The Lost Wolf

CHAPTER THREE.

    I skipped the rest of the week at school. And for the rest of the week the clawing and scratching in the back of my mind didn’t stop. I dreamed about the pair of golden eyes every night. The beautiful boy turning into a wolf before my eyes and then turning back again. Staring into my soul and reaching his hand out for me to take. On a couple of nights I almost took it but would wake in a cold sweat with the dull clawing in the back of my skull before I was able to make physical contact. It left me more confused and less ready to face him come Monday morning. He and his “doctor” had gotten into my head and there is NO way that I really believed that humans shifting into wolves were real. 

    No. Way. Taylor and Tyler had come over after school the day that I left to bring my book bag and my phone that I had left in my locker. My mom told them I wasn’t feeling well and sent them on their way. I felt bad about it but I was too confused and too much in pain to say much. Plus, I’m sure Tyler wasn’t too happy to know that I had left school with a complete stranger. A male stranger at that. I knew that was another problem I’d have to face head on today. Would he break up with me? I’m sure that the guilt of almost letting Carter kiss me would be written all over my face.

     Sighing, I pulled a black sun dress, covered in sun flower blooms, over my head. The dress was really pretty and girly and came about mid-thigh. It hid my favorite piercing but did have a small cut out in the back from right above my butt to the top where it tied behind my neck. I grabbed my brown wedges with the straps that hooked above my ankles and headed out the door.

     Ugh! I totally forgot that my car was still in the school parking lot and both my parents had already left for the day. My mom was a nurse and my dad was a doctor so they worked weird hours and seldomly were able to leave their jobs for trivial things like their silly little daughter leaving her car at school. I guess I was walking to school. Thankfully, it was only about four blocks over. About a block from my house I turned the corner onto Walnut street and a familiar, Ford Raptor pulled up beside me and rolled the windows down. Tyler.

    “Hey!”, he yelled at me, “get in!” I opened the door and struggled inside his truck. At 5’4” tall, it wasn’t an easy feat. I snuggled back into his seats and the smell of his Axe body spray, that normally comforted me, seemed to make my headache even worse. He reached over and pressed a kiss to my lips, smiling at me.

     “I missed you. Do you feel better?” He asked.

     “Much better,” I lied. I was a liar, “what are you doing here?” “Last week your mom mentioned that you may need a ride to school. I was on my way to your house when I saw you walking.” 

     “Thank you.” I smiled back at him. Tyler was sweet. He was always doing nice things like this for me.

     Once we reached school he parked his truck and came over to my side to hold my bag so that I could safely make it out of the truck and then he grabbed my hand walked me to my locker. I grabbed my English book, a notebook, and a pencil and left all my other stuff inside, shutting it firmly. I turned around and he was close. Incredibly close. Tyler backed me up against the locker and placed a hand beside my head, his other hand on my waist so I was pinned between the lockers and him. Usually this behavior excited me, today, it made me anxious.

     He leaned down and kissed me. Starting slow and then urging my lips apart as he made it more urgent. His hand starting to roam from my waist down to my bottom. I placed my hand on his chest to gently push him away and remind him that we are at school but he just pressed the front of his body to my front and kept kissing me. My lips, my cheeks, my neck. My pulse quickened and I was worried. Any minute we would get caught, we’d be in trouble.

     “Ty,” I whispered, “Tyler stop. We’re going to get in trouble.” 

     “I haven’t seen my girlfriend in a week. They will get over it.” He purred.

     I tried pushing him away one more time but that’s when I heard it. A growl. A deep, throaty growl like a rabid dog getting ready to attack. I jumped at the sound and Tyler finally moved. Bringing me face to face with the eyes I’ve been dreaming of for a week. Carter. But Carter wasn’t looking at me, he was looking at Tyler and his gaze was murderous. 

     “What man?” Tyler snapped.

     “I think she said to stop.” Carter’s voice came out even but deadly. 

     “f**k off. She’s MY girlfriend.” 

     Before the last word was even out of his mouth Carter had Tyler by the shirt and pinned up against the lockers. I quickly stepped between them and touched Carter’s hand, willing him to let go. He did and took a step back. I gave him a rude glare and placed my hands on Tyler’s chest. What is wrong with this boy? 

     “Let’s go. Please.” I begged, the last thing I needed was some stupid boy fight on my second day of school. I wrapped my arms around Tyler’s waist. Carter growled at my action but Tyler let me lead him away from the almost- altercation.

     “What is with that guy? Does he like you?” He asked.

     “I have no idea. I only met him last week and he took me home when my headache happened in class but that’s it.” Sure, I left out a few details but even I was unclear on exactly what had happened.

     “HE took you home?! You let some other man take you home? Jesus, Kenzie!” He half yelled at me. 

     “Don’t get mad at me! I passed out in class, it wasn’t exactly my choice.”

     “He was with you when you were unconscious?! Yeah, THAT makes it better!” He was furious with me but there was nothing I could do. 

     “Nothing happened, Tyler!” I pled. I reached out to touch his face. To bring him down for a kiss and he jerked out my grasp. I jumped and he turned and walked away. Stopping only to punch a locker on his way to class. Tears filled my eyes and I leaned up against the wall beside the door trying to blink them away. I know how it sounded. I know how it looked. I was alone with Carter and then didn’t speak to Tyler for a full week. I get it but he needed to trust me. I wouldn’t cheat on him. I’m not built that way. Besides, I don’t even know Carter! He was just being friendly and he probably felt a little protective because I was a girl and he was there when I needed him to be. I took a few deep breaths, insuring that the tears weren’t going to come and I walked inside the classroom.

     I was a bit early so I asked Ms. Jarvis for my missed assignments and then sat at my desk to try and catch up on some of them before school officially started. I was completely engrossed in my short essay about Of Mice And Men when the bell finally rang. I finished up my essay while the rest of the students filed into the classroom. I looked around but the one I wanted to see, wasn’t there. Stop! You don’t WANT to see him. You. Have. A. Boyfriend! I mentally chastised myself.

     I looked over and noticed that Taylor had made it. She was fast asleep with her arms folded under head like a pillow. I reached across the aisle and poked her with the dull end of my pencil.

     “Hey! Get up! Ms. Jarvis is about to start class and I’m not sure my head can take the yelling if you’re asleep through her summary of Lord Of The Flies.” I teased. Her eyes popped open and she gave me a thankful smile, taking out her textbook. 

     “I heard about Ty and the new kid this morning.” She whispered, “what happened?”

     “Ugh!” I groaned, “Did EVERYONE hear about it?” 

     “Small town,” she shrugged. I launched into the story. I told her everything. All of it. It was like a dam had broken in my mind and I just needed to tell SOMEONE. But she wasn’t just anyone, Taylor was my best friend. I told her about how I woke up in that weird hospital- s***h- cabin. How they asked me if I was wolf, how I demanded to be taken home and that he almost kissed me. All the way up to this morning when Tyler was trying to assert himself on me and Carter wasn’t having it. 

     “I know it’s strange. It’s the weirdest thing I’ve ever been through. But it was so surreal that I’m honestly not sure if it really happened or if it was a comatose dream.” I finished. 

     “A dream,” she said matter of factly, “ but could you imagine if it was real? He would need admitted to the crazy house.”