Lone White Wolf
She froze. Did she not see this coming? I mean, I did just kiss her.
"Lake?"
"What do you mean?"
"I like hanging out with you. I like how smart and strong and funny you are. Heck, I even like just thinking about you."
"I like spending time with you too, Paul."
"But..."
"I don't want a relationship."
"With me or just at all?"
"With anyone."
"Are you okay?"
"Yes, why- oh! No, it's not because of my last boyfriend. I'm not heartbroken over him." She rolled her eyes. I imagined her with a dumb, hapless guy.
"But you're not going to date. Or tell me why?"
"Sorry. I just don't want to be too attached anywhere."
"But we can still hang out?"
"Sure. Of course, I had fun."
"So what are we then? Friends?" I silently hoped she would add 'with benefits' onto the end of my sentence. If we couldn't date, I wanted the closest thing to it.
"You'll be tired of being my friend."
"Oh, I'm already tired of just being friends. I'm not going to promise to not kiss you."
She giggled.
"What if I don't want you to kiss me again?"
"What if you do?"
"What makes you think I do?"
"Because you keep moving your face closer." I'm serious. She was barely a centimeter away from my lips and I could feel her breath on my lips. Her face colored deeply.
"You're right. I do want you to kiss me again." I wasted no time, my mouth covered hers. I heard Sue plop some towels on the table and leave again. She would be such a cool mom. I pulled back as my stomach growled, effectively ruining the moment and making us both laugh.
"My everything says yes, but my stomach says no."
"I can't pick a favorite thing about that sentence."
"Want some food?"
"You know it."
I pointed out the best dishes on the menu, and Lake surprised me by saying
"Let's get them all and split everything."
I raised my eyebrows. That would be a lot of food. But I decided that there would be no problem finishing it if she didn't eat much.
Sue came and took our order, chuckling to herself at what she thought was my appetite. Oh if only she knew. We wrapped ourselves up in towels.
"So you were drawing when I found you. Do you do that often?"
"Umm. Kinda?" She moved her hands over her sketchbook rather protectively, so I didn't ask to see her work. She continued.
"When you're as awkward and uncoordinated as I have been so much of my life, drawing is a way for me to escape reality and stuff."
"Somehow I can't picture you as awkward."
"Wow. You really didn't notice me last few years then. What caught you eye? My striking good looks?" She batted her eyelashes at me.
"Well... I can't say honestly that I'm oblivious to them. But I see how you're friends with half the school. Misfits, cool people, everyone loves you aside from that big stressed out ball of bitch, Karol. What's your secret?"
"I treat people like I want them to treat me. And they apparently like that. I remember what it's like to have no friends, so I seek out people that are alone. I know popular kids sometimes have a hard time finding friends who like them for who they are. And the people trying to become cool and fit in, well I remember being there too."
"You're such a good person. I am just glad I haven't sent anyone to the hospital recently."
"Temper, huh? My brother had quite a temper. But then he got married and it slowly started to smooth out."
"So I have to wait till I'm married?"
She laughed and patted my knee.
"You'll get there, champ. Keep working at it and don't give up."
"What do you want to do with your life?"
"It's kinda set out for me. But if I had my way, I would be a counselor or therapist."
"What do you mean, it's set out for you?"
"Um. You know, my dad wanted me to do certain things with my life. Get married. Have kids. Etc. you know how dads are."
"Uh, not really." Before I finished my sentence, Sue came up with our food. Or the first few plates of it. We didn't talk much as we ate ravenously. I was impressed at how much food she put away.
"Got a hollow leg there, Lake?"
"Hey I'm not making fun of how much you're eating."
I laughed.
"Lake?" I don't know what I wanted to say. I just wanted her to look at me with those mysterious grey eyes again.
"What?" She said, through a mouthful of food, not looking up.
"Do you want desert?"
"Um, sure. Finish your dinner first though."
I ordered some pie. Sue has some really good pies. I got a slice of apple and a slice of blueberry.
We scraped our dinner plates clean before the pie came. When Sue put it on the table, Lake immediately stuck her fork into the blueberry one and took a bite.
"Hey!"
She looked up at me.
"What?"
"I wanted that one."
I growled playfully. Is that a thing? If it wasn't, it is now. She looked thoughtful for a second. Then she shrugged and took another bite.
"Whatcha gonna do ta stop me?"
"That sounds like a challenge, oh queen."
"It is. You have no claim over my pie. What do you have to say for yourself?"
"I ordered it."
"Irrelevant."
"I. Want. Blueberry."
"I. Don't. Care."
"You should."
"Make me." I swooped down right before she put the next bite into her mouth so that she accidentally stuck it in mine mouth instead. I smiled innocently.
"Ooh, you sir, are going to regret that."
She smirked and slid her pie across the table. She then got out from under my arm and sat down in the booth across from me. I missed having her beside me, but I bit back my grunt and pretended to have no reaction. I know she saw through it though. She slowly took another bite, teasing me. I'm not sure what she was aiming for more, making me miss her, the pie, of both. She chewed slowly and licked her lips seductively. I rested my chin on my hands as I just watched her, completely forgetting we had another piece of pie to eat.
"Like what you see?"
"Mm hmm. Love it."
"Want a bite?"
"Of which?"
"You tell me."
"You're a tease."
"How about that?"
"I want a bite." I opened my mouth and she shoveled the last few blueberries in. We both laughed then, we looked crazy with our purple lips and teeth.
"There's another piece of pie."
We laughed at our own dramatics.
"Wanna split it?"
"What the hey."
The last piece of pie vanished and we downed the last of our drinks. I paid for our meal despite Lake's attempt to stop me. We said bye to Sue and walked outside. The sudden downpour had passed and the air smelled clean and fresh. I didn't have a car with me, so we just kinda walked aimlessly through parking lots.
"Where's your house?" I finally asked.
"I live with my brother and his wife right on the beach."
"Want me to walk you there?"
"Mhm. I need a big guy to protect me from the hungry wolves in the forest." Even though it was almost dark, I could feel her smirk.
"Pick me up tomorrow and we can go for a hike. King and queen of the forest."
"I'd like that." A lot.
We reached the beach and Lake led me to her brother's house. There was a porch light on, and under the porch swing were a tshirt and a pair of shorts. I smiled as I thought of the similar set of clothes I had stashed literally everywhere. With a temper like mine, I had to be ready to phase in a second. I thought back through the week. I met Lake on Monday at school. Didn't lose my temper. Later I was irritated at Embry, but I wouldn't call it angry. Same on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Today, Saturday, I felt good. Even though I was rolled out of bed at an unearthly hour, I managed to keep my temper. What is she doing to me?
Lake was sitting on the swing, watching me curiously. When I snapped out of my daze she smiled.
"What's going through that pretty head of yours?"
"Are you... When I'm with you... How can... I haven't lost my temper since Monday. That's a record. Most I can go is a day or two. What are you doing to me?"
"I'm not doing anything. It's all you."
"Why haven't I been able to control myself before now?"
"Not sure. Maybe you haven't had a real reason?"
I say beside her, swinging a little and enveloping her small frame. Her breath was steady against my chest. We heard a howl in the woods. Jacob. Bella had probably left him for the night. I frowned. That girl used him, and didn't care how much her actions hurt. All of us wolves though, felt his pain each time she rejected him. Wolf joint mind brought us closer in spite of ourselves.
Lake pressed her lips against my warm and still bare chest.
"What was that for?"
"For being a nice guy. Behind your anger, nobody sees what a cool person you are. Deep down."
Her breath was warm and sent a weird tingle down my spine. I wanted to kiss her.
But just then, a head poked out the door. A head I assume belongs to her brother. Moment: ruined.
"Hey, Joel." She tipped her head to look at him. I felt a little weird still hugging his little sister, but she didn't move, so I'm guessing he was cool?
"Lake, you're still up? This is Paul?"
"Yeah, hi. Sorry to keep her out so late."
"You're fine, I know she can take care of herself if you get... Fresh."
"Joel..." Lake started giggling but I could feel her face heat up.
"Anyways, little lady, it's high time you went to bed." And with that, the head disappeared and we were alone again. Wow. Very cool brother.
"Your brother is surprisingly okay. Does he always just let you do your thing?"
"Yeah, pretty much. He's pretty chill. I'm glad that even though he's my legal guardian, he doesn't get all gung ho over protecting me."
"Your parents aren't around?"
"My mom left a little after I turned five, and my dad died a few years back. Since I'm still a minor, my brother is my next of kin or whatever."
"Oh. I'm sorry."
"It's okay. I've come to realize being sad and moping around isn't helpful to anyone, and my dad would've wanted me to be happy and live life to the fullest."
"That's pretty awesome. I haven't been able to do that. I'm still mad at my dad for leaving my mom."
"He did?"
"Yeah, I never met him. Took off right after my mom told him she was pregnant."
"Wow, I'm really sorry. What a jerk."
"Yup. But what can I do?"
She kinda shrugged.
"I should go inside before my chill bro gets not so chill. See you tomorrow?"
"Course." I stood up with Lake still in my arms. She pulled a little.
"I can't go in unless you release me..."
"Oh sorry." I let go and she laughed.
"You're okay, Paul. It was fun hanging out with you today."
"Yep I had a great time. I can't wait for tomorrow. You know, because I just love hiking so much.."
"M hm, sure. Well, goodnight Paul."
I smiled, leaning closer. She raised an eyebrow, and the word friends echoed weirdly in my mind. Screw friends. Lake wasn't stopping me, so I just went for it, gently pressing my lips on hers. She put an arm around my neck and one around my waist. Then she bit down on my lip, surprising me and causing my eyelids to fly open. I cant say I didn't like it. She pulled back a split second after and smirked at me.
"Seeya, Paul." I stared dumbly, watching her go inside. She gave me a little wink right before shutting the door. What?
I went home in a flurry of confusion. Friends? Kissing, biting, smirks, winks. She was more than just a friend and she knew it. She was so flirting with me and daaaayum, if I wasn't a willing subject. When I rolled into bed, all I could think of were her mysterious eyes, winking at my from the darkness behind the door. Those big grey orbs, daring me to kiss her, or challenging me to fight her. I couldn't wait till tomorrow. I was going to figure this girl out if it's the last thing I do. And it might actually be the last thing I do.
The next chapter! I hope you like! :) comment, favorite and follow me please! Who knows, I might just follow you back...
And as always, I'm not SM, nor do I own any characters aside from Lake.