Chapter 27

When I eased it out of the garage, it complained bitterly. I couldn’t think of the last time I took it to school or out of the house for that matter.
When I got to school, I was sure I was going to be permanently deaf if spent another minute in it. I regretted not taking my motorbike instead. I got out as soon as I could. I couldn’t bear the sweet smell any longer.
“You’ve been ignoring me.” Nick said falling into step with me. He took my backpack and slung it over his shoulder.
“Ah! My brother from another mother, how are you?”
He rolled his eyes and said. “You remember Milton right?”
“Unfortunately,” I whispered. At the mention of his name, my heart beat fast.
“Hey.” I couldn’t mistake that voice for any other. I could feel goose bumps quickly surface on my arms. I shivered uncontrollably. He held out his hand for me to shake.
I stared at it for a very long time and then with forced politeness I took his hand briefly in mine. Quickly I snatched my hand away when he went on to kiss it.
He smiled at me and I could only pray that he couldn’t hear my heart threatening to launch out. Why was I afraid of a mere boy? That’s how I saw him. He wasn’t mature enough for me to consider him a man.
His boyish looks were nothing spectacular, fine looking, elegant or even worth a second glance or was it my fear that blinded me?
Milton shortened his stride to match mine. Absentmindedly I scoped closer to Nick. When he saw what I was doing, he got so close to me that I could feel our arms brushing.
I stopped and pretended to tire my shoes. They stopped a foot away. When I was done, I sandwiched Nick between us. I felt so awkward especially when I looked up and found him looking at me. Somehow, that creped me out, I forgot how to breathe.
“Milton transferred to our school.” Nick was saying. It seemed that he couldn’t feel the tension.
“Why?” I wanted to sound casual but I failed. My voice came out panicked.
Any other day going to Mr. Meanie’s class would’ve been a bit of a drag but with Milton by side, I found I couldn’t get there fast enough. I picked up my pace and forced herself to look forward.
“Why are you in such a hurry?” Nick asked. “Usually you’re the last one to arrive in wolf skills.”
“I don’t want to be late. That man hates me.” I half lied. Besides, I can’t bear to be next to him any much longer. I wanted to add but I bit my tongue to the point where I could taste blood.
Nick didn’t seem to notice anything off with my answer. He nodded and took my hand. I relaxed slightly at his touch. I didn’t feel so out of place any more.
“You smell different.” Milton said.
“It’s a new perfume.” I said through clenched teeth.
“It’s nice and sweet.” He said in a light voice.
I held on tighter to Nick’s hand. If I was hurting him, he didn’t show it. When we walked in Mr. Meanie’s class, I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding.
I sat at the first desk closest to Mr. Meanie. He assigned me that seat years ago. I could never seem to keep quiet when I sat next to Lee or Nick. I was the only student that didn’t share a desk with anyone else, the teachers’ orders.
Mr. Meanie walked in a minute later. He almost consumed the whole door. He was a bulky man, with a double chin, potbelly big enough to accommodate a hundred black cats. He had wild cruel childlike eyes, graying hair and laugh lines that were surely a mistake. The man never smiled.
“Miss Wells.” He acknowledged. This happened every day. He would greet me and then if I were a good girl ignore me but some days….
“Sit. You nut heads.” He swirled.
The terrified kids all but ran to their seats. Milton to my dismay sat next to me.
“Oh no” I groaned. Some great force out there must hate me.
Mr. Meanie turned sharply.
“You brat” He gave me what would’ve passed as a smile than just as quickly his face rearranged itself to a scowl. “I want you to jump around the class on one leg.”
I wasn’t sure whom he was talking to but I had a good suspicion that it was me. I pointed a shaking finger at herself . Mr. Meanie was definitely not the cause for my trembling body.
“Yes you.” He said. “Do you want me to come there and kiss your stinking granny toes?”
I gasped. I wanted to laugh like everybody else but I knew of the consequences. Slowly I unglued herself from the chair and gave it a push. It made a deafening screech.
Mr., Meanie grimaced.
I smiled.
I walked to the front door and stood up straight and took deep needed breathes.
“At least you’re away from me. You smell awful.” He said in a kind voice.
Maybe he had a heart after all. He had made me do worse like the time he made me ran laps almost the whole day or the time when…
My train of thought broke as he shook me. “What’re you doing?”
“Sorry Mr. Meanie.” I said.
I heard everyone gasp. At first, I couldn’t understand what I had done wrong than I vividly remembered that his name’s Mr. Melanie. I gave him the nickname when he first voiced his dislike of me, and Leslie made it his mission to let the whole school know.
He smiled evilly. “After school come for detention for the rest of the semester”
I just couldn’t help herself . I just had to test his hearing ability. “Baldhead…” I said to his back in a whisper.
“And make that two semesters.”
“But Mr. Meanie it wasn’t her fault…” Milton said.
I was grateful for taking the spotlight of me.
Melanie looked at the class with a confused face. “Does anyone know this little wolf runt?”
For the rest of the day I was the talk of school. I had many people ask me for the details of what happened in wolf skills class. When I couldn’t take it any longer, I locked herself in my car for the rest of lunch break.
The next morning Milton showed up at my house to pick me up.
“Finally,” My father said. “I get to meet the boy responsible for my daughter’s disappearance.”
Milton looked very chic in black attire that I could associate with his heart. “How so, sir,”
You just had to ask. I said to herself . Lies never get you anywhere and maybe it was time to tell them the truth.
“Well.” My father said opening the door wider. “Come in son.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“Come.” Callie said giving her seat next to me up for Milton. “Sit.”
He nodded and sat down and took my hand in his. “You look beautiful today.”
My free hand inched. I was never a violent person but I wanted to slap Milton so hard across the face,
“She is, right?” Sue said with a warm smile.
“You have a beautiful daughter Mr. and Mrs. Wells.”
“What’s your name son?” my father asked with squared shoulders. He could be a very intimidating man when he wanted to be.
“Milton Tom Hilton, sir.” He replied in a warm voice.
Inez nodded deep in thought.
“I hope you’re hungry.” Sue said. “We’ve having breakfast.”
I rolled my eyes. Of course, he could see that. “Actually we should go.”
“No, it’s fine.” Milton said. “I have a few minutes to spare.”
Defeated I sat back down and listened to Silas, dad and Sue ask him questions about his family. They gave him compliment after compliment. I think my father fell in love all over again, with Milton, this time.
Callie was watching all the while and Leslie kept glaring at Milton. I was glad I wasn’t the only one that didn’t want Milton’s presence.
After breakfast, I went to my room to get my school bag. The door closed loudly behind me.
I looked over my shoulder and saw Leslie standing there with a glare.
“I don’t like that guy.” He said honestly.
“Me too,” I sighed. “There’s something about him.”
“Why didn’t you tell them that that’s not the guy you disappear to meet?”
I blew out a lungful of air. “Then I’d have to tell them all about my mate.”
“Why are you hiding your scent?”
I laughed nervously.
“And don’t you dare lie.” He said. After a minute when he knew I wasn’t going to answer, he added. “Get rid of him.”
“Who,” I asked panicked. I couldn’t get rid of Peter. I wouldn’t. The very thought hurt.
“That boy downstairs’” He said it in a duh voice.
I nodded.
“Did he join our pack?” he asked after a minute of silence.
“Yes.” I sighed. “According to Nick, he lost his parents on a fire and his pack chased him away after that?”
He shook his head. “That doesn’t sound right. A pack can’t do that.”
I nodded. “I agree.”
He walked to the bed and took my backpack that lay opened in the middle. He glanced over his shoulder at me.
“What pack is he from?”
“From what I heard it’s the Moon Bond pack.” I answered.
He thought for a while. “There’s no such pack.”
“Are you sure?” I asked thinking deeply.
“Hmm ...” He breathes. “I’m positive. I would’ve heard of it. I mean there aren’t many werewolf packs out there probably five or six.”
I took the brush and ran it over my hair slightly. “You might be right.” I grimaced. Gar, I hate my hair. Finally, I gave up and held it in a ponytail.
“Try to ask around about him,” he said. “I’ll do my best.”
I nodded.