Strings of Fate

107- Friends and family Bellamy’s steps down the hall distractand | present him with dinner. It’s my turn to lean on the bench and eat while he and Megan take the two stools.

“Maybe we should start eating at the dinner table where we all fit.” Megan comments. | shrug.

“I like it here. | don’t mind it. But if we add anyone else to the dinner party we will definitely have to. Or eat in the living room like last time, although Darrien sat on the floor so the dinner table would probably be better.” | think aloud. Bellamy looks weirdly happy at this discussion. | know he doesn’t mind Darrien but | don’t think they're especially close, why is he happy at the idea of him coming to dinner more? Maybe it's for Megan's sake.

Megan and | hang out in her room after dinner. We play schoose your own adventure type video gand get our character killer horrifically (oops...) We also catch up with Harry in the group chat.

COCK TALES Megan- Hey Harry, how goes your crush on the bartender? Harry- It’s not a crush! | just like messing with her.

Ryann- ... IDK Harry, do you usually spend so much tannoying one person? When was the last tyou went out with someone? Megan- Or at very least the last tyou asked someone else out.

Harry- Asking someone is the sas going out. People rarely say no to me. Except for you. ladies of course ;) Ryann- And the bartender chick...

Megan- LOL. And you didn’t answer Harry. When? 1/5 107- Friends and family Harry- Not sure, a few weeks maybe? Megan- And when did you meet bartender chick? Harry- A few weeks ago...

Megan- And you haven't tried to see anyone else since? Harry- | guess not? Ryann- And this implies.....

Harry- Oh shit.

Megan- Hah! Feelings are a lot more entertaining when they're not mine.

Harry- Shut up. What about your feelings then? How goes your relationship with the hot bodyguard? | can’t help but laugh aloud at that. | wonder how Darrien would feel about being described as ‘the hot bodyguard? | mean, honestly it’s not that bad. Better than ‘Alpha Kitty Kat as he likes to refer to Bellamy. | really hope he comes up with a new nicknfor him soon... Megan elbowsand | wink at her then gesture to her phone tically.

“Well, go on. Harry asked, not me.” | smirk and she rolls her eyes.

“Fine.” She bites back.

Ryann- Ouch, How is it that you did the teasing and I'm the one who took an elbow to the ribs? Harry- My bad babe. | should've checked to make sure you were outside the firing line. Hugs! Ryann- Thanks, please confirm in the future. Okay Megan, over to you.

Megan- Gee thanks so much 2/5 107- Friends and family Megan- If | HAVE to answer then | guess it’s going... fine? Harry- What does that even mean? Megan- | mean... nothing has really changed? He's always around and he treatslike het usually does. If he hadn’t paid for my meal and made it clear | wouldn't have noticed any difference.

Ryann- I'm pretty sure he’s just trying to be considerate. You've been through a lot. He's probably just being careful not to upset you. | mean, it’s not been that long and you did say several times that you didn’t want to be involved with anyone. | reckon he just wanted to be sure that you are AWARE of his feelings and now he’s waiting for you to be READY for them.

Does that make sense? Harry-... When did you get so aware of things? Megan- Damn, being in a relationship has changed you XD Ryann- Nah, Darrien and | are friends. | have the inside scoop.

Megan turns and looks atthoughtfully.

“What?” “Nothing. I'm just glad that Bellamy picked you. You haven't even taken over as the Alpha female yet and you're already taking on half the responsibilities. Just on a small scale. You deal with us and all our feelings. It will be interesting to see what it’s like when you have everyone coming to you with their problems.” | shudder.

“That sounds terrifying. How am | meant to help people like that? It’s one thing when it’s just you guys, but a bunch of strangers...” | trail off in horror. Megan laughs.

“Strangers are only strangers the first tyou meet them. If you can only help your friends then you're just going to have to make a whole heap more friends. You're all worried by this but | think that, even without officially taking over, you are going to start managing things all on your own. Because that’s what you do. You fix things and help but only just as much as is needed. You're also good at sitting back and watching people make stupid choices. You only 3/5 107- Friends and family intervene when it gets really desperate.” She sighs sadly and I can tell she’s reflecting on her own relationship choices.

“People will respect that Ry. You really don’t have to worry about it. | know Bellamy is hoping you'll stay here forever, and hoping you'll accept him completely soon. He won't ever rush you, and it's not my place to say anything, not really. But I'm not as good at sitting back and watching things unfold as you are. So | just want to tell you, as your friend... you don’t have anything to worry about. Things will work out the way they're supposed to, and if things do go wrong, you'll have Bellamy and you'll have me. Not to mention Aaron, Darrien, Shaun, Alex... Even Harry. | know involving and being responsible for all the other Shifters scares you, but instead of thinking of them as responsibilities, think of it as gaining a whole giant. collection of friends and family. People to help you and back you up when you're having trouble.” she says gently. | shake my head in disagreement.

“Bellamy is Alpha and he isn’t friends with everyone like that. | know he has them all, but it’s not... like that. He's more like their boss than anything else.” | point out. Megan laughs.

“That's because my brother is an emotionally constipated idiot half the time. He's bossy and doesn’t know how to express himself other than going all out or nothing at all. He's so worried about being ‘in charge’ that it's created a huge distance between him and everyone else. You can help with that. Besides, everyone loves him more than he thinks. Think of the Alpha as the head of a giant family. People might disagree with him, treat him with more respect or even fear him. But he’s still family. How they treat him depends on how he acts around them. It would be the swith you. You've seen Logan with Maggie. He loves and respects her. Meanwhile his mother from what you've toldis an absolute hot mess. But they all still love each other. It’s like that. You get from it what you put in. If you want friends and family then treat people that way.” She explains. | stare.