He stood there staring at me, so I took that as my queue to speak.
"The night that the bar got shot up, before you guys got there, I was approached by an oddly friendly wolf." I pause, making sure he's listening. He motions me with his hand to continue.
"It was bigger than normal, and it seemed really tame. I didn't think much of it, especially after everything that happened. But today I was out, and this man approached me. He was acting like we knew each other, like I should know him. I realized he was the wolf. He told me he was a Shifter. There was some commotion and when I turned back to him, he was gone." I was careful not to lie, but to skirt the truth.
"This happened today?" He asks, lightly scratching his chin in thought.
"Yeah, not long before I got back here."
He began to pace, still lost in thought. He released a long and shaky sigh.
"I have a really bad feeling about all this..." He mumbles and I don't think I was suppose to hear.
"About what?" I ask and his eyes snap up to me, he looks worried and confused.
"The man from the other night, the one I... compelled. He told us that they were hired to rough up our place and divide us. They were trying to cause a panic, and get us all to run around frantic like mice. Little did they know, we prepare ourselves." He gave me a weak smile.
"OK..." I mutter.
"It worries me. I don't believe in coincidence. If someone is following you right now, it makes me think that they were there for you. Especially since he was there before we came along." He stopped pacing and was facing me, about 3 feet in front of me. My stomach dropped and fear crept into my bones, giving me an unpleasant ache.
"What... what does that mean?" I barely get out, my voice too weak to work properly. He sighs and stares at me hard, his face reflecting the worry on mine.
"you need to come stay with us." He states firmly.
"Lex, I can't." I reply, sighing.
"You have to. It's the only way I can make sure you're safe, and it'll give anyone thinking about hurting you pause knowing how many Gifted you're with." He almost begs. I almost relent, but I know that's probably not wise.
"My brothers are here, and Wesley's a cop. They can watch out for me."
"And when they leave?" He walks closer almost touching me. I lightly place my hand on his chest, he covers it with his own.
"I'll think about it." I concede, knowing that's the only way he'll let it go.
"Fair enough." He smiles down at me, making my heart flutter.
"I should go, I'm sure your brothers are gonna come after me if you take much longer." I chuckle at his very accurate observation. He walks to his car, and I watch a moment before turning away.
"Liv..." He says stopping me before I walk away.
"Yeah?" I turn to him, he's standing at the driver side door of his car.
"Please call me, for anything, even if it's silly." He holds my gaze, but I notice a slight blush on his cheeks. It makes me happy. Men who work women over don't tend to blush over things like this.
"I will." I give him my biggest grin, he returns it, showing off his perfect teeth.
"Goodnight, Liv."
"Goodnight, Lex."
I make the walk back to my apartment feeling a weight fall off my shoulders, I didn't ask about tomorrow, but I'll ask in the morning. I feel strangely calm, the joy of the night keeping my worries and fears at bay. I walk inside and strip myself of my coat and shoes, relieved by the heat from my place.
"Took you long enough, we were about to come searching for you." Trevor teases, I smile thinking about what Lex said and how spot on he was.
"Sorry, just talking." I assure them.
They were both dressed for bed, their luggage neatly put away. They were always very tidy.
I stare at them a moment, happy at how they behaved themselves.
"I'm surprised you were so nice to him, you guys really got along." I eye them, wary of their kindness.
"Yeah, he seems nice." Trevor replies a little too quickly.
"Plus, it's not like we'll see him again, so there's no point in roughing him up." Wesley says absentmindedly and Trevor elbows him in the side.
"What's that suppose to mean, you don't think he's a keeper?"
"It's not that, it's..." They share a look.
"It's..." I wave my hand for him to continue.
"You tell her, I don't want her mad at me." Wesley attempts to whisper to Trevor.
"And you think I do?" Trevor snaps back.
"I can hear you." I was glaring now, not enjoying their banter.
They both sigh.
"We're taking you home, the flight is set for 10am tomorrow." Trevor states, feet spread and arms crossed. I called this his dad pose. It was the position he always took when he knew I would challenge him, it was his way of saying he's not budging on this.
"No." I state firmly, hands on my hips, challenging him right back.
"This is not up for discussion, Olivia." The real reason I go by Liv and not Olivia, is because they only ever called me Olivia when they were scolding me. I grew to associate it with that.
"You're right, it's not. I'm not going!" I say through gritted teeth.
"Liv, Trev, let's just stay calm and talk this through." Wesley cooed, he was the mediator between us. Trevor and I could go at it pretty hard, it always ended with me screaming in tears, running away, and him storming out of the house with little puffs of smoke coming out of his ears. Ok, maybe not literally, but close.
"Don't try to act like you have no part in this, Wes." I spit out, I know he's just as much to blame as Trevor.
"Can you blame us? Considering how you called us, we have a right to be worried." He pleads. He has never been good at handling my anger or tears, if not for Trevor, I'd get everything I want.
"I missed you! That doesn't mean I want to leave!" I shoot at him, it was the truth, just not all the truth.
"I don't care. You need to stop running around, hurting yourself, and be with your family where you're safe and loved." Trevor commands. Hurting myself? "And considering your nightmares are back, I'd say now is a perfect time."
"But-"
"No! You're coming home with us, tomorrow, that's. final."
I'm so close to blowing a gasket and having it out with him right here, but if I blow up, he'll watch me like a hawk till I'm walking through the front door of our childhood home. I can sneak out in the morning, they're deep sleepers. So I let him win this battle, so I can win my war.
"Fine..." I say staring at the ground.
"Livvy..." Wesley pleads, reaching for my arm. I pull away and march to the bathroom. No matter how old I am, they make me feel like I'm a little girl begging to ride an adult bike, while they won't remove the training wheels. It's infuriating!
**********
I barely slept, I was too wound up. I look at my clock, it's 5:57am. I quietly creep out of bed and get dressed. I showered last night so I wouldn't have to when I woke up. I gather my phone and purse, and make my way to the living room. Trevor was sprawled out on the couch, Wesley was spread eagle on the floor, snoring. I gingerly tip toe around them, carefully making my way outside. My parents were never protective, they left that to my brothers. Whenever they thought I was gonna be a hassle, they slept in my room with me, so I, shamefully, am quite good at this. I heave a sigh of relief as I make it outside, unchallenged.
I pull up my contacts and dial Lex's number. A quick flutter hits me and I push it aside.
"Liv, are you ok? Did something happen?" He aks sleepily, his voice is deep and husky. I didn't even think about the time when I called.
"Oh no, I'm so sorry, I didn't even think about the time!" I exclaim.
"So you're ok?" He clarifies.
"Yeah, I just... Needed a ride." I whisper, a little embarrased that I woke him. To my delight, he just chuckles in that deep, sleepy voice.
"I'll be right there."
It took him about 15 minutes to get to me, I had moved a little down the road in case either of my brothers woke up.
"Hey!" I say happily. His hair was messier than usual, and he was wearing sweat pants and a Def Leppard t-shirt. I smiled at the sight.
"What?" He gave me a devilish smirk.
"I didn't peg you for a Def Leppard man, that's all." I mumble, trying to hide a laugh.
"Def Leppard is the greatest band that has ever been!" He proclaims. "In fact..." He hits a button on his stereo, and Def Leppard starts blaring as we pull onto the road. He blasted them until we pulled up to his house, no matter how much I protested.
We walked in to dead silence, and he motioned me to stay quiet.
"All the lads are still asleep, so shhh." He tries to say seriously before breaking into a chuckle.
"Lex, who's this?" An oddly familiar voice says from the dark hallway I've never been down.
"Oh, Richard you're up. This is Liv, Liv this is my brother Richard." He says in introduction, but I was frozen in fear.
He had made his way out into the light, and I could see him clearly. It was the man from my dreams, the one I never saw. I don't know how I knew, but I did. My breathing had gotten shallow and my palms felt clammy. He stared right back at me, I could see in his eyes that he knew me.
"Cat got your tongue, sweetheart?" He says with a sweet smile.
"Liv, are you alright?" Lex asks and places a gentle hand on my cheek. I snap out of my fear induced daze and look at him. I search my brain for an excuse, not wanting to tell him that his brother is the one haunting my dreams, and not in a good way.
"Yeah, I just... you look so much alike." I say with a big smile, hoping he buys it. "Like... clones." I look at Richard, and I don't fail to notice the curious smirk on his face as I take a jab at his term of endearment for his brother. I look back at Lex and he's smiling.
"Yeah, he always says I'm his little clone, we even have the same gift." He says proudly. It was impossible to miss how much he looked up to Richard.
"Lex, I wonder, can I speak to our guest alone. I'd like to get more aquainted before the others wake up." Richard hasn't taken his eyes off me.
"Sure." Lex sounds a little uncertain.
"Nothing bad, just laying a little ground work." He gives Lex a reassuring pat on the shoulder.
"Yeah, I need to shower anyhow." Lex runs his hand over my back and gives me a smile before heading upstairs to get ready.
Once he's out of view, I turn my attention back to Richard.
He's the same height as Lex, same build as well. His hair is a dirty blonde with a slight greying at the temples. His eyes are the same grey though, and he has a well trimmed blonde beard.
He moves a bit closer to me and I flinch back. He raises his arms in surrender.
"I don't know what you remember, but I'm not the bad guy." He tried to assure me but fails.
"I don't remember anything, I don't even know how I know you, I just know you give me nightmares almost every night." I spit out with as much venom as I can muster.
He sighs and runs a hand over his face, before putting his hands in his pockets.
"I was afraid of that." He says, defeated.
"What does that mean?" I was confused. I thought he would be some sinister person, bent on hurting me, but he was acting like an unwilling participant in whatever freakshow my life had turned into. My immediate feeling of repulsion began to falter a little.
"Nothing. At least, not yet." He looks at me, giving me a sad smile.
I glare at him.
"Look, sweetheart. I can't tell you, you need to remember and figure it all out on your own. I'll help you find your way back to yourself, but besides that, I can't tell you anything." He states matter-of-factly.
"Why not?" My fear was replaced with interest.
"Because nothing I tell you will make sense, not yet. it'll just mess with your mind more than necessary."
I was about to ask him why, ask him why I knew him, when I heard a loud yawn and groan from the top of the stairs.
"Liv?" Aiden says sleepily, rubbing his eyes. "Why are you here so early?"
"Just, couldn't wait to get going." I reply nervously.
"Hmmm," He mulls my response over. "Or is it, perhaps, you couldn't wait to see a certain dark haired devil." He teased. Richard gave me a confused, yet intrigued glare.
"Are you talking about me?" Ari playfully asks as he bounces down the stairs. He's obviously a morning person.
"Last I checked, your hair isn't dark, and you're more like an imp than a devil." Aiden glares at his brother, seemingly disgusted by his early morning energy. Ari places a hand on his chest, feinging hurt.
"You wound me, brother." He says with fake tears.
"Good morning, Miss America." He throws me a weak salute with a wink and heads for the kitchen.
"He seems energetic this morning." I observe.
"I know, It's nauseating." Aiden replies with a scowl.
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