unbroken (unexpected series)

Chapter 36.5

“Because I – I” how do I even explain what I did? I glanced at Kieran his face waiting for me to finish. Sighing, “Because I used my gift on him, I shocked him,” I shrugged turning around and continuing my way home listening carefully. And after three steps Kieran began following me, “Why did you shock him?” he asked even though I wasn’t facing him. Proud that I got him to talk, I smiled to my self, “He was going to hit me,” I answered the blackness entering my mind once again. I still couldn’t believe that he even tried to lay a single finger on me, after ranting about how Kieran was the dangerous one. Still miffed I huffed, “So you think I’m going to hit you, because he tried to hit you and was unsuccessful? You think I followed you to what? Take a shot and get shocked for myself?” the smile on my face grew larger, before turning into full on giggles.

“Okay – okay, so you’re not trailing me for that reason… why are you following me Kieran?” I asked looking over my shoulder, before continuing on the road.

“Who says I’m following you?” he asked as though I slapped him, stopping mid step. I spun to face him,"Oxford and Merriam-Webster," the glowering from earlier back, “the dictionary,” I clarafied pleased; his thick brows knitting together the larger I smiled.

Nearly home, “So… why were you angry this morning?” I asked slowing down my pace now that I knew we were nearly at my house and I didn’t want him to go back to the top of the mountain.

“Your sister made me change and my wolf won’t let me change back,” he mumbled, “how did – why won’t your wolf – what does that have to do with me?” I finally settled on a question, the house less than thirty steps, “You can come inside if you’d like, I’m hungry and I’m sure Aunt Julia wouldn’t mind making us sandwiches,” I offered my stomach turning, more uneasy than when I was invited to go to Tera’s house. I stopped when it hit me that she probably wouldn’t want to be my friend anymore because I hurt her brother, my smile dropped and my shoulders hunched as I thought it over reaching the steps once again not noting that Kieran was next to me. Glancing between the porch steps and me, “Connor told you to stay away from me,” he said looking away, his eyes a bit haunted.

“Well Tera and Kiley both said that you liked to be left alone but that didn’t stop me from tracking you up that mountain, now did it?” I challenged. “We can go in the back, there’s a hammock and chair,“ I pointed with my chin, giving Kieran room as I walked by, careful not to touch him, before dropping my bag on the deck, the crutches on the side of the house and digging through my bag for my ipad. “Got it,” I waved it for him to see, “we still need to finish reading this so we know how it ends, I waited for you too,” I smiled even though he had a frown on his face glancing between the ipad and my face. “I mean you – well I know I like to know how books end once I’ve started them and since I started it with you – I thought would like to hear the rest as well,” I rushed to say just as aunt Julia popped her head out back, “Oakley I didn’t hear a car?” she eyed my foot before searching my face. Once she noted I was staring elsewhere she turned to see just what.

Kieran had sat on the lounge chair opposite the hammock, “Oh – oh hello, I’m Oak’s aunt Julia,” she introduced herself, “Kieran,” he replied in a small whisper looking at the stairs to leave,  “Oh – ohhh” her eyes widened a bit too much but I couldn’t understand why or what it all meant. I was currently too distracted by Kieran, his face too resolute, focused on the stairs like he was plotting an escape of something. I turned fully towards Aunt Julia before he got any ideas, “We’re going to be reading but… I’m kind of hungry do you think maybe we could get a snack?” I asked hurriedly. “That’s fine,” she smiled, “I’m making spaghetti and meatballs for dinner – will you be staying Kieran?” she offered him, “Yeah he will, I’m going to be reading the story I started when I went to visit him,” he snorted as I answered, “what?”

“Don’t you mean stalked me up the mountain?”

“Who says I stalked you?” I asked a bit angry.

“The dictionary,” he deadpanned, mocking me.  I flushed, heat stemming up from my neck to my cheeks, all the way to my hairline I’m sure, snorting, before releasing full on giggles, closing my eyes and falling back onto the hammock.

When I opened my eyes squinting, Kieran was grinning down and aunt Julia was standing in the doorway, glancing between the two of us, her eyes questioning before she left us alone. 

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