0 Likes
28 Posts
Kyra
33
Werewolf
Loner
|
Post by Cal Hunt on Aug 5, 2021 3:07:34 GMT
PAIGE: The night was young...Ish. It was after seven, Friday night, and was supposed to be spent in Portland, with Louis. Was Paige in Portland? Celebrating being cleared to do light exercise? No. She was stuck in Xanders Cross, because Louis had suddenly acquired four kids the same day they were supposed to leave. To renew their twin bonding time of getting their getting laid party on.
Paige had called him to figure out when he was picking her up, and he had to break the news to her. She was already dressed and ready to, and she had to feel the crashing waves of disappointment. It was fine, it was cool. She could just...Celebrate elsewhere. Her celebration was going to be turned into a pity party, but she didn’t care. She put too much effort into her appearance (the first time she’d really dressed up in over a year) to let it go to waste.
She’d let her hair down in it’s natural waves, tying the top part up into a top knot. Her makeup was relatively light, except for her eyes. Doing a smokey eye that made the green of her eyes really pop,and her lips were painted a deep red. Because it was still summer and the nights were warm, she wore a loose dark grey tank top, her dog tags tucked securely under the soft fabric. She had a black lacy bralette underneath the tank top, and wore black shorts that showed off her nice shaved legs, and she topped the outfit off with black combat boots (of course) and leather jacket.
Her parents were under the assumption she and Louise were going to Portland, and so she’d taken her backpack with her, not wanting to tell them there was a change of plans. She hid the backpack in the garage before she left and then had walked to the place where she’d be spending the rest of her evening.
It was probably the one place Paige avoided when she came home, mostly because everyone she ever went to school with and hated frequented. The only good bar in Xander’s Cross. Her mood was already sour so she wasted no time entering the joint. Relatively clean, it was better then some of the bars she’d been in in Texas. It was already rowdy and crowded for a Friday at this hour with the jukebox blaring music. She took a moment to glance around, breathing in the various scents, she noted most were human, and a few mythics, but none that made her want to turn and run.
The bar wasn’t as crowded, something she was thankful for, and she slid up onto a seat. Smile at the bartender, Joe, when he spotted her. At Least one face she didn’t hate. After a brief hello, and small talk while Joe got her her whisky, she opened a tab and then brought the glass up to her lips. Content to let the pity party begin.
CAL: Friday nights were usually spent with Blake, at least for dinner. Cal wasn't really one for going out, but he often got the occasional itch and went to the bar or sometimes rode around until something called to him. He offered to bring his friend along this evening, but Blake was content with staying at home.
The telltale sound of that grumbling bike grew louder with each second he got closer to the bar, the ground rumbling as it went idle and finally turned off. Pulling the helmet off, he ran a hand through his hair before making his way inside to see some of the usual faces that often haunted the place on Fridays. He nodded and waved to a few guys he knew, even lightly jabbing one in the shoulder before making his way to the bar. They asked if he wanted to play pool, but he might just be relaxing for an hour. He'd let them know.
Shrugging out of that leather jacket, a million scents assaulted his nose the further in he walked, but it wasn't until he got to the bar did one stand out to him. Ordering a beer from Joe, his attention drifted sidelong down the bar to spot her at the other end. Dark eyes slowly trailed up the length of those long legs, then higher up to find her profile. Well now. This was a little unexpected.
When he got his drink, he drifted his way closer to lean forward against the bartop, offering her that trademark grin. "Fancy seeing you here, Anderson. Got a hot date?" Oh no, he could guess what she was doing in a place like this. This wasn't the place you went to on a date. This was where you went to scratch a particular itch, or simply drink away your sorrow.
PAIGE: Paige hadn’t been sitting there long when she heard what sounded like a rumbling bike from outside. There was so much noise inside though, it was too hard to pinpoint the exact sound, and she just continued to sit there casually, sipping her drink. She let her eyes wander to the various corners of the bar, almost considering moving to a corner table if she was able to snag one, but by the look of things she was stuck at the bar.
She resisted the urge to reach up and rub the back of her neck as the hair on the back of it began to prickle and stand up. The noise almost began to get too much, but she told herself to chill. She was home, she knew these people. She was fine. Thankfully, a distraction occurred as she caught a particular scent, and she turned her head just in time to see an all too familiar grin that was certainly growing on her. It was a damn shame she felt a sudden wave of disappointment at seeing Cal. Not because she was expecting anyone else, but from her excitement at finally being cleared to go on a portland trip that he’d clearly seen, she was a bit put out that he was seeing her, well...Not in portland but this hole in the wall.
Still, he was a good distraction to the noise, and gave her something to focus on rather then her self pity at the moment. A corner of her mouth curled up into a smirk as she turned on the barstool to face him. She crossed her legs and leaned against the bar, resting her arm on top of the bar counter. “You could say that,” She took a sip of the whisky and then sucked on her teeth before setting the whisky down. “You familiar with Jack Daniels? He’s a great catch.” She asked. Her smirk faded as did the mirth in her eyes at her attempt at a joke. She turned curious then as she canted her head to the side and eyed the doc. She shouldn’t have been surprised, but she was a bit. “And are you here for a hot date Doc?”
CAL: Damn, she smelled good, didn't she? Maybe it was the different atmosphere and not the sterile clinic, or the overpowering scent of food at the diner. Sure, there were many things going on in the bar, but he couldn't help but note the difference in her. And that difference was disappointment in something. Wasn't she supposed to be going away this weekend? And how was that smell appealing to him? Maybe he was just in a decent mood for once.
Cal chuckled at her attempt at a joke, but he could see the underlying meaning behind her reply. "Eh, yeah...he's alright," he commented back, waving a hand in a dismissive gesture before reaching over for his own drink. Bringing the bottle to his lips as he continued to lounge there against the counter, he knew what was coming next. And yet, he still offered a roll of his eyes and a quiet laugh. "I don't do dates," he told her immediately, placing the bottle down once again. "Just felt like getting out...for once. And speaking of-" Those dark eyes narrowed in slight curiosity. "Aren't you supposed to be...not here?"
Maybe it was none of his business, but he only knew minor details simply because he was her doctor. He'd cleared her to be able to go and have fun...and this wasn't what he imagined. But hey, to each their own, he supposed.
PAIGE: Of course you don’t, because you like to be alone don’t you? Paige wanted to say. In fact she nearly blurted it out, the words on the tip of her tongue, but she managed to keep the impulse in check. “Neither do I.” She said instead. Wasn’t that the honest to god truth. It was a sad, sad reality to admit that she had never actually been on a date before. With Greg, they had to keep it secret do the conflict of interest, and before then? Well… before then there was no one but a string of one night stands who only have one thing on the mind and it wasn’t pursuing a relationship with her. At the rate Paige was going she’d just end up as the cool Aunt. No one saw her worth more than that.
Aaaaaaaand cue the self pity. She brought the glass up to her lips, glancing at Cal over the rim as she sipped it. She knew that question was coming. A small smile spread across her face as she set the glass down and mindlessly began to turn in with her fingertips. “My brother had to cancel.” She said. “Did you know,” she leaned towards him a bit in a conspiratory manner. “He’s a foster parent, and he just got four new puppies today, for emergency placement.” She explained. The play on words were something she hoped he’d pick up on. Louis certainly had his hands full with his new brood. “Night out and four kids don’t really mix well when it’s their first night.” She sighed. She didn’t hold it against Louis. What he did was something not everyone could do. It took a good heart to take the type of kids he did, and unlike some people, he actually had good intentions and didn’t exploit the system. Those kids were damn lucky to have him, and by the middle of next week, the whole Anderson pack would be upon them.
“So,” she picked her glass up and lifted it in a small toast towards Cal. “I’m here,” She brought the glass to her lips again, noticing the imprint of red lipstick she’d left on it already. “Celebrating solo.” She declared before taking a hearty gulp. The amber fluid burned down her throat, but she welcomed the sensation.
CAL: If she had spoken what was on her mind, he would have flat out told her that yes, he did like to be alone. For the most part. It wasn’t an everyday all day occurrence- he was out in society now, was he not? And he actually knew a few people here, not that he was hanging out with them at the moment. For whatever reason, he was sitting there talking with the snarky, depressed blonde.
Although he didn’t have to lean in (as he would have been able to hear her from clear across the bar), he did so anyway; his brow shooting up in surprise. ”Four?” he echoed. Holy shit, just gaining four kids would have been enough, but four wolfish ones? If he was understanding her little play on words correctly. ”Wow, well…” Cal swallowed a sudden lump in his throat as he leaned away, grabbing for his beer again. ”Good for him.” That last bit was murmured to himself, despite the fact she would still be able to hear it, the bottle brought back to his lips for a swig.
That dark gaze had drifted away for a moment before they squinted and he forced some humor back onto his face, even if it wasn’t the same as before. ”Sucks for you, I suppose.” Cal spun around in his seat so that he could lean his elbows back against the bartop, surveying the patrons in mild curiosity. ”You still could have gone, though. I’d imagine it’s better than this place.” Not that he would really know.
PAIGE: A small smile appeared on her face as Cal murmured. “He gets along with kids more than adults, he can handle it.” She said with a small shrug. Out of the Andersons, Louis was the black sheep. In more ways than one. Where Jace, Tuck, and Paige were all the more outgoing extroverted types, there was little bookworm Lou. He liked his nerdy things and keeping to himself, and then there was his big dark secret that wasn’t hers to tell. Only a few of their closest friends knew, and as far as Paige knew, she was the only one in the family that actually knew her twin was gay.
She sat her glass back on the bar top as she caught Cal squinting at her, and she gasped in surprise. “Wooooooooow, thanks doc.” She said in mock offense. A small huff of laughter came out as she turned in her seat along with him. Leaning back on the bar so it dug into the middle of her back, she leaned her elbows back to rest on the bar, and folded her hands, letting them rest on her stomach. Mimicking his posture, but she kept her legs crossed. She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. “True, but I’d be alone.” There was a small curl at the corner of her mouth as her green eyes looked around at the bar patrons, trying to see if there was anyone she deemed possibly worth talking to. “And you know my opinion on being alone.” She said with a slight sing-song voice. Rolling her head to the side so she could look at him with a raised brow.
Other than delve into another speech about him being with his own kind, she decided to spare him the torture of what had happened back at the diner. “Besides, it wouldn’t feel right without Lou.” She admitted. It was an Anderson twin thing. Something they did together, and neither of them would want to do it without the other. “Soooo,” She gestured out onto the bar floor, letting her hand move through the air as if she was showing up off some high end bar with all it’s patrons and not a small town hole in the wall. “I’m here celebrating. Praying to god no one from highschool recognizes me.” She said with a huff and shake of her head. Not that she had a bad rep in highschool, Paige had been friends with just about anyone worth being friends with, but especially the underdogs. She had seen the inside of Principle Wilson’s office more times than she’d like for getting overly mouthy in class.
CAL: At Paige’s comment about her brother being able to handle it, he chuckled lowly and held that beer bottle up in a toast. ”All the power to him.” Because he certainly wouldn’t be able to handle it. Even if his past hadn’t turned into a nightmare, four werewolf kids was a lot, no matter the ages. Louis had to be a far stronger person than he was and ever could be.
That was a side of his life he told himself he would never see again. He never wanted to risk it again...
The laugh that followed was a little more genuine with her fake offense, and all he bothered to do was shrug a shoulder as he took another sip of the beer. Those dark eyes of his were also scanning the patrons of the bar for no particular reason because he wasn’t on the prowl like the female beside him. He just wanted to get out of his apartment, which was a rarity unless it was with Blake. In all honesty, he didn’t know what brought him out here this evening. Perhaps it was pure boredom.
Looking sidelong at her, he seemed amused by her comment. ”But, this is your hometown, isn’t it? Something tells me you weren’t exactly the quiet type in high school, so…” He figured anyone would recognize her. His grin was cheeky, because the teasing was just coming a lot easier now. ”Just, whatever you do, don’t let it get back to Blake. I really don’t wanna hear his bullshit about having a ‘cheating girlfriend’ right now.” He tilted his head back with a roll of his eyes in soft exasperation. The man was insufferable. Cal’s plan was to let him believe this nonsense for maybe another week or two before breaking the news to him that it “simply didn’t work out.” Easy and done, right?
PAIGE: Paige was watching one of the pool games taking place when Cal subtly told her to be careful with whoever she decided to sleep with that night, and she couldn’t help the snort of laughter that came out as her shoulders shook. She glanced at him still laughing. Oh he had no idea. Amusement was clear in her eyes as she turned more to face him, putting most of her weight on one hip, and she flinched. Forgetting that it was her bad hip as the flare of pain went through it.
She turned her hips back, but turned her torso instead, putting her weight mostly on her elbow. “Lemme let you in on a secret Hunt,” She said with that mischievous smile while she stifled a giggle. “Paige Anderson was one of the good ole boys In high school.” She informed him. A sad reality she’d faced, but just deal with it. “Even if I had the time to date, which I didn’t,” She said with a pointed look considering all the sports she did. “All the good ones were already taken, and the rest were all assholes. And if they weren’t asswipes, they were friends.” She explained to him. Paige Anderson was not the dating sort. That had been made perfectly clear to her from middle school onward. No one wanted to date the over opinionated tom boy. It was sad honestly, but she’d accepted that was just how it was apparently. She had her brief flings with those from out of town and that was it.
“Have no fear Babycakes,” She reached over to pat his shoulder reassuringly. “I wouldn’t be caught dead with anyone from Xander’s Cross.” She turned again then, resting her back against the bar before she reached for her whisky and took a sip. “You gonna tell me what that is all about anyways? I couldn’t drill you with twenty questions at the time.”She said, raising a brow at him while she took another sip.
CAL: The look he suddenly gave her at seeing her flinch became very stern. Yep, he saw that, and he was coming very close to playing doctor and telling her to take it easy...maybe even refrain from these extracurricular activities. But that might just make matters worse so he currently refrained. For now. She had seemed alright at her checkup earlier.
Cal quietly regarded her as she explained that she didn't seem to have time, and that no one was available, yada yada. Seemed like typical high school for most kids, honestly. "And what might've kept you busy from all of that nonsense?" Sports, maybe clubs?
As she patted his shoulder, he chuckled lowly. From what he could tell, most of the men (or was she also into women? he wasn't sure) were from Xander's Cross. Not many out-of-towners came here, but that didn't mean there weren't any. He was also still learning faces after a year of being here.
Then she was asking that damn question. Right, maybe he should explain that little...mishap.
"Oh, yeah...that." The wolf was laughing a little again, taking a couple sips of that beer as he contemplated on how to explain. Maybe being blunt was the easiest way. "So, Blake decided that our diner outing was a date and refused to feed me until I confessed to it." Cal looked pointedly at her, because she would understand that keeping food from a wolf was torture. "It was steak, by the way, so..." Trailing off, he turned his gaze to the rest of the bar as he idly watched the other people around them. "Didn't matter what I told him, he had it in his head that it was more, so...for your lying purposes, we didn't have dinner, and I banged you in the alley." He shrugged like it was no big deal, but he was grinning because, now that he was thinking back on it, he was just thoroughly amused. "Then he had the balls to shame me about it! And it was what he wanted to hear!" He confessed, shaking his head. "He's ridiculous sometimes, but, the steak was delicious. If you were wondering."
PAIGE: Paige arched a brow at Cal, and narrowed her eyes slightly. “Weren’t you listening at the diner?” She asked him, a small smile appearing on her face. She honestly wasn’t going to hold it against him if she considered everything else they had going on during that conversation. “Two sports a term, plus secret dance lessons.” She laughed. “No time for dating nonsense.” She said.
Though she hadn’t said it, even if they were currently “fake dating” Paige wasn’t going to make it look like she was a cheating girlfriend. In a way, she’d been cheated on by Greg too. Not knowing about his pregnant wife for one thing. The news had practically destroyed her.
She listened to Cal’s little tale on what he’d apparently told Blake, and she couldn’t help but laugh, and then she couldn’t stop. “Of course.” She giggled. The secret to control and also torment a wolf? Their stomach. A blonde brow arched in surprise as the rest was said. They’d banged in an alley huh? Boy how she wished she was getting banged in an alley right now. A small reminder of the trip to Portland she was missing.
The vivid imagery that suddenly popped into her head about that, was causing her to take a bigger gulp of her whisky. She had an amused smile on her face as Cal grinned. Apparently Blake was just as relentless as her, but she was only half listening as she was still imagining an alley, with her back pressed against the brick, her legs wrapped around Cal’s waist and their mingling breath mixing in the air between them. Now if only that had really been how their time at the diner was spent...
Jaysus Anderson, get your mind out of the gutter! She barked at herself mentally. Still, she was Paige after all and she couldn’t help herself as she leaned up and back a bit, narrowing her eyes as she tried to get a good look at the back of his neck. “Well, it's a good thing Blake doesn't know my sexual habits then now does he? Otherwise you’d need a few scratch marks on the back of your neck there, Hunt.” She mused, before she settled. Crossing her legs again.
“I bet it was, if you gave him that story.” She chuckled with a shake of her head. She honestly wasn’t bothered by it. Anyone else like Lauren, or even Corinne might have had an issue, but if this was a harmless prank? Just something to mess with his friend a bit? She’d play. “So how long do I get to be “fake” girlfriend?” She asked him, her amusement growing as she took another sip of that whisky. Feeling it burn down her throat, but she welcomed the feeling.
CAL: "Oh, riiiight, right..." Funnily enough, he had been listening at the diner and recalled her explaining this already, but it had just slipped his mind at the moment. That was what happened when you had too many thoughts running through your head at once, although on the outside he looked as cool as a cucumber. "The dance lessons..." he said, his tone dropping in insinuation. Yes, he definitely remembered that part of the conversation.
A part of him- a very small part, mind you, because he knew that Anderson was probably just as crazy as he was in this regard- worried that she might be offended or get mad at him. So, when she actually laughed, Cal had to keep himself from doing the same too much; his chuckle muffled by the bottle as he brought the beer back up to his mouth again for a long sip. It was nearly empty already.
And then that crazy showed. Something about sexual habits and scratch marks. Like an idiot, he actually lifted his free hand to rub the back of his neck as though there was sudden phantom pain, like he was imagining it. Like, he was imagining a lot of things.
No, dude. No.
That quiet laughter had died off, but his dumb smirk remained. "Good thing," he said quietly, a little too slowly. "I'm scuffed up enough as it is." That laceration along his back wasn't the only mark he had, but he wasn't going to elaborate. When she questioned how long she had to go along with this charade, he shrugged a single shoulder. "Give it a week...then you can dump my ass, considering I dragged you into this little mess of mine." Still, it was rather amusing.
PAIGE: This was certainly turning this visit home into one she would remember for the time to come. It was all thanks to the lone wolf beside her, giving her a small challenge she hadn't known she needed in a time where she desperately needed it. Even if she was lying to herself about how bad the PTSD was, how bad the depression and anxiety were, she needed this small change in her life that might have seemed minor on the surface, but held so much more potential for something more. Even if it purely was friendship.
She was enjoying the laughter shared between the two of them at the ridiculous and possibly childish prank they were to be pulling on Blake. Harmless right? Teaching him what being nosy got him? The prank couldn’t get taken far right? Everything would be fine.
Paige picked up on Cal’s comment about him being banged up as it was, and her eyes slowly glanced over him while she took a sip from that whisky. Wondering what he meant by banged up. She remembered the scar he’d mentioned in her previous appointment, and then wondered if he was implying something else other than outwardly physical. The fact he was refusing himself a pack led her to believe there was much more to Callum Hunt then met the eye, and it was buried under the many layers he hid behind that charming smile of his.
“A week huh?” She mused, her own little smirk had settled on her face while her eyes flicked around patrons. “I think I can do a week.” She said tilting her head back slightly as she glanced at Cal out of the corner of her eye. “We just gotta pray Blake’s not a blabber mouth and my mother doesn’t catch wind. Or you’ll have to be helping me out with my own mess.” She confessed. And a mess it would be. Brenda Anderson would be in seventh heaven and go sticking her nose into their business faster then they could blink.
As far as her parents and family went, Paige had never been in a relationship in her twenty seven years around the sun. It would literally be throwing Cal to a pack of wolves he wouldn’t be able to escape from. For his sake, she hoped he could convince Blake to keep it quiet. It was either that or insisting it was merely casual and nothing serious. It should have been obvious by first glance neither Paige, and she could only assume Cal was too, didn’t do serious relationships.
|
|
0 Likes
28 Posts
Kyra
33
Werewolf
Loner
|
Post by Cal Hunt on Aug 5, 2021 3:25:41 GMT
There certainly was more to Callum Hunt than met the eye, and he was going to keep it that way. More than half the time, he hid behind a mask because he felt like he had to. And then, the secrets he couldn't tell Blake (such as wolfish form), slowly ate away at him but he accepted it. This was the choice he made, and he refused to go back on it.
He was in the middle of taking the last sip of that beer when she mentioned her mother. Oh, shit. Well, he hadn't thought of that. Cal swallowed a little hard, wincing before he regarded her. "Okay, maybe just a couple more days then?" he said, attempting to hide the slight panic in his voice but failing. "I can handle Blake. I can't handle your mother." As a patient, she was already a handful.
Cal set the empty bottle on the counter behind him, chuckling quietly at himself.
|
|
0 Likes
31 Posts
Kayla
27
Werewolf
Single
|
Post by Paige Anderson on Aug 5, 2021 4:45:44 GMT
A wide grin spread across Paige's face as she saw that wince, and she couldn't help but laugh at his reaction. Oh he had certainly met Ma then. "Deal," She chuckled, sipping that whisky again while she glanced ahead. "And you wonder where I get my nosiness from," She huffed quietly in amusement. If he thought Paige was bad at 20 questions, then he'd never been on the hot seat with Brenda Anderson.
Keith would know that voice anywhere, and that perfect certainty colored his body language as he strode up to the bar next to her and slid his elbow onto the counter top. His hand fell to tap her shoulder, although she probably didn't need the contact to realize he was there for her.
"Well if it isn't my faaaaaavorite local lady! Long time no see, Miss Anderson. Where ya been hidin' all this time, huh?" He grinned like a used car salesman, all oil. "You never come say hi to all your old pals, but this out-of-towner got your attention?"
And just like that, the mood shifted. Paige knew that stench anywhere, and the creepy voice to go along with it. She tensed instantly as she felt that hand come down on her shoulder, and if they weren’t in such a public place, she might have even broke Peltz’s hand for daring to touch her. The idiot should have learned from the last time…
She reached up to her shoulder, and took his hand. Removing it for him, while those green eyes flickered up to see that grin. “Heeeeeeeeeeeeey Petlz, been a long time! I see you still can’t keep your hands to yourself!” She said with cheerful tone that was laced with a bit of a bite, before she released her hand of his. She turned a bit more to look at him, and arched a brow as he mentioned Cal. “I’ve been a busy lady, first time home in a while and saw we have some new folks in town. What sort of person would I be If I didn’t get to know the new residents, huh Keithy?” She asked him. And this, this was why she went out of town every month. If she wasn't friends with the guys, then they were assholes like the one that had just appeared like a silent and deadly fart.
|
|
0 Likes
28 Posts
Kyra
33
Werewolf
Loner
|
Post by Cal Hunt on Aug 6, 2021 1:55:07 GMT
"Remind me to never be in the same room as you two," he joked, and no, that wasn't a challenge. Cal would immediately backtrack and leave because he couldn't handle both of those Andersons at the same time. They were individually a handful as it was, but he definitely thought her mother was worse. At least he felt like he could tell Paige to back off again if need be.
And immediately, the mood seemed to shift. Unlike this man Keith, Cal could sense the tension just oozing off of Paige from his mere presence. It made the wolf sit up a little straighter, watching the human carefully but felt like this wasn't something he should be interfering with. Paige, after all, could take care of herself.
Even if his comment of being an "out of towner" was meant to be a slight towards him. Didn't mean he was going speak up or throw fists, unless Paige somehow needed him to.
|
|
0 Likes
31 Posts
Kayla
27
Werewolf
Single
|
Post by Paige Anderson on Aug 6, 2021 2:19:37 GMT
Keith's smile lost a few watts as she took his hand in two fingers like it was some piece of garbage she was removing from her shoulder. His eyes flickered to the other guy as she talked about him, but his focus was on Paige. He raised his beer bottle and took a swig as she finished up. "Aw, c'mon, Paigey, is that any way to treat your best friend's high school sweetheart? We were as good as family for a while there!" He laughed. "But then, you and I both know you were never too good with the social skills. That's why your best friend is a girl with all the charisma of limp lettuce, right?" His smile sharpened into a sneer, and he puffed out his chest.
His laugh grated on her nerves, and Paige was already irritated by Keith Peltz’s mere existence. She nearly killed him when they were teenagers after what he did to her Ri-Ri. Louis had to talk her out of it, and she had to settle with Jace’s switchblade and a bag of sugar to get her revenge. She would have done a lot worse too, but for Corinne’s sake she backed off. Only now?
Breathe Paige. She told herself, considering they were in public, and not to mention the hot doc was sitting right next to her. Grounding her by presence alone, in a way to not let the crazy loose. They both knew she was crazy, both in personality and probably borderline by medical standards. Not to mention she knew she was a ticking time bomb and the scary part was not knowing what would happen when it went off. She was trying desperately not to go into soldier mode, but Keith was a threat in her eyes. She had to distract herself or she’d do something really stupid…
But there went… Not even two minutes into the conversation, Keith was showing his douchiness. “There’s nothing sweet about you, Peltz.” She said sweetly in return, batting those lashes at him before she took a sip of her whisky. Her hand tightening around the glass. Her eyes were on him in a second then, all humor had gone as her green hues threatened to show gold fire. “My social skills are just fine, now fuck off.” She said haughtily in a warning. Knowing she couldn’t get into it with him. She wasn’t going to egg him on, or else the situation really would worsen. And given the fact her plans for the night were already ruined? Keith was playing with fire. She was making herself be good though. She could really tell him off if she wanted, but he didn’t even deserve that. Waving her hand in dismissal, as she adjusted herself on the stool. However cool she was trying to be, she wasn’t going to tolerate him insulting Corinne either. That protectiveness was coming out the moment he’d called that sweet girl limp lettuce. “And you so much as mention Corinne again, I’m going to do more than add sweetener to your gas tank.” She said lowly. The look she leveled on him was both threatening and dangerous. It was a promise.
"Hah!" Keith crowed, raising his beer in the air in a little victory dance. "I always fucking knew that was you, you crazy bitch!" He crossed his arms over his chest, waggling his brows at her. "You know that's not normal, right? No one gets that mad about just a friend. You like her, don't you?! I should have known back then that you were a f*ggot like your bro--"
There was no amusement on Paige’s face as Keith finally learned the truth about his piece of shit car in high school. She was too busy counting to ten in her mind, and if Keith didn’t leave by the time she got to ten, she was going to get up and personally see herself out. This day really was tanking for the worse. She downed the rest of that whisky, sliding the empty glass on the counter. Giving Cal a quick glance that resembled some form of an apology, and made to stand. Yeah, she was a crazy bitch, it didn’t take rocket science to notice that upon meeting her. But there was good crazy, and bad crazy Paige. It all depended on her mood.
As she stood she froze. Her head slowly turning to look at Keith as he started talking about her relationship with Corinne. He wasn’t a wolf, he wouldn’t understand the pack bond. That loyalty and protective nature to those you claimed as a pack, and Corinne had been practically the first person she’d taken into her pack. But that wasn’t what suddenly set her off. It was the use of that word, and Keith didn’t even get to finish his sentence before her restraint was gone. Paige’s hand had already started reaching for him, snatching out like a viper. The rest of the world turned to white noise for a brief moment, and her eyes flashed pure gold as rage flooded her veins.
No one, got to say or even imply that about her twin brother without Drawing some blood.
The quickest way to piss Paige Anderson off was to bully her brother who wasn’t even there to defend himself.
Her hand tightened into the hair at the back of Keith’s head before she was suddenly slammed his head down with that supernatural strength of a werewolf. Not enough to kill him, but enough he might have to ask Cal nicely to reset his nose for him. There was a sickening crunch as Keith’s face hit the counter, and the loud sound of contact sounded across the bar. Paige’s breathing was labored as she stood next him. She’d moved quickly, holding him there on the bar counter, before her head came down next to Keiths. Her voice was calm as she stared ahead, loud enough for only Keith to hear her and those with the super hearing. “Talk about my family in such a way again, Peltz, I swear to god, I will put you six feet under. You understand me?”
Keith only whimpered through the blood now gushing from his nose. He nodded as much as he could with her grip still on his head. Paige ground her teeth, feeling her skin practically crawling with that need to shift. Out. Get out. A voice told her and she released Keith before she took a step back. He was fleeing almost instantly but hadn’t made it far before his buddies had come to his rescue.
|
|
0 Likes
28 Posts
Kyra
33
Werewolf
Loner
|
Post by Cal Hunt on Aug 6, 2021 2:57:42 GMT
Seriously, who the fuck was this guy and why did he find the need to pester Paige more than necessary?
Normally, he wouldn't make this any of his business and would have stepped away, but that tension grew, and it made him uneasy. Perhaps because he knew she could severely hurt this guy if she tried, and Keith clearly didn't know what he was up against.
He found himself slowly inching off of that stool, only regarding Paige briefly when she gave him that apologetic look. The air was beginning to buzz, and Cal didn't like where this was going. Before he could suggest she leave, or to tell Keith to back off, the guy was clearly saying the wrong thing.
Cal was up on his feet the second Keith's face slammed into the bartop. The entire establishment went suddenly quiet, and all he could hear were murmurs and gasps of surprise and whatever music was playing at a low volume. Paige was finally letting Keith up, and he barely registered how he was taking a gentle, but firm grip on her upper arm as if silently urging her to contain herself. However, it didn't look like this shit was going to end there.
Dark eyes pinpointed the four others, Peltz's buddies it seemed like, as they filtered out from the crowd with means to approach the two wolves. He let out a slow sigh and released Paige's arm as he casually began to roll up the sleeves of that button-down shirt. "You guys have one chance to turn around and follow Keith there..." he announced calmly, even if he was already feeling the adrenaline beginning to run through his veins.
He shouldn't be doing this, he really shouldn't...but he was there, so.
"Dammit, Anderson," Cal murmured as one of the guys charged right at him. It was easy to anticipate the right hook that came for his face, and the wolf simply leaned back out of reach before his own fist came around to jab the man in the gut. When he doubled over, Cal was shoving him aside.
|
|
0 Likes
31 Posts
Kayla
27
Werewolf
Single
|
Post by Paige Anderson on Aug 6, 2021 3:43:56 GMT
Of course, he’d said the wrong thing. Paige didn’t bite unless provoked, and that was when someone insulted any of her pack. The pack bond could be a real bitch sometimes… Landing you in trouble, but they were instincts that couldn’t so easily be ignored.
She felt a hand grip her upper arm and realized it was Cal. Her breathing was still coming in quick breaths as if she’d just been running, and she found that calm again. Her body slightly shifting towards his, as if could take away that anger she felt with a snap of his fingers. “Sorry Joe,” She muttered quietly in apology to the bar tender. She glanced over to see Keith’s buddies coming towards them, and she glanced to see Cal was rolling up his shirt sleeves. Well shit…
Look what you did Paige, now the good Doctor was going to defend your honor. Lucky for Cal, she didn’t need anyone defending her. She was shrugging out of that leather jacket as the boys approached, and Cal tried to tell them to come around. She could have told him they weren’t, considering the fact they were Keith’s friends and just didn’t take no for an answer.
Her eyes were already flickering around the swarming bodies, making calculations and assessing threats. She was far calmer then she had been moments before which was a dangerous sign. And then one came at Cal. “Did tell you I wanted excitement tonight, Babe.” She pointed out as another came at her. “You’re really going to hit a lady?” She asked the idiot, and his decision was that yes, he was. She ducked under his swing, her own fist hitting him in the gut. She had to hold back on her strength, but it was still enough to make him grunt.
At that point, another of Keith’s friends was right there, grabbing Paige by the front straps of her tanktop and swinging her around with enough force she nearly lost her balance. She brought her hands up and under where he held her, placing them on the sides of his forearms as she pushed them away, and she lunged forward, slamming her head without a second thought up and under his chin. Despite the pain in her head, she pushed him away before adjusting the loose shirt, a look of disgust on her face while some of the patrons were standing out of the way.
|
|
0 Likes
28 Posts
Kyra
33
Werewolf
Loner
|
Post by Cal Hunt on Aug 7, 2021 23:52:48 GMT
He wasn't so much throwing himself into this fight because he felt the need to "defend her honor", but was more like standing beside her. True, he could have stepped back, let her handle it, but that wasn't the type of man he was, and he didn't need that pack mentality to know when he should help someone out like this.
It was probably just a really dumb idea in another regard. He was one of the town's doctors, after all.
What these people didn't realize was that both Paige and Cal could severely hurt them if they truly tried. Born this way, they both had a handle on that heightened strength, but sometimes the annoyance got the better of him. Right now really shouldn't be one of those times, and the guy had been tossed to a respectable distance, he thought. The drunkard had staggered back into a table of patrons, causing them to get up swiftly, followed by the telltale sounds of crashing glass. Dammit. Property damage, great.
The fourth was rushing at him as his buddy was trying to climb back up to his feet. He managed to shove Cal back into the bartop, a hand around his neck as the other was rearing back to aim a fist for his face. Managing to block it, the wolf freed himself, bringing the man's arm down and behind him, where he switched their positions; the drunk's face was slammed onto the counter.
As the small fight went on (luckily not igniting the bar into some old fashioned medieval brawl), he could hear the police sirens in the distance. If Cal bothered to stop and look, he would've seen those flickering red and blue lights getting brighter and brighter.
|
|
0 Likes
31 Posts
Kayla
27
Werewolf
Single
|
Post by Paige Anderson on Aug 8, 2021 19:41:14 GMT
It was a night for poor decisions apparently, and Paige was going to have to owe Hunt big time. This was far greater then helping him prank Blake and owing her for that. This was going to get them into a heap of trouble. And like most things, trouble always followed Paige Anderson like a chaotic rain cloud. The man she’d originally punched in the gut had at this point recovered in time so as soon as she ‘d adjusted her shirt back into place, she was tackled to the ground, the wind knocked out of her as she came down on her bad shoulder hard.
There was an initial gasp of pain, before she really got pissed. There was no remorse as her fist connected with the idiot’s jaw as he leaned back to take a swing at her from where she laid on the ground. He was trying to hold her down with his hips as he sat on top of her, and the service woman let her training kick in, as she maneuvered her way out from under him. He made a grab for her before she kicked him in the side and stood up straighter. Placing a hand on her bad shoulder to slightly roll it to see how sore it was going to be. Her eyes glanced over to see Cal had someone held at the bar, just in time to see the one she’d headbutted coming up behind Cal.
He managed to get both hands down on Cal’s shoulders before Paige yanked him back, her fist connecting with his nose as he fell to the ground. She had a look of disgust on her face, before the lights caught her attention. Well fuuuuuuuuuuck. She all but internally sighed. She tapped Cal on his shoulder and nodded towards the window. “Our night is just getting funner and funner.” She said, though there was no humor to her tone. She reached over for her leather jacket and started to put it back on. “I owe you now Doc. Big time.” She murmured, giving him an apologetic look. She really hadn’t meant to cause trouble. She started to move towards the front door of the bar. Deciding she’d caused enough of a scene inside, that she could only lessen the severity by meeting the cops before they even came in.
She knew she was at fault, and she was going to own up to it. Her mood was definitely not the greatest at the moment. She should have just left Keith alone, and left. However there had been no control. Only impulse as he insulted her brother. If she was lucky, she could tell the cops it had all been her and Cal was merely doing self defense. She could already see her dad’s face. Ralf was going to love this, and she wouldn’t be surprised if he left her a bazillion messages on her phone come morning considering how fast word spread across XC.
The summer air hit her the moment the door was open and she stood patiently, waiting for the officers to walk up. “To be fair, they started it.” She informed them upon them walking up.
|
|
0 Likes
28 Posts
Kyra
33
Werewolf
Loner
|
Post by Cal Hunt on Aug 8, 2021 22:25:30 GMT
He heard that gasp of pain, and his eyes immediately turned to find Paige there on the ground. Cal muttered a curse, quietly hoping she hadn't gotten hurt enough to undo all of the healing she just went through. On top of that, this wasn't the kind of activity he would have allowed. This was certainly overdoing it, and yet he couldn't completely blame her for the stupidity of this ordeal.
After all, he could have just as easily walked away, but there he was, throwing punches like he was back in college. This really had been a foolish mistake.
Paige was already handling her own situation, and before he could turn from the man at the bar, he felt those hands upon his shoulders. Cal was rearing up to handle it when the she-wolf took matters into her own hands, just as the police lights were now blatantly flashing in through the establishment windows.
'I owe you now Doc. Big time.'
Yeah, maybe, but even still, he wasn't going to hold her against it. The man he had tossed aside initially was still trying to stumble towards him, throwing his fists, and Cal somewhat nonchalantly kicked him away. "Just fuckin' stay down," he growled, watching the guy stumble away before Paige was already going to face the cops. Like hell she was going to take the blame. If anything, maybe admitting he had been a part of this, his "doctorly reputation" would soften the blow for both of them.
Cal was quick on Paige's heels, stepping out from the bar just in time to see Sergeant Callahan and his partner stroll up, silhouetted by their car's headlights. "Anderson, come on..." Jim practically whined. Cal knew the guy fairly well, but not personally. He was a good cop, albeit appearing a bit lazy at times. "I have a perfectly good cheesesteak that I was lookin' forward to all night...and now it's going to get cold." The man's eyes finally alighted upon Cal, clearly noting he had been in the scuffle. Jim sighed heavily. "Wasn't just her," he was quick to say before Paige could attempt saying otherwise. "Are you both drunk? Got a call from someone sayin' you guys started some shit in there." And that was when Keith and a couple of his buddies stumbled out, clearly battered, bruised, and bloody. Well, that wasn't going to make him and Paige look any better. Cal just sighed, overly a tired grin. There was no point in arguing.
"Let's go," Jim huffed. If Cal and Paige wouldn't go willingly, he knew the Sarge would cuff them. So, the good doctor complied and headed towards the backseat of the cruiser.
|
|
0 Likes
31 Posts
Kayla
27
Werewolf
Single
|
Post by Paige Anderson on Aug 8, 2021 23:06:52 GMT
Paige couldn’t help the grin that spread across her face at seeing Callahan. She hadn’t known him long, with her coming and going the last few years, but she was sure Mom had pestered him with pictures and he did come into the store occasionally when she was working. “Aren’t you- ” She was about to point out that cheesecake was meant to be cold considering the word “cheese” in it, which wasn’t probably a good thing considering she was about to be taken in. She was about to say as much when Cal was quickly saying she hadn't been the only one involved.
She tilted her head up to look at him, her brows furrowed, clearly about to argue as she glared. She’d started it. “Peltz technically started it, I ended it.” Paige all but growled at the officer. Reminded of that dirt bag. Honestly, drunk and disorderly wouldn’t be so bad so long as Keith didn’t go shouting about assault. But it was clear that wasn’t going to be the case, as he came crawling out with his buddies. His nose clearly broke and his shirt bloodstained.
Paige was already moving towards the car, with Cal, telling herself to ignore the group of men that had been victim to Cal and Paige but….
“She needs a mental hospital! You’re going to want to do more then lock that fucking bitch up!” Keith started to shout. Funny, how when his buddies were fighting for his honor, he’d been nowhere to be seen, yet the moment the cops showed he was coming out of the woodwork. She ground her teeth, throwing a glare over her shoulder. “I want to press charges, she touched me first! She’s crazy!” Keith was already nagging at whichever officer would listen.
Just the sight of him was enough to get her blood boiling again as Paige yanked open the back door of that squad car, making a move to crawl into the back seat when Peltz had to go running his mouth more. Playing the victim in all this. “Just shut your fucking mouth!” She yelled at him, clearly tired about hearing he was the one that had been wronged. “You don’t get to stand there and shit talk my family and not have me remind you I can still kick your ass, or do you want a fucking repeat? Because I got all night!” She challenged, Starting to move towards Peltz again, clearly pissed. She didn’t get far when she felt hands grip her, pulling her back. “You see what I mean! I make one little joke about her being in love with my ex-girlfriend and she loses it”
It was a good thing those hands were holding her back, because Paige nearly snapped again, muscles tensing before she was forcibly dragged into the back of the car, and the door was pulled shut. She was fuming at the unfairness of it all, how a man like that could walk around spewing lies. That wasn’t what had happened and he knew it. She did the only thing she could do in the back seat, and lashed out suddenly at the door. Her fist slamming into the side of it despite the pain that shot up her hand, and her breathing was slightly labored as she tried to get a handle on her temper.
|
|
0 Likes
28 Posts
Kyra
33
Werewolf
Loner
|
Post by Cal Hunt on Aug 9, 2021 1:09:05 GMT
Cal could tell that Callahan really didn't want to deal with this, and for a split second, he thought the cop might just let them go with a warning...but once Keith and his buddies came out, all of that was out the window. He knew Jim couldn't simply ignore that, and his partner was already calling for an ambulance. Nope, this wasn't good at all.
'Peltz technically started it, I ended it.'
He didn't bother meeting her gaze, listening to Jim grumble under his breath at the insanity of it all. Cal didn't expect this to happen tonight either, but...here they were. And he was being too chivalrous to simply let Paige take the fall like she was trying to. He had blood on his knuckles, too, Anderson. Nice try.
At least she was willingly moving to the car. That is, until Keith decided to open his fucking mouth again. The man was clearly an idiot and a glutton for punishment. Cal should have just let Paige charge after him again, but instead, was taking a firm grip on her arm. At this point, he'd be a bit more forceful if he had to be. This was not helping her case that was already looking grim and likely she was going to be sleeping over at the precinct.
When the yelling started, he saw Jim kind of go deadpan, and Cal was just waiting for the man to blow up in fury. "ALRIGHT! Everyone just shut the hell up now! I don't give two shits about your medical opinion, 'Doctor' Peltz-" Jim mocked in sheer anger and annoyance. "And you, Anderson, need to calm the fuck down right now, got it? Get in the damn car." It sounded like the man's patience was very thin tonight.
Another squad car was arriving as well as the ambulance, so Callahan and his partner were once more ushering him and Paige into the back of the vehicle. Well, it was more like he was dragging her to it where she suddenly began to lash out against the door. Both cops were startled, and Jim was on the verge of yelling and possibly getting out those cuffs, so Cal did the only thing he could think of- he pulled her against him, arms wrapping around her in more of the sense of keeping her from flailing about again. But, maybe it was also to try and comfort her in whatever way he could.
"Stop," he was whispering to her, his voice a mix of sternness and worry. "You have to stop." Suddenly, it took every ounce of his will not to climb out of that car and rip Keith's neck open with his teeth.
|
|
0 Likes
31 Posts
Kayla
27
Werewolf
Single
|
Post by Paige Anderson on Aug 9, 2021 1:56:42 GMT
The she-wolf was clawing to be let out. To tear Keith to shreds for the disrespect he had shown her pack members that night. She wanted him to hurt, to know what he had done to Corinne. To know what his bullying had done to her brother. Paige wanted him to suffer. Before she could put a further dent into the side of the squad car, she was being pulled back. She felt arms wrap firmly around her, and her nose instantly inhaled Cal’s scent as he held her tightly against him, trying to get her to calm down.
Her eyes were squeezed shut, and she fought the urge to fight him. To demand to be let out so she could go tear that dirt bag limb from limb. Cal’s whisper to her to stop, was what she focused on. Instead of beating her fist against his chest, she gripped his t-shirt in a grip that seemed like she was holding onto dear life. A sound that was a mix of a whimper and growl, came up from her throat, showing she was struggling with herself. She kept her eyes closed, her body trembling with it’s need to shift as Cal held her. She took slow, deep intakes of breath. Letting his scent calm her like it had back at the clinic when he’d pressed himself against her.
Her body seemed to remember that strange safety she had in his arms, and eventually the rest of the world droned out as she focused on the sound of Cal’s heart beat beneath her ear. Focusing on his steady breathing as she managed to finally get hers to match his steady rhythm. She had to ride the rest of her anger like a wave, her teeth clenching as she took a deep breath and let it out. The rest of the world didn’t matter. And just like the diner, it was just the two of them in their own little world in the back of that squad car.
When she finally managed to calm herself down to the point she was just irritated, she finally spoke. “I’m sorry.” She repeated quietly for what felt like the hundredth time that night. She hadn’t intended for this to happen, and the crueler part of Paige’s mind was pointing out the fact she’d royally fucked up. Cal wasn’t going to want to be seen with her ever again, that was for sure. What had meant to be a good day, had ended in chaos. Trouble just goes wherever you go, Anderson. It’s all you’re good for, losing your shit and not controlling yourself. For a moment she wondered why she ever came home, and why she didn’t just go back to texas.
Because Greg is there. A voice repeated to her. She didn’t realize how tightly she was hugging Cal. As if the harder she hugged him the more he could take away the feelings she felt. She seemed to be coming more too, and with a final deep sigh, she finally relaxed tiredly against him.
|
|
0 Likes
28 Posts
Kyra
33
Werewolf
Loner
|
Post by Cal Hunt on Aug 11, 2021 3:10:00 GMT
Cal told himself that this was to keep her from causing any property damage (considering she was already in hot water), and less about protecting her. But the longer he held her tightly, refusing to let go whether or not she fought him, he grew more concerned for her own wellbeing. She was spiraling, all because of some harsh things Keith had said, and yet Cal couldn't help but wonder if it was simply more than that.
His heart was rapidly beating for the first few moments before he finally managed to calm. Dark eyes rose to catch Jim's questioning gaze in the rearview, as if the cop was asking whether Paige was alright, and Cal just nodded faintly. Soon enough, they were driving away from the bar where he was likely to spend a couple hours behind bars.
Maybe this was proof as to why he shouldn't be making anymore friends.
Eventually, he felt her relax there in his arms, and he leaned back against the backseat more, still holding her close. One of his hands ran up and down her arm.
'I'm sorry.'
She'd feel him sigh softly, but it wasn't out of annoyance, it was more like he was tired. "It's alright. It's okay," he tried to console her, not knowing what else to say. He wasn't entirely sure what else to say, all he knew was that he couldn't let her go just yet.
|
|
0 Likes
31 Posts
Kayla
27
Werewolf
Single
|
Post by Paige Anderson on Aug 11, 2021 21:52:38 GMT
But was it really okay? Was it really alright? Paige had felt that sigh, and she didn’t think so. It just made the guilt intensify and the angry little wolf goblin she had in her mind taunt her more that all she did was cause problems and Cal had been the one to suffer tonight. He hadn’t needed to do this, to fight with her. He didn’t have to say he was involved, and she felt awful she’d put him in this situation if he decided to be chivalrous and say he wanted to be there.
A smart woman would have collected herself and pulled herself out of those arms. She found it was difficult too, with his scent all around her in the calm haze he’d created. It’d been a long time since she’d been held in such a way, and a part of her had missed it. That small bit of intimacy between two people without the sexualization.
The ride to the station wasn’t a long one, considering the town’s size, and it was only when Paige felt the car rumble to a stop did she finally let her own tired sigh out before she pushed herself lightly out of Cal’s arms. Not wanting to look him in the eye and feel more shame for ruining his night. The moment the door was opening, she waiting until she was told to climb out, and watched her head. Waiting for Callahan to lead them inside. She kept her head down, starting fiddling with her hand and noting the red knuckles on her right hand and the bruising that was beginning to form. For a moment, she wondered if she’d broken it or if it was just bruised, but she was too afraid to turn around and ask Cal to look.
Instead, she pulled the sleeve of her leather jacket down to hide it, and for once in her life, she fell silent. Waiting to be told what to do.
|
|