She was not going to be another victim of the teen romance, mainstream supernatural corporate machine. It wasn't going to happen. She, Mal Faye, was going to stand strong.
"So, he's a what?"
Mal rolled her eyes and knocked Evie's hands out of her hair. "A werewolf, E! Ben Kingsley is a fricken werewolf."
"Like, Teen Wolf or Underworld?" She sighed and attempted to resume her task of braiding her friends hair. "Because I'm not seeing a downside. Though, I have to say I was always more into Stiles than Scott."
Mal groaned, frustrated, and batted the girl's hands away, again. "I'm being serious. He's a werewolf and those are fiction and this is real life."
Evie bit her lip thoughtfully as she abandoned her venture and sat beside her friend. The bed bounced lightly as she fell and got situated. They were silent for a second.
"Okay. He's a werewolf. So what?" Mal turned to her head to fix Evie with a glare. "I mean, okay, so don't be alone with him on a full moon."
"I won't be alone with him ever, E!" With that exclamation, Mal stood and began pacing. "For several reasons. Reason number one, werewolf. Duh. Reason number two, he's dating my main tormentor. Reason number three, we dont hang out in the same circles even though Jay seems to have the Midas Touch and gotten in the golden circle."
"Sure, but he's totally into you."
Mal stopped in her tracks. "Lastly, he's not into me!"
Evie sighed. "Okay, you're delusional. Still, I'll play along. He's not into you, but he does think you're friends. He also doesn't know that you know, presumably." She rested her hand in her open palm and batted her eyes innocently. "How are you going to avoid him, M?"
They had stayed up most of the night until exhaustion took them. They were nowhere near prepared for neither their history test or Mal's conundrum. At lunch, they enlisted the schools top nerd.
"You two really are crazy." Carlos tried to fake passed them and for the door. "Werewolves aren't real."
They blockaded the door and Mal chuckled darkly. "Don't I fricken wish. They're real and Ben, at least, is one of them. Maybe the whole Kingsley family."
Carlos stared up at them. They stared back, Evie was bored and Mal looking near psychotic. He weighed his chances and clearly decided entertaining the girls crazy was his chance for survival.
"Werewolf. Lycanthropy." He scratched his head and sat down on the teachers desk. "You sure you just haven't been watching too much Teen Wolf? I mean, Scott and Ben both have puppy dog like tendencies."
"He helped you get on the team. Why?"
"I don't know! I wanted on to try and make friends. I'm the youngest junior by a whole year." Carlos swung his feet solemnly. "He was nice and helped me train up."
"Listen. I know there are a lot of parallels. Ben is an all around sweetheart. He's captain of the lacrosse team." Mal rolled her eyes, clearly annoyed. "And every other team."
"So, you have been watching Teen Wolf."
"Research." Evie exaggerated her air quotes, earning a slap from her best friend. "Well, for her. I was in for the Stiles."
Carlos tried to play along as best he could, interjecting logic where he could. "This proves nothing. So, you saw him howl under a full moon. We had just won regionals. Maybe he was boozed up?"
"Ben Kingsley? Boozed up?" Carlos shook his head and sighed. "Besides, I have solid evidence."
"Allegedly."
"Not helping, Evie!" Mal groaned and rubbed her face with her hands. "I will show you, both of you. Just meet me at my aunt's house at 6. You're both coming over for dinner."
Carlos perked up at that. "Will Jane be there?"
"I think so? It's not a school night, so she could be going to one of those stupid cheer sleepover things." She saw him sag and decided to take pity on him. "I'll make sure she's there, okay? Just show up."
Mal wasn't sure what she was thinking as she stalked toward the locker rooms. She had managed to avoid interacting with Ben all day. She had ducked into class rooms, dipped out of study hall and straight up ignored him calling to her in crowded halls.
Going to the men's locker room was taking a gamble. She could end up face to face with the beast himself. She steeled her nerves, held her head high and stormed in any way.
"Dear God, why are you here?" She ignored the cat calls and smirked at Jay's horror stricken face. "You're a girl, could you act like one? For one damn day of your life."
Mal smirked and grabbed him by the ear. "Dinner." She pulled him down and he cried out. "Be there at 6."
She ignored his death glare as she smiled teasingly up at him. "Fine. Just get out of here. You've already caused enough trouble."
She gave that some thought. "Not today. I've actually kept it fairly low key."
"Yeah. So low key that you've completely given the team captain the cold shoulder and made the rest of us suffer for it." It was her turn to glower and she reached up to yank his ear, again. "Hey! I've been through enough abuse because of you, thanks. I've had my fill."
"Dinner at 6."
She almost made it out of the locker room, if it weren't for Ben's impeccable timing. "Hi, Mal." She gulped her eyes came level with the very chest she'd been avoiding. "Haven't seen you all day."
"Unfortunate."
He sighed and she backed away as his pecs expanded. "It really is. I've been trying to talk to you."
"Can't imagine why." He chuckled and she gulped. "Well, this has been fun. I'll see you around."
She heard him as she fled, "yes, you will."
She quickly moved through the school, eager to get as far away from Ben as possible. She didn't believe her friends when they said he had a crush on her, but she was well aware that he liked making her uncomfortable. She very rarely let him get the upper hand, but there was a constant state of unease for her part. He seemed to always know how to catch her by surprise.
"He can probably hear my shoes or sense my general disdain for, like, everything."
Evie sighed as the two made their way to Mal's house. "Or he knows the sound of your heartbeat. That is so romantic."
"It is not romantic, E! None of this is romantic." Mal huffed. "Or tragic. This is nuts and terrifying and marginally exciting, but it is not romantic."
"Right."
Mal rolled her eyes as she rummaged in her bag for her keys. She jiggled the lock and let them in. The sight of a frantic Jane, curlers in her hair, was what greeted them.
"Carlos is coming." Mal nodded. "You're sure? Oh God. Okay."
She squealed and did a quick turn around the room before running up the stairs. A second squeal ghosted down the stairs and they heard a loud a thump. Evie snickered as Mal led the way up the stairs. They reached the second level just in time catch Jane hurdling into the bathroom.
"I barely got his name out before she was texting Audrey to tell her she had a stomach bug." The two girls cackled as they fell into Mal's room. "She's the nicest girl, really. I'm so grateful Aunt Gloria took me in, but I really miss living in the dorms with you."
"Alas, no one could be a better roommate than me." Evie pouted playfully as she fell into Mal's desk chair. "Woe is you."
Mal rolled her eyes and grabbed her laptop off her nightstand. "Yeah, never mind. I take that back. You and your ego need a whole room."
Evie stuck her tongue in retaliation. "You two could grow up." The girls swivelled around to find Jay hauling in a reluctant Carlos. "Seriously."
"How about you get your butts in here and close the door. Seriously." She gave a sneer and waved them in. "I mean it. Get in here and close the door. I have to show you guys something."
Jay sighed and followed her orders. He shoved Carlos on the bed and leaned against its post. Evie rolled the chair over, and twirled a lock of hair as she watched Mal flip through her various folders.
"How deep did you bury this evidence?"
"I couldn't risk accidentally opening it. You never know when someone's going to be looking over your shoulder." She gave Evie a pointed glare. "Anyway, I know where it is. Plus, it's password encrypted. Which, let me tell you, took me forever to figure out."
"You're joking, right?" Mal glared at the younger boy and he raised his hands in defence. "You aren't. Forget I said anything. Computers are hard."
"Shut up, boy genius." Mal's brow scrunched as she clicked a few more folders. "Right, okay. I found it, just let me unlock it."
The other kids huddled around her as she clicked on the video file. "I was playing around with one of those cameras from the AV club. My art teacher recommended I should try photographer. Well, it's boring. So, I tried the video function."
She turned the volume up and expanded the video as it started. The lighting settings changed. They got a good chuckle as the recorded Mal swore and fumbled with the device.
"That, actually doesn't look completely terrible." The camera steadied and slowly did a sweep of the surrounding wilderness. "Okay, so, woods behind the school. I heard they were haunted. Doubtful, but what the hell?"
"Riveting stuff, Mals. Really." Jay moved to get up. "Glad I'm missing out on pizza night in the cafeteria for this."
She grabbed his shirt and pulled him back down. He begrudgingly focused on the footage. Then jerked back.
"What was that?" She paused the file, swore and finally managed to back it up. "Is that?"
"Ben changing from a fricken gigantic beast?" She let go of his shirt and let him stand up. "Yeah. Like I told you, I have evidence."
"Were you crying?"
Mal slammed the laptop closed. "What? I had just seen my classmate turn from beast to man. You would have been a little upset, too."
The four teens were quiet for a moment as they all avoided making eye contact. "So, what do we do? Cause, that's my team captain."
"I spent so much time alone with him while he was helping me train for the team." Carlos' eyes widened in horror. "He could have killed me."
"He could kill any of us." Evie stood up, as well. "Wait. Is it just him? Or is it his whole family? Oh, God, the Kingsley's are a family of werewolves."
"We don't know that! But, yeah, most likely. Could be several of the older families, actually. All of those upper crust freaks living up there in Auradon Court."
"The Charmings are too fickle. They would be found in an instant." Carlos snickered. "Or, they could be Omegas. If you're right and it's the whole lot of them, I would imagine pack mentality applies."
"Just like in Teen Wolf."
Mal slapped Evie on the arm. "Or just like with regular wolves. You have got to let the whole Teen Wolf thing go."
"I refuse."
Mal considered arguing further but her Aunt popped her head into the room. "Hi, kids. How are my favourite delinquents? You hungry?"
"Sounds good, Aunt G." Mal shoved Carlos off the bed. "We'll be down in a minute."
"Perfect. Jane is very excited." A frustrated cry came from the hall. "Oh, hush sweetie. She made a pumpkin pie for dessert and she is just so eager for you to try it."
Carlos tripped over himself following the older woman down the hall. The four of them ate in only a mildly awkward silence. Finally, Mal's curiosity got the better of her.
"So, there aren't any wolves in California." Her aunt and Carlos nodded. "Okay, cool, but what if someone had one for a pet? Or one got separated from its pack and wondered into California?"
"What are you getting at, dear?"
Jay kicked her under the table but Mal ignored him. "I was walking home the other night, like a couple of weeks ago, after studying with E. I think I heard a wolf in the woods."
"Oh, sweetie, I doubt that. I mean, animals aren't my specialty, by any stretch of the imagination." The older woman wiped the corner of her mouth thoughtfully and continued, "but I do think that it's illegal to have them as pets. As far as the separation scenario you posed, well, you could ask Mrs. Kingsley. She is rather smart and I think she worked for a vet for a time when she was in college."
The four shared a stricken look before returning their focus to their food. The topics stayed in the general. Jane nearly dropped her pie when it was time for dessert which managed to dispel some of the tension.
"Are you sure you're okay?" Jane nodded as Carlos took the plate she offered him. "I bet it tastes amazing."
Evie sighed at the interaction and Mal resisted the urge to pretend gag. "That is so sweet. You should make Carlos treats more often, Jane. He really loves chocolate."
Jane nodded enthusiastically before squeaking. She fell into her chair and quickly shoved a forkful of pie in her mouth. Her mom smiled indulgently and swept a knowing look between the two kids.
Jane fled as soon as the dishes were washed and drying. "Well, I suppose she has the right idea." Mal's aunt gave her shoulder a tired squeeze. "I'm going to bed. If the boys stay over, they sleep in the basement."
"Yes, ma'am."
They waited until Gloria was out of sight before they all collapsed on a couch. "You guys staying over?"
"Hell yeah. I am not going out there tonight."
"Well, yeah. Staying in would be the logical thing." Mal shook her head. "But we can't. Tonight is the first night of the lunar cycle. He'll probably be out there tonight. We need more evidence."
"You're insane."
Mal scoffed but Evie nodded. "He's right. We can't go out there. We don't have a way to defend ourselves. Let's just stay in tonight and we'll do more research."
"We need more proof, guys."
"And we'll get it. Just not tonight."
Mal glowered at all of them. She huffed and pressed herself further into the back of the couch, arms crossed. As they conferred on various movie facts and lore, she contemplated how best to sneak out of the house.
A/N: Thanks for reading everyone. This is just going to be another short little multi-chapter. Not very long. Hope you enjoyed part 1. Much love from this cheeseball writer.
