Strings of Fate

84- Ideas and intentions “Aaron isn’t coming.” | point out.

“He has the day off. | figure I'll be with you guys all day so he doesn’t need to hang around.” Megan nods absent mindedly, typing something into her phone. I'm not sure she’s really listening. Well, whatever, I'll try again another time. | finish eating then go to shower and get dressed. Megan picked out a cute little sundress and sandals outfit combo for me. It’s a light blue colour that brings out my pale eyes and emphasises the blue in my hair. I'm still not sure about dressing in a way that emphasises my eyes but she is determined to convinceto.

| agreed to try things her way for a while and see if it makes any difference in how people treat me. So far...

she’s right. No one has been any different than they usually are. Megan insists on taking the tto do my face up with slight makeup and then she braids my hair for me. She then borrows my bathroom and gets herself dressed. While she is getting ready, | check my phone and realise | have a message from Darrien.

Darrien- How is she today? Ryann- Good I think. We managed to watch a romance movie last night and she was okay with it. No nightmares last night either which is a good sign.

Darrien- I'm glad. | am hoping to have a chance to do something today.

Ryann- Do something? Like what? Darrien- I'm not sure yet. | plan to play it by ear. Just... something to make my intentions a little more clear to her maybe? | think it depends how she is feeling though.

Ryann- !!! Ooh now | am super excited. If I'm not there when it happens you'll have to tellhow it goes, yeah? And hopefully that will get Megan thinking a little so she talks to about it so | can talk you up.

Darrien- | am not so sure about that... that might be a little more than i’m aiming for.

Ryann- We shall see... Good luck today! 1/4 84- Ideas and intentions The combination of my sleeping in late and Megan taking FOREVER in the bathroom means that Bellamy arrives pretty much the moment she is ready. | answer the door and let him in. He greetswith a kiss in my hair and a tight hug. Darrien is only a minute or so behind him and arrives quickly. They took separate cars as Bellamy was coming from sother meeting this morning. Since we don’t have confirmed plans for after lunch we decide to take two cars to the pub where we plan to eat.

“I'll go with Darrien and let you two have sttogether.” She winks atteasingly and skips off with Darrien to his car. | roll my eyes..The teasing wasn’t necessary but | do want her to spend more twith Darrien so | don't bother to argue.

“So | think Darrien is planning to make a move on Megan at spoint today.” | tell Bellamy in the most stereotypically gossipy tone that | can manage. Bellamy’s hands tighten on the steering wheel.

“What is that supposed to mean? And is she even ready for something like that?” He demands. | place a hand on his arm in a placating manner.

“Hey chill. It's okay. He adores her, he wouldn't do anything to upset her. | think he just plans to make her aware of his intentions long term. He won't expect anything from her. Besides, | think it will be good for her.” | tell him calmly. He glances sideways atthen back to the road but he looks very doubtful.

“Good for her, how? | know you said they're fated and you have faith they will be together, but isn’t it a bit soon?” Bellamy sounds almost pained.

“If they were jumping into a relationship, then yes maybe. But all he wants is for her to be aware of him and consider him as a potential option. I think it will be good for her because she needs to feel wanted right now.

Think about it, the man she was going to marry only wanted her for her position and connection to you. He didn’t care for her personally at all. That's got to hurt her self-esteem quite a bit. She was used and now she doesn’t trust her own judgement. | think knowing exactly what he wants will allow her to learn to trust herself again, and it will also help her self-esteem. Feeling like someone wants you... well it can make a big difference...” | trail off with that last part. I'm not sure | am still talking about Megan. Making friends and knowing that Bellamy does wanthas done wonders for my self esteem. I'm dressing in’'new ways, wearing makeup, going out, meeting people. It's so different, and | am terrified but there's no way | could have gotten through it before.

2/4 84- Ideas and intentions “So you support Darrien telling my sister his feelings... for her ego?” He clarifies.

“Yep, basically. She might not even react well, and if she does react poorly it won't matter, because it will still help her realise that her worth isn’t diminished because of one idiot. But honestly, | think she just has never even considered him. So while | don’t expect her to fall into his arms, | think she will consider him, and maybe choose to discuss him with me. Really, as long as she doesn’t run away or flat out reject him, | would consider it a win.” | explain cheerfully. Bellamy nods slowly.

“I suppose that makes sense. What exactly is he planning to do?” | shrug.

“Not sure exactly, he wasn’t very specific. | think he plans to just wait for a good opportunity. I'm looking forward to seeing how it all plays out.” At the pub we choose a booth type seat. Megan and | sit across from each other by the wall while Darrien and Bellamy sit beside us. Bellamy besideof course. We take our tlooking over the menus and | pick sbasic pasta dish. Not super adventurous maybe, but tasty and filling. Megan take more tto choose, while she’s thinking I lean over and whisper in Bellamy’s ear keeping my voice as low as possible since Megan and Darrien both have super Shifter hearing.

“I suppose you're planning to insist on paying for my meal again to prove spoint that | don’t really understand?” | question. Bellamy winks atand pulls his wallet out of his pocket placing it on the table in front of us. | roll my eyes at him and he leans in to v in my ear this time.

whisper “Please let me. | don’t want to appear as a bad mate to you.” His eyes dart to where Darrien and Megan are sitting. Megan is still focused on the menu, Darrien is looking over at the bar and pointedly away from us in the pretence of giving us privacy.

“It’s just Darrien and Megan. But if you insist then you need to think of something you want fromso that we're even. Telllater.” | go to lean back but he slides an arm around my waist holdingclose.

“You know that’s not how this works. But if you really want then I'll think of something.” He whispers gently. | smile at him. Megan clears her throat loudly.

3/4 84- Ideas and intentions “If you guys are done canoodling | think we should go order. Pretty sure we do it up at the bar. Shall we?” She pokes Darrien in the arm to get him moving from his seat so she can slide out. Bellamy also stands and | slide out, although I admit it was far less graceful. We wait a moment for service. A young guy asks for our orders. Darrien and Megan both step back a little prompting Bellamy and | to order first which is weird because they were in front of us. I tilt my head in confusion while making eye contact with Megan and she wavesaway in a way that promises an explanation later. Bellamy promptsto give my order then gives his own and pays for both meals. We step away and Megan gives her order. She pulls out her purse to pay but is interrupted by Darrien placing his hand over hers. In his other hand he holds out cash halfway between Megan and the worker.

“May 17” He asks, his tone thick with implications. Megan's eyes fly open wide. If | hadn't just discussed this with Bellamy | would be confused but armed with my recent knowledge of Shifter courting traditions, even | can tell that this is Darrien making his move. He is in a roundabout way, asking if he can court her.

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