"Isn't that.....Barry's shirt?" The question from Pete made me almost cough out my saliva.
I swallowed to stop myself from spitting out. I remembered Barry and quickly turned by head backwards to look at him, but like I'd expected to see him, I didn't. He was not standing there anymore, he'd disappeared, and something makes me feel like he's mad at me. I guess it was his footsteps I heard the other time, and now that I think about it, the footsteps had the sound of anger in it. They were not too loud but strong.
I faced the front, where Pete was standing, watching me. I didn't really know what to say to him so I started to play with my fingers in nervousness.
"Yeah, its Barry's shirt" I finally answered Pete, glancing back again, hoping to see Barry's face and like my prayer got answered, he appeared, climbing down the staircase. I quickly brought my eyes back to Pete.
"Barry borrowed me his shirt when I needed one" I twisted the end of the shirt in edginess and risked a glance at Barry
"My top got....." I swallowed little saliva "It got stained" I lied and turned my head towards barry for a peek. I noticed he was biting down the soft flesh of his red lower lip with an amused look on his face. I bet he had heard my lie with the help of his werewolf hearing ability.
I rotated my face to Pete who was staring at me like he needed an explanation.
"My shirt got off my body when....." I quickly stopped, mentally shaking my head at my wrong sentence.
Damn, lying can be hard sometimes, or maybe it's just hard for me.
I risked another peek at Barry's face. The dimples popping out told me he was still amused. I curved up my lips angrily, annoyed at the fact that he was enjoying this.
I took my face away from Barry to Pete and caught him giving Barry a weird look.
"My top got....." I swallowed more saliva, hoping that would help me "It got stained" I finally lied to Pete.
"Of course it got stained" Barry muttered under his breath as he took slow steps forward.
"Oh, got stained" Pete commented. Yeah, I know my lie does not add up.
"It didn't exactly get stained" I said in a low voice.
Pete rose a brow at me.
Shit what am I doing? Trying to say the truth?
"But it got stained" I said back my lie.
For some odd reasons, my mind was on Barry. I wondered if he was still mad at me, or if he was even really angry in the first place. I threw another backwards glance, hoping pete would not notice. Barry didn't even spare me a single glance, it was as if no one was around him. He simply walked straight to the entrance door and left.
I suppressed the urge to sigh heavily as I realized Barry was mad at me.
{Back to Present}
My nana's loud voice brought me back from my long line of thoughts and also interrupted Barry's story telling. She was done with her elder's assembly and from the big smile on her face I knew she wanted to make an announcement she's happy about.
"There's a ceremony at the temple this evening, kids" She announced with a grin, resting her weight at the edge of the big table. "The Alpha finally agreed to have the party at the temple instead of my place for the Christmas season and we're gonna have our singers performing"
My cousins squealed excitedly while I smiled. Pete also smiled but Barry's lips were not stretched in that smile like the others, though his eyes showed a twinkle.
"But its impromptu" Freya says after squealing.
"That's what makes it interesting" Nana replied, picking a grape fruit and throwing it into her mouth. "Ya'll go prepare for it now while I find ways to publicize the announcement"
My cousins jumped on their seat, giggling and excited for the ceremony. I was glad they've all had something to take their minds off the memories I shared with Pete and Barry. They all cleared the plates on the table quickly, looking eager to prepare for the party.
Even my nana is getting busy ordering pack members around for the preparation of the ceremony.
I rose to my feet to walk to my room to prepare for the ceremony also, Pete also rose to his feet and I threw him a smile.
"You know, somehow, I feel like the story is incomplete even as it looks likes it adds up" Pete said, glancing between Barry and I. "I'm not stupid"
Barry who was still seated stared blankly at Pete while I silently prayed they don't start another fight.
"Are you talking about how Pixie's top got stained?" Barry asked then gave a mischievous smile "Which is the reason she ended up wearing my shirt?"
I tensed. He still remembers the scene too. He rose from his seat, his green eyes not leaving mine for a second, making me feel sweaty.
"I just keep wondering what happened there? There is a gap there" Pete said, passing Barry a look of mistrust.
Barry's expression had turned very serious as he turned to Pete "Peter, Everything adds up just fine, why don't you just let it be? Hm?"
With those words, he left without sparing me a glance. Now it's just Pete and I in the dining room. It took everything in me not to turn around to peek at Barry's strong masculine back, instead I focused on pete.
"You guys are still not really on talking terms" I stated my observation.
Pete shrugged a shoulder "I don't have issues with him"
"I hope you'll both settle your differences" I mentioned and I meant it. "I mean, you guys used to be best friends while growing into the teenage life"
Pete's eyes showed a little sadness "Can we not talk about that?"
I smiled apologetically and nodded sluggishly. He took a step foward the same time I turned to the side and my face met with his hard chest.
"Hey" He laughed softly while I subconsciously inhaled his strawberry scent which had helped to comfort me in the past. He gently wrapped his hand around my arm to help me stand steadily, pressing his palm on my skin, warming me up.
I threw an awkward smile as this felt like when I was still a teenager and he would make me blush with his little skin to skin contact.
"Are you okay?" He asked, peering into my eyes.
I took in the slight furrow of his full brows and curve of his lips.
"Pixie?" He called softly, staring questioningly at me.
"Yeah, I'm fine, I'm fine" I quickly answered.
He smiled at me, playfully sliding his thumb over my left cheek the way he used to when we were teens. "You're cute"
And those are the exact words he says to me then and he does not even know about the way those words affect me.
"I miss you, Pixie" He confessed under his breath, a small smile now on his lips. He drew me closer to his built body by my arm and gently wrapped his arm around my waist to hug me. "The goddess knows how much I've missed you" He whispered into my ear as I began to wrap my arm around his neck to hug him back and that was when Barry decided to appear.
I tensed for a second before gaining back my composure. Barry was walking slowly towards the kitchen with a hand in the pocket of his jeans and his other hand casually combing his soft hair backwards. Our eyes made contact and I noticed his walking step got more slower.
"I just want us to remain like this for a while" Pete whispered slowly in my ear, his lips slightly touching my ear. He was not even aware of Barry's presence.
"Pixie, I've missed this. I've missed everything about you" Pete said in that hot whisper.
"I miss you" I mumbled, but I was confused. Who was I confessing that to.
To Pete?
Or Barry?
Barry's stare became raw, hot, going right through me while Pete's hug became tight, passionate, warming my body in the freezing temperature around.
Pete chuckled softly, and that was when Barry threw his face away, but I noticed the muscle in his jaw twitch as he decided to pretend Pete and I were not there, hugging.