Page 28

Melanie is Thirteen Years Old

Melanie jumped out of the car. My mom laughed, “You could wait for us to stop.” I would’ve teased her back, but she’d eaten the mom monster cookies out of a baggie in the car. She’d probably get mad and ground me, so I gave no reaction but a meek smile.

Tristan linked me, “What the heck was that?” I answered, “What? I didn’t say anything… no words… which is…” He cut me off, “Weird.” I huffed, “She ate the cookies on the way home.” He winced. My dad shot looks between us.

Chelsea cleared her throat, “Someone wants to talk to you, Ladybug.” I asked, “Who?” Elise answered, “Me.” Chelsea held up her phone and Elise was on FaceTime.

I squealed, “ELISE!” She told me, “I’m engaged!

” I was confused. I said, “Umm well of course you are because… like…. you’re marked and…

” She laughed, “I’m so glad it’s logical to you that I’m now engaged. I want you to be a bridesmaid.”

I screamed, “YES!” Several people laughed. My mom chimed in, “She doesn’t have time.” My jaw dropped and tears filled my eyes. My dad winced, “Sam.” Mom groaned, “I hate having to be the bad guy, but she has several dance practices, a paper due, and a math competition to prep for.”

I quickly said, “I did the paper… like… weeks ago… and I’m ready for the competition…

I always am and…” She cut me off, “You haven’t done all the prep.

” But I had. I knew that Elise would be having her mating ceremony, and I wanted to make sure everything was done so I could go.

I had no idea she’d ask me to be in the wedding.

Sam added, “Plus, I really don’t want her traveling that much during the school week for all the events Elise will have for the mating ceremony.

” Elise said, “She doesn’t have to come to them all.

” Mom argued, “That’s not fair to you to have someone that can’t do all that with you.

” Elise replied, “I’m fine with it though. She’s basically my little sister.”

Mom sighed, “I’m sorry, but the answer is no.” I dropped my head and subtly wiped my tears. Tristan squeezed my shoulder. Jason said, “Hey, you won your competition.” I nodded, “Yup.” Elise angrily said, “Well, she’s coming to my mating ceremony. Correct?” My parents answered, “Of course.”

Elise didn’t let it go. She demanded, “Swear it to me.” Peter rubbed his face.

My dad said, “I promise she’ll be there.

” Elise prodded, “Sam?” Mom winced saying, “I promise she’ll be there.

One day if you have a little girl, you’ll understand being the parent with the hard line sucks, but these men are all saps for their little girls.

” That was true, but right now this was about the cookies. I knew it was.

I whispered, “Thanks for asking me, Elise.” She said, “You are my little sister. I’ll send everything we are doing.

You’re invited to all of it.” My mom groaned.

Elise ignored her, “Anything you can come to would be great. I love you, Ladybug.” I replied, “I love you too.” Chelsea walked away with the phone shooting my mom a confused look. It was going to set her off.

The cookies ALWAYS did this. She’d get defensive, more so than she would without them.

I kept waiting for Ryan Bishop to come in with answers, but he hadn’t yet.

He hadn’t even answered me so far. I felt bad for mom because it wasn’t really her fault.

It was the cookies… which sounded insane, but I knew it was true.

I tagged Jason and yelled, “You’re it!” I took off running and everyone laughed.

Jason shouted, “That’s not fair! You are FREAKY fast!

” Dalton and Dakota ran off their deck and shifted.

Dalton linked, “Hop on Caulder’s back.” I jumped on and he took off running.

I giggled as he ran around and looked back.

Our parents were laughing now instead of staring awkwardly at each other.

Tristan linked, “You know, it’s ok to let everyone call mom on that bullshit excuse.

” I replied, “She’d just get mad.” He asked, “And?” He didn’t get it even though I’d explained it all a million times to them.

Everyone thought I was wrong, but I wasn’t.

Apollo ran up next to Caulder. He whined and I knew he wanted me to ride on his back.

I giggled and jumped over. Cooper ran and jumped on Caulder.

Jet, Dakota’s wolf, whined because no one was riding him.

Ajax, Jason’s wolf, huffed in annoyance.

I teased, “But you’re it, Ajax.” He howled and began to try and tag everyone.

Eventually our parents joined. I jumped on Pepper, my dad’s wolf’s, back and squealed.

I even switched to my mom before Jason linked, “No more riding wolves!” I asked, “Really? Because… ummm you can’t catch me…

so this way makes it better and…” Several of the wolves laughed because I’d linked everyone playing our game.

Jason retorted, “I can catch you.” I frowned saying, “Uhh no you can’t… like… that’s literally never happened… I’m faster and…” He growled playfully. I shrugged, “Ok… but I feel like this will make you mad… so…” I jumped off Sugar’s back and started to run.

I had juked Ajax several times making most of the pack chuckle. Eventually my dad linked, “Alright, you two that’s enough. Melanie, you’re it. Give everyone a twenty seconds head start.” I grinned at Ajax who ran up and nuzzled me before he took off.

I counted slowly in my head before I took off running for them. Tristan linked, “Maybe get me first since Ajax will pout if you get him first.” I corrected, “Jase will pout. Ajax wouldn’t care.” Apollo barked out a laugh that let me know I was right.

I went after him and got him first, then Dalton, Cooper, and Dakota.

I got Peter, Chelsea, mom, and dad before I got Ajax.

Jason shifted back and grabbed shorts. He yelled, “She got all of us in under three minutes. Where did her flash genes come from AND WHERE ARE MINE?!” Everyone started laughing.

Tristan gave me a noogie and we went home.

My dad hugged me, “I’m so proud of you, Melanie Jane.

Congratulations on winning the competition.

Not that there was doubt in my mind.” I agreed, “There shouldn’t be.

Statistically speaking, I’ve never lost. The odds were high I was winning, plus Tiffany didn’t compete and… ”

He cut me off, “Statistics don’t come into play.

You’re my pup and I’ll never bet against you.

” I pursued my lip, “But statistics…” My mom picked me up and swung me around and turned on the speakers with a remote.

We all began dancing in the living room.

Jason and Tristan moved everything out of the way.

I teased, “You’ll have to find the exact spots those came from because of the…” I trailed off realizing I’d been about to bring up the cookies. My dad swooped in saying, “Sometimes, Ladybug, you have to make the world your dance floor.”

He tapped my nose, “Especially you. You’ll change the world, and we all know it.” I blushed and he spun me before we all started dancing again. I quickly made up a dance they could copy as we made the living room our dance floor.

When we went upstairs Jason nudged me. I asked, “What?” He said, “You really can make the whole world your dance floor.” I said, “I mean… not really, because…” He cut me off, “Yes, really. You’re going to do big things in this world.”

I pointed out, “It’s not like anyone lets me help with anything now.

I have all these ideas and…” He interrupted, “We want you to be a pup, but the day is coming when you’ll shake up the Supernatural world.

I want you to know on that day I’ll be cheering you on.

” I smiled at him replying, “I know.” They thought I was brilliant, and it was true.

On paper, and the ideas I had said I was brilliant.

I went into my room and worked on the formula for the contacts I wanted to give the Hackura to protect Xander. I had it so it would stop them from turning gold done, but I wanted to give them colored eye color options.

I was frustrated because I couldn’t get the blue right, which was important. Xander had blue eyes, and the contacts turned green when the gold entered into the equation, which was no good. Even humans would notice someone’s eye color changing like that.

I fell asleep with my face on my notebook.

I heard a throat clear and jumped up. Dakota grinned at me.

Tristan asked, “What’s that?” I held my notebook to me, “Uhh what? This? Nothing?” Dalton snorted, “Ladybug, your voice jumped six octaves, and you asked a question.” I explained, “Just some stuff I’m working on for…

reasons…” Jason snorted, “Well, we thought we’d go for a hike. ”

I thought about it then nodded, “You’re trying to distract me because Elise is having a mating ceremony function today and I don’t get to go.” Cooper laughed from the hallway. He shouted, “I told you guys she’d know!”

Tristan snorted, “You guys get everything packed up for our picnic and we’ll join.” The Kyle’s all left.

Tristan sat down on my bed and so did Jason.

Tristan apologized, “I’m sorry you can’t go.

” I shrugged, “I never thought I’d be going.

I really do have everything done because I didn’t want it to be a reason I can’t go to Elise’s mating ceremony.

I’m literally going to glue myself to dad and mom’s side the day of so no one can lie…

which might sound dramatic but I’m doing it. ”

Jason said, “It’s certainly one way to stay out of trouble.” I told them, “I love that you’re doing this to distract me though. It’s really nice.” Tristan kissed the top of my head, “We love spending time with you, Mel. So do the Kyle’s.” Jason jumped in, “Because we love you.”