Growing Up With My Mate

2. Car ride

So that happened.  After my initial shock, Harris carried on with his business and then the bell rang.

“See you later Brighton.”  He winked at me and walked out.

 As I shook that last bit of information, I head to the teacher to apologize again for being late.  Given that it was the lunch period, I asked if I could stay to work on the project.  He seemed to be taken back for a minute, but agreed it would be okay.  I unwrapped a honey bun out of my bag and eagerly went through the supplies of the classroom.  I found the perfect thick paper for my paints and set down to work in my sketchbook through lunch time.  My next two classes went without anything major happening, and then it was time for the last class of the day: study hall.  As soon as enter, Dustin, my proclaimed new BFF, shouts to me to sit with him.  He had a couple of other kids with him too and didn’t take too long for introductions.

“Alright everyone, attention please.  This is my new BFF Brighton.  And yes, she does brighten my day.”  A couple of snickers and groans come from the group, I included.  “Introductions are in order!  This is Sally, Anna, Brian, Cole, and Cole’s girlfriend, Jessie.” 

The girl Jessie scoffs, “I guess it would be too much just to be called Jessie, and not Cole’s girlfriend first huh?”

Dustin smiles and Cole pecks her on the cheek.  As soon as the bell rings, the group pairs off.  Brian, Cole and Jessie are in 10th grade and already have essays to write.  Sally and Anna end up making lists of the boys they want to get to know better.  The teacher here is strict on not talking, so I bust out a notebook for me and Dustin to talk.

How have your classes been?

Good so far.  I have the trio of death in my history class (yuck face)

Lol oh no! that’s horrible.

So are you gonna tell me why you have stains all over your clothes?

 My face falls, but I don't want to lie to him.   3 words : trio of death

Seriously- why?

Because I wanted to wash my hands in the bathroom…..

He gives me a look like ‘those bitches’ but I wanted to change the subject.

In other news. I may or may have not made friends with the alphas son….

WHAT? You talking about Harris? That’s cool.  I’ve hung out with him- he’s a pretty decent guy

I begin to blush at the memory of the butterflies.  Dustin pokes my cheek with the eraser end of his pencil and smiles. 

Don’t you start getting a crush on him.  Ill give you one guess who would want to sink her claws into him.

I internally growl and roll my eyes.  Of course she does. 

The bell rings for the day and school is officially over. 

“Hey Brighton- you want a ride home? My mom picks me up every day after school, and since you live close it wouldn’t be a problem,” Dustin asks.

 “You sure?”

 “Yea it’s not biggie, I promise.”

I text my mom that I won’t be riding the bus today and she approves.  Dustin and I wait in the front of the school for his mom.  We stand there to watch the students leaving.  Seeing the triad girls jump into a fancy SUV, both Dustin and I scowl. 

“I can’t believe they poured coke on you, on your first day of school!  I mean I can, but come on...”

“It’s just Clara, who has a serious attitude problem.  Poor pup, meet spoiled rich pups.  They are higher on the hierarchy,” I say with a shrug.

“That doesn’t mean they can’t act decent.”

A small Nissan pulls up to the curb.  Dustin instantly smiles and starts walking.  I follow.  When he opens the back door, I slide in, and he goes to sit in the front.  He puts on his seatbelt and half turns. “Mom, this is Brighton, Brighton, this is my favorite mother Hailey Milton.”

 “Nice to meet you Mrs. Milton.”

“Call me Hailey please. I hope my son didn’t pester you all day.”

“Only for 3 classes,”  I say happily.  Dustin feigns hurt, but everyone starts laughing.  His mother is super sweet, and her car has a faint smell of lilies.  She asks me questions about the move here and of my old pack.  She also tells me about the trails near our neighborhood that I fully plan on adventuring in.

“Ooh Dusty! I forgot to tell you that your cousin Sam is coming up this weekend to help out with training! He’ll be staying with us this weekend!”

First of all Dusty?  When I shoot him a grin, he scowls at me and I laugh.  Then I groan “I forgot all about training this weekend.”  In this new pack that we are in, all pups (from 10-18yrs) have to begin levels of training.  Once a month.  The older you get, the harder the training becomes. And if you decided you want to be a warrior for the Alphas team, you need to make the decision by 17 and up your training. My last pack wasn’t as serious as this one, so I feel like I’m not conditioned enough.  I expressed my concerns with Dustin and his mom, since obviously his cousin is going to be in charge.

 “Don’t worry girl.  It’s mainly stretching, running, and mild combat training.  And of course, free lunch!”

“Free lunch?!  I can get down with that”.  We make plans to go together and Dustin’s mom offers a ride from school whenever I needed it.  I thanked her as she dropped me off and said goodbye to Dustin.   I walk up to our one-story small house, the last house on a dead end road. It’s nothing extravagant, but it’s homey.  As soon as I get through the door, I put my stuff down on our couch and go towards the kitchen, where I know my mom is.  She’s makes homemade organic baby food for a living and is always trying out different flavor combinations.  I could smell from the front door that it’s applesauce, one of the ones I don’t mind tasting.  “Hey momma.”

She looks up and smiles “How’s my baby girl?  Did you have a good first day at school?”

“It was good.  I like most of my classes, and since you approved of my ride status, you could also say I met some new friends.” 

I told her about Dustin’s mom offering to drive me home from school.  I don’t want to feel a burden to them, so maybe on rainy days I’ll take that offer.  I left mom to her cooking and went upstairs to shower and change.  I threw my clothes in the washing machine to get the coke smell out.  After I came back downstairs, I help mom with dinner.  This is our usual routine.  If we end up getting take out, I help her with new recipes as a taster.  She hardly ever takes a day off, but she’s great at what she does.  I tell her about my upcoming art project and we throw ideas around what I can interpret into a painting.  I love that my parents are supportive of my painting.  Around 7pm, we hear dad’s truck pull up the drive.  He barrels in the doorway, sweaty and dirty, and always smiling.  “Smells great ladies!  I’m going to wash up real quick and be right back for dinner.”

He smiles at me and pecks my mom on the cheek.  15 minutes later we are around the table, talking about our day.  Mom has met our neighbors, and dad talked about some projects the factory is working on, and I discuss some more of my school day.  It’s my night to do dishes so my parents are resting in the living room.  When I’m done, I turn around and watch how in love they are.  Wrapped in each other’s embrace, they look so content and in bliss.  My parents are mates.  They met when my mom just turned 18 and my dad was 22. My dad came into my mom’s packs territory as a lone wolf trying to get a decent job. 

Our wolves don’t fully evolve until our s****l maturity at the age of 18.  After that, all bets are off.  You could spend the majority of your life next to your mate and not even know it until you hit 18.  The way they described it was instant lightness of the heart, a spark in the mind, and a desire that was indescribable.  Dad was a true romantic and just lifted my mom over his shoulder and took her to his hotel.  I use to scold dad about that, but mom tells me when they got there, she made him put her down and talk before anything happened.  I don’t know if I truly believe that or not, but they made it work.  Mom thought dad was a new recruit for the trainees, but turned out he was just a traveling mechanic and was struggling for extra cash.  My grandparents were not happy with my mom’s choice of a mate.  He’s basically a slight step up from an omega and couldn’t offer her a life without hard labor.  My mom didn’t care.  She loves working for what she has and loved my father more for providing for the family.  Three years later they had me.  It wasn’t financially sound and it still isn’t, but we make it work.

I’m exhausted when I get done cleaning the kitchen and tell my parents good night.  As I lay to sleep, I replay the events of the long day.  3 evil witches, a cool sidekick, and a possible prince charming, all in one day!