The Surfer or the Wolf

t w o

Mila’s POV

“Thank you for adopting rather than buying, Thor will make the best companion! He’s so gentle and affectionate. Don’t forget to read our suggested diet for him, please call if you have any questions.” I said to an older gentleman who just adopted a 3 year old bulldog.

“Thanks dear, you’ve been very helpful!” He said as he walked out of the shelter with Thor. I’m going to miss that dog, but I couldn’t be happier that he finally got adopted. He had been in the shelter for almost a year.

“Mila, would you mind giving the cats their bath. Don’t forget the gloves this time so they don’t scratch your hands as bad as last time!” Tina, the shelter owner, said to me with a chuckle.

“Sure Tina, no problem!” I answered as I made my way to the back of the shelter.

I had been volunteering here ever since I got my driving license. I always loved animals, especially wolves. I’ve been fascinated with wolves ever since I was very young and I saw the biggest, most majestic white wolf in the woods behind the school. During recess, we were playing kick ball when I kicked the ball too hard and it flew in the woods. I ran in to fetch it before the teacher saw me leave the playground. I was walking slowly, looking behind every tree when I saw it. A big white wolf staring back at me. I was too scared to move, I stood straight as a plank, breathless. The humongous beast started to slowly walk towards me with its head low and then it stopped and sat down a few feet from me. I relaxed a bit and let out a huge breath, the wolf tilted its head as it stared at me. We both stood still and stared at each other for what felt like a lifetime. Then, I heard branches cracking behind me. Nervously, I turned around to see that a boy named Devin, who was a bit older than me was standing there. He looked confused and nervous. I told Devin that if he stood still like me, the wolf wouldn’t hurt him. He chuckled as he grabbed my hand and pulled me back to the playground. I hesitated, I wanted to stay with the wolf longer, but I followed Devin out of the woods. I swear I saw him nod his head to the wolf but he always denied it. The wolf walked away and I never saw it again. I always wondered why Devin didn’t seem scared whatsoever of that big wolf..

“Ouch! Dammit Jellybean!” I yelled as the big tabby cat clawed my shoulder trying to escape his bath. My gloves didn’t do squat to protect the rest of my body. I sighed as I quickly dried him up and put him back in his kennel. My phone alarm went off, letting me know that I had to leave to go to work at the beach.

I waved everyone goodbye and headed out the door. I was walking towards my jeep when I saw a familiar face coming out of the coffee shop across the street. Devin Garcia. The same boy that dragged me away from that wolf when I was younger. Devin is tall dark and handsome, he’s also very sweet when he wants to be, I used to have a huge crush on him but he’s too much of a player for my taste.

“Hey sexy legs! Are you heading to the beach?” Devin yelled from across the street, making an elderly women jump in surprise.

“Yeah, that’s where i’m going, why?” I answered flatly.

“Do you mind giving me a drive? My truck broke down and I’d love to ride next to you with your top down..” He said in a sexy voice, wiggling his eyebrows at me while he crossed the street.

The nerve of this guy!! Has he no shame?!

“Cut the crap Dev, you know I hate it when you talk to me like that. If you want a drive, you better stop flirting.” I snapped back at him.

He raised his hands in surrender and laughed as he hopped in the passenger seat. The rest of the drive was uneventful, Devin managed to be somewhat respectful. We made it to Blue Cove Beach and made our way to the lifeguard’s hut to change into our bathing suits. Devin is also a lifeguard, he’s the one who trained me actually, he’s the best swimmer in town.

***

A couple hours passed and I barely got out of my stand except to go help a little boy who fell on some coral. He scraped his knee a little bit, nothing serious. I was starting to get bored but then I saw Tyler going into his surfing station. He’s a surf instructor here at the beach, it’s pretty fun working so close to him. I get to spend more time with him and do I ever enjoy the view. He looks so good in his surf uniform, I love to watch him in his element. All the girls love to watch him surf, but i’m not the jealous type, I know he only has eyes for me.

“How’s it going on the West side? The East side was pretty dull today..except for when this hot cougar asked me to rub some lotion on her back!” Devin said in a chuckle. What an ass.

“It’s been just as quiet here, minus rubbing a cougar’s back” I said as we both laughed.

“Kelly just got on shift, she took the East side and Mark told me to help you with the West side since the surf lessons are going to start and unexperienced nitwits might give surfing a try.” Devin said rolling his eyes.

Tyler spotted me and gave me a wink as he waved to Devin and I.

“So how’s it going between you and Tyler? Not to be rude but you two look more like friends than a couple.” Devin said rudely. Although his comment pissed me off, I kinda agreed with him. I love Tyler, but there’s not a lot of passion in our relationship. We fool around and we do have s*x, but there seems to be something missing.

“We’re great, our relationship is none of your business, Devin.” I snapped back at him and gave him a dirty look.

“Ok calm down, i’m just looking out for my friend.” He answered as he put his sunglasses over his eyes and scanned the water.

I sighed internally. He really was a good friend, he had been there for me when I had lost my father.

*FLASHBACK*

Three years ago, my parents, my sister and I had gone out for supper. It was a great night, my father loved to spoil his girls. He told us to wear our best dresses because he was taking his lovely ladies out for a night on the town. He took us to a fancy restaurant and let us choose anything from the menu, including desserts! He held on to my mother’s hand all night and kissed her as often as he could. I remember rolling my eyes at him, thinking he was so cheesy. I could kick myself for not appreciating how fearlessly he loved more. At the end of the supper, Nora begged to go to the arcade not too far from there. She wanted to play the dance game. My father hesitated because it was dark out but my mother convinced him to let her go accompanied by me. They wouldn’t be far behind us anyways. I didn’t understand what kind of trouble he thought we would get in, Nora was 13 and I was 15. We were plenty old enough to walk to the arcade alone in my opinion. Man, was I wrong. I wish we never left their sight that night.

Nora and I left the restaurant and started walking side by side. She was almost skipping, she was so excited. I was too busy looking at my sister’s skips and hops and never noticed that someone had started following us. Before I knew what was going on, I felt someone grab my wrists and put a hand over my mouth as I was pulled in a dark alley. Nora screamed and ran away towards the restaurant. My face was pushed against a brick wall as he ripped my purse from me and emptied it on the ground. I never did get a good look at him but i’ll never forget his rough voice and disgusting smell. He was so angry at how little I had in my purse, he figured since we were dressed in fancy dresses, we must of had a lot of money. He grabbed me by my hair and smashed my face against the wall, whispering dirty names in my ear and breathing heavily on my face. I slowly recovered from the shock and started to fight back, but he was too strong. He started to push me further down the alley towards the entrance of an abandoned building when he was suddenly thrown off of me. I turned around and saw that it was my dad who came to my rescue. The lowlife had fallen to the ground. “Go! Get inside a safe building with your mother and sister! Go now!” My father yelled. I ran and never looked back. My mom took our hands and guided us inside the arcade. We huddled together in front of the large windows, waiting for my father, but he never came. The music, beeping and clicking of the machines in the arcade were loud but couldn’t drown out the horrific and heartbreaking cries my mother let out when a police officer came in and had to give us the news that the lowlife had stabbed my father and he unfortunately did not make it.

I was completely broken for months after my father’s passing. Annie tried to console me, but I pushed her away. Tyler was very sweet too, he didn’t try to make me talk about my feelings. When he noticed that I was sitting alone in the backyard, he would come out and sit next to me for hours not saying a single word. He was simply keeping me company. That simple act was so comforting to me, but it was Devin who snapped me out of my funk.

One night, I was feeling a bit reckless and decided to go for a run in the woods. I know, I know..What the hell was I thinking. I don’t know what possessed me to do it, I just felt a pull to the woods. I ran for hours, until I came across a beautiful clearing. Exhausted, I laid down on the tall grass and stared at the starry sky, feeling one with nature. I gazed at the dark sky for a few minutes, enjoying the calming sounds surrounding me, until something else caught my eye. I sat up and squinted my eyes, focusing between the trees on my left. It looked like big shiny blue eyes, staring back at me. But it must have been some sort of bug or something. I looked into those big blue eyes, it felt like they were trying to reach into my soul. I wasn’t scared at all though, I felt very calm for some reason.

“BOO!” Someone yelled from behind me! I shrieked and I nearly peed my pants. Devin fell down laughing next to me. All he was wearing was a pair of athletic blue shorts, we do live in California, but it was too chilly to run shirtless in my opinion. Wasn’t he cold? I started laughing too, I hadn’t laughed in weeks. I looked again to my left and the blue eyed were moving further and further away. I shrugged it off, thinking I was imagining things. Then Devin pulled me up, told me I was crazy for wandering alone in the woods at night and walked me home. But wasn’t he doing the same thing?

I got caught staring at his ripped abs a couple of times, how could he have so many abs when he was just 16?! When Devin noticed that I was looking at him, he just smirked at me.

“I’m sorry about your Dad.” Devin said sympathetically.

“Thanks.” I said in a whisper.

“I know you’re hurting, but pushing everyone out and going into the woods by yourself isn’t really what’s best for you is it?” Devin told me with his eyebrows furrowed.

“I know..I can’t really explain why I went in the woods. I felt compelled to go.” I answered.

Devin raised his eyebrows and looked confused for a few seconds, then he shook his head as he brushed it off. He told me about the lifeguard program he had gotten into and suggested I joined. He said I should put all my energy into something productive, rather than sulk all day.

“How do you know it would make me feel better?” I asked, almost rudely.

“Cause that’s what helped me when I lost my Mom.” Devin said without looking at me. It was at that moment that I realized how genuine of a friend he was.

A few days later I enrolled in the lifeguard program and started my training along with another girl named Kelly. She was really really good, but I was a natural swimmer so I caught on quickly. Devin helped me with my training until I was just as good as Kelly. I felt liberated, Devin was right that it would make me feel better. I didn’t feel as useless anymore, saving people from drowning really made me feel in control and good about myself. I felt like my life had purpose again.

After a few weeks, I finally was able to put what happened to my father behind me and accept that it wasn’t my fault. I continued to sit out in the backyard and stargaze next to Tyler, but instead of staying silent, I started to open up to him. Until one night, I made the first move and decided to kiss him.

“Wow..what was that for?” Tyler asked me, surprised.

“It’s just my way to say thank you, you really comforted me these past months. You sat with me in silence when I wasn’t ready to talk yet. You were patient with me, thanks.” I told him, forcing a small smile.

A few nights later, he finally asked me out on a date, and the rest is history.

*END OF FLASHBACK*

“Hey Dev..I don’t think I ever thanked you..you know, for helping me when I lost my Dad.” I said as I looked at him seriously.

“It’s all good. You know me, I love to help a beautiful girl in distress.” He replied smirking. Aaand moment is ruined. I rolled my eyes and noticed that Tyler was running our way. Damn. Could he be more handsome? The sun was hitting his fit body just perfectly. I swear his green eyes were shining with the sun, and his beautiful smile.. His body wasn’t as ripped as Devin’s, but he was just as handsome in my opinion.

“Hey guys! How were the waves looking today?” Tyler asked smiling.

“Gnarly duuude.” Devin replied in a mocking tone waving his thumb and pinky out. Tyler just brushed it off and laughed.

“Will was just telling me that the University is having an open house day this Friday. We should go check it out!” Tyler said. William is another surf instructor our age, he fits the surfer description perfectly : Shoulder length wavy blond hair, tanned skin, 6’2, hazel eyes.. every girl’s dream, yet he never hooks up with anyone.

“Oh fun!! I can’t wait to check out the campus!” I replied excitedly. I’m still undecided between the Nurse program or the Veterinarian program. My Mom obviously has her heart set on me becoming a Nurse like her, I guess I could always keep volunteering at an animal shelter even if i’m a nurse.

“I’m in too!” Devin shouted.

“Why would you come? You graduated highschool last year and have no intentions in enrolling to the University?” I asked.

“Cause there’s always a huge party on campus on open house days. Tons of fresh meat!” Devin said casually while licking his lips. Ugh gross!!!

“Fine. But if you’re coming, i’m bringing Annie to keep you in check.” I said sassily.

“HA! That girl is wilder than me, i’ll be the one keeping her in check!” Devin replied. He had a point. Whatever. Annie is still coming.

After our shift was done, Tyler followed me home and decided to come hang out at my house for a bit before calling it a night. I doubt he would sleep in my bed again tonight.. Unless I convince him.