Shifters: Chapter 12

All right people. This isn't a long chapter, but since I've just finished school, the others will be coming on a more regular basis.

Enjoy!

Chapter 18

Jimmy and I walked through the forest, the afternoon’s sun hiding and doing nothing to warm us from the cold wind slapping in our faces. It was so cold, even for the beginning of November, that I half expected it to snow any minute. But even that wouldn’t stop us from our quest. Nothing could.

We talked all the way to my spot, the biggest oak tree in the forest. Only while we climbed did silence fill our ears. When we were finally well seated on the wooden plank, at one of the top branches, we huddled close together to keep warm.

It was something we’d done so many times, yet something felt different...no, weird. Sure, we were talking about our lives – although I refrained from mentioning anything about Shifters – and exploits, yet something was tugging at me, at my memory. It took me a moment to realize what part of it was.

“You aren’t scared,” I stated.

He looked confused. “Why should I be?”

I pointed downwards. “You’ve always been afraid of heights.”

His expression at first surprised, he started laughing. “Yeah, that’s true, I’d almost forgotten.” He smiled. “I joined an athletic support group last year to get into shape; turns out some of the activities were performed in mid-air. I almost backed out of the club, but the group wanted me to stay so bad they helped me get over my fears. I haven’t even thought about it for a long time now.”

“That’s great!” I flashed him a smile. He used to be completely freaked out every time we’d climb up the big oak. Nevertheless, he’d always do it. Just for me. That was probably why I’d had a crush on him for so long. He didn’t do things for anybody except me. I had wanted to go out with him for a long time, yet always afraid that my mentioning any feelings would ruin the relationship we had. By the time I’d decided to act upon how

I felt, he’d fallen into a serious depression.

His low self-esteem had been the cause of it. He’d been a short and a little bit overweight, not too bright and not too good-looking, the kind of person teenagers loved to pick on. And he’d suffered for a long time. His parents had thought a change of scenery would do him some good. It took a while, and many therapy lessons, but it helped. Last I’d heard of, which had been two years ago, he was slowly recuperating.

And so I stared at the person before me. He looked better than I’d ever seen him before. “You’ve changed so much,” I whispered.

His smile faded slightly, his expression turning somewhat serious. “So have you,” he replied after a moment of pause.

I remained silent. “I guess I have,” I admitted.

An awkward silence settled between us. “Do you like the new me?” he asked finally. His eyes searched mine.

I looked away for a moment. “As long as you’re happy, I’m happy.”

When I turned back to him, his face was mere inches from mine. “I’m really happy right now,” he whispered. He was leaning so close I could feel his peppermint breath against my lips.

I moved away a little, just enough to give us some space. “Maybe we should go. It’s getting awfully cold now.” I shivered.

He sighed and nodded. Without waiting for him, I started the manoeuvres to get down the tree. My heartbeat was a little faster than usual, and I took big gulps of air to calm myself down. What’s wrong with me?

* * *

I stuffed my hands in my pockets, shielding them from the cold. “You sure you don’t want to stay? There’s more than enough room for you to stay here.” I leaned against the driver’s door to his rented black Jeep. I’d been trying to convince to stay at the mansion, only to be unsuccessful. Men were real stubborn when they wanted to be.

He shook his head. “Thanks, really, but I’ve got a motel just a couple minutes away. It’ll be fine.” I eyed him sceptically which made him laugh. “Seriously, I’m okay. I’ve actually been thinking for a while now of moving back here. Now that I’m in the area, I might as well do some active searching for my own place.”

“Back here? From the Big Apple to this dump?” We both laughed at that.

“Yeah, well, I’ve actually got my sights on McGill University. And I’ve missed you, Crissy.”

I smiled. “Me too.” I moved forward to wrap my arms around his waist, barely able to lean my head against his shoulder. He hugged me back.

Then someone cleared their throat, causing us to disengage from each other. Turning our heads toward the front porch, we could see Tony, arms crossed, staring at us with a displeased look, to say the least.

Luckily, Jimmy didn’t take it wrong. Instead he chuckled. “I think this is my cue to leave.”

“Don’t mind him,” I hissed, glaring at Tony. “Stay for supper.”

“Nah, I think I’ll go back to my room and call it a night. I’m really tired after that flight.”

I shrugged, giving up. “If you say so.”

He nodded before leaning down to kiss me on the cheek. Then he turned to Tony, a huge smile plastered on his face. “Bye Antoine!” he shouted.

If Tony had been a volcano, he’d have exploded right about then. That's how bad he looked right then. I shook my head with a chuckle, leaning down towards the driver’s window after Jimmy got in the car. “You did that on purpose,” I accused.

He gave me his best smile. “And you know it.” He winked and put the Jeep into reverse, pulling out of the driveway and onto the asphalted route.

I couldn’t hear as much as I could feel Tony’s fuming self come stand beside me. “I don’t like him,” he stated.

“You’re just jealous.”

“Me? Jealous of him? I don’t think so. There’s just something about him I don’t like. He seems...off.”

I rolled my eyes. “You’re such a guy,” I said, heading towards the front door.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” he asked angrily as he followed after me.

“Nothing,” I mumbled.

Abruptly his tone of voice changed, turning amused. “You mean a guy as in I’m irresistible?” He thought about it a second, then smiled. “I think I approve.”

I snorted. “Modesty isn’t one of your fine traits.” Grabbing the door handle, I pulled to open it.

Tony’s palm slammed into the door, making it stay in place. “So I have fine qualities. Do share them.” He bent towards my right ear. “I’m curious of what you think of me,” he whispered.

My cheeks flared up, making me grateful I had my back to him. “What do you want to know?” I asked carefully.

“How about what- “Suddenly David Guetta’s Memories blared out from Tony’s jean pocket. Cursing under his breath, he used his free hand to grab his cell phone. “Aaron,” he hissed.

Still not looking at him, I spoke up. “Go ahead, talk to your friend. He’s been calling a lot lately and you don’t answer him; he probably misses you.” I yanked hard on the handle still in my grip. If it hadn’t been for Tony not expecting it, I was pretty sure he wouldn’t have let me go.

I hurried inside and was glad not to find Tony following me. If there was one thing I didn’t want to talk about, it was feelings, and that’s definitely in the direction that conversation was going.

As I walked towards the kitchen, Abby’s happy-go-lucky form came and greeted me. “Hey girl,” I kneeled to pat her. That’s when I noticed Ben, standing a few feet away, glaring at me. He looked scary with his eyes as red as they were.

“What?” I hadn’t done anything.

He lifted a single finger, pointing it at Abby. “We need to get rid of that dog!” he spat.

I looked from my dog’s innocent brown eyes to Ben’s furious figure and then back. “What did she do?”

“She won’t leave me alone.” He rubbed his eyes a little. “And I am positive that I am allergic to dogs.”

“That’s not her fault!” I exclaimed. “Why should I get rid of her just because of that? You knew she would be coming along with me, you should have said something!”

“I didn’t know I was,” he said through clenched teeth. He narrowed his already small eyes at Abby. “She’s doing it on purpose too, I’m sure of it.”

I sighed. Guys really did have issues, no matter how much they said it was women. “I’m not getting rid of her, no matter how allergic you are. She leaves, I leave, got that?”

He nodded, but it was right there on his face how unhappy he was by that. He didn’t want me to leave, however, and so he would put up with it.

“Was there another reason His Surliness wished to speak to me?” I smiled at my own sarcasm, focusing on patting the restless Golden Retriever before me.

“Yes, actually,” he continued, ignoring the insult, “you need to go get ready.”

Now that caught my full attention. “For what?”

His famous evil grin appeared on his face. “To put your training to the test.”