Balto go's to School

[™★Steele★™]

*Chapter 1: Before New Love*"

""The Heart… the most complex object within any living thing, some can be good, others can be bad…but no matter what we choose…be it choices of Light or choices of Dark, we still make a choice on how our lives will dictate, and how fate's hand will play in that very future that so many of us fear, nonetheless, the Heart is the very center of a living being and guides one through the times that person lives.""

The sun shone low over the misty streets of San Francisco, no creature was awake on this particularly quiet day. But who knows, maybe the day is not "completely" quiet…

"Balto! Wake up Boychic; you'll be late for school!" Squawked a voice from the bottom of the stairs, a large clump of grayish fur lied upon a soft mattress, it groaned "Im Coming Boris!" the gray fur slumped off the bed and to the bathroom, to look at himself.

Balto, A half wolf, half dog canine, each trait of each feature showed; bearing the most common of wolf traits Grey fur, yellow shined in his irises, making the room almost illuminated, his paws were at least twice the size of a regular dog, but unlike most of his breed he was more dog then wolf.

"Great… another bad fur day…" Balto took a fur brush sitting on the side of the sink and soaked it in water, attempting to tame the beast that is his fur, he got the gray fur to stay down but a small tuft stood a bit, he sighs, "Close enough." Balto walked out of the bathroom and picked up his back pack and began searching his very untidy room for his books, notes, paper, and all other school essentials.

"Balto! Hurry it up! You gotta get going!" squawked Boris
Balto rolls his yellow eyes; Boris was very anal about his school, and always reminded him that he must do his very best, his grades weren't all that great just a few A's and a couple of B's, not to mention a C in Chemistry. "I'll be down in a second!" he yelled back.

Not a couple of seconds later, Balto came running down the steps and grabbing a piece of toast from the toaster along the way, "See ya Boris!" he rushed out the door, Boris waddled out of the kitchen but too late Balto was already no more then five blocks from the house. The goose Sighs, "He'll be hungry, when he gets home." Boris is a Russian goose who adopted Balto as his own son when he found the young wolf/dog pup walking alone in dark empty streets.

Balto's skinny legs carried him far, being on the track team for almost 4 years of his high school life; his time at San Francisco High was not his most memorable memories because he was picked on for most of his time by the pure bred Malamute Steele and his posse Nikki, Kaltag, and Star. Steele has been a thorn in his side (More like a stake) since the very day he had met him, always constantly beating the fact that he is half wolf into his skull and ridiculing him physically and mentally, If it weren't for his caretaker Boris and his friends, Balto could have done serious damage to his life, In one point Balto couldn't take the pain of being ridiculed any longer and was about to drown him self at the pier, until he met Charlie Barkin, another dog in his school and also one of the best therapists you could ever find, coaxed out of the idea, and from then on the two became the closest of friends, Charlie introduced him to his friends, also at the school, and they immediately welcomed Balto as one of their own, especially the Husky Exile.

Balto ran through the streets, speeding down each block in a matter of seconds, if there was a speeding limit, he would have gone over it in just five seconds. His home was thankfully closest to the school, and got there in record time. He skidded to a halt at the front lot, panting heavily. "…and Boris said I'd be late." He chuckled to himself and walked into the front entrance, smelling the cafeteria's breakfast period, smells of pancakes and sausages wafted through the air, intoxicating his senses. "I guess I could have some breakfast before class." He walked into the cafeteria and was met with two piercing blue eyes, "Oh… um hey…uh…Steele." Balto's ears pinned against his skull.

"Hmph, Don't hey me Wolf dog, where's my homework?" asked Steele.

Balto quickly took them out of his backpack and Steele snatched them from his paws. "Everything correct, right?" Steele gave Balto a hateful glare, Balto gulped and nodded, a smirk showed itself across the malamute's face, and then out of the corner of Balto's eyes, a paw came down on Balto's face but was caught in time by a white paw.

"Isn't there already enough fighting, I mean really?" Balto looked behind him and saw that Exile was the one who caught the punch, Steele made a threatening growl at him, "Bite me, and go back to the broken down country you came from."
"Ok, you asked for it." Exile said and let go of Steele's paw and in a flash clapped both his paws on both sides of Steele's face, Steele starts groaning and clapped his paws to his face in pain. Exile rubbed his paws, "Never insult Mother Russia or my friend in my presence or anywhere, ya got that?" Steele skulked off whispering vulgar and slanderous words under his breath.

Balto sighed in relief, "Thanks Exile."

"No problem comrade, Steele is just a bully, you got to learn to stand up to him" responded Exile.

Balto looked at his friend and his head droops, "I try, but I can't buck up the courage to…" Exile brought his chin upward to look at him, "Hey, you can do anything you set your mind to, once you start standing up for yourself, everyone will start to respect you as your friends do, now come on Balto, smile." Balto gave Exile a sheepish smile, and Exile returns the smile, "There's my "copain." "Exile smirks and pulls Balto into a tight bear hug, Balto gasps for air, "Exile-to tight-can't breathe." He wheezes.

"Thanks… I needed that." says Balto.

"No problem." Exile claps a paw to Balto shoulder in friendliness and they walk over to the small line of students waiting to receive there nourishments of the morning. Exile placed Balto in front of him, "You need it more then I do Balto, look at you, your skin and bones." Balto looked at himself, ""So Im skinny, big deal." "He thought. Soon, Balto had an unnecessary amount of food on his plate ranging from bagels to breakfast cereals, when it comes to food, both Exile and Boris cared about Balto's amount of food he consumes each day, constantly piling food on to his tray or plate
until his stomach was about ready to burst.

Balto and Exile sat at their usual table and were met up with Blitz and Shag, just coming in. Blitz makes a whistling noise, "Exile, we all know that Balto's skinny but you don't have to shove food down his throat."

"Just making sure our comrade gets enough in his diet." Responds Exile, Balto took a nibble from on of the bagels on his tray, looking from Exile and Blitz, both talking about what had happened after their football practice, something about running laps and the coach arguing with a team member about the plays, pretty much just sport drama. As the two canines talked, Balto snuck some of his food into Shag's paws, who ate them in a quick gulp, Soon Charlie came to their table looking tired as he usually did, Balto was the first to greet him, "Another late study night?" he asks sneaking muffin to Shag from under the table.

"Yea, Mr. Banner's been keeping us real busy with that test today, I don't think I can stay awake." Charlie collapses into his seat, laying his head on the table, Balto looked at the clock, "Hey guys I'll be right back, Im going to head over to my first class and put my stuff away." Balto grabbed a muffin on the tray and pushed the rest to Charlie, who looked like he needed the energy, and walked out of the cafeteria taking a bite of the muffin, ""Charlie really needs to keep his schedule in check sometimes, watching that girl Sasha from the outside of her window every night isn't healthy, not to mention kinda stalkerish, Then again, he is head over heels in love with her, so I can't really blame the guy." "Balto walked down the hall not really paying attention to where he walked, he unconsciously bit another piece of the muffin, ""I don't understand Charlie sometimes, how could one person instantaneously fall in love with another in just a few short seconds upon meeting, it's sort of illogical really, one person has to get to know that person and decide whether or not if they like him or her, then again I've seen Sasha reciprocate those same feelings, I see her write his name all over her notebook, even daydreaming about him. I wonder if-""

"Oomph!" Something broke his thoughts and bumped right into him, the muffin flew meters from his paw, "Oh my goodness, I am so sorry, I am so clumsy at times." Said a frantic female voice, Balto looked upward at who had bumped him and his mouth immediately gaped, looking into the warm amber eyes, of a beautiful red furred husky.
""Jenna…""

[™★Steele★™]

"*Chapter 2: Jenna*"

Balto was speechless; the words that ran from his head had all but vanished, all because of this beautiful female that stood before him, offering him her paw. "I am really sorry, here, let me help you up." She said. Balto absentmindedly took her paw and was pulled up.

"I am such a klutz, please let me make it up to you." Balto shook his head, regaining his "consciousness", "Please, Don't trouble yourself it was an accident." Balto's face glows red, Jenna gives him a sweet smile, making him blush even more, "Your Balto aren't you? Ms. Swan speaks fondly of you."

"Um… yea, she enjoyed my poetry." Said Balto, rubbing the back of his head.
"You right Poetry?" Jenna's eyes flash with enthusiasm, "I would like to read some your works, I mean, if you don't mind."

"I'd like that." Balto smiles at her, a dreamy look in his eyes. Jenna's lips form the warm smile from before, Balto felt as if his heart would burst from his ribcage if he didn't calm down; he was in a complete trance, under Jenna's unknowing power. Jenna tilts her head and giggles at Balto's blank expression. But then her ears all of a sudden perk in surprise, she gasps "Oh, no." Balto's look on her faded as he slowly came back into reality, "Is there something wrong?" he asks.

Jenna didn't answer instead she grabbed his paw and practically dragged him to the other side of the hallway and into the library, Balto opened his mouth to protest but Jenna held her paw to his muzzle, "Please, Please don't open your mouth for the next ten seconds." Balto nodded his head, careful not to make a sound." Jenna then pressed herself to him, in an attempt to make herself one with his body structure, Balto's ears strained onto her quiet whisper, "Please don't let him find me, please don't let him find me." The words she spoke played over and over. ""Who could she be hiding from?" "he thought, and then a familiar scent caught his attention, "hmm, where could she have gone? I smelled her here." Spoke a familiar voice, Balto's eyes widen from the voice this female was running from…

""Steele…"" Balto's lips curl over his teeth in a sort of growl, Steele was just outside the library, his foot was about to enter the door where Balto and Jenna was hiding on the wall next to, until another male voice erupted from the door from across the hallway, "Steele, my office now!" Balto exhaled the breath he had held in, ""Safe…" "Steele growled and spoke a vulgar word quietly and padded off to the principal's office.

Jenna pulled herself from Balto with a thankful look on her face.

"That was a close…" she said bringing a paw to wipe the sweat from her forehead. Balto looked at her with a sort of confused yet happy look.
"You hate Steele too?" said Balto, a grin started to appear on his face, Jenna giggles at this, "No not hate, just strongly dislike on a multitude of levels, He thinks I'm his girl." Balto makes a sort of growling sound, "That dog…" his lips curl over his teeth again. Jenna nods her head, "Yea, he really gets on my nerves at times."

Balto chuckles, his anger subsiding, there was something about Jenna that made him warm on the inside, something inexplicable, Jenna looks at the clock above his head.

"Oh no, Im late!" she says, Balto looks up at the clock in confusion, "No your not, there's 15 minutes until class starts." He points upward at the clock. Jenna shakes her head, "No, Im on the student council, we have a meeting today and I have to get my idea in for next months' Senior Dance. I'm really sorry about this, but I have to go before Im even more late." Jenna all of a sudden kisses his cheek quickly, "I'll see you later, and thanks… I really owe you one." She runs out of the library, leaving Balto stunned, his paw unconsciously touched his cheek, ""Did she just kiss me?" "his thoughts began to race.

"Balto?" a paw waved in front of his face, Balto's mind had returned to his body, he looks at the paw's owner. Charlie stood there with a confused expression, wondering what is wrong with his friend.

"Hey man, something up?" Charlie places a paw on Balto's shoulder, Balto's head shakes, "No, everything's A-ok." He responds, Charlie's paw slid down from his shoulder and to his side, "Well, come on, We have Chemistry together, and a test to take." The German shepherd adjusted his backpack on his shoulder, and both canines left the library swiftly.

The hallways were soon bustling with students, Charlie and Balto navigated through the crowds with no problem at all, and made it to their class in with little time to spare, Mr. Banner sat at his desk muttering under his breath, the two canines took there seat near there left side wall. Mr. Banner paid no attention to them, Balto leaned over to Charlie "What do you think he's muttering about?"

"Sounds like he's just finishing making the key for the test. Or maybe he just had a bad morning." Charlie responded quietly, Balto shrugged his shoulders. Other students soon joined them; one of those students was there friend, A Dalmatian by the name of Pongo.

"Morning gents." Said Pongo in his usual cheerful manner.

"Morning, Pongo. Ready for the test?" greeted Charlie, "You get any sleep?" Pongo chuckles and sits next to Balto, "Charlie, You know sleep is good for you right?" he joked, Balto looks at Charlie and he was out like a light, "Hey, lazy bones, wake up." Said Balto, shaking his slumbering friend. Charlie grunted, Pongo places a paw on Balto's shoulder "I've got an idea" he says, the Dalmatian leans over to Charlie careful not to breathe, "Hey Charlie, Sasha's looking at you." In an instant Charlie's eyes open and he starts looking around the class room, Pongo and Balto laugh, "Welcome to planet Earth, Mr. Barkin." Says Pongo. Charlie gives them a scowl, "Not.Funny."

The hour sped by, Charlie had finished his test early and the second his pencil touched the desk it was like someone took a pan to the back of his head, he was out like a light. Balto and Pongo finished a couple of minutes after, Pongo pulled out a book and just read for the next 30 minutes. Balto pulled out his notebook and wrote down a few lines of poetry, thinking of how he can present them to Jenna.

""No, that's not it…" "he thought, crossing out the first lines, Balto thought hard, Jenna was becoming as his inspiration, his muse. Balto's paw began moving subconsciously, as if his heart took control, soon the words formed on his paper, Balto looked at his paper and his eyes widened…

""A maiden of crimson fur has captured my heart, her scent too intoxicating to describe with mere words. She breathes new life within my soul, making me whole. Her smile brings a burst of flames, warming the cold recesses of my lonely heart, all I want is to caress her soft red fur, hold her close to my chest and wish the time we share can never end… She is my light within my darkness…""

Balto looked at his paper stunned at what he wrote, ""This is impossible, I only met this girl, it's not like I'll actually see her again." "On those thoughts, Balto's heart ached; he wanted to see Jenna again. He yearned to be in her presence again. He placed his notebook down and laid his head on his desk, his thoughts completely gravitating towards Jenna, the way her fur was so neatly brushed, how her eyes blanketed him in a indescribable warmth, even her smile makes his heart race.

""Ok, Ok relax Balto, its just another girl, she is just like everybody else.""His heart and his mind began to duke it out inside of him, ""No, she is special, and you know it. Listen to your feelings; they speak the truth to you." "Balto's heart spoke to him as if it were standing next to him.

""Please, Im not well with decisions, just be quiet, I can't hear myself think."" Balto pleaded, his heart was more forceful and passionate,""Think, Think, Think, All you do is think, listen to your heart for once, follow your instincts, trust in yourself." "The voice in his head told him, his mind was silent, no words came from it.

Balto gave into his heart's demands, silencing his thinking once and for all.
""""
""I Love Jenna…""

[™★Steele★™]

"*Chapter 3: Unspoken Attraction*"

The day was fast, but yet it seemed so slow to the students of San Francisco High. Lunch had already come and again Exile piles food onto Balto's tray.

"Exile, again, is this even necessary? Im not going to keel over if you don't force feed me every day." Protests Balto.

"But your so skinny Comrade, you need your strength." Balto rolls his eyes at his friend, but lets him be; After all he is only looking out for him. Even if he goes a bit overboard.

Balto and Exile walked out of the line and to their table where all of their friends had bunched up into one table, consisting of him and Exile, Charlie, Hunter, Blitz, Shag, Cash, Waylon and Floyd, Pongo, Itchy, as well as Bentley and Murray and a newcomer named Thunderbolt, who recently transferred from a different school. Balto sat next to Pongo and Exile sat near Hunter and Blitz.

Balto took a bite from one of the apples on the tray and looked around of his surroundings. Possibly the entire senior class was in the lunchroom all conversing and laughing with one another in their own little groups. Balto looked over Shag's tall stature and sees Jenna, the red furred husky that was the object of his affections. He watches her as she chatting with the vixen Carmelita and the collie Colleen, ""hmmm, where is the other girls of their group?" "he wondered, he returned to his apple before Jenna or her friends would realize that he was looking at them. ""Well of course, Charlie would always know where Sasha was.""He silently chuckled to himself, finishing the apple and tossing it in the trash bin. As if on cue, Charlie's ears perk and he breaks from the conversation and looks at the door. Balto and the others look at his direction and see what has captured the shepherd's attention the doors to the lunchroom open and Sasha walks in looking for her friends, Balto's ears hear Carmelita's voice beckoning her to their table.

Balto looks over to his friend and starts to laugh; Charlie became enticed by Sasha's appearance.

"Hey Charlie, go ask her out." Hunter playfully punched his shoulder.
Charlie laughs; apparently the punch broke him out of his lovesick trance. He turned to him.

"Ok, but if only you ask Colleen over there." He responded with a smug. Hunter blushes profusely and drops the subject immediately. Hunter has had a small (more like a giant) crush on Colleen, ever since he first laid eyes on her in College Algebra of last year. The retriever returns to his food and stays silent; his cheek still had a tint of pink. Balto nibbles on a sandwich and stretches his neck over Shag to see the other girls of Sasha's group: Bess, Dixie, and Vanessa. Jenna on Vanessa's left nibbling on her lunch, something had come over her. She seemed rather quiet. Balto wanted to walk over to her, but his brain wouldn't follow the command, instead he turns his head from the group. His ears stood erect as if it were a radar dish, something had apparently caught his attention.

"Come on you know he's cute Jenna." Whispered Bess.

"I know but, I would just like to be friends with him. Steele gives him a hard enough trouble. Why should I put more of a burden on his shoulders?" Jenna answered.
Balto's eyes widen at the conversation, ""Is she talking… about me?" "he asked himself. He strained his ears for more information.
"Come on Jenna don't be so difficult. Just ask him out? Im sure that'll boost his confidence." Says Bess again.

Jenna fell silent; Balto edged himself closer, but the conversation was drowned as the bell that ended lunch rang throughout the school. He cursed quietly. Jenna grabbed her things and quickly got up from her seat and walked the opposite direction of the table. Balto's table had scattered saying quick goodbyes to each other and going their separate ways. Balto grabbed his back pack and hurried to the other way unaware that he ran right into Jenna.

"Ow! Hey watch were your- Oh, um… hey, uh, Balto." Jenna's fur hides her blush.

Balto helped her up and brushed her off quickly, saying "Im Sorry." Over and over. Jenna placed her paw on his lips.

"Balto, its ok, Im fine." Balto nodded and she took her paw away from his lips. Jenna blushed as she see's Balto large paw still encasing her small white paw. Balto looked down and see's this and he immediately lets go of her, blushing furiously. Jenna clears her throat to hide that school girl giggle when a guy a girl likes touches her, even If it were a friendly gesture. Balto scratches the back of his head, "Um… what class do you have next?" he asks. Jenna shakes her to come back and spoke fast, "Advanced Lit." she blushes a bit more, any more and the cafeteria would have lit up in red.

"Great, would you like me to walk you? My class is just next to it." Asks Balto, a tint of red showed itself on his cheek. Jenna's eyes lit up and she nods. Balto confidently offers his paw to her. "Shall we?" Jenna, unhesitant, takes his paw. "Yes." Balto smiles at her, feeling total confidence.

Balto and Jenna ventured down the halls of the school, talking along the way as students walked around them. The twosome reaches Jenna's lit class; she turns to him and very shyly kisses his cheek.

"Thanks Balto, you're a really sweet guy." They both flush at this. "See ya." Jenna releases Balto's paw and walks into her class room. Balto on the other side of the door brings himself to smile. His heart pumped gently in his ribcage.

""Maybe there's hope after all.""

Jenna walks along the rows of students to her table, sitting next to a lovely German shepherd and one of her closest friends Vanessa.

"Hey Jen." Says Vanessa; she looks up at her.

Jenna takes her seat next to her, "Hey Ness." Jenna pulls out her notebook and folders from her back pack. Vanessa does the same.

"So have you thought of what Bess asked you?" asks Vanessa
Jenna goes back to her backpack, pretending to have ignored her question. Vanessa pokes her with her pencil. Jenna holds back the urge to yell out "Ow!" the door to the classroom opens and a tall, sturdy male black Labrador walks in breathing heavily.

"Sorry about that class, got held up in a meeting." Says Mr. Drake, he takes his seat at his desk. "Now, get out your essays on Robert Frost and I'll get those collected."
Jenna opens her folder and pulls out a ten paged essay from its folds and places it neatly on her desk. Vanessa searches through her seemingly bottomless backpack and pull out her essay of twelve pages, Jenna stifles a laugh.

"You really have to stop having crushes on teachers." Giggles Jenna, Vanessa scowls at her.

"I do not." She hisses.

Jenna holds her paws up defensively, "Joking!" she whispers.
Mr. Drake walks by them, "Trouble ladies?" Jenna and Vanessa face him with innocent looks.

"No Sir." Both girls hands him their essays and the Labrador leaves their table with a skeptical face. Jenna and Vanessa looks at one another and laugh quiet. Mr. Drake cleared his throat for the classes' attention at the front. "Alright, today's assignment allows you to be more creative, I want you to choose a genre and idea and write a fictitious short story about it. I expect perfect results from some of you." He locks his eyes on both Jenna and Vanessa. "You have the rest of the hour as well as tomorrow to complete this assignment. Good luck." On those final words, everyone in the classroom starts jotting down ideas and scribbling down topics. Vanessa, from the look on her paper, had written down every idea from her imagination.

Jenna wrote down only a couple of ideas, an idea for a romantic story and an idea for a horror story. Horror had never really been her forte, and she couldn't think of anything truly terrifying, she sighs. ""Romance it is then."" She crosses out horror from her paper and begins scribbling down ideas. A thought came to her head, ""That might work" "she thought, as more ideas formed in her head, she had the story all played out in her mind:

Angel in disguise
Stories in his eyes
Love for every true heart that it sees.

Was it just a lucky day
That it turned to look my way
Or is it Heaven right before my very eyes.

He showed me all new things
The shimmer of moonbeams
I was blind, but now he's helped me see.

I was lost but now I'm found
His happiness surrounds
And now I find that my dreams can come true.

Cause I'm gonna love you for
the rest of my life
I'm holding you safe here in this heart of mine

I can't live without you
cause my soul would die
You know I'm telling the truth,

It didn't start this way
It happened just one day
You smiled at me and I saw you, differently.

Now I'm a tremble just to be
A part of you as we
Begin a life that's sure to never end.

Cause I'm gonna love you for
the rest of my life
I'm holding you safe here in this heart of mine
I can't live without you
cause my soul would die
You know I'm telling the truth,
I'll spend the rest of my life
loving you

As the hour was to toll its end, Jenna's idea lay before her, pristine and pure, but a odd and random thought emerged from her head.

""I think Im in love with…Balto.""

[™★Steele★™]

"*Chapter 4: Love ablaze*"

The day's end was nearing, and every student was on the edge of their seat as the bell was going to reach its toll for release. Balto sat next to the newest friend in his group Thunderbolt, a German shepherd and a pretty cool one at that. The entire hour had been there's to talk to one another and to get acquainted.

"Wow, you traveled a lot haven't you?" asked Balto.

"Yea, traveling to some parts of the U.S and to parts in Europe, Man who knew English girls love American men. "chuckles Thunderbolt. Balto laughed with him and gave him a small playful punch on his shoulder.

"But you know?" Thunder looked at Balto, "I'd like to be with a girl who loves me for me, not for how I look." He sighs, "which seems to be the only reason girls are ogling me in the hall way, it gives me shivers when they stare at my backside." Thunder placed his muzzle in his paws in a huff, the idea made the shepherd's fur bristle a bit. "Must everything be based on looks nowadays?"

Balto looks at his new friend in deep sympathy, "Well, I don't know what to say man, I haven't really had that problem with women, most of them fear me like Im going to turn into a werewolf and bite them."

Thunderbolt turns his muzzle to him. "What about that Jenna girl?" Balto's ears perk and his eyes widen in surprise and he blushes, his ears pin to his skull and the blush becomes a tint of pink. He turns his head as if to hide his eyes gaze from Thunder.

"Well I-"

"So you do like her." said Thunder calmly.

Balto looked back at him calmly and just nodded, as if he were embarrassed at it. Jenna had set his heart on a passionate fire which he can't tame nor extinguish; It spread throughout his system like the blood that is pumped from that very same heart in an endless loop. Thunder smiled a friendly smile and placed a paw on his shoulder, "Don't sweat it, I'm sure you'll get her." Balto looked at him and gave him a nod, a smile soon followed.

The bell rang and the canines in the classroom hurried out their seats and out the door faster then you can say " Have a good day" Balto and Thunderbolt were one of the last to get out, along with Vanessa, a friend of Sasha and Jenna. She and Thunderbolt crossed paths at the threshold, and stared at each other for a short time.

"Please, ladies first." Said Thunder courteously, Vanessa smiled sweetly at him and went out ahead of them, Both males follow. Thunderbolt looked on as Vanessa walked down the pod stairs and out the exit to the bus stops. Balto looked curiously at him and smirked.

"Someone has found something he likes." He said.

Thunderbolt gave him a playful glare, and looked back at Vanessa's distant form. "I saw her at lunch today. What's her name?" he asked.

"Vanessa." Balto answered.

Thunderbolt cups his chin in thought and smiles. Balto places a firm paw on the shepherd's shoulder.

"Come on Romeo, let's leave Juliet be." Thunder gave another playful glare and punches Balto's shoulder, the two canines both break into a laugh but it was short lived as a grunting noise came from behind them. They look behind them and see's Charlie and Hunter with an "I think they've lost it" look etched into their faces.

"Mine dearest friends, hast thou finished with the jester façade." Says Charlie jokingly, Hunter broke into a guffaw at the awkward tension; All three canines stare at the retriever with amused faces. Hunter wipes a tear from his eye and clears his throat.

"I'm good no need to worry." Says Hunter, beating his chest to keep him from laughing so hard, Charlie bats Hunter's back to keep him from choking on saliva. ""I have weird friends, but I love them." "Thinks Balto in an instant a thought piques from his head.

"Hey Guys, I'm going to have to catch up with you, I left something History." The wolf Dog hybrid runs down the hall way as fast as his legs could carry, if the school had a speed limit he would have already broke it six times over. The class rooms and the hallway zoomed past him in almost blurs, Balto skids and turns to his left and proceeds to running the same speed up the pod stairs and stops directly behind the door's threshold and walks in huffing air, the teacher Mr. Callahan, a Doberman, sat at his desk and only looked up when Balto's noisy breathing echoed in his class room.

"Mr. White fang, what's with the hurrying?" he asked.

"Sorry sir, but have you seen a red folder in here by chance?" Balto asked, huffing air. Mr. Callahan pointed to the front of the class where a red, dog-eared, folder was displayed in front of the class. Balto nodded his head once and swipes it; he opened the fold to find a lyrical poem in it and smiles at the words written on the paper, he pulls it out to read it.

""This poem describes all my feelings for Jenna, even if it does sound like a song." "He smiles one last time and stuffs the paper into the folder but is careful not to ruin its value in any way.

"Have a good night sir."

"Likewise and watch out for the stairs!" Balto ran right out of the room, and just as Mr. Callahan's words reached his ears, a small scream echoed through the pod as Balto crashes into a small form and they both tumble down the stairs.

After a few minutes Balto hears two voices echo in his ear, one was Mr. Callahan, the other was… Jenna?

Balto's eyes shoot open and see's Jenna and Mr. Callahan's face looking down at him.

"Oh Balto please speak to me, I'm so sorry, I- I didn't see where I was going." Said Jenna in a frantic voice, the light of the fading sun seemed reflect off her crimsoned fur, giving her an almost goddess aura, Balto lifted himself up so that he sat.
"No, that was my bad; I was running down stairs…not a good idea." He rubs his head and Mr. Callahan helps him onto his feet.

"Next time be careful, Mr." said Mr. Callahan, the Doberman turned his head over to Jenna. "Could you kindly escort Balto to Mrs. Briggs, Ms. Parker?"

Balto shook his head, it stung him unmercifully. "No sir, I'm fine, it's just a minor headache. I'll be fine really." He said.

A skeptical look appeared on the Doberman's face and nodded his head, "If you are sure then. Mr. White fang… Ms. Parker, good day." Mr. Callahan descended upon the steps and Balto looked at Jenna and blushed madly upon seeing her.

"I'm sorry Jenna…" Balto decided to turn and make a run for it but a small paw seemed to have paralyzed any movement he might have produced.

"No, don't be it was both of our fault, I should have paid better attention and I might have sidestepped you before you crashed into me." She said and gives a small embarrassed smile.

Balto turns back to look at her, "Are you hurt?" he asked her. Balto wouldn't forgive himself if he caused Jenna any physical pain.

Jenna blushed, "Um… no, you broke my fall." Jenna blushed even more as the thought of her landing on Balto imprinted in her skull. Balto's cheeks looked like a blood vessel had exploded. He looks at his feet to avoid Jenna's gaze and see's a lone piece of paper in between them. Balto looked around Jenna and see's papers scattered all around. His eyes widen.

"Um, Jenna?" he points to the papers and Jenna looks at where his paw was pointing and gasps.

"Oh no, all my notes!" She gets onto her hands and knees and gathers up the papers, Balto follows in suit and gathers what look to be his papers, vigorously searching for his poem.

""Where is it, Where is it?" "he thought, searching through the piles of papers.
An hour past, and the pod was scoured of the papers that had laid upon it, Balto neatly stacks his notes and papers, but couldn't seem to have found his poem anywhere, Jenna's papers were concealed deep inside her backpack in a deep pink folder. She looks at Balto who seemed very upset at something.

"Balto, Is something the matter?" she asks as she places her backpack on her back, Balto silently shakes his head and looks directly into Jenna's eyes.

"No, its ok, it was an assignment for Ms. Swan, it must be somewhere in here, I'll look for it tonight." He says with a false smile. Jenna looks at him with a caring look and places a small paw on his shoulder. "You'll find it." She smiles and kisses his cheek. Balto's ears perk and he looks at her, both canines were blushing profusely.

"I'll see you tomorrow Balto." She smiles at him and waves, walking out the pod exit. Balto looks on as she leaves and lets out a deep, love struck sigh and shakes his head and throws his backpack over his shoulder and takes his leave to catch up with Charlie and Hunter…

Later that night…

Jenna bit her pencil's tip as a difficult math question perplexed her brilliant mind.

"So if I take this equation and divide it by pi, I will get… GAH!" she dropped her pencil and dug through her backpack for her pink folder. As she pulled it out a small piece of paper fluttered out of its folds, she takes one look at it and is hit with the realization that the words written was not from her hand, she picks it up to read it and looks at the title.

""Simple and clean, this is what she makes me feel, the one girl I love, Jenna…""

Jenna mouth gaps in surprise at the words and reads the small paragraph under it…

""A maiden of crimson fur has captured my heart, her scent too intoxicating to describe with mere words.
She breathes new life within my soul, making me whole. Her smile brings a burst of flames, warming the cold recesses of my lonely heart, all I want is to caress her soft red fur, hold her close to my chest and wish the time we share can never end… She is my light within my darkness…This is about her…""

Jenna blushes furiously at the words written and reads on at the verses below it…

"*When you walk away
You don't hear me say please
Oh baby, don't go
Simple and clean is the way that you're making me feel tonight
It's hard to let it go*"

*"You're giving me too many things
Lately you're all I need
You smiled at me and said,"*