Cathie Sanders by Alecia Hunter (bill gates books to read txt) 📕

but it was too late. The moment was over. I sighed.
“What’s wrong, Cat?” he asked. A sudden wave of grief washed over me as I looked at him. I wanted the moment to come back. He wouldn’t even look at me. I stood and walked out the back door heading to my house. I heard him whisper my name but I didn’t turn. Footsteps sounded behind me- I ignored them. Derrik grabbed my arm when I stepped up on my front porch. He waited until I turned to look at him.
“Cat, tell me what’s wrong. Please?” I opened my mouth but the front door creaked as it opened. Derrik let go of me and stepped back.
“Cathie? What’s going on? Who’s he?” my mom stood in the door with a worried look on her face. I cringed when she called me Cathie. She was the only one in town who couldn’t accept my nickname. I sighed before answering her.
“Cat, Mother. It’s Cat. This is Derrik, Blithe’s grandson.”
“Well why is he here?”
“Because I need to pack some stuff and he’s helping.”
“No. No boys in your room, Cathie. You know that.” Her voice said it was going to be nearly impossible to win. Good thing I was ready for a fight.
“Well, Theresa, that wasn’t the case two weeks ago when you let John come in. Just because you don’t know him doesn’t mean he’s bad.” She didn’t look happy but she let us in. Derrik looked to the left and without a glance myself I knew exactly what he saw: a baby grand piano across from a fish tank, a cat condo in the corner, and the edge of our ugly brown and pink flowered couch. I took my shoes off and felt the cool wood on my feet. I saw a stuffed mouse toy in the corner by the door, right in front of the stairs. I looked at Derrik. “Do you want something to drink?” I asked leading the way to the kitchen without waiting for an answer. We passed the bathroom door and it was cracked open. I heard splashing coming from inside.
“What’s that?” Derrik asked quietly.
“Baby, get out of the bathroom.” I said loudly and immediately my little calico cat came running out of the bathroom. I picked her up and dried her paws with a towel. “Hi, cutie,” I cooed rubbing her head and holding her like a baby. I kept her in one arm and with my free hand I opened the fridge then grabbed a bottle of water. I tossed it over my shoulder without looking. My mom, who had followed us, gasped but I heard Derrik catch it and smiled to myself while getting another bottle. I turned so my back was to my mom but Derrik could see me and winked before turning all the way around.
“Thanks.” Derrik whispered.
“Sure. Let’s go. No need to follow us, Mom.” I said as we passed her and I led the way upstairs. There were only two doors. I walked to mine which is at the front of the house and opened it. I set my kitten on the bed, closed the door, and looked at myself in the mirror behind it. My makeup was a little messed up so I went to my vanity in between my bed and sky blue dresser. I sat down and quickly touched up my eyeliner then brushed my too straight hair. I noted how much more red than blonde it was looking lately. Then I turned to see Derrik looking at the books in the case that matched my dresser. My room was a montage of different styles. Some things- like my dresser, bookcase, and desk chair- were a very light blue and looked almost like furniture a princess would have. Then there was my desk, bed, nightstand, and rug which were what my dad called ocean blue. Just to make it seem more personal there were cork boards with pictures of me and my friends over my mini-fridge and next to the vanity. Derrik turned around when he heard the cat clawing at my blue circle covered rug.
“What’s her name?” he asked watching her as she chewed the corner of the rug.
“Jinx,” I said with a smiled. She looked up and meowed at me. “She has very bad luck.” I winked. Derrik chuckled and leaned down to pet her. Jinx, scared, tried to jump on the bed but fell. “I told you so,” I said with a smile.
“I wonder…” he trailed off.
“What?” I asked. He took a step towards me.
“Oh, nothing really… I was just wondering if you could get to the bed when you’re scared.” He grinned but it was more like baring his teeth. I stood and back away as he growled and his face started to change. Fur sprouted and I almost screamed. Derrik lunged at me and I stumbled back falling on the bed, making it bang against the wall. He landed on top of me and quickly pinned my arms down. His face was back to normal but when he laughed it sounded animalistic. He leaned close and brushed his lips against my collar bone. He lifted his head and looked me in the eyes.
“What the hell is going on!” my dad’s voice was painfully loud. I realized how bad it must have looked to him with Derrik on top of me, pinning me to the bed. However almost as soon as my dad spoke Derrik stood. I sat up.
“Um, excuse me, but last time I checked this was my room. And you don’t have permission to come in, especially when you don’t even knock.” I said brushing my fingers through my hair nervously.
“What’s gotten into you lately?” Mom asked from the hall.
“Did you ever think that maybe I’m tired of being treated like a child? I turn 18 next week which means I’ll be an adult. And I want to be treated like one. Now please leave. I have to pack.”
“Pack for what?” they both asked, concerned.
“I’m leaving Sunday.”
“To go where? With who? And why?” the questions cam so fast there was no way Theresa could actually expect me to answer them. I waited until I was sure she was done before carefully answering.
“I’m going on a road trip with James, Derrik, and Layla because I want to.” My parents glanced at Derrik then focused back on me.
“I don’t think-” I cut her off with a laugh.
“The funny thing is, Theresa, I don’t care what you think. I’m going. End of story. Bye.” I practically pushed them out of my room before closing and locking the door. Derrik was leaning against my desk staring at me when I turned around. I wanted to cross the room and throw my arms around him but I didn’t dare. What Layla had told me stuck in my head and so far letting him come to me was working. I just hoped it would stay that way. I smiled shyly.
“Come here,” he murmured and I obeyed. I leaned into him, his arms going around my waist. Our lips were just inches apart… Derrik's phone vibrated. I stepped back as he growled.
“What the hell do you want, James?” As Derrik talked I got out my duffel bag and started going through my clothes wondering what I should bring. Derrik told me we were going down south. I still packed mostly jeans and t-shirts. Next I went in the bathroom and after that I dug under my bed for my spell books. The whole time Derrik was talking to James. It only made me slightly uneasy for reasons I couldn’t figure out. I was packed, my bags on the bed, and Derrik was still talking to James. I walked around impatiently, Jinx following right on my heals. I stopped dead, freezing up. I was barely aware of Derrik telling James he had to go and him walking over to me. He asked me what was wrong.
“Jinx,” I said simply, the kitten jumping into my arms when I said her name.
“I don’t know…” he looked into my eyes and seemed troubled by what he saw. “Ok, we’ll make it work. I know you can’t leave her here. You better go get a bag for her. And uh, let’s not tell James and Layla until we leave. That way there won’t be a fight.” I nodded and went down to the kitchen alone. Under one counter was Jinx’s cat carrier and a little bag with her food, treats, and extra dishes. I grabbed both and took them to put with my things.
When I got upstairs Derrik was sitting in my desk chair, Jinx in his lap, purring madly.
“She likes you.” I said quietly. I went to stand beside him. There was a knock on my door. I growled under my breath, surprising myself.
“It’s Jamie and Layla.” Derrik said quietly, then louder, “Come in.” James opened the door slowly. Layla looked around like she was making sure no one would try to kill her if she came in.
“You’re kinda jumpy.” I stated. She glared at me.
“You will be too. It’s the only way to make sure you stay alive.” I nodded and absentmindedly ran my nails lightly down Derrik’s arm. James watched my hand, which was the only thing that made me realize I was doing it. I stopped and moved my hand away. Layla snickered.
“So should I leave my stuff here? Or what?” I asked pacing my room, nervously. I saw James and Derrik watching me but I didn’t stop.
“James?” Derrik asked.
“You’ll probably want to stay here as much as possible right?” James asked me.
“Wrong,” Derrik and I said at the same time. Then I continued, “I would rather leave right now.”
“We at least have to stay to Sunday so we can rest up before we leave again for who knows how long.” Layla said from her perch on my desk. I noticed she wasn’t taking her own advice. She was trying to play with his hair. I could tell he didn’t like it and I wanted her to stop. When she kept doing it even after I growled at her I had to do something. I walked over and slapped her. She gasped and stared at me like I was crazy. James pulled me backwards and suddenly there was a big wolf in my room. Layla changed so fast I didn’t see it. She was the same color red as her hair. She crouched down and growled at me. Then instinct took over. I don’t know how but I changed into a wolf. It was fast and painless. It came naturally. Like breathing. I growled low in my throat. It was like I wasn’t even in control of myself, it was as if someone else had the controls to my body. Layla circled me. Somehow I knew the perfect time to launch myself at her. I pinned her to the ground.
Bow to me. I am leader. My word is law. My thoughts, I was sure, blasted into her mind. She whimpered and showed her stomach in defeat. I stood and looked at Derrik. He looked proud of me. But now that I was back to being mostly in control I had a problem. I had no clue how to shift back into a human.
“Stuck?” Derrik asked with a smile. I nodded. Layla had gone into my bathroom. She came out wrapped in a towel. She threw my robe on me.
“Sorry, Leader, but when you shift your clothes rip off,” was the only thing she said to me. Then she went through my dresser for clothes.
“Ok, Cat, all you have to do is focus. Concentrate on shifting back. Imagine all your limbs returning to normal.” I did