Plot Twist

Chapter 5

Chapter 5

"'Ohana' means 'family' and 'family' means nobody gets left behind or forgotten."

-Lilo and Stitch

My totally inspirational speech seemed to have cheered Skylar up quite a bit - we spent the rest of the night in her room consuming twice our body weights in chocolate and watching a Friends marathon on Netflix. By the end of our little "mourning" session, I had absolute confidence that Skylar would be able to look Ryder right in the eye without bursting into tears, proposing marriage or trying some other plan that would only leave her crying on the ground - along with her pride and dignity.

Unfortunately, waking her up for school the next morning was like trying to wrestle down a wild animal. Except wild animals won't hysterically sob and play the "I-just-got-rejected" card to make you feel guilty, either.

Either way, getting Skylar into a sweatshirt and jeans cost me several scratches, a torn pajama bottom and a trip to Starbucks after school funded by moi. Werewolf or not, there's a basic white girl hiding in every teenager that only responds to the words Starbucks, Leggings or Pretty Little Liars.

Luckily, fake-mom must have told fake-dad Skylar was Werewolf-PMSing and they pretty much kept the conversation at breakfast to: "Can you pass the salt?"

Which brings us to the car ride on the way to school.

Like yesterday, Skylar was seated in the passenger seat, Jackson was driving and I was awkwardly chilling in the back.

And, remember what I told you about awkward silences?

How they make me say stupid things?

Yeah, well, this car ride felt like the poster child for awkward silences. I really didn't want to set Skylar off into a tantrum, Jackson couldn't possibly grip the steering wheel any tighter and fake-twin looked like she was about to be sent to her death.

I can't stand this.

I've got to say something.

No Harry Styles facts this time.

Oh God, what do I say?

"So, what's the gameplan, gang?" I blurted out before I could even think about it.

Shit, shit, shit. If she cries, I'm going to feel like an ass.

Also, did I really just call them 'gang'? What is this - Scooby Doo?

Skylar took a deep breath before answering me, "Uh, what gameplan?"

Oh, God. Too late to go back now. I'm going to have to act like I meant to say that and it wasn't the product of this torturous silence.

"Yeah, like, what are you going to do about Lord Voldemort?" I asked. For whatever reason, Ryder's nicknames seemed to be Harry Potter themed today.

Jackson growled - seriously, does that not hurt this throat? - and answered before Skylar could, "Easy. If he even so much as comes twenty feet from you or Cal - pack treaties be damned - I'll pummel him."

Man, why can't my real brother be as protective and caring as Jackson? Oh, that's right, because he's a malicious little kid who enjoys watching people - well, really just me - suffer.

Still, Jackson's comment warmed my heart and a twinge of fondness erupted in my stomach.

Damn it, the feels get me every time.

"Thanks, Jackie," Skylar smiled weakly at him before turning to me, "Seriously. You two have been really supportive in all of this, and I know that if it weren't for you guys, I'm not sure how I'd be handling this or what would've happened - so, thank you."