The Last Female *Complete*

Rosie

She pulls me into a huge hug.

    "OMG FAWNY I MISSED YOU I SAW YOU AT THE PARTY BUT WASN'T SURE IF YOU REMEMBERED ME, DO YOU?" She's shouting so loud people are starting to look at us.

     "Yes, rosie I remember you," I say while shushing her at the same time.

She calms down and takes my hand and we talk arm and arm to the main lodge.

     "So I'm sure you've seen Walter again. You saw me… Katie left the 'pack'... well have you seen Dillan yet?" She asks

     "Not yet, I feel like he's avoiding me, I told Walter, and he said that's impossible," I answer

     "Well he might just be busy. I know he was distant after you left the group to go into hiding. I wasn't quite sure why though, you too weren't particularly close…" she recalls

     "Why did Katie leave?" I ask

     "Too much drama and pressure. I think she tries to hide and be a 'human' now," she answered

We walk into the main lodge and people are about chatting, working, and doing whatever they do. Walter is waiting for us… which I expected. He's my friend, but I know Lillian is right, he likes me. Too bad I don't feel anything, he is extremely nice and there isn't really anything wrong with him… but he isn't my type. He's blonde and tall. But not as built. He was more like a runner, not a muscular build. He was cute. But that's it. Cute. I couldn't see anything more than plain old Walter. And I kind of felt bad. Though for once my inner fox communicated with me, the scents and everything made sense. Rosie had a huge crush on Walter and he had no idea.

     "Fawn!" He hugs me and Rosie in a huge hug. Which I notice makes rosie blush tomato red. I distract Walter with conversation so Rosie's cheeks and return to her normal color,

     "What are you doing here?" I ask

     "I.. uh.. was working and I caught a bit of your scent and Rosie's and came down to say hi," he answers.

     "Well I wasn't planning on sticking around long. I'm still meeting people and getting used to my surroundings. I might actually drive my parents old truck out back into town to see what it's like," I tell him

   "Oh," he runs over to the kitchen and comes back with a part for the sink. "Dillan works at the hardware store part time and I need this part replaced. Its leaking, again," he sighs

I take it and slip it into my pocket.

     "Which hardware store?" I ask

     "Well the only one in town, I'm sure you'll find it," he chuckles and he walks off 

     "I'll go with you we can turn it into a shopping trip," rossie smiles "plus we never got to hang out past the age of 6 so I want to know what kind of style my BFF has," she takes my arm and we go get into the truck and set off into town. The truck is old and rusty and needs work on it, but it manages to roll us into town right up the strip shopping part on main street. There's the hardware store, the shoe shop, the salon, the thrift store, gas station, and the little corner store. The grocery store must be in another part of town. 

The moment I get out of the truck I set off in the direction of the hardware store, but Rosie drags me off to the thrift shop. I'm frustrated, but don't show it. I felt like the universe was stopping me from meeting this guy and it started to drive me nuts! I don't care how cute he is. I just want to know I'm not being avoided! I try to shop quickly and finally I'm able to slip into the hardware while Rosie is distracted by the shoe shop next door. I notice she must've wandered into the other shop when I realise I'm standing alone at the front counter. There were a few people in the store so I waited patiently.

I feel eyes all over me, yet I don't see anyone around directly staring at me. It feels like an eternity, but I finally look over to the left. There's dillan. He's helping an old lady get something down off the top shelf like a table saw, and the box is heavy because he's working hard and I can't help but stare a bit. I look down at my feet before he notices me… 

     "Can I help you?" He smiles. His voice is perfect too. Okay I see why Walter says he's a ladies man and social butterfly…

      I take the part out of my pocket, "Walter said he needed one that didn't leak," I tell him

He then realizes who I am. The room is hot… and everything around me feels like Zach's party. I know he feels it too because he takes off his workers vest and goes back to what he was doing with the part. 

      "It's nice to finally say hi again fawn.. it's been a long while," he says while looking at a piece in the end of the pipe. He remembers me from childhood too.

      "I've been busy trying to get everything situated…" I tell him.

There's a long silence, and I can feel the temperature rising. All I want to do is go outside and shift, but I'm in town so I keep my cool as best I can. I keep looking at the floor to avoid staring at him. I don't normally stare so I don't know what's wrong with me. 

Rosie startles me and breaks the silence by putting her hand on my shoulder. I let out a small startled Yelp and before I know it Dillan is staring at me worried.

     "Are you alright?" He worries.

     "Yeah. Just startled," I breath and rosie chuckles.

     "I bought you a new pair of shoes. I just went off the size you picked at the thrift store. I hope you don't mind," rosie tells me

     "Not at all," I let her know

     "Let Walter know the next time this leaks he just needs to push this rubber washer back in," he says, handing the piece back to me. His fingertips brushing against my hand make me have to fight noticeable shivers,

     "A-all right I'll do that," I manage to get the words out

     "I'll see you around. Maybe after work sometime. After all I only help out here two days a week," he says. Almost like he wants me to know his schedule. 

We leave the store and pile into my truck. I'll call it rusty. And we head back to the property.

     "Sorry I got lost in the shops," rossie says

     "It's alright," I answer

     "Dillan is pretty cute, but I saw the way you looked at him, just be careful he can hurt people. Not badly, but ya know, romantically," she explains

      "I don't plan on dating for a while I promise," I assure her

      "It will be different if you find a mate, then you'll have to date," she giggles

      "Can I be honest with you? The gathering the other night…  was the 2nd time I had shifted. Since childhood," i tell her

     "Wow. What happened the first time?" She asks

    "Well I was at a friends party… in washington…  and Walter and Dillan were there. I'm not sure what happened. I don't think Walter alpha shifted me, but I didn't ever interact with dillan really," I admit

     "Odd… but I'm sure we can figure it out!" Rossie smiles. 

It's nice to have a friend again. It makes me think of Alice so I text her when I get home and ask about how everyone is doing. I guess she still isn't talking with Zach, and she has come down with the flu, but that's about it. 

It's late when I look up from my phone in my room. It's dark out. I can see the light in the distance so I put on my sweatshirt and my leggings and head out to see what it is. If it's a gathering, or something else. I walk up slowly. A few people are just hanging out is all. I sit on a long stump next to the fire and get warm. I don't recognize any of these people personally. A few from the shifting party. I look over and see a few instruments against the wall… a banjo, guitar, and a violin. I pick up the violin and check its tune. A few people look back at me when it makes bad sounds. I get it tuned and start playing. Not anything in particular, but it sounds classical. People start gathering and listening. I loved violin no matter which school I was in. I finish up and open my eyes since I closed them during playing and see Walter and dillan clapping off to the right along with the people originally at the bonfire. I lean the violin carefully down where I was sitting and sit next to it by the fire. 

     "That was amazing!" Walter exames while coming over and hugging me tight. 

Things get heated again. And I feel dillans eyes on us, they are almost angry eyes. I pull away from Walter and they soften. 

    "I didn't know you played the violin," Dillan says

    "It's been a while, but I started in school and never stopped," I answered. 

I notice on my phone when I pull it out it's 11:30! I have to get home. 

     "I have to head home, it's late guys," I tell them. Walter nods in agreement,

     "I can take you home," Dillan pipes up. He's been nothing, but distant until now.

Walter smiles and heads home. And now I'm stuck with Dillan. I don't mind, but it's awkward since I don't know or remember much about him. It's really silent most of the walk home until we get about to the tree line outside of my house. He pulls me to the side and pushes me against a tree. Not hard, but enough to get my attention.

    "What are you doing?!" I shout

    "Do you feel this?" He's asking. 

    "Feel what?" I ask back.

    "I feel like it's a million degrees, but it's 32 degrees out right now I know it!" He gets frustrated but moves his hand away from the tree and runs his hands across his face pushing his hair back,

     "Are you alright?" I ask

     "Do you feel it though?" He asks more softly

I nod.

He's almost relieved looking. 

     "It's getting late… my aunt-" I get cut off

     "Your aunt knows I'm with you, I was the one looking for you," his voice is low.

      I'm confused… "Why?"

     "You just said you felt it… don't you…? Or are you lying!?" He gets upset again and returns to the position he was in. I'm pinned up against the tree again. 

     "Why would I lie about this?" I look at him confused

     He pauses then "so you felt it at the hardware store?" He asks

     I nod "and the party," I add

     "The party? I shifted at that party I didn't see you after that," he says

     "Well your shifting messed with me. I shifted too," I tell him

He backs up from the tree and we keep walking. I don't think he realised he affected me that much. We get back to my porch and I'm standing on the top and he's at the wall way.

     "We need to-" I cut him off this time

     "You're not very good at talking. All you seem to do is avoid me! And now this!" I shout.

     "I'm tired, I think we can talk another time," I added without the shouting. He just stands there frozen. I didn't mean to yell at him, but I've been pushed around my whole life. and I won't let him push me either. 

     "I'm sorry, I uh, wasn't avoiding you, I'll see you tomorrow I guess," he says and leaves me standing there. I storm into the house and slam the screen door and sit on the bottom stair step. Why am I so bothered by this? I sigh. I am tired, I wasn't lying. Lillian isn't home yet so lucky she didn't hear any of that. I don't need her advice or opinion right now. I kick my shoes off and head up stairs. 

I wake up at 2am since I realised I skipped dinner and my stomach is now killing me. The stairs squeak less when I tiptoe down them into the kitchen. I look in the fridge. A little voice in the back of my mind is reminding me Dillan brought us these groceries. I grab a smaller bottle of orange juice and a tub of whipped cream cheese and go to the counter to toast a blueberry bagel. I'm way too lazy to cook anything that would require real effort. 

I peek out the window, not sure what I was hoping to see. All I see is dark woods and pathways. No one around. I don't know why I expected to see a glow from a bonfire.

I eat my bagel, I listen to my iPhone music, and I finally fall back asleep at 4:45ish.