Why is this happening to me?! I throw my purse and it lands on the floor and stomp my foot. I can't sign an agreement now! I pick up my purse and go to my bedroom.
â¥â¥â¥â¥
I slam my bedroom door shut the moment I enter and lock it. I'm so furious right now. An agreement of good behaviour my foot! I glanced at the time on my phone and it was thirty six minutes past seven. I undressed and went to take a shower. Then I got dressed in my chequered pyjamas and lay in bed.
My phone dings and I check to see a message from an unknown number. It read;
*Goodnight Nikki.
~Jake*
I smiled. I texted him goodnight too and thanked him again for saving my life and for making me take a stroll today. After that I placed my phone on my bedside cabinet and slept.
My phone rang and I picked it up. I glanced at the time and it was 12pm in the night. Midnight for that matter! I looked at the caller ID and it was Tigress.
Oh God! Why is she calling me in the middle of the night?
I answer.
"Hey Nikki! What's up? Its a long time I heard from you" Tigress says
"Yeah! But you could have called in the morning" I scold.
"In the morning we have plans! I need you to meet me at the Chinese Restaurant! We need to discuss something" Tigress states.
"So why did you call this night?" I ask.
"Just to hear from you lil alpha! How's your life going?"
"Well apparently I've been suspended from school for two weeks. It was a month actually but my dad convinced the principal and they made it two weeks. And when I go back, the principal wants me to sign an agreement of good behaviour"
"What the fuck is that?" Tigress says and bursts into laughter.
"You are not going to sign that are you?" Tigress asks serious now by the tone of her voice.
"Of course not! If I do that, I'm going to lose my title"
"Good girl!" She says
"So how's life in college?" I ask her.
"Cool. The parties are endless! I love it here" Tigress says
"That's great" I say.
"So I'll pick you up tomorrow at 9:00am. Be ready" Tigress states and hangs up.
I place my phone on my bedside cabinet again. I'm sure you are wondering who Tigress is. Tigress was the fourth alpha of the Kentwood High School. She was the first female alpha and the most dangerous alpha that ever lived! Everyone was afraid of her. Even teachers worshipped her. The principal was frightened by her and all the populars wanted to befriend her. Every guy wanted to date her! She was the best alpha that ever lived in Kentwood history. She handed over the title to me when she was graduating to college and it was an honour to me. I promised her I would be the next baddest female alpha and I would never be overthrown but I can't be like her.
There are so many obstacles. I've tried my best to be worse than her but I can't. I need to be the baddest alpha that ever lived too!
I don't know the time I fell asleep but when I woke up the sun was already out. I yawned tiredly. I got out of bed and stretched. I walked to my dresser and looked at my reflection in the mirror. I looked horrible. I went to the bathroom and took a quick shower.
I got dressed in a blue round neck blouse and a white flare skirt which reached my knee. I tied my braided hair in a ponytail and got into a pair of white stilettos. I checked the time. It was 55minutes past eight. I grabbed my purse. Tigress will be arriving soon. I did some light make up and waited. My phone rings and my stomach flutters. She's here. I take a deep breath and answer.
"I'm here" she says and hangs up. I get downstairs. The house was empty. Mom and dad had already left for work and Trina had gone to school. It was a hot Monday morning. I stepped outside the house and locked it using my spare key.
I saw Tigress' car in front. It was a cute orange sports car. She was inside with her phone pressed against her ear. My heart beats as I get closer to the car.
Her hair is dyed orange like her car and she's wearing shades. She hasn't changed that much from the last time I saw her. But her hair is much shorter now. I guess she cut it because it reached her neck.
She drops the phone and looks at me.
"Nikki!" She says and shivers run down my spine. How come I'm still scared of her?
"Where are your shades?" She asks in a disappointed tone and my heart drops. God! I never forget my shades.
"Ummm.....I left it" I say a bit nervous.
She sighs and tucks her orange hair behind her ear. I watch as her hand is covered in tattoos up to her neck. She also had a butterfly tattooed on her right cheek.
"Get in" she says and I oblige. I sit in the passenger seat next to her and she drives on.
"Don't forget your shades next time" she says and I nod
She hands me a new pair in a rubber.
"Wear it! " she says and I'm surprised but I oblige.
"You can keep it" She adds and drives at top speed down the road.
The air conditioning in her car is so heavy that I can see my breath leave my nose.
"So how are the others doing? Aaron, Troy, Danny and Kimberly" Tigress asks.
"They are fine! They're doing great" I reply.
"And the stunts? Are they pulling some?"She asks again with her eyes fixated on the road.
" yes! They are"I say.
"That's good! Am planning on meeting you guys this weekend at Troy's club house" She states.
"That will be an honour Tigress. They will be so happy to see you" I say quite relaxed now. I was afraid at first but she's not a monster right? And she's not gonna bite me right?
"Yeah! Am dying to see them too! Am sure they are all grown up now" Tigress says.
"Nice braids" she compliments.
"Thanks" I say.
"What's with the haircut?" I ask her.
"I wanted a new look" she replies.
We enter the Chinese restaurant. She parks and we get down. We strut inside and take a seat.
A waiter comes to us.
"You're welcome beautiful ladies! What would you like to eat?" He says with a charming smile.
Well I only knew sushi as a Chinese food.
"I would like some noodle soup please" Tigress says
The waiter writes it down
"Don't you want a drink?" He asks.
"I would like a cocktail" Tigress says and he writes it down.
"And you princess?" The waiter asks me.
"I want sushi and a bottle of coke" I say and he writes them down.
"Your food will be served soon" he says and leaves.
Tigress takes a cigar from a box and puts it to her nineteen year old lips. Then she lights it.
"Are you smoking in a restaurant?" I ask wide eyed.
She puffs out smoke from her mouth and nostrils.
"Yeah why?" She says with a shrug.
"There are people here for God's sake! Someone could have an asthma attack" I yell at her.
She chuckles slightly and puffs out smoke from her mouth again.
I cough slightly. The smoke was too much.
"You don't know me well Nicole! Do I look like someone who cares about people?" Tigress spits.
My heart jumps to my throat.
I cough again. I can't stand the smoke.
"At least you need to care about me! Have you forgotten am an asthmatic patient?" I tell her.
She giggles.
"I haven't dear!" Tigress says with amusement laced in her tone.
She takes the lighted cigar out of her mouth and drops it on the plate in front of her. She looks at me and smiles.
I just look at her hazel eyes.
She puts the cigar off.
"Happy now?" She asks me.
I don't answer and earn a laugh from her.
The waiter brings our food and drinks. I was happy because I was starving. I dug into my sushi with gusto.
"Okay so I invited you here because I need a favour" Tigress says.
"Which is?" I ask her. What could she possibly want from me?