Alone

Seventeen

A week passed. Dart watched as Twist recovered from the shocking news about their heritage. She watched as Benny made her laugh and feel better. Twist seemed to have an easier time forgetting, thanks to him. Dart was not so lucky. Days went by where all Dart could think about were her parents. The numbness that had originally overtaken her had grown into a swarm of emotions that Dart didn't feel like she could control. One day, she would be sad. The next day, she would be angry. Today she was both.
Dart sat on a picnic table, quietly pondering her parent's relationship once again. She hated the truth of it all, that her mother fell for someone who didn't care enough about her. That her best friend and her partner both betrayed her. They must have been selfish. Dart dug her claws into the wood in the table. Very selfish. Dart had always thought of love and friendship as something precious. True love only happened once in a lifetime, if at all. You don't throw away someone who you love, not for anything. The same went for friendship. While Dart doubted that she would ever find love, she had found friendship. She had found it in Twist. Her sister was so important to her that she would do anything to protect her. She would never just throw Twist away to look for a new friend, or try and steal Benny away from Twist. She loved her too much. The idea of anyone betraying Twist sent a cold shiver through Dart's spine.
Nobody will ever hurt her. She won't end up like mom. Dart thought with a burning intensity. But the thought was silenced by a much larger one. One that Dart had been pondering for a long time.
What if it's in my blood? Dart tried to shove the concept away. She wasn't her father, it wasn't true.
But what if you're just like him? What if he told himself the same thing? Dart wanted to scream. The voices in her head kept on telling her that she would become her father. She didn't want to think it was true, she told herself it wasn't, but the voices kept on telling her it was. Dart sighed and leapt off the picnic table. A walk in the woods could clear her mind.

...

The frosty grass crunched under Dart's feet as she padded around the forest. The voice was quieter now, but still there. Still telling her she would hurt people.
"Dart?" A real voice called. Dart turned around to see Luke walking towards her, smiling brightly. Dart sighed inwardly. She didn't want to be around anyone right now. She just wanted quiet.
"How are you doing?" Luke asked, now standing beside Dart.
"Okay." Dart responded. She knew it wasn't true. She wasn't okay. "How about you?" Luke smiled wider, if possible.
"I'm perfect." He said. Dart frowned. Luke seemed awfully happy, it didn't seem normal. Something was up.
"Okay.." Dart said. "I'm going to keep walking, I guess."
"I'll come!" Luke said. The two walked through the woods together, and Dart started to feel angry. Why couldn't Luke just leave her alone? Why couldn't he give her space? He was always there, right beside her. She sighed, this time out loud.
"Huh?" Luke meowed. Dart looked at him.
"Nothing." She said. The two continued in silence, but Luke seemed a little more nervous now. Dart didn't care. She didn't care about anything except her parents right now. The voice started to return, and Dart panicked.
"Um, lets hunt." She said quickly. Luke nodded.
"Okay." He mewed.

Dart scaled a tree, aiming for the birds above her. They were completely distracted by each other, unaware of Dart. She leapt onto the branch beside them. They were so close she could taste them. Dart was about to strike when a thought hit her.
What if these birds are distracted because they're in love? Dart told herself not to be silly, but it persisted.
They could be soulmates. I could ruin that. She thought. They might have a wonderful life together, even though they're birds. I could be ruining something precious, just like my father.
While she was thinking, the birds had flown away. Dart sighed, disappointed at herself.
You got distracted by a bird's love life. She told herself. How stupid. Dart leapt off of the tree branch and landed beside
Luke.
"Got away." She mumbled. Luke nodded slowly.
"Okay... well..." He whirled around, looking for prey. "There's probably some squirrels in that tree!" He said, flicking his tail towards a tall pine tree. Dart looked at the tree. It did look like somewhere squirrels would be.
"Okay." She said. "You catch it this time." Luke nodded, and ran towards the tree. He disappeared within the canopy of needles, and Dart could only assume that he was climbing it. She watched the tree for a while, growing tired of waiting. She just wanted to go back home. Luke came out of the tree at last, carrying a small squirrel. Dart forced a smile.
"Good catch." She said. Luke smiled widely, and dropped the squirrel at Dart's paws.
"I'm gonna give it to you." He said. Dart looked down at the squirrel. She didn't want it, but Luke seemed proud. She picked it up in her jaws.
"Thanks." She said, her words muffled by the limp prey. Luke looked at his paws.
"No problem." He whispered. There was a long pause, and Dart became impatient. She didn't want to have a conversation, especially not one that lasted forever.
"Something on your mind?" Dart asked finally. Luke looked up at her, something shining in his eyes.
"I want to talk to you about something serious." He said. Dart dropped the squirrel so she could speak better.
"Go on." She responded. Luke shifted on his paws.
"I've been your friend for over a month." He paused. "I've never been happy with that."
"You're a great person and I loved spending time with you." He added quickly as Dart's expression shifted to one of sorrow.
"I just..." He paused again. "I've always wanted more." Dart froze.
"Wait, What?" She sputtered.
"Dart..." Luke said. "I think... no, I know I love you. Do you love me too? Do you want to be more than friends? Do you want to be with me?" Dart stared. She didn't know what else to do. She thought back to all the times she had spoken with Luke. He was always smiling, especially when they were alone. He gave her constant compliments.
He really means it. Dart thought. He wants to be with me. Dart searched through her own mind, looking for any romantic feelings she might have felt for Luke. She found none. He was just a friend.
"N-no." Dart whispered. Luke's smile fell.
"What?" He asked. "Did I hear you correctly?" Something inside of Dart snapped. All the emotion she had been holding inside seemed to boil over, and she couldn't contain it. Everything, from the truth about her parents to the encounter she didn't want to be having, was channeled into rage. Every single bit of it was directed at Luke.
"Yes, You did. I don't want to be with you, Luke. I never will. Accept that and move on." She yelled. Luke stepped back, eyes wide. He looked crestfallen, and Dart wondered if she regretted her words. She found she didn't. Dart walked away, making sure to leave the squirrel Luke had offered her behind. She never looked back.