What's That Supposed To Mean? - 3

Chapter 3

Noah Black

So she found me. I knew she’d come looking.

“Noah,” she said, looking unsure. “You look good.”

I scoffed. Of course I looked good. I’m Noah Black. All the Black’s look good.

“Ever heard of a Black not looking good?” I asked casually, my arms on the armrests on the chair. I looked at her as she slowly came towards me. She was wearing a tank top and jean shorts and any man would be stupid if they thought that she was ugly. She had the legs, the face, the hair, certainly the body. Everything about her seemed to have changed. Her lips were fuller; her eyes were bigger and shone in the sunlight.

“How are you?” she asked, ignoring my question. I knew she was fighting the urge to yell at me. Even today she still did the same thing when she was angry or annoyed, ready to explode; pursing her lips. That’s what she did everytime she was ticked off and when she did that, I knew that she was trying to hold herself together. Ah, Samantha Riley, back again after five years. How I missed having someone to tick, to tease, to scream and get annoyed with me. I loved her temperament. She didn’t explode easily but if you pushed the right buttons, it could come quicker than expected.

“I’m good. Very good, actually.” I smirked again, my eyes roaming over her body, down to up. “You?”

“I’m great,” she answered, pressing out a smile. Oh, how I knew her. I’m glad to know that she still has the same things she does when something bothers her. I see right through her, right through her smiles.

“How was New York?” I asked, still nonchalantly.

“Wonderful. I loved it there but I love it here even more.”

“No boyfriends you’re going to miss and cry for?”

“No,” she said. Something like pleasure, as if she won something crossed her face for just a split second. “No boys like you there, Noah. Didn’t like any of them. Too boring.”

Hah… Two can play this game, sweetie.

“Well, of course. There is only one of me and he’s right in front of you. Though, I must say… There is no girl here that compares to you. I’ve been looking and I can’t seem to find the right one.”

“Well, of course,” she imitated, a smirk forming on her pink full lips. “There is only one of me and she’s right in front of you. You wasted your time.”

She turned around to walk away but before she disappeared to the front yard, she looked over her shoulder at me.

“It was good to see you again, Noah.”

And disappeared.

What is she trying to do? The smirk never left my lips. Samantha Jean Riley, tomboy since birth leaves when she’s twelve and comes back at seventeen looking like a… like a girl. Like a hot and gorgeous girl. But something’s different. Not only her clothes and her body. The way she thinks… she knows what she’s doing.

And I’m going to play right back.

Samantha Riley

That was interesting. As soon as I had seen that smirk on his face and he said those unbelievably stupid comments, I knew he was ten times worse. Not as a bully but as a ladies man, a player. I had lived in New York long enough to learn what that was and what to do. My friends were experts on that kind of subject and I knew exactly how to make Noah loose the game he was playing. I chuckled for myself. What a douche.

I said hello and hugged a few that I had missed before, answering their questions about life in New York and my mother. When I was finished with that talk for the day, or night; the sky was already turning dark – How long had we been out? – I went over to my family and Uncle John who sat by the table in front of Aunt Bee’s house. I sat down on a chair next to my dad, putting my arm through his with a smile.

“I’m never ever leaving you or this place again. I can’t believe I did in the first place,” I said, snuggling into his shoulder. He chuckled, putting his arm around my shoulders.

“I’m never ever letting you leave again. You’re too precious and I can’t bear to miss out on you growing again. I missed a lot did I?”

“No, not really. Except for the change of the clothes and the hair and all that. Not much at all,” I said, chuckling. He chuckled, shaking his head.

“I’m glad you’re back now.”

“Yeah, about that,” Arianna said. “I think you and me should talk a little gossip now! Are you into gossip now that you’re a girl?”

I laughed, along with the rest.

“No, I’m certainly not but anything for you.”

“Awesome,” Arianna sang, taking my hand and pulling me up. “Uncle Bill, you don’t mind me borrowing her for a while, right? She’ll be back very soon. We all have enough time with this one now that’s she’s back. Tomorrow and the day after tomorrow and the day after tomorrow tomorrow and-

“Arianna, you have my permission to borrow my daughter,” my dad interrupted loudly, laughing at Arianna’s rambling. Arianna gave my dad a big smile and dragged me with her in to her house, up the stairs and into her room. It was exactly as I remembered it except for a few small changes.

“Welcome back!” she said, chuckling. “It’s pretty much the same. I just got rid of some stuff and added new ones. Sit, sit, sit.”

“I missed this place,” I admitted, sitting down on her bed next to her, crossing my legs. “So! What’s this gossip?”

“Well, we already talked on Skype about a lot of stuff and you and New York so before I start: do you have anything juice about New York to say? Anything?”

“Hm…” I thought for a second. Nothing special or “juicy” had happened really. The boyfriend and friends and all that, Arianna already knew about, thanks to Skype. “Nope. Nothing juicy.”

“Okay. Let me start off by saying… You didn’t miss out too much, but it’s more the “change of the people” around here. Joe and Willa are pretty much the same. My mom and Uncle John, too… The Black brothers are funny and great, still, except for that asshole Noah who you do not want to get involved with. It’s enough with your hello, don’t give him more.”

“Give him more?” I repeated, laughing. “What on earth you talking about? And slow down, woman! You are talking too fast for me to understand.”

Typical Arianna to just talk and talk fast without any clear words. What comes in her mind, she says and then it just continues on and on and on. I don’t mind, I just want to hear what she’s actually saying.

“Right, sorry,” she said, pointing with her finger. “Okay. Um… Noah is… typical ass. Bad ass but kind of lonely. He switches girls like he switches socks so don’t be surprised if you see him with a new girl every day. Though his dad kind of forbid him to bring girls here because he doesn’t want to see his son use them like trash and he’s kind of embarrassed I think. You know, Noah got the Alpha blood gene and he will become Alpha and this is how he acts.”

“People won’t respect him,” I finished, knowing what she meant. Arianna nodded.

“Exactly. But he doesn’t care. He’s been this way ever since you left and at first Mason always yelled at him and all and Noah always said that now that he didn’t have you running around them like a puppy, he could do whatever he wants but we all think it’s because he didn’t have anyone to actually spend his attention on, which is you, whether he was mean or not, you get what I’m saying?”

“Yeah, I think so but maybe he just does this because he longs for something else. Do you know how many guys like this are in New York? Plenty and I’ve seen them. I already told you how Emilio was and what he did. It’s typical when it comes to these guys.”

“Yeah, I cant believe he’d choose another girl over you, that stupid asshole douche bag moron-“

“Arianna, Noah please,” I interrupted before she’d go on and on about Emilio. Yes, my “first” boyfriend cheated on me in New York because he was exactly like Noah was. I knew I was going to find my mate one day but I also knew that Emilio and I wouldn’t stay long. I just didn’t know that it was his cheating that would end it. And it hurt. I agree with the heart broken girls. I can’t say I was heart broken because I didn’t love the guy. But it hurt. I had thought he liked me a lot and wanted to be with me but when I caught him with that girl, it was clear that he didn’t. And I vowed that I would never get involved again, long or short relation ship. Unless it was my mate, because then it would be impossible to actually break the bond. You could be with other people but if your mate was still alive, you’d be in pain without him or her for too long. Especially if your wolf knew that you guys weren’t “together.”

“Right. So yeah, he’s been like that for years now and we’re used to it. Now it’s just your turn to get used to it and don’t be bothered by anything he says or do. He wont bully you again but comments may come out now and then. I hate the guy; he’s been such a pain in the ass. I always tell him to take his trashy chicks away from where we live but he just brings them even more often just to piss us all off. Anyway, enough about him. He is a douche a player and bad, so no Noah.”

“Right, no Noah. What else?”

“Hm… Jacob might have actually found his mate but he’s not sure. He told Mason and I overheard them with our awesome werewolf hearing because I was bored in my room, you know? So I just lied here, trying really hard to listen for something interesting-“

“Arianna!” I scolded. “You can’t just listen in on people’s private lives!”

“I know, I know! I didn’t want to at first but when I heard “mate” I just had to listen a little bit longer and a little big longer led to quite a while of explanations from Mason and confusions from Jacob and so on. It’s some girl that’s always hanging by the café, always sitting there with a book. She’s beautiful, I’ve seen her. And she’s a werewolf. Oh my God, that’s the other thing I wanted to tell you about.”

She shifted on the bed, her eyes sparkling with excitement. Oh how she loved gossiping and telling me news that were secret. I chuckled. Wait a second… Werewolf?

“But we’re the only werewolves here?” I said, frowning.

“Not anymore! There are new werewolves in town and I’m not sure if it’s one small pack or one big pack or if it’s two small packs because lately, when I go to the café or the shops, I can smell them everywhere and I even met one. I kind of bumped into her and immediately felt what she was and she felt what I was so I just said sorry and came right back home and told your dad, Uncle John and my mom. Uncle John and your dad are going to meet their Alpha in a few days to see what they’re doing here, if they’re just passing through or if they are going to stay… We don’t know yet, but they will go this week.”

“So we have werewolves here? What if they’re dangerous to our pack and are planning an attack? They should know that this town is ours and we’re the only pack that have been here for all these years. It was a long time ago, before we were born even, that our pack had those complications and attack problems. Over twenty years ago. What if it’s something like that again?”

“Samantha,” Arianna said, staring at me. I stopped, taking a deep breath and looking at her. “You’re rambling.”

“Sorry,” I said, chuckling. “I just want my dad to be trouble free like he has been for all these years.”

“Yep, we all do. But your dad and Uncle J said that they don’t think they’re dangerous or they would’ve at least come close to us, to where we live. They’ve stayed in town for quite some time now and only now are they showing. They haven’t come even a little close to us all this time, so I think we’re cool.”

“Ugh, so much. My brain is still progressing all this info. You talk too fast, my love.”

Arianna laughed. “I know, dear. But it’s getting late and I think your dad wants you home. I’ll let you two be together and I’ll see you tomorrow. We’re going to run and swim and shop these days, alright? Be prepared. It’s warm and sunny and you’re back and we’re back, The Amazing Two’s and we’re going to have fun, no matter what you say.”

“Yes sir!” I said, doing the military salute with a laugh. I got up from the bed, gave her a hug and said bye. “Good night, Ari.”

“Nightie, Sam. I’m glad you’re back!” she yelled from her room as I went down the stairs. I smiled.

“Me too! Bye!”

I shut the front door behind me, smiling up at the dark sky. The fields were empty, everyone were in their houses. All houses on both fields were awake, the lights still on. It wasn’t too late, just dark. I wanted to lie down and watch the stars but I decided that I would to that another night soon.

I went home, the house right next to Ari’s, and found my dad in the kitchen with food. He smiled at me as he put the plates on the table.

“I figured you’d be home by now. I made us some food before we go to bed, you must be hungry.”

“Starving. Thanks dad.” I sat down by the table and waited for my dad to do, too. Then I grinned. “I hope you prepared to have a seventeen year old daughter in the house. Not gonna be easy later on, let me tell you.”

My dad chuckled.

“Rather have that than be all alone.”

That right there stung. It wasn’t him. It was the fact that I truly knew now that he felt alone when I had left and I wanted to beat myself up for it. I felt so stupid and evil for leaving my sweet little dad all alone in a house where he had raised me, his little daughter. How did I even have the right to leave? He should’ve locked me in my room.

“I’m sorry, dad,” I said, before I could think anything else. I needed to get it off my chest. I wanted him to know how bad I felt for leaving him even though he was surrounded by family and friends. It had always been us two and then I just left him.

“For what, sweetie?”

“For leaving you. All alone. I mean, I didn’t think back then, you know? I just thought, oh New York, oh getting to know my mother, oh wow and I didn’t think about the consequences and that I left you all alone in this house where it used to be us two all the time. I left for five years; dad and I can’t stop thinking about that lately. I hate myself for leaving everyone, everything and you here.”

“Samantha,” my dad said, his voice soft and soothing. He got up from his chair and pulled me up, too. He hugged me, his big arms holding me close to him. I had missed him so much. I’m even surprised how emotional I actually get when I think about it.

“Samantha,” he repeated. “Please. Don’t beat yourself up for that. You did not do anything wrong at all, I promise you. You got to know your mother; you have every right to. I’m neither mad or disappointed, you should know that. No one is, I promise you that. We’ve missed you all these years, waiting for this day, and here you are. No one is mad. I’m not mad. I love you and as happy I am that you are back, if it meant that you’d be happy, I’d let you go again. As long as you’re happy, I’m happy. Don’t hate yourself. You are a wonderful caring person who deserves the best and not feeling guilty. Okay?”

I just hugged him, nodding. All this was too emotional for me; I wasn’t good at those things. My father was, my mother and I? Not really. That’s pretty much all I got from her: not being able to deal with emotional stuff, even though it was important. I could say I love you and talk to my dad about these things but once people started doing it to me, like my dad just did, I got quiet. I don’t know how to react. And I hate it. And I certainly can’t cry in front of people, except my dad. Ari and Mason only saw me once or twice, crying for real.

“Thank you dad. I love you, too,” I pressed out in a mumble, smiling up at him.

“Don’t feel guilty, okay?” He smiled. “Now eat some and go to sleep, you must be tired.”