Chapter 2

Everything's blurry and my head is killing me. I lift my head from the dashboard and look out the front window to see fish swimming by. I look to my right to see my window is still rolled down and I can tell we've crashed into a lake. I look to my left to see my mom lying limp with her head on the steering wheel facing the opposite way from me. On her side of the front window there's a huge crack where she must of hit her head.

"Mom?" I reach to her hoping to feel life still in her. I give her a light shake but she doesn't move from her position. I sit up some so I could try again with a little more energy but the slightest movement I make I hear the car creek. I stop in my tracks so I don't make the wrong move and make us sink. I reach over to her again but this time very slowly. I put two fingers against her neck begging to feel a pulse. Nothing. I can feel tears trying to escape but I force them back and reach for her again. This can't be happening. I push back on her shoulder so her back is to the seat and what I see is horrifying. Her nose is completely pushed in and there's blood covering her mouth and neck. I take my hand back from the sight. Once her head hits the steering wheel again the car creeks again but this time begins to move forward. I have to get out of here. I try to open the door but it won't budge. I try a couple of more times but use my body to try and push it but nothing happens. The front window cracks and some water leeks in. This pumps my adrenaline to move faster. I look in the glove box hoping to find something useful but all I find is my mom's car insurance.

"Shit." I say to myself. I look over at the center console and open it to only find a pen and an air freshener. Damn. I move my legs closer to me so I can try to get out the window on the passenger side but when I do so the car falls deeper into the lake. We're far in enough the water's beginning to come through my window. I have to move fast. I look over at my mom again to feel torn from my loss. I move over to give her a slight kiss on the head and tell her I love her then begin to make my escape. The water is already up to the base of the seat and it's coming in faster and faster. I put my hands on the window and start to pull my body out but the more movement I make the more the car is going under water. It's moving fast enough that it pushes me back into the car and I'm under water now. I try again and this time I was more successful but as I get out I hesitate to go to the surface. I look at my mom still laying there helpless; dead. As the car sinks more I feel my lungs begging for air so I go to the surface. When I make my way out of the water I stand there looking at the tailgate of the car still above water and I wait there until it's gone...

I wake up and find myself crying. After wiping away the tears I look down at the weight that's on my feet. Rockie looks at me and shakes his tail and I give him a pat on the head. I sit up and stretch like I've been in a coffin for a few years then begin to make my way to the door. Once I open it I can smell the sweetness of fresh cinnamon rolls. Rockie must smell it too cause he sprints down the hall and down the stairs. Jesus. I follow behind him and once I make it to the bottom I see Sophie already dressed and eating her roll, she's really eager for this day to start.

"Good morning!" Jess yells from the kitchen. "You're right on time, the rolls just came out of the oven." She already dressed and ready to go as well. I'm slacking!

I sit across from Sophie and watch her in amusement as she eats her cinnamon roll. She unwraps the entire roll and starts from the softest end.

"What?" she asks after noticing me watching her.

I smile at her and shake my head, "Nothing."

We finish breakfast and I go get ready for the day. I dress in my dark blue skinny jeans with my cream color ruffle shirt and a light sweater with a pair of converse to finish it off. I head to the car where Sophie and Jess are waiting for me.

"Let's see what they have in store today." Jess says while putting the car in acceleration.

It takes bout ten to fifteen minutes to head into town. It's pretty much the same from when I last saw it, old and small. I like it this way, it's comfortable. It's a beautiful sunny day out with no clouds in the sky there's even a slight breeze that comes and goes.

After we park the car we walk into the first shop we see called Belles Choses; french for beautiful thing. Once we walk in everything's vintage, this store is true to its name.

"Hello girls!" the lady behind the counter welcomes us. "Can I help y'all with anything?"

"Just looking for some clothes?" Jess says with a warm smile.

"Let me know if you need thing, my name is Reagan."

"Thank you Reagan."

We stay there for about ten minutes and Sophie and I get a few things at that.

We spend close to a couple of hours shopping and right as we're about to leave I notice a small library across the street.

"Hey is it ok if I check out the library first?"

"Go for it! I'll bring the car around front when you're finished." Jess answers

I head into the library and smell that sweet scent of a new book.

"Hello! Welcome to Minds. If you have any questions my names Alice." Says the dark headed girl behind the counter.

I give a slight smile in her direction then go looking for something that pops. One the first shelf I come across I see a book called Werewolf's Legend; that certainly pops. I take the book then head for the counter.

"Will this be all for you today?" Alice asks.

"I believe so."

"That'll be $6.00"

I get out my wallet and start to look for the right amount.

"Werewolves huh?" Alice says more than asks, "Do you believe in them?"

"I believe in anything unless proven otherwise." I say with a matter of fact.

"Haha, I like that. I've never seen you around here before? Are you visiting?"

"I'm actually kinda new in town. I just moved in with my dad."

"You must be Angelique!" she says with excitement, "You're big news in town, the last new student we've had at our school was about five years ago, you're gonna be popular." She says with a wink. I look at her with a frown as my response. "Oh don't worry, I can be your body guard. From what I've found out, we have three classes together!"

I let out a sigh, "We'll I'm glad I'll know a familiar face."

"Don't worry, I gotcha covered." shes says while handing me my book.

As I turn to go I say my goodbyes, "Well it was very nice to meet you Alice."

"The pleasure's all mine, I'll see you in school tomorrow. You be careful now."

"Okay. You too."

I walk out the door and as promised, Jessica's right out front with the car waiting for me.

We get home around three o' clock and find Dexion and my dad working on an old truck.

"Hey hon!" Jess goes up to my dad and gives him a kiss on the cheek, "What are y'all up too?"

"Dex wanted to work on the truck and I'm just spectating."

Dex has his shirt off and has probably been working on the truck for a while now. His shirt is tucked in his back pocket just enough so it doesn't fall out and his back glistens with sweat from the visible light. He's bent over the hood of the car unscrewing a bolt of some kind and you can see every muscle in his upper body clench and unclench from the movements. I gotta admit, it's an eye catcher.

I head inside and to my room to go put away my new clothes. I'm pretty glad with what I got today.

After I finish I head back downstairs to see Jess cooking and Sophie on the couch watching T.V. I go over to the couch to join Sophie and notice she's watching Titanic, oh lord. Once I get comfortable I don't realize how tired I am so I close my eyes and listen to the movie.

I must of fallen asleep cause I wake up to Rockie licking my hand.

"Dinner's ready!" Jess shouts from the kitchen. I pat Rockie on the head as he gives me a groan of satisfaction.

I get up to go to the dinner table to join the rest of the family awaited by lasagna. We have a quick dinner with not much talking.

After dinner, I go back to my spot on the couch joined with Rockie and finish the movie Titanic.

An hour has passed and the movie is finally coming to a close. It's almost midnight and I'm the only one up, besides Rockie. The credits roll in and now it's my time to go to bed. I turn off the T.V. but as I do so Rockie lifts his head and begins to growl, he's looking straight at the french doors leading to the backyard. I look in his direction but don't see what he sees. I get up to go to the doors to get a better look with Rockie right by my side. I put my face up against the window but still see nothing. Rockie puts his nose close to the window himself and begins to grow once more.

"What is it boy?" he continues to growl but this time bares his canines. Something's not right.

I put my hand on the doors clutch as if about to open it and that puts Rockie's game face on. He puts his entire face on the crack where the door opens and waits. He reminds me of a greyhound waiting for his race to start. I don't tempt him any longer so I open the door far enough to where he can go through. I hesitate to follow but I can't let anything bad happen to him if it is something. I slide the door open enough for me to exit then slide it closed just a hair away from shutting it. It's a little chilly out and pitch black. Rockie stands at the edge of the porch sniffing the air, once he finds what he's looking for he gives off a low growl once more. I squint my eyes a bit to maybe find something but hopefully nothing. I move next to him and watch his movements, everything seemed quiet until suddenly I hear what sounds like something stepping on some dry leaves. I back up a little bit, maybe it could just be little bunny or a little squirrel. Please be something small and harmless.

'CRACK'

Big; it's something big. It sounded like a thick branch that just broke. Rockie's on full alert now and has the face of a killer. I run to grab his collar so he doesn't run after whatever is out there and get hurt. His mane is up and his teeth are out, knowing Rockie, he's sworn to protect me at all cost but I can't let him. I look at the woods again but this time I see something. Whatever it is I know it's bigger than me. I see a pair of bright golden eyes through the bushes and telling from how high up they are, this thing is definitely bigger than me. Rockie starts to bark furiously so I try to pull him back towards the door. We move slowly until my hand feels the cool glass. I don't dare take my eyes off this creature until I know I'm secure behind doors. I slide the door open enough for me and Rockie to enter. Once I'm through I continue to drag Rockie by his collar which is getting harder to do since he really wants to go after the threat. Once I finally succeed getting him behind doors I close it securely and lock it. Rockie is still by the door growling but I back up a couple of steps, the more distance from that thing the better. On top of Rockie's growling I begin to hear another growl that sounds deeper and more promising. The thing is staring straight at me and it's growling. That can't be a good sign. A few seconds pass then I see that creature is leaving, thank god. Rockie seems to have calmed down as well cause he stops growling. I kneel down to the ground and let out a sigh of relief and Rockie comes closer to lick my hand.

I give him a smile, "Good boy."

I stand up then begin to head to my room with Rockie on my heels. Once I reach my destination I climb into bed and just lie there and Rockie does the same, neither of us move. I close my eyes hoping to just sleep off this crazy night but all I see are those bright golden eyes.