Tala turned towards her foster family "Please don't embarrass me. I need to make a good impression on the people here or I'll never fit in." She said. Half of the people she went to school with were there and some teachers.
She made her way to the counter and smiled at Katrina and Kay who were beaming at her "Come on Kara's over here." Kay said dragging the girl to their best friend.
Tala smiled at Kara and sat across from her in the booth "Hey." She said shyly.
"Hey" Kara responded.
"We'll leave you two alone" Katrina said as she and Kay turned to leave.
"Um actually... my foster family wanted to meet all of you. They're pretty big on being a part of my life and stuff so they'd like to meet my friends." She said shyly.
She waved Regina and Emma over but laughed when Henry darted across the cafe to sit next to Tala. He gave the girls a serious look "Be nice to her or you'll regret it." The 5 year old said dangerously with an adorable lisp.
"Henry!" She hissed "be nice!" Henry just giggled and shrugged and he cuddled up to his big sister in the booth. Regina, Emma and their two other foster sons stood by.
"Regina, Emma this is Kay." She said pointing to the tan skinned raven haired girl. "Katrina" she said pointing at the bubbly blonde "And last but definitely not least, Kara" she said gesturing to the pretty brunette sat across from her."Guys these are my foster mums Emma and Regina, my foster brothers Jake and Josh and you've already met my little brother Henry."
Katrina tilted her head "Is he your actual brother?" The ditzy blonde asked.
"We're not sure. He was found in the exact same spot I was a few years later so they think we may share the same birth mother." Tala said.
"That'd be terrible. I mean it's good you have a brother but if you do have the same mum that means some jerk is having children and leaving them all in the same spot." Kay said.
Emma and Regina shared a look they weren't sure if they liked these girls, especially not with the questions they seemed to ask.
Kara glared at her friends to shut them up. She stood up and smiled happily "Hello, I'm Kara. Its great to meet the people who have taken in Tala. We're all so glad she's here." Kara said.
Regina smiled at her still somewhat wary of the three girls "Pleasure to meet you dear. We're glad Tala is here as well." She said. Emma smiled "Well we'll leave you girls too it. We're going to go find a booth." She said. Katrina smiled "Let me help you I am after all the executive assistant." She said leading Emma, Regina and their 2 foster sons to a VIP booth.
Regina stopped and turned around looking at Henry "Coming dear?" She asked.
Henry shook his head and cuddled closer to Tala "No. I stay with Tally and her fwiends" he said. Regina looked at Tala to see if that was okay and she nodded. "Alright dear we're right over there." Regina said.
Tala smiled at Henry and chuckled as he pulled paper and crayons out of his little backpack and began coloring. "Sorry about them." Tala said looking up at Kara shyly.
Kara smiled "Its fine I like that they care so much. My parents are always busy with work." She said. "So... are you hungry. Katrina's brother is the chef and he makes some pretty good stuff." She asked.
Henry's head snapped up "I wanna cheese burger and fwench fwies! With Soda and ice cweam!" Henry cheered. Tala face palmed.
"Henry... dude are you sure you can eat all that?" Tala asked. He gave her a look and she chuckled "Okay two burgers and fries. Kara what about you?" She asked.
Kara smiled "I'll have a burger and fries as well." Kara said.
Tala smiled and nodded "Alright I'll be right back. Henry be good." She said. She gave him a look and turned to walk towards the counter "Stay quiet." She whispered too quietly for human ears. She knew Henry had heard her.
She smiled at Kay "Hey I need three burgers with fries, three sodas and an a sundae for the kid." She said with a smile.
"Alright. What kind of soda?" Kay asked
"A sprite, a dr pepper, and whatever Kara's favorite beverage is." She said with a shy smile.
Kay and Katrina smirked "Two sodas and a strawberry milkshake with whip and sprinkles got it." Kay said.
Tala chuckled and pulled out her wallet to pay "Ah ah ah on the house." Katrina said waving her away.
"Thanks Katrina." She said as she went to go sit down.
Meanwhile at the table Kara looked awkwardly at Henry as the little boy colored "I know you like my sister." He said never looking up from his coloring page.
Kara's face was blank "No... No that's not possible... I don't like girls." Kara said quickly.
Henry continued coloring "I didn't say you liked girls. I said you like my sister." He said. He looked up and smiled "Mommy said it doesn't matter what gender you like as long as your heart and intentions are good." He said as if it was the simplest thing in the world.
Kara blushed "I um... I-"
"She likes you too. I can tell" he interrupted.
Kara tilted her head "How can you tell?" She asked shyly.
"She wouldn't introduce me to you if she didn't like and trust you." He said. "I never get to meet her friends." He added.
"I don't know if I like her...but she's pretty and smart. And I guess I sort of like to be around her... I don't know... I mean we just met today" she said shyly.
Henry smiled "Give it time." He said
Henry went back to coloring and smiled to himself as Tala walked back to them and sat down. He held up the picture to Tala "Look it's mommy and mama!" He said proudly.
Tala sat down and chuckled "Nice one Hen. Hey look aren't those some of your friends." She said pointing at a group of kids from Henry's kindergarten.
Henry smiled "Bye!" He said hopping over Tala to get out of the booth then rushing over to his friends.
She smiled at Kara "I hope he didn't bother you too much" she said.
Kara smiled and shook her head "No, he's wonderful" she answered.
Tala smiled "He's a good kid. We've been together since they found him. When we went to his first family I practically raised him because the family was terrible but the next couple of families were pretty good." She said.
"He seems really comfortable with your new foster mums Emma and Regina." She said.
"Yeah we got separated last year. The foster family I was with was great and they wanted to adopt me but they just wanted me. So Henry got sent here and I didn't even know because they had me enrolled in private school. The minute I found out I demanded to be moved here... you never know what kind of family you'll get and I refused to let Henry suffer through that alone. But when I got here and saw that he was happy I was so... I don't know. I guess I was sad because I thought he didn't need me." She said sadly.
Kara reached across the table and took Tala's hand to comfort her. "Then after a week with Emma and Regina I realized how amazing they are not just with him but in general and I decided that if something happens and I get moved it'll be okay as long as he's with them." She said.
Kara smiled "That's good. It means you trust them." She said. Tala and Kara were looking deeply into each others eyes when Kay popped up carrying their food and drinks and was as food for herself and Katrina. They were both on break so they decided to join their friends.
Henry ran over when the food arrived and happily munched on a french fry. Kara however was looking at her drink she then looked at Tala "How'd you know?" She asked.
Kay and Katrina smirked at her "Lucky guess." Tala said softly.
They all ate their food and we're talking when Emma and Regina came back over "Tala love we're gonna leave now. The boys still have homework to do and I'm sure you do too." Regina said like a natural parent.
"Miss she can totally stay here and work on it. It could be a study group since we're all in the same class" Kay said.
Regina nodded "Alright. Tala be home by 9:30 alright." She said sternly.
Tala nodded and smiled as Emma picked up Henry "Come on buddy let's get you home." She said to the pouting boy.
Henry whined "Okay" he said sadly. He waved to his sister "By Tally! I wubbs you." The little boy said.
Tala smiled and kissed his forehead "I love you too Hen. I'll be home soon. You be good for mums yeah?"she said smiling at him. He nodded and waved as they left,.
"Awwww" Kay and Katrina said
"You're so good with him" Katrina said
"Do you want to have kids someday?" Kay asked.
Tala shrugged "I don't know. If Henry and I don't get adopted I plan on taking him when I turn 18 but if I ever meet 'the one' then yeah maybe I'd like to have a big white wedding and talk about adopting, fostering or using like a surrogate or insemination."
Katrina looked confused "What do vaccinations have to do with having a baby?" She asked
Kay sighed and leaned over whispering in her ear. "Oh!... Oh" she said. Tala couldn't help but laugh so did the other girls. "Well we better get back to work it's party night tonight." Katrina said as she and Kay went back to work.
"Party night?" Tala asked.
Kara smiled "Tom from school plays music and we clear out the tables to turn it into a dance floor and we charge 5 dollars at the door and free if you bring this card." She said pulling out a stamp card "You can buy one for like 20 pounds" she said.
"I better go get one then"she said preparing to get up but Kara grabbed her hand.
"No that's alright. Its free for first timers and our close friends." She said blushing and pulling her hand back.
Tala smiled and sat back down. "So we spent all night talking about me. What about you?"
Kara smiled "There's not much to talk about. The girls and I have been friends for as long as I can remember. I have a little brother but he lives with my mum. My parents are divorced but they're both happier this way." She said with a smile. "Plus they both love me so I can't complain." She added "Me Dad travels alot for work he runs a company in the states." She said.
"Wow have you ever been?" Tala asked curiously.
"Once when I was 8 we went to Florida to visit Disney World. It was absolutely amazing." She said happily. They were interrupted however.
"Tala you look strong. Can you helps us move some of these tables out of the way?" Katrina's mum asked.
Tala nodded and jumped up picking two of the larger tables up with ease and moving them to a storage room. She stacked them for extra room and went back to moving the tables with ease. Kara, Katrina, and Kay started on in amazement. It usually took two of them to move just one table.
She finished clearing out the tables and smiled "Anything else Miss?" She asked. Katrina's mom smiled "Yes dear we just have to set up the music can you go check if Tom is outside?" She asked. Tala nodded and went outside to see if the boy from school was there.
Her face darkened considerably when she saw Tom with Shannon, Jana, Maddy, and Rhydian. "Tom they need you to set up the music." She said interrupting their conversation.
Jana spun around to face her "And what are you doing here?" She asked
"I'm here with my friends. Not that it's any of your business!" She snapped. Tom looked between them then went inside to set up the music. She glared and followed him in.
"Tala dear can you start letting people in theirs a money box on the counter the fee is five dollars and if they have a card stamp it." She said handing her a hole punch. She nodded and stood at the door taking money, giving change, and hole punching cards. Once their was no one left she went back in and handed the box to Katrina's mum. "Thank you dear. You can go have some fun now" she said kindly.
Tala went to find the K's when she heard Sway by Michael Buble begin to play. She smiled and stood in the middle of the dance floor moving her hips to the beat letting her Latin/Italian roots show. Her hands were above her head as she rolled her hips and her body swayed. Some of the other dancers watched but most kept dancing. She smiled when she saw Kara. She walked over "Come dance with me" she said
Kara shook her head "No I'm not big on dancing." She said.
Tala pouted "Come on Kara. Just one dance?" She pleaded.
Kara smiled in defeat and followed Tala to the dance floor. Tala took her hand and put the other on her waist starting a simple tango. Their bodies moved as one as they danced. She spun Kara and caught her pulling her close against her.
Tala smiled looking into Kara's eyes as they moved and as the song came to its close she dipped her and winked then pulled her back up. Kara blushed as people clapped for them. Tala chuckled and bowed.
Kay and Katrina pulled Kara away "We know you just met but you like her." Kay said
Kara shook her head "No we're just friends!" She said quickly.
"Kara we won't think any less of ya." Kay said
"Yeah you're our best mate. We don't care who you date." Katrina said
"As long as you're happy" Kay added.
Kara smiled shyly "I know I just met her but she's perfect. She sweet and smart and we can actually talk about stuff and she likes me." She said shyly.
"Well why not invite her to the school disco." Katrina said.
"Katrina your a genius!" Kay said.
Katrina smiled "I know." She said proudly.
As the K's began to make plans for Kara to ask Tala to the school dance Tala was once again dancing this time to do I wanna know by the Arctic Monkeys. She yelped when she was pulled off the dance floor by Jana. She glared at the red head and looked confused as she held out her hand.
"I want to call a truce and offer my friendship." She said. "I know what it's like to be a lone wolf and not know where you belong. So I want you to join our pack. Just for a little while. I promise that if you don't like it you can leave. But we want to help you." She said sincerely.
Tala looked weary but nodded "Alright... I guess. But if I don't like it I'm out." She said
Jana nodded "of course. So have you ever met another wolf blood?" She asked.
"Not really." She said softly. "Just me and my little brother Henry."She said.
"How old is he?"
"Five but he's already close to shifting I think the next full moon will be it for him" she said.
Jana nodded "Everyone shifts at different times." She said. "Do you know how to control your wolf?" She asked
Tala nodded "Whenever I feel like it's gonna happen I just feel..."
"...Tingling" they said at the same time. Jana looked Tala in the eye and smiled shyly.
"Come sit with us for a bit. Shannon's been dying to actually talk to you." She said. Tala smiled and walked over to the booth where Maddy and her pack were sitting.
Maddy smiled and scooted over so Tala could sit down as well. She smiled and talked with them for a while she told them about her first shift and how scared she was. "I thought I was a freak for so long but when Henry turned 2 and started to show signs I realized that I never wanted him to feel like that so I learned to be proud of what I was because it made me special." She said proudly.
Shannon listened intently "That must have been very hard. Not knowing if you were normal and being so alone." She said sadly.
Tala frowned and tried to keep from crying "It was... I was so lost for so long. So alone because I was afraid of hurting people." She whispered.
Rhydian patted her shoulder "Well not anymore mate. You have us now and we look out for our pack." He said proudly.
Tala smiled "Thank you. I'm sure having a pack will make both me and Henry feel more at home here." She said.
Meanwhile the K's had just finished their plans for Kara to ask Tala to the school disco when Katrina noticed that Tala was no longer on the dance floor. "Hey guys... where's Tala?" She asked.
Kay and Katrina scanned the room looking for their new friend when they saw her sitting with Maddy and her band of weirdos. "Oh no way are they taking Tala away from Kara!" Katrina said.
Kay and Katrina marched over to them and smiled at Tala. "Tala. Kara's looking for you." Kay said.
Tala smiled then frowned when she saw Maddy glaring "That sucks because she's kind of busy."She snapped.
"But it's like... REALLY important." Katrina added.
Jana glared "Too bad. She's busy now shove off." She growled.
Tala glared "Hey! Don't talk to them like that! They're my friends" She snapped. She got up and walked over to Kara without another word.
Kay and Katrina smirked at them then spun around and followed Tala.
The K's and Tala danced, talked, and laughed for a few more hours before it was about 9 O'clock and she had to start leaving. "I'll see you all at school tomorrow." She said as she waved. She walked towards the forest then shifted and ran home. She shifted back and walked inside.
She walked into her room where she saw Henry snuggled up in her bed. She kissed his forehead then went to wash her face and let her hair down. She changed into a tank top and a pair of pajama bottoms then slipped into bed with Henry cuddling the slumbering boy. "Good night my little cub. Soon you will be a wolf and we will run to our hearts content." She whispered. She slowly drifted off to sleep dreaming of running through the forest with her little brother.