My Best Friend was a Werewolf

Chapter 10: Home Felt Good

Cold water ran over my fingers no matter how much I turned the left faucet knob. A sigh escaped my lips as I looked up at my reflection in the cracked mirror that hung on the wall in front of me. My hair was tied up loosely behind my head and I frowned at all the strands falling at my cheeks. It had been a long day and it was far from over.

I turned the knobs on the faucet, but the cold water only slowed to a drip. I stepped towards the door and pulled a paper towel out of the dispenser. It was the only one left and I used to dry my hands the best I could. I hesitated before I tossed it in the overflowing trash can. This was the last place I had expected to be on the first day of spring break.

Chase was waiting for me outside of the restroom. He had his arms crossed over his chest and was looking skeptically at the rest of the quick shop. It was supposed to be a quick and simple stop for gas and a bathroom break, but our only choice had been a shady, run-down place.

"Good?" Chase asked me. A look of relief took over his face when he saw me. He wanted to get out of this place and back on the road. He had made that clear when we stopped. Chase would have refused if the gas tank on my car wasn't so low.

"Yeah, let's get out of here," I said quietly. I glanced over at the cashier as we walked by. He wore only a face of boredom and had paid little attention to us our entire time inside the building.

The outside might have been even worse. Upon walking out the door, a cloud of cigarette smoke hit my face. I held back a cough as my nose crinkled up. Chase pulled me out of the way of the burly man entering the gas station.

"What an ass," Chase said lowly as we headed towards where the car was parked by the pump. "Let's get the hell out of this place."

I let out another sigh as I watched Chase march to the passenger's seat. He was back into his fowl mood and he wanted nothing more than to finish our trip. My eyes flickered over to where Carver was standing by the pump. He was taking the receipt from the machine as he found my gaze.

"Are you sure you're okay with riding in the back?" I asked. Carver had been cramped in the back of my hatchback for three hours now.

"It's fine," Carver said. He stuffed the receipt in his jean pocket.

There had been little talk between us since he spent the night at my house, but he had agreed to join us on our spring break trip. Chase had not been happy about the situation, but I suspected he was nervous to go home and face his family. The full moon was also looming and undoubtably influenced his emotions.

"You could drive and I could sit in the back," I said. "It's just highway and a couple of turns when we get there..."

Carver shook his head. "I think it's better if you drive, Amelia."

"Okay," I said as I watched him duck into the back seat again.

The rest of the trip was like torture for me. Chase was scrolling through his phone and Carver was silent in the back. I was left alone with the static-filled radio that occasionally played a song that was understandable. I kept reminding myself that we were almost there though.

Being home with my family would cure any of the discomfort I was feeling. My mom would hug me as soon as I stepped inside the door. Dad would crack a joke before his arms went around me. Liz would act nonchalant but walk in the room on time to follow up Dad's hug. It was always the perfect reunion when I went home. I had to just keep my eyes on the prize and be patient. Home wasn't going anywhere, I just had to get there.

It wasn't until we were nearing the city limits of Sedalia that Chase finally spoke. The closer we got to home, the more his anxiety wore on him. "I haven't told my dad that I'm coming home yet."