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Monday, October 17th, 2011

Moon Phase - Waning Gibbous

When Shane said nothing in response, and showed no hint of being insulted at the statement, Alex went back to work. Two days. No obligation maybe, but he couldn't shake the thought of something happening if he refused. In turn, the longer Alex thought about Shane outright telling his parents that he'd accepted animal meat from him and let him into the house, the better simply coming clean with them first began to feel.

Even so, how long would Shane's parents want him over, and what kinds of things, if any, would they bring up with him? As though he could sense his discomfort, Shane approached him again several minutes later, his footsteps drawing Alex's attention. "Just show up if you decide you want to." He said.

"And if I don't?"

"Then I guess you're not only a rogue, but an ungrateful one." Though Shane walked away before Alex could retort, after he was outside, Alex tailed him until he could see the SUV his mother was driving. She drove off shortly after looking at the store's front, though her expression made Alex feel like she was looking directly at him.

For the remainder of the day, outside of dinner with his folks, he kept to himself. Asking his friends for their inputs crossed his mind several times, but only once did he come close to acting on the idea; once his phone was in his hand and switched on, he was quick to reconsider and set it aside. Why bug them every time something came up? At the same time, he debated telling his parents what had really happened that day. It would take some ammo away from Shane at the very least.

As he worked up the courage to say something, he heard the TV in the living room switch on; a laugh track sounded shortly after, as well as his mother giggling. Hoping some humor might diminish any strong emotions, he let the program run a few minutes before getting up, and then diverting into the bathroom. A few sighs later, he crossed into the living room and waited for his folks to acknowledge him. "Could you mute that? I need to tell you both something."

"Did you come up with something?" his mother asked once the TV was muted.

"No, it's something else." Alex got no response and continued. "That dog I said I killed? Never happened." The lack of horror in favor of confusion on the faces of his parents was a slight relief.

"You went that whole day hungry?" his father asked, to which Alex shook his head.

"So then, what did you do?" his mother asked.

Alex closed his eyes and breathed out his nose before responding, reopening them halfway through. "That Shane kid. He fed me." When his parent's expressions shifted into shock, what he wanted to add never left his mouth.

"With what?" his father demanded.

"It...smelled like bovine meat."

"Are you sure?"

"Pretty."

"So, he was here before?"

"Yeah."

"In the house?"

A biting cold gripped Alex's chest. "No. I told him stay outside."

His father sighed. "When did he do this?"

"About two that day."

"In the afternoon?" his mother asked. Alex nodded. "That's crazy."

"I don't think he did it alone. Think his mother drove him here."

For a moment, everyone went silent. "Was that why you told me to stay inside?"

"Yeah. I just didn't want you seeing him and getting worried."

"Is that why he came here yesterday?"

Alex sighed after his father asked that, and looked away.

"It is, wasn't it?"

"Yeah."

"Why didn't you tell us?" his mother asked.

"Because he didn't make it clear until today."

"So then, is he still asking you to meet his parents?"

Alex nodded. "Because of that, and a few other things. They know I won't give him away."

"Then, I don't understand. There's nothing you need to say to them."

"Maybe he just wants me to thank his folks in person. Let them get to know me."

"Son, you're saying all this on speculation and spare details. Why is he not telling you exactly what he, or they, want? Why has he asked you about this twice in two days?"

"It's not all speculation, dad. He's called me a rogue before, and implied that I'm 'ungrateful' if I refuse to speak to his parents."

"Ungrateful?"

"I know. They made the choice to send him with the meat, though."

"So, for all you know, it's just him who has the problem with you doing that, not his parents."

Alex didn't answer.

"Regardless, here's my suggestion: write them a Thank You note and leave it in their mailbox. Done. He'll have no more reason to bother you after that."

"That did cross my mind before."

His father nodded. "Just do that, son. It's the best solution, I think."

"I think so too." His mother said.

Alex sighed before responding with an 'Alright.' He wanted to agree more than that, but something in his gut told him that simply wouldn't cut it. Shane wouldn't have dropped a date and a time otherwise.

Wednesday, October 19th, 2011

Moon Phase - Last Quarter

As Tuesday passed with him juggling what to do and weighing what his parents said versus Shane, by that same evening, he'd come close to deciding on what to do. Once his Wednesday class with Nathan was over, he nodded to him and parted ways, heading straight home to Bailey and a few minutes' walk with him, the urge to say 'screw it' and just not go refusing to fully leave his head, even after he'd sat in the kitchen stroking Bailey's head for several minutes.

As 1:00 arrived, Alex couldn't bring himself to approach the front door; Shane had given him a timeframe, not a set time. The minutes passed as he continued to decide on what to do, and all the while, tension was building in his gut. He saw no reason why he'd have to stay there past 4:00, but how long were his parents thinking of keeping him there to talk? And the second werewolf scent. If it was from Shane's father...and what would he be like? Had the rogue label come from him, or just Shane's anger?

After a lengthy sigh, Alex buried his face in his hands. Now he couldn't help thinking that if he went along with this meeting, he'd be at a major disadvantage in even basic discussions.

As 1:30 came closer, he pulled his phone out and wrote up a text telling Nathan to reply ASAP.

He did so several minutes later.

Nathan T.: Hey, man. What's going on?

Alex exhaled before typing out his response.

Alex S.: You working?

Nathan T.: Yeah, but it's not busy. Why?

Alex S.: I'm nervous about meeting Shane's parents.

Nathan's reply was swift.

Nathan T.: Are you serious?

Alex S.: Yes.

When his friend didn't respond, he continued.

Alex S.: All I need is a small favor:

Text me at 2:15, 3:00, and 3:45. Just a quick message to respond to.

Nathan T.: Just don't go, man. If you're that nervous, just stay home.

Alex S.: I was about to, but I'd rather get this guy off my back.

Nathan's response came after a minute.

Nathan T.: Alright. I'll do that.

Alex S.: Thanks, man.

Once he pocketed his phone, Alex gave Bailey one last headrub before leaving the house, his backpack and two cold water bottles in tow.

He arrived at Shane's house just before 1:45. Two vehicles sat in the driveway, the SUV he'd seen before now blocked by a Jeep. Before opening his helmet's visor, he attempted to spot any movement by the windows; he could picture Shane just sitting by one of them, watching for him or the sound of his motorcycle, but nothing over the next minute confirmed it.

After a swig of water, he parked his motorcycle in the street, and then made his way to the front door. He could feel his skin chilling with every step, and didn't take his helmet off until he'd depressed the doorbell and then stepped back.

It was Shane who answered the door, and Alex huffed out his nose when his mother asked who it was. "Alex." Shane said, and then gestured him inside. Already, Alex had noticed both Shane's, and the second werewolf's, scents, both of which made him quiver as he crossed the door's threshold. "Calm down, will you?" Shane said as he closed the door behind him.

The response Alex wanted to give came only from a quick huff out his nose.

"Fine. Just wait here, then." As Shane left, Alex tried to glance around and take in the place. Despite the several musty scents, the place looked nice. The emergency duffle bag in the foyer drew his attention next. The Sugar Land city logo and dark red color screamed EMT, though Shane returned a second later, drawing his attention away from the bag.

"C'mon, in here." He said with another gesture to follow. Alex obliged after a second glance at the front door.

He rounded the corner to find both his parents sitting at what looked like a dining table, already staring in the direction he was coming from. It took only a second more for his memory to be jogged, and for a hand to unconsciously move near his mouth.

Shane's father was the EMT. One of the four who had helped Angela the night he and Nathan had found her.

As both of Shane's parents said 'Hello' to him, his gaze moved to Shane and then back to his father; his throat stayed locked as he recalled what his father had told him about her body going missing, his eyes squeezing shut as his sense of unease built by the second.

"What's wrong with him?" he heard Shane's mother ask.

"Probably worked himself..." Shane began.

"Hold on, Shane." His father said. Alex wanted nothing else than to back away when the silence came; he made one step into it before Shane's father continued. "Alex, wait. Calm down."

Fat fucking chance. Alex thought as his eyes reopened. He then glanced towards Shane, his tongue resting near his potential fangs. No wonder you were so evasive.

"Alex, listen to me. If you freak out and change, you're on your own."

"Meaning you're walking home in broad daylight, hungry." Shane added with a stern edge to his tone. "Or is that..."

"Shane, don't." his mother said before getting up from her chair. As she approached, she continued. "Just calm down, Alex. Please."

Alex swallowed in response. No blood on his tongue, or fangs, yet. The tension around his chest was still great, though.

More seconds went by, and the family stayed silent; after Shane got a glance at Alex's eyes, he shut them and shook his head, prompting Shane's mother to continue. "A talk with you is all we want."

"Which I told him." Shane said.

"Hang on, you two." Shane's father said after a second. "I think I know why he's freaking out."

I wouldn't doubt it.

"Alex, if it'll help you relax, yes, I did take Angela's body from the hospital that night, but only because I couldn't allow her body to be used for organ donations. There'd be more werewolves because of her."

Alex huffed out his nose again, though his chest tension laxed some at hearing that.

"I felt sorry for her too, but I couldn't risk that."

"He won't believe you, dad." Shane said.

"Maybe, maybe not, but that's the truth." He then went silent again.

Alex closed his eyes again, breathing out his nose once more. The admission was a relief to hear, and he heard nothing in the father's voice to make him think he was being deceitful, but in the back of his mind, he felt sick at the idea of keeping that knowledge to himself, good reason or not.

"We didn't bury her, or burn her, or dump her or some crap like that." Shane said, to which his mother said his name. "Bottom line: We didn't disrespect her."

Wishing he had a way of knowing if that was true, Alex felt his heartrate slow a few beats. When a hand was placed on his shoulder shortly after, Shane's mother spoke. "Are you okay?"

Alex exhaled again, not willing to speak just yet and opting for a shake of his head.

"Then, if you need some time, go home and then come back. We'll wait."