White Wolf’s Curse

After dinner I head for the treeline. I sneak away telling them all I am just getting some air. Uncle Jared gives me the stink eye, but I promise that I am going to be good and not go too far. I went straight to the tree I was at last night. As soon as I sit down I see Gray. He is sitting there with his tongue hanging out. “Were you here first?”

He nods his big canine head. “Well, I’ll close my eyes.” I close my eyes and listen to him walk around me and to the other side of the tree. I hear the cracking of bones. Then a sigh as he sits down. “So, how was your day?”

I smile. “Pretty good. I didn’t have to beat anyone’s ass.”

“Then why do you smell like some guy?”

Is that jealousy I hear? No, that can’t be right. “Probably Trey. He seems to think he can make me his girlfriend by sheer force of will. I keep telling him no, but he doesn’t get it.”

“I thought it smelled familiar. Boy does get around.”

I laugh. “Yeah, not my type.”

“What is your type?”

I shrug. “Not really sure. I never gave myself a chance to think about it. I guess, I don’t really care about looks. I care about who the person is, you know. Like they have to stand for something. They have to know what is important and be willing to protect it. I think that is someone that I would definitely be interested in.”

“So, not Trey?”

“Not Trey.” I repeat. “He is a friend at most. He got all possessive today. I was talking to this guy Ethan and he started calling me babe. I shut that down, told him that I am not his girlfriend right in front of Ethan.”

“Ethan Thomas?”

“Yeah, he sits next to me in English. He seems nice. We are going to do a study group.” I fidget with my shirt. “How old are you? It’s obvious that you don’t go to high school.”

“Yeah, I graduated two years ago. I was at college last year, but I couldn’t decide what I wanted to do so I took a year off. I guess I wouldn’t have met you if I didn’t. Maybe we would have run into each other on break or something, but I’m not sure if it would be the same.”

“I am sure you would have lived. I’m not that great.” I chuckle a little.

“Give yourself some credit. I think you are great. I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t.”

“Well, that is nice of you to say. So what do you do with yourself all day?”

“I work for my dad. He has a business here in town. It’s mainly handyman stuff, but it’s work. With winter coming up there is always a lot. Not at your house of course. Your Uncle likes to take care of it all on his own. He’s stubborn like that. He will even call someone out of town rather than call our family.”

“Well, maybe we can change his mind.”

“I hope so, it’s stupid and ridiculous. So, what else did you do today?”

“I am the new Cheer Captain. I didn’t really want to do it, but the last girl said that she wasn’t going to let my sister cheer, she was going to bench her. My sister is good. I’m not saying that because she is my sister. She took four years of dance and six years of gymnastics. She’s got moves. It was just because she didn’t like me because of Trey. I guess they used to date or something.”

“Yeah, Kelly is really full of herself. I keep telling her that she needs to lighten up, but she thinks she is some princess or something. Her dad doesn’t help. He spoils the shit out of her.”

“Did she hit on you or something?”

“No, nothing like that. We just know each other. She is all about Trey anyway. I swear she thinks they are destined to be together for the rest of their lives. Obviously Trey doesn’t feel the same way.”

“Maybe he just needs to see her in a different light. I get the feeling he is just bored. Maybe if she was more down to earth she would capture him again.”

I hear him chuckle. “You really don’t have feelings for Trey.”

“No, I said I didn’t. He doesn’t really stand for anything. Sure he has his things he does, but what does that stand for. There are no principals there. He didn’t even really seem to care about the team that he is supposed to be leading. Tryouts were a joke. He didn’t really recruit anyone. A little with my brothers, but he just basically told them they were on the team before he even saw if they were any good.”

“Are they any good?”

“Yeah, but he didn’t know that.”

Gray laughs. “You’re fun to talk to. When is this game you are supposed to be cheering at?”

“I think next Friday. Then there is a dance on Saturday.”

“What about the dance?”

“Trey asked me to go with him. I already told him that I wasn’t going.”

“Do you want to go?”

“I was just thinking that maybe I should start doing stuff like that. I have kind of held myself in for so long that I really am not myself. I don’t know if that makes any sense.”

“No, it does. I feel like that sometimes. I guess that’s why I couldn’t figure out what I wanted to be. I was always doing whatever my family wanted me to do, I never took the time to figure out who I am. I think I am just starting to find that person.”Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

“Yeah, me too. Even my look, it was all to look tougher. Make sure no one messes with my family. Now I look at my reflection and I don’t even know who I am. I hate my hair. I don’t like the makeup I wear. My clothes aren’t so bad, but maybe a little more color would be nice. Maybe some dresses. I don’t know, just different. You know what I mean?”

He sighs. “Yeah, I do. That would be nice by the way.”

“What would?”

“Seeing you in a dress.”

“Well, Friday you’ll see me in a Cheer uniform. Apparently we have to wear them every Friday. It’s a school pride thing.”

“Well, go Wolves.” He chuckles.

“Isn’t it funny that the school mascot is a wolf and well half the town is wolves.”

“The town was founded by wolves.” He is quiet for a moment. “I sometimes forget that you don’t know all this. We are all raised with it and it seems so natural. It seems weird to explain it.”

“I hate being so lost on something so basic. I blame my dad. If he would have told me then this wouldn’t have to be like this. I would have already known all this.” I really do hate being so ignorant of something that I should know. I am a wolf and I should know about my heritage.

“Yeah, but then you and I probably wouldn’t be talking.”

“Well, that’s true.” I sigh looking at the setting sun. “I should probably go before Uncle Jared comes looking for me.”

“Yeah, I wouldn’t want him to see me full monty. I should have brought some shorts or something. I think these leaves are starting to chafe.”

I laugh. “Yeah, that would probably be a good idea. Well, I’ll leave first. See you tomorrow Gray.”

“You bet Green. I look forward to it.”

“Me too.”