Chapter Two

Thea felt she was almost used to North Point High after several weeks of school.   She'd thought the gum incident was the start of her being bullied but it seemed to begin and end there.

She stayed to herself not comfortable with the brazen and wanton behavior of most of the other girls.  The ones that weren't boy crazy seemed to avoid or glare at her. After one lunch where she'd sat behind Wendy Lui and her friends she'd heard enough about everyone's sex life to last her a lifetime.

"Are you the new transfer student?"

Startled out of her thoughts Thea stared blankly at the girl in front of.  "Yeah, I'm the new student....I guess."

Clear gray eyes stared out of a heart shape face, "I'm Cyrus!"  Holding out her hand she continued, "Cyrus Annabella McLean.  I'm just back from my family's home in Albany, New York."

Thea returned the friendly smile and shook the extended hand.  "I'm Theadora  Montgomery but most people call me Thea!"

"Nice to meet you!  I saw you in class today and at lunch and thought I'd introduce myself."

"Ah," giggled Thea nervously as she looked around the quiet hall. "Is it me or is everyone staring at us?"

Cyrus flipped her wavy sand-colored hair, "I think your mind is playing tricks on you."

Thea looked around the hallway as they came to her locker.  "I'm fairly sure they're staring at you."  She gave her a quick once over before she pouted, "You have the body of a model."

Cyrus laughed as she looked Thea up and down, "I'd give anything for half your cup size, your hips or ass. And if anyone tells you otherwise they're lying to you and themselves.  I have the body of an adolescent boy."  Cyrus smirked as she pointed to her almost nonexistent breast.

"You definitely don't have the body of an adolescent boy and this isn't great," giggled Thea as she pointed toward her waist line.

Cyrus laughed as she patted Thea's shoulder, "Trust me in 3 or 4 years every man from Seattle to New York is going to be trying to get at you."

With a dreamy expression Thea muttered, "There's only one person I want to be with."

"Is it one of those cute guys you come to school with," asked Cyrus already sure of the answer.   "Aren't they on the chess team?"

Thea pressed her lips together as she nodded, "Yeah they are."  She laughed as she opened her locker, "They look like they should be playing football or running track but instead they're the president and vice-president of the chess club."

Cyrus suppressed a laugh at her sarcasm.  "After this we should walk to my locker and we can walk home together."

"I leave in Dalton Row on Old Doty Road.  Have you ever been over there?"   Thea shoved her books into her bag as she waited for a response.  "I'll take that as a no."

A small smile hovered over Cyrus lips. "I'm just back from New York but when I lived here before I used to run over there.  I remember this cute little store that sells pop made with real sugar and organic fruits and vegetables."

Surprised Thea laughed, "Seriously!  You've been to my family's store?"

Cyrus feigned ignorance as she gasped, "Your family owns D's Fresh Market?"

"Yip," beamed Thea with pride. "My mom's family has owned the store since 1924.  My mom's grandpa opened it."

"Really?  Let's go to my locker next," suggested Cyrus as she linked their arms as if they were long lost friends.  "My lockers on the first floor by the rear exit so we can leave from there,"

"I think I’m supposed to wait for Gabe."  They walked down the stairs and Thea turned to look for him.  With a dejected sigh she remembered he had chess club and shook her head.

"Your family has owned that store for a long time," mentioned Cyrus as they started down Main Street toward the  picturesque  wooden bridge that ran over the creek.

Thea took a deep breath as she stared around the stylish neighborhood.  I wish we could stop at one of the cafes for tea or something thought Thea.  As they walked she gazed at the black and white awning of a quaint little cafe that sold sandwiches.

Cyrus pointed toward a quaint coffee shop and giggled, "Let's stop and grab something to drink." She grabbed Thea's hand and pulled her toward a black bistro table, "It's my treat."

$16.00 for an espresso, thought Thea as she stared at the ridiculously priced menu.   "Um," she began searching for the cheapest thing on the menu, "I'll have a cup of black tea."  It $7.00 dollars for a tea bag, she mused as she tried to keep her expression neutral.

"Okay," chirped Cyrus as she waved toward the waiter.  "I'll have a strawberry kiwi bubble tea with a with a slice of pie.  She'll have the black tea," looking up at the waiter she gave him a dazzling smile.  "Bring lemon wedges and cream for the tea and whatever the cookie of the day is."

When the waiter walked away she leaned forward, "The cookies here are to die for."

Thea stared at the sign that dangled above the door, "Really? This place orders pastries from my mom."

Shocked Cyrus picked up the menu, "I didn't know your shop sold pastries.  What else do they order from there?"

Thea pursed her lips as she surveyed the menu. "I don't know and I'm probably not supposed to say anything.  But why is everything priced so high?"

Cyrus stared blankly at her before she shrugged, "Its worse in New York. I blame inflation on the prices being so high."

Thea tried to muster a laugh as she shook her head, "I think it's a way to keep the people from Dalton Row from coming over here.  These prices force us to go to Addly and Zion to shop."

"I'm sure that's not true," responded Cyrus as she picked up a cookie. "So when did your mom make these and can I buy them from D's."  She ignored the dark stare the human waiter gave her as she waited for Thea to respond.

"My mom bakes her pastries fresh every morning and they're delivered daily."  Thea grabbed a thumbprint jelly cookie and turned it over, "They sell a lot of different baked goods everyday but not these."

Cyrus watched as the waiter walked into the cafe and pointed angrily toward Thea to the manager.  She cocked an eyebrow when the manager's face turned red and he stomped toward them.  With a smirk she leaned back in her chair to wait and see how dumb the werewolf was.

"How dare you sit here like you belong!  You need to leave now," he growled angrily toward Thea as he made a show of picking her bag up and slamming it into her lap.

"Why," asked Cyrus as she stared down her nose at him?

Never taking his eyes off Thea he grabbed her arm, "Your kind doesn’t belong here! And for you to disclose a confidential agreement!"  He pulled Thea roughly to her feet bumping the table which caused the tea to tip over.

Thea let out a small cry as hot water landed on her hand and leg.  The manager ignored her cries of pain as he continued to pull her away from the table.

"Have you lost your mind," snarled Cyrus as she jumped to her feet and stared at him in contempt.  "I brought my friend here as a treat and this is how you treat HER and ME!"

Clifford Nixon froze as he took a good look at the young lady.  Paling when he recognized her, he released Thea's arm, "I'm sorry Miss McLean.  I just didn't wish for her -."

Her grey gaze turned to steel as she stared at him, "Didn't want her to what?  You've hurt her," she continued quietly. "Gabe is not going to be happy and I will definitely make sure he's told about your impertinence."

Thea turned to gape at her, "I thought you didn't know who Gabe was."

Cyrus ignored her as she continued to stare at the low-level werewolf, "We both know you know who Gabe is, right?"  Smirking evilly she bared her teeth, "Gabriel DuPont son of William and Jasmine DuPont."

Clifford paled further, "I'm terribly sorry, Miss McLean.  I had no idea that this was Mr. Dupont's friend."

Thea looked down at her reddened hand with a frown, "Why would it matter if I'm friends with Gabe."  Thea picked her backpack up and shook her head confused, "This is beyond weird.  I'm just going to go home."  Looking at the six cookies that cost $18.00 she frowned as she mumbled the name she'd known for years, "Gabriel DuPont?"

Cyrus tilted back in her chair as she watched Thea hurried down the street.  "Clifford, I hope you can explain to Gabe why you manhandled his very best human friend before he gets here in five minutes."  With a laugh Cyrus took in his ashen complexion, "He told me to bring her here so he could surprise her after training."

Clifford sat down and placed his hands on his bald head as he stared at the ground, "Is he going to have me exiled?"

"I doubt he's going to go that far.  But you need to realize he's very fond of Thea."  Cyrus picked up a cookie and laughed, "He even sent for me from Yale so she'd have a female friend at school."

Clifford rose and bowed, "I apologize for my treatment of Miss Montgomery."

"Let's not let it happen again.  I have feelings that Gabe has already decided that she will be our pack's next Luna."  With a wave she turned to stare in the direction Thea went and she smiled happily, "She's so sweet and innocent.  She reminds me of auntie Jasmine.