by Holly Hook
Alan saw the horrible truth about the curse he once wanted to protect. He saw what normal werewolves are like, and what his future will be if the curse becomes permanent.
He's trying to hold on right along with the rest of us.
Tyler and I relax and have a make-out session to the tune of the crackling fireplace, but not for long because Gavin, who went to wait with Marion in the truck, needs to come inside and get warm. We let them in, but we don't hang at the cabin for long. The reset of the Rose Pack comes back, shifts back outside, and come back, empty-handed.
"Alan has always been good at going off on his own," Chaz says, pulling on his coat over his shirt. "We should get back to Gia."
The four of us stop our card game at the dining room table. "Yes. We should."
Gia comes to life when we get back to the cabin, and she goes to feed the chickens at Sarah's cabin and to collect some eggs like she normally does. I give Gia her mother's keys to the house just in case she needs them, too. Thankfully, it's normal for her to walk to the other cabin and get some eggs even when her mother is not home.
I make dinner for her for when she gets back, and the rest of the day is spent just hanging around. Tyler and the Rose Pack leave by the evening, after he's convinced that Alan won't try to threaten us at the moment. Marion and Gavin follow.
I can't believe it's already time for school the next day, and my alarm goes off way too early. Even with the day off, I'm not well rested, and feel like I need a whole week to process what's happened. But Gia gets me up, which I'm glad to see because that means she's becoming a functional human being again.
"Thanks," I tell her when I find her in my doorway. "Are you going to be okay alone for the day?"
"I should be. I'll have to be ready to leave later," she says. "I'll manage." She's pale, but her face is calm.
"That's good. Take it easy," I tell her.
"Well, I do have work later and I can't afford to miss," Gia says. "I'll barely be making rent this month as it is."
Gavin shows up to take me to school, and he picks up Marion after me. The world feels surreal this morning. So do our classes. Tyler and the rest of the Rose Gang attend as usual, though Alan stays missing. And I'm almost disappointed to see that Alan hasn't shown up at all.
I sit beside Tyler in Statistics, and we go through that class without any trouble, too. It's so hard to focus on the lesson that I fear my grades are going to slip. Even from thousands of miles away, Dad is still having an effect on me.
I haven't heard from him since the fight.
He hasn't tried to call, and neither has Mom.
"I think we get to work on the Christmas event today," Tyler whispers in my ear at the end of the class. "I'm looking forward to it."
"Oh." I had forgotten. After the weekend, I feel as if I've entered another universe. But Tyler has a point. We should look forward to it. Dwelling on the negative now won't help any of us, and if Tyler and I make this work, the curse might break.
I want to tell him I'm worried about my parents, but I hold back through Art Club and Mr. Bright's plans for how the school will be decorated for the Chirstmas Walk event. Gavin, Chaz, and Marion join us, and Valerie and Cammie are waiting as soon as we get out of school. We all head to the vacation house afterwards, get a fire going, and work on our homework. I expect Alan to knock at any moment, but he never shows up, and over the next few days Tyler has no uncontrolled shifts. The rose bush remains alive, but still diseased, and we check its progress daily. The plant food seems to have stopped its decay for now, but it's not healing, either.
We've bought time, I realize, and that's all.
The curse is still here.
At least the week is going smoothly and soon we find ourselves planning what we're going to do for Thanksgiving, which is coming up very soon.
"What does the Rose Pack do every year?" I ask Tyler as we get out of class on Friday.
He doesn't answer at first as we turn down the emptying hall, careful not to hold hands in front of anyone. To the school, Tyler and I have to remain just friends if I'm going to protect Gavin's secret. "We don't really do anything," he says at last, looking at the floor. "It would be nice if we could. My last awesome dinner at a table was when I was ten."
Of course. Tyler's parents won't let them into the mansion even on a major holiday. Since he got cursed, Tyler probably hasn't had any holidays with his family.
I'm coming to the rescue, then. "Let me see what Gia is planning. She's been getting better lately. Emotionally, you know? Losing Sarah hasn't hit her too hard."
"That's good. I don't think she was treated well by her mother," Tyler says as we exit the school.
I'm shocked Tyler is able to just talk about Sarah like that, but he does quicken his pace as we cross the parking lot and gulp. Sarah wanted to die. The thought hangs between us, and I hate her for making Tyler commit a deed no one should have had to do. And for making Gia watch the horror, too.
Sarah pulled a selfish move.
I breathe out, trying to calm myself. Tyler and I say nothing as we walk to Gavin's truck.
People are staring. I extend my arms and hug Gavin, who plasters a smile on his face and plants a quick, but awkward, kiss on my cheek. "Hey, baby," he says.
"Hey," I say, not trying to look at Tyler. Yes, we all know what's really going on here, but that makes things no less uncomfortable. But if Gavin's parents find out I, his supposed girlfriend, is hanging around two guys then that might get ugly for Gavin. Marion made it clear his parents will disown him if they find out the truth about his sexuality.
"Get a room, you two," Marion says, rolling her eyes.
"Jealous?" I ask, knowing full well the group of football players is standing two trucks away.
"Let us know what your cousin says," Tyler adds as Gavin and I break apart, backing off as if he's just a friend on the periphery of our group.
Gavin drives me home on that gray day, and I find Gia in the cabin with the lights on when I get home.
"Thanks," I tell Gavin, getting out. "You and Marion have a great afternoon."
"Let us know if you see those wolves you didn't kill," Marion says, circling the truck to get in the front.
"Will do." I can't imagine them coming back at this point. We've decimated that other pack and Alan has left. Tyler still smells Alan around, but Alan hasn't dared to approach anyone.
All Tyler and I have to worry about now is the curse and focusing on our relationship. Easy, right?
"Hey," I tell Gia once I'm in the house.
She's baking bread, judging from the glorious smell throughout the cabin. "Hey." She leans away from the stove.
"How's everything?" I ask.
"Good, actually," she tells me. "I picked up several bread kits from the Market today and some popcorn for a movie night."
Does she sound more upbeat than I've ever heard her?
"What are we doing for the holiday?" I ask. "The Rose Pack doesn't have anywhere to go. They never do. Tyler's parents don't allow them in the mansion, so they're on a lower level than all of us, sadly."
Gia frowns at me. "Yeah, you told me. Tyler's parents really need to get their act together. They're going to demand rent on my mother's place that I don't have. They'll possess it in a couple of weeks. I used to go in half every month so she could stay in her own home."
Away from me, she doesn't say.
"You paid half your mother's rent?" I ask, jaw dropping.
Gia nods, opening the oven and pulling out a loaf. "But I don't anymore. Otherwise, she would have had to move in with me. I guess they'll take her cabin so I'll need to rescue the chickens," she tells me. "But we'll have eggs forever if we take care of them. They can roam the garden if we put up a fence."
"Your mom. Made you. Pay half her rent," I say.
"She was family and I had to help her." Then Gia slaps herself on the forehead. "Okay. Here's the truth. I didn't want her living with me, so I worked lots of extra hours to make sure that
didn't happen. I've been able to cut back lately and have more free time."
Now I know the reason that Gia is faring so well. "Wow. I'm sorry."
Then Gia pales. "No. That's a crappy thing for me to say."
"But I understand."
A pause drags out as Gia slides the bread across the top of the stove so it can cool. "So I'm not a monster? I haven't even filed a missing person report yet. I'm thinking I should do that next week, since that's usually the amount of time between my mother's visits. And I should call her harpies and ask if they've seen her, too."
"You are not a monster at all. Look, I got away from my dad and told him off. And it feels good. Now I just have Tyler's curse to deal with, but all he needs to do now is fall in love with an uncursed girl and show compassion. And we're back to getting along now, so we're well on our way."
Gia leans against the counter. "It's pretty bad when a curse is better than dealing with our parents."
"No kidding. But we're almost done. The rose bush isn't getting any worse. It's being taken care of now. And inviting Tyler over for the holiday can only help things." He needs to know that he's loved, and that he's amazing and has helped me through the toughest time of my life.
We're close to ending this. I can sense it.
But why is the curse still hanging on?
"It doesn't make sense that his parents can't get over that fear of him and his friends," Gia says with a head shake. "I did just by being around the Rose Pack for a while and getting to know them. So did Marion and Gavin. It's not that hard to overcome, if you focus on it."
"I know," I say. I've noticed that, too, and that fact has only made me hate Tyler's parents more than ever. "I'm glad you're getting a break, Gia. You deserve it because you work hard."
Gia eyes the bread for a bit and then me. "Do you want to stay here? What are you thinking for the future?"
The question is out of left field. "Stay here?" I grab one of the dining room chairs.
"Yes. In Tower, if things do get better and this curse vanishes. Tyler has hope. I can see that he's not like his parents, like everyone says. If he ever inherits the Rose fortune, I know he wouldn't screw over this town. That kid has a good heart."
I hadn't expected to hear this coming from Gia. "Well, my dad wanted me to get into the Rose fortune, so that might happen anyway, but it won't be because he says so," I say. I haven't really thought about the future much. Gia has reminded me that I need to think about how to help Tower, a pursuit Dad probably wouldn't approve of all that much. But I'm done caring about what Dad thinks.
"Maybe I could stay," I say. "I've made good friends out here. Tower's been more awesome than I ever thought."
* * * * *
The Rose Pack is very interested in coming over for Thanksgiving, which is the Thursday of the following week. Tyler's face lights up when I tell him the good news right after Art Club on Friday. I wait for everyone but Chaz, Marion, and Gavin to clear out to do so.
"You're kidding," he says. Tyler tries to keep a straight face, but there's real joy in his eyes.
"Nope," I say. "You, Chaz, Valerie, and Cammie are all invited over next Thursday. We'll get a fire going and visit until the food is ready. I'm happy to help cook for you and so is Gia. You don't know the service you did for her."
Tyler's face darkens as he leans on the big, square art room table. And I know he's thinking about Sarah.
"Stop it, right now," I say, reaching across the table and taking his hand. "Do not feel bad. Sarah was a drain on Gia and I think she wants to pay you back. Don't tell her that, though. She feels bad about having so much relief over the whole thing but she has a hard time admitting it."
"Fine. I'll stop," Tyler says with a faint smile. "And we'll go to her house for Thanksgiving."
"So, the curse hasn't been that bad lately?" I ask, lifting my eyebrows.
"No. I've had some urges to hunt, but around you, I've been okay," Tyler says. "That's gotten better. Maybe the beast in me is scared you'll have to defend yourself again." His smile becomes strained.
I gulp. "Don't make me think about that."
"You did what you had to. I'd be more upset if you didn't," Tyler says.
"I haven't seen anything in the woods or felt anything off, you or otherwise," Gavin says. "And I just went hunting with my dad last week."
"I haven't seen anything, either," Marion says.
"Alan's still around, but the curse hasn't reached any new stage," Tyler says. "The rose bush has been staying stable. But it's not getting any better. At one point, Beckah, I was going crazy around you. That's calmed down a lot since the incident at Gia's for some reason. I'll take that as a good sign."
My hand itches under Tyler's touch but I don't pull away. We're in this together now. All we have to do is seal our relationship. Is this what I really want? For the curse to vanish, we have to fall completely in love. Random make-out sessions and doing our homework together is not enough. Heck, I've kissed Gavin. Am I feeling true love when I kiss Tyler?
The truth about Tyler bringing me here is out and we're past that now. There should be nothing more standing between us.
"That is a good sign," I say. "Are you sure you're okay to come to Gia's on Thanksgiving? You're not around other people as much and the rose bush still has whatever disease is making those tan spots appear all over it. Plus, it's close to real winter, and we don't know how things are going to fare."
"That's true," Chaz says. He looks to Marion.
"If all of you are feeling better, maybe that plant food Alan put on the rose bush is working, at least for a while," Marion says. "If you've all been fairly good for a couple of weeks, then it might be okay for you to crowd Gia for the holiday. Just have a backup plan in case things go south."
"She has a point," I say. "Gia and I will come up with a backup plan in case things do go bad. That way, we can all relax on the holiday."
Tyler exchanges a glance with Chaz and smiles. "That's great. We'll come up with a plan, too. We still have a very sane member of the pack here." He pats Chaz on the shoulder, but Chaz frowns, betraying his worry.
* * * * *
Despite Gia and I having to come up with a disaster plan for Thanksgiving that doesn't involve family arguing about politics over the table, my mood is in the clouds when morning arrives. It's sunny outside and some of the snow has melted, leaving some green of the woods visible again. Snow might be pretty when it first falls, but the look gets old fast.
Gia and I get up early and crumble up homemade bread for stuffing. We peel potatoes from Tower Market and boil them to be mashed later. I help Gia remove the giblets from the turkey and we've just put it in the old oven when I hear a knock on the back door.
The Rose Pack's mood seems to be just as good as mine when we let them in, and I know there's no chance the curse is going to wreck dinner. Or politics, for that matter.
"So your parents didn't want you back home for the holiday," Tyler says with a frown.
I sigh. I've been pushing that awful thought aside for weeks. "Mom called me this morning," I say. "She says things are still tense. I couldn't get many details out of her, but she hinted that Dad would probably ruin things. Well, on the few years we've gone to see some aunts and uncles, he's always started arguments. So most years, we just ate out anyway."
"I'm glad your mom called you today," Tyler says, leaning in for a kiss.
His lips are soft and despite the cold from outside, he tastes like wild pines with a trace of mint. I lean into the kiss as Gia sighs at the counter.
"There are places for that, but it's not in my kitchen," she says, shaking her head with a grin.
"Come on," I say. "This is to break the curse, remember?"
"It's important," Tyler says.
The day seems to move too quickly as we gather in the living room and wait for the food to finish. It's food, I know, that Gia would have had a hard time affording if she were still paying half of her mother's rent. Though Gia has filed a mis
sing person report earlier this week, she doesn't talk about that, and we all keep the conversation away from Sarah while we play a few board games. Tyler and I lie on the floor side by side, hips touching, as the fire casts warmth over us.
And at no point does his wolf nature show through. Not even when he eats. Tyler eats with grace and manners that were probably drilled into him by his parents before the fateful, rainy night Sarah shoved that cursed rose bush into his hands.
Dinner is amazing, and after we all help Gia clean up the scary mess in the kitchen, we settle back down as the sun starts to set. I sit on the leather couch, once again with Tyler's hip touching mine. Our sides mold together in warmth as we snuggle under a blanket.
"That was great," Tyler tells Gia. "You didn't have to use bear spray on me, and we didn't have to flee the cabin and run into the woods naked. So all in all, a pretty sane Thanksgiving."
"And better yet, we had no political arguments," Chaz says. "I hate those. My family was notorious for it every year and I sat at the kids' table for as long as I could."
We all laugh. And then Tyler slowly rises, peeling himself from the blanket.
"I'm going to go get some fresh air," he says, winking at me. And I know why he wants to step outside and away from the others.
"I'm not sure you'll get that," Valerie tells him with an evil grin.
Of course, the Rose Pack will hear everything we do outside unless we go a huge distance from the house, and with Tyler's protective mode still on, I doubt that'll happen. The lack of privacy is just something we'll have to live with.
I step out after Tyler. There's no point in hiding that we're heading outside for a make-out session, so I don't bother to come up with an excuse. Gia smiles at me as I go and she resumes a conversation with Cammie about teachers she dealt with back at Tower High School. I keep forgetting that Gia is only several years older than us, and can still relate with us on a lot of levels.
I find Tyler looking over the deck railing into the woods. He rocks on his heels, but this time he's relaxed.
"Smell Alan?" I ask, desperate to get past the necessities.
