Chapter 17 - Shopping with Matt

Saturday morning was the same as all of the others. He shook himself from the pain that flooded away from him once he’d changed back into his usual form and then straightened up and got changed into his clothes for the day. He didn’t pay much attention to what he was putting on. He only realised what he'd chosen when he looked into the mirror and saw himself dressed in dark jeans and a tight black top. He blinked and turned to look at himself a bit more. His muscles were so clear in the top it was unbelievable, even to his own eyes.

He looked big and, above all, strong.

After another quick look to check that he was okay, he brushed his teeth then moved straight out of the door and into the sunlight. It beamed into his eyes and he squinted with the pain, as his eyes were still so sensitive to the heat, even after a year of changing. He had to put on his sunglasses, the pair he normally ended up wearing when he was outside, and the weather was good.

The Matt a year ago would have described himself as a character from Men in Black.

He didn’t have much to do today. Most of it was just collecting shopping - a pain but a necessity - and maybe buying some new clothes to replace the ripped ones from moments when he’d been unable to control himself. Though he hunted at night, or used to until he realised he was being observed, it was important to have extra food in the freezer and fridge, just in case of emergencies and he was unable to make a hunt.

That and if he ever got hurt, eating always made him heal quicker. He’d noticed that when he’d eaten a large chicken and his scratch on his chest had disappeared without any trace that it had even existed.

The shops weren’t that far away consdering what he wanted but he liked the walk nevertheless. He never had a normal moment now that he was a werewolf thing and sometimes it was good to just walk and relax and not think about a thing…

Of course that was never going to happen for him. He had too much to think about to be able to relax, even when the sun was baking his already steaming skin. The murders. His family. Kristen. Laura. Gareth. His disease of being a wolf...

There was too much to not think about. Sometimes he wished that, for at least one day, he could be normal and it could all go back to the way it used to be.

Scratch that. He always wished that. He wished that he could return to the Matt he actually liked.

He had to be such a freak. It wasn’t fair. Matt tipped his head back and ran his fingers through his black shiny hair, feeling the sun burn his scalp and it heeling up instantly. The good thing about it was he never burnt, no matter how much sun he got, even without suncream. He just stayed brown and warm as if he’d just come back from holiday abroad. It was always good to have. He always looked healthy, though of course he was anyway, just his diet was different.

People were walking past him, giving him looks as if they could see him. Of course they couldn’t. He was shading his eyes and so they didn’t know if he was looking at them or not. The lenses were so dark it was impossible to tell. Maybe it was because he was actually showing off his body today. He didn’t know why.

It was probably just one of those days. It did feel different.

He turned about the corner and then walked further down the road, still enjoying the heat, even if it was uncomfortable. He didn’t mind the sun too much; so long as it didn’t hurt him he was fine. After all, living in a place where it was mostly cold did get slightly boring no matter how nice the cool wind felt. He enjoyed the holiday weather ten times more than the winter weather.

Something was going to happen today. He could feel it. He didn’t know if it was a good or bad thing but he knew something was going to happen. That was why it felt strange. He could sense it. His skin was prickling as if it was expecting it. It was a strange sensation. He had no idea why or how or when but at some point something was going to change, something to do with him.

Matt sighed as he reached the shop he was after. He didn’t want to go in. Shopping bored him. Even the old Matt thought shopping was boring. There was no excitement, no fun. He bought the same things every single time he visited the shop.

Being on an all meat diet, it didn’t leave much choice. He couldn’t have any ice cream or any chips or anything that may be enjoyable for other teenagers his age. All he could have was raw meat, as everything else didn’t fill him up at all and in fact was just a waste of space and money to buy.

He ignored the dairy, the sweets, the cereal and the bread. Down he went, straight to the meat and the fish. He glanced across the choices and rolled his eyes as if to say ‘boring’. There was nothing new. As per usual. He started to pick up large chunks of meat and massive fish fillets. Deciding to treat himself, he grabbed a ready cooked chicken that was still hot and also shoved it into the basket he’d grabbed from the side.

Buying such a large amount of meat must have been suspicious but, for the moment, Matt didn’t care. He normally went to several shops to get meat so that he didn’t draw attention to himself. However, he really couldn’t be bothered and just needed a break and so he just all bought it in one go, shoving his full basket to the till.

The girl behind it was smaller than him but must have been around 18 years old. She had her black dyed hair backcombed with large pink, blue, green and purple stripes running through it. Her face was caked in make up and her eyes were smothered with so much mascara it was a wonder she was able to open her eyes. Matt dumped the basket on the side and studied the girl behind his sunglasses as she took in his appearance and her eyes widened.

Her manicured nails began to slowly push the first slab of meat across the scanner, her eyes never leaving Matt’s stomach. He decided to take his glasses off and hook them onto his top, raising his eyebrows at her as his top pulled down slightly to expose the top of his chest. She quickly looked down at the food and blushed a light pink, the make up smothering the tomato red underneath. She cleared her throat and pushed the meat down the slide.

“You having a party?” She asked quietly as she avoided eye contact and glanced down at all the meat piled up.

Matt shook his head and adjusted his position. “Erm, no. I like meat. Not very keen on the vegetables.” He cleared his throat and rubbed his neck.

She looked up and took in his face. Surprisingly she smiled and even batted her eyelashes a bit. “Me too. Hate the greens. Doing anything good for the weekend?” She pushed another down the slide. She seemed to be going slower and slower for some reason.

“Not really.” He answered and watched as she passed another slab of meat down the counter. He had to be polite. “You?”

She straightened up and thrust her chest out. “Just work. But I end early today.” She glanced up and down Matt, more obviously this time. “Shame I'm not doing anything.” She gazed into his eyes and smiled more, batting her lashes more roughly, clearly trying to hint at him.

He frowned and ran his fingers through his hair. “You can always meet up with a few people.”

“Nah.” She brushed it off and laughed quietly, her voice going slightly higher than Matt preferred. “Tired of doing the same things. I want to do something different.” She stopped scanning the meat and put her head on her hands, beaming at him and licking her lips. “Im Daryl.” She held out her hand.

Matt looked at it for a moment then forced himself to take it, shaking it lightly with a gentle grip. “Matt.”

“I haven’t seen you around before. I suppose I’ve only been working here a week but still.” She smiled and brought her hand back, flexing her fingers. “Do you live around here?”

“Just up the road.” He gestured vaguely and scanned her eyes with his, trying to figure something out. Wasn't she scared of him? Maybe he was losing his intimidating touch.

“Same! Maybe we’ll see each other again.” She winked and pushed another meat slab down the slide.

“Maybe.” He replied and placed some stuff into a plastic bag.

“Well my shift ends at four. Maybe I’ll see you later? If not I totally understand. You’re not taken are you? I wouldn’t like to be a bother.” Her eyes widened and she blinked innocently up at him.

“Erm…” He shook his head and stuffed more food into the bag. “No I'm not.”

“Oh good.” She sighed with relief and gave him a guilty smile. “Just checking. I mean, you look as if you’d have a girl already. You work out don’t you?” She shoved more food down the slide and then rested her head back on her hand, studying his shirt.

“Not really.” He glanced down at himself. “Just enjoy exercise.”

“Wow. How strange. So do I.” She beamed and ran her fingers through her fringe. Matt couldn't help but look down at the girl's slender form and then back up into her eyes, watching them close slightly at his attention. “You’re really tall.”

Matt nodded. “I get that a lot.” He started to pack another bag and she began to help him.

“Maybe next time I see you we can get to know each other better. Yeah?”

“Sure.” Matt grabbed the bags and shoved them into one hand, only half listening. He was too busy thinking about the food that was going to go into the freezer once he got home. “How much do I owe you?”

Daryl grinned and leaned back in her chair, pressing a few buttons. “£109.99. Cash or card?”

“Cash.” He shuffled into his pocket and flung out a few £20 notes.

She took them and her fingers brushed his purposely. “I can give you a discount if you like, but only if you take me out.” She winked.

He couldn’t help but smile. This felt normal. This felt the way it should do to every normal boy. He wasn’t sure whether he should have been feeling this. “I don’t mind.”

“Well, how about I give you my number,“ She ruffled into her bag and quickly pulled out a piece of paper and pen, “and whenever you’re free, give me a call.” She winked and handed over a scrawled mobile number.

He took it and looked down at it. He already knew it off by heart. His memory was brilliant at that kind of stuff. “Thanks.” He glanced up at her and she was literally glowing. “I’ll call you.” He pushed it into his pocket and she adjusted herself on her seat.

“Great! Well, see you soon then!” She pressed his penny into his palm and skimmed her nails across his skin before letting him go. He bowed his head slightly, moved his bags and left the shop, leaving Daryl to sigh after him.

Matt smirked as he put on his sunglasses again. See, he could do it if he wanted to. He could easily get someone in a blink of an eye if he was in the mood. She didn’t know it, but Daryl had considerably cheered him up, even though the clouds were beginning to block out the sunlight and the colours were turning slightly grey. He didn’t know what to do now.

Yes he did. He had to buy a new top. He’d ripped a top up last week and hadn’t been able to repair it. He walked home first and put the meat into the freezer and fridge, ripping off a large chunk of the hot chicken and shoving it into his mouth. Then he brushed his hair and escaped back into the cloudy sky.

It didn’t take him long to reach the shops he wished to go into. He hated clothes shopping with a passion but if he didn’t do it sooner or later he was going to end up with no clothes. He already had a few tops in mind. Most of them were either plain or were completely smothered in design.

As soon as the shops came into view, Matt groaned and dropped his head. Great. Perfect. He breathed deeply and quickly and tried to keep himself calm. This was going to be difficult. It was the weekend. He thought he was going to escape her. Obviously not.

Kristen sat on a round metal bar where three bikes sat, chained up against it. Her hair was blowing in the wind and from the angle that Matt could see her, she looked as if she was advertising something. Her skin as so pale, her eyes as dark as midnight. It wasn’t as bright as before and, in fact, there was no sign of the sun as it was smothered in thick clouds. Her scarf was flying behind her shoulder, her leather coat blowing open to show a strapped black vest top and black leggings, large gothic boots on her feet.

She wasn’t alone. Gareth was leaning into her legs, looking into her eyes as if she was the best thing in his life. His hair was blowing towards her and he was laughing with an evil smirk, his hands on her hips as he touched his nose with hers. To make things worse, Laura was stood beside them, her eyes giving daggers at the couple.

If looks could kill, Kristen would be dead on the floor, twitching.

They hadn’t spotted him yet but he knew that they would in the next few seconds. He sighed and pushed himself towards the closest shop. Kristen was the first to look at him. Her head tilted up and her face instantly pulled itself to face him. Her eyes widened and she seemed to freeze, though she already looked like a statue and it was probably impossible to do so.

Her leg moved slightly as if she wanted to get down and see him but she didn’t move any more than that. Their eyes locked and Matt frowned, pulling his eyebrows together. He was glad he still had his sunglasses on so that she couldn’t see his eyes directly.

He quickly moved into the shop before Gareth and Laura were able to spot him. Once inside, he breathed out and moved towards the closest row of clothes, whatever they were. Hopefully, because Laura and Gareth hadn’t spotted him, they wouldn’t come in here and therefore Kristen wouldn’t have the chance to talk to him.

If she did try, he didn’t know what he’d say to her. Having seen Gareth cheat with his girlfriend’s best friend, it would be difficult to hold such an important piece of information from her. If she pushed it or even mentioned Gareth he was afraid he would spill it out to her. This would either make her not believe him and get annoyed at him, or would make her believe and cause an argument in the middle of the shop.

Both results didn’t seem too pleasant in Matt’s eyes. It wasn’t any of his business anyway. He didn’t want to cause a problem. She had to find out for herself no matter how painful it would be for her.

Realising he was in the jean section, not the top section, he moved along the row and into the correct one, being met with bright Christmassy shirts that only cheesy old men would wear. Rolling his eyes, he moved along the bar and began to shift through potential shirts. They all seemed too small for him. He went up to the next row and picked up a bigger size.

The black vest top was the first he saw straight away, and the first one he wanted. He shrugged out of his own top and placed it on the side, picking up the black vest. One woman, shopping with her little boy, stared at Matt’s chest as he rolled his shoulders before trying the top on. It fit like a glove.

He wasn’t too bothered that he was getting stares. It made him feel quite proud of his body. Anyway, there was no point picking up one top at a time and travelling to the other side of the shop just to try it on. This way saved a lot more time. That and he could look and browse other tops as he tried one on. You couldn’t do that in a cramped little changing room stinking of sweat.

He took the vest top off and put it back on the hanger before slinging it over his arm. Even workers were giving him sideways glances, observing his stone stomach and tense back each time he changed. It surprised him that they weren’t looks of fear like the looks he used to get.

He was becoming too soft. His defences were low too often and he was letting things surprise him. The strange thing was that he was happier that he was taking more risks. He didn’t know why. It didn’t make much sense.

After picking up a black shirt, a red shirt, a blue shirt with loads of designs on the front and back, a cross stretching from his waist to his neck on the muscles near his spine, and a white shirt with a large black silhouette of a wolf staring into the moon on his front, he moved towards the counter and placed them on the shelf in front of a dark haired man. This man glanced up and his eyes widened when he saw Matt’s physique.

“Hiya.” He said and quickly scanned the clothes before putting them in a plastic bag. “£21 please.”

Matt shoved the money onto the counter and waited as the receipt came out and was placed roughly into the bag.

“Have a nice day sir.” He said and stared after Matt as Matt moved out of the door.

Again, he was met with Kristen, Laura and Gareth. This time Kristen had her back to him. Even before he turned into her line of sight she turned and looked directly at him as if she was drawn to him. Her hair flicked over her dark eyelashes and it was funny…but he couldn’t see the whiteness of her eyeball.

Only black holes stared back at him, watching him, studying him and the bag.

This move was more obvious than her first and Gareth looked over her shoulder, his hands skimming his trouser line as he literally breathed down her ear. He was murmuring something but she wasn’t replying, too focussed on Matt, who was feeling more tempted to tell her about what he knew by the second.

Laura stepped into view and Matt shuffled the bag onto his elbow so he had his hands free. She came forward with a foul expression on her face, her hands on her hips, and stood a few metres away from him, looking him over and turning up her nose as if she could smell something terrible. Instinctively, Matt felt his back begin to arch and a growl hovered in his throat. He covered it easily but couldn’t stop the hairs on the back of his neck stand up.

“Fancy seeing you here.” Laura called and glanced at the bag Matt held. “Been shopping?”

“Could say that.” Matt muttered, only just loud enough for her to hear. He glanced at Kristen, who was watching him with curiosity, before moving his gaze back to Laura, hardening his features. “So what?”

“What have you been buying then, eh?” Laura stepped forward and Matt planted his feet. He wasn’t going anywhere.

“What’s it to you?” Matt rolled his eyes as if dismissing a child and turned slightly to the side as if beginning to make his way back. He knew he wouldn’t be going there just yet.

Laura shrugged and moved closer, staying just out of arms reach. “I can ask. Got something to hide? What have you bought? A dirty book? A sick perverted film? I wouldn’t put it past you.” She smirked.

Matt glared at her and took off his glasses, clicking them onto his shirt. “One, I’d be worried if that shop sold stuff like that. Two, I don’t go for that kind of stuff, and three, you would know all about being dirty, sick and perverted, wouldn’t you? You’ve been through enough boys.”

Laura blushed as she scowled at him, stepping just into his reach. “How dare you. What’s that supposed to mean? At least I don’t stalk someone who’s clearly not interested.”

Matt had to force himself to hold his tongue. He felt his top lip tremble. “At least I don’t flaunt myself at people like you do.” He glowered at Gareth then back at Laura again, trying to send her a message.

She caught on and suddenly her eyes widened with realisation and she looked nervous, glancing at Gareth from the corner of her eye. Kristen was oblivious and continued to stare at Matt, her eyes roaming his waist and above.

“I don’t flaunt myself.” She said quietly and she looked right into his eyes, leaning in to stare at his face with a weary look shadowed by a fierce snarl. “I don’t need to.”

“That’s where our opinions differ.” Matt growled under his breath and stepped forwards towards her, causing her to step back with surprise. “Remember what happened last time you got yourself in this position, Laura.” He murmured to only her.

She swallowed and stepped back more. This didn’t stop Gareth from moving around Kristen and coming closer. “Oi. Leave her alone.” He stopped almost nose to nose with Matt and Matt had to hold back a growl. The air stank of Gareth. It wasn’t nice. For once he wished Kristen was closer to him so that hers would over power it.

At least this was granted. Kristen came close and put her hand on Gareth’s shoulder. Her eyes darted from him to Matt. “Leave it, Gareth. He wasn’t doing anything wrong.”

“Don’t defend him, baby. He’s not worth your words.” Gareth said and stepped one step away, turning his head to face his girlfriend. He grabbed her and flung himself onto her mouth with such power it overwhelmed her and she stumbled backwards.

Matt scowled and glanced at Laura, who was glaring at the couple. Once her mouth was free, Kristen breathed in and blinked several times before glancing at Matt, an embarrassed look on her face.

Matt rolled his eyes and turned to move away. He could feel their eyes on his back but he didn’t turn around.

He knew that if he did he would kill Gareth the most inhumane way possible.

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Sorry this is a bit of a filler chapter but I hope you like it!

Im sure the story will pick up in the next few chapters now!

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Happy Reading! <3