Un-Ordinary Girl

Chapter 12

          Work was so awkward. I didn't bother with talking to Jackson at all. And true to his note, he didn't bother me either. Mr. Roberts kept giving us side glances but said nothing. It was made worse by the fact that mom and grandma came to the store. I had to stay hidden in the back room for an hour. Mom questioned Jackson like he was a criminal and grandma chided her for that. It made me glad that I parked my bike in the back room where I was hiding out at. It was weird that mom was looking for me but she knew the Wong's were out of town so she didn't know where to tell grandma I was.

          I went to bed early that night after I got back from work. My body was completely drained both physically and mentally. I took a quick shower and fell promptly asleep. My dream was the same nightmare it had been all week. Only this time, I was sweating a lot. My body was extremely hot. I was so uncomfortable. Between the pain and the heat, I thought that I was for sure going to die from it. I soon couldn't even see the dream anymore. I was completely out of it. I could almost swear I could feel my body moving. I saw flashes of the hallway in my building and flashes of Jackson and a worried look on his face.

          I then felt my body being laid on some thing that felt like a leather couch. It somehow felt both comfortable and uncomfortable at the same time. Then I felt a blanket being pulled over me. It smelled like Jackson. I really liked the smell but I still tried to push it away because it brought me more unnecessary warmth but someone stopped me. Then a cold and wet cloth thing was put on my forehead. I lost consciousness after that. I didn't dream let alone have that nightmare which I was grateful for. When I woke up a little, I heard Jackson talking on the phone. I tried to listen hard to hear what was being said.

          "Yeah. Her mom couldn't stay home with her so she asked if I could do it." Silence. "Yeah. She has a fever of 102." More silence. "No. That isn't why she wasn't in school yesterday. She had an asthma attack at home yesterday morning and her mom told her to stay home and rest." He seemed to be really good at lying. Even I was believing his lie and I'm the one he is lying about. "Thank you. You too. Have a nice day." He sighed. He came over to me and removed the washcloth that was on my forehead to dip it into a bowl that looked to be filled with ice water. I fell back asleep before he could put it back on my forehead.

          When I woke up later, he had just gotten off of the phone with Mr. Roberts. Probably told him I was sick. That was the only way I could have a fever that high even though it felt higher than 102. "Okay. Now I need to go tell her grandmother." I grabbed his arm when he tried to pass me. He looked over at me and I shook my head no.

          "Please don't tell Nana." My voice sounded weak. Even to my own ears.

          "But your grandmother and mother need to know." I shook my head again. He frowned. I felt myself falling asleep again. I gripped his arm as tight as I could. He even winced a bit when I did it. Like it actually hurt him for me to squeeze his arm. I know for a fact that I wasn't that strong. He has insane muscles so it really shouldn't hurt him.

          "Promise me you won't tell Nana. And especially don't tell my mother. It isn't like she would give half of a f**k about me anyway. And Nana would most likely send me to the hospital." That thought made him look scared but he still hadn't promised me yet. I was starting to slip even further. "Promise me Jackson!"

          "I promise." He whispered it as I fell back to sleep. I dreamed this time. I dreamed that I was running on four legs again. Only this time, a black wolf was running beside me. I felt at ease by his presence. My brain said that it was Jackson. I was confused by this but didn't think much of it. At least until I remembered all the things I learned since I first found out about and met my mysterious new neighbor.

          He called me a young wolf when we first met which I thought was really weird. He somehow always knows where to find me even though he hasn't been here or has even known me long enough to know where to find me in the area. When we walk past girls wearing perfume, he always wrinkled his nose which is funny and I think a little cute. He is always secretive about everything and has admitted to being secretive. His dad wanted to talk to my dad about his werewolf article. Jackson just might really be a werewolf! And that would mean I am too! He did say that my dad mentored him and stood up for him in court. And mom called him a monster. That would explain why she hates me.

          But why didn't she just give me to grandma? She loves me unconditionally. But then again, what if grandma finds out what I am? Would she abandon me as well? Is mom going to try to kill me for being what I am? I felt myself being lifted up and brought out of Jackson's apartment. The only thing that was the same was that Jackson's scent stayed strong in my nose. He must be carrying me somewhere. I used my nose to figure out where we were going. I smelled the nighttime air which I have always loved. I smelled trees and grass which smelled refreshing. The wind was blowing softly and wasn't too cold. The breeze felt good on my clammy and hot skin.

          As I was laid on the grass. I felt the nighttime dew against the back of my shorts and tank top that I slept in. It felt even better than the breeze. Suddenly, I started to feel my bones c***k like they were breaking and rearranging themselves. It hurt like hell. I opened my mouth to scream in pain but then remembered my nightmare. This is how it kinda started and continued. I could still smell Jackson close near by me. He was here and didn't seem to be leaving. I went through this pain in almost complete silence since I was a little use to it from my nightmares. I whimpered every now and again. It hurt so badly.

          "Don't worry Katelyn. It will be over real soon. This is just the first transformation. It's going to hurt to this unimaginable degree. Just know that I am right here for you. But you need to breath. You haven't had your inhaler in three and a half hours. I was able to get a chamber with the mask on it to still give you your treatments. So you would be fine." He kept talking to me until about some things as the last of my bones finished rearranging themselves. It was a nice distraction. I felt like I was laying on my belly and that I was furry all over though my fur felt disgusting for some odd reason. "Welcome to your new life Katelyn Whitewolf."