Everything was going from bad to worse. No sooner had they returned that the city council gathered because of Zed's proclamations. Everyone was panicking, and Bucky was adding more to the case, to the point of giving Addison a headache.
There was too much noise, and her ears were starting to hurt.
"Mom ! They didn't do anything to us!"
"They're bloodthirsty monsters, Addison! I refuse to put you in danger!"
No kidding, they're wolves. Of course they'll eat their meat raw… But Addison couldn't ignore the warmth she felt at hearing her mother's words. Even though she was closed-minded and hadn't changed, she sought to protect her.
"Someone has to do something!" cried Bucky.
"And someone will. Hold my purse."
Her mother gave her purse to her father, and walked over to the mayor's desk. She tapped her hammer to get everyone's attention, and exclaimed, smiling, as if she had been waiting for this for a long time.
"From today, all anti-monster laws are restored!"
"What ?!"
Her mother glared at her, and mimed shut up. The humans were relieved at this decision, while the zombies were far too shocked to do anything. She saw her cousin's satisfied smile, which she wanted to make him swallow.
"What ?! But that means the Prawn is canceled!" cried Zed.
Addison rolled her eyes. Her mother had just said the anti-monster laws were back, and he was worried about a stupid night that kept coming back every year. Priorities.
"No, that just means the zombies won't be able to attend," Bucky laughed, rubbing his hands together.
Addison was ashamed of her cousin's behavior. He was worse than her parents when it came to open-mindness. She had believed he had learned his lesson in the regional cheerleading competition, but he soon relapsed into his old racist ways.
Addison needed to get out of the conference room. She couldn't stay here. There was too much noise, she felt overwhelmed, and her anger was going to make things worse if she didn't get away very quickly. She stormed out, ignoring calls from her parents and friends.
She couldn't believe that after all the trouble she had gone to herself, they were back to square one, when the wolves had done absolutely nothing to them. All because Zed couldn't keep his mouth shut, and Bucky always went overboard for nothing.
She ran until she found herself in front of her house, out of breath. She gazed at her perfect home for a moment, and turned on her heels to the forest bordering the city. She wanted to find the calm of nature, and think about what she was going to do now. She didn't stray too far, so she could find her way back later. Getting lost was the last thing she needed right now.
She sank down a bit, until she reached a small clearing. It wasn't as impressive as the one where she saw the wolves earlier today, but it will do. She sat down on the grass, and rested her head on her knees, inhaling deeply, pushing away the tears of frustration that threatened to fall.
This day was one of the worst of her life. Between Zed who was trying to invite her to a party she didn't want to go, the appearance of the wolves, and the reestablishment of the laws she had fought so hard to abolish…
She took the moonstone necklace out of her pocket, clutching it in her fist, against her heart. She didn't know what to do anymore. She was lost. She just wanted to fall asleep, and wake up hoping it was just a long nightmare. Maybe she'll end up by the river, playing with her new wolf friends? Or in her grandmother's living room, listening to a new legend that sounded like fairy tales?
In the distance, she heard a wolf howl. She looked up, listening to the sound in an almost religious way. It was loud and powerful. It crossed her soul, and filled her with courage.
She couldn't change the past, so she was going to focus on the future. And she would do things in order. The first thing to do was to tell Zed that she wasn't going to the party with him. She didn't want to give him false hopes, and she didn't want to ruin their friendship.
Then she was going to fight her parents to get those damn laws done once and for all. She wouldn't go back to the days when all her decisions were dictated by fear. She will fight for what she knew to be right.
With her eyes closed, she didn't see that in her hand, her moonstone glittered with a bluish light, her eyes flashing the same color for a second. She opened her eyes and observed the jewel, before putting it around her neck.
Addison stood up, dusted off her pink leggings, and headed home. She had a war to fight. She would not run away anymore.
Night had fallen when she arrived home, and the lights were still on. She opened the door, ignoring the sound of footsteps running in her direction.
"Addison! Where have you been?" her mother exclaimed, hugging her. "We were worried to death, your father was about to go looking for you!"
Addison's eyes widened a little. She couldn't remember the last time her mother hugged her. Usually, she contented herself with a pat on the head, between two criticisms of her appearance.
"We thought those wolves had kidnapped you, or eaten you!" his father continued, wrapping his arms around them both.
"I'm fine, the wolves wouldn't have done anything to me. I was just going out to clear my mind, get some fresh air, and calm down a bit," she replied.
Her mother pulled away from her a little, her eyes questioning. "Calm down?"
Addison rolled her eyes. "Mom, you restored the anti-monster laws, while half of my group of friends are zombies! Not to mention that the werewolves haven't done anything to us yet! Why take such extreme measures for no reason?"
"Addison, honey, I know you're in your rebellious period, but that's no reason to talk like that to your mother. Eventually you'll realize that was the best thing for us to do. After all, they are still monsters."
Addison pulled away once and for all, and eyed her parents from her full height, anger flashing in her eyes.
"Monsters who are no more different than you and me! Do you know what happened today on the bus? Matthew had asked Liza to the Prawn ! A boy and a zombie were going to go to the Prawn together, and now they can't! How am I going to be able to look them in the eyes tomorrow when I know my own mother took away their happiness ?!"
Addison shook her head at the gaping mouths of her parents. To believe that they never thought that a human and a zombie could fall in love.
How can these two closed-minded people be my parents?
"I'm sure Matthew will find a better date," his father said at last, waving his hand, as if the subject was just dust on his suit.
It was Addison's turn to open her mouth. She just couldn't believe her father had dared to say that. She shook her head, gave them one last disappointed look, and ran up to her room. She didn't want to see these people in front of her anymore, otherwise she might say something she would regret.
She grabbed a piece of paper, and sat down at her desk to write another letter to the wolves, telling them about her day, her doubts, and her decision.
She put the letter back in the box with the others, but left it open for a moment, observing the hundreds of letters inside. She ran a hand through it, and smiled. Today's events nevertheless had a positive point. She knew her wolves were still there, and that she would soon have the opportunity to give them her letters. She fingered her necklace, before closing the box and putting it back in its place.
She got ready to go to sleep, wondering what tomorrow had in store for her. Her night was filled with wolves howling at the full moon, and a sense of freedom, not knowing that across town, those same wolves were entering her school's ventilation duct.
The next day, she was in good shape and determined to get it right. She kept the necklace around her neck, and dressed in her cheerleader outfit. That day was the start of her school's presidential campaigns. She knew her cousin was going to present himself, and as a member of his family, she had to be there to support him. She would have preferred a thousand times more to go to class, but it was a compulsory gathering.
"I won't go to the Prawn."
Zed stopped walking beside her, turning to her as if he couldn't believe what she had said.
"What? But it's the party of the year! You can't miss it. We were supposed to go together…"
"Zed. The only reason I was going to go was because Bree had begged me. This party will be here again next year and the year after, and honestly, we have bigger problems than a stupid party."
"Nothing is more important than the Prawn! Well, except going to the Prawn together…"
Addison shook her head. "The reestablishment of anti-monster laws is more important. We fought too hard for everything to go back to how it was before."
"I'm with Addison."
Eliza had arrived behind Zed, who turned to her, looking at her as if she had betrayed him. She ignored him, and focused on Addison.
"We didn't go through hell to get back to the starting point. Not to mention the demolition of the power plant! This is our heritage! This is our story! But because it brings back bad memories, we want to get rid of it. It's not fair."
Addison was about to reply, when her cousin called her from across the platform, asking her to vote for him in the election. Addison gave him a tight smile before turning back to her friends. "And with Bucky as president, it will get worse and worse."
"But you will become Cheer Captain if he is elected, right?" Zed asked.
"Addison captain? Don't joke, zombie."
Lacey and Stacey had also arrived behind her. It was Lacey who had spoken.
"With her as captain, we won't win a single competition," added Stacey
Addison turned to her with a smile. "With me as captain, we would win all the competitions in the world, because I would make the cheer something that brings people together."
"Well, Miss Positivity, it's almost time for the morning warm-up, so hurry."
Lacey took her by her shoulders and led her towards the gym, Addison gave Zed and Eliza a sorry smile, before finding herself almost thrown into the gym. She glared at the two assistants, who only smiled sweetly before turning to the other cheer members to begin training.
Despite the company, Addison was having fun getting thrown in the air and being caught. She felt like she was flying with every jump, and enjoyed getting everyone together for the more complicated tricks.
Before she even realized it, it was already time to present the candidates for the school's election. The team took a quick shower, before putting on their spare cheer outfits and taking their pom poms. Since it was an official school event, it was compulsory. Addison did not have time to put the necklace back on her neck, and preferred to tie it on her wrist to be sure not to lose it.
Everything was going quietly. Bucky was doing… his Bucky, with too many tricks to be sincere, Zed eventually presented himself as well, deciding that it was the best thing to do to allow the zombies to attend the Prawn.
Even though Addison was happy for him, a corner of her head sighed. Even if Zed were to become president, without the consent of the education council, in which her parents belonged, nothing would be done. But seeing the zombies excited and motivated for this challenge was heartening, and Addison vowed to fight her parents even more to allow the monsters to attend.
"Me president, I'll make Seabrook a happy place for zombies and…"
"Werewolves!" Bree shouted next to her.
"What? No, why would we want… Werewolves!"
Zed's cry was all it took for the mess to begin. Everyone walked away from the front doors, as the werewolves entered with a sure and determined step.
Addison didn't have time to understand what was going on as she found herself on the platform, surrounded by the soccer team who were playing bodyguards. She rolled her eyes and huffed in frustration.
Next time she talks to Zed ...
"She's here!"
The wolves came running towards her. Addison raised her eyebrows. She wasn't particularly scared, but the panic around her made her nervous, and she took a step back as she saw about twenty teenagers approaching her, with their amber eyes and sharp claws.
"Tell us where the Moonstone is, White Hair!" cried the girl who seemed to be the boss.
Her curly hair with a white lock, and her dark chocolate skin brought back an ancient memory, buried deep. She brought a hand to her hair unconsciously, stroking the moon-shaped barrette.
"Willa…" she whispered so softly that she wasn't sure she had said that word, that name she hadn't said since her grandmother died, just writing it down on her notepaper.
Regardless, Willa seemed to have heard her, for her eyes stopped shining for a moment, before resuming her threat. But Addison saw in her eyes that she was less sincere, and understood the implicit message.
"You have the wrong person!" she cried. She begged forgiveness in her thoughts for the lie, but it was a secret her grandmother made her promise never to reveal to anyone, not even her parents.
The girl next to her threatened them violently, then when she saw the fearful looks of their audience, she straightened up and asked in a small voice, and Addison recognized Wynter's kindness and gentle nature.
"Too much?"
Willa and Wyatt glared at her and rolled their eyes, before Willa ordered the wolves to prepare.
She looked like she was about to say something when the boy next to her - Wyatt! It was Wyatt! - took her by the shoulder and whispered something to her that she was almost certain she should never have been able to hear from where she was.
"Willa! We cannot afford to have the city on our backs! The Moonstone will never be found if they are on their guard."
She glared at him and sighed. "I hate it when you're right," she hissed between her teeth. "Wolves, calm."
The yellow eyes gave way to chocolate irises, and the claws retracted a little, giving way to the man rather than the wolf. Willa turned to them, and seemed to speak to her personally when she said with a forced smile.
"Sorry ! We were so in awe of your beautiful city…"
Addison had to force herself not to laugh at Wyatt's rolling eyes. She was betting everything she had that Willa considered her city everything but 'beautiful'.
"And we came to… to integrate your school!"
Addison had to hide her mouth with a pompom so no one would notice the laugh that threatened to escape. She cleared her throat, and took a deep breath before putting a small smile on her lips. Willa looked so uncomfortable, and Wyatt didn't look any better.
"What ?! No, that's not possible !"
The protests were very vocal, and Addison frowned. She still remembered when zombies were treated the same. Seems like Seabrook has a short memory.
"Technically, the Forbidden Forest is part of the school district…" intervenes the coach.
Addison grinned, and decided that was the signal she was waiting for.
"So… Welcome to Seabrook!" She waved her pompoms, and moved away from the wall of footballers in front of her, planting herself in front of the wolves, and waved at them. Willa never took her eyes off her, seeming to be looking for something on her body.
She remembered the last letter they had exchanged, and discreetly moved her pompom to let the moonstone shine in the light of day. Willa's eyes widened, and she heard a gasp of surprise. Her eyes fell on Wyatt, who was staring at the necklace on her wrist, before looking up at her. She gave him a small smile.
It was absolutely not what was planned, but she will do with it. After all, she finally had her old friends back.
Archangel44 : Thank you for your comment ! I'm so happy that you liked my story ! I hope you'll like the rest of it too !
It's Sunday, so I'm here with a new chapter ! I hope you liked it, and don't hesitate to comment and give your thought on it ! I have written until chapter 16, so don't worry, I will not abandon this story !
Until next week !
Kiss&Love