“You know you can talk to me about anything? I promise I won’t tell anyone or judge.”
“I know Riley, thanks, but I just don’t think I’m ready to talk about it yet.”
“I’m here for you whenever you’re ready,” she smiled.
“How about we get something to eat. I’m starving,” I said, rubbing my grumbling belly.
“I don’t know if I can eat. I’m too nervous about tonight.”
“You should still eat something,” I said, pulling her off the bed.
Riley picked at her food while I scarfed down three big slices of pizza. “Damn Ella you sure can put it away,” Austin said as I started to stuff my face with fries. “Did they not feed you at home?”
“Uh, have you met Dean?” I said, washing my fries down with a coke. “Him plus our other brother Xander, I was fighting for scraps,” I laughed.
“Dean is a pig. I’ve never seen anyone eat as much as he does, well, until I met you,” Cameron joked. “Must be something in the water.”
“What’s with the triplet’s?” Sienna asked, taking a seat.
“Triplet’s?” I asked.
“Mackenzie, Addyson, and Madison. We call them the triplets because they’re basically attached at the hip. Where you find one of them you’ll find the other two,” Reagan said, making Sienna blush.
”Aren’t you dating one of them?” I asked him.
“Addyson, but just because I’m dating her it doesn’t mean I always agree with what they do,” he admitted to my surprise.
“What do you mean, what they do?”
“They’re known for their evil plots to destroy people they don’t like.”
“And they look like they’re up to some evil plotting right now,” Cameron said eyeing them.
“They’re definitely up to something. I could feel that they were channeling a lot of power,” Sienna said worried.
“I feel bad for the person who pissed them off,” Austin said.
“So, what would happen to so said person?” I gulped, having a pretty good idea who this person was. Everyone turned to look at me with wide eyes.
“Ella, what did you do?” Dean said annoyed.
“I didn’t do anything,” I said warily.
“Nice knowing ya,” was Austin’s reply.
“It can’t be that bad, right?” No one dared to look at me or give me an answer, besides Dean whom I’m pretty sure thought he had to bail me out of another mess. I ignored his glare and looked over my shoulder at Mackenzie who had a sadistic look in her eye.
Great.
“Don’t worry about them Ella. We won’t let them do anything to you,” Cameron said while Sienna and Dixon nodded their heads in agreement. I spared one more glance over my shoulder for Mackenzie. Then I went back to my dinner. Once I was finished, I went back to my room to change for the movie.
I met everyone in the social room on my floor. It turned out the friend Justin wanted to bring was the guy with the Justin Bieber Haircut.
Fantastic.
Riley Joined me, staying glued to my side. When Justin caught sight of her his jaw dropped. “Hi,” she said shyly to Justin.
“You do something different?” he asked her.
“The girls and I went to the salon today. You don’t like it?” she asked self-consciously.
“Oh god please say you like it, please say you like it,” I thought to myself crossing my fingers.
“No I like it.” He smiled, tucking a piece of her hair behind her ear, making her cheeks turn bright pink.
I cleared my throat. “Oh, yeah, Ella this is Justin,” Riley said, introducing us.
“Hi,” I greeted, extending my hand.
“We’ve already met,” he said, confusing me. “I like Oreo’s, you know, for next time.” He gave me a smirk while he pulled Riley over to the couch to have a seat. It took me a moment to figure out what the hell he was talking about when all of sudden it hit me. I’m such an ass. I slapped myself on the forehead. Justin was the one who came and got me out of the maze.
I was just about to go over and apologize to him when his friend stepped in front of me. “Hi, I’m Kenny,” he said, introducing himself to me.
“Ella,” I said and walked away hoping he would get the hint that I’m not interested. “So what movie did you guys pick?” I asked Dixon.
“Well, it was a debate over a horror or a comedy, the horror won,” Cameron said rolling her eyes.
Great, a horror movie. The last time I watched a horror film was when Jack attacked me. I was not up from reliving that.
I looked around at the seating arrangements and the only seat left was next to Kenny. He had a big grin on his face as he patted the seat next to him. I sighed and took the seat, leaning as far away from him as I could. He tried to put his arm around me, but one look let him know I wasn’t having it. “Does anyone want something to drink?” I asked, getting up before Kenny tried to make another move. They all shouted their requests as I walked over to the fridge.
“Hey, Roman, we’re about to watch a movie. Want to join us?” Austin asked him as he made his way over to the fridge.
I turned to face him and he looked right at me when he said, “No thanks. I’m good.”
“Oh, come on, it’s not that scary. I’m pretty sure you saw all Mackenzie’s home movies. If you can sit through those and not run screaming this should be a piece of cake,” Cameron joked.
Roman cracked a smiled but still declined. “Thanks, but it’s a little crowded in here,” he said, directing the comment at me. I ignored his jab and reached for the fridge the same time he did.
“Sorry, you go,” I said, pulling back.
“No. You can go,” he said, stepping back and waiting.
“Hey Ella, can you hit the lights while you’re up?” Austin asked.
“Yeah,” I said, but before I had the chance someone had beat me to it.
“Oh, good job,” Dixon said. “We meant just the light in here not all the lights in the building,” he quipped.
“Ha-ha very funny Roman. Turn them back on,” I said annoyed.
“I didn’t do that,” he said.
I lowered my voice enough so the others wouldn’t hear. “Look, I know you’re mad at me, but enough is enough. Turn them back on.”
“And I’m telling you I didn’t do it. I wouldn’t do that to you not after…” he trailed off. But I knew he was referring to the time in the library when he first demonstrated his power.
I sighed, running my fingers through my hair. “Can’t you at least use your power to turn them back on?”
“I’m trying, but something’s wrong,” he said concerned.
Everyone else didn’t seem to care and were entertaining themselves by seeing who had the best evil laugh or who could make the scariest sounds. I rolled my eyes at their immaturity until I started to get a tightening in my stomach. I clenched my side knowing this feeling all too well. “Oh god,” I whispered.
“Hey, Ella, don’t worry. We’ll fix it,” Roman said, trying to make me feel better.
“No. No. No. It can’t be?” I said, shaking my head.
“Ella, what’s wrong?” Roman asked, reaching out for me.
“He’s here. He found me.” I was shaking and on the verge of hysterics. I knew he was here. I could sense him anywhere. I couldn’t risk it happening again. I would not stand by and watch innocent people get slaughtered. “We have to go. We have to leave now,” I said, pulling on Roman’s arm.
“Ella, we’re not going anywhere,” he said, keeping me in my spot.
“What is going on?” Cameron asked, sensing my nervousness.
“We have to go. We have to get out of here now!” I yelled, hoping they would listen to me.
“Ella, I think it’s better if we stay here,” Dixon said.
“No we can’t stay here.”
“Ella, you’re scaring me,” Riley said.
“Why won’t anyone listen to me?” I pleaded.
“I thi
nk we should get Dean,” Sienna said.
“No wait,” Justin said. “She’s right. Someone else is here. I can smell them…it’s different.” I heard a ripping noise and then a low growl letting me know Justin had just switched to his wolf form. Then I heard it again and knew Kenny had changed as well.
Roman pushed me behind him protectively. “Stay here,” he said.
“No, don’t go.” I grabbed on to him tight. Picking up on my fear he stayed right where he was. We all stayed put as Justin and Kenny made their way to the door to investigate. The only sound was the click of their claws on the linoleum floor. Not a second later Justin let out a growl and took off down the hall, Kenny not far behind him.
I couldn’t take it anymore. I pushed past Roman and found my way to the door. I wasn’t going to hide from him. “Ella, what are you doing?” Roman yelled, pulling me back into the room. I spun around defensively and Roman backed up surprised.
“Ella!” Dean yelled, coming into the room.
“Dean!” I ran over to him. Despite the lack of light I was able to make out where everything and everyone was. “Dean he’s here he’s really here.”
“It’s okay. I’m here now,” he said, hugging me tight.
I cringed as the fire alarms went off, blaring loudly, and flashing bright red. “We have to go,” I shouted over the sirens. Another alarm went off outside causing a slight case of panic.
“What the hell is going on?” Cameron asked.
“What are we supposed to do? The fire alarm is going off but so is the alarm for us to stay inside,” Sienna asked confused as the rest of us.
Justin came back in the room in human form. “There’s a breach in security. Someone got through the gates. We’re all supposed to stay put until further notice,” he said, joining Riley back on the couch.
We did as he said and stayed put and waited. No one said anything. The only thing you could hear was my pounding heart. A few minutes later the sirens stopped and the lights came back to life. “Everyone okay?” Dean asked.
I looked around at all my friend’s faces full of mixed emotions. “Riley, your arm,” Dixon said. He was the first to notice the long, exposed cuts that were oozing blood.
“Oh, it’s okay…um…Justin accidently cut me when he transformed,” she said softly.
“I’m so sorry. Why didn’t you tell me?” Justin asked. He looked at her concerned that she was hurt more than she was letting on.
“It’s no biggie. Really,” she said smiling sweetly. I managed to pull myself away from Dean and walked over to Riley. I placed my hand over her cuts and healed her arm. Everyone looked at me with astonishment. Riley just smiled and said thank you. I stood up, took one look at her, and fainted.
When I opened my eyes the first thing I saw was his piercing, dark blue eyes, his messy black hair that I ached so badly to run my fingers through. He was cradling me in his arms. I thought I was dreaming. I smiled, looking deep into his eyes. I reached up to caress his face. “I missed you,” I said. I pulled his lips to mine wanting the comfort of his kiss.
I heard a few collective gasps and then Dean clearing his throat. I pulled away and when my vision cleared, I realized I was kissing Roman not Tristan. I jumped up and pushed him away. Everyone was staring at me wide eyed. “What happened?” I asked startled.
“You fainted,” Riley said. I turned back to Roman who was standing there with a stunned look on his face. My cheeks started to turn bright red with embarrassment from confusing Roman with my dead boyfriend Tristan. I didn’t know how to explain it so I tried to pretend it didn’t happen.
“Miss Ella,” Gabe called, rushing into the room and saving me from having to explain myself. He always did have impeccable timing.
“Gabe, what’s going on?”
“I’ll explain it to you later. You and Dean are to come with me.”
“But…” I looked at all my friends.
“All students are to report to their rooms. The school is on lock down,” Gabe announced. When I still didn’t budge, he leaned in closer, and whispered, “Ella, they will be fine. I promise.”
“Ella, go ahead, it’s okay,” Cameron said, reading my worried expression.
“Miss Ella, please,” Gabe pleaded, reaching for my hand. He led Dean and me outside where everything was chaotic. There were guardians and wolves running everywhere searching the perimeter. Gabe hurried us along, keeping us close to him. He took us to the teachers’ dorms and upstairs to his room. “Stay here until I come and get you. There will be two guardians outside the door if you need anything,” he told us before he took off.
I paced around the room before I decided to peek out the window to watch the mess. “I don’t think you should stand by the window,” Dean said.
“What does it matter? He already found me. It’s just a matter of time before he comes for me.”
“Ella, don’t say that.”
“It’s true. This place was supposed to be like Fort Knox and he still found a way in. He’s smarter than we think Dean.” I turned back to the window. “Maybe I should just give myself up. Give him what he wants.”
“Ella no. You are a McCallister and we do not give up. Not without a fight,” he said with conviction.
I laughed. “When are you going to learn I’m not like the rest of the family? I’m different. I don’t belong.”
“I don’t ever want to hear you say that. You belong to this family just as much as I do. Whether you like it or not you’re stuck with us and we’re not going to let you give up. Yes you’re different, but you’re different for a reason.” He turned me making me face him. “I believe you are destined for greatness. We may not know what that destiny is yet, but I know if anyone can make a change it’s you.”
I sighed and gave him a hug. “Thanks Dean, I love you.” I didn’t exactly agree with his little speech, but at the moment I had no fight in me. There was no use in arguing with him. I let him think it was okay when really I wished I had the same self-confidence he did.
“I love you too,” he said, pulling away. “Now care to explain to me what that kiss between you and Roman was about?” Clearly a change of subject was what he thought was best.
“Uh, yeah…well, I kind of thought he was Tristan,” I said, biting my lip.
“You thought he was Tristan?”
“Yeah, I guess from all the stress my mind was playing tricks on me. So when I opened my eyes I thought I was seeing Tristan not Roman,” I shrugged, not knowing another explanation.
“That makes sense. They do have some similarities. You just better hope Mackenzie doesn’t find out. Jack will seem like a baby cub compared to her,” he said, lying on the couch and turning on the TV like all of this was no big deal.
I was too restless to watch TV so I paced around the room until my legs gave in forcing me to lie down on the bed. I must have fallen asleep because when I opened my eyes I had a blanket over me and Gabe was lying on the couch instead of Dean. When I caught a glimpse of Gabe, I had to cover my mouth from laughing out loud. Gabe was twice the size of the small loveseat he was sleeping on. His one leg was dangling over the arm rest while the other was on the floor. I knew he had to be uncomfortable. I got up and decided to let him have his bed back.
“Gabe,” I whispered, shaking him softly.
He opened his one eye, glanced at me, and then sprang into action. “What is it?”
“Relax, everything is fine. I just wanted to give you your bed back,” I said, glad to know Gabe was always prepared.
“I’m fine,” he said, rubbing his neck.
“Seriously Gabe?”
“I have to check in with the others anyways. I was just trying to get a couple minutes rest.”
“What time is it?” I asked, not seeing a clock anywhere.
He looked out the window as if the sun would give him his answer. “I believe it’s close to six.”
“In the morning?” He nodded. “How long was I out?”
“I’m not sure. I c
hecked in sometime after midnight and Dean said you had been asleep for a while.”
“Where is Dean?”
“After things had settled down he was escorted back to his room. We didn’t want to disturb you and thought you needed a good night’s rest. So we let you be.”
“Well, thank you. I appreciate that,” I said, walking over to the window to look at the morning sun. I was grateful for the peaceful rest. It was the first I had in a long time. “So what happens now?”
“They’re calling in more guardians to double security.”
“Will that even make a difference? How did he get in in the first place?”
“We’re still trying to figure that out,” he said honestly. I knew it was hard for him to admit that. To him that meant he failed and didn’t do his job, but I didn’t believe that. “Miss Ella, you need not worry. I promise I will make sure nothing happens to you.” Gabe was good at his job, but even on good days people made mistakes.
“I want you to know that the guardians they are sending are the best of the best. I can guarantee you, you will be safe with them.”
“What about you? Will you still be my guardian?”
“Of course I will, but this way we’ll have strength in numbers.”
“You know, this is exactly what I didn’t want.” I sighed, wondering if this was how it was going to be until Jack was caught. “Can I go back to my room?”
“Yes, it’s safe now. He won’t try again. Not this soon,” he said and offered to escort me back to my room.
“Can I go myself?” I asked. “You did say it was okay and the sun is up.”
I knew he didn’t want me to, but he let me go alone. I was glad because I didn’t really plan on going to my room. I had to find Aidan, but I wasn’t sure which room was his. I snuck down into the office to see if I could find out what room he was in. When I found the room number, I slipped back upstairs and down the hall to his room.
I wasn’t sure if I should knock or not. I checked the door and it was unlocked. I let myself in. Aidan was asleep. After closer inspection I discovered he was wearing only his boxers. Man, did he have a nice body. I tiptoed my way over to the bed and sat down carefully next to him. I gently brushed a piece of hair off his forehead, causing him to stir. “Ella, is that you?”
The Wanderers Beginning: The Wanderers, Reborn, & Unforgiven Page 63