Discovered, p.6
Discovered, page 6
The conversation flowed easily after that, and we talked non-stop until the pizza guy knocked on the door. A comfortable silence settled as we demolished the entire pizza between us, the only sounds being the smacking of our lips and the crunching of food between teeth. And when we’d finished eating, we talked some more.
At some point, Carter noticed the Nintendo Switch gathering dust on the TV cabinet, badgering me into playing by boasting about his high score at home. I’d raised my eyebrow at that, and he demanded we play so he could prove his skill. He turned out to be pretty good, and definitely much better competition than Dad. It was a close fight, but by the time Dad arrived home, I was in the lead by two races.
I hadn’t heard the car pull up, too engrossed in the game, and Carter’s laugh drowned out most other noise. It was so melodious, loud, and carefree. He never tried to restrain it, the way Henry always did, like it would be social suicide if anyone ever caught him with a smile on his face. I could listen to Carter’s laugh all day, and so I didn’t notice Dad at all until he stepped directly into my line of sight in the den. I jumped, and he raised his eyebrow at me, tilting his head to the side, surprised he’d startled me. It surprised me too; I couldn’t remember the last time that’d happened. Usually, my senses were so alert all the time, and I was one big ball of constant anxiety. I’d seen a therapist for a long time as a kid, but the Change helped me to channel it, and it wasn’t like my shrink could understand that. I still felt anxious almost every day, though, but being with Carter seemed to have helped me to relax for a while.
Who would’ve thought?
“Hey Dad.” I smiled, lowering the controller as the race finished with another victory for me. “You remember Carter?”
He smiled politely and nodded at Carter. “I do. You’re a lot bigger than I remember though.”
Carter chuckled at that and stood up, offering his hand to Dad to shake. “Yeah, I get that a lot. How’re you doing, Mr Stone?”
“Not so bad, not so bad. Mr Stone, though? Jeez, you’re making me feel ancient. Please, call me Robbie.” He glanced at his wrist then, and the watch strapped on it, before continuing. “Sorry to be a buzzkill, but it’s getting late, so I think you should head home now, Carter. You’ll see each other at school tomorrow.”
“Sure thing.” Carter said.
I glanced at the clock on the mantelpiece. It was only eight o’clock. I turned back to Dad, my eyebrow raised questioningly. But Carter was already pulling his coat and beanie on, oblivious. I felt a pang of disappointment at the thought of him leaving, and then annoyance quickly replaced that. Was Dad seriously pissed about me having a boy over to eat pizza and play video games with? It was Carter, for crying out loud. He’d known him practically since he was in diapers.
I studied Dad’s face for a moment, but he remained impassive, and that just irritated me more. He was always encouraging me to hang out more with the kids at school, and the one time I do, he gets upset and kicks him out?
My face twisted into a glare. “I’ll just see Carter to the door.” I said, almost through gritted teeth. Carter didn’t seem to notice the tension, but Dad busied himself by sitting to untie his shoes. He knew I was pissed.
Good.
Without another word, I led Carter to the front door, and then I turned to look at him. He stood behind me, and I flushed at his closeness, before turning quickly away to open the door and hide my red face.
A cold gust of wind rushed in through the opening, blowing in drifts of snow onto the doormat. But it was a welcome distraction, because he was standing so close that I could feel his breath on the back of my neck. The sensation of blood rushing into my cheeks hit me, and I knew they were rosy red. My breath hitched as I turned and took a quick step back, stumbling on a pair of Dad’s clunky black work boots. Carter threw his hands out to steady me. I didn’t even know why I suddenly felt so nervous.
“Oh, sorry.” I said awkwardly, my eyes locking with his for a second. The heat from my cheeks spread to where his hands still rested on my hips. “So, um, thanks for hanging out with me.”
Carter flashed a smile that pulled at the corner of his mouth. “I enjoyed it. You know, I actually had a huge crush on you in middle school.”
“Wh-what?” I asked with a small nervous laugh, the burning in my cheeks progressing to a light layer of sweat on my forehead. “Why?”
His eyebrows raised so high that they disappeared behind his bangs. “What do you mean, why?” He questioned. “Have you looked in the mirror lately, Stone? Who wouldn’t?”
“He—” I cut myself off before finishing the name, biting my lip. “No one.” I finished, shaking my head.
“Ah.” He nodded, the smile dropping from his lips momentarily before he recovered and forced another one back in its place. “Barton, right? Well… he’s an idiot.” He shrugged, finally releasing his grip on my hips as he stepped back. “Anyway, thanks for the pizza. I’ll see you tomorrow?” He asked, and I nodded before he flashed me a final smile and wave, then stepped out into the frosty night air.
I leaned back against the door as soon as it closed behind him, running my hands through my hair. Fuck. Carter played on the same team as Henry, hung out with the same people, drank at the same parties. He’d probably rush to tell him at the next practice, and I’d become the locker room joke. My stomach knotted tightly at the prospect.
Would that really be such a bad thing, though? I’d been mad about Henry for as long as I could remember, keeping it a secret because it terrified me to say the words out loud. The other night, at headquarters, it’d seemed like there was a moment between us. And then again after the party… At least if he found out, I’d know where I stood.
Man, who was I kidding? I already knew damn well where I stood with Henry, and it was usually a couple of paces behind him, barely even his friend most of the time. He would never see me the way I wanted him to. I needed to speak to Carter and make sure he kept it to himself.
I headed back into the den, the tightness in my stomach relieving slightly as I planned my way out of the mess I’d created. Determined, I rushed back into the room and reached for my phone.
Dad watched me silently until I drew myself to a stop beside the sofa, a look somewhere between nervousness and seriousness on his face. Not one I was used to facing; even though he’d raised me alone, he’d always been pretty chill. I guess I hadn’t given him much cause for concern. Dad hadn’t grounded me since I was thirteen, when I’d stolen a candy bar from the grocery store. Which meant…
My stomach flipped as realisation hit me. He couldn’t just be annoyed about Carter. There was something much bigger on his mind. Something he needed Carter out of the way to talk about.
“We need to have a chat, cub.” Dad said, and I gulped as I perched on the arm of the sofa. “I didn’t know you were hanging out with Carter again?”
“It’s new.” I shrugged. “He helped me last night. With Henry.”
Dad nodded absentmindedly. “Nice boy.”
He didn’t really care why I was hanging out with him again. Any other time, he’d probably have been pleased about it. But I could almost see the cogs whirring behind his eyes as he struggled with whatever he had to say to me. He rubbed his hands on his jeans, wiping away the moisture I knew would be under the tight fists he’d just released – Dad always got sweaty palms when he was nervous – before he continued.
“Look, Mads, I won’t lie to you. We’re in a bit of a situation.” He sighed. He wouldn’t meet my eye, instead staring at the TV, which was still showing the pause screen of Mario Kart. His nervousness was making me feel more anxious, and I had to bite my lip to stop myself from hurrying him on. Or from admitting I knew all about it, and saving him the torture of having to tell his daughter about the horrors of the supernatural world.
“The call Ray got last night was from the Alpha of the pack in Canada. There’s some trouble over the border, and they need some help to get it under control. A couple of representatives are coming down to speak to him, explain what’s going on up there and what they want from us. While they’re here, Ray wants the curfew strictly enforced.” I opened my mouth to argue, but Dad continued, either not noticing or just pretending not to. “Canada and the States have never had much to do with each other. Ray has some history with a couple of the older guys, but beyond that? Let’s just say, they do things differently, and we don’t know if we can trust them. But they’ve reached out and Ray won’t refuse them.”
“Have they given you any idea of what they want?” I asked. I had to know if he knew I’d overheard them. “Or what they want us to do?”
He paused, his lips pressing together. I dragged my lips back over my teeth as I waited anxiously for him to continue. “Not us, cub.” He said, finally. “You and Henry are too young. But no, I don’t know what’s going on.”
He looked away. He always did that when he lied – like the time he didn’t want to tell me he was going on a date, as if it would upset me. Henry heard his mom and dad talking about it though, so I found out, but whenever I tried to bring it up to Dad… he would look away. As if it was impossible to look into his daughter’s eyes and be dishonest at the same time.
“They’ll be here tomorrow, though, so we’ll know more then.” He added meekly, and I nodded, trying to swallow the feeling of panic that washed over me. I tried to keep the fear from showing on my face, because I wasn’t supposed to know about the man eaters. But I felt it coursing through my veins. The realisation that Dad might have to fight these killers, and that something might happen to him…
He interrupted the thought by moving to sit beside me on the sofa and patting my knee. I blinked away the blurriness in my eyes. “So, you and Carter are friends again now, huh?”
I blinked up at him, confused by the sudden change of conversation. “We never really stopped being friends, we just… drifted apart.” I shrugged. “Are you upset he was here?”
He laughed at that; a genuine laugh that seemed so out-of-place considering the seriousness of the conversation we were just having. Then he glanced over at me, his eyes twinkling with amusement. “What year is this? Nineteen-thirty? I’m not upset that my daughter is hanging out with a boy. Just… be careful.” He winked, and I blushed.
“Oh my god, Dad!” I snapped, before launching the cushion I’d been hugging at his head.
He caught it as he thumped backwards against the couch cushions, chuckling. “Hey, I was your age once, believe it or not. Anyway, I suppose it’s too much to expect you saved me any pizza?”
* * *
With everything happening with the pack right now, being at school felt so unbelievably normal that it was strange. I felt more out of place than ever. I did my best to avoid Henry, wanting to keep the information I had to myself, at least for now. It still felt like the right thing to do until I had more to actually tell him. Until then, it was pointless worrying him.
Even knowing that, though, I still felt so guilty. Throughout our entire lives, the only secret I’d ever kept from Henry was the biggie – the fact that I was hopelessly in love with him. I’d gotten good at that. I’d had plenty of practice. But to look him in the eye and lie? To not give up everything else I was keeping from him? I wasn’t sure I could. So I tried to avoid him.
That wasn’t difficult. Henry was a senior and had his own friends. Whilst he wouldn’t ignore me if we passed in the halls, it wasn’t like he ever intentionally sought me out. For the first time, I was actually thankful for that.
I wouldn’t have to lie if he didn’t get the chance to ask, which could be my defense later. He’d never forgive me if he ever found out I had.
Carter was a different story entirely. We had most classes together. I sat in the furthest corner at the back of the room in every single one; far away from everyone, and as close to the window as I could get. It aided my concentration; the fresh air helped me survive being trapped in close quarters, surrounded by the pungent blend of cheap perfume, body odour, and thirty different laundry detergents choking me. I’d gotten pretty comfortable breathing through my mouth, but I still made sure I was first to class on the first day of the year to claim my usual spot.
Likewise, Carter always sat somewhere in the middle. Not too close to the front to appear too eager, but he was popular, and popular kids didn’t sit at the back of the class. That was for the loners.
But when I walked into history that day… the tall, muscular frame of Carter Johnson filled the desk beside me, the one usually occupied by some guy who’s name I was ashamed to admit I couldn’t recall.
He smirked at me as I headed over to my desk, and I shook my head in a laugh.
“What’re you doing?” I asked as I slid into the seat, setting my textbooks out on the table in front of me.
“Nothing… Brad asked me to switch seats with him.” He shrugged, smirking. Of course Carter would know the guy’s name, when I’d sat next to him for almost an entire semester and didn’t. I tried not to flush at that.
I rolled my eyes. “Brad, who doesn’t talk to anyone, and barely listens to a word the teacher says, asked you to switch your second-row seat for his back-row one?” I asked, eyebrow raised.
Carter shrugged. “Hey, I didn’t ask questions. Dude just said this weird chick in the corner kept hitting on him, so would I switch with him. Said he didn’t have the heart to turn her down.”
“He should be so lucky.” I laughed, then shook my head and turned my attention to the front of the class as the teacher walked into the room.
We didn’t have the next class together, but Carter caught up with me at lunch, when I was heading out of the main doors for my usual walk around the grounds. Going to school and pretending to lead a normal life was great… for a while. But I wasn’t normal, and for a werewolf to be cooped up indoors for so long with so many people was difficult. So, even in the thick of winter, I got out for fresh air during the day.
I didn’t even manage to push the door open before he was beside me, that smirk on his face again, and his beanie pulled down over his ears.
“Hey,” He smiled. “Fancy seeing you here.”
I mock glared at him. “Strange, isn’t it? Almost like you followed me here.”
“I am insulted by that accusation, Stone.” He said, putting a hand to his chest as his lips parted in a gasp. “I also happen to enjoy risking frostbite every lunchtime, so I figured, if we were going to walk around for an hour until our toes turn black and fall off, we might as well do it together.”
“Now, how could a girl refuse an offer like that?” I laughed and stepped past him as he held open the door for me. It swung shut behind him with a bang before he fell into step beside me.
We walked in a comfortable silence for a while, and I kept my eyes downcast, watching the snow flattening under my boots and spreading droplets of water over the leather tops. When I looked up after a few minutes, we were close by the football field, walking the perimeter. On the far side, there was a small area of woodland, and I instinctively headed towards it. Carter didn’t comment. He just followed my lead. It wasn’t until the field and the bleachers were out of sight, and we were under cover of the trees, that he spoke.
“So, I gotta ask.” He said. “Why do you like coming out here every day? It’s damn cold.”
I smiled at him. “I just enjoy being outside. You can head back if you want to.”
“Nah, I’m good. Unless you want me to go?” He glanced at me unsurely, and I shook my head. He grinned. “I’m just curious.”
I pursed my lips as I considered his question. What would he do if I told him everything? Would he freak out? Would he think I was just making fun of him? It was just a fleeting thought, though. I couldn’t tell him what I was… it wasn’t worth the risk.
“Do you remember how I used to have panic attacks as a kid?” I asked, and he nodded. “Being outdoors… It just helps to have a break from people, y’know? Clear my head for the afternoon.”
At least it wasn’t a total lie.
He nodded. “Yeah, I get that. I hope you don’t mind me joining you?” He phrased it as a question, his voice calm, but I swore I heard his pulse quicken.
“No, not at all.” I assured him, smiling softly. “I like your company.” I added, bumping him with my shoulder. He let out a low breath then, and when another smile spread across his lips, it was shy. I bit my lip against a giggle; I couldn’t remember the last time, if ever, I could honestly describe anything Carter did as shy. He’d come out of his shell so much in high school, but it was cute to see – a flash of the old him.
Besides, it was true; I really enjoyed his company.
We spent the rest of lunch break wandering mindlessly around the small woodland area, sometimes talking, sometimes just walking silently. But I couldn’t remember ever feeling so at home with someone that wasn’t in the pack. My first Change had come when I was fourteen, and everything had changed along with it. Because, when I became a werewolf, when that part of me was born, the old Madison died. And the life I’d imagined leading… being a cheerleader with a boyfriend who was on the basketball team… it wasn’t attainable for me. Not anymore. I’m not sure it ever really was.
Walking with Carter for that hour made me forget I was a werewolf. I forgot there were man-eating rogues over the Canadian border. I was just Maddie. And honestly? I couldn’t have been happier.
Six
I pleaded with Dad all of Sunday evening to let me stay off school the next day. I wanted to be there to meet the representatives from the Canadian pack when they arrived. But he refused, and I had to endure a torturously slow day, watching every minute go by as I listened to the ticking of the identical clocks in every classroom. I guessed they thought it was better that way; keep everything uniform so there was less to stimulate easily distracted juvenile minds. I hadn’t noticed before today how bland and impersonal it made the entire building feel. Like a prison.
Which was fitting, because I felt caged in.
