A/N: Hello all! I have two announcements to make, and one of them is important.
One: I'm starting a side (very side, side project, not getting nearly as much attention as this one, I promise) project called 'The M Files,' where I take everything I wrote during my Mary-Sue phase and turn it into a Mary-Sue Parody. The first installment is going to be all of my Avatar: The Last Airbender Sues, because most of them belong to that fandom, so if you're an Avatar fan, you might check it out. In any case, I thought I should tell you that because it's my duty to keep you informed, not because I'm advertising myself or anything. *cough cough*
Two: I've decided to divide "Dog Person" into two stories, for a couple reasons. One, because I planned it out the other day and it's going to have about twice as many chapters as "Like a Lost Puppy." So it'll be twice as long, and that would be weird, unless I call "Like a Lost Puppy" a prequel, which I don't want to do, because I wrote and published it first. Two, because if I divide it into two, then they'll be three stories, and then it'll be a series, and I can give it a sweet name.
So, this one's gonna be eight chapters, and the third one is seven chapters long and tentatively called "Throw Me a Bone." Please, please tell me if you've got any better ideas. It just has to have some kind of dog/wolf theme in it. The series is called "Howling at the Moon," by the way.
Most important part of the A/N: Thank you all so much for your reviews. They make me so happy, I can't even explain it. But reading them keeps the writer in me alive, and I've become quite fond of the writer in me, I'd be devastated if she died. So…yeah. You guys rock, and I want you to know it. Thank you all so very much for taking the time to read my stories and tell me what you think of them!
Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight or McDonalds. Or Frosted Flakes. Or any of the games I mentioned earlier. Or Harry Potter.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
We decided to go to McDonalds, because McGriddles are closer to a part of this balanced breakfast than krispy kream. I would rather have had Frosted Flakes, not that I had anything against McDonalds, but…yeah, well, I didn't have a decent reason for not bringing it up, I guess. Because we hadn't planned it? Would it have been rude? Emily Post only ever seems to mention situations that are completely irrelevant to me. But anyway, I decided not to take the risk, hence, McDonalds. Whatever, anyway, I was hungry enough to not be picky, I hadn't actually eaten anything in awhile.
I feel important to note something that perhaps it would have been a good idea to mention earlier. What with all the hugs and the death threats and the letters and the Noah's Ark and cell phones and sleeping and so on that had taken up most of my time since coming home, I had not actually thought about Seth that much. BUT now that I was, I noticed this really creepy, possessive tendency that my mind had to put the word "my" in front of his name. Which was kind of creeping me out, so I started trying to shake it off. But it wasn't working, so I was just kind of chanting his name over and over in my mind, without the "my," but then I realize that saying "Seth" over and over in your mind is a lot creepier than just thinking of someone in the possessive, so I just started thinking about flowers.
And so we're walking down the through the parking lot of McDonalds (which, by the way, is conveniently located down the street from my house, like most places I seem to hang out at. Having your mom own a restaurant isn't all bad!) and I'm staring at these flowers planted between the building and the sidewalk outside, and I'm kind of wondering how flowers can grow here, because you need water AND sun to grow stuff, and then Seth is like "Rory, there's a-" and then I TRIP.
Apparently I was supposed to, you know, step up when we got to the sidewalk area.
Seth grabbed my hand and helped me up, and as I brushed the dirt off my legs (there wasn't actually much dirt there, it's just what you do) he asked me if I was okay like I'd just fallen down a flight of stairs. I glanced up at him. He looked insanely worried, an expression to match his tone.
"Yes, I'm quite alright, thank you for your concern." I answered quickly. "They should put signs up about that," I pointed to where the step-down was (I was now standing on the sidewalk) "I should sue them."
He rolled his eyes; I
was glad he was back to normal. "Good luck with that."
"I
don't need luck, I need a lawyer."
"Again-good luck with that."
I was silent.
"What, no comeback?" he teased.
"Yeah, I'm working on it, I just don't have the words yet."
And then we got our food and everything, and we had this really stupid, boring conversation about how disturbing it is that they get the food to you so fast, even if it is "fast food," so I'll skip that, and then we sat down. I noticed that Seth got a ton of food. I mean, not that it was like a bad thing or I was judging him or anything…just that it was a lot.
"Gee, hungry much?" I asked.
"No." he deadpanned. I laughed.
"Okay," I said, unwrapping the bagel-sandwich thing I'd gotten. "Talk."
He kind of stared at me for a minute, like he forgot what I was talking about, and then he said "Oh! Right." He closed his eyes for a moment, and then began.
"Are familiar with any Quileute legends?"
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
"What!?!" I shouted. Seth flinched.
"Rory-"
"Who do you think you're kidding? Seriously? Were-"
"SH!"
We both look at the rest of the restaurant. We had an audience. There was a pause; I could swear, there were crickets.
"Were…We're All In This Together. Best song from High School Musical, right? Yeah, our school's putting on a production of it, and this guy wants to cut it out of the play altogether! It's like, the Wildcat's theme song! Am I right?"
Everyone slowly went back to their meals.
I turned back to Seth.
"Rory, I swear to you, I'm telling the truth!" he whispered. "What other explanation can you think of? And don't say it's just because I'm a jerk, because that doesn't explain the body temperature. Remember?" His eyes were begging me to believe him, to at least give it thought.
I closed my eyes stayed that way for what must've been a long time, thinking everything over.
On the one hand, Seth was telling me he was a werewolf, and by all logic, that was impossible.
But on the other hand, who was to say what was impossible and what wasn't? What made me an authority on possibilities? Nothing could ever technically be proven, anyway. People used to think that Platypi didn't exist. People used to think that sticking leeches on you would heal you.
Everything in me wanted to believe me. I can't explain it, but it was like…not believing him just was not an option.
I opened my eyes. "I think I believe you."
He let out a sigh of relief. "Really?"
I nodded, smiling a little. "Yeah." And just like that, the world was back in order.
There were a few moments of comfortable silence, before the questions came.
"So, what happens during a full moon?"
"Nothing."
"Nothing?"
"We phase when we want to."
I took phase to mean "change into a werewolf," since I couldn't think of a better explanation.
"Is that why you're so hungry? And why you're so hot?"
"Yes to the first one. My looks just come naturally."
"Ha. Ha ha. You're hysterical. So what up with that showdown a couple days ago, Clearwaters VS. Cullens?"
"Oh…that."
"Yeah. That." I said, mimicking his tone.
He sighed. "That's…not really my story to tell."
I had a feeling that he'd had to go to some kind of lengths to work out part of the story he'd told me, just to make sure he didn't give the answer to my question away.
Which meant…
"Fine. I'll figure it out on my own."
"Yeah, I'm sure you will."
"I will!"
"Rory. I wasn't being sarcastic."
"Oh." Oops.
Suddenly, Seth looked at his watch and said "We'd better go, or else your brother's going to come after me with a shotgun."
I quirked an eyebrow. "What are you talking about?"
"Um…never mind."
We walked back to my place, but before I could go inside, he stopped me.
"Uh, can I ask you something?"
"Sure…"
His hand went to the back of his neck. A thought occurred to me.
No.
He looked nervous.
No. No. No. No. No.
He took a deep breath.
No. No. Please no.
"I was just wondering…" he started.
Even I'd seen enough chick flicks to know what he was about to say.
No. No. Nonononononono…
"If you might…possibly…be interested…in…you know…going out…sometime…"
I didn't answer. On the one hand, it went against everything I believed in, and it wasn't going to end to well.
One the other hand…I wanted to say yes. Every second, I liked Seth more and more. Still hadn't shaken off that possessive, either.
So, you know, I went into denial. The usual.
I hadn't realized how long I'd spent mulling that over without speaking. Apparently the silence, though, was enough.
He nodded. "Okay…"
It took every ounce of will power to flinch away from eye contact with the boy in front of me. He was crushed. You could just tell, he was keeping it together, on the outside, or was trying to…
Oh, no. Oh, no. Idiot! Look what you did! You BROKE him!
Quit being so narcissistic! Gosh. How well do you even know him, anyway?
I've known him for months!
And you started talking-actually talking, not just you throwing your sarcasm in his general direction-when?
Ugh! SHUT UP, SHUT
UP, SHUT UP and SHUT UP!
Rory. I know you like Scrubs
and all, but that doesn't work when there's only one of me.
Who are you?
You. Who are you?
Ugh. Leave me alone!
"Seth…I'm-"
"It's okay," he said, smiling a little. It didn't reach his eyes. "Really. I'll call you later, okay?"
I nodded slowly. He left, and I went inside.
0o0o0o0o0o0
I couldn't get the event out of my head for hours after that. Gosh. What kind of monster was I?
It would have been meaner to lead him on.
No! No! No! No! No! I mean, he'd eventually get over me and then, and then he'd dump me and never have to know the truth.
What truth?
That I'm not interested.
Liar.
I'm not! Ugh. It's just because he like, he messed with my head by asking me that.
Clearly. I don't remember you reacting like this when Carter asked you out though.
Yeah, well, Carter wasn't that disappointed.
Whatever. Anyway, I think Seth would realize at some point-
Nonsense. I'm a great actress!
Why do you sound so defensive?
Do not! It's just
the truth!
I told you you were a narcissistic.
…Oh my gosh, you're right.
I know.
Oh, for the love of..! I don't know why Seth OR Carter were interested in you. Schizo.
What? Who the heck are you to judge us?
Yeah, who invited you to join this conversation, anyway? Were we speaking to you?
No. It's a free country though.
Oh, no it's not. You're thinking of America. No, love, this is Rorytopia. Leave before her majesty has you beheaded.
You mean, you have her beheaded?
Precisely. Well, you and me. And her. Leave before we force you to behead yourself!
It was about then that I popped some Advil for my migraine.
