The Wolf, The Bird and The Siren

TWO

Three months ago

Ava

He has her pinned against the lockers, he clearly doesn’t care that everyone can see him making out with a different girl than earlier today. To my annoyance it is one of the meanest girls in school. Not shocking, considering he is not only handsome but also has the reputation of a heartbreaker. I am not sure why girls are into that, seems kinda dumb to me. What a stupid cliche. Bad boy and a popular hot chick make out while I stand here like an i***t. Ugh, stop. I hate having to interrupt this disgusting display but we really have to get going. I try clearing my throat but apparently, invisibility is my superpower. His lips tangle with hers so intensely that I am not sure where Jessica’s face starts and where Noah’s face ends. Is she moaning? Why is she doing that? UGH. We really have to go! I tap Noah’s shoulder and he breaks the kiss annoyed that someone would interrupt him, but when he sees it’s me his face changes and he smiles.

“Oh hey there chickadee. Are we going or what?” I nod and steal a glance at Jessica who is trying to murder me with her eyes. She knows, heck everyone knows that Noah and I are close, so she clearly fights back from saying anything. 

“Alright then. Let’s get going.” Noah grabs his backpack from the floor and begins to walk away. 

“See ya Jessica”. 

Jessica scoffs at his cold goodbye. He didn’t even look at her. Wow, that was rude…

“We have to hurry, I had to talk with my English teacher about my final essay, and then I couldn’t get him to stop chatting me up. Jada is waiting for us.”

I speak hurriedly and try to pick up the pace, more because I want to avoid looking into his face which was just glued to someone else’s. 

“Right... Ava, we need to talk. There’s something I want to tell you” Noah’s words seem reluctant. I look at him sideways as we walk towards the exit and he seems nervous too, which is ironic since he was always so confident. Plus I have known him for what seems like forever and he was never nervous around me. 

“We are talking right now” I keep the annoyance from my voice as I quicken my pace. I can feel him watching me intently.

“I mean privately. Someone could hear us” From the corner of my eye I see Noah look around, only a few students walk past us. 

“If this is about Jada, I don’t want to hear it. She is in trouble and needs the money. We have to go meet her now” I try to sound stern but I am not sure if my chirpy voice will actually achieve that. We finally make it outside and I inhale the fresh air. I hate being trapped in the school walls all day.

“It’s not about Jada...but we need to talk about that too” Noah’s temper rises at the mention of my friend who happens to be his half-sister. Jada had a talent for getting into trouble.

“If it’s not Jada, then what is it? Are you finally settling down and choosing Jessica? Or who will it be tomorrow?” My joke causes no effect on him, he doesn’t say a single word as we walk to the city’s bus stop, which is only a few blocks from our school. 

“Umm yea sorry you had to see that. And no, I don’t have a new girlfriend. Ava, does it ever bother you? I mean, are you uncomfortable with me dating someone else?” Noah’s questions catch me off guard. He had paraded with girls ever since puberty hit him and he never stopped to think how I felt. I liked to think that seeing him with others didn’t bother me anymore, but it always annoyed me at least a little. I tried to convince myself that it was because we were close and he was my best friend.

“Why would it bother me? Does it bother you when I date someone else? Oh wait..nevermind. You always scare them away with your big brother act” I snort, annoyed, but I can’t keep from laughing.

“They don’t deserve you, Ava!” He yells one second and the next he leans to whisper in my ear “they just want to get in your pants”. 

The tickling sensation makes every hair on my neck stand. I push him away and he laughs, a husky sound that makes my stomach flutter. I shake the feeling away as we enter the bus, trying to remember that as soon as he turns 18 he will find his mate and forget I exist. We sit at the front of the bus and I hug my backpack, trying to also forget that it was Noah who got into girls’ pants constantly. 

“Seriously Ava, can we just talk tonight? No distractions. I need to tell you something important”

“Just tell me now!! gosh” I shake my head at him and raise my eyebrows, and for the first time in 10 years, he can’t hold my gaze. Usually, I was the one that couldn’t stand to look into his dark brown eyes for long. I frown, starting to think something is very wrong.

“Is everything okay? Are you sick?” I try to sound soothing but my question comes out like a squeak.

“No, I am not sick. It’s nothing bad I promise. At least I don’t think it is.” He looks at me then and the thin smile on his face slowly grows into a grin, his cute dimple instantly forming. 

“Okay...well I am waiting” I motion with my hand for him to continue, but he looks out the window and changes the subject.

“I will tell you later, we are almost there. So tell me what did she do this time, and why didn’t she call me?” Noah tried to maintain an even tone but he just can’t when it has to do with Jada. 

“She didn’t elaborate. She told me to meet her at the H&M at the mall and bring cash” 

We walk to the bus door and step out. I avoid his stare completely and walk quickly towards the entrance of the huge mall. 

“Cash?? You don’t have cash Ava, none of us do” We enter the mall and make our way to Jada’s favorite store. 

“I have some saved Noah…” As soon as I say it he stops me, yanking my arm and spinning me around so I will be facing him.

“You can’t be serious! You have been busting your ass to save money for college. You can’t just use it to bail Jada whenever she needs it. She needs to know there are consequences to the things she does” Noah’s heated words should make me angry. But instead, his closeness brings that funny feeling to the pit of my stomach again.

“I have to help her, I would do the same for you or for anyone I cared for” I forcefully pull my arm away from his hold and begin to walk towards the store again. Noah doesn’t say anything else, but I can hear him mumbling something angrily. 

We walk inside and make our way to the store. Once we enter I spot Jada instantly, our friend Emilia is crying softly next to her, Jada didn’t tell me they were both in trouble. 

“She dragged Emi into this too?” Noah does not lower his voice one bit and Jada snaps her head towards us, waving and glad to see us. From the distance, Noah gives Jada a disapproving look and makes an exaggerated throaty sound. 

“Stop it. You are not helping” I quicken my pace and wave back, glad that Jada was fine but worried for Emi. As soon as I reach the couch where my friends sit, Jada jumps and pulls me into a hug.

“You are my best friend in the world, you know that!? But you didn’t have to bring Mr. grumpy here!”

I chuckle and break the hug, Noah makes another warning sound when he looks at Jada, but then softens and sits next to Emi, placing a hand on her back. 

“It’s okay Emi. Don’t worry, you won’t get into much trouble” I smile at his gentle response and feel proud of him for being so protective. After all, we only had each other. Jada’s obnoxious throat-clearing snaps me out of my venerating stare and I look at her again. She smiles at me suspiciously and I speak before she can tease me.

“What happened this time Jada? You are on probation!”

I try to sound stern again but it never works very well, Jada was beautifully-badass and could probably kick my skinny butt in a second. 

“They have cameras. Turns out they were waiting for me to come back, so this time they caught me doing it. That sneaky bastard was waiting for me and now he says we need to pay back for all the merchandise stolen now and before, or he is calling the cops.” Jada sounds unconcerned, and I know her well enough to know she would at least be a bit worried for Emi, but she wasn’t.

“How much is it? I brought all I had” I reach for my backpack and begin to unzip it, but Jada stops me.

“There’s no need my friend. A knight in shining armor came to rescue us!” Jada fake curtsies and I scrunch my eyebrows, she always uses humor as a shield.

“What do you mean?” I ask the question and then look at Noah, who had been trying to comfort Emi. He looks at Jada, waiting for her response too.

“Honestly just a really nice guy. He had seen the exchange between us and the manager. He said he would pay everything we owe and that there’s no need to call the cops. He really calmed that manager down too. Oh here he comes”

We all turn around and look in the same direction as Jada. I clench my mouth shut, trying to keep it from gaping wide open. The stranger is stunning. I was imagining some old dude but he looks only a couple of years older than us. His arms are covered in tattoos, and it looks like there might be more under his clothes. His light-blonde hair is the same shade as mine and I am pretty sure he is the embodiment of sexiness.   

“Oh and also--he is hot as hell” Jada’s loud whisper brings me back to earth and I realize that I was visibly analyzing the man, who notices and winks. I feel my face heat at his broadening smile, and I am sure I am blushing. I look away from the man’s gaze and noticed Noah, who at some point stood up and apparently had been observing my every reaction. He doesn’t look happy at any of us. 

“You must be Jada’s friend. It is a pleasure to meet you. I am Cleis” The stranger extends his hand and I take it, mesmerized by his stunning deep voice and his alluring eyes. 

“I-I am Ava. Nice to meet you” he holds my extended hand, but instead of shaking it, he leans in and kisses it without breaking eye contact. I feel my face heat up even further, meanwhile, Jada laughs and Noah makes a sound that is almost a growl. I am about to take my hand back when Noah does it for me, practically pushing me back behind him and standing in between me and Cleis. 

“I am Noah. It would be best if you didn’t touch her” Noah’s words are so rude that Jada whistles under her breath and Emi’s eyes widen. I try to look at Cleis, but Noah towers in front of me. 

“Oh, are you her brother? I meant no disrespect”

“No. I am not her brother. Do I look like her brother?” He had a point there, Noah’s dark skin and black hair are a stark contrast to my paleness and blonde hair. I push Noah to the side and speak quickly. “He is just my friend, sorry he didn’t mean to be so rude” 

Cleis flashes a charming smile and I smile back, eager to hear him speak again. 

“Well I understand how it is, werewolves are naturally overprotective” 

Me and Noah freeze at Cleis’ words. I look between Jada and Emi questioningly but it is Noah who speaks first.

“What are you talking about, you are crazy” Noah is a terrible liar and it shows. Jada just laughs as she tries to explain

“Guys it’s okay! Cleis is not human either. He has wizard’s blood and said he could sense we were not human so he wanted to help us. I told him I had already called you and that you were probably bringing Mr. grumpy here with you too”. Jada’s explanation does not calm Noah down and he stares daggers at her. I fidget with the sleeve of my jacket uncomfortably, embarrassed that this handsome stranger would know I am only a fourth supernatural. My diluted fairy blood didn’t do much. 

“Don’t fret Noah. I won’t discuss your identity, I only wanted to help.” Cleis briefly looks at Noah trying to reassure him, but then his gaze travels to me. He smiles with his eyes and I feel the urge to touch him. 

“You better” Noah’s warning causes Cleis to break eye-contact with me. For a second I see a flash of anger travel through his eyes, but it is gone right away. It is replaced with charm as he faintly nods at Noah, then he looks at Jada and Emi. 

“So, girls, it is done and taken care of with the manager. And as we agreed, this is my card and I will meet you tomorrow night. Call me for the location.” Cleis gives Jada a small black business card with a single image of a small shiny golden-apple. He then looks at me and ignores Noah’s warning body posture

“Ava. It was a pleasure to meet you. I would be thrilled to see you again, if you are ever in need, you have my number” He hands me another one of his black cards and he smiles widely, flashing a grin to both Jada and Emi and then walking off. 

“Isn’t he charming?” Emi finally talks and I notice she is as enthralled by him as me and Jada are. Noah grunts loudly and motions for us to follow him out. He yanks the card from my hand and puts it in his pocket, shaking his head and mouthing a ‘no’ before he speaks for everyone.

“What is he talking about Jada? Meet you where?” 

“Meet him for a job to pay off what he loaned us” Emi answers Noah’s question and Jada just shakes her head hastily. 

“What kind of job!?”