At breakfast mom’s gushing about how pretty I look. Totally embarrassing me. Scott’s not said one word yet. I don’t know if I can handle all the questions today. Maybe I should have eased into this. Started with hair and then a week later, done the makeup, and maybe never the clothes. It’s just one day, I can make it one day.
Scott and I are in the car going to school. He’s driving of course.
“Who is he?” Scott demands
“What?”
“I want to know who the boy is that you’re dressing up for.” Scott said
“What makes you think I’m dressed like this for a boy?” I said trying to hide my face because I know it’s glowing red by now.
“Because I know you, and you’ve never looked like this before. Did Camille talk you into this? A boy should like you the way your are, not because of what you look like.”
“Yeah ,ok dad,” I said sarcastically. “I know you only date girls that are beautiful on the inside. Why do you care anyway?”
“I just don’t want to see you get hurt or taken advantage of.”
“Hey , I’m supposed to be the older one here. Listen, Scott I never have been that interested in dating or anything but things have changed. I already have a date with one boy, but there’s another one that I would like to go on a date with. I’m just trying to get his attention a little.” I explain
“Yeah, well he won’t be the only one paying attention. I swear to God if I hear one foul comment in the locker room today I’m going to have to hurt one of my teammates. And we really need all them for the game on Friday.” He flashes me a smile to let me know he’s easing up a little. “I’m glad that you have found somebody you like. I really am, I just don’t like the idea of guys talking about you that way. It was bad enough before but now it’s going to be terrible.”
“Oh come on, nobody even notices me.”
“You think what you want. I’ve had to threaten to throttle enough guys to know. And I’ll keep doing it for as long as I have to. So, are you going to tell me who these guys are?”
“I’m not telling you.”
“Just tell me if it’s any one on the team.”
“No it’s not.”
“Good.”
We pull into the parking lot and panic sets in. I don’t want to get out of the car. This was a mistake. Everyone will stare at me.
“You coming?” Scott asked
“I don’t know, maybe I’ll go back home.”
“Ah, come on Alex. You look great, besides do you want to have to face Camille if you don’t show up today?” Scott said. He knows Camille to well.
“I’ll walk with if you want me to.” Scott said
Did I tell you that Scott is the best brother a girl could ask for? “Ok, I said and haul my butt out of the car.”
As I approached the front steps, Camille is standing there jumping up and down.
“Oh my god, Alex you look great!” She squealed
“Thanks Scott,” I say to him as he leaves me with Camille.
“Your welcome,” He said. “I just hope I don’t have to beat any body up today.”
“I just knew you would back out. I had a speech ready for you any everything.” Camille said. “You look so good.”
“Let’s get this over with already.” I said, “Before I change my mind.”
“Come on.” She said. “Walk tall and look confident.”
People are staring at me. I can hear them whispering. I’m getting more self conscious every minute.
“I don’t think this was a good idea,” I told Camille
“Stop it. Hold your head up and smile.” She scolded
When we get to my locker, Stephen’s standing there waiting for me.
“Well here goes nothing,” I tell Camille.
14
STEPHEN
I couldn’t help but think about her. I don’t understand why. I mean its normal for us to date but anything other than a casual relationship is out of the question. Strong feelings are saved for our chosen mate. I know she’s not my mate, because she’s Devin’s. It’s unspoken among our people, but it is known that you don’t try to take an alpha’s mate. It can be interpreted as a challenge, and a challenge is a battle to the death. You don’t want to be in battle with an Alpha. But if Alex is Devin’s mate, then how does she stay away from him? I saw how they reacted when they were close. I know the pull is there, I just don’t know how she’s fighting it. It’s really not my concern. I want to have a little fun with her and make Devin’s life as miserable as possible. It’s easy with her. She’s pretty and pretty naive.
I’m waiting on her in front of her locker, hoping I can get that date she promised. She may think I’m some kind of stalker. Maybe I’ll go and catch up with her later.
“Hey Stephen,” Camille said. I glance up to see Camille standing there with the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen. Then I realize that it’s Alex. I’m completely speechless.
“What do you think of the new Alex?” Camille asks
“Wow!” I said. “You look great. Not that you didn’t before, but, wow.”
“Thanks,” Alex said. I notice she’s flushing pink and that only makes her look more beautiful.
“I’ll leave you two alone. I’ve got to find Mike anyway.” Camille said as she turned to walk away.
“You really look amazing Alex,” I said. She smiles. “Ah, listen I was waiting for you so I could ask if you wanted to go get that pizza this afternoon?”
“Yeah, I would like that.” She said
“Great, I’ll meet you at your car after last period.”
“Ok”
“Can I walk you to your first period?”
“That would be nice,” she answered, finally looking up to make eye contact.
We’re standing there staring at each other, when Devin walks by. I immediately see the change in her. Her cheeks flush, her breathing quickens and she’s looking at the floor. I can see her trying to fight it. I won’t have long to play with her before the pull is too strong.
“Are you alright?” I ask her
“Yeah, just a little light headed,” she answered.
I reach out to steady her, and she holds on to my arm for dear life. I look up to see Devin searching for her. He has no idea who she is. I hope he doesn’t notice Alex and her behavior right now. I pull her closer to me, so when he looks this way he won’t notice her.
“Let’s get out of here,” she says to me
“Ok, what do you have 1st period?”
“Anatomy, room 206”, she says
Once I get her out of the vicinity of Devin, everything goes back to normal. She begins to relax again.
“I forgot to put my books away,” she said
“Do you want me to take them back for you?”
“No, it’s ok. I can do it after class.”
“What happened back there?” I ask her to see if she knows what’s happening. I can see that she’s trying to find an explanation, but she only says “I don’t know” and I leave it at that.
“Thanks for walking me to class.”
“Your welcome, I’ll see you later.”
I didn’t want to cause her pain, only Devin. I can see now that she will be hurt in the process, but it’s a price I’m willing to pay.
15
CAMILLE
“Hey!” I say to Mike as he makes his way through the crowd to me.
“Good morning beautiful,” he said back and he leans in to give me a soft kiss on the cheek.
“It is now.” I reply
“Who are you spying on?” He asks
“I’m not spying” I protest.
“Looks like you are.”
“Ok I’m spying. But I have every right to. Take a peek at Alex this morning.” With a warning look I say, “but not to much of a peek”
He laughs at me, “Why are you spying on Alex?’
“If you look you’ll know why.”
He leans around the corner, while
using it as an excuse to get very close to me. I don’t mind. “Where is she?”
“In front of her locker,” I say staring up at his beautiful face.
“I see Stephen over there with some girl, but I don’t see Alex.”
I peek to make sure, “That is Alex” I said
“Really,” he said sounding surprised. “What did you do to her? And Why?”
“I took the caterpillar and turned it into a butterfly.” I said smiling proudly of my work. “The why, that’s a long story. If I tell you, you have to swear not to breathe a word. Maybe you can even help me.”
“I’m listening.” He said
“Ok, Alex has never been a real “girly” girl. She’s never had a boyfriend or really ever wanted one. But, she told me yesterday that she has a crush on two different boys.”
“I hope one of them isn’t Stephen,” Mike said giving me a sour look.
“Well, yeah one of them is. And I’m not going to say anything to her about it.” I protested. “The other guy hasn’t even noticed her yet. Stephen has already asked her out. So, I sort of took advantage of the situation, and talked her into a make over to get the attention of the other guy,” I explain, feeling only a little guilty.
“So who’s the other guy?” Mike asked
“Well, that’s where you can help me. Promise me you won’t tell.”
“Ok, I promise” he said
“It’s Devin.”
“I wouldn’t get her hopes up about Devin.” Mike said. “Devin doesn’t really date.”
“Oh”, I said sounding disappointed. “Well how do you know that he won’t want to date Alex? Has he said something?”
“No, he’s not said anything and I don’t know for sure that he wouldn’t want to date Alex, I’m just saying that I wouldn’t encourage her. He’s doesn’t date.” Mike said repeating himself.
“Ok” I said, thinking to myself that I’m not going to be the one to break the news to her. I hope this thing with Stephen works out so I don’t have to. The bell rings and brings me out of my thoughts.
“See you at lunch,” Mike said giving me a quick kiss on the cheek.
“See ya.”
Then he comes back and kisses me more tenderly this time on the lips. That puts a smile of my face.
16
DEVIN
“I swear this is driving me in sane.” Devin complained as they all set down for lunch. “I can feel her so strong sometimes and then she’s gone.”
“Don’t get down man, she’ll come to you soon enough.” Brian said
“I saw Stephen stalking some girl in the hall this morning, do you think he’s found his mate?” Collin asked
“No, because he’d be over here rubbing it in.” Brian said
“ I wish he would come over here and start something, I really would like to kick his butt.” Chad said
“It was Alex that Stephen was stalking this morning. He asked her on a date, and she’s going.” Mike said
“How do you know”? Chad said
“Because Camille told me. She also told me she has a crush on someone else.”
“Yeah, who?” Brian asked.
“Someone at this table.” Mike said
“I wouldn’t mind if it was me.” Brian said. “I like a girl that’s not all hung up on what she looks like.”
“Well, you’ll be sorely disappointed when you see her today,” Collin said.
“Why?”
“Because she’s smoking hot today.”
“Huh?”
“Wait and see.” Collin said wiggling his eyebrows at Brian.
“If you don’t like the new look, just say the word, cause I like it a lot.”
“Devin, have you seen her today?” Mike asked
“No. I’m a little busy trying to find my mate so I can become leader one day.” Devin replied with a good amount of distain in his voice.
“Well, excuse me,” Mike said. “Instead of waiting around on her to come fall at your feet, maybe you need to put a little effort into it.”
“That’s not how it works.” Devin said
“Well, things have changed and the way it supposed to work isn’t working out so good.” Mike said
“So you’re the expert now on tribal law?” Devin snarled
“Forget it Devin,” Mike said and got up and left.
17
ALEX
“Are you going to set with Stephen at lunch today?” Camille asked as we headed for the lunchroom.
“No, he didn’t ask me to, and besides I didn’t dress like this today for nothing.”
“I know, it just seemed like you Stephen were getting pretty cozy this morning.”
Yeah, but I guess you didn’t notice the fact that Devin was standing behind me in the hall. Stephen was just trying to keep me from hitting the floor.” I explained.
“Do you think he knows anything?” Camille asked
“No, I hope not. Here comes Mike, lets talk about it later.” I said.
“Hey Mike.” Camille said
“Hey” he said smiling at Camille. “Hello Alex.”
“Hey.” I said
“Can we set somewhere else today?” Mike asks Camille
“Why?” Camille asked
“Because Devin’s in one of his pissy moods and I don’t want to hear it today.”
“Alex?” Camille asks.
“That’s fine with me. It doesn’t sound like to much fun over there anyway.”
We made our way to a table a few down from the usual one. I was feeling a little disappointed, but what could I do. This was a ridiculous idea anyway. Stephen asked me out before I put all this garb on. If Devin didn’t notice me before, and he does now, it makes him a shallow jerk, right. Stephen saw me for who I am.
“Can I join you?” Stephen whispers in my ear.
I can’t help but smile. “That would be nice” I told him.
“Do you mind?” Stephen asks Mike and Camille
“No we don’t,” Camille said. Mike just shrugged. I’m not sure what’s going on between those two, but I hope it doesn’t cause problems. Camille and Mike sort of corner themselves off for a little privacy. They’re holding hands and giggling and stealing kisses when no ones looking.
“So, how many other guys do I have to fight off this afternoon?”
“None,” I said blushing
“That’s good” he said. “Do you know of a good place to get a pizza?”
“Joey’s out on 29 is pretty good.”
“Is that where you want to go?” Stephen asked
“Anywhere is fine with me.”
“Ok, Joey’s it is.” Stephen said
He reaches over and takes my hand and I let him. It feels nice.
“What do you like to do for fun?” I ask him
“I’m an outdoors kind of guy. I like to be in the woods.” Stephen said giving a sideways glance at Mike.
“I like to hike” I reply. “I just don’t like the swampy parts. My great grandfather used to tell me stories about the swamps. Our family has some ties to the natives here, and my granddad loved the history of it. He was always talking about the great battles that were fought. He said, there were huge wolves that would run the warriors into the swamps where they would meet a cruel death. Trapped with no escape. When we would walk in the woods he would say that he could feel their spirits. It creeped me out, so I don’t like to go to the swamps.”
Stephen and Mike are both staring at me with a look of shock on their faces. “What? It’s just stories my great granddad told. Legends you know. Not fact.”
“Was that a Calusa Indian legend?” Mike asked.
“I can’t remember what they were called, but that sounds right. Mom told me a story the other day about them, but I didn’t pay it much mind. As you can see, we don’t have that much Indian heritage left in our family. He was really the last one to even talk about it much, and he had blonde hair and blue eyes. Not exactly the native look.”
Steph
en and Mike were staring at each other now. Neither one moving or saying anything.
“What’s the matter with you guys?” I ask
Camille smacks Mike arm. “Mike, earth to Mike” she said. “What’s with you?”
“I’ve heard that story too.” Mike explained. “My heritage is the Calusa Indians and my family follows it closely. As does Stephens. It’s just weird hearing it from some else.”
Oh, so you don’t think I’m crazy?” I ask Stephen
“No, no. I’ve heard all the stories and some of them are pretty creepy.” Stephen reassured me.
“There’s the bell, Camille said. “I’ll see you after school” she tells Mike.
“I’ll meet you at your car after school” Stephen tells me as we all get up to leave.
“Ok” I said. I really didn’t want to let go of his hand, but I did.
“He’s so cute.” I tell Camille after the boys are gone.
“I saw you two holding hands.”
“Yeah, it was nice.”
“I’m happy for you,” Camille said “ ‘bout time you joined the living.”
I bump her with my hip, and laugh at her. “It does feel good.” I said.
18
MIKE
“You knew, didn’t you.” Mike snapped at Stephen.
“So what if I did.”
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