Chapter 57: Chapter 57
Heather
When I got back to my room, I plopped down on my bed. Something was going on. And where were Sebastian and Donovan? I hadn’t seen them since yesterday afternoon. I had a funny feeling about it, but didn’t know what to do.
I yanked on the ends of my gloves as I thought. I couldn’t take them off and try to get visions. Could I?
"Back so soon?" Serena said from the doorway.
"Something’s up. Mr. Langdon said that he needed Brent. So he left...with Callista."
"Yikes." She sat next to me. "Well, I’m sure it’s nothing big. I mean when your Alpha says shift, you say woof-woof. I’m sure he’ll make it up to you."
"I know it’s completely stupid, but I’m just having problems figuring out what to do." I sighed. "I guess I don’t trust him. He bit me and ran. He ignored me. And when he finally gives me the time of day I swoon?" I punched my pillow. "Am I really that pathetic?"
She squeezed my leg. "You’re not pathetic. Callista is trying to mess with your head. You can’t let that evil bitch win."
We sat there in silence for a minute while I stewed. The dorms were eerily quiet, but it was still early. And the weekend. And with Callista gone...
"I have a crazy idea," I said. "But we could totally get caught and it might be a really, really, seriously bad idea."
Serena rubbed her hands together. "This sounds like it starts with ’t’ and ends with ’rouble’ and that is just my speed."
"Let’s search Callista’s room."
Serena laughed for a second before she realized I wasn’t kidding. "You’re for serious?"
"Come on. Everyone is asleep. Callista is gone with Brent. They’re going to be at least a little while. I just want to look."
"That is a terrible idea. She’ll totally know you were in there." She tapped her nose. "No way can you fool this."
She had a point. "Thing is, I really don’t care if she knows I was in there. I just want to know what’s going on. The girl tried to get me killed. And she’s trying to take my ate-may."
"You know that ’ate-may’ is just another way of saying ’ma—"
I slapped my hand over her mouth. "Don’t say it."
She pulled my hand away. "Fine. But it’s the same thing."
"Whatever. You going to watch my back or what?"
"Not doing anything else right now." She shrugged. "Why not?"
I threw my gloves on the bed. "Let’s do this."
Callista’s room was on the third floor. The door wasn’t locked. "You wolves sure are trusting," I whispered to Serena.
"We don’t usually mess with each other’s stuff. Your scent is like fingerprints, only way more obvious. It keeps you honest."
Callista’s room was messy. With how perfect she dressed—not even a hair out of place—I thought her room would be tidy. The sty was a surprise.
Piles of dirty clothes covered the walking space.
"Dude," Serena whisper-shouted. She held up a pair of jeans. "This pair costs like hundred dollars and she’s just thrown them on the ground like they’re trash. What the hell?"
I shrugged. Now that I was here, I didn’t really want to touch anything. It was just so dirty. I stood in one place as I scanned the room, trying to decide where to begin.
"Here." Serena handed me a journal. "Try this."
As soon as my fingers brushed the worn brown leather, I saw absolutely nothing. I closed my eyes, trying to concentrate. I shook my head. "It’s not working."
I tried her pillow. Then ran my fingers along her laptop’s keyboard. Nerves made it hard to breathe.
Why wasn’t I seeing anything?
"Try this one."
Serena handed me a necklace. Its thin gold chain held a single tiny heart charm. It was simple and elegant—something I’d pick out for myself. That annoyed me.
I reached out and closed my hand around the necklace.
The vision knocked me on my ass.
Callista was kissing Brent.
I can’t believe this is finally happening, she thought.
His tongue brushed hers and I could feel how happy kissing him made her.
I opened my hand and dropped the necklace on the pile of clothes at my feet. "This was a terrible idea." A hot tear ran down my cheek. "I think I’m going to be sick."
"Come on. Let’s get the fuck out of here."
I hugged my arms around my stomach. It was in the past. He hadn’t been cheating. But it sure felt like cheating.
That was something I never needed to see. The curse of visions strikes again.
Serena moved to hug me, but I dodged it. "Sorry. Don’t think I can handle any more visions at the moment."
We went back to my room. She sat at my desk. "What was it?"
I shook my head. "Something icky." But there was no unseeing it. "Brent and her together."
"Shiiiiiit."
I grinned in spite of my mood. "You’re telling me."
"Well, they broke up a while ago. Clearly she’s not over it, but Brent is. For sure. I know this stuff is not normal for you, but Weres don’t cheat. It’s not possible. So yeah, sucks that you saw it. But everyone has a past right?"
"Not me."
"Right. Visions." She balled up a piece of paper and threw it at me. "Enough with the pity party. Let’s figure out our plan for today."
A plan? "You’re not going anywhere?"
"Nah. About the mall...sorry for going without you, but, in my defense, Leslie had been pestering me. And then with everything with you and Brent, she’s been in a mood. I couldn’t put it off."
She didn’t have to apologize, but it was nice that she did anyway. "It’s okay."
"No. It’s not. Xander and Adrian found us at the mall after they saw how upset you were and gave us quite a lecture, and they were right. I should’ve left a note at least. When we came back, we saw you and Brent were hanging. Leslie might be cranky but she’ll get over it. She takes time to warm up to people."
We wandered down to the cafeteria. When we got there, the gang announced that they wanted to have a movie marathon. All werewolves. All day. Xander said I needed to learn more about being one of them. And this was the most fun way, even if the movies were horribly inaccurate.
Then the debate really began—start with An American Werewolf in London or Ginger Snaps?
I found their love of werewolf movies fascinating. Nothing was better than seeing their species depicted as monsters.
Until recently I’d seen them as the bad guys too. There weren’t that many movies where werewolves were the heroes. They were always a step away from zombies with their hunger for human flesh. A totally unfair assessment.
Halfway through Ginger Snaps there was a knock on Serena’s door. Mrs. Ramirez peeked in. "Did you order pizzas?"
Serena popped up from her perch. "Yes. That’s us." The door opened farther, showing three guys carrying pizzas stacked higher than their head.
"Holy shit," I said. "Serena. There are only five of us."
Xander leaned over. "Five werewolves. And two of them are boys."
The pizza guys handed over the pizzas to Adrian and Leslie while Serena signed the bill. When Serena handed back the bill, the pale-faced pizza guys flinched. Why did they let human delivery guys on campus if they were so afraid of us?
"Thank you. You can go now," Serena said to them.
"I’ll be down the hall. Boys, you need to be in your own dorm before nightfall," Mrs. Ramirez said. "We’re still on lockdown."
"Yes, ma’am," Adrian said. "We understand."
We ended up watching both Ginger Snaps and An American Werewolf in London before switching to Buffy episodes. Apparently season two was when it got good, because that’s when Oz—the werewolf—joined the cast. It was quite possibly the most normal day I’d ever had. I never thought I’d be able to have friends, and spend the day relaxing with them.
But when I went to sleep that night, Brent was the only thing I could think of. He hadn’t stopped by. No calls or texts. Hell, I wasn’t sure if he even had my cell number, but it still annoyed me.
The next morning I was getting worried about not hearing from him. There hadn’t been any sirens, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t fighting vampires somewhere else. What if he was hurt?
I tried to push away my worry as the gang and I finished breakfast and then headed over to the school building. Starting my second week, the knots in my stomach had untangled somewhat, but it was still an adjustment.
Xander had been helping me with metaphysics during breakfast. We’d just left the cafeteria when I realized I’d forgotten my notebooks.
"I’ll catch up with you," I said to Xander as I ran back through the doors.
I slid between tables and the mass of people heading out. Frustration filled me as I realized I’d be late for class. In my old schools, this wouldn’t have been a big deal. But Mrs. Ramirez didn’t look kindly on tardiness. She’d majorly reamed out Leslie when she was five minutes late on Thursday.
I snatched up my notebook. And then stopped.
Brent was at a table in the corner talking to Callista.
Why hadn’t he come over to my table? He hadn’t even said hello.
I stood there, frozen in time as they got up together. His arms wrapped around her in a hug. His smile was bright when he pulled away.
I let out a breath. A hug was just a hug. He’d said they were old friends. I couldn’t let myself be the jealous girlfriend.
And then she kissed him. On. The. Lips.
Rage boiled my blood. I spun around, not wanting to see what happened next. I had to get out of there before I lost control and ripped her face off. Shit. Who was I kidding? I was totally losing control.
I wouldn’t let him see me like this. I wouldn’t let her see me.
Tears blurred my vision as I raced across the courtyard to class. I stopped just outside the room and took a deep breath. Everyone was already seated. I looked down, letting my hair hang in front of my face, and entered the room.
Serena waved me over. "You okay?"
"No." But that was all I could get out before Mrs. Ramirez walked through the door.
She started lecturing, but I couldn’t pay attention. Serena tried to pass me a note, but I shook my head. I could feel the wolf pacing inside me, aching to get out. To squash whatever hurt me.
But there was no way I would let that happen. Not in the middle of class. I just needed to concentrate.
Hair sprouted along my arms as I tried to focus on taking notes. I inhaled slowly and exhaled but it didn’t help. My knuckles cracked and popped, forcing me to drop my pencil.
"Heather?" Serena whispered.
I caught Mrs. Ramirez’s gaze. "May I go to the restroom?"
She watched me for a second before nodding.
The chair screeched as I pushed back from my desk. I couldn’t get out of there fast enough.
