Chapter 3
Tommy got up & stretched. He walked over to Athena who put the snake back on the desk. He leaned into her. "I wanna talk to you, outside." he whispered. Athena licked her lips & closed her eyes. 'Oh if only you knew what that does to me.' she thought. She nodded & headed outside. They sighed in unison. "So, what is that you wanted to tell me??" she asked. Tommy licked his lips & took a deep breath. "Well Athena, I just wanna tell you that...well you, I really real--" he stopped himself. All of a sudden he grabbed Athena's waist & pressed his lips against hers. She was shocked but was more than happy to return the kiss. She wrapped her arms around his strong frame.
Tommy broke the kiss. He really needed to run. He was starting to change. Athena caught this. Her senses were also going berserk. Her heart racing, her hearing heightened, her mind yelling & jumping for joy, & the strongest sense. Feeling. She could feel everything a lot more. Tommy's presence was felt very strongly. "I got--" Tommy was about to flake out on her. But she didn't let him 'cos she knew. There was no reason to run.
"Don't go anywhere. That won't help you any 'cos I know. I know your secret. You don't know this, & neither does Merton or Lori, but I'm telepathic. I can read your mind. I can interrupt your thoughts & tell you what to do. Your secret was so easy to read. I knew it from the moment I got you alone." Athena stopped. Tommy stood there open mouthed. He couldn't hold it in any more. His lycanthropic instincts had kicked in & there was no way to stop them. It was a full moon in about 5 minutes. "Let it out. All of it. I've always really wanted to see a werewolf. And now that one of my friends is one, why not let me see it. Especially since you're really sexy & sweet & funny & everything else." she brushed her hand softly down his cheek & down to his chest. 'She's right, just let it go. She knows anyway.' In a matter of seconds, a beautiful creature took the place of this handsome guy.
A howl escaped his lips as he tilted his head towards the moon. A smile spread across Athena's face. She was gonna get used to this. A single tear slid down his face. He tried to cover it up by quickly wiping it away. But it was no use. "Why are you crying?? Please don't. I hate to see anyone cry. Especially a friend..." she trailed off. Athena walked closer to Tommy & put her arms around his neck once again & he, once again, slid his arms around her waist. Athena rested her head on his shoulder. 'I wish I never had to let him go...' her thoughts came. All of a sudden, the door opened & out came Merton & Lori. Breaking the silence.
They stopped in their tracks with their jaws on the floor. Exchanging looks, Merton & Lori came up to the hugging pair. "Tommy, mind telling us what's goin' on??" asked Merton. They let go of each other. "Yea, well, there isn't much to tell except that Athena knew my secret long before tonight. She's tele, tele, what was it??" he always did have trouble with those weird words. "Telepathic. I'm telepathic. I uhh, read minds & such." Lori's expression changed to a little ticked. "You never told me!!" she said. "Well, that's 'cos I only found out about myself two years ago. Anyways, I wouldn't know how you would react." Lori shrugged.
"That is so cool!! First my best friend is a werewolf, & now, my other friend is telepathic. How outrageous is that." Merton laughed his trademark laugh. He looked at Athena. "What am I thinking right now??" he asked in a show host voice. She walked over to Merton, pulled him into an embrace, & kissed him on the cheek. "It was more like wishful thinking." she smiled. Merton whimpered. "What are we gonna do about Tommy??" asked Lori. "Lori, I'm not gonna tell anybody. Trust me. I wouldn't turn my back on you guys. Plus, I think it's rather sexy." Athena said as she toyed with the hair on Tommy's cheek. So much for not flirting...
* * *
"So, what's the deal with this uhh thing??" asked Athena. Merton rummaged through the pile of books on his desk. Finally, he found a suitable title & opened the book. "Oh, here we go. This thing reads out of a book & makes all the events true. Except, it uses our people!!" Merton exclaimed. Tommy & Lori sat there unmoving. They were used to all of this. But Athena's face went pale. She never even heard of such things. But after werewolves & her telepathic power, why not believe it.
Tommy put his arm around Athena. She was motionless, pale, & cold. All of a sudden she began to sweat. But it wasn't at all normal. It was as if her body was rejecting the cold as a sweat. Tommy started to snap at Merton. He was afraid that if any loud noises were to reach her ears, something would happen. "Merton!!" he whispered. Finally, Merton looked up from his book & looked at Athena. His eyes widened at the scene. She then started to shake a bit. "What's wrong with her?? Why is she doing that??" asked Lori with concern on her face.
The boys shrugged. "I think she should lay down. Merton, take those books off the bed." Tommy ordered & Merton walked over to the bed & cleared it. Tommy picked Athena up & laid her
"Tommy, can I ask you something??" asked Lori looking at Tommy. He looked up away from Athena's face. "Yea, go ahead." he answered. "Umm, do you sorta have a thing for uhh, Athena??" Lori asked carefully. Tommy was astonished at Lori's question. He didn't think she would figure it out so soon. He thought it over. "Well, she is very beautiful. And she has this aura that makes people wanna be around her. But, Lori, what kind of a question is that?? You know we're together." he said. It was true, & he still had feelings for Lori, but Athena...
"Listen Tommy, it's ok. I can't tell you what to feel or think. It's what's in your mind & heart. If you like her, that's ok, & if you don't that's ok, & if you are indecisive, that's also ok. I'll give you time. Whatever time you need. So, for the time being. We're uhh, split up...again." Lori finished her sentence. She didn't wanna hurt Tommy, since they were friends. Tommy looked at Athena & decided he was indecisive.
He really liked Athena, for the reasons stated above. But he also still had feelings for Lori. She was the first person, well girl, to find out about his secret & not run in fear. Or decide that he wasn't the type of guy she wanted. Then again, neither had Athena. He still had to think. "Lori, that was the sweetest, most unselfish thing you've ever told me. I'll take your offer, whenever I ma--" he was cut off for the second time that night.
"Hey, the talk show is on commercial, I just found something out. All those things Athena was goin' through, they're symptoms of the first reading. The book has to do with witchcraft. He was reading a passage & decided to let Athena go through the first run." Merton said. Lori, Tommy, & Merton exchanged looks, then looked down at the shivering girl. "It's ok, we're gonna take care of you." Tommy gave his word & leaned down to kiss her cheek.
He got up & went through the window he considers a door. Still wolfed he didn't know what to do. Lori & Merton were quiet trying to figure something out. When out of no where, they heard their half K-9 friend give his praises to the moon. They looked up towards the window with a pleasant feeling. All of a sudden, Athena stopped shivering & a peaceful look spread across her face.