Chapter 13
Maya
“Idon’t understand,” I turned on my knees in the car to watch the cars following us, “how long are they going to follow and take pictures of us? I mean I don’t think that’s normal, right?”
“Normal for famous people,” Anani noted.
“I’m not famous,” I muttered, looking at the early afternoon Monday sky.
We had touched down about an hour ago. Somehow it had been leaked, still not positive how that happened, that we would be at the airport, so getting out had been a hassle.
Luckily, home wasn’t very far away and I was very excited about that.
Henry turned to Marco and tilted his head thoughtfully. “We could just stop at the school now to get this bullshit done with?” he offered.
Atlas was driving and he spoke, “Not a terrible idea. That way none of us have to get up for that shit tomorrow.”
My eyebrows rose, “Wait all of you are quitting school as well?”
Ledger grinned, “Quitting is such a harsh word, firefly.”
“Permanent leave of absence, peanut,” Anani offered.
“I like that,” Henry agreed.
“Do you feel okay enough to stop there, Maya?” Marco asked as Croy’s chest rumbled underneath my ear.
Sai sat on my other side, his thumb running over the bracelet he’d bought for me.
Honestly, it wasn’t even about the actual item, at least for me, I’d absolutely loved spending so much time with him.
I was hoping to be able to do it again very soon.
“I actually feel way better,” I admitted and I didn’t want to make assumptions here but after Marco made me cum several times, it seemed to have me feeling in tip top shape fairly fast.
His eyes looked over me as he nodded. All too soon we were pulling up towards the school that I was thankful for but not sad to leave.
I was glad I’d found my mates but adjusting to such an extreme difference felt odd to me, especially if it was for only a year.
I hummed softly as we parked and easily slipped from the car, feeling a bit sleepy still.
I’d changed into jeans and an oversized sweater, which felt odd wearing into the school building.
“Should we come to the office?” Anani asked as Ledger tugged me against him making me giggle.
“I’m going to have Atlas and Sai come with me,” Marco noted, “you should clear out your lockers and then we can head out of here as soon as possible.”
Croy yawned, stretching as I blushed, my eyes flicking over his tight t-shirt covered chest, so much more casual than normal.
Henry started walking towards our lockers but Ledger kept randomly trying to spin me as if we were dancing, making my laugh sound through the hall.
I hoped the bell didn’t ring soon because I didn’t want to run into anyone.
I’d texted Jordan on and off throughout the weekend, so she had an idea of what was going on.
Her words were something along the lines of ‘I’m so jealous, I wish I could get out of school. ’
“Question,” I asked as we approached the lockers, Henry following me to mine as the others started clearing out ones a few down from mine.
“What’s up?” Henry asked, leaning against the lockers, his muscular arms crossed in front of his chest.
“Who has been paying for my schooling? I mean did my mother and Jed pay for the first month?” I frowned.
“Most likely,” Henry nodded, “but if you had wanted to continue, we would have made sure that you could.”
Examining his face I realized he meant that. “I will probably get used to this eventually, the money thing, but sometimes it is a bit overwhelming.”
Henry offered me a soft understanding smile and started helping me load everything from my locker into a small canvas bag that he had, no idea where that freakin’ came from. I frowned a tiny bit wishing that I could have kept these decorations up a bit longer.
“You know, you could hang this up in your room somewhere,” he noted softly.
“You think?” I tilted my head. “Everything is so neat and nice, I feel like adding my craft stuff into it-”
“Would make it more perfect,” he offered a smile that made my own smile show as I nodded, “we could also make you a craft room.”
“What’s a craft room?” I wondered as we closed the empty locker.
“Think Clara’s crafts but in our house.” He took the bag from me and we walked towards the others that were done as well.
“That sounds cool,” I nodded and then perked up, “I should try to go to the shop tonight.”
“Let’s go wait in the library until they are done?” Ledger asked as Croy took my hand and I smiled up at him.
“You know, I think you’re a bit old to be in high school.” I teased as the others walked ahead.
Croy chuckled softly, “You calling me old again, sugar?” Honestly, it was pretty funny and essentially the only thing I could tease him about since he was so flippin’ perfect.
“Never,” I shook my head solemnly. I squeaked as he turned me, walking me back against the locker as my breathing hitched and my wolf dipped his head down to brush my lips. I shivered as I gripped his forearms that caged either side of me.
“No, I’m pretty sure you did,” he said, softly nipping at my bottom lip as I dug my nails slightly into his arm. Before I could respond or do something crazy like climb up his large body to kiss him, a throat clearing had us turning towards the hall.
“Maya?” Malloy’s voice chimed as I peeked around Croy as my friend exited the library.
“Hey, you!” I offered him a grin as I tried to break away from Croy but he only tugged me closer. Malloy offered me a dry look as I at least turned to face him.
“Where have you been?” He frowned, looking concerned. “The twins said you’re leaving school?”
“Yeah,” I nodded, “I wanted to focus more on art.”
He blinked. “Man, that must be the freakin’ life. But really that’s awesome, Maya. I’ve been seeing you everywhere in the news, Seth and I were worried.”
“You and Seth?” I arched a brow in excitement as Malloy’s cheek turned pink.
This entire time Croy was rumbling behind me, lightly nipping at my shoulder and neck, making me shiver.
I didn’t know what he was doing but it was very, very distracting.
I felt the urge to rub against him and forget all about Malloy quite honestly.
“We’ve been hanging out.” He ran a hand through his hair.
“You, Jordan, and I should hang out because I feel like I’ve missed a lot,” I nodded as Croy growled slightly.
Malloy huffed and narrowed his eyes, “Listen, I don’t know what your name is--”
“Croy,” I noted.
“Right, Croy,” Malloy sighed, “I know that shifters are all territorial but let me assure you, I am not into your mate. Shit, Maya, I thought your dragons were bad…”
“You know about shifters?” I asked, intrigued because it was very clear that he was human.
“Yeah.” He nodded, “My family has been around for some time. But more importantly, Croy, I am not into your mate. I am into someone else. Someone that is literally nothing like Maya.”
“Seth,” I explained looking up at Croy as I felt him relax just a bit.
When the bell rang, Malloy sighed, quickly saying goodbye and I promised we would spend time together soon.
I loved my mates but I also was starting to recognize how important it was to have other friends.
Hadn’t I read something in Women’s Health about balance?
I think they were referring to a different situation but the concept made a lot of sense to me.
Croy and I walked towards the back of the library as those around us started to quiet and my mate shook his head annoyed. We reached the back lounge area of the library where the twins and Henry were talking and looked fairly relaxed. I sat down and offered them an eager smile.
“Guess what,” I grinned.
“What?” Anani arched a brow.
“I was right, Malloy and Seth do like one another.” I pointed out and then tilted my head, “At least that's what I gathered from our conversation.”
Ledger hummed, “Still don’t like it when he touches you.”
“Agreed,” Henry grunted.
I shook my head and reached into my canvas bag, finding a dark leather notebook that I’d kept in case I forgot my sketch pad.
Opening it up, I moved into a comfortable corner of the leather couch and tried to focus on the notepad rather than the eyes I could feel on me.
I wasn’t really paying attention to what I was drawing until my eyes crawled across the page and I smiled.
A dragon. Well, a full outline of one and the start of a second.
Specifically Sai and Atlas. Whenever I let my mind wander I usually ended up sketching one of them.
“You really are very talented,” Henry pointed out as I jumped slightly, blushing while realizing that he was looking at what I was working on.
“Thank you,” I said softly, “I want to be able to draw all of your dragons.”
“I’ll let you see my dragon any time you want, peanut.” Anani winked as I felt my pulse pick up at the heat in his diamond like eyes. I looked down as Ledger chuckled softly, not wanting to get caught up in his gaze. Because I would. He was nearly hypnotic to look at sometimes. Both of them were.
“We really should practice shifting, Maya. I am worried that your magic is going to end up getting frustrated and you may get sick,” Croy pointed out.
A thought occurred to me and I wondered if that was why I’d gotten sick the other night.
Then again, I suppose it could have been food poisoning as one of them suggested.
I looked at the four of them and sighed, nibbling my lip, “I hope you won’t be disappointed if I can’t. I just don’t understand why I haven’t yet, you know?”
“We just have to figure it out, but the first thing we should do is shift for you to see if something clicks.” Henry confirmed. “But no matter what, honey, you won’t be disappointing us. I promise.”