| Upcoming Storm

Both Jack and Ava remained frozen like that for what seemed like forever before Ava's cough broke the spell. 'I … ' Ava spurted, putting her hand to her chest like she couldn't breathe.

Jack pulled out the chair for her to sit on. Its legs creaked across the stone floor like massive claws tearing the silence. He frowned at Jed. 'Can we get her a glass of water?'

Jedi nodded towards the sink. 'There's a glass in the cupboard.'

While Jack poured her the water, Jedi leaned back against the kitchen counter. 'It's my farm now. I run it for Dad. He ain't been well since Mom died.' He smiled like he was mocking some childish dream. 'Never did make it out of our small town the way you did, Ava.'

Ava shook her head as Jack tried to put the glass of water to her lips. 'Where is your dad?'

'Over at Reed's.' Jedi looked at Ava. 'Reed's my brother. Owns a bigger farm on the other side of town. Dad is proud of him, he's done well.' That mocking smile again. 'Me, I'm a better mechanic than I am a farmer. But I get by.'

'You stay here alone?' Jack asked.

'Depends what you mean,' said Jedi, his eyes fixed on Ava like she'd asked the question. 'Sometimes I think Mom's still here, watching over me. That's why I can't leave, can't sell up. Not till Dad … ' He trailed off, sighing heavily. 'It'd break his heart to see all Mom's work die the way she did.'

'I'm so sorry.' Ava appeared to be in a state of shock. 'So sorry.'

Jedi shrugged. 'It was four years ago. We ain't never got over it. But maybe someday.' He pulled up a chair and sat facing Ava. He placed his hand on hers. 'With a little help, maybe someday.'

Jack watched sulkily as Ava placed her free hand on top of his. He felt like the invisible man.

'It's kind of strange when the past comes running back and slaps you in the face,' Jedi went on, softly shaking his head. 'Hey, you still got the scarf I gave you?'

Ava seemed to wake from a trance. 'Uh … ' She flushed. 'The green one?'

'Uh-huh. It matched your pretty eyes.'

'I … ' A blush warmed Ava's pale complexion. 'Uh, sure I do.'

Jedi nodded, apparently satisfied. 'So, what's this trouble you mentioned?'

Ava's voice was flat, emotionless. 'We need to dump the Chevy. Get new wheels. I can't tell you details.'

Jedi looked at Jack, a hint of menace in his glacial eyes. 'Maybe he can.'

'No.' Ava shook her head. 'Look, some people are coming after us. It's not safe for us to stay here too long—'

Jedi snorted. 'Running away again, Ava?'

'I didn't want to involve you but there was no one else I could … trust.' She squeezed more tightly on his hand. 'Jedi, you have to trust me. Please, will you trust me?'

'I used to trust you, Ava,' he whispered. 'Where are you running to now?'

'You shouldn't know,' she replied.

'Best for me or best for you?' Jedi retorted.

'Best for everyone.'

Jedi pulled his hand away. 'Strange how you always know what's best for everyone without asking first.'

'Uh, excuse me.' Jack stood up suddenly. 'Obviously, you two need to talk, so why don't I … '

Jedi shook his head. 'No. No, it's cool.' He got up and grabbed his coat from its hook on the door. 'OK, I think I can get you a car. But I'll have to sort it out with Reed first. Let me do that, and I'll be back around seven.' He looked at Ava. 'Rest here for the day, huh? The house is empty, no one disturbs you.'

Ava nodded and smiled wearily.

Jedi slammed the door behind him. To Jack it felt like a cell door closing on him and Ava, shutting them inside.

'So your mom killed his mom,' Jack said quietly.

'Figures. She hated me seeing Jedi.' Ava seemed lost in some private space. 'Hated me dating a warm, kind human boy.'

'Sweet.' The word slipped bitterly out of Jack's mouth before he could catch it.

Sweet indeed.

Ava ignored him, still away in her world. 'And I never knew. It must have been Mom. She killed Jedi's mom and wrecked his life, his whole family, just because she could. One last kill … '

A thought slid into Jack's mind. He looked at Ava. 'So what happens if you mate with a … warm, kind human boy … instead of a werewolf?

Ava turned to him slowly, a sneer on her face. 'What are you trying to say? I was just fourteen, you sick jerk.'

'Hey,' Jack protested, 'I wasn't saying you slept with Jedi. But would sleeping with someone normal make any difference?'

Ava shrugged. 'It might make it harder to turn me 'wolf later,' she replied. 'But ultimately…' She shook her head, trailing off.

'So you and Jedi never … ?'

'What is your problem, Jack? Are you getting off on this?' Ava rose angrily, sending the chair crashing over behind her. 'I am a virgin. All right? Does that satisfy you, float your boat?' She sighed heavily. 'You know, I did think about sleeping with Jedi. I tried hard to fall in love with him so it would be okay. So I wouldn't just be using him. But even at fourteen, I knew that if I cashed in my virginity to fend off the big bad 'wolf' then my mother had won. She would still have been dictating who I slept with, still controlling me, and…' Ava's eyes were filled with unshed tears ready to spill at any moment. 'And you know, I like to think I'm worth more than that.'

'You are,' Jack told her quietly, his voice floating around Ava like a soft balm.

'And I like to think that I'm stronger than my fear of her and what she wants to do to me,' Ava added, her nerves calmer now.

Jack reached out a hand to her, but she slapped it away and stormed out of the kitchen.

Jack heard a distant door slam. Jedi's bedroom door, maybe. How many times had the fourteen-year-old Ava fooled around with her older boyfriend in there? He shook his head. Why the hell was he getting so worked up over Ava? She could never want him. He'd been turned into the thing she hated most in the world. The thing that could destroy her. Jack felt the 'wolf shadow looming in the back of his mind, prickling his insides. If he could only go on fighting against it, show her that he was a silver blood or whatever her stupid old books told her he might be … Maybe then …

Jack kicked a chair clear across the room in frustration.

He stalked over to the kitchen phone, his mind dizzy with too many hurt and hurtful thoughts.

He dialed home. Listened to the intermittent purr of the ringing tone.

'Hello?'

His mother's voice. He opened his mouth to speak to her. The words stuck in his throat.

'Hello? Who's this?' She sounded tired and irritable.

Tell me everything will be okay, Mom, he pleaded inside his head.

'Who is this?'

I just don't know anymore.

There was a rattling click as she hung up. Then the dialing tone.

Jack walked out of the kitchen and found the living room next door. He sprawled out on the couch, too dazed and damaged even to cry. Birds were singing outside, blissfully unaware of the coming storm as sleep finally swept its dark clouds over Jack.