Holy shit I've been away for so LONG I almost forgot what chapter 4 was supposed to be. But I didn't forget to put the notes at the bottom.

Chapter 4: Thursday turmoil

Norah was thoroughly pissed. Not only did she admit to herself she had a crush on Mark she also barely got any sleep. For the second time this week!

"I'm going to kill him. " Norah said to herself at six a.m. lying in her bed, staring at the ceiling "I'm actually going to kill him. " once again she dreamt of him. Luckily this time it wasn't anything dirty. In fact, she saw the two of them dancing, Mark wearing a tuxedo and she in a dark red evening dress. All lights and eyes on them yet somehow still felt like they were the only two beings in the world. Norah woke up just before they almost kissed, a kiss she initiated "It's just a crush Norah. " she tried to reason with herself "And crushes go away after a while. " the canine nodded in approval "You'll see, in no time at all, you'll forget about Mark and James will be taking you out for that coffee. " that brought a smile to her face "And then he'll be taking you from behi- "

"Norah? " a female voice said quietly, the door open just a little bit to let in some light from the hallway.

"Mom? " Norah sat up in her bed and looked at the door. Her mother peeked in with a worried expression.

"Bad dreams, honey? " she asked in concern before fully opening her daughter's bedroom door. Her mother, Betty, was the spitting image of Norah. Or was it the other way around?

"Yes. " then she quickly shook her head "I mean no. " then groaned "I don't know mom. " this left her mother confused and she approached the bed and sat down.

"Wanna' talk about it? " Betty placed her hand on her daughter's shoulder in comfort. Norah thought for a second and decided what the hell it was 5 a.m. anyway.

"It's... About a guy. And, we were dancing... " Betty's concerned look was replaced with one of glee. It was not everyday her daughter had boy troubles.

"Ooooooh, do tell! " she urged her on and Norah sighed in defeat.

"He's new at school. "

"Newcomers are always hot. "

"Mom! " Norah said in surprise and both chuckled "Anyway, he's new at school and... I think I have a crush on him. "

"Well honey that's great! Your father and I were getting a little worried since you never brought anyone over- "

"He's human. " Betty frowned at the revelation. There was no way Norah would tell her Mark is her new teacher and luckily Betty didn't follow much of the local news.

"Oh. " her mother said shortly and Norah nodded in agreement "Is he bullying you? "

"Actually, no. " this calmed her mother down a little "He's really nice to me. " Norah looked away in thought.

"But you don't want to get hurt again? " Betty said in understanding.

"Yes, but, I think he's genuine. " Norah looked back at her mother "He's in my karate class and master Itachi thinks very highly of him. "

"How so? " this question required some altered truth.

"They know each other from before Mark arrived. " Norah noticed her little slip of the tongue.

"Mark, huh? Go on. "

"Yeah, Mark. Apparently he save Itachi from an oncoming car or something. " Betty looked surprised but somewhat pleased this human was not a dirt bag like the ones Norah had the displeasure of meeting "And, lately I've been having these thoughts- "

"You like him, don't you? " Betty didn't need to hear the rest as she knew already. But it did surprise her that her daughter would have a crush on a human after what happened.

"I wouldn't say like, more like a crush. " Norah scratched her cheek, thankful her mother couldn't see the little blush in the low lights "And that's the problem! I can't have a crush on a human! "

"Why not? "

"After what happened, you really ask me that? " Norah growled at her mother who didn't take kindly to it.

"Temper, young lady. " she said sternly and Norah looked away "What happened to you was horrible and I wouldn't want that to happen to anyone. Having said that, you must also know there are many humans in the world, honey. Some might just surprise you. "

"I don't wanna' be surprised! I want James! " she quickly covered her maw, eyes wide.

"Who is James? Another boy in your school? " her mother asked with a sly smile.

"Another new guy. " Norah admitted quietly "A white wolf. "

"Hmmmm, dreamy. " Betty teased her daughter who buried her head between her knees "But tell me about this human, this Mark guy. What's he like? " Norah looked back at Betty.

"I dunno'. " she shrugged before continuing "Tall, blonde, athletic, gorgeous blue eyes- " Betty grinned widely and Norah realized what she said "Dammit! See? I can't get him out of my head! "

"If he looks like that, why would you? " Norah's jaw dropped in disbelief making her mother laugh "But that's not what I meant. What I meant was, what's he like as a person. You said he's really nice to you. " the younger canine shut her jaw and thought about it a little before speaking.

"On the first day we played dodgeball on opposite teams and he won. " Betty didn't quite understand what was nice about that but resumed listening "I mean he destroyed us, mom. Five of the best athletes in school against him and four pipsqueeks and they won without breaking a sweat. " still not getting it but moving on "I was the last one standing, well, kneeling actually, and was at their mercy. I was expecting five balls to knock me out but they just lightly bounced off my head. He even tried to help me up and commended me for my playing. "

"I assume you didn't take it lightly. " Betty knew her daughter all too well.

"Better than usual, actually. " if Mark wasn't her teacher, a nose would have been broken "He could have his team hurl the balls right at my head, but he didn't. And then later I found out he's really good at playing the guitar. " Betty nodded in undersanding. Her daughter had a thing for guitar players "And he drives a Mustang! A beautiful 68' Mustang, mom! You know how gorgeous those things are? "

"You may have shown me a picture or two. " Betty giggled since it was more like a hundred pictures. Norah was very subtle in saying what car she wanted to get once she finished high-school. She did have an old Civic to get around but her dad promised her a new car once she graduates.

"Very funny, mom. " Norah gave her mother a deadpan look "He's also funny. I've never seen the whole class this entertained before. And he's a skilled fighter. " Norah still felt a little bad about opening up his old war wound "I accidentally injured him in a sparring match "The wound he got from that car. " Betty, once again, nodded in understanding "I mean, everyone likes him. Well, everyone besides Kovu since he humiliated us at dodge ball. "

"I bet the school's top player didn't take that kindly. "

"He can't do anything about it. " Betty raised a brow in question "Like I said, skilled fighter. Kovu actually wanted to beat up poor little Tim after- "

"Poor little Tim? " now this was a surprise "I didn't know you had friends besides Emma. " Norah was a little insulted by this but she couldn't deny her mother was right.

"Well I do now. " she said with a huff "Anyway, Tim tagged him out, Kovu tried to hit him and Mark simply grabbed his wrist and brought Kovu to his knees. It was like something from a kung-fu movie! " in hindsight, it was pretty funny to see someone take Kovu down a peg "But what really got me was yesterday in music class. We danced together. "

"Really? " Betty asked in amusement.

"A school dance is coming up and it'll apparently be a ballroom type thing. " Norah's cheeks felt a little hotter "The teacher picked the two of us for demonstration and... " she trailed off but Betty continued for her, a smug grin appearing.

"And then you fell for his gorgeous blue eyes? "

"Yes. " her eyes widened in shock "NO! Mom! " her cheeks were burning up and Betty laughed.

"I'm sorry honey but you served it on a silver platter. " Betty defended herself while Norah grumbled something under her breath "Listen honey, I know these are hard feelings for you to process right now, with him being human and all. " Norah's head lifted and looked at her mother "But maybe you should give him a chance. "

"No way! " Norah felt like this was a slap in the face.

"Just hear me out. " Betty tried to calm her down enough to explain "You have bad memories with humans and maybe this Mark guy can help you get over them. " Norah's eyes looked to the side in thought "Try and be his friend at least. I know it's a lot to ask but... I think it would be good for you. " Norah snorted at the thought of being friends with a human "Besides, should your little crush pass who knows, you may end up with a new friend instead. "

"I seriously doubt that. "

"Just give the guy a chance, please? " Norah looked at her pleading mother "For me? " the younger canine sighed in defeat.

"Fine, but no promises! " Betty smiled at her daughter and pulled her in for a hug which Norah accepted.

"That's my girl. Now, go to sleep, you still have a few hours left. " Betty got off the bed and went towards the bedroom door "I'll be back early today so we can talk more if you wish. " Betty was a doctor at the local hospital and her shifts tended to get a little crazy.

"Sure thing, mom. " Norah layed back under her covers "Have a nice day. "

"You too sweetheart. " Betty closed the door and went downstairs to the kitchen where her husband, also a german shepard named William, was already drinking his coffee and reading the morning newspapers. The man was already in his uniform, all neatly pressed, fitting for a police chief.

"Morning. " he greeted his wife who leaned in to kiss him.

"Mornin' Bill. " after the quick kiss, Betty went to get herself some coffee "Guess what's new? " she said and looked at Bill with a wide smile.

"Ummm... " Bill looked at his wife, his expert eyes trying to find anything new with his wife "The hair? Maybe... " Betty frowned.

"Not with me, genius, with our daughter. "

"Oh, I know this one. " he tapped his chin in thought "She earned a black belt in karate! " his wife face-palmed "Brown? " Bill asked sheepishly.

"She has a crush on a boy. " Betty finally solved the mystery but Bill didn't see why that would be so special.

"Didn't she have crushes before? " he asked with a raised brow.

"No, she had flings and physic- " Betty was interrupted by an alarmed looking husband.

"Don't want to hear it! " Bill buried his nose in the newspaper.

"Bill, we know our daughter has been sexually active for some time- "

"La la la la- "

"-and it's time you stopped acting like a little child about it! " she smacked the newspaper directly to his nose, causing him to yelp in surprise "And if you would listen to me you'd see why this one is special. He's human. " now this got Bill's full attention "Norah said he's really nice to her, to everyone in fact. I think this might be good for her. " Bill mulled it over in his head. It would be good for Norah to have contact with humans again. Even anthros have bad seeds among them and those bastards that hurt his little girl are on the human side.

"You think they'll become friends? " Bill asked, not entirely certain that will happen.

"No. " Bill raised a questioning brow "I think they'll begin dating. " she said with a sly smirk.

"What makes you think that? " Bill put down his newspapers and crossed his arms over his chest, eyes narrow, brows scrunched in a frown. It was interrogation time.

"Don't do that look with me, honey. You know it doesn't work. " Betty winked at her husband but he remained still. If his little girls was going to date someone he better make sure they would treat her right "And what makes me so sure is the way she talked about him. I never heard her talk about her previous, let's call em', boyfriends in that way. She even dreamt about him this night. "

"What was the dream about? " if that guy is in his daughters dreams doing God knows what with her, he's going to hunt him down. Fatherly instincts are a thing of logic.

"They were dancing. " Betty's answer caught Bill unprepared.

"What? " he thought her heard her wrong.

"Dancing. Norah said they were dancing. " Betty pulled out a chair and sat down next to her husband "Who dreams about dancing with a person they like? " Bill actually shook his head "Exactly. And the way she described him, Norah made him sound like an excellent young man. Kind, funny, handsome and of course, he drives a Mustang. " both parents rolled their eyes at that "Speaking of, how are we on that front? "

"It's going good. " Bill nodded approvingly "John is still working on the restauration. Should be done just in time for Christmas. " he then returned to his newspaper "Shame he couldn't get his son to sell us his own. "

"You know how little Benny loves that car. " Betty smiled, remembering the little 8 year-old boy working on the car with his grandfather. Shame he grew up with a bad crowd and hated anthros for some reason.

"Oh he ain't little Benny anymore. " Bill laughed heartily "He's a marine now! Best of the best from what I hear! " Betty was surprised to hear this. Then again, she hadn't seen the boy for eight years "The army set him straight. John says he's best friends with some lion, Richard I think. "

"Oh well that's nice. " Betty smiled, glad that perhaps that sweet boy she knew was back "Where is he now? Overseas? "

"He's coming to dinner on Saturday. " Bill said casually and Betty jumped out of her seat.

"WHAT? Why didn't you tell me? " she yelled at her husband but quickly covered her maw, hoping she didn't wake Norah "You need to tell me these things! " Betty added with an angry whisper.

"Sorry honey. Guess it slipped my mind. " Bill said nonchalantly "Soooo, what's for Saturday dinner? " he smiled a wolfish grin and Betty picked up a frying pan, looking at her husband mischeviously and smacked it a few times with her other hand. Bill gulped and quickly resumed his reading and Betty was happy to hear little Benny was coming to dinner. She wondered how he turned out after all these years. Little Benjamin Bennett all grown up and not hating anthros anymore. Now if Ben could change, then so could her daughter.

It was Thursday morning and Mark was on his way to work. He got a call from his dad last night that some old friends are in town and he'd like for Mark to visit them. John called them Aunt Betty and Uncle Bill and it did ring a little bell in Mark's head that he knew them but couldn't really remember them. He could see some non-human shapes in his mind but that was about it.

"Guess I was an ass to them too. " Mark sighed as he stopped for a red light "Very kind of them to invite me to dinner. " he patiently waited for green "I gotta' buy them something nice. " the light changed and he continued with the drive "Well, they did want to buy my car but that's not happening. " he patted the steering wheel affectionatelly "You're not going anywhere pal. " Mark didn't know the exact details because his answer was a firm NO just as his dad told him. He loved this car too much to sell it to anyone. His toughts were interrupted when he saw a familiar face walking down the street. Mark rolled down his window and called out to the figure "James! " the white wolf heard his ame called and smiled when he saw Mark.

"Mr. B! Good morning! " he waved to his teacher.

"What are you doing here? You're going to be late! " the school bus passed this route a while ago and there was no way James was going to make it in time.

"Sorry, Mr.B! I fell asleep! " he answered with a chuckle and Mark rolled his eyes. Stopping his car, Mark nodded to the passenger seat.

"Hop in kid. " James smiled widely.

"Thanks, Mr.B! " he ran to the passenger door and got inside. After securing his seatbelt he gave a thumbs up, signaling he was ready to go. Mark chuckled at the young wolf and, once again, headed towards school "So, uh, how's school? " James asked with a chuckle and Mark snorted in response.

"It's fine, mother. " he then looked at James "And you? "

"Pretty cool. Everyone is nice to me. " then he put a finger on his chin in thought "Especially Norah. I wonder why? " Mark almost slammed on the brakes but managed to limit himself with a blank stare toward James.

"You do realize she has a crush on you, right? " Mark said very slowly.

"Oh I know, but, that's not how she truly feels. " James simply waved him off and looked out the window.

"How would you know? " Mark asked with a raised brow.

"Trust me, I know. There are body signs that furs unconciossly make when they see someone they like. " with a smirk, and subtle look towards Mark, James continued "I know for a fact it's not me. " Mark sighed in response, not noticing the subtle look James has given him.

"Then who is on the recieving end of that bundle of warm hugs and kisses. " Mark asked sarcatically and James began laughing.

"Now that is something I'd love to see the person find out themselves! " even Mark snorted at the thought of Norah going all tsundere on some poor guy. After James calmed down he continued "I may not act like it, but I'm not just a pretty face Mr.B. "

"I never said you were. " then he quickly corrected himself "I mean, you are a handsome young man and all that- "

"I know, I know, calm down! " James punched him playfully on the shoulder "It's just, I know others at school see me as an airhead and think I don't notice things around me but I do. I just tend to go with the flow and mostly observe how the situation develops. "

"That's pretty sneaky of you. " Mark was actually one of those.

"Well, I am trying to become a psychiatrist. " Mark's eyes almost fell out of their sockets "Oh the look on your face Mr.B! " James began laughing again.

"I would never guess that's what you were going for. " then he looked at the young wolf "You do know you need good grades for that one, right? " James then casually showed him his report card "Damn. " the kid was a straight A student.

"So how'd you become a teacher? " James asked as they stopped on a red light.

"It's an experimental phase. I'm not even a real teacher. " Mark tapped on the wheel while waiting for the green light "Things sort of happened and I was sent here as a substitute for a while. Guess my military training made me qualified for PE and I know a lot about music. " then he turned to the back seat "Speaking of... " he pulled out a pamphlet "My band has a gig tomorrow night. You should come. " he handed James the pamphlet and the light went green.

"Wicked Circus? " James said reading the pamphlet.

"Yeah. It shortens to WC and we thought it was funny. " he shrugged and James chuckled "I did not give you this and I did not see you there having a beer or two. "

"Sir, yes sir! " James saluted and Mark rolled his eyes. He turned a corner and finally reached the parking lot. Mark saw Norah and Emma at the entrance, probably waiting for James.

"Just in time." they both got out and walked towards the school.

"Morning Norah! Morning Emma! " James greeted them enthusiastically and Mark saw the shift in his behavior The kid could make a great spy some day.

"Hey James! Mr.B! How kind of you to drive this sleepyhead to school! " Emma greeted them back with a wide smile. Norah was busy looking to the side with her arms crossed.

"Yeah, he's a really cool guy! " then James turned to the canine "Right, Norah? " her eyes widened a little before she felt her cheeks redden. Suddenly the ground was very interesting to look at. James grinned knowingly and Mark observed her body language Hmm... Tail wagging?

"I guess... " she said quietly and kicked an invisible stone away with her foot.

"Well, c'mon everyone! " Mark clapped his hands to get their attention "Schools about to- "

"YO! " all turned to the new voice and Emma almost fainted. It was Richard "I've been following you ever since you left home! " he ran up to them and handed Mark his phone "You forgot this. "

"Ummm, thanks? " Mark looked at the phone "You could have just left it at home. "

"And miss the opportunity to embarrass you infront of your students? " he said with a laugh and introduced himself "I'm Richard by the way. "

"I know... " Emma said dreamily and all eyes turned to her. Noticing her slip, she quickly joined Norah at staring at the ground.

"Emma, right? " he extended a hand in greeting and the girl almost fainted again. Richard laughed and looked at her canine friend "And you must be Norah? " the canine simply nodded and that left James "And that would make you James. " James was the only one who took the handshake.

"Nice to meet you! " then to everyones surprise "Are you two like a couple? " Mark's eyes almost bulged out while Norah and Emma were horrified he would say something like that to a teacher.

"Married, actually. " Richard put an arm around Mark who felt a vein popping.

"Please go home, dear, or I will hit you. " this only made Richard laugh more. Removing his friends arm Mark once again announced that they should go to class. The students did as told and Mark remained with his friend "Don't be such a Richard, Dick. "

"Oh would you relax! " he slapped Mark on the back and the human almost fell face first into the ground "Quite the ensamble you got here. "

"Tell me about it. " he began walking to the school.

"You do realize that Norah girl likes you, right? " Mark almost tripped over his own feet "I saw the whole thing. There are body signs- "

"Yeah I know about the signs, James told me. " he looked around to see if anyone's listening "Are you sure you read the signs right? "

"Clear as day my friend. " Richard nodded with a sly smirk "A student teacher relationship. Kinky. "

"There is no relationship! " Mark said adamantly but Richard didn't buy it.

"Maybe not right now. " with another slap on the back Richard bid farewell "Be nice, honey! "

"Bite me, sweetheart! " Mark entered the school with a thousand thoughts rushing through his head. Norah likes him? Why? She's always so angry at him and turns into a little puppy when James is around. Did he like her? Well, she was an attractive girl but still. Norah was his student and it should remain so. Though they did have that bonding moment when she patched him up after training and that dance yesterday Son of a bitch I dreamed we danced again. He ran a palm over his face No, no. She's a student, I'm a teacher. Besides, I'm older than her! Not by much though... he shook his head to clear his thoughts and went to the PE office to start class. A class where Norah would be Dammit.

As fate would have it, some students called in sick today and for what he had planned, pairs were needed to complete the exercises. In the chaos of trying to find a partner, he and Norah ended up as partners. The canine was trying to conceal her snarl towards the human.

"Ummm, peace? " he held up two fingers and smiled sheepishly. Norah rolled her eyes and resigned herself to her fate.

"Let's just get this over with. " and with their newfound realizations it made exercising awkward. Fumbling over their feet, bickering and having the rest of the class look at them and snicker.

"Eyes up front, Miss Jones! " Mark stopped her glaring at the other students and threw a ball her way which she easily caught.

"We're looking like idiots, Mr. Bennett! " she threw the ball back a little too harshly. Mark caught it with a grunt.

"Then pay attention, Miss Jones! " he threw the ball back in the same manner.

"Learn to throw, Mr. Bennett! " she returned the favor.

"Norah? " Emma called her friend.

"WHAT? " she spun her head around to face the leopard. Just in time so the ball hits her in the back.

"Oh crap... " Mark knew he messed up as Norah slowly turned around, fire in her eyes.

"Run... " she said quietly.

"Now Miss Jones, there is no need- "

"As fast as you can... " she began slowly advancing.

"I think you should listen, Mr.B. " James said from the side.

"I think you are right, Mr. McQueen. " Mark took another step back.

"RUN! " Norah bolted towards him and Mark yelped and began running away. She chased him around the gym and finally cornered him in the storage locker, away from prying eyes "Nowhere to go now, Mr.B... " she would finally make him pay for making her feel the way she does. Norah began slowly advancing on him.

"Would you please calm down? It was just a ball-UNGH! " Norah actually pounced on him, sending them both to the training mattress on the floor. She pinned his hands above his head.

"I've got you now... " then realization struck her. They were so close to eachother, mere inches away. She could feel his breath on her maw. Mark was having the same thoughts. Norah was really beautiful and being so close made him think twice about what Richard said. He even noticed her tail wagging. Guess it was now or never.

"What are you gonna' do about it? " he said huskily and Norah tensed a little. A thousand thoughts raced through her head but this was the perfect opportunity for her Now or never. She closed the distance and kissed him. Mark's eyes widened in surprise but as the kiss went on he quickly found to enjoy it. Norah was equally filled with joy and horror but never once thought about ending the kiss. It quickly turned into a small make out session and both felt the excitement of it turning into something more...

"Mr.B? Norah? " they heard James calling them and their moment was ruined. Norah quickly got up, face red and tail wagging like crazy, and Mark followed after with an equally red face.

"This did not happen. " she poked him in the chest with a finger and stormed out of the storage locker, rushing past James and into the girls changing room. Mark walked out, a little shakily, to see a grinning James waiting for him.

"What'd I tell you? " Mark narrowed his eyes at the sly looking wolf.

"Shut up, James. "

Not the chapter you deserve but that's what I got for now.

Only three chapters to go and then it's sequel time! Yay!