Stranger Yet

Chapter 11: Double Date, Part 2

Chapter 11

Tiernan had kept eyes on Ayra throughout her school day, but at 6, Tristan had taken his place.

He had been reluctant to trade places. He wasn't sure why it bothered him that the other girl (Ashley or whatever) and Ayra had hit it off so well.

His wolf didn't say much, he just growled at the interaction and kept growling until they had parted ways.

Tristan followed behind Ayra the rest of the day, always out of smell range, but close enough to hear. It had been boring at first, waiting for Ayra to do anything other than sit in her house, but when she left for her date, Tristan was ready. She was fast but couldn't quite keep up with Ayra's wild driving. When she caught up enough to shift (after snagging a dress from a rack outside a store and some sandals, all while managing to avoid being seen), she sat at a restaurant across the street staring at the blonde woman, her heart contracting at the beauty. She steadied her breathing and strained her ears to hear the conversation between Ayra and the pretty girl. Tiernan would be disappointed to know how little Ayra talked about herself during the date, but Tristan was extremely intrigued with the light in the other girl, Ashley's, eyes as she spoke about her family. Tristan had always known she wasn't straight but when she watched Ashley kiss Ayra, she realized something else.

That girl was hers. Tristan wasn't the jealous type, but that kiss set her off, and after her wolf had voiced its anger, she was shocked. Then, after the surprise passed, she couldn't help but laugh at the irony of it. She had not thought a wolf's soulmate could be human, but she knew after hearing her wolf's response to the two girls' kisses, that she had finally found her own mate in the human world. Werewolves avoided humans, so if it wasn't for Ayra and her damned date, Tristan probably never would have found hers. With that in mind, even though the kiss bothered her wolf, she chose to laugh about it instead.

It wasn't as if Ayra KNEW any better.

Tristan called to her sister Dierdre, telling her to switch her places early, and after Dierdre agreed to rush to Ayra's house, Tristan waited for the date to end. She would talk to Ashley right after Ayra left. She might forgive their unknowing transgressions but that did NOT mean she would allow for it to happen again.

When Ayra drove away from the café, leaving Ashley sitting at the table texting, a smile spread across her gloriously beautiful face, Tristan made her move.

She walked into the café and made her way directly to the table where Ashley was sitting.

"Hey, is this seat taken?"

Ashley looked up surprised. "Oh, I was just about to leave, and the tables a mess, but there are plenty of clean ones!" She smiled brightly up at Tristan and Tristan was quick to think of a way to keep her there.

"Well, actually, I was trying to avoid this creep that was following me... Do you mind just acting like you know me for a minute? I'm so sorry to do this to you." It was low of her to use such an excuse lightly, but Tristan wasn't above much. Middle children had to be a little bit sneaky if they ever wanted any attention from their parents. It was a learned skill- for survival, obviously.

"Oh god, of course!" Ashley jumped up, breaking into character with ease,"It's so exciting that you're getting married! Oh my god! And he wants you to help him pick out your engagement ring?! That's so cute!" Her voice had risen quite a few octaves, and Ashley threw her arms around Tristan, taking the acting seriously. After a brief hug, Ashley continued.

"Sit! Sit! I feel like its been forever since we talked! And now you're getting married!? How's your mom doing? How is she taking the news? Oh my gosh, she must be so excited!"

Tristan hadn't expected this much of a response, but she tried to keep up. "My mother's great. Obviously, she's excited for me, but also sort of sad, you know, cos even though she can't say it, I'm her favorite, and she doesn't want me to move out." She laughed. "But she's definitely more excited than sad. She wants me to be happy, ya know?"

"Of course! Of course! Well that's so awesome. I'm so jealous that you found the one so quick. You've been together since, what, Freshman year? Gosh! You're only like, a year older than me, too! I hope that's obtainable for me!" She gushed, really picking up momentum.

"So how's the rest of your family?"

"Well, big bro's happy to have me out of his hair, but the younger ones are gonna miss me bossing them around. I just know it." She shook her head and laughed. "They're such goofs. Micah threatened him. Told Erin if he didn't treat me right, he'd beat him up. Siblings. What can ya do with em?"

Tristan made a big show about looking around.

"He's gone now, I think. Hey, thank you. Thank you for that. That was really nice of you."

"Really? So does that mean I'm invited to the wedding?"

Tristan gawked at the girl, before realizing she was joking, and finally laughing. "Of course you're invited! But how am I going to invite you without a way to contact you with deets?"

Ashley got serious for a second, looking over this other woman. Tristan was on the short side, but she was sturdy, funny, and cute. She had a button nose, and rosy cheeks, and blue eyes like her brother.

Ashley tried to ignore the attraction but felt compelled to give Tristan her number. "I'm always down for new friends. I look forward to hanging out with you again....??"

"It's Tristan. And I look forward to hanging out with you again, too....um....?" Tristan pretended not to know her name.

"It's Ashley." Her smile could light up a room. Tristan melted in all that glorious brightness. "I'd best be going, but it was nice chatting!"

"Thanks again! You're a lifesaver! Bye!"

Tristan felt like she'd won the lotto. She gotten the girls number. Of course, the girl had suggested friendship, but Tristan wasn't too worried about that. She felt confident that she could win Ashley over. She smiled mischievously to herself. She liked a good challenge.

Tristan decided she liked the dress too much to leave it, so she walked the distance to forest before taking it off and shifting. She carried the dress home, leaving the sandals she'd also stolen behind in the woods to rot.