Seduced by My Childhood Sweetheart’s Brother
Chapter 17

17- Black and blue

This time the suit is plain black. It looks better and Bellamy seems happier. He is wearing a black shirtunderneath. He shrugs at me.

“Well?” he asks. I consider a moment.

“It’s very… black.” I observe. Bellamy raises an eyebrow.

“It’s a black suit.” he points out.

“I can see that, but… it’s just… I don’t know. It’s better. But not right.” I turn to Charlie for assistance.He is nodding along with me.

“She’s right. I have an idea.” He stands and vanishes yet again. When he returns he is holding twomore shirts. A plain white one and a maroon one.

“Try these with it.” He hands them to Bellamy. Bellamy sighs in frustration and returns to the dressingroom. My phone vibrates in my bag and I pull it out. It’s a message from Megan. She has sent me thephoto of me in my dress that she took earlier.

Megan- Send me mine!

I text her the photo of her dress and she sends back her thanks. I flick back and forth between the twophotos. Happy to have some kind of evidence that I got to spend the day with my friend. Charlieglances over my shoulder and sees the picture of Megan.

“Pretty girl and that’s a nice dress. Is that the sister? They look alike.” He asks. I nod.

“Yep, she and I went dress shopping today.” I tell him proudly. Bellamy steps out again wearing themaroon shirt this time. Charlie shakes his head and waves him back to the change room before turningback to me.

“Did you get a dress too darling?” I nod and flick to the photo. He leans over to look at it

eagerly. He gasps.

“Oh my, I know what we need!” he stands and dashes off. Bellamy emerges again in the white shirt. Heis looking at me curiously. I shrug, I don’t know what just happened. Charlie comes running back withanother shirt. A blue one this time. The same blue as

my dress.

“No, the white is terrible, you look like a pissed off penguin. Quick, put this one on!” He demands.Bellamy glowers and takes the shirt. Clearly he is not enjoying himself. Charlie plops down next to meagain.

3

‘Now you two can match.” he says proudly.

“Uhm… Charlie. Bellamy and I aren’t together, you know.” I inform him. Charlie just shrugs.

“That doesn’t mean that shade of blue won’t be perfect on both of you.” He waves away my objections.Bellamy steps out of the changing room and I have to admit that Charlie was right. The blue looksgreat. The dark colour suits Bellamy but isn’t too harsh the way the plain black outfit was, Charliestands and claps his hands together happily.

“Perfect, just perfect!” he declares. Bellamy glances at me.

“What do you think Ryann?” I nod my agreement.

“I like it.” I confirm. A ghost of a smile spreads across his face.

“Does that mean I can change back now?” he questions.

“Of course handsome. Go ahead. I’ll pick out a tie for you and ring it all up.” Charlie promises. Hefetches a black tie to match the suit and when Bellamy returns back in his normal clothes, Charliefinishes the sale. We make our way to the exit.

“Well, it has been a pleasure. I hope to see you both again sometime soon!” Charlie gushes. Bellamygrimaces and I laugh.

“Thank you Charlie.” I really appreciate how much Charlie clearly enjoys his job. Sure, he was probablya bit too open in ogling his customer, but I guess he knows what looks good. Clearly he is living hisbest life. Actually, he was pretty good company. I wonder if he would think I’m weird if I stopped by tosay hi next time I’m in the area. Wow, I make one friend and suddenly I feel like I can talk to people andsocialise. Megan is definitely doing wonders for my

17- Black and blue

confidence.

Bellamy looks exhausted.

“That was way too stressful.” He complains.

“You only had to go to one store. It took less than half an hour.” I remind him. He shudders.

“Megan had better be happy. Hey, what did he mean when he said we would match? Your hair?” hequestions. I shake my head.

“The dress Megan helped me pick out is that same blue.” Bellamy raises an eyebrow.

“Oh? Alright then. I guess I’m not really surprised you’re wearing blue.” he mutters. I ignore it.

“So now what? It’s almost four. What time is Megan meeting Tristan?” I ask.

“Five thirty. So we have time for an early dinner before we go follow them.” He decides. Well that was alittle bossy, but it’s a good idea so I don’t say anything.

“How do you feel about Indian food?” He questions. I light up.

“I adore Indian food.” It only takes a few minutes for us to reach the restaurant and get our food. So fartoday, Bellamy hasn’t actually been too awful, which is a nice change, so I decide to attempt some kindof conversation and hope this dinner goes better than the last one.

“I still don’t really understand why you wanted my help picking out a suit. Charlie did most of the work.”I point out. Bellamy shrugs.

“I didn’t want to have to talk to the shop assistant more than absolutely necessary. You helped keephim occupied.” he explains.

“Why didn’t you want to talk to him?”

“He’s not a Shifter.” he shrugs. My temper flares

1. up.

17- Black and blue

“I am completely regretting helping you right now. Do you really think Shifters are so much. better thaneveryone else? Because if so then I think I’m going to have to replace a way to help. Megan on my own.”Bellamy looks frustrated again.

“I don’t think we’re better than everyone else. I do think it is best if we keep to ourselves.”

“Because you think you’re better than us.” I add.

NO

he practically growls out the words.

“It’s just better that way. Non–Shifters think they can accept us, but the reality is we are part animal andthat freaks people out. We have different culture and rules, different instincts and most people can’tcope with that. They fear us, or are disgusted by it. They don’t understand us and so they judge us bytheir standards which just doesn’t work.” Bellamy pauses and meets my eyes.

“You got upset after sharing just one meal with me.” he points out. I glare at him.

“And yet here I am the very next day having a second meal with you. All it took was a little explainingand I’m trying. Maybe you should let other people have that chance too.” Bellamy

shakes his head.

“You still see us as just unusual humans. You haven’t seen any of us shift” he points out. I am totallyconfused. Why should that make a difference? I already know he’s a Shifter. Shifters turn into animals.It’s not like it would be a surprise.

“I don’t understand.” I admit. Bellamy sighs.

1

“Some things are easy to accept until they’re right in front of you.” I lean forward onto the

table.

“This entire discussion is exhausting. And stop assuming you have any idea what it is that I think of youor any other Shifter. I resent that you think my opinion of Shifters would change based on what theylook like at the time.” What does Bellamy look like when he shifts? I’m actually rather curious. I doubthe would show me, but maybe I could ask Megan about it. Although I’m not sure I’m subtle enough toask without being incredibly obvious. A loud giggle at a nearby table catches my attention. A teenagecouple are on a date and the girl ist

17- Black and blue

laughing as what is sure to be some silly comment the guy made. Bellamy follows my line of sight tosee what I’m looking at.

“That’s cute.” he comments with a slight smile. I guess Megan was right when she said Bellamy wasthe romantic type. I shake my head.

“They’re doomed. There’s a black thread between them. This is clearly not going to end well for them.”I sigh. How depressing. Bellamy shrugs.

“That may be so, but right now they’re happy.” he sounds like he is trying to cheer me up. It’s odd, but Iappreciate the effort. I look away from the teens and give him a half–smile.

“I guess you’re right.” We continue our meal in a relatively comfortable silence.