Chapter 3
Adam and I are dating. I haven’t been able to get that phrase out of my head for the past 3 weeks. And even though Anker gives us dirty looks whenever he has the chance and Carmen is about to burst with prom plans, they’ve been the best 3 weeks ever.
Adam doesn’t share any of his werewolf business with me. He said I shouldn’t have to worry about it. It’s not my problem. But I’m just so curious about the life of a werewolf I can’t help asking him questions every once a while. He answers vaguely, mocking me with his crooked smile. I never told his secret, even Carmen, who I tell everything too.
Adam pulls his truck into the driveway and his face turns grim.
“What’s wrong?” I ask, ready to unbuckle the seatbelt.
He glances at me with a worried look. “Hunter and Blaine are here. You better go home.”
We get out and he kisses me quickly before I walk across the yard to my front door. I glance back at him but he’s already gone. I wonder why they’re at his house. They’re never at his house. Adam told me himself.
I grab a granola bar from the kitchen and head up to my room to do I don’t know what. Everyone but me is busy today. Even Dwayne and my mom have found somewhere to be on a Tuesday afternoon. The house is less cold when he’s gone. It’s like he casts a dark shadow over everything. The only time I have a little freedom is when he is gone. Of course, most of that time is spent at Adams’ house.
I step into some fuzzy socks and see the pile of library books on my desk. They’re all books Carmen wants me to read. Maybe I’ll start one.
I grab the book on top and fall into my beanbag, turning to the first page. Tess gets to read a fiction book. Imagine that.
***
Something jolts me awake and sends the book falling off my lap to the floor. I fell asleep while reading again. Must’ve been a boring book.
I walk to the foot of the stairs to listen for what woke me up. Yells are drifting up from the kitchen. The kitchen is right below my room so I must’ve heard it through the heat vent. My mom and Dwayne never fight though. Except on tactics to discipline me. Like I need discipline from a twice divorced 36 year old man who calls himself my step-dad. What my mom sees in him, I don’t know.
I pad down the stairs and stop at the kitchen doorway. My mom and Dwayne are standing around the shattered remains of the vase that used to sit on top of the fridge. It was the 2 foot tall red vase with the intricate designs that my mom bought for $300 at an antique store 4 years ago. She said it was the one her grandmother kept candy in when she was little. I asked her how she knew and she showed me the bottom which had two little black initials scrawled on it.
My mom’s crying and Dwayne is trying to comfort her by awkwardly patting her back. It looks funny because Dwayne looks at least 10 years younger than he’s supposed to be. His comfort isn’t working. He sees me and points at me. “Look what you’ve done! You’ve upset your mom now. This vase was very important to your mother, Theresa,” He accuses me with Eyes like slits and a face beat red with anger.
I squint at him in disbelief. “What? You think I did this?”
“You were the only one here! You’re always slamming the fridge shut, deliberately trying to get the vase to fall off. How could you, Theresa? How could you hurt me again like this?” my mom says through tears rolling down her cheeks. I stare at her, open mouthed in disbelief. Dwayne would seriously do anything to get my mom to believe I’m some troubled teen who needs to be sent to some military academy in California somewhere. I know it’s what he’s been planning to do since he married my mom-I found the brochure for a military academy in his desk when I was looking for my motorcycle keys. I’ll give the bastard what he wants. Anywhere is better than here. I literally live in fear in this house.
“Hurt you again? When did I ever hurt you?”
My mom is about to say something but Dwayne steps in. “Just go to your room, Theresa. I’ll deal with you later.”
I stand my ground, “Deal with me? And how do you suppose you’re gonna do that? Give me a plane ticket and a lift to the airport?” I feel my face heat up with rage. I should probably stop but I’ve already gotten myself into this so I should get myself out.
Dwayne stares at me hard, his deep set, black eyes begging me to shut up. “Now, Theresa, don’t go to drastic measures. I wouldn’t even think of sending you away-” Dwayne’s brow is furrowed; he’s trying to keep himself calm.
I interrupt. “Oh, yes you would. I found that brochure in your desk. You just have to get my mom to agree.” I turn to my mom who’s obviously confused and is looking between Dwayne and me. “I don’t know how you could ever agree to such a thing. Dad would be disgusted.” I didn’t mean to mention my dad but it sort of just slipped out. I always got along better with him and my mom knows that. Too bad I never get to see him. Stupid divorce.
“Don’t bring your father into this, Tess. And I have no idea what you’re talking about. Dwayne and I have only been thinking about counseling,” My mom explains, trying to look honest but I’m not buying it. I can’t believe she called me Tess. That’s a first.
I gasp, bewildered at this news. “Counseling for what?”
“This isn’t the time to be talking about this. Your mom and me need to discuss this more,” Dwayne says, trying to keep hold on a conversation he’s desperate to guide his way.
“Oh, so you’re gonna discuss my life without me? Decide what’s best for me without even confiding in me? When you don’t even know me? How about you spend the rest of your lives without me instead?” with my final word, I stalk past them and shove my Uggs onto my feet and backing out the door at the same time. I hit the yard at a jog and throw open the gate that blocks the forest from our house, the stars against the pitch black sky being my only light to lead the way.