Authors: Renee Thacker
That night Carson snuck through the window.
Under the covers with me it comforting after such a depressing day. He didn’t speak once.
That’s what I liked about him.
He knew when I wanted to be left alone.
I don’t remember falling asleep.
When I woke up Carson was gone.
The alarm clock read eight o eight.
Classes started at nine so I had just enough time to get ready and breakfast.
I hated rainy days like this just after I’ve gone through one just as dull.
The cafeteria was crowded as usual.
I got my plate of biscuits and gravy and seated myself next to the werewolves.
“Hi Leslie,
” Loren
greeted.
“Today’s the dance.”
“Oh,
” I
smiled.
“Who are you going with?”
“I’m going with Regan,” she replied.
“If you don’t have a dress I have one that you can borrow.”
“Nah, the Ricolis gave me one.”
“But they’re
vampires
.” she said.
“Well I’m not a werewolf and I have no reason to dislike them after all they’ve done for me.”
“Fine, if a vampires going to do your clothes then
werewolves
going to do your hair.”
“Sure just let me eat.”
It made me feel
self-conscious
when Carson watched me eat.
Ten minutes later I shouted, “Why do you do that?”
“Well you’re done now so let’s just kill some time.”
We walked out into the rain and chatted about our classes.
Mainly a distraction.
In
mid-sentence
of him talking
shout
his biology lab I asked:
“Why do you watch me eat?”
“It’s
interesting
.”
“But
why
?”
“You don’t understand my world.”
“Carson
plea
-
” before
I could finish his m mouth covered mine, his arms wrapped around me, I placed both of my hands on his chest, and just let the rain work
its
magic.
He pulled away wiping some soaking wet hair out of my face.
“I guess that works too.”
And
this time it was me who grabbed his hand.
“Come on let’s go to math.”
He
pulled me towards the door.
We entered just as the late bell rang.
Of course we picked seats right next to each other.
“You’re late.”
The
teacher announced.
“Sir we are not.
The late bell only jus-”
“Take out your books,” he cut Carson off.
When he saw that we both didn’t have books he made me sit with this kid named Mitch and him with this acne ridden girl on the opposite side of the room.
Oh well
it’s
closer then Dallas Texas.
“So,” the kid named Mitch started.
“Any ideas?”
“What exactly are we supposed to be doing?”
“Making a worksheet on Pythagorean Theorem.”
This was going to be one long period.
Turned out it wasn’t
too
bad.
Itch and I
got pretty in to it, sometimes laughing at our own stupidness.
When we switched our worksheets with other people we were the first one done with ours.
Carson was the last one done.
In fact he didn’t even finish his.
“Hey maybe we could study together some time?”
Mitch asked when we were done.
“Nah I’m to
busy
.”
“How about the dance tonight?”
“Already going with
someone
else.”
“Okay we can just hang out some other time.”
“No I’m f-”
“I’ll figure something out.” and he walked off.
Damn it.
This really had to happen?
The day went by long and boring.
When the fourth period bell rang signaling the end of the day, Loren was right by my side all excited for the dance.
Two hours and she acted like it was a huge rush.
For me that was more than enough time to get ready.
Me and Loren went over to my dorm, got my dress,
then
walked over to hers.
She gasped when I put on my perfectly fitting dress.
“That’s
beautiful
.”
That’s true
it
was absolutely stunning.
Even on me and I was no beauty queen.
It played out as nice shape giving me deep curves and wide hips.
Loren did my hair tightly, pulling against my scalp.
But her work was pretty
majestic
.
She did about fifty small braids then tied them into a bun.
Loren’s
dress was also beautiful.
It was blue, hung off her shoulders, and ended a little above her knees.
Wow that really did take two hours.
“You look beautiful. “
Carson told me once we finally made it to the parking lot.
“You’re so beautiful there’s not even a word to describe it.”
“Thanks,
” I
smiled looking into those eyes of his.
The dance was being held in the gym since student body never ended up with enough money for that building.
People were chatting in groups waiting for the songs to start.
“I’ve never danced before,” I told him.
“That’s okay I’ll lead you follow.”
I bet Carson has had plenty of girl’s all over him throughout his life.
“Okay but two questions.
Is today a full moon?
And are you sure you’d rather not go to Starbucks?”
“Hey babe c’mon you think I haven’t taken extra safety precautions?
And you look too indescribable for a coffee shop.”
He leaned down to kiss me but Regan interrupted.
“Hey Cars’ I need to talk to you a moment.”
I looked them both over and realized they were both wearing the same tux.
He slipped his hand out of mine and
walked
off with him.
“What are they talking about?”
I asked Loren.
“I don’t know.
Regan’s
found something out.”
“
This can’t be good.
”
I stated.
Loren just shrugged.
Carson walked over to me.
His expression gave nothing to me.
There was just that usual warm and protectiveness towards me.
“Come on can’t miss the first dance,
” he
pulled me on to the dance floor.
The dancing was fairly easy considering the shoes Loren put me in.
“What were you and Regan talking about?”
“Just... stuff.”
“Come on Carson after all we’ve been through you can’t even tell me?”
“Fine.
Regan found some stuff out.
Tarun and the other
werewolf
protectors aren’t far from here.
No more
than
fifty miles.
That’s really close for our kind.
I was hoping to avoid this conversation.
I didn’t want to ruin a perfectly good night.”
“How long will it take until they find me?” I asked.
“They already have.
Jeremy and Dimitri are tracking
their
whereabouts right now.”
“What?”
I exclaimed.
“That’s wrong.”
“No it’s not.
You mean a lot, to all of us.”
I knew I really did mean a lot to Carson.
But I don’t know how much I meant to the rest of them.
“I don’t even know why.”
“Leslie, if you think about it you’re different and no matter how much we try to avoid each other... we just can’t.
And all we’ve been
through;
do you really think I’m just going to leave you with Tarun to deal with?”
“Yeah you’re right, that’s why you need to make me one of you.”
“No!”
“Tarun would.”
“Don’t even think that Leslie.
She would kill you.”
His voice was hoarse.