The Werewolves of Billings Montana

Chapter 4

After dealing with the events from last night, I could not handle going to school sitting in class. The anxiety of the upcoming with Carson got me chewing my fingernails down to the nub. Ava was giving a worried expression over breakfast this morning.

"Are you okay?" Ava asked with concern.

"Oh, I'm fine. Don't I look fine?" I questioned her with bewilderment.

"You are not fine. So, I will stop lying to yourself," Ava said, grabbing our bowls and putting them in the sink.

I rushed back to my room to grab my backpack. By the time I made it to the Ava's, I had called shotgun. Ian was silent for the whole ride to the high school. Ava was listening to music low enough to be able to hear any conversations. Ian stopped the truck in the parking space near a red sedan. Ava unbuckled her seat and rushed across the parking lot. I was about to leave.

"Taylor, can you stay here for a minute?" Ian asked.

"Why?" I answered.

"I am sorry about yesterday. Carson agreed to a meeting sometime later in the week. Since tomorrow is Thursday. He mentioned going over to his house to talk it out," Ian mentions.

"Okay," was all I said before leaving the truck.

I rushed across the parking lot. The warning bell rang as I was grabbing my books for my morning classes. I made it to homeroom in time before the teacher came in. Ava looked at it. Are you okay?

"I will explain in the first period," I whispered.

After that, it was said the homeroom instructor came in holding a stack of papers. The teacher did not say anything at first but only handed out the papers to the students. I glimpse at the paper. It has something to do with picture day. The other paper was more information on homecoming coming up in the next couple of weeks.

"Alright, class, I passed around papers for picture day for some of those who need to get Senior Portraits done. That will take place the following week. The second paper is the weekend of the third week of October. Tickets will go on sale sometime in the next two weeks. Any questions?" the instructor explained.

I looked around at my classmates. No one raised their hands.

"Off you go then," the teacher responded.

The bell did not ring yet, and the others were already walking out of homeroom early. I gathered my things, and Ava tapped me on the shoulder.

"Were you in trouble when Ian asked you to stay behind?" Ava questioned.

"No, it had to do with my arranged marriage with Carson. We have a meeting at the end of the week to discuss some things," I answered.

Ava did not pry anymore after that.

We went to our first-period class. Of course, I bumped into the one person whom I never wanted to. I heard a grunt from the impact as I landed on top of him. I'm looking at Eli on the floor again.

"We got to stop meeting like this?" Eli joked.

"More like I should watch where I am going next time," I sarcastically replied, getting off of him.

"Yeah," Eli agreed.

I straightened my clothes and helped Eli up on off the floor. He picked up my books and handed them to me. I took them, not looking at him. I did not want him to see me blushing from embarrassment again.

"I overheard you telling Ava about calling a meeting with cousin. Are you planning on going through with it? The whole marriage thing, I mean," Eli asked.

"All right, nosey. I don't know what I am doing. It will seem I will have to. I want to see if he can move it back until I graduate, not as soon as I turn eighteen. It doesn't seem fair to me," I addressed.

"I guess it would be a good idea to address that to him," Eli replied, shrugging.

The late bell rang, and Eli and I rushed to our first-period class. I immediately rushed to my seat, apologizing to the teacher for my tardiness.

"Now, as I was saying before, rudely interrupted by Miss Marshall, came strolling in late," Mr. Swartz remarked, glaring at me.

I shuffled down in my seat to hide my embarrassment even more. The other students looked at me. I can feel the blood rushing to my face. The humiliation is real today. I spent the rest of class just getting through the first period. The bell rang at the end of the first period. I gathered my stuff and was about to leave for the next period when Mr. Swartz called my name.

"Taylor, can you stay back for a second?" Mr. Swartz asked.

"I wait for you out in the hall," Ava whispered to me. Leaving me with Mr. Swartz.

"Am I in trouble for being late?" I asked.

"No. This time will be a warning. Next time, it will be an after-school detention. I don't like students being late to my class. Now, move on to your next class," Mr. Swartz ordered.

I hurried out the door and grabbed Ava’s arm. We ran towards our next class. We grabbed the seats next to each other.

"What did you, Mr. Swartz want?" Ava wandered.

"He gave me a warning about being late to his class. Also, he threatened an after-school detention," I rolled my eyes and smirked.

Ava laughed at me and sat down in her seat next row over. Eli came strolling in. I never knew he was in this class unless he switched his schedule. I shrank down in my seat so he wouldn't recognize me. Then I felt a pencil tap on my shoulder.

"Hi buddy," Eli said from behind me.

I turned around and smirked with sarcasm. I'm not saying anything to him. I acted like he never existed for the entire class. When the bell rang so I could go to lunch, I ran from the class to get away from Eli. Ava saw the whole thing, too. I could have sworn I saw her laughing behind her hand at my expense. Quickly went to my locker, got lunch, and ran to the cafeteria.

This was not the day I wanted to have either.

Ava came back to the table and sat across from me.

"I saw you laughing at me. What was that about?" I accuse.

"I couldn't help it. You always end up falling on Eli. It was funny. Sorry, but not sorry," Ava laughed at me.

"I don't find it funny," I chastised.

"Sorry, but I think it's cute. Do you like him?" Ava asked, still laughing at me.

"No, I don't," I lie, trying to hide myself blushing.

"You are lying. I can see the blush creeping up your cheeks. This is so cute," Ava gushed.

"Shut up. I don't want him to hear of my crush on him. Werewolves have sensitive hearing just to warn you," I replied.

"Fine. I will shut up now," Ava said, huffing in her chair.

I looked around the cafeteria, hoping Eli wasn't listening to my conversation with Ava about my feelings for him. Knowing I will never be able to love another if I marry his cousin. My life was already planned out for me. I have no choice. I am hoping the meeting on Saturday goes as planned. Carson better agree with my demands or be hell to pay.

The bell rang, and Ava tapped me on the shoulder to get moving to go to our last classes for the day.

"Sorry, I was lost in my thoughts thinking about Saturday's meeting with Carson," I told Ava.

"You're nervous, aren't you?" Ava asked.

"A little bit. I am afraid nothing will go my way due to being a female werewolf," I said.

"Is Werewolf Society a bit sexist if you ask me," Ava agreed with me.

Ava and I went our separate ways. I went to study hall, thinking of Eli, Carson, and my future. I hate how I don't get a choice in anything when I should. The council needs to change the rules for female werewolves. It just hurts. Sometimes, I feel like I am moping around. School came to the end of the end.

"How was your day, girls?" Ian asked.

"It was the same as usual. Nothing happened," Ava answered.

I stayed silent until we got home. Ian noticed my silence. He caught me by the arm and asked, "Are you mad at me?"

"I'm not mad at you. It has been a long day," I replied, tugging my arm free.

I ignored Marcus and Andy, who were watching the exchange not long ago. I stayed in my room until dinner was ready. Then I went to bed that night thinking about my future again.

I woke up from a dream about my wedding, but it was not Carson waiting at alter it was Eli. The dream jarred me awake. I was breathing heavily and silently panicking. My dream must be telling me something. Was Eli going to play an important role in my future? I needed answers.