"Why do you even care, moron?" she called out bravely. The football players froze in their tracks to look at her, their bodies stiff in a combative stance. Their eyes looked down at her coldly and suddenly she was afraid.
"Guys, go ahead and play without me," he commanded. There was no other way to describe his tone. The football players broke out of their frozen stare, and without giving her another glance they got back into the game play.
He started walking toward her, but she quickly turned away and quickened her pace back to the Science Building, not wanting him to corner her. She shut the door behind her and looked out to see if he would try to follow her in. When she didn't see him at all, she released a nervous breath.
Gathering her backpack tighter to her side she turned to head to Mr. Collier's class, but halfway down the hall, she heard the entry doors open and close behind her.
Goosebumps rose on her arms when she heard his deep voice say, "Why'd you run away, little rabbit?"
Now she was mad, why was he following her and speaking to her so rudely all the time?
"Don't call me that," she fumed as she turned toward him, her hand naturally going to her hip. The spark of bravado ended quickly, however, when she realized he was right behind her.
"Little rabbit?" he asked.
"Yes. Who are you? A stalker?" she squeaked, again frowning to give weight to her words.
"Ha! You wish. But if you want to know, my name is Paul."
"Whatever," she said, the single word dripping with sarcasm. "You asked," he said lightly.
"Okay, just stop following me, leave me alone." Turning, she walked to Mr. Collier's door.
"What's your name?" he asked again.
"Why? Why do you want to know my name?" She looked back at him, straight into his beautiful brown eyes.
"Well...you know mine now. I'd like to know yours."
Sighing, she opened Mr. Collier's door and closed it gently behind her, completely ignoring his request.
***
The trees seemed to hang lower that evening as she walked home from classes at the University, as if giant bony hands reached down to run their fingers through her hair. She was not afraid, really. Yet she could not shake the feeling that something was wrong, her skin crawling with goose bumps at the thought that someone may be watching her.
Hurrying along, she wrapped her arms around herself, her backpack strapped tightly to her back. Once she was in sight of the well-lit front doorway of her grandmother's home, she breathed a sigh of relief. Her relief was short-lived however as a huge dog came out from behind the ancient Oak to her right. Stopping in her tracks, she realized it was a wolf as she stood transfixed by its stare. The wolf's eyes burned with intensity as its brown, gray and black brindled fur stood up in silent rage.
When she saw its lips rise to reveal huge fanged teeth, she extended her hand to hold him off. It extended one paw to step toward her and she felt the world go dark as she fainted. Upon waking, she felt the intense cold, a cold that seeped into her clothes and drained the warmth from her bones. Opening her eyes she saw that the night was completely dark as the clouds had set in, the nearly full moon and stars no longer visible to light her way down the path. She sat up quickly, a scream escaping her lips. Clamping her mouth shut with her hands, she looked around and saw that she was definitely on the path to Grams, her backpack serving as a pillow while a huge jacket covered her legs. Jumping up hastily, she grabbed her backpack and the jacket in one swift motion and ran home, continually turning to look behind her, fearful of the wolf.
***
Once inside, she looked cautiously through the window. Her heart hammered away against her breastbone, making her chest vibrate. She peered outside. Nothing was there. She let a wisp of breath through her lips as she rested her forehead against the glass. Climbing the stairs to her room she firmly but quietly closed her bedroom door behind her. The last thing she wanted was to wake her Gram and to have to listen to a lecture on the meaning of the wolf.
Alba removed her damp clothing and put her pink robe on, grabbing a book to read while she bathed. The bathroom was next to her room but did not have a connecting door. Running the hot water almost exclusively, the steam began to rise as she sprinkled in some eucalyptus mint bath beads, immediately feeling the change in her stress level. She breathed deeply of the heavenly scent, feeling the intense and healing nature of the eucalyptus and mint oils.
Draping her robe on the towel rack, she entered the steamy bath now filled with frothy white bubbles. Laying back she closes her eyes, the hot steam soothing her nerves. Seeing the image of the strange brindled wolf in her mind, she immediately opens her eyes once more, catching her breath in fear. Fearing to close her eyes again, she finished washing, her book long forgotten.
Rushing through her nightly routine, she skipped sliding the lotion on her legs. Wrapping herself back into her pink bathrobe, she made her way to her room, her body loose and relaxed from the intensely hot bath. Slipping under the warm comforter, she immediately fell into the dream she had been having since the day she turned eighteen.
***
For three days after that, Alba kept her eyes peeled for the wolf, but didn't see it at all. However, she did see Paul around campus, with his group of friends, playing football or running on the track. She didn't stop to watch him anymore after that last incident. After biology, on that third day, she walked out into the bright sunshine and bitingly cold wind. Hearing yelling and arguing she turned and saw a group of three boys kicking another boy that was curled up in the fetal position on the ground. "Stop that!" she yelled out. Rushing back into the building, she called out, "Someone, please help! A boy is being beaten up!"
One of the doors opened down the hall and Mr. Collier said sternly, "Alba, what is going on?"
"Three football players are beating up another kid! Send help!" she called out and hurried back out the door. Before the door even shut, a blur flew out behind her. Belatedly she realized it was Paul. She had never seen anyone move that fast! One minute he was at the doorway and the next he was roughly pushing the bullies away from the fallen kid.
"Wow," she breathed. Her eyes beamed with admiration as Paul rescued the poor kid. One of the bullies, the blond one who she'd seen doing most of the kicking, decided he wanted his punching bag back. He swung his arm out as if to punch Paul, but missed by at least a foot when Paul calmly stepped away from him. At that moment, the other two football players had somewhat recovered from their jolt and flanked their "leader."
"This is none of your damn business, Paul," he said.
"It doesn't have to be my business, dirt for brains, now back off before you get expelled from school." The blonde leader stepped toward Paul as if to challenge him but he stopped quickly when he saw Paul crouching, ready to take him on.
At that moment, Mr. Collier walked out of the hall, calling out, "Break it up, boys! What is going on here?"
Paul kept his eyes steadily on the blonde leader sending a silent warning. The blonde boy finally got smart and pushed the two flanking him back. "Nothing is happening, Mr. Collier. Edwin must have fallen down." I expected Paul to say something to correct his story, but he kept his mouth shut and his hooded eyes on the three boys.
"Is this true, Paul?"
"Sir, I don't know exactly what happened, but when I came out here, Edwin was on the ground. I was just about to help him up." He glanced quickly at me and continued, "He might have hurt himself. I'm going to get him to the nurse's office." He looked at me imploring me to go along with the story.
"I'll help, Paul," I heard myself saying. Taking a few steps toward Edwin, I kneeled and brushed his coppery brown hair out of his eyes. The most amazingly green eyes stared back and me and I caught my breath and smiled. For some reason, my heart warmed to him and I gathered him in my arms. Well, tried to, but his broad shoulders prevented a complete encircling of him. When he smiled back at me, his tanned face lit up like a light.
"Come on Edwin, we're
going to help you to the nurse's office." Paul said sternly. I looked at him curious as to his tone, but he revealed nothing from those hooded eyes.
The nurse proclaimed Edwin healthy as a horse and we all walked out into the hall together. Edwin smiled at me again, with that hundred-watt smile. "Hi, I'm Edwin," he said softly.
"I'm Alba." I smiled. Looking up slightly since he was maybe only five inches taller than me, which would put him at about five foot seven.
"It's very nice to meet you."
"Okay, enough of this. Edwin, what were you thinking?" Paul said sternly. "You could've really gotten hurt. I've told you a hundred times to stay out of their path!"
"Well," Edwin said calmly, "I have been staying out of their way. But today, they were laying in wait for me. I was outnumbered and out maneuvered."
"Alba, I'm going to take Edwin back to the dorms. We'll see you around, and thanks for, you know, going along with it all." His face flushed a little as he looked down at me from his six-foot frame.
"That's okay," I said quietly and smiled up at him. A smile slowly crossed his face until it seemed as if the sun itself had dimmed in comparison.
"No more little rabbit, I see." I grin and make my way down the hall.
Paul ran up behind me, and touched my elbow to get my attention. "Alba, would you want to go out some time, I mean, with me?"
He seemed unsure of himself, not knowing what I would say. "Hmmm, maybe." I said innocently.
"Maybe we could go to the game tomorrow night? I’ll call you."
I walked away with a smile on my face.
***
Later that day, as I was leaving campus, Phoebe ran up to me. "Hey, Alba, why don't you stay with me on campus this weekend, we can cram for tests. I need to make an A in all of my subjects; it would be great if you could help. "
"Sure, I just have to clear it with Gram."
Walking home through the woods, the wolf never crossed my mind: instead, Paul’s face and bright smile replaced it. My face flushed of its own accord when I thought of his arm touching mine as we walked Edwin to the nurse's office, his fingertips touching my hair.
That night I asked Gram and she said that it would be okay. "But you know it's the full moon, starting tonight. I know you don't believe, but I would keep clear of any of those boys from the football team, they can't be trusted.”
Gram settled comfortably in her seat ready to lecture me, clearing her voice for the story she was about to tell. Many years ago, before I was born, seven families emigrated here from Italy. They each plotted out a section of land and worked it according to their family's specialty. Some grew crops, some raised animals, things like that. Well, their community grew over the years but for some reason new families never moved to the area. Occasionally, a stranger would come and stay, but it was rare. My great-grandfather was one of the few that came and stuck around, marrying into the Esposito family, and made his place here, flourishing in the process. Over the years our family name, Walker, grew and became respected. Many of great grandfather's children, of which there were twelve sons, became political figures and lawmen. Even so, a lot of the older families were resentful of their success and sought to topple them from their respectable positions. Of the twelve brothers, five were killed mysteriously, their killers never found. The mayor, Peter Walker, was assassinated. The Sheriff, Lucas Walker, was shot in a gunfight in the middle of the town square. Only five brothers survived, preferring to disappear into the background of town society.
One of those was my grandfather, Cyrus Walker. Cyrus was touched by the spirit, I inherited that from him. He wrote journals from the day he could write, anything and everything that moved his spirit. There were some interesting things in those books. Around the time of all the killings, there were strange stories going around of curses that were put on several of those first families. In return for their commitment they would forever serve their moon goddess, Queen Luna, and she would protect them from harm.
During the time that the Queen would rule the night, the male teenaged children of those families would run amok, carousing in the streets and causing madness and mayhem. People would lock their doors and turn out their lanterns, hoping to avoid a deadly encounter. Mostly people stayed safe but before the Queen's time was over, there would be at least one fatality, and many, many missing people.
“I tell you this for you to stay safe, my love. They have always been a threat to our family. Your mother and father took you from this area at my insistence, to keep you safe, yet truly, only you can keep yourself safe. That is why your brothers fought with you all the time, to prepare you.”
"Gram, they tortured me! Mom and Dad let me come and stay with you to get away from them. I begged them for two years to let me come!"
“Say what you want, but you did learn to protect yourself… right?"
"Three years of Karate did not help at all, they still ganged up on me, and I always ended up with bruises. It's impossible to win with them because they fight dirty. Really Gram, I don't know how we could all grow up in the same household and be so different."
"Just promise me you will be alert this weekend, and if something happens, remember your brothers. Otherwise I will make you stay home."
"All right Gram,” I sighed dejectedly.
Studying that night for three hours straight, Phoebe and I decided to take a break and go to the basketball game. As soon as we arrived however, I knew she'd been up to some matchmaking as Paul and Todd immediately came walking over to us as we entered the door.
Phoebe smiled over at me apologetically as I shook my head laughing.
"Phoebe!"
"He really likes you, Alba," she whispered.
Paul smiled down at me when he got close, and I blushed. Reaching his hand out, I took it while goose bumps spread across my arm, making me giggle. I cut the giggle short though when I saw Phoebe and Todd looking over at me knowingly.
"Hey Paul," I said, trying to take my hand back as he held onto it firmly.
"Hi Alba, wanna go watch the game?”
"Kay," was all that would come out of my tongue-tied mouth. He held my hand as we took a seat on the bleachers. My heart raced and I could feel a blush spreading across my cheeks.
The game went on, but I couldn't focus on it as feelings coursed through my body. Paul snuggled in closer and I looked over at him, my eyes focusing on his lips. I leaned toward him, the whole while thinking that I should not be trying to kiss him in public, but I couldn't help myself. He leaned down and touched his lips to mine, feeling sparks running across them.
Laughing, I pulled away and touched my fingers to my lips, embarrassed and excited at the same time. I looked up at him and my breath caught in my throat as his hungry look consumed me. Hungry?…yes, there was just no other way to describe it.
His brown eyes almost glowed, showing themselves bright with light. His perfect lips parted slightly so that I could just see the tip of his tongue, my mouth watering at the sight.
"Alba!" Phoebe said with agitation.
Coming back to reality, I remembered that I was sitting in the bleachers and not alone with Paul.
"Wha..what?" I said, clearing my throat and looking at her beside me, my eyes straining to focus on her.
"You're moaning!' she whispered in my ear, "Reel it back to G girl, everyone is watching you!" I looked around and saw that it was true, the guys around me with a glint in their eye, the girls a look that said, "What a ho".
I look back at Paul and we both begin to laugh. "I'm sorry." he mouthed and grinned mischievously.
"Umm, sorry Phoebe," I said as I swatted Paul's hand off my shoulder, determined not to repeat the whole "lost in each other" scene.
For the rest of the game Paul and I just held hands, but my mind kept wandering back to that kiss… and his enticing lips.
I was so lost in my thoughts, I hadn't realized that the game was over and we had won! People were screaming and cheering all around us, but Paul and I had eyes only for
each other, his glowing warmth and tenderness, my face flush with excitement.
"Alba, Todd and I are going to the party, are you coming?" She looked over at me, pointedly shifting her eyes meaningfully toward Paul. She was really asking if I was sure I wanted to go off with him alone.
"Okay Phoebe, have fun! I have the key to your dorm right here in my pocket." I hugged her and she whispered, "Are you sure? I feel like you're moving pretty fast." I squeezed her to say, yes.
"Okay, we'll see you later." I said aloud. Paul grabs my hand and I take it, not looking back at Phoebe.
As we made our way into the parking lot, mostly empty now, he wrapped his arm around my waist pulling me tightly to him. He stopped at a white truck and leaned against the tailgate. We are inseparable as he leaned down to kiss me.
I melted into his embrace, my arms around his neck, pulling so that I am mostly on the tips of my toes. The kiss becomes oh so much more and we fall apart laughing and out of breath.
"What do you want to do?" he asks, his voice husky from our passionate kissing. I know I should say something else, but I can't help myself.
"This!"
I kissed him again, this time letting my body lay fully against his. The contact driving me to near madness, and I don't disagree as he says, "Let's get out of here, go somewhere we can be alone?"
"Yes, please." I say breathlessly.
We ended up at the parking lot in front of the house he rents a room in. "I want to keep you." he says unhappily between kisses and then pulls me onto his lap, his hands caressing my arms. My body quivers with anticipation at the thought of those hands on my naked skin. For a moment the passion recedes and I wonder at my responses to him, feeling the strangeness of it. But then the moment is gone as he kissed me again.
"Should we go inside?"
He pauses, one hand reaching up to my chin to tilt my face up to him, looking me squarely in the eyes. No glowing fever, just honest eyes that were willing to stop if I wanted.
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