Taken By A Werewolf

VIII

Investigating was not really something for Indy, and she gave up after a staggering ten minutes. Her search conduct showed no trace of Ares Rhett or any of the other boys. And like most of her Generation Z peers, she solemnly believed in the superiority of Google Search. If something wasn't on the internet, it most likely wasn't in real life. The thought of them using fake names crossed her mind, but she was way out of her league here. Yes, she was smart, but it was the kind of smart retrieved from books. Until now, she hadn't found a single book on how to dig up this kind of information. Blame it on her innocence, or her lack of computer skills, but three things were very clear to Indy: they didn't want to be found, she sucked at investigating and it was high time for dinner.

Indy's stomach was growling ferociously and if the boys had still been in Ares' room, they would definitely have heard it. She grabbed her bag and keys. She had nothing here to work with, so she prepared to go out. Indy was still debating grocery shopping versus take out as she locked the door behind her. She jumped up as she almost bumped into Ares' broad chest.

"You scared the hell out of me," she accused him. He looked at her suspiciously.

"I uh, I just came back from the library but I'm going to get some dinner," she partly lied. "Can I get you anything?"

Maybe if she played nice, he'd stop giving her this suspicious glare, as if she was at the top of his suspect list. But Ares just looked at her, and for a moment she looked back at him. He had the kind of beauty you couldn't deny by looking away, Indy had cruelly discovered.

Ares had just gotten back from the shower, his dark, wet hair falling in his face, drops sliding from his shoulders and chest. The only thing he was wearing was a towel around his waist. He was easily the most beautiful thing Indy had ever seen. She wasn't even afraid to admit that to herself, because it was so obvious that it was a mere fact. If only his bright, yet dark eyes wouldn't hold such a threatening look all the time. He had a few tattoos here and there, all kinds of symbols and letters in a script Indy couldn't decipher. They were somehow mesmerizing and she wanted to study and touch all of them.

When Indy's eyes traveled from his muscular torso back up to his face, she noticed a tinge of pink on his cheeks. Earlier that day she hadn't been sure, but right now, Ares was definitely blushing. He was looking furious, but still blushing. Could she blame him? She was openly scrutinizing his body. Yet, the boy standing in front of her right now, was so different from the one who had terrorized her in class just a few hours ago. This Ares seemed a bit timid and uncomfortable around her, and she didn't want to admit to herself that she found it cute. He was nothing like the dangerous, calculated predator who had sat next to her in Chemistry. Though both sides were equally attractive to her. She was a goner. Done, died, dead.

Ares swallowed and Indy could see his adam's apple bob up and down. She felt an unfamiliar urge to kiss it. Then he brushed past her, slightly bumping into her so she had to put her hand against the door in order to not lose her balance.

"I'll take that as a no," Indy called after him.

"You're welcome, by the way."

She rolled her eyes. She had heard him talk, so why wouldn't he just answer her when she asked him something? He was the one who wanted to keep a low profile, so why couldn't he understand that he drew more attention to himself by not saying a word? Indy found herself thinking about him all the way to the takeaway and back. For some reason unfamiliar to Indy, she had ordered two meals. She left one on his doorstep. Was it a peace offering? A bribe to leave her alone? Or maybe a bribe to not leave her alone ever again? Ares didn't leave her thoughts when she ate her noodles, or even later as she brushed her teeth and lied wide awake in her bed. She imagined him lying in his, just on the other side of the wall. She traced the mortar joints between the bricks with her fingers.

"JJ, I think I've lost my mind for real this time," she sighed at the KALEO poster above her bed.

It was the first day of her senior year in high school and Indy had one goal, and one goal only: get a scholarship to a university far away from here. Her plan was to focus on her academics, excel in all subjects and save up extra credit just in case her grades weren't high enough. There was no room for distractions. Ares Rhett formed one hell of a distraction.