Date: 2-21-17

Chapter 24: Spiteful and Sweet Goodbyes

Lena and Jerica are exhausted by the time they get back to the house to meet up with Adrian and Monique, who are sitting in the backyard.

Lucas pulls his key from his pocket, unlocking the door and pulling it wide so that Mason can walk through.

"Come on in." Lucas tells Adrian and Monique. They stand up and walk inside, trailing behind Jerica and Lena.

Lucas, Jerica, and Lena had decided that Mason would carry Ivie to the house. Mason enters and puts her on the couch.

"Careful." Lena mutters nervously. There's already something wrong with Ivie, so Lena doesn't want someone dropping her on her head and making it worse.

"I know." Mason answers automatically.

Lena is surprised until she remembers that Mason has super hearing, just like Lucas. Because they're both werewolves. It's a lot to take in if you really think about it.

"How did you know where our house is?" Lucas asks when everyone settles in the living room. Ivie is laying on the couch and Mason's sitting in the armchair, so everyone else is standing around the room.

Lena and Jerica are leaning against the wall near Lucas. Adrian and Monique are leaning on the opposite wall. Monique's eyes are darting around curiously.

"I saw you exit this house when I was on my run earlier." Adrian replies nonchalantly.

Lucas nods once because it sounds reasonable. Lucas was kind of expecting Adrian to say something about his keen wolf senses. Speaking of... Lucas needs to ask about Adrian being an Alpha.

Lucas is about to ask Adrian when he sees Lena staring at Ivie with an unreadable expression. Lucas knows she's worried about her sister, so Lucas puts off what he wants to say in order to figure out what to do with Ivie.

"So what should we do with Ivie?" Lucas asks, looking to Adrian since he must be experienced with supernatural to be a supernatural hunter.

"We wait until tomorrow night to talk to her bad side." Adrian says with completely seriousness.

"Is that it? That's all you've got?" Lena asks angrily. "I guess you're not all knowing like you pretend to be." Lena grumbles.

Lena's insult only makes Adrian smile. "I may not know about Ivie, but I do know something you're dying to know." Adrian practically brags. Lucas can tell that Adrian loves attention and is used to getting it.

"I'm just gonna go in the kitchen now." Monique says, obviously not wanting to get in between things again.

"I'll go make you something." Mason says as he walks off with Monique into the kitchen. Mason doesn't want in on the fighting either.

"And what's that?" Lucas jumps in, curious as to what Adrian's hinting at.

"I know that Jerica and Lena are both supernatural." Adrian says proudly. Jerica slowly starts to grin while Lena sits there in shock. If Adrian is telling the truth, then does that mean Lena will become like Ivie?

Lena snaps out of her shock to realize that Adrian is probably lying. She should make sure he's right before jumping to conclusions.

"We're supernatural? Are you sure?" Lena asks to confirm what Adrian said.

"Of course I'm sure!" Adrian says with an air of superiority. "I knew from the moment that I smelled you two." Adrian admits happily.

"And if you didn't already notice," Adrian points at Ivie, "She's supernatural too."

"Oh my gosh! Just tell us what we are!" Jerica says in the most excited tone she's used in years.

"Maybe I should just keep it to myself..." Adrian teases.

"Adrian, just tell us." Lucas says in a tired tone.

"Please?" Lena adds for Lucas.

"Well since you asked so nicely..." Adrian says, teasing once again.

"Tell us already!" Jerica demands, getting frustrated.

Ever since Jerica found out that she can physically shock people by poking them she's been wondering if she's supernatural. Now Jerica gets to find out.

"Adrian! I'm going home!" Monique yells from the kitchen. "It's late and I'm tired." Monique adds, still in the kitchen.

Adrian turns halfway towards that direction. "Sure! Be there in a second." Adrian replies.

"I have to go now." Adrian says unapologetically.

"Tell us what we are first!" Jerica demands with her hands on her hips and her face scrunched up in anger. Lucas has only seen that face a handful of times, and it's NEVER good. This means Jerica is really REALLY mad.

"Sorry, I've gotta go." Adrian says with a half smile and a shrug. "Queen's orders." He adds sarcastically.

Before Jerica can throw something at Adrian he's gone. They hear the door close behind Adrian as he goes, but they barely saw him move.

"Seriously?" Lena says in disbelief. She just can't believe Adrian did that. Although Lena's starting to find out that's Adrian's thing: teasing, flirting, and being sarcastic.

"He's awful." Lucas adds supportively.

"I feel betrayed." Jerica replies, no longer that angry. Lucas doesn't understand how she overcame her anger that easily. It makes Lucas mad.

"Good! You need to stop flirting with Adrian. You have a boyfriend! Or did you forget?" Lucas practically shouts at Jerica. Lucas doesn't regret saying that. He only feels bad that Lena is there too.

"What? Is flirting illegal now?" Jerica asks, seeming to borrow a bit of Adrian's sarcasm.

"I have to side with Lucas on this one, Jerica." Lena says her opinion. "You've gone a little heavy on the flirting."

"Nu-uh! I haven't touched him!" Jerica argues.

"You're impossible!" Lucas announces exasperatedly. "I'm going to bed."

Lucas goes down the hall and into his bedroom, closing the door behind him. He just wants to collapse in bed and not wake up for days.

But Lucas can't help hearing the words exchanged in the living room...

"Just so you know," Jerica starts condescendingly. "When I said I didn't mind you going after one of my brothers, I didn't mean side with them against me!" Jerica throws up her hands dramatically.

"Sorry, but I thought Lucas was right on this one." Lena says softly, like she's apologizing for her words already.

"Yeah, you thought! Maybe you shouldn't think!" Jerica shouts at Lena spitefully. Lucas flinches while listening to Jerica and Lena. Lena siding with him is making them fight, which makes Lucas think it's his fault.

Jerica stomps out of the room with Lena calling after her. "Jerica!" Lena calls in a hushed whisper. At least Lena's trying to be quiet.

Jerica walks upstairs loudly, making sure everyone knows how ticked off she is.

Lena stands there alone in the living for a whole minute. In that time, Lucas decides he's going to walk Lena home, no matter how tired he is.

Lucas rushes downstairs just as Lena's turning to grab Ivie. "Lena!" Lucas calls softly.

"I'll walk you home. And I'll carry Ivie." Lucas tells Lena, hurrying over before Lena can get there. Lucas scoops Ivie up into his arms like she weighs nothing.

Ivie looks so peaceful in her sleep, which is odd because in the woods she was crazy and murderous.

"Thanks." Lena whispers to Lucas as they walk out of the house.

Lena and Lucas walk to Lena's house in comfortable silence, even though Lucas is carrying Ivie.

Lucas sneaks glances at Lena while she's walking, using his night vision to see her in full detail. Lucas can tell that Lena is still upset about fighting with Jerica.

Lucas smiles at Lena when she catches him looking at her. She smiles back timidly before looking away. Her face looks thoughtful as she stares ahead.

They make it to Lena's house and he helps Lena put Ivie on the couch.

"Goodnight Lena." Lucas says with a half smile as he turns to go.

"Goodnight Lucas." Lena replies, sounding slightly better than before.

Lucas jogs home alone with a big grin on his face. Things are finally looking up.