“I think I failed my science test,” Maddie sighed as she inspected her nail. We had been standing next to our locker for a few short minutes, waiting for the first class bell to ring. I wouldn’t have woken up any earlier than normal if it wasn’t for Maddie and Sara literally coming to my front door.

“Perhaps it’s because you never show up to class,” Sara responded, her eyes lifting from her sketchbook. Maddie just shrugged at Sara, putting her hands down.

Neither Maddie or Sara questioned me about what happened yesterday, they just let it rest. The bell rung suddenly, so we all pushed off of the lockers and made our way to English.

He was sitting there when we arrived. I could feel Dottie whimper, still extremely upset about the whole ordeal. For her, it hurt much more than it did for me. Though it still hurt far more than I ever thought it would.

I felt bad that Dottie had to be tied to me, having to endure him every single day. Still, I had to continue walking forward, acting like I was unfazed. Even though I’m pretty sure everyone could see there was something wrong.

I sat in my seat, letting my bag fall to the side of my chair. Connell glanced up to me, before calmly looking back at the papers he was working on. My stomach fluttered with anger over the fact that he seemed completely unconcerned over losing his one and only mate, while I was a complete wreck. Why didn’t it matter to him?

Pulling out my notebook, I tried to just forget about it, urging Dottie to just think about her favorite things, and not that demon. Dottie only groaned in response.

After the classroom had finally filled up, Connell called me up to the front of the room. I stood slowly, placing my pencil down with shaky hands. My body moved while my mind stayed stagnant, and soon enough I was at the front of the room. Connell finished whatever he was writing, before looking up at me.

I wanted to cry, but I only bit my lip, trying to show that it didn’t affect me. “But it does affect you,” Dottie bit back, causing me to shake my head so that I could concentrate on Connell.

I took in a breath as Connell collected a few papers, writing in perfect cursive the date that they were due at the top of them.

“These are the papers you missed yesterday, I suggest you read them through,” Connell told me, before handing them to me. He looked straight in my eyes, and a look of realization came over me.

He couldn’t not feel it. It was impossible. Mates would always feel when another was in pain, and if they were rejected, he would feel immense pain. Even if he acted like he didn’t, he couldn’t control it.

It comforted me in a way, knowing that he felt it to. Does that make me a sadist?

Clutching the papers to my chest, I didn’t say anything when I turned to walk to my seat. My mind was swirling, and through the entire lesson I couldn’t concentrate on anything but that.

He didn’t call on me. In fact, he called on about everyone else but me. Maybe he knew I wouldn’t be able to answer it, or that I was just going to make a fool of myself if I even tried. It didn’t matter, because it didn’t come to that.

When the class ended I shoved my papers messily in my bag, walking over to Maddie. She slowly put her papers in her bag, and I knew she was just stalling from having to go to math. I really didn’t want to stall, though, so I forced her to go quicker. With a groan, she complied, and we were on our way.

I looked at Connell once more before we left. As we passed, I saw him stop writing, but he didn’t look up. It seemed he was having an inner conflict. As soon as we stepped out of the door, his pen once again touched his paper, and he started writing again.

I tried to forget about him for the rest of the day, focusing on my school work instead. My teachers even commented that I was “Surprisingly tranquil”, unlike how I normally am. I took that as a compliment.

The day went by fast, and when we finished with school my friends begged me to go to Temptations Café, a local café, with them.

“I don’t drink coffee,” I reminded them, slouching down lower in my seat as they bantered on. I had a feeling they weren’t going to let me out of this.

“Maybe not, but they have hot chocolate- a thing you love!” Maddie tried to convince me, shaking my shoulder to get me to pay attention.

I thought about what my mother had said before, something about how I wasn’t allowed to go with Maddie or Sara today. Before I could clearly think about it, I decided to just forget about it, and make a decision.

I sighed, looking at them. Although Sara was more or less uninterested, Maddie’s bright face sealed the decision. I was really bad at saying no to Maddie.

As they both looked expectantly to me, I let a slight nod, which made Maddie clap in excitement.

The ride to our local coffee was short and sweet. Maddie had a car of her own, while Sara often took the bus. Maddie would drive Sara home in the afternoon, but Sara decided to ride with me to the actual shop.

I loved temptations café. It’s cozy interior, the friendly staff, and the constant lack of people. I’m pretty sure if they didn’t have an owner own was a big shot lawyer they wouldn’t be in business for very long. The owner had built the place for his wife, and when she died, he didn’t have the heart to shut it down.

Maddie says the coffee is mediocre, but with the only other option being over priced Starbucks, she said it would have to do. I personally didn’t care.

“Sara’s doing a contest,” Maddie said suddenly after we sat down. Sara hit her on the arm, and Maddie hissed as she hit Sara back. I rolled my eyes at them, sometimes they were such kids.

“It’s not that big of a deal,” Sara stammered when I looked at her to elaborate. Sara was never one to brag about anything, even though was the most talented out of all three of us. Her art had won her plenty of awards, but she never dwelled on it.

“Of course it’s a big deal- it’s a contest to get a full ride to Calarts!” Maddie interrupted Sara, waving her arms around to get her point across. Though Sara was an incredible artist, her parents would never entertain the idea of her going to an art school. They always persisted that she be like them, and join the world of pack politics. She’d rather jump off a bridge before she’d do that.

Sara just shrugged, taking a sip of her coffee. “It doesn’t really matter, I probably won’t even get past the first round,” Sara said quietly. Maddie just shook her head, grabbing tightly to Sara’s arm.

“N-O, I will not accept that. My Sara’s gonna go all the way,” Maddie couldn’t see Sara’s glare, but she could feel it.

I laughed at them both, and soon enough we were all laughing. It was nice just being able to talk, and forget about the awful few days I’ve been having. Letting the thoughts just drift away from me for a little bit.

We finished at the café about an hour later, Maddie and Sara leaving with a rush of caffeine, and me leaving with a rush of sugar. Maddie said she’d drive Sara home, and they left soon after.

The drive home was quiet, but I welcomed it. I had to much noise going on it my head, that just having pure silence seemed calming. Although if it was any other day, I wouldn’t. Personally, pure silence makes my skin crawl. But not today, not right now.

My parents cars were parked in the driveway when I got home. I could feel my stomach turn as I remembered that we were going to have dinner with him.

I didn’t feel prepared. I hated not feeling prepared, but I wasn’t even sure I could eat dinner with him. Dottie certainly didn’t think she could.

You sat through an entire class with him, I reminded myself as I opened my car door, slamming it shut soon after. My parents always told me I shut doors to hard.

I had to agree with myself on that notion. I had sat through an entire class with him talking the whole time. If I can do that, I’m sure I could sit through one dinner.

My parents were working hard preparing dinner when I walked in. They always went overboard when it came to visitors, not wanting to give anyone a bad idea. When we had pack parties, they would always host it, simply because they were afraid of them being messed up.

My mother looked up at me from the carrots she was cutting when I stepped past the door, her mouth going into a thin line. She put down the knife, and put her hands to her hips, giving me that mother stare.

“Ruby, what did I tell you yesterday?” She asked, fully expecting an answer. I gave a small, nervous smile, lifting my shoulders. She narrowed her eyes at me, taking a step away from the counter.

“Well, how about I remind you. Does this ring a bell-“

She then continued to repeat the entire conversation we had had the night before. A simple answer would have been her telling me that she said she wanted me to come home after school, but she decided to go through the entire analogue.

“Okay, mother, I get it. I’ll listen next time,” I put my hands up to show I surrendered, and she smiled gently.

Moving from behind the counter, she came to hug me. I wasn’t expecting it, but I didn’t shove her away.

“I know you will, because you’re grounded over the weekend,” My mom said, leaving a quick kiss on my temple before going back to her carrots. My mouth dropped as I watched her saunter off, trying to process what had happened.

“Isn’t that a bit much?” I asked, and she shook her head, cutting the carrots with a sort of spunk.

“Not when you add on the fact that you’ve failed to listen to what I’ve said for the passed week. Now Ruby, I know you don’t mean to be rebellious, but that doesn’t change the fact that you need to pay more attention!” My mother said sternly, before smiling as she went back to her carrots. My mother was never good at reprimanding anyone, but when she did, she made it count.

The only good thing that came out of it, was the Dottie got a good laugh. I wanted to tell her that that would mean I wouldn’t be able to shift, but I kept it to myself.

My father had been quiet the entire time, focusing on the onion he was attempting to cut. I got my cooking skills from him, which were null.

Leaving the kitchen, I ran up the stairs, and went straight to my room. Naturally, I stepped on things as I walked in, but within a few short seconds I was comforted with my heavy, warm covers.

If I could have sat there for longer, I would have, but soon the thought of seeing Connell once again dragged me out of bed. I figured if I was going to be seeing him, I might as well look presentable, in attempt to look like I’m not dying inside.

I fixed up my makeup, making sure to layer on my concealer. I always looked like a mess if I didn’t. When I was done, I put on some jeans and an oversized sweatshirt, which went to my thighs. I knew my mother would be angry if I didn’t look somewhat presentable in front of guests.

I left my room soon after that, running down the creaky stairs to get to the kitchen. My parents were finally plating the food, and my brother was setting the table.

“You look nice Ruby,” My mother commented when I joined them, but smacked my head away from the pasta that was just calling for me on the counter. I sighed dramatically, leaving my parents to go to the living area. I collapsed on one of the couches, closing my eyes.

I was allowed to stay like that for a few minutes, listening to my parents walk around and mindlessly say things to each other. Suddenly, there was a loud knock at the door, causing my eyes to snap open.

“Ruby, go open the door,” My mother called to me, and I stifled a groan. I listened to her, though, and rolled off the couch.

When I got to the front door, I just stared at it, mulling over what to say once I opened the door. Using my werewolf hearing, I listened to his breathing, and when I heard him lift his arm to knock, I opened the door.