A/N: Here I am, finally.. :/ So, so sorry for disappearing off the face of the earth. I feel terrible that I keep leaving you guys hanging, but I don't mean to, I've just been having so much trouble writing. Lately, at least, I've been working my fingers off to write on different chapters of my fics, so I'm doing the best I can.
This chapter, unfortunately, has no Pezberry interaction, but it deals with working on other things to help out their relationship hormonal wise. I am fast at work on chapter 27, which will be dedicated to the Pezberry date, which also means that I probably won't be updating any of my other stories until ch 27 is posted. This fic is as of right now my sole focus. After 27, I'll post on some others.
And of course, I don't own glee.
Anyhoo, enjoy.
Quinn
My nostrils flare, the aroma of robust French roast coffee wafting in the air, as my favorite travel mug is placed in my hand. Fingers brush over my own, delightful tingles spreading up the digits, and making my grip around the mug falter; I titter and quickly screw the cap on under Riley's amused gaze. Clearing my throat, I glance self consciously away; no one ever makes me this damn nervous.
No one but Riley.
"I would ask if you're ready, but I shan't risk your wrath pointed at me by asking stupid questions." Just like that, Riley effectively breaks the awkward; I chuckle and playfully punch her arm.
"Ow, you abuser! Mama Fabray, your daughter hit me!" I watch as Riley's eyes go from feigning 'hurt' to wide and panicked within seconds, as she realizes her slip up.
"Oh, Ri-"
"Careful, Quinnie, you abuse 'em you lose 'em, and if I were you, I wouldn't risk it with this one because I might just steal her from under you." My mouth flops open at my mother's immediate response, and it hits the floor when she sidles up to Riley, wraps an arm around her waist, and winks up at her.
Then my face scrunches up at the thought of them together, "Ew, no! You aren't getting any of my leftovers, abused or not, that's just, no."
I grab Riley's wrist, dragging her away from my mother's hold and into one of my own with a glare.
"That's really too bad, Riley's a catch." Mom pouts, and then she is chortling in the background as I stare at Riley dreamily.
She really, really is a catch, one in a trillion.
Ignoring mom, I tug Riley away. If we don't leave now, I'll never get out the door, and what little courage I have is already dwindling away.
My legs carry me out the front door, down the driveway, and to Riley's car, who parts from my grip with a smile to walk around to other side. Once we're both in and pulling away from home, my mind starts to race with every negative outcome of what is about to go down in Coach's office. The only relief I have is that she has not told my mother, but she still could, because Sue is notorious for blackmail, and if I don't concede to whatever the hell she wants, well, I'm screwed.
Mom may love Riley now, but when she finds out what Riley has been doing with her daughter, at school, her attitude towards our relationship just might change. And that's not even the worst of it, what if Coach holds this over Riley's head instead of mine? I'd seriously hate myself if she got in trouble.
Figures, the one and only time I give into my libido, everything goes to shit. Of course, it could be worse; at least we weren't in fingers deep…
Really, though, could she get in trouble? What's the age of consent here? Damn, I probably should have looked that up.
"Looked what up?" I jump at Riley's voice, startled out of my slightly pessimistic contemplation.
Probably for the best anyway, it does neither of us any good for me to be thinking like that.
"The um, age of consent." I mumble, flushing at having to answer what was supposed to be a thought in my head.
"Oh. Shit." Riley curses under her breath, as if just realizing how young I am, and I instantly feel bad for reminding her.
Does me being 16 make her feel like a pervert? Maybe it should turn me off as well, but I find our age difference kind of… hot. Besides, my birthday is only five months away.
Five long, torturous months.
What if she changes her mind, what if I'm not worth the possible trouble ahead, and, oh, God, what if she wants to break up with me?
"Hey, breathe, baby. I can hear your thoughts spiraling out of control "Soothing fingers lace through my own, instantly quelling my nerves and speeding thoughts.
I don't know if it is the wolf, her, or both, but her every touch either sets my hormones raging, or like now, calms every negative feeling within me.
She knows exactly what to do and when to do it. Now, if only she could touch me always.
"Sorry, I just have all these what-ifs flying through my head." I shake said head, not wanting to think anymore, and squeeze the supportive hand gripping mine.
"I know you do, but I told you that I would take care of everything, and I meant it. Your Coach will not hold this against you, I won't let her, okay?" Riley's reassuring tone and words are working just as well as her touch; for some reason, I believe her. I believe that she will get us both through this.
I am still worried, that hasn't vanished completely; however, I am nowhere near as petrified as I was before Riley interlaced our fingers together.
"What exactly are you planning to do? Because frankly, Sylvester getting threatened twice cannot be good for our health, mental or otherwise." I question seriously, more than a little curious.
I'll admit that watching Rachel tell Coach off was damn hot, and seeing Riley do it would be as well, but holding threats over Sue's head may just make everything worse than it may already, possibly could be. We sure as hell don't need to dig any deeper graves for ourselves. So, while I believe Riley can handle the situation, I do not know how smart a plan she has that won't backfire.
"I don't have a set plan of action. What I will do is observe her body language and tone, gauge how she is feeling towards us, and then go from there. If she attempts to kick you off the cheerios, or even get you suspended from school, I will butt in and plead your case." Riley answers me with a sigh, as if she is just realizing that doing this would be more than she bargained for.
At least, that is how I took the sigh, but maybe I'm wrong, maybe she is tired… or something.
"Riley, you don't have to do this for me, plus, it's not even the cheerios I'm worried about. There are more important things than my co-captaincy over our squad." I reply immediately, simultaneously clutching her hand and turning more towards her in my seat, as she smoothly coasts into a parking space.
She cuts the engine with her free hand, unbuckles, and twists around to look at me, all the while still gripping my hand.
"Like your education, that's what you should be worried about. I'd hate for you to get-"
"No, like you. That is all I'm worried about." Interrupting, I shake my head at her.
Cheeks tinging an amusing shade of pink, she bites her lip and glances off to the side.
"I'm a big bad wolf, Q bear; you don't need to worry about me." She turns her head back to wink at me, the brief coyness in her expression now hidden.
Hidden, but not completely gone.
"I can't help it, Riley; you bring out this, this… protective side of me." I shake my head at myself, having trouble articulating the right word.
Protective does not seem anywhere near right enough.
"Trust me, I know how you feel." She whispers almost shyly, though when her eyes meet mine, I know that she means it.
"Great, then you should know that I'm going to take my punishment, whatever it may be, if it means you stay out of trouble." I tell her with a nervous smile, seeing no other option.
I lean forward; placing a determined kiss against her lips, and then finally force myself out of her car. Her door swishes up, then she's beside me before my eyes can blink; I never saw her move. Well, I did, but it was a mere blur, the movement was too fast for my sensors to register it. I can't help but wonder how awesome it would be to move that damn fast. She holds a hand out for me to take, and I gladly grab it, interlocking our fingers without hesitation. This is pretty innocent, right? No one can say anything about hand-holding; at least, they better not because that would just piss me off.
As soon as we are inside, the walk towards Coach's office is uber scary; it feels like we're heading for the electric chair. The confused, curious stares from the few nerds who came to school early really isn't helping the situation any, not when I just very recently came to terms with my feelings for Riley.
I am Quinn Fabray, though, HBIC, and co-captain of the cheerios, so I am not going to let this new little display of affection scare me into pulling away.
The closed office door of one Sue Sylvester comes out of nowhere.
Damn it, I swear it was farther away then this, meh, guess this is it then, the moment where-
"Q, how nice of you to join us." I jump, completely taken off guard.
When did she even open the door? Maybe this is all a dream, because everything is popping out at me without warning, just like that weird nightmare I had last night.
Wait, us? Oh, no, please tell me she didn't call in Principle Figgins.
"Us?" I squeak out, eyes attempting to dart behind her to look into her office.
"Shut the door." Ignoring me, she walks back in, and we can do nothing but follow.
Riley is wearing an adorable scowl when we enter the room; though it disappears into a blank expression by the time we're standing in front of Coach's desk, where she is the only one present. I should have known that she would mess with my head just to scare the ever-living hell out of me. She lives off fear, especially the fear she puts in her own cheerios.
Unless.. Is there somebody hiding under the desk, or somewhere else? I'm pretty sure Sue has a secret room in here. Shit. What if a cop is waiting for me to confess to doing naughty things with Riley, so that he can take her away to jail, or even worse, prison? This is not happening; I can't take it. This is too damn much for me.
"Q, I caught you in a very compromising position yesterday, on school grounds, and in my locker room-"
"Yeah, you did, and I don't know what you have planned, but I am not letting you blackmail us for your sick love of power trips." Scared, I crack, putting on a gutsy front so it doesn't show.
Coach smirks at me, amused, "Calm your pompoms, Q, before you give yourself a coronary. There is no blackmail to speak of, only rules that you should know better than to break."
"If I had been anyone else, you would be at least suspended if not expelled for what you two were doing, but since you're one of my head cheerios, I can't afford to lose you. That doesn't mean you are off the hook for getting down and dirty in my locker room, in fact, I plan to suicide you back into shape." Her words simultaneously ease my mind and set me on edge, and the gleam in her eyes does nothing to help.
She is going to kill me by suicides; I will not be able to move by the end of the day, and Santana is going to have to carry me to her car and then drive me home.
"Suicide? What the fuck, you crazy bitch!" Misinterpreting, Riley loses it, pulling away from me to scream with rage in Sue's face.
"Riley, it's not what it sounds like, suicides are a form of, well, they're pun- Um, never mind." Setting my hand on her lower back, I try to explain what Sue meant, but as Riley's eyes only narrow more, I refrain from saying the word punishment in front her, lest it stirs the wolf into attack mode.
Any wrong word or movement could set her off, not on me of course, but on Coach. As much as I wouldn't mind seeing Riley jump over the desk to throttle her, I'm pretty sure it would make things a hell of a lot worse for us; I would be expelled and Riley in jail.
"Are we done?" I ask through clenched teeth, wrapping a protective, yet calming hand around Riley's bicep.
"We're done, Q, except for one little thing. I don't want to see your girlfriend back on school grounds, or our next visit will not be quite as… pleasant. Now, get out of my office." If I were not this close, or if I didn't know Sue Sylvester so well, I would not be able to see the tightness in her face, nor the tenseness in her shoulders as she dismisses us.
She is afraid of Riley, though I wouldn't dare say that to her face, at least not today anyway; can't play all our trump cards in one go. Besides, my heart can only handle so much anticipated wrath from Coach in one go, and I have already had more than my fill for today, a lifetime even.
However, there is one thing I want to be clear before I leave this room.
"Nuh uh, I'm not falling for your blackmail this time, you have no authority over who can or cannot be on school grounds. I'll respect school property by not 'getting down and dirty', but my girlfriend will be bringing me to school and picking me up without your permission, and if I want her to eat lunch with me and my friends, she will being doing that, too." By the time the last word is almost… growled out, I have grabbed my girlfriend and tugged her back toward the door.
With a last brave stare at the motionless woman sitting at her desk, I slam the office door behind us.
The hallway is full now, some of the students digging in their lockers, and the others heading to first period. Most of them stop, and then openly gawk at us with mixed emotions as we walk by them, though when I meet their gazes with the irritable scowl still on my face, they all quickly avert their eyes. Normally, the power would give me a rush, and I would feed on it while throwing them all smirks, but right now I am in one hell of a.. Peevish mood and I'd more than likely shove someone into a locker than worry about getting off on their anxiousness.
Santana is waiting by my locker when Riley and I walk up; my crabby mood lifts, and I feel a bright smile replace the glower. That is until that damn dream I had last night bitch slaps me in the face. My instant happiness at seeing my best friend now versus in the nightmare I had turns into immediate gloominess.
I was swimming, well, skinny-dipping under a beautiful waterfall in my dream; Santana was with me and equally as naked. We were having fun, playing around like two crazy girls on a natural high, and the water felt magical, literally, it was as if we were wading in pure energy. I remember hearing a low, distant growl, but didn't get the chance to ask if Santana heard it as well because she dunked me under.
I choked on the water coming back up, and as I wiped my blurry eyes, I could hear Santana cackling in the background. Another growl echoed throughout the haunting forest, this one louder, closer, and followed by a spine-chilling howl. Santana's laughter cut off abruptly and I felt her wrap around me, suddenly as terrified as I was.
The fear instantly became secondary to the feel of naked breasts pressed into my back, though I somehow managed to block them out to search for where the sounds came from. I saw nothing suspicious, yet sensed that we were not alone; I knew it was out there; lurking, watching, and preying on us.
"Q, something is seriously stalking us." She whispered in my ear, shivering.
A second howl, longer than the last and different from before resonated around us.
A sudden, unexpected thrill shot through me.
I then felt the weight of Santana's body leave me; alarmed, I whipped around to face her, just in time to watch in horror, as she was drug behind the waterfall by the teeth of a huge beast. I screamed out her name, and without hesitating, I propelled myself forward to chase after them, only for a deep growl to stop me in my tracks.
Heart pounding against my ribcage, I braved turning toward the animalistic sound; nothing was there. Scared and confused, my mind was racing, I didn't know what the hell was happening, or why they were even messing with us, all I knew was that I had to save Santana.
I was not going to let that thing hurt her.
I took a deep breath, twisted back around, and then screamed; I was suddenly inches away from the bared teeth of the other beast hunting us.
Luckily, that is when I woke up, but of course, I was not only affected in my dream, but in the waking world as well. I was out of breath, slick with sweat, and my heart felt like it was going to pound right out of my chest. It wasn't until I calmed down and went to the bathroom to throw some cold water in my face that I noticed I was wet.
From something, not sweat. I was soaked, and instantly horny.
Nightmare or freaky erotic dream?
"Damn it, Quinn." Riley growls in my ear. "This is definitely my cue to get the hell out of here." Grumbling, she steps back.
Confused, I turn a curious eye toward her, "What?"
"Let's just say that if I don't leave now, we'll end up right back where we left off in the locker room, and then right back in that bitch's office." She sighs, chuckles out a reply, and leans in to kiss my cheek, before gently brushing past me.
"Hey, hold up a sec." Santana pushes off the locker, quickly going around Riley to block her path.
"What's up, San?" The fact that Riley uses nicknames to address her now puts a fond smile back on my face.
They really have come a long way, the stubborn bitches.
"I, well, I kinda need your help. With Rachel." Stammering, Santana timidly glances away, a defensive glare in place to hide how hard it is to ask for help.
"Oh, yeah, I did say that I would help you and Rach control your… urges." I can hear the smirk in Riley's voice, and see the eye roll Santana gives in response.
Santana also seems to becoming even more uncomfortable.
Adorable, really.
That expression sure beats the hell out of the terror-stricken one in my dream, when that monstrous beast had tore her away from me.
"Right. I'm taking her out tonight, and I don't want teenage hormones jacked up on steroids to ruin our first date. You can help with that, right? Not that I don't want to jump her, cause I'd be crazy not to, I mean, have you seen Yoshi? But, I-"
"Whoa, slow down." Riley takes hold of Tana's shoulders. "I'm going to help both of you, but it's not a few hour miracle, and it is definitely not a hundred percent guarantee. With you, it'll be easier, since you're not a newly turned pup; Rachel on the other hand, is going to be a bit of beast to control." Now whispering, I cannot make out every word Riley is saying, but when I catch the word beast, my body flinches at the very word I have been thinking of spoken aloud.
Despite dealing with her own problems at the moment, Santana notices and her eyes dart to mine in concern. Riley swivels her head around, obviously sensing something off, but feeling uneasy, and, well, off, I flee.
Damn dream/nightmare has me on edge, my body doesn't know whether to be freaked out from it or turned on, so, apparently it has decided to be both.
Again.
Geez, Fabray, did you not just go through these same feeling last night?
No, this morning.
Just. This. Freaking. Morning.
Rachel
"Crystals?" Perplexed, and a little more than curious, my brows furrow as Aris lines my desk with different colored crystals.
I had come home from school excited, ready to start preparing for my first date with Santana, when Aris stopped my rambling by telling me Riley needed me to do something before we went out. Supposedly, Aris is going to teach me some type of technique to help put my mind, body, soul, and beast in a more sedate state. She has not said much, only told me to follow her to my room, where she is now unloading these beautiful, and odd crystals from an expensive looking, metal case.
"Have you ever meditated before?" Setting the last one down, she smiles over at me.
"I tried, a couple of times, but I think my mind raced with too many thoughts for me to enter into a meditative state." I say, smiling back, as she walks over to join me on my very new, unbroken bed.
"Yeah, that's pretty common. In order for me to help you, though, I need you to try again. Our mates calm us from anything and everything not them, when we feel out of control because of them, however, meditating is about the only thing that will tame the more primal side of us. The crystals and stones are used as a focus, either to stare at or to lay them on certain areas of your body." As Aris explains, she moves from beside me to kneel down in front of me instead, while brushing fingers over what I am assuming are those 'certain areas.'
My head, throat, chest, and stomach.
"Since this will be your first real meditation, we need to start with resting the crystals on your body; it'll cleanse you, and will be more… effective, for those wanted but unwanted hormones." She continues, her voice light and playful, and winks at me as she again moves away.
Meditating has always been something I have not been able to accomplish, so to have the chance to do it with help, and with an actual focus point, makes me eager to get started. There's only one thing that has me hesitating…
Santana.
"How long does this take? My date with Santana is at-"
"7:00, yes, I am aware. You've only told us a million times already." Aris rolls her eyes, though tosses me another wink, and beckons me over.
With a mock glare, I get up and join her at the desk, "That doesn't answer my question."
Humming in acknowledgment, Aris turns her focus back on me, "We need at least an hour time frame, so Santana agreed to up your date to 8:00. Riley is with her doing the same thing. One of you in some form of control tonight is great, but with the both of you mellowed out, it will be… safer. Easier. Of course, one time meditating is not a sure fire thing, especially when you have to deal with supernatural hormones. The best bet would be to stay in public, sit across from each other, not beside, don't go anyplace where it's possible you could be totally alone, and if you can, no touching or eye contact."
Crossing my arms in frustration, I give her the biggest pout imaginable, not liking any of those suggestions. No touching or eye contact? How would this date be any different than going out with friends? Or, coworkers really, because even with best friends, they at least hold eye contact!
"Okay, maybe that was a bit too much to ask for. The no touching approach should be applied for some of the time you are out, though, like before you talk about your relationship. If you end up on the same page by the end of the night, then by all means, make out like the two teenage hornies you are." Chuckling at my sudden downer mood, she attempts better advice, while lifting up an amethyst.
"Fine. Can we begin now? I still need time to get ready." I sigh, uncrossing my arms to take the purple crystal being handed to me.
"Sure." Aris shrugs, taking the amethyst back. "Lie down." Eyes twinkling, she nods toward the bed; I narrow my eyes in suspicion.
Her expression is soft, but there's a twitch in her left cheek that tells me she is holding something back. Like a laugh, or maybe a smirk. Not having much of a choice, I concede, and head to my bed to get comfortable. Aris follows with a handful of her crystals, sets them down on the bed, and then finally, a smirk is unleashed.
That smirk is quite frightening.
Smirk becoming manic, she peers down at me. "Now, strip."
Mouth hanging open, I blink dumbly, not understanding, "Huh?"
"In order for me to help you relax, I need you down to your bra and underwear." Her explanation only confuses me more, I have never heard of meditating half naked.
One can be plenty relaxed with clothes on. I tell Aris this, not particularly comfortable with stripping in front of her. Reaching out to play with a strand of my hair, she chuckles, which makes me glare and slap her hand away. I am not finding this funny; she is acting way too casual for what is supposedly an important part of helping a new werewolf.
"Whoa, no need to get violent. Listen, I'm sorry, I know this is whole thing is unfamiliar and strange, but I promise this will be worth it in the long run. Just, trust me, okay?" Aris sobers up, her face softening into understanding as she tries to reassure me.
I immediately feel more at ease.
Standing up without another word, I 'strip', lie down, and then look up at her expectantly,
"Now what?"
And… there goes that damn smirk, "Now, I'm going to give you the best massage you've ever had." She wiggles her fingers, and once again, I blink up at her, though this time a blush heating up my face accompanies it.
xXx
"Well, this is certainly not what I had in mind when you said massage…" I sigh contently from under Aris, pleasantly surprised, and maybe a little relieved.
"Oh, trust me; I know exactly what you were thinking. It's just so much fun to make you squirm…" She replies huskily, teasing me, and laughs with that same deepened voice.
Instead of the back massage, or even the body massage, I had imagined, Aris is straddling my waist and her talented fingers are working my temples. No one has ever massaged any part of me, not even a professional, so what she's doing is indeed the best I've ever had, even better than when I attempt to sooth a head ache on my own.
I feel relaxed, which I am sure was the point.
"As long as you don't make me squirm while you're not so appropriately placed on top of me…" I retort with a wink, finding the easy, un-awkward flow between us fun.
The gentle motions on my temples halt, and she peers down at me silently, a curious expression on her face. My eyebrow rises questioningly when she doesn't continue the lulling massage, but the look pointed at me turns… steamy, more intense; it has me fidgeting nervously and I end up having to look away.
"What was that about not making you squirm while I'm on top of you?" She snickers, breaking the suddenly tense atmosphere, and leans over me, planting a quick kiss on my cheek.
Before I can say anything, - not that I could articulate a response anyway - Aris is picking a flat, chunky stone up and placing it on my stomach. It is surprisingly warm on my skin; the feeling is pleasant, especially when she slides the ocean blue stone along my stomach, before lifting it to rest between my eyes.
"Blue Kyanite, it calms the mind and helps you into a restful state, and it's used to align all seven of your chakras. In meditation, Kyanite has the potential to open up the third eye chakra, which will promote telepathy, developing intuition, and other psychic abilities. That's for another time, though, right now we just need to get you balanced out. So, I'm going to shut up, and you're going to clear your mind enough to feel your energy connect together like puzzle pieces." The frivolous banter is gone, now replaced with a more serious, yet still lighthearted tone, as she finally explains what I am supposed to be doing.
Listening to her, I take a deep breath, close my eyes, and attempt to let my mind clear of everything. I feel my own energy swirling, flowing, in and around my body, but although I can feel its warmth and sense its power, the energy does not seem very solid or stable.
I can sense a detachment, as if I am not fully connected to the current. Disjointed and upset at this, I envision the energy ebbing to the center of my body, streaming upward, and then downward, to bridge the tattered bond. Instantly, my body feels full, more complete, and the energy more in tune.
Anchored.
With this new sensation comes color, starting with light pink, followed by bright red circling around the lighter color, and then a tinge of orange mixed in.
Pleased, and no longer rattled by being so disconnected, my body starts to hum, which turns into buzzing, and then pure crackling energy.
With a body-wracking shudder, a gasp exhales past parted lips, and my eyes snap open.
"Rachel?" My name is called out softly, worry evident in the light voice, but everything is too amplified, and I cannot seem to fight through all of the sensations to answer the call.
"Rach, hey, you're okay, just follow the sound of my voice." The soft tone is deeper now, clearer than before. "You're still in a light trance; I'm going to touch your arm to anchor you back to me." I can only listen as she tries to coax me back, a weird zoned out sensation not letting me say or do anything in response.
A slight touch on my forearm makes it twitch; I blink wildly, thrilled at the feeling. When the same touch becomes firmer, the sudden heat from it has me bolting upright and gasping for breath. Arms encircle my shoulders, tugging me into another body, immediately making me melt into their embrace as the brain fog recedes.
"There you are." A familiar chuckle sounds in my ear, and the arms loosen from around me. Aris pushes me into her eyesight, a wide smile almost splitting her face in two,
"How do you feel?"
"Really, really grand." I smile at her, feeling giddy. "I feel energetic, energized. Renewed. Aroused." I murmur the last, a little perplexed as to why I feel that particular emotion.
"You just connected with yourself on a deep level; arousal can result, among lots of other varying emotions. This is why we need to spend our last half hour or so meditating for a better balanced feel." Half hour? Confused, I glance at my alarm clock; 5:55pm.
"You were out for over 30 minutes. The time it takes to align your chakras can vary, usually, though, what takes so long is mentally and emotionally connecting to your aura, especially for otherworldly beings, as their power is different from humans. Sometimes they are not on a deep enough level, and when they try to connect, it doesn't work. Or they try too hard, attempting to force and command a powerful energy that is supposed to be one with them, when they should just open themselves up and let it link naturally, without the fight." I love hearing Aris talk, she is very animated with her hands, and it is entertaining to watch.
She also knows about a completely different world than mine, or what used to be mine, and now that I have been thrust into hers, theirs, I am captivated by it all. Aris is right, this is unfamiliar and strange, but on the other hand, it is… bewitching, and I have this thirst to know everything. No, not just to know it, to experience it.
"I have piqued your interest. Good, the more open you are, the less complicated attaining and applying everything we teach you will be. So, are you ready for the next step?" Aris takes notice of my obvious enthusiasm, and apparently excited for me, she pulls me in for a hug as I nod in agreeance.
I hug back, loving the closeness; I have never had this many friends before, and getting to spend time with not only Riley, but Aris as well, has me a little overjoyed. I hate that there was a rogue werewolf terrorizing people, however, if he would have never fled from home and holed up in our little hometown, then I would have never met these amazing women. I also would have never been bit by an actual werewolf, but I feel like that was supposed to happen, as if it were my destiny to become such a special creature.
Of course, I always knew I was destined for great things, destined to become something special, to see my name in bright lights, and myself on a Broadway stage, but I never could have imagined that I was going to be this special.
Turning into a werewolf does not mean I have given up on my dream, in fact, I feel that it may help me on my way. All of the emotions I had when I was a hundred percent human are now stronger, hell, I am stronger period, inside and out, and I no longer have to be afraid of anything. Including the bullies at school who made it their job to try to tear me down. I can finish high school without worrying about them.
I no longer fear the taunts, slushies, and cracks about my height and nose; honestly, I am a little disgusted with myself that I ever let them get to me. I am more disgusted with those nethanderals for ever doing and saying the things that they do to our peers, we deserve to be treated as equals. None of us should be below anyone.
Unless of course, Santana is below my body, then that is totally acceptable.
Damn, I miss her.
"Hey, you're spacing on me." Bringing me out of my thoughts, Aris tickles my sides, or at least she tries to.
"Not ticklish, feels nice, though." I laugh softly at her effort. "I'm ready now." Shaking my head to clear it, I give permission to proceed.
"Great, let's get started."
I squeal as my body is hurdled away from hers and back to a lying - Albeit crumpled - position on the bed. She chortles at my expense. Scowling, I lift my foot up and slap it over her mouth, the mean laughter being muffled, and then cut off. She makes some kind of noisy protest, and shoves the offending foot away.
"Ruin my fun, why don't you." She pouts. "Fine, we need to get rolling anyway."
With a yawn, she tells me to settle down and to get back in a tranquil state. I wiggle around until I'm comfortable, and take a much-needed deep breath, calming my mind.
Santana, present.
Frustrated, irritated, restless, that is how I feel. Whatever magical shit Riley has me trying isn't working.
Nothing is happening.
"Why the hell can't I do this shit, Riley?" I growl out, and sit up from my bed with a pointed glare, crossing my arms over my chest.
"You are not relaxed enough, and you're fighting it. You have been fighting me through this whole process, Santana." She answers me with a heavy sigh and an eye roll, obviously becoming affected by my attitude.
"Yeah, well, I've never even heard of this. It's weird as hell, and I just don't understand how I'm supposed to search inside myself to connect with those, what'd you call 'em, chakrams or some shit?" I shrug out a reply, grouchy, and feeling as if I'll never do or get anything right.
"And here I thought you were going to be the easy one. What the hell was I thinking when I said that? Okay, listen, for one, you are being quite uncooperative-"
"Uncooperative? I have done everything you told me! I even undressed for you, and now you're telling me I'm being uncooperative?" Ticked, I push her away from me, bolting off the bed.
Offended, her lips turn down into a frown, "You make it sound like I forced you. San-"
"Girls, what on earth is going on in here?" Mami pops her head in, drawn in by our loud argument.
When she see's the undressed state I'm in, her eyes widen, before narrowing, and then she's coming all the way in, the door opening so wide that it hits the wall.
"Mami, it's not what it looks like." I quickly deny the scene, though it comes out a cliché, and doesn't sound very convincing even to me.
I roll my eyes at my own self.
"Really? Because what it looks like is my daughter half-naked with another woman. I would believe you were getting ready for your date with Rachel, if there were clothes out that you were trying on, but all I see are the ones you had on today. Tell me the truth; is she forcing herself on you? Or are you cheating on your girlfriend?" Protective mama bear comes out, mistrusting eyes trained on both of us, as she tries to figure out what has been going on behind my closed bedroom door.
"Ms Lopez, I promise you it was neither. I am attempting to teach your daughter how to meditate. She's trying too hard, though, and is being difficult, which resulted in the argument." Riley comes to our defense, but of course, she makes it my entire fault, and that only irritates me further.
She picks up the crystal I was using, and walks over to my mother, handing it over for her to inspect.
"I'm not sure of your belief system, but this is called a blue Kyanite, it has the ability to align all 7 of your chakras. Once that happens, you are better connected to your aura, and can even see it if you let yourself. Santana is having trouble getting into the meditative state to be able to do any of that. She's trying to force it, instead of opening herself up to becoming one with her aura naturally." After handing over the stone, crystal, or whatever the hell, Riley's eyes drift to me as she explains in detail the situation to my mother.
It's not just for her, though, no, Riley is mainly telling me. She does not sound aggravated or mad, although honestly, I can't really get a read on her. I don't know how she feels towards me, and that is not a good feeling, not when she could be frustrated and angry with me and I don't know it.
"Mija, I didn't know you were into this?" Mami looks confused as she gazes between the blue crystal and us.
"It's not like we're doin' witch craft. I just wanted to try something… new I guess…" I mumble a reply, becoming a little more than uncomfortable.
This new something is not something I really want to have to explain, not the real reason, hell I don't think I could even if I wanted to, I'm sure there are limited people who it is okay to tell about this werewolf thing, and even less about the hormones that come along with the werewolf thing…
"Honey, these crystals are not only used for meditation, but for spells, too. Even with meditation, they can open you up to a completely new plane. I do not mind you doing this, but I need to know if Riley knows and understands how to help you through it properly. Things can become very deep and spiritual." My jaw is on the floor by the time my mother is finished throwing my head in a tizzy with her knowledge.
Knowledge that I was not aware she even had. Weird.
"I do. I have done it personally, many times, and I have helped others just as many. Santana is safe with me; I give you my word on that. Trust me, after seeing her almost trampled over by a truck, I don't ever want to see her get hurt again, much less by my own hands." Riley reassures Mom, while tugging me into her arms. She smiles at me, giving my side an affectionate squeeze.
All of my ire burns out, and I am left feeling shitty. Here Riley is trying to help me, help that I asked for, and I am doing nothing but giving the woman a hard time.
"Well, alright. I trust you. Just be careful, both of you. I'll be down stairs if you girls need anything." Sighing uncertainly, yet giving in, Mami places the crystal in Riley's palm, and then with a hesitant nod, she leaves us alone.
"Sorry." I mutter under my breath.
"You don't have to be sorry for your mother, she is only look-"
"No, I mean, I'm sorry for you know, be uncooperative, or whatever." I counter, ducking my head as my face flames.
"Oh. San, look, I know this seems hard, and maybe even useless because it isn't working for you, but I promise if you stop trying so hard and open yourself up that it'll happen. Why don't you lie back down, we'll start over, and if it doesn't work this time, then we'll just have to do it again tomorrow." Sighing, she leads me over to the bed, and gently pushes me down.
I frown, "But, my date is tonight, this has to work, or I'm gonna end up all over Rachel."
"You're probably going to end up all over each other anyway." She chuckles, nudging me playfully on the leg. I glare, not amused; this is serious.
Riley groans, wiping a frustrated hand over her face, "Just, stop thinking, forget everything. Clear your mind of me, your mother, your first date, and Rachel." Put back together, her face now more soft and understanding, she lays the pretty blue crystal between my brow, and with a crooked smile, sits down on my computer chair beside the bed.
"What am I supposed to do after that?" I ask, peeking up at her through curious eyes.
I know she described some of what we're doing, but seeing as I am hard headed, not all of it filtered through, and I have forgotten what to do.
"Since you aren't bonded with your chakras, you won't be able to see what color you aura is, but once you're in a deep enough meditative state, you will sense it there. Imagine the energy you feel linking together and becoming one with your open and willing body. When it happens, you'll know it." Patient, she goes over the process once again, though uses different words than the ones I do remember from earlier.
Inhaling slowly, I let it back out through my nose, and close my eyes, hoping I can make this work. No, not make, let. See, I did learn something, now I just need to utilize it.
Energy, I sense it, I feel it, weaving in, out, and around me. It doesn't feel right, as if it is displaced, frayed, and divided, when I know the aura is supposed to be whole. The sensation is disconcerting. I hate it. Searching deep within my mind of how to fix it, how to make it right, I sense a block. A brick wall trapping me from delving further. It's only a temporary deterrent; I need to push ahead, to break the wall.
I will my mind to bulldoze it down; nothing happens. The wall holds steady. Determined, I picture my energy penetrating the cracks in the brick, and then the wall crumbling into dust that floats away into the recesses of mind, until it disappears.
The block melts away into nothing, and I instantly feel the energy swarming inside me join together in one huge orgy of sparking color.
I feel an air of coolness; it drifts along my being, and wraps me in its refreshing power.
Shivering in the cool depths of the welcome energy, my eyes flutter open, and I feel my head lull to the side.
"Ana, are you with me?" A familiar voice floats in my ears; it puts a goofy smile on my face.
"I take that as a kind of. I'm going to touch your arm, don't bitch slap me." Riley's response has the smile turning into a light snicker, and then a gasp as her fingers glide down my bicep.
I jerk my head to the other side, eyes wide and questioning; she blinks, clears her throat, and slowly takes her hand back.
"Well, your chakras are definitely aligned now." She whispers, laughing nervously, as fingers tap a beat on her knee.
"You can tell that?" I ask, finding my voice.
I sound like sex.
Sexy, Santana, it's just too bad your girl isn't here to seduce her with it.
"Yes, as a supernatural creature, I have the ability to sense things easier, quicker, and things humans cannot." She nods, explaining, while standing from the chair and stretching out.
"What about my aura?" I sit up, yawning, and blink up at her lazily.
I feel renewed, more stable and… complete, yet tired as well. Almost as if I could run around the block a few times, but am too listless to actually pull it off.
An odd combination if you ask me.
"Your aura is beautiful, Santana. You have a mix of strong, vibrant colors. Aqua is floating above your head; bright red surrounds you, while a magenta hue is blotched in. Pink hovers at your chest." She tells me, as her hand points at the areas the colors are in; I just raise an eyebrow, not knowing what the colors even mean.
"Those are good?" I hope, self consciously looking into the mirror on my closet door.
I am surprised, shocked, to see a glow surrounding my body. The very colors Riley said were there.
"Very good. You're musically inclined, strong-willed, artistic, and manipulative, which we already know. Sexy, passionate, a horny devil, courageous. In love." My eyes hold hers as she names off meanings and points to the colors corresponding to those meanings.
I mock glare at her for a couple of them, but there is no malice or anger. I am comfortable with them, with how the glowing colors fit me, and with how damn better I feel now that I am connected.
I feel light, yet grounded.
"The only negative outcome of this, is how long it took, we have no time to go any deeper tonight. Not if you want to pick Rachel up on time." Turning away from the slightly fading glow, I shoot a questioning look at Riley, and then fix my eyes on my clock when she nods over to it.
"7:00? Whoa now, what the hell? It was just 6 a few minutes ago!" I holler out, alarmed, and a little more than panicked.
An hour isn't enough time to get ready, especially when I have to tame my beastly hair!
"Sorry, babe, though what we did really couldn't be rushed." Riley shrugs, appearing apologetic. "Don't just sit there, dodo, go get ready for your girl!" After watching me sit in a frozen, frantic state, she sighs in exasperation, and nudges me off the bed.
Not thinking of anything but getting to Rachel on time, I power through on autopilot, a 10-minute shower, 30-minute hair time, and the last 20 minutes for make-up and clothes. When I'm out the bathroom, there is already a set of clothes laid out on my bed. Some I have never seen before. A tailored, black button up dress shirt, dark, faded jeans, and a black with shiny, white stripes fedora.
Black boots are sitting below my bed, and a casual, black leather jacket is neatly hugged over my desk chair.
Overall, this bitch be looking badass tonight. Someone knows my tastes damn well, now I just need to find out if the culprit is my mother, or if Riley - for whatever reason - splurged on me. My question? If it was Riley, when did she have time to buy me what looks to be a pricey outfit, and why would she even ever buy me anything?
I have to wonder if Riley wants something, if she spent money on me to buy an in of some kind, If she has an ulterior motive. As soon as the thoughts come and go, I mentally berate myself for thinking that way. Yes, at first, Riley was a thorn in my side, but after actually taking the time to see her, she became less of a thorn and more of a guard dog pacing around in front of a gate blocking our paths from crossing too closely.
Rachel is behind that gate, and I knew Riley wasn't being a punk to me just for the hell of it, no, I learned that protecting Rachel from me was all she wanted.
Well, that, along with wanting me to make things right with Rachel.
Once I did, Riley and I naturally butted heads, and we continued to bitch at each other. Then I was a hair's breadth away from getting my ass ran over; everything changed after that, little by little we have become closer, and sure, we still occasionally argue, but nowhere near as badly. I know it's different, I know because I honestly feel guilty - enough to eat away at me - every time it happens.
Like right now, I feel horrible for thinking she would buy my friendship or something else, when we have already come so far.
I don't believe she would do that to me; she has no reason to that I know of, though that does not mean I understand why she would purchase shit for someone who does not exactly fit into her inner circle. Why waste money on me?
I mean, we're friends, kind of, but I just don't get it…
I don't have time to analyze the clothes, or mine and Riley's developing friendship; Rachel is waiting for me. Letting out an agitated huff, I whip the towel still wrapped around me off to the floor, and with an equal amount of anxiousness and excitement, quickly dress in my new, first date attire.