B008317UG0 EBOK Page 2

  Chapter Two

  Summer is over and school is starting again. My most recent moon cycle just ended. The daytime hours were spent sleeping in my car once again. Needless to say, my back is killing me and I have begun looking for a new spot to spend those days. Before heading home I stopped back by the cabin and crept up to the window again. The new tenant was in there, tall dark and handsome was putting it mildly. He was sitting so still on the couch reading…one of my books, great, a klepto! For some reason though, I was totally mesmerized by him. He glanced up from the book, and then looked as though he was sniffing the air, and stood up and walked toward the window. Panicking, I ran around the side of the house. He came out on the front porch and started looking around. Then he turned his head slightly in my direction, but before he made eye contact with me, he just seemed to give up and head back in. Making my way around the side of the house I looked in the windows. For someone who just moved in, he didn’t have a lot of stuff with him. One would expect there would be boxes everywhere. Most people don’t unpack everything immediately. I never even knew this cabin was on the market, just always thought it was abandoned. It had been more than a month since I was there and the place looked like a million bucks, a lot of remodeling had been done to make it livable. He must have worked long hours to get this place looking so good. When I said I cleaned it, I just got rid of cobwebs and dust. The place looked like it had been painted and spruced up, like a real home.

  My phone went off with a text and it was my friend Jackie asking where I was. Checking the time I realized I was going to be late for school. I changed quickly in the car and freshened up as best as I could with deodorant and body spray and headed for class. On the way to school I couldn’t stop thinking about how odd that guy seemed and wondering why I had never seen him before. I guess I should tell you a little about where I am from. I live in Cascade Idaho; there are barely a thousand people that live here. I always wonder if any of them are freaks like me. So far, I have yet to meet any other than those few vampires and that was during a full moon and on the outskirts of town. Who knows if I would even recognize a vampire in my human form, for all I know I’ve seen dozens without realizing it.

  Keeping a secret like mine is not easy in a small town where people are so nosey. Not to mention, people around here are not too keen on wolves, in fact, there is a place not far from here that has a sign that states “Tag a wolf, get a free pizza and a pitcher of beer.” And believe me, people love pizza and beer! Once I was even skimmed by a bullet when I was running through the woods during hunting season, it was quite a close call.

  So, as I was saying, school is starting up again. It is midway through September and I am finally in my senior year of high school. I am a good student, and pretty much know everyone, there are like only thirty in my senior class and I grew up with all of them. We rarely get new people. In all my years of school I think we have had four new people. And that can be a good thing, for me at least, or…wait a second, who is that?

  My train of thought went right out the window when I spotted him. The most gorgeous boy I have ever seen just walked into my classroom. He is definitely not from around here, there is no way I would have missed him. I could swear that everything was in slow motion and I could hear music in my head, and for some reason it is Corey Hart’s I wear my sunglasses at night, I’ve been listening to the 80s satellite radio channel in my car too much. In my defense, he was wearing sunglasses. He was at least 6 foot; maybe a few inches taller, had short wavy dark hair, and built like a rock from what I could tell. My nose caught his scent as he walked in the room and it smelled like heaven, slightly sweet with a hint of musky cologne.

  Recognition hit me like a ton of bricks; it was the guy from the cabin. I had not seen him as clearly as this but I recognize the scent of his cologne and the shape of his bu… uh profile. He sat down in the front of the room and I could not stop staring at him and he must have felt it because he turned around and glanced right at me. Immediately I put my head down hoping that he would think he imagined it. Trying to be sneaky I kept my head down and just rolled my eyes upward to make sure he had looked away and he smiled at me and I know my face turned beet red but I smiled back as best I could and then dropped my glance to my desktop. My heart was racing so fast I thought my chest would explode, I have never felt this way just from seeing a cute guy before. Of course the word cute did not do him justice at all.

  After class was over, he took his time getting up from his desk by fumbling with his books and gathering his stuff together. Christine Randall, the most popular girl in school stopped to flirt with him as he was standing up. She was twirling her hair and batting her big doe eyes at him, and shoving her big padded hooters in his face. I rolled my eyes and said “excuse me” as I tried to push past her. She huffed and stuck her foot out, tripping me as I passed. As I was falling forward the new guy reached out and grabbed my arm to steady me, and our eyes met at that moment, it sent shivers down my spine.

  Once I was back in a standing position, he held onto my arm but turned to look at Christine and said, “Excuse me Justine isn’t it,” she looked annoyed and said, “Its Christine” she said emphasizing the Chris, and he smiled and said, “My apologies, Christine…it was nice meeting you but do you mind leaving us alone.” She huffed and walked away swaying her hips and making the loudest steps she could with her knee-high boots with their stiletto heels. It was hilarious how utterly ridiculous she looks in her diva attire because we live in a small town in the middle of nowhere. In this town she looks more like a hooker. My friend and I secretly call her Kit, you know like Kit Deluca from Pretty Woman, the trashy hooker that no one wanted to be. Julia Roberts was the type hooker that every girl dreams of becoming. The girl living on their own trying desperately to survive and ends up meeting a rich handsome man who sweeps them off their feet. Ok, just kidding about wanting to be a hooker, the rest is true, but Kit is definitely the trashier of the two. Her display of childishness at this moment was pathetic. Anyway, I have a feeling she will be going somewhere like California or New York for college next year.

  A hand came up in front of my face waving at me to get my attention and awake me from my thoughts. My head turned and I was captivated by his deep voice, “Hi, my name is Quinn.” So I said, “Hi, uh Parker, yeah that’s me.” I have such a way with words. He wasn’t too turned off because he went on to say, “I am new in town.” Big duh, I thought, but I let him continue. “Would you like to have lunch with me today and kind of fill me in on what goes on around here?” Of course I said yes, what would you have said? Alas, this is my problem, I don’t think first before speaking. I should have known someone that freaking beautiful would not pick me for no reason. He was not only striking but he smelled so delicious that bad thoughts were running through my head. The last thing I was going to do was turn down an opportunity to get to know this man.

  Oblivious to the reason that he chose me over Christine, the rest of the day dragged on because I was so excited about lunch. An assortment of fantasies ran through my head of how it would go. One consisted of him showering me with roses and telling me how I was the most beautiful creature he’d ever laid eyes on. Another was of him feeding me the jello-type substance that is served in the cafeteria as we gazed into each other’s eyes. One fantasy even consisted of me being Cinderella and he was my Prince Charming. Any romantic scenario I could dream up, while plagiarizing Disney stories.

  Anxious to see what would really happen, I went to the lunchroom looking for Quinn and found him sitting all alone in the back of the room. Nervous and trembling with anticipation, I checked my hair in the cafeteria window and hoped that my face didn’t have anything on it. I walked over to his table and used the lovely opening line of, “Hey Quinn, I see you tried the meatloaf, you’re a brave man.” He smiled as he took his fork and stabbed it and said, “I don’t actually eat this stuff normally, but you already knew that I am sure. Being here at school though, gotta keep up appearances.” How w
ould I know what he normally eats? That was weird to say, but he continued, “Look, I could sit here and beat around the bush but it seems pointless when we both know what is going on between us. I knew what you were as soon as I walked in that classroom. I just wanted to meet and see if there was going to be a problem with the two of us being here,” he motioned to a seat across from him. “So, sit down kid, let’s talk.” I pulled the chair out and took a seat. ”I want you to know that I just came into town for a change, I’m not here to cause trouble or anything, I just want to have a normal life, maybe make a few friends along the way. If you are ok with that, maybe we could even be friends, if you think it’s possible based on…well you know.” I looked confused I am sure. He said “You look confused.” See, I told you. “I am not sure what you mean…you knew what I was?”

  He looked at me with a smirk on his face and said “So, I take it you haven’t been one that long. You probably haven’t told anyone close to you, trying desperately to keep it all a secret…does that about sum it up?” Confused again and a bit irritated this time “What are you talking about?” He sat down his fork and leaned in toward me, his breath smelling like roses, and softly spoke “I know you are a werewolf Hun, so when did you first turn?” I gasped, glanced around to see if anyone was listening and said in a loud whisper, “Werewolf? Are you crazy? I’m not a werewolf, there is no such thing!” Panic rose in my chest, I could feel my legs shaking and my heart was racing, wondering how he could know that from just meeting me. Quinn sat back, folded his arms across his chest and said sarcastically “Really? You are going to play it like that?” Getting angry now I scoffed, “Look here, I don’t know what you think you know, but if you are trying to say I smell like a dog or even look like one, then you are really not making a friend here!”

  He covered his mouth to hide his grin and said, “So I suppose that you haven’t been spending the full moon cycles in a cabin, my cabin actually. Not to mention, that wasn’t you watching me through my window the other day?” Embarrassment was rising inside me; I didn’t realize he actually saw me that day.

  Stumbling over my words I said, “So you are calling me a stalker now too…oh AND a squatter…nice!” Feeling very angry, I stood up, gathered my tray and belongings and started to leave and then turned to him once more, “I think it is best that you stay away from me. You may think you are being funny or cute, but I don’t. Good luck making friends, but here’s a suggestion…you may want to try a different approach.” And in a whisper filled with irritation, “The whole werewolf idea makes you seem a bit crazy.” He looked stunned and a bit perplexed so I just turned and walked away. As I reached the doorway, I turned around to look at him again and he was gone.

  Leaving the lunchroom the thoughts start rushing through my head. How does he know that I am a werewolf? No one knows that! When he saw me at the cabin that day did he follow me, did he see me change? Could it mean he is one too? It did seem as though he was sniffing the air when he came out on the porch. He did say that he wanted to make sure there wouldn’t be a problem with both of us being here and he did smell a little different than most humans. What did that mean? Maybe I should have admitted it, but to say it out loud to someone at school would be scary, I mean what if it is a trick and then he told everyone and I was made an outcast, or worst…killed. Or what if he was sympathetic and he and I became friends, someone I could confide in and trust. No, I couldn’t take the chance that he would sell me out; I couldn’t let my parents find out like that, it would kill them. I wonder if I was convincing enough to him, if he knew when he walked in the room than I probably wasn’t. Great, it’s my senior year and now I am probably going to be hunted down like, well, like a wild animal. This is not what I need for my reputation.

  My best friend Jackie was calling my name but I was so lost in thought over Quinn and what just happened that I almost missed her completely. She ran up to me and smacked my shoulder and I about dropped my lunch on the floor. As I balanced myself I blurted out, “Ow, geez you could speak and it is just as effective, if not more so, as smacking me!” Jackie laughed, “Um, hello, I said your name like five times already and that wasn’t working.” I mumbled, “Oh, sorry about that, guess I was somewhere else.” Jackie scoffed and said “Yeah, ya think! Were you lost in fantasy with that new hunk? You know the one whose table you just left! What is up with that? You looked pretty ticked off when you walked away from him. What did he say? Do I need to beat him up?” I snorted, and told her not to worry about it he was just mistaken and thought I could help him with something. She grabbed my arm and dragged me back toward the lunchroom to eat with her.

  We had barely sat down when the questions started, “So, where did he come from? He is freaking gorgeous! What would make someone that looked like that, come to a tiny town in Idaho?” I shrugged my shoulders, “how should I know.” I picked up the hamburger on my plate and shoved it in my mouth hoping to use the excuse that I was chewing so she couldn’t pursue this line of questions any further. She was quiet for a minute, probably trying to think of more questions to ask or different ways to phrase them. The silence gave me a chance to brag a little, “Maybe you should ask Kit what you want to know, she was all over him after class,” I said and then started giggling, “of course he called her ‘Justine’ and blew her off to talk to me which you know made her so mad.” Jackie about spit her coke out when she started laughing and stuck her hand up to give me a high five. We both had been the objects of teasing from Christine “Kit” Randall over the years. She was a blonde bombshell that had always been popular in town, rumors are she was popular with more than just the boys in school, but again, those were just rumors.

  Enough about Christine, let’s talk about someone I like, my best friend Jackie Martin. Jackie has brown hair and blue eyes and she is almost supermodel thin. Jackie and I have been best friends since birth practically. Our parents are best friends so we were kind of forced together, but that’s a good thing. We are exactly alike, well all but the wolf thing of course. I would not be the same without Jackie in my life. We have been through a lot, a few years ago her mom was diagnosed with breast cancer and we spent every night together while her mom went through chemotherapy. Some days we tried to have fun and take our minds off things to stay happy and other days we sat holding hands and crying our eyes out. That was probably the hardest thing we have experienced in our friendship, but luckily her mom pulled through and she has been in remission for a year now. The whole experience not only brought Jackie and I closer, but now my mom spends more time with Jackie’s mom and leaves me alone the times that dad goes out of town without her. That has been a nice plus from a bad experience.

  There is very little I don’t share with Jackie, but I haven’t told her about my wolf problem even though I feel pretty sure that if I did she would be ok with it. At least I hope she would. It’s just, well, how would you explain to your best friend that you are a werewolf? Not so easy when you think about it, is it? In fact, thinking about it gives me hives and makes me short of breath, it petrifies me. The time will come where I will have to tell her though, she has been patient for 2 years now but she’s going to want to know where I go every month. Jackie is great, but we only spend time together at school on lunch now, most of her other time is spent with her boyfriend, Mitchell. Usually the few times she isn’t with Mitchell she spends with her mom, so I rarely get girl time anymore.

  She and Mitchell have been together for about 2 years officially, before that it was a lot of flirting and crushing on each other. It seemed that everyone but the two of them knew they had been dating since grade school. Mitchell is tall, with blonde hair and brown eyes and he doesn’t look very muscular but he isn’t skin and bones either, I guess you could say he is average. He is a great guy and I am very happy for the two of them. It’s just that I miss spending time with Jackie. We used to hang out every weekend and go shopping and to the movies and doing other girl stuff like painting nails and trying on clothes. Of course I am sure
if I ever get a boyfriend I will be the same way and completely understand. Yep, that’s right I have never had a boyfriend. It’s ok though, again, how do you explain to a boyfriend that you are a werewolf? “Hey sweetie, you know how most girls have “that time of the month” and they can get irritable. Well, during my time of the month I am a real animal!” Yeah I am sure that would go over fantastically. Luckily, I haven’t had to worry about that part. Although I admit, I wouldn’t mind having that problem with Quinn. Now I don’t know what I am going to do other than avoid him at all costs.

  Back to Jackie, I think I will tell her soon. After all, I shouldn’t go through this alone, right? Maybe I will do it on my 18th birthday that gives me a couple of weeks to practice how to tell her. Surely, after everything we have meant to each other, she would understand. If she told me that she was a werewolf I would understand. Who am I kidding, first I would laugh thinking it was a joke than I would scream and run away. The good thing about Jackie is that she is not terribly nosey. If I tell her that I don’t want to talk about something or that I can’t tell her something, she doesn’t pry. She will wait till I am ready to talk and even if that never happens she doesn’t push. That is one of the things I love about her. For two years I have had to run away for three days a month and hide and Jackie has covered for me without questioning it. It would be so much easier if I could just tell her the truth, but just the thought completely terrifies me.

  As I was walking home and thinking about all of this I realized that I wasn’t far from my…well, Quinn’s cabin. Taking a detour, I decided to go retrieve my things from him. When I reached his doorstep I paused with my hand in the air ready to knock. Before my fist made contact the door flew open and Quinn was standing there shirtless and my fist landed square on his chest because my body was still moving forward and I couldn’t stop. My palm opened up and it was pressed against his firm torso. Wow, he is hard as a rock. My heart began to race and my breathing became labored, all I could think is ‘what a body!’