by Amy McClung
Gently I sat on the bed next to her and said her name, she didn’t move. Still no movement even when I touched her arm. I moved off the bed and knelt in front of her and she was in a bit of a daze just staring ahead, her eyes were glazed over with tears. It was like she didn’t know I was there. Careful not to scare her, I brushed her hair out of her face and softly spoke, “Jackie, Hun, what is wrong?” Her eyes rolled up to look at me. Throatily, she said, “Parker…what are you doing here?” She sat up and cleared her throat and then got out of the bed and walked over to put her robe on. I started looking around the room and noticing that she had taken down all her pictures of Mitchell and pictures of me as well, there was nothing left on her vanity that showed any sign of friends.
“What is going on Jackie? Mitchell has been worried sick about you”. Jackie sneered and turned to me, “I guess you would know a lot about what Mitchell was thinking.” That was weird, not sure where that even came from, she was depressed one minute and angry the next, an exorcism may be in the works for this chicks future. “Are you mad that Mitchell has had to stay with me while Quinn hunts for the crazy vampire? Because you are more than welcome to come with him when he has to babysit, I would love to hang out with you too,” I said hoping it would make her feel more welcome if that was the issue at hand. She narrowed her eyes and glared at me as she said, “Everyone needs to take care of you lately. You have Quinn, you had Will and now you have Mitchell. You get protection, plus you get to be a superhero werewolf and you get to live for hundreds of years never looking older than 30. I’m surprised you even remember who I am, no one seems to think I need anyone around for protection…I’m just a simple weak human after all!” My mouth just dropped open in bewilderment. I had no idea where this was all coming from. “What the hell Jackie? Mitchell said you have been pulling away from him and I have tried to get you to come hang out but you keep making excuses why you can’t. No one has forgotten about you, it is almost the exact opposite, you seem to have forgotten about everyone that you used to care about” I protested. “When did you turn in to such a snotty hateful witch?”
Jackie smirked and went to open the bedroom door, “Just leave Parker, I’d rather be alone. I’m sure you have some boyfriends waiting for you. I guess someone had to fill Christine’s shoes by being the town tramp.” Her words made me furious and I fought every urge I had to slap her silly, but this was not my Jackie talking, I stood there for a moment and then just walked out; she slammed the door behind me. I jumped and looked back at the door, wondering to myself what just happened. As I was walking down the porch, Mitchell was walking up the sidewalk and beamed when he saw me. “Hey Parker, this is a good sign, Jackie must want visitors.” When Mitchell got close enough I put my hand on his chest and told him that it wasn’t a good idea to go in. He started to walk past me and I grabbed his arm and turned him to me and explained a little about what just happened. He dropped his shoulders in defeat and reluctantly started to leave…I looked up at Jackie’s window and saw her standing there watching us with an irate look on her face. What is going on with her?
Another week went by with Jackie ignoring us all at school, eating lunch by herself, all the while looking mad at the world. I felt bad sitting with Quinn and Mitchell, it felt like we were mistreating her, but something was going on inside her and I wasn’t sure what it was. The three of us tried to laugh and act normal but you could tell there was awkwardness there, something missing. This week was the Halloween dance though; I never got a chance to run anything by her so I am not sure my plan will work to get her and Mitchell together. After school I caught up with Mitchell in the parking lot. “Hey, I’ve been meaning to talk to you about the Halloween dance,” I said to him as he radiated disdain and said, “what about it, it’s not like I am going, I don’t have a date. My girlfriend won’t even look at me and there is no other girl I want to go with.” I draped my arm through his and lead him toward the parking lot, “that is what I need to talk to you about, Quinn and I are going, and I was thinking you should get a costume for you and something that matches and show up and surprise Jackie and take her to the dance. It would be fun and we all need some fun right now, you know I am right!” I poked his side and he laughed and jerked away from me. “OK, ok…I will think about it. What are you and Quinn going as?” I wagged my finger at him, “Uh-uh, can’t tell you, Quinn hasn’t got a clue what I am wearing and I don’t want him finding out. He isn’t telling me what he is wearing either. I have an idea for you and Jackie though. You can go as Cinderella and Prince Charming, because it’s her favorite fairy tale.” He smiled, “that sounds great Park. You’re always so good at knowing what your friends need.”
Mitchell and I went to the local Halloween store and picked up the costume for them. He cringed when he realized he would have to wear tights as Prince Charming but I convinced him he was manly enough to pull it off in a handsome way. He seemed to buy that, or at least he humored me. The dress for Cinderella was beautiful and I couldn’t wait to see Jackie in it. I hope this would put the smile back on her face. My costume was perfect as well and I couldn’t wait to see Quinn’s face when he sees me in it. This was going to be awesome and everything will finally get back to normal again…I hope.
It was the night of the dance and I came downstairs to wait for Quinn. My parents were in the living room with bags full of candy for the trick-or-treaters. They both said I looked great, I hoped Quinn thought so too, I couldn’t wait to see what costume he came up with. The doorbell rang, before opening it, I took my right arm, stuck it under my cape and lifted it in front of my face so you could only see my eyes, and then I opened the door. As soon as we saw each other we both started cracking up. His costume was a wolf man costume with hairy arms and hands, chest hair and lots and lots of facial hair, he was wearing a plaid flannel shirt and black pants and hair was coming out of everywhere. My costume was a black fitted dress with a red velvet cape over it and I had white face paint on and blood dripping down my face. I was wearing a pitch black long wig with white stripes in it.
Once we stopped laughing he held out his arm and I wrapped mine in it. “I can’t believe that we both had the same idea,” I said as we got in the car. “Yeah me neither, you are one sexy vampire though, I must say that.” Quinn said as he looked me up and down and whistled, and then he leaned and kissed my neck as he helped me into the car. Mitchell was waiting for us, “You look great Mitchell. I can’t wait to see Jackie.” He smiled, “I have her dress in the trunk, she hasn’t spoken to me so I thought I would just show up with it tonight and hope that the romantic gesture is enough to make her want to see me again.” Confidently I stated, “If I know Jackie, she will be so surprised and it is definitely a very romantic gesture.” He grinned, “You look really hot by the way, Parker, smoking hot Vampire.” Quinn turned and pointed a finger at him, “Hey, eyes off my smoking hot vampire. I’m a werewolf tonight and I will bite you man…like that” He snapped his fingers and all three of us were laughing now.
We arrived at Jackie’s and watched as Mitchell walked up the path with her dress and knocked on the door. We saw Jackie come to the door and watched as they talked and he showed her the dress. She was standing with her hand on her hip and the next thing we saw was that she shut the door in Mitchell’s face and he was just standing there. I got out of the car and ran up to him, “What happened?” Mitchell put his hand on my shoulder pushing me back to the car, I pushed his hand away. “What is going on, why isn’t she coming?” Mitchell looked so downtrodden, “she is going to the dance, just not with me…she has other plans and she said she doesn’t want to be seen with any of us right now.” Instinctively I put my arms around Mitchell and embrace him. When I looked up Jackie had opened the door again and was standing staring at us, when she realized I saw her she slammed the door again.
Pulling back from Mitchell, I started towards the door in anger to confront her. Mitchell grabbed me up by the waist and turned me backed towards the car. I stomped to the ca
r where Quinn was waiting and I filled him in on what happened. He was as appalled as the rest of us but no one had a clue what to do about it so we just headed on to the dance. This whole debacle just caused more pain for Mitchell and I felt like it was my fault. He was so beaten down, he had loved this girl for 12 years and in one night she shredded his heart and he didn’t even know what he did to lose her.
Everyone at the dance was in costume and looked great. Jackie arrived a little after we did and she was dressed as a vampire slayer complete with stakes and holy water as well as dressed in a leather tank and pants. She looked like the trampy slayer from Buffy, named Faith. It’s like she wanted to do anything she can to hurt Mitchell. I am not sure who her date was because they were dressed as the guy from V for Vendetta and I didn’t recognize their shape. Whoever it was, he and Jackie seemed cozy together. She was smiling from ear to ear and he had his hand around her waist and kept whispering things to her that made her giggle. That made me so mad, I let out a growl and started angrily toward her when Quinn picked me up and whipped me around. “Sweetheart, let it go, we are going to have fun tonight, let’s dance.”
He led me out on the dance floor and the song Monster Mash came on, Quinn started walking toward me like Frankenstein and I was laughing and faux screaming as I scooted back from him. Then he grabbed my hand pulling me to him and dipped me and acted like he was going to bite my neck. He lifted me back up and then raised his paws and started swaying them back and forth as he made his way towards me. My stomach was hurting I was laughing so hard, he always made me forget my woes. The song changed to a slow song and he put his arm around my waist, pulled my body against his and I lay my head against his chest as we swayed to the music. When the song ended, I told Quinn I was thirsty so he went to get us a drink. A few of the costumes around the room had me giggling to myself and then Mitchell caught my eye. He was just sitting on the bleachers looking very miserable. This was my fault for suggesting the dance. I walked over and extended my hand to him in an invitation to dance.
He led me onto the dance floor and spun me around once and I giggled as I put my arms around his neck and he put his around my waist. “I am really sorry about tonight Mitch I guess I don’t know Jackie as well as I thought I did. I don’t feel as if I know her at all anymore. I hate that because I miss my best friend so much. I am really sorry I suggested tonight and caused you so much pain.” Laying my head on his chest he stroked my hair and said “I don’t blame you. You just wanted to help your friend out. I miss her too…so much.” All of a sudden Mitchell pulled back from me. I looked up and Quinn was standing there with our drinks, he had tapped Mitchell’s shoulder to cut in. They served the typical red punch and I had just taken a sip when Jackie danced by at the moment with her partner and said “Watch out Quinn, you will lose your dance partner soon, Mitchell enjoys putting his hands on Parker lately.” My arms reached out to choke her and Quinn held me back. “Ugh! What is her problem?” I said exasperated. “Let’s go to my place Parker. Mitchell we can drop you off at home if you are ready,” Quinn said. Mitchell said he would just walk home so Quinn and I left.
All the way to Quinn’s I was griping and complaining about Jackie. Then I started talking about how sad I was for Mitchell and how I wish there was something I could do to help him. Ever since Mitchell had been staying with me when Quinn was away, he would confide in me about how much he missed her and about all the things he loved about her. It really caused me to have a new appreciation for him and we were both starting to become closer friends, actually at the moment Mitchell and I have a better relationship than I do with Jackie. When we arrived at Quinn’s house he pulled into the driveway, put the car in park and laid his head back on the seat. I reached over and entwine my fingers in his hair, “You ok? Have I been rambling again?” He shook his head, “no I like when you talk to me. But, and I don’t want to fight right now, but I don’t like the attention Mitchell is giving you lately.” I snickered, “Are you jealous? That is really cute.” He turned and faced me and a sly grin came over his face, “you think it’s cute?” I nodded and he leaned over and started kissing me. When he pulled back I was laughing because he had white makeup all over his hairy face. “Let’s go in and shave you already,” I said as I tried to clean the makeup off of him. We went inside and he went to change while I got myself out of my makeup with some paper towels and water. I slipped my wig off and try to straighten my hair out and make myself look decent again. I took a sexy pose on the couch and waited on Quinn, fixing my dress to where I was showing a little leg for him. My phone went off with a text alert, Hope I didn’t make Quinn too mad. Thanks for the pity dance tonight. You are a good friend—Mitchell. I replied with He is not mad, don’t worry. That was not a pity dance! You are one of my best friends and I care about you. Things will get better soon, hang in there—Parker
Quinn came out of the bathroom looking like his self again, he is so sexy. He looked at me and his eyes went to my exposed leg and he whistled. I took my index finger, pointed at him and then turned it over and pointed it back to myself and he took the hint and headed to the couch. He leaned over and started kissing me and then lifted me into his arms and turned and sat back on the couch pulling me on top of him. My text alert went off and he picked it up, looked at it, rolled his eyes, handed me the phone and then lifted me off of him and got up off the couch. Stunned by rejection, I looked at the text and it was from Mitchell, I care a lot about you too, you are a great girl and it means a lot to me that you and I have gotten so close. Thanks again—Mitchell.
Quinn was standing at the window now; I put my arms around him and kissed his back. “I was enjoying myself over there on the couch and was just wondering why you stopped?” I rubbed his chest and he put his hands on mine and then lifted them off his chest and stepped away from me. He turned and faced me, “What is going on with Mitchell? If you have feelings for him Parker, just tell me. All I want is for you to be happy, and if that is with Mitchell,” he scowled, “then so be it, but I deserve to know.” I felt staggered, I was not expecting this. In the car I thought Quinn just felt a little jealous but he actually thinks I am in love with Mitchell. “I can’t believe you would think that, Quinn you are the only one I have feelings for…Mitchell is just a very good friend. That is all that text was about, I had told him that I cared about him and that he was a good friend and he was returning the sentiment. That’s it. I do not want to fight about this please, my night has had more downs than ups and I just want to sit here and make out with the sexiest man alive, who I happen to be crazy in love with.” He looked at his watch and said, “It’s getting late, I need to get you home.” Well that wasn’t the response I was looking for. I’m beginning to hate Halloween now.
He dropped me off at the house and did the usual kiss on the cheek for my parent’s sake and I headed up to bed. Defeated, I dragged myself up to my room, sad at how terribly this night had gone. I shut the door and turned out the light and went to lie down. As soon as I hit the pillow I jumped back up and turned on the light. “You gave me a heart attack Quinn!” The floor creaked and I heard my dad’s voice, “Princess, everything ok.” Frantically I said, “Yeah, dad, just tripped over something in my room. Goodnight.” There was something that sounded like a laugh and then he said, “That may be a clue to clean in there.” Rolling my eyes I sternly said, “Hint taken, goodnight dad.” His footsteps were getting further away and once I couldn’t hear him I turned around and Quinn was gone.
Then he appears from under my bed and he has a goofy grin on his face, “He has a point about the room,” He says as he dangles a bra from his index finger. My face was red and I jerked the bra from him and said, “Can we go back to why you felt the need to scare the crap out of me.” He walked over to me, “I am sorry, I just didn’t want to leave things as we did and I didn’t want to make your parents mad by bringing you home late. “ One thing still bugged me though, “Would you really give me up to Mitchell that easily if I was in love with him?�
� He winced, “If it made you happy, yes. Would I be happy with it and not want to rip his head off…literally. Well no promises there.” He kissed my hand and led me to the bed. He lay down and I lay against his chest and smiled as I fell asleep in his arms, it was a great end to a terrible night.
Chapter Fourteen
It was getting close to time for the full moon again. Quinn was going to take me to the cave under the waterfall to spend my shifting time. Mitchell was going to meet us there each night so we could all patrol. Finally I convinced Quinn to let me help but of course he has limitations on what he will let me do. He has to lead me everywhere and I am not allowed to attack the vampire unless we make sure she is unarmed.
It would be impossible to use Jackie as an excuse this time seeing as how we aren’t speaking. If they were to call her she would blow my cover in an instant. We came up with the idea that I was going on a short romantic trip with Quinn and it was easier to convince my parents to let me go than I ever anticipated it would be. They of course gave me rules about staying in a separate hotel room that they would pay for and promising that I would be careful. Both were difficult to agree on but I did so anyway. I would give them the money back somehow so it didn’t seem too dishonest. Mitchell came to pick me up because Quinn was getting supplies. Luckily my parents had gone out for dinner or they would have thought it was strange who my chauffeur was. We picked Quinn up and headed to the waterfall site. Mitchell dropped us off and Quinn said he would text him once I had shifted and it was safe to return.
We set up in the cave and Quinn handed me a sheet and left the room so I could change, it seemed weird since he has seen me naked, but it was very gentlemanly of him…very Quinn. When he came back in I was wrapped in the sheet and motioned for him to come to me. He came over and we started to kiss, he ran his hands over my back and his fingers through my hair and then he stopped. “I have to leave for a little bit,” he said. “The sun is setting and you will be shifting soon. I wish we had time but we don’t. I am going to just be right outside and will come in once you are in wolf form. I love you.” I was disappointed but knew he was right and was more concerned with his safety. He kissed me once more and walked out of the cave. Sitting down on the ground, I waited for the pain to begin.