Chapter Eleven

Scott.

Tyler was bouncing on my legs as I made some jokes to him when I saw, in the corner of my eyes, my phone being held out to me. I turned my head and saw Abigail holding the phone out for me to take. I stopped Tyler and sat him on my lap, while he started playing with my fork and spoon as I held him with one hand and took the phone, reading it. Tyler isn’t my son, he’s my brother. I blinked blankly at the phone. It slid out of my hand and hit the table.

“Crap,” I said when I heard a smashing sounding and I looked down. My phone was cracked. My eyes widened when what she wrote fully sunk in and my head snapped up to look at her.

“Crap,” I muttered. Both her eyebrows rose and she pointed at Tyler, her, then shook her index finger in a ‘no’ way.

I pointed at him. “He…he isn’t your son?” She nodded and gave me a ‘duh’ look.

“But, wait, you act so motherly to him and I thought…I thought…I just thought since the way he acts around you…” I couldn’t even finish, I was so confused. She just shrugged and made a heart shape with her hands and pointed at him.

“You love him, that’s why?” I guessed and she nodded.

“What? Does your mother not give you any attention or something?” I asked and immediately regretted it when I saw the hurt look on her face. But I bet it’s probably the truth since when I her mom came to the door the other day, she smelled like whiskey. I wonder how her husband deals with her.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean it like that,” I said. She just shrugged, but the look on her face still stayed the same.

“Well, I feel like a dick now,” I said and she gave me a stern look. She put her index finger up to her lips, and pointed at Tyler.

Realizing, my eyes widened. “I mean, I feel like a jerk.”

She grabbed my phone and did her best using it with a cracked screen. She gave it back a second later, I take care of Tyler because I have to and want to. So Tyler isn’t her son. I know it sounds messed up, but I felt like I was the happiest guy on earth. My mate doesn’t have a kid! She isn’t in love with someone else and doesn’t already has a family! My wolf side was excited about that since he kind of has a jealousy issue.

But I find it kind of odd on why she takes care of him. Okay, her mother's a drunk, but her father can still take care of him? Tyler is his son. Another thing crossed my mind, if she isn’t in love with someone else, why is she so defenses and have a hard time letting someone in. Awkward silence hung in the air and I pursed my lips. If you can imagine how much of an idiot I feel like right now. Abigail began to chew at her nails and paid attention to them instead like they were the most important thing in the world right now.

*

I let my body float on the lake water as I stared up at the sky, thinking that was probably the worst date I ever had. The whole time it was quiet. Only making a few comments here and there about the food. I could tell Abigail was finding it very awkward too, but I couldn’t help but notice she looked a little nervous. I breathed out of my mouth, watching my visible breath appear. Good thing my body heat is over a hundred. Or this water would be pretty cold. I thought briefly.

Now that I know Tyler isn’t her son and she doesn’t have someone else's kid, I thought, I’m more determined to make her mine. I’ll do anything, even if means I have to act a little…obnoxious. I turned to swim over to the land and when I got out of the water, I shifted. When I got to Abigail’s house, I sat down in front of the tree I climbed the other day that almost killed me. I snorted, knowing that if I did break my neck, I wouldn’t die, but I would be in pain for about a day.

I looked up at Abigail’s window and with my great hearing, I heard her lightly snoring. A half grin appeared on my mouth, now knowing she snores. Huh, I wonder what she’ll do if she finds out I snore like a maniac. I laid my head back against the tree trunk and sat there, listening to Abigail’s snoring. I didn’t find the whole time boring because I loved the sound of her being peaceful. Whatever's happening with her life, I have a feeling it isn’t a good thing. I need to try and get to know her better. I have to find out something. I can tell I’m not even an inch closer to knowing.

*

Abigail.

When I was walking towards the back of Mr. Jen’s room, I looked around for an empty seat, but all were full except the one next to Colleen. I sighed heavily and she gave me warm eyes. I walked over to the seat next to her and kept my eyes on my stuff. Last night after having dinner with Scott, I was surprised at how lucky I was to come home and find my parents still fast asleep. I was also surprised that Tyler slept through the whole night. I actually had a good night’s rest. I don’t know, but I felt pretty peaceful. Colleen raised her blue folder up and leaned towards me, covering our faces with it.

“Are you going to go back to giving me the silent treatment?” she whispered, her voice sarcastic.

I hesitated before speaking, “I guess not, since you know my secret,” I whispered back, meaning it. I came to terms with it last night. Colleen—even though I hate it—is the kind of person to do stuff and won’t leave someone alone until she knows everything. It’s like she’s a want-to-know everything kind of person.

She smiled. “Good. Now I can have a girl my age to talk to about everything Russo and how they have an amazing family.”

“Well find someone else to do that because I know nothing about the Russo’s,” I told her and she pursed her lips and gave me the ‘shut up’ look.

“Look, I’ll admit, that family's…close. They’re all kind of weird, not in a bad way, but in an…odd way. It’s kind of like they all fit in some kind of pack or something.” She chuckled once behind her mouth. Probably because of my word choice. Pack. Really Abby? I scolded myself.

“Abigail, you have no idea,” she said, an amused look crossing her face. I arched an eyebrow up, looking at her questionably. She waved with one hand.

“Don’t think about it right now. So, I have to tell you about Tristan. Is it a bad thing when your boyfriend doesn’t want to come to your house because of your dad? Even though he won't admit it, he's kind of scared of him. My dad can be a scary guy since he’s an ex-body guard and policeman now.”

I just shrugged. “I don’t know, I've never had a boyfriend.”

Her mouth dropped. “What? You are, like, really pretty.”

I shook my head. “I’m not pretty.”

“Now, who has told you you’re not pretty?” she sarcastically asked and rolled her eyes. My dad. I thought, but didn’t dare to say it.

“Class is about to start,” I said, moving from behind the folder and taking the things out I needed.

*

When I saw Scott walk into the classroom and our eyes met, things seemed like they were slowing down. I straightened up in my seat, remembering how awkward last night was. The weirdest dinner I've ever had. I thought to myself. When I expected him to make his way to the seat beside me, I was surprised when he went in the middle and took the seat next to Mina and quickly went into a conversation with her. I looked away, my mouth hanging slightly open in shock.

My mouth quickly shut and I leaned down towards my stuff, trying to keep my attention off him. I didn't know what to feel. I felt happy, but jealous at the same time. I wanted to cheer in joy that he finally left me alone, but I was kind of upset at the thought. Did the dinner last night make him realize how it wouldn’t work between us? Will he start ignoring me now that he realizes the mute girl wouldn’t give it up that easily?

I positioned my eyes to look through my lashes to see him reaching over and brush Mina’s hair back behind her ear. My hands clenched, wanting him to take his hand away from her. I have never been jealous before over a guy doing that. It was weird. I looked back down at my stuff when our teacher walked in. Relax, Abigail. You don’t care, you don’t care what he does. Just because he says he’ll always be the one to catch you doesn’t mean anything. It’s just simple words, no meaning to them. I thought, but I couldn’t help but feel jealous and a little heart broken.

I’ll get over it.

*

It was awkward at the table ‘cause of two people missing. One was Victoria and the other was Scott. Why couldn’t his siblings and their girlfriends follow? I just wanted to be alone right now because it was hard seeing Scott flirting with Mina. Though I didn’t want to be jealous, I couldn’t help it. The attention he was giving her was making me go crazy. He probably realized Mina is a better choice for him than poor, ugly me who couldn't get a tan if my life depended on it. I picked at the lunch Colleen bought me.

It was spaghetti and even though I was hungry, my mind was on Scott more. Why do I have to be so jealous!? I angrily yelled in my head.

“Shay, why isn’t Victoria sitting with us?” Colleen asked. I looked up at Shay who indeed looked miserable. I turned my head to the right to see Victoria a couple of tables away and she looked miserable too. I saw her turn her head a little to look at Shay and her eyes were filled with sadness.

"She broke up with me,” Shay said, making my head to turn back to him. “She got sick of my thought of trying again, so she ended it.”

“What?” Colleen questioned. “She never told me this.”

Haley smacked her teeth at Colleen. “Col, come on, you don’t have to know everyone’s business. Anyways, Shay, you should see Victoria’s point of view. Believe me, being pregnant sucks. I can’t lay on my stomach anymore because I have this hard bump and I had to give up the cheer squad yesterday ‘cause they all started to notice.”

“You don’t get it, Hal,” he said, his eyes never leaving the table.

“Oh, I think I do. Don’t get me wrong, just because I’m complaining a lot doesn’t mean I don’t love my baby boy,” she said.

Skyler took taken back and looked at her, raising an eyebrow. “Boy? You’re only three months, how can you tell what the sex is?”

She grinned. “Motherly instincts, Sky. I just have this feeling it’s going to be a boy. His name’s going to be Nikolai.”

“Nikolai?” Colleen, Skyler, Tristan, and Shay questioned. Hell, I was even about to repeat in shock her choice of name.

She looked around and shrugged. “What? My family was from Russia and my grandfather was my best friend until he died,” she said, frowning.

Skyler put his arm around her and leaned her towards him, kissing the side of her head. “Okay, but his middle name will be Aaron.”

“Nikolai Aaron Russo?” she said, trying out the same and smiled. “I like it.”

Suddenly Shay’s chair scratched across the floor and he angrily got up, pushing his trey aside and left the café. Haley had this guilty look on her face and she bit one side of her lower lip, looking at Skyler apologetically and he just shook his head.

“Where the hell is Scott?” Tristan finally realized his other brother was missing and looked around. “I can’t believe I just realized—hey, why is he over there?” he questioned, looking at the west part of the café. I couldn’t help but turn my head and see him at a table with a group of girls and boys. He was next to Mina with his arm around her. I bottled up my emotions and put on my poker face. I pushed my hair behind my ears and just to get my mind on something else, I started eating my warm spaghetti.

“Hey Abby, what is this on your face—” Colleen questioned and before I could turn my head to see what she meant, I felt her thumb against my cheek under my right eyes where the bruises still remained from a couple of days ago.

I couldn’t stop from hissing, “Ow, Colleen, sto—”

I cut myself off and my eyes widened. My hands came up to my mouth and I covered my mouth like a kid would do after saying a bad word. Skyler, Tristan, and Haley all froze, turned, and stared at me with their eyes wide open.

OH MY GOD! How much of an idiot could I be! Now they all know and they’re going to tell Scott! I quickly got up and threw my trash away. I jogged—well, more like, was hauling my ass—out of the café. I made my way over towards the gym and I heard the café's doors open again and I heard eight feet following me. My nose scrunched up and my lips pressed angrily together.

I was pissed at myself and I was annoyed that they would follow me. I went in the gym and went over to the bleachers, sitting down. I rocked back and forth, freaking out. Never have I once ever spoken to anyone and now thanks to Colleen and my stupid concealer that apparently didn’t work, my secret was out. The door opened and they all ganged up in front of me.

“So you’re telling us you can talk?!” Haley asked, putting her hand on her hip. I bit my lower lip and turned my head away from them. I’ll just make them think they heard me. I only said about three words, they couldn’t have paid attention that much. My stomach still turned though and I began chewing at my nails.

Colleen sat next to me and put her hand on my shoulder. “Abigail, come on, just talk. You don’t have to be afraid of talking in front of them.”

Haley scoffed, “You knew she could talk, Col?”

She nodded. “Yeah, since last Friday after I fell.” She turned her head back to me. “They already heard you, no point in hiding.” Knowing she right, my head dropped and I sighed heavily.

I got up and put my hands in my pocket. “Okay, yeah, I can talk,” I said like it was no big deal and shrugged. But I couldn’t make eye contact with any of them.

“Why’d you go to make us believe you couldn’t?” Skyler asked. “Do you know how we all feel? I, for one, feel like an idiot,” He continued.

“Yeah,” Haley said.

“Ditto,” Tristan added.

Colleen got up. "Come on, guys. Don’t make her feel guilty. She just didn’t want to talk I guess.”

“She made us believe she was actually muted,” Skyler said. “What kind of person does that?’

“I’m sorry,” I said, meaning it. “It’s just…complicated.” I fumed to explain without saying too much.

“How complicated could it be?” Haley asked. “Abigail, you lied to us. You lied to Scott.”

I couldn’t help but snort, “You guys, and especially Scott, wouldn’t get it. Plus, Scott seems to not want anything to do with me. Him thinking I was muted was probably the best thing he believed because I was not going to be played by him.”

“Played?” they all questioned.

“You really think a guy like Scott would want anything to do with a girl like me? Look at me! Just thank god he realized I don’t want to be used like Mina,” I said, hissing the evil witch’s name out.

“Abigail, you have no idea what you’re talking about,” Skyler said. “Scott isn’t like other boys.”

“Of course he is. The type that plays football, and is a hot player. He just wants to play with the muted girl's mind,” I said, my anger boiling up. “Did you guys know he thought my little brother, Tyler, was my son? I mean, come on! He thought that low of me!” They all looked uneasy and looked away.

I raised an eyebrow and Haley sighed, “We all thought he was your kid. I mean, come on, Abigail. Who wouldn't think a young girl alone with a kid isn't a teen mother?”

“Well, I'm not,” I told them. “He’s my brother.”

"Okay, we know that now,” Tristan said. “Now, about that whole Scott being a player thing: believe me, he isn’t. The guy never had a girlfriend and is still a virgin.”

“Ha-ha, Tristan,” I faked laughed. DO THEY THINK I’M DUMB?! “You honestly expect me to believe that?”

“It’s true, Scott is—” he cut himself off. “Look, Scott’s different. We’re all different.”

“How different?” I questioned, my voice in boredom.

“It’s complicated,” he said and I snorted. If they knew how complicated my life is, they wouldn’t compare.

“You have to tell Scott,” Haley said and they all agreed.

“No,” I said. “Guys, please, don’t tell him. My life is much simpler if I just don’t talk.”

“Why?” Skyler asked.

“It’s…complicated,” was all I could think of. “I’m sure you guys have your own dirty little secret. Mine is pretending to be muted.”

“That’s kind of messed up, Abigail,” Haley said. “Scott has been nothing but nice to you and this is how you treat him?”

“Scott's with Mina!” I almost yelled. “Plus, I have a right to tell Scott if I want to or not.”

“If you don’t tell him,” Tristan said, “We will,” all of them finished saying at the same time.

My mouth dropped. “Wha…what?” I asked. “This is none of ya’ll's business. Stay out of it,” I hissed.

“Yeesh,” Skyler said. “She means it when she talks.”

I rolled my eyes. “Please, guys, don’t tell him,” I begged, giving them sad eyes. “Look, I’ll tell him, okay?” I said, not really meaning it.

Colleen raised an eyebrow. “You promise?” I hesitated, putting my weight to one side.

“Yeah, sure.”

“You have till the end of the week to tell him,” Skyler said.

I don’t have to tell anyone anything, I thought, but I just nodded.