Part of the Plan (Book 2 in the 'part of' series)

Chapter 20 Teasing and Torment

Chapter 20 teasing and torment

Emi's POV

I sat down on my bed after the party. It went much better then I had hoped and planned that it would. It took me quite a while to get that icky filth that people call make up off my face but a calm and warm bath did the trick. I hoped that Harlow had a good time. He's been very stressed lately. I know that he liked playing cards with Karim and I, even if he lost the majority of the time.

It was lovely being able to talk to someone at these events who wasn't Karim or a rather posh and snobby adult. I don't have anything against adults in general, I jut learnt that was who my parents associated with most. There were one or two business associates who were kind and would happily have a polite conversation, though they don't seem to enjoy these events much.

I huffed and sat up on my very comfortable cream bed and looked around my room. It was much too neat and girly for my liking but I knew I had to deal with it. I was rather jealous of Karim's room, he was allowed to decorate however he liked. That was one of the main reasons I liked to spend so much time there.

My fuzzy sock covered feet hit my soft carpet as I headed towards my white door as I exited the room. I was quick and quiet as I creeped towards the room that I had been in only a few hours before. I didn't bother knocking on Karims' door as I slipped inside. I saw that he was sitting on his bed with a towel around his waist.

"Don't you ever knock?" He asked me as he looked into one of his small mirrors. I shook my head and invited myself to sit on his desk chair. He just sighed and shook his head. "I see the politeness potion wore off." I would've whacked him if I were closer.

"Very funny, see you haven't taken one." I stuck my tongue out at him and laughed as he did it back in the mirror. He was a completely different person to who he was a few hours ago, even if he didn't put any effort into hiding his dislike at parties. "You know that if you keep this up you're going to become a charity case right?"

I raised an eyebrow and he rolled his eyes again. "I'm well aware." He muttered under his breath. "I don't really mind if I'm honest. I don't really care for the business." I sighed and shook my head at him. "I'm just here until I can get out of here." That was something I envied quite a bit.

"Take me with you?" My lips were pouted and my eyes were big. I was slightly joking. I wouldn't be able to get out of the house or business if I tried. My parents were so adamant that I would inherit the business, since they had no other children. "You were supposed to take it off me. You can't do that if you've done a runner."

"You know that if I can, I would." His expression turned serious and held a smile. "Anyway, we'll see what happens. We might both be disowned by the end of the month." The bitterness was clear. We knew that our family cared more about the business and land then they cared about us. "I still don't see why we have to live this way."

"It's what they want." I pointed towards the door. "We can live however we'd like to when we're old enough."

"Yes, but will they let us leave?" Karim asked me, the fire igniting in his eyes once again. "Will anyone want us after what we've done?" That hit a nerve. It was an insecurity we had since we started doing research into society. Our family was a sort of outcasted family. An outcasted family with a lot of power in business. We were wealthy when it came to money and poor when it came to relationships. "Anyway, that reminds me. What were you thinking about inviting Harlow?"

"His father works for the company." I said again, I had already told him this. "He would have been here anyway. What was I supposed to do? Pretend that I didn't know him?" Karim and I clashed a lot, it was nothing really personal but we had a lot of different views. We argued quite a bit but nothing ever really got serious.

"Yes, you invited him to the party. Then you invited him into my bedroom." He moved both arms and spread them out, gesturing to the room. "For someone who is doing research into the forest and has apparently seen things in there. You invite them into the most suspicious looking room in the house."

"Yes but yours fits the whole aesthetic." I argued as he stood up and started to get ready for bed. "Seriously, you have this whole forest theme. Mine is all pink and proper." I still had a slight pout on my lips. "He would've spotted them immediately." He nodded as he rubbed his hair with a towel.

"That's true. Though he must be more suspicious now." I sighed and slumped back in the chair slightly. "I'm surprised that you haven't blurted it out already." I shook my head at the lack of faith that he has in me.

"If Harlow found out we were werewolves we'd be out of the city by sunset." I pointed out with a sigh. It was my parent's fault for wanting us to get a proper education. Socialising with humans isn't something werewolves did. I didn't see why we were shunning our natural instincts and way of life. I wanted to live in the forest and embrace where we came from, yet we're stuck in the middle of the town.

"Sounds tempting." Karim grinned. I knew that he wouldn't actually do anything of the sort. Karim was a very closed-off person and wouldn't act without thinking. "Burn this place to the ground and head for the trees and dirt." I stood up and headed towards him, taking the towel from his hand and throwing it in the basket by the door.

"First, let's focus on saving the forest. Even if we need help from the humans."