The Howling Prophecy

Taking A Chance

Kari was sitting on the couch in the living room looking out the window. It was snowing again. She watched as the fluffy flakes floated down slowly to the ground covering for miles. She didn’t notice when her father walked in and sat down in his favorite recliner. It was a quiet Saturday afternoon and she had already been in school for almost three weeks. Kari heard her father clear his throat making her chuckle as it normally meant he had asked her a question and she was daydreaming again.

“Are you there Kari? Kari’s Dad, Micha, asked jokingly with a smile. I asked how school has been going? I heard you ran into the Winter girl and wondered if you would recognize her.”

Kari always loved talking to her father, he was always there for her and easy to talk to. Lately, he has been more absent than usual since they moved here. He also looked more tired, but surprisingly had more spirit than before. Kari shrugged it off thinking it was just the old job and him getting used to it again. Kari looked up and smiled at her dad.

Thank goodness it's already the weekend. I could use a break from school. Anywhere I go anymore I think I see him or hear his voice. I still get weird stares, especially when I am with Lindsey. It's been so great hanging out and spending time with her again, it’s just like when we were kids. But I’m not going to let him know that since I am pretty sure good old dad helped set that up.

Kari smirked and responded with a simple, “Hi Dad.”

Kari looked into her father’s eyes wondering if he knew that not only one Winter family member had made themselves known, but two.

“Um ya school has been fine. I did run into Lindsey, or I mean she found me as planned, I’m sure. I didn’t recognize her at first, but I am glad to have her back as a friend so I’m not mad. But I also saw Trent too, um just on the first day though.” Kari said the last sentence more to the window than to her dad as she could feel her cheeks blush while saying his name out

loud.

Kari’s dad c****d up an eyebrow when he heard and saw her reaction of saying she saw Trent. Her father seemed intrigued by her blush now exploding over her face and down her neck while avoiding to look at him.

“Oh, you saw Trent then as well. Did anything happen when you met him?” Micha tried to act surprised by the idea of them meeting as well that day.

“It was weird, I felt like he was following me. He wouldn’t leave me alone as he always seemed to be there when I moved to a new location. I didn’t remember him till after I talked to Lindsey. But he hasn’t been back at school since, I would think that would be frowned upon in his family. He must be an embarrassment as I thought he was too old for high school anyways, but why else would he be there?” Kari watched her dad closely to see if he knew why he was really there.

“I’m sure he was doing something for his father or dropping something off for his sister. He might have been checking on operations or something. Did anything else happen?”

“Like what dad? It was the first day of school, there was staring and whispering like always for the new girl.” Kari quickly responded sarcastically.

Why is dad asking about Trent? What does he know about it and why is he asking me for a play by play? I doubt he was there checking on his sister or dropping something off, he was there for half a day at least. I never even saw those two together. What does this all have to do with me anyways, I was just meeting up with old friends.

“He was bothering me dad just like I remember him always doing when we were little. I then moved outside and that is when Lindsey found me and joined me for lunch. There isn’t much to tell. What were you expecting to happen?” Kari shrugged and looked back to the window.

Micha didn’t speak for a moment trying to figure out what to say to her. He couldn’t keep lying to her anymore, but this was not the time or the place. He smiled at his daughter realizing how grown up she is now. How much she doesn’t know and thinking about how much her world will change very soon.

“Nothing sweetheart. I just thought maybe something would spark between you since you used to play so fondly together. So, what plans do you have tonight?”

Kari blushed for a brief moment thinking about how there was a literal spark between them when they touched. She remembered how it felt when he sat next to her and when he nudged her shoulder with his. It was like a jolt of electricity running through her spine and making everything tingle. Kari shook her head trying to come back to reality before her father noticed.

“I think Lindsey is coming over and we might go walk around downtown or something.” Kari’s phone buzzed after she responded to her father. She pulled it off the coffee table to check it and read her new text from Lindsey.

“Hey Girl! Let’s meet up in front of the movie theater at 6pm tonight. Wear something sexy, we’re going to the club after!!”

Eek! I have never been to a club before. Why are we going to the movies, I thought we were just hanging out? I even put on my comfy clothes and bought junk food. Ugh, now I have to actually dress up.

Kari sighed and responded to her friend. “Why the change of plans all of a sudden?”

Kari rolled her eyes and groaned as she read the answer to her question.

“Just going to meet up with some more people. You know, Terra and her boyfriend Mike, and my boyfriend Alex. Trent might be coming since the guys are his best friends. Don’t worry it's only like two hours of a movie and you won't even have to talk to him or know he is really there.”

Oh, just great, I did not want to run into him on my Saturday night. I am going to feel so out of place with these couples and Trent. I mean I have sat with the other girls at lunch with Lindsey and I like them. Mike is even in some of my classes and is nice to chat with. I have only met Alex a couple of times since he is the same age as Trent. Wait, she said Trent is coming tonight?! I can’t do this!

Kari put her phone down and felt like sinking into the cough and disappearing. She became very nervous about whether she should even go. Her heart and body were full of desire to see Trent again, but her mind was worried about making a fool of herself.

Everyone else is bringing someone they are dating except for Trent and me? Is he dating someone too? Not that I care if he is, I am only curious as to why Lindsey didn’t say anyone else after she mentioned him coming as well. What if I am the seventh wheel or something? This must be some kind of joke or something, there is no way he would agree to this unless he had a date as well.

Micha noticed the distressed face on his daughter and asked with concern, “What’s wrong honey? You look like you might be sick.” Kari responded with a strained voice full of nerves.

“Lindsey wants to go to a movie with some more friends, and Trent will be there. Lindsey

will have her boyfriend and so will Terra. What am I supposed to do? I can’t hang out with Trent dad, and what if he brought a date too then I’m the seventh wheel watching a movie while they all make out!”

“Why not? He is a very smart, successful young man. What would be wrong with spending time with him? Unless you are nervous about actually wanting to spend time with him?” Micha said with a warm smile at Kari.

“Dad, remember how you and mom told me how you met, and you just knew. That there was this sensation and feeling that you belonged together. That it felt safe and right and you could only think of each other. How old were you again?”

“Well, we were both eighteen at the time, it was actually your mom’s birthday. Did you have this feeling with Trent? When he locked on to you or got near you?” Micha tried to not sound excited and more quizzical as to why his daughter was asking.

“I don’t know, maybe. I’m just really confused.”

“You are a beautiful woman with a bright future. You should not be scared of how you feel, you should trust yourself.” Micha smiled at his daughter and picked up the newspaper on the nightstand to look as if he wasn’t paying attention to what his daughter might do next.

Kari responded to her friend with a deep breath in and out. “See you there!”

I guess my dad is right, for all I know he just wants to be friends. Ugh, it would be really hard to just be his friend. I wonder how hard it is? s**t! Now I’m thinking in the gutter! 

Kari smiled at her dad. He always knew how to make her feel better. Kari went up and kissed her dad on the cheek on her way up the stairs to her room. She then tried on all of her outfits and settled on some low-cut jeans and a cute V-neck maroon sweater with laced up sides. She grabbed her jacket and headed back downstairs a couple hours later after getting ready. She was so nervous. She decided to drop her guard and give Trent a chance. She got in the car and drove downtown to meet everyone at the movies.