12 years later
Sitting down, I couldn't help but stare at my reflection. I truly did look stunning. I'm sure Liam would be speechless, like I am around him on these special nights. Liam. The boy I love for more than two years. It's finally our night.
"Can I come out now?" I asked through the door.
"Not yet Arie, but soon." Jules, one of my two best friends, answered.
I walked over to my dresser and grabbed a chocolate bar. Saying I love chocolate would be an understatement. Chocolate was like food from the heavens. Eating it is an addiction that's hard to resist. I'm surprised that I haven't gotten diabetes from the high amount of chocolate I consume.
"Now Jules?"
"Nope." She said.
I sighed and leaned back against the chair in my room. How much more waiting could I take? I just wanted to run up to Liam, look into his eyes and feel that all of this is true. This is my fairy tale night, it has to be perfect.
Liam went through his own first change two nights ago. He shifted on the night before his 17th birthday, like all of us shifters. Like all the males, he went through it alone. I expected that afterwards he went for a run with his shifted friends. I wondered if his shift changed him anyway. Does he look the same? Has he gotten taller like the other males? Will I be able to catch his scent now that it is almost time for my shift? Will he be different?
Don't act like you suddenly can't remember him. It's just your nerves. I closed my eyes and thought about the last time we were together.
~
I closed my locker and sighed. Finally, the week was over. It took a toll on me, after all my birthday was coming up. The night I get my very own celebration. The night where I shift. The night I can claim my mate and find him if I couldn't before. I already knew who he is.
"Arabelle!" He shouted. He ran towards me in a straight line and pushed away those in his path. It was quite easy for him, being a football player and the unshifted son of the beta in our pack.
"Liam, you didn't have to cause that much of a scene." I called to him as he approached.
He slowed down and grinned at me. "Well who is going to stop me? I'm Liam Star."
"I never said you were Percy." He gave me a serious look and then he started to laugh. Percy is his older perfectionist brother, as well as the future beta.
"Oh, Arie. Let's forget about everyone for a few minutes and be together." He picked me up in his arms and started to charge again.
"Liam! Let me down! You are embarrassing me and people are staring!" I hissed.
He stopped and looked down at me.
"Who is staring at you?" He asked and looked around. The only one who seemed to make eye contact was another girl from the pack, Olive Pit.
"Olive!" Liam called with a loud voice. Her face turned red with a blush, knowing she was caught staring.
"Liam, stop. You know she has been falling for you for the past few years. She also hates me. Let's just go." I whispered to him in a hushed tone.
"Don't worry. I'll handle this. I won't let her hurt you."
I shook my head and slipped out of his grasp. "I'm not supposed to let anybody hurt me, I'm supposed to protect myself."
"Yes. Liam?" A quiet voice asked. We turned around and saw that Olive who stood shyly with her arms behind her back, had stepped closer. Liam tried to push me behind, but I stayed put.
"Have you been staring at us?" Liam asked.
"No-no." She whispered.
"No-no?" Liam repeated in a mocking tone.
"I mean no." She said with more courage. She looked up into his eyes then turned away blushing some more.
"You better not or else-"
"LIAM!" Liam's best friend Cory shouted and interrupted his threat.
"What?" Liam asked and walked towards Cory. Cory slowed down in his pace. Jules ran up behind him, with the third of our trio Becca. Behind them Tyler, Liam's cousin walked slowly along with his mate and Cory's twin sister, Charlie.
"Ahem." I turned back to Olive.
"What?" I asked, slightly annoyed.
"I want to give you piece of my mind." She said more rudely than she should.
I was too distracted to care. Jules started to signal at me to come over. "Mhmmm?"
"Arabelle Shaw! I want you to look at me when I talk." She grabbed on to my bare arm.
"Olive, I really have to go. Can you be quick?"
"I'm tired of this. Can't you see you don't belong? This is my life you have. I should be popular, I should have power and Liam should be mine. I want what is rightfully mine. I don't want to be punished because my parents don't have the authority like yours. You don't even deserve your power. You are rude and mean. The school can do better if you stepped down. I want my spot light. Now are you going to give up or should I make things ugly?" She hissed and her hand tightened around my arm.
"You know what, Olive? I do admit I haven't been nice sometimes. I can change that. But I don't know what I did to upset you. You have to stop." I replied and shook her off my arm. She fell back and her glasses flew off. She scrambled around, almost blind and looked for her glasses. I picked it up and walked over to hand it to her.
"How dare you embarrass me like this, especially in front of them! Mark my words, I will take everything from you. But I won't leave you alone, no. I'll use it all against you." I stood there and watched her for a while. I was honestly going to help her up and see if she was okay, but she couldn't just go around and threaten me. I tossed the glasses to the side and crouched down in front of her.
"Olive Pit, will you ever try to threaten me again?" I asked in a low voice.
"I-I."
"Save it."
"You said you want to replace me right?" I stood up and took a step away from her. "Step one, I don't wear glasses."
"Step two, I'm not a loser." I watched her struggle around on the ground. Her fingers almost reach her glasses. I put my foot down between them, partially stepping on the edges of her fingertips
"Step three, I can be very nasty if you mess with me." I kicked her glasses further away and walked to where Jules was giving me glances.
"Hey, what happened? Has Olive been bothering you? Do I need me to teach her a lesson?" Jules asked while she cracked her knuckles. People really need to stop thinking I need protecting.
"No, I took care of her." I said and gave Jules a hug.
"Don't let her bother you. This weekend is for you." Becca said and joined our hug. "And since it's a long weekend, you get Sunday and Monday for just you and Liam."
I pulled back and looked at the two.
"Can you believe it? Liam and I are going to shift soon!"
"It will be great, Cory said it barely hurt." Becca grinned and looked over at Cory.
"Oh so you've been talking to Corey lately?" I asked her with slight interest. He didn't even shift yet and I don't know how she seemed to miss that.
"Cory? So you talk about Cory, but not me?" I turned around to see Liam behind me with a pout. Oh how I'll miss that pout.
"And you were listening to us talk because?"
"Oh come on, don't fight with me. I won't see you for a couple of days." He picked me up again.
"Hey!"
"Just this last time, Arie." He said while he glanced behind him. He then started to run again.
"Hey! Wait for us!" Tyler shouted but Liam kept going.
I leaned back and looked up at Liam. His sandy hair kept falling over his blue eyes. I reached up to push it away and his big goofy grin grew.
"Hey! Move out of the hallway." He shouted at students ahead. They cleared quickly, some because they feared him and others because they looked up to his popularity.
When the path was open, he started moving faster. He glanced behind him occasionally. The crowd filled in as we left, it made it harder for our friends to catch up. I knew Liam wanted a few minutes alone outside, before Tyler makes him leave. Liam turned around another corner and started to shout again.
"Hey Weasley! Didn't you get the message? Move out of the way!" The lanky red head, Bryn didn't look back. He couldn't move fast enough if he tried. His crutches won't allow it.
"Liam leave him alone. He's already hurt." I scolded him.
"Anything for you." Liam turned to the right but was too late. Bryn toppled over with a loud thud.
"Ompf."
I peered at him from over Liam's shoulder. One crutch laid over his good leg and under the cast of the other. His other crutch was wedged under him and hooked onto his backpack. When he made eye contact, I mouthed sorry at him. He just lay staring until his head gear friend came to help him.
"Liam, what if he got hurt more? He's human, he can't heal as fast as we do." I said.
"Oh, Arie, he seems fine and brace face is helping him." Liam leaned down and kissed my forehead. I forgot for a while about why I was upset.
When Liam finally came out of the building, he ran straight to his car. It wasn't until he was leaning against it that he finally let me down. We looked at each other for a couple of minutes before he pulled me into a hug.
"Oh Arie, I'll miss you this weekend."
"I'll miss you too." I said and buried my face into his neck. He sighed and inhaled.
"I wonder how you'll smell after my senses are stronger. You smell amazing now, I don't think I can survive it." I laughed and pushed myself back a bit.
"You've always been a flirt."
"I really do mean it, Arie. You mean everything to me." We had another moment of silence. He tucked a loose piece of hair behind my ear and started to lean in for a kiss. I closed my eyes and waited for it to happen.
"Hey guys? Are we interrupting something?" Liam and I glared at Cory, who has Becca in his arms. Jules, Tyler and Charlie appeared behind him after a few seconds.
"Cory....." Liam began.
"Okay, I'm sorry dude." Cory lifted his hands up in the air and dropped Becca in the process.
"Cory!" She shouted from the ground.
"Whoops, sorry Bex." He said. He took a step back and accidentally stepped on Charlie's foot.
"Cor-"
"Okay! I get it, I'll go get the car." He mumbled and wandered off. We all watched him go off.
"I hate to cut your time together short, but we have to go Liam." Tyler said and climbed into the driver's set of Liam's car. Liam sighed and bent down to finish our interrupted kiss. It was as amazing as always, full of warmth and passion. I wished we could stay like that a bit longer. He pulled back, gave me a peck on my forehead and smoothed my hair.
"Stay safe. Remember that I'll miss you" He said.
"Survive your shift. I'll miss you too." I gave him one last kiss before I stepped back. I watched him get inside and Tyler drive off.
"Charlie!" Cory shouted from his car.
"Well, I better go. Bye guys." Charlie said and gave us each a hug before she raced off to her brother.
~
Liam always had to make a show. He loved the spotlight, but he knew when to back off.
He always planned something for me on important nights, like my birthday. Sometimes he just planned something for no reason, but I loved them. He was not exactly the type of person who organized things, so it showed he really cared. I wondered what he'll do tonight.
I smiled thinking back to when we first went out. It was complicated for a while. Liam, Cory, Jules, Charlie, Becca and I have been friends for years. Jules and I have been friends since diapers. Tyler only came four years ago. Liam had a crush on me for a while, and I had one on him too, but I was more secretive. He kept asking and asking for date. I said no, I was scared that if anything happened, our group of friends will fall apart. I kept saying no, until that day.
~
"Mom." I called when I entered my house after school.
"I'm in the kitchen!" She stood in front of my triplet baby brothers. She tried to feed them, but they were furious and stayed with their mouth closed. She was tugging on the hairband holding her long black hair and stared at her sons. She was petite, but she could be menacing.
"Open wide boys." She said and held a spoonful to two of them.
"No, Mommy!" Brady shouted and moved his head away from the spoon.
"What's for dinner?" I asked.
"Oh, Liam wants you to have dinner with him tonight." I groaned.
"Mom, why couldn't you say no? You know I don't want to go."
"What I know is that you want to go, but you're afraid. If you don't go now the poor boy will be after you for the next few years. Just give him a chance and if it doesn't work out then leave it. Now he left a card on the table, read it if you are going to find him." She said and finally got Julian to take a bite. Theo and Brady gave in after him.
"Fine." I sighed and picked up the card. I opened it and started to read.
If you wish to find me, follow the riddles. I don't know what rhymes with riddles. Place what I left you together and you'll find me. I've made it easy enough for you to see. When you come, I have something to say. So I hope you made sometime to see me today.
I laughed. Of course he would try to rhyme and make things cheesy
~
I followed the riddles and found bits of a picture. In the end it was a picture of my friends and me at a nearby beach, on top of a rock. I went to the rock next and I remembered I was so happy he remembered the place.
~
"What is this Liam?" I asked, and looked around curiously. He seemed to have decorated near the rock with red balloons and streamers. My favourite colour.
"Do you know what day it is today?" He asked.
"Wednesday."
"Now that's not what I meant. It's the day we met, as friends." I looked up at him.
"That was 13 years ago! How do you remember?"
"Arie, my life changed when I met you." I blushed a bit at that. I hoped he didn't notice. Maybe he would figure out that I like him too.
"So what's all this?" I asked.
"Oh, I don't know, I thought you'd like it." He said looking confused.
"I do, Liam, I like what you did."
"Well, that's a relief. Oh and are you okay with getting those clothes wet?" He looked down at me.
"Pardon?" I asked taken back.
"Well, I want to teach you how to surf." My eyes lit up. I've been dying to learn for so long.
"Are you kidding me? I don't care if these clothes become unrecognizable. I want to surf."
"And for dinner I brought my mom's famous pasta." Was this boy trying to bribe me? I loved his mother's cooking.
"Then later, I want to show you some place....."
I couldn't wait to get started with that evening. "Come on Liam! I want to surf." I try to drag him to the water
~
Liam did try to teach me surfing, I was hopeless and extremely embarrassed, but I would like to relive that day if I could. We ate shortly after we surfed. I remembered he tried to make eat everything. Then he took me to a clearing in the forest with stone statues in the middle and beautiful flowers. It had a great view of the sun and it looked like he did some decorating here too. I loved it. Then when I looked into his eyes I knew.
~
"Liam, it is amazing! How did you find this place?" I asked in awe.
"I was jogging one day and I found this place. I wanted to show you ever since." He said.
"Liam, look at me." He turns and I stared up at him. Why did I ever say no? This day has been one of the best days in my life. When we were surfing I couldn't help but try to lean closer to him. And I always am happier when he is around. What the hell am I doing? I'm keeping to people who obviously like each other and are suffering away from each other.
"I'll go." I said.
"Go where?" He asked confused.
"On a date with you." He broke out in a grin.
"Arie, I've waited forever. That's amazing!" He swooped me up and-
"Arie? Are you okay? I was calling you but you didn't answer." Jules asked worriedly and stepped into the room. I snapped out of my thoughts and looked at Jules. Jules is someone you would call a natural beauty. She looked amazing in her simple purple dress that fit her slim figure, with her shoulder length blond hair piled up over her head and her make-up done perfectly to show off her grey eyes.
"I'm alright, I was just thinking about Liam." I said with a small smile.
"Arie..."
"Guys!" Becca shouted and entered the room. She also looked nice. Her short red dress did justice to her petite figure. Her brown hair was in a twist and her dark brown eye looked bigger. "Whoa, Arie. You look hot. All the boys will be going after you. Same for you Jules."
"Thanks Becca." Jules and I replied at the same time. "You look amazing."
"Thanks guys. Anyways Arie, your father is calling you down. It's almost time. Jules you should come down before her." Becca said while heading towards the door.
"Okay, one minute." Jules told her. Becca gave Jules a curious look then headed back the first floor.
Jules turned to me and put her hand on mine.
"First I want to tell you that you look gorgeous." I smiled at her and glanced at the mirror. My yellow dress fit my slightly wide frame perfectly, and made my skin seem like it glows. Somehow my mother managed to tame my hip lengthened wavy black hair into an elegant side braid. I'd hate to have to unravel it when my shift begins. Mom didn't let me put as much as make-up as I usually like, but it still made a difference. My checks looked red, and my blueish grey eyes looked brighter.
"Thanks Jules, you look amazing as well. I'm sure you'll find your mate tonight."
"Well, that's what I wanted to talk to you about." She sighed and looked at me in the eye.
"Arabelle, I know that you are so sure that Liam is your mate. But if he was you must have felt the mate bond, or maybe he is and you never felt it because you already loved him. All I am saying is that you have to be prepared for the fact that he may not be your mate. I'm sorry, I just don't want to see you get hurt." She looked down and took her hand back.
I leaned in and gave Jules a hug. "Thank-you, Jules. I know you are trying to protect me, but you guys need to stop eventually. Besides" I pulled back to look at her. "I know in my heart that if Liam isn't, than no other shifter is meant to be mine."
"Let's just hope that isn't true. I should go now." Jules said, still slightly worried.
"Okay." I watched her go out before standing up myself.
I looked at myself in the mirror once again and turned to the door. I'm ready.