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Sunday, October 23rd, 2011

Moon Phase - Waning Crescent

After Shane departed a few minutes later, Alex pulled out his phone and held it for a moment. Had Marcus already told Catherine and Nathan about what happened? As he wondered, something akin to a warm flash went through him. Yeah, he'd broken someone's wrist, but not without good reason. They'd see that, surely, and they'd already seen him as a werewolf.

But then, he hadn't seen, or gotten a text or call from, Catherine in a while. She can't be nervous still, can she? Shane's words about his friends trying not to be scared of him worked their way back into his head; when 10:00 came, he sent her a short text, hoping she would respond and quell the concern he was now harboring.

An hour went by without a response, and then two.Maybe she's busy. After that thought, he fired off a text a piece to both Marcus and Nathan, asking if they had a few minutes.

Marcus responded first.

Marcus A.: Yeah.

Alex S.: I haven't heard from Catherine in a while. Everything okay?

Marcus A.: As far as I know.

Alex S.: Alright. Just a bit concerned, that's all.

What Marcus said next left several emotions pulling at Alex's thoughts.

Marcus A.: I told her about the attempted robbery. She doesn't know you stopped the guy, or how.

At first, Alex could see the logic; telling her he'd broken someone's' wrist likely wouldn't endear her to him very much. And then there was what his dad had said, about potentially getting hurt worse, or shot. But then, she wasn't the type to misplace, or simply fling, blame.

Alex S.: Mind if I ask what you did tell her?

Marcus A.: It's alright, man. I don't want her to worry about what happened.

Alex S.: I get you.

Marcus A.: If she asks, you saw the guy and then he bolted. Can you do that?

Alex sighed as he typed out his response.

Alex S.: No problem.

Marcus A.: Thanks.

When Nathan later responded that he had just gone on break, hence the delay, Alex told him he'd already spoken to Marcus, but thanks anyway.

* * *

Better get this over with. Alex thought to himself as he got up from the dinner table for seconds. His folks had yet to bring up anything related to where he could get animal meat, something that gave him a touch of confidence about being able to convince them of the offer he'd accepted.

He started the line of questions as soon as his plate was full. "Dad?" His father hummed in response. "Any word from your officers?"

"About...oh. No. None of them had any ideas beyond buying from a butcher."

"Okay." Alex responded, trying to stay tone neutral.

"What about you?" his mother asked.

"I think I found something." Alex felt his pulse increase as he spoke.

"Really? What is it?"

Alex took in a silent, deep breath. "Remember the kid who brought that meat before?"

Though his mother was first to reply with a 'yes', his father didn't wait to express what he felt. "I thought you wanted nothing to do with him."

"I can tolerate him."

"Even if that's what you think, what makes you think he'll help you?"

Alex clenched a hand under the table. "Because it's his dad who made me an offer, not him." The drop in his skin temperature felt like a mirror to how cold the room suddenly felt.

After his parents glanced at each other, his father went first. "When? And how?"

"A few days ago. That was what Shane wanted me over for."

"You visited them?" his mother said; Alex just noticed how wide he eyes were, and could only nod.

"You said you didn't." his father said.

"It was to get Shane off my back."

"Regardless son, we told you not to."

"I know."

The talks stopped for a few seconds; Alex took the initiative this time. "His dad's concerned, so he made me an offer."

"Concerned? About what?" his mother asked.

"The canine units."

Alex's father spoke next. "He's thinking they'll be led to where they live, right?"

Alex nodded.

"I thought so, but you see son, that's their problem. Not yours."

"To a point. I'll have to go after something at some point."

"Not if you find a meat delivery service. You've got a few weeks to spare."

"Yeah, but what I got from Shane did the job. If what I pick doesn't work out, I'm screwed."

Things went silent again, and Alex again took the initiative.

"Maybe I can figure out where he gets his meat, and then buy my own after this coming full moon."

"He didn't tell you when you spoke to him?"

Alex shook his head. "I never asked."

"Why not?" his mother asked.

"I was nervous." Alex said after a brief exhale.

"I can't imagine why." his father said.

"What made you nervous?" his mother asked.

"I didn't know what his parents were like, or what I could afford to say."

"And what were they like?"

"Pretty nice, and soft-spoken I guess."

HIs father hummed again. "What did they offer you?"

"Enough to feed me when I need it, possibly a bit more."

"For how much?"

"Seventy-five."

Once again, his mother's eyes widened, though not as much as before. His father kept quiet, his gestures making it clear he was thinking over what was just said.

"Does that sound reasonable? It hardly does to me."

"It is. The slab Shane gave me was at least seven pounds, and I had some left over."

"That's all they want?"

For a moment, Alex questioned whether to mention anything else. "I'll need to get over there at some point, but that's it."

"'Get over there'?" his mother asked.

"Sneak over to his house, before I get hungry."

"But, you just said the canine units were a worry."

"Not if I go over there really late at night, or early in the morning, and be extremely careful."

"Did you already agree to all of this?" his father asked.

"I haven't paid them yet."

"Then, I'd say go with what you suggested before: Find out where they got what they gave you and see if you can buy from them yourself."

"Alright." In the back of his mind, Alex felt a niggling doubt that it would be as easy as that.

Wednesday, October 26th, 2011

Moon Phase - New

The three days leading up to his next payday gave Alex enough time to think about things to ask of Shane's parents, and a few things more. His friends were back in mind as soon as Monday came however; Nathan had heard about the attempted theft incident thanks to Catherine, but as a reaffirmation of what Marcus had told him, only an abridged version had reached him.

And Alex couldn't help asking, "Did Marcus bring it up at all?"

"No, just Catherine." Nathan said as they headed towards the stairwells. The uncomfortable feelings Alex got from that answer didn't have long to worsen before his friend continued. "Now that you mention it, that is weird."

They were halfway down the first stairwell when Alex decided to say something. "When did she tell you?"

"Yesterday."

"Hmm. You've only heard half the story, then."

"What's the other half?"

Alex glanced around before answering. "That thief didn't get away. I fought him and did a number on his wrist."

This time, Nathan spoke after a delay. "Seriously?" Alex nodded. "Now I'm confused."

"Marcus told me he didn't want Catherine to worry..." At that, something clicked. "Did she mention a weapon at all?"

"Just that the guy claimed to have one."

Alex's initial response was a drawn-out 'Oh.' "That explains it. He left out the weapon and what I did."

"Can't say I see a reason for it, but thanks for filling me in."

"No problem, man." The shift at Blue Moon that followed saw Alex working without Marcus around.

* * *

Once his class was over on Wednesday, and a single hour of skating at the Tampa shop was behind him, Alex gathered his paycheck from Trevor and cashed it, tucking the seventy-five he needed into the watch pocket of his jeans. The idea of returning to Shane's house still made his skin tighten, even after a short walk with Bailey.

In the end, it was approaching three-thirty as he pulled up to the curb in front of the house. The Jeep he'd seen before was there, but not the SUV.

As he began to question coming back later, the front door opened, revealing Shane; the eastbound breezes kept him from catching the scents the open door was letting loose, keeping his unease down.

"It's just me and Dad if you're coming in." Shane said when he was within a few feet.

I figured. "In a minute." Alex said as his motorcycle's engine was shut off.

"I'll leave the door unlocked, then." As Shane walked away, Alex checked his phone and backpack, only removing his helmet when he was halfway up the walkway to the door. Inside, their scents put him further on the defensive, delaying his response to Shane's father asking if that was him.

"You thirsty, or do you have some water with you?" he asked, likely from the kitchen.

"I've got some." Alex answered. In response, he noticed Shane's father appear in the doorway to his right, past the showcase dining area.

Instead of coming any closer, he leaned against the doorframe. "Still nervous?"

Alex glanced away instead of answering, but the silence he was met with was hint enough that Shane's father wanted him to answer. "Yeah." he finally said.

"Then, while you're here, how about Shane and I show you around and answer any other questions you've got?"

Shane appeared out of the corner of Alex's eye as he considered the suggestion, an opening door preceding his arrival; he couldn't see such a thing helping after he'd left the house, and felt almost certain both Shane and his father knew it. But then, he soon thought, he wouldn't need to stay in their house all day, if that.

"Sure" was the answer Alex soon gave, to which Shane's father nodded.

"Shane?" Once he responded, his father continued. "Let's show him around first."