Outsiders
3

“Ready for dinner?” I asked because I definitely was.

“No room service?” she said with a faint smile.

“I’ll protect you.” I said grinning.

“You and who else?” she muttered.

“We’re just going across the complex to the big dining room where everybody grabs a plate and serves themselves. Nothing real scary to see.” I insisted.

“Ok.” She said, getting up from where she was sitting on my bed.

I was sitting in my window set. I walked over to the door and looked out.

“Coast is clear.” I said, “No one in the hall.”

She walked over and followed me out. I hadn’t expected anyone in my out of the way corridor anyway. I could hear voices further down the line. When Katelyn did, she grabbed my hand in a sweaty death grip. I just gave her a grin and kept walking. People started passing us going in all directions. I suspected some had already eaten and were headed for other fun. A lot were going toward the dining room. Katelyn was trying to look at everyone. So far, all I saw were on two feet; so, no panic needed.

We went into the big dining room and got in line. It was loud with all the different conversations. I looked around and it seemed like the girls hadn’t gotten back from their shopping trip yet.

“It just looks like a college dorm cafeteria.” Katelyn said, “But nicer.”

“Have to take your word for that. Never been to college.” I said, handing her a plate.

“Where do you pay?”

“We don’t.” I said, “This is home for all of us.”

“Somebody has to pay for the food.” She said.

“Yeah. I don’t understand how all that works.” I said, “Other than we don’t rob banks or anything.” I added laughing.

“So, you eat whatever you want?”

“Seconds if you’re hungry but I always hold out for dessert. Unless it’s taco night. I’d rather eat extra tacos than those honey dessert things.” I said scooping a big square of lasagna.

“How do you stay so skinny?”

“I don’t know. I, um, like to go swimming at the waterfall.” I said. I really liked to go hunting or running but that was as a wolf. Currently a forbidden convo topic.

“That sounds like fun.” She said heaping salad on her plate though she had taken some lasagna.

I was getting three pieces of garlic bread myself. I preferred that over rabbit food though rabbit as food wasn’t bad in my wolf’s book. I spied a couple of empty seats and led her to that table. As we sat, the guys cleared off saying they were headed out for a touch football game.

“While you were coming back with my clothes, I saw those books you were reading.” Katelyn said.

Uh-oh.

“Which one?” I said. I had a whole stack next to my bed.

“What was it. Forever Mate and Destiny Calls and In His Eyes.”

I laughed.

“A couple of the girls gave them to me to read.” I said. It was true. “They’re trying to convince me that there’s this thing Were experience where there is one true love out there for each female and once you replace this mate, you are linked forever. It’s like falling into their eyes and you can’t look at anyone else. I keep telling them, what if my true love is in Abu Dhabi. Do they mean I will be in Denver one day and he will be traveling through and we will meet and pow! Instant love connection? No. I don’t believe it. So, they keep handing me these books out of the library to read trying to convince me.”

“But, it’s just a Were thing? Right?”

Oops! Backpedal. Fast.

“Well, there’s that problem, too. They just think if it could happen for them, it should happen for everyone. I am not waiting on that train.” I said.

“I don’t believe in it either.” Katelyn said.

“Cassie! Who’s your new friend?” Janis said, putting a plate of salad next to me.

“Hi, Janis. This is Katelyn. She is new to the house.” I said. “Katelyn. This is Janis and Marci. They have just returned from a shopping trip.”

“Back in a flash to tell you all about it.” Marci said.

They both went back to get more food.

“Are they? You know?” Katelyn said.

“Oh, yeah.” I said, “But don’t worry. They will definitely stay on two feet. They just got manis and if they shifted, they’d lose that new nail color they just spent time and money getting today.”

“Why’d they get it?” Katelyn laughed.

“To look good for the dance, I guess.” I said.

Janis and Marci swooped back and filled any conversation space with every detail about their fabulous (to them) shopping trip to Denver. They were both thrilled with the new dresses they had gotten for the dance even though neither knew for sure who would invite them. I had no doubt they would be invited. They lived up on the third floor and were higher status than someone like me. They wanted Katelyn to come ogle their purchases and accessories. She agreed and I begged off. I’d rather lose a thousand rounds of Kill or Be Killed than look at party dresses. As long as Katelyn felt calm enough to handle the thrill of that excitement, more power to her.

“You think you’re okay going with them?” I asked when they went for dessert.

“Yeah. They remind me of some friends I had in college.” Katelyn said, smiling.

“You are perfectly safe here, Katelyn.” I said, “No one is going to bother you. Even if you see someone on four feet, they’ll just walk on by. Honest.”

“There could be a wolf, someone on four feet inside here?” she asked, looking startled.

“Yeah. It’s home. I mean, it’s unusual but not unheard of. Wolf forms are not welcome in the dining rooms or the kitchen for shedding reasons but anywhere else isn’t forbidden.”

“Shedding.” She giggled. “Oh, that’s funny. Guess you have to think of these things, huh?”