Read Online Witches & Werewolves: A Sacred Oath by Bella Raven - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Bella Raven
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like time doesn’t matter.
I wish I could be like that. I’m constantly stressing out about tomorrow. Ever since my parents died I feel like I’m hyper aware of every second—we only get so many. How many seconds do I have left? How many does Noah? We all have an expiration date. Everything you ever love will either die or go away at some point. Everything exists in a state of entropy, constantly decaying. It’s the natural order of things. It makes me not want to love anything, because I don’t want to lose it.
It seems like the slightest thing can set me off on a train of thought that I’d rather not be on. Seemingly innocuous things. Everyone warned me this would happen. They said, “Out of the blue, you’ll get hit with a wave of emotion.” And it’s true. One minute I’m fine, then this. I burst into tears and sob uncontrollably.
“We can eat somewhere else if pizza’s a problem,” Lucas says.
“No, pizza’s great,” I say, trying to pull myself together. “It’s just last time, I ordered pineapple and mushroom, and I got pepperoni instead,” I say, sarcastically.
“I’ll make sure you get what you order this time,” Lucas says.
I don’t think anyone believes that’s the reason for my outburst, but they all play along. Jen reaches out, putting a hand on my back to sooth me. She gives me a look that says everything is going to be okay. It’s nice to have good friends.
While pizza might not solve all the world’s problems, it’s making me forget about mine for a moment. We all stuff our faces, crowded into a booth at Johnny’s Pizza. This is really good pizza, and I just happen to be starving. Plus, with everyone’s mouth full of cheese and dough, awkward conversations are minimized. For the moment.
Despite a mouthful of cheese and pepperoni, Lucas manages to ask, “What exactly brings you to Haven Hill?”
“I thought everyone knew by now, the way people gossip in this town.” I don’t mean to come off gruff, but my words just come out that way. “I don’t know if you’ve ever had to bury anyone, but it’s expensive. Like, way expensive. And they screw you on everything.”
The table is silent. Everyone has stopped eating. Lucas turns pale, and his jaw drops wide open. “I’m sorry, I had no idea.”
I go into full rant mode. “Well, it’s true. I don’t know if you know anything about caskets, but they start at $2500. That’s the cheapest one. But it doesn’t stop there. You can’t just put a casket in the ground, it has to go in a vault. That’s another two grand. And that’s the cheap part. Then the undertaker is about nine grand. And don’t forget about the ‘property.’ That’s going to run you another ten grand for a six foot deep hole in the ground. Well, you don’t really own the property, you get what they call a ‘right of internment.’ Which is pretty much a right to be worm food. Then double all that when both your parents die at the same time. The insurance policy was barely enough to cover the funeral. And there wasn’t anything left to cover the mortgage on the house. So, to answer your question, thats what brings us to the lovely town of Haven Hill to live with uncle Jake.”
I smile a big, fake, sarcastic smile. I think I’ve effectively killed everyone’s appetite.
“Please forgive me, I didn’t mean to bring up a painful memory,” Lucas says.
“Not a big deal, we’ve all got to die sometime, right?” I say.
“My mom was killed last year, so I know a little bit about caskets,” Lucas says.
I’m a total jerk. I’ve been focusing on all my problems. I haven't given the slightest consideration to what anyone else might be going through.
“How are we doing here? Can I get you guys anything else?” the waitress asks, popping by the booth.
“Another pitcher of beer,” Jake says.
“Uncle Jake!” I grumble, raising an eyebrow.
“What? Larry here is driving,” Jake slurs.
“Lucas,”
I wish I could be like that. I’m constantly stressing out about tomorrow. Ever since my parents died I feel like I’m hyper aware of every second—we only get so many. How many seconds do I have left? How many does Noah? We all have an expiration date. Everything you ever love will either die or go away at some point. Everything exists in a state of entropy, constantly decaying. It’s the natural order of things. It makes me not want to love anything, because I don’t want to lose it.
It seems like the slightest thing can set me off on a train of thought that I’d rather not be on. Seemingly innocuous things. Everyone warned me this would happen. They said, “Out of the blue, you’ll get hit with a wave of emotion.” And it’s true. One minute I’m fine, then this. I burst into tears and sob uncontrollably.
“We can eat somewhere else if pizza’s a problem,” Lucas says.
“No, pizza’s great,” I say, trying to pull myself together. “It’s just last time, I ordered pineapple and mushroom, and I got pepperoni instead,” I say, sarcastically.
“I’ll make sure you get what you order this time,” Lucas says.
I don’t think anyone believes that’s the reason for my outburst, but they all play along. Jen reaches out, putting a hand on my back to sooth me. She gives me a look that says everything is going to be okay. It’s nice to have good friends.
While pizza might not solve all the world’s problems, it’s making me forget about mine for a moment. We all stuff our faces, crowded into a booth at Johnny’s Pizza. This is really good pizza, and I just happen to be starving. Plus, with everyone’s mouth full of cheese and dough, awkward conversations are minimized. For the moment.
Despite a mouthful of cheese and pepperoni, Lucas manages to ask, “What exactly brings you to Haven Hill?”
“I thought everyone knew by now, the way people gossip in this town.” I don’t mean to come off gruff, but my words just come out that way. “I don’t know if you’ve ever had to bury anyone, but it’s expensive. Like, way expensive. And they screw you on everything.”
The table is silent. Everyone has stopped eating. Lucas turns pale, and his jaw drops wide open. “I’m sorry, I had no idea.”
I go into full rant mode. “Well, it’s true. I don’t know if you know anything about caskets, but they start at $2500. That’s the cheapest one. But it doesn’t stop there. You can’t just put a casket in the ground, it has to go in a vault. That’s another two grand. And that’s the cheap part. Then the undertaker is about nine grand. And don’t forget about the ‘property.’ That’s going to run you another ten grand for a six foot deep hole in the ground. Well, you don’t really own the property, you get what they call a ‘right of internment.’ Which is pretty much a right to be worm food. Then double all that when both your parents die at the same time. The insurance policy was barely enough to cover the funeral. And there wasn’t anything left to cover the mortgage on the house. So, to answer your question, thats what brings us to the lovely town of Haven Hill to live with uncle Jake.”
I smile a big, fake, sarcastic smile. I think I’ve effectively killed everyone’s appetite.
“Please forgive me, I didn’t mean to bring up a painful memory,” Lucas says.
“Not a big deal, we’ve all got to die sometime, right?” I say.
“My mom was killed last year, so I know a little bit about caskets,” Lucas says.
I’m a total jerk. I’ve been focusing on all my problems. I haven't given the slightest consideration to what anyone else might be going through.
“How are we doing here? Can I get you guys anything else?” the waitress asks, popping by the booth.
“Another pitcher of beer,” Jake says.
“Uncle Jake!” I grumble, raising an eyebrow.
“What? Larry here is driving,” Jake slurs.
“Lucas,”
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