Protecting Your Own

Chapter 12- Teen for a day

      The final bell rang and I had never felt so relieved to be out of school. It was so beautiful outside that I didn't want to spend another minute in a building.

   Wren and I were walking out of the building towards his truck. Laken and his girlfriend were going to meet us at the trails that were right outside of town. I had already texted dad and mom saying that we would be home later and who I was with. He was fine with it naturally, Wren was with me.

    I jumped inside the truck and rolled down the window. "You are in a really good mood today." Wren said getting in next to me and starting the truck.

   "I have no reason not to be." I said and smiled as we pulled out of the parking lot. "Everything is working out. Nadine is off my back, I get to dress the way I want to now and I don't have to wear those stupid fucking glasses anymore. I have absolutely no reason not to be in a good mood." I grinned. My smile had to of been contagious because Wren smiles the rest of the ride as well.

I had the radio blasting as Lizzo's new song "truth hurts" came on the radio. It was my favorite song at the moment, it seemed to describe my emotions at the current moment.

We pulled into the parking lot of the trails. It was an open path so we would be able to all walk and talk in peace. Dylan was under the assumption that Wren and I were really good friends and that Laken and Wren were good friends which is why we were all out. Even Dylan couldn't know about Laken and I being related, that would just put her in an unwanted situation.

"Took you long enough." I teased as Laken pulled in with Dylan.

"We got stopped by a cop." Dylan giggled as she got out. Dylan was absolutely beautiful, her looks seemed to compliment Laken nicely and he seemed interested enough in her. Though he never really talked about her.

"Let's go, before it gets dark." Wren motioned for us to follow him. I jumped up next to him so that I didn't draw any attention to Laken and I. Last thing we needed was rumors.

"So Wren, what made your family love here?" Dylan asked with a smile.

"My mother got a good job and the schools are nice so it seemed like a wise decision." He filled in, not daring the mention his father.

"That's cool, what does she do?" She followed up, probably just trying to make conversation but seeming to make an awkward one at that.

I made sure to keep my distance from Wren, just to prove that we weren't together, as much as I had wished we were, it wouldn't work out and I understood that. The agency comes first.

"She buys and sells companies, they rebased her pretty much, I can't really call it a new job." I'm pretty sure he just made that up."

   "That's cool, what are your plans after college?"

  Apparently we were playing twenty questions. Wren smirked and turned it back on her. "What are your plans after graduation?" He grinned as Laken shot him a short glare. I guess he did actually care for Dylan.
  
   "I want to study art. I know there's no money in it, but it's the only thing I'm really passionate about. What about you Beverly?" She faced it to me.

   "I want to be a trophy wife." My tone came out neutral, so if you didn't get my sense of humor you'd never know I was joking. "Or a stripper, which ever one makes more money with less work and hey I'm not above selling my body." I grinned as Wren elbowed me and I laughed.

   I could tell by Dylan's expression that I had shocked her so I cut the joke loose. "I want to teach self defense. To women mostly, so they can protect them selves." It wasn't entirely false. I was all about self defense, bad things happen to people, all people. But men's stats are better for fighting predators off.

  "That's so good. I really like that idea." She smiled, looping her hand into Lakens. He smiled down at her and my heart melted a little.
  
   "So how do you like cheerleading?" I asked and she grinned as she dove into talking about it. She was an easy person to talk to. I could understand why Laken likes her.

   Eventually we made our way out of the woods and back into the parking lot. We said our goodbyes to Laken and Dylan and headed towards the truck. Laken was going to drop Dylan off at her house so that gave Wren time to drop me off, and then go to training.

   As I got into the car, my mood seemed to dim a little bit. As much as I loved being a normal teenager for a few minutes, I couldn't help but want it longer. To be able to date Wren and hang out with my brother in public. I knew it wasn't my future, I loved the life that I had been given. I was so blessed to be in the family I was in, I just wish I got the perks.

  "What are you thinking of?" Wren asked as we pulled out onto the road

  I sat in silence for a moment to think about the question. "That no matter how much I want a normal life, I still wouldn't trade mine." I said and sighed before looking at him. "Which is why I can't let myself like you, Wren. Dad is right, the world is dangerous especially for us. I'm glad you are around but I can't let myself fall for someone like you or anyone for that matter because I can't afford to let my guard down. And you shouldn't like me either, we both need to stick to our jobs." The words hurt to say but I knew it was for the best.

  "I know." His response hurt even more. "It won't change anything though, I can't just turn it off." I could feel myself filling up with tears but I refused to cry because today had been so good, I didn't want to ruin it.

  "I think you should go to homecoming with Nadine." He was shocked by my response to say the least.

  "Why?"

   "It will keep eyes off of us. We can be ourselves when we are alone, but at school. It has to be professional. Just friends and we need everyone to know that and homecoming is a good place to start."

  "Why is it so important that no one knows your dating me?" He asked as if we were dating.

  "Because you're an agent and the world knows you as an agent not a high schooler. We are going to graduate eventually and I can't have my name being tied with yours my father would never allow it." By now we had pulled into my driveway.
 
  "This still doesn't change anything Beverly." Wren said as I unbuckled. "We can pretend while we are in school but I'm not going to give up on the idea of us that easily."

   "You've known me for a week Wren, it won't be that hard."

   "Maybe not for you." He muttered as I opened the door. "What do you want me to do? Tell me and I'll do it." I turned as I jumped out of the truck and I looked at him.

  "I want you to ask Nadine to homecoming. You were hired to make my life easier while I'm in high school, that is what we are going to do." I responded as I closed the door.

   I heard him pull away as I headed inside to get changed.

  I know I should feel upset. I should be hurt about what I just did. But I was set. I wanted to become an agent when I got out of high school but until then I had to keep my name and self secret, if that meant keeping Wren as a shadow then so be it.

    ___________
   It's been a bit. I have an actual plan for this story now so I'm gonna try to keep up with both. But stay with me because this couple is going on a cold spell for a bit.