Chapter 19: Every Move You Make

Last night was almost perfect. I decided to go to Natalie’s gala after all and surprisingly I enjoyed myself. Well…to a degree. She was beyond beautiful dressed in a gorgeous lilac, silk gown that complimented her well. Watching her set up the event I could see how involved she was with everything trying to make it perfect but deep down I could also see she wasn’t really there. The Charity wasn’t something that interested her much but she did a great job hiding that from the people around her. Or they have just become so numb to her feelings they just don’t notice anymore.

But as I said last night was almost perfect. We talked, we danced and…she almost kissed me. I could sense the rise in her temperature and the scent of her fear but I also knew it was something we both wanted. Her heartbeat echoed my own and the look in her eyes was just…incredible. Maybe Nick was right after all. Natalie welcomed my contact; craved it as much. She actually wanted to kiss me and feeling her that close made my heart soar.

                                                                                                                                          - BF

“You’re welcome,” Riley spoke smugly behind Natalie as she exited out of her last class and started towards the quad. She didn’t bother turning to face him or acknowledge his presence. Instead she continued walking, trying her best to ignore his arrogant smile and walk of self satisfaction. “I could have done a lot worse than I did but I figured everyone didn’t need to know what I saw. I did however tell your parents about this creep trying to kiss you.”

“What?!” Natalie turned in shock to look into his face. “You told my parents?!”

“Of course I did! That guy is a fucking freak! You don’t know him!” Riley stepped closer and reached for her but Natalie jerked away. Brody made a motion towards them but she waved him off and Riley turned to meet his gaze.

“And I suppose you do? You’re much worse than anyone Riley! What you did to me is unforgiveable and you don’t have the right to tell my business to anyone!”

“I have every right!” Riley nearly shouted in return and jerked Natalie into his chest. She jumped again but this time he wasn’t so easily sidestepped. “You and I are meant to be Talie whether you want to admit that to yourself or not and I won’t watch you makeout with some scarred up perv thinking he can make a name for himself through you!”

“You have NO idea who he is and what he wants from me!”

“Oh I have an idea,” Riley replied rubbing his hand up and down her arm.

“You’re fucking sick!” she yelled finally jerking away and gaining a small distance between them. “Just because you use people for your own needs doesn’t mean every guy is like that! Blake is different and unlike you he has a soul.”

“A soul? Haha Natalie come on. Can you really believe, Blake was it? Do you really think Blake wants anything different than what every other guy in this town wants with you? I’m the only one you can trust. The only one who really knows you Baby. The sooner you realize that the happier we’ll both be.”

“Read. My. Lips. Riley: I don’t want you! Stay the hell away from me!”

“Fine, you want to play hard to get. I can make you just as miserable Sweetheart. For example your parents seemed really happy when I came to them. They were sponges soaking up every piece of information I fed them. Anything I said they ate it up because well…who wouldn’t trust me? And this Blake you’re so intent on defending, I’ll be sure and let Arthur know just who he is so that he keeps him as far away from you as possible. Hell if it were up to me I’d have him run out of town…then again, my Dad is the mayor. It might not be so hard after all.”

“You’re an asshole Riley! I can’t believe I ever saw anything good in you. You’re a cold, manipulative, heartless bastard! You don’t give a shit about me! I’m just some possession to wrap around your arm and make you look good. If you think for one second I’ll EVER get back with you then you’re more fucked in the head than I thought!”

“Whoa! That’s quite a mouth you got on you Talie, then again I already knew how talented it was. Your parents however would be shocked and appalled to see their delicate, little princess behaving in such a manner!”

Blake watched the two in a heated conversation and the more Riley grabbed on Natalie and raised his voice towards her, the more he imagined himself rushing from his cover in the bushes and ripping his head from his shoulders. His talons had extended and he could feel them piercing the flesh of his palms as his hands balled into fists at his side. The smell of blood was in the air, his blood, but he didn’t concern himself with the pain. His wolf was angered and seeking an outlet and as much as he wanted to end Natalie’s suffering, allowing himself to lose control on her ex would only cause more problems for them both.

“And if you think you’ll get your happy ending with ‘Blake’ and run off somewhere to marry him, you’re fucking delusional. He’s not one of us and that makes him unworthy of your affections Natalie. It might take you some time to see it but we’re the perfect couple and you and I WILL be together.” He reached his hand for her and smiled as he stroked the soft flesh of her cheek. “Come on, Talie Bear, you know you miss us.”

Natalie leaned into his hand and smiled and Riley began closing the gap between them. Before he stepped too close, he felt a sharp pain in his groin and his eyes closed tightly. Natalie’s foot kicked up hitting him square in the crotch until tiny specks of light flickered in front of his eyes. Riley fell to the ground clutching himself and groaning in pain. “You bitch!”

“And now you have my answer!” 

She turned to leave and he reached out and grabbed her ankle keeping her near. Brody rushed over and with one quick stomp, slammed his foot down on Riley’s hand smashing it into the pavement. He again howled in pain and Brody fixed his suit, that same unyielding expression on his face. “Excuse me Miss, I thought I saw a bug crawling up your leg; thought I’d squash it. Are you ok?” he asked in a monotone voice as he stepped behind her, Riley’s hand still smashed beneath his well polished shoe.

“Better now,” she smirked watching Riley writhe beneath Brody’s foot and he escorted her towards the awaiting Rolls. Once the car turned towards her home, Blake snuck back towards the sewer tunnel entrance and disappeared.

“So Nick called me today,” Jessica gushed on the other end of the phone as Natalie finally found a comfortable position on her bed. After classes she hurried home, locked herself in her bedroom and immediately dialed her best friend. After a few minutes of cheering and yelling from Jessica’s end of the line the conversation seemed to mellow out and they just chatted.

“Oh yeah? How is he?”

“Funny! He asked the same thing about you. He’s fine. I’ve been very good about keeping him busy,” she giggled and Natalie could sense the happiness in her voice.

“That’s great Jess! It sounds like the two of you have been getting along well.”

“Oh yeah! He invited me to his place for the weekend and said he wants to take a trip to Carmel sometime in the next week or two as well. It’s been great. I can’t believe how quickly we hit it off but he seems like a really great guy.”

“And he doesn’t seem to mind that 99% of the time you’re a giant mental case?”

“I know,” she sighed feigning romantic drama, “Maybe it’s love!”

“Already taking his last name huh?” Natalie teased with a smile in her voice that quickly faded as she thought about Blake. “I’m glad you’re happy Jessica. If anyone deserves it, it’s you.” She sighed sadly and placed her back against the headboard as her thoughts lingered on the Masquerade. She had no idea what happened to Blake after the incident with Riley and had no way of contacting him to find out. Jessica didn’t know about him so asking her to ask Nick about his mysterious best friend was out of the question. And it bothered her that she couldn’t directly contact him on her own. 

“What’s up Talie? Did something happen? You got really quiet all of a sudden.”

“Nothing, just thinking.”

“About? Hey whatever happened with that guy you said you met through Nick anyway?”

“I didn’t meet him through Nick, I met Nick through him. And I’m not sure; he’s kinda who I was just thinking about. My parents have me on lockdown after the scare at the Gala. Thanks to Riley they think some homeless psycho is after me and I can’t convince them otherwise. Now they are making sure Brody stays surgically attached to my ass so it’s not like I can skip practice anymore and go see him. Besides that I have no idea where he is. After his place was…I think he moved,” she caught herself again and sighed. “Doesn’t matter. I don’t think he liked the attention anyway. He’s really a loner as far as society goes.”

“Aww Nat I’m sorry to hear that. If you want, I can ask Nick about him. Maybe he can get him to contact you or something.”

Natalie’s mood instantly perked up but the idea of Brody or anyone else exposing him quickly placed a damper on that bubble. “I don’t know. Like I said he’s a very private person. I’m not so sure he’d be able to contact me without feeling exposed to the public in some way.”

“I’ll try anyway. Who knows, maybe the two of you can leave personalized messages carved into the tree at Cresting park,” Jessica kidded.

“Hey wait a second! That’s not such a bad idea!” Natalie jumped up from her bed and moved towards her desk. Pulling out a small purple box of stationary she took a seat and started writing. Sticking her Bluetooth on she exhaled and jotted a small message to Blake on her personal stationary. “You think maybe you could do me a HUGE favor Jess?”

“You know you don’t have to ask that Nat. Whatever you need, I’m your girl.”

“Ok great, listen up!” Natalie went over in detail how the plan to contact Blake would work and asked that she call Nick and deliver her letter to him which she’d give to her tomorrow at school. From there they’d setup a meeting place in Ackerman’s near the Arboretum where they can exchange letters. It was the perfect plan and even more than that, Natalie was excited to know she’d be in contact with Blake once more.

The next afternoon Natalie entered the park with Brody a few yards behind her. His eyes watched the area cautiously ensuring that his charge was safe. She too looked around the park but for a much different reason. Sighing as she neared the Arboretum, Natalie took a seat on the nearby log and pulled out her journal. Brody circled around her, checked the area near the back of the building and found a position beside the gate while she wrote. 

The far end of the Arboretum was concealed from Brody’s position and that was the side Blake found to enter from beneath the willow trees. He watched and waited until her bodyguard turned his attention to a couple entering through the back wall before approaching closer to where she sat. Natalie turned with a smile but made sure her motives were masked. 

The couple pulled out a large tripod and camera and Brody hurried towards them to get a closer look at the item they were setting up. Blake took the opportunity to slip his note to Natalie and she quickly tucked it into her bag. “I didn’t know if you’d gotten my message or if you’d come,” she whispered keeping watch of Brody’s movements. 

“Like I told you at the dance Natalie, it would be rude to stand you up,” he smiled and she blushed visibly. “I’m gonna get going. Uh Nick’s number is in the note. He said that if you wanted you could send me text messages through his phone as long as it’s not ‘sexting’?” Natalie bit her lip to keep from laughing and nodded her head, turning back to face the pond as she noticed Brody starting back towards her. Blake slipped back behind the building and watched her for a moment longer before leaving the park through the drain.

Blake watched the cars pass through the tunnel leading off the mountainside before hopping over the edge of the embankment and heading back towards his place. Nick had been gracious enough to let him stay for a week or so but it was getting to where he could no longer stand hearing his bedroom acrobatics through the wall. Finally making it through the backdoor of his home, he rushed out to the patio towards the garden and dropped heavily onto a bench staring up at the sky with a smile on his face. He was imagining that at this very moment, Natalie had already settled in for the night and was preparing herself to read his note. 

Natalie turned out her light and said her goodnights to her parents and guard, closed her bedroom door and hopped into bed. A moment later the door opened and Brody apologized and she watched as Caesar strutted inside, an air of importance beamed off his elevated snout. “He’s a tough Boss; demanded that I let him in,” Brody nodded and closed the door once more.

Caesar hopped up onto the bed beside Natalie and she ruffled his fur as she unfolded the note from the envelope. Caesar immediately hopped up on all fours and began barking at the letter in her hand. “What? What’s wrong C? Do you smell something? The sewer maybe? I don’t think Blake has any pets. Then again I suppose Blake is a stranger huh? Well no worries, you know you’re always in my heart.” The Champion Breed growled, turned three times in the same spot and laid down again as close to his master as possible and Natalie laughed inwardly at his jealousy.

For Natalie,

“The sun descending in the west,
The evening star does shine;
The birds are silent in their nest.
And I must seek for mine.

The moon, like a flower
In heaven’s high bower,
With silent delight
Sits and smiles on the night.”

I was happy when Nick gave me your note. I had thought of ways to contact you to see how you were after what happened at your masquerade but just didn’t know how. Strangely seeing you today reminded me of the days you snuck into the underground power unit to see me except this time it was me doing the sneaking.

I wanted to apologize again for what I did to your friend. It’s not something I usually do but I don’t like unsolicited contact from people; especially guys trying to prove they’re macho. Were you not there, there’s no telling how far I’d have gone so thank you for that. And if I scared you then I am sorry Natalie, that wasn’t my intention.

Have you been keeping up with your writing? Any new stories lately? Anything you want to share? I’m sad to say all of my artwork was destroyed in my old place including the portrait I’d started of you. One day I do hope to make another. I find when you’re not intruding into locked doors you make a very interesting subject. I have never drawn a more beautiful face and would be honored for the chance to again.

Until I’ve successfully reintegrated myself into society, you can call (555) 642-5335; it’s Nick’s cell and he’ll pass any messages you have for me along. Anyway, I feel I should end this now before I start quoting more sonnets from poets long since passed. Just remember that if anything happens and you want someone to talk to, I’m always here for you.

                                                                                                              - BF

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