30

30
“Plus, you’ve got a lot of square milage to get signed,” Noah joked. “Once you get back to school, that is.”

“Pretty sure Dad’s gonna try and homeschool me at this point.” I sighed dramatically, head leaning against the back of the couch as my two friends let out a laugh. “Speaking of which, that the homework for this week, Laura?”

She nodded, popping the bag open as she fished out a few stacks of papers and books from within. “It’s actually not t-too bad. With the, um, g-game this Saturday, the teachers u-usually assign less.”

“Gonna suck without my assistant coach there, though,” Noah added with a huff. “We made such a good team, too. I really had a good feeling about this season.”

“Well, if you manage to convince my dad to release me from this sanitary prison…” I laughed bitterly. “Be my guest.”

Noah grinned, sticking his hands in his pockets as his expression suddenly fell. “Oh, shoot. Laura, you don’t have any headache medicine in that blackhole of a bag, do you?”

Laura’s eyes widened slightly. “Oh, n-no, I don’t. Do you need some?”

“If it’s no trouble,” Noah said, rubbing the back of his head with a wince. “Still sorta feeling that basketball to the back of the head. See, Aria, now if you were there, I’m sure you could’ve caught it before it made contact.”

That got a much-needed chuckle out of me as Laura quickly stood, starting toward the archway with her backpack swung over her shoulder. “O-oh, well, let me see if Mr. Harvey has any. Be right back.”

“Take your time,” I joked as she vanished into the kitchen. “Though, if you wanted something for your head, I’m sure I’ve got a few extra pills left over from the hospital visit.”

Noah’s laugh seemed a bit less… enthusiastic this time around.

“I’m kidding,” I added quickly. “That’s absolutely a felony and I don’t break the law. Promise.”

“No, it’s not that.” Noah shifted his body, attention fully on me as he spoke. “It’s just, I’ve had what Aurora calls ‘medicine.’ I don’t even think it works; I think you’re just too focused on how gross it is to feel anything else.”

I blinked, not quite sure how to respond to that.

“It’s okay, Aria. I know you didn’t go to the hospital.” Noah pulled his hand out from his pocket, flipping his phone open and thumbing through a few screens before turning it. Within his photo album, he’d pulled up an image of what looked to be him on a hike through the woods, with a small, gray-furred kid running ahead and laughing.

“Why are you…” My voice trailed off as I shook my head. “Wait, so then you’re—”

Noah shook his head. “Skipped me entirely, I’m afraid. But that kid’s awful at keeping secrets; guess he gets it from Mom.” He stuck his phone back in his pocket. “To be honest, I sort of had my suspicions when you asked to take him home.”

Crap. I knew that sounded too weird.

“I’m gonna guess Clyde let it slip?” Noah asked.

I grimaced, catching a strand of hair with my finger. “Uh, sort of. I don’t think he meant to. It just kinda… happened.” I glanced back toward the kitchen, feeling nerves churning in my stomach. “So, wait. Does Laura not know about any of this?”

“Her aunt insisted she didn’t,” Noah explained. “Laura doesn’t know anything. Anything, Aria, and you gotta keep it that way.”

Yikes. “Okay, but why tell me all this now? I mean, I love that we share this secret, but you could’ve told me whenever.”

Noah sighed, giving his own nervous glance toward the kitchen before continuing. “I know this sounds insane, but I was hoping you might help. Word spread pretty fast about your attack; if Toby’s not getting totally ignored at school, the other Northerners are chasing him down through the woods. It’s not safe for him, for anyone in that pack. Mayor Lowell’s trying to keep it together, but…” He fell silent, nervously fidgeting with a thin chain around his neck.

“Noah…” I shook my head slowly, feeling a slight twinge from my shoulder. “I—I’m not like my Dad. I don’t carry a gun in my pocket; I don’t even know how to use one. Hell, I probably got attacked because of what my dad used to do.”

“I know, I know.” Noah quickly wiped his face, hand running through his hair as he took a wobbling sigh. “That was stupid of me to ask. It’s not fair—I mean, you’re hurt, but…” Again, he ran his hands across his face, eyes hazing up while he spoke. “Forget what I said. This isn’t your fight; you’re as in much danger as my brother is. I’m sorry.”

God, but why did I feel so guilty about saying no? What he wanted me to do was crazy; what could I even do to help? Aside from loudly walking around some secluded area, I wasn’t any more useful than living, breathing bait. But, for some unmistakable reason, this felt entirely like my responsibility.

I quietly waited for Noah to collect himself, continue to futz around with the chain around his neck while blinking furiously. “Noah?” I gestured with my good hand as I spoke. “What do you keep messing with?”

He blinked, obviously taken aback by the sudden question. “Oh, well, it’s a whistle.” His fingers pinched the chain as he pulled it out from his shirt, revealing a thin, reed-like whistle from beneath. “Mom got it for me once the cat—er, dog—got out of the bag.”

At least someone has my sense of humor. “Just a whistle?”

“A dog whistle,” Noah explained. “Sounds kinda stupid, I know, but it’s gotten me out of a few tight spaces. Especially if Toby gets a bit… uh… wild.”

“That actually works on lycanthrope?” I asked, somewhat amused.

Before Noah could answer, Laura came back into the living room, a cup of water in one hand and a bottle of headache medication in the other.

“Um, h-here, Noah,” she said, holding it out for him to take. “Mr. Harvey said you’re welcome to these.”

“Thanks, Laura.” Noah happily took a swig of water before popping two pills into his hands, mixing the concoction in his mouth before swallowing loudly. He downed the rest of the water soon after, standing before giving me a weak smile. “Well, we should get going. Hope you feel better, Aria.”

“You, too,” I replied softly.

Dad appeared through the arch as soon as the door shut behind the pair, taking a seat on the couch beside me. “When I saw Laura on her own, I figured you two were talking about Toby.”

I sighed, setting my head against my dad’s shoulder. “It’s not fair. Noah’s brother isn’t the one who attacked me. He shouldn’t be getting picked on like this.”

Dad sighed, pulling me close with his arm around my waist. “I know, sweetheart. But there’s nothing we can do right now.”

“They’re after me, though,” I insisted. “If they saw a chance to just—”