CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Today marked it a week since it happened, I decided that I have wasted enough time. I won't waste my time mourning over him, my wolf hasn't left me and seeing as I haven't died. I am determined to live without a mate. I was still not ready to go to school and face him but when I eventually go, I was going to show him that I was okay with his decision and it wasn't going to stop me from living my life. I used this time at home to paint and let my wolf run free, shifting doesn't hurt as bad as it did when I first shifted. I and my aunt were hung out more because she took time off work to take care of me. I appreciated her for what she did. Camilla also comes with my school work to check on me and we hang out till she is ready to leave, I remember the day she came and met me on my bed and my reaction to her big news. 'Rohan told me what happened and don't worry I kicked his ass" she said leaving me shell shocked with my jaw hanging open. 'You did what?!" I asked her with a high pitched voice I couldn't believe she would fight with Rohan because of me. 'Well, you were not picking my calls and I asked if they had heard from you and ben had this look on his face, I sensed something was wrong and he kept mute. He kept looking over at Rohan like he was supposed to know something. I badgered him till he relented and told me everything that happened. So I punched him in the face and broke his nose. I hit him so hard and when he stood there and did nothing. I hit him again and again till he was on the floor and ben had to pull me off of him" she explained. 'Camilla, you didn't have to fight your brother because of me" I told her but deep down I was feeling touched that she cared enough to do so. 'Are you kidding me? The first female I manage to like and he wants to scare her off? Not on my watch" she said I offered her a smile but it came out more of a grimace. 'I am sorry he did that to you, that was a dick move and it is never going to stop us from hanging out" she said while holding my hand. I was glad she didn't have to choose sides. 'Come on, let's do something fun" she suggested 'Like what?" I asked her, I really wasn't in the mood to do anything fun. 'Let's go shopping" she clapped her hands together like some evil genius. Shopping sounded like fun and very therapeutic right now. 'Sure, let's do that!" I said. We went out to get our nails done, I picked out some clothes. Camilla was right, shopping made me feel a whole lot better. We went to the food court and I gorged myself on burger and fries. I was eating my feelings and I knew that but I preferred looking healthy than being skinny. We had fun and I ended up laughing more than I have since I got my heart ripped. I was glad that I felt better from all the shopping. Camilla was doing. She made me try on a bunch of dresses and made me do a little fashion show for her in the store, we laughed and giggled all the way. I felt lighter and free. At the food court, we met up with some human guys who invited us to their table to come hang out with them. Apparently, Camilla was friends with one of them. His name was Mitchell. He was good looking and really nice. The rest of the guys were good looking too, I never saw them around school probably because I have been too focused on my own drama. "So Avilla, I have never seen you around school" one of the guys asked me. "Yeah, I am new. I just haven't had the time to mingle since I got there" I told them "Maybe I could show you around sometime" he suggested I didn't even know his name, I looked at Camilla so she could help me out but she was busy cozying up to Mitchell. "I don't even know your name" I informed him. "That's not a problem, my name is chandler and it's nice to meet you" he said extending his hands to shake mine. I was about to put my hands in his when I perceived the delicious smell again, it meant Rohan was here. I was right when Ben strolled up to our table to greet us. "Oh hey Avilla, how are you doing?" He asked me "I am good, how are you?" I responded. He nodded before greeting the guys who were happy to see him. I spied Rohan ordering his food with his back facing us, I sensed he knew I was right there because of his werewolf hearing. I didn't mind his presence. My wolf was silent too. She ignored his presence too. It was like she didn't care if he existed or not. "Hey, you okay?" Chandler asked me, using a finger to tilt my chin up. He was in my personal space, it made me kind of uncomfortable but not so much since I didn't move away. I heard a growl from where Rohan was standing. What was up with him? He rejects me and still acts jealous? I ignored him and focused on chandler, he was a funny guy but I didn't want to lead him on. I got my phone out and texted Camilla who was busy with her new boo, she was so into him. I am going to tease her for that later. I spoke to chandler and the rest of the guys. This is exactly what I needed. Rohan was long gone by now with Ben who promised to hang out with me at school. They were all sweet. If I didn't know better, I would say Ben was doing it out of pity, but he has been trying to be my friend before the whole rejection thing. Camilla texted back saying I should give her a couple of minutes to spend more time with Mitchell and we would soon be out of here. "Hey, I know this is too forward but I would like to take you out for a cup of coffee sometime" chandler said. I really didn't want to lead him on but it would be nice to have other friends I could hang out with. "Sure but only as friends" I told him "Deal" he agreed He took my number with a promise to text me later. We exchanged numbers and I was glad I had a new friend now. It was time for us to go because Camilla bid goodbye to Mitchell and I did the same to the rest of the guys. "See you guys, it was nice meeting you all" I said to them They all responded positively. We left the food court but not without my take out of a sandwich. All these emotions were making me really hungry, I was always eating. We drove back to the house and packed away some of the clothes I got. Camilla kept hers in the car seeing as she wasn't sleeping over. She has been spending a lot of time with me lately and that was one of the reasons I felt better. "Hey, who was that Mitchell guy you were with?" I asked her after we were done putting the clothes away. "Oh him? Nothing" she said quickly, way too quickly. Something was definitely up. I stared at her till she broke. "Okay, okay. He is my mate" she said out loud "What?!" I asked shocked 'I know, he is human but I have no choice right now. I am just hanging with him as friends but I think he likes me" she said shyly "Oh my God! Camilla. That is so nice! I knew something was going on, the way you cozied up to him was so sweet" I told her with happiness. It was good she had something good going for her, "I am happy too" she said but she didn't sound convincing. "What's wrong?" I asked her "Werewolves and humans don't mate, it's forbidden in my pack" she told me I pulled her into a hug 'oh honey, I am so sorry. What are you going to do about it?" "Rohan said he would help me figure things out but nothing has changed since then. But I have been hanging out with him" She said "I am so sorry, things will get better soon" I consoled her. I almost laughed at the irony of Rohan wanting to settle them but couldn't settle into his own. It was a laughable memory. He clearly didn't want to be with a human but that's okay. "Enough of the sad moment" Camilla announced "Okay honey, let's do something else" I suggested "Actually, I need to go home. I promised Rohan I would be there to help him with something". 'oh okay, if you say so" I told her, a little sad because I would be lonely and sad again. But I was happy she took out time to keep me company that was nice. "" I will see you whenever" she told me giving me a side hug. "Yes, tomorrow maybe, I would start tomorrow depending on my mood in the morning" I told her. She laughed and out the door she went. I wasn't sure I would be going to school tomorrow but seeing Rohan today made me realize I was stronger than I gave myself credit for. Tomorrow was Friday so maybe I would start properly on Monday. I nodded my head, I could go on the coffee date tomorrow. Oh so exciting! A date, even if we were going as friends was still a date and I haven't been on one before. I get to experience what that feels like. It was exciting for me! I ate my food in front of the television while some show was on, it was normally not the type I would watch but it was funny. That is where my aunt found me, "Hey honey, you okay?" She asked me "Welcome home, and yes I am okay" I answered She smiled at me, I think she was happy that I was no longer moping around the house like some idiot. She was happy to see me downstairs being active even if it was just watching a show and eating. "What did you do today?" She asked "I went shopping with Camilla, it was nice" I told her "Oh that's good! I am glad you decided to go out today" she told me. She was really glad that Camilla dragged me out that day. I finished with my food and went upstairs to take a nap, a much needed nap. I didn't realize I had slept for so long, I woke up to the sound of my phone ringing. "Hello" I answered groggily "How would you like to party with me? There is a party happening downtown and everyone will be there. What do you think?" Camilla asked in one breath. I really didn't feel like attending some party, I wanted to be in my pajamas and sleep till the next morning. "I don't know. I am pretty comfortable right now" I told her "Oh come on! You need to show off those dresses you got, wear one of them, put some makeup on and wait, I will be coming to pick you" she ordered before hanging up. I sighed and got out of bed because I knew if I didn't get ready, I was going to get a mouthful from her. I took a quick shower without washing my hair. Standing in front of my closet, I chose one of the dresses I got today, it was a halter gown with a low neckline and it ended below my knees. It made me feel sexy probably because the gown was so damn sexy. I wore one of my strappy sandals and I grabbed my purse. It had just my phone and some cash in it in case of an emergency. I applied eyeliner to make my eyes pop and some lip-gloss, I looked simple and sexy. I didn't have to wait for long because I heard a horn blaring, I got out of the house nor forgetting to take my keys with me. But it wasn't Camilla. It was Ben He whistled as soon as he saw me, "Oooh damn!!! You look hot!" He said I blushed a little before muttering a thank you, I got into the car. "Where is Camilla, she was supposed to come pick me up?" I asked him He looked wounded and placed his hand on his chest, "I am hurt, I am not good enough for you?" He asked me I laughed a little making him grin at me "I hope you are Ben, I hope you are" We laughed at that as he drove, he really was a good driver, and we talked on the way to the Party. He was a good listener and also a good conversationalist when you want him to be. It was like he was a different person when he wasn't with people "Hey, you doing okay?" He asked finally I knew he was referring to that day Rohan rejected me, it was sweet of him to ask about my wellbeing. "I am fine, it was tough on me for a while but I am getting over it." I told him He nodded his head before replying "that's good, if you need a friend. You should know that I am here for you" The gesture warmed my heart and tears welled up in my eyes, ready to fall but I pushed them back in. "Thank you Ben. That means a lot"