Chapter 9

Anthony’s POV

Monday morning I got up with a smile on my face.

I’m going to see Dawn!

“Tony, you ready? We’re leaving?” Felix walked passed my door as I got out of the shower.

I looked at the time. We needed to be a school in 15 minutes.

“Shit, yeah almost ready,” I mumbled and headed for my closet. I pulled on a pair of jeans and a gray v-neck. I pulled on my black leather boots and laced them up. I hurried out the door grabbing my jacket, sunglasses and hesitated for a moment and then went for the bike keys.

“Hey, pretty boy,” Travis teased. “Done putting on your make-up? Can we go?”

“Shut up and get in the car,” I growled.

He smirked at me and then ducked his head into Felix’s Camaro and I started my bike and allowed them to go first and then I followed them all the way to school.

When we got to school we parked and headed straight for the school. We didn’t need any trouble with these humans.

It’s weird that Travis and I both found our mate in this school. Only he was lucky enough to find out that his mate had a little secret too. Even Felix was going after Hannah and I think he genuinely liked her which was really good. He needed someone to keep him company and calm him down.

With Felix and me . . . it is too dangerous to have our human mates around our family. Vampires and Werewolves hate each other at times, but if there is one thing that always trumps that hatred it is their hatred for the human race.

It angered me that I might have to choose between my family and my mate. My mother and father were excepting of her. Felix was . . . well, Felix, but the rest of them. The pack that I would one day lead with my mate by my side. It was important that they accepted her.

“So what do you have planned for the dance?” Travis asked me bring me out of my thoughts as we walked through the hallway.

“What?” I replied confused.

“The Spring Formal? Saturday?” He pushed.

“Oh . . . I don’t know,” I shrugged. “Why?”

“Because I am of course going with Julie and Hannah said yes to Felix and . . . well Dawn is going with Ian the Julie was talking about going together with a limo or something,” He answered.

“Oh, Am I invited?” I growled. I didn’t mean to sound annoyed, but the fact that he made it sound like Ian was replacing me because he was with Dawn . . . well it pissed me off with good reason.

“Yeah, Tony, that’s why I am bringing it up to you,” He looked at me bunching his eyebrows together.

“Umm, yeah,” I nodded looking away from him a little embarrassed by my attitude, “I’ll get back to you on that,” I replied and then I walked into my first hour.

“Hey, Tony,” Dawn smiled as I sat down next to her.

“You seem happy this morning,” I smirked and winked at her.

She blushed and looked away from me and down at her desk.

Half way through class I got a note on my desk. I looked to Dawn shocked but she was staring at the teacher and taking notes.

I looked down and opened the note. It read:

Why did you leave last night without saying goodbye?

I sighed and quickly wrote back:

I heard someone walking in through the door.

I waited for the teacher to turn towards the board and then I slipped the note on to her desk and then continued to write the notes up on the board.

“It was Ian,” She mumbled under her breath and I turned and looked at her worried.

“Did he know?” I whispered. There was no way he saw me I was gone before he could have made it up the stairs.

She shook her head looking down at her notes.

I breathed a sigh of relief and turned back to my own notes.

A few minutes later I found another piece of paper on my desk.

I unfolded it and smiled down at the note:

What are you doing...

When can you come...

I liked...

Thanks for coming over . . . Can you come again tonight?

Yes! Yes! Yes! My wolf howled.

I sighed as the smile fell from my face. I folded the note and slipped it under my notebook and continued to take notes.

I felt her eyes on me and I wanted to turn to her, but I ignored my urges and focused on class.

When the bell finally rang I picked up my notebook and then note and I handed it back to her.

“Dawn, I’m not sure that’s a good idea,” I breathed.

What? My wolf growled giving me a headache.

“What?” She breathed sounding so sad.

“It was a close call with Ian last night and I am not going to get you in trouble just because I want to spend some time with you,” I breathed. “Now if you want to get together with Julie and Hannah and come out with me and the guys and Ian is okay with it then I would love that, but I am not getting you in trouble, Dawn. I’m sorry,” I packed up my bag with my books.

“O – okay,” Her voice was so small and then she turned away from me and hurried from the room.

“Dawn, wait,” I stepped after her and then I stopped myself.

I pulled my bag over my shoulder and then walked out of the classroom.

“I know you feel like shit, but you did the right thing, brother,” Felix sighed pushing of the wall by the door and following me.

“I know,” I sighed as we walked to our second hour.

The rest of the classes went without event. I didn’t talk to Dawn at all for the rest of the day and she went back to avoiding me as usual.

At the end of the day Travis and Julie and Felix and I walked towards our vehicles.

“So what are you guys up to?”Julie asked.

“I am going to go home and drowning myself in a river,” I straddled my motorcycle.

“Wow, what?” Julie stepped in front of my bike.

“Get out of the way,” I growled.

“Tony,” Travis growled stepping up to Julie.

“Sorry,” I breathed.

“What’s wrong?” Julie asked.

“I rejected Dawn’s invitation over her house tonight,” I sighed.

“And why did you do that?” She glared leaning on the bike.

“Because he is trying to do the right thing without your bad influence,” Felix smirked.

Julie huffed and crossed her arms, “You know she is thinking about leaving Ian for you . . . even though she can’t,” She rolled her eyes.

“Why?” I growled getting off the bike. Travis tensed up.

Julie placed a hand on his chest and turned to me, “He helped her through a tough time. When her father was abusing her she had Ian to run to and he protected her. I know that fact annoys you, but she just met you and you are already making her question whatever they have,” Julie explained.

I sighed and leaned against my bike, “I know, I just . . .”

“No, Ian,” I heard Dawn sighed and I looked across the parking lot to Dawn walking towards Ian’s car with Ian close behind her.

“What do you mean no?” He growled angry.

“I mean my mother just got home tonight and she is not going to let me spend the night at your house. I have to get home and make her dinner and . . . just not tonight,” She explained cautiously under his glare.

“Fine. Whatever,” He answered tersly and the than got into the driver’s side of the car and took off coming very close to hitting Dawn.

I growled fiercely and got on my bike.

“You can’t go after him, Tony!” Julie said. Always the voice of reason, this one. I glared at her.

“And I am just supposed to let him treat her like that!” I nearly yelled.

“She’s right,” Felix stepped up.

I looked across the parking lot to Dawn standing in the parking space and looking after Ian’s car shocked confused and maybe just a little more than scared.

“Fine,” I took a deep breath to clam myself, though all it took was one look at Dawn’s face that calmed me down and got me focused on taken care of her. “Excuse me,” I raised an eyebrow at Julie.

She smiled and stepped out of the way knowing exactly what I was going to do, “That’s a good boy,” She ruffled my hair and then stepped into Travis’s side. I rolled my eyes and then shot across the parking lot and stopped right beside Dawn.

She gasped and looked at me shocked. She quickly wiped away her tears as turned off my bike and got off.

“What are you doing here?” She glared at me and then looked away.

“I saw what happened, Dawn. Just because I can’t spend time alone with you doesn’t mean I just suddenly don’t care anymore,” I replied calmly. I wanted to comfort her, but her in this very public place it would not be good.

“I’m fine,” She snapped.

“Dawn,” I sighed and placed a hand on her cheek wiping away an escaped tear.

She looked up at me with open sad eyes.

I smiled down at her, “Let me give you a ride home.”

“Okay,” She let a small smile appear on her lips and then she looked at my bike. “On that thing?” She gasped as I straddled the bike and started it.

“Yes,” I handed her a helmet I always keep strapped to the back.

“But . . . I . . .” She looked kind of scared.

“Dawn,” I got her attention and she met my eyes. I smirked, “Get on and hold on . . . I’m safe.”

A sparkle lit her eyes and then she fit the helmet over her head and got on the back of the bike and wrapped her arms tight around me and then I took off.

When we pulled up into her driveway I parked the bike and turned it off and then allowed her to get off and then I got off myself and took the helmet off her head and set it on the back of the bike.

“That was amazing,” She smiled brightly up at me.

I smiled back, “I am glad you are feeling better.”

She laughed, “Yeah, thanks for that,” She smiled and then turned towards her house.

“See you around, Dawn,” I sighed and got back on the bike.

She turned back to me and sighed, “Are you a good cook?”

I smirked, “My mother has taught me all she knows . . . So yeah,” I breathed.

“Do you mind helping me make dinner for my mother? It’s her first day back and I want to make her a real dinner . . .”

“Dawn,” I breathed reluctant.

“No, it’s just the biggest thing I have ever made was mac and cheese and I really want to make her a big dinner, but I can do that and I feel bad,” I got of the bike and towards her. “She has been traveling and I just feel like she should come home to a clean house and a good dinner . . .” I placed my hands on her cheeks and she stopped.

“You talk a lot when you’re nervous,” I smirked.

She took a deep breath and smiled up at me.

Our eyes looked and I thought I wouldn’t be able to look away and I realized it was because I had physical contact with her. I dropped my hands and looked up towards her house.

“I’ll help you . . . but I don’t clean,” I smiled back at her once I got in control of myself.

She smiled wider, “I can clean,” She breathed and then we walked into the house.

We walked right to her kitchen.

“Do you have something in mind?” I asked.

“No,” She breathed embarrassed. “All I know is I just recent went grocery shopping and I bought . . . everything,” She smiled.

“Fresh ingredients are better. You should start a garden,” I advised leaning against the counter.

“Oh and you have a garden,” She rolled her eyes not taking me seriously.

“Yes,” I replied seriously, “My mother heavily believes in good nutrition.”

“Oh,” She sighed, “Sorry, I didn’t mean . . .”

I chuckled, “You don’t offend me because you don’t have a garden, Dawn. I can be a bit of a health nut at times,” I shrugged.

“Okay,” She smiled and then she started showing me around the kitchen. I found everything I needed for one of my favorite dishes. Egg plant parmesan with a tomato and onion salad.

“Okay, so do you need my help?” She asked.

“Does your mom like Italian?” I replied.

“One of her favorite foods,” She smiled.

“Good, than no. You go clean and  I will take care of this,” I smiled.

“Okay,” She turned away and then turned back, “Thanks again.”

“Don’t thank me yet,” I smiled.

“I’m sure you’ll do good,” She smiled back and then turned and hurried out of the kitchen.

I instantly got to work. I pulled out the tomatoes, eggplants, Mozzarella and Parmesan, bread crumbs, flour, onions, salt, pepper, olive oil, basil, eggs, garlic and balsamic vinegar.

About three hours later I was finally finishing up. I put the last touches on the tomato and onion salad as the eggplant finished cooking.

“Wow, that smells amazing,” I heard Dawn breath as she walked into the kitchen.

“Yeah, well Italian roots call for good cooking abilities,” I smiled and placed the tomatoes and onion on the island turned to face her.

She was all cleaned up. She was wearing jean shorts with a white shirt that was all lace. She only wore a white strapless bra underneath so you could see her skin. It was actually pretty and not at all slutty because it still covered her. She let he hair go natural and she put on light make-up.

I smiled, “You look nice,” I commented.

“Thank you,” She smiled in return. “My mom always complains about me wearing sweatpants,” She sighed.

“Oh,” I replied and then the egg plant timer went off and I took it out and let it set on the counter.

“Wow, that looks good too,” She leaned into it.

“I hope it tastes good too,” I smirked.

“I’m sure it will. Did you make your own sauce?” She asked looking up at me,

“Yeah, you guys didn’t have any so . . .”

“That’s amazing,” She looked back to the food.

I smiled and turned to the skin and started cleaning the dishes.

I heard her phone ring. She answered, “Hey, Mom!” and then walked out of the room so I listened.

“Yeah, I’m home,” She replied. “Yep, no problem. I can’t wait to see you,” She breathed.

“Yeah, love you too, Mom.”

Then she walked back into the kitchen.

“Hey, let me help with that . . . You really don’t have to do that, Tony.” She walked over and started drying the dishes I cleaned. “You’ve done enough.”

“I have no problem cleaning the mess I made,” I smiled down at her.

She smiled and then slightly blushed. She quickly looked away and started putting the dishes away as she dried them and within minutes we were done.

“My mom should seriously be pulling in like right now,” Dawn sighed.

So we put the food on the kitchen table and set the table for them. I then walked back to the front door and grabbed my jacket from where it was hanging.

“Thanks again, Tony. I really just wanted to give my mom at least a night to relax,” She breath sticking her hands in her back pocket.

“Really it’s no problem, Dawn,” I smiled and then leaned in and kissed her forehead. “I’ll see you at school,” I said as I heard her mom pull up.

“Yeah,” Dawn breathed.

I turned to step out the door and it was already opening.

“Oh, who’s this?” The woman at the door looked to Dawn as she tried to pull her luggage through the door.

“Here, let me help you with that, ma’am,” I grabbed the luggage from her and pulled it into the house and set it beside the door.

“Mom, this is Tony a friend from school. Tony, this is my mom,” Dawn introduced us.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” I took her hand as she offered it to me.

“You too,” She smirked and looked at Dawn with a wink, “I like this guy,” She suggested.

Dawn blushed and I laughed.

“Please, Tony, just call me Shelby,” She smiled.

“Of course,” I smiled. “Well, anyway, I should leave you to your dinner before it gets cold,” I turned to Dawn.

“Oh yeah,” She said as if she forgot.

“Dinner? You made dinner?’ She looked at Dawn.

“Well, no . . . Tony made it. He’s Italian,” Dawn explained.

“I really like this guy,” She smiled at me.

“Thank you,” I smiled back.

“I can’t just have you cook for us then kick you out the door. You should stay for dinner,” Shelby suggested.

“No, really, I shouldn’t . . .” I shook my head.

“I insist. Dawn go set another place at the table and I’ll go get my last bag . . .”

“Let me,” I offered.

“Why thank you . . . It’s in the trunk. It’s open,” She nodded over her head.

I walked out to her car and opened the trunk, grabbed out the luggage, closed the trunk and brought it into the house. I closed the door and then called into the house, “Do you want me to just set it right here?” I asked.

“Actually, can you bring them here?” She asked as she walked back into the front room.

“Of course,” I picked up the other bag and followed her and set them in her room. Just as I was about to turn back out she stopped me.

“She has a boyfriend who has been good to her for some years now,” Shelby pointed out crossing her arms over her chest.

“I know,” I replied seriously, “I am in no way trying to threaten their relationship. I am just a friend of Dawn’s. I’m new in town and she has been nice to me so I am simply repaying the favor.”

“Hmm,” She looked me over, “Fine, but if I find out you start something between them and you hurt her . . .”

“I wouldn’t dream of it, ma’am,” I cut her off.

“Shelby,” She breathed.

“Of course . . . Shelby.” I replied.

“Fine, let’s go eat dinner,” She turned down the hallway and I followed her. I hung my jacket back up and then walked in and sat down at the table.

“I’m sorry for her,” Dawn breathed.

Dinner was awkward at first, but then as we all started to get comfortable things relaxed. Shelby and I started talking and I think she warmed up to me. I talked over the recipe with her and she said I would have to show her some time because eggplant parmesan was her favorite dish and she had none better than mine. After that we talked about anything that came up. Shelby was a nice woman, but Dawn and been nervous and awkward all dinner.

After helping with the dishes and clean up, Shelby went to bed and Dawn  had walked me out to my bike with a warn from her mom to lock up the house when she got back in.

“Really, I had fun. It wasn’t bad, Dawn,” I smiled.

I was glad her mother liked me. I planned on being her son-in-law someday and making her a grandmother.

“You don’t have to pretend. I know she can be a bit much,” Dawn rolled her eyes.

“She seems fun,” I smiled placing my hand son her shoulders, “Seriously, never apologize for her being herself. You should never apologize for that. I actually respect her for that,” I smiled.

“God damn it, you are just freaking perfect, aren’t you?” She rolled her eyes bringing a hand to her forehead.

“I’d like to think so yes,” I smirked and leaned against my bike.

“I mean you like me and your kisses are . . . amazing,” She breathed, “but then you are also conscious of the fact that I have a boyfriend and so you back off, but then you come make me dinner . .  and it, by the way, is the best dinner I have ever had and then you easily accept my crazy mother and say you respect her. You are honestly the nicest, most trust worthy person I have ever met. I feel so easy and safe around you. It’s weird.”

“Well, I like making people comfortable because I am a comfortable person and I hate awkward moments. They irritate me,” I smirked.

“I’ve noticed,” She smiled at me.

“You should get to bed,” I suggested. “I have to get home.”

“Oh yeah,” Dawn stepped back from the motorcycle as I straddled it. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Yeah, see you,” I winked at her and then turned on the bike, backed out and took off down the street.