The Master of Me

Chapter 25

CHAPTER 25

                The following Saturday on December 31st, Sterling got a call from Julie inviting him and a guest over to her place that evening for a New Year’s Eve celebration with her and a few of the other neighborhood young adults and their guests. This time she didn’t push him into a confirmed yes or no, just kindly said he and a guest were welcome to come if they desired.

                Since the news reported Alue identifying the burglar on Monday December 1st, Sterling had noticed locals giving him apprehensive stares when he went out and about. The curiosity could be seen in their eyes as to why a shifter was in his home and not he at the time of the break in. Even more so, he wouldn’t be surprised if he and Alue were a discussed topic at the neighborhood woman’s book club. By that point Alue and he usually went out and shopped together, but when Vincent Gregory showed up the next day. Alue ceased all forms of travel except to her own den, his home, and Christmas day.

                He explained the invitation and left the choice up to her. It did not matter to him how they spend New Year’s Eve, so long as he was with her.

“I would like to go to this New Year’s Eve celebration.” Alue told him, as they ate their evening dinner of rare steak, mashed potatoes, cheese gravy, and steamed vegetables.

                Sterling grinned, feeling proud of Alue for stepping outside her comfort zone.

“That’s great. We’ll clean up dinner and head on over.” He said, finishing his last couple of bites of steak and added, “If at any time you want to leave, just give me thumb up sign. Something subtle like twiddling your thumbs in a circle will do. I don’t want you to endure this party, if you aren’t having a good time or become uncomfortable.”

Alue nodded, than took her disk to the sink. She desired to go to this celebration in hopes of replacing her feelings toward New Years with fond memories instead of Nightmares.

                Sterling wore a dark blue polo shirt, jeans, and casual black footwear. Alue had on brown capris and a long sleeved, tan, V-neck blouse that had intricate brown thread embellishment along the neckline, her casual brown and tan slip on shoes, and the locket around her neck.

                Sterling knocked on the door to Julie’s home and she answered within seconds. She had her red autumn leaf colored hair pulled up into a neat braided bun on the back of her neck. She wore slim fitting dark blue Levi’s, a pink and black, short sleeved blouse with a black belt around the middle, a plastic festive Happy New Year party hat and beaded necklace. Extra of these things were set on a nearby table, just inside the entrance way.

“Hey Sterling!” she greeted and opened the door to let them in.

“Thanks Julie. This is Alue. She is my guest for this evening.” He told her, introducing Alue.

Julie did not hesitate to reach out her hand in formal greeting to Alue and say, “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Alue. Officially…I’m Julie.”

Alue nodded and shook the woman’s hand, “Thank you for the invitation. It was very kind of you.”

Julie grinned, “The pleasure is mine. The more the merrier. Please help yourselves to whatever you find pleasing to eat in the kitchen. The others are here. We are about to get a game of Trivial Pursuit going if you’d like to join in.” she told them, handing each of them a party hand and bead necklace.

                They three of them entered into the kitchen and saw the wide display off foods that covered every possible space. Including some BBQ wienie dogs in a crock pot, chocolate crème pie, pizza, soda in an iced cooler, alcoholic beverages in the fridge, Nachos, candy, and more.