by Holly Hook
My throat dries. "Dinner?" I don't want to let Gavin down. "Um, sure. Is Marion coming too?" I motion to her.
But she steps aside. "I've been to the place you mentioned plenty of times."
So it's...so it's...and Chaz knows.
But I need to see Tyler again, to make sure Alan is gone and things are safe, and from experience I know there's one sure way to do that.
I raise my voice so that Chaz can hear. "Sure, Gavin. I'll go to dinner with you."
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
But despite me making my intents known, Tyler doesn't approach me for the rest of the week, after school or before, and though he has plenty of opportunity to knock on my window when I'm at the cabin, he doesn't.
Sure, he could be snubbing me for what I did at Art Club, but I don't think that's it. He knows I'm not interested in Gavin that way. He can smell it. The jealousy tactic might not work anymore, and besides, I feel bad about it.
But with our lives on the line, I need to talk to him again.
I hold out hope for Friday night. Tyler knows this town well and is probably familiar with every hidden corner. Chaz would have told him where I'll be and also knows what place Gavin was talking about.
Gavin picks me up from the cabin as Gia gets home, and I tell her goodbye as I set out, nervous butterflies in my stomach.
"Have fun," she tells me. "If you get home early, don't be shocked to see my mother here. I invited her for dinner." Gia doesn't look too thrilled about that, and I can understand. Does no one like their parents here?
Gavin takes me to a cabin-like restaurant with dusty windows in town, and we get out to see that a rusty sign says we're at the Tower Eatery. People are seated inside, a couple of families and two tables of elderly folks who have probably never left Tower, ever. Inside it's a bit more inviting, with amazing food smells and golden string lights along the ceiling.
"Hey, Gavin," a strong woman says from behind the counter. She's stern-looking and wearing a dark green apron.
He quickly takes my hand, the first time he's done so tonight. "Hey, Mom."
Mom? He's taken me to a restaurant staffed by one of his parents?
I'm not too experienced in the dating scene but I know that this is something you don't do. Then again, where else is there to eat in Tower? I let out a breath as Gavin leads me to a table for two. I sense Gavin's mom looking at me.
And then she's at our table, unsmiling, studying her son and then me. Yes. She has Gavin's arched eyebrows and his narrow nose. Her hair's tied back in a bun and also encased in a net. Apparently, she mans both the kitchen and the front counter of the small restaurant.
"Order?" she asks.
"Yes," Gavin says, grabbing the old menu. "I was just going to get the usual. Beckah?" He flashes me a staged smile.
I've got to feel sorry for the guy. "Um," I say, sensing that his mother is not the patient type. Why do people come here? Or maybe she just reserves this attitude for Gavin. "I'd like to try the venison steak with the mashed potatoes." It's the first thing my gaze lands on and I don't want his mom to linger over us for too long. No, her name is Maddie. It's on her plastic name tag.
"Thank you," she says, studying Gavin and me once again.
"Wow," I say once she's gone, just to break the awkward silence. "I know I'm new, but sheesh."
Gavin lowers his voice. "Well, I haven't brought a girl besides Madison in here before. And we were just here as friends."
I blink, trying to get a grip on this weirdness. Gavin must be socially stunted. I can see why, with Maddie now barking orders at a guy cooking in the back.
"I know my mom's pretty stern. She's like that with everyone. Tough woman," Gavin says. "Some of the deer she cooks, I hunted. Oh, and that's my dad back there."
"The health department allows that?" I ask. "And your mom yells at him all the time?"
"Ah, the department never comes out here," Gavin says. "Tower doesn't exist to the rest of the world. In the past few years, it's like we've vanished. And what we have is healthier than anything that comes out of the slaughterhouses."
I wonder if that has to do with the curse, too. Tower is fifty years behind the rest of the world.
Gavin and I make small talk for a bit, and Maddie brings us two glasses of hard water and finally, the steaks themselves. Mine tastes a lot better than I expect, and I finish off the whole plate. It's nice to have a dinner that I don't have to help cook.
"This isn't bad at all," I say, sensing that Maddie is back to standing at the counter. She's talking to an old man who's paying for his meal. Besides her yelling and stern attitude, eating here is pretty nice. At least it's authentic, unlike the upscale places Dad would take us to eat. And I've enjoyed not having to put a napkin on my lap.
"We'll have to come back," Gavin says.
The restaurant door opens with a faint squeak, letting in chilled air.
And into the place saunters the person I haven't seen in days, someone I had hoped left town.
Alan.
And the two guys who are hanging out with him.
All three look as if they haven't changed their clothes in a week, and even though none of them smell bad as they walk right up through the middle of the restaurant, the place goes dead silent as they pass our table. Alan doesn't look right at us, but I can tell from the way he slows his pace just a hair that he's spotted us.
Gavin turns his worried gaze to me.
Don't move. Don't make a sound.
The wolves are circling.
And they walk up to the counter, to a suddenly timid Maddie.
"Take out," Alan says, snapping his fingers.
I shouldn't watch. But I can't look away. And everyone else is watching, too.
I might be the only one who understands why.
Maddie mutters as she takes the orders of the three guys.
Gavin reaches under the table.
He takes my hand.
Slowly, Alan turns towards us. Gavin tightens his grasp, and I return it. We're both terrified. The new guys give off more dread than the Rose Gang must have. Alan narrows his eyes at us. Gavin sneaks a glance at his truck.
"They're here to pick up their order," Maddie shouts into the kitchen, nervous.
Gavin's dad is quick to respond. "It's coming right out."
Why are the werewolves ordering food? Either they've hunted all the prey in the area or I'm still the prey.
It's got to be the latter.
Maddie emerges from the kitchen with three large brown paper bags, stapled shut, and she slides them across the counter at Alan.
My heart's in my throat. I maintain my grip on Gavin's hand, still under the table, sure that Alan and the others can smell my fear. At last, they turn away, Alan snapping his fingers at the two guys as if they're dogs.
Slowly, too slowly, they pass our table.
And one of the guys, the bald one, eyes me as he passes, a hungry look in his gaze.
See me dating Gavin. I resist the urge to squeeze my eyes shut. We're far away from school. And this time, we're not putting on a show.
Alan pauses at the door, glances at us, and mutters something with disgust. Then he shoves open the door so fast that it bangs into the building.
At last, the three leave, letting the screen door swing shut behind them.
Slowly, the restaurant comes back to life and people shift in their chairs.
Gavin slowly releases my hand.
"Those new guys are creepy. I was hoping they'd left town," he admits.
I breathe, "So did I. Alan was staring at us."
Gavin shifts in his chair. "We should go as soon as we can. I don't like this."
I agree. "We need to wait until they're far away," I say, listening, but of course Alan and his new pack have no use for cars.
He swallows. "Good idea."
We linger finishing our water, and Maddie doesn't kick either of us out for the next half hour. Tyler needs to know about this. I need a way to warn him that won't
get either me or Gavin killed. But I can think of nothing, and I hope that his wolf senses can pick up on the fact that Alan and his new pack have just made their presence known to the entire downtown area. Word will spread among the gossiping elders in no time, and Gavin's parents will no doubt tell everyone they meet about the incident. Already Maddie is in the kitchen, talking to Gavin's still mostly unseen dad in a low voice.
At last, Gavin rises. "We should get in the truck and go."
"I agree. Thanks for dinner," I say, even though Gavin never paid for it. I think he's getting food for free. Good deal.
We head outside and around the building to where Gavin has parked his truck. When I get in, I check the space behind the seat. Yes. There's a blanket there, covering what looks like a long bundle of sticks. He still has his weapons and my foot slides under the seat and brushes an ammo case.
Unspeakable, in this day and age, but at least we have something.
Gavin goes to start the truck, and instead of the usual roar of the bad muffler, it sputters.
"What the hell?" he asks, trying again. "I just changed the oil in this thing and checked all of the spark plugs. It was starting fine all week."
I gulp because I don't like this. Did Alan tamper with your truck? But no suspicion comes onto Gavin's face as he tries a third and fourth time. Truck troubles are, sadly, normal for him. "Wait here," he says. "I'll go get my dad and see if he can help me find the problem. He shouldn't be too busy right now."
"Your dad?" I don't want Gavin to leave me.
He eyes the restaurant. His mother stands in the window, probably drawn by the sound of the struggling truck. Then he turns back to me. "Keep the doors locked, and honk of there's a problem. You're in view."
Then Gavin leans forward, leaving me no time to react.
His lips smash into mine, awkward, feeling, desperate.
"Umph," I say, leaning back in the seat.
Before my brain can register what's happened, he opens the door, locks it, and waves. "Be back in a few."
And he closes the door, leaving me sitting there.
I'm stunned. Confused. Gavin vanishes inside, and he talks to his mother for a bit before they both head back to the kitchen area. Gavin's left his keys in the ignition, but it's not as if that will do me any good.
And then a tap on the passenger window draws a scream from my throat.
I whirl, reaching for the space behind the seat. My hand brushes the butt of a rifle before I see that the newcomer is Tyler.
He came out of nowhere. My heart soars at the sight of him, uninjured and still healthy. But his eyes are wide as he silently motions me out of the truck.
He saw everything.
I manually unlock it and climb out. "Tyler, I can explain."
"I understand," he says in a tone that tells me he's seen. Yes. He can still smell that I'm not interested in Gavin that way. But I choke up. That doesn't change that I'm allowing this to happen.
"I'm sorry," I mutter.
Gently taking my arms, he pulls me to the side of the building, away from all windows. He's not focusing on Gavin, but on everything else, and it's so bizarre that my ears ring. "Alan was here. The new wolves were here. They haven't ventured into town yet. They've been staying on the border of Tower, watching us, and this is the first time they've gotten this bold. And that worries me."
"He came right into the building when me and Gavin were eating," I say.
Tyler nods as if he's expected this. "It's a threat. He and the others were messing with Gavin's truck, and Cammie and Valerie had to chase them off. But there's only so much they can do."
So my suspicions were correct. "Is Alan gone now?" I eye the trees behind the restaurant.
"Right now, he is, but he could return at any time," Tyler says. "Alan stole two of the spark plugs and ran off. Cammie and Valerie are circling the area, keeping them away for now. They must have been planning to ambush the two of you right here." Tyler's eyes are wide. He takes me in, drifting over my body, full of longing. Tyler won't let go of my arms, though his grip stays gentle. It's been hard for him to stay away from me. I want to kiss him, but that feels so wrong after what's just happened.
"So this fake dating plan isn't working," I say, shaking.
Tyler goes quiet and eyes the ground for a moment. "I wish I could have done better. I've been placing my scent around your house, and so have the rest of the Rose Pack. I've got Chaz going to the mechanic to steal what Gavin needs for his truck." Then he looks me in the eye. "Do not tell Gavin we're doing this. Okay. Chaz is coming." He looks across the road.
"Gavin could come out at any moment," I say, turning to find Chaz running across the road in our direction. He's running from the direction of a crumbling concrete garage. The mechanic. How he's gotten in and out, I don't know.
"Here," he says, popping the hood of Gavin's truck. "Ah. There's the problem." Shuffling noises follow and Chaz pulls some tools from his belt which is likely also borrowed from the mechanic. "Gavin will be much happier when his truck starts without a hitch."
"He'll appreciate this," I say, glad it's getting fixed. So Chaz is a mechanic. That's cool. He seems like a nice guy. I just hate that Gavin would shoot a wolf if he got the chance or got freaked out enough. "Tyler. You're awesome."
"Thank the rest of the pack," he says, pulling me close to the truck. I don't want him to let me go. He eyes the woods behind the restaurant before he pulls me close. "Keep doing what you need to do. I understand."
"I will." My lips tingle before he makes contact. Tyler's kiss has no trace of anger, just softness. Despite Gavin being on my lips less than five minutes ago, the angry animal stays absent. Tyler's not upset at all. It's unnatural. Weird.
But I like that he understands, that he gets me.
I lean into his kiss, wrapping my arms around his strong torso as we mold with one another. And even though I know he's seen me with Gavin, I don't question why. There is only this moment, which may be gone in a flash of teeth and crimson blood.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
After our second make-out session, I should be floating, but I have to hold my feelings down as Tyler and Chaz flee into the woods. Gavin, stunned that his truck is now working, drives me back to the cabin after he emerges from the restaurant, ten minutes after going in to talk to his dad.
And despite being parked right outside the cabin, with the lights now off to boot, Gavin doesn't kiss me again.
"Are you going to be safe at home?" he asks.
"Yes. I should be," I say, thinking of Tyler's reassuring words.
"That was weird. I still don't get what happened." He slaps the dash of his truck which rattles. "Dad was not happy, to say the least. Said I was wasting his time. He told me to come out here and try the truck again. I still don't understand."
"It wasn't your fault."
Gavin smiles. "Maybe the aliens flew over. These woods can be weird sometimes. You can feel that something's off. And it's been even worse lately."
No sign that Gavin's made any connections flash across his face, though he does eye the rifles behind the seats.
And then he drives me home.
Gia's still at work, so I lock the door behind me.
"Do you want me to hang out for a bit?" he asks.
"I think I'll be okay." I'm getting no sense of dread despite the chill and the darkness. Gavin will stay as long as necessary. He even waits until I'm inside to back down the driveway. I watch his headlights go.
I hate that I have to do this to him. It's not fair.
"Tyler, I hope you're around," I say, eyeing the darkening woods. I do not want to be here. I don't understand why Alan did what he did. Why trap us near a restaurant full of people and then not attack?
I don't like this.
Something is off.
And Gia can tell I'm worried when she gets home ten minutes later. At least Gavin didn't leave much of a time gap between dropping me off and her getting home.
"What's wron
g?" she stops in the front door.
I scan her for injuries. Gia has no cell phone so I can't keep an eye on her. So I just tell her. "Those creepy new guys at my school came into the restaurant Gavin and I were eating in today."
"Ew," Gia says. "I've been hearing all about them all week. The cops have been alerted but they haven't found any suspicious activity."
Would the two-man police department be able to do anything? "The whole place went silent when they came in. And then Gavin's truck wouldn't start about half an hour after we left, but then it was fine, and we got out of there."
"That's good. Just stay safe, Beckah. I'm glad you're gaining a social life." Gia smiles and heads to the kitchen. She's tired, with bags under her eyes, and I'm not sure if I can help her much with cooking, but I need to. We both have things on our minds. Her, probably making sure we both have enough to eat. Me, staying alive.
And keeping Tyler alive, too.
* * * * *
"This dance is going to be awesome," Marion says, dragging me once again into Art Club the next Tuesday.
"Sure," I say, absent.
She lifts her eyebrow at me as we cross the threshold. "You've been off all day."
I nod, because I know she gets it. Well, sort of. In her mind, Tyler is still embroiled in some kind of gang war instead of a pack war.
But, to be fair, either can be lethal.
At least I've seen Tyler around school yesterday and today, and I trust that he and the Rose Pack is keeping an eye on the cabin when I'm home. I've got to. Because no one else is capable.
But I'm glad to have this distraction. Halloween decorations are spread out all over the classroom, covering the tables in oranges, blacks, purples, and eerie reds. My mood lifts. Today we're going to decorate the cafeteria building. I haven't decorated for Halloween since I was maybe eight.
"This feels so forbidden," I say, a smile creeping onto my face.
"Well, you're not in Averly anymore," Marion says.
My old school hadn't been the problem, though.