My Silver Mate

Oakville

[Dylan]

I wasn’t one who tired easily, but I was exhausted.

“It’s hopeless,” Wesley whispered, and I nodded. It was hopeless, but I believed that because I actually knew where Samara was. For them, they were clueless. “We should head back,” he then said to Ben, who was staring at the destroyed bush. “Ben?”

“Yeah…ah…yeah…” Finally, we started the hike back down to the parking lot and all I wanted to do was change into my wolf form and run back down. Of course, that wasn’t an option. No one said a word and the walk felt like it took forever and by the time we got to the parking lot, the sun was on its way to setting.

“Do you think they will search the other part of the forest?” Heather questioned, as we all piled into Ben’s Landrover.

“Who knows,” Wesley remarked as Ben started the engine. The drive to Heather and Samara’s home was silent and I wasn’t surprised when Wesley joined Heather and me. The three of us watched Ben drive away and I sighed softly. Wesley had stayed the night before, so I hadn’t expected anything less. After all, I was still a stranger to them and while Heather had politely offered me a place to stay, she was still being cautious. We headed inside and I immediately went over to the couch and sat down.

“Pizza?” Heather suggested, but I didn’t respond as I closed my eyes. Samara was just out of range, but I could tell that she was still alive. “Dylan?”

“Hmm?” I hummed as I opened my eyes to find both of them staring at me curiously.

“Are you good with pizza?”

“Oh…yeah,” I said as I sat up a little bit straighter. Heather nodded before she left the living room, but Wesley took a seat next to me.

“Her parents are coming tomorrow,” he said, and I frowned. “Samara’s parents,” he added.

“Oh…” I wasn’t sure how I was supposed to respond.

“They are worried sick…obviously…and of course, Ben is blaming himself,” he continued, and I nodded. If that had been me, I would’ve blamed myself as well.

“Do you know if the police have any leads yet?” I asked conversationally. Heather rejoined us just as Wesley shook his head.

“Nothing?” Heather urged, but Wesley didn’t know anything. She then picked up the remote and put on the TV. I didn’t pay any attention to her channel hopping as my mind worked hard on coming up with a plan. I had to get out of Oakville.

“I don’t know if this place is for me,” I then said. Heather and Wesley both turned to look at me and I shrugged. “I mean…this place seems great and all but…your friend is missing and…I mean…how safe is Oakville?” I was playing with fire, but I had to start somewhere.

“It would be highly suspicious if you suddenly left,” Wesley remarked, and I barked out a laugh.

“Seriously? Are we still on this thing where I did something?” I couldn’t help but roll my eyes as I put another inch between us. Things had just gotten awkward fairly quickly.

“Dude, you have to admit…Samara goes missing and you show up and now you want to leave?”

“I mean, yeah, I get it, but I had nothing to do with her disappearance,” I said, and that much was true. Although, if I hadn’t hurt her then she would probably still have been around. I sighed softly. “Maybe it is my fault,” I muttered.

“WHAT?!” Heather screamed and my eyes went wide.

“I didn’t mean it like that. I just meant…like you know when you do something that you wouldn’t normally do, and it changes the course of your future…I meant like that. Like maybe me coming here is what set all of this in motion,” I sighed as I stood up. I was digging myself into a hole. “I mean, it’s like when you wake up and you realize that your alarm didn’t go off so now you are running late…only to find out that there was a massive accident on the road and if you had been on time…you know?”

“Dude, sit the hell down and shut up because right now you are freaking me the f**k out,” Wesley remarked, just as the doorbell sounded. Heather hopped up and hurried to get the delivery. “Seriously man, all that crazy talk just makes you look even more suspicious,”

“So…then, take me to the Sheriff,” I wasn’t just playing with fire anymore, I was poking the f*****g bear. But I wasn’t sure how I was going to dig myself out of this hole and then suddenly I was hit with an idea. With a plan in mind, I relaxed on the couch and turned my attention back to the movie. I may not be able to tell them the truth, but maybe I could bring Samara back. I wasn’t sure how I was going to do it, but what other option did I have? It would also give me the opportunity to explain myself to my mate. Heather returned with two large pizza boxes and the three of us attacked it vigorously. This type of hunger would make anyone crazy and that was the theory I was going to stick with.

“By the way, where is your car?” Wesley then asked and I burst out laughing.

“You just won't stop…will you?” I asked between bites. He shook his head as they both watched me. While I couldn’t tell them the whole truth, I could be a little bit honest. “Fine, I lied,”

“I knew it!” Wesley yelled, but I shook my head.

“Relax…I didn’t drive into Oakville…my car is parked on the outskirts…”

“Your car is just parked on the side of the road?” Heather questioned me and I nodded.

“Well, we can go and pick it up in the morning then,” Wesley said, and I agreed. At least I would have my car back.