Free Me From the Wolves

[8] Keys and Screws

After school, Andrew had said he didn't need a ride, so I ran another mile on the track and then retired home. As soon as I got there, I knocked out after taking a shower. But as I woke, Andrew barged into my room.

"Tell Ryder thanks for the car," he said. I guess that's why he didn't need a ride earlier—since his original car was restored.

"Tell him yourself," I grumbled, stretching out my tired limbs that were still sore.

"Wait, what's going on?" Andrew frowned as I rolled out of bed and had the intent to go downstairs to get something to eat while not claiming to know what he was talking about. Immediately, I caught Trevor's weird scent and saw him sitting on our couch.

"Nothing," I lied once more, after rolling my eyes at the presence of Trevor who had turned at the sound of my voice. But I continued to talk to Andrew and make myself dinner. "He probably just rushed your car getting fixed because he knows I'm pissed at him."

I thought Andrew would've been irritated by extension of my own feelings, but instead, he thrust a fist in the air and then brought it into him with a wild: "Yes. Finally!"

"Whatever," I said while letting my hot pockets heat up in the microwave. Trevor took the liberty of traveling over to the counter to lean upon.

"You're still mad at him?" Trevor asked.

"You knew?" Andrew asked him. "What'd he do?"

"Well, I think that's between them," Trevor commented and then I looked at him with narrowed eyes.

"Is it?" I inquired. "Because I distinctly remember Ryder blabbering about you pestering him. I don't know what you two have going on, but you annoy the crap out of him. Especially last night."

Andrew's face twisted before he looked at his newfound best friend. "But everyone loves you."

"Apparently not," Trevor said with a smile suggesting the distaste from Ryder was meaningless. Trevor chuckled and Andrew started to join before he saw the look on my face. I grabbed my plate out of the microwave and started to leave to my room, but then there was a knock on the door. Aside from the scent of my food, I smelled Ryder. And even though there were a few walls and a door between us, I was already seeing his eyes pierce into mine.

"Ashlynn, come on," I heard him plead through the door so loud that it was a muffle for human ears, but still audible. I had paused and glanced at my brother. "Ashlynn, please."

At least he's trying, Andrew thought, but it was revealed through a shrug of his shoulders. He nodded towards the door and I reluctantly gave in. I approached the door and stood a yard away, able to see Ryder's body disfigured through the cut glass.

"Babe, I can see you, just...please let me talk," he said in a desperate tone. "It's important."

Against my better judgment, I opened the door. Though he wasn't smiling, he had a look of relief once he saw my disappointed face, but when he took a step forward, I brushed shoulders with him to go outside instead. Silently, I sat down on the swing and began eating my hot pocket. All he did was watch so I flashed my eyes up at him.

"You said you needed to talk," I reminded. So talk.

He swallowed whatever nerves he had that I hoped was his pride and then leaned against the banister in front of me. I was just focused on eating my hot pocket though.

"Remember when we ran into each other at the old Everton house?" he began. Oh great. He was going to recount the first time he revealed he was a werewolf and that he had imprinted on me. This was a guilt trip, I was sure. But I didn't look at his face to confirm he held the same expression he always did when he said he loved me. "You had found that silver dagger and the key that matched one I already had," he added and then I figured this wasn't about us at all. It made me question though, why he had been in that house in the first place. He had never told me why. Or how he had a matching key beforehand. "Well, we had the reading of my dad's will today and..."