December 2nd: Dinner with the Parents

The rest of the day at school as normal as it would get. With Serena being back in my classes I really had my friend back. I let Serena have my seat in History with Liam, if that made him unhappy I couldn’t tell. Though more than once he looked at me in the class room. It was nice to watch Serena pulling out all the stops with her flirting. I’d never been good at it, every guy I ever liked thought me like a sister. For me flirting was awkward, I didn’t know if I was doing it right. I always said I just wanted to be in a monogamous relationship. Skip the whole dating thing; guess I should have added more to that list. Like he was in love me, he might want to kiss me without it being a show for others to think he loved me. 

Liam didn’t seem much better at flirting then I was. I focused mostly on my work it seemed like a better plan then staring. When the bell rang I walked out of the class room, Serena ran up behind me.

“Hey.” Serena was all smile. “I asked Liam if he wanted me to give him a ride home. He said yes.” 

“That’s great. Where going to do that on Friday double thing on Friday.” I paused for a moment. “Unless you change your mind about the whole thing.”

“Why would I do that. I mean he’s smart and cute and polite. It makes me wonder where he was raised.” She looked over at me. “Do you know?”

“Umm, they moved around. A lot.” I didn’t know what I could share. I didn’t know I could tell her. I knew that Lysander was claiming to be Liam’s brother and that Lysander was twenty here and Liam was eighteen. Lysander had money and a cabin that he inherited from family. Their parents were dead. “Liam would tell you if you asked.”

“He doesn’t tell me much, it’s weird it’s like he has to think about what he’s going to say. Like he has to rehearse a story in his mind before he can say anything.”

“Liam is just shy and you make him nervous. Can’t you tell?” I let her ego get a boost from that. We made it to class and sat down. 

“You know what I am most excited about now that I’m out of Nerd Wing? Normal lunch, I can stop thinking about things and just eat and talk.” Serena and I than paid attention in Spanish class as the final bell rang.

It was the first time that I forgot for a moment of my change. I forgot about how it felt to run or to hunt. I was human again, but just sitting in the Spanish class and trying to figure out how to ask directions to an imaginary restaurant in Spanish. 

“¿Dónde es situado el mejor restaurante en el pueblo?” I said without a hint of confidence. I was close but not close enough. The teacher then walked away from me asking the class what was wrong with my question. I ignored her; Senoia Yewell always needed someone to not understand something. That’s why she was employed, that’s why most teachers where employed. Serena was never called on in class. She had perfect skills when it came to languages. She spoke three fluently, Greek, English, and Spanish. Though she wanted to learn more, she went back and forth on what she wanted to be but this was normal for most people. For me I wasn’t sure what I could do now that I was what I was. 

Some how I wasn’t worried about my future, Liam was still a high school student and Lysander. I went blank in my own mind. What did Lysander do during the day? I had a million questions for them and I felt like I never could ask them the questions. The whole class blazed through while I was deep in thought. I didn’t even here the bell ring, if Serena hadn’t snapped in my face I may have stayed there all day. 

I ate lunch with Liam and Serena, Serena thankful carried on the conversion with little help from me. Liam seemed to know something was wrong with me. I think he could feel my thoughts. I didn’t know if I liked that. The rest of the day I thought about every question I had. I wrote them down. I had to ask these questions, how else would I know? So I wrote down the list and looked at it.

Where do you come from?

What’s the public story?

What’s the real story?

Why didn’t you turn Bramm?

What does Lysander do during the day when Liam and I are at school?

How do we have all this money?

What don’t I know about being a Were?

What are all the rules?

What can’t I do with my life now?

Why was Liam at the party?  

Does Lysander have real feelings for me?

Seattle? What happened?

I crossed out the last question. I had a flash, maybe I shouldn’t know yet. Maybe I wasn’t ready to know what I could be capable of. They themselves couldn’t look at each other at the mention of the town’s name. I stuffed the piece of paper in my pocket; I knew I wouldn’t forget it there. When the final bell rang in my theater class I ran out to the Hummer. Lysander was already there, waiting for me. I got in the Hummer and he drove slowly. I pulled out the slip of paper, Lysander seemed to know I wanted to ask him something.

“I have questions.” He didn’t say anything but pulled over the car. “A list.”

I handed him the crinkled list, he read the list before speaking. Lysander’s eye’s paused at the bottom of the list. I waited on the edge of my seat hoping I didn’t do something wrong. Lysander handed me back the list.

“The story is we were up in Washington and Liam and I need a change. Liam and I grew up there and after our parents died we moved down to the cabin. It was owned by my great grandfather who left it to me. I adopted my brother. My family is rich from generations, I don’t have to work, but I own three wineries and two handmade chocolate places. I bought these recently before the economy went down. I’ve gone through enough eras to see when something bad is going to happen. People like to drown there sorrows in food and alcohol when moneys bad. I go to all of them, one a day. Then I have the weekend to myself and my hobbies.” He paused. “The real story is we were up in Seattle and one night we changed because we both had tried to not change to see if we could stop. We changed while two police officers where over at our home. We hadn’t changed for over two months, we were on edge, we wanted to change. It’s like going through withdralls. They provoked us and Liam changed before I knew it Liam had killed both of them. It was my fault. Liam is still so young. I bought land all over the world. Every country I have at least three pieces of land. We demolish the cabin or house we live in. So it’s just land when we leave. No proof of our ever being there.” 

“The party?” I asked timidly

“Liam and I had finished the cabin the day before. He wanted to meet his classmates. He wanted to put Seattle out of his mind. I told him that he shouldn’t go. I don’t know why he only picked you.” Lysander started the Hummer again. “As for the rules, ask me again tomorrow.”

“What about your feelings for me?” He saw the question, he had to of know it was coming. “Do you like me?”

“If I did I it wouldn’t matter. I’m married.” Lysander kept his eyes on the road ahead of him. 

“Yeah to me, I was there. I know my parent’s marriage sucks now but originally they had to of liked each other. I mean My older brother and sisters and me. We’re married, in my eyes. I said I do. As I recall you did to, look this stupid ring!” I showed him my ring finger. “I haven’t taken it off.”

“I was bound to my wife. She’s not dead. I can’t admit to liking you. If this act wasn’t an act then she would know.” Lysander paused and took a breath. “It doesn’t count when I kiss you in front of people to pretend we’re married. It like an actor’s not cheating when he kisses in front of the camera. It’s the only reason this can work. The only reason it didn’t have to be Liam.”

“What would happen if you kissed me when no one was around? If it was just you and me.” Lysander waited till he hit a red light before answering. 

“She would know. Now you need to drop this.” Lysander drove when the light turned green. “Your mother is really excited about getting to know me.”

“Yeah it’ll pass.”

He stopped talking after that comment. So did I. Lysander and I drove to my parent’s house. It seemed different from the last time I was there, almost forgen. I got out of the Hummer and paused before opening the door. I contemplated knocking or ringing the door bell. These thoughts never crossed my mind before this had always been my home. Now it wasn’t, I wasn’t sure how that made me feel. I wasn’t at the door for every long, my mother swung open the door.

“I heard that thing pull up.” My mother smiled at me. “Now come in your letting in a draft. I made spaghetti!” 

My mom knew it was my favorite, it was the Italian in us she would say. My dad was poking at a fire he built. He hated spaghetti because my mother and I would always used different noodles. Conchiglie, Rotini, Manicotti, Penne, Ziti, and if we ran out of those we used the regular spaghetti noodles. I always thought of it as a little victory for my mom. My dad didn’t say anything to us when we walked in,  took that as a sign of things to come.

“Okay Lysander why don’t you stay out here and so I can have a chance to catch us with my daughter?”

“Of course, what was I thinking Mrs. Slater.” Lysander then sat calmly down on the couch staring at the fire. My father didn’t look at him and didn’t look like he was planning on talking. I followed my mother into the kitchen and she started to stir the marinara sauce. 

“So, how are you?” She seemed sad. “Married and all grown up. Are you still going to school?”

“Of course I am. I fine everything is normal. I just don’t live here anymore.” I saw the pain in her eyes.

“If you wanted to get married to this young man then why not wait? Maybe after graduation or college? What made you do it now? Are you pregnant?” I started laughing, it was to perfect. I married a guy who was in fact married and who wouldn’t touch me unless it was an act for others to see. If I was pregnant then I had to be the next Marry.

“No. I’m not. Mom he told he would marry me and my heart jumped. I told him I would rather marry him then my other option. He loves me, I think and I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do but what I’m doing now feels right. You don’t need to worry about me.” I was trying to think fast. I was trying to not lie to her, which was hard without admitting things. 

“You asked him?” She smiled a little. “I guess that runs in the family.” 

I watched her cook the food and suddenly a flash of dear running in an open field, me chasing them the white wolf. My mouth watered my skin tingled, Lysander was behind me. My heart felt as if it was going to explode out of my chest, the room was spinning I was going to change. Lysander’s hands on my hands and he whispered into my ear. 

“Fight it. Don’t worry we will run and hunt after dinner.” Lysander kissed my cheek. 

“Dinner time, go sit.” Lysander sat down at the dinner table relaxed and calm. His touched calmed me down I sat at the table next to him. I grabbed his hand and held it, he allowed me. Touching him made everything better, I could think clearly. I didn’t have to think of changing or hunting. I was fine, I could handle this. My father walked into the room and looked at our hands. He grunted and sat down, he was glaring at Lysander. I smiled when I realized that Lysander didn’t care about my dad enough to satisfy his need to feel big. He didn’t feel threatened by my dad. My dad was tall with dark hard and mean eyes; he worked in manual labor and had been the boss for a while. Scare tactics and outright rage always got him off; little did he know he was trying to scare a Werewolf. Lysander couldn’t be scared off by my dad, another though passed my mind I shouldn’t be worried by him either. My mother came in with a large tray full of food. I could have eaten that tray on my own. She sat down and we all started to serve ourselves, my mom looked eager to make conversation. 

“So what do you do Lysander?” My mom asked be for putting a bite of pasta in her mouth.

“I own successful businesses around town. Handmade chocolates and wine.” Lysander said modestly.

“Ooo, how nice. You think you could send us some?” My mom laughed, Lysander and I joined in on the laugh, my father continued to be silent. 

“Sure. I’ll send some.” Lysander then put a whole meat ball in his mouth.

“Do you have any pictures? Of the wedding?” She looked oddly nervous asking that question. 

“Yes mom. Serena took pictures. I’ll have her send them to you online.” She seemed upset when I mentioned Serena being there I think she was jelious. 

“Sure, lets get some documentation of this mistake. In a few months, maybe weeks you’ll come crawling back here crying to your mother. Begging us to let you back in this house. You ungrateful little punk.” My dad finally spoke, mom put her hand on his. My dad pulled his hand away. “No, Dawn, this is ridicules. She hasn’t graduated even look at her! She settling. I’m calling a BS on that business stuff. Your to young.”

“Sir, you don’t know me. So I can forgive the things to said to me. On the other hand your daughter is perfect. She is twice the person you seem to be.” Lysander stood up. “If you must know my parents left me everything when they died. I happened to buy businesses that would do well in the current economic climate. I graduated from college and majored in business. If you like I’ll fax you a copy of my diploma.”

“Lies more lies. You said you were twenty! How could you have a degree?” My dad stood up now. My mother and I stayed sitting we knew he wasn’t going to back down and I knew Lysander wouldn’t do anything to harm him, even if he wanted to.

“I skipped a grade when I was young and as I got older I took online classes and I’ll remind you sir, you do not know me. I would ask you don’t assume something horrible of me when I did not earn it.”

“You earned it when you stole my daughter from this house!” My father stormed out of the room. It was clear who the winner was, Lysander had proven in that moment that he was a good man to my mother. My mother wouldn’t let us leave until she packed up all the leftovers. She hugged me for a long minuet before letting go again. Surprisingly she then hugged Lysander and kissed him on the cheek.

“Next time maybe I should come over to your house.” My mom kissed me on the cheek. “Just because you’re not living here mean you’re not my little girl. Dinner once a week.”

“Okay mom.” I hugged her again for some reason I was over joyed by the feel of relief that I hadn’t lost my mother. “Bye”

The door closed and I clutched on to Lysander. He saw my eyes and we nearly ran to the car. I had never seen Lysander drive so fast. I was shaking, my heart was racing, everything I felt before the dinner was flooding back to me faster and harder. I was desperately gasping for air trying not to turn. I saw my arms start to become more hairy. Lysander didn’t bother trying to talk me out.

“I can’t stop.” I heard Lysander’s foot hit the gas pedal to the floor of the Hummer. The change was starting to make me rip through my clothes. Lysander swerved the Hummer and jumped out. He opened the Hummer door and pulled me out of the Hummer.

“Can I change?” After I asked I couldn’t wait any long. I burst out of my remaining clothing and sprinted out into the bushes. I was running everything was better again. I felt right to be this again. For the first time I changed I hadn’t felt the presents of another wolf. I was alone. It was freeing and scary. I ran hunting for that herd of elk when I smelt something else. I sat crouched in the middle of bushes looking down on my prey. They were dressed in dark colors with neon orange vest. They carried rifles and had a large case of empty beer beside them. They seemed to be asleep, I wanted to attack them. Something held me back but pushed me closer. 

I crawled nearer to them, just smelling and thinking. If I hunted on the Elk they would scatter making noise and most likely waking the humans who may want to shoot me. If I attacked one the other might shoot me then. I wasn’t think of a solutions. I sat there thinking of all the ways I could hunt. I understood why I liked my pack. I wished the white wolf or black wolf would show up. I couldn’t wait any longer and I ran. I ran passed the hunters who could have ended up being the hunted and past the elk. I ran far away from either of them. I saw a lake and jumped in it.

I changed back into human self. I freaked out. What was I thinking? I nearly attacked some red necks but didn’t because they might shoot me? What was wrong with me? I would never want to kill anybody, but in that moment I wanted to. Not because they were mean or evil but because I wanted to bite them. The water must have been ice cold, it felt warm to me. It was December though and I could almost smell the snow in the air. A big splash hit my face, I was no longer alone. Who was in the water with me? I waited in the water. At first I thought I could be Liam or Lysander but they didn’t come up for air. It had been almost a minute, it all started to feel like a horror movie. The black water showed me nothing. Even with my better vision from being turned I couldn’t see. I couldn’t move, for some reason getting out of the water was not an option for me. Something was holding me there.