The Triplet Alphas's Christmas Gift

Chapter 3 - Answering the note

Teira's POV

Classes went by quickly, thankfully, and I didn't have to think about the note from Matt or what lunch meant. I had decided that sitting in my usual spot, away from the popular crowd, would be my best bet. They'd forget about me soon, and I'd talk to Kyle before he went to training.

With that decision made, I walked to the cafeteria and stood in line. I hoped I had enough in my lunch account to eat. I hadn't gotten paid yet from my after-school job, and I couldn't ask Kyle. Our parents tracked everything I did when it came to Kyle. Though they didn't have much influence at school, they did track our links. It's why Kyle had cut the link so quickly this morning; if we tried to talk for more than a few seconds, our parents would know, and I'd be locked in the attic for a day or two without food.

I had a stash of snacks hidden in my suitcase and made sure my scent was all over it to hide the smell, not that Mom or Dad ever visited my room. I kept my money in a hidden hole in one of the walls, surrounded by insulation. I may not have a wolf, but I knew several tricks to keep them from tracking down my valuables; they'd only spend it on Kyle anyway.

The thought of food had my mouth watering, and my stomach growled loudly. I looked down at the floor, hoping no one heard that. Someone touched my shoulder, and I jumped a bit, turning quickly. Why did people feel the need to talk to me today?

Another gorgeous guy with blonde hair and gray eyes stood behind me; at first, I thought it was Matt, but I looked down quickly before making eye contact. I had noticed his hair was a bit longer than Matt's, and his eyes had a hint of blue in them. He c****d his head at me curiously, "Sorry, are you ok?" he asked as I moved further up in line, subtly trying to put space between us. I nodded and turned back around, hoping the heat on my face would die down quickly.

"Are you sure? You looked upset," he asked again, and I groaned mentally. I was going to have to answer him so he'd leave me alone. "Yes sir, I'm OK. Thank you for asking." I murmured, hoping that would satisfy his curiosity.

Of course, it didn't. He frowned at me, "Sir? Why would you call me that? I'm Ryan. Pleased to meet you." he said, holding his hand out. I glanced at his hand and then back at his face. Was he mocking me? Everyone in the school knew to avoid me, I was the social pariah. Why would he want to touch me? Ryan c****d his head again, "Usually this is the part where you shake my hand and tell me your name." he said as he dropped his hand. I smiled, I couldn't help it. The eldest of the Mason triplets was pouting because I wouldn't shake his hand. It was laughable.

"Actually, I'm sparing you. You don't want to touch me. You might catch my social disease." I murmured quietly as I moved into the line again. The smell of food was making my mouth water, and I was trying not to embarrass myself. Ryan looked at me curiously, "What are you talking about?" he asked as we grabbed our trays, and I began placing a few things on it.

I sighed and looked at him. Did he not get it? I guess his being in the popular crowd meant he only saw some things, not all. I shook my head, "Never mind. I'm Teira, it's nice to meet you." I said, talking a bit louder over the noisy cafeteria. Ryan smiled, and my heart stopped for a moment, but I shook it off; there was no way the triplets would go for someone like me.

I got to the register to pay and gave them my name; the lunch lady turned to me, "It's $5.50." she said, holding her hand out. I sighed defeatedly. If there had been some money in my account, she wouldn't be expecting me to pay.

I was about to set my tray down and tell her never mind and hope I'd be able to get a meal at the roller rink later when Ryan handed over a ten. "Here you go," he said, and the lady took it and handed him his change before I could protest.

He grabbed his tray and smiled, "Can't let you go hungry." he said as he headed for his table. I shook my head and started to head for a table in the corner when he turned back around, "Hey, Teira," he called, and I glanced at him curiously. "We're sitting over here," he said, and I gawked at him. Had he lost his mind?! Why would the most popular boys in school want me to sit with them?!

I was about to shake my head and continue to my table when I heard Kyle link me, I glanced around wildly and saw him staring at me pleadingly from the table Ryan was headed to. Come on, Tei, you shouldn't be sitting alone. Come sit with us! I looked at him with wide eyes, terrified that he'd done that here. But he just smiled and then waved me over.

I sighed and headed over; Ryan made a couple of boys move down so I could sit next to Kyle with Ryan on my other side, Matt across from me, and the last triplet, Tyler, next to Matt. "Guys, this is Teira. We met in the lunch line." Ryan introduced me, and I smiled shyly. Matt smiled back, "We've met, though I didn't get her name. Nice to meet you, Teira. I'm Matt." he said gently. The other triplet was gorging on his burger, then stopped and wiped his mouth, "Sorry, I'm Tyler." he said before going back to his meal. I nodded quietly and began to eat when Kyle frowned at my tray, "Is that all you're going to eat?" he asked, and I glared at him.

He knew I didn't like attention on me as it always resulted in a punishment later, so he just shrugged, "They can't do anything here, Tei." he whispered, and I sighed. I nodded and dug into the bologna sandwich and bag of chips on my tray, I couldn't afford anything else. Kyle just shook his head and subtly placed a tray of french fries on my tray. I looked at him from the corner of my eye but didn't say anything. Ryan looked at us curiously, "Do you two know each other?" he asked.

"No," I murmured

"Yes," Kyle said, and the guys laughed. Tyler had finished eating and was sipping his milk carton, "Well, that cleared things up. Is she your girlfriend, Kyle?" he asked in a teasing tone. Both Matt and Ryan growled at the statement, causing me to flinch, but Kyle smiled playfully, putting his arm around my shoulders, which caused me to stiffen slightly. "Yep, she's my best friend who's a girl, and I love her dearly. So much so that we've lived with each other for years." he teased, and I shrugged his arm off. The triplets looked shocked, making me giggle, and Kyle laughed, "Guys, she's my younger sister." he said, rolling his eyes.

Tyler laughed and fist-bumped Kyle, "Good one, man, you had us going for a minute there. And I'm sorry, Teira, but that lunch is pathetic. Here, take my extra sandwich." he said, placing the burger on my tray. I shook my head quietly, but Tyler ignored me while Matt and Ryan looked between me and Kyle curiously, "Never would have guessed you were siblings. You don't look like each other much." Matt said quietly. Tyler snorted, "Yeah, she's much prettier than you, Kyle." he said with a wink at me.

I looked at him curiously but didn't think much of the wink. Tyler seemed to be the flirt of the three. I was sure he said that about nearly every girl.

When I finished my food, I placed the burger back on Tyler's tray and brushed the crumbs off my clothes. I hadn't taken Kyle's coat off all day, and I was starting to heat up. I started to slip it off when Ryan grabbed my hand and pulled it back through the sleeve, Matt did the same to the other one, exposing the bandages covering my hands.

I had kept my hands mostly out of sight so far and had forgotten about Matt seeing them earlier when I took my book from him. Kyle looked at my hands wide-eyed. I hadn't told him the extent of the damage, and he hadn't gotten a chance to examine them this morning. The multiple bands made it look worse than it was, really, but they were still a bit sore.

Ryan looked at me sharply, "What happened to your hands?" he asked quietly, and I stiffened. Matt looked at us both, "I asked her that earlier when I gave her the book, but she didn't tell me either." he said grudgingly. I looked at him guiltily, "I didn't know who you were at the time." I murmured, and he sighed.

Ryan still held my hand, looking over it, "You still didn't answer my question, Teira. What happened?" he asked sternly, and I shrugged, "Accident. I'm clumsy." I murmured vaguely, and he sighed and let me go. Tyler looked confused, "Why didn't you just heal? Why do you need the bandages?" he asked, and I flinched. My weakness was a sore spot for me. Kyle frowned at Tyler, and Matt smacked him on the back of the head.

I didn't say anything; I just got up and grabbed my empty tray. I dumped the garbage and placed it in the cleaning area before turning to head out of the cafeteria when I bumped into someone behind me.

Matt caught me before I fell, then looked at me sheepishly, "Sorry about Tyler, his mouth tends to run before his brain has a chance to stop him." he said, and I nodded quietly, looking down at the floor. He lifted my chin with his hand so he could look me in the eyes, "You didn't give me your answer yet, will you come to the mall with us? We won't badger you or anything. We honestly just wanna hang out. Will you come?" he asked earnestly.

I sighed and looked at him, regret pouring through me. It sounded like fun. It really did, but I knew if I didn't get my chores done at home before going to work, I'd end up not having dinner tonight. I shook my head sadly, "I can't. I would like to, but I've got things to do after school. Sorry." I murmured, and he sighed but nodded, letting me go.

"That's too bad; I hope it wasn't because of us," he said earnestly, and I shook my head hard, something in me hated having him think that I didn't want to spend time with them. He smiled, and his gray eyes turned silver, "Good, then hopefully we'll see you later." he said as I turned around and left.

I shook my head, bewildered at my actions; what was wrong with me?! Why did I go and sit at their table? This was crazy! And I knew it was going to have consequences later.

Little did I know how right I was...