CHAPTER 003

After dinner Hugo insisted on doing the dishes. He was standing next to me at the sink, drying each plate with a smile as though it were a contest of some sort. The water was splashing on the counter, and each time I attempted to flick suds at him, he avoided it with a laugh that made my chest tighten.

The kitchen was clean by the time it was late in the evening. Hugo leant over me and towered above me. “I should get going,” he said. My brother will ask where I am. Oliver has you on a short leash? I teased, raising a brow. “Not exactly.

But when I am away too long, he thinks I am making trouble. Nothing will stay our film mania, I swore, with a weary smile. I took him to the door and shut it behind him and leant my forehead against the wood for a moment. When he was away, the house seemed too empty.

I shoved the thought aside and ascended the stairs. The final tension of the day was melted by a hot shower. I put on a singlet and shorts, took a towel through my wet hair, and entered the little library.

There were still boxes on the floor, piles of books to be liberated. I squatted and began to unpack, sniffing the old smell of paper. Hours passed, and I was startled by the opening of the front door. I went padding into the kitchen, where Mum was just entering.

She moaned and dropped her bag, her eyes heavy with weariness." Your dinner is in the fridge," I said in a hurry.“ Fantastic. Thank you so much.” She opened the fridge and saw the lasagne dish and blinked.

“You must have been starving.” “I ate the normal amount. I had company. ”The fridge door shut with a soft thud. She gazed at me with suspicion. I raised my hands. “Relax. It was Hugo. Oliver’s little brother. He came back when I went back to the shops. Just as you sent me a text that you were going to be late. So I asked him to stay.

”Her face relaxed but slightly. “What’s he like?” “Really nice. Funny. We get along. ”Nothing wrong with him? Not like the people at the old school?” I shook my head. “No. They do not know about us here. I think that he will just treat me like another girl.

Mum sighed, with relief in her eyes. “Good. I want that for you. Just… stay alert. Give trust not too freely. I already got that lesson. Believe me.” My voice was more acute than I wanted, but I mellowed it. “He is different, Mum. He was… cool.

”Then she pulled out the food, heating it in the microwave as we talked. She talked of her day between bites, and her voice was impatient and imploring. Every patient with a procedure that went wrong is visiting me now. I have to correct everything.” “So, a lot of late nights?” I asked. Yes. I am sorry I missed movie night. I know it was our thing.

”We can do it in a few weeks, when the dust settles.” It is fine. Snacks and drinks were on the table. I left the rest in the fridge with Mum, showered, and slept after mindless scrolling.

We cleaned up, and I kissed her cheek and said I would get the library done before bed. When I crawled under my blankets, the house was quiet except that the fridge was humming and the pipes were groaning. I lost my book in my hands not long after I opened it, and sleep seized me.

Mum had disappeared before I got up the next morning. I got myself down at nine, made myself a cup of coffee, and sat at the table until the caffeine took its effect. The silence was pressing against me, too large to belong to an individual.

I went through streaming apps and selected a film that I had not seen in a long time and sat on the couch. I hit the bottom, and the fizz flew all about.

HUGO—What are you doing?

ME – Watching a movie.

HUGO—What kind of movie?

ME—Scary.

HUGO—What is your favorite scary movie? I rolled my eyes.

ME—Very original. Like I said last night. Cheesy.

HUGO – LOL. Got any plans today?

ME—Nope. Movies. Chill day before school.

HUGO—Want company?

ME – Depends. Do you talk through films?

HUGO—Only to annoy Oliver. I will not do it to you.

ME—Then fine.

HUGO – Wait. You are not watching a chick flick, are you?

ME—No. Rampage with Dwayne Johnson.

HUGO – Restart it. I love that one. Be there soon. I laughed, pausing the film. He exhaled and moved the phone aside.

The knock had arrived before I had finished putting everything in place. He really had meant “soon.” You are lucky. "I had only started," I said, opening the door. Any subsequent ones and I would not have resumed.“ Perfect timing.” He grinned. “I thought you would sleep in.” “I don’t sleep in much.

”He trailed me into the house, looking about the living room. “Bloody hell. This looks like a cinema. ”I smirked. I am familiar with how to organize a good movie marathon.

We dropped onto the couch. He sat back with a stretch. Did you do this at your old pack? “Every Saturday. Just me and Mum.” “Not with friends? ”The question stung. I looked at the screen rather than reply. At what point do you add them to the pack? You are not to talk.

He chuckled but stayed quiet. The silence did not last long. His body jerked here and there as though he was struggling to comment. Once his lips parted, and I looked at him sharply. He groaned and pressed them together.

The dam burst when the credits rolled. Words rolled on so quickly I could not keep up.“Stop,” I shouted, laughing. “You are going to burst a vein.” “Sorry. That was a long film.” “It was ninety minutes.

You are hopeless.” “I can be good. What’s next?” “San Andreas.” “Ah. I see the theme.” “Hunky Dwayne Johnson. Absolutely.

”You are fortunate that he does good movies. “No. He is fortunate that he makes good films. Otherwise you would have been kicked out. He raised his hands. “Fair point. ”The movie began, and he could not help. Muttering remarks were uttered until I struck the back of his head.“ Shut it.” He tried again.

Another smack. By the fourth, he gave up. Instead, he chewed food in an obnoxious manner, slurred his drink, and rattled packets. I did not pay attention to it until he tipped a bottle back. I can rescue Clara, not the whispers or the glances.

He choked and hastened to support it on the wood floor." Witch, you," he shouted and glared as I bent over with laughter.“ Worth it.” “You clean it.” “No. You do. ”I know not where anything is.

“You packed it away yesterday.” His jaw dropped. “Shit. ”He sneaked away as I rewound the film. His phone buzzed by the time the third film was over. Oliver. I cleaned up, picked my bag to go to school, and looked at clothes until I picked something easy. “I have to go.

Alpha duties.” “See you tomorrow then.” He grinned. “At school. Good or bad thing?” “I will let you know. ”He lowered his voice, spooky. What is your favorite scary film? “Clown,” I muttered as he left.

The house fell quiet again. To what distance would my ex go when she saw me with Clara? Whatever I put on, my hair and eyes would make me stand out. Dinner alone was bland. Oliver called across the hall as I crossed our front door.

Hugo’s Point of View

To what distance would my ex run when she spotted me with Clara?“

Hugo. Office. Now. ”I moaned and pulled my feet to where he sat at a desk piled with papers. He did not look up until I sat. Did you see the daughter of the doctor? he said. Yeah. Yesterday. And today. Before you called, we had a movie marathon. “You went back today?” “Yes. She is cool. I like her. She avoids the subject when I ask. “No rush. They are not going anywhere.

What is she like?” “I told you. Fun. She even fooled me in the movie. Banged my bottle and almost destroyed the carpet. His lips twitched. “It is not funny,” I said, glaring. “I had to crawl to the floor. And then she had me clean it up. Oliver chuckled. “I wish I had seen it.” “We should invite her over. Movie night here. I do not believe she had friends in her old pack.

What distance would my ex travel when he saw me with Clara? Does not miss anybody. Strange, right? ”Oliver leant back. That is in addition to the fact that she is as likeable as you say.“ I know. But I like her. And I am not angry with you anymore that you made me take her around school. I am even looking forward to it. His eyes flattened and were keen.

“What?” I asked. “Why are you staring like that?” He shook his head. “Nothing. Mind wandered. All you need to do is to make her feel welcome. Her mother is vital. In case anything should happen to her daughter, we lose all. Do you understand?” “Yes.

A hundred times you have told me so. “Then remember it. ”I walked out of his office, talking to myself. He was strung so tight it was choking. Adolescents were mean in character.

To what distance would my ex go when she spotted me with Clara? And I knew who would be the worst trouble-maker. My ex. She would not like me hanging around a new person. Especially not Clara.

I tightened my fists and was already fearing tomorrow. To what distance would my ex go when she spotted me with Clara?