The sound of sirens pulled me from my sleep. I tried hard to open my eyes but they seemed to be glued shut. How long had I been asleep and how did I get in my bed? The last thing I remember is the cell. For the weeks leading up to the full moon, I hadn't truly believed that it would actually happen. It just seemed too unreal to happen to me.
But it had happened. I felt my bones break and felt my skin rip. I remember the beast fully taking over.
That's when I jerked my eyes open. In a panic, I was desperately trying to remember anything past that but I couldn't. It seems almost like while I was in my wolf form I was completely blacked out. Not conscious. I glanced at my phone. It was four o' clock A.M and Friday. My change had happened Wednesday. I had been asleep for two days?! I let out a groan as I rose from the bed to go to the kitchen. My mouth was so dry, the only thing I could think of was water.
I slid onto a bar stool as I chugged glass after glass of water. Once I was fully hydrated I realized how hungry I was, so I set about making myself a grilled cheese. While I was spreading the butter across the bread, I sensed someone joining me in the kitchen. I turned to see Whitley standing there in her pajamas.
"Hey…I didn't think you were ever going to wake up." She said, her voice heavy with sleep.
"I'm sorry if I worried you."
"I was terrified." She closed the gap between us and held me in a tight hug. "I'm so glad you're ok."
"I can't even remember what it was like to be the wolf. I'm not sure if I'm grateful for that or not."
She released me from the hug but kept a firm hold on my shoulders. "I think you should feel truly grateful for that. Raphael told me you scared the shell out of him. Do you have any idea how scary it is to know there's something out there that can scare him?"
I frowned and turned my attention back to the grilled cheese. I flipped it over to brown the other side of the bread.
"I scared him?" I asked in almost a whisper.
"Yes. But he's fine now. He misses you." She replied.
"So how has everything been since I've been gone to the world?" I asked trying to change the subject.
"Life has been boring without you. The restaurant has been busy as usual…my parents are coming in tomorrow…"
I almost choked on my grilled cheese. "They're coming tomorrow? Are they finally going to meet Leonardo?"
She let out a shaky sigh, nervousness was evident in her voice. "Yes. I have been in full blown panic mode. I actually thought I'd have an excuse to cancel if you hadn't woke up by then." She laughed lightly.
"Oh, sorry I woke too early." I replied sarcastically.
"Are you still planning on being there for moral support? Because if this is too much after what just happened…I understand." She didn't make eye contact with me.
"Are you crazy? Of course I will! I'm not going to let a silly old thing like being a werewolf stop me from being there for you."
For the second time in thirty minutes she hugged me bone crushingly tight. "I was hoping you'd say that. I didn't think I could do it without you."
"Will Clara and Tori be there too?"
"Yeah, we kind of figured that if they can see that we're all so happy, they'll be more accepting." Whitley spoke.
I finished my grilled cheese while she told me the events over the past few days. The new mutants were still staying at the lair. Much to my distaste, they had informed her that they would be staying until after the wedding. I hated to be so mean about them staying, but I just really dislike Mona. She's just so clueless. It's pretty annoying to be around. Not to mention she completely steals all the attention from Raphael. She practically demands he pay attention to her.
I realized I was sitting there silently fuming when Whitley's face went from smiling to confused.
"What's wrong?" She asked.
"Nothing…just feeling a little nervous for you." I lied.
"Oh yeah. I've had butterflies in my stomach since last night when I talked to mom."
"I think it will be fine. They'll see how much you guys love each other. It's so obvious in just the way you look at one another."
She smiled, "You're probably right. That doesn't mean that I won't still be nervous as all hell though."
"Completely understandable." I told her.
"Speaking of intimate stares…I feel like I need to tell you this before you see it for yourself." She spoke apprehensively.
I felt the butterflies start in my stomach. I had a feeling what she was about to tell me involves Raphael and Mona.
"Raphael and Mona have been really close the past couple days." She finally said. "I think they're getting serious. They spend all their time together."
I felt a wave of…nausea? crash over me. Why did that make me feel nauseous?
"Are you okay?" Whitley asked as she placed her hand on mine.
I shook the apparent look of disgust off my face before speaking, "I'm fine. I'm happy for them. I wish the best for them." I tried hard to keep the sound of jealousy out of my voice.
The smile returned to her freckled face. "I knew you'd be happy for them. Tori was expecting you to try and split them up." She laughed as she stood from her stool to pour herself some water.
I talked through my teeth, trying desperately to keep the fake smile on my face. "Yeah. Sooo happy for them."
She took a long gulp of water before saying, "Well, I'm going to go back to bed. I'm sure Leonardo is getting lonely without me." She smiled and hugged me again before turning to head back into her room.
"Night, Whit."
"Night, Sarah. Love you."
"Love you too."
I heard her shut the door and I took that opportunity to lay my head on the cool marble of the countertop. They were getting serious? Better yet, they had become inseparable in only two days. My feelings of irrational jealousy were getting the best of me. I hadn't even realized that hot tears were spilling over and landing on the counter. I swatted them away before I gave up on being awake and went to bed. Even though I had slept for two days, all I wanted was to sleep. I need to clear my mind before I see him.
As much as I hate the fact that he has feelings for another girl, I can't split them up. That would be the most selfish thing I can imagine. I have made it clear to him time and time again that I didn't want anything romantic between the two of us.
He deserves to be happy, he deserves someone who loves him selflessly. Maybe Mona can be that person.
'I could be that person.' The thought invaded my mind.
No. I can't. I missed my opportunity to be his. I would be there for him as his friend. I will keep my love for him to myself.
At some point through all of my tossing and turning I must have fallen asleep. Sunlight was pouring through my window. The light was welcome. It warmed me and encouraged me out of the covers. Leaving my bed behind, I slipped back on my pants and left my room. Raphael and Tori were in the kitchen.
"Hey girl." Tori said as she pulled me into a hug. "We missed the crap out of you."
"Hopefully next time I won't sleep for two days." I responded as I returned the hug.
"Well, I'm just leaving for work. I'll see you tonight?" She asked as she tugged her purse onto her shoulder.
"Yeah. I'm just going to take it easy at home tonight."
"Okay, see you later then. See ya Raph." She waved as she walked out the front door.
That left me alone with Raphael. A tension filled silence hung between us. Unable to control myself, I stepped forward and pulled my body into his. He hugged me back but quickly broke contact. I could feel a blush burning my cheeks as I stepped away from him.
"I'm sorry I scared you." I spoke as I stared down at the hardwood floor.
Gently, he placed a finger under my chin and tilted my face up to make eye contact with him.
"It wasn't you dat scared me. It was the wolf." He replied. "The wolf spoke to me. It's a completely separate being from you, Sarah."
"It…it spoke to you?" I choked out. "What did it say?"
"What it said is not important. I'm not going to let dat thing know it got to me."
"I can't remember anything."
"That's probably for the best." He stated. "I'm so happy you're ok. You were asleep for so long we were all beginning to get worried."
"Yeah, that's what Whitley said. Where is she, by the way?"
"She went to Lush early. Are you goin' to work tonight?" He asked
"Probably not. I'm still feeling a little weak." I said as I sat down on the couch.
"When you're feelin' up to it, Donnie wants to see you in the lab. I think he wants to take some blood samples."
"Okay. If anyone could help find a cure for this curse, it's him." I responded.
"That's what he seems to think. The genius is real full of himself." He snickered.
"You're pretty full of yourself too. What's your excuse?" I teased.
"My devilish good looks." Was his retort.
I laughed but then I said something that I definitely shouldn't have.
"Good point. In that case I think you deserve to be a little full of yourself." I regretted saying it immediately.
An uncomfortable silence settled in like storm clouds.
"There's somethin' I wanna talk to you about." He finally spoke.
Damn those butterflies kicking up a nervous bout of nausea in my gut. Of course I knew what he was about to say.
"Me an Mona are getting kind of…well…we're more than friends." He was nervously rubbing the back of his neck, as usual.
I glanced away from him trying to find something to focus on. Something other than his beautiful green eyes.
"That's great. I'm happy for the two of you." I repeated the same lie I had told Whitley.
Luckily he seemed to buy it.
"Just thought I should tell you since the past few times we were together we kissed…" he trailed off.
"That didn't mean anything…we were just comforting each other." If I keep lying like this, I'll be a level 100 liar in no time.
He looked unsure before he replied, "I still want to be your best friend though."
For the first time all morning, I genuinely smiled. "I want that too."
"I was hopin' you'd say that."
"Well…as much as I'd like to hang out, I'm in desperate need of a shower."
"Okay, I need to be gettin back to the lair anyway." He replied. "Will I see you later?"
"As long as you don't have any other plans…" I trailed off.
"Nah, just gonna patrol the city for a while tonight, then I'm free. We can watch horror movies later or somethin if you want."
I felt truly happy at the prospect of spending time with him. "Will you bring the movie here? I kind of just want to be a hermit for the day."
He laughed, "Yeah, I'll bring a few to choose from and a couple pizzas."
"It's a date." I blurted out. I felt the blood rush to my face. "I mean…not a date…" I fumbled for the right words.
He just laughed and shook his head as I continued to grow more embarrassed by the second.
"I'll see ya later." He spoke as he climbed out of the window.
I wasn't able to actually speak until he was out of sight. "Later." I spoke into the empty quiet of the room.