The Power Within

Chapter Nine

I woke the next morning still feeling the bruises from the crash. Yesterday, was an extremely insane day. I woke up in a strange place. I met really nice people, though. Then, the whole thing with Mica. Is that guy really my mate? I tossed and turned all last night trying to answer that question. Mica seemed so sure. He convinced my parents and I to stay the night at Gabby's home. Well, Gabby, Mica, and Mia all live here. This house is huge, with three stories, so there was plenty of room. My thoughts were a mess. But back to the whole mate thing. I really don't think Mica is my mate. I wish I had those letters my mom wrote me before she died. The letters from Maria were back at my apartment, so I couldn't reread them. A lot of help they are to me now. I was even sarcastic to myself. I let out a small chuckle. I got out of bed and did a few stretches to help ease the stiffness of my muscles. I threw on a pair of black leggings, and an oversized, dark purple, long-sleeve shirt. I walked to the bathroom, brushed my teeth, and put in my blue-colored contact lenses. I know the secret isn't a secret anymore, but I still need to be careful. 

I walked to the kitchen and smelled the wonderful aroma of fresh, brewed coffee. 

"Gabby, you are one amazing woman." I told her, as I poured myself a huge cup of the dark liquid. Her small laugh made me smile. "Do you have cream and sugar?" I asked, looking around. There were a few cups sitting next to the coffee pot, but nothing that looked like cream or sugar,

Gabby stood up from where she was sitting at the island, and went to the refrigerator. She grabbed a bottle of cream. She handed me the bottle, and then went to a long, thin cabinet and pulled out a container of sugar. 

I gave her a big smile. She opened a drawer and handed me a spoon, then sat back down on her stool. 

"Thank you so much. Whatcha' reading?" I asked her. I poured in a large amount of cream, and then added my two spoons of sugar, and stirred. 

She held up a newspaper, "this is our local paper for the town. It's ran by Eddy Tinker, a real nice guy, he is an eagle-shifter. He's been running this paper for about 10 years, now."

"What's a newspaper?" I asked her in an exaggerated, bewildered tone.

Gabby just laughed, and waved her hand at me, "Oh, quit it. I know I'm old."

I sat down next to her, and sipped my coffee. I heard footsteps, and turned to see Mica walking in to the kitchen. He walked right up to me, spun me around on the stool so I was facing him. He put his hands on my shoulders, and kissed my forehead. 

"Good morning, mate." His tone was bright and cheerful. It made me cringe on the inside. "How did you sleep last night? I could barely close my eyes with all the exciting thoughts going through my head." He continued, as he walked over to the coffee pot and poured himself a cup.

Yuck, he drinks his coffee black! How can he be my mate? And he is a morning person! I need at least three cups of coffee before I can even form coherent sentences. I thought to myself. He looks handsome, today, though. The white dress shirt he has on makes his blue eyes stand out, and his ass looks awesome in those slacks.

"Kiley?" His question stopped my inner dialogue.

"Oh...um...yeah...I slept okay, I guess" I replied. 

He nodded. "I have to go to work, but I am going to come back early, and spend the rest of the day with you. There is a riverside park I would love to take you to, and then we could grab dinner and maybe a movie?" 

I met his gaze. His attitude is completely different than yesterday. Maybe it was just a bad day like he said. He seems happy now. And besides, the riverside park sounds nice. I gave him a nod, "sure, sounds like fun, and I love free food." 

Mica gave me an odd look, and then shook his head. "Okay, I will be back around 2 o'clock. Please be ready to go by then."

I gave him a small salute, "Yes, sir" I joked. Gosh, he seems a little uptight. 

Mica just pressed his lips together, and put his empty cup in the sink. He kissed Gabby on her cheek, and then kissed mine as well. "Bye, ladies." I heard the door open and shut a second later.

I went back to my coffee. A few minutes of blissful silence passed by, before I heard my mom and dad coming down the stairs. They had stayed in an extra room on the second floor, while the little room I slept in, was on the main floor. Their bedroom had an attached bathroom. The bathroom had a huge bathtub. I was a little jealous of my parents' room. 

Mom came and gave me a little hug, "good morning, my love. How are you feeling?" She asked, turning my head so she could look over the cuts on my face.

I jerked my head out of her grasp. "Mom-ra, quit it. I'm not seven anymore. I'm fine." I huffed at her. 

Mom just patted my cheek, "Still a little grumpy in the morning, I see. Somethings never change" She went over to hug Gabby next. 

"My mother is a hugger, in case you haven't realized that yet." I told Gabby. I ignored my mother's comment. I'm not grumpy. I just need an insane amount of caffeine before I resemble a polite person. 

My dad laughed. He came over and patted my back. "Good morning, my Kiley-Ann."

"Morning, Daddy-en." 

"We should tow your truck to a junk yard today, and get you a new phone." Dad said, as he sat down next to me. My dad is one of those weird people who doesn't drink coffee. 

I pouted. "But, I don't wanna take Jake to the junk yard."

Dad patted my shoulder. "I know, sweetie. But, there is no way your insurance is going to pay to fix that ole' truck. They will tell you the same thing I am, he is not worth fixing." 

"He is to me. I love Jake."

"Jake is a truck...right?" Gabby asked me with a bewildered look on her face.

I nodded. "Yup. Jake has been with me for a long time, since my college days. I'm sad to see him go."

Gabby nodded, "well, he is in a better place now." 

My mom and dad both barked out a laugh at Gabby's comment. I stuck out my tongue at my dad. "Thank you, Gabby." I said.

Mia bounded down the steps and into the kitchen. She sent all of us a wave and went straight to the refrigerator. She came out with one of those protein shakes. "I'm off. Bye everyone!" She waved again, and headed towards the door. A second later, I heard the door open and close. 

"Ugh" I groaned, "morning people are so cheerful, it's annoying." 

The three parents just laughed. 

*********************************

After a tearful goodbye to Jake, and setting up my new phone, we all came back to Gabby's. Gabby went with us to guide us around town. Flushmont was a really nice town. Gabby told my parents and I how the town was mostly all shifters. She said only a few human families lived here. We arrived back at Gabby's with enough time for me to shower and change before Mica came back at two. I was a little nervous about this date. I guess it's a date, right, dinner and a movie. I haven't been on a lot of dates, only a handful, really, and most of those were back in college. 

I stared at the outfits lying on the bed. Hmm, I didn't bring a lot of 'date acceptable' clothing. I shrugged. Oh well, he is taking me to a park, dinner, and then a movie. It's not an opera, or anything fancy. Jeans will have to do. I put a pair of black, skinny jeans on. The blouse I picked was bright, apple red, with little, white daisies on it. I braided my long hair in single braid down my back. I went to the bathroom to apply a bit of make-up. 

I heard the front door open. A minute later, Mica stood in the doorway of the bathroom. He looked at his watch, and then looked at me. "It's two o'clock. Are you about ready? I did ask for you to be ready to go."

Geez, what is this guy's deal? I let out a small huff. "I am almost done." I said with forced cheer.

He nodded once and walked away. 

I rolled my eyes, and finished putting on my make-up. I walked back to the bedroom to grab my purse and my camera. "I'm ready" I said in a sing-song voice when I walked back to the living room. I was determined to have fun. 

Mica was standing next to the big, beige sectional, with his hands in the front pocket of his black slacks. His white dress shirt was rolled up to his elbows. He had a tattoo on his left forearm. 

"I didn't know you had a tattoo," I said, coming to stand next to him. 

He held out his arm, so I could get a better look. It was of a brown wolf. The detail and color were amazing. "It was my dad's wolf form." He said softly.

I looked up to meet his blue eyes, even though I stood at 5'7", he was a head taller than me. Oh, and he smells good today. He smells like a bakery, with a hint of coffee, no more locker-room smell. "I really am sorry about your dad." I told him. 

"Thank you." He let out of breath, "now, let's think of happy things." He said. "Are you ready for our date together?"

I gave him a slight nod. "Yup. I'm good to go."

We walked out to the front porch. Gabby and my mom were sitting on a swing, and my dad was relaxing in a chair next to them. I walked over and gave both my parents a kiss on their cheek. 

"Mica and I are going out. I will be back after dinner sometime." I told them.

Dad looked over at Mica, "I trust you to take good care of my daughter, and act in a more gentlemanly manner than you did last night." His tone was serious. 

I saw Mica nod. "Yes, of course, sir. And, I am extremely sorry for how I behaved last night."

I walked back over to Mica. He held out his arm. I let out a small laugh. I put my hand through his arm and sent my parents a small wave. "Bye," I said. 

Mica walked me over to a small, white Toyota Prius. He opened the passenger door, "your chariot, my lady."

I giggled at his fake accent. And slid into the front seat. He walked around the front of the car, and slid his tall, bulky frame down on the driver's seat. 

"So, the drive to the park should take about 45 minutes," He said as he backed out of the long drive-way. 

"Okay. Did you wanna listen to some music?" I asked him. 

"Actually, I was hoping we could use this time to get to know each other a bit better." He gave me a small smile. 

"Oh...okay...um, what do you want to know?" I wiggled around in the seat until I found a comfortable spot. These little Priuses are a little silly. I miss Jake I thought, sadly. 

"Let me think." He tapped one of his fingers on his chin. "I noticed the camera around your neck. It looks kind of expensive. Are you a photographer, or is it a hobby?" 

"I am a photographer. I work for a magazine called Klose-Ups down in Chicago."

He glanced at me. "You live in Chicago? What are you doing all the way up here?"

I laughed. "I am on vacation. I was on my way up to Copper Harbor before I wrecked."

"Ah, got it. I didn't see the truck in the drive way, did you take it the junk yard, or are you getting it fixed?"

"I had to take Jake to the junk yard." I said with a pout. 

"Jake," he raised one of his eyebrows, "you named your truck Jake?"

"Um, yes, because that's his name." 

He laughed at my tone, and shook his head.

Maybe this date will be fun. I thought to myself.