Car Conversations

On the drive to school the next morning, David keeps glancing at me nervously. I try to ignore his sad puppy dog eyes, keeping my attention on the passing trees through the passenger window. Ellie keeps the mood light by talking about her new human friend, Sidney, who—according to her—is a real TikTok celebrity. She tries to show me a couple of videos, but I can't really find it in me to appreciate them.

When we pass the coven mansion, a familiar black Tesla pulls out behind us. My heart rate picks up as the car follows behind us closely. In the right side mirror, I can see Alastair sitting in the front seat. Our eyes meet and my heart feels like it is going to explode from my chest. We take a bend in the forest road, breaking our stare down. But when the road straightens out again, I catch his eyes once more. He looks upset, his brows furrowed in a scowl.

I tap my temple, trying to communicate with him. He shakes his head. I tap the side of my head more urgently. Ellie notices my gesture and gives me a weird look. I ignore her questioning gaze, keeping my focus locked on Alastair. I try to plead with him using my eyes, but I'm not sure he can see me clearly from this distance. However, I can see him well enough to make out an eye roll and slight nod. Victory.

Can you hear me now? How about now? Connection is a little poor on my end, maybe if you hold your receiver up a little higher it would lessen the static?

I see his hand fly up to cover his mouth. Goddess, did I make him laugh? I try to keep my thoughts focused as I now know he is listening.

Apparently there is a real TicTok celebrity at our school. Does that make us famous by association? Like osmosis fame? That's a thing right?

Alastair's shoulders are shaking now. Heat blossoms through me.

Pretty sure I've been in the background of at least one of her videos. Like the one she made at our pep rally at the end of last year. You can clearly see me as that black blob in the bleachers like… fifteen rows back. I submitted my invoice to her Twitter requesting payment for my acting services, but we are still in negotiations to settle on pricing. Does a grand seem like too much to ask for?

Alastair shrugs, but his eyes are filled with laughter, clear as day, even from this distance.

I wish I could hear you laugh. Alastair looks away and my thoughts become frantic. I wish I could hear what you're thinking too. I want to know everything about you. What makes you smile, what makes you worried, what you like and dislike, what music you listen to, what inspires you to write music. I don't know if he is listening anymore.

His eyes snap up to meet mine once again. So he is. I smile.

"Cammy!" My sister's voice cuts through the silent conversation I was having with Alastair.

"Don't call me that," I growl at my sister instinctively before I can catch myself. David cocks his head at me, but says nothing.

"I wouldn't have to if you'd answer the first time. I've been trying to get your attention for like two whole minutes! What the heck has you spacing out so hard?" Ellie asks.

"Nothing!" I say a bit too defensively. "It's fine. I'm fine. It's just… uh…" I scramble, trying to think of a believable excuse. "The practice game on Saturday… with Clearview?"

"What about it?" David asks cautiously.

"Oh well, I've been meaning to tell you, love, but um… I can't come."

"What? Why?"

"Mom is taking me shopping that day. She wants to buy me something new for the party on Sunday."

"What party? There's no party happening!" Ellie says a bit nervously.

I give her a flat look. "Ellie, don't even try to pretend you didn't spill the beans over a month ago."

"Ellie!" David cries "That's supposed to be a surprise!"

"It's not my fault! He tricked me! Asking me about what flavor he thought his cake would be!"

"Don't give Ellie a hard time, it's not really her fault the party is not a surprise. There is no way my mother would not throw a traditional sweet sixteen and invite half the state's unmated werewolves."

"Well, I don't see why that's so obvious. I mean there is no point in meeting all those wolves when we are going to end up being mates anyways." Sometimes David's density astounds even me.

"Right… well, if you can talk her out of it I wouldn't be opposed."

"Not happening, Cammy. You may not need a party to find your mate, but you still deserve to be celebrated." David says firmly.

"Uh huh," I say absently. I am glad the conversation seems to have distracted everyone away from my strange behavior.

But then David has a rare moment of insight. "But wait, if Mrs. Berkley still thinks the party is a surprise, then why is she taking you shopping for an outfit."

Shit. "Oh. Uh… she didn't say it was for the party. That's just what I assumed." I bite my lip, hoping he believes my lie. One look at Ellie in the rear view mirror tells me she sure doesn't.

"Well, can't you go out on Friday night? I was really looking forward to your support. Even if it is only a practice game, it's the first one of the season." His eyes turn towards me, pleading and hopeful. "How can I play without my favorite cheerleader?"

"Keep your eyes on the road, David!" He jerks his arms slightly as he steadies the car out. My heart skips a beat. "Just focus on driving, please?"

"Sorry," David mumbles, looking ashamed. I sigh before returning to look out the window. The rest of the ride passes in awkward silence. I don't try to get Alastair's attention again. Even when we pull into the school's parking lot together, I resist the urge to look his way.