What if I was nothing (Tommy Conlon fanfiction)

Part 8

"What do you wanna do today?" Tommy asked me, after I gave him his coffee.
"How about a movie? I haven't been in cinema in ages."
"Sounds good," he grinned.
"But I have a training today, so I guess we will meet at the cinema."
"Training?" he looked at me surprised.
"Yeah, Wednesdays are my training days. I train wild animals and do a research about positive reinforcement. And then I ride horses, that got to the university and they have some etology issues and I try to help them to overcome their problems."
"You? Wild animals, uhmmm..." he scanned me and bit his bottom lip while laughing.
"What?" I crossed my arms and shook my head.
"Sorry, Shani. You are such a tiny person, how can you work with wild animals? Train horses. I don't want to question your abilities, but it is hard to believe. You don't seem like a person, who could fight with, I don't know... wolves and win."
"Who said something about fighting them? I connect with them."
He watched me and to be honest, I had no idea, what was he thinking. But I swear I could tell, he doesn't believe me.
"Change of plans," I grinned, "I'll show you."

Tommy waited for me in front of the small building, that was build in the middle of nowhere, later that day.
"Hi," I came to him with a smile. "So, I got a permission to show you it here."
"Cool," he grinned and followed me to the pavillion, where I was doing my research.
"So, what exactly do you do here?" he asked me and he suddenly stopped and gazed on the pack of wolves.
"They are impressive, aren't they?"
"They are," Tommy said softly.
"We have a very big area for them here, whole wood surounded by a high fences. They come here from time to time, especially when they sense somebody new. But they are used to us, they all were born here, so even though it is sometimes difficult with them, we can actually work with them like we could with dogs."
"You're kidding, right?" Tommy looked at me in disbelief.
"Alright, come here," I took his hand and led him to a small room with a big observation window. "Just stay here, okay?" I said and left him.
In few minutes I came to the room behind the window followed by the grey wolf.
"So, this is our oldest member, Mia," I looked at Tommy and Mia ran to the window and she began to growl through the glass. "The truth is, I can't see you from this side, I see myself and her in the mirror, but she can feel your scent. She'll be fine in a minute," I chuckled and watched Mia growling in the mirror.
"Are we done, girl? Mia!" I said her name and the second Mia looked at me a clicking sound came from behind my back. Mia quickly ran to me and she took a meat from my hand.
"See, this is how we work with wild animals," I said, meanwhile Mia ran to the glass again, but it took only few seconds and she looked at me again. So I clicked again and she came to me again and took a treat from me. And she decided to stay by my side, she just inhaled the scent from and everytime she looked at me, I gave her a treat.
"This way, you can teach elephant to stood calmly during veterinary treatment," I sat next to Mia and she began to lick my chin. "I love you too,  baby. Here," I gave her another piece of meat.
"I'll be right back," I said and we left the room.
"So?" I opened the room, where Tommy was sitting.
"I will tell you one thing, I have never ever in my life been so scared as in the moment she ran to the glass and I saw those sharp big fangs. And I looked behind her and saw you. If she attacked you, I think I'd shit my pants," Tommy said and I saw an awe in his eyes. "That was the coolest thing ever!"
"Thank you, well, I had to learn a lot and first year they didn't even let me to get in touch with the pack. The rule is that first you must work about yourself, then you can work with animals."
"Work about yourself?"
"You have to have clear mind and don't try to push animals into a thing, that you want them to do. If I try to get her to me with a force, she would attack me. I am not strong enough to fight with a wolf, but if I am patient enough, I can make them do, what I need them to do."
"With this little box in your hand. Wait, is that a clicker?"
"You know it from the army, right? Soldiers used it during D day in France in 1944, now we use it as a part of positive training."

"I am sorry, that I had doubts," Tommy said, when we were on our way back to the city.
"That's alright, at least you told me and I could persuade you," I put my head on his shoulder and he kissed my forehead.
"It's late, I don't think that the cinema will be open anymore," he checked his watch.
"True, so maybe tomorrow? You said you will be gone for whole weekend, right?"
"Yeah," he just nodded. I had a feeling, that he wants to say something, but it was like he had doubts if he can or not. He was quiet, after we got from the bus and went to my home, I felt he started to be a little bit nervous.
"Hey, big guy," I said softly, after we stopped in front of my house and he held me tight and kissed me. "What's wrong?"
"I hate it. I hate to see you entering that house. From what you've told me, your father is not a very calm person. I am just worried, that's all," he looked straigth to my eyes and held my hands on his chest. "Promise me, that if something happens you call me. Just one ugly look and get away from there, alright?"
"You're so sweet, you know that? I will be fine. I bet, he is already sleeping now and I see him only like 5 minutes in the morning, sometimes he doesn't even look at me and reads newspapers or makes a phone call. Sometimes he is not even home. And I've already started to look for my own apartment. Today I got a mail from a department, that I will be given a scholarship. So, with a job in the diner and money from the university, I might be able to get something really small, but my own."
"That would be great," a smile appeared on Tommy's lips and I kissed him. His hands slid under my shirt, I don't know if it was by an accident or he did it on purpose - but his hands on my skin, it was so arousing, that I moaned to that kiss. I expected him to laugh at me or stop kissing me. But it turned him on even more. His hand trailed on my hip and he moved it up and I felt his fingers caressing my skin around my bra.
"I think, that this visit woke some animal instincts," I whispered while I was still gently touching his lips.
"You have no idea," Tommy bit my lower lip and kissed me for the last time. "Get any apartment, as soon as possible."
"I'll try. So... I'll see you on Monday?" I sighed sadly.
"Yeah, if I come earlier, I'll let you know, but I am going to win that tournament, so I think I will be back on Sunday evening."
"I like it, when you are all self confident and ready to kick somebody's ass," I chuckled. "Good night, Tommy and call me!" I kissed him one more time and went home. He stood there and waved me before I disappeared behind the door.

My life right now? It is like a fairy tale. Everything goes so great and I couldn't be happier.

Yeah, everything could be great, if the curtain on the window in my father's bedroom wouldn't move a little bit that night.