Chapter 33
“What was he talking about?” I asked. “What, is it like a senior prom for lycanthropes?”
Aiden chuckled weakly. “N-No, nothing like that. Just a bunch of political talk in a stuffy atmosphere. I promise you, it’s crazy boring.”
It still irked me that he wouldn’t even tell me the name of this event. Then again, I wasn’t a lycanthrope, so it wouldn’t be in my best interest--any interest, honestly--to go. “Noah wasn’t kidding about Clyde, though,” I began, trying to shift topics. “He’s really not taking things too well.”
Aiden sighed, picking up his cup once more and swiveling the water against the rim. “My Pops’ been talking with his Mom about how we can help, but Duskfall insists that this is a personal matter. Thinks we’ll try something now that their numbers are weakened.”
I let out an angry huff, arms crossing over my chest. “God, this is ridiculous. You all came together just fine when I was in mortal peril. Do I just need to tie myself to train tracks every other week or something?”
Aiden’s laughter was unusually higher pitched. “P-Please don’t do that. There actually is a train yard around here, so that’s not as far-fetched as you think it is.”
God, I loved it when he got so flustered. “No, of course, I’m not serious. But doesn’t it bother you how quickly your packs reverted to fighting?”
“It’s not exactly fighting,” Aiden insisted. “I’d phrase it more like...re-establishing an underlying tension that’s always been there.” He sighed, scooting closer to me and putting an arm around my shoulder. “We’re pretty much back to baseline, Aria. It’s not so unusual.”
Maybe not, but it still completely sucked. “Just, promise me you won’t antagonize Clyde like when we first met,” I said. “Or go after Noah’s brother?”
Aiden winced slightly, arm pulling back to his side. “You really think I’d go after a kid like that?”
“Noah told me all about the troubles his brother went through when folks discovered I’d been attacked by a Dusk wolf,” I stated plainly. “I just...don’t want to see you following the herd.”
“The one thing we’re always taught to do,” Aiden joked lifelessly. He sighed, running a hand once more through his hair. “Noah’s my friend, and I promise it’ll stay that way. Clyde might drive me crazy,” he added with an eye roll, “but I know he’s important to you. And, maybe he doesn’t drive me as insane as before.”
Relief flooded through my chest after hearing that. “Thanks, Aiden. And, I’m sorry; I know you’d never do it. It just...I wanted to hear it from you. Your words.”
“So you can hold it against me?” Aiden teased.
I laughed, giving him a hard shove to the chest. “Stop, I’m trying to be sincere!”
“I know you are,” Aiden grinned, leaning close to plant a quick kiss on my cheek. “That’s what I like so much about you.”
My hand drifted to my face as I watched Aiden join the court once again. He grabbed one of the stray balls and gestured to Clyde, tossing it his way as the two got into a one-on-one match. They took off sprinting down the court, practically stealing the ball every few seconds from the other with a look of pure adrenaline in their eyes. No anger, no bloodlust; just two guys competing in a game as friendly rivals.
“Still…” I couldn’t help but stare at Clyde, expression lit up as he grabbed the ball back from Aiden. As he darted towards the basket, his legs pushed off the ground and catapulted him through the air, hands outstretching to land a slam dunk. That’s when our gazes caught each other, and when something envious crossed his face.
The backboard’s glass spidered as the ball made an impact, sending a terrifying cracking sound reverberating throughout the gym. A few guys turned his way as Clyde dropped back to the floor, some whistling and congratulating him for damaging school property.
And still, Clyde kept staring at me.
Chapter Twenty
“M
\-Maybe he was just worried Aiden was making you, um, uncomfortable?” Laura offered weakly.
I shook my head, glancing through the last few costumes left on the rack. “You and I both know that’s not it. Aiden’s the last guy who’d ever make someone feel weird. The guy probably couldn’t even hurt a fly.” I paused, hand lingering over some chintzy-looking witch’s dress before shaking my head. Maybe public Aiden couldn’t, but I’d seen what he was capable of as a lycanthrope.
Laura nodded slightly, curling a strand of her platinum-blonde bob behind her ears. “Well, h-have you told anyone else about you and, uh, Aiden dating?”
“Just you so far,” I replied. “And, at least for now, I’d like to keep it like that.”
Again, Laura nodded furiously, thick-rimmed glasses sliding slightly down the bridge of her nose. “Oh, of course! I w-wouldn’t dream of telling anyone without your p-permission.” She pushed said glasses back upright, a slight frown crossing her face. “But, it’s not l-like it’ll be a secret for t-too long. Unless you two are going out of t-town for dates?”
I slipped to the next aisle of clothing, grimacing at how empty the rack was. “I’m...sort of taking it one step at a time. Sort of like with this hot mess,” I added with a chuckle.
Laura followed after me, shifting her saddleback slightly and inspecting the utter lack of costumes for sale. “Well, it was a b-bit of a stretch, hoping the local thrift shop would have, um, anything left.”
“Guess that’s what I get for leaving early,” I joked.
“Oh, don’t say that,” Laura said. “It wasn’t your fault you got hurt. I’m j-just glad your arm’s getting better--who knew just a fall could dislocate a bone so easily?”
A squirm of guilt ran through me as I nodded along. I felt bad keeping Laura in the dark about everything--the wolves, the attack, her aunt being a witch--but it’d been Dia’s request we kept it a secret.
Laura suddenly swiveled on her heels, glancing towards the discount rack as a smile crossed her face. “O-Oh! Hey, why don’t we m-make a costume, instead? It’ll, um, p-probably look better than anything store-bought, a-and you can actually wear pieces after Halloween.”
“Huh. That’s not a bad idea.” With a wave forward, I let Laura take the lead across the store, tailing behind and trying to clear my head of everything. Even with all the craziness that’s happened, I genuinely wanted to enjoy my first Halloween here in Ayersville. “Hey, Laura? I’m sorry the boys bailed out on our library hangout.”