Phillipe

by Becca Fanning

  “Why are you doing this?”

  “You’re pack,” Brigid said. “And no one terrorizes my pack, not even other members of the pack.”

  They found Michelle and found a quiet place to shift. The three of them jogged off together. Brigid’s senses were on high alert and she tried to look everywhere at once. All around her wolves ran around, playing and wrestling, but the three of them kept to themselves.

  It wasn’t long before Brigid caught scent of the wolf who had tried to make her back down the month before. She whined to her companions and they took off towards the elders at the far end of the warehouse. A quick glance over her shoulder told her they were being chased. Beside her Miranda smelled of fear.

  They made it to a group of older wolves before the wolves behind them caught up with them and their pursuers broke off, veering away as though they weren’t interested at all. Miranda collapsed on the ground and whimpered. Michelle and Brigid curled up with her and the three of them stayed there until morning.

  Phillipe didn’t usually come down to this end of town, but his car was making funny noises and Jules had mentioned a cheap mechanic down near the college. A quick call had snagged Phillipe a short appointment to at least get the car looked at. He dropped the car off, but it was too close to the full moon for him to just sit in an office that smelled of oil and gasoline and wait, so he took a walk.

  It was close to lunch time and his stomach was growling so he stopped in at a little diner on the corner and ordered himself a massive sandwich with fries and a pop.

  As he ate his lunch and people watched, the diner was quickly filling up, mostly with college kids. He didn’t mind though, it was better than the office at the garage and he wasn’t in a rush to finish his meal.

  Brigid was feeling exhausted. She’d waited with Miranda until their fathers were done talking and visiting, and then she’d stayed up writing an email to Louis explaining what had happened. She’d gotten only a few hours sleep before having to drive to college for her first class of the day. Luckily, she had no labs today so she could wander down to the diner for a proper lunch instead of eating crackers out of her backpack all day.

  It was a nice day for early December and she hummed along with the music pouring out of her headphones as she walked down the street. By the time she got to the diner, the place was packed. She ordered her food to go, just in case she couldn’t find a table. She took her order and looked around. There really wasn’t a lot of space left, even to walk around. She spotted one empty chair at a table for two and headed in that direction, hoping it would be someone just about done, or maybe someone she knew from class.

  Even better, she realized as she got closer, it was Phillipe. She stopped at the table and said, “Mind if I join you?”

  He looked up and his expression turned from mild annoyance to delight. “Bree! Guess I shouldn’t be surprised to see you here. Sit.”

  “What brings you to my end of town?”

  “Possible car repairs.”

  “Not Jackson Motors?”

  “Uh, yeah, why?”

  “Ugh, he has a rep for ripping off students. You get these nineteen year olds who don’t know anything about cars and they go there because it’s convenient and he takes advantage of that.”

  “Good to know. Someone recommended him to me because he’s affordable.”

  “Maybe. Look, there’s a mechanic who goes to our community center, I’ll get you his number.” She didn’t want to say ‘pack’ out loud, not here, but she knew Phillipe would understand who she was talking about.

  “Thanks, that would be a big help. I mean, I don’t think he’d try to take advantage of me, but I don’t want to support him if he’s a dick. How’s school?”

  “Good. This time of year is always hard, especially after last night. Trying to prep for exams on little to no sleep, not fun.”

  “I bet. And the nights are longer too, which doesn’t help.”

  “Could be worse. I know a guy with a cousin up in the Dakotas somewhere. They get real long nights this time of year.”

  “Bet it’s good for other things,” Phillipe said.

  Brigid blushed. “I’m sure it is. Gets colder up there too so I’m sure they find plenty of excuses for snuggling.”

  “Snuggling, that’s a polite word for it.”

  Her blush got darker.

  “You do much snuggling?” he asked, knowing he was pushing her buttons.

  “Not of the sort you’re suggesting,” she said.

  “You want to?”

  Her chin snapped up and she stared at him, wide-eyed.

  He burst out laughing. “Oh, Bree, the look on your face.”

  “Where the hell did that come from?”

  “Honestly, I don’t know. But the reaction was worth it. Have you ever had a serious boyfriend?”

  “Of course. My family wasn’t too strict about things like that.”

  “Huh. Lucky.”

  “Oh yeah, got to start with the heart breaks young.”

  “Least no one took a belt to you for holding someone’s hand.”

  “Oh. Uh, I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t be. I’m over it. I didn’t mean to bring it up either. Guess it’s just too easy to talk to you.”

  “Oh, well, I’ll take that as a compliment. You were never much of a talker.”

  “No, I guess I wasn’t.”

  “Well, I’m glad I ran into you without Patrick or my parents around. Even when you do come over we never see each other, not really.”

  “Didn’t think you’d want to. I used to pull your hair.”

  “And I used to steal your video games.”

  “That was you! I knew it.”

  She laughed. “I was bored and jealous and wanted you to play with me instead of Patrick.”

  “Little brat.”

  “At least I got your attention.”

  “Well, if you wanted my attention so bad why did you stop stealing games?”

  “The little cartridges were easy to hide. Now it’s all discs and digital. I’d have to steal the whole damn computer to stop you two now.”

  “And the console, too. I guess we do get a little obsessive.”

  “A little! Have you seen yourselves? You sit there, staring at the screens with your little controllers and you barely talk to each other and you’re completely oblivious to what’s going on around you. Seriously, I could walk down those stairs with my shirt off and you wouldn’t notice.”

  “Oh, I think I would notice that.”

  “Don’t be so sure.”

  “Why? Have you tried it?”

  “Wouldn’t you like to know.”

  An image of her topless suddenly intruded on his thoughts and it was his turn to blush. “I think Patrick would have flipped out if you’d tried that.”

  “He’s as bad as you. I mean, you don’t know how many times Mom has had to go down there and yank his headphones off before he listens to her. He keeps forgetting his chores or running late for work, hardly eats with us anymore. It’s driving Mom crazy. I’m sorry, now I’m saying things I shouldn’t be talking about.”

  “I probably know all of it already,” Phillipe said.

  “I don’t understand gamers,” she went on.

  “It’s a fun hobby.”

  “Not the way Patrick plays. It’s an addiction.”

  “To be fair, not all gamers are like that. I’ve never been late to work, at least not because of video games, and I always remember to take the garbage out.”

  She sighed. “I don’t know if that makes it better or worse. How’s work going?”

  “Oh, fine. It’s a job.”

  “That’s what you say when my parents are around. Tell me the truth.”

  There was a little steel in her voice and that surprised him. “There’s this guy, he’s friends with my boss, I’m pretty sure he’s doing some shady stuff. He keeps trying to hire me to work muscle for him.”

  “Obviously you keep saying no.�
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  “Yeah, but he’s not the type to take no for an answer. I don’t know how long the conversations will stay civil.”

  “You think he’s connected to that group your friends scared off?”

  “You know about that?”

  “You told Patrick and he was telling some of his friends at the hall. He didn’t use any names, and they were all shifters so they know to keep it on the low down.”

  “Well, that’s good. I shouldn’t have said anything about that. I don’t want them to get into trouble.” He and Jane weren’t talking much anymore, not even at full moons where they used to have each other’s backs against the teasing of their clanmates, but he still didn’t want to see her get in trouble.

  “Think it’s the same people?”

  “Different neighborhood so chances are different people. But I could ask. Would be interesting to find out.”

  “Only if you can ask without giving away your secret.”

  “I’ll be discreet.”

  “I think that’s the one thing we all have in common – discretion.”

  “That’s the nature of our life.” His phone went off. “That’s the garage. I should go see what’s wrong with my car.”

  “I’m done too, I’ll walk with you a bit.”

  “I don’t want to make you late for class.”

  “Don’t worry, I have an extra spare today. I’ll watch the time.”

  They grabbed their garbage and vacated the table just as another couple grabbed their food and turned to look for a seat. Brigid waved them over and she and Phillipe headed out.

  “You know, this was actually a lot of fun. More fun than having you over for dinner,” Brigid said.

  “Yeah, it was.”

  “I wouldn’t mind doing this again some time, hanging out, just the two of us.”

  “Oh?”

  “You act different when Patrick is around. I like this you.”

  “Brigid, are you asking me out on a date?”

  “It doesn’t have to be a date,” she said quickly. “Just hanging out, you know? I mean, unless you want it to be a date.”

  Phillipe took a deep breath as his emotions warred inside him. He’d known Brigid for years, known her when she was just a child. He’d watched her change from girl to woman, and always he’d kept his distance. He was older than her, her brother’s friend, he did not want anyone accusing him of seducing her, taking advantage of her. But at some point he had noticed her, noticed that she was all grown up and beautiful in that Irish lass way – soft skin, soft curves, thick hair, and a round face that could be adorable or beautiful depending on her expression.

  This idea of spending time with her, just her, with her big dark eyes staring into his and her attention focused on him, it was appealing.

  But at the same time, he knew what Patrick would say about it, and he knew he shouldn’t lead her on if he was planning to leave the state soon.

  She said it didn’t have to be a date, didn’t have to be romantic. Patrick would be mad at me for wanting to be her friend though.

  “Just hanging out, sure. Why don’t we meet for lunch tomorrow?”

  “All right. I could use the study break. Lunch it is.”

  “Where do you want to meet?”

  She pulled out her phone, intending to look up a quiet restaurant, but she caught sight of the time and groaned. “I have to get to class. Look, I’ll text you the location later, okay?”

  “Sure. You have my number?”

  “My mom does.”

  “Right. Oh, uh, Bree, maybe don’t tell Patrick who you’re meeting. It’s not a date, but still, I don’t think he’d understand.”

  “Oh, okay. Sure.” She smiled. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  They met at a little mom and pop place closer to the pack hall the next day, both of them ordering a large meal.

  “This is nice,” Phillipe said.

  “Yeah, I like this place. A lot quieter than the local big chain places.”

  “So, what do you do besides pack stuff and school?”

  “Oh, not much really. I mean, there’s a lot of homework all the time so I spend most of my time either at school or doing school work.”

  “Yeah, but there must be something you like to do with your free time, or wish you had more time to do.”

  “I sang in the school choir back in high school and I sort of miss having a group to sing with. The college has a student choral group that isn’t part of the music program, so it’s not for credit, but I can’t make the rehearsals.”

  “I didn’t know you could sing.”

  “At least you’re not asking me to sing for you.”

  “In the middle of a restaurant? I’m curious but that would be cruel. I would love to hear you sing sometime, if you want.”

  “Maybe.” She felt herself blush a little. “And I like to doodle, like color books or those Zen-tangle things.”

  “I have no clue what a Zen-tangle is.”

  “Oh, it’s when you start with a little pattern and expand it outwards, changing the angle. It’s kind of like art for math geeks.”

  “So, right up your alley then.”

  “Uh, what about you? What do you enjoy, besides video games?”

  “I read.”

  “I didn’t take you for a reader.”

  “You wouldn’t be alone in that. Fifteen, twenty years ago, video games weren’t as common, and there weren’t as many options and there was no internet, at least not at home, so I had to do something. Reading has a lot in common with video games actually.”

  “Oh yeah, because there’s so much in common between reading a story and shooting things.”

  “Okay, the random map games and the online multi-player team map games, not so much. But a lot of roll playing games are very rich in story, instead of reading it in your head, you’re playing through it. Like those old choose your own adventure books.”

  “I thought all you played were those shoot people games with Patrick.”

  “Patrick prefers player verse player type games. He likes being on a team and taking out another team. I do that with him, sure, but I have this huge collection of single player and multi-player roll playing games at home. Some of them are pretty complex.”

  “What do you like to read?”

  “Military thrillers, mysteries if they have cops in them as opposed to amateur sleuths, a little sci-fi.” He shrugged.

  “Did you ever want to be a cop or a soldier?”

  “When I was really little. It’s really not feasible given how we react to dangerous and stressful situations. And the clan councils don’t want us used as super soldiers or living weapons.”

  “Same with the Alpha Council.” She paused and looked at him. “You know, I’m not used to this.”

  “What?”

  “The way you’re talking. I’m used to the swearing and the slang and everyone being ‘dude’.”

  “Oh,” he chuckled. “Yeah. Gamer speak.”

  “You don’t talk like that all the time?”

  “No. Why?”

  “Patrick does. It drives Mom crazy. I swear he does it at work, except for the swearing or he’d have lost this job, too.”

  “I guess it’s because I’m a little older than Patrick.”

  “Or because you read. I don’t think Patrick has ever picked up a book unless he was under threat of failing a class.”

  “Books aren’t for everyone. Read an article once that said some people don’t mentally visualize things as vividly as others. They read and all they see in their head is black, or just words, while others see a full on movie in bright colors, and everything in between.”

  “Huh. Go figure. I didn’t know that. So, did you become a bouncer because you wanted to be a cop when you were younger?”

  “No, I became a bouncer because you can’t get a university degree in reading and video games and I’m not smart enough for STEM, or artistic enough for anything artistic, and I’m big.”

&nbs
p; “Ah.”

  “And it was a job I could get young and I just stuck with it.”

  “You don’t want to do something else?”

  “I’d love to do something else, but what else is there? The economy is tanked. I’m thankful I have a job at all, and Bastien is good about my schedule. He’s never asked but I’m pretty sure he’s guessed I’m a shifter of some kind.”

  “By law they can’t ask. I wonder how many people try to take advantage of that?”

  “What? Asking for full moons off? And risk one of their co-workers being with the Human Order?”

  “I hadn’t thought of that.”

  “It’s a pretty elaborate lie to keep up. You’d have to start as soon as you were hired and never miss a moon or you’d be busted.”

  She was smiling.

  “What?”

  “I haven’t had a conversation like this in a long time. My friends like to talk about celebrities and television shows.”

  “There’s a few good shows out there now but I’m not huge into the fandoms. Got enough of those with the games.”

  “I don’t really watch TV, no time.”

  “And you’re not interested in celebrities?”

  “They’re just people with a different skill set. I mean, everyone goes on about how hard acting is. Well, it’s easy for those guys and hard for the rest of us. For me, math is easy, but I don’t get to be famous just because I can run numbers other people can’t.”

  “Good point. I never understood all the tabloids and shit either.”

  “So you don’t stare at actresses and drool over them?”

  “They’re just people, you said it yourself. I’ve seen too many girls wearing not enough clothes every night I work. I’m just not into that. I mean, I’m into girls, I just don’t really care what they wear, or whatever. I can’t talk to their clothes.”

  “I take it you haven’t had a conversation like this in a while either?”

  “No. Am I out of practice?”

  “I’m having fun.”

  “Good, so am I.”

  “Want to do this again?”

  “Yeah, I think I’d like that. Why don’t we catch a movie next week?”

  “A movie? That’s starting to sound like a date.”