Scarred

by Amber Lynn Natusch

  “In L.A.?” I asked, trying to remember if that was on the ocean or not.

  “No, down the coast a little further, but I went up there and took some classes. I even did a couple of auditions, just for kicks.”

  “Did you get any gigs?” I asked, leaning forward with excitement. Matty didn't understand how breathtaking he was on stage. I hoped someone out west noticed him.

  “Almost. I just missed making the final cut for Lady Gaga's next tour,” he said, taking a piece of pizza off the metal pan and rolling it up. “They said I was too tall. They've got short girls out there in L.A.. Maybe I would have made it if you tried out with me.”

  “That's too bad, Matty. It sounds like it would have been an amazing opportunity,” I said, before giggling to myself. “Although, she does make the boys wear some freaky shit.”

  “Yeah,” he said with a mouth full of pie, “I noticed that after the fact. I did breathe a little sigh of relief. My dad wouldn't have done too well with that, ya know?” I tried to picture Dom watching his son dance in assless chaps with women in bondage gear draped around him, but aborted that mission before anything solidified. “So, now that my buddy doesn't need me anymore, I decided to come back,” he said, looking at me intently. “Besides...I missed some things while I was gone.”

  “Things?” I asked, squirming under the intensity of his gaze.

  “More like people.”

  A subject change was in order.

  “So, are you back to dance for good now?” I asked weakly, hoping to deflect the conversation.

  “Yep. I called Pam last week. She said I was good to go,” he replied, turning his attention back to his meal. “She said she wasn't sure what to do with you anymore. None of the guys worked well with you.”

  That was an understatement. Pam had relegated me to group numbers only, with a very occasional solo piece. Aesthetically, I just didn't match up well with the other guys, and they weren't strong enough to lift the extra pounds that came with my taller frame. Matty always could.

  “Yeah, let's just say it's been a bit boring for me since you left.” I gave him a playful wink before taking another bite.

  We bantered back and forth for a while, falling back into our old rhythm. Though it was still awkward knowing we had issues to address, it was comforting to regain something that I'd missed so deeply. Matty brought a sense of normalcy to my life that I lacked, and, unlike Alan and Kristy, he knew what I was yet still wanted to be part of the madness. I didn't want to lose him.

  I couldn't lose him.

  Three hours, two pizzas, four cups of tea, and a much needed bathroom break later, we headed on our way to stroll through town. It was Saturday afternoon, but the streets were remarkably empty, the weather having taken a turn for the worse. The sky was dark and foreboding, and it started to give a preview of what was inevitably to come throughout the rest of the day. Seeing the writing on the wall, I ducked into a local pharmacy and bought an umbrella big enough for two.

  We made our way down to the harbor, walking to the end of one of the docks. Just before we got ourselves situated, it started to really rain. It was precisely what we needed. There wasn't a soul around, and the declining weather would only further ensure that. Matty opened the umbrella above us to ward off the pelting precipitation, and I shimmied closer to him for warmth.

  “You're freezing,” he said with a frown. He unzipped his hoodie, and, without asking if I wanted it, draped it around my shoulders. The blast of heat I absorbed from it was intense, almost uncomfortable against my frigid skin. I must have gotten colder than I'd thought.

  “Better?”

  “It's great, thanks,” I replied. “But you're going to get cold now.”

  He shrugged ambivalently.

  “I don't really feel it that much.”

  “Liar,” I retorted. “You’re either trying to play hero, or you're too busy trying to digest all that pizza you just ate to feel anything other than indigestion.”

  Instead of laughing, he regarded me curiously.

  “You must burn through a lot of calories, being...you know...given your situation,” he said cautiously.

  “Yes,” I sighed, knowing we were going to have the conversation whether I liked it or not. “I suppose I do, though it's a bit different for me. I'm a bit different in general—by werewolf standards, that is.”

  “And that really is what you are?” he asked for clarification. I imagined the events that occurred that night had led him to question a lot of things, even things that I'd admitted to already.

  “Yes.”

  “Sean and Cooper too, right?” he asked with slight distaste.

  “Yes,” I replied, feeling it best to leave it at that.

  “How long have you been this way?”

  “Almost two years now, but for about nine months of that I had no idea that's what I was. I kept having blackouts...I didn't know that I was Changing.”

  “So how did you figure it out?” he asked, trying to intercept my gaze.

  “It's a long story,” I sighed, not really wanting to relive anything to do with Eric. “Another werewolf recognized what I was. He told me, and when I didn't believe him, he Changed in front of me to drive the reality home.”

  “What do you mean?” he asked, lowering his face into my view.

  “I mean he turned into a wolf in front of me.”

  “You can really do that?” he asked, sounding a bit like a child asking his favorite superhero about his powers.

  “Yes,” I laughed, the sound cutting through the rhythm of the rain around us with one loud scoff. “But please don't glorify it. It's not cool, or awesome. It's a curse.”

  “But I don't understand how you came to be like this?” he asked, taking my hand in his. The warmth it held felt amazing, so I placed my other in his palm too.

  “Mine is genetic, but there are others out there, Cooper for example, who were infected.”

  “Infected?”

  “Bitten, scratched...I don't really know how it works. I'm assuming some bodily fluid is involved, but I haven't worked out the logistics. I was planning on asking Coop about it at some point.”

  “Are there a lot of you?”

  “No clue,” I said, my minding wandering to the size of the pack in Utah. It was formidable to say the least, but also no longer in existence.

  “Do you Change with the full moon?”

  “Nope.” You have sex on it. “I think that's just in movies.”

  He ran his hand through his hair a few times before letting out the breath he was holding.

  “I'm not going to lie, Ruby. You're not the wealth of information I was hoping for,” he said with a grin.

  “I'm kind of a flunky wolf. Things have gone a bit differently for me than they do for most. I missed out on Lycanthropy 101.”

  “So no history?” he mocked. “Fine. But you can tell me about what happened that night in the alley. That much I know.”

  I closed my eyes. It was the moment I'd dreaded most of all. I didn't like thinking about the Rev, or what he'd done―nearly done―to those I loved. He'd let me know that night that he could get to anyone at any time, and I could do nothing about it.

  “That night...the man in the alley—the one who attacked us...,” I said slowly, choosing my words carefully. “He's a werewolf. A rogue one. He's extremely dangerous and he's after Peyta. Scarlet too.”

  “Who's Scarlet?” he asked, trying to follow.

  “My wolf,” I whispered. “We're two sides to a coin. You get one or the other—never both. She's who saved you, not me.”

  “So she's not you?” he asked, his face scrunched up with confusion.

  “Yes and no. It's complicated,” I said, trying to figure out how best to explain. “Take Cooper for example―he and his wolf are one being. They function as one, furry or not. Scarlet and I...well, we struggle. One starts where the other stops, and the transition between us is abrupt, though it seems that, over time, we're slowly bleeding into on
e another. There's a little more gray area than there used to be.”

  “So you're a two-for-one combo?”

  “Basically,” I said with a shrug. “You can't have one without the other, but that doesn't mean we're in sync with each other. If Coop likes you, his wolf likes you, but that's not so much the case for me. Scarlet and I don't always see eye to eye on a lot of things. We have differing tastes, as it were.”

  “Does she like me?” he asked, sounding nervous. I couldn't help but laugh.

  “I have no idea, Matty. I haven't checked in with her on that one,” I said, trying to stifle my giddiness that was clearly beginning to irritate him. “I'll say this much...she wasn't going to let you be killed in the alley that night. For Scarlet, that's a stamp of approval.”

  “Good,” he said, looking far more satisfied. “I don't think I'd want her against me.”

  “You don't, trust me. She's no joke,” I said, jabbing him with an innocent elbow to the ribs.

  After an unbearable pause in the conversation, Matty finally spoke up.

  “So where do we go from here?” he asked, pushing a stray hair away from my cheek.

  “That's up to you,” I said, turning to face him directly. “I didn’t tell anyone that you have any knowledge about me...about what I am.”

  “Me either,” he said with a laugh. “I didn't want to end up in the nut house.”

  I didn't say that I kept my mouth shut because I didn't want him dead. That seemed like the type of information best kept to myself.

  “So we're cool?” I asked, voice barely audible.

  “If that's how you want it, then we're cool.”

  I relaxed into his body, wrapping my arms around his waist. Having him back meant more to me than he could possibly know. More than I could possibly put into words. We sat there in silence, while the tapping of the rain became the soundtrack to our mended friendship. Time passed, light faded, and still we sat, neither one wanting to withdraw from the other.

  My phone vibrating for the tenth time finally forced my hand. I pulled it out to see that Cooper had called. Repeatedly.

  “I should be getting back,” I said, not really wanting to leave.

  “Me too. Ma's making my favorite tonight. Don't want to miss that.”

  “Will you smooth things over with her for me?” I asked, grabbing his arm. “I really like your family. I don't want her to think I hurt you.”

  “That's gonna cost you,” he said, his wicked grin making a comeback.

  “Ah...and you were doing so well,” I said sarcastically.

  “I'm only human,” he said with a shrug. I flinched, my hand recoiling. “Ruby, I didn't mean—”

  “It's alright, Matty,” I said, forcing a smile. “I'm just not used to this yet. I know you didn't mean anything by it.”

  We stood to leave, and he pulled me in for one last hug before he looked at his watch.

  “Shit!” he yelled. “It's later than I thought. I really have to run...like now.”

  “Go ahead,” I said, waving him on, “but the umbrella stays. Your hair will fare far better in this than mine.”

  “You’re okay to get home by yourself?” he asked. I cocked my head to the side in mock indignation. “Old habits die hard, Ruby. I won't make that mistake again. Note to self: Ruby can handle things.”

  “Thank you,” I said with a reserved bow. “I'm gonna call Cooper before he totally flips out. See you next week? At class?”

  “If not before then,” he said with a wink. “Later, blue eyes.”

  He left me smiling in the rain. I watched him disappear into the downpour, thinking that I was a lucky girl. For once—just once—the universe graced me with something good rather than taking a big dump on my head. It was a nice change of pace.

  The light of the cell phone was hard on my eyes in the pitch black that surrounded me. I dialed Cooper to let him know I was good, and to make sure that the universe wasn't just distracting me with Matty so it could slap me with some other calamity, making the fall from happiness all the more dramatic. It turned out that he was just worried; there were no major travesties to be reported. Mildly irritated that I needed to report to him, I told him I was on my way and hung up. I knew he'd be watching the clock and waiting. If I wasn't home in the time he'd allotted, he'd come looking for me.

  I flipped the phone closed, giving my eyes a second to adjust to the darkness again. When I looked down the dock, I noticed something that hadn't been there moments earlier. A figure stood at the far end in the shadows of the night, the deflected rain outlining his faintly backlit body.

  “It's not safe for a girl like you to be out here alone at night,” he said, his voice carrying over the pounding rain.

  I had nowhere to go, and I wanted to kick myself for not running back with Matty. It wasn't like I couldn't have kept up with him. I searched wildly around me for options, of which there were none. Panicking slightly, I pulled out my phone to dial Cooper as the figure approached. Letting Scarlet out was my last resort, but that was a card I really couldn’t afford to play.

  “Time you be headin' home now,” he said, only feet away from me. The hood of his coat shrouded his face, but there was something about his voice that made me hang up the phone. “Do you hear me?” he asked, pulling the fabric away from his face. “It's not safe. Not for you.”

  A man of about seventy plus years looked at me through aged but sharpened eyes, illuminated only faintly by the phone I held nervously in front of me, my fingers caressing the keys. He didn't seem to want to harm me, not from what I could tell, but the whole situation freaked me out and I wanted to run—fast.

  “Okay,” I said quietly. “I'll go.”

  “I don't mean to scare you, miss,” he said, reaching out a weathered but sturdy hand. “These are dangerous times for the likes of you. Best you be getting yourself home.”

  “I will...thank you.”

  He extended his hand toward me while I searched his face.

  “Gavin,” he said, introducing himself. “Name's Gavin.”

  “Ruby,” I returned without thinking.

  “Get yourself home quick then, Ruby. Dangerous times these are...”

  “Goodnight,” I said, hurrying past him.

  I was just clear of him when I busted into a flat-out sprint, dropping my umbrella to the ground. I didn't stop for anything, totally oblivious to my surroundings along the way. With guided feet, I did exactly what Gavin had told me to do—I got myself home quickly.

  7

  Cooper lazily looked up from the TV, unfazed by my Kramer-esque entrance. I slammed the door closed behind me before collapsing against it, trying to catch my evasive breath. I stood there, soaked to the bone, dripping all over the hardwood floor. Still unmoving, he eyed me carefully, undoubtedly trying to assess what kind of shenanigans I'd gotten myself into—or narrowly avoided.

  “You're early,” he said, game face intact.

  “I ran,” I said, panting heavily.

  “I can see that. What I’m curious about is the why behind it.”

  Stripping off Matty's hoodie, I peeled off my shoes that seemed adhered to my feet, stuck like glue from the moisture.

  “Um, maybe because it's pouring outside?” I suggested unconvincingly.

  “I don't even know why you bother trying, Ruby. You're a terrible liar,” he said, clicking the TV off.

  “It's nothing, really. I just freaked myself out at the harbor,” I said, heading to the bathroom. “Maybe you should stop making me watch those horror films and I wouldn't have that problem.” I wrung my hair out over the sink before grabbing a towel, then stepped out into the hall to find Cooper inconveniently blocking the way to my room.

  “So the harbor scared you?” he asked, arms folded over his chest. It wasn't the time to point it out, but his mannerisms were taking on a striking resemblance to a certain PC assassin that he wasn't overly fond of.

  “No,” I replied, trying to walk around him. When I realized he wouldn't gi
ve way without an answer, I provided him with one. “There was this old guy...Gavin. He looked super creepy all decked out in a black raincoat, skulking around the dock. He told me it wasn't safe for me to be there and it spooked the hell out of me so I ran home. Happy?”

  “Where was your Boy Scout when all of this transpired?”

  “He had to head home. I told him to go on without me, and then I called you. The messenger of doom showed up right after I hung up with you.”

  “Old guy?” he asked, looking pensive. “How old is old?”

  “I don't know...senior citizen age, whatever that is,” I said, trying to get around him with greater success.

  “So some crazy old guy tells you it's not safe and you spaz out? Maybe we really should stop watching those movies,” he said, sounding as though he thought my point had validity.

  “Okay, glad we have that settled then. It's nothing but chick flicks for the next month. No complaints!” I said, making my way to my room.

  “That matter may be settled, but we need to discuss something else. Something a little more pressing,” he said, following me.

  “Yeah, what's that?” I asked, stepping into my closet to change.

  “The Boy Scout,” he said, the bed creaking under his weight as he sat on it. “I want you to stay away from him.”

  “What?” I hollered, poking my head out to see him. “Oh my God, Cooper. What is your problem?”

  “He's dangerous.”

  “Matty?” I yelled, storming out of the closet wearing only my wet pants, my arms crossed over my chest creatively to cover the girls. “He's about as dangerous as a...a....a chinchilla!” It was by no means my best argument ever made, but it was true enough.

  “You can't tell, can you?” he asked, staring a little too intently at my arms, practically willing them to throw themselves up over my head. “You really don't know what's going on with him?”

  “Listen, Cooper. Matty may have a little crush on me, if you want to call it that, but I would hardly say that makes him dangerous.”

  “I'm not talking about some schoolboy crush, Ruby,” he said, coming to his feet. As he moved towards me, I became painfully aware of how little clothing I had on. “He's Marked. You need to stay away from him.”