Chapter 4

I called Mom on the way back to Ryan's after school. We were alone in his car; Sharpay was driving Jesse and Joey.

"Hi, honey."

"Hey Mom, are you working tonight?"

"Yes, I'm covering for someone. How's Jesse doing?" I rolled my eyes. I knew it hadn't even been a week since Dad left, but I was beginning to think she intended to work herself into an early grave.

"Better. He changed last night."

"Already?"

"Yeah."

"Was their anything else… odd about it?" She asked.

"Well, now that you mention it, he's spotted. I've never even heard of a wolf with spots."

"Hmm… well, it probably doesn't matter. I'm just glad to hear he's back on his feet. Oh, would you look at the time, I've got to go. I love you, honey."

"I love you too, Mom."

She hung up.

"Is she working tonight?" Ryan asked.

"Yeah."

He took his hand off the gear shift and squeezed mine.

When we reached Ryan's house, Sharpay's car was already parked in front.

"How did she beat us here? We left first."

He rolled his eyes. "You've been in her car. The girl has a gold foot."

"Don't you mean lead foot?"

"I would if it was anyone else."

We walked inside laughing.

"What's so funny?" Sharpay called from the living room.

"Nothing, Sis." Ryan called.

I laughed even harder.

She stormed into the foyer. "You were talking about me again, weren't you?" She demanded while giving us her best pout.

We both burst out laughing.

She rolled her eyes. "Clearly my feminine wiles are lost on you." Then she huffed and stormed up the stairs.

We went into the living room, and Ryan's mother gave us a mock disapproving look. "Now Ducky, be nice to your sister or she'll get frown lines."

"Yes, Mother."

Jesse and Joey came in from the kitchen. Joey caught my eye and mouthed the word, 'Ducky'.

I shrugged.

"Now you boys be good tonight. We're going to the Opera."

"Lookout for phantoms." Joey called after her as she ascended the stairs.

"So, what's the plan for tonight… Ducky." Jesse asked.

Joey's eyes went wide and he giggled.

Ryan spun to face them. "If you're not careful it'll be roasting you on an open flame."

"Oh come on, he didn't mean anything by it… Ducky." I started laughing.

He turned to look at me, arching a single eyebrow in the most regal manner he could. "Et tu, Troy?"

"Hey. If you want me to stab you in the back, you just have to ask."

"And we've now officially crossed into too much information." Joey announced.

My phone rang. I pulled it up to find Kelsi's name on the caller ID.

I flipped it open. "Hello?"

"Hey Troy. Do you mind if we come over?"

I blinked before remembering that Jason wasn't actually mad at me.

"Uh, I'm staying at Ryan's. Let me check."

I looked at Ryan. "Hey, is it cool if Jason and Kelsi come over?"

"And Gabriella." Said Kelsi's voice in my ear.

"And Gabriella."

Ryan shrugged. "I don't see why not. Tell them to bring pizza though."

I returned the phone to my mouth. "Yeah, he says bring pizza."

She laughed. "Meatlovers?"

"What else?"

"See ya when we get there."

"Yeah, see ya."

They arrived half an hour later, each laden down with a stack of boxes.

"Whoa, what's with all the food?" Ryan asked.

"We thought we'd throw a little post-Saint Patrick's day slash welcome to the pack party." Kelsi said.

"Wait. We didn't get a party." I said, taking the stack of pizzas from her and carrying them to the kitchen.

After setting the pies on the table I turned to find Jason.

He offered me his hand. "I'm really sorry about this week."

I shook his hand. "Hey, it's no big deal. We're all in this together, right?"

He smiled and nodded.

I turned to face Kelsi. "An axe?"

She shook her head. "I didn't say anything about an axe, and I think the current rumor is that he did it with a meat hook now."

I rolled my eyes.

Sharpay stuck her head into the kitchen. "Do I smell meatlovers'?"

I rolled my eyes. "Yes, Sharpay."

She paused when she came around the corner. "Oh, hey, Jason."

"Hey Sharpay." He nodded at her and walked out of the kitchen.

I walked back into the living room and Gabriella leapt on me, folding me into a hug.

"How did you get away from your mom?"

"Uh… I lied."

"You? Lied? I don't believe it." Joey said from his seat on the couch.

"Shove it, Teen Wolf Too." She laughed.

Jason produced several bottles of liquor after Ryan's parent's left.

Everyone did some shots. Everyone but Jesse, who Sharpay thwarted at every turn.

"But why not?" He protested.

"Sunset is in half an hour, I'm not having a drunken dog rampaging around the house." Sharpay said taking a bottle from his hand.

Jesse sighed.

Jason poured everyone else a shot of the best whiskey he had and raised his glass. "To my parents."

We all raised our glasses, and drank. It tasted like liquid fire.

Ryan and Joey went upstairs with Jesse right before sunset.

I knew the moment of sunset without even looking through a window.

I took a deep breath and suppressed the familiar tingle. Jason did another shot.

They returned about fifteen minutes later, with the odd looking wolf that was Jesse in tow.

"Whoa, why does he get to look so cool?" Jason asked, already unsteady on his feet.

"He almost looks like a hyena." Gabriella said, and then burped.

"I wish I had a Mohawk like that when I change. I just turn into a shaggy brown mop." Jason said.

Jesse flashed the drunken boy a grin, and then laughed.

"He sounds like one too." Gabriella said.

"Any idea why, Kels?" I asked.

She shrugged. "No clue."

"What about him?" Jason asked, pointing at Joey.

Ryan smiled. "He's already regenerating. Next full moon for sure."

Joey gave a worried looking half smile.

Jason clapped him on the back. "Worst werewolf hunter ever."

Joey blushed.

Everyone else, including Jesse, laughed.

"He's right you know." Sharpay said.

"What?" Joey turned to look at her.

"Come on. Not only did you fail to kill a single werewolf, you willingly became one."

His blush deepened and Jason clapped him on the back again.

After another half hour of shots Kelsi switched Jason to water. He didn't seem to notice.

He passed out soon after that.

By that time Kelsi was sitting on the couch between Ryan and me.

"So how's he doing?" I asked her.

She shrugged. "As well as can be expected."

"I still can't believe his father died like that." Sharpay said.

Kelsi shrugged again. "It's better this way."

"Kelsi, how can you say that?" Ryan was shocked.

"Wolves mate for life Ryan."

"What?" I asked, not understanding her.

She sighed. "When a werewolf loses their mate… well… they don't last long after. Some waste away, others commit suicide. For all intents and purposes Jason's dad died when his wife did."

I blinked.

"So wait. You mean if anything happens to Troy, Ryan will…" Sharpay asked.

Kelsi nodded.

I looked at Ryan, and he met my gaze. I knew then, looking into his crystal blue eyes, that she was right, if anything ever happened to him, I wouldn't be able to go on.

He gave me a sad smile. I hoped he was feeling the same thing.

Jesse and Joey returned to their room when Ryan's parents came home, we couldn't exactly explain why there was a half-wolf half-hyena running around their living room.

Mr. Evans took a look around the living room, eyeing the empty bottles. "Well, I hope none of you intend to drive home tonight."

"No sir." Kelsi answered.

He nodded, and then escorted his wife to their bedroom.

The party, small as it was, died after that.

Ryan and I carried Jason up to a guest room, and left him in Kelsi's care.

We collapsed into Ryan's bed, and I at least fell right to sleep, the man of my dreams held in my arms.

I awoke to the sound of thunder echoing in my ears. At least it sounded like thunder. I blinked my eyes open. Ryan sat up in bed, and then grasped his head and fell backwards. "Bad idea…"

The thunder came again. I realized someone was knocking on the door.

"Come in." I called. Then grasped my head in regret.

Jesse stuck his head, looking far too cheerful. "Mrs. Evans says the cook has breakfast ready."

"And you had to pound on our door for that?" Ryan asked.

"No. That was for not letting me drink last night."

I hurled a pillow at the grinning boy, but he slammed the door shut before it reached him.

"Ow." I grabbed my head. "Never let me drink again."

"Ditto."

We stumbled into the shower, well I did at least. Ryan retched in the toilet.

"That's attractive." I said.

"Shove it, Teen Wolf."

I sighed. "You've been hanging around Gabi too much."

Ryan heaved again. I battled a wave of nausea of my own.

"We can regenerate knife wounds; why can't we regenerate hangovers?"

I shrugged and stepped into the hot shower, gulping down water from the shower head. Ryan joined me after vomiting for a third time, we traded places beneath the water and he washed his mouth out.

"Ugh."

"You can say that again."

Everyone else, except Jason, was already up when we went downstairs.

Gabriella, Sharpay, and Joey picked at their food; all three looked a little queasy. Kelsi on the other hand looked fine. She and Jesse were shoveling food into their mouths. I had to look away, battling another wave of nausea.

Ryan sat down, and shoved the plate away from him.

"How's my dashing boy this morning?" Ryan's mom asked as she strode into the room on her husband's arm.

"Sick."

She clicked her tongue. "Well that's what you get for drinking."

Gabriella's phone rang.

I covered my ears as I sat down next to Ryan.

"Hello?"

"Yes, Mom. I'm over at Jesse's."

"Yes, we spent all night studying for Scholastic Decathlon."

"Okay, here he is."

She handed the phone to Jesse.

"Uh, hello?"

"This is Jesse."

"Yeah, we studied all night."

He handed the phone back to Gabi.

"Yes, Mom. I'll be home soon."

She rolled her eyes as she hung up. "Thanks, Jesse."

He shrugged. "No problem."

Sharpay snorted. "Now she learns the wisdom of lying to her parents."

"Sharpay!" Her mom said. "You should be setting a better example for your school chums."

Sharpay rolled her eyes. "Yes, Mother."

Their mom grabbed a protein shake and headed out of the kitchen. "Well I'm off to my book club. Try not to let anyone vomit on anything too expensive."

Ryan nodded.

"Why do you look so good, Kelsi?" I asked.

"Russian blood." She said with obvious pride.

"Why can't we regenerate hangovers?" Ryan asked her.

Kelsi shrugged.

"Because it's not cellular damage." Gabriella said.

"Huh?"

"We only regenerate things that actually destroy cells. A hangover is mostly caused by dehydration." Gabriella said.

Jesse nodded.

"Fabulous." Sharpay said with disgust.

Jason made his way downstairs after we'd finished staring at our breakfasts in terror. He looked worse than any of us.

"How much did I drink?" He asked in a whisper.

I shrugged.

"Shoot me with a silver bullet if I ever look at another bottle."

"No problem." Joey said.

Everyone chuckled, including Jason.

"Well, I hate to ruin this, but if I don't get home soon my mother is going to gut me." Gabriella said, standing up.

Kelsi tossed some keys at Jesse. "You drive her. I'm not in any condition."

Jesse fumbled to catch the keys, and failed. He picked them up off the ground.

Jason sat down next to Kelsi.

Jesse and Gabriella left.

"Oh hey. I meant to tell you last night, Troy. I got into U of A." Jason said.

I flashed him a smile. "Cool man. Scholarship?"

He nodded.

"Sweet. I got in too."

He grinned. "Good, four more years to prove I'm the better player."

"In your dreams, Cross."

"Are you going too, Kelsi?" Sharpay asked.

The musical playmaker nodded.

Sharpay sighed. "Great. Four more years surrounded by wolves."

"Where are you and Jesse going?" Ryan asked, looking at Joey.

The boy shrugged. "Uh… we haven't really applied anywhere."

"What?" Sharpay asked.

Joey blushed. "Well, we were kind of focused on the whole hunter thing."

"You should apply to U of A. It's a little late, but I'm sure Daddy can pull some strings."

"I can't let you do that."

"Do you really think you can stop me?"

Joey sighed.

"That's right. Just accept that I always get what I want."

Ryan coughed.

Sharpay rolled her eyes. "Fine, everything I want except for Troy."

I felt a blush creep into my cheeks and studied my feet.

Ryan put his arm around my shoulders. "That's right. This fine piece of man is all mine."

He turned my head to meet his gaze and planted a kiss on me.

Everyone else laughed. My cheeks burned.

"Can't you two keep your hands off of each other for 5 minutes?" Sharpay asked in mock indignation.

I pulled away from Ryan's lips. "Not if we can help it."

Sharpay huffed. Everyone else in the room laughed.

Jesse returned, and went up stairs with Joey to work on homework.

Kelsi and Jason stood up. "Well, I think I'm good to drive, and we should be going.

Jason offered me his hand again. "Sorry in advance for this week."

We shook hands and they left.

Ryan's parents were spending the night in, so after dinner Ryan and I went up to Joey and Jesse's room.

"Sorry you have to spend the night in here." Ryan said.

Jesse shrugged. "After being locked in here for months, I'm used to it."

"Hey. Sorry about that guys." I said.

"It's okay. If I'd been in your place, I would've just killed us." Joey said.

I laughed. "You know, Jason tried that once."

"What?" Jesse asked.

"Yeah, he thought Troy here was the killer." Ryan said.

"Where did he get that idea?" Joey asked.

"Well, he isn't exactly the sharpest knife in the drawer." Ryan said.

We all shared a laugh.

"Oh, you guys need to apply to the University tomorrow."

"Huh?" Jesse looked confused.

"But it's Sunday." Joey said.

"You can apply on the website."

"Isn't it too late?" Jesse asked.

"Sharpay's going to pull some strings." Joey said.

"We can't let her do that."

"Do you want to try and stop her?" Joey asked.

Jesse looked scared. "Uh… no."

Joey and Ryan laughed.

I gave Jesse a sympathetic look.

"Okay, sunset is in a fifteen minutes, go change Jesse." Ryan said.

Jesse nodded and took a robe into the bathroom, emerging again after several minutes.

"Now tonight we're going to start working on control. Do you remember everything I told Sharpay the night you two watched her change?"

Jesse nodded. "I think so."

"You two." Ryan pointed at Joey and I. "Sit on the bed and don't talk."

"But maybe I could help him." Joey protested.

"I know you could. But he has to learn how to do this on his own."

I nodded. "He's right. I had to do it too."

Joey huffed, but sat down next to me.

"Now sit down like this." Ryan took a lotus position on the floor.

Jesse struggled to copy him.

"Now close your eyes and relax your body."

Jesse did as he was told.

"Now think about your body. Feel each piece of it. Feel how it is right now."

Jesse nodded.

I felt the tingling begin at the base of my spine. I let if flow for a few moments, enjoying the feeling of my wolf instincts awakening.

Ryan always describes it as a separate presence in his mind, a presence that he has to cajole to do what he wants. It's never seemed like that for me. It's just as much a part of me as my basketball skills or singing talent. Once I realized that, it had become much easier to control.

I felt the pressure start. 'Not now,' I thought to myself, and the pressure faded, the tingling retreated.

I opened my eyes and watched Ryan guide Jesse through the transformation.

Jesse was able to hold out for almost 45 minutes before he started to change.

Ryan guided him through, body part by body part; he started with his hands, and then his legs, followed by his torso. He saved the head for last.

"Does it ever stop looking so creepy?" Joey asked in a whisper.

"Well, you can do it faster, but not really." I said.

"Does it hurt?"

I shook my head. "No. But it's weird, because at first you think it should."

"What if I don't learn to control it?"

"You will. It's like walking; everyone figures it out sooner or later."

"But what if I don't?"

"Then we put you in a kennel three nights a month."

He elbowed me in the side.

Ryan stood up and stretched.

Jesse paced over to a text book on the floor and batted it open with a paw.

"Incredible. He turns into a wolf, and then goes right back to doing homework?" I asked.

Joey shrugged. "Tell me about it."