Chapter 24b: Learning to Fight
"Maya! Let me in!" Zack's voice boomed. I jumped up and noticed Derek was gone. I started freaking out but then I heard him sigh from outside. I walked over to the open window and closed it to a crack. I ran to the door and opened it. I tried to look tired but Zack shoved me out of the way and I fell into the dresser.
I got up and dusted myself off. "What are you looking for?" I asked innocently.
"I'm looking for anything out of place! Are you hiding him? Where's your phone. I'm taking it now," he yelled as he stuck out an open hand. I looked at him wide eyed and put my phone into the palm of his hand. I didn't take my eyes off of his. His hand closed around my tiny phone. "I'm sorry babe. I'm just all freaked out because of this war." Then he hugged me awkwardly. His muscles suddenly tightened and he took a step back. He suddenly threw my phone at the wall and it shattered into a million pieces. He started shaking and I took a step towards him. He pushed me away and slid down the wall. His face turned red and he put his hand on his temple. He started to slow down his breathing. He got back up and put his hand on my cheek. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry for all of this." He leaned in to kiss me but I pulled away.
"Wait… what war?" I stuttered. He explained how there was a war brewing between the witches and wolves. I shuttered at the thought of them hurting Derek. I pictured Derek's beautiful face twisted in pain at the mercy of the wolves. I shook the picture out of my mind. "Why are you fighting all of the sudden? There has been peace for decades!"
His answer was simple, "you." He stomped out into the hallway but I followed him close on his heels. When he turned around, a single tear slid down his face. He wiped it off slowly and sniffled a little bit. "I'm sorry," he mumbled.
"Wait," I said as I thought of a plan. "I need to fight?" He nodded after a few seconds of silence. "Okay! I can take them. I beat you didn't I?" I put up my fists like a boxer and punched him playfully a few times.
"No. I let you go. I didn't want to hurt you. So anyway you need to be taught how to fight. Come with me," he said seriously. Then he led me out to the yard. His transformation was beautiful. He jumped into the air and changed smoothly. I tried to do the same but somehow ended up on my back. We both laughed as he told me to do it again. It took me an hour, but I finally got it down.
"Now I'll teach you the art of the bite," he smiled. Even as a wolf, he was beautiful. I wondered how he could possibly be so evil. I bit everything in sight: trees, grass, leaves, wood, and anything I could sink my teeth into.
For the rest of the day, I learned how to fight. We ran drill, scenarios, and we pretended to fight. We tried everything that could possibly show up in battle. The whole time I was thinking about how I could apply these moves to the other wolves. When we sat down for a break, his father brought us lemonade. We changed back into humans, put on our clothes, and drank our lemonade.
He put his arm around me tightly and I spilled my lemonade because he scared me. I wanted to break his arm off. When he kissed me, I didn't kiss him back. This was turning into a routine that I hated. If Derek was watching, he would've ripped Zack apart.
It got dark quickly. We went inside and scarfed down about 15 hamburgers each. I finally left Zack to go take a shower. I noticed that there was no lock on the door. I jumped in, showered, and jumped out it 3 minutes flat. I was afraid Zack would come in.
"I'm going to bed!" I called out to him. Suddenly I heard his heavy footsteps coming and Zack shot down the hallway and pushed me into the wall. Not gently by the way. He kissed me and this time I pushed him away. I decided I would take charge. "No, let me kiss you." He nodded as I led him into my room. I had to make sure he got hurt when I left him. That's what he gets for all the pain he caused my family. I pushed him onto the bed. I peeled off my sundress and stood in front of him in my bikini. No, I hadn't changed since I went to the pier with Derek. Zack just stared at me and didn't say a word.
"You don't move. I'll kiss you. Understand?" I said sternly. He nodded and smiled like a little boy with a secret. I climbed on top him and straddled his body. I kissed his lips tenderly and he kissed mine back softly. He closed his eyes but I kept mine wide open. We kissed for a while. The whole time I imagined he was Derek. Finally I got off of him and told him to go to bed. He went to the living room where he was staying. I locked the door behind him and put my dress back on. Then I crawled back into bed.
There was a tap on the window. I knew it was Derek before I even opened the window. I hoped he hadn't seen me kiss but I knew he did when he said "I saw that," as she kissed him through the window.
"Don't worry, Baby. I'll make you way, way happier than Zack was," she said as she smiled devilishly. Then she helped him through the window. As soon as he got inside she kissed him. Not gently and lovingly this time. She kissed him with a little urgency. She laid him on the bed and straddled him. The peeled off his shirt without a word but smiled the entire time.
Derek looked nervous but excited at the same time. Then she slowly took off her sundress. When she laid back on him, her skin tingled where it touched his. She kissed him more. She knew what she wanted but she was nervous at the same time. She whispered, "I love you," and he whispered it right back with no hesitation. The moment was perfect, so she went for it. She started to unbutton his pants, but Derek sat up.
"No, not yet. Not here. I'm not ready," he said hesitantly. I was a little relieved but I tried not to show it. I laid my head on his chest. "I love you Maya," he whispered. His chest vibrated as he spoke.
"I love you too. More than you can imagine," I said. I meant it too. I felt his muscles relax and then I fell asleep to his heartbeat.
When I woke up, Derek was gone and the bedroom door was pried open.