Fated Destiny:The Wolf, The Witch, The Demon

4. Just Friends

JUST FRIENDS

Zara

A handsome smile spreads across Manuel’s face as he takes a seat across from me. He opens his mouth to speak but the same waitress that took my order earlier comes over excitedly and interrupts.

“Hi! My name is Clara! I’ll be happily serving you today. Is there anything I can get for you? Something to drink? Something to eat? Here is our menu. Just let me know.”

Clara hands Manuel a menu and then stands eagerly by the table waiting to take his order. Manuel reviews the menu slowly as both Clara and I watch him. Is he for real? Is she? My patience runs thin watching this little scene play out.

“Uh, Clara? Yeah, why don’t you come back in a few minutes to get his order..”

I force my lips up into a smile. Clara looks at me and returns the smile while backing away from the table. Manuel looks up from the menu and snickers.

“No need to be jealous, Luvie. You know I only have eyes for you.” he says smoothly.

I roll my eyes, again. Manuel is admittedly very handsome. Tall, with a lean athletic build, he stands at 6’5. His caramel complexion, dark wavy hair, emerald green eyes, full lips and charming persona, are all female magnets. It works on everyone but me. Manuel and I have known each other since birth. Our mothers are best friends. They found their mates around the same time and got pregnant at the same time. They went into labor at the same time and Manuel and I were born only minutes apart from each other on the same day in the same hospital. At some point in us growing up with each other, Manuel developed a crush on me. A crush that I did not reciprocate but both sets of our parents found it cute to encourage the idea of he and I being mates, especially since me being The One meant I did not have a fated mate and would be alone my whole life otherwise. Manuel is a hybrid too but he was not born with a wolf. He is more human than werewolf besides getting the physical attributes such as height and strength, which he takes full advantage of to charm these women. The chances of him having a fated mate were pretty slim without a wolf, so it only makes sense in everyone's eyes for us to be a match. I wholeheartedly disagree. Manuel is an annoying friend/brother to me and I love him as such. Nothing more.

“Boy, please. You wish I was jealous. I just couldn’t stand the way Clara was making a fool of herself drooling over you like a puppy. I was really doing her a favor by saving her some dignity. Anyway, let’s get to the point. Who sent you?”

I place my arms on the table and lean forward. Once again, Clara appears at an inopportune time.

“Have you decided yet, sir?” she asks sheepishly.

Sir? Lady, this boy is not even 18 yet. Give me a break. I think to myself. Manuel is soaking up the attention, as usual.

“I’ll have the catfish with a side of collards and mac n cheese. Can you bring me a glass of water, no ice? Luvie, did you want to order something else?”

“Nope.” I respond shortly to Manuel.

Not only has he crashed my quiet meal but his love of being the center of attention is causing this waitress to constantly interrupt and linger.

“Okay, I’ll put that order right in for you.” Clara says and reluctantly walks away.

“So can you please answer my question now? Who sent you Manny? Why are you here?” I ask impatiently.

Manuel’s face becomes serious as he prepares to answer me.

“Your father told me and my parents what happened this morning. I wanted to make sure you were okay. No one knows I’m here. I just needed to talk to you,” he says.

I study his face and can see the sincerity of his words.

“You could have called.” I say stubbornly.

“Face to face, Luvie. You know I prefer to be in person with you. I need to look into those hazel eyes of yours and know that you are really okay.”

Manuel leans in closer and looks me directly into my eyes. It’s a thing he’s done since we were little kids. It’s like he can see inside my soul when he does it. He always knows when I’m hiding something. I blink and turn my head away from him. This boy is getting on my nerves! I swear.

“How did you figure out where I was?”

“Your mother is tracking you…and you forgot to stop sharing your location with me on your phone.”

Manuel holds up his cellphone and smiles slyly at me. I couldn’t help but laugh at my own slip up. I shrug and run a hand through my messy curls. Like I keep saying, I’m not a planner.

“Between you, my mom and Melody I don’t think I’ll ever really be lost in this world. Whether I like it or not, the three of you keep me grounded and always have my back.”

“Of course we will. We love you. Oh! Heads up, Clara is returning with my food. Try to keep your claws retracted, little wolf.” Manuel jokes.

Sure enough Clingy Clara came up to the table with Manuel’s order and lots of smiling.

“Here you go! I hope you enjoy everything. I went ahead and printed out your check too. Feel free to charge it to your room by putting your room number down. Whatever you prefer.”

Clingy Clara bites down on her bottom lip and winks at Manuel. I think I’m going to throw up. I mean, she doesn’t know if he and I are more than friends. Has she no shame? I stare at Manuel as he picks the check up off the table and begins to grin.

“She wrote her phone number down.” he says while turning the check for me to look at.

Whelp, I guess the answer to my question is ‘no’. Clara has no shame. The audacity. It actually happens often when I’m around Manuel. He and I could be walking arm and arm or hand in hand and he will still get approached by females who are interested in him. I usually chalk it up to us giving off major friend vibes..or maybe I just don’t look like the type of girl he’d date. Whatever it is I always straddle the fence of feeling insulted and not giving a d*mn because I’m not his girl and we are just friends. It’s just the principle of it all. I’m cute and if I wanted to I could pull a guy like Manuel or better.

“You better know it! These b*tches got us twisted!” Xena pipes in with her two cents.

One thing Xena does not lack is confidence and I’m always grateful for that. I turn my attention back to Manuel who has all but inhaled most of his food.

“Sheesh! I was going to ask for some of your mac n cheese but…”

Before I can finish my sentence Manuel turns his plate around so that the remainder of his mac n cheese is facing me. My lights up as I grab a fork and dig in. He knows that’s one of my favorite things to eat. He leans an elbow on the table and watches me demolish the food with no shame.

“You good?” he asks.

“Yup! Thanks so much. So, what are your plans for tonight? Are you headed back to give a full briefing to everyone about me?”

Manuel throws down some cash on top of the check and stands up from his chair. He walks over to me and reaches out a hand. I accept it and stand up as well. We stand face to face. More accurately, my face to his chest. I lift my head and Manuel looks down so our eyes can meet and he wraps both his arms around me in a hug. I rest my forehead on his chest and hug him back around his waist.

“I told you I came on my own. No one knows I’m here. They may assume though when I don’t come back for a few days.”

Manuel’s words surprise me and I pull back to look at him again.

“You’re going to stay for a while? With me?” I ask.

“If you don’t mind. I won’t get in your way.”

“I guess I’m cool with you staying for a few days. It certainly can’t hurt as long as you don’t turn into a double agent. What I do here is not to be shared with my parents. I’m trying to find my own way, Manny. That’s the point of all this.”

“I get it Luvie. My lips are sealed when it comes to you. Come on. I need to go to the front desk and get a room.”

Manuel grabs my hand and pulls me out of the restaurant. I stop short.

“Just stay with me. I’ve got two double beds and it’s not like we haven’t slept in the same room before. No need to waste your money. Come on. I’m hella tired.”

I walk towards the elevator and Manuel follows me. When we get on, he stands across from me with a stupid grin on his face. I c**k my head to the side as if to ask him what the hell is he grinning for.

“I know you’re missing home and I know you are happy I came here. The words never have to cross those pretty lips but we both know it, my little Luvie. We both know it.” he says reaching out and pulling me into his arms for another hug.

Normally I’d punch him and say something insulting or contrary but I honestly do not have the energy to do anything but lean into this hug. I am mentally and physically exhausted and having this moment with Manuel right now is exactly what the doctor ordered. Even Xena is enjoying his presence. As the elevator doors open Manuel and I separate and I lead the way to my hotel room. I unlock the door and step inside with Manuel close behind. I throw my phone and things on the dresser and flop on one of the beds. Manuel flops beside me and we lay shoulder to shoulder looking at the ceiling.

“Manny?”

My voice sounds shaky and I don’t recognize it.

“Yes?” he replies.

“Will you stay until I at least get a job and my own place?” I ask.

“I would be more than happy to do that, Luvie.” Manny says without hesitation.

“Thank you. One more request.”

“Anything.”

“Can you put me to sleep? Like when we were younger and there was a thunderstorm.”

Manuel turns on his side and I turn to face him on my side. I curl into his arms and close my eyes as he begins to chant the words to a sleeping spell..

"Oculos tuos. Dic bonam noctem. Omnes lacrimae siccent. Timoribus tuis vale dic."

It’s actually a little spell he and I came up with together as little kids. I was awfully afraid of lightning and thunderstorms when I was young. Manuel suggested we join together and come up with a magical solution to my issue. Rather than trying to remove the fear altogether, which is a more difficult feat and not really encouraged in the world of witchcraft, we decided that relaxing and eventually sleeping was better. My body becomes lighter as Manuel’s voice becomes lower and lower until I can no longer hear him. I just feel myself wrapped in warmth and safety. It feels like home.

**The spell translates to: Close your eyes. Say goodnight. All tears will dry. To your fears, say goodbye.**