Chapter Twenty One

I got out of the jeep and followed Elena, Clay, and Logan to a pair of side doors leading into the mall. Elena and I were the only ones that really had to be here, her to pick out paint and me to meet with Valerie. Clay, though, wouldn't let Elena come without protection, and I had decided to drag Logan along. We silently walked for about a minute to a home improvement store and to the back where the paint was.

"Pick out as many colors as you want, I got the rest," Elena unfurled a six inch list of paint colors from Jeremy. I scoped out the paint selections and picked out a lime green and bright silver, then took the little sample tags over to the paint mixer.

"This all?" the mixer asked dully and put down his Sports Weekly magazine.

"Yeah," I answered and saw Elena looked over at my voice.

"You can go meet up with your friends now. I'll get the paint when it's ready," she told me and went back to paint shopping.

"Thanks!" I called and grabbed Logan's arm as I passed the archery equipment. "Come on," I said nervously, "it's one thirty."

"Why are we going so early?" he said as we exited the improvement store and headed left down the middle aisle of the mall.

I gave him a look, "Didn't you say you were hungry?"

"Well yeah—"

"Okay then," I cut him off, "We get food before they come, and then when they come we'll get some more and act like it's the only thing we've eaten. Food for us and no suspicion. "

Logan looked down at me and grinned, "I'm so glad you're smart. I'd hate to spend all my time with a ditz."

I flashed a quick smile, "Why thank you."

We veered into the food court and split up. I went to a pizza stand and got two slices of chicken pizza, a bag of salt and vinegar chips, and a mountain dew. Logan went to a Japanese restaurant and got something containing raw fish. To me, sushi all looked the same. And quite honestly, it tasted the same too, which would be nasty flavored. I picked out a table for six and set my stuff down. Logan followed suit.

"So wouldn't this technically be our first date?" Logan asked once he chewed a sushi roll.

I shrugged, "Well technically." I grinned, "Damn, first date and we've already slept together."

I swear he blushed, "I have my many charms."

We mindlessly talked for ten minutes while we ate. Once we were done we threw all the evidence away and waited. I was starting to get nervous. Five after two ticked by and I wiped my sweaty palms on my jeans. I just really hoped that I wouldn't have to lie more than once.

Finally, after what seemed like ages, I heard a squeal and turned in time to see a mess of dirty blond curls and pale skin launch itself at me. I felt Logan stiffen beside me until I hugged back and he realized it was okay. Valerie pulled back and I looked around her to see Emery and Nolan walking toward us.

Emery's auburn hair flopped up and down as he walked. His large build made him stand out from his partner. Nolan struggled to keep up with Emery's long strides considering he was at least a half a foot shorter than him. His pale face swiveled around to take in everything in the food court. He'd gotten his shaggy brown hair cut and it was now a buzz cut. Though really, not one of the three looked considerably different from the last time I saw them.

"Kaine! You look amazing!" Valerie complimented and I wanted to laugh. Yeah, I was sporting my 'newly escaped from danger' look which perfectly complimented my 'need more sleep' and 'girl gone werewolf' accessories.

Instead I stood up and grasped her shoulders, "You too! You cut your bangs," I commented, just to seem like I cared about those trivial things.

By this time Emery and Nolan had entered our little bubble. Nolan gave me a little hug and backed up. Nolan was what you'd describe as shy. Emery though, was the opposite. His hug picked me off the ground and twirled me in a circle. Not only did this make Logan quietly growl, but it also attracted too much attention. Emery set me back on the ground and I gave a breathless smile before turning to Logan.

"This is Emery, Nolan, and Valerie," I pointed to each one in turn and we settled down at the table, "Guys, this is Logan." He sat beside me, and the other three sat across from us.

Emery and Nolan shook his hand across the table and Valerie flashed him a smile. She aimed her body at me and mouthed, He's so hot! Followed by, You're so lucky! While I'm sure Logan saw, he gave no indication of it and instead held a stare down with Emery.

"Would you quit it guys?" I asked impatiently. After a moment Logan turned toward me, smiled and stopped the staring.

"So Kaine," Nolan asked softly, "what's your new gym like?"

I grimaced and had a quick debate on rather or not to begin the lying, I opted to wait a bit longer. "I'm not going to one."

Everyone besides Logan looked at me blankly. Emery most of all, "You were the best of us, why the hell aren't you going?"

I shrugged and decided now would be an ideal time to lie, "I went once but it was way too easy. I even beat the teacher."

"Oh," and then we were quiet for a while.

"How 'bout we go get some food and then we can talk?" My stomach growled and the three humans laughed.

"You still have that appetite?" Valerie asked incredulously.

I grinned and muttered under my breath, "You have no idea." Logan of course heard me and smothered a laugh. We all stood up and went to separate stalls, except for Emery and I. We both made our way over to a hamburger place. While we waited in line Emery looked at me expectantly.

"What?" I asked with a nervous laugh.

"Aren't you going to tell me what the hell is really going on?" he looked hurt and I cringed.

I put on my best poker face, "What do you mean? I moved, I made a couple friends, got a boyfriend, quit martial arts, and lost my brother. What's so wrong-?" I realized my mistake.

"William? What do you mean you lost him?" he demanded.

I hesitated, "He, uhh, died."

This time he hesitated and then gave me a fierce bear hug (but really that was the only kind of hug Emery was capable of giving). "I'm so sorry. I didn't know," he whispered into my ear.

We kept hugging until the cashier loudly cleared his throat, "What can I get you today?" a geeky, pimply boy squeaked.

"Triple cheese and bacon burger and a large fry with Pepsi," I ordered.

"Same," Emery said and pulled out his wallet. I pulled a twenty out of my pocket as well. Although he gave me a cross look, he knew better than to say anything. Very early on in our friendship he learned to let me do my own thing because, honestly, I could always kick his ass.

We paid for our meal and went back to the table where Logan was waiting. He stood up and pulled out my chair when I set down my stuff.

"So Logan, right?" Emery asked just a little too aggressive for my liking. He went on without a response, "how long have you known Kaine?"

I sighed and sat back with my burger, this was probably going to end up like a father meets the new boyfriend kind of conversation.

Logan glanced at me almost imperceptibly and I shrugged. "Almost three months. How about you?" boys and their dominance struggles.

"Thirteen years," he answered shortly and bit into his burger. The first day of kindergarten and he stole my crayon. I stomped on his foot and it was promptly returned. We had been friends ever since. Emery turned to me and from his body language, shut out Logan. "How are your parents holding up, you know, with William?" his voice was just the right amount of sympathy that I didn't want to hurt him.

"They're… holding up. My mom's like a zombie. Dad's trying to pretend nothing happened." From the corner of my eye, I saw Logan slump. I hadn't told him that, only that my parents blamed me. But it was different. While I'm sure Logan and I would probably spend the rest of our lives together, Emery and I already had. So it might have hurt Logan that I told Emery things so willingly, but at this point in time, I knew him better.

Valerie and Nolan came back before Emery could respond. "This mall is so big!" Valerie commented, "Nothing like ours."

I nodded and we all stayed silent. Awkward.

"Ooo! Guess what?" she squealed before digging into her chicken sandwich.

"What?" I injected the most curiosity I could.

She swallowed, "I got my Brown belt!"

I smiled, "Good for you! When?"

"Last week. Dad bought me a farm dog for it," Much to my eternal pain, Valerie loved dogs. This was nice and all since she got them from shelters, but that kind of ruled out her place for Friday night movie marathons. She had this miniature German shepherd (it was still pretty big) that liked to sneak inside. One time I was there doing homework and it came inside and I now realize it must have smelled me. It tore its way to the kitchen and barked like crazy. Before it could attack though, Valerie's dad came in and wrestled it out. Last time I ever went over there.

Nolan silently chomped away on his pizza. After a second of chewing, he opened his mouth, "Where are you going for college?"

My eyes widened and, I'll admit, I was scared shitless. I hadn't even though of college applications. It was late November, applications were already due. "Uh, I, well I uhh, forgot," I finished lamely. College was my dream. I was going to go to Brown University for anthropology and would eventually get my doctorates degree. How could I forget?

The others thought the same thing. Valerie, for once in her life, was speechless, Nolan gaped, and Emery had stopped with a fry halfway to his mouth. "B-but your Kaine Arden," Valerie stuttered, "the girl who had her entire future planned out since fifth grade."

I drooped in my chair, "Time just got away." Of course it wasn't really that simple, more like I was stuck in a cage for a combined total of roughly three weeks. And you know, when fighting for your life, college isn't really a main priority. Unless your really put together, which I am not.

Logan rubbed my knee under the table, "It's only November, maybe they'll still take applications."

I nodded somewhat depressed and tried to smile, "What about you guys? Where'd you send your applications?"

We must have spent three hours at that table in the food court, taking about anything that we thought of. I lied when necessary, but by the end, I was laughing and smiling with everyone else, even Logan. He and my other friends hit it off great. And by the time five rolled around and I saw Elena wave at us from across the mall I regretted not having more time.

Logan nodded his head to his mother and wiped his eyes to clear the tears of laughter from them. "I think that's our cue," he nudged my shoulder and stood up. The rest of us followed suit and he shook hands with each of the guys and did a sort of lame handshake with Valerie, the kind that most guys do with girls they're afraid to break (although Logan had a real chance of that). Logan walked away towards his family to give me some privacy with my friends.

"Bye Kaine, take care," Nolan hugged me a little tighter than normal and stood back.

Valerie took his place and for her relatively small stature nearly squeezed the air out of me, "Don't wait so long to talk to me! I don't live that far away, call me sometime soon," she looked up into my eyes, "okay?"

I smiled and said, "Definitely." Even though I was fairly certain I wouldn't see them again.

Emery stood in front of me for a minute before scooping me up in a hug, "Goodbye Kaine," he whispered in my ear, "And as much as I hate to say it, Logan seems like a good guy, I'm happy for you." He let me go and looked at me for a moment longer, in that moment I knew he saw through all my lies, his next words confirmed it, "If you ever want to tell me what really happened, you call me."

I smiled sadly knowing full well that while I might be wrong about never seeing them again, I was definitely not wrong when saying I would never make that call. It was too dangerous for everyone involved.

"Bye guys, I'll miss you," I said it surprisingly strong and turned my back, walking to Logan, Elena, and Clay and then out the automated doors.

Two Weeks Later

Logan and I sat panting in a clearing after Changing back after a run. We had just managed to clothe ourselves before falling to the ground in exhaustion. A snowy white blanket covered the ground about two inches thick. My clothes were getting soaked from just laying curled up next to Logan, but the cool felt really good against my hot skin.

"You know," my mate mumbled into my hair, "I never gave you your birthday present."

I laughed lightly, "It's been almost a month, I really couldn't care less. Besides, I think you're way more than enough of a present."

He shrugged and somehow managed to procure a present wrapped in blue paper, he held it away teasingly. "Then I guess you don't want this." He stuffed the tiny square package in his jean pocket and went to tracing circles on my bare arms.

Now while I really don't care about material things, I have a really really insatiable curiosity. In one quick motion I managed to position myself so I was straddling him around his hips. He raised his eyebrows but said nothing when I stuck my hand into his pocket to retrieve the present. Instead of trying to take it like I thought he would, he just kept his hands folded behind his head and stared up at me.

I warily unwrapped the small, plainly packaged box. I lifted the lid and gasped. Laying on a piece of cotton sat a small blue sapphire set inside an intricately carved obsidian idol about three inches tall. It took me a moment of sorting out all the lines to realize I was looking at a man. I looked back down to Logan with my mouth slightly ajar.

He grinned in satisfaction, "It's an authentic Aztec obsidian idol. It was a representation of their god Tezcatlipoca, the god of the night, beauty, and war; I saw it and thought of you." His eyes turned anxious, "You like it right?"

I shook my head, "No, I don't like it." My mouth turned up in a huge smile, "I love it."

He waited until I had set it carefully back into the cushioned box before grabbing my shoulders and flipping us so that he was the one hovering above me. Logan leaned down and kissed my forehead, then the corner of my eye, my cheek, and finally my mouth. I tangled my hands into his hair and sighed against his lips in contentment.

I just knew, rather it was just a hunch or some kind of premonition due to my wonky genes, that for the next couple of months things would be fine. Better than fine, amazing. I had sent out my college applications, fitting under a late category; I resolved some issues with my parents, not many, but we were getting there; I was officially Pack; Roman had called to tell me that William had been buried with full Pack honors; I had said my goodbyes to my friends; and I had Logan.

I mean really, what could be better?