Wolf

Prologue:


My mom and dad decided to split. ‘Okay, cool’, I thought. ‘Two birthday, two Christmas’, two houses. This would be pretty cool.’
Too bad my mom forgot to tell me that we were moving half way across the planet. Well, not really that far, but still, moving from the hot, dry state of Texas, all the way to gloomy rainy Port Gamble, Washington was going to really hard.
I didn’t know anyone there. What if they weren’t into the same things my friends and I were into down here? What if no one liked me? Plus, it rains ALL the time, so I heard. When would I have time to take a walk or to read or write a story underneath a huge tree, while the sun beat down on me.
But my mom was looking forward to a fresh start and maybe I should, too. Plus. Its not like I was leaving anything too special behind, besides my dad of course. But no, I wasn’t leaving to many friends or a boyfriend. See, I wasn’t the hot, popular girl in school. I never was cool. I’d choose reading a good book over going to a party or a football game. I was considered a geek or a freak. So maybe a fresh start was what I needed.
But would I ever get used to all the changes?







Chapter 1.



“Got everything?” Dad asked.
“Yep” Mom and I said together.
Dad was so not ready for us, well me, to leave. But I promised him that I was going to come visit him ever chance I got.
“Okay, well, good” he said, sounding kind of gloomy. “Well, you guys better get a move on I heard traffic’s horrible on highway 130 around 5:00.”
He walked over to me, with, what looked like a tear in his eye. “I’ll miss you Stace.” he said, choking on the last word. Then he gave a huge and kiss on my cheek.
Then he walked over to mom and gave her a hug and told her to be safe and to call him every time we got settled somewhere. She agreed.
Then we hoped into our little blue Honda Accord and drove out of the driveway and then started our long trip to our new home.
----------------------


There was a long awkward silence for about the first three hours into the trip, nothing but the sound of our normal radio station playing softly.
Then finally it was broken. “You hungry?” Mom asked.
“Not really. You?” I asked back.
“No”.
Then silence was there again. But that’s okay. Sometimes I like silence, it gives me time to think about things. Things that were important like how dad was going to manage or how I was going to like it at my new home. Or I would thing about important things like how much longer our radio station was going to last or if I’d remembered to pack my favorite pillow.
This is how the rest of our trip seemed to go. Though, every once and a while, a good song would come on the radio and mom and I would sing it and laugh. But aside from that we didn’t have any conversations. We stopped four times in little hotels at night. I told mom I could drive while she sleep, considering I was 17 years old, but she said she wouldn’t be able to sleep anyways if I was driving.
But finally, after a car ride that seemed like forever we saw a sign that said ‘Welcome To Port Gamble’. It looked like one of those towns you see in movies. You know the ones that look very quant, but kind of old. As we passed through “downtown” I saw a pizza kitchen, a movie theater (with exactly 5 movies playing. I have seen 4 of them), a grocery store, a clothing store, and a bunch of other little shops that didn’t really spark my interest. Then we pasted a little book store. I was going to have to check that out sometime. There were also people walking around, in and out of stores, talking and laughing and waving at other people across the street.
Finally, we pulled into 1435 McBride Lane. Our new house was larger than I had excepted. It was in front of a large patch of forest. And right in the front yard we a giant oak tree, perfect to sitting under and reading a great book. The yard was nice, too. Very green. The house was red brick and was two levels. It had a massive porch that rapped around the house. It was ,to say the least, beautiful.
The movers were already there by the time we pulled in, with all our stuff.
“You go inside and look around, I need to talk to these gentleman about where everything goes in the house”, Mom said.
I walk into the large house. It was very open. The whole place was covered in hardwood flooring and white walls. The house was old, I could tell. Every door in the house that lead into a main room was French-style doors. The house was really lovely.
I made my way around the downstairs, and then worked my way up the massive
staircase. There were four rooms upstairs. One was my moms room, because it had the bathroom attached to the room. The next was a closet, for towels and blankets and things along that line. The room after that was my bathroom, it was a nice size. Very roomy. The last door on the far in of the hall was apparently my room. I opened the door to a room that was large and reminded me of a room I saw in a movie once. There was two windows on one wall and one on another. The ceiling came down at an angle starting from the middle of the ceiling. Of course the walls were white and the floors were hardwood, but it was still a lovely room.
I walked to the middle of the room and just stood there. I walked over to the window. There was another massive oak tree, just like the one in front of the house. It would be a great way to sneak out, if I ever worked up the courage to do so. ‘Not likely’ I thought to myself, with a half-smile on my face. I walked over to the other windows and looked out to the forest behind the house. It went on for miles, it looked like.
As I was looking down in the forest, something moved. It looked like a dog, only bigger. I looked closer, and it was just sitting there. It looked as though it was staring back at me. I wanted to look away, but it was like I was in some kind of trace.
I couldn’t help but keep looking at it.
“Where do you want this, little lady?” I heard a man’s voice come from my door way. I turned to see that it was two of the movers holding my dresser.
“Please tell us where you want this, it’s a tad bit heavy”, he said with a sense of strain in his voice.
“Oh! Sorry, right over there I guess will be good”, I finally said, pointing to a spot on the wall.
I turned around again to look out the window, but the dog was gone.
I stood there looking out the window for a few more seconds, looking around, but the dog was gone. So I turned back around to see the movers waiting at my doorway again with what looked to be part of my bed frame. I told them where I would like it, with out waiting on them to ask where I would want it. The rest of the process happened this way.
Finally, all of our stuff was moved in the house and arranged in a somewhat normal fashion. The mover ,that was what looked to be about 65, offered to stay later to help Mom get everything situated. His voice was flirtatious.
“Um, no thank you. I think we got it covered.” she said, holding back a chuckle.
Not me though. I turned a walked into the kitchen a busted into laughter.
After they left my Mom walked into the kitchen where I was still giggling to myself.
I didn’t think she wanted to talk about being hit on by an old man, so I changed the subject.
“I think we should paint the walls. They are really dull.”
“Yeah, I think your right. We’ll get over to the Home Depot tomorrow and choose some colors. Sound good?” she asked kindly.
“Yeah.” I said simply.
We went Downtown to the little pizza kitchen, which just happens to be called Pizza Kitchen, for dinner. It wasn’t as good as CiCi’s , but still good. While we were there I saw a bunch of people that looked to be about my age hanging out there, eating and laughing. They were normal looking, like I would be, hopefully.
I looked up from eating my pepperoni and cheese pizza and they were looking at me. A couple waved. So I waved back.
Then all of sudden a boy gets up and starts walking over to me. He was very attractive looking. About 5’11 maybe. Tan. Honey-colored eyes. Very muscular. He looked like he was a football player and a baseball player, or both.
“Hey. I’m Benjamin. You new here?” he asked, with a crooked-half smile on his gorgeous face.
“Hi, I’m Stacey, but everyone calls me Stace. And this is my mom. Yeah, we moved here from Texas.” I said, nervously.
“Good to meet you both. Texas? That’s cool. Do you want to come and meet everyone and hang out for a little while?” he asked.
“Um.” I shot my mom a glace. She nodded. But I ignored it.
“Um, I would, but we are still moving everything in. But maybe some other time?”
Why was a such a geek? I should have said ’Sure! I’d love to. You know your really hot?’. But I just had to go be a loser.
“Okay. that’s cool. Yeah, we will some other time. Hey, we’re all meeting up at the movie theater tomorrow night around seven, you want to come?” he asked, looking hopeful.
“Yeah that will be good.” I said with a smile.
“I could come by your house and get you. Save you a trip”.
“Sounds good.” I said still smiling. “oh, you need directions..”
“No, I know where your house is. You moved into a small town, so everyone around here knows everything.” he said chuckling. He looked back at his friends. “ Well, I have to go. But I guess I will just be around your house about 6:45?” he asked.
“Sounds like a plan” I said back. “See you then”.
Then he gave one last good-bye nod, then turned and went back to his friends.
They were all talking to him, and he glanced up at me smiling. I looked away because I, too, was looking at him.
Soon after, Mom and I went and paid and left for home.
Once we were in the car, my mom sat there and looked at me, smiling.
She finally spoke. “I knew moving here was a good decision”.
Then she started the car and we left.
Once we got home, I walked upstairs to my bathroom. I jumped in the shower, and washed my face. I went downstairs and told Mom good-night and walked back upstairs.
As I walked into my room, I flipped the light switch off, then walked over to where my night stand was and flipped on my lamp. Then I flipped my T.V on and started watching an episode of Boy Meets World. I was shocked at myself. I hadn’t even been here a whole day, and I already felt like a was home.
As I was almost asleep, I heard a howl come from the forest behind the house.
I got up and walked over to the window and glanced out, and there it was.
The dog. It was staring up into the window where I was staring back at it.
‘Maybe its owners lived here before us and moved without it. And it thinks its owners are still here. Yeah, that’s it. Its just a lost dog that keeps staring at my window.
Yeah.’, I told myself.
So I went back to my bed. And heard the howl again. But only once more, before I fell asleep.








Chapter 2.


I was standing in a long hallway with, what looked like, a billion doors on each of the walls that surrounded the floor on which I was standing. Then I started running. I don’t know why. I just started running. From what I don’t know. I didn’t stop until I saw someone standing about ten feet from me. He was someone I had never seen before.
He was tall, looked about 6’0 maybe taller. He was pale, but not freakishly pale. He had dark, almost black, hair, which made his crystal eyes stand out like a sore-thumb.
He was unbelievably beautiful. I couldn’t take my eyes take my eyes ff of him. It was like I was in a trace.
“Stacey.” he said very quietly.
“Y- you know my name? How?” I asked. I was some what freaked out that a complete strange knew my name.
“I’m here to help. I’m here to insure your safety. I’m your protector.” he said, still strait-faced.
“Safety? I’m in danger?! What’s going on? Please tell me something useful!” I was now screaming.
“Calm down Stacey. You are not in danger now. But when you are in danger…
I’ll be here.” he said. Now ,somehow, he was beside me, looking into my eyes. I was yet again in a trance. Those eyes…
“But who are yo-” he stopped me.
“You don’t need to know that right now.” he said, now backing up. “Now, Stacey, I leave you to your day of picking out paint colors and movies”
And then he was gone.
--------------

“Stace. Stacey? Honey, time to wake up. Its 10:30.” it was my mother.
“Ugh. Okay, I’m up. I’ll be down in a little while. Give me a couple minutes to wake up.” I said. I hate being woken up.
As soon as she walked out and closed the door, I was up. I tried to go back to sleep, but it was no use. So, I slowly sat up and got out of bed.
‘ Enjoy it. School starts in three days. Then you will be forced to wake up and 6:00.’ I reminded myself.
Suddenly I remembered my dream. It gave me chill bumps. Even though it was just a dream, it felt s real. I cant even explain it. I know I shouldn’t take it seriously, but I had a gut feeling that I should. I believe that dreams are sometimes just dreams, nothing more. But I also think that at other times that give us signs to help us. But I know I’m reading too much into a silly dream.
Once I was fully awake, I walked downstairs and grabbed a pop tart from a box in the kitchen. It felt to me, my room was the room in our house that was finished being set up. I liked it the way it was. But the rest of the house was still in a state of chaos.
“What time do you think you’ll be ready to go paint shopping?” mom asked me. I was suddenly aware she was there.
Ugh. I was not up for paint shopping today. I just wanted to go sit down somewhere and read.
“Oh, I completely forgot that we had that planned today. Um, I don’t know.” I said.
“You don’t have to go, I could go. Just tell me what colors you were thinking about painting your room and your bathroom.” she said, she didn’t seem all that down about me not wanting to go.
“Um, I was thinking a color to go good with my comforter. So, like a rich light creamy color. I guess. And my bathroom, I was thinking a bright yellow...?” I said, questioning myself .
“Okay. Ill get the colors I was thinking about for the other rooms and bring you some paint samples so I don’t waste money if get the wrong color. Then, I have go run some other errands. So I should be back by two.” she said, as she kissed me cheek. “I’ll have my cell phone if you need me.” she called out as she was walking out the door.
Once she was gone I went upstairs and got a book grandpa gave me before the move. I had no clue what it was about, but I thought It looked good. I went to the book shelf and scanned the shelves, until I found it. I walked onto the back part of the porch and sat on the rocking chair we have sitting on there. I started reading.
It was about a girl who fell in love with a boy who was very dangerous. They were in love, but he was so afraid he would hurt her. They weren’t suppose to be together it what I got from what I had read so far.
I was deep into the book, when I heard something walk up on the porch. I looked up from the book and there it was. The dog that had been watching me.
Only it wasn’t a dog, it was a wolf, a big wolf. I had never seen one that big.
I was scared. I just sat there, unable to move. I just stared at it, unable to look away.
“Okay dog, go on now, shoo.” I said. But it was useless. It didn’t leave. On the contrary, it walked closer.
I closed my eyes. I was to afraid that it would leap at me or run and try to kill me if I looked at it for too long.
‘Please don’t hurt me!’ I was screaming in my head.
‘I won’t.’
I opened my eyes and it was less than a foot away from where I was sitting.
Did I just imagine that or did the dog just talk?
“Did you-did you just talk to me?” I asked. Gosh, I felt stupid. Talking dogs. Yeah right.
It just sat there and looked me in the eyes.
I looked back. And as I did, I saw something. Something familiar. The eyes! Were they the blue eyes I had seen in my dream the previous night? No, the boy I’d seen in my dream was, well, a boy, not a dog. And, I didn’t even get a real good look at the dream boy’s face last night.
I stood up and walked over to the dog. It backed away. I walked closer. Again, it backed away.
“I’m not going to hurt you.” I told him in a calm voice.
‘It is not you I worry about. I was just checking on you.’ said the voice.
And no sooner had he come, did he run off into the woods. Leaving me there standing looking like an idiot.
What was that he talking about? Was he the thing he was telling me he was protecting me from last night? Ugh. “This is all too confusing. I don’t have time for- TIME!” I yelled.
What time was it? Benjamin would be here to pick me up soon. I ran inside and looked at the clock on the stove It was 3:30. I had a little time before I had to start getting ready. Wait, it was past three, where was mom?
Just then she came busting in the door, dragging what looked like to be twenty plastic bags.
“ I have been knocking on the door for at least ten minutes . I need help. I can’t carry paint and groceries all by myself.” she said, sounding kind of ticked off. I ran over to help her bring everything in the house.
After we got everything in from the car in was ten past four. I dashed upstairs and jumped in the shower. I washed my hair and shaved my legs, which took up about thirty minutes. I barely hard time to blow-dry my hair and straighten it and put on makeup. By the time that was all done, it was six on the dot. I had time to pick out an outfit. I chose jeans, and a pink polo with a white tank top underneath it, and brown flip flops. It was casual, but not sloppy. I walked downstairs and ate a little snack and rand back upstairs to brush my teeth. As I was coming down the stairs, there was a knock at the door.
“Coming!” I yelled. I opened the door and Benjamin was standing there in jeans a t-shirt.
“Hey there.” I said with a smile. “Bye mom. I’ll be back later.” I called out to my mom.
“You guys have fun” she yelled back. Then I walked out side and closed the door behind me.
“You look very pretty tonight, Stacey.” Benjamin said with a smile.
“Thanks. So do you.” I said blushing. “What movie are we going to see?”
“Um, I think we are going to pick when we got there, but its between Freddy vs. It or that one about that boy and that girl that runaway together.” he said, as we got into his car.
“Well, I have already seen Freddy vs. It. And its nothing new. just the same old blood and guts that are in all of Freddy’s movies. And Yeah, I know the one you are talking about. That looks good.” I said.
We had small little conversations on the way to the movies, just small talk, trying to get to know each other.
By the time we got there, everyone else had bought their movie ticket. Thank God, it wasn’t any of the ones I had already seen. I went up to the movie counter and bought my ticket, Benjamin did the same. We had just enough time for Benjamin to introduce me to everyone, to get our snacks and find a sit in the theater before the movie started.
The movie wasn’t as good as I had expected it to be, but it was okay. The movie was finally over around nine-ish.
We all came out around the same time.
Once we were outside, Benjamin turned to me and said “We are all going to drive down to the Point No Point Lighthouse in a little while. Its right outside of town. There’s a beach and we were going to build a bon fire. It should be really fun. You wanna come?”
“Yeah, sounds fun. I’d have to call my mom though and let her know that were going there.
So I pulled out my phone and dialed my mom’s number.
“Hello?”
“Hey mom. Its me. I was wondering if I could go to some lighthouse place with everyone. There’s a beach and they are building a bon fire. Can I go?” I asked.
“Sure honey. I know where you are talking about. What time are you going to be home?”
“Um, hold on. Hey Benjamin?”
“Yeah” he shouted.
“What time are we going to get home?”
“Um, No later than twelve. Is that okay?”
“Twelve good, mom?”
“Yeah just be careful. I’ll se you when you get home.” she said.
“Okay. Bye mom.” then I hung up.
I walked over to where everyone was meeting and I walked over to Benjamin and told him she said that was fine. We got in his car and he led the way to the lighthouse.
He was right, it wasn’t really all that far out. It took about ten minutes before we got there and parked. The beach was so pretty. I loved the sound of waves crashing on the sand. It has been sometime since I have been to a beach. I went for my 12th birthday and that was the last time I had been.
“You ready?” Benjamin asked, opening the car door.
“Yeah. Lets go.” I said back to him.
We got out of the car and as we did, everyone else was pulling up and getting out too. I didn’t realize so many people had come. It was like a party. I was not good with parties. I never have been good with parties.
But still, I’ll just have to get over it. If I was going to make any friends, I would have to step out of my comfort zone. So, I walked over to the bon fire pit with Benjamin and sat in the sand. A couple girls and a guy came over and sat by me. We started talking.
One’s name was Whitney, she was blonde with green eyes was the first to talk.
“So, I hear you came from Texas. I bet that’s a huge change, moving from dry and hot to humid and rainy.” She seems really nice and very outgoing.
The next girl’s name was Delilah. She looks Asian. She was very pretty. She didn’t talk to much. She just asked how I liked it here and what grade I was in, and those sort of things.
The last girl was the most beautiful. She made me feel very ugly. She had long, straight, almost black hair with crystal blue eyes. She introduced herself as Shannon. Then she turned to the boy that came with her. He was the most handsome boy I had ever seen. His long ,almost black, hair was cut so he could flip it to the side. And those eyes. It must be some family thing, because I have NEVER seen eyes that blue before.
I suddenly had a Deja vu moment. I felt like I had seen him before. But where? I had never seen any of these people before tonight, except for Benjamin.
“And this is my brother, Chance.” she finally said.
“Hi chance, I’m-” I was cut off.
“Stacey. I know. Everyone is talking about you. So, what brings you to the bon fire?”
“Benjamin invited me.” I said simply.
“Oh.” he said with shock in his voice. “Well, I hope you enjoy yourself. And maybe we can catch up later tonight.” he said, just before he got up and started walking down the beach. He didn’t seem like the kind of person that liked talking much.
“Sorry about my brother. He isn’t really good with new people.” Shannon said, noticing my facial expression.
“No, its fine. I understand, I’m not all that great with new people either.” and that was the truth. I wish I could just get up and walk away from everything else, just like Chance had done. I wish I could go talk to him one-on-one, to find out more about him.
Why had he been so eager to leave so fast? I wanted to find out. But I couldn’t be rude and just leave everyone.
So I stayed. They finally got the bon fire going, and it was big. Everyone just kind of sat around and talked, some people brought marshmallows to roast. But it was basically pointless, no one really talked about anything important.
I thought I was going to die, until, out of nowhere Chance walked up and sat beside me.
“Hey” he said.
“Hey yourself.” I said right back.
“You enjoying yourself?” he asked.
“Yeah” I lied, unconvincingly. He knew I was lying, too.
“ You wanna go for a walk? Its would be a lot more interesting then what’s going on here.” he said with a crooked smile.
I knew it was rude, but I had to go. Something was forcing me to get up and tell everyone I was going for a walk.
As we were walking, we really didn’t talk about much at first. Then I finally asked him, “ Do I know you from somewhere? Because I have the strangest feeling I have met you before tonight.”
“I don’t know. You might. Or you could just be imagining things.” he said with a smirk.
“Oh, a wise guy?” I chuckled. So did he. “ But seriously, I really feel like I have seen you before. Maybe when I first got here? Were you at the Pizza Kitchen with Benjamin?”
“No, Benjamin and I aren’t what you’d call friends.” he said simply.
“Oh.” I paused. “Okay, This is going to sound crazy, but I think I have seen you in a dream I have had.”
I can’t believe I just told him I had a dream about him. He must think I’m a total geek.
But he said nothing. He stopped walking and just stood looking out into the ocean.
“Maybe not,” I said, trying to cover up my stupid moment.
“Did ‘I’ say anything in this dream of yours?” he suddenly asked.
“Oh,” I was taken of guard by his sudden spring of interest. “You told me you were there to protect me, you said you were my protector from dangers that will happen to me. But I mean, I’m sure it wasn’t even you.” I said, still a little embarrassed.
There again, he stood staring out into the ocean, not saying a word.
As he stood there I could not help but notice how handsome he looked in the moon light, or how good his hair looked as the ocean breeze blew against it. Wait, what was I doing? I barely knew this guy, I had met him, what, ten minutes ago? And I was already falling head over heels for him.
‘Stop’, I told myself. ‘You don’t even know him. Get to know him before you think about how absolutely beautiful he is. Stop now!’
He started chuckling. I didn’t know why.
“What are you laughing at?” I asked.
“Nothing. You wouldn’t understand, not yet anyway.” he said, still laughing to himself.
So, my guess was that the whole “dream” conversation had come to an abrupt stop, because somehow we were talking about the beach.
We had been out there so long, just talking and getting better acquainted. But he seemed distant, like he was almost afraid to get too close to me. I did most of the talking and he just listened. I would have never notice what time it was if Benjamin hadn’t have come looking for me.
“Hey, Stace, its 11:30, and everyone is starting to leave. You about ready?” he asked, eyeing Chance.
‘No’. I thought.
“Yeah, lets go.” I said instead.
Chance laughed again. “ Nice to meet you Stacey. I hope we see more of each other soon.” he said as I was walking away.
“Yeah same here.” I said, not knowing what else there was to say.
Then Benjamin and I said bye to everyone else and walked to his car.
Once we got in he just sat there. Then he finally said “What were you and that Chance guy doing?” he sounded a little mad.
“We were just talking. Why?” I asked.
“Well, I know your new here, but him and his group of friends are not the best people to hang around. They aren’t right.”
“Why? He seemed pretty okay while we were talking. What’s the matter with them?” I asked again.
“They are just a little bit…off. There is something about them that just isn’t right Stacey and I don’t think you should hang around them more than you have to.” and that was all he would say to me on that subject.
Once he dropped me off, and I thanked him for the ride, I walked inside and Mom was sitting on the couch, waiting on me to get in.
“How was is?” she asked, as I was walking in the door.
“Fun. I met a lot of new people. Everyone was really nice.” I said. I was suddenly swept over with the fact that I was really tired.
“ You okay Stacey?” she asked, with a hint of worriedness in her voice.
“Yeah, I’m just really tired. I think I’m going to on to bed. Love you mom.” I bent over the back of the couch and kissed her on the forehead.
“Love you, too honey.” she told me as I was walking up the stairs.
I was so tired I could barely find the strength to brush my teeth and wash my face. I slowly slipped into some pajamas and climbed into bed, but not before I walked over to my window and looked into the forest behind the house. And to no surprise to me, was the wolf. I didn’t know if I should have been afraid or not. But all I cold focus on tonight was sleep.
So, I walked away from the window after a couple seconds and climbed into bed.
And as I closed my eyes and drifted deeper into sleep, I heard the faintest whisper in my head tell me “Goodnight Stacey, pleasant dreams await you when you sleep. And don’t worry, tonight, you will be safe.”
Safe from what? I wondered as I sank into a complete deep sleep.










Chapter 3.



Mom was gone by the time I got up in the morning, which was around 11:30.
I slowly made my way out of bed and into the bathroom to look at myself in the mirror for about half a second, throw my hair up in a messy bun, then went downstairs for a late breakfast.
Once I was downstairs I found a note on the kitchen table. I could tell she was in a bit of a hurry when she wrote it. I picked it up and all that was there was:

Stace,
Gone to run some errands. I don’t know when I will be home.
Be safe today. Ill have my cell if you need me.
I love you
Mom.

She has been very distant lately. Hopefully once we are settled things will go back to normal, somewhat. Oh well, since she’s gone I guess I could walk into town to check everything out. Heck, I might even go into that bookstore. Plus, I had to go get some new clothes for school. I only have one day left before I start school. Ugh, I didn’t want to be reminded.
So, I went back upstairs to put some shorts and a t-shirt on. It was so humid outside, so there was no point in doing anything to my hair. So, I just kept it in the messy bun that it was in from when I woke up. I put just the basic makeup on. So I didn’t look absolutely hideous.
Then as I was about to walk out the door, I grabbed a piece of paper and jotted Mom a note telling her where I’d gone and I’d be back when I could. I set it on the same place she had laid my note, then I was out the door.
I had just about made it into town, when a black car up beside me. The window rolled down and it was Benjamin.
“New car?” I asked him, walking over to the window.
“Nah, it’s my dad’s. mines in the shop.” he said “You like it?”
“Yeah, its nice.” I said giggling at his lop-sided smile as he asked me the question.
“Where are you going anyways?” he asked.
“I was going to explore, maybe check out that bookstore on the corner or get a cup of coffee. I didn’t really have a set plan. What about you?”
“I was just going to ride down to the beach for a while. You wanna come?” he asked hopeful.
“Maybe later. I really did want to check out that bookstore. I have run out of good books to read.” I said, kind of embarrassed given the fact that, yet again, I chose books over something else.
“Oh, okay. Well, I guess I’ll just see you at school tomorrow. Do you want me to swing by and pick you up tomorrow morning?” he asked.
“Yeah, that would help me out a lot. Thank you so much.” I said.
“Okay, what time?”
“Um, lets see, how about 7:45. Is that okay?” I asked
“Sure. I guess I’ll see you then.” he said before driving off.
Benjamin was a sweet guy. I’m glad I met him.
After that little meeting with Benjamin, I headed over the book store that was just across the street. I walked into the store and I was shocked to see who was behind the register. Chance. Out of all the people to work here, I never would have imagined Chance. But one the other hand, he did strike me as a somewhat deep guy. I looked around the store for a bit, aware of him glancing at me ever so often.
The atmosphere in the store was dark. But a relaxing kind of dark. There where candles everywhere and the lights were dimmed. The walls were a dark, blood red, with dark brown hardwood flooring. The selection of books was great. I had never really heard of most of the books, but I still looked. I got over into the back corner when I heard a deep, handsome voice come out of nowhere.
“Can I help you find something?” Chance asked from the counter.
“No thanks, I’m just looking.” I answered back.
“Okay” was all he said.
There it was again, that distant vibe he kept sending out. Was I really that horrible that he just didn’t want to b around me? Had I done something to make him not like me?
Impossible. I had only talked to him. That’s all.
I finally found a book that looked interesting enough. I went to the counter to check it out.
“You find everything good?” he asked as he rang up the book.
“Yes. Thank you.” I said politely. If I had done anything to make him angry I want going to do anything else. So the less I said, the less chance, Chance, had to be mad at me.
“$10.50.” he said
So I handed him a twenty and he gave me my change.
“I guess I will see you at school tomorrow?” I asked.
“Maybe.” he said, with that charming crooked smile.
“Bye.” I said, walking out of the store. Now I’m glad I didn’t go to the beach with Benjamin. I would have missed seeing Chance. There was just something about him that made me happy inside when I saw him.
With my book in hand, I walked do the street to the coffee shop and got a vanilla bean frap. After getting my coffee I walked past the book shop again. I glanced in the widow for a brief moment and saw someone else was where he stood not even five minutes ago. I glanced down at my watch, it was twelve-thirty. He was probably off on his lunch break.
So, I just walked around for a bit, until I found the park. I looked around and found a huge oak tree to sit under. And no one else was there, so it looked. So it would be nice and quiet to start a book.
So, I found a nice spot to sit and start reading. The book was about a forbidden love. Between a woman and a beast. I found these types of stories very interesting.
I was deep into my book, when I finally looked up and saw that the sun was setting. How long had I been out here? I glanced at my watch. Oh my, it was a quarter ’til eight.
I hope Mom wouldn’t been too worried.
I got up and started running home. I didn’t stop until I was on the front porch.
I walked in the front door to find Mom still not home.
‘Where is that woman been lately?’ I asked myself.
So, I put my stuff down and jumped onto the couch and flipped on the T.V. Before I knew it, Mom was waking my up, telling me to go up and get in my bed. So, like a zombie, I walked up the stairs and into my room. Tonight, I was too tired to look for my wolf friend. Once I was my head hit the pillow, I was out.
-----------------------

I was in that long hallway again. Only I wasn’t running this time, I was just standing there, waiting. I knew the mystery boy would be there soon enough. And so I was right. There he came, gliding down the hallway, so swiftly and elegantly.
“When you didn’t come running down the hall, I got worried.” he said, sounding genially worried.
“I knew you would come either way. So, why was my energy running?” I said with a smirk on my face.
“Good point.” he said, still to far away from me to see his face.
“Is there any particular reason you won’t get close enough for me to see your face? Are you ashamed?” I asked.
“No, I’m not ashamed. I have nothing to be ashamed of.” he said, with a hint a confidence in his voice.
“Then why wont you show your face?” I asked, now getting somewhat frustrated.
“Because soon you will know who I am, and I want you to find it out for yourself. I don’t want to help. But soon, you will know who I am.” he promised.
“Well, why can’t I know now?”
“Because,”
“Because why!?” I screamed.
“Shhh. Calm yourself Stacey. You will wake yourself up.”
“And that’s a bad thing?”
“Well, for me. Because this is the only way I can be close to you without being afraid I will hurt you.” he said.
“See, that’s what I don’t get. Are you keeping me safe from you or something else?” I asked.
“There are only so many questions I can answer in one night, Stacey. That is not one of them.” he said. “ I cannot answer anymore tonight. Now, I leave you, my sweet, sweet Stacey. To a restful night of sleep and dreams. The nightmare is over for now. I will be seeing you, Stacey.”
And before I had a chance to say anything else, he was gone. It was like he had never been there. I hate how he always is leaving me wanting more answers.
I didn’t sleep well the rest of that night. Which really sucked for me, considering I had to be at school the next morning.
School. Another year of math and science and English and trying to fit in. School. Was I ready to be back in the whole school thing? Well, I was going to have to be. Ready or not, school was coming.










Chapter 4.


When Mom came in my room to wake me up in the morning, I was already up picking out my clothes for the day.
“Oh. Your up. Well, I’m going back to bed. I don’t have to be up for another three hours. Have a good first day honey.” she mumbled as she closed my door. I glanced at my clock, I had an hour and a half before Benjamin would be here.
So, I jumped into a quick shower and got out pretty fast, too. He quickly dried my hair and straightened it. I threw on some makeup and went into my room. I threw on my outfit, which consisted of a cute pair of blue jeans and a yellow polo with a blue tank top underneath. I threw on a yellow bead necklace. I decided to wear my pair of wallabies.
By the time I had brushed my teeth and thrown on some last minute makeup, the doorbell rang.
“Coming” I yelled out.
I grabbed my backpack and my water bottle and ran to the door and answered it. Benjamin stood there looking more preppy than usual. But it was still a good look for him.
“You about ready?” he asked.
“As ready as I’ll ever be.” I said, closing the door behind me.
The car ride was full of chatter on where everything was, and what teachers to avoid and the best way to get around the school, and things along that line.
Soon, we pulled into the parking lot of the school. God, I was nervous. I had butterflies in the pit of my stomach, as I got out of the car and walked into the doors of my new school.
It wasn’t what I imagined it to be. It was larger than what I had pictured, it was really open. Benjamin and I walked into the lunchroom and sat down with some of the people I met that night at the theater. Some people I didn’t recognize, though.
“Hey Ben! Who’s this?” asked a boy with blonde flippy hair, walking towards us.
“I’m Stacey” I said, smiling.
“Bonjour, Mademoiselle. I’m Tucker, but call me Tuck.” he said with a big smile on his face.
“Nice to meet you Tuck.”
“The pleasure is all mine.” he said again with that big smile.
Then the bell rang. It was time for first period. I hadn’t met anyone with the same first period as me, so there was no one to show me where the room was. But I thought I had an idea of where it was. Until I ended up n the other end of the school. The bell had just rung, and I was so confused on where I was. I tried to fine the office, but that didn’t work either. I thought I was going to be lost for forever until I ran into a familiar face. It was Delilah. She, thank God, had the same first period class as I did. So we walked together.
I had Math first. I was glad, that meant that it was out of the way for the rest of the day. Then, I had art. Delilah, too, had art second period. Unfortunately, she didn’t have the same third period as me, but she showed me where it was. I got to my reading class and who was sitting there nest to the only open desk left. It was Chance.
God, Chance looks so beautiful in the dimmed light of the classroom.
But who was I kidding? He couldn’t stand me. He made that pretty clear.
But he was going to have to get over that, because I was going to be sitting by him for the year.
He wasn’t the only familiar face in the class, I saw Whitney sitting in her desk, looking at herself in a little mirror that she pulled out of her purse.
Chance, I thought, hadn’t seen me yet. That was until, Whitney yelled out,
“Oh my gosh, Stacey! I cant believe we have a class together! Come over here and sit down.” she said, now switching places with a boy so she could sit next to me.
Then Chance looked up. He stared at me with those oh-so gorgeous blue eyes.
He looked at me as though I was a ghost. The fear in his eyes seems to take me off guard. Well, it wasn’t so much fear, but what looked like a hatred. So, I hurried to my seat, passing him a fast as I could. When I sat down, I saw that he was eyeing me. So, I flipped my hair to the side, so I couldn’t see his face any longer.
That was the longest fifty minutes of my life. I just wanted to hurry up and get out of there when the bell rang. But it hit me, why on earth was he mad at me? What had I done to make him dislike me so much? Nothing. I have done absolutely nothing. I have to get to the bottom of this.
So, when the bell rang I stood up in front of him and didn’t budge.
“You are kind of in my way. I have to t my next class.” he said, trying to find away around me.
“Not until you tell me why you hate me so much.” I said simply.
“Why I ha- I don’t hate you. Why would you think that?” he still looked for a way around where I stood, as if he was in a hurry.
“Then why are you treating me this way?” I asked.
“And what way would that be?” he asked. He was no longer trying to work his way around me.
“The way you stare at me. You have so much angry in your eyes.” I said.
Then he just stood there. No longer trying to sneak past. It was like he was figuring something out in his head. He just stared into my eyes. And I was suddenly sucked into a trace. This has been happening a lot lately. But as hard as I tried, I couldn’t avert my eyes.
“Meet me outside the office after school today. I’ll try to explain it then”. he said finally.
“Okay.” I moved from his path and he darted out of the room. I hurried after him, but once I reached the hall, he was gone. As if he had disappeared into thin air.
For the rest of the school day I went through my classes. When lunch finally came I was relieved. This was the half marker for my day. My day was half over. I was one step closer to finding out what was up with Chance and why he was so weird around me. I hurried to get in line in the cafeteria, and find a place to sit. Luckily, I knew a bunch of people to sit with. I started walking over to the table where Benjamin and Whitney and Delilah were.
As I was walking I past the table where Chance and Shannon were sitting, I could feel his eyes staring at me. I hurried over to the table and sat down. As soon as I did, Whitney started blabbering on about how she hated driving all the way to Seattle to get a manicure and how they should have a nail place here in town. I wasn’t really listening though.
When she finally stopped talked about how the nail place she went to gave her a crappy nail job, I asked her a couple questions about Chance.
“So, what’s up with that Chance guy?” I asked
“Oh, the hot one over there?” and she pointed over to his table. “There’s nothing really to tell. His family has lived here longer than any of us have. And they are filthy rich because him and Shannon’s mom is some surgeon.”
I glanced over at him. He was watching our table out of the corner of his eye.
“Does he have a girlfriend” I asked, still staring at him.
He looked up and turned his full glance over to me. Had he heard me ask?
“No. I don’t think he finds any of the girls here pretty enough for his taste.” she said