by K. R. Smith
“I’ll go the cola please.” I pointed.
“Wise choice.” Mr. Shallow Water smiled and then he jokingly went on. “It’s a good year and was picked during a good harvest. It has a sweet flavor with a fizzy bouquet. Perhaps madame would like to sniff the beverage before consuming it?”
“Oh Cliff!” She laughed at her husband. “Take no heed of him Bianca. Here, enjoy your drink.” She passed me my plastic cup with the soda inside.
“Thank you.” I giggled at the both of them and then I turned around and I was about to head towards Derik, when I almost ran into Daniel.
“Bianca!” his eyes widened.
“Oh, Daniel! Sorry!” I laughed. “I didn’t mean to walk into you.”
“No harm done, you can walk into me any day.” He joked.
OK… I thought that was a bit of an odd thing to say.
“So, what are you drinking?” Daniel asked, looking at my cup.
“Um, cola.”
“Good choice, I think I might have the same.” He looked at Mr. Shallow Water who nodded and poured him a cup. He passed it to Daniel who immediately took a large mouthful, before he asked, “what have you been up to, B? I haven’t seen you in a while.”
“Oh um, I’m studying a lot.” I shrugged.
“That’s right.” Daniel nodded. “History, right?”
“Yeah.”
“When was the last time you went swimming in the river?” He next asked.
“Wow, what a good question… um, since ages?” I pondered.
“I’m going tomorrow with the usual gang.” He nodded towards his small group of friends standing off to the side, who like Daniel, were two years older than me. “You should come along.”
“I don’t know…”
“Come on, before it gets cold.” He recommended.
“Um, I’ll see.” I smiled uneasily.
Daniel has never asked me anywhere before, he’s always just been a friendly acquaintance and nothing more.
“OK then.” He half turned away. “Well, I’ve gotta go back and join my friends. Feel free to come and say hi to them. You’ll see that we’re actually not that scary.”
“OK.” I laughed lightly.
“See you around, Bianca.” He squeezed my arm and gave a meaningful look, the same kind of look I had seen my Dad give my Mum only half an hour ago…
I stood still to watch him walk off, but as soon as he rejoined his friends he looked back my way. That IS weird! Why is Daniel, this older boy who I hardly talk to, who I thought has never noticed me before, paying attention to me now?
Just then Justin and Leaf walked past to the drinks table.
“Hey B.” Justin greeted.
“How’s it goin’, B?” Leaf asked politely.
“Oh um, what?” I snapped out of it. “Oh, I’m fine thanks. How are you two goin’?”
“Not bad.” Justin shrugged.
“I can’t complain – no one listens.” Leaf said the old joke. Then he paused to look on closely. “Are you wearing mascara?”
“No.” I gave him a funny look and so did Jack.
“Oh, sorry! It’s just that your eyes looked different for a second then.” Leaf blushed and looked down.
“Were you going to try to get some beauty tips or something there Leaf?” Justin laughed and nudged his friend.
“Aw, shut up!” Leaf nudged him back.
“So B, what have you been up to lately? We don’t see you around as much anymore.” Justin asked.
“Studying.” I answered.
“What are you studying?” Leaf asked.
“History.”
“What kind of history?” He asked again.
“All kinds of History. I’m reading about Ancient Egypt and Ancient Greece and Rome.” I told him.
“Rome? Oh yeah, like gladiators and stuff.” He nodded.
“Yeah, something like that.” I sipped my drink.
“Do you have a favourite part in History that you like?” He inquired.
“Um no, not really.” I shrugged. “I like all of it.”
“And how did you get interested in that sort of stuff?” Leaf looked on with wide eyes, almost as if he were drinking in the sight of my face.
I looked from him to Justin, wondering what was going on here? He appeared just as surprised at his friend’s sudden interest in me as I was. Justin and Leaf were cool guys, who were two years younger than I was. Leaf was like a little cousin since he was Uncle Ian’s son. His father was my father’s best friend and another Lokoti Werewolf. But like Daniel, they were just casual acquaintances. Until tonight, I had hardly said ‘boo’ to them except for polite acknowledgements at social gatherings such as this.
“How did I get interested in History? Um, I don’t know… I’ve always enjoyed hearing the stories about our tribe. I also liked finding out about my Mum’s family line from England and Australia.” I looked downwards as I felt antsy to get away.
“So what are you doing tomorrow, B?” Leaf asked. “Justin and I and a couple of the guys were going to have a game of soccer…”
…but before he could finish, he was interrupted.
“Alright small fry.” Declan suddenly appeared beside me. “The lady’s taken. Skedaddle!”
Justin and Leaf’s eyes widened by the sudden appearance of the tribe’s most dangerous Werewolf, even if he was in human form. They quickly turned around and left to talk to someone else.
“Declan!” I whacked him on the arm as I felt my cheeks burn.
“What?” He gave a funny look.
“What did you do that for?!”
“Oh, you mean you like having all the guys at this party fall over themselves for you?” He looked on unimpressed.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about!” I felt my cheeks turn from red to crimson.
“No?” He arched his eyebrows. “Either you’re the most popular girl here that everyone’s inviting to swimming in rivers or to soccer games…but I’m thinking that these guys aren’t exactly inviting you to these events for the sport, or that kind of sport anyway.”
Declan was looking about with his eyes narrowing and I looked around to see what he was looking at. Beside Leaf and Daniel’s eyes looking my way, I actually noticed two other boys doing the same.
“Your popularity has certainly gone up around here.” He said stroppily. Then he gave me a peculiar look, “are you wearing a new perfume or something?”
“What?” I took a step away from him. “No!”
“Hey, don’t flatter yourself princess.” He sneered at my reaction. “I’m here looking out for my brother’s interests.”
“Excuse me?”
“Derik is just a human so he can’t smell the elevated testosterone around you.” He sneered as he looked about again.
“Don’t be disgusting, Declan.”
“Go and stand with my brother and stop flirting with the other boys, would you?”
“Drop dead Declan.” I said icily before I walked away.
Instead of walking to Derik, I went over to Rachel and Mandy, two girls my age whom I used to hang out with in school and I still got together with.
“Hi B!” Rachel smiled. “How are you?”
“I’m good thanks Rach. How are you?” I kissed her cheek and then Mandy’s.
“I’m OK.” Rachel answered congenially.
“How are your studies going?” Mandy asked.
“Pretty good.” I gave a nod. “How about with you guys?”
“Yeah, OK. Your Grandpa keeps lending me books to read, to study up on Naturopathy.” Rachel shrugged.
“Mr. Lightfoot is lending me text books and stuff as he and Aunt Susan teach me how to do lesson plans. Next year I could start teaching one or two days a week.” My other friend informed.
“Gees Mandy, why do you want to go BACK to school for?” Rachel joked.
“Hey at least it will be different this time, as a Teacher I won’t have to do homework.” She shrugged.
&nb
sp; “I wouldn’t be so sure about that if I were you.” I smirked. “I see my Gran marking stuff all the time when she’s at home.”
Rachel cracked up laughing and pointed tauntingly at Mandy, who bad-temperedly hit her hand away.
“At least I’ll be marking it instead of doing it.” She came up as her excuse and then she changed tact. “B, have you ever thought about going to University to study History?”
“University?” I echoed in surprise.
“I saw on the internet that a couple of Universities have reopened, including Cambridge in England. You’re part English or something, aren’t you?” She remembered.
“Yeah.”
“Hence her Lokoti dark hair and her English blue eyes.” Rachel laughed.
“You could probably study History at Cambridge.” Mandy shrugged.
“Yeah!” My eyes lit up at the idea. “That would be cool! I could study History in a place full of history! And I have relatives in England I could visit.”
“You’re all set then.” Rachel laughed.
“But my Dad says University education is expensive.” Our friend warned.
“Mandy, I’ve heard her English relatives live in a frickin’ castle! A CASTLE! I don’t think money - or English money - will be a problem.” Rachel jibed.
“Plus I’m supposed to be a Circulator.” I shrugged. “When my ability to phase starts up, I’ll be able to travel back in time, pinch relics and bring them back here to sell for heaps of money.”
“Yeah, there’s always that.” Mandy shrugged.
Just then we were interrupted by Roger a boy who was three years older than us, when he walked up to our small circle.
“Hi Rachel. Hi Mandy. Hi Bianca.” He greeted nervously.
“Hi Roger.” Mandy gave his sudden appearance a curious look.
“Bianca.” He turned to look my way. “Hi… I mean er, how are you?”
What the…? What the hell is going on here?! Is this some kind of joke or a prank or something, with the guys at this party tonight? Am I secretly being filmed as apart of a ‘Candid Camera’ skit?
“I’m good thanks Roger. How are you?” I replied as I forced myself to be polite, although I felt like taking off and running out of here.
“Me? Oh um, I’m good.” He looked down into his drink, which was trembling slightly in his hand. “Um Bianca, can I ask you a question?”
“You just did.” Rachel said dryly, making Mandy giggle.
“Oh yeah, I did.” He laughed nervously. “But um, Bianca, are you going out with Derik?”
“What?” I looked from him to my other friends, embarrassed. “Um, no. Why?”
“Then would you like to come over to my place for a movie night tomorrow? Or I could bring the movies over to your place…?” He asked hastily, almost forcing it out.
“Um…” I felt my face heat up, “…no, I’m sorry Roger but no thanks.”
“Oh… ” he looked completely crestfallen, “…um, why?”
“Look Roger, you’re a nice guy. But um, I’ve never seen you more than as a friend.” My face flushed as I looked from him and then into my drink. To be honest, I’ve never seen him more than a casual acquaintance!
“Really?” He looked on pleadingly. “Why not?”
“Because um, I don’t know you that well…”
Suddenly I was saved by the bell when Derik walked over and joined us.
“Derik!” I cried out in relief.
My best friend stood next to the intruder, giving him a warning look. But Roger refused to be scared off by Derik who was three years younger than him so he glared back. But then Declan appeared beside him and he looked on Roger… and he skedaddled out of here with out being told.
“I’ll see you later Bianca.” Roger said annoyed, before he turned around and walked off.
“Wow, you’re popular tonight.” Derik frowned, watching the back of Roger disappear into the party.
“Is this some kind of joke? Is this a prank? Did somebody arrange this or something?” I looked from Mandy to Rachel then to Derik. “Are people going to next yell out, ‘April’s Fool’!”
“What’s a joke?” Rachel gave a peculiar look.
“I don’t know, but that was my first guess. Besides my blind younger brother, I don’t know who would see you as attractive.” Declan scoffed.
Derik turned around and whacked him! Older brother growled at younger brother, as the two stood tense and angry with each other for a minute or two.
“I told you Daniel was checking her out.” Mandy nudged Rachel, inferring me.
“What?” Derik’s eyes widened in alarm, as he next looked over to where his competition was standing with his friends.
“But I’m sure it’s nothing to worry about, Derik.” Rachel laughed and clapped him on the shoulder. “Daniel may be older than you? But you’ve got way more years in experience by knowing B and by knowing what makes her tick.”
“Now that’s not something he can boast about, nor would be something difficult to do.” Declan muttered into his drink before he was whacked him on the arm again. Then he tossed his plastic cup into a bin two meters away. “Alright, I’m outta here.”
“Thank God for small favors.” I said sarcastically.
“I’m on patrol tonight.” Declan glared at me before he looked at his little brother. “Tell Mom I’ll be home at dawn.”
“See you.” Derik watched his brother leave as did Mandy.
I caught her checking out the back view of his strong build, as he walked away…
“Mandy, no way!” I looked on askance.
“What?” She shyly looked away, but Derik sprung her.
“Why Mandy, I never knew.” He teased.
“Shut up.” She blushed whilst taking several large mouthfuls of her drink.
“This is just like Shakespeare’s ‘A Midsummer Nights Dream’ with all the awry love going on here.” Rachel remarked.
“And Declan is the ass that the Fairy Queen falls in love with.” I nodded in agreement.
*****
The rest of the evening passed relatively free of incident, but I grew bored around 10 PM.
“I think I might head off.” I excused myself.
“OK then.” Rachel said, as I gave her another kiss on the cheek and then on Mandy’s.
“We should catch up soon.” She said sincerely.
“Yeah, that would be cool.” I agreed.
“I’ll walk you home.” My best friend threw away his plastic cup.
“No Derik, it’s OK -” I began.
“I’ll walk you home.” He repeated as he took hold of my hand. “G’night guys.”
“G’night Derik. G’night B.” Rachel and Mandy waved back.
I noticed that Roger, Daniel and Leaf, watched us leave as they stood apart with their different groups of friends. I looked away from the party as I focused my gaze on the road ahead. We left Ben’s place and headed towards the wood-encrusted hill, where I lived. At first we walked in a comfortable silence, as I looked upwards and stared at the stars…
“I can’t wait for the day when I can travel to Mars and Taurus Six by myself.” I sighed.
“Really?” Derik frowned. “Why are you so anxious to leave?”
“I’m not ‘anxious’ to leave… I just can’t wait until I can phase there and not rely on my Mum or my Gran taking me.” I shrugged.
“OK.” He looked on ahead whilst tucking his free hand into his pocket.
“Oh.” I remembered something else on this note. “Mandy told me tonight that Cambridge University in England has opened again.”
“B, I know where Cambridge University is.” Derik chuckled.
“Sorry!” I playfully poked him. “But anyway, have you ever wondered what it might be like to go away and study somewhere like that?”
“Um, yes and no… I don’t know.” He shrugged. “I mean, sure I want to further my education, but I don’t know if I could live overseas to do it.”
Then we
turned quiet for a couple of minutes. We walked along the dirt road in the dim light, but in the starlight I could make out the pot holes so I knew when to step over them. But Derik seemed to have a harder time making anything out in the darkness and at one stage he nearly tripped over!
“Aagh!” He cried out, but I quickly caught him.
“Are you OK?” I held him steady.
“Er, yeah… good reflexes you’ve got there.” He said, impressed. “I can’t see the pot holes in the road properly.”
“Really?” I asked in surprise. “I can see everything pretty well in the starlight.”
“Are you kidding?” He sounded further surprised. “It’s so dark, especially with the trees blocking out most of the light.”
I stopped us in our tracks. “Derik, you don’t have to walk me home…”
“B, don’t be stupid.” He said adamantly as I caught him blush. “Of course I’m going to walk you home.”
I laughed as I shook my head, “no wonder my Dad likes you; you seem a lot alike.”
“Yeah?” He sounded surprised.
I shrugged, but he didn’t see me shrug. Actually, I don’t think he could see much of anything. I had to take hold of his hand and guide him, as he was veering off all over the place.
“You know what?” I started to slow. “I don’t think you should walk me home, as you can barely see where you’re going.”
“I’ll be fine….” He started, but then he tripped over a rock on the road! I caught him a second time as I helped him return to his feet. He laughed, embarrassed. “Woah! You ARE strong and you see well in the dark! Are you sure Lokoti women can’t turn into Werewolves?”
“Yeah, I’m sure.” I giggled. I stopped us in our tracks and when he tried to pull me onwards, I ended up pulling him back. I said firmly, “Derik, this is the end of the line for you. I don’t want you to walk back by yourself and break your neck.”
“Yeah, I guess you have a point.” He chuckled. “Or I could walk you home and maybe borrow a torch for the walk back?”
“There’s no need. You’ve walked me more than halfway home now. You should go home yourself.” I said resolutely, but Derik sighed disappointedly for some reason. I watched his nervous look appear on his face. “What?”
“This isn’t the walk home that I imagined taking you on.” He sounded regretful. I gave him a funny look, thinking that this was an odd thing to say, but I don’t think he saw that either. “B, do you remember that afternoon by the river a few months back?”
