Family Secrets

D. and Lars - Visit

D. - The evening after meeting Lars at school 

"So, Mama and Pop, I've got a friend coming over. A new friend. A good friend. A friendly friend type of friend. What? I'm flustered? Is my friend a girl? Well, funny story there... no I can't say that. Uh, no, not at all. My guy is all guy, alright? I-I don't mean my guy, obviously, because psh, that doesn't exist, am I right? But like, ah..." I stare at my flustered expression in the mirror critically. "Yeah, I guess that'll about cover it. Great job, D. Ugh," I groan, hanging my head. "Yup, they won't know anything's up. Not at all. Oh, Wayden, this is going to be bad."

I take several deep breaths, "No, not bad. Stop that negative self-talk. You will do great. You are a winner, D. Rodriguez. You can do this. You can do this. You will do this. Besides, they don't know anything. There's nothing to know. You're just friends. Friends that like looking at each other's bodies and flirting, but just friends." I groan again, looking down to my left where my mom somehow sees and speaks with our inner animals; they're furry snitches, every last one of them. "Don't rat me out, wolf, alright? We like this Giftling—and it's bad enough that he's a Giftling, I'm sure that'll raise some eyebrows with the neighbors—but we don't need Mama knowing... look, if I can keep from drooling over him, maybe you can too? At least when Mama is looking?"

I wait, as if somehow I'll suddenly be able to see/hear/perceive my inner animal the same way my mother does—which is an insane idea considering only female Healers and their Bloodmates can do that.

"I'll take that as agreement," I tell the invisible, silent wolf at my side.

"D.?" a voice calls from the other side of the bathroom door.

"Maybe?" I call back.

A fist pounds on the door, "Dude, go talk to the mirror in your room. I've gotta go!"

I sigh, "Fine."

I unlock the door and step aside as Adrian barrels into the bathroom, doing a weird jogging-waddle that tells me I probably have overstayed my welcome in the communal room.

"Get out!" he hisses, plopping onto the toilet.

"Yeah, I will, but what do you think—"

"That you should leave!" Adrian hisses, face red.

Oh. Right. Bodily functions are supposed to be embarrassing.

I exit, shut the door behind me because I'm a good brother, then grab a new bundle of toilet paper to replace the last roll I just finished off—because I'm a great brother.

"You're gonna need this," I call.

Adrian catches it easily, hissing, "Shut the door, D.!"

I do, muttering loudly (but all in good fun) about how ungrateful he is and how I should have left him to figure it out on his own.

"Just go away!" Adrian screeches.

"Well okay, then," I call. "I can tell when I'm not wanted."

I walk slowly into the living room, dreading the next part. Somehow I have to make a normal-sounding announcement to my parents, make sure my invisible wolf doesn't give me away, and then manage to be around Lars while my whole family watches without anybody picking up on the fact that I can't keep my eyes off him.

Easy peasy.

I feel queasy.

I must look it too.

"Mijo," Mama's brows furrow. "You are pale, and your wolf looks a little green. Are you sick?" she steps forward, rising on her tiptoes so she can reach my forehead.