Tarrin:The Girl Everyone Knows

The girl everyone knows (11)

Tarrin's POV

"Want to go for a run?", Fiesk asks me as he is shape shifting.
" Run for fun or as a race?", I ask him as I begin to shape shift too.
" Both", he smirks at me.

I've always liked him but I don't think he sees me as more than just a friend. He even called me his 'little sister' once. It is heartbreaking to hear that from someone you love.

Anyway ,why should I focus on him if he's not interested? I met Tony today and I got to help him with his project. It went very well. He's such a fast learner and a good listener.
I could spend the whole evening daydreaming about Tony. He's perfect. Perfect teeth, perfect smile, perfect body, perfectly cut hair. Our hands had brushed when he'd tried reaching for the same pencil I wanted to pick from the floor. I cannot stop thinking about that moment. Until Fiesk interrupts me from my reverie
"Are you on for the race?",  he asks getting ready to  run
" Definitely", i say as I also get my gear ready. I'm not afraid of little competition.

Fiesk and I raced to the creek not too faraway from the pack.
We sat by a nearby boulder as we watched the moonlit sky in silence.
"So, are you ready?", he says as he takes a brief look at me before looking back to the sky,
" Ready for what?", I ask him and our eyes meet and he's quick to look away.
"You're going to marry my brother, aren't you?", he says with a distant look
"Yes", I say trying not to hide my lack of enthusiasm. I knew that was bound to happen soon, didn't I?
" Well, are you prepared? That's what I'm asking!", he sounds irritated. I don't get it.
Is he irritated that I'm going to marry his brother or my unenthusiastic response?
"Anyway, do you love him?", he continues and this time he looks at me intensely.

I don't respond to his question immediately. I remove my gaze at him and look up to stare at the moon.
" Do you love him, Tarrin?!", he says loudly, sounding more of a shout it is a question.
I look at him, surprised at his behavior towards me
"Why and what's it to you?!", I say , irritated at him. He's never spoken to me like that.
" Besides, whether I love Zeiss or not despite his arrogance is none of your business! This is not a pick-and-choose-whatever-you-like kind of thing. This is an arranged Union and neither Zeiss or me can oppose that decision. My father made a deal with the Alpha and no one says 'no' to the Alpha. You know that!", I say while looking at him and he just raise his hands in protest.
For a moment there is an awkward silence. It feels like we spent an hour not making eyes contact or say a word.
Then he finally breaks the awkward silence,
"What do you about the moon?", he asks. What a silly question considering that we are in an argument. How dare he  change the subject?
I respond anyway, I am not in the mood for an argument or a fight.

" It looks pale", I tell him as he looks up to see the pale moon.

"Pale?", he asks, surprised that I'd said that. Is the moon supposed to be attractive or brighter than the sun?
"I'm not insinuating that, Tarrin", he answers to my thought. I have forgotten that he can read minds too. How did I let my guard down?

" Well, what do you mean?", before he could answer an uproar is stirring in woods.
Howl...
Howl...
Howl...
Something is going on. Fiesk and I quickly head back to the pack to see what's going on.
We raced to the site.
As we reach the source of the uproar, members of our pack have taken form and circles around a creature tied up to a tree.
As I reach closer to see what it was...Madeline! How did she get here?
Her hands are bound to the tree and her mouth is covered by a piece of cloth.
She looks scared and helpless being with restraints.
She is trying to wiggle herself out of the restraints as the pack scoots closer to her baring their fangs out.
"Halt!!", Alpha Sergus shouts while holding up his right hand and the whole pack stop to their tracks and shape shift to human form.
" So this is the girl that has been spying on us, is that right Zeiss?", he says as he looks from Madeline to Zeiss
He walks over to Madeline and give her a once over.
This is interesting.
He says something to her and she looks scared. Serves her right! What was she doing here in the first place.
"Isn't that girl from your school?", Fiesk whispers into my ear. I had forgotten he's beside me.
" Yes, that's Madeline. The popular girl in school and captain of the Cheer squad", I whisper back.
"I think we should not terminate her just yet. I have other plans for this creature", the Alpha orders and it can only mean...
" In the meantime, what can we do with her, father?", Zeiss asks stepping forward beside the Alpha.
"We have to free her because we don't want a 'missing person' file at the police station. Zeiss, you keep an eye on her. Watch who she associates with and make sure she does not leak out any information related to this little incident", he says as he kneels down in front of her and say something to her.
When he's done he stands up and leave.
Zeiss hurries to her side to untie her and they exchange deadly glares. He must be angry. I wonder what had transpired in our absence.
He leaves her side making his way to where Fiesk and I are standing.
" Where were you?", he says and look from his brother to me
" We went for a run, brother ", Fiesk answers like there is nothing wrong with what he'd done.
" I do not want to see you again with her, get your own girl. Besides what a stupid thing to do when there is a threat arising in our pack. You go running around like a teenager when we should be busy resolving our issues, grow up! This goes to you too, Tarrin", he says pointing his index finger at me.
"Anyway, i thought you should know the Union ceremony has been postponed to next week.", he says looking directly at me.
Should I be happy? Or am I supposed throw a tantrum like those bridezillas on reality TV?
I sense Fiesk's inward smile and his brother's contrasting annoyance.
" Why?", I ask trying to fake a sadness that is not even there.
"We have a situation to take care of. That girl from your school. Apparently she's been spying on us and we need to handle the situation. I should've killed her when I got the chance.", he  says with an escalating annoyance because things aren't going his way tonight.
He had an encounter with her but didn't kill her right then, why?
I wish I can sympathise with him but unfortunately I don't.
After a while the pack begin scattering in the woods. It's time to hunt.
Zeiss stayed by my side the whole time, not wanting his brother or anyone else near me.
How hilarious was that.
We had hunt till dawn and Zeiss personally escorted me home without making any small talk.
A few times I had tried to get him into a conversation but he's solid mad at me. Who knows, he might even be mad at the whole universe.

I got home and mom had already started making breakfast.
I wonder when they'd arrived.
I went to my room and had a quick shower.
After the shower I put on my clothes. I think it's time I change my fashion sense.
I head downstairs for breakfast and my mom decides to start the conversation,
"So, the Union ceremony has been postponed?", she says waiting for my response of confirmation.
" Yes, it's been postponed to next week.", I her as I put a spoonful of oats in my mouth
"Good morning,", my father chimes in as he enters the kitchen. He gives mom a kiss on the cheek and comes my side on the table and kisses my head
" Are you ready to go , Tarrin? ", he says as he make an exit out of the kitchen to the living room to grab his laptop bag
I quickly put a spoonful of oats in my mouth as I rush outside to his car.
I hate taking the bus so if I want my dad to take me to school, I have to hurry up.
The drive to school was quiet and my dad kept stealing glances at me. He wants to talk about the Union ceremony but I look outside the window as a sign that I prefer not to talk about it.
He does not ask either.

After a few minutes we arrive to school and I quickly get out of the car and he nods at me as a gesture of saying 'bye'.
My dad is not the type of parent that walks their daughters the school entrance and wave them 'goodbye' or do anything that seems embarrassing.
I'm thankful for that.
I walk towards the school entrance and I begin to think about last night and Madeline.
Madeline! I wonder if she's at school today...