One
1843 Words
Rip:
"Rip, turn that s**t off," Holland shouted from the other side of the library.
"I know that we are young and know that you may love me but I just can't be with you like this anymore... Alejandro," I said in a fake french accent. There is nothing she hates more than when Audrey and I sing along to Lady Gaga songs. This one specifically.
"I hate you guys," she mumbled under her breath slamming a stack of books on the table.
"What are you looking for?" I asked.
"Weaknesses and strengths of the councilmen,"
"What are you going to do go on a killing spree?" Audrey asked taking a book off the top and flipping through it.
"No, I just like to know my odds," she said sitting down behind her stack.
"How they looking?" I asked with a smirk. I had done it too, I'm not going to lie.
"So far not good. I suck," she laughed.
"Me too. Being a Shadow Wolf doesn't mean s**t when I'm going up a council wolf. Who made those guys so powerful?"
"Well for starters one of them has two mates. An alpha and a beta," Audrey said.
"You know I'm kind of glad you gave up, on the whole, I'll be the alpha of the world s**t," Holland pointed at me, sitting on the table with her legs crossed.
"Me too," Audrey agreed. "If being your agent now is heavy imagine with the masses of the wolves,"
"Who said I've given up? Maybe I'm pretending to be nice to catch them all off guard," Reggie cleared his throat from the other side of the room. I forgot he was here. They both giggled and turned away.
"Really?" he asked coming over to us.
"It could be a thing," I shrugged.
"Yeah right," Holland and Audrey scoffed at the same time.
"You two are no help," I glared playfully at the two of them. We all laughed.
"Hey this is the song from the Pantene commercial," Holland said moving around in her weak attempt to dance. "Can't keep my hands to myself,"
"I will kill you," Audrey proclaimed smacking her hand when she reached over and scooped her breast.
"What is all this talk about fighting and killing ladies?" Reggie asked, taking my hand.
"We're bored," Holland groaned, jumping on the table. The end of the world is boring. "All we do is read and read and drink wine. I've gone down to your barracks and can you say princess pucker ups?"
"Maybe that's what you should do. Teach them to stop twinkle toeing around," I suggested.
"Can I?" she asked, excitedly jumping off the table. "Please alpha Mikhail would beat me up if I tried teaching his pack fighting moves,"
"That's because Mikhail taught me what I taught you," I said looking over at Reggie. "I mean if you're okay with it. I don't want to overstep any boundaries,"
"You aren't. I think the pack would like something a little rougher. Especially from the Demon Wolf's Elite team," Reggie smiled. "This is a great idea. I can have Lucas introduce you to the pack. He's a little... How do I put it?"
"Sexist," I answered. "You're going to like this guy. I'm going to love watching you beat the s**t out of him,"
"I am even more intrigued. Bring forth the Lucas," she said clapping her hands.
"Oh god, what have you done Alpha Reginald," Audrey groaned, rolling her eyes. "Rip, we have a conference in Manhattan on Tuesday,"
"Do I have to go?" I asked sitting where I had been.
"Unfortunately. It was your idea to become the new Michael Angelo of the newly reformed world,"
"How bad is it?" I asked.
"Sixty five point eight million bad. The world discovering you're a werewolf has made you richer,"
"f**k," Reggie laughed.
"I think we should throw in the towel. Start a day job," I waved her off.
"The gift shop?" I growled at her. I hate that she calls it that. "I'm sorry that's what it is. A giant overly priced gift shop. Rip's Deadly Steampunk Ceramics and other art s**t,"
"It's an open studio. I want one. Big. Bigger than The Pace. Then donate half the earnings to like charities and stuff,"
"We can do that. Art in schools that can't afford it. Mikhail wants to do that fight for the cause thing. Donate money for sports,"
"We can do that. My thing is better though," why does he try to one up me. He's already the alpha. "I want a twinkie,"
"Is this how you guys work? Randomly suggest things while playing around. This is your future you're dealing with," Reggie asked, looking over us.
"When we were eighteen Rip made clay dice and that's how we decided what career we wanted," Holland just makes things worse.
"What? What do you do?" he asked her.
"I'm a vet s***h chiro practitioner," she said shoving books into her backpack.
"I have a sudden urge to go back to school," he sighed.
"We do that to people," Audrey chuckled, taking Holland's arm. "We're going,"
"Not everyone can be the Demon Wolf's Elite Squad," Holland called out as Audrey dragged her away with the backpack filled with books she's probably not allowed to take out of here.
"Sorry about them. They like to show off," I smirked grabbing the remaining books so that I can put them away.
"I guess if Rip Hemingway were to have friends they'd be as amazing as her," he shrugged.
"You have no idea," I said walking around the room.
"You know we have people to put these away. Elen actually complained about not being able to do anything other than sweep and mop in here,"
"She hid the broom and mop," I laughed. "So, we wouldn't do that. I mean it's the least we can do after all of this,"
"So, you're going to Manhattan in two days," he said leaning on the table with his arms crossed.
"I don't have to if you don't want to," I said truthfully. "I like it here,"
"It's fine, go. Audrey said it was important,"
"Come with. Have you been to Manhattan? Have you ever been to an art expo? They're fun. Especially cause I'm the best artist there,"
"Yes, I have and no I'll stay here. I have a ton of things to do. Gabriel is staying here. He's a little upset that Melissa and Grayson pulled my mother's flowers,"
"Shadows believe staying neutral to humans is necessary," I said pushing the last book into its place. The rejection stung a little.
"That's what she told him, but he still didn't like it. After bringing Melissa up to date with everything he wants to move here. So I'm helping him set up one of the former leads villas,"
I nodded turning to face him. "Then I'll be gone for two days. We're staying in my apartment,"
"You haven't gotten rid of it?" he asked.
"I don't see why I would. A lot of what I deal with is in New York. I have a four-year lease. Until then I think we can still use it. Mikhail also uses it when he and Ezra go to his fights," I can hear the disappointment in my voice, thicken. Like he had f*****g told me no you can't get a new puppy. Why am I so dramatic?
"Rip I..."
"It's fine you have things to do. I have things to do. It'll give us some space," I said taking my bag, walking out.
"Rip," he called after me, trying to stop me.
I just walked faster. I was never really good with rejection. No one ever told me no. Especially not upfront like that. The run down to Darkside is long and yeah. I cried the first half of the run until I made myself angry. My mom is sitting where we usually meet. The creek.
Her feet are in the water swinging back and forth. I hate putting my feet in there this late at night. The water is pitch black and I know if something were to be in the water I'd feel it, but I used to watch horror movies and the makeshift fear stays. Even after becoming what I am. There's nothing scarier than what my mind makes up on its own.
"You cried," is the first thing she said. She's eating away at her strawberries. I sat down next to her bowl. Despite my fear I took my shoes off and dipped my toes into the cold water. If something takes her, it has to take me too.
"Yeah, it was stupid," I shrugged kicking the water, making a splash.
"Your tears are never stupid, Rip. What happened?"
"I invited Reg to come with me to Manhattan for an expo and he said no cause Gabriel is moving in and he has to help him,"
"I stand corrected," she smirked, looking at me.
"Mom," I laughed.
"Honey, things like this happen. He is an alpha. Since Mikhail has taken over, your father and I have grown closer. However, he goes running when Mikhail is in need of something. I love your brother. I do not love John's wife though. In fact, if the ground were to open up and swallow her I would not reach over to save her,"
I laughed. "Mom that is a perfect visual of hate. You said hate is never something one should feel,"
"I do not hate her. I simply do not care for her in the slightest," she waved me off. I smiled taking one of her strawberries.
"I am sure you made him more upset than you were. Which is why you cried am I right?"
I sighed.
"He asked me if I had gotten rid of my apartment and I said no. That I still had it for four more years. My work is in New York, mom. I will be going back and forth you know. So there is no point in me getting rid of it. Then I told him we needed space,"
"Get rid of it Ripley. You have no use for it," she scolded.
"It was my dream place. It took me years to get it and I only lived in it for six months,"
"Yes, well, most people never get their dream anything. Now that you have lived it. A new dream is set, correct?"
"Yeah,"
"Then get rid of it. Stay at a hotel like a normal person. Come home to your mate and do whatever it is you and your mate do to not give me grandchildren,"
"Mom," I laughed.
"I am not getting any younge,r Rip. I want to hold your cute baby in my arms. I soon will be holding Mikhail's boy," I laughed. "He knows how to make me happy,"
"I'm going home, mom. Good night," she waved her hand in my direction. I got up feeling better. Now all I have to do is apologize to Reggie.
- Writer
