Strings of Fate

Strings of Fate 113- Mugs and marshmallows There’s a moment where | hold my breath and wait. It looks a little like Maggie is struggling with something.

Then before | can so much as suggest marshmallows, Maggie throws herself at me. For half a second I think she is actually furious and trying to attack me, but instead she wraps her arms aroundin the tightest bear hug a tiny old woman can give. She’s shaking and... is she crying? Oh no, what happened? What should | do? After a painfully long minute, | speak.

“Maggie? What's wrong? Has something happened? Is Logan okay?” | ask. She freezes and releasesso suddenly that | stumble back a little.

“IS SOMETHING WRONG? YOU INSENSITIVE BRAT! I'VE BEEN OUT OF MY MIND WITH WORRY ABOUT YOU!” Maggie reaches and gently clipsover the head in a reproving manner. She then crosses her arms over her chest again.

“First you get attacked by shady guys while with your gentleman friend, then you suddenly have bodyguards, next ca fancy as hell, mind my language, security system. Then you're just gone, your bedroom window is smashed in, the front of the building is completely desecrated so of course | let myself in to make sure you're alive in there and there’s BLOOD in your kitchen. You don’t call and check in. | mean sure, your friends letknow that you're alive. But they didn’t tellwhere you went, or if you're okay, or what's being done. I've been driving myself crazy stressing about the possibilities then you just waltz up to my door and knock asking for hot chocolate!” she rants. | stare, | had no idea that Maggie would be so concerned, sure we get along fairly well, but | didn’t know that she cared so much. | can’t help myself, | start to cry. Not just cry, | start bawling. All the emotions that have been building up since | got here are exploding out ofall at once. I'm frozen in place but Maggie and Megan both start fussing over me. Megan stroking my hair while Maggie pulls a tissue from who knows where and begins wiping at my teary face. Aaron is the one to breakout of my imitation of a statue, or maye fountain based on the amount of waterworks going on. He gently pushes Megan and Maggie back, loops an arm around my shoulders and at Maggie's nod, guidesinto her hand plopsdown onto her cosy green couch. Somehow the movement shocksout of my tears, although | can’t seem to o stop sniffling. Maggie and Megan drop onto the couch on either side of me, squeezinginto the middle.

Megan wraps her arm over my shoulders and Maggie around my waist. Darrien and Shaun are both hovering near the door and window, keeping an eye out and pointedly ignoring my tears. Aaron sits himself down on another empty chair and begins typing something into his phone.

1/3 113- Mugs and marshmallows Finally, | manage to speak through my sniffles, although I sound pretty pathetic.

“I'm sorry Maggie. | didn’t mean to put you and Logan and everyone else here at risk. | didn’t think any of it was a big deal, then suddenly it all happened at once. | should have done more, or... or... | don’t know.” | sniffle a few times, holding back more tears.

“Oh hon, is that what has you all weepy? You thought | would be angry with you? That's ridiculous. You had no way of knowing the future, you see relationships, not events. Besides, you took every precaution, even sent the eye candy boys to set up security fortoo. Then, when it becclear that it wouldn't be enough, you moved to a more secure place and still sent guards back to make sure that we were safe too. Sweetie, you are in an awful and stressful situation and you still took the tto think about us. | couldn’t be angry with you if | tried.” Meggie says firmly. Megan squeezes my shoulders in encouragement.

“I like her.” She comments. | sniffle and nod.

too.” | agree. Sitting here with Maggie and Megan, | feel everything | wanted to feel when | went back into my place. | feel safe, secure and comfortable. | guess it wasn’t the pillows and mugs that made this place home.

| make a note to spend more twith Maggie, even if it's just a call or text. | should invite her to see where I'm staying too. Bellamy doesn’t wantgoing out and realistically, he’s right, but having a guest over should be fine right? A small gasp at the front door draws my attention. Logan is standing there clutching his backpack.

“Ryann! | missed you? Where have you been?” He demands as he drops his bag in the doorway and runs over to me, completely ignoring the three huge Shifter men standing around. As he approaches he realises I'm all pinned in by Maggie and Megan making it impossible for him to hugproperly. So he contents himself with grabbing my hand and clutching it.

“Hey Logan! I'm sorry | didn’t get to say goodbye. There are sbad people who are really scary and they say they want to hurt me, so I'm staying somewhere safe with my Shifter friends for a while.” 1 explain. Logan nods with a serious expression.

“I saw the mean things on your door.” He says in a quiet, subdued voice. But then he perks.

1. up.

2/3 113- Mugs and marshmallows “I knew you were okay though. Nana was worried but | remember you have Bellamy and Darrien and Aaron and they're all really big and strong and | don’t think that they would let you get hurt because they all like you a lot. | know because they never tellto go away when | ask questions and Nana said if they put up with that then they must really like you.” He explains. | can’t help but snort out a laugh and glance towards Aaron. Does he really answer questions for Logan? | can’t imagine it. Logan notices the direction of my gaze and shrugs.

“We play guessing games. | ask lots of yes and no questions and he nods or shakes his head. It takes a long tto figure out and | have to think of good questions, but it's really fun.” He says cheerfully. His attention swaps back to me.

“When are you coming home?” He demands. | hesitate.

“I'm not sure Logan. | need to stay safe and | need to make sure the bad people don’t cback here. So probably not for a little while yet.” Logan pouts.

“But | miss you, and Nana gets sad when you're not around.” He complains. | lean out of Maggie and Megan's arms and wrap both my hands around Logan's. His hands are smaller than mine, but not by much. He's already eleven, it probably won't take long for him to get bigger than me.

“How about | write down my number and you can call and messagewhenever you want. And | will promise to make sure to call your Nana so she doesn’t get sad again. Maybe you can both cvisitfor dinner one night. That would be fun wouldn't it?” | offer.