Wunderhein Academy: Book 1- Awakening

“I can’t eat all of this!” Kitten exclaimed in horror, looking at the food on her tray. “It’s three times what I eat.”

“Trust me you will.” Aleksei replied, picking up his fork. Kitten watched him in morbid fascination as he dissected his food before wolfing it down.

Aleksei halted and looked at her. “What?”

“Nothing.” She looked down at her food in an attempt to eat it, only to sneak another glance around the mess hall.

The place was emptier than usual. The boys there were all like Lexie, consuming plates with mountains of food on them. She straightened as two familiar faces walked towards their table.

“About time ya got here.” Dmitri laughed, slapping Aleksei on the back before sitting down. “What happened to ya? Detour by the Library or something?”

“Laugh it up, Waldo.” Aleksei hit his chest, trying not to choke on the food he had been eating before glaring at Dmitri. “I was a shot-trick.”

“A shot-trick?” Kitten heard Boris whisper as he froze mid-way sitting next to her.

“For?” Dmitri tilted his head in fake interested, despite the dark tone underlining he’s question.

“Kitten.” Aleksei took a huge gulp of his coffee. “Ended up passed out under her room.”

The air felt tense for a moment until Dmitri burst out laughing, slapping her on the back. “Nice one Kitty.”

“Um…thanks?” Kitten replied as she pretended to tuck into the helping of the eggs, bacon and sausages on her plate.

“Oh wow.” Boris looked at her with a cross of shock and newfound admiration.

“So how was he?” Dmitri leaned over the table. “We’re all team-mates here. Ya can tell.”

“Huh?” Kitten looked up confused as she ran her sleeve over her tongue, hating the copper taste that had appeared ever since she woke up. “Tell what?”

“Leave her alone Dimi, nothing happened.” Aleksei growled. “She had the shot too, remember? Kitten, for the millionth time, roll up your sleeves when you eat if they get in the way. They’re not there to wipe your face with.”

“Eep.” Boris squeaked next to her. He quickly hid his own sleeves, guilt all over his face. She grinned at him, before noticing Dmitri nudging Aleksei as their captain tried to get back to his meal.

“Dmitri.” Aleksei warned in a low voice.

“It’s just a pity.” Dmitri swung his coffee cup thoughtfully. “The only girl here ends up with you and...”

“Dimi…drop…IT.” Aleksei ordered before devouring his plate of sausage and bacon.

“Just sayin.”

“Just ordering.”

“If you two are done being weird.” Kitten looked from one to the other, abandoning her food. “Can some-one explain what a shot-trick is?”

There was a long silence at the table.

“So it’s like this.” Dmitri grinned evilly as he began.

“Dmitri!” Aleksei stopped him. “I’ll explain it to her.”

“But my version’s more fun.”

“I know what your version will be.” Aleksei replied darkly. “Go fetch coffee or something.”

“It just means that some people pass out in random places after the shot so then some other guys sometimes will take care of them.” Boris replied, his words coming out calmly yet quickly, like a child trying to squeeze the words of a story together. “We’re not supposed to be weak and need looking after. It’s embarrassing. But you’re really vulnerable when that happens.”

Dmitri was on the verge of laughing while Aleksei glanced at Boris.

“Oh I see. So I shouldn’t have taken Lexie in.” Kitten’s hands flew to her mouth. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know. I won’t next time.”

“Lexie eh?” Dmitri’s eyebrow lifted as he smirked at his captain. “So it’s official now?”

“The only thing that’s official is that you’re being annoying.” Aleksei growled before pointing his fork and Kitten. “And you need to eat.”

“No.” Kitten pushed away her plate. “I’m not hungry.”

“You have to.” Aleksei growled. “You don’t know when last you ate. Your body needs the food.”

“But it doesn’t.” She cried. “Because I…”

She halted, biting her lip. Everyone stared at her.

“Because you what?” Dmitri chuckled glancing at Aleksei. “Ate earlier?”

“Shut up Dmitri.” Aleksei’s eyes narrowed.

“I did.” She confessed. The boys stared blankly at her. Aleksei’s eyes widened.

“What the …” Aleksei began, his face paling slightly as he glanced at Dmitri. “Hold on, what did you eat?”

“Was it good?” Dmitri prodded with a leering smile.

“It was just some rolls.” She shifted uncomfortably in her seat. “That’s all. About an hour ago.”

“Boring.” Dmitri slumped back into his side of the table. “Ya got ya days mixed up. That was with lunch yesterday.”

“Maybe it’s different for girls.” Boris suggested, tilting his head. “Maybe they don’t get hungry so quickly.”

“You should eat, regardless.” Aleksei pointed to Kittens plate. “You’re body needs the energy.”

“But I already ate.” She protested.

“Look…” Aleksei rubbed the bridge of his nose when she interrupted.

“I wasn’t the first one to find Lexie.”

Silence covered the table.

“What are you talking about?”

“Some boys found you first. Guys like me. They agreed to a trade.” She bit her lower lip. “Only they kept checking up on me and brought me food while I sat with you.”

“You traded for me?” Aleksei burst out.

“You own the captain.” Boris whispered in admiration.

“I don’t own the captain.” Kitten shook her head.

“She doesn’t own me.” Aleksei corrected with a fierce growl.

“This is fantastic.” Dmitri leaned forward. “What did you trade ’em for.”

“Some cookies I had left.” Kitten began ticking off on her fingers. “And I gave them my spare uniform, hairbrush and toothpaste.”

Aleksei paled before slamming the table. “How could you be such an idiot to hand over your spare uniform? The next time we get new ones is in two months.”

“So, I can just wash this one.” Kitten shrugged.

“Fine, what did you plan on wearing while that one dried out?” Aleksei’s eyes narrowed. “Last I checked, your Pyjamas didn’t cover much.”

She turned red, recalling how she had been dragged through the school by her father. Of course Aleksei had seen that. The whole school would have seen that.

“I’m fine with her in pyjamas.” Dmitri held up a hand eagerly.

“Stay out of this.” Aleksei snapped at his co-leader.

“I have a uniform that she can use.” Boris volunteered. “We’re about the same size.”

“That’s missing the point.” Aleksei glared at her. “You don’t just go around giving your stuff away. Not everything is replaceable. What if next time…” He halted. “Next time we’re not there to cover for you. You need to think before doing stuff.”

“Easy Lexie.” Dmitri intervened. “She was helping ya out.

“Which I wouldn’t have needed if she would just listen.”

“I would listen if you weren’t such a jerk.” Kitten threw back.

“You.” Aleksei threw out his hand, pointing at her. “Punishment detail.”

“Are you kidding me? For what?”

“What else?” Aleksei gritted his teeth. “For disrespecting your commanders, giving your stuff away, should I go on?”

“Fine, then add this.” Kitten picked up her plate and hurled it at him without thinking. “I should have left you there.”

He didn’t even try to move. Bits of sausage and bacon slipped off his uniform, leaving greasy patches as the egg left sunny yellow stains. The table went silent.

“That,” Aleksei’s eyes narrowed. “Just earned you an extra week.”