The Howling- Chapter Four: Midnight

Friday evening came slower than I could have ever imagined. Two days, two full days of not even seeing Kallan were ahead of me. Two days not knowing where he was or what he was doing, or if I’d ever see him again.1

Yes, I was getting obsessive, but could you blame me?2

I had yet to figure out what it was I liked so much about him. I mean, looking past the fact that he was a werewolf, he seemed normal enough. He said “crap” and laughed loudly and got angry just like everyone else. Sure, he was abnormally tall, and had an abnormal half-life and was abnormally, intensely beautiful, but his human side definitely had the starring role.3

It was nearly 11:30 as I laid on my bed, hands tucked behind my head as I stared at the white ceiling. There had to be something I could do, something I could say…4

I felt myself drifting toward sleep, so I turned my light out.5

I felt a hand over my mouth, and struggled slightly until I realized how hot the hand was. My eyes shot open.6

“Kallan!” His name was muffled under the pressure of his hand against my mouth. “Ow!” I tried to say, but it was muffled as well.7

“Shhh.” He put a finger to his lips, then took his hand away from my mouth. I rubbed my lips gently, since they tingled with pain. “Did I hurt you?” he asked, his eyes wide.8

I shook my head, then sat up. “What are you doing here?” I whispered.9

“Actually…” he began, searching for words, “I came to inform you that I am an idiot.”10

“Tell me something I don’t already know,” I teased, hoping he would know I was joking. I could tell he did when he smiled slightly.11

“I was completely stupid the other day and it’s been bugging me all week, I just couldn’t figure out how to tell you. I figured that your own room was the only place you wouldn’t run from me.” His deep voice was just loud enough for me to hear, but quiet enough to where no one else could.12

I patted the bed next to me, beckoning for him to sit. He did so, and I sat cross-legged in front of him.13

“I’m sorry I was such a jerk to you,” he said softly. “I know I made you feel bad, and the guilt has been driving me crazy. I just wanted to keep you safe, but pushing you away isn‘t going to help. So I’m sorry.”14

“Oh, that’s alright. It really did suck, but I can kinda see where you were coming from.”15

“Well, it’s really hard to be around someone like you.”16

What was that supposed to mean? I felt as though I’d been punched in the gut.17

“Oh, no, not like that!” he corrected quickly. “What I mean to say is… someone so… breakable. You have no idea how easy it would be for me to squish you.”18

“Oh,” I said, but my voice decided not to work so I just mouthed it.19

“Even just then, when I had my hand over your mouth, I thought I was barely touching you but I was actually pressing too hard. I don’t know my own strength around humans.”20

“Makes sense,” I said, and he smiled, relieved that I understood.21

“You’re quite a girl, Evelyn.”22

“So I’ve heard.” I met his fantastically gorgeous eyes, and he smiled wider. I felt the butterflies having a field day in my stomach.23

“So I was figuring out how to handle this whole wanting-to-hang-out-together thing…” he said.24

“What?” My eagerness was unavoidable.25

“We could just tell them that we’re…uh…”26

“Oh!” I understood. “That you’re my boyfriend?”27

“Well since I’m around you all day anyway, it would explain a lot, and your best friend wouldn’t feel replaced,” he said.28

“Well he’ll feel replaced anyway.”29

“He?” He raised an eyebrow at me.30

“Yes, he.”31

“We’ll make free time for him.”32

“So I guess you plan on spending a lot of time with me then?” I probed.33

His lightly stubbled cheeks tinged red. Caught him. “I want to. I mean, I want to know what you like, what you hate, what you fear. All that stuff.”34

I smiled. It was as if he could give me some of his warmth through his words.35

“You look tired,” he realized.36

“I’m fine,” I insisted, stifling a yawn.37

“Why don’t you go to sleep? It’s midnight.”38

“’Cause I don’t want you to leave,” I admitted.39

“You want me to stay?” He tried not to sound eager, but his beautiful eyes betrayed him, widening with hope.40

“Yeah. Just don’t let my parents catch you.”41

He snorted. “Give me a break,” he grumbled, then got up and held the blanket up for me. I laid down and he put it over me, then sat on the soft rug beside the bed. I gave him an extra pillow to put behind his back, since I couldn’t imagine that leaning against my bedside table as being very comfortable.42

“Will you be here when I wake up?”43

“If you want me to be.” He looked hopeful again.44

I smiled. “I want you to be.”45

“Then I will.” It was settled that easily.46

“So,” I thought of one of the many questions I’d been pondering, “how old are you?”47

“18.”48

“So you’re just a few months older than me?”49

“Yes, since you’re nearly 18.”50

“So why is this werewolf after me?”51

“That’s a story for another time, when you meet my brothers.”52

“Brothers?”53

“Yeah, I have three.”54

“Are you one of the dark shadows in the trees at night?”55

“Yep.” He watched as I yawned into the pillow. “Sleep, Evelyn. We’ll talk in the morning.” His hand caressed my hair as I nodded, and I soon drifted off to sleep.