Chapter One
"May I help you?" the small woman asked from behind the counter. She smiled at me and looked at me a bit flirtatious.
"Um, yes. Can I have a pack of cigarettes?" I asked, a look of confusion crossing my features.
"Any form of identification?" I nodded and pulled my ID out of my pocket. I held it out to her and she grabbed it, our hands touching. Her hands felt cold, but then again, it was a cold winter night, and even I was cold.
She handed it back after looking it over and turned around to pick out a pack of Marlboros. I had no idea how she knew exactly what kind to get; I had only told her cigarettes. She dropped them on the counter and held out her hand. "That'll be five dollars and forty nine cents," she said cheerily.
I smiled and dug out a ten dollar bill. "Keep the change," I muttered as I grabbed the pack of Marlboros and left the gas station.
*~*~*~*
I slammed the screen door behind me and stood in the foyer. "Perry?" I heard my mother call. I walked into the living room to see her knitting a pale yellow blanket.
"Yeah, mom, it's me," I said calmly. I leaned down and hugged her from behind as she sat in the chair. She was sick, and couldn't make many movements. It was just her age. She had some type of sickness that caused her to not be able to talk much, and arthritis. She caught the arthritis ten years ago, but she never thought it was a big deal, until now.
Out of her five children, I was the only one to stick around and help her. I was the youngest, and the brightest. I'm nineteen, and am still living with my mother. If I weren't around to help, the oldest ones would've put her in a home.
The old phone rang and I picked it up. "Hello?" a female voice asked.
I frowned at the familiarity of the voice, then softened my look. "Who's this?" I asked huskily.
She cleared her throat and continued. "Perry? Is that you?"
I nodded, then hummed, "Mmhmm." I coughed loudly. "Who's this?" I demanded.
"Isabella. Perry, I'm coming over. I need to speak with you." I hung up the phone and twisted around to give my mother a worried look.
"What is it, son?" she asked, her needles ending their clatter. I opened my mouth to speak, but no words came out.
Isabella is my older sister. My mother didn't have a good relationship with her. Isabella was the one who brought up putting her in a home.
"Nothing," I said, "nothing you need to worry about, mom." She gave me a weak smile, then continued knitting her blanket.
Isabella can't be here. Not now, and not ever.
*~*~*~*
Isabella's white truck pulled into the driveway. I scowled, and stomped outside to her truck. She climbed out of her truck and earned a look of hate from me. "Look, Perry, before you--"
"What are you doing here?" I yelled at her, waving my fist in the air.
"Perry, I need to talk to you. It's important," she said calmly. I held my arms at my sides and fought the urge to hit her. "Look, can we go for a drive?"
I looked back at the house, and furrowed my eyebrows. "It's not about mom?" I asked.
She shook her head, her black hair falling over her shoulders. "No, it's about you."
I gave her a look of fear, but climbed into her truck regardless.
It's important. Very important.
*~*~*~*
Isabella slammed her car door and walked to the front door. She looked back at me and held up her finger before ringing the doorbell.
The door opened and out came my older brother, Jonathan. He looked from Isabella to me, and his scowl looked as if there was something wrong. He suddenly pushed passed Isabella and over to my door. I sat still in shock, and watched as he pulled the door open. "Perry, in the house, now," he told me.
I shook my head. "Why am I here?" I asked. He finally had enough and pulled me out of the seat by my arm. "Jonathan, what are you doing?" I yelled.
"I told you to get inside, Perry," he grumbled. He dragged me in the front door, then threw me on the couch. He was stronger than me, no doubt. And though I was strong, Jonathan could kick my ass any day.
I looked around and saw the rest of my siblings sitting around. "Storm? Lidia?" I asked with confusion.
"Hi, Perry," Lidia said, a slight smile stretching across her cheeks.
Storm stood up and crossed his arms, scowling at me. "Perry, you need to understand something," he said.
"No! I've told you all that I refuse to put her in a home. She's our mother, Storm, how could you want that?" I burst.
"Shut up and listen, Perry," he demanded. "It isn't safe for her, we all know it."
"What isn't safe?"
"You. Perry, that's why we want her there, is to keep her safe. Did you forget about the change? The shape-shifting?"
I pushed my eyebrows together and sat up. "No, of course I didn't. But we can't just leave her stranding," I said worriedly.
"You think I want to leave her alone? She raised me. Of course I don't, but we all had to. For the sake of her."
I sighed and ran a hand through my hair. "Storm--"
"Join the pack. Perry, you do not have much time," he said with concern.
"We're only doing this for mom, and you. It's important that you help yourself, and her," Lidia said, her hand being placed on my shoulder.
"I'll think about it," I said, looking around at the four.
"You don't have much time to decide, Perry. Do not waste any time on anything," Isabella informed me.
I nodded and stood up. "I'll call you," I directed at Storm. He nodded, then watched me walk out of the house and past Isabella's Chevy truck.
*~*~*~*
"Perry? Where were you?" my mother asked from her small, wooden chair. I threw my house key on the counter and looked back at her dark brown eyes. They told a story every time I glanced at them. They always told me that everything would be okay, until now that is.
My siblings wanted me to leave my mother alone. Alone was the word that hurt her the most. She had no idea that they only did it for her own good, and she probably would never find out. Isabella made that pretty clear through her burning gaze earlier.
I just didn't have the strength, or power to leave her. My father died a few years back, and now, I'm the only family or friend she has. How could I just leave, when there was no one to be there for her when she needed them most?
"What's on you're mind, baby?" she asked, still knitting away. I opened my mouth to speak, but ended up with empty words.
Nothing would escape my lips, even though I wanted at least a sound to come out. But there was still nothing to be said. I couldn't hurt her like the older ones did. I wasn't heartless. "Nothing, mom," I lied. In the moment, everything was running through my mind like a broken record.
It wasn't easy, to think I had to leave my mom sooner than I planned. I didn't want to leave her unless she did first. I wanted to see her until she died, but I didn't have that option.
I turned on my heel and walked quickly to my room. As soon as I closed the door, I punched the wall in rage. My knuckles bled with intensity, but it only made me hit the wall harder. "Perry, what's going on in there?" I heard my mother ask outside my door.
I ran my fingers through my hair and pulled in frustration. I had no idea what to do, or what to say when I had to leave my small, weak mother. The older ones may have done it easily, but I couldn't do it without hurting a part of me, too. "Mom, I'm fine. Just, please, go away," I breathed out, trying my hardest to hide my anger.
"Okay, sweetheart. I'll be in the living room." I glared at the door and felt tears sting my eyes. Leaving my mother would be like taking milk away from a newborn baby. But I had to find a way to leave. I just had to.
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I really hope you all liked it! I know that it may be stupid and boring at the moment, but I promise it will get better! I already have plans for future chapters!
Please vote, comment, and follow! I would appreciate it greatly. :D
~Debi