The Pack

Ch. 13

"Hey Bryce!" Dana called out to him when she saw him in his usual spot in the courtyard. He and Caelum heard her so Caelum grabbed him and they started walking away. "Bryce!" Dana called out again and started following them. But once she got through the crowd she lost them.

The bell rang for Dana to head to science and she knew it would be her chance to talk to Bryce. She waited until the last minute so she could be sure he wouldn't switch seats when she came in. But he must have done the same thing because she and him were the only ones in the hall heading to class. "Bryce!" She called out and he kept going. "Why are you ignoring me?" She hollered. "First you disappear at the exhibit and now you won't answer my texts or calls and you have very clearly been ignoring me. What is up with you?" She asked. 

"I'm not supposed to be talking to you right now." He said. 

"Why?" She asked in anger. 

"I wasn't supposed to go to the event with you. I had a family thing but I lied to them and missed it so that I could go with you." He explained. She was touched to hear that he broke the rules for her but she was still trying to be upset. 

"But that doesn't explain why you ran out without a word last night. Did you get caught? You told me your parents were picking you up." She said. 

"They didn't." He admitted, obviously. 

"So you lied to me too?" She asked, hurt. 

"I love you, so much, truly I do but there are just some things that I can't tell you and yeah sometimes I have to lie-"

"Wait, are you saying you've lied to me before?" Her heart sank. "What have you lied about? Do you even like me? Was this all a prank or something?" She asked, beginning to tear up. 

"No, nothing like that. I love you. I really love you." He tried to assure her. 

"Then how can you lie to me? How can we have a relationship where we lie?-"

"There are some things that affect more than just me that I can't tell you. Believe me, I wish I could but it's not just about me." He tried to explain. 

"You know what, I'm done with this." She shook her head and began to walk away. 

"Wait, let me explain!" He called out. She stopped and turned quickly. 

"Then explain." She spoke harshly. 

"This-this secret-"

"Secret? That's how you explain? That doesn't explain anything! It's just another thing shrouded in lies." She interrupted. "I really thought you were different. I thought we weren't like that. But I guess I was wrong." She added and walked out the doors towards the fields. 

"Dana wait!" Bryce called out, close to tears. He ran out after her and shouted. "I'm a werewolf!" Something in him snapped. He needed something, anything to make her stay and if the truth was what she wanted then that's what he would give her. She stopped walking and paused for a second. Then she started to laugh and she turned to face him. 

"You think I'm stupid? A werewolf? The things someone will say to keep covering their lies. You know what, stay away from me." She replied. "Stay." She added, speaking as if she were talking to a dog. She walked away and Bryce began to cry.

~~~

"And get this, he said he was a werewolf." Dana was recounting her preposterous story to Abigail.

 "What?! What kind of crazy stuff is he on?" She responded. 

"I know right. Like, I thought he was normal." Dana said. 

"Like, furry much?" Abigail added. "But I mean, with his friends, maybe we should've guessed it." She continued. "Do you think his siblings know?" She asked. 

"It'd probably be hard not to." Dana replied. 

"Omg imagine him running around his property with like a fake tail or something." Abigail said, having fun thinking of something embarrassing. 

"Yeah that would be so weird." Dana admitted. 

"Like how messed in the head do you have to be for that?" Abigail continued but Dana started to feel bad. 

"Hey, ease up. You know, mental illness isn't nice to hate on." She said. 

"Why defend him? He hurt you." Abigail asked. That question hit Dana. She didn't know why. She was supposed to be mad and dish out on him with her best friend and feel good about it but she didn't. She wanted to be angry but she couldn't bring herself to be fully distant from him. She still cared, she still loved him.

"Yeah but you shouldn't make fun of people's illnesses though." Dana said.

"Hey Dana." Willow spoke up as she walked up to Dana and Abigail. 

"Hey Willow." Dana replied. 

"Can we talk?" Willow asked. 

"Is this about Bryce? If so, I was really hoping we could stay friends if you're cool with it." Dana said. 

"It is about Bryce. Can we talk in private?" Willow asked and looked to Abigail. She gave her a bit of a look and Abigail got uncomfortable and scurried off. "Look, Dana, Bryce is really upset about what happened-"

"Yeah I'm upset too." Dana interrupted. 

"And you're totally allowed to be. But if you would please hear him out and let him explain." Willow asked. 

"Did you know he told me he was a werewolf?" Dana said and Willow's eyes widened. "He told you?!" She asked, exclaiming in surprise. 

"You knew? Do your parents know? Do they have him in therapy or something?" Dana asked.

 "Dana, if you could please just hear him out. Please come over so he can explain. He's a total wreck he couldn't even come to school today." Willow asked, saving the other subject for later. Dana felt like a total wreck too. A part of her regretted what she did breaking up with him but the logical part of her knew she should get out of a toxic relationship as soon as possible. But that regretful part was strong. 

"Fine." She sighed. "Today?" She asked. 

"Probably tomorrow." Willow decided and stood from the table. "And Dana, please don't mention to anyone about the werewolf thing. It can be hard to be perceived differently, especially when you're working on it." She added. 

"Right." Dana promised.