The Beast

by Shantea Gauthier

  chapter 16

  "Jade Greene?" the voice on the other end of my cell phone asked.

  "Yes?" I moved the mouth piece away from my mouth and drew deep breaths as quietly as I could. I tapped the toe of my new high tech running shoe against the other.

  "Hi, this is Hannah. Helen told me to have you come in for an interview?" As if it was a question. I threw both names around in my head. Helen, Hannah. Hannah, Helen. They were from…

  "At the theater?" I said.

  "Civic Arts Plaza," she corrected.

  "Right, sorry." It was one building with a lobby and two stages. A community theater at best. "When?"

  "Oh, uh, whenever you're available. When would you like to come in?"

  I smiled. By all rights, I should be the nervous one.

  "How about in an hour?" I asked. It would give me time to get back home, shower and get dressed.

  "Um, hold on." I listened to the recordings of the upcoming shows with little interest.

  "Interview?" Jessica asked in a loud whisper. I nodded. She bounced and clapped happily.

  "Okay," Hannah said. Or was it Helen? Crap. "An hour works. Bring a resume if you have one. Uh… We'll see you soon?"

  "Do you guys mind going back now?" I asked, patting Beefcake between the shoulders. We were still a twenty minute run away. The route had become familiar to me, it helped to keep my temper at bay. When that didn't work, another kind of physical activity worked. One that involved Simon.

  I was getting warm.

  "Not at all, that's exciting," Simon said. Jessica nodded.

  I led the run back to the house. Jack or Cole sometimes joined us on the runs, Sandra usually worked. She came home late almost every night and fell straight into bed before leaving early in the morning. If she had time to spare, she spared it for Jack.

  Sometimes I led the runs, sometimes Jessica or Simon led. Beefcake was never allowed to lead and he never tried. Neither did Jack or Cole.

  I was worried that there would be a problem between werewolf and dog but Beefcake didn’t seem to have a problem with me or Simon. Jessica had a harder time adjusting until she was finally convinced that Simon wasn't abusive. After that, we ran together almost every day.

  Jessica, Simon, and Beefcake slung congratulations and luck at me on my way into the shower. Beefcake sent his wish for good luck through Jessica, of course.

  My hair was growing into an awkward length, but I forced it into a smooth bob with half a pound of cream and hairspray. As soon as I had my makeup set, the goo on my head started melting and it looked like my face was next. I fought back at first, with paper towels, wash cloths and a lot of powder. With only fifteen minutes to get to the theater, I realized that my only option was to shower again and start over. I ran a dollop of cream through my hair, but didn’t bother blow drying it, I reapplied mascara and lip gloss and rushed out the door. Better to be late than a melting wax sculpture.

  The person at the front desk had skinny jeans and a t-shirt over a long sleeved shirt that went straight down over a skinny torso. Chin length hair all pushed over to one side pointed to a name badge. Madison.

  "I'm here to see Hannah," I said. "I mean, Hannah called me. I'm here to see Helen."

  The androgynous Madison pointed to a door marked "HR."

  A printed sign taped to the wall said "I ran out of sick days… So I'm calling in DEAD!"

  I went to the door and knocked.

  Helen was pleasant enough, with sort of sexy librarian good looks. Frazzled brown hair sat on top of her head in a bun secured with a pencil and she wore glasses and a coffee stained white blouse unbuttoned just enough to show some freckled cleavage.

  “Hi, Helen, nice to meet you,” I said. “I had that same sign on my cubicle at my last job.”

  “Oh you did?” she practically squealed. “I love those funny signs!”

  “Me too,” I lied.

  “Well, um, Jade, I think that we’ll get along fine then. So tell me, what made you apply with us?”

  The real answer was that I needed a job and didn’t care where or what it was. The interview-friendly answer was different. “I’ve always been interested in the arts. Plays, sculptures, anything, really. It’s always really interested me how the whole showing process works. I’m willing to do whatever it takes, from handing out programs to raising curtains, or whatever is required as long as I get to be part of it.”

  “What did you do before this?”

  “I had a job for a long time doing data entry. I got really good at working with numbers, but it’s not as satisfying, you know?”

  She smiled and nodded. “I know what you mean. Believe it or not I’m a CPA.”

  “Really?” Slight head tilt to show interest.

  “No joke,” she said. “I keep all my licenses current and I stay available for the odd consulting job, but it’s so much more rewarding doing this. You really get to bring joy to people.”

  “That’s what I want,” I said. “When I was a kid we’d go to art shows and it was always such a nice break from the boring every day stuff.”

  “Yeah!” she said. “Come on, I’ll give you the ten cent tour of the place.”

  She led me around the building and continued the interview while we walked.

  “Do you have good people skills?” she asked.

  “Oh, yeah,” I lied. “I like to meet new people and interact, but I’m not really a big talker. I like to have my task and do it, but if that task involves dealing with people, I can do it really well.”

  It was complete dribble coming out of my mouth. Or drivel. Maybe a little of both.

  “Perfect. We’re really looking for someone who can handle managing maybe two or three people, just making sure that certain things get handled.”

  “I can definitely handle that.” I could barely manage myself.

  “Great. It sounds like we’ll get along just fine, then. Let’s head back to my office and get the paperwork started.”

  Somehow, having forgotten to put deodorant on and looking like I’d been crying in my mascara, I got the job. By some other miracle my starting pay was higher than what they had advertised. I went home walking on air and sent self-congratulatory text messages to Simon, Sandra and Jessica. No one responded.

  At home, all alone with no one to brag to, I took a nap.

  Something tickled me awake and I sprung out of bed, crouched like an animal waiting to attack.

  "Holy crap," Sandra said. "I didn't mean to scare you."

  I sat back onto the floor, heart pounding. "Well, you did."

  "Well, you'd better not come into the living room, then."

  I narrowed my eyes at her with mock suspicion. "Why?"

  "We planned a surprise party for you. To congratulate you on your new job."

  I smiled. "You're the best, Sandy."

  She helped me up and said, "That's the first time you've ever called me that."

  I gave a fake shudder. "I know, and it'll be the last. It was weird."

  "Surprise!" my friends yelled.

  Sandra, Simon, Jessica, Jack, Cole, and even Beefcakes were there, in front of a bucket of chicken, a tray of ribs, and a cake that said "Congrats, Jane!"

  "Jane?"

  Jack shrugged. "Hey, we got forty percent off for that."

  I felt pure elation. When the pressure was off of Cole and me to hook up, we discovered that we could be good friends. Jessica had come around frequently since my accident and while she still said some things so completely air headed they made me want to cry, she was a good person. Jack was starting to feel like my best friend's husband and Simon was… Simon was my pack.

  "Thanks you guys! I have the best friends."

  "You mean you have the best best-friend," Sandra said.

  "Aw, are you crying?" Cole teased.

  I sniffed dramatically, reaching my hands out in front of me like I was appealing to the gods. "It's just so beautiful." I moved into the kitchen and pushed past them all. "I just- I love food
."

  I gave the tray of ribs a big fake hug and we all laughed. After dinner, we all went outside into the hot tub. Just like the night we all met, only completely different.

  Beefcakes crunched on leftover ribs while the rest of us drank and soaked in the hot, soothing water. I leaned against Simon and he rested his head on mine.

  "It's a full moon," Jessica said, pointing.

  "No it's not," Simon and I said in unison.

  "It's tomorrow night," I said.

  Are you ready? Simon asked.

  As ready as I'll ever be.

  You'll have to keep up with me, he said.

  I'll keep up, I replied. I'll follow you to the ends of the earth and back if I have to.

  Sandra splashed Jack. Jack splashed too hard and some of the water hit Jessica in the face. She, in turn splashed Cole and hit me instead. I laughed and just made a big general splash aimed at anyone who wasn't me. Soon we were all laughing and splashing and Jessica was screaming, "This isn't fun in hot water!" between peals of laughter.

  "Stop!" Sandra finally said. "Stop! Stop, stop! We're being too loud, the neighbors might complain."

  Everyone froze.

  Sandra gave one last splash, which turned into a whole new water fight.

  "The drinks!" I squealed, getting a face full of hot water. With the sudden realization that the drinks were in peril, the game ended abruptly.

  We smiled and talked and enjoyed the warm night air. And we drank.

  Sandra and Jack went in to the house to get another bottle of wine, but they weren't coming back. Jessica and Cole claimed that they were going in to pick at the ribs some more and dry off. They weren't coming back either.

  Simon pulled himself out of the water onto the concrete, dangling his legs in the water. I sank into the water and slowly moved toward him with only my eyes above the water, like a crocodile.

  He smiled back and I wrenched the velcro fly of his swimming trunks open. I reached inside to find him already hard and I tried to stroke him but my pruney finger tips clung to his skin. He grabbed me by the shoulders and pulled me out of the water. I kissed him. He reached a hand between my legs to pull my bikini aside. My head fell back and smiled, showing my submission. It didn't matter. He didn't rule me any more than I ruled him. Hot, cruel need ruled us both and I rose and fell, riding him on the edge of the hot tub while the cold air licked at my wet skin. He buried his face in my cleavage, pulled the top up so that both of my breasts hung free. He licked the water off of them, licked and bit at my nipples and held me close while I clawed at his back, bit his shoulder and moaned as quietly as I could manage.

  It wasn't long before my breath came in ragged breaths, my body pulsing with pleasure, and I moaned against his neck.

  I wrapped my arms around him and rested my head on his shoulder.

  From inside the house I saw Jessica's red hair whip up as she turned quickly away from the sliding glass door.

  I jumped when something clattered to the ground nearby and laughed to see that it was only Beefcakes dropping his last bone on the concrete. He’d eaten through all the others. We righted our clothes and went back into the house.

  "I didn't see anything," Jessica slurred from the couch, holding up a glass. "I was just looking for Beefcakes."

  Cole laughed. "I'm right here you know, you shouldn't talk about Simon like that when I'm right… here." He drunkenly slid to the floor. "It was funny in my head."

  I smiled. "It was hilarious, Cole. I'll get you guys some blankets."

  "No," Cole said, stretching out on the ground.

  "We couldn't impose," Jessica yawned, turning to face the back of the couch.

  I pulled my own blankets out of the linen closet and covered them both. I took Simon's hand in mine and we touched our foreheads together.

  You know what I really want right now? I thought at him.

  I can guess, he replied.

  More ribs. Grab the tray and meet me in my room.

  He grabbed the tray and as an afterthought I poured a bowl of water and set it outside for Beefcake. It was warm enough and he seemed content.

  Everyone seemed content.

  Simon and I ate the rest of the ribs and started back into the kitchen. Jessica and Cole were moving around, so we went back to my room with the empty tray, as quietly as we could while giggling.

  I fell asleep with a smile on my face, thinking of how wonderful my life was becoming. I had Simon, I had a job, I had the best friends I could ask for, and I had a pack.

  Chapter 17

  After waking up late and filling out paperwork at the theater, I didn’t have time to eat before our pack run. Even if I’d had time, I was too excited. In a few short hours I would be filling my belly in wolf form.

  Simon seemed perfectly calm, but when I caught him and touched my head to his I felt the excitement buzzing inside of him. It would be his first pack hunt in almost ten years and he was going to lead it. The fact that there were only two of us didn’t seem to quell his excitement.

  Jack seemed agitated, but he wasn’t saying anything about why. Cole didn't ask but Jessica bounced around and pestered him. I did my own pestering, without as much bounce, and even Simon begged him to just tell us what was going on so that Jessica and I would stop being so annoying.

  Jessica bounced behind him, then hopped in front of him every third step asking him over and over again what was going on. Jack finally broke.

  "What," step, step, hop. "Is," step, step, hop. "Going," step, step-.

  "Okay!" Jack said, catching Jessica's narrow shoulders. "You can't say anything, any of you!"

  He was sweating. He didn't normally sweat. Even on a long run in the heat of summer, he wasn’t much of a sweater. In the mild air at a leisurely walk, he shouldn’t have been sweating.

  "I won't," I said.

  Simon and Jessica echoed me. I looked at Cole but the huge grin on his face told me he already knew.

  Jack pulled something out of his pocket and I watched Jessica's green eyes grow huge. Mine did the same when I looked at his hand.

  A tiny black box sat cupped in his palm. Cole still grinned proudly while Jessica, Simon and I stared open-mouthed.

  "Oh my god," I breathed.

  "No way!" Jessica shrieked, jumping into the air.

  He opened the box.

  A platinum ring shaped like a delicate ocean wave with a beach ball of a diamond on its crest winked back at us.

  "Oh my god," I repeated. "When? How?"

  "Tonight," he said. "Since everyone is going to be away, I'm taking her out to Hollywood for a real date. I painted a big sign and I'm getting Marilyn Monroe and Elvis to hold it up when we come out of the theater."

  We were all smiling. "Oh my god," seemed to be the only English I could muster.

  When we got back to the house, we turned the TV on and waited for Sandra to come home. When her car pulled up, Cole pointed a warning finger at each of us. "Not a word."

  Sandra barely acknowledged him. "Jade."

  "What's up?" She was in a bad mood, with a tightly squeezed fistful of bills.

  "We need to talk about you paying your way. I can't keep spending all of my money to keep the lights on, a roof over our heads and to feed you. I can't keep carrying you like this."

  I scowled. "I just got a job. As soon as I get paid it's going to you. I know you've been-."

  "And what are you going to do about your car? Just not pay for it? Are you going to let the service get shut off on the phone I bought for you?"

  "You said that it was-."

  "No," she snapped. "I need you to pay up or get out."

  Her hair was a mess, her khakis were torn. Her face was dirty. Something had obviously happened to her.

  “Are you okay?" I ventured.

  "I'm fine!" she yelled. "I've just finally come to my senses about you. You're a vampire, Jade."

  She let out a bark of cruel laughter when she realized what she had called me. I hoped that she wouldn't amend i
t by shouting the truth for all of our neighbors to hear.

  "You're a leech," she corrected. "I work my ass off and you just go for walks with my friends."

  "They're my friends too, Sandra."

  "Ha! You didn't even like Jessica when you first met her. You thought she was completely retarded. And you've never paid Jack or Cole any attention until recently but everything is all about Jade. Good job, Jade, you got an entry level job. You're so lucky Jade, you can eat everything and still lose weight. Jade is everyone’s best friend. Jade, our hero!"

  Something was very wrong with her. I reached out to take her shoulder, to pull her close and hold her or… something, but she dodged me and stormed to her room slamming the door behind her.

  "What did you do?" Jack hissed, following her.

  Jessica had a queer angry look on her face as she stared after both of them.

  "I can't believe her," she said.

  I started to cry.

  "She knows that you are going to pay her," Simon said, patting my shoulder.

  "It's probably just that time of the month or something," Cole added gently. I would have laughed if I wasn't so hurt.

  They reached out for me, but I dodged them and went into my own room and slammed my own door. I didn't want them to watch me cry my frustration out. Why did Sandra have to do that? I knew that I had to pay for things. She knew that I had applied at every single place that looked even mildly promising. I had filled out applications and made follow up calls until my fingers hurt. Simon paid for most of the food that came into the house because I wouldn't let him give me money. The only reason I refused him was because I knew that Sandra wouldn't take it if I accepted any money. She would have called me a hooker or something and refused to take my dirty hooker money. What did she want from me? What could she possibly expect from me?

  A soft knock sounded on my door.

  "Go away," I said sulkily.

  "Jade, we have to go," Simon said. “We really can’t be late.”

  The window revealed the setting sun and I knew that he was right. I didn't have time to sulk and feel sorry for myself. I hoped that Jack would be able to convince her to go out after all. I felt sorry for myself all over again when I thought that I might have ruined his proposal.