CAN'T FIGHT THE MOONLIGHT

CHAPTER FIFTEEN-ANOTHER BITTEN

Everything seemed okay so far. The night wore on.

The next day, we headed to school.

Phil was fine. He seemed like himself.

We were standing in front of Phil's locker. Pim had stopped by as well.

The rest of the Fashion Zombies began walking toward us.

"Oh no," Pim moaned. "What now?"

We looked up and they stopped in front of us. Vicki Channing was one of Candida's followers. She had looked up to Candida and I was getting a bad feeling that she wanted to start something.

"You freaks had something to do with Candida's murder…I know it," Vicki said narrowing her violet eyes. Her long brunette hair was pulled into a ponytail. She was dressed in a navy skirt and red shirt.

"Riiiight," Phil said slowly. "And how would we do something like that? More importantly…why?"

"Because you're freaks," Vicki answered smoothly. "And if you wanted to do something so badly you'd find a way."

"We had nothing to do with it," I said coldly. "I can't believe you would actually accuse someone."

Vicki's eyes moved onto me.

"Teslow, you're the talk of the school," Vicki said snootily. "We all know you hated Candida. A perfect reason to destroy her in secret…in the girl's bathroom."

Phil stepped in front of me.

"Keely was no where near the girl's bathroom. She was with me during Science," he said narrowing his eyes.

"That's right," Vicki said smirking. "Stick up for your girlfriend."

"She was in class," Phil said in a dangerously low tone.

From where I was standing, behind Phil, I could hear him omitting low growls from his throat.

"Sure," Vicki said with a wave of her hand. She turned to Pim now. "See you later, Pimple."

With that, she began walking down the corridor chortling as she went with the other girls.

I put a hand on Phil's shoulder.

He snapped around so quickly and I felt his teeth sink into my hand. I quickly drew my hand back and held it with my other hand.

"Phil!" Pim cried alarmed.

There were four puncture wounds on my hand, just below where the pinkie was. Blood trickled out of the wounds.

Immediately, guilt flooded over Phil.

"Keel I'm so sorry," he said looking upset.

"You bit me," I said between shock and fear.

"I'm so sorry. I was still angry about Vicki. I didn't mean it," Phil said as he took a step forward. I took a step back.

"Do you realize what just happened?" I asked staring at him. "You've infected me too!"

Phil's face drained of all color.

"Oh no," he said quietly.

Without a word, I headed to the nurses office.

PHIL.

I couldn't believe I had bitten her. I felt so awful now realizing I just made Keely exactly like me and that was something I never wanted.

I got so caught up in Vicki that I forgot to calm down.

Pim nervously put a hand on my arm. I glanced down at her.

"Don't worry, Phil," she said patting my arm. "I'm sure Keely knows you didn't mean for that to happen."

"That was the last thing I wanted, Pim…to have Keely exactly like me," I said swallowing as I looked in the direction Keely had gone off to.

"So if I was a werewolf you'd be okay with it?" Pim asked.

She had a grin on her face.

"No," I said shaking my head. "Of course not. I don't want anyone like me."

"Well, you've got Hilary," Pim said. "She might be able to help us."

"Pim," I said seriously. "In order for Keely to go back to normal…she's got to destroy me."

"As I said," Pim said now looking worried and scared. "We've got Hilary now."

She headed off down the corridor.

Reluctantly, I headed off to English.

KEELY.

After the school nurse put a bandage around my hand, I headed to the girl's bathroom. I had told the nurse I had caught my hand on a fork at lunch. I placed my hands on the cold porcelain sink and stared at my reflection in the mirror.

My blue eyes were wide with fear. My blond hair was fluffed around my shoulders. I could see my own scared reflection.

I knew Phil hadn't mean to bite me, and he had gotten caught up in Vicki's accusations, but now the question and fear remained…If I was like Phil now, then wasn't the only way to go back to normal is for me or someone to destroy Phil?

"I can't kill him," I said aloud to myself lowering my eyes from the mirror. "I just can't."

Hilary floated across my head.

I was going to tell her that there are two werewolves now in Pickford…myself and Phil.

I entered a stall.

I was just about to leave when I heard something like water dripping. Curious, I scanned the stall and around the toilet. Nothing. Then, my eyes roamed to my shoes. Several large droplets of blood was on the floor.

I screamed.

PHIL.

Having super sensitive hearing, I heard Keely screaming in the girls' bathroom even though I was in class.

I quickly got up and ran from the class.

I tore down the hallway and stopped outside the girl's bathroom door.

"Keel? What's wrong? Are you okay?" I demanded knocking on the door.

"Phil?" I heard Keely cry.

She sounded hysterical.

Scanning the corridors making sure that no one was around, I shoved open the swinging door and entered the bathroom.

She was standing in a stall with the door opened. She looked up.

I immediately went over to her.

"What's wrong? Why'd you scream?" I demanded alarmed searching her face.

All she could do is point to the floor.

My eyes lowered to the floor where several large droplets of blood were…and a little trickle on the inside of her thigh.

"Oh boy," I said swallowing. "Um…this is a girl's area…should I get Pim?"

"I'm scared," Keely said wide-eyed. "This has never happened to me before."

I stuck a finger into my ear.

"I really think I should get Pim," I said backing away.

My sense of smell was heightened and I picked up the metallic scent of blood. It was making me feel strange. I knew I had to get out of there.

"Don't leave me alone," Keely said as she threw her arms around me and pulled me close. I slowly wrapped my arms around her.

"I'm just going to get Pim okay? She can help you more than I can," I said shutting my eyes and forcing myself not to breathe.

I finally wrenched myself from Keely's grasp and hurried out of the bathroom.

I got Pim and immediately sent her to the bathroom.

A short while later, Pim, Keely and Hilary were talking in front of my locker.

"Hey guys," I said. "Keely are you alright now?"

I was really concerned about her.

"Yeah," Keely said. "Hilary was just explaining to me what that meant."

"It means that she's changing," Hilary replied softly. "She told me you bit her on the hand?"

"By accident," I said meaningfully. "I never meant to."

"I know," Keely said smiling.

"But that didn't happen to me," I said frowning.

Hilary laughed.

"Well I should hope not!" she laughed. "No girls' change differently than boys do. She should be going through some changes during the next few days, but nothing serious. Of course, once the full moon comes, both of you will change fully."

"Great," Pim said. "I'm the only one here that's human."

"Do you really want this?" I demanded.

"No," Pim said shocked. "Of course not…I was just joking Phil."

I relaxed.

I gave her a squeeze.

"Unfortunately, the only way for Keely to become normal is to kill Phil," Hilary said gravely.

KEELY.

"Well I'm not doing that," I snapped. "I could never do that. I'd rather live with this…infection…than kill someone I care about."

I felt Phil's eyes on me the entire time.

Hilary nodded.

"I understand…but what happens when you won't even recognize each other anymore?"

I looked at her.

"What are you talking about?"

Hilary sighed.

"I'm talking about when you change and you don't even recognize each other anymore. It will happen even when you're the way you are now. You see, the Norix's are still coming. They will make you turn against each other,"

"That's crazy," Phil said firmly. "I would never turn on Keely."

"And I would never turn on Phil,"

"I pray that you don't," Hilary said swallowing.

Hilary promised to keep an eye on us for the next day or two. The Norix's were set to arrive shortly.

I was sitting on Phil's porch, just enjoying the peace and quiet. My ears momentarily felt clogged, but then they cleared and I could hear a conversation going on down the block in the Farrow's Residence. My sense of smell heightened and I was able to pick up a wet dog taking a bath in the yard 3 blocks away…and my eye sight was sharper. I saw a grasshopper crossing the backyard.

I shook my head.

I picked up a new scent coming from the house. Phil.

Sure enough, when I turned around, Phil was standing there.

"I knew it was you," I said softly.

"You got my scent huh?" he asked as he sat down beside me.

"Yeah," I said quietly.

"What's wrong?" he demanded automatically. "I know something is bothering you."

"It's what Hilary said…about us not recognizing each other," I said. "It bothers me to think of that."

"Keely, it won't happen," Phil said putting an arm around my shoulders. "I would never turn on you."

"And I won't turn on you," I said. "But what if we can't help it? Those Norix's sound evil and worse than what we are now."

Phil rested his head against mine.

"Don't worry okay?" he said softly.

I smiled.

I turned to face him and our faces were inches apart. I felt my heart pounding in my chest.

The next thing I knew, Phil moved his face closer to mine until our lips met. He kissed me gently and softly.

I returned the kisses the same way.

After a short while, we pulled back.

"I-I'm going to head inside," Phil said as he got to his feet and headed into the house.

I could still taste Phil's lips on mine. I too, headed home.

I decided to take a nice hot bath.

I sighed as the hot water rolled over me. It felt so relaxing.

I checked my hand where Phil had bitten me and I saw small tufts of white fur. I grabbed a razor and shaved it off.

Then, realizing the tub stopper got caught around my foot, I stomped it against the edge of the tub.

It finally came off but something was protruding from my ankle. Intrigued, I leaned forward. It was a dew claw.

"Sure Hilary…girls' definitely change differently than boys," I said shaking my head.

I finished my bath and got dressed.

I went to bed.

The next morning, everything seemed normal again. The dew claw was gone, but the hair was still on the hand so I shaved it off again.

I pulled on a pink floral skirt that reached my knees and a plain pink peasant style blouse. I had left my hair down again and it fluffed around my shoulders.

I began walking down the corridor toward Phil's locker. I heard whispers going around and boys catcalling me.

I reached Phil's locker.

"What's going on?" I asked him. "Everyone's whispering and I'm getting Catcalls."

I shivered.

"Not sure," Phil said as a 10th grader whistled at me as he passed.

Hilary arrived next.

Phil asked her why boys were ogling me and girls' ogling himself.

Hilary smiled.

"Well since you two are werewolves, there's an attraction there…others see you as more attractive,"

"Than before?" I asked curiously.

Hilary hesitated.

"How can I put this delicately," she bit her bottom lip. "You guys have sex appeal."

I gasped and raised a hand to my mouth.

Hilary smiled.

"Don't worry," she said. "It just means that people think you're hot that's all. Nothing to get worried about. I went through it when I was first changing too. It'll pass."

Phil and I breathed a sigh of relief.

Just then, Pim arrived out of breath.

"Guys," Pim said trying to catch her breath. "I just came from the principals office."

"What happened?" Phil demanded.

"Vicki…she framed me," Pim said. She held out a book. "This is from the library. She stole a book, and then tore out several pages. She placed it into my bag and then told the librarian to check my bag for any missing books."

I heard Phil growling loudly now.

"Someone has got to teach her a lesson now," he said narrowing his eyes. I saw amber creeping in his irises.