The Meeting

It wasn't until I had been sent to the school library to retrieve some papers for Mr. Turner in my eighth hour that I got lucky. The heavy librarian grunted a sigh as she got up and disappeared to print the papers I requested when I noticed a boy reading in the back corner. I recognized his dark brown curls anywhere. Carter.

"What are you reading?" I asked walking over to stand across from the large table where he sat. He didn't look up at first making me awkwardly fumble with my hands. He was wearing a dark blue sweatshirt that made his hair seem even darker.

"Sorry, what?" He asked looking up. My heart skipped a beat when his blue-gray eyes met mine. It was Carter. My cheeks felt red hot as I shifted my backpack.

"What book is that?" I asked again. Carter hesitated then showed me the cover. The title read "The 4% Universe" by Richard Panek. My eyes widened in shock. "Dark matter huh?" Out of all the books I imagined Carter being into, a book on the theory of dark matter was not what I had anticipated.

"Yeah, I am interested in science and it's the first book that isn't fiction I've taken a liking to." His voice was so soft and low.

"Oh, I'm interested in science as well," I explained. "But I read mostly science-fiction."

"Really?" He asked a small smile forming on his face for the first time since I had approached him. The way his lips slightly curved made my heart do a weird fluttery thing causing me to suck in a breath. I nodded.

"So, don't you have a class?" I asked. He shook his head.

"Free period. You don't have one?" He ventured. Since he was a senior that made sense. I felt my cheeks redden.

"No, I'm a junior," I replied. He nodded and cocked his head a little in wonder. I opened my mouth to say more but was cut off.

"Miss Blois," the librarian's nagging voice sounded from behind me making me jump. "The papers."

"Ah, yes, thank you!" I said whipping around. When I had reached her desk and grabbed the stack of papers, I looked back to Carter who had continued reading his book. I turned to leave feeling as if I had just stepped off a thrilling roller coaster.

"Hey, girl, would you want to borrow the book when I'm done?" Carter asked before I could exit the library. I turned around to face him.

"Thank you, but I've already read it," I smiled. "And you can call me Aylin." Carter just nodded with a slight smile.

"I'm Carter." He said. I smiled and waved before exiting the library and before my face got any redder.

The last bell signifying school was over made me awake from the trance that I had been in since the library. I gathered my stuff and ran to the parking lot. Max didn't question my light mood as he drove me home. He didn't say a word. Perhaps lost in his thoughts. I thought about asking him about Reese but as we pulled into my house all I did was thank him and bolt to the front door. When I opened it I came face to face with my father. With a shriek, I stepped back.

My light mood was instantly vanquished by the icy stare my father pinned on me. He must have seen the smile on my face disappear because he frowned. His blue eyes were full of worry. "Aylin, how was your day?" He asked. I took a deep breath.

"Fine," I said with a forced smile. I needed to forgive him and put this past us but I still wasn't feeling it. I walked past him, throwing my bag on the counter. He glared at me. He hated when I left my bag lying around. I picked it up again and put it by the stairs so I didn't forget to bring it up.

"That's good. Shouldn't you get changed?" He asked. I whipped around to face him. Uh oh.

"What? Why?" My heart dropped.

"We are going to meet with the Red Pine Pack, remember?" I realized my father was wearing his black dress pants and a navy collared shirt. How did I not notice the shirt?

"Yes, I remember now." I grabbed my backpack and raced up the stairs. Once I got to my bedroom I slammed the door. How could I have forgotten? I took a deep breath and walked to my closet door. I wished it was warmer out more often so I could wear more of the clothes I owned. I pulled out the navy dress from its hiding place. It was my mother's and it always made my heart ache to look at it.

The dress fell to my knees. It was more dressy than formal and I always wondered if I should get a different one. I have barely fit in it since I began wearing it when I was fifteen. It would have to do for now though.

"Come out to the car when you are ready, Ay." My father called from down the stairs. I pulled on my white heels and marched downstairs and out the door. "Aren't you going to do something about your hair?" My father asked. I glared at him. My hair was still half up but it was a little wispy from being tousled all day and from running through the parking lot earlier.

"No. I don't think my hair is any of their concern during this meeting." I walked down the steps and out the front door as my father sighed. I got in our white Cadillac and looked out the window the whole time. The drive to Red Pine territory was about thirty minutes on the opposite side of the city. I had attended many of the meetings with my father before but I knew this time was different. We were going to be discussing my marriage to Noah Barrens.