It was another fortnight before Ylva saw Franklin again. She
was in her human form and had gone into town with a couple of friends. She caught
sight of him out of the corner of her eye and did a double take. He was on his
own walking through the town square.
He looked utterly gorgeous. His dark hair hung untidily in
his eyes and he kept pushing it back whilst he chatted on his mobile phone to
someone. He was laughing about something and her heart skipped a beat as she
watched him.
He disappeared into the book shop.
“I really need some new books for school next term.” She
quickly improvised. “I’ll catch up with you guys.” She shot off, leaving her
bewildered mates behind.
“We’ll be in the Queens Centre in the food hall.” Her best
friend, Orianna, called after her.
Ylva waved her hand in acknowledgement and carried on.
She arrived at the book store a little out of breath and fleetingly
wondering just what the hell she was thinking of.
She spotted him over by the autobiographies.
Taking a deep breath, she tried to sound as though she was
completely surprised to see him. “Franklin?” She asked.
He whirled around and his eyes settled on her. He looked
surprised to see her, but then the smile that broke out over his face was
unmistakably one of pure delight.
“Ylva!” he exclaimed. “Hi – where did you come from?” he
looked behind her, clearly wondering if she was alone or with other members of
the Pack.
“I’m in town with a couple of girlfriends from college.” She
explained hurriedly.
“College?” Franklin’s smile faded a little. “Oh, I thought…how
old are you then?”
“I’m seventeen.” She said. Her smile faltering a little as
it registered with her the reason he was asking. “Why, how old are you?”
“I’m sixteen – I’m in my last year at school though.” He
reddened.
“Oh.” She tried not to sound disappointed. “You look older.”
She smiled up at him.
Franklin grinned. “Thanks – is it alright to say that you
look younger?”
She grinned at him. “Sure.”
“Have you got to run, or can I buy you a coffee?”
“Coffee would be fantastic – there’s a cafe on the third
floor.”
“Cool – let’s go.” Franklin put his hand out automatically. Ylva
looked at his offered hand for a split second before she took a deep breath and
thought, what the hell? She grabbed
his hand in hers and grinned up at him. This was turning out to be the best
day...
*
“So what are you studying at college?” Franklin asked as he
passed her a cappuccino.
“Oh, thanks.” She took the cup and smiled. “Um, Psychology,
Sociology and Politics.”
Franklin looked at her impressed. “Wow – are you planning on
University too then?”
She nodded. “Yeah – I’m not sure where yet – the pack elders
don’t like us to go far – for obvious reasons – we can be a danger to ourselves
in strange places.”
Franklin nodded. “Yeah, I guess.” He murmured looking at
her.
“What?” Ylva asked.
Franklin shook his head. “Sorry – I’m just really curious as
to what it’s like growing up where everyone is a werewolf.”
“Not everyone is.” She said. “There are some half-breeds
amongst us.”
“Really?” Franklin frowned, that didn’t sound quite right –
his mother was convinced that humans were about as welcome as a plague of
rats... “How’s that then?”
Ylva shrugged. “People don’t always fall for someone in the
same village as them, do they? I mean – you wouldn’t necessarily expect to
marry someone you go to school with – it’s the same in Bernside. Sometimes
ordinary people fall in love with the werewolves and their offspring don’t
always carry the gene.”
“Yeah, that makes perfect sense – it was just something my
mother said.” He frowned.
“Your mother,” Ylva faltered slightly but then taking a deep
breath she continued, “Franklin, can I aske you something?”
He nodded.
“Is her name Stella?”
Franklin raised an eyebrow. “Yeah it is – why?”
“She ran off with a human that she had been forbidden to
pursue.”
“Yeah, I did know that – she told me that much at least – and
she also said she was not welcome to return – she might have also mentioned to
me that I should stay away from you.” He gave her a crooked grin.
Ylva sighed. “Yup, I was told to stay away from you too.”
She grinned at him ruefully. “We’re not doing so very well on that are we?”
Franklin grinned back, taking a sip of his drink. “Guess
not.”
“So, have you got a girlfriend?” Ylva could have cut her own
tongue out of mouth for that question – where
the hell did that come from?
Franklin turned red again. “Um, actually yeah I do – her
name’s Janey.”
“Janey? That’s a nice name – have you been seeing her for
long?” There I go again – somebody stop
me!
“A few months – yeah.” He was beginning to look
uncomfortable.
“I’m sorry – I have a terrible knack for asking inappropriate
questions!” Ylva smiled at him.
“Nah, it’s okay. Janey’s great. She’s really pretty and
smart and everything.”
“But?” She held her breath – please tell me there’s a but. She thought.
Franklin looked confused. “There isn’t a ‘but’.” He said
looking completely nonplussed.
“Oh, I’m sorry.” Ylva looked heartily embarrassed.
“Don’t be. I’m not being a good boyfriend. I keep thinking
about someone else.” He swirled the remains of his frothy milk around in his
cup as he spoke, his eyes averted from hers.
When he finally looked up at her, Ylva’s heart skipped a
beat. He was most definitely interested in her and she just knew that it was
she he was talking about.
“Is she a werewolf?” Ylva asked.
“Who – my girlfriend or the girl
I can’t stop thinking about?” He went very red.
“Your girlfriend.” Breathed Ylva, leaning closer towards him
across the table.
“No, she’s a psychic witch.”
“Oh dear God.” Ylva slumped back in her seat and felt the
colour drain from her face. “I really shouldn’t be interfering. I’d better go.”
She stood up.
Franklin looked up at her, his face a picture of complete
and utter confusion. “What are you on about?”
“I shouldn’t be here. I shouldn’t even be talking to you,
never mind running out on my mates just to be with you. We’re not supposed to
be hanging out together.”
“Why not?” Franklin asked, looking completely bewildered, “–
what’s so wrong in it?”
Ylva swallowed uncomfortably. “I really like you Franklin – and
not only because you rescued me. I really like you anyway. I have done for a while.
But we really should stay away from each other though if our families aren’t
comfortable.”
Franklin nodded, looking completely miserable about the
whole thing. “I guess.” He mumbled.
Ylva got up and gazed at him for a moment as a feeling of
utter disappointment flooded through her knowing that she had to leave. Feeling
as confused and upset as Frank also seemed to be, she left the cafe, deciding
that she needed someone to talk to that was older, wiser and more importantly,
usually on her side no matter what...
Chapter 6
Janey was sitting in her bedroom trying her best to keep her
mind on her Science homework. It was only revision, so she wasn’t concentrating
particularly well and found her mind wandering into Franklin’s.
He hadn’t wanted to come around this morning, saying he had
some shopping to do in town.
With it being the Christmas holidays the week after next,
she didn’t want to pry into his thoughts for fear of finding out what he was
buying her for Christmas, but she was so paranoid about him and that girl from
the woods, she simply couldn’t help it.
She let her mind drift and suddenly she was hearing a
conversation that she really had no business listening to at all...
“So, have you got a girlfriend?”
Janey waited, holding her breath for the answer.
“Um, actually yeah I do – her name’s Janey.” He sounded
cagey. Janey frowned. Now why would he
sound like that?
“Janey? That’s a nice name – have you been seeing her for
long?”
She’s a bit nosey
isn’t she? Janey bristled.
“A few months – yeah.”
Janey grimaced at his answer, but at least he wasn’t denying
having a girlfriend, that was something at least...
“I’m sorry – I have a terrible knack for asking
inappropriate questions!”
Damn right you do!
“Nah, it’s okay. Janey’s great. She’s really pretty and
smart and everything.”
Janey allowed herself a small smile at that.
“But?”
Janey’s jaw dropped. What
a cheek! What does she mean ‘But’?
“There isn’t a ‘but’.”
Janey heaved a sigh of relief. He really sounded confused by
her questions – and who wouldn’t – she’s
trying to put words in his mouth!
“Oh, I’m sorry.”
And so you should be!
Though Janey. His reply however had her feeling completely deflated.
“Don’t be. I’m not being a good boyfriend. I keep thinking
about someone else.”
She tuned out of his mind. Her heart was beating fast in her
chest and she had gone hot all over. He kept thinking about her.
Janey felt her eyes growing hot with tears. She knew he was
interested in Ylva in the same way that he used to be interested in her. She
was losing him. She knew it. She just didn’t know quite what to do about it.
She decided to do what she always did when she needed to
clear her head. She went down the stairs and got the dog ready for a long
walk...
