So...this is DPOV. I haven't decided yet, but the next chapter might be half DPOV and half CPOV...please review!
Oh, and Kelley Armstrong owns anything DP (as always)
"I can guarantee that it'll help in the social department- the members of our football team are very popular," emphasized Coach Clark- a balding, middle-aged man with a visible beer belly. His speech seemed a bit rehearsed- and it probably was considering that he'd been trying for the past few weeks to corner me into a conversation about why I should join the "fighting falcons" football team.
It took a lot of effort not to laugh. Sure, the football players here were treated the same as those in any other high school (like demigods), but as far as I could tell the most impressive thing about the falcons was how many games they managed to lose.
Coach Clark had already talked to Simon (who politely explained that he was more of a basketball player) and even told Tori that the cheerleading team had a few openings (she less politely explained that she'd rather drink battery acid than join "those brainless barbie dolls").
I ignored most of his spiel. It's not like I could've played a competitive sport even if I wanted to.
Which I sort of had- wanted to I mean- back when I was in middle school and Simon got to try out for basketball. But that was about not wanting to be left out- I could care less about personal glory or school pride. Now I was used to it. The risk of attracting too much attention, or worse, accidentally hurting someone, was too great.
Another thing was that coaches usually avoided me- sure I was a lot bigger, and sometimes they caught me burning off steam on the track- but any physical advantages were negated by my reputation. I tried to cooperate (most of the time), but ever since the puberty smackdown people pegged me as a trouble maker.
Sure, they wanted players who could win games, but more importantly they wanted people who wouldn't question them or their ego-tripping antics.
But maybe people didn't see me as a trouble making thug anymore- the acne and B.O. and even the greasy hair was gone. I could tell that I still intimidated people- sometimes I could smell the fear on them when I came too close- but maybe that was just because of the werewolf thing instead of general contempt….
"And if you need any help in the academics department, we have that covered," he added with a conspirational wink.
Nope. Apparently this coach was just desperate enough to recruit anyone who looked like they could block and tackle. At this point I wasn't really insulted or surprised, but I was pretty annoyed. Just as I was about to cut him off, I smelled something really sweet and homey and familiar- kind of like a freshly-baked sugar cookie, but better.
Chloe.
"I'm sorry but I've already joined the mathletes- it's a pretty big time commitment. Good luck with the rest of the season," I explained quickly, trying not to sound too sarcastic, but failing miserably. I couldn't help smiling knowing that Chloe was a few feet away and I'd probably never have to talk to this idiot of a coach again.
When I turned around I saw her putting something away in her locker, standing on her tiptoes to try and reach one of the shelves. The wolf in me wanted to approach stealthily- playing prey and predator for fun- but I pushed it away and tried to make some noise as I walked towards her.
Of course it didn't work. She jumped a bit and dropped the book she'd been trying to put away.
Still skittish as a kitten. I couldn't help rolling my eyes before putting the book away for her.
It still felt a little weird sometimes- thinking that she was actually my girlfriend, because when I first realized that I might like Chloe, I'd never actually thought it was a possibility that she could like me back- not in that way at least.
But ever since the safe house, she'd made it perfectly clear that she liked me- really liked me- maybe even as much as I liked her. That of course led my mind back to earlier this morning, when we'd both been the first ones awake, and she tried to sneak up on me in the kitchen (which didn't work) and had inevitably led to a make-out session with her sitting on the kitchen counter and-
I really needed to stop thinking about that before I embarrassed myself. Shaking off those thoughts, I turned my attention back to Chloe, who had gathered up her things and closed her locker.
"Surprised? Y'know…You look like you just saw a ghost," I deadpanned.
She tried to punch me in the arm, but I dodged it. Instinct. That's when Chloe took her chance and elbowed me with her other arm- the first had been a fake-out. I should've known since we'd just covered that move during our self-defense lessons. I smiled again. Smart. Underneath the sweet, cheerful exterior, she was always a lot smarter and tougher than people gave her credit for.
As we walked towards the parking lot she started talking about her classes, and how she was trying to organize a movie night sponsored by the AV club, bubbling over with excitement just like she always did when she started talking about movies, or scripts, or directors. Hearing about that stuff from anyone else would've been boring as hell, but for some reason when Chloe was talking about it I couldn't help but hang onto her every word. Sometimes when she talked about the more technology-based aspects of filmmaking, I could actually contribute to the conversation, but for now I was content to just listen.
"So do you want to try changing again? It's been a week," Chloe asked once we reached the car.
Simon was at basketball practice and Tori had a date, so we had the rest of the day to ourselves. I hadn't really planned on spending it flipping my body inside out and writhing around in agony.
But she was right- it had been a week, and if I waited any longer the change would force itself- along with the usual symptoms- fever, crankiness, and rippling muscles that might draw some unwanted attention.
I could already feel the dull ache in my arms and legs- skin pulling, muscles stretching- as my body got ready to shift forms. I thought that maybe it would get easier after the initial change, but so far it still hurt like a motherfuc-
I felt Chloe's hand against my arm, and some of the worry disappeared.
"Yeah- as soon as we get back. Should probably just get it over with," I said, trying to sound casual about it- like we were planning to study for a test instead of hiding out in the woods while I turned into a wolf.
Instead of pulling into the garage I drove down a dirt road that was on our property and led into a patch of forest. I grabbed the duffel bag I kept in the jeep for times like this, which had a blanket, some extra clothing and water bottles. After hiking for a bit we reached the usual clearing.
I peeled off my T-shirt and jeans, getting more nervous by the second. Sometimes I thought that the anticipation for what was coming next- the knot that always formed in the pit of my stomach- was worse than the actual change. I stretched a bit and crouched down, like a sprinter, trying to focus.
Once the change started I realized (again) that I'd been wrong: nothing could possibly be worse than this- muscles seizing, bones shifting, skin pulling- everything burned. The only thing that wasn't frantic or painful was the spot where Chloe's hands tried to massage the knots forming from my spine, cool and calm and reassuring. I wanted to focus on her hands- on that tiny bit of relief- or to just black out, but that would only stall the change. Finishing the change became my center of focus- I visualized being a wolf, thinking about how amazing it felt to run through the forest…I pushed on and it finally reached the point where there was no turning back.
The last part of the change was the worst, not just because of the pain, but because of the absolute lack of control. There was a terrifying sense of helplessness as everything moved of its own accord, shifting and bending and breaking whether I wanted it or not.
For a few seconds, all I could think of were curses.
When it ended I couldn't feel anything. I was dimly aware of Chloe sitting next to me, hands still moving along my back, and I must've been lying down- my line of sight was almost even with the ground. It seemed to still take a few minutes before I could move.
"You okay?" Chloe asked softly. I pretended to still be exhausted, nodding weakly. She shifted closer, and just as she rested all her weight against my side, I shot out from under her. She fell down, not enough to hurt- just enough to be annoyed. When I tried to laugh it came out as a few sharp barks. She glared at me, but there was a spark of excitement behind the anger.
This was the part that made changing worthwhile.
I stalked towards her, crouched low so I could spring forward at any moment, my tail wagging because this wasn't really hunting- it was playing…and I couldn't really control it anyways.
"Give me ten seconds head start before you go all big-bad-wolf, okay?" she insisted.
I growled, impatient, but counted to ten and closed my eyes anyways.
Three..two..one...ready or not…
Without even thinking I broke into a run, whipping through the underbrush. I couldn't see Chloe anymore- by now she'd have hidden- but I could smell her, and my legs instinctually followed the trail she had set. I growled when I realized that it led me to an old, hollow log.
Chloe had an advantage when it came to small spaces- I sniffed at the bark, trying to figure out where she was inside of it, but when I caught the scent something was off- it wasn't strong enough…
Shit!
Before I had time to move, the spare blanket wrapped around my head so I couldn't see anything. I could hear Chloe laughing in the distance and a shout of "Thanks Liz!" inbetween laughs, while I pawed at the fabric. It was knotted pretty tight, and eventually I just ripped the fabric apart with my claws, snarling and growling with frustration the entire time.
"So that's another point for me," Chloe said, branches rustling as she walked towards me, "Just a second- Ill help get that off."
She was still far enough away to not see me, so I went for the hail mary pass- diving out from the clearing and behind some bushes, careful not to make any noise.
Luckily the spot with the log was surrounded by thicket- I hunched low, hidden, watching as she walked into the clearing, grinning with triumph. She opened her mouth to say something- probably about beating me again- when she noticed the shredded blanket and froze.
Before she could move or say anything, I leaped out of the bushes, checking myself at the last moment- but still causing her to stumble backwards and fall into one of the bushes. I laugh-barked again, rushing forward to nuzzle her neck- there was one spot that was particularly ticklish below her ear, and soon she was rolling around, laughing and gasping and shouting "okay- uncle! UNCLE!" until I stopped.
"So…can we call this a tie?" she asked once she finally got her breath back. I nodded and nudged at her to get up, then froze- my muscles started to shift, and I shot her a quick glance before sprinting back to the spot where I'd left my clothes.
Don't get me wrong- changing back was still pretty much like being flayed alive- but for some reason it was the tiniest bit better than changing into a wolf. Afterwards I got dressed and ran back to Chloe.
She was sitting on the ground, putting on the shoe that she must've thrown into the log to throw me off. I watched for a second- she still hadn't realized I was there- as she carefully tied the laces with her tiny, delicate fingers- her cheeks were flushed, blonde hair windblown and messy from running. I couldn't help it when a grin creeped across my face and refused to leave.
Just as I was about to push past the bushes and into the clearing, her head tilted sideways,, glancing at something I couldn't see.
"Oh, hey," she said, "thanks again for the help."
Liz. My heartrate returned to normal, and I stayed hidden, not wanting to interrupt.
Chloe laughed at something Liz had said, then replied "Well maybe if-" she cut off abruptly, her expression suddenly panicked, "LIZ!"
I was standing next to Chloe before I even realized that I'd moved, but she stayed frozen in place, staring at the same spot with a look of horror.
Before I could ask, something materialized- a woman with long dark hair and fiery eyes.
"Diriel?" Chloe said, so softly that no one else could've heard her.
The woman smiled.
"I see that you received my messages."
Sooo any opinions? Review and lemme know whatcha thought about it :)