Dawn

Chapter 7

I woke up first, a sleeping Alyssa right next to me, sprawled everywhere, her arm across my chest and leg over mine. I sigh and gently remove her arm and leg. I quietly sit upright.
I run a hand over my face, trying to rub the drowsiness out it, like somehow it can be done,
and I stretch towards the ceiling with a loud yawn.
I instantly cover my mouth, but then remember Alyssa sleeps like the dead and proceed to yawn.
I stand up, my feet coming in contact with the cold floor, a shiver running through me. I quickly walk across the big room, and close the opened window, were I look down and see the big alcohol bottle in the rose bushes.
The sight of it brings me back to the reality of last night, and makes me frown. I go to the bathroom and open the faucet, letting the water run until it turns ice cold, and I splash my face with it, the water bolting me awake with a nasty shock, grabbing my green toothbrush that I always keep here just in case, I begin to brush my teeth.
I walk around the bathroom while brushing, looking at the paintings she has hung up above her bathtub in white and gold frames matching her bathroom decor.
In one of the little frames, is a picture of her and Vince at the beach. He has on his usual smug but serious expression, and Alyssa is smiling brightly, her auburn hair flying in the wind.
They looked happy.
On the bottom of that picture are two smaller pictures, one of me and her taken during Fourth of July. The fireworks exploding into a multitude of colors right above us in the background and our smiles bigger than ever. Lastly, right next to it is a picture of Max, Alyssa, and me when we were little, maybe 10, eating ice cream and max sticking his tongue at me playfully.
I smile as I remember that moment perfectly.
"Good morning," a voice says from behind me, making me jump. I turn around, ready to hit Max across the head from startling me yet again.
"What the he-" I seethe through a mouth fill of toothpaste as I turn around to see Max shirtless, six pack and all with a pair of sweat pants hanging dangerously low.
I meet his torso and my anger suddenly vanishes and is replaced by shock, but I quickly try to replace the look and avert my eyes.
I go and spit out the toothpaste in the sink with lightening speed, internally grimacing at how unattractive I must look with it running down my mouth.

"I know its a lot to take in," he smirks cockily.
I snap out of my trance,
"Please, you're practically family,"I say, but still can't help my wandering eyes. Something in his eyes flash momentarily as he smiles, an emotion I'm not able to trace.
"Don't deny it, Dawn,"he says waving a finger at me and putting his hands on his hips in mock sass.
I suppress a laugh.
"Whatever," I say dully, trying to sound disinterested, although a smile forms on my face.
"Hey! I remember that," he says, smiling fondly referring to the picture of all three of us.
He walks up to were I am, not thinking twice about his close proximity to me and I take a small step back.
"You we're kinda of cute in your little pig tails, I have to admit. Maybe that's why I liked you when we were little."He says absentmindedly, but his response causes me to turn my head so hard to face him, I almost give myself whiplash.
What?
"Don't worry it's gone. I mean look at you!" he says rolling his eyes in a playful manner as he laughs and sourly brings me back to reality.
I roll my eyes, but I can't help the way my heart flutters at the mention of him having any remote feelings for me.
"Kidding! I mean, I guess you're ok looking now," he says, backing away with his hands up and another grin on his face.
Is he flirting with me? I can't tell.
I've never flirted with somebody in my life.

"I have to say it's a little bit weird for you to sneak up on me in the bathroom. Don't you have somewhere to be or are so you like invading my personal space?" My heart races with this newfound confidence and for a second he looks surprised. I hide a smile and keep my face composed.
"Ouch!" he says holding his heart. "Breakfast is ready, don't shoot the messenger "
"Couldn't Madga have told me that?"I question, stepping out of the bathroom that has suddenly become too tiny for the both of us. He looks flustered for a moment.
"Yeah, but I wanted to do it,"his tone softening before leaving the room and closing the bedroom door on me, a blushing and grinning idiot.

Still in the same spot he left me in, he opens the door quickly, his head peaking out and causing me to look up.
"Oh and good luck getting her up," he says referring to Alyssa and closing the door just as fast as he opened it.
I groan.

"Alyssa, get up!"I yell, walking over to her. She doesn't budge from her contorted position, so I jump on the bed and shake her, again nothing.
"Alyssa your pumps arrived!" I yell half joking.
She grunts and growls lowly.
"Quick! The delivery guy is going to leave." I say again half joking.
She sits upright like a puppet on a string.
"You're soo funny." she says sarcastically, staring at me with glowing yellow slit eyes.
"I know! " I say smiling triumphantly. Her eyes returning back to their normal blue.
"Cmon, breakfast is ready, and I have to leave soon."
"What? why?!" She says, instantly getting off the bed before almost tumbling back. Her hand shoots up to her forehead and the other to stabilize herself.
" Woah," she says disoriented, her face contorting. " I have the world's biggest headache."
I shoot her a I told you so look.
"My mom she wants me home. I have to babysit Ella..."I lie.
In reality, I've just been waiting this whole time to bawl my eyes out after what has happened, but I can't do that now when I'm around her.
"Oh." she pouts.
"I'll be with you in school. I won't leave your side, don't worry," I chip in, rubbing her shoulder to reassure her. She nods and my stomach drops.
"I shouldn't avoid him, but he should be avoiding me!" She exclaims, putting her hands over her head.
I shrink into myself.
"And on Monday, I'm going to wear my best outfit that's going to make him regret dumping me," she says confidently, strutting to the bathroom.
***
I walk down to the kitchen, Max sitting down on one of the high chairs in the kitchen dining room area. I sit down next to him.
"He knew," he says ghostly, looking at a note.
Who is he?
"What?" I ask confused.
"My father, he left a note," he says and hands it over to me.
Kids, I will be handling rogue business today,
and Dawn you can stay as long as you want. But do not think that I was not aware of what went on children. I could smell the foul alcohol from downstairs, next time hide your tracks better if you're thinking of keeping something from an Alpha. Something you will have to learn Max as my successor.
No punishment will be appointed this time around, but if I get notified by the ground's keeper that another bottle of alcohol has ruined the rose bushes, I will not take it lightly.
P.S your grandmother is coming to visit in the afternoon, be nice and good luck.~ Father

My eyes widen.
"At least we weren't punished?" I say, shrugging my shoulder with a nervous smile.
"We just got lucky," he says, giving me a look and taking the note from my hands.
The cooks bring our plates out from the kitchen, my favorite part of sleeping over. At this point they don't even have to be told what to make for me, they already know my favorites.
Pancakes for me, yes they even know my obsession with them.

After breakfast I gathered my things and reassured Alyssa for the 100th time that things are going to be fine come Monday.
But I shouldn't have said such things because I'm not so sure myself.

Well hello, it's been a long time, hasnt it? Don't forget to vote and comment!