Chapter 2
1935 Words
“Are you sure I’m dressed ok?” I ask Jeremy again.
“Yes, you are! Stop asking me or I’m taking you back to the Packhouse!” He says with a lot of annoyance in his voice.
I guess I might have asked one or two, maybe six times too many.
“We’re almost at the arcades, so it doesn’t even matter what you’re wearing. No one will care.” He says walking a step ahead of me.
He really doesn’t know anything about girls. I think to myself, rolling my eyes.
“Don’t be mean to me! I just want to look nice for your friends and make a good first impression. I’ll probably be the youngest one there and I know they’ll treat me like a kid. So excuse me for trying a little.” I huff, walking faster to catch up with him.
He stops dead in his tracks in front of me, and before I can even notice, my nose collides with his very hard back.
“OUCH!! Why’d you stop like that!? I hurt my nose.” I say, holding my nose with both hands, my eyes tearing up.
“I’m sorry. Let me have a look.” He says, grabbing my face and pulling it upwards to have a better look.
“It doesn’t look like it’s broken or bleeding.” He mumbles out with a serious expression on his face.
“Maybe, but it still, hurts like hell!” I way, whipping off my tears.
“Are you making a she-wolf cry this early into the day, Jerr?” A boy says mockingly from behind him.
“Shut up, asshat! I didn’t mean to hurt her.” He says. flipping him off, not even bothering to turn around to see who it is.
I take a peek and see two other boys next to the one that teased Jeremy.
Wow...His friends are so good looking. I think to myself.
“Well hello there, beautiful. What’s your name?” That boy asks, stepping closer to me with a smoldering smile on his lips.
“I’m Lana,” I answer with a light blush on my cheeks.
“OH! You’re the infamous Lama Jeremy here wouldn't shut up about. He was so excited for you visiting him here in our Pack. I’m Anthony, the nieces and hottest one of this group.” He says, giving me a wink.
“This is Josh and Wesley.” He says, pointing in turn to each of the boys standing next to him.
“Where’s Blake?” Jeremy asks, looking around.
“He’s late, what else,” Anthony says, rolling his eyes.
“You’re right. I should have known.” Jeremy says with exasperation.
“Come on. Let’s get to the arcades. He’ll join us later.” Wesley says.
At least I think it’s Wesley. I’ll have to try and remember all their names properly.
Anthony makes his way next to me and places his arm around my shoulder, making me blush a lot more than I already was.
“So, Lana. How are you finding Westmount Pack so far?” He asks.
“I don’t know. I didn’t see much of it yet.” I reply shyly.
“How old are you anyway?” Josh asks abruptly, looking at me with curiosity.
“You can’t just ask a girl that, stupid!”Anthony says, smacking him behind the head harshly.
“Why did you hit me so hard?! And why can’t I ask her how old she is? It’s just a question. Anyway, she looks at least sixteen if not older!” He says, rubbing the back of his head.
“You think she looks sixteen?” Jeremy asks with raised eyebrows.
Josh nodded his head at Jeremy, making him double up over in laughter.
“You need to get your eyes checked, Josh!”
“Why? Is she older?” He asks, making Jeremy laugh even harder.
“Tell him how old you are Lana. This will be good. Get your phone out and ready Wesley. You need to film his reaction. It will be priceless!”
Wesley does what Jerr told him to, making me even more nervous telling them my age.
Will they still want to hang out with me if they know how young I really am?
They are all staring at me, waiting for me to answer the question.
“I’m… thirteen…” I finally whisper out after a few more seconds of them waiting patiently.
They all look at me with a stunt expression on their faces.
“How old did you just say you are?” Anthony says, still looking at me with bulging eyes.
With a sigh, I repeat my age.
“I thought I had heard you wrong the first time! Holy s**t balls! You’re really thirteen?!” Anthony asks, still in shock.
“I always get that when I meet new people,” I mumble out, rolling my eyes.
“Guys, it won't be a problem having her with us now, will it?” Jeremy asks, looking at them with such a protective brotherly ‘I’m gonna hurt if you say yes’ kind of way. It makes me want to giggle, but I suppress it, waiting for their answer.
“Why would it be?” Josh asks.
“Just making sure. And paws off of her! Do I make myself clear?” He warns, looking at each of them in turn.
I’m not sure I understand fully what he's warning them about, but I brush it off.
I’m just happy they didn’t say I had to go back to the Packhouse and not hang out with them.
☙❧
We’ve been at the arcades for a few hours now, and I’m having a blast!
Watching them bicker about losing a game, or who’s turn it is to play, is hilarious.
“You suck at this game. Move over and let a pro show you how it's done!” Anthony says, snapping his invisible suspenders.
“Tell me you're not talking about yourself? Because you are even worse than Wesley!” Jeremy says mockingly.
“Hey! I heard that!” Wesley says, his mouth full of fries.
Feeling a sudden surge of boldness, I get up from my seat.
“Why don’t you try playing against me, Anthony?” I ask.
“Have you ever even played this game? He asks, looking at me with a raised eyebrow and a smug smile.
“No, but I’ve been watching you guys play for a while now, and I’m sure I can manage just fine,” I reply confidently.
“Alright! Let’s give it a shot. Don’t start crying like a pup when you lose though.” He says, still wearing his smug smile.
‘I’m soooo going to wipe it off your face.’ I think to myself, more determined to win against him.
In the short amount of time I’ve spent with Jeremy’s friends, I’ve already figured out their personalities.
Josh is the friendliest of the three. He is just as quiet as he is talkative. He seems really smart, but not a smartass.
Anthony is full of himself and a bit cocky... OK, well, a lot cocky! He loves to brag about himself and is a bit of a hair head, but he’s not mean. Just very playful. I think he’s hiding a soft heart underneath his prideful exterior.
As for Wesley, he’s the quiet and shy type of guy. He doesn't talk much, but when he dies, it’s with honesty. Whenever I catch him looking towards me, he averts his eyes and blushes a little. It’s kind of cute.
Stepping up to the arcade machine, I take in a deep breath and press the start button on my side.
“Get ready to lose, Little Lana,” Anthony says, pressing his own start button while eyeing me from the side.
“I wouldn't be so sure of winning if I were you, Anthony,” Josh says, making him lose his concentration by looking up at Josh confusingly.
“3, 2, 1, GO!” The arcade machine blares out.
“f**k…” I hear Anthony mutter under his breath, making me smirk.
He would never have guessed that I would go ahead of him from the start. In no less than five minutes, I have him beat. And by a landslide, I might add!
I’m trying hard not to gloat, but he’s making it really hard for me not to.
“I told you you shouldn’t have underestimated her,” Josh says teasingly.
“I didn’t underestimate her! It’s your fault I lost anyway! You distracted me just as we were about to start the race. That’s why I lost!” He says with a very childish pout.
“Keep telling yourself that, man,” Jerr says, shaking his head while chuckling.
Trying to change the mood, the guys start playing on another game while I take another sip of the smoothie Jeremy got me.
My favorite flavor too; Mango and pineapple.
Amused by the guys still bickering about the new game they’re playing, I hear the chiming bells of the front door of the arcades ring.
“Finally you got your ass over here! What took you so long?” Anthony asks, looking at whoever just walked in.
Turning around to see, my breath gets cough up in my throat and my heart starts to race.
Who is that?
“I had things to do.” The tall, god like guy says, his eyes drifting to the she-wolf next to him.
Who is she and why is he so close to her? I find myself thinking with a surge of jealousy crawling itself into my chest.
Suddenly, his eyes meet mine and I gasp.
I could lose myself forever gazing at his eyes.
He’s so dreamy…
Taking a step forward, he makes his way in front of me. So close I can smell his minty breath and feel his warmth through my shirt and his.
“What’s your name?” He asks in a deep, silky, yet rugged voice.
His eyes seemed to be changing from there blue-green to black and back. As if he’s fighting his wolf's control.
He lifted up an eyebrow with an expectant look on his face, making me realize I haven't answered him yet.
“I’m Lana,” I say with so much softness in my voice I can barely recognize myself.
Why am I reacting this way?
He doesn't say anything for a while. But he eyes me from head to toes, his eyes stopping at my lips, making me swallow hard again.
Finally, he lifts his eyes back to look into mine and says simply:
“ I’m Blake.”
- Writer
