The Alpha and His Vet

o n e

I hopped off the bus with my exceptionally large bag in tow as the cool breeze of a new school year blew against my face. Around me students straight from their homes flock about with their own hefty bags, hugging each other and rushing to their dorms. I walk through the boisterous campus, passing the beautiful scenery straight out of a movie. The campus is massive and is surrounded by thick trees. The building’s architecture is old stone Victorian with its steep gabled roofs complete with towers, turrets and dormers. My favorite part was the stained glass windows. 

It’s my second year in University and a year closer in becoming a Veterinarian. I’ve known what I was going to be since I was five years old. I was given a puppy for my birthday and while we were playing, a car swerved into our lawn and... and that was that for my puppy. I remember feeling helpless and wanted nothing more than to help ease his pain but there was nothing I could do but cry and watch him go. From then on, I knew I wasn’t going to be helpless anymore. That I would be able to help. 

I’d be different. I’d be better capable. I’d know more. 

My parents never understood. They were Surgeons. The best of their craft and they couldn’t believe that their only daughter would dedicate her life to helping mere ‘animals’. They didn’t think a Veterinarian is as good as a Surgeon and that I was simply wasting my talents and time. In my eyes, we were all helping and treating. It didn’t matter if my patients were animals.

“Lacey!” I heard a scream from the entrance of the dorms. 

I look up already knowing who it was. “Kat!”

Kat, a tall gorgeous girl with luscious black hair and deep beautiful brown eyes who I met during freshman orientation. She came running to me, arms open wide. We were different majors with very different personalities but we hit it off instantly. “I am so glad you’re here! We’re roommates!” 

I gasp, throwing my arms around her as well, my heavy bag forgotten. “Really? It’s confirmed?” 

She nodded, the grin so wide it spread across her face beautifully. “Yeah! I just checked!” 

I let out an excited shriek, holding onto her tight. “Roomies!”

Kat pulled away just to grimace. “Ugh, I’m so glad to be roommates with you and not,” Midway into her explanation she changed her voice into a high pitch shrill. “I’m Valerie and my parents are better than yours.” 

I burst out laughing, finding her whole changing of persona dramatic and entertaining. “Your parents literally own this school, Kat.” 

She rolled her eyes. “And don’t you own a couple of hospitals?”

“Only in my dreams.” I remarked, bending down to retrieve the bag I had let go to hug her.

Another roll of her eyes. “Ah, yes but your parents do. No need to act coy, Macoy.”

I groan, looking around with my head down. “Please stop. Ever since you made that line, every other student uses it when I’m in earshot.” 

“Which line?” She grinned cheekily and began to speak louder. “No need to act coy, Macoy?”

Several people around us turned and stifled laughs. “Hey, Macoy! You acting coy again?” 

Being in a remote area which is heavily surrounded by thick trees, the University has a rather small population and simple rumors or lines like that, tend to go around quickly. Already, I was familiar with most of the students and staff.

I bury my face In the palm of my hand. “Let’s go see our room.” 

Kat nodded taking my hand and pulling me inside the brick building of our dormitory while her heels clicked against the stone steps. The building itself is about four floors but it’s spread out wide by a serene lake that can be overlooked from the windows. The lobby is crowded with people coming and going with mattresses, furniture and other essentials. I swear I saw a double door refrigerator being carried in. The dormitories are for both male and female students which made it extra noisy. Already several of the boys were handing out flyers for the first bonfire of the year.

“Hey Lacey! Hey Kat! You two are coming to the bonfire right?” A guy on his last year asked, giving us a flyer. It was a colored paper with a poor drawing of a bonfire at the front. The time and a small scribbled map provided at the back. 

The bonfire is always at the same spot every year: deep within the woods behind the dormitory. It would have everything from free flowing frothy beer, barbecue and the occasional brave soul who would plunge into the freezing cold lake. Kat and I have been to every single bonfire last year. 

“Of course.” She answered for the both of us, sending a wink to the graduating boy. 

He’s tall and had the boy next door appeal to him. It also helped that he’s in the basketball team and is good enough to play for the B - League. 

In other words, he is the type Kat liked to play with. 

He smirked, liking the attention he was getting from her. “I’ll see you there then.” 

“I’ll be the one in red.” She purred sauntering away, making sure her hips moved in slow motion. 

I followed after her after waving goodbye to the boy. “Oh, Kat. You’re going to break his big heart. We all know you only date professional athletes or higher.” 

“That I do. Have I told you about my summer fling?” She excitedly tells me as we go up the stairs. 

“In length.” I grimaced remembering it well. Kat and I kept in close contact through the summer. One early morning when the sun was still hours away from raising, she called me to tell the story right after it happened. 

Kat repeated the story anyway with all of the details that had my ears and cheeks turn red. “He took me to his pent house and we did it again.”

“The first one being in his sports car? How can you two even fit?” I asked even if I already knew how. 

She happily obliged to my question. “It’s all about the angles.”

As she continued her position by position explanation, we arrived at room two one one. It had a small white board with our names scribbled on it. I push open the door to a spacious room that could easily fit about six people. There were three open doors, one being a white tiled bathroom and two of them being the actual bedrooms. There were windows and windows and more windows with the view of our beautiful lake and shelves of countless books. Our small living room already had Kat’s furniture, her couch, her white carpet and a fairly large television set.

Kat grabbed my shoulders, forcing me to look away from our room and to face her. “Quick! Without checking the rooms! Do you want the left or the right?” 

My mind blanked. “Aren’t they the same size?”

“Is it but still! Left or right?” She insisted, eyes wide.

Knowing she wanted the right, I smile and point. “Left.”

Kat blew out a breath. “Good. I wanted the right.” 

It wasn’t that I was being a pushover. I simply didn’t have a preference and knowing a friend wanted something, I’d happily give it willingly. We separate to our rooms and I start to unpack. The bedroom is big enough. It fit a bed, a decent closet and a study desk with a large window that had a view of the woods.

As I continued to unpack and the sun began to set, the mist started to thicken within the woods creating an eerie yet peaceful look. I was placing the last of my pajamas on the closet when Kat entered my room and threw herself on the bed, my fluffy comforter wrapping around her. 

“Dinner before the bonfire?” She asked, wearing a red coat and boots. Kat’s makeup is already at its fleek-est and her hair is done as beautifully as the ones done in a salon. I never understood how she could look so put together. 

“Yes, please! Let me just grab my coat.” I smile closing my closet and stretching. 

Kat kept her eyes on me before sighing. “I wish I was as beautiful as you.”

“What do you mean?” I pull at my brunette hair which I had down. “Have you seen yourself? You’re gorgeous.” 

“This-“ She gestures to herself. “Took three hours to do. Not counting the years worth of work I had done. I’d kill to have features like yours. You’ve never needed to get anything done to look nice. You barely need any makeup and never need to go to the gym. I both envy that and respect it.”

I look away feeling shy with the attention. “Aw, shucks. You’re making me blush.” 

Kat shrugged her shoulders and passed my coat. “If I was lesbian or bi, I’d definitely go for you.” 

Laughing at my quirky friend, I pull my coat on. “Thanks? I guess?” 

“Only facts.” She smiled and went for the door.

The halls were packed with people holding out flyers and trying to figure out the poorly done map at the back. Most were already dressed for the chilly weather while some were drinking and doing their pregame at seven in the evening. 

Kat and I politely declined when we were offered drinks and went down to the entrance. The first floor of the dormitory had all the laundry facilities, vending machines and recreation areas like television and lounge chairs. Several people were there also, drinking and eating chips. Everyone is in a bright and excited mood.

We headed to the cafeteria which is in another place completely. It’s right between the main building and the dormitory. 

It’s cold outside but not enough for smoke to come out of our breaths. Kat and I trudge through the countless benches, trees and stone steps towards the next building. It’s much louder here with excited freshmen and other students eating and buzzing about rowdily. 

Kay and I swiped our ID cards before entering and went wild with the options. There was beef stir fry, pork stew, seafood options and a salad bar that Kat particularly enjoyed. My personal favorite is the small dessert table at the end filled with sweets of every kind. They always had chocolate cake and avocado ice cream.

“I’m not excited for business accounting tomorrow.” She confides when we settle down at our table.

I was busy eating frozen yogurt and completely bypassing all the other food that I got for dinner. In the back of my head, I could already hear my mother screaming at my audacity. She’s always been strict about proper diet and nutrition. Unfortunately for her, I didn’t care much for my nutrition. Food is food. “You should tell your parents you don’t want to take over their business empire.” 

“And lose my inheritance?” Kat grumbled lowly.  “As if. I live an expensive lifestyle.” 

“If you want to dance, you should dance.” I tell her knowing well of her passion. “Weren’t you good enough to join some ballet company?” 

She gaped looking mildly offended at my words. “It’s not some ballet company, Lacey. It’s the New York City Ballet.”

“Then you should go.” I push licking the last of my frozen yogurt and wanting more. Instead, I start to go through my dinner, pushing around vegetables and such. “Or have you considered doing it after your business degree?”

“I’d be too old by then.” Kat leans back in her seat looking somber, her salad forgotten. “I’m not as brave as you. Going into Veterinary when your parents said no? That takes balls. Balls I do not have.”  

“You’re full of compliments today. You must be really sad.” I tease, wanting Kat out of her mood. “Come let’s find you a nice boy to play with tonight and forget all about this. We’ll figure out your future tomorrow after some drinks and a little fun.” 

“I do like playing around with boys.” She mused, eyes bright and ready.

I pat her hand encouragingly. “That’s the spirit.” 

“Tonight is going to be fun. I can feel it.” Kat declares, eyes already on the graduating boy from earlier.

Uninterested, I look out the window. Beyond the lake and towards the trees. I could feel something too. 

Something strange. 

Something big.

Maybe something exciting?