After dinner, I drove to get some box hair dye and a few items then set to work on bleaching my hair. The stench of it lingered and I guess it hit Brandon's nose because I heard him cough a few times before telling me he had to leave. When my hair was almost as white as Davian's, I used the toner and mixed it with plain and unscented conditioner. After leaving it in my hair for an hour, I rinsed it out and dyed it black.
It wasn't exactly like my natural black but it would do until a few cuts would help blend the two better when it started to grow. I done this enough times to make sure I didn't stain anything but the towel, my shirt, and the tub. I knew how to get rid of the stain in the tub and made a note stating all it needed was a good scrub to my dad. Since the towel was now mine, I put it in the washing machine along with my shirt before throwing the rest of the used products in the trash.
Call me a paranoid freak but after checking my sugar once again, I raided the kitchen. Besides a box or two that required ingredients that the house did not have, I gave up and settled on doing the rest of my homework. Well math anyway since I sucked at it. School had a funny system whenever I transferred to a new one. I could be advanced and quite ahead on a few topics or behind depending if I knew the requested subject.
Take math for an example. One kid could be stuck on multiplications up to the tenth and other would be stuck on sevens. Add the grid, letters,and a smart calculator to boot, and you'll going to have one confusing teenager that cannot even take the damn thing home since it is a school item. I hated algebra and even pre-algebra for starters. My worst subject out of all of them.
I was advanced in science and english however and I breezed through that in an hour. Plus, I already had done the labeling of both male and female reproductive organs a few months back and ignored the decline of the teenage brain when they started to snicker and joke around. Even the girls had their share of fun while I was busy focusing ahead. History was boring for it it was mainly me just flipping through a few pages and jolting down the definition of a word.
Growing bored, I started to hum to myself before singing. A great pass time whenever I was alone and I reverted to my favorite band. I wasn't aware that one of the living room windows was open and a passerby caught the words I was spewing out. I sucked at making a beat and even my beatboxing needed help yet with a slap or two on my knees, I had gotten a beat down. That is until my dad entered the door with bags of groceries. "There's a few more in the car," he said as he hurried to drop the bags in the kitchen. I sat frozen for a second before getting up to help him.
During the time we was getting food into the pantry, I told him about recipes that i liked and food that helped with my gut and system. Every teenager would have loved to get the Alex special. Tons of junk food and meals that was sure to put anyone in a food coma but for me, it was torture. My fast metabolism plus my problem meant that I had to constantly keep my sugar up by eating chips or snacks. Plus, i wasn't big on food anyway since chewing was becoming to get tiresome. It was if I had chewing gum and had to chew it all day non stop just to live.
Since I had pizza for lunch, we both settled on chicken and mashed potatos with a can of soda. Well I had a can while he had beer while we watched the news. "So how was your day?" I asked around a mouthful of potato. "Mr. Cobb and I had a tasteful encounter at the store so.. Two birds, one stone." There was silence before a thunder clap promised rain. It promised rain for the entire week and my dad snorted. "What else is new? You tend to ignore and get used to it but the cars around here wear down quickly when winter hits. Plus with the storms bringing in the sea salt, rust is an major issue."
"Mine already has some," I aid then spent at least a few hours talking about our babies outside. He called his Mercy and Maraca. Maraca was easy since something rattled and he couldn't figure out the source to this day. Mercy was his first ever overdose of a homeless woman and he begged for her to live. I thought of what to call mine before I settled on Rusty for the time being.
Driving to and from school was easy but it was the first week that caused even more chaos and my popularity went over the roof. I had to get a sticker from the office and an ID that i had to place so that it wouldn't get towed and that it was a students. Standard protocol was to make sure my license was up to date and that caused a few questions until I lied that Texans could drive at my age under special conditions. Mr. Cobb never pushed me into anything other than a light jog but his insults never eased. Taking a shower during Drama was my only escape from Davian since he now gave me a cold shoulder and acted like I didn't exist. Plus, the shower was the only time where I was alone.
I was glad that my status of being rich did not leak to the school until that Friday. It was during lunch when a teen got up on a table and announced that I was the worlds famous youngest lottery winner from california. When I was thirteen, my mom drove us to cali to rise the odds of the lottery. Six months of living in her car that overheated was torture for both of us until that one day. She bought the ticket but it was me that turned it in. Since it had a five times the amount of the original amount we supposed to get, we won enough that if i would have have grandkids, they even wouldn't be in poverty.
Ash and Mike only stared at me as I pressed my hands on my forehead and clenched my teeth. "Alright fine. Yes, I'm rich but I don't font my cash around like some pampered asshole. I like personality than plastic." The male that was on the table jumped down and was now in my face. His name was Andrew and was openly gay at school but at home was another story. He was the only one that dared to give the uniform some color by adding a rainbow pin on the tie and his brown hair was styled in a mullet. A brave and bold move but I guessed that he liked long hair and his dad only accepted the mullet for it was mainly.
Davian and his gang was across the lunchroom yet by how the tables grew quiet and focused on me, they soon faced me when Andrew flowed his hair with one hand. "Trying to be one of use eh, Berxley? Fake ass bitch." I smiled as I stood up and leaned over the table just as Ash grabbed my arm. The pain collected and spread through my arm like pins and needles and my hissed intake of breath made her yank her hand away. "Leave it Alex," She warned. Andrew looked at her than at Mike before he giggled. "Awh. He's friends with a muscle and a dyke wannabe." Now it was Sera's turn to stand up to defend our table.
Sera had a frame that screamed like the strong sister from the gifted family from the Encanto movie. Her hair was a natural red that flowed down her shoulders and her skin was a shade lighter than her brother, Mike. She looked to bench press me and Ash easily together but underneath she was a kind and gentle soul. She even got straight As and helped me with math the best she could. "Better turn back to your table little man," She threatened. Andrew assessed his options before he pointed at me "Not over, Berxley." My smile grew to expose my teeth and said "Awh! Someone's jealous that I don't have enough room at my table huh, Mr. mullet?"
I seen the fist before I could react. Now I was all sas talk and no bite but a few classes of defense did come in handy. When I felt his fist land on the space between my eyes and mainly on my nose, I knew it was to be broken. Or at most, a good nose bleed. The added pain that made me temporarily blind made me take a step back but since my seat was in the way, I landed on it, slid, and landed on the floor. The cafeteria erupted and once I sat up, the warmth of liquid flowed down my face. Ash was holding back Sera and Mike was shoving Andrew to get to me. My main focus was on the boy that had my blood on his hand.
Call it was rush of bravery or just plain luck for when i came to my senses, I was holding a tray in my hands and Andrew was on the ground under me. The satisfying thunk of the tray hit his head as the reality came down upon me and I questioned myself on how many times i'd hit him. The trays themselves was not your typical plastic and flat platform but something you'd see in prison and was made from metal. Or whatever metal they was made anyway. When I let go of the item, i was in the arms of Archie.
Waves of pain coursed through me and that made me writhe and scream for him to let me go. Archie was the only school security guard and was probably in his early twenties. His short blond hair appeared oily since he had a problem with dandruff and eczema and he smelled like the medicine. The cologne he wore was torture on my already broken nose and i was surprised that i could still breath. Maybe it was due to fact that i had my mouth open. Either way, I was dragged away to the office as Archie yelled for backup from teachers that a fight happened and needed help.
In the nurses office, i was alone for a good ten minutes and i took the time to use the sink to wash the blood away. I was not one to be weak over the sight of it but the sight that stared back at me, made me queasy. My left eye was blackened and the other was no better. Setting my nose back in place caused another gush of blood to flow and when I stopped it, the nurse came in with Andrew.
His ugly crying made me glare at him but when I figured out why, I felt bad. His head was split open a few inches above his forehead and a few bruises was on his face. When he was cleaned and was told to keep a wad of gauze pressed to his head, a teacher came in. "Not a week and your picking fights, Alex. Archie is now on the phone with your dad and your both coming with me to the principal's office," He said then waved his hand to us to follow.
I ignored the principal's threats that the fight was going to be put on our records and other pointless repercussions of our actions would affect us in the future while Andrew trembled. Fright or anger i could not tell until his father showed up. We both got a few days in detention and his father was your typical lawyer. A blue suit and his clean appearance screamed high power but how many lawsuits the Berxley inhabitants can get into? A car accident scam maybe. I kept my head low and my eye was focused on my shoes. Since my left was closed by the swelling, I couldn't see Andrew until I turned my head to face my dad.
He gave all of us an angry once over before he demanded what happened to cause the incident. "He started it" For the first time since Archie cause me to have a screaming fit and made my voice capable to being of reaching the high notes like an opera singer, I yelled out "Bullshit!" Yell, tired to yell anyway. My voice was hoarse, froggy, and nasally from our fight. Andrew told his story first which was that i was jealous that he was one of the richest popular ones at the school and i was some poor teen with a crusty dusty truck. My story was most believable because Ash, Sara, and Mike was in the office and already told their sides.
It was thursday when i was allowed back at school since my dad told the principal that i needed to be checked by a doctor and needed my face to be looked after since I was prone to passing out. And what those five days at the house was! It was boring and long to the point of me taking mental notes of my dad's schedule. Ash and Mike came over after school to give me my homework and left right after we all finished it in the kitchen. My phone and the rest of my electronics was taken away from me but their phone numbers was still posted on my wall. I braved myself and that Wednesday, I headed out into the backyard. I hated being cooped up and the air felt like heaven on my skin for the hour or so that i was outside.
At school, the newness of me died down by the third week and Davian still treated me like any other teen. In the auditorium, we sat in silence until it was time to head home but after the second week of this, i found that after Gym, he left school all together. It wasn't until that I had a headache by english class that I'd walk laps around the Gym then head home a bit early when I noticed him in a silver jeep. And what did I see in his lap? Andrew and it looked like they was in a battle of sucking air out of their mouths to notice me.
The pang of a crushes love hurt but I knew i'd get more heartache in the future. I passed the jeep with a power walk yet that only caused my headache to spread. The sickening wave of dizziness hit me twice as i struggled to get my keys out from my pocket then when I couldn't go that, I kicked the front tire and yelled. "No, no, no! Fuck!" I yelled as I held onto the window then felt my knees weaken. I had a decent lunch so why I felt like I was having a crash?
I could see out of both eyes but they still need some healing and my nose was just fine after the doctor told me it was not broken. He even updated me to be one of those wireless and anti-blood testers but i still needed the small device to scan the object that was on my arm. I hated that thing and wanted to go back to poking my finger but the doc wanted me to test it out first. With one yank, I ripped the device from my arm and dropped it. The sting from the tape was nothing compared to what happened next.
"Alex?" Davian's voice called from behind. "You okay?" I shook my head as I felt my entire body heat up like i just stepped out into the phoenix heat of arizona. That's when it hit me. My sugar was too high! "Too high!" I gasped before I tried to think about what I had. Thursday was taco day and normally tacos wouldn't rise it this much. Was it the gatorade I had? I drinked plenty before and I got only a little headache. I let my body land on the pavement before the only thing i saw before blacking out was those green eyes.
I awoke in the hospital bed alone until I called for a nurse. Turned out that my sugar was far to high and they just now stabilized me almost thirty minutes ago. Since I had no idea who to call and I pleaded to not tell my dad, i was free to go after they tested me. In the hallway, Davian was leaning against the wall and when he saw me, he held up his right hand. "Wait!" He said then balled his hand into a fist as he lowered it. "I know what happened at lunch. When you and Sara was busy with homework, Andrew poured something into your drink." My facial expression hardened as I snapped, "Oh, so your boyfriend want attempted murder on his record too? It's a crime you know." I turned to head off in any direction but his way but he was too fast and blocked me.
"Not anymore. My actions proved to him where my path went when he asked to choose. Him and to celebrate killing the towns rich son of the sheriff or driving you here," He said then crinkled his nose as if the thought of something made him taste something sour. That was my cue to leave. "Tasted like cig-Hey, Alex wait will you? I am your ride home." I laughed out a few 'ohs' before asking, "Your jeeps back at school or was it his?" "Jeeps mine but I had to drive your truck because he took off in it," He said as his footfalls slapped against the hospital's waxed tiles. "Have to say that over sixty, your makes a noise" I was slightly impressed that he'd go over the speed limit to take me to the hospital but his now ex boyfriend still made me upset.
"Why date someone that looks like an eighties band drummer?" I asked him. "I was all he had. His mom died when he was young and his abusive dad is all he has. Son of a lawyer, he thinks he can get away with shit. Worst so far was killing a few stray cats." So a future murderer within our school. Great. "My mom is no saint either but I spend my time with theatre. Why you think I won three years in a row in Texas? Almost made our school get a lot of money with fundraising if it wasn't for Christina's tumble. Told her she was not made for the dirty dancing fly pose." Davian was silent as I rambled about how one girl caused the entire school to lose a great deal of money and the drama club was scrapped and the football team was now the boss.
When we got to my truck, I pointed at it and changed topic. "And why am I the target? I drive that!" He continued to stay silent as he unlocked the passenger door and gestured for me to enter. I scoffed yet got onto the seat so that he could drive. It was for the best since I was in no condition to focus on the road. "His so called status is threatened so he's on your radar. Now I am part of it as well," He said and then when we was on the road, he reached down to grab air then said in a irritated tone. "Automatic peice of shit." "Don't blame Rusty for your auto arm," I said as I looked at him. "Rusty?" He asked and when I didn't say anything, he asked "What was the thing you ripped off your arm?"
"A better way to test my sugar but you try sleeping on it," I grumbled. "Pulled my skin. i'm used to the poking." He pressed lips together and the trip all the way home was silent. When we both found that the radio did not work, he only showed his anger by humming. When he parked Rusty near Maraca, Davian turned off the truck and we both got out. Great. My dad was not home yet because the police car was nowhere to be seen. Davian got our bookbags from the trunk and handed mine to me. "Ask me this. Why you show up whenever I pass out but ignore me?" He seemed to think about it before he asked, "Guardian angel?" I smirked dryly before saying that angels stuck around. His reply echo'd in my mind long after I fell asleep that night. "Guess this one is scared of the one with beautiful eyes."
After that, we talked in the auditorium about anything up until halloween week. He lived near the lake and was in a community housing that was just full of the natives and their families. Each full moon, the elders and a group of young adults would go into the forest and wouldn't show up until a few days later. He was worried for one of his friends because his whole nature changed and started to hang out with the group rather than Davian's own. "Maybe it's a right of passage or something," I said as i ate a rather overly juicy peach. I was too busy licking the juices off my hands and lips to realize that he was leaning towards me until his breath hit my cheek. "Ever been kissed?" He asked. I shook my head and smacked my lips after slurping up a piece of peach off my thumb. "Noh! My phobia is that bad."
I was going to hate halloween because the principal realized that there had been a lack of grades by Mrs. Shmit and demanded that the Drama club would have to do a play. We only had two weeks and since i picked for the costumes, I got to stay in the seats while at least twelve teenagers struggled with their lines. And what better play to show than Clue but with a twist. I hated the game and never finished it to find the murderer or solve the puzzles. Since Davian was the first of the victims and had no lines, he was helping me with the costumes and makeup.
I eyed him before furrowing my eyebrows together. "What?" His eyes intensely stared into mine before he quickly gave the tip of my nose a peck. The surprise of it all and how quick it was, I didn't feel anything and thus I blinked at how fast he moved away. My cheeks flushed as I looked away and smiled and I guessed he saw it because he gave a low chuckle. "Pink's good on you," He said low enough that only I heard then got up when the alarm bell went off. Since Mrs. Shmit put a senior in charge, he whistled to get all of our attention. "This friday, we stay until six. We already put up posters for this and you two-" He pointed to us "Are on clean up duty. That means to clean the damn stage as well. I found a dead rat in the back."
I let out a loud groan that signaled that i didn't want to do it but I knew that I had to pull my weight. Cleaning the entire room was tedious because how many chairs did it take to go through three lemon scented disinfectant wipes containers? My hands felt dry and by the third row, I was nose blind by the scent yet my eyes still burned. To pass the time, I hummed a tune or two until it was time to vacuum the carpet.
While a few teens picked up trash, I went to every row and the pathway. The senior that was in charge was in the box behind the last row of seats, checking if the lights and everything else was in working order. When I was blinded by one light, I screamed as I clawed at the air as if I was mad. "My eyes!" His voice echo'd throughout the speakers and a few was static and distorted. "Oh, knock it off" To all of us, it sounded funny enough that entire room erupted in laughter.
The past week and a half, I was watching how fast the Drama club had memorized their lines and where to stand while I hand out the outfits and fixed the next one. Ash wanted to know what role I took and when she realized that I was just the makeup and costume guy, she started to give her personal opinion on her makeup and how a dead person should look. Sara and Mike asked if I had any issues with Andrew and I told them the truth.
Since Davian started to be around me after Gym and he claimed my passenger seat in the afternoons, I had no altercations with mullet boy. When the day of the play was now undertheway, the main actor called in sick. Since I had learned every line and the attire could fit me, I was the lead man. "Shit," I breathed then got ready knowing my dad was in the audience. When the auditorium was dark and everyone quieted, a light temporarily blinded me. The curtains behind me promised a scene where it looked like a living room where six teens would enter and hold up an envelope.
Each teen would announce their name, status, and the invite they had gotten to play a game. The only link to each other was that they was either relatives or business partners of the host. "Good evening and welcome to a chilling installment of broadcasting from beyond the grave. Please don't leave your seats until the lights turn on. Ignorance will be your doom! If you expected to see a play about a happy little elf with your little ones, be advised that the doors are locked with chains. Tonight's grim and ghastly tale... Corpse Nation!"
I turned left and headed towards the side stage to help with opening the curtains. The play had three five minute break periods where the props would change and we'd take a snack or a drink. Davian's character was the first to die that was quickly followed by a musical number by his wife. Next it was the one that played a mistress and everyone was pointing fingers at me when I was covered in blood. The murder weapon was only known by the murderer and since we did know our lines but not the object, it was a sophomore that figured it out first and stuttered.
Her character was supposed to be the blond airhead and would pick up objects like a pen or notebook and claim it as the weapon. We all looked confused and I could only smile nervously at the crowd. "Uh.." I looked back at the teen and repeated my line. It was when she said, "Covered in blood and it was a gun-SHIT! Feather duster!" was when a few people laughed. "Yes! It's feather duster and it's..Somewhere in the next room!"
The next few lines was improvised and soon, everyone didn't know how to continue since it was clearly me that was the killer. I ushered a few to the side and moved a door prop in front of them. "Ya-da, ya-da! I'm the skinwalker killer! Don't let me in." I announced to the audience then turned to face the prop as I took out one of those fake blood packets and bit into it. The foul taste of the liquid made me grimace and i quickly spread it all over my chin, neck, and chest before i spat out the plastic. Now it was my turn to improvise. Only Davian noticed what i was referencing and he quickly ran onto stage and acted as if he was part of the group.
"It would be so kind if you could open the door and let me inside. I'll take take your face and make it mine. Making a replacement of your kind. I'm another feature creature next in line. Oh, you saw right through me didn't you? Just open the god-" The door on the prop opened by a misplace of a foot and I dramatically closed it with a fruity hand gesture after a pause and me pointing at the shoe until it moved.
"I'm not your typical and let's say unusual person," Davian sung out before he pushed through the others. He opened the door and gave me an apologetic expression before he took my hands in his. The truth was that since my hands was mainly used for everything, it didn't hurt was much when he squeezed them. "Talk all you want, I got your hands in mine. I want the bad, the worst in you. Somehow your murdering ways is a silent scream for love. Just talk to to me, and i'll tell you that you are alright." "Take me back to when I first shot you. Back before all this bullshit you put me through," I sang out. After a few lines back and forth explaining that the entire night was us both searching for the lovers we had lost years ago, he took my face and kissed me. It took me by surprise and it showed by how I flexed my fingers out then clenched them.
The throbbing electricity that pulsed against my lips was an odd and pleasant mixture of pain and pleasure. His mouth was warm and molded onto mine, the first kiss was unsure and broken before we found the puzzle pieces and locked them into place. I wasn't sure what to do but my tingling hands sure did. His hair was soft and felt like he only washed it in conditioner and let it air dry in the sun.
I knew tasting the fake blood was disgusting but he didn't seem to care. All too quickly, the kiss was over and I stupidly opened my eyes. His own was open and was now facing the audience as he ripped me from him. "And with the stroke of midnight, the guests ran from the mansion as the brave man sacrificed himself to stop the killer. Good night!" He said and then bowed to the crowd.
I was still standing, blissfully confused as the lights started to brighten so that eyes could adjust. The crowd started to clap and a few whistles sounded from the back. The entire cast and staff walked out onto stage to take a bow or curtsy before going to be with their families. I did the same and was met by Brandon who was shockingly smiling. "Haha! Sure to get an A with that!" "Heh ha! Yeah" I said with a halfhearted laugh and happy demeanor before I frowned behind his back. Was Davian really caught up into the play to do such a dramatic move?
By monday afternoon after gym, I got my answer. I decided to enjoy the heat while it lasted since fall had let winter take over. One moment it was hot and yet wet from the storms and the next second, the cold front was moving in from the north. It was when he entered the truck that I asked about what happened that night. I was quiet as we went onto the main road when I blurted, "What did you think it was?" He asked with a defensive tone. I was quiet for a second before I tapped the steering wheel of Rusty repeatedly. "Both? I..It was a shock but also nice," I said as I felt my cheeks flush pink. I kept my eyes on the leather wrap of the wheel and thought it needed a cover. His harsh sigh made me glance at him with a look that made him soften his hardened stare.
"Honestly.. It was acting," He said then reached forward to take my hand. "But the moment your response became clear to me that you was in fact telling the truth that you never kissed anyone and then your hands was in my hair I.. I felt a surge to... If we was alone.." Now it was his turn to blush and boy did it look adorable on his skin. Just a bunch of teenagers that had raging hormones and a curious, wild mind when the moment reared its ugly head..
Sure, I was mature than others on a lot of things but I was just a kid. I pushed it by asking, "I didn't have a hard on did i?" His laugh filled my truck and my ears. His words then made me blush so hard I knew my entire face was redder than a tomato. "Honey, I know I was starting too. That's why I pushed you away." I got called a lot of sappy nicknames but his words felt more.. Genuine and pure.
"Wait, by how much you love to do Drama, you never got the lead role as Romeo or any role that had kissing?" He asked. I smiled as I tilted my head upwards. "I don't always go after the roles the teacher wants me to be in. At first, I just some shy guy that helped backstage. When they heard me sing, well.." I chuckled low and moved my head in a way that explained that I was gently pushed into the limelight. According to people, I had an amazing singing voice for someone my age but I could still picture myself having a voice crack episode or worse.
It was his next question that made me remove my foot for the pedal for a second. "Want to see my mom?" "What?!" He gave me a shrug that looked light enough but his expression was full of nervousness and uncertainty. "After the play, my mom was going to go over and ask if you two could talk for a bit but you was always gone. Not right now though. My mom works today." It reminded me of something. His table was slowly becoming exclusive and he was the only one that was still not part of the secret club the other five had produced. Soon, he started hanging out at our table and we accepted it.
I didn't say anything to him and settled that maybe it was just a native thing like before. "Give me your phone," He said once I pulled into the driveway. After doing something with it, he handed it back to me and winked before getting out. I watched his normal route of going a little ways before he ventured off before I looked at my contacts. A new number was listed and the name made me do the most childish thing I ever done. I apologized to Rusty for stomping the floor like a kid wearing tap dancing shoes for the first time and headed inside. I didn't mind that he was now called 'Davi' on my phone.
After I texted him that the number was mine, I set to work of making myself a snack. My sugar wasn't that low but I was hungry enough to eat some string cheese sticks. When my phone dinged and saw a smiley face, I sent one right back. Later after dinner, I asked Brandon "So Davian asked me if I could meet his mom but he hasn't informed me on what day. Can I go? I'm curious on learning about the Abanokins anyway." He hummed as he thought then nodded. "Sure. She works in town and owns the small doughnut shop and she seems nice. Best doughnuts ever and always fresh." I laughed and said something about cops and doughnuts before I headed to my room.
It was on a weekend in November that Mrs. Abanokin invited me over and the first time I was in the seat of Davian's jeep. The ride down the mountain was curvy and I had to hold onto the door a few times. I also found that he drove a bit fast and the rush of it was exhilarating yet dangerous. The trees was changing their leaves already and the air stung my eyes until I closed the window. Something in my past rose from the depths of my mind because I rather enjoyed the scent of the forest. The decaying of leaves and the petrichor after a good rainfall made me leave my window open. That is until I had to close it because one morning, my ceiling was covered in ladybugs.
The community was cute, if you like the houses to be cabins and the roads turned into gravel and a mixture of pebbles and dirt. It felt homey and all it needed was some cinnamon apple candles to make it feel like fall. The lake could be seen as he drove down a road and then stopped near a leveled house with the chimney already smoking. A decent sized yard made my dads look like a yoga mat in comparison and half lead into the forest while the other down into the lake. What made me nervous to get out was the crowd around a bonfire nearby and Davian was already in the arms of a woman that was his mom.
Mrs. Akanokin was a half native woman with short, straight black hair and brown eyes. She was overweight but she was the type of woman that screamed muffins and hot cocoa if you had a bad day. Stella had a type of authority, however, when she got onto two teenagers that was arguing over how many hotdogs they eaten. Josh was Davian's cousin and stayed quiet throughout the entire time that Stella settled everyone down then when she left to get the burgers and more hotdogs, he stepped up. And then there was Aaron.
She was Davian's half sister and went to another high school but somehow told him things like how to sneak into the teachers lounge to get the good stuff. Her dark brown hair and features was hard to define that she was his sister and I chose to ignore it. It was when he said that they had different dads, I then really ignored it. I seemed out of place because I was the only one wearing black and everyone was wearing red flannel or those brown coats men wore during winter.
I didn't have time to learn about the others names or the old man that appeared that he was asleep because Stella came out with the food and set to work on cooking over the flame. Since Davian told her about my food and touch situation, she handed me a gatorade and smiled. We each got a heavy duty paper plate and we all lined up at a folding table when the meat was cooked and took what we wanted. I was up front and I knew the reason why after I settled back on the seat that I claimed. Everyone looked like they'd never seen an all you can eat buffet before. When everyone finished eating, the fire had died down to embers and it was the old man that told a tale. While I was ready to be immersed into a story, I let Davian interlock his hand with mine and stroked the area his thumb settled upon.
"Legend states back in the eighteen hundreds when land was lush with wild grass and the-" "Not this story again," A teen groaned out but a snap of the fingers by Stella shut him up. "Resume," She said sweetly to the man. "When the lands was lush with wild grass and the forests concealed the tribes that was scattered but connected, a village was in trouble. A beautiful but dangerous killer lured the Chiefs daughter during the night. One night, her fiance had seen that his future wife was not faithful and asked the spirits to help kill this pale intruder. The spirits sent down Logarou the Wolf Spirit. Sharing the body of the wolf, the groom to be killed the pale man but it was too late. The chief's daughter was murdered, drained of all life."
"Unknowest to him, the pale man was not alone and soon, a war reared its head to the village. The man changed into the wolf and killed each pale one. Years went by and he married a woman as brave as he. They had sons and daughters and they had offspring. The spirit of the wolf was passed down from the father to son up until present day. The village than was met by another pale one and his supporters a hundred years ago I believe." He paused to take a breath or two.
"Surprisingly they wanted a treaty to be settled and they only hunted pray like the shifters. Time went by and the pale ones left the lands, quieting the wolf inside. We look for our leaders for guidance, for support, for love. When the pale ones come again, the wolf will answer." When he was finished, I let out a low 'ooo' before asking "So the Akanokins are like wolf people?" "So the tales say," A male said, his tone bored.
It seemed that the man brightened and was happy to speak with me about any questions that I had. Mainly about when they settled in Maine and why the Berxley family took over. It turned out that the Berxley and Akanokins was at peace until it went into a romeo and juliet type situation and the Berxleys pushed the tribe back by advertising and promising business. Now the people was on protected lands that was rightfully theirs and any wilderness above Berxley was theirs and stopped at the border of the county above them.
"Come on, Alex. I have to drive you home and curfew was half an hour ago," Davian said. With a moan that proved that I didn't want to go, I had to get into his jeep. The ride home was much slower and smooth and I was almost about to fall asleep when he parked in front of the house. "I saw that you had a good time," He said then leaned over to lightly kiss my cheek. I smiled through the dull pain and said "Maybe on your birthday i'll make you a dreamcatcher or something." He laughed and said that his was on halloween. It already passed!? "My best gift was kissing you," He breathed then kissed my nose as I blushed. "Well mine is on Thanksgiving Day." Only a nine days away. "Maybe i'll make you a dreamcatcher," He said before ushering me out. My dad was peaking through the living room blinds.
My birthday was special since Ash and Sara gotten me a rainbow scarf and Mike got me a working radio installed in Rusty. Since my dad had no idea what to cook and invite, I said only the basics and not to worry about a large turkey or cake. He got a turkey anyway and decided to do the good old deep fry method. That did not end well in the backyard and he burnt nearly the entire grass away. The water hose only added to the chaos and I had retreated back in the house.
We both settled on going to the only place that was open and had ham, stuffing, mashed potatos with brown gravy, and mac n cheese. For dessert, I had pumpkin pie with cool whip while he enjoyed a cup of coffee. Davian called and asked if he could pick me up because he and his family had gifts. Stella's voice was heard in the background saying she missed me. Seeing my eyes brighten up, Brandon made a ring around his head with his right finger and dismissed me. "He said yes" I yelled into the speaker. "We are at the diner."
At his home, I was given a few clothes for winter and Davian handed me a dreamcatcher that he made himself. The feathers was from real eagles that they dropped and the thread was blue and green like my one eye. "I love it!" I coo'd before hugging him. I hardly accepted or gave hugs and since it was extremely rare to get one, he hugged me back. "You hungry?" Stella asked and I had to politely decline her cake. I did say that I'd take some for later and she nodded, smiling. Only then when things hit the wall as we got ready to go. Davian's loud gasp and Stella's comment made me turn around. "They are back?" She asked.