DARK DAYS

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Micah didn’t care that everyone had stopped to watch the exchange, Nathaniel had enough instinct to know to get the hell out of the bar, and to not show his face again until Micah had calmed down.  It wasn’t until he turned around that he saw her standing there. Micah closed his eyes in defeat, knowing he was in for it. But instead of tearing ito him Ana just turned around and walked away, shrinking away from any contact with anyone as she walked by them.

“Better go make sure she doesn’t run off.” Dante said wisely, although the last thing Micah wanted to do was be alone with her. He was more afraid of what she would do to him, than anything else.

He found her in the back room, one of the bouncers had let her in, no questions asked. “Ana..” he started unsure of what was happening.

She kept her back to him, “Don’t Micah, I’m not mad at you. Not really. You didn’t say anything that isn’t true, and Nate was out of line airing my dirty laundry in a crowded bar.”

He leaned against a stack of boxes, “He was drunk, and jealous, probably more than a bit frustrated.” Micah explained, knowing he didn’t have too.

Christiana nodded, “My fault of course.” 

Micah closed his eyes briefly, for once he said exactly what he was thinking, “That pack did a number on you didn’t they? What kind of self respecting man blames a teenage girl for their s****l frustration?” 

Ana spun around, “My uncle.” She answered honestly.

Micah took a deep breath, “Shit.” He sighed.

“He wasn’t the only one to place the blame on me. I mean his wife, the wives and mates of every man in that pack blamed me, like I was doing it on purpose.” Ana elaborated, she shook her head, “That’s not what this is about. There are two types of guys, the guys that let these pheromones control them, and the guys that deal with it  and treat me like a human being. Nathaniel… he straddles the line between the two, sometimes he’s fine, others he’s like everyone else. His problem is that he wants more than I’m willing to give.”

Micah nodded, “You don’t have to feel bad about turning to him you know. Making out with him, making love to him whatever… it doesn’t make what he said and how he acted alright.” He knew by the look in her eyes that she wasn’t buying it, she was too traumatized for that.

“I should have known better.” She whispered, walking over to him. He held his hand out to her and she took it, letting him pull her into his embrace, “I do appreciate what you are trying to do for me, trying to let me be normal, to allow me whatever time I have left to be young and irresponsible, and care free. You know I do. 

But I think it’s time for you to realize that I’m not some normal teenager, I never will be. The more I try to be the more disappointed I’ll be, I was born to be this, to be the catalyst that puts our males into heat. It’s remnant of old biological necessity, you can’t change what I am Micah. All you can do is try to protect me and I’ll try to protect myself.” 

Micah nodded again, knowing especially after that night that she was right, “I hate it when you  get all wise, makes me feel unneeded.” He joked, as she pulled back. Ana shook her head is exasperation at him. “You shouldn’t have had to hear what Nate said, what I said… I lost my temper.” She nodded understanding, and he added quietly, “He’s right though.”

Ana kissed him softly, “No he’s not, are you fatherly to me, no. but you aren’t like the rest of them, you actually respect me, you see me, that’s very rare. And it makes you an amazing friend,” she kissed him again, “trust me Micah, this is not all you, it’s definitely mutual. You aren’t forcing me to do anything I haven’t wanted to do for… a long time.”

“yeah?” He inquired holding her closer.

Ana smiled, “Yeah.” She stroked his cheek, “So stop feeling like a pedophile okay?”

Micah laughed, “I’ll try.”

“Friends who happen to be sexually attracted to eachother, and occasionally partake in some benefits on the side.” She tried out labeling them.

“God, that’s a mouthful, have to find something shorter!” He groaned, “I’ll never remember all that.”  He pulled her to him, kissing her slowly, he asked his hand sliding down her back as he nuzzled her neck “ You still going to see Nate?”  

Christiana shrugged, “I don’t know, we’ll see what he has to say for himself.”  

Micah pulled away reluctantly, “We should get back out there, they’ll be wondering what’s going on. You okay?” he asked, staring at her.

She nodded, “Yeah, I’ll probably go home soon though. I’m tired. Oh… Baird might be dropping by on the weekend… he seems to like me.”

Micah rolled his eyes at the sound of his co-workers name, “Why him of all people?” He complained.

“He’s nice… I’ve never done the whole dating unexclusively thing before, I like it, why tie yourself to one boy when there are sooo many!” She teased. 

Micah stood up, “I’d better go make sure he understands the rules then.” He said darkly. ‘