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The Wolf Within by Alicia Hamilton
Ch.1 Best friends

They say that elementary and high school are the worst but won’t people don’t realize is it’s middle school that’s the worst. My name is Sarah and I barely made it through sixth grade. Now I’m in seventh grade and I still wonder how high school could be worse than what I was going through. My best friend Rachel and I hung out everyday at lunch and she didn’t seem to be having trouble.

“Sarah can I tell you something?” asked Rachel with a worried expression on her face. Something was wrong, that was obvious.

“Sure what’s up?” I asked her.

“My parents are getting divorced.” said Rachel very softly so no one else would hear.

“What?!” I asked as I was looked at my the whole cafeteria, so much for it being a secret I thought.

“Yes it’s true. I don’t know what I’m going to do. They don’t even know who’s going to get custody of me.” said Rachel as she began to cry. I went to her and patted her on the shoulder telling her that everything would be okay.

“I’m here Rachel I’m here.” I smiled and gave her a quick hug. We went back to eating lunch.

After lunch I went off to math class and that’s when I saw him for the very first time. The quarterback of the eighth grade football team, his name was Jak. Before I realized it he was standing in front of me.

“Hello.” he smiled. I didn’t know what to say or do. He was so good looking and so out of my league, I was just a seventh grader and he was in eighth grade getting ready to go to high school. I wouldn’t stand of chance. How could I be thinking of guys when Rachel was having so much trouble. I knew I needed to support her as much as I could.

“Hello.” I blushed I hoped he didn’t notice.

Jak stood there not sure how to tell the girl that she was in front of his locker and he needed to get his gym bag. Normally he had just told her what the problem was but Jak immediately noticed something was different about this girl. She wasn’t like any of the others, she smelt like a wolf. That was impossible he thought. How could someone of his kind end up in a public school? Jak was very good at hiding what was inside of him, this girl was as bright as a truck with it’s high beams on. If someone didn’t tell her soon she would be discovered and that meant death. Jak was so used to people thinking he was normal that he hadn’t thought about the wolf that was within him. He had to tell her, he had to find a way to tell her to help her before it was too late.

“Hello my name is Jak may I ask yours?” he smiled. Just his smile made me blush like a tomato.

“My name…is Sarah.” I blushed even harder.

“Nice to meet you Sarah. Would you like to hang out sometime so we can get to know each other better?” he smiled and he knew with him being who he was she couldn’t refuse him. No normal eighth grader would even talk to a seventh or sixth grader but Jak had to warn her before it was too late.
“Um, sure.” whispered Sarah as she ran off to math class and sat down beside Jim her other close friend.

“Wow Sarah we’re you just running a race? You look exhausted.” said Jim as he eyed me up and down.

“Yeah I ran here because if I didn’t I was going to be late and you don’t want to be late to Mr. Smith’s math class.” said Sarah.

“You’ve never been late so how would you know the penalty for being late?” asked Jim.

“You’ve been late before you told me, it’s an immediate after school detention.” said Sarah.

“Yeah that is true. You know I can’t help it, math is so boring.” laughed Jim as the class bell rang and Mr. Smith stood up from his desk.

“Good afternoon class. I’m glad to see you all here do we all remember what today is?” he asked all of us. Everyone fell quiet so he asked again.

“Do we know what today is class?” asked Mr. Smith. All the kids then raised their hands and he pointed to Jim.

“Jim what is today?” asked Mr. Smith.

“Today is a test day Mr. Smith. We were reviewing yesterday so today is the test.” said Jim.

“Yes that is right and do you know why we take tests?” asked Mr. Smith.

“To help us further understand what you have taught us Mr. Smith.” said Jim worried about getting a detention. Had Mr. Smith heard everything he had said about math being boring?

“Exactly so tell me is this boring?” asked Mr. Smith.

“No.” said Jim.

“Now that we understand each other I will see you after school and then we will discuss this. As of right now if anyone has a problem with me or my lessons they can join Jim here in detention is that clear?” asked Mr. Smith.

“Yes sir.” everyone said in unison.

“Now pencils up and take your test. Sarah will you hand them out please?” asked Mr. Smith.

“Yes sir.” I smiled and grabbed the test papers and handed one out to each of my classmates and when I got to Jim I sat back down and placed one on my own desk.

“Now begin.” said Mr. Smith.

I looked at the test for it seemed like hours and was one of the last ones done and after I was done Jim was still struggling to finish before the end of class. I didn’t know what to tell him but he got detentions all the time in this class. Mr. Smith didn’t go easy on any of us and Jim was just know beginning to understand. It was his class and in his class math was fun.

After the bell rang Jim and Sarah talked outside as they headed to gym class together.

“I hate him.” said Jim.

“Mr. Smith?” I asked.

“Yeah why is he the only teacher that gives us all detentions for the smallest things?” he asked.

“It’s because he wants us to learn. I don’t think he has anything against any of us. It’s his job to make us learn or he loses his job as a teacher.” said Sarah honestly.

“Yeah I learn all my other classes and all my other teachers still have their jobs and they have never given me a detention.

“I don’t know I just know that he’s doing his job and there’s nothing that we can do to convince him that he’s doing it wrong.” I replied.

“If I was a teacher I wouldn’t punish my students for thinking that math is boring.” said Jim.

“Well someday you could be if you wanted to.” smiled Sarah.

“Heck no. Once I’m out of school I’m never coming back.” smiled Jim as he waved goodbye and went into the boys locker room. I went into the girls and sure enough Rachel was already there.

The locker room was full and all the girls where changing into their tee shirts and shorts. Rachel was sitting on one of the benches in the center of the locker room crying.

“What’s wrong Rachel?” I asked as I sat down beside her and the wood was solid so I didn’t get a splinter in my legs.

“I just got called by my mother she said that my dad might win custody of me but not Serena and Will.

“You mean the twins? Shouldn’t you all go to one parent?” I asked.

“The judges think that the divorce will be easier to handle if they both have children and since the twins are but two years old my dad will get custody of me.” said Rachel.

“I’m so sorry Rachel I wish there was something I could do.” I said and embraced her and she cried in my arms. I didn’t know what to say now so I just held her there as the other girls went out the door. Jacky looked at me.

“Are you coming?” she asked.

“We’ll be out.” I said and with that she left. Rachel finally managed to stop crying and looked at me.

“I think I’m ready.” She smiled as I stood up.

“Yeah me too.” I smiled and we went out the door together as friends. Rachel was the closest friend I had and my only best friend I hoped that she could still be my best friend with all that was happening in her life. I didn’t want to lose her as a friend as a part of my life.

“Hello you two why didn’t you come out with the others?” asked Mrs. Rhino.

“I had trouble with my locker and Sarah helped me.” said Rachel. All the other girls didn’t say anything.

“Is that true Sarah?” asked Mrs. Rhino.

“Yes it is Mrs. Rhino. I’m sorry it took so long.” I said.

“Very well. Today class is Friday so that means it’s pick an activity day. There is basketball, soccer, hockey and baseball outside so go to which ever sport you want and have fun. If anyone needs anything I will be right here on the bleachers.” said Mrs. Rhino.

Mrs. Rhino was one of the most easy going teachers I had ever met but you had to have fun in gym. Gym class was where you got to me a kid and still get education out of it. It was the new recess and we all loved it.
Rachel and I decided to play basketball and try to get life out of our minds for half an hour. Rachel was better than me at most sports but at basketball we went one on one and most of the times it was a tie breaking shot to see who won. Today it was just for fun.

“Want to play pig?” I asked. Pig was where you make a shot and then your opponent has to make the same exact shoot and the first one to miss three and spell Pig loses.
“Sure.” smiled Rachel. “You want first shot?”

“No you go first.” I smiled hoping that playing basketball would cheer her up even if only just a little.

At the end of class I was exhausted and sweating like a pig. We went in got showered and changed. Rachel was finally smiling.

“Thank you Sarah, I’m glad to have a friend like you.” she smiled as she gave me a big hug.

“It’s not a problem.” I smiled. With that we went our different ways for the rest of the day. Her to English and science and me to history and typing class. We met up at the end of the day at our lockers which was where we met when middle school started. We both decided to be friends and I was glad to have two classes with her.

“Hey Sarah how was your day?” asked Rachel.

“Pretty good I know your’s was pretty bad with the news of your parents divorce though. Is there anything else I can do to help?” I asked. She slammed her locker and looked at me.

“Just because they get divorced I immediately have a bad day? I had a good day thank you very much. I don’t need both my parents to have a good day. My dad is a good person I’ll be fine with him.” yelled Rachel as she rushed off to her bus. I hadn’t meant to offend her or hurt her feelings. Just when I was about to follow her and apologize I was tapped on the shoulder.

“Hello again.” smiled Jak. It was him it was the boy from earlier how had he known where my locker was?

“Hello what do you want?” I asked very worried about Rachel little did I know she had forgot something and was watching me talking to the star of the eighth grade football team.

“Like I said earlier I would like to hang out sometime. When are you available?” asked Jak.

“Are you asking me out?” I asked confused.

“No, I’m asking if you will spend time with me not a date.” spoke Jak.

“Oh I see well I would love to but…” I began and before I could finish he asked.

“When?” he asked.

“I can’t do it this weekend so how about next weekend?” I asked him.

“Yeah I can do that. See you later Sarah!” smiled Jak as he went to get his bus.

“I can’t believe this.” spoke Rachel as she walked up to me. “First you act like your trying to help and now you shove all this in my face.”

“What did I do?” I asked.

“Oh did you forget? I liked him and now I find out it’s you he likes. Mark my words Sarah as of today we are no longer friends and I hope he dumps you.” said Rachel storming off. She didn’t understand Jak had said it was just a date. I was hoping it was just the stress that was making her act like this. I didn’t want to lose my best friend just to hang out with some guy. I had never known that she liked Jak I hadn’t ever really asked her if she liked anyone or not. I guess it was my fault after all. I went out to the parking lot and got into the car with my mother Tammy.

“Hey honey how was your day?” she asked me. She asked me everyday how my day was but how did I tell her about Rachel and then about the star of the football team wanting to hang out with me.

“Rachel’s parents are getting divorced and she told me today that we are no longer friends.” I said quietly.

“Why?” asked Tammy.

“It’s because of a boy.” I said and waited for her to yell or ask since when did I have an interest in boys. She just smiled.

“I knew this day would come. Who is it?” she asked me. She wasn’t mad or even the least bit worried. Like she expected it to happen.

“His name is Jak and he’s the star and quarterback of our eighth grade football team.”

“An eighth grader how were you able to talk to him?” she asked me.

“Mom, he talked to me. He told me he wanted to hang out. He didn’t say why, just said he wanted to hang out with me.” I said very bluntly.

“Maybe he thinks you’re good looking.” she teased me. We all knew if the cheerleaders hadn’t gotten his attention then he wasn’t wanting to hang out with me for my looks.

“I don’t even know him and I told him I could hang out next weekend.” I said.

“Well dear would you like some advice?” she asked.

“Sure.” I smiled.

“Get to know him. Find out his schedule, sit with him at lunch then by the time the weekend comes you will know more about him.” smiled Tammy.

“Mom he’s an eighth grader. Seventh graders don’t ask eighth graders to hang out with them. I can’t figure out why he would even want to hang out.

“You could ask him.” she suggested.

“Yeah walk right up to a guy I’ve had a crush on since sixth grade and say hey why do you really want to hang out with me? I don’t think that’s a good idea mom.”

“How do you think I got to know your father. I asked him questions and not just a few. You have to have courage and ask him.”

“What should I do about Rachel?” I asked her. I didn’t want to lose my only girl best friend. Jim was my best friend but you couldn’t really have a heart to heart talk with a guy especially when it was about another guy.

“I’m sure that she’s stressed with what’s going on. I would give her some space and time to think. I’m sure that you will still be friends once things settle down. She’s going through some tough times.” she smiled at me and we pulled into our driveway. My father would still be working but Matthew came running out.

“Mommy!” he yelled as he ran to her. He had just turned five and he was a handful. Sometimes my mom paid me to baby-sit when dad and her wanted to go out for dinner and have some alone time. Tonight was one of those nights. Tonight was their anniversary.

“Sarah I will pay you five dollars an hour to watch Matthew while your dad and I are out for the weekend.” she had told me the weekend before and I said I didn’t mind then I could have some money to spend when I needed it. Now as I looked at Matthew I knew tonight would be a long night, and an even longer weekend. He was hyper and that was never a good thing with a five year old. I did need to get things off my mind and stop worrying about Rachel and about Jak. I needed a distraction and my brother was ready to give me that distraction. He smiled at me and I smiled at him. I promised myself I would have fun. I wouldn’t let Rachel’s mood get me down and I wouldn’t let Jak’s sudden interest in me stop me from living my own life.

“Wee!” Matthew smiled as I flew him around like a airplane. He was getting older but he was still a kid at heart. The house was decorated in red and pink since valentine’s day was only a few weeks away. We had green carpet in the living room with a couch, a love seat and two recliners. We had one coffee table by the couch and a desk with our desktop computer on it. We lived in a small house with only two floors and three bedrooms. Mom and dad’s room was the largest and Matthew would always complain that he wanted there room. Said he was a big boy and big boy’s needed lots of room. My parents just laughed and explained to him that mommy and daddy needed their room and that they would make his room bigger. My father is one of the smartest people I know and my mother is a nurse so getting more room for Matthew wasn’t hard. They ended up taking most of the unnecessary stuff out, drawers, tabletop and left just the bed as they reorganized his room and ever since he hadn’t complained. Now he wanted a basketball hoop in his room to play with after school. They hadn’t given in to that though. Instead my dad was planning to buy him a basketball for his birthday in August and build a hoop on the side of the garage doors.

At the end of the night I was exhausted I gave Matthew a bath and put him to bed. I went to the couch and laid down there waiting for my parents to return from their night out. I turned on the television to see if there was anything good to watch. It was a Friday night and they were starting to show Valentine’s day specials. I decided to watch a movie Puss in Boots the old version. The movie channel Stars was playing it for free. We had DIRECTV and my dad paid the little extra that it cost for the movie channels for when there wasn’t anything on television to watch.

I wasn’t sure what to think as I let myself fall into the movie. School was hard enough at is was. If this was growing up I wasn’t so sure I wanted to be an adult. Lots of people say that adults have more freedom that kids but today I saw two adults fall apart and leave their children wondering why. I was glad that my parents were happy together and that nothing, would take them away from each other except death. The look I saw in their eyes when they were together I wanted that look with someone. I knew Jak was out of my league but maybe I could try to date Jim. Jim made me laugh and we got along with one another. I haven’t really thought about dating until today. I knew that it would have to wait. I had to talk to Rachel had to find out if we could still be friends. With that in mind I fell asleep on the couch.

The sun shined it’s bright light right into my face as my mother pulled open the curtains and smiled at me.

“It’s time to get up and have fun.” she smiled at me. It was Saturday and as I looked at the clock it was eight am. I didn’t need to be up this early on a Saturday. I yawned and went back to my room.

“I’ll pay you to mow the lawn if you stay up.” she said. I already had some money from babysitting and I was tired so I went out to bed.

I didn’t wake up until almost lunch time and the lawn still needed mowed because my dad was working and my brother was to young to mow the lawn but now my mother said I would get no pay for mowing. I went out and started the lawn motor with ease and took my time as I mowed over the grass moving the sticks out of my way as I went. I was hot and sweating but at least I didn’t have school to worry about and afterwards I could relax and eat lunch. Matthew was out on our swing and I told him to watch himself when I came by and he sat still as I mowed around him and once I was gone it was back to swinging and being a kid and having fun. Sometimes I missed those days of worry free do nothing all day days. That was the joy of being a kid.

I spent all weekend relaxing and before I knew it, it was Sunday and I went off to Church.
“Hey Sarah.” my pastor called.

“Hey Bud how was your week?” I asked.

“It was wonderful yours?” he asked me. The people were flooding out from the Sunday service but I always stayed after to help with cleanup. It was appreciated and Bud always thanked me for my service to the church and to God.

“I’ve had quite the rollercoaster week Bud.” I smiled trying to look forward to a better week.

“Looks like you need to sit down and ask God to help you have a better week.” he smiled as he patted my shoulder and walked away. He probably had paperwork to do.

“Yeah seems like that’s the problem.” I replied as I kneeled at the railing and prayed to God.

“God please give me strength to help Rachel. Please give Rachel strength to get through her parent’s divorce. Help her to understand that it’s not her fault that they are getting divorced and let her understand that I didn’t mean to offend her the other day.” I prayed and after I was done I stood up and brushed my dust off my dress. I walked home because I didn’t live far away from my church and I watched the birds chirping and the squirrels collecting nuts. It was February and before I knew it it would be time for Easter I wondered would I be getting Rachel a best friend present this year and would she ever talk to me? I couldn’t stop worrying wondering what would happen to Rachel and me’s friendship. I sighed as I opened the door to my house and went inside. My parents had been waiting for me at the dinner table, Matthew wasn’t as patient. He had already started eating and I could understand why he had. I had took my time walking back and it was almost one o’ clock pm.

“What took you so long dear?” asked Tammy. Where should I begin? I had already told her about Rachel’s parents and the guy that had asked me to hang out with me.

“I had a lot on my mind so I tried to walk it off.” I replied honestly. I sat down and she patted me on the shoulder.

“This is about Rachel isn’t it?” she asked.

“Yeah, it is.” I replied. My father hadn’t heard the story so he decided to jump in.

“What’s wrong honey? You and Rachel are best friends right?” he asked. I told him everything even about the boy.

“Figures it would be a boy.” replied my father as he went back to reading his newspaper. I was only fourteen so of course my interest in boys worried him. He didn’t realize that I wasn’t the one who went after Jak, he had talked to me and that was what confused me the most. Why would an eighth grader talk to a seventh grader? It didn’t make any sense unless he liked me and he had said it was not a date. That he just wanted to hang out why?


“I’m sure things will work our dear. Try to relax.” whispered Tammy as we all sat and ate our dinner.

After dinner I decided to call Rachel and see if there was anything that we could talk about. The phone rang three times and Rachel’s mother answered.

“Hello who may I ask is speaking?” she asked.

“It’s Sarah is Rachel available?” I asked.

“Hold on I’ll get her.” she replied and I waited and waited and finally Rachel came on the line.

“What do you want?” asked Rachel. She was very upset.

“I want us to be friends. I don’t want to date that boy. He just asked me to hang out with him that’s all.” I explained.

“You had to have talked to him first. There’s no way someone like him would talk to us. We are seventh graders and he is out of our league.” explained Rachel. I knew that but he had still talked to me first how could I explain it to her without her getting mad at me.

“You don’t think I know that? Trust me he came up and talked to me. I wouldn’t lie to you Rachel, we are best friends.” I tried to explain to her.

“Listen Sarah my life is as screwed up as it gets right now. I just want to be left alone. If I want to talk to you, I will call you.” said Rachel and with that she hung up on me. I thought school was bad, life was worse.

I decided to let life go on without Rachel and the next day we wouldn’t sit by each other on the bus. We wouldn’t talk to each other in gym class. It was up to Rachel whether or not we became friends again. I didn’t want her to be my enemy but with the way she sounded on the phone it was like she hated me because somehow I had attracted Jak. I wasn’t that good looking I was your average girl, I even had a small gut that I was trying to lose. I was only one hundred and twenty pounds but still I thought that was fat, I knew plenty of girls skinner than I was. I decided to tell Jak the truth, tell him that my best friend thought I was stealing her man. I wasn’t sure how to tell him. It was like my mother said I needed to get to know him this week and I was planning on asking as many questions as I could before the weekend came. I didn’t want to ask too many or seem like I was prying but for Rachel’s sake I would risk it. I didn’t need a boyfriend, what I really needed was my friends and Rachel was the only girl friend I had and I was not about to lose her to a guy. I put Matthew to bed that night and read him the little engine that could. I thought of myself as the train. I could do this. I could still have Rachel’s friendship and a guy but that guy couldn’t be Jak. I didn’t want to play the triangle game where the two girls fought over the same guy. Matthew looked up at me and smiled.

“Thank you for reading to me.” he smiled and the smile was worth a thousand words. I kissed him on the forehead and wished that I could be like him. I wish I didn’t have to worry about Rachel or Jak. I had my own complicated life to deal with. Yeah, life.

Yes I have quite a few people telling me I should make a bigger story out of this. Like have Jak ask Sarah to be his girlfriend instead of wife and contiue the story using Rachel as the big villain who tries to break them up.

Finally the updated newly improved The Wolf Within is here! Tell me what you think of it. heart