Wolves In Helfire

K I S S M E

Late night moving. The stare from the neighbors daughter gave me early hope about this new location. My mom and I had been on our own for a while now but this place felt different. We sat at the dinner table after we had settled in to have a bowl of cereal.

“Justin, I remember when you were just a boy…”

“Mom, please don’t.”

“Ok. Ok, I won’t tell it. You were the cutest little thing I’d seen.”

“MOM…”

We laughed it off. The next morning, I get dressed for my daily run. I stepped outside to see the girl from last night stretching. I raised my hand to wave.

“Good morning”.

“Good morning to you. I’m Stacey”.

“Justin”.

I reached out to shake her hand as we got closer. She responded by extending her arm. She is definitely the prettiest girl I’d ever laid eyes on.

“So, morning jogger, huh?”

“Yep… You’re the first girl I’ve met that finds it necessary.”

“And you’re the only other kid I’ve seen since I’ve moved here.”

“Really? That must’ve sucked. No worries, I’m here now.”

We shared a laugh.

“So, shall we begin?”

“This is your territory, lead the way.”

We jogged for about an hour before heading back home. The whole time we were out, I couldn't get kissing her out of my mind. I don't know why, but I thought she was the coolest girl I've ever met.

Things soon took a turn for the both of us a few days later. I'd fallen asleep on the couch, catching all the Z's when my mom came waking me up.

"Justin, get up. I have to leave on a business trip and I need you to stay with the neighbors for a couple of days."

I was too tired to ask questions, besides, I got to stay with Stacey for a while. I got dressed and walked with my mom next door. There was this look she gave Stacey's mom that I'd never forget. It was almost as if they nodded in code.

I kissed my mom goodbye and got a tour of the house from Stacey's mom. Once the tour was over, I joined Stacey in her room to finish resting. I awoke to a finger poking me in the nose.

"Justin... Oh Justin. WAKE UP."

I jumped up out of a dead sleep.

"STOP IT."

"Lighten up will you? I was just fooling around. What are you doing in my room?"

"Your mom brought me in here last night."

"Annnnnd, why aren't you at your house?"

"Stacey, please... The questions are killing me right now. If you must know, my mom went away on a business trip so, you're stuck with me for a few days."

"That's fun. Wait, did you say a business trip? My dad is out on a business trip as well. Must be a company thing."

"I guess. Hey, I'm about to head out. Gotta keep the jog cycle rolling."

"Give me a sec, I'll come with."

I waited on Stacey to get dressed then we headed outside. While stretching before the run, Stacey's mom opened the door.

"Can you two skip a day, it's really not a good time."

"But ma, I, we, always jog in the mornings."

"I know, cupcake. It's just, not a good time. Go back to your room and relax, I'll get breakfast started."

We did as we were told. At the table, there was laughter and great food. Once done, Stacey and I washed up the dishes and headed out back by the pool.

"Stacey, have you ever thought about what you wanted to do in life?"

"Not really. We move around too much for me to think about that stuff."

"I used to want to be a cop. I don't know anymore."

"We're too young to wreck our brains on the unknown opportunities of the world. Maybe when we're out of our parents home, and stable, we can picture ourselves at our dream job. I'm just living life at the moment. Carefree."

Crazy enough, things changed almost instantly. That night, there was a bang on my front door. Stacey and I peeped through the window at my house.

"EVA, OPEN THE DOOR..."

The banging continued.

"EVA... Let my boy meet his father."

A brief moment of silence before they started shooting up my house. They must've sent at least 100 rounds through before leaving. Stacey's mom was already by our side with a black bag.

The next morning, Stacey's mom told us she was sending us somewhere safer. She said she was told to send me to my aunt's house in another state. Hell, I've just gotten used to here and now I have to leave? What was going on? Stacey's mom felt that Stacey would be safer there as well so she sent her with me.

On the next flight in that direction. We were greeted at the airport by my aunt Tina and my cousin, Karen. Once we arrived, aunt Tina showed us around the house and told us to make ourselves at home. She had to go to work soon, so we were to stay in the house and chill for the day.

Time flew by. It's now bedtime and Stacey doesn't want to sleep alone. She crawled in bed with me and snuggled up. As I laid there, holding her tightly, I felt the urge to make her mine. Through all of this we'd just been through, all I could think was being there for her. Forever. Right before I drifted off to sleep, I heard these words. "Kiss me goodnight."

I ignored it in fear it was my imagination playing with me. She repeated herself.

"Justin, kiss me goodnight."

She turned over to face me. I rubbed her nose with mine before kissing the girl I knew I wanted to spend the rest of my life with, no matter if my time came tomorrow.

"Goodnight, beautiful."