Growing Up With My Mate

6. 10th grade

“Brighton wait up!”

“Dustin, if you don’t move your lazy ass now, we are going to miss the dang bus!” I yell, waiting for him at the front of his house.

“Chill, I was just making an extra sandwich.”

I glared at him. “An extra sandwich? I’m surprised you mother hasn’t gotten a second job with how much food you shovel in your mouth every day.”

“But I'm going through a growth spurt…. What do you want from me?”  His whining has definitely gotten worse.  

This always happens when I come to Dustin’s for breakfast before school.  We eat breakfast that his mom makes, I sit there watch him eat a second breakfast, and then he packs a second lunch when his mom isn’t looking.  A growth spurt is an understatement.  It started over the summer and he literally has not stopped eating.  The guy used to be shorter than me and is now an inch taller.  We rush to the bus stop just in time and sit on the last seats available. 

“See, record time," he says smiling to me.  Whatever. I roll my eyes for the 3rd time that morning. He’s eating his breakfast sandwich and I’m watching the world pass by through the window.  I’ve been living here for over a year and half.  As Dustin predicted, he became my BFF.  Our parents hang out together too.  My mom and his mom are both working on the organic baby foods and even have a permanent spot at the flea market every weekend.  My dad even got a promotion at work, so bills aren’t so tight anymore. I even went shopping with everyone right before school started from winter break, and got to get a couple of outfits.  I really like hanging out with the girls Anna, Sally, and Jessie, but since Jessie and Cole are a close couple, they don’t hang out with us as nearly as much as a single person would.  Brian is also a key asset to our group.  Over the last summer, he was the main one to initiate our group outings, whether it was the movies, a run, or a cookout.  Harris was even able to come to a couple of our get togethers, but his dad has him in pre-alpha training so he’s usually busy.  I missed having him in my art class, but I do get him for study hall, even though he sleeps half the time.  Pulling up to the school, Brian, Jessie and Cole were waiting by the fountain.  We huddle up together then walk to class.  We were really lucky that we all have a class together for first period.  Spanish.  Anna and Sally are already in class talking to some boys. 

As we sit down, Sally plops on my desk. “So.... we are having a sleepover, using the pack rec room as our destination- you game?”

“I didn’t know we could use that space for sleepovers,” I say.

Anna chimes in.  “Technically you can’t, but if you make a reservation and get approved you can.  We did about 3 weeks ago, and we’ll have the whole space to ourselves!!!”

“Great, who’s all going?”

“Me, Anna, you, Jessie, and a couple girls from our science class,” Sally states.  She turns to Dustin and Cole, pointing her finger angrily,  “and NO crashing!- no boyfriends, no best guy friends.. just girls!”

“You didn’t mention me,” Brian says confused.

“Oh Brian, you’re the good guy, you would never interfere with our plans,” Anna says plain as day.

 Everyone starts laughing but Brian seems to be sad about something.  He really is a textbook good guy.

“Well I’m down- count me in!”  This will be my first sleepover ever.  I was never a tomboy, I just never had girlfriends comfortable enough to sleep at someone’s house unless they were babysitting me. 

It was finally Saturday afternoon.  Sally and Anna booked the room from 5pm-10am the next day.  Jessie was going to pick me up in an hour so I was busy packing.  The girls said we had full use of the pool during our stay, but I didn’t have a bathing suit.  I don’t know how mom found out, but when she did, she went out and bought me a bikini without my knowledge.  I came home on Friday with it sitting on my bed.  I scolded mom how it wasn’t needed because I could just swim in shorts and a t-shirt, but she wasn’t having it.  So I was wearing that under my clothes.  I packed an extra set of clothes, pjs and toiletries.  I even snuck my sketchbook in, even though I probably won’t use it, but just in case.  I looked in the mirror.  My hair was right at my shoulders, perfect length for a ponytail.  I never fiddle with makeup, but I threw on some of my mom’s mascara and lip gloss.  Not bad for your typical 15 year old.  I hear a car horn honk and I dash out, kissing mom and dad bye, and climb into Jessie’s car.  

           I’ve only seen the pack house during training days- so the gym and the canteen, but apparently this 3 story mansion has more to offer.  Jessie was telling me that the first floor included the gym, canteen, the rec room that’s connected with the pool outside, and the kitchen.  Second floor were for offices and guest rooms. And the third floor was for the alpha and beta and their families.  Walking into the house was surreal.  Hard wood floors throughout, a grand staircase.  The colors were neutral gray tones and had potted plants in every corner. 

We veer left to where I assume the rec room is.  And it’s huge.  There are 2 pool tables, couches everywhere, a karaoke station, a flat screen tv every 10 feet with access to all different game systems, a little kitchenette that’s larger than my actual kitchen at home… needless to say, it’s a little overwhelming.  I see Anna and Sally with 2 girls I’ve never meet.  Ivy and Talli- apparently they’re twins.  After introductions, Anna pulls out a pizza and makes everyone sit down.  There are at least 3 conversations going on; I don’t know how to keep up.  Apparently, girl time is about multitasking.

“Alright Brighton: spill it….. what exactly goes on between you and Dustin,” Anna randomly says. 

The confusion is clear on my face because its followed up by Jessie’s “You know.. you hang out together, go home together, eat at each others houses…. And….”  The other girls snicker.

I try my best not to roll my eyes.  “I don’t know what to tell y’all…  We are best friends.  Isn’t that was best friends do?”

“Not girls and boys!” Sally and Ivy say. 

“You are being ridiculous,” I snicker.  “There’s nothing scandalous or gossip worthy going on.  We really are just friends.  We have similar backgrounds, and we just get each other, that’s all.”

“So what if y’all end up being mates?” Anna asks.

That throws me for a loop.  “I never really thought about it. Honestly, I never thought of any of the guys we know as potential mates.”

“Gah, I wish Anna had that same process- she could go around thinking everyone is her mate,” Sally laughs out.  Anna throws her pizza crust at her “That’s not true! I just happen to hope that one of the guys I date will truly be my forever after.”  She has a dreamy expression as she says this which causes us all to laugh

“Well, well, well..... what do we have here?’”

….. and as Sally and Anna’s nightmare came true, we have a couple of party crashers, plus some