Notice Me (13 page)

Chapter 18: Uh-Oh
"Are you sure I look ok?" I asked twisting my body to the side and
examining myself in the mirror. I had on a simple black v-neck tank
dress with black strappy sandals. My hair was left down and
straightened. Anya offered to do my make-up, but I declined
graciously. I could afford to go without the wild look
tonight.
I don't even know why I feel so nervous. It's not like I don't
already know Mr. and Mrs. Evans. I guess it's because it's my first
time seeing them as Tristan's mate. What if they don't approve?
Didn't think I was fit for their son, or to be future Luna of their
pack? What would I do then?
"You look great now stop being such a worrywart." Anya said
smoothing out her red dress. She had on matching red heels and was
applying her lipstick in my vanity mirror.
"So what's the plan for after dinner?" I inquired with raised
eyebrows. "What time's the gig tonight?" We're going to watch Anya
and her band Irresistable Attraction perform after dinner.
"We go on stage at nine." She answered fluffing up her hair and
puckering up her lips, making a kissy face at her own reflection.
"We need to leave her by at least eight to get there on
time."
Anya and I spent the entire morning talking about exactly what
occurred last night. Tristan and Luke were busy with Mr. Evans,
pack business stuff. When Tristan and I got back into the truck,
she was conscious but still out of it...if that made any
sense.
"Thank god, I'm alive!" Anya shrieked incredulously, sitting
straight up in the back seat she began patting down her body in
disbelief as she looked around. When we got into the car, Luke had
her head in his lap stroking her hair lovingly with the windows
rolled down for fresh air.
"How...how did we escape the wolves?" Her voice quivered as she
leaned forward and stuck her head in between the front seats. She
looked back and forth between Tristan and I. She was giving me the
suspicious eye as if she'd just been Punk'd or something. I can
assure you my dear best friend that this is no joke.
Glancing over my shoulder at Luke, he looked so helpless and
uncomfortable as he rubbed Anya's back comfortingly. Just the look
on his face said it all, he's terrified of telling her. Turning to
my side, Tristan's face was one of inconspicuousness, looks like he
doesn't want the job either!
Bunch of wusses, some big tough wolves they are. Can't even suck it
up and build the courage to tell her the truth. Guess it's left up
to me, the wee human. Tristan began driving, we all had enough of
the beach and the guys complained of being hungry so we decided to
go get some food.
"Anya...sit back and put on your seat belt." I ordered pushing her
forehead softly with the palm of my hand. I have to be sure she
wasn't going to go flying into my lap. Obediently she shuffled back
and buckled in. "Those wolves we saw out in the field. They were
Luke and Tristan." I informed her, turning around in my seat to
look at her.
I wanted her to see the look in my eyes and the seriousness on my
face. Just to be sure that I was telling the truth and not kidding
with her. Her eyebrows curved downwards and her lips got pouty like
she was thinking hard for a Moment. The she burst into hysterics
slapping her hands against her knees.
"Haha. You got me there. No, really, how did we get away?" She
asked wiping all traces of a smile from her lips.
Blowing out a breath of frustration, I knew she wasn't going to
believe it until she saw it with her very own eyes. "Wait until we
pick up some food and head back home. You'll see ok?" I said
shrugging my shoulders at her. She agreed with a slight nod of her
head and a quiet "Ok."
There's no other way I can explain it without sounding like an
absolute nut job to my best friend. Tristan pulled up to the drive
thru at McDonald's and we all ordered our food. Refusing to take
money from me or Anya for our meals, he pulled the back of my hand
which was entwined in his on the center console up to his lips
placing a gentle kiss there.
"My mother raised us to be gentlemen." He smirked against my hand
as I narrowed my eyes at him. "In simpler terms, a gentleman treats
a woman like a princess." I laughed at this, not something I'd
expect to come out of an eighteen year old, guy's mouth. He just
seemed to surprise me more and more with not being your typical
guy.
"What?" He chuckled loudly. "You don't believe me? Luke what did my
mom force us all to memorize when we turned sixteen?" Tristan
probed glancing at Luke in the back seat through the rear
view.
Luke smiled and shook his head. "Mrs. E made us memorize the five
rules of being a gentleman. Funniest experience of my life." Anya
and I stared at the guys with interest. We wanted them to elaborate
on this story, it seemed like a really interesting one.
"She even tested us on it!" Luke choked as he began laughing from
the memory. "Whoever didn't memorize it was banned from the huge
feast she cooked for dinner that night!"
"So who all memorized it then?" I mused staring over at Tristan
whose eyes were trained on the road ahead of us. His lips tugging
up into a smile at the corners. Damn he just gets better looking by
the minute!
"Naturally, we all memorized it!" Luke bellowed loudly, "Who in the
right mind would be dumb enough to miss one of Mrs. E's meals?" He
asked this like it was the most absurd thing in the world.
"So what are the five rules of being a gentleman then?" Anya
prompted, challenging them to remember what they learned two years
ago.
"Rule 5: A gentleman never kisses and tells, Rule 4: A gentleman
treats a woman like a princess, Rule 3: A gentleman never keeps a
lady waiting, Rule 2: A gentleman is never disrespectful....and my
mom's number one rule of being a gentleman is...drumroll please."
Tristan prattled off the rules while Luke began tapping his hands
against the back of Tristan's head rest.
"Rule 1: A gentleman never ever leaves the toilet seat up." Tristan
and Luke chimed in unison with a chuckle causing Anya and I to
break out in laughter. Way too funny! Pulling into his driveway, we
got out the car and went over to Tristan's place to eat. After
eating Anya began getting antsy.
"So, I waited patiently till we picked up the food and ate it. Now
I want to see." She demanded referring to what I told her in the
car. The three of us stared at one another with uncertainty. Do we
really want to do this? We silently asked each other as Anya
prepared herself to see what we had to show her.
"C'mon I want to see it." She pressed impatiently rolling her hands
around in a hurry up motion. "She says you're a wolf, I want to see
you become wolves both of you."
I sat next to her taking a hold of her hand, just in case she
decided to pass out again I made her remain seated on the sofa.
Tristan and Luke stood up and moved the love seat out of the way to
give them more room. The looked at each other and struggled
in
a 'what the hell'
gesture.
Within seconds the two muscular guys standing on two feet before us
morphed into four legged carnivorous creatures. Anya gasped
grabbing tightly onto my hand, possibly breaking a couple of
fingers in the process. I was watching her reaction, making sure
I'd be able to throw a pillow behind her head just in case.
"Don't worry they're not going to hurt us." I promised rubbing her
leg in a soothing manner. It sure as hell was a sight to see
though.
"No freaking way!" She shrieked bouncing up and down in her seat.
"This is so damn cool! Wait...you can't do that too can you?" Her
eyes were wide in astonishment.
"No Anya, I can't do that." I answered with an eye roll. Only she
would find something like this cool. Wow, that's not the reaction I
expected from her, but hey, at least she isn’t running out the door
screaming ‘monsters!’
She took to being Luke's mate even better than seeing them
transform into wolves. Her sense of reasoning was that as long as
we'll be experiencing it together, we'll be ok. Luke seemed to be
pleased with this, considering the permanent smile plastered to his
lips. He was a total cheese bucket at the moment. No one was going
to rain on his parade. We spent the rest of the night playing
mortal kombat against the guys on the PS3. Then at midnight the
guys walked us to my house and bid us goodnight.
Standing on Tristan's doorstep holding a tray of my mom's famous
caramel apple crisp, my palms began sweating profusely.
"Everything's going to be fine." Anya rolled her eyes with a
reassuring smile as she stood next to me with a basket full of
biscuits. Mom and Dad were standing in front of us each with a dish
in their hand waiting for someone to come to the door.
"Come in, come in. Please make yourselves at home." Mrs. Evans
greeted us each with a half hug and kiss on the cheek when she
opened the door. Mainly, because we each had our hands full. Dinner
was delicious and complete success in my eyes. Everyone got along
and Mr. and Mrs. Evans treated me like I belonged to the family
already.
I was standing in the kitchen helping Mrs. Evans dry and put away
the dishes while Anya helped my Mom serve dessert to the guys. "I
just wanted to say..." She began in a whisper leaning in closer to
me. "I couldn't ask for a better mate for Tristan."
This caused my cheeks to become hot with embarrassment. Happiness
soaring into my heart from her acceptance. "Mr. Evans is happy too,
he thinks you'll make an exceptional Luna when the time comes." She
beamed rinsing off the last dish and handing it to me.
I was internally ecstatic that Mr. Evans accepted me and thought so
highly of me. He didn't say much at dinner, which sort of worried
me. I was afraid he was unhappy with me being there. Finishing up
dinner, Anya and I excused ourselves so that we could run back home
to change for tonight. We didn't want to go to her gig all dressed
up, totally not rocker chick gear.
We both threw on a pair of dark skinny jeans. Anya put on a
shredded up Rolling Stones t-shirt with a blank tank under and some
combat boots. I just pulled on a plain blue tank with my blue
knee-high chucks.
She changed her make-up to dark gray eye shadow and black eyeliner.
Anya also added a whole bunch of accessories, which consisted of
different silver and black bangles and necklaces. We met up with
the guys who were wearing the same outfits they had on at dinner.
Tristan in a black t-shirt with gray cargo shorts and Luke in jean
shorts with a white t-shirt, how original of them.
Heading out we drove the hour over to Rockport to The Bella Vita
Enoteca Lounge. The uncle of one of Anya's band mates owned the
place and booked them to perform. Arriving at the lounge, I was
surprised to see how packed it was. Irresistible Attraction must've
been a big thing around here.

Anya practically dragged us over there to introduce us to her band.
"Hey guys!" She shouted making her presence known. "I want you to
meet my best friend and our guys." A slight growl erupted from
behind me, Luke I'm supposing? Maybe he doesn't like the fact that
Anya's entire band consists of three guys.
"Lise, Tristan, and Luke, I'd like you to meet Ryan, Trent and
Bishop." She said pointing to each guy as she introduced
them.
"Hi." We all said at the same time. Luke’s was a bit more gruff
then the rest of us. He is not a happy camper. Just then an
announcement came over the microphone introducing the band. They
rushed to the stage and took their places. We watched as Anya and
her band rocked out to several different songs causing the crowd
there to go absolutely bonkers.
Tristan stood with his arms around each side of me, pressing close
to me while I was standing near one of the tables. His warmth
caused my body to go crazy against the beat of Bishop playing the
drums. I knew my friend was talented, but this is just outrageous!
She's rocking out like no one's business.
When they finished their set of five songs, Irresistible Attraction
made their way off the stage. Tristan and Luke were off at the bar
getting us something to drink. I was on my way over to congratulate
my best friend on a job well done when I saw a guy approach Anya
and grab her into a hug.
Recognizing him instantly from the back, I ran up and threw my arms
around him screaming wildly in a three-way hug. A snarl tore
through the air causing the three of us to freeze instantly on the
spot, as we all turned to face a very furious looking Tristan and
Luke glaring like they wanted to kill the guy sandwiched between
us. Uh-oh!

Chapter 19: Seriously?
"Lise, Anya, over here now!" Tristan's voice boomed over the loud
music of the band currently playing on stage. This caused me to
flinch and jump in surprise. An angry Tristan is not someone I
wanted to mess around with.
I can honestly say he scared the crap out of me. I've seen him
angry before, but never this infuriated. His jaw was clenched down
tightly and his hands fisted at his sides, ready to strike
something or shall I say someone.
’What the hell, where are our drinks
that they went over to the bar to get?’
I thought as
my throat became dry and I suddenly felt parched. Plus, whom does
he think he is ordering us around like that? He needs to take a
serious chill pill, I don't see what the big deal is.
We were just greeting someone we know, besides it isn’t like he
caught us making out on the dance floor with someone, seriously.
Unwinding ourselves from being tangled up in a three-way hug, we
cautiously took a step away in the direction of Tristan and
Luke.
Both our expressions mirrored a bit of guilt. Maybe we shouldn't
have done that considering the fact that wolves are very possessive
creatures by nature. As we stepped away, Tristan and Luke both
continued to glare viciously at him. Finally Tristan acknowledged
with a slight tilt of his head. "Troy."
What? How in the heck does Tristan know Troy? Troy is one of our
close friends from music camp. He's the final person making up our
trio of three musketeers.
Our little group is inseparable at camp each year, we've gotten
along since day one. I wonder what Troy's done that could possibly
merit that kind of death glare from the guys? At first glance, I
thought Troy was one of those guys who is high on himself.
Strolling onto the campgrounds with his chiseled jaw and sage green
eyes.
You'd think he was one of those arrogant pompous pricks that
treated girls like trash. Boy oh boy, did he prove me wrong. He
went around camp introducing himself to everyone and broke the
awkwardness by cracking jokes here and there.
We thought he was just trying to get in good with the girls so that
he could get in their pants. Use them and abuse them but, that was
so not the case. He truly did want to get to know people at camp.
Anya and I became friends first then the three of us were assigned
as a group to come up with a performance. What can I say, we
instantly clicked.
Troy's genuinely a well-rounded good guy who doesn't seem stuck up
or the player type. Always the comedian, he makes us laugh. Not to
mention he’s a kick ass guitar player. Teaches me right for always
judging a book by it's cover, look at Tristan. He's nothing what I
imagined him to be personality wise.