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Friday, November 3rd, 2011

Moon Phase - First Quarter

Time Until The Shift - 6 Days, 6 Hours

Alex went halfway down the stairway before he sent his response.

Alex S.: The larger one, near the right-side parking lot.

Shane's Dad: I'll be there shortly.

Once downstairs, Alex headed for the east-end doors and watched through the glass. Within a minute, he spotted Shane's father heading his way, and his heartrate increased by a few beats. It stayed that way as he came inside, then built up more once he was standing within a few feet of him.

As Alex glanced up to match the green-eyed gaze of Shane's father, he noticed his attention go towards his chest. Damn it. Should've figured. Alex thought as one hand curled some; he didn't have the same luxury.

"Guess it can't be helped." Shane's father said after a moment. He then held out his hand.

It took Alex several seconds to grip it, but as soon as he did, the strength of the opposing hand became crystal clear.

"You have a spot picked out?" Shane's father asked after he stopped shaking Alex's hand.

Alex glanced aside. "Not really."

Shane's father glanced around some. Alex assumed he was getting an olfactory feel of the building.

"What about back there?" He pointed to the hallway Alex had just used.

"Uh, sure." Shane's father waited for him to move after that. He then matched his pace, and only once did he look aside.

When they reached the common area, Shane's father again did some glancing, as well as some small steps in certain directions. "Not the most private area," he soon said, "but if this is where you're comfortable, I'll accept."

Alex then glanced around himself. The final classes of the day wouldn't let out until nine, and there were only a couple of people in the common area. He soon nodded and then led Shane's father to a spot near the windows.

After setting up a few things to make it look like they were there for some gaming rather than just talking, Alex took a moment to ready himself. Shane's father remained quiet, though his attention did waver every so often.

Alex's first words were preceded by an exhale. "What's Shane's problem with me?"

"He doesn't have a problem with you. It seems like it, I know, but that's because Shane's not like you or I."

Alex raised an eyebrow. "But he's a werewolf like you and me. What's different?"

"You and I were bitten. He wasn't." Shane's father continued before Alex could consider that for long. "He doesn't approach things the same way you or I do because he's never known what it's like to think strictly as a human."

Though Shane's father didn't elaborate past that statement, as Alex took his words into account, some of Shane's past behavior began to make more sense. At the same time, he felt a lump of sadness form in his chest. He could barely remember how it felt to not smell everything like a mosaic of scents, or to not have to look at crowds of people with a constant sense of suspicion and unease in his head.

Damn it. Not here. Alex thought as he fought back his emotions with a swallow and a sigh.

"I won't blame you if what he did upsets you, but I think you should know that he took what happened a lot less coldly than you might think."

As Alex recalled Nathan's statement about seeing Shane visibly upset in the past, he saw no recourse to argue. He did however have the opening he wanted to ask something else.

"Then, why'd he so suddenly go on an animal killing spree after he bit me?"

This time, Shane's father took some seconds to answer. "I asked him the same question when I found out what he was doing. He said he felt hungry for some reason but wouldn't say anything else."

Sounds like an excuse to me.

"He's been quiet about it since then, but if that was true, then I'm glad he went after animals instead of someone on the street."

Though Alex was primed to respond as soon as Shane's father stopped talking, something about what was said made him hold off. Why would Shane have felt the hunger outside of the full moon, and so often? The only explanation he could see was he'd shifted for some reason, gotten hungry...but if that was what happened...

"That hunger...did it come when he was human?"

"Yes."

The fuck? Alex felt cold grip his heart. Was he also at risk of something like that?

As though sensing Alex's fear, Shane's father spoke up within a second. "I'm not certain, and I don't want to be, but I think it's because he tasted human blood and it set something off in him that I've never felt."

Alex remained silent as his memories were jogged. Though now he could see why Shane had been so on edge when the hunger came up, why he'd beaten around the bush instead of outright telling him what could happen became the follow-up question.

Was it because he thought his statements alone were all that was needed? After a bit of time, that was the only conclusion Alex could draw.

"That was why I said before you should keep yourself as safe as possible."

Was that why he didn't wait to be sure? Recalling how intent Shane seemed on attacking him that night, even after his arm had been bitten into, Alex couldn't see another reason.

The silence between him and Shane's father lasted for several minutes after that. Nothing that entered his mind during that time pulled him too far into being upset or angry, but the other questions he wanted to ask became harder to focus on.

Eventually, he asked, "That Halloween call... Has he done that before?"

"No, he knows not to do that, even on a night like Halloween. I had a good feeling you wouldn't either, and I told him so, but he insisted we contact you and make sure."

Alex sighed. "So, he was being a dick, like I thought."

"Yes, but that was as far as it went. As for how we got your number, I don't think that's important anymore. We needed a way to stay in contact with you, but I could tell you were too nervous to make a move on that."

Figures.

As Alex took a second to think about what to say next, a tone sounded from the phone Shane's father had. "It's my wife," he said after reading the message.

Figuring the message was in some way related to how much longer he would be away from home, Alex tried to pull his thoughts together as Shane's father typed out a reply. Once the phone was set aside, he took another breath, and then asked, "Did Shane tell you why he attacked Angela?"

Alex felt his skin grow cold after hearing those words leave his mouth, and Shane's father took a bit longer to respond.

"They didn't get along, that much I'm willing to say."

"I'm not asking to..."

"I know," Shane's father said, "but it's a sore subject with me and I'd rather not talk about it."

Alex swore he heard a slight shift in Shane's father's tone at those words, and refrained from sighing or acting disappointed, difficult as it was. "Alright."

Shane's father nodded, then took a breath. "I can spare a few more minutes to talk, if you need."

At that, Alex went with the first thing he could think of. "Question, then. I think my friends are figuring out you're supplying me. What should I do?"

"The best answer I can offer is try to reassure them. Tell them you thought over everything and, in the end, you went with us."

"Hope that's enough."

"You think it won't be?" When Alex stalled on an answer, Shane's father continued. "It's possible that could be the case, but if they're still talking to you, then honestly I think that chance is slim to none."

Alex sighed out his nose.

"If it helps, remember the friend of mine I mentioned when you last spoke to us?"

Alex nodded.

"He once saw me start to shift years ago, just like your friends did last month."

Alex swallowed and his pulse climbed a bit at those words. So Shane had told his father what happened...

"He stuck with me despite that though, and now he's the reason my family and I have stable living and don't have to worry about a source of food." Shane's father gave Alex some time to respond, but again he didn't. "Anyway, like I said, I don't think you're at any risk of losing any of them. They may be a bit scared of you, but that's natural. You and I both were when we found out werewolves weren't just a fable."

"...Yeah," Alex said after another exhale.

"Alright, I have to go," Shane's father said as he slid his chair back and stood up, "My wife's waiting for me, and likely Shane too."

"Thanks, then. For coming." Alex said in reply.

"You're welcome." As his chair was slid back under the table, Shane's father stopped himself. "Oh, I just realized. I never introduced myself."

Alex glanced aside as Shane's father chuckled. He hadn't noticed up to now either.

"It's Michael, and our family name is Bryant. I'll introduce you to my wife when you come on the full moon."

Shane and Michael Bryant... "Alright." When Alex noticed Michael's hand held out, he reached over to grab and shake it. The strength he'd felt before was still there, but now he was less nervous about the act.