Karma chapter 10

10-25-25

Fuckkk meee the sun is bright, my body ached from sleeping on a cramped couch for too long. It's like I took one of those naps where, when you wake up, you feel like years have passed, and not in a good way.

My eyes were still sealed tight, but I could still hear the quiet shuffling of footsteps crossing the room towards the bathroom, The shower starting not long after the door shut, cracking open my eyes I observed the room around me more closely, now that it wasnt obscured by darkness I relized just how empty it was as if no one actually lived in it.

  There was nothing other then a full sized bed, a floor length mirror hanging on what Im guessing is the closet door, and the cramped couch I was laying on, there isnt a hint of personality, no pictures, or posters, hell not even the bedding had personality it was all so gray. My body screamed at me while sitting up The room was small and cramped, his bed pressed against the wall to make more space, and yet it was still driving my instincts crazy being in such a small space, especially after my wolf had taken so much control the previous night. I needed to get out of here before I lost my mind.

The door leading to the rest of the apartment was calling my name —and who am I to deny that call? I crept out the door only to be greeted by an equally cramped living room and kitchen. I bee-lined straight to the kitchen, raiding his cabinets in search of something that I could make us. And, lucky enough, there are hash browns, eggs, and pancake mix. I didn't have time to waste if I wanted to be done before we left.

At least that's what I wanted to happen, but among all the things I was blessed with, culinary skills weren't one of them. Flames jumped from the skillet I was trying to cook the hashbrowns in. Pancake batter splattered everywhere, and discarded eggs lay on the floor next to me. 

“Uuh karma? Whatcha doin' there, bud?” It was a disaster, and my voice sounded pathetic while trying to explain that I was attempting to make him breakfast. “Help.” I crouched on the floor surrounded by my own mess, giving up on the failed breakfast. “Pfft, god, I thought you were cooler than I originally thought, but my god, this is pathetic, man.” His cheerful laugh filled the kitchen as he doubled over, clutching his sides. “Get out of my kitchen and go get cleaned up for school. I'll fix this.

And Fix it, he did. When I emerged from the bathroom, freshly showered and ready, he had turned my disaster into a miracle. He even cleaned. A feast of breakfast was in front of me on the island connected to the kitchen: Bacon, eggs, waffles, hashbrowns, the works. “Are you a witch?? How the hell did you do all of this so fast?” he just doubled over laughing again, and god was that laugh infectious.  “Don't you know a magician never reveals his secrets?” Hell, I wouldn't be surprised if he actually was a witch, although if he were, I would've been able to smell that oh so distinct stench of bird coming off him, and his feathers would have bristled at the mere sight of me and my family.

He would've been smarter than to approach me, let alone to try to bully me. Witches were strange beings even by werewolf standards. Not only were they magically adept, but they could also shift into massive birds, typically crows or ravens. Usually, they made pacts with the werewolf pacts for mutual protection; hell, my pack had one 10 years ago, and even now I remember how much of a nasty bitch she was. When a witch didn't have a pack to bond with, they were cautious creatures at the best of times and at the worst…well, let's just say their magic can get as nasty as their attitudes.

Wait, that actually gives me an idea. “This food is amazing, little crow, where on earth did you learn how to cook like this?”  he was about to speak, but I guess he finally processed what I called him. He blinked slowly, his face scrunching together. “Crow? Why am I a crow? And I mostly learned through online videos; it's not too difficult with enough practice.” Ha, I knew it. “What crow did you really think I was going to let your attempted bullying go unchecked, nah, I don't think so.  It's my turn to torment you, love,” and there goes his face again, turning that pretty shade of red that im growing to love the sight of.   

And yet a sigh escaped me before I could stop it “as much as I would love to continue teasing you, I should probably warn you now before we head to the school, and Im guessing you dont want to be seen with me anyways so we can of course arrive separately but If you or your friends try to harm me or even approach me again I will not let it go.”  he looked shocked as if he wasnt expecting me to address it at all. Still, I would be an idiot not to.

“Don't worry about my friends, I'll tell them to back off, they won't bother you, and why wouldn't I want to be seen with you?

Dante 

He looked at me like I was stupid, like he'd never considered that I wanted to get to know him, that I wanted to be close to him.

“Um, because I’m me? I've tried really hard not to draw attention to myself, Dante, and if I just stroll into school with you all, woopty doo, it will literally ruin all of that.” 

“But why? We graduate in 2 months, so why not go out with a bang and prove to everyone how awesome you are?” Every time I think I understand karma, he does something like this. Why wouldn't he want to be popular? If we walk in together, I know people would swarm him and finally look at him, and I mean, actually look at him and notice him like I have. 

“Because Dante, I don't need some shallow assholes trying to butter me up because of my family or because of my looks, I know im attractive and I know I'd be just as popular as Ant, if not more so, I don't think you realize that sometimes people don't need others' opinions to be happy.”

He stared at me with a look that almost resembled a glare, but it wasn't as angry as his other harsh looks. It was something closer to pity. 

“Karma, it isn't like that. I don't want you to walk in with me so I can magically make you popular. I want you to walk in with me because I want to be your friend.”

Man, I thought I had seen him look shocked before, but the look on his face is an entirely different beast compared to before.

“You… what made you change your mind? Why do you like me all of a sudden, Dante? You and your friends singled me out, and you tried to beat me up, and you would've never talked to me or even learned my name if it wasn't for that goddamn counselor, so what changed? Is it because you think im hot? Or that im not some spinless nerd like you expected me to be.” 

He's right. Why did I change? Why do I like him now?

“Listen, if it makes you happy, I'll walk in with you, but after today, you need to figure your shit out, you've known me for 3 days, and in those 3 days, you've gone from hating me and bullying me to wanting to be my bestie and probably having a crush on me from the way your acting.” my throat was dry. My heart was pounding in my ears.   

“And Dante, I hope you know now, im not some pet project, you can't fix me or change me, because there's nothing to fix. I know myself, and I love myself the way I am.”

The way he said it… It was all so matter-of-fact; he wasn't angry or yelling, he was just stating something I needed to hear. And honestly, he was absolutely right. I need to figure my shit out.