#trappedtask.001

&& Defining Moment 

“Good job, bud,” his father smiled, one that actually reached his eyes, as he skated graceful circles around the rink. Nolan had wanted to play hockey as soon as he realized his father loved watching the game and the man had been all too happy to oblige when he asked him to teach him to skate. He couldn’t remember a moment when he’d been happier, he couldn’t remember a time when his dad had actually paid attention to him for so long. It was like he’d finally found the key, like he was finally good enough. He was on top of the world.

He heard a buzzing from the pocket of his dad’s nice jeans and the smile dropped from his face. Answering the phone, his attention fell away from Nolan just as quickly as it’d come, and before he knew it he was being tugged off the ice. They were leaving - a work thing, he’d been told. 

He could still feel the chill from the ice rink long into the night. 

&& Questionnarie 

Where are you from? Did you ever want to leave? Why?

“I’m from Beacon Hills. I wanted to leave all the time and I did pack my backpack and run away a lot, but I never got out of the city limits. I didn’t know where I’d go so...I just went back to my parent’s house.” 

Who was your family there? Did you have a close relationship with them?

“My family was me. My parents were there sometimes, but not enough to be family so...no, I didn’t have a close relationship with them. I didn’t want one and they didn’t want me, so it was a win-win, I guess.” 

What was your favorite activity when you were a child? Why did you like it so much?

“I liked reading a lot, I still do. You can do it by yourself and escape far away from the mundanity of life without leaving your room. It’s amazing, it was amazing. I used to spend a lot of the time at the library, my nannys would bring me there if I asked them enough times and I’d work my way through the fiction section. I think I’ve read most all of what they have now.” 

Who did you play with the most as a child? Or were you alone?

“I played most with Gabe, but I didn’t meet him until sixth grade. I wasn’t alone before then, I just didn’t have...friends. I had people I talked to.” 

Who was the most influential person in your life? Did you love them?

“The most influential person in my life was Gabe. I did love him, I guess. Love is weird, no one really tells you exactly what it’s supposed to feel like without going all wishy-washy and acting like it’s all a fairy tale. I don’t even know if I know what love feels like, but if I had to guess then yes - I loved him.” 

What was the most valuable lesson they ever taught you?

“The most valuable lesson he ever taught me was...um...you never really know all of someone. There are always some sneaky parts that people keep hidden until they can’t anymore.” 

Are they still alive? Do you keep in contact with them? If they’re not alive, what has their death taught you?

“He was dead. I watched him die. But now he’s not and I don’t know if I ever want to see him again. His death made me feel alone, his death made me want to die, but it also taught me that nothing is permanent. No one is permanent. Not even if they say they’ll always be there.” 

How often were you told “no” as a child? Did you ever listen?

“No one ever told me no. No one cared what I did, not even when I did things that should’ve been...punished.” 

What’s your biggest regret from your childhood?

“I’ll always regret meeting Miss. Monroe. I wish I’d never spoken to her, I wish I’d never told her anything.” 

What are you the most proud of from your childhood?

&& Parental Figure Conversation 

“I’m not going...not today,” Kaleb objected, refusing to pull the covers away from his face to meet the eyes of the woman who had given him everything. It’d been three years since the incident, since the hunters had taken everything from him and left him with a pair of red eyes and a broken heart, but it never ceased to hurt - especially not near the anniversary of their death. 

Navami gave a long-suffering sigh and sat down on the bed next to her son, for that was what he was - her smart, brave boy. “I know it hurts, my love, I know - but you cannot let it get in the way of your education. You’ve been cooped up at home for a week now, a change of scenery will do you good. Now up, I’ll make you a nice breakfast and drive you myself since you’ve already missed first period.” 

&& Questionnaire 

Where are you from? Did you ever want to leave? Why?

“I’m from Illinois. I was born in Shawnee National Park along with my brother and sisters and we were as off-the-grid as one can possibly be in the 21st century. I never wanted to leave, not as a child at least, but I did want to see the world. I’ve always had in interest in Human Geography and the variability of societal norms, it was only fitting I wanted a change of scenery every now and again.”  

Who was your family there? Did you have a close relationship with them?

“Up until the age of twelve, my family consisted of my father, my mother, my sisters Kitty, Fawn and Raven, and my brother Wren. We were a pack and we spent most of our time together isolated from the rest of the world, so I like to think we were close, though I’d say I was closest to my sisters Kitty and Fawn. Wren and I butted heads often, most frequently over my father’s comments and a fear that he was the favorite - which he undoubtedly was.” 

What was your favorite activity when you were a child? Why did you like it so much?

“As a child, my favorite activity was going to school. Most of my siblings didn’t like it much because it involved socializing with humans, but I always looked forward to it. I love learning, I still do, and there’s so much that the human race has compiled - so much that we now can build off of - I couldn’t wait to sink my teeth into it all. Unfortunately, I had a really hard time learning to read so it was a much slower process than I wanted it to be until I was placed with my foster parents.” 

Who did you play with the most as a child? Or were you alone?

“I played most with Kitty and Fawn, mostly because I was tasked with keeping them out of trouble, but I did enjoy it. They’re some of the best memories I have of my life with the pack.” 

Who was the most influential person in your life? Did you love them?

“The most influential person in my life was my mother - my foster mother, Navami. She was so patient with me and she never allowed me to feel sorry for myself or to slip behind in anything, even when the tragedy of losing my family was still fresh. I loved her very much.” 

What was the most valuable lesson they ever taught you?

“The most valuable lesson she ever taught me was the power of knowledge.”

Are they still alive? Do you keep in contact with them? If they’re not alive, what has their death taught you?

“Unfortunately, she and her husband passed. Their death...I don’t think of it as a lesson, I don’t think death should ever be used as such.” 

How often were you told “no” as a child? Did you ever listen?

“As a child, I was fairly well behaved and a quick learner so I didn’t hear the word no often. When I did, though, I didn’t heed it. I liked to think that when I stepped out of line it was for good reason, alas it most often wasn’t, for I was still a child.” 

What’s your biggest regret from your childhood?

“My biggest regret is leaving my family behind while they died. I should’ve stayed, I should’ve tried to take them with me, but I didn’t. I didn’t even go back to see if the bodies were still there or to make sure the hunters didn’t take them away as trophies, but I wish I had. I wish I’d thought of them instead of my own survival.” 

What are you the most proud of from your childhood?

&& Defining Moment

Liam had never wanted to see his mom less that he did right then, sitting in the principal’s office in complete silence. He didn’t know what to say and it was obvious Principal Smith didn’t either if the wary look he’d been shooting him was anything to go by. He wanted nothing more than for the earth to open up and swallow him whole so he wouldn’t have to look his mom in the eyes when the showed her the security footage of what he’d done. 

Fuck.

He’d done stupid things before, but this took the cake. He was just so...angry, and all that he could think about was how good it’d feel to make Coach hurt, to make him pay for the embarrassment he’d caused. The security cameras, the fact that it was the middle of the day - none of it had crossed his mind, and now...now he was scared that his mom would look at him and see nothing but his father. But a monster, the monster he’d tried so hard not to become. 

&& Questionnaire

Where are you from? Did you ever want to leave? Why?

“I’m from Beacon Hills, born and raised. My mom lived in Nevada for a bit before I was born, because that’s where my family’s from, but I’ve never lived anywhere else. I used to want to leave all the time - especially after my mom and my father got divorced, but now I can’t imagine living anywhere else. This is my home, this is where I belong. I promised I’d protect this place and there’s no way in hell I’m breaking that promise, not even now that Scott’s back.” 

Who was your family there? Did you have a close relationship with them?

“Well, my family’s always been my mom and my step dad joined us a little later, but yeah; I’ve always had a close relationship with them. My mom and I have been through a lot together and my dad’s always been there for me. I really lucked out in the family department, I don’t know how I would’ve turned out without them.” 

What was your favorite activity when you were a child? Why did you like it so much?

“When I was a kid, Lacrosse was my favorite thing in the whole world. My dad taught me how to play when he first started dating my mom and it’s kinda how we bonded. It gave me somewhere to put all my energy into and it was really fun. Plus, I’m really fucking good at it...so that helps.” 

Who did you play with the most as a child? Or were you alone?

“Mason’s been my best friend for as long as I can remember, so probably him. I’m pretty good at making friends, but like...not the kinda friends you can tell you’re a werewolf. Does that make sense?” 

Who was the most influential person in your life? Did you love them?

“The most influential person in my life is probably my dad, but there are tons of other people that come pretty close - like Scott and Mason and my mom. I do love him, ‘course I do, I didn’t at first because my mom had just gotten out of a really shitty relationship and I was convinced that he’d be the same, but I got there.” 

What was the most valuable lesson they ever taught you?

“The most valuable lesson he ever taught me is how to work for something, how to take life by the horns and keep on shit until you get it right. He tried to teach me how to work smarter, not harder, but I’m kind of a...act now ask questions later kind of person and it’s a really hard habit to break.” 

Are they still alive? Do you keep in contact with them? If they’re not alive, what has their death taught you?

“Yeah, he’s still alive and we talk a lot on the phone. Plus, he and my mom live like ten minutes away so sometimes I just go over and have dinner with them. It’s nice, I really like being so close to them.” 

How often were you told “no” as a child? Did you ever listen?

“I was told no all the time when I was a kid, but I never listened. Hell - I think most of the no’s were specially because I didn’t listen.” 

What’s your biggest regret from your childhood?

“My biggest regret is probably making things harder for my mom. I used to blow up at her all the time and she’d just...look at me like...she didn’t know what to do or how to be there for me and it sucked. She did a really good job dealing with me and I wanna take back all the times I said I hated her...” 

What are you the most proud of from your childhood?