My Wolf's Bane (9 page)

They exchanged looks for what seemed like minutes. I wiped my palms on my jeans and waited, determined to hold out until the bitter end.

Dad bolted from his chair and towered over me. “This is ridiculous, Autumn.”

I stood my ground, keeping my tone firm. “No. Playing musical houses is ridiculous. And I’m not waiting for your permission. You have two choices. Let me stay here in this house and help me finish school. Or lose me to Maya. Pick one. I’ll be up in my room.”

I dashed up the stairs and collapsed on my bed. I couldn’t decide if today had been the worst day ever or the best day of my life. I was free of Gina and the pressures of being popular, done with fighting off Daniel’s disgusting advances and I just might have a chance at a life in a town with friends I loved.

Regardless what my future held, with everything I’d been through, today still sucked. Exhaustion strained at my peace of mind and unshed tears burned behind my eyes. Burying my face in my pillow, I succumbed to sobs.

† † †

There was a knock on my door as I finished dressing after a shower. “Come in.”

My parents stepped into the room, each with their usual lit cigarette between their fingers. I cringed inwardly as the smoke wafted up to the ceiling. Not wanting to throw them off course by complaining, I kept quiet.

“We’ve decided to turn down the jobs,” my dad announced with a proud smile.

It was what I’d been hoping for, but now it wasn’t enough. They’d go right back to their extreme hovering and paranoia. “But that doesn’t solve the other problem. You guys need to be without me for a while. And I need to be on my own, at least for a couple weeks so you can see that I can do it. I need that freedom.”

When they stared speechless, I was pretty sure I had them. “Both of you will go to Arizona. Turn down the others if you want, so long as you stay gone for at least two weeks.” I knew they’d negotiate it down.

“Autumn, I’m ashamed of you,” my mom scolded. “Two days. That’s it.”

“Ten days,” I said.

“Three days.” Dad’s eye twitched.

“Seven days.” I lifted my chin.

He folded his arms over his chest. “Three and a half days.”

“We could do this all night.” I glanced at the clock by my bed with exaggerated movements. “I’d rather you enjoyed yourselves for two weeks, but let’s cut to the chase. Four days or I’ll call Maya and start packing.”

My dad’s eyes turned to slits before sharing a look with my mom.

“Maybe we were wrong.” She tilted her head, studying me. “It’s possible we haven’t given you enough credit.”

Did that mean they were giving in?

“You have yourself a deal,” Dad said a moment later. “Four days. Goodnight, sweetheart.” He quietly closed the door behind him.

Yes! I did it. They were going to leave me alone for four long, glorious days. No one around to hover or obsess over me.

I allowed myself a moment to revel in my triumph, then sat on my bed and opened my laptop, determined to find something about my new and unusual abilities.

My situation was curious to say the least. Maybe I needed to think outside the box. Myths? Legends? Aside from vampires, werewolves and various other paranormal creatures, information was sorely lacking.

An hour later, I had accomplished just as much as the previous nights. Nothing. My only hope of discovering more about myself was taking the opportunity to experiment as soon as my parents were on a plane. I snapped my laptop shut in disgust and rolled over, drifting off with a vision of my mom and dad basking in the Arizona sun and having the time of their lives — just the two of them.

† † †

When I turned the key the next morning and my car did absolutely nothing, I plopped back against the seat. Right then, I would have given almost anything for a new car.

Hurrying back inside my house, I hoped one of my parents would be presentable enough to drive me to school. Otherwise, I was going to be late.

“Mom. Dad,” I called, my voice carrying beyond the empty living room.

“Car won’t start?” My mom popped through the kitchen doorway. She was all done up and completely gorgeous, her long black hair pinned up away from her neck and showing off her exquisite face.

“You’re psychic.” I smiled.

“Let’s go.” She found her keys and motioned to the door.

“We’ve decided to do the Arizona job, then come back here and regroup,” she said, once we were on the road.

“Where in Arizona?” I asked.

“Scottsdale.” She glanced over her shoulder before switching lanes. “But we’re leaving tonight, not Friday. We’ll eat dinner early, get ready and go for our run at the last minute. You can take us to the airport.”

Sooner? Bonus! But it was so strange, almost too easy. “Why the rush?”

She smiled. “We want to be home for your birthday on Monday. If we leave tonight, we can return Sunday night and would’ve fulfilled our end of the bargain. If the job isn’t finished yet, your father can go back alone.”

It was almost too good to be true. Except I didn’t love the idea of driving them to LAX on a Friday night up the 405 during rush hour. On the other hand, spending that time with them would be nice since they’d be gone for a few days. “What time is your flight?”

“We’re leaving out of Burbank at nine-fifteen.”

Going to Burbank airport would save me an hour of driving. Hallelujah.

My mom pulled up to the curb with five minutes to spare before my first class. We’d made good time. She unhooked her seatbelt and pulled her keys out of the ignition.

“What are you doing?” I wasn’t the only student who found it embarrassing for a parent to go inside the school.

“I can’t leave town without informing the principal and making sure he knows how to get in touch with me.”

“They have your cell on file, Mom. Geez,” I said glumly. Why did I think, even for an instant, they could go cold turkey? “You’re the only parent who’d speak with the principal in person. No one does that. See, this is a perfect example of why you’ve been blackmailed into leaving.”

She opened the door anyway, then stopped. “Who is that boy? He looks too old to be a student.”

I followed her gaze to the wide double doors of the school and instantly deflated. I didn’t bother hiding the antipathy in my tone. “That’s Zack. And, yes, he’s a student here.”

Her eyes shot to mine, an eyebrow raised. “Sounds like you don’t like him.”

“Not particularly.” Zack was scrutinizing the crowd. I wondered who he was searching for. “He’s an ass.”

“I can call the principal later.” She closed her door and started the car again.

I didn’t know the reason for her abrupt change of mind and I didn’t care. It was enough to know she wasn’t going inside. “Meet you here after school?” I asked.

She nodded and waved, looking a little preoccupied.

“’Bye, Mom.” I glanced toward Zack again, but he’d already left. So had practically everyone else. I needed to hurry or be late for class.

† † †

After fourth period, I took a different route to the cafeteria, hoping to avoid anyone unpleasant. Slipping into the lunchroom through the back door, I scanned for Maya or John. Instead, I saw Daniel. He was in our usual spot talking with Jeff and a couple of his friends. I did a quick visual for Gina, but she wasn’t at any of the tables. Zack and Trevor were seated in their usual place. Maya was there too, right next to Trevor.

I wanted to talk with her, but Zack was a major deterrent. So I kept myself busy picking out a walnut salad, minestrone soup and a banana muffin.

Another glance around the room and I found John in the far corner. He waved at me and I waved back. Tray in hand, I took a step forward to meet him as Maya grasped my arm.

“Trevor asked me out this morning.” She beamed.

I squealed. “I knew he would.”

“What are you doing this Friday?”

“Anything I want.” I grinned. “My parents are leaving town for a few days.”

Her mouth dropped open. “You’re kidding!”

“Crazy, right? I was hoping you were free to hang out.” I wiggled my eyebrows.

“Perfect. Because I told Trevor we’d hang out with him and his friends Friday night.”

I swallowed hard, feet fixed to the floor and prayed she’d tell me Zack was not part of the equation. “Which of his friends?”

“You and me with Zack and Trevor. Can you believe it?” She said, stepping aside for someone to pass. When she focused on me again, her face wilted. “Are you okay?”

Maya had said
friends
. Plural. Where were the others? But if I told her how badly I wanted to avoid Zack, she’d feel guilty and her plans with Trevor could be ruined. I couldn’t let her down.

“I’m fine. That’s great you’re getting together with him. I’m happy for you.” I nudged her with my elbow and motioned with my head to an empty table. “Come sit with me for a minute. It’ll give Trevor a chance to miss you.”

She giggled as she fell in step with me. “Not a bad idea.”

“Have you seen Gina today?” I asked.

“No, she wasn’t in second period.” We stopped at the nearly empty table and Maya tilted her head. “It’s lunch time and you haven’t spoken to her?”

“Uhm…” I sat at the vacant end of the table, then glanced over at the guys. Zack stared at me as though he was trying to figure something out. I turned my head, unnerved by his intensity. “I caught her making out with Daniel yesterday after school,” I whispered.

“Oh.” Maya eased into the chair across from me as air whooshed from her lungs. “I knew Gina was a bitch, but, wow.”

“Yeah, wow.” But Maya didn’t really seem all that surprised. “Did you know about them?”

Maya glanced over each shoulder as though checking if anyone else could hear. “Not specifically, no.”

“But you know something. Spill it,” I said in a hushed voice, taking the lid off my salad.

“Gina and I were best friends last year,” she said. “Back then, she barely knew Trevor existed until I’d told her about my crush. She started flirting with him the next day.”

I reached for her hand and squeezed. “That’s why you two don’t get along? Why didn’t you tell me?”

“It was over a year ago. I wanted to give her the benefit of the doubt.” Maya’s eyes lit up. “You’re single again. What about Zack?”

“Oh, no.” I shook my head, imagining the wheels turning in her head. “Don’t even think about matchmaking. Zack is so not my type. Besides, he can’t stand me.”

“I don’t think that’s true.”

“Trust me,” I said. “He doesn’t like me at all.”

“If you say so.” She rolled her eyes. “I found out from Trevor why Zack had to switch schools so late in the year.”

“Do tell.” I leaned forward, elbows on the table and rested my chin on my palms.

“Their moms are sisters. Zack’s mom has been sick most of her life. An immune system disorder or something like that. Anyway, between school and work, he couldn’t be there all the time to take care of her. So she and Zack moved in with Trevor’s family where there’s almost always someone home.”

“Where’s his dad?”

“Died when he was a little boy.”

“That’s awful.” My heart ached for him. “How sick is his mom?”

“She gets better, then gets worse. She’s on medication that helps but...” Maya shook her head. “It doesn’t look good. I guess she’s got a few weeks, months at the most. Which is the biggest reason she and Zack moved here. She wanted to spend her last days with family.”

My throat constricted. I couldn’t imagine losing one parent, much less both.  “I’m so sorry for Zack.”

“Yeah, so you should try to be nice to him. Get your tray and eat with us. Then we can firm up our plans.”

I shook my head, unwilling to press my luck. I would get enough of Zack on Friday. “You go ahead. I’ll see you after school.”

Maya took off. I was about to relocate to John’s table when the bench moved and someone claimed the spot next to me. I knew by his scent it was Daniel.

“Hi, babe.” Daniel wrapped his arms around me. What the hell?

“Don’t touch me,” I hissed, wiggling from Daniel’s embrace.