The Unwanted: Changing Fates (Rewriting)

41.

The day had gone we'll, Gatlin loved every minute she had three classes one of which was only an introduction before Arro would meet her for lunch until then she had enjoyed her time with Cassidy, she had introduced Gatlin to her friends Tate, Ashton and Miles all of which were nice enough. Gatlin never had a group of friends but she was seeing how it was nice watching their interactions and enjoying their playful banter “And then Miles came running around the corner in his underwear gasping for life, hand to his chest as if he was going to have a heart attack. We all thought this boy had been attacked then he looks at us with crazy wide eyes going ‘please, please tell me you remembered garlic bread” Tate concluded a dramatic retelling of their teenage years causing them all to laugh while Miles went as red as a tomato.

“Haha,” Miles rolled his eyes “like it's any different than you showing up to my sisters wedding drunk and gorging on the wedding cake before it had even been cut.”

“What?” Gatlin exclaimed through her laughter. She didn't have stories but was quick to appreciate the stories of their youthful antics.

“Or the time you got into bed drunk thinking it was my room and it was my brothers. Seventeen years old almost died of excitement. You try explaining to your parents why your drunk friend is in your little brother's bed half-naked” Ashton added and they all laughed again.

“Oh s**t what's the time?” Gatlin asked after they all finished laughing she hadn't even realised how long they had been dawdling around campus for so long.

“Ah..” Miles glanced at the watch on his thin pale wrist “ten to one.”

“s**t, I have to go” Gatlin quickly began fixing her books in her folder realising she was supposed to meet Arro ten minutes ago.

“I have to go too. I will walk with you” Cassidy gave a comforting smile. She had barely known the brunette a day and somehow was already comfortable in her presence. The pair walked side by side after waving goodbye to the other three.

“Thank you for today, Cassidy” Gatlin was completely sincere in her appreciation of the young which but Cassidy just smiled showing off her perfect teeth in the wide grin.

“It's my pleasure really and it was nice getting to know you I had heard so much about you from you're Aunt Aurella, she was so excited about you coming to stay” the thought was always nice to know that someone was happy about her presence Gatlin had never had that before and it was odd to get accustomed to being wanted to be around “what days do you have class?”

“Monday, Wednesday and Thursday on Tuesday I only have one class in Bio” Gatlin explained her itinerary.

“I have class Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. Would you like to meet for coffee before class?” Cassidy asked.

“I would love to” Gatlin couldn't help but be oddly enthused about the prospect. She hadn't been much of a social person in the passed however Gatlin was suspecting it was more to do with the people that once surrounded her and now she felt a sense of fitting in. As they walked towards the entrance side by side made small talk and laughing before Gatlin noticed Arro lingering by the front gates his usual grin was gone and a look of concern was on his face it almost looked like he was ready to flee at any minute “Arro!” she called for him approaching with Cassidy at her side the girl, however, was now tense and automatically Gatlin knew she was missing something.

“Arro...” Cassidy stammered on his name looking like a dear caught in the headlights as she faced him.

“Cassidy... What--What are you doing here?” that usually self-assured young man was gone and somehow had been replaced with a stuttered nervous mess.

“I...I've been studying here” Cassidy replied but she seemed to not be able to meet his gaze as she looked anywhere else but Arro.

“How do you know each other?” Gatlin couldn't help asking. The tense energy in the air was just too hard to dismiss.

“I grew up in his pack...” Cassidy muttered “look I will see you tomorrow, okay, Gatlin I umm have to go” without another word Cassidy practically scurried passed the two and out of sight while Arro seemed to stand their frozen his eyes closed tightly his nostrils flaring.

“Arro, are you okay?” Gatlin asked resting a hand onto his forearm. The muscles under the skin flexing for a moment but relaxing seeming to realise he was with Gatlin.

“I'm fine” he mumbled out but as soon as his eyes opened his gaze followed in the direction of Cassidy and Gatlin was all too familiar with the look in his eyes it was something he couldn't hide even if he wanted to.

“She's your mate” Gatlin didn't ask it was a statement and when Arro only sighed in reply it was enough to confirm it “Arro...” she tried to keep the sympathy from her face knowing how much she hated that look she didn't want to inflict it on her closest friend.

He seemed to grimace over the realisation of everything but the wanting and longing in his eyes remained even though Cassidy wasn't even in sight anymore “Yes... She's my mate.”

“I didn't know werewolves and witches could be mated” Gatlin simply commented.

“It's rare... Very rare but it happens” there was some sense of regret in his voice and Gatlin couldn't help but keep her hand in place on his arm attempting to give some sort of comfort “I don't want to talk about this here.”

“We can talk over lunch” and Arro gave a nod he knew there was no way of getting out of an explanation now. It was time.