Fated

Chapter Nineteen: Movie Night

Claire’s P.O.V.

It’s been about a month since I moved in with Matthew. Things have been pretty good.

I got a job a couple of weeks ago; it’s an online data entry job – the hours aren’t very demanding and I can work throughout my pregnancy because it’s remote, so it’s kind of perfect for me right now.

I mean, it’s not my dream job or anything... But I can survive off of it.

I’ve also been taking care of my growing cub – I reluctantly contacted Alpha Jason just after I moved in and asked him if he knew a doctor I could see for the cub (of course, I can’t go to a regular human doctor, and I had no idea who else I could ask about this). So, the next day he found a doctor to come out and see me once a week, and I haven’t heard from Alpha Jason since.

The doctor is very kind, but I don’t know much about her. She won’t tell me anything, not even what pack she’s from. I guess I don’t need to know, but I would like to know more info about the woman ensuring the safety of my little cub.

Otherwise, not much has really changed...

I wake up, eat, work and sleep, with bouts of nausea interspersed, of course. It’s a pretty standard life, and after all of the trauma from the pack... I’m grateful for this.

Though, of course... I can’t help but miss my parents. I’ve never gone this long without seeing them before. Knowing the pain, the stress they could be suffering because I just left, is torture.

Then, there’s the whole Isaac/Sophia situation, and I am not even ready to let myself deal with that. This white-hot fury overcomes me any time I try – maybe fury isn’t the right word, but the feeling is too overwhelming for me to bare.

Honestly, I think a massive part of me is just trying to repress all of it – trying to keep pushing forward, trying not to let myself drown or suffocate in my own thoughts.

So far, it’s been working enough that I can get by.

I’ve been pushing forward, thinking a lot about my future.

Before any of this happened, I had really believed my future was as the Luna of Curadh. To be honest, I have no idea what my future looks like anymore. It’s completely blank to me. All I know is, I need to provide for my cub. My job should provide enough for us together, for the first year or so anyway...

Once my little cub has grown a bit more though, I’ll probably need to get a better paid job somewhere else. I have no idea how I will get a better paid job, though. I didn’t finish school, never mind go to university...

Phew... I exhale. One step at a time, Claire.

I blink hard and nod a small nod, permitting myself to repress these thoughts in order to keep pushing forward.

I should get back to work...

Moving off of my bed, I open my window to let in some of the fresh May air. The sun is shining brightly in the sky, the days are long and everything feels a little less grim now than it used to.

Sitting down at my desk, I let myself revel in these small pleasures. Finding small pleasures in things is pretty important.

Unfortunately, work isn’t one of those small pleasures, but at least it isn’t awful.

I sigh as I open my laptop again, continuing with my tasks from before my lunch break.

I don’t know how much time has passed by when I hear a knock at my door. It startles me so much that I almost knock my glass of water over my laptop.

“Oh!” I yelp softly, before clearing my throat, “Come in!”

Matthew enters the room, a softness in his approach as he peers at me, “Did I startle you?” His voice is soft and kind, but a small smirk plays on his lips as he clearly tries not to laugh at me.

“Holy shit...” I exhale, calming myself down as we both laugh. “Anyway... What’s up?”

“Oh, yeah,” He thinks for a moment, “I wanted to ask if you want to watch a movie tonight?”

…?

Huh?

Matthew wants to hang out? Huh?

My confusion must be visible on my face, because Matthew quickly continues.

“Since it’s Friday and we usually get takeaway together anyway, I was just thinking it might be nice to watch a movie while we ate. You can pick the movie, if you want?”

“Oh, uhhh,” I hesitate, giving myself a moment to wrap my head around the concept of Matthew wanting to hang out with me.

Matthew and I don’t hang out very much, but we get along well when we talk, usually when we pass each other in the apartment. That being said, I don’t know whether we are close enough that I could call him a friend yet, or not.

Regardless... Something tells me this will be fun. “Yeah... Yeah! I would like that.” I smile at him, still a little shocked.

Matthew smiles largely, “Nice! Are you hungry yet? It’s starting to get late, so we should probably order soon.”

I glance at the time on my laptop and am incredibly surprised to see that 3 entire hours have passed since I started my work again after lunch – I finish work in ten minutes! I can feel my body and mind relax knowing that I’m almost finished, and just as they begin to relax, my stomach loudly interrupts the otherwise silence of the room.

“So, that’s a yes, right?” Matthew’s smile mocks my stomach’s rumbles as he leans against my door frame.

“Yeah, I guess so,” I grin widely, “Let me finish up my work and then I can order?”

“Sure, can I sit in here while I wait?”

Huh?

I mean, I don’t see why not...

“Yeah, go ahead,” I smile before turning back to my laptop. Though right now, I feel so hyper-aware of Matthew’s presence that I can barely focus. It’s probably the shock of his total change in attitude, but I’m surprised it’s having such an effect on me.

Matthew moves to sit on the edge of my bed, scrolling through his phone while he waits.

A few minutes pass and I’ve not made much progress, but it’s fine. Sighing as I close my emails, I turn to Matthew.

“So, what should we order?”

After a quick discussion, we place our orders.

The next 40 minutes are spent waiting, and Matthew actually stays in my bedroom with me. We spend the whole 40 minutes just chatting. Not about anything major, just talking about whatever came to mind first. Honestly, it was a lot of fun – Matthew seems to have a surprisingly good sense of humour. I say 'surprisingly', because he never seemed interested in much... He seemed pretty dull...

I’m surprised by how great his personality is, honestly. He seems so kind and warm. Honestly, I wonder if part of me is beginning to find him attractive – or if I’m just feeling a little frustrated at the minute, with my pregnancy hormones and all... He’s definitely not unattractive, anyway.

Unfortunately, though, our conversation is interrupted by the delivery of our pizza. Though I might seem ungrateful for that, my stomach definitely isn’t.

A while of deliberating passes and Matthew and I take our seats beside each other on the sofa, eating our pizza and watching the movie I picked out – a movie about a fashion student who goes to law school (which makes me really miss studying, honestly).

Nothing more eventful happens the rest of the night, though. Matthew and I eat and laugh, and once the movie has finished it’s so late that I’m barely managing to stay awake.

“Thank you for tonight, Matthew,” I turn to him and give him a tired smile as I enter my bedroom, “I had a lot of fun, it was really nice.”

Matthew grins back at me, “Thank you too, Claire. I had a wonderful time. Let’s do it again soon.” He turns to give me another smile, before making his way into his room.

Something about that interaction has my heart racing – my exhaustion, my hormones, or his smile – who knows?