:Breathes sigh of relief: Finally can relax with the mad dash business... AFTER I post this chapter!

Chapter Ten: Brilliantly Cruel Scheme

Lani POV

I woke with a start when the warmth was replaced with something cool. I realized they were blankets while I threw them off me and ran to the suspiciously open window.

I peered out into the night and I swore I saw a glimpse of silver darting off into the woods. I smiled happily to myself, and got my drawing out from art and finished it.

All that's left is to see Nani before the bonfire tomorrow night. That night I only got a few hours of sleep due to my thoughts revolving around the constant drumbeat in my mind; a.k.a. the very active twinge.

I got out of bed at eight and made Dad and Kayne breakfast, only staying long enough for them to begin eating.

"Where you off to now, Lani?" Dad asked just before I darted out the door.

"Visit Nani," I said.

"Tell her I said hi?" Dad asked.

"Sure Dad," I said then ran the whole way to her house with my drawings in tow.

Once I got there I didn't bother knocking on the door, I went around to the back of the house where her garden is. Just as I thought, Nani was tending to her herbs.

"Hello Lani," She greeted without turning around.

I smiled; she seemed to have a way with knowing who had snuck up behind her, "Hey Nani. Can we talk inside with a cup of tea," I asked, obviously offering her favorite thing, tea.

"So what brings you here so early in the morning," Nani asked once we were seated at her kitchen table with tea.

I got straight to the point, almost; "The tribe legends are real aren't they?"

I swore I saw a small smile that Nani covered with her cup of tea. "Why would you think that Lani?"

"Because I know," emphasizing to her about the way I know something without any fact.

I felt her lie before she said it, "You know those tales are just to scare children to not go into the woods, and go to sleep."

The twinge thundered at the lie, "No they're not Nani." I pulled out my drawings, all of the wolf, "Then why would I keep drawing the same wolf?"

"Because you've always been attached to wolves, and this creation is your imagination combined with your love for them," Nani said as if rehearsed.

I took a deep breath to stay calm, "Then what about this," I showed her the drawing with Paul and the Wolf combined.

I know she smiled and Nani got that twinkle in her eye when I found something out that I'm not supposed to, "You just have a crush on Paul and you saw either him in the wolf or the wolf in him."

"Nani, you know me. I don't just get crushes and mix them with an animal. You know I have some weird fluke where I can tell if you're lying and when something is true. Nani, I know the wolf is real; I saw him."

Nani finally put her cup of tea down on the table, "Yes Lani, I know all those things and I fully believe you and your twinges. Yes I know and believe you when you say there is a huge silver wolf running around, but what does Paul have to do with this?" Nani asked the last question with the look in her eye saying I was so close to the truth that I just had to push a little more.

"Paul's the silver wolf," I said and the twinge stopped for the first time all week.

"And you just know this?" She urged.

"I know," I assured her.

Nani winked, "Just follow your heart Lani," she said and went back out to her garden.

I swear; Nani is the strangest old woman I know.

When I got home Kim was hiding behind Dad's recliner.

"Kim, what are you doing?"

"Shh, I'm hiding," Kim answered and put a finger to her lips.

"Ready or not here I come!" I heard Kayne yell from the kitchen. "Hey Lani, have you seen Kim?"

I tapped my chin, "No I do not believe I've seen her, but maybe you should look behind the furniture first." I glanced at Kim with a grin and she playfully glared at me.

"I found you!" Kayne cheered when he finally checked behind the recliner.

Kim sighed, "Yes you did Kayne."

"So Kim, did you come over to play with Kayne?" I asked.

She laughed, "No, but you Dad said you were at Mother Hannah's house so I decided to play hide-and-seek while I waited." Kim called Nani by her tribe title.

"Did you need me for something?" I asked.

Kim smiled, "Some of our friends want to go see a movie before we go the bonfire at eight. Wanna come, you can bring Kayne along of course."

"She doesn't need to," Dad called from the kitchen, "Lani, you go ahead to the movies and you can pick Kayne up afterwards."

I smiled, "Ok, what movie are we seeing?"

"We haven't decided, but we want to meet up at Sue's Diner in about an hour and a half." Kim pursed her lips, "Want me to help you pick out an outfit?"

I looked down at the ratty jeans I was wearing with a T-shirt, "Do I look that bad?"

She rolled her eyes, "No, but you wanna look good for Paul right?"

"Paul?" My Dad perked up, switching to protective Dad mode. "Who's Paul, and should I know about him?" Jeez, is that a guy thing or what?

"Don't worry Mr. Owens, it's a group date with about," Kim paused to count under her breath, "seven of us."

Dad relaxed, "Oh, okay. But if this Paul tries anything you just tell me Lani."

I held my thumb up, "Sure thing Dad."

Kim grabbed my arm and led me up the stairs, "Enough chit chat, we've got work to do."

"Kayne save me!" I joked as Kim 'dragged' me up the stairs.

Kayne got his serious face on, "Lani, I'm coming!" The little boy charged up the stairs as fast he could, but apparently Kim was faster.

"Sorry cutie, but I'm borrowing your sister. She'll be fine and when you see her again she's gonna be pretty-fied," Kim reassured Kayne.

He pouted, "Lani's already pretty."

Kim awed, but that didn't stop her from urging him to leave and close the door behind him. She turned to me with a grin; "You've so got to torture Paul with him."

"Huh?" She wants me to do what with Kayne to do what with Paul?

She rolled her eyes, "Make Paul think Kayne isn't your brother, but a guy you're really into. It'll drive him crazy, then at the bonfire he'll find out it's just your little brother he was getting all jealous for."

I arched an eyebrow at the brilliantly cruel scheme.

"Oh come on, I was the only girl hanging with these guys so I never get to pick on them effectively."

"So you're saying now that I'm here we can seriously mess with these guys?"

"Yep."

"I like where this is going, but can I wear jeans? Tormenting large steroidic men require durable and comfortable clothing."

She rolled her eyes, "Fine, I was going to let you wear them anyway. So I'll pick you up in an hour?" Kim asked as she headed for the door.

"Wait, you're not going to dress me up like a Barbie doll?" I asked, not believing it myself.

"Psh, no way. You're already way prettier than those clones. I just needed an excuse to tell you my Torture Plan without being overheard."

I grinned, "Oh you're good," quoting a line from a movie I watched a while back.

How Ya'll liking this here story of mine? haha just kidding with all that hick stuff. But really, how are you guys liking it? Continue with the mayhem or no? What should I add, or get rid of? Come on this is a fan based site [it's in the freaking URL] so can I get some feed back on improvements? I like to improve... Paul wants me to as well :Shows Paul's puppy face: see?

Happy reading, writing [reviewing... cough cough]

Terra.