The Luna Of Another Species

The Calm Before The Storm

It’s the day after Camden’s 15th birthday and she couldn’t be happier. She runs downstairs to greet her parents with anticipation and joy. When she hits the bottom steps she notices it’s awfully quiet. “What time is it? They couldn’t have left already!” She whispers to herself. She looks at the clock over the stove and realizes it’s 9am. “s**t!” She scoffs under her breath. Luckily it’s a Saturday so the only thing she has missed is her parents leaving for the office, and not school. It still upset her so she grabbed her breakfast from the microwave, and ran back up to her bedroom.

*Switching to Camden’s POV*

I flop down onto my bed and I grab my phone off my side table as I stuff my mouth with food. Mom made my favorite breakfast today! A bacon sandwich with a side of corned beef hash. Delicious! I’m kind of bummed I overslept and couldn’t eat it with them though. Buzz buzz “what’s up chic? got any plans for today?” Sierra texted me every weekend trying to hang out. I wasn’t up for it this weekend though. My shift is coming soon, I can almost feel it! I text her back instantly. “I actually do :( :( remember I just turned 15 silly!” Great. Now I have to think about it. I’m so nervous, so so so nervous! Not just because I’ll be shifting, but I will be potentially finding my mate. I don’t even like the idea of datin- buzz buzz I’m cut off in my thoughts with another text from Sierra. “Well if you need any company just let me know.” She’s always so sweet and comforting. She is my best friend ever, and I’m pretty popular at our high school for only being a freshman. I reply back instantly “thank you! you know you’re my first call I throw my phone down and put my plate on the side table. Just thinking about how scared, but excited I was for what could be coming in the following days. Eventually I wander back into a deep sleep.

A few hours later I’m laying there and I hear some noises coming up the steps. “Ughhhhhhhh” I moan out loud. I’m not ready to wake up. “SURPRISE!” My parents yell as they throw confetti all over me. I nearly fall out my bed as I shriek! “Ahhhh, you guys can’t do that! I thought someone was going to murder me!” “Don’t be silly,” my mom says “just because we didn’t get to celebrate yesterday, we still love you, and didn’t forget your birthday!” My dad adds in “And we also aren’t going to murder you. Not right now anyway!” I roll my eyes because I see where this is going. My mom playfully smacks him across the head and it makes me chuckle. “Here, open this.” My mom says as she hands me a small gift bag. It’s my favorite color, orange. I grab it smilingly and open it confused with the contents. “What’s this?” I ask. My father sits down next to me and answers. “It’s a panic button. I know you’re nervous about your first shift, and it’s way too dangerous for anyone to be there with you. So we got you this.” This was so thoughtful. Any human teenager would of been embarrassed and probably upset at such a gift. But it meant a lot to me! My mother grabbed my chin and said “all you have to do is press it and it will send a notification to me, your father, and The Bellers that you need us, with your exact location. We will all come right there.” I grab them and give them a big hug. They looked uncomfortable when I asked them what it was, probably hoping I wouldn’t of got upset with such a silly gift, but too me it was far from silly! It was comfort. “THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH! I really appreciate it, it comforts me a lot.” They tell me to get cleaned up for dinner, and they leave to go downstairs. My parents really love me.

I start walking down the stairs when I come to a stop. I hear my mom and dad talking. Maybe I shouldn’t hear this, I should go back up. But I can’t help but listen. “We know that she’s different, but we don’t know exactly how.” I hear my father say with a concerned tone in his voice. My mom replies with “Maybe we should just tell her, so that she isn’t so surprised.” Creakkk They heard me! They stop talking. s**t. I walk down the steps smiling, “Hey guys!” My mother runs over, “Hi hunny! You look beautiful. Ready to go?” I reply “yep!”

The whole car ride to the restaurant was silent. My dad put some music on to relieve the silence but it was still awkward. What were they talking about? Do they know that I heard them? Were they talking about me? They had to be. I don’t want to bring it up, even if I should! We get to the restaurant and all the silence from the car has disappeared. We’re all talking, laughing, and reminiscing on old memories. I throw a olive at my dad and it lands in his soda, we all bust out into laughter getting all kinds of stares from other people sitting to eat. We don’t care though! We aren’t at a five star restaurant. We’re at a cheap Italian joint down the street from my house. Once I finish my meal it crosses my mind again. “We know that she’s different, but we don’t know exactly how.” I guess my father noticed my face drain it’s color and he spoke up. “Hunny is everything ok?” I quickly gather my thoughts and answer him. “Yes, I’m just worried about my shift. We’ve been having so much fun I forgot about it but I just got reminded again.” Him and my mother comfort me when I get a dizzy feeling over my head that I can’t push past. I hear my mom saying “Leon, pick her up quickly! We have to go now!” And everything just.... turns to a blur.