'Maybe this assignment won't be so boring after all'? What the hell was I thinking?
Talia was starting at her reflection with unrestrained horror. She quickly came to the decision that, like the hospital, the Spencer uniform was the work of the devil. As she was trying in vain to think of how the situation could possibly be worse, her cell began to ring, echoing strangely in the small bathroom. Jess.
"I look like a freak! I can't believe I'm doing this." She complained, not bothering to say hello.
"I'm fine thanks, and you? Does it cover your ink?" Jess' tinny voice asked.
"Yeah," Tal sulked.
"Then what's the problem?"
"I look like a china doll. Or like I'm in a skeezy Japanese porno movie. Oh professor, I've been such a baaaad girl! Are you going to spank me?" she said in her best little girl voice.
"Eeew!" Jess laughed, "It's not that bad, I saw the uniforms on their webpage. And just be glad I had years of practise with my little sisters before I cut your hair,"
"Whatever," Tal said, determined to remain sulking.
"So have you met them all yet? Are they as hot as there pics? What are they like?" Jess gushed.
"Yes, yes, and they seem nice enough. Sarah's, well, kinda like you. Caleb is a gentlemen, and totally in love with Sarah. Pogue is a charmer, reminds me of Will. Tyler is a sweetie, and Reid…" she sighed. "I don't know," she mumbled. She paused for a moment. "I think I like him. You know, like like."
Pause.
"Uhh, Tal? You know your brother is here, right?" Jess quietly asked.
"Yeah, so? He's always gonna be there. That's part of the problem,"
"Yeah well, you're on speakerphone,"
Whoops!
"You're not going native on me are you Tal?" he asked, his voice low.
"Don't be and idiot. Just 'cause I like him doesn't mean…" she paused, starting over, "I'll do my job like I always do. If they're good guys, we could use the allies. If they're bad, I'll kill them," she said, sounding more certain than she felt.
"Good. On that subject, what are your initial impressions? Apart from that they're, like, totally hot!" he asked, doing his not-quite-patented 'valley girl' voice.
"I haven't really gotten to the juicy stuff yet, but first impressions seem good. They don't seem like the type to team up with a psychotic murdering Lycan to do dastardly deeds. But don't worry, I'm keeping an open mind."
"Yeah. Nicky said pretty much the same thing. Great guy. Funny as hell once you get a couple shot of tequila in 'im. He said he'd keep and eye out for anything hinky," Will said.
"Hinky?!"
"I've been stuck in this damn motel room with Jess, Okay? She's breaking me. On the subject of murderous Lycans though, another body turned up. The council have someone taking care of the autopsy, and dealing with any unwanted evidence. No ID as of yet, I'll let you know once we have more."
"Shit!" Tal sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Okay. Is there anything else I need to know before I throw myself to the proverbial wolves?"
"One thing. Reid Garwin. He's the one that looks like Hitler's wet dream right?"
"Oh, gods Willem! I can't believe you actually said that!" Tal shrieked. Shrieked? I've been spending too much time with Sarah already! She could hear Jess groaning in the back ground at her brother's lack of tact.
"What? Tall, lean, pale blonde hair, blue eyes, sculptured face, sounds about right to me. Not what I'd figure for your type though. Not that I want you to have a type,"
"What? You think I want some overgrown thug of a wolf with more brawn than brains, right? And then when I mate with him, I'll just sit back and pump out the puppies? Why do you think I avoid the males of our kind?" Tal snapped. "I have to go, I wouldn't want to be late on my first day of school now, would I? I might get kicked out or something. I'll talk to you later Jess." She snapped her phone shut before either of them could reply.
With one last look in the mirror, she squared her shoulders and went to meet her fate.
Jjjjjj
Reid was slowly making his way to his first period English Lit class, trying desperately not to think of a certain dark haired beauty, only to be confronted with the object of his less-than-innocent thoughts.
She was standing in the middle of the hallway, frowning at a piece of paper in her hand and tugging absent-mindedly and the hem of her skirt. Walking quietly up behind her, he leaned close and whispered in her ear, "Lost, Babe?" he smiled in satisfaction when she jumped, then shivered at the sound of his voice, deliberately low and husky.
"Yeah," she said without turning. "I've got English Lit in Room 4, and I'm already late, but I still can't find it!" she shook the little map in her hand in frustration.
Reid walked round to her front, staying deliberately close to her. He tapped his index and middle fingers on his chin in thought. "Well, I could show you, but you'd have to do me a favour in return,"
She looked at him suspiciously. "What kind of favour?"
"Hmm. I'm not sure just yet. Let's just say you'll owe me one," he grinned.
"Okay, but I'm not sleeping with you, Garwin." Her expression of mild indignation was priceless.
He leaned even closer, whispering in her ear, "Trust me Babe, when you sleep with me, it'll be me doing you the favour," After he said it, he realised that it could be taken as and insult, but the blush spreading across her face showed him she had taken it in the way he had intended.
Stepping back and grinning, he said in normal tones, "Allow me to escort you to class," With that he took her by the shoulders and spun her slowly around until she was facing the door she had been standing in front of.
English Lit. 4.
"Very funny Garwin," she mumbled as she walked into the tiered room.
"Mr. Garwin, late again. Surprise, surprise. Who is this?" The bored looking middle-aged professor stated from the front of the room.
"Talia Sarka, a transfer. The Provost asked me to show her to her classes," he lied smoothly.
"Very well. I will choose not ask what you were doing in the Provosts office first thing in the morning. Miss. Sarka, please take a seat, and see me after class,"
Shooting Reid another glare, she took the empty seat next to Sarah.
Jjjjj
After class was finished, he waited outside for Talia, not caring if he was late for second period. Leaning against the wall, he tried to figure out what kind of favour he wanted from her. A kiss? Maybe. A date, yeah. But it would have to be something…unusual. Maybe a dare or something. Something good. He didn't want to rush, opportunities like this didn't come along every day.
He was still pondering as the door opened and Tal walked out, glancing at him in annoyance. "What to you want, Garwin?"
"I still have decided yet. But didn't you hear? The Provost asked me to show you to your classes."
"He did not, Garwin. We both know it."
"Yeah, but you have to ask yourself a very important question," she just stared at him, wait for him to continue. He cocked his head to the side, like she had when they first met, not missing the flash of annoyance in her eyes. "Do you know how to get to your next class?"
He knew from the defeated look in her eyes that he'd one this battle. "Fine. But it still only counts as one favour,"
He threw his arm over her shoulder, noting that she let in stay there for a second before shaking him off.
"Come on Babe, what's you next class?"