The Deep Dark Stone Path

Chapter 26 *James*

Sam is upstairs in my room. Dalilah, Damian, and I are sitting at the kitchen table. Dalilah found him behind the library smoking with some kids. "I can't believe you would do this. When I tell dad your gonna get in so much trouble. I just can't believe a ten year old gets into drugs." She shakes her head and looks at the table. Soon the rest of the kids get back and I tell them I will bring dinner to their rooms, but they need to stay in their rooms. Eventually Mr. Daniels gets home. He looks cheerful until he sees me and Dalilah at the table with Damian. He walks over and sits at the table. "What happened?" he asks and Dalilah tells him. He gets mad beyond words. Damians lip quivers. "Damian, how could you be so stupid?! You are ten years old! Not only that, but it is not good for you and its illegal. You are grounded for the rest of summer and you are getting ten licks with a belt. Go to your room I will be up there momentarily." Damian goes upstairs and I gulp. Dalilah clenches her teeth. I can tell Mr. Daniels isn't looking forward to what has to be done. "Dalilah please entertain the rest of the children so they don't hear this." Dalilah goes in the living room and puts on some music and pulls out some board games. I begin to put the pizzas in the oven. Mr. Daniels goes upstairs and tells the other children to go downstairs. They all come downstairs and play with Dalilah having no idea about Damian. After a while, Damian and his dad come downstairs and sit at the table. The pizzas are done and I cut them and put them on the table. Everyone eats dinner and goes to bed. I go into Dalilah's room and she is sitting on her bed. Sam is on the floor in dog form. "Come in and lock the door." I close it and lock it. "I want you guys to meet someone. Chris come here." The man who attacked us today steps through the window and glares at Sam and I. "Are you kidding me? Your friends with these...hooligans?!" Chris says. "Hey-" I go to say but Dalilah steps in. "So you have all met?" "Yes, Chris attacked Sam and I today when we were walking to the store." She looks at Chris and raises an eyebrow. "I didn't know they were your friends and I was really hungry, Dalilah." he whines. "Well, this is James, my boyfriend, and Sam, our friend. Sam is a werewolf and James is a human and Chris is a vampire." We all just stare at each other for a while. Sam yawns and itches his head. Chris whispers in Dalilah's ear and climbs out the window.  Sam goes to my room. I close the door and sit next to Dalilah on her bed. "What did he say to you?" I question. "Chris said that I deserve better than a lowlife human. There is something you don't know." She looks down and shifts her position. "I met Chris before I met you. I had a crush on him and he was my first kiss. Then I met you and I had a different sort of crush on you." My eyes burn and my chest hurts. "So this is who you were talking to the other day when you told me you were alone. We shouldn't be together when you aren't sure who you care about. And I don't wanna be with someone who is going to keep secrets. We're through." With that I get up and go to my room. Sam is in his dog form on his cover when I walk in. He raises his head when he sees me. "...Dalilah isn't with me anymore." My voice cracks in the middle and I swallow the lump in my throat. I lay down in my bed and try to sleep.