Chrissy

I woke up in an arm cast and a neck brace with my hands wrapped in gauze mittens. The pain was tremendous. My eyes slowly regained focus though it was still blurry because I didn't have my glasses. I assume they were lost when Peter slammed me against the wall.

Memories of the previous night flooded my mind and I tried to raise up. That was a mistake. Missy was there and she pushed me back down.

"Don't move! You're too fragile...like a broken china piece or something. Just stay still."

"It's not fair missy!"

"What's not fair honey?"

"Jackson's dead… Peter killed him. It's not fair."

"No honey. Jackson probably should have died but um…he's changed."

"Like how?"

"He can tell you. I threatened to tell mom and dad he was here if he didn't go get me a coffee and a donut but he'll be back soon."

"Mom and dad?"

"Oh… they found your note. Jackson killed Peter but there was still the wreckage from the car accident. You were returned there in time for a car to see you and report it. Mom and dad found the runaway letters and they know it was Jackson you were leaving with. They hate him and they wouldn't let him see you so I've been waiting until they leave to get rest to let him come in and see you."

"Wow."

"Yeah… so you two were really running away?"

"You wouldn't understand…being special and all."

"Look. The other day we underestimated you. You might be the human one and the young one but you're strong. Jackson told us everything and I think it's brave of you. I'm proud of you for taking down my crazed werewolf zombie uncle in law. You two make quite a pair."

"Thanks. Zombie uncle in law?"

"Well let's just say Derek and I are getting more serious. It's strange you know…"
"What is?"

"You're in this hospital bed that I was in about a year ago and I'm the healthy one while you're sickly."

"I'm not sickly I'm injured."

"Whatever. Jackson's on his way back. I'll see you later… give you two some one on one time."

I lay back in the bed confused as hell, happy as hell and completely exhausted even though there's no telling how long I've been asleep. I saw Jackson hand Missy her coffee and donuts. She said something to him and he looked in the room at me. I bet my hair is a mess.

"Hey." He said, still staring at me intensely

"Hello to you too. How are you alive right now?"

"Well… When Peter killed me I think I did die briefly but I came to life again. Not as the Kanima, as a werewolf."

"What! No fucking way!"

"Shhhh!"

"Oh… sorry. That really hurt my ribs."

"They're broken. Peter really did a number on you. I'm glad he's dead."

"Well… what happened to him?"

"I ripped his heart out and he turned to dust. I crushed his bones and let them fly in the wind. Afterwards I gathered you in my arms, and the others met us in the woods. We came up with the idea to let the authorities think the car accident was all that happened. I had Derek beat me up so that I could seem hurt too."

"Oh. My parents hate you."

"I know. On the contrary… my parents seem to have taken a liking to you. They think I convinced you to run away with me. I'm saying it was some kind of post traumatic stress disorder from the kidnapping. They are also under the impression that you're pregnant and they want to get us an apartment as long as I stay in school and go to college."

"That's crazy… really crazy. I've just dealt with Derek's crazy ass uncle, honestly the last thing I need is a baby. Glad that's not an issue right now."

"Me too"

"Well… it won't be easy to get my parents to like you."

"Easy is overrated."

He kissed me and I couldn't help but beam. He looked happy. Nobody would ever control him again… unless he joined a pack. I was happy for him, happy that'd he'd found some normalcy in the middle of a clusterfuck of abnormalities.

Jackson

Being a wolf is something I wanted and then it was something I wish I'd never wished for. Now… I think I could settle for it. Being in a pack still isn't for me so I'm instead a friend of the pack. Of course I won't be invited to meetings but I'll have a placed to learn wolf survival and be chained up during a full moon.

I never thought killing someone would give me so much relief but I have to admit that not looking over my shoulder for Peter has made me happier. I'll never be controlled by anybody again. Well, my body won't. My heart, I can't really speak for that. It belongs to the girl laying in the hospital bed squinting at the television. Her parents might hate me but I don't care.

"So what now?" she asked.

"We live. Graduation is in a year… after we complete summer school for all the time we've missed."

"Are you going to try and get your lacrosse title back?" she asked with a chuckle

"I don't have to try. I'm a wolf now so Mc Call better watch out."

She reached out her hand to me. I grabbed it and she pulled me down onto the bed with her.

"You are going to get us in trouble." I said.

"I don't care. I wanna be cuddled. Please? I'm hurt."

The sun started to go down and Chrissy fell asleep in my arms. I didn't want to move. She was resting so peacefully and it just felt good to wrap myself around her. While I was watching her sleep I sensed a presence at the doorway.

"You're not going to give up are you, son?"

It was Chrissy's father.

"No sir… I'm not. I love her."

"I can see that… now get your hands off my daughter and get out."

I got up and Chrissy stirred. She looked at me with a frowned up face. She glance to me and then at her father before grabbing my hand and starting at him with a daring look in her eyes.

"It was my idea to run away too. I love him and you can't stop me from seeing him. If you do… if you do I'll do something drastic." She said with a hoarse, angry voice.

"Then its settled." said her mother, walking in the door. "We don't want to fight with you Chrissy. We never did. You can still see Jackson but we'd like some time alone with you."

"I should go anyway. It's getting late and my parents are at home tonight."

"Bye."

I kissed her on the cheek and she gave me a weak smile. Things have no choice but to be better now. Nobody is trying to kill us and her parents have had a change of heart. Life is going to get good again. The only bad part is that I'm down to one car.