"So you're going to take me back to your pack?" I ask.
"If it's what you want, I'll bring you back."
I nod, drifting off to my bed, sitting down. If he does one bad thing to me, I'll give up. I'm going to promise myself that. I'll go back to his pack to see if everything has been genuine as he says. Her, I'll talk with the hallway ghost as well, I think. Theresa and Gail also. And his Beta, Will. I have a right to investigate.
"Okay, then I want to go back," I tell him, feeling secure with my sudden plan.
He nears me, sitting down beside me. "You're sure?"
"Yes, I'm sure."
My eyes get knotted with his and I find myself in a trance. Internally, I'm yelling at myself to not give in, so when he draws close, I look away. If I give in now, I won't be able to make a fair judgment.
"We'll go in the morning," I say confidently. "I'm going to need time to get some things packed and say goodbye to my Mother."
James nods.
Satisfied, I also nod. "I'm going to get some things together now. You can lay down. How will we be getting back?"
"I brought a car this time. People know I'm here," James says.
"No sneaking away?"
"Well, now that my father's gone, I'm not worried about causing suspicion. He's a smart man. He's not afraid to question."
"Okay," I take a deep breath, "get some sleep. I'll wake you in the morning."
I grab my bag—the same one I used the first time—and I start to fill it with clothes. Once that is full, I grab a smaller one to hold toiletries and other odds and ends. The diary fits in there nicely, and I top it off with different books and my iPod. I lose track of time and find it to be two in the morning when the bags are stuffed full.
My eyes wander to my bed to see James in a deep sleep. He looks relaxed, less intimidating. I close the windows and cover him, but I don't gain the courage to get in with him. This isn't like last time. This is different. Instead, I close the bathroom door behind me and lock it. Once naked, I turn on the shower and let the heat warm up my toes. The small space fogs up quickly to the point where it is hard to breathe, but I don't get out for another twenty minutes. As my head starts to hurt and the room spins, I shut off the water and towel myself before opening the door.
James is still there, asleep.
The chilled air of my bedroom clears my head, and I slip on clean pajamas. For a minute or two, I contemplate sleeping next to him but eventually end up in the guest room.
I don't sleep much. I wake up many times throughout the remainder of the night and find it difficult to fall back asleep. Once the sun begins to rise in the window, I get up as if I had slept through it all seamlessly. There is some odd energy fueling me. Possibly excitement. Possibly excitement due to the fact that my mother is going to not only come in contact with James but hear that things between us are not in ruins. It is my strike back to her plethora of hits on my role as a Luna. Well, I'm not actually a Luna, but it will still feel good.
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