along. It was so unfair, to have to fight this hard just to try to live with some damn dignity.
As if on cue, my phone buzzed in my backpack. It was a text from Mama. “Where are you? Lurlene said she looked inside the restaurant and Donnie was out with some other girl! Explain yourself, right now, young lady!”
I sighed and stuck my phone back in my bag. It was immature, but I just didn’t want to deal with it. I reached into my backpack for a packet of tissues, rubbing at my eyes. Suddenly the makeup my relatives had applied felt like it was suffocating my skin. I pulled the little papers away from my face and saw thick black smudged across them. My eyes stung, hot and bright, and I could feel the drip-drip-drip of tears against my hands as they slid down my cheeks.
It was all just so stupid and pointless. Alex wouldn’t want to be with me long term. Sure, I aged slower than the average human, but I still aged. I would go through middle age, menopause, become stooped and wrinkled and he would just go on forever and ever preserved in perfection. It wasn’t like he could turn me. At least, I didn’t think he could turn me—as far as I knew, it hadn’t been tried before. He would lose interest. I would eventually find someone my family approved because not doing it meant losing my place in the pack. It was what my parents had feared my entire life. They’d always made it sound like a fate worse than hell. How was I supposed to face hell alone?
I indulged in a bit more crying. I was not proud of it, but I spent so much time actively dodging my family that I guess I hadn’t really processed how hopeless I really felt about the whole thing. Something had to change, or I was going to snap.
“Ty?”
My head whipped up at the sound of my name. Alex was standing there in the moonlight like the answer to a wish I hadn’t even made. I wiped furiously at my cheeks, hoping I wasn’t all streaky and tragic looking.
“The library isn’t even open,” he said, walking towards me. “What are you doing back here?”
“It’s a long story,” I sniffed. For the first time that night, my smile was genuine. I stood and made myself hold absolutely still so I wouldn’t throw myself at him.
“Are you all right?” he asked, pulling me close. I buried my face in his shirt, breathing in the scent of cedar. I couldn’t answer. The tears would start all over again and that was the last thing I needed, to make the situation even worse with a red nose, swollen eyes, and runnier makeup.
His hands slid under my chin and tilted my face toward the moon. “Are you hurt? Did something happen?”
He frowned, but he didn’t flinch, so I guessed I wasn’t completely hideous. His cool hands felt so good against my flushed skin that I nuzzled my cheeks against his hands. “No, it’s more of a feelings issue. Don’t worry about it.”
“Why wouldn’t I worry about your feelings?” he asked, looking so genuinely confused by the concept that I laughed, because otherwise—red nose, swollen eyes, etc. He guided me onto the bench, sitting next to me with his arm around my waist.
“Is there anything I can do?” he asked.
I glanced down, so I wouldn’t have to look him in the eye. “Doubtful. What are you doing here? I thought we’d agreed to avoid the library for a while.”
“Oh, I wasn’t trying to get in the library. I was in town, fetching a package from the post office—replacement supplies for the school. I picked up your scent and followed it here.”
I chuckled. “Usually that’s my line.”
“What were you doing tonight?” he asked, glancing down at my dress. “You look beautiful, if a bit uncomfortable.”
I plucked at my skirt. “I don’t usually wear dresses. I’m more of jeans and t-shirts girl.”
“Well, it looks very nice. But I like the jeans, too. I can’t help but notice you didn’t answer the question—what are you doing here?” he asked again.
“Hiding a little bit?” I offered, the corner of my mouth pulling back.
“Hiding from who?” He pulled back, holding my elbows while he looked me over for potential damages.
“No, nothing like that. I had to, I know this is going to sound lame and awful—My family set me up on a date with a werewolf,” I