Forever

Three

Allison's POV

I woke up the next morning to the harsh tapping at my bedroom door. On the other side was Julian, all happy and bright and chirpy. And then on this side was me - grumpy, sleepy, angry me. So how does a sleepy ancient werewolf answer the door?

"You infuriating donkey! What the hay do you want from me at this hour in the early morning?"

Julian frowns and checks his watch before looking back at me.

"Ali. It's 1 in the afternoon."

I rub my eyes and look up at him again as a yawn stretches its way over my face, all anger dissipating.

"Oh."

He sighs and turns away, beginning the path back down the hall towards the kitchen.

"Wait! What did you wake me up for?" I ask, stretching to the side so my back can crack.

"It's 1 in the afternoon. Oh, and we're going to workout."

I let out a loud groan, stumbling back into my room. I walk slowly towards the dresser and attempt to pick out suitable clothes for training.

~~~

I swing my fist into the bag, the loud thump sound echoes around the room again.

Behind me, I can hear the occasional grunts of two very muscular men fighting.

I look over my shoulder for the umpteenth time, watching Jules and the other man, Bruce I think it was, fight on the sparring mat. 

Bruce is a big bubble of muscles, ready to knock him flat in seconds if he gets a hold of Jules.

But Jules is fast and cunning. He darts around Bruce's outstretched arms and throws a few quick punches to his face. He darts back again and uses the momentum of Bruce charging forward to trip the large man up. The loud noise of Bruce and the mat colliding reach my ears and I quickly turn away to continue my own training.

Unaware of my newly found audience, I continue to hit the punching bag with all my might.

"You're pretty good," says a deep voice and I turn around to find the source.

"Thanks, 2 decades of training will do that." I reply, sending a kick into the bag, making the chain groan in protest.

"Only 2?" He asks, his cheeky grin stretching across his face.

"To be fair, I've been practicing since the mid 1800s so it's reasonably easy to build my strength up within almost 2 centuries."

He nods in agreement and sits down on the bench press beside me.

"You do know that isn't how you use that right?" I ask cheekily, raising an eyebrow.

He smiles again and makes a sweeping motion with his arms.

"Come teach me then."

This time I'm the one smiling as I walk over to him. I nudge him in the arm and he moves for me. I take the time to pronounce each step carefully and clearly, as if I was speaking to a child. I haven't looked at his face the entire time, scared as to what I might see. What if I turn into a tomato again?

"So when you lift this part-"

"-Ali."

"You need to make s-"

"-Allison."

"Hmm?"

"Would you like to have dinner together?"

I raise my head, completely forgetting where I am, confusion and glee wrestling inside my head.

Bang.

My hand instantly goes to my forehead, holding it over the sore spot. Jules rushes forward, concern written on his face. His eyebrows are furrowed as he carefully pulls my hand away to look at the damage.

"Why are you so stupid..." He mutters to no one in particular.

I laugh and shake his hand away. I get up and walk over to my duffel bag and grab my drink bottle.

I look back over to Jules over time top of my drink bottle and catch him just staring at me. I give a little wave and watch as a very faint flush of red floats up to his cheeks. I drop my bottle onto my bag and lift it up.

"Come on Jules, let's go. Where are we eating dinner?" I ask, walking towards the exit.

A patter of feet sound behind me and Jules sidles up next to me. He has that cocky half smile again and his eyes are twinkling with excitement.

"That's for me to know and you to find out. You might want to buy a dress."

I scowl at the thought of a dress but nod my head anyway. I reach the car first and get in the drivers seat. Jules hops into his car behind me and gestures for me to leave first. I pull out of my park and head down the street, towards the mall.

~

It's weird shopping by myself. I look around and see plenty of young girls shopping with their friends, and I have none. Well, none here.

I smile to myself as I enter a dress shop. Tonight should be fun.

It got me thinking though, what made Julian ask me to dinner? Is it friendly or is it...

Oh my god. Is it a date?