On the ride home, Marcelo didn't say a single thing.
I don't understand why he has a concerned look on his face.
The ring is a fake.
I mean, it glows and shit but so does the lava lamp in my room.
Marcelo tapped a finger against the wheel. "You said you found the ring in the attic?" he asked.
I debated whether or not I should tell him I found a necklace too.
"Yeah."
He looks stressed. I'll tell him the other part another day.
"So, will people come and try to kill me?" I question.
"They won't...maybe," he replies. "Only descendants can use the items."
"Maybe?"
"I mean, if the ring is real, they would want it."
My brows pinched together, "What do the items do?" I cannot believe I may potentially die because of an item I can't use.
But, if I could use it, can you imagine what I can do with it?
Private jets.
Mountains of money.
People kissing at my feet to heal their love ones.
How wonderful!
I need to re-evaluate my life.
"No one really knows," he responds. "I think I read it somewhere that it can help take down the chosen one."
"Huh?"
"Something about the ones carrying the bloodline comes together and takes down the chosen one if they ever turn evil. You know, a backup plan."
I nod, "That makes sense." Do you know what does not make sense? Killing the person that has the items.
When we reached my house, I opened the door and got out.
"Hey," Marcelo says. He got out of the car and circled towards me. "Be careful, people-"
I place a finger on his lips, "Shhh-" I grab the ring and drop it on his palm, "It may be my family heirloom, try not to lose it, or you know, use it for evil." As if I'll carry around something so troublesome.
Marcelo grabbed my arm and pulled me back.
"What? I already gave you something that may change your pack life forever. What do you want from me?"
"Really?" He places it in the air, "You're going to give it to me just like that?"
"Yeah." Real. Fake. I don't care. It has the - kill me, please - tag around it.
"Do you know how important this item is?"
"Yeah." It's important to him, not me.
"Do you not understand the importance of this situation?"
"I do understand. That's why I gave it to you." I took a step closer, "I don't know if you notice this or not, but I'm not exactly a fighter."
Marcelo released a light breath, "All the more reason to wear it." He grabs my hand and drops the ring, "Alot of werewolves recognize this item. So, no matter what law you break, you'll be penalty-free."
"What about humans? Do humans know about this?"
"Not a lot."
"And the few?"
"Hopefully, they're good." He smiles, "Wear it around your neck-" I didn't know he was going to pull out my necklace.
"Oh. Did I not mention I also found a necklace that goes with the ring?"
"You're a walking wad of trouble."
"The kettle calling the pot black?"
Marcelo takes off the necklace, drops the ring inside the string, puts it back on my neck, and tucks it inside the sweater. "I'm not the one harboring a fugitive werewolf or maybe the descendant of what's supposed to be a myth."
When I didn't respond, Marcelo leaned down and kissed me. "Just be careful. No more walking in the woods alone."
"There was a purpose." I take out the money and wave it in his face.
"If you need money, I can give you money."
I lay out a palm.
Shame? What's that?
Hesitantly, Marcelo takes out his wallet. I'm pretty sure he is purposely doing it really slow so I can have the time to tell him it's a joke.
He pulls out a twenty.
Too bad it's not a joke to me.
I grab the twenty. "You're an alpha. Don't be cheap." I grab his wallet and take half of the money. I push the wallet back at him and count the wad of cash in my hands.
"You don't know what dignity is, do you?" He questions.
"Nope." I tuck the money into my jacket. "I'll see you around." I salute him before skipping back to my house.
Marcelo grabbed my arm and tugged me back. Before I could say anything, he gave me a back hug.
How cliche.
My face turns red.
It's cliche, but it doesn't make the butterflies go away.
"One for the road," he whispered.
"You're not...staying tonight?"
When Marcelo didn't respond, I turned to look at him. The longer he stares at me, the more my heart goes into a rage.
"Nope. I am."
There goes that emotional rage.
I elbowed him in the gut, and he released me. While I walked back into the house, I couldn't help but grumble in profanity because of his dramatic display. He really did make me feel like he was going on an adventure far away and may never return.
After I closed the front door, I stared at the hallway.
Did I internally admit that I'm worried that he may leave?
I may be more insane than I think I am.
So, logically, I had sex with Marcelo that night.
And yes, he smash and dash.
Well, not entirely. We cuddled a bit.
The days seemed to tick by, and soon, it was Brenda and Brian's eighteenth birthday.
"Take the picture! Take the picture! I wanna open my gifts!" Brian screamed.
I blew on the blowout.
Right now, we're having a family birthday party.
Their family. My family. Eric's family.
Our families are very close.
And then, there's him.
"Holy shit!" Brian shouted. He looks at Marcelo with shaky hands. "You're invited to my next birthday!" Marcelo brought him a brand new game console.
"Show off," I grumbled.
Eric elbows me, "Don't talk shit about our rich friend like that."
Brenda opens the gift from Marcelo and gasps loudly.
"I'm not sure what girls like, so I asked a friend to pick it out," Marcelo says. "I hope you like it?"
Brenda holds the brand-named purse close to her chest, "It's like you're the older brother I've always wanted." She fought her way through the crowd to hug Marcelo. "I'll cherish you forever."
I blow on the blowout.
Now, I remember why we're all friends.
"My birthday-"
Before Eric can finish, I shove him out of the way, "My birthday isn't until summer, but you can totally ship me the gift. I'll pay for the shipment. I like expensive stuff." I gave him a thumbs up.
My parents exhale a sharp breath.
After we finished opening the gifts, it was time to eat. Brian couldn't wait to open the presents, so that's the first thing we did. I bit the piece of meat and chewed roughly. When I looked up, Marcelo was staring at me. "What?" My mouth was full of food.
"Table manners weren't a thing growing up?" he asked.
Dad burped from the other side of the room.
"Nope."
Kai burps and then looks at me.
I burped.
Then, Brenda did it too.
We all laughed.
"See what we have to live with?" Brian grumbles. "These girls are animals. I tell yah. Animals!"
"So, what's your mate like?" Eric question. "Better than these duos, I hope."
With food still in my mouth, I looked at Marcelo, who was staring at me. "What?"
"Shut up," Brenda said. "Who he's mated to is none of your business."
"I bet she's a thousand times better than you," Eric said.
I couldn't help but laugh. Oh, how much more wrong can he be?
"I bet she doesn't eat like a starving vulture or conspire with her friends to con her other friend's money."
Marcelo gave me a look that says: Please, tell me you don't do that.
I could only shrug in response.
Eric elbow Marcelo, "Right? Tell them how a real lady should act."
I chuckle, "Go ahead, Mark. I want to hear it too. What should a real lady act like?"
Marcelo looks around the table. The adults are mainly gathered outside now. The only ones left are the ones in the kitchen.
"Wanna go play outside?" Rubi asks. We invited Rubi earlier, so Kai has someone to play with since it's mostly teenagers and adults at the party. I didn't want him to be bored or left out.
Kai nods.
"Wash your hands," I said.
Together, they went to the bathroom.
We're all still staring at Marcelo.
His eyes travel around the table continuously, "Well, maybe not con their friends. That would be good?"
"Ha! He's on our side!" Eric said. He smiles wildly, "It's a good thing you're not mated to either of them, right?" He elbows Marcelo.
I don't know if he's an actual idiot or he's faking it.
We continue to eat and chit-chat about the random events that happened to each of us. There's only so much you can talk about with someone you see nearly every day.
Nighttime comes, and the adults and two kids left, except Brenda's and Brian's parents. Eric, Marcelo, and I stayed for a sleepover in the living room.
I blow on the blowout again...again...again...and again.
Eric takes it out of my mouth.
I sat up, "Hey!"
"Why do you do this for every birthday party?!"
"Does it annoy you?" I question.
"Yes!"
"That's why I did it."
Eric points a finger at me, "You...You will die alone."
I made an ugly face at him then fell back on the ground filled with blankets and pillows.
"Enough," Brenda came out in her pajamas. "Let's go pick out a movie." She heads into the room where they store all the movies.
"Hey, let me pick." Eric follows her.
"No! It's my birthday." Brian follows him.
Marcelo sat beside me, "So, this is what you guys do during your birthdays?"
"I know. It's completely out of control." I pretend that my mind exploded.
He wraps his arms around his leg. I hate to admit it, but the guy looks fantastic in that t-shirt and sweats. Out of the blue, Marcelo smiles.
"What?"
He shrugs, "It's nothing."
"You want to say something. Come on. Say it now, and I promise not to tease you too much."
He looks around for a moment before he grabs a pillow and puts it on his lap. "It's just I've never really done something like this, you know?"
"A sleepover?"
"Yeah. I mean, I slept over at my friend's house before, but it's not like this."
"Then, what is it like?"
"My house is far from the training ground. So it's more like I sleepover to get ready for training."
Sounds thrilling.
I move my head back slightly to get a better look at his face, "Is it tough?"
"Tough?"
"To be you."
His lips pressed firmly together, and he shrugs lightly, "I guess...sometimes."
"Hey," I said.
He looks down, "Yeah."
"Come here."
He leans down.
"Closer."
He leans further down.
"Closer."
When he's close enough, I place a hand on the back of his head and pull him down for a kiss.
A crash captures our attention, and I turn to see the trio with DVDs scattered all over the ground.