Someone Completely – Chapter 28 – More
Chad cried out again. "Dad! MOM!"
His mom came into the room, "I've got some more tea ready, Chad. Try to relax. The more flexing—"
Chad interrupted her, "I know, I know. The more flexing, the more it will hurt."
She sighed, "Chad, we tell you these things for your own good."
He rolled his eyes, "But you won't tell me what the hell is happening to me, or why I can't see Taylor!"
She sighed, "Son, there are things we just don't know HOW to explain yet!"
Chad looked at his father. "You can't explain! I'm in physical pain! Take me to a damn HOSPITAL!"
His dad shook his head, "Chad it's not that kind of pain."
Chad just looked at him as though the old man had lost his mind, "Yes, it is!"
His mother sighed, "Chad Michael Danforth, your father is right. But, so are you."
Chad started to argue, but then looked at her confused as her last statement unraveled in his mind. "What?"
She sat on the side of his bed, "You are going through something called 'transition.' You are too young for this to be happening, so we're all scrambling trying desperately to figure out what to do and how to do it. We're human too, Chad. We might be parents, but we don't have all the answers exactly when you want them. I'm sorry we haven't included you in the discussions of what is happening. That was a mistake. If you'll calm down and let me try to explain, I will give it a shot."
Chad nodded and leaned back in his bed and sipped at the tea his mother had handed him moments ago. It really did ease some of the pain, if not the confusion and the longing he felt for Taylor to be near. "Okay, shoot."
She let out a deep breath slowly, "Alright, now, some of what I'm going to have to say is going to sound insane, but I need you to bare with me until I'm done. I promise that it will make more sense at some point. For now, please just listen."
Chad nodded again.
"We," she motioned to his father and herself, "are Weres, which means you will—are, a Werewolf as well."
Chad spit out his tea.
She chuckled, "Well, that's one reaction." She smiled at him. "Troy is as well. In fact, you've grown up amongst the pack without knowing it. Jack, Coach Bolton, is the alpha of our pack. He is the natural leader. Troy is an alpha as well."
Chad's eyes grew to two times their normal size, "Troy's one of these Were things too?"
She smiled softly, "That's what I've been told. Apparently, Gabriella is a Jaguar like her father, who is also an alpha. In fact, Gabriella is currently protected by a trifecta of alphas, her father, her mate, and the pack leader."
Chad's jaw dropped, "So, I'm one of these Weres? That's what's happening to my body?"
She nodded, "We're all Weres, Chad."
"Everyone?"
"No, just all of us in this family. See, the problem is that Weres aren't supposed to transition from purely human form into their animal form until around 25 years old. Your generation appears to be transitioning sooner than any before it and quite frankly, we as the elders, don't know what to do about it or what it means."
Chad shook his head as though trying desperately to wrap his mind around this. It all seemed like some comic book or movie plot line. He couldn't accept in his head that it was real. Then another sharp pain shot through him and he knew that his bones had moved. His mind began to contemplate what it really meant to physically change form and be an animal. "I don't know if I can do this, mommy," he said in a voice that sounded about five years old.
She looked at him with sad eyes, "I wish I could spare you from the pain, sweetheart, but I promise it does get better and it comes with some pretty cool perks."
Chad hissed out another deep breath in an attempt to control the pain in his ribs.
Gabriella smiled at Taylor, "So, I am so sorry about being so lazy with the team and the yearbook. I was thinking maybe I could pay for some frozen yogurt later as a 'forgive me' kind of thing? It feels like we haven't had a normal conversation in forever!"
Taylor turned to her. Her eyes were still bloodshot from all the crying and lack of sleep. Her world was turning upside down. She was supposed to be smart, but she had no idea what was happening to her boyfriend.
Gabriella looked at her as though she'd suddenly become aware of Taylor's thoughts. "Oh sweetheart, what's wrong?"
Taylor felt the tears fill her eyes again. Saying it out loud was so much harder, "Gabriella, I don't know what's happening to him."
Gabriella dropped her books and held out her arms for Taylor. "We need to talk. Come on, upstairs. We'll come down for first period after homeroom."
Taylor nodded and followed Gabriella up to the roof top. She was amazed to smell fresh lilac and see all the beautiful plants and flowers there. That alone seemed to ease her body some. Then she began talking.
Troy looked around for Chad or Gabriella, but didn't see them. He didn't see Taylor either. That was when he heard Sharpay.
"IF YOU DON'T GET OUT OF MY FACE YOU PUNY LITTLE PIP SQUEAK—"
Troy intervened, "Shar, what's going on?"
She turned to him, "THIS LITTLE BASTARD TRIED TO STEAL MY PEN! HE TRIED TO WALK OFF WITH IT!"
Troy just looked at her, "Uh, Shar, it's a pen. Chill out."
She growled at him.
Troy just smirked. He stepped closer and in a very low, but deep voice he said to the freshman, "Run." Then he turned to Sharpay, "Shar, calm down. He's young and without the ability to defend himself from you. I'm sure he didn't mean it."
She stared back at him, which would have been bad enough. However, Zeke chose that minute to come around the corner. He saw Troy standing just inches from Sharpay and he exploded, "GET AWAY!" He pushed and shoved at Troy now.
Troy turned to him, "Hey! I was just telling her to calm down. Chill out, man."
Zeke's fangs dropped and he growled warningly at Troy, "Stay away from her. I don't care how strong you are, you don't get in her face like that!"
Troy stepped to the side so that in order for Zeke to face him dead on, he had to have his back to the crowd now beginning to form to watch the fight. Zeke had him by the collar now and backed into the alcove space in front of two English class room doors. Troy got Zeke maneuvered into the empty room that his dad used for homeroom and thanked the stars for Sharpay following them. "Zeke, relax. Your fangs are showing."
Zeke looked at him confused for a second and then he felt Sharpay freeze next to him. He looked over at her. "What?"
She handed him her compact mirror.
He opened it and looked at his face. Sure enough, there were inhuman fangs in his own mouth. "OH SHIT! FUCK! WHAT THE HELL—"
Troy looked at him, and in a deep, commanding voice said, "Calm down, Zeke. You need to relax and let your heart ease back to a normal rhythm."
Sharpay took back the mirror and then looked at her own face. Her eyes were a strange shade of grey. "Troy, what's happening to us? Why aren't you freaking out too?"
Troy ran a hand through his hair, "Because I know what's happening and I've already been through it. Just try to keep calm. My dad will be here any second."
She looked at him and said, "So will about 30 East High students, Troy."
He nodded, "Them I can get rid of until we figure out what to do."
She nodded and ushered a still very confused Zeke to the corner of the room that was out of eye shot of the window in the door.
Gabriella hugged Taylor again and said, "Tell me what's going on."
Taylor looked around attempting to find the words to explain what she was afraid of and what she thought. "I guess the truth is the only option. It's going to sound insane Gabriella, but I think Chad is turning into whatever it is that Troy is. Do you know what I'm talking about?"
Gabriella smiled sympathetically, "Yes, Troy is a Were."
Taylor hadn't heard anyone use that actual word yet. At least she had a name for what it was that she'd seen Troy become and thought Chad was dealing with too right this very minute.
"Well, I only vaguely remember what happened Saturday night, but I've tried calling Chad since then and his parents keep telling me that 'he's sick.' But I've heard him screaming and Gabriella I think they're lying just by the sound of their voice. It's like they don't want me to talk to him."
Gabriella nodded and didn't envy her friend the situation she found herself in at the moment. She couldn't imagine not being with Troy when the change had happened.
"He's not okay, but I don't know what to do. Then it occurred to me that Troy is one of these things and he might have some answers for me. Do you think he could come with us for yogurt this afternoon?"
Gabriella shook her head, "I'm sorry. He has practice, but I am a Were as well, Tay. I could probably answer some of your questions if you're still willing to hang out with me later."
Taylor looked stricken. "Is there anyone who isn't one of these things?"
Gabriella flinched at the word, things. "We're people, Taylor, not things. And yes, there are quite a lot of people who aren't Weres."
Taylor nodded, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to offend you. I just didn't know what to call you. Weres is it?"
Gabriella nodded, "So are we still on for later?"
Taylor felt something inside her chest ease. There were answers to be found and she would get them this afternoon. "Yes. I'm looking forward to some real answers."
Gabriella smiled, "We should get back in before first period actually starts."
Taylor nodded and led the way to their classroom.
