Secret Sister

13. Just Another Day in Moonbeam

Maria pov

I awkwardly stood up and waved. I was suddenly hyper aware of the fact chocolate cake was all over me. I coughed awkwardly and tried to wipe icing off of my face.

"Well this isn't quite how I imagined meeting your pack." I said under my breath. Flynn pulled me under his arm and smiled.

"I couldn't think of any other way, your laughter will bring a new sound to our pack everyday." Flynn whispered in my ear. He stood straighter and gazed over his pack. "Today you see your future Luna for the first time. But today, you do not just see your Luna, you see the first page of the next chapter in our pack."

The pack erupted into thunderous applause. Flynn smiled and gazed over his pack. He stood proud and pulled me tighter into his side. The pack slowly went back to what they were doing before I ran out screaming like a banshee. Flynn began to lead me back to his house.

"You know," I smiled at Flynn sweetly, "chocolate is your colour."

Flynn growled playfully and bared his teeth. I laughed and jogged ahead. I felt Flynn behind me before he made a noise. I whipped around and gave him a smirk before breaking into a sprint towards where his mom stood on the porch.

Flynn's mom wrapped a fluffy hunter green towel around me and then did the same to a less enthused Flynn. She kissed Flynn's cheek and he hugged her back.

"Maria, I ran you a warm bath if you're interested," Flynn's mom offered. I shyly nodded and followed her lead. She threw open a door and I saw steam rising out of a large pearly white bathtub. She set strawberry shampoo and conditioner on the counter and turned around.

"Thank you... uh," I began.

"Call me Mom, or Martha if it makes you that uncomfortable." She smiled.

"Thank you Martha," I smiled widely. "I really appreciate you welcoming me like this. I'm having some trouble with my fri-brothers at the moment and this means so very much to me." Martha had tears in her eyes and pulled me into a tight hug.

"You're like a daughter already Hun," she sniffled and walked out.

I sank into the warm bath and let all my worries melt away.

~~~~~~

"Can we please go swimming?" I whined. "Please, please, please, please, ple-"

"Alright!" Flynn laughed. "I could use a break from the paperwork."

I squealed and took off running toward the bedroom. I pulled out the swimsuit Flynn had given me and shut the bathroom door. I swung a towel over my shoulder and ran out into the hallway to wait for Flynn. Flynn walked out in black and yellow swimming trunks. I grabbed his arm and ran towards the lake.

"Come on, come on, come on!" I yelled.

"I'm coming, I'm coming!" Flynn chuckled. I kicked my flip flops off mid-run and scrambled towards the jumping rock through the grass, sand and gravel. My fingertips found purchase on a handhold and I set my foot into a groove. I felt my muscles contract and release as I pulled myself up. I maneuvered the smooth rock face all the way to the top.

"Whatcha waiting for?" I shouted down to Flynn. He smiled.

"Nothing!" He shouted and began to climb up. Soon he was near the top and I grinned widely. Flynn wrapped his arms around me and looked down at me with a soft smile. I tilted my head and quirked my lips. My gaze shifted down to his lips. His lips slid into a smirk and I couldn't figure out why.

The next thing I knew I was free falling through the air in Flynn's arms screaming. My arms that were already wrapped around Flynn tightened further and my face squished against his chest. The cold water caused a horrible sensation that felt like pin pricks all over my body. Goose bumps appeared all over my skin and I screamed under the surface of the water. Flynn pushed us up to the surface.

"Flynn!" I gasped while shaking. "what was that for?"

"It was just a little something called payback," he teased.

"You started the cake war," I argued.

"And I just finished it too," Flynn gloated. Flynn was quiet for a minute. "My dad will be home soon, we should get back."

"Oh crap!" I exclaimed. "I had wanted to make something to replace the cake!"

I didn't give Flynn time to respond before leaping out of the water and shifting behind the rock. I raced home with my wet swimsuit in my mouth, Flynn following close behind. I got dressed in Flynn's bathroom then raced downstairs into the kitchen.

"Martha, may I use the kitchen plus some food?" I asked. " I'd like to make something in place of the cake."

"Oh sure sweetie," she replied. "Just clean up when you're finished."

I got out the butter, marshmallows and the Honey Bunches of Oats. It was the second best cereal for making marshmallow squares besides Rice Crispies. It took forever to melt the marshmallows in the melted butter but soon I was pouring the sticky concoction into a casserole dish and set it at the side. I scrubbed at the spots where melted marshmallow had spilled.

Once the kitchen was clean and the marshmallow squares in the casserole had cooled, I cut the giant block into more manageable squares. I lifted the slices out of the dish and set them up nicely on a plate. I slid the plate into the fridge and clapped my hands together. I smiled and walked out of the kitchen to find Flynn.

~~~

"You smell like marshmallows," Flynn murmured as I walked into his office. He had the most adorable pair of black framed glasses on.

"And you smell like lake," I tossed back. "I was replacing dessert."

"Were you now?" Flynn said as he stood up from his chair. "Did you make s'mores?"

"Nope."

"Pie?"

"Nope?"

"Jello?"

"I'm not going to tell you Flynn," I said slowly. "I have to go get ready for dinner so I will see you later."

"Do you have to go?" Flynn whined while snaking his arms around my waist. I walked out of the door with Flynn shuffling behind me.

"I would like to make a good impression," I replied.

"Ah they're just my family," Flynn nonchalantly stated. "They will love you anyway. Just like me." I rolled my eyes and smiled when Flynn rested his head on mine.

"I will see you in thirty minutes," I told him firmly while grabbing a dark grey dress that hugged my waist and then flared out and black ballet flats with silver sparkles.

"But that's so long," Flynn joked. I smiled and walked out of the room.