My Resolution

Chapter 7

Donovan was talking to Nolan at the back of the limo, so he hadn’t noticed the way Mara was sitting.

“Hey, you, okay?” I asked quietly.

She glanced at me and back out the window, “I’m fine” she huffed.

I didn’t know what to say, so I just said, “okay’’ and decided it best that I mind my own business. Mara and I weren’t exactly friends. We had known one another since kindergarten and were always amicable, but we had different groups of friends, so it wasn’t my place to pry. I turned my attention to the conversation around me, only occasionally looking back at Mara, but she never moved.

We had made dinner reservations at the Red Onion, an upscale restaurant that offered fine dining and phenomenal service. They had prepared a long table near the back windows for us. It was set with a black tablecloth and crisp white napkins, with glass water goblets and a poinsettia runner down the center of the table. Donovan sat at one end and Nolan sat at the other while the rest of us filled the chairs down each side. I sat beside Sloane on Donovan’s left with Mara directly across from me on his right with Toni beside her. She still carried a sour look on her face, but I chose to ignore it, instead, talking to Toni and Sloane about where we had gotten our nails and hair done. They had gone to Salon Vogue, and neither were surprised when I said Emma had done my hair and makeup. “No offense, but I didn’t think you had done that on your own.” Toni had said, knowing I wasn’t offended at all.

“So, you didn’t even bother to get a professional for your hair,” Mara said pointedly.

It wasn’t a question, but I shook my head anyway, “No, it wasn’t that important to me.”

She pursed her lips giving me a withering look before looking back down at her menu. Toni gave me a look that very clearly said, “what the f**k?” I shrugged and opened my menu. I noticed Donovan looking at her scornfully, but she hadn’t noticed. I tapped his leg with my foot, when he looked at me, I simply shook my head and took a deep breath in and out, indicating he should take a breath and let it go. I didn’t know what was going on, but neither the time nor place to figure it out.

Dinner was delicious, I had a juicy sirloin steak with a caesar salad and buttery baked potato, which I immensely enjoyed. A few of us decided to order dessert, I got the pumpkin pie with fresh whipped cream, it was to die for. Donovan offered me a taste of his apple crisp with homemade vanilla bean ice cream and bourbon caramel drizzle, asking if I could recreate it at home. I grabbed his spoon and took a bite, savoring the warm apple and cold ice cream, “yeah, I can make that, just need to get some bourbon from Mr. Boone.”

Outside, it was starting to snow lightly. We climbed back into the limo, finally making our way to the dance. When we arrived, the driver pulled right up to the front door of the gym to allow us to exit. Inside the foyer of the building, Donovan helped Mara remove her wrap, so he could take it to be hung up. He offered to take mine, as well, since he was going that way anyway. The other girls were all waiting for their respective dates to return, so I waited with them so we could all go in together.

Inside the gym, the dance committee had outdone themselves. Lining the walls, every few feet, were tall artificial Christmas trees designed to look like they were covered in snow, each one with twinkling white lights hanging from the branches. Along the floor tucked strategically around the trees was a fluffy white fabric, giving the illusion of snowbanks. There was a space cleared in the middle of the room for dancing that was surrounded by round tables covered with white table cloths, and sitting in the center of each were tall cylindrical vases filled with sparkly silver and white baubles and pinecones. The whole room was backlit in soft blue lighting that made it feel like we were outside in the snow with the moon shining over us. I noticed that Mara’s dress matched the décor perfectly and offhandedly wondered if that was intentional but brushed the thought away as soon as it came.

We found a few tables that were close together and near the dance floor, per Tobi’s request, and made ourselves comfortable. There were already a lot of people there, but more were arriving. The DJ was already playing great music, and some were already dancing. Teachers were standing around the edges of the room keeping their eyes on the event. I went to get myself a glass of punch while the table was still relatively clear.

I was meandering across the gym with no particular destination, greeting people I knew along the way when Tobi and Sloane caught me.

“I have got to know, what is her problem?” Toni asked gesturing her head toward Mara and Donovan dancing. She was smiling sweetly up to him, the scowl from earlier completely gone.

“I have no idea. She seems fine now.” I shrugged.

“If looks could kill, you would have died like six times tonight,” Sloane claimed.

“I think you’re being a little dramatic. She just got out of a pretty serious relationship; I think she’s just trying to deal with that and is struggling.”

“No, she has directed all her s**t at you, all night,” Tobi interjected.

“Well, I’m not worried about it, so let it go.” I snapped. I did not want the whole night to be about, whatever this was, so I was done discussing it.

“But Val...” Tobi started.

“Nope, I’m not even entertaining this. Let it go.”

“Fine,” they sighed in unison.

“But if she keeps it up, I swear,” Tobi warned.

I shook my head, and we went back to the tables.

We all took turns dancing, resting, and getting refills. I slow dance with all my girlfriends and a few of the guys from our group, too. We had tried to get Mara to join us, but she refused, she would only dance when Donovan danced. One of the teachers stopped and gave Sloan, Tobi, Jonna, and me a warning for grinding on each other and Brady. I’ve never felt like I was missing out on the fun, simply because I was stag at all the events. My friends were amazing.

I was sitting at the table sipping my punch when a familiar song came over the speakers, it was “I’ll Stand by You” by The Pretenders. I looked around and found Donovan standing behind me. “What did you do?” I jokingly accused him.

“Just put in a little request to the DJ,” he smiled.

I jumped up to join him on the dance floor, he put his arms around my waist, but I pulled him into a hug. “You’re the bestest,” I smiled. I stepped back and rested my hands around the back of his neck. This had been my mom’s favorite song. When I was a little girl, she would pick me up and dance with me across the living room floor while singing it at the top of her lungs. He had claimed it as “our song” after she died. Every time it was played, we would dance. Once it had come on while we were driving home from school. Donovan had pulled over on the side of the road, walked around the car, and pulled me out to dance right there in the street. I used to cry every time I heard it played, but Donovan had turned it into a way for me to remember my mom with a smile; I loved the way he honored her with me.

When the song ended, he put his arm around my shoulder and escorted me back to the table. I sat down and emptied my punch glass. I excused myself and made my way toward the table where the punch fountain was running. I heard Donovan say, “Where’s Mara?”, as I was walking away.

Halfway to the fountain, I decided what I really wanted was some cold water, so I turned and walked out to the foyer and down the hall where the machine was with cold bottled drinks. I inserted a couple of dollars and hit the button for water. My change clanged into the return slot, and I heard the water bottle tumble down through the machine landing in the receptacle at the bottom. I twisted off the cap and took a deep drink. There’s nothing quite like a drink of ice-cold water when you’ve been dancing all night.

I had nearly made it back to the entrance to the gym when I was stopped by Mara and a couple of her friends.

“Hey, what's up?” I asked curiously.

“Why are you trying to ruin my date?” Mara snapped.

“Excuse me?” I asked indignantly.

“Mara said you’ve been butting in on her date, all night,” snapped another girl. Kennedy, if my memory serves me right.

“Well, Mara is sorely mistaken,” I retorted, “and Mara can discuss this nonsense with her date.”

“Just admit it. You’re trying to ruin my date because you want him,” Mara sneered.

I was getting irritated at this point. It wasn’t a secret that Donovan and I were best friends and had been forever, but it also wasn't a secret that we weren’t a couple. I just wanted to piss her off at this point, so I said, “If I wanted him, I’d have already had him, little girl. Make no mistake about it. You’re only here because I encouraged him to call you back, so step off; or, I will remove you from this night myself.”

“You won’t do s**t,” Mara seethed.

“Won’t I, though? You’ve been behaving like an insolent child all night, for literally no reason. I’ve already run interference for you twice, so watch yourself.” I warned.

“I don’t need your help, you little bitch.” She screeched before slapping me across the face. Honestly, it didn’t even phase me after all the training I’ve been doing, but it was all I had to control myself at that point.

“You better pray to the goddess for some grace,” I snarked, “because Donovan has been standing behind you, witnessing your entire tantrum.”

Mara’s eyes widened and she slowly turned her head to see Donovan standing in the doorway to the gym, looking daggers at her. “s**t,” I heard the other two girls mutter. They started to leave, but when Donovan told them to stay put, they froze.

“Is there a problem here?” He demanded, walking toward the scene.

When Mara and her posse didn’t say anything, I responded, “Apparently, I have been butting in on your date all night because I want you.”

He rolled his eyes heavily, “Is that why you’ve been behaving so damn rude, all night?” She raised her eyebrows in surprise. “Yes, I noticed you ignoring everyone after we took pictures. And how hateful you were while we were eating, including the shitty looks you were shooting at Val. And you continue to ignore everyone in there,” he gestured toward the gym, “I was trying to let it go because I know you and your boyfriend just broke up, and this was a one-time deal anyway, but then I find you attacking my best friend.”

“I was just...” She started but was immediately cut off.

“I do not want to hear it. You owe all of us an apology, but I can’t make you do that, so instead, you can find your own way home,” he spit with venom, “Let’s go, Valley.” He took my arm and we sauntered back into the gym.

“You, okay?” He asked gently.

“I’m fine. The slap didn’t even hurt, she just pissed me off. You handled that better than I would have if you hadn’t been there.”

We had just made it back to the table when the music was cut off. “Hello? Testing one, two” a voice came over the loudspeaker. “This is Dr. Castillo. I’m sorry to announce, we are going to have to cut the evening short...” Groaning and questioning shouts echoed around the room. “I know, and I am sorry. Unfortunately, the weather has taken an unexpected turn for the worse, and the roads are starting to get bad. If you need to, call your parents for rides. We want you all to get home safely.” The complaining continued as people began collecting their belonging and making plans to leave.

Our group congregated around the front door waiting for the driver to pull the car around. We quickly piled into the car, and he drove away. He had the privacy glass open and was telling us the route he intended to take to get us home as safely as possible until he got to me. “Unfortunately, young lady, I don’t think I can get you all the way to your house safely. The road isn’t paved all the way out on that side of the territory. You need to call your parents and find out if they could meet us somewhere before the pavement ends.”

I bit my bottom lip nervously, Mrs. Boone didn’t drive much, and Mr. Boone had trouble with depth perception, so he avoided driving at night anyway, let alone when there was a blanket of snow covering the ground. Donovan put his arm around my shoulder, leaned in, and whispered, “Just let them know what’s going on, you can come back to the packhouse, and we will figure it out.” I nodded, that was a good idea, maybe Alpha Frederick would have someone take me home from there.”

I hit the button on my phone to call Mrs. Boone while Donovan told the driver I would just go to the packhouse. She answered on the first ring, “Val? Oh, I’m so glad to hear from you, are you okay? The weather is awful.”

“That’s why I’m calling. The dance was shut down so that we had time to get home safely, but the limo won’t make it down the roads over there.”

“That’s what I --- ------- about, Ed is going -- ---- get you.”

“You’re cutting in and out, but if you just said what I think, he does not need to be on the road in this,” I quaked, “Donovan said I could just come back to the packhouse with him, and we would figure something out. Maybe the alpha can get someone to bring me home.”

“Can you hear me now?” She asked.

“I can now.”

“Are you sure you don’t want him to come get you?”

“Definitely”

“As long as you’re sure,” she concluded, but there was clear relief in her voice. She didn’t want Mr. Boone out driving in this even more than I did.

“I’m positive,” I assured her.

“Just let me ---- --at the al--- decides, okay. -- may thi--- --- bes- you sleep--er tonight, and ----- fine too.”

“You’re cutting in and out again, if you can hear me, I’ll keep you posted,” I answered.

“Okay, ---- --- --- -- -afe. I love --- ----ty.”

I smiled, “I love you all, too.” I replied, as my phone beep in my ear indicating the call had been dropped.

Out the window, the wind was fiercely blowing the large snowflakes into whirly masses causing visibility to be nearly nonexistent, at least the driver had full werewolf senses. He could likely see fine to get us home. The issue wasn’t his abilities, only the limitations of the car. The back of the limo slowly emptied as each of us was dropped at our destinations. When we pulled up to the packhouse, we thanked the driver, said “goodnight” to Nolan and Sloane, and Donovan carried me into the house, so I didn’t slip trying to walk in my heels.

He gently set me down on my feet, giving me a moment to get my balance.

“You good?” he checked before releasing me.

“I’m great. I’m freezing, but other than that, I’m great.” I shivered, pulling my wrap tighter around my arms.

“Val, I didn’t expect to see you this evening,” Alpha Fredrick commented as he entered the foyer.

“Me neither, but the limo couldn’t make it down the roads out by my house. Mr. And Mrs. Boone know I’m here, neither of them can drive in this.” I explained.

“That’s understandable, it got bad, fast.”

“Yes, sir. Do you think someone here might be able to give me a ride home?”

“The way it’s looking out there, I don’t think anyone needs to be out. You can stay here tonight, we will see about getting you home tomorrow,” he said decidedly, “Use the pack phone to try to reach the Boone’s. I’m sure Donovan has something comfortable that you can wear, you used to share when you were small, so I see no reason you can’t tonight.”

“Not a problem, dad,” Donovan chimed, “We might stay up and watch some movies if that’s alright?”

“Oh, yeah, you two have fun. I’ll be in my office for a bit if you need me.” the alpha said, before heading back up the staircase.

There was a landline in the kitchen, Donovan and I went in there, so I could try to call Mrs. Boone.

“Val!” a musical voice greeted us as we stepped through the swinging door, “I’m so glad you two made it safely!” Luna Fredrick proclaimed bounding toward us and pulling us into a tight hug.

“Hi, mom.”

“Hi, Luna”

We said in unison.

“Mrs. Boone called a while ago to let me know you would be coming home with Donovan,” she explained before I could ask.

“Alpha said I should just spend the night,” I explained, thinking she probably already had that conversation with Mrs. Boone, as well

“Oh, yes, of course. I wouldn't allow anyone to leave tonight. I don’t care if they are werewolves, a blizzard is blowing up around us and the temperature is dropping fast. It’s already six degrees, and just getting colder, it's bad enough the warriors have to out there patrolling.” she said matter-of-factly. “Anyway, I’m whipping up some of my world-famous hot cocoa, if y’all are interested. Do I need to get you something to wear, or are you going to just borrow something from Donovan? That dress looks gorgeous on you. You have grown into a beautiful woman, such a lovely mix of your mom and dad.”

Donovan had been repeatedly saying, “mom”, for the last minute or so.

“Mom!”

“Donovan, it’s rude to interrupt people,” the Luna gently scolded.

“I apologize, for sure. But Val is freezing, and my pant legs are soaked, so can we go ahead and go change?”

“Wait, let me call Mrs. Boone, first,” I interjected, picking up the receiver, but there was no dial tone. I tried my cell, but I kept getting a message saying the call couldn’t be completed, so I sent a text, but it was flagged as non-deliverable. “Okay, I can’t get through,” I announced, “I think the phones are all down, and the storm is interfering with cell service.”

Donovan picked up the receiver of the kitchen phone and listened, “she's right, there's no dial tone.” Luna and I both scrunched our faces and stared at him. “What?” he asked, clearly confused.

I rolled my eyes while Luna just shook her head and sighed before turning to me. “She knows you’re here, so it will be okay,” she assured me, “why don’t you both go get changed.”

I nodded and smiled, then Donovan and I climbed upstairs to find warm, dry clothes.