Page 52 of A Second Chance for the Beta

“They really do,” I agree.

The tip of Austen’s ears turns pink. “You are so stupid,” he mutters before dashing off towards his cousin. He seems to really look up to him, which is cute. The two joke around for a while. It looks like they are getting along really well. I hope my bond to Ella will be like that too one day.

Gisela and I sneak closer to listen until Austen grins and waves at us. “These are my best friends,” he says to Levi. “Charlie and Gisela. You know Gisela already.”

“That I do.” He chuckles. “The angelic troublemaker.”

“At your service.” Gisela grins.

“I have heard about you, Charlie.” Levi smiles brightly. “You are Beta Ella’s and Beta Dante’s niece.”

I nod. “That’s right.”

“So, why are you here, Lev?” Austen asks.

“Got the okay to pick you up for an hour or so,” he explains. “Alpha Liam asked me to meet with his twin brothers. Their classes finished earlier. I thought it would be nice for you to tag along.”

“Wait.” Gisela blinks. “THE twins?”

“Who arethetwins?” I ask.

“They are one class above us, the hot one with the blonde hair and the freckles and the gloomy, mysterious one,” she explains.

“Oh! They are the alpha’s brothers?” I ask. “I wasn’t even aware it was them. It makes sense why they are so popular.”

“They are visiting the same martial arts class as Austen, and the alpha wanted me to catch up with them,” Levi explains. “Just for an hour or so.”

“Makes me want to join the class too.” Gisela giggles.

“Don’t worry, they are going to visit this weekend,” I say, remembering what Ella told me about keeping the weekend free.

“Awesome,” Gisela says before linking our arms. “Okay then, see you later, Austen.”

“Sure, I will catch up with you once I’m back,” he says. He looks like he wants to say more, but then he just smiles.

Gisela and I return to our class while scheming how I would ditch my guard. I’m not even sure that I want to date Rob, but I figure a cup of coffee wouldn’t do any harm. He is the first guy to show interest in me, ever. Back in my days at the orphanage, I was always the odd one out… too loud, too confident, too snarky, too much of a tomboy.

Too much of everything, just not enough girl, it seems.

So, the least I can do is meet Rob without having a guard with me who makes me look like a weirdo again. For once I’m fitting in; I don’t want to be an outsider like I usually am.

We have a long lunch break today, which is probably why Rob suggested meeting during that time. Right when it starts, I hurry down the staircase to the basement, where the changing rooms for the sports clubs are disappearing into one of the bathrooms. From inside, I can hear Gisela’s voice, talking to my not-so-subtle guard. “You know,” she says, sounding angry. “Women’s problems! Have some respect.”

I laugh inwardly. Nothing gets a guy more terrified than having to talk about a girl’s period. I peek out of the door, noticing how Gisela is standing there, hands at her hips, and lecturing the poor man about how difficult it is to be a girl and bleed every month.

She is the best.

I silently sneak out of the bathroom and into the storage room next to it. The window there is big enough for me to squeeze through and disappear from school without being seen.

Hello freedom!

eighteen

RobTheBlob

*CHARLIE*

Robiswearingbaggyjeans and a hoodie. I get why Gisela finds him hot; it’s the whole bad boy look all my friends in school like. I’m not so sure ifIlike it, but if all the girls are into that, I assume I should be too?