The next couple of weeks we had a weird type of friendship. We still got on each other's nerves, pushing each other to our limits, but we've gotten close.
Well, I've gotten close to her. I let her in to my life, but she keeps me locked out of her life. Every time I try to get in, she changes the locks.
Currently, I was in the living room still venting anger from our early argument. She was warning me about Kate, saying she was no good. And I didn't believe her. I said some pretty hurtful things to her before I stormed out.
I went to go find Kate and found her making out with the swim captain, Carlos. I was so angry at myself for yelling at Helena when she was telling the truth. And at Kate for using me. I broke up with her on the spot.
When I came back to apologize, Helena was gone, and the salty smell of tears were trailing out of the room.
That's how I found myself in the living room doing my homework angrily. The doorbell rung and Mom and Dad went to go answer, probably to stop looking at me in concern.
"Hi, Mr. and Mrs. Hale. I'm Helena Norwood. I'm Derek's peer tutor. I was wondering if I could speak to him?"
"Yes, of course." Dad said, "out of curiosity, are you related to William and Elizabeth Norwood."
She must have nodded because Mom made an "ah" noise.
"Derek," she called. "You have a visitor."
I looked up and Helena was staring back at me.
"You're doing your geometry homework?" She asked incredulous. "You hate math."
I shrugged,"we can speak about my homework or we could be talking about what we really should."
"Um, yeah." She sat beside me. "Der…I'm sorry. I heard about what happened. With you and Kate. I knew you were happy with her and I ruined that. I should have kept my mouth shut-" I cut her off.
"No, no. It's completely mine. I was blinded by my 'love' for her, and didn't see the clues." My wolf picking up on her lies. "And in the process I hurt you. So, I should be the one saying sorry. So, I'm really, really sorry."
"Already forgiven." She smiled at me. I smiled back at her. I leaned in and she copied my movement.
We were so close, and then she pulled away,"uh…"she squeaked. She cleared her throat and stuttered out,"so, uh, your geometry looks great. Except problem six."
After a while of fighting with me for my homework, Helena fell asleep on my lap. Her even breathing calming me down. She snuggled closer to me as she shuddered.
I leaned up to the couch and pulled the cover off. Placing it over her sleeping body, I read my book.
Out of nowhere she woke up. She yawned,"hmph. Where am I?" The almost ginger looked around. "Oh. Oh! What time is it?" She looked frantic.
"Seven twenty-four." I answered.
"Crap." She murmured, standing up quickly. She slid on her jacket and gathered up her stuff. "Dad is going to murder me. Oh, crap. Oh, crap. Oh, crap!" She put her bag strap on her shoulder and blushed.
"Uh, I've got to go. Thanks, Derek. For letting me relax here. Uh, see ya later." She ran out the house, yelling out a,"bye, Mr. and Mrs. Hale!"
The door shut and everyone-besides the adults and Laura-looked at me weirdly.
Friday, a couple of days away from my science test, Helena didn't show up on time.
When she came in, she was wearing a bunch of makeup. "Hi." She whispered. Not meeting my eyes. I could smell the fear and pain radiating off of her.
I did the only thing I could think of. I pulled her into my arms and hugged her. She tensed and tried to fight me off. "Don't hurt me. Don't hurt me, please." She whispered.
"Hey. Calm down. Shh. Shh." I soothed. She cried and I slid us down to the ground.
We spent the whole class period in our spot in the library. With my arms around her, and her sobbing in my shoulder. When she stopped, I tried to get her off my lap, but she whimpered.
She refused to put more than a centimeter between us. Her nose stayed in my neck and my arms stayed on her waist.
When the bell rung, I didn't question her and we walked out, arms wrapped around each other, me carrying her books. No one questioned it and we didn't explain it.
Later that night, a knock on the door happened. I got up and stretched, bones popping.
I opened the door and Helena was outside, she looked at me and a blush flushed her cheeks.
"Hi, Derek." She looked down and her blush deepened. I looked down too and I was in my t-shirt and jeans.
"Uh, hi." I answered.
"I was-uh-wondering if I could talk to you in private."
"Yeah. Sure." I grabbed my jacket and when I turned back around she leaned to the left.
"Hi, Mr. and Mrs. Hale. It's nice to see you again. I'm just here to steal Derek for a bit."
"Ok, dear." Mom answered,"Don't give him back!" She called as I was shutting the door.
"Mom!" I yelled before I completely closed it.
Helena had a small smile on her face. I led her to the porch swing and she looked at me crazily.
"Nope. Not sitting on that." She refused.
"Come on. It's safe." I coaxed.
"Nope. You might try something."
I gave my best innocent smile,"what? You mean something like this?" I grabbed her arm and yanked her beside me.
She gave a short squeal of surprise before laughing,"you are a jerk, my friend."
A pang went through my heart at being a "friend". I smiled anyway though,"only to you, Nerd."
"Whatever, Meathead."
We laughed and she snuggled into my side. Her hands wrapped around my arm and slid down till they reached mine.
I entwined our fingers and gently swayed us back and forth. She brought her feet under her so she could enjoy a little more.
"Der…I'm sorry…about today. It was totally out of the blue and unprofessional of me. I'm here to help you and not the other way around."
I stopped her,"hey. None of that. We all need someone to lean on. The more we fight that fact, the harder the break down."
She looked up at me with a smile. "Thanks. For the comfort. You're so nice to me. That's why I think I'm ready to talk."
She snuggled closer to me, like she was getting ready to listen to a horror story.
"Long story summarized-I know what your and the rest of your family's secret is. Like every full moon secret. Before you go all 'you traitor and get out my face' you should know the story why.
"Long ago, my many great grandfather was a Elizabethan. He loved the time. The food, the system, the sexism. So, he raised his children in his ways. And in order to carry the family name, made them marry a werewolf.
"The females that were wolves, we couldn't turn until we were mated. We still have our extreme senses, we go through the pull of the full moon, we just can't transform. That's how I could tell you and most of your family was. By the smell.
"As the time went past, that part of our generation stood. Of course we've upgraded. We still believe in their ways, except I go to school. I know how to drive a car, I know how to do normal teenage things. But, when I get home…
"Back in those days, men could beat their wife as long as her side was poorer than the man's. That's what's happening at my house.
"My dad hits my mom when he's extremely drunk. She didn't even do anything wrong! She addresses him the right way, she cooks, she cleans, she takes care of our needs. But he still hurt her." She took a shaky breath, I squeezed her hand in encouragement.
"When I tried to help my mom heal, my dad…he said he was going to punish me."
I pulled her closer to me so I could wrap my free arm around her. Her hot tears falling on my shirt.
"Later that day, my dad…he…he…he told me I was to get married to this wolf named Kincaid. It's said he's so brutal he has no problem killing or hitting females. I was suppose to marry him after graduation.
"That's sorta why we've been moving. When my father calmed down, he broke off the engagement. Kincaid didn't like that, so he, uh, tried to terrorize me and my family. When he succeeds, he plans on forcing a marriage for him and me.
"He succeeded. We're staying here from now on till my eighteenth birthday. Then, he will marry me and whisk me away somewhere to carry out the family tradition.
"And I don't want to get married to an abuser. I want to get married to a man who will support me. I need someone to love me for me and I can look forward to walk through the door and see him waiting for me with arms wide open.
"And oh god. I sound like a whining four year old. I guess I just like the way when you look like you're not listening but you are. It makes it easier to come clean. So thanks for listening." She wiped her eyes and made a move to get up.
My hand and arm held her down. "No. Stay." I pulled her into my lap and let her cry in my chest.
"So that's why you've been keeping me out?" I was trying to confirm.
"Yes. I thought you might think I was weird and might leave me alone to fight for a sense of normality."
"You thought I was going to do that?" I chuckled unamused,"I wouldn't and I couldn't. You mean too much to me."
She snorted,"you say that now. Wait till you meet him."
"Oh yeah. I'll push you in the way and run for my life." I joked.
"I expect nothing else, my jester in a motley coat." She laughed, snuggling closer to my neck. Her hand squeezing mine.
We rocked back and forth basking in the silence. She looked up at me and I looked down at her. "Thank you. For sticking by me."
"Anything for you, my nerdy damsel." I replied.
She leaned up and kissed me. I sat there. Completely shocked. When I was going to respond she pulled away.
"Oh, goodness. I'm sorry. Uh, I don't know why I did that. I'm suppose to be faithful till marriage. Um, I need to, uh, go. I'm so, so sorry."
She was off the swing and off the porch before I could calm her down. She ran away from the house with werewolf speed.
"Oh, my god." I muttered.
I turned and saw my older sister's hair fly from the window. I growled and walked inside.
Laura's hand touched my shoulder,"I'm sorry little bro. I couldn't tell you sooner. I was sworn to secrecy."
I grabbed her hand in mine,"I know. But we've got to do something. I can't let her marry him."
"What? Why not?" Uncle Peter asked, coming out of nowhere.
"I-I-I think I might be falling for her." I answered, face serious.
