“Thank God you’re okay, sweetie.” She moves and looks my body over, her hands finding my bandaged ones.
“Come, sit down here and let me have a look at what Phoenix did.” She gestures for me to sit on the stool by the counter and I do. I look behind to see Alex standing stiffly by the back door, a desolate look on her face as she sees the way Noelle is mothering me.
Noelle turns to look at Alex.
“Alex, have a seat. I’ll pour you a glass of wine. Looks like you need one.” Noelle gives a small laugh and moves toward the cabinet. Alex’s stance immediately relaxes and a small smile spreads across her face as she makes her way towards where I sit. “I think I need more than one,” she laughs.
“How you feeling, hun?” Alex says, running her hand through the back of my hair.
“I’m okay. Much better than yesterday,” I say truthfully. I look to see where Phoenix has disappeared to and see her heading toward her bedroom.
I turn my head when I hear the sound of glasses being placed on the counter. I take a sip of the soda Noelle pours me then start removing the bandages on my hands.
“Here, let me help you.” Noelle starts rolling the bandage neatly. Once the bandages are gone and with only the sticky balm Phoenix rubbed on remaining, both Alex and I are left staring in disbelief.
“It’s almost healed,” Alex says.
Noelle smiles as she unwraps the other hand, “Phoenix is quite magnificent, she’s particularly magnificent with her healing balms and potions. That is how you managed to bypass the spell we cast for wolves Alex; Phee had to have helped you.”
Neither Alex or I say anything. Noelle continues to wipe away the residue of the sticky balm until my hands are clean and only little scratches are left.
“Thanks, Noelle,” I say, rubbing my hands together.
“My pleasure, Angel. I promise we will find the monster that did this to you. I will help you in anyway I can.” She smiles as she hugs me once more.
I can feel unremitting tension in the kitchen, so I decide to go in search of Phoenix; clearly Noelle and Alex have a lot to discuss.
I head towards her bedroom, passing Fabian’s on the way, it’s empty… Obviously. He would have definitely made his presence known if he was around.
“Phee, what are you doing?” I walk into her room and can’t help but smile. It’s colourful with little fairy lights taking up her entire ceiling and the wall behind her bed covered with little colourful butterflies. It’s totally surreal with a real comforting feel.
“Just writing a note in my diary,” she says quietly. I take a seat on her bed and look up at the lights that cover her ceiling.
“I love your room,” I mutter, looking over the butterflies.
I hear her shuffling and then the sound of her chair scraping against the floor. “Thanks, Noelle helped me with everything when I moved in here,” she says happily, seemingly back to her normal self.
“Where’s Fabian?” I ask.
She shrugs, not looking so cheerful anymore. “He’s probably out with his friends,” she sighs.
I can’t help but notice the stiffness in her shoulders as she forces the shrug.
We sit quietly for a moment and the silence it pretty awkward; especially because Phoenix is always rambling on about something or other. “So… are you gonna tell me what’s bothering you?”
She immediately drops down on the bed next to me and covers her face. “When Nixon called and told me about what happened to you, I was so scared and worried about you. Fabian was there when I got the call and he went all cave man like he usually does when another man is involved; it’s even worse that the man is a wolf. Anyways, I told Nixon I was coming to him, but Fabian ripped my phone out of my hand and told Nixon that I wasn’t. I was so mad at Fabian, he thinks he owns me like I’m some little girl that needs protecting…” She runs her hands through her hair as she lays on the bed staring at the ceiling. She lets out a deep breath then continues, “I was shouting at him. I’ve never been so harsh to anybody in my life. I said such horrible things, Angel… I was so mean to him.”
“I’m sure he knew that your anger was because you were worried about me. He’s probably already over it, Phee,” I say softly.
She sits up abruptly. “No, that’s not what I’m concerned about. He… he kissed me, Angel. I was yelling at him and he just grabbed me and kissed me.” The girl stares at me wide eyed.
I can’t help the laugh that leaves my lips. Phoenix flops back down on the bed groaning as she covers her face.
I laugh harder, “Maybe it was just to shut you up… coz’ when you get going girl… you don’t realize how hard it is to get you to stop.”