Running with Shifters (completed)

Chapter 10 Meg-Elaine

Chapter 10

Meg-Elaine

I'm awoken by a kiss to my forehead and, opening my eyes, I stare into the mirror images of my own. Smiling, I rub my eyes before looking around us. We're the only ones in the car, the others gathered a few feet away in front of an unfamiliar house, and it takes me a second to realize that I'm sitting on Eli's lap. Blushing, I slide off and onto the empty seat before going to join the others.

"Where are we?" Everyone turns to me and I watch as Iz takes in my blush and then Eli as he walks up behind me, giving me a knowing, conspiratorial grin. Stop that, you busybody.

Romulus shifts on his feet in obvious discomfort before looking back towards the house. "Home." That one word carries so much sorrow that I nearly hug him. Restraining myself, I walk with everyone up to the front door.

As Romulus knocks I take it in. It's a cute grey stone cottage with a little herb garden to the left of the small front porch. The house appears to be in the very center of a clearing that can't be more than a hundred yards across, surrounded by a thick forest.

After a few moments of anticipatory silence the door opens, revealing a middle aged woman with Romulus's black hair (only hers is curly and much, much shorter, only coming to her shoulders) and his almond-shaped eyes. She has a sweet smile... that quickly turns to a look of astonishment as she takes in the sight of her son before her.

"Rommy?" Her voice is a lot higher than I was expecting and I try to stifle my laughter as she addresses him by that name. I can feel Iz's shoulder quake against mine and I know I'm not the only one trying to stay serious.

A flash of annoyance crosses his face but is quickly replaced by a tentative smile. "Hi mom."

She makes a choking sound, her eyes slightly misting over, and she reaches to hug him before thinking better of it and patting his cheek affectionately. "You look just like your father."

They both look uncomfortable now and we all stand here in silence for a moment before Eli breaks the tension and steps forward. "Hello, Mrs. Remus."

"Elias? It's been ages, how are you?" Mrs. Remus smiles and takes his hand, squeezing it between both of hers. Elias? I didn't know Eli was short for something, but yet, it definitely suits him.

"I'm fantastic, you?"

"Oh, you know. Same old same old."

"That's good." They smile at each other for a moment and I wonder if she remembers that her son isn't even two feet away.

Kate leans forward between Iz and I and explains in a whisper, "no one can not like Eli. Even though she knows what he is she ignores it." Mrs. Remus shoots her a warning look and she guffaws quietly, "she's never much liked me, even though we've only met once briefly." She goes to move back to where she was standing before remembering something, "oh, and the reason she doesn't seem all that comfortable around Romulus, from what he's explained, is that his dad never told either of them what he and Romulus is, so when he died and Romulus Shifted she... shall we say, acted reflexively."

Mrs. Remus looks over and scowls at Kate, to which Kate just smiles. "Kate. I can't say I've missed you."

Kate smirks and elbows us in an I-told-you-so gesture, before feigning hurt. "But Mrs. Remus, I've missed you so. What, no hug? I'm hurt." She pouts and winks at me out of the corner of her eye. I can't imagine why Mrs. Remus doesn't like her, if this is the way she acts. I don't know what's gotten into her, she doesn't usually act so sarcastically.

Iz suddenly bursts into a fit of laughter, catching everyone off guard. We all give her a 'what the?' look and she breathes in deeply, trying to calm her hysterics, before explaining. "I'm sorry. It's just... I just realized... Romulus, your last name is Remus?"

He looks confused, and once he nods she continues. "So your name is Romulus Remus?" Again he nods and she bursts out into another fit. It takes me a second before getting it and joining her. He nods, accepting our insanity, "yes, yes. It's hilarious. Blame my father, he had a sense of humor of," he stops to smirk, "historic proportions." Iz and I share a look as if asking each other "did he really just? Surely not" before laughing even harder, leaning against each other for support.

The others go back to talking with Mrs. (giggle) Remus, completely ignoring us as we slowly gain our sanity. Tuning back into the conversation, I catch Romulus ask his mom if we can stay at one of the camp sites on the property.

"Of course. I assume you don't have any tents?" He shakes his head and she points to the back of the house, "there's some in the shed, you know where they are. You'll have to get your own food and I'll tolerate none of your-" she flails her hands around and we all understand. No Shifting. "-on my land."

Everyone glances at Iz when she mentions food and she groans, knowing that she'll most likely be designated hunter. That's not fair- the Shifters are more than capable of catching food, even if they are a little slower than she is. Plus, she hates the taste of animal blood (which, considering what she is and that her preferred blood is vampire, I try not to think of too much).

Deciding to bring this up again later, I nod to Mrs. Remus in passing before following the others to get the tents.