by Wade Faubert
The air seemed to drop ten degrees as they entered the shade of the tree line. With each step taken, the aroma of pine intensified as their feet stirred the fallen needles. They followed the pathway for five minutes then the cool darkness gave way to blinding sunlight reflecting off the clear blue water of the bay.
The beach was unusually barren for this time of year. Usually a dozen kids or more would be swimming in the water or playing football at the edge, but the cool spring had kept the water cold, forcing the sun worshippers to pray for enlightenment on the beach instead. Off in the distance only a few kids dared each other to go in the water, but they were lucky to make it waist deep, before running back to the warmth of the sand.
Lori and Jessica strolled along the beach for twenty minutes, stopping occasionally to pick up a stone and skip it through the waves, as they headed down toward the pier. The ancient wooden structure creaked and moaned with each step they took. When the boards up ahead looked too rotten to support their weight, they plopped down on the edge and dangled their feet inches from the water’s surface as brightly coloured sunfish gathered, circling below their feet, imitating Piranha readying for a quick snack.
Removing her top, Jessica revealed the bikini beneath then readjusted her contents as she lay back on the wooden platform.
“When I called Kirk last night he mentioned that Josh has been asking all kinds of questions about you.”
“He has?” Lori felt warmth stirring deep inside at the thought. “Like what?”
“Well, he asked if you put out on the first date.”
“He did not!” Lori felt the heat in her cheeks and knew her face would be bright red. “He wouldn’t say anything like that. Would he?”
“I’m just messing with you, but apparently he has been asking if you have a boyfriend, and if you date and you know, guy stuff. It sounded like he was interested in asking you out anyways, so we’ll just get Kirk to give him a little shove in your direction.”
“This will be great. You know,” Lori closed her eyes against the bright sun, drinking in the warm touch, “the more I think about it, I have noticed him looking at me in class. But I thought he took Monica Jones to the last dance?”
“He did. I remember seeing her plump little body squeezed into that purple dress. You really should’ve come. It was great. She looked like a fat grape ready to explode.”
“Then why would Josh ask me to the dance? Why not take Monica again?”
“Just look at her. There’s no contest between the two of you.”
“Stop.”
“No, really. Josh would be an idiot not to pick you. I think the only reason he took Monica is that he wanted to get a good mark in Miss Jones’s English class. You watch, if he dumps Miss Jones’s little baby and takes you instead, his mark will nosedive.”
“Come to think about it, Josh was looking at me yesterday in class. Maybe if I hadn’t ignored him, he might have asked me to the dance then.”
Jessica turned on her side and faced Lori. “See. I told you he liked you—or just wants to get in your pants.”
Lori turned, slapping Jessica’s thigh hard. A red handprint rose immediately.
“Hey,” Jessica rubbed away the sting. “That’s gonna leave a mark.”
Lori raised an eyebrow and smirked. “From what I’ve heard, Kirk spanks your ass harder than that.”
“Yeah, but my ass has more padding. And besides it makes me really horny when he does that.” Jessica spanked her ass then let out a long exaggerated cry of pleasure. “Just think. We’ll be going on our first double date Friday night. Me and Kirk, and you and Josh. Hey, maybe Josh might give you a little spanking in the back seat then we’ll hear you moaning and groaning.”
“Oh, stop it.” Lori shook her head. “Like I’d put out on the first date. I’m not you.”
“Yeah, you couldn’t handle being me.” She rolled on her stomach and propped herself up on her elbows. “Hey, since when do you sleep past seven? At first, I thought your mother was trying to get rid of me when I called this morning. I thought there’s no way you could still be in bed at ten o’clock.”
“Um… I didn’t sleep so well last night. I… I woke up during the night and, um…”
“And what?” Jessica sat up and looked Lori in the eye. “Another nightmare. Which was it this time, the school attack, or the other?”
“It was the other. I was wandering through the woods again. It feels so real like I’m actually there, but…” Lori swallowed hard. She remembered how dirty she felt when she finally realized what had happened last night and she still couldn’t get over the embarrassment of it. “When I woke from the nightmare, I was… naked.”
Jessica shrugged her shoulders. “So we’re all naked sometimes. Hell, I sleep in the nude all the time. One time I got up and started downstairs for breakfast. I was halfway down the stairs when I realized that there was a breeze in the valley below.”
Lori shook her head. “No, it wasn’t the fact that I was naked, but that when the nightmare ended and I finally woke up, I was standing in front of the window.”
“Exhibitionist,” Jessica gasped. “Now that’s what boys like. Me, I’ve never tried that, but hey—”
“I felt so dirty standing there in front of the window. I couldn’t believe that I’d stripped down and stood there for… for god only knows how long.”
“Was the light off?”
“Yeah, but what—”
“Well, the most anybody walking by would see is the outline of your body. It might be enough to horn up the old man who walks his dog late at night—or freak him out. Either way I don’t think you have to worry about pictures being posted on the internet or anything like that.”
“But why would I do it? I’ve never done it before.”
“What’s different this time?”
“Nothing—Just the nightmare the other night of when I was bitten. That was the first time I’d had it since I moved here four years ago. I used to wake every night after the attack from that exact nightmare, but then we moved here and it disappeared. It was like the distance severed the tie to it.”
“More likely you just relaxed, not having to worry about the wolf around every corner.”
“Or the distance broke the control the wolf had over me?”
“Don’t say that again. You’ve told me what happened, and yes, I’ll admit it’s pretty fucked up, but I doubt there was anything special about that one pissed off wolf. You guys probably stepped into its territory and disturbed its den or something like that.”
Lori knew Jessica’s viewpoint on the wolf attack and knew there was no way to change her mind, but if only she’d seen what Lori had seen then there wouldn’t be any problem convincing her. “Maybe you’re right Jessica. I guess I’ll just have to pin the drapes shut tonight. I can’t stand the thought of waking up naked in front of the window again.”
“Just in case, I’ll call Josh and send him over. What time should I tell him?”
Lori smacked Jessica’s thigh again but Jessica just laughed and lay back on the dock, watching the clouds float slowly by. “So, what do you think you’re searching for in all your nightmares?” she asked.
Lori shifted on the rough wooden planks then sat up, hugging her knees to her chest. “I don’t know, all I can remember is walking around searching, but I don’t think I ever found what I was looking for.” Lori’s eyes blurred with tears. She sat there staring off into the bay while the images replayed through her mind.
“So what do you think it means, Lori?”
“I don’t know. Maybe it means that I’m looking for happiness—friendship—something?”
“But you’ve found both of those things. I’m your best friend and obviously you’re mine. And how can you say you’re not happy with your life? You’re beautiful. You live in a nice house and your mother’s a nurse who makes lots of money. Oh yeah and the best thing is—if I haven’t already mentioned it—you have me.” With that, Jessica sat up and wrapp
ed her arms around Lori.
Lori continued hugging her knees. Her eyes burned with fresh hot tears. She felt the warmth from Jessica’s body and her arms felt strong and supportive holding her tight, but there was still a chill racing down her spine at the memory of the nightmares. She feared that no matter how far away she ran, there would always be a tiny chance that the wolf would someday return and finish the job it started four years ago.
“I know it’s been hard, Lori, but it’s all behind you now. From here on in it’s you and me, okay? You just let me know what will make you happy and we’ll do it.”
Sometimes Jessica could be such a pain in the ass, but at times like this, she made up for it tenfold. Lori smiled and was only able to nod in agreement as a few more tears overflowed, following the trails down her cheeks.
Jessica released her hug and sat back smiling. “Now, if you could do anything you wanted to today, what would it be?”
“Why don’t we just sit here?” Lori said. She knew that Jessica would rather head to the mall or even to the schoolyard to see if the boys were playing a game of football today, but she didn’t think she could stand either place right now. Her mind felt all mixed up and the best place for her to think things through and sort out her feelings was right here, listening to the water lapping at the wooden pillars under her feet. There was something calming about the water. Maybe it was the rhythmic sound it created or maybe it was the fact that life survived both above and below the water’s glassy surface.
“I guess I could work on evening out my tan lines.” Jessica dropped back, lying down on the pier then removed her bikini top.
“I don’t know how you can do that.” Lori wiped the tears from her cheeks and settled down beside Jessica. “Aren’t you embarrassed that someone will see you?”
“What’s wrong? They’re only tits. Hell, you’ve got the same thing under there, too. Besides half the old men have bigger man-boobs than both of us. Who cares if it gets them worked up? Hell, it’s half the fun trying to get them to walk around with a boner in their swimsuits.”
“I don’t know, Jessica, I don’t think I could ever do that.”
Jessica turned her head and shaded her eyes, meeting Lori’s gaze. “From what you told me you’ve already shown the whole package in your window.”
“That’s different. I don’t have—”
“I’m just kidding.” Jessica rolled her eyes. “Don’t worry about it. You’re beautiful. Don’t be afraid to show it off.”
“Yeah, beautiful,” Lori scoffed. “Beautiful girls don’t have to have someone find a date for them.”
Wampus Springs is available at: www.amazon.com/dp/B007DZSZX4