Eight

Unfortunately, after only one day of school, a snow storm caused it to close down for the week. I hadn't seen Joel that day, and assumed he hasn't come back because I had a feeling if he was in North Pole he would have sought me out. I wasn't thinking about Joel or the snow storm though. I was enjoying the elongated weekend, and thought it was pointless for them to even open up the school in a few days on account Thanksgiving break was a week away.

It was the second day of the snow storm attack. Aiden and I were cuddling on his bed, a rare pleasure because someone was always usually home. It was a perfect day to cuddle and stay in; Aiden's dad was stuck at his office, and his grandma was at a friend's house, also snowed in. Aiden's truck was powerful enough to had made it to my house and back to his, but at the moment, we had to wait until the snowing stopped before we could drive anywhere again.

I didn't mind this.

I had been so happy to free myself from my huge, bulky snow jacket, the sweatshirt I had underneath that, and then another sweater under that. Oh, I forgot my clumsy gloves, and two scarves, plus a hat. At the end of my de-clothing, I wore only one thin sweater and jeans. It felt great to move easily and not worry about hat hair for a couple of hours.

"This is so nice," I murmured, kind of wanting to just sleep right there and then, lying on Aiden's bed. It was very comfortable and warm.

"Yeah it is," Aiden replied, watching me. We were facing each other, lying on our sides. When I looked at him he was watching me, so I'd look away. But when I looked again he was still watching.

"Don't be shy," Aiden chuckled, pulling me closer. I snuggled into him but I had a weird thing where I couldn't stare into his eyes sometimes like this, so up close. I felt like he was looking into my soul…and even worse, being in perfect distance to notice all facial flaws! Ugh.

"I'm not I just don't like when people stare at me!" I complained playfully.

"It's kind of hard not to stare."Aiden grinned. I rolled my eyes and kissed him. I felt suddenly a surge of warmth inside me, but not from Aiden who was always warm. It was like an emotion, and I'm not sure what it was, I know it had a lot to do with happiness. Was it love maybe? I wasn't sure…

"You're a beautiful girl, Charlotte," Aiden continued, and I almost wished he'd stop. I couldn't help it! I'm a girl! Don't call me beautiful, I'm going to start floating up to the ceiling…

"Oh, really?" I replied, not really knowing what to say.

"Yes," Aiden laughed. He caressed my face and sighed. "Your eyes are really pretty. And you have like, perfect lips," He complimented me again.

I subconsciously placed a finger on my bottom lip. "You really think so?" I persisted, half believing him and half wanting more compliments.

"Of course," Aiden replied, then he planted a kiss on me. Now, I got a wild idea here, I was awfully curious if it'd work. My mind began thinking, began putting things together. I have this gorgeous guy here lying with me on his bed, we're snowed in at his house, and there are no parents coming around anytime soon. We've been dating for a few months now and he's been more than perfect, he's been wonderful to me, and to be honest I'd never thought my ideal dream guy actually existed in real life and that he'd actually like me back.

A combination of happiness and possibly love at this point, and I'm not going to lie, complete attraction of Aiden took over me. A mix between what I just naturally wanted to do and what I've seen in movies prompted me to sit up and look Aiden in the eye as he lay beneath me.

"What?" Aiden wondered, cocking his head like a puppy.

"Oh, nothing," I replied, then started to lean in to him, peppering his neck with kisses. "You're just really hot and I can't keep my hands off you," I confessed between my kisses.

"Really?" Aiden sounded surprised, but, I noticed a hint of happiness in his voice. For some reason this boosted my confidence and I tugged at the bottom of his shirt.

"Let me see," I asked him cutely.

"See what?" Aiden wondered sheepishly.

"Don't act like you don't know you've got some washboard abs under there," I told him, sneaking my hands under his shirt and feeling his warm chest. His heart was pounding! So adorable.

"Well, I, uh," Aiden started to say, but I had grown impatient, pulling up his shirt and beholding the wondrous sight before—well, below—me.

"You're hotter than I thought you were!" I exclaimed playfully, laughing. Aiden laughed too and sat up, knocking me over jokingly and pinning me down.

"I don't even show anyone my abs so you're pretty lucky," He told me grinning.

"Ooh, I do feel lucky," I replied smiling back. Aiden proceeded to kiss me passionately with a hunger I've never really seen him with, and I enjoyed knowing he wanted to kiss me so much. It's strange how having a boyfriend is supposed to give you confidence, and in many ways it does, but at the same time you're always wondering why exactly this person picked you… I never knew I was so wanted.

It felt great.

"It's getting quite cozy in here," I murmured in Aiden's ear. He hovered over me, probably not sure what I was getting at. I began taking off his shirt, glad I did, his body was so nice. Aiden looked at me a little hesitant. "You sure?" He randomly asked.

"We're just looking, with maybe…a bit of touching here and there," I said, laughing in my head. He really thought we were going to go all the way didn't he? Well, maybe he didn't think so. He wasn't sure what exactly I had in mind and he was merely hopeful that maybe that was what would happen. "I'm not that kind of girl," I added.

"Oh! No, no, I know you're not. I never thought-," Aiden began, but I didn't want to talk anymore. I started to kiss him, my arms around his neck but then my hands couldn't help making their way back to his chest or his strong arms.

Aiden had his hands around my waist, playing with the hem of my sweater. "It's ok," I told him, eager to show off what—after three months of working out and cutting off delicious soda—was the result of my newly accomplished trim figure. From the waist up anyway. Aiden pulled off my sweater and smiled, so I assumed things were fine, pale as I was. I felt strangely confident, so when I looked up at him I bit my lower lip and tousled my hair.

"Wow," Aiden murmured, then shook his head chuckling. "You are incredibly sexy."

"I guess," I shrugged, grinning. Aiden neared me again, looking me in the eyes before kissing me. We lay back down, cuddling, feeling frisky and kissing each other all over.

And then my phone rang.

"No!" I complained, my head falling against Aiden who merely laughed.

"It's ok. Here I'll get it," He got up off the bed and picked up my phone from where I had placed it on top of my purse in the corner of his room. I gratefully took in the sight of Aiden standing there shirtless with only a pair of jeans on. Sigh.

"It's Marlene," Aiden announced, giving me my phone.

I frowned, wondering what was so important she had to interrupt the good time Aiden and I were having. She had texted me stating, "Joel Graham was at my house looking for you. Thought I'd let you know." I gasped, and put my phone away. No, I couldn't think about Joel now…

"What's wrong?" Aiden wondered. He handed me my sweater, and he'd already put his shirt back on. I guess our little monkey business was over with.

"You sure you want me to put that back on?" I joked playfully, letting one of my bra straps slip seductively off my shoulder.

"Um…," Aiden didn't give me much of a reply, staring at my chest for a second but making sure his eyes stayed aimed at mine after that little split second.

I laughed, putting my sweater back on and getting up. "Well, that was fun," I let him know, kissing him on the cheek.

"Yeah it was," Aiden agreed, giving me a little pat on the butt. I giggled but was on the phone, waiting for Marlene to pick up, so I ran away from Aiden before he distracted me.

"Hello?" Marlene answered.

"Hey, so what was Joel doing at your house?" I wondered, sitting at Aiden's computer desk and playing with the computer mouse.

"I'm not sure. He was just asking me questions about you. It was creepy," Marlene dished.

"Hmm," Was all I replied, not really wanting to answer thoroughly with Aiden in the room.

"What are you doing?" Marlene wanted to know.

"I'm just with Aiden. But I'm going to have to talk to you about this later, ahem," I said, clearing my throat. Marlene got the message and told me I could come over later if it stopped snowing. I let her know I would. After I hung up, Aiden came over and hugged me from behind.

"So what happened?" He wondered.

"Joel Graham showed up at Marlene's house looking for me," I told Aiden truthfully. I figured if Aiden knew about Joel, it'd be easier to get rid of Joel. Aiden would get jealous and the thrill of him not knowing would go away, getting rid of one reason I sometimes liked that Joel talked to me.

"That's weird," Aiden replied, letting go of me. "That kid is really weird."

"I guess. I think he's nice, just not really sociable," I replied shrugging. But I saw that Aiden wasn't happy, and I felt relieved inside. Aiden not liking Joel would make it easier for me to avoid him…

"Well once you find out what he wants I don't know if you should stick around with him. I heard he was trouble, that's all," Aiden explained nonchalantly. I couldn't help but laugh, secretly loving that Aiden was jealous.

"Don't worry. Whatever it is, it's nothing important," I told Aiden.

Boy was I wrong.

**

Marlene and I were at my house, having dinner. It was the next day and though I had wanted to go to Marlene's yesterday to find out more about what Joel wanted, the snow just wouldn't allow it. Not that I was bothered, hanging out with Aiden was always fun and the more we were together the more we got to know each other. In my mind I had already decided I was in love with him, but I wasn't sure it was the right time to let him know. Yesterday had been on those discovering, enlightening days; I was so happy to be with him and I found out he was equally as happy to have me. We passed the time until the snow stopped falling by either talking or hooking up, both of which was a wonderful and great way to spend the day.

"I could probably find out more, but I have an idea. I can get you a good amount by next week," Marlene was telling Nate. My family plus Marlene were at the dining table eating, and ever since Marlene came clean about being a witch, Nate has been harassing her about a potion to make him stronger. You know, for sports. Or maybe because being a werewolf wasn't enough.

"That'd be awesome!" Nate replied, chewing happily. He was already on his third plate of food, and everyone else was halfway with their first. I rolled my eyes.

"Wouldn't that constitute as cheating?" My mom wondered, looking at Nate pointedly.

"No! Guys on the team take stuff all the time. It's not steroids or anything," Nate grumbled. Marlene giggled, and Nate smiled over at her. I got the distinct feeling Nate had a crush on Marlene, from signs here and there, but none were strong enough to suggest it to Marlene.

"Isn't being a werewolf cheating?" I wondered aloud. Marlene laughed at that too, but a second later somebody pounded on the front door. Everyone looked at each other hesitantly, and I figured I should answer the door but was really too lazy at the moment.

"I'll get it," Marlene offered, quickly standing up before anyone protested. She skipped over to the door, opened it, talked to someone outside then looked back at us. "Charlotte?" She called then.

I looked around at everyone, confused at first, wondering who it could be. "Is it Aiden?" My Dad questioned, and I shrugged. Before I got to the door I saw the look on Marlene's face, and that's when I knew.

Joel Graham had sought me out again, and this time, he found me. "Marlene, go get this jacket on a chair in my room. It's Joel's, he probably wants it back," I told her, and she nodded, running back inside. I stayed behind, facing Joel for the first time in awhile.

"Good evening," Joel greeted me, giving me a small smile.

"Hey," I replied unenthusiastically. I tried to look bored, tried to seem as if I wasn't excited that he was here. But the truth was I liked that he was here, and I liked that he always had to check up on me. I knew I had to stop it.

"I was just-," Joel began, but Marlene had come back, his jacket in her hands. She gave Joel an awkward smile, handed me the jacket, and walked back to the dining room.

"Here," I extended the jacket towards Joel. "This is why you came back, right?"

Joel chuckled. "Yes, I suppose," He replied, taking the jacket and putting it on.

"Well, I guess I'll see you-," I started, but Joel cut me off.

"How've you been?"

"Um," I said awkwardly, flustered. "Good. I mean, great. Things have been really great," I added, looking away from his powerful stare and imagining Aiden's hot body, gorgeous facial features, his ever sweet compliments…

"Good," Joel said. "As long as you're happy and safe."

"Then you're always going to be doing this?" I wondered, trying my best to sound mad. But who could ever get mad at Joel? Look at him!

"Unless you need my help, I'll just check up on you and keep my distance," Joel replied softly. "What else would I do?"

"I don't know Joel, but I can't have you doing this. I mean, if we're not going to be friends then I can't have you randomly talking to me and showing up at my house. It's weird, and I'm sure Aiden won't be happy about it."

Joel laughed. "Aiden wouldn't be able to do anything about it anyway," Joel murmured.

"Do anything about what?" I asked confused.

"Nothing." Joel sighed, and started down the porch steps. "I'll see you at school."

I didn't say anything, just watched him fade against the darkness and small snowflakes floating lazily towards the already snow carpeted ground. "Well, that's over with," I muttered to myself, going inside and shutting the front door. I had a feeling it wasn't over, that he'd keep persisting. I wish he would just leave me alone.

After dinner was over and Marlene left, I was in my bed on the phone, waiting for Aiden to pick up. He didn't pick up the first time, and I got an uneasy feeling. He always picked up. I tried again, and finally he picked up on what seemed the last ring.

"Hello?" He answered, not sounding very happy.

"Hey, what's wrong?" I wondered innocently.

"Oh, nothing. I was just at my house studying when that friend of yours decided to show up, looking for you," Aiden sighed.

"Joel?" I practically cried out. What was Joel doing at Aiden's house? This was way worse than I thought.

"Yes. Listen to me Char, he's not good. There's something wrong with him, and it would be way easier for me to sleep at night knowing that you're not in contact with him," Aiden explained firmly. I rolled my eyes, thinking this was getting to be a bigger deal than it should be.

"Aiden, stop being ridiculous. He's just some kid in our grade. We're not even friends," I replied.

"Well he sure thinks so. Why else would he come here looking for you? He obviously has something to say," Aiden grumbled.

"He probably thought I was at your house because we're going out," I defended. "He had left something at my house and wanted it back."

"When was he over at your house?" Aiden wanted to know. Oh, man, this was sounding bad. I almost hung up because whatever I said would sound more suspicious than it was. I decided to lie to be safe.

"He needed a paper from school, and left his jacket. He went out of town with his family then came back to get it. End of story. He probably won't even talk to me anymore, he doesn't have a reason to."

"He just gives me the creeps ok? I'd prefer you avoid him whenever you could," Aiden replied and I decided he was right. I mean, I had already planned on avoiding Joel but knowing me I'd still talk to him should he come up to me. But I realized I couldn't even do that. Obviously this upset Aiden, so it was just better to avoid conflict.

"Ok, don't worry," I promised Aiden.

"I'm just looking out for you. It's my job," Aiden said in a matter of fact tone, and my heart melted. Seriously, my heart seemed to melt whenever I was around him. He was a walking romance novel.

"You're cute," I told him, smiling.

"Good night, Char, sweet dreams," Aiden said sweetly before I bid good bye as well and hung up, awaiting a peaceful sleep.

**

When school started again, there was more than one reason people were depressed other than having to go to school. It's already December, and North Pole was going nuts over Christmas, naturally. But there was a cloud over the town, a distinct cloud that threatened to put a damper on the celebration of the holidays. The killer, or killers, had momentarily come back.

I was trying my best to stay cheery and get in the Christmas spirit, but the thought that the murderers had come back was always in the back of my mind. I had more reason to worry this time; Nate somehow got the idea he was going to help and try to find the killer.

"It's perfect! They'll never know I'm secretly a human. I'll roam the area as a wolf until I catch something!" Nate had exclaimed, much to the dismay of my parents. But they couldn't control him anymore, and everyone figured Nate would be fine as long as he didn't get caught transforming.

I spent most of my days going to school and staying cooped up at home. Aiden decided it was safer if he came over instead of having me drive alone to his house, just in case. So I either did homework or hung out with Aiden, where we tended to sit in front of my fireplace talking; if my parents were around, we snuck a few kisses, but when they weren't we heated the room up ourselves without the help of the fireplace. It distracted me from annoying things like homework, my parents, and most of all the killers. Aiden always made me feel safe, I'm sure I've said this before, but since he did I just always wanted him around.

It was the last week of school before winter break. I know you're wondering, so I'll just tell you. Joel and I haven't talked since the night he showed up at my house and I had returned his jacket. I'm not sure if he was at school and just hiding, or if he had gone out of town again. It was almost as if he had never existed in the first place.

I was glad to be free of the distraction that was Joel, because I was beyond determined I had officially fallen in love with Aiden, and it was a magical feeling. Especially during Christmas! My daydreams were involving all sorts of scenarios including, but not limited to, making snowmen, ice skating again, buying presents together, decorating Christmas trees, attending holiday parties…my mind was on overload.

I was wrapping presents in my room because I liked to get things done early, being someone who fears running out of time for anything. It was literally a phobia. Plus I had avoided last minute shopping horrors that always ravaged the mall.

I was on the phone with Marlene as I wrapped my goodies, but had to hang up once I heard someone knock on the door downstairs. I was home alone, and my mom had told me that a repair guy might be stopping by. I ran downstairs in my slippery socks, almost ate it right in front of the door, straightened myself out and finally opened the door.

Before I could say anything Joel ran inside, reaching the backyard door before I even turned my head. "What's going on?" I screamed. Then, a girl came inside, a beautiful raven haired girl, one of the Elite I rarely saw because she was a grade below me. Her pale skin was flawless and she had model worthy lips.

"Sorry," She told me as she followed after Joel. "We didn't mean to disturb you."

I had forgotten her name, so I shut the door and turned my attention to Joel instead. "What's going on?" I repeated.

"The killers are nearby. We're hiding out until they lose our trace," Joel barely explained, I was still very confused. So there's more than one killer? How did Joel know?

"You guys can't be in here," I told them, even though I was so intimidated I doubt they'd listen to me, my voice small and feeble.

"We'll leave in a moment," Joel told me in an assuring tone.

"What if you led the killers here?" I breathed, suddenly realizing this. I looked up at Joel, staring him straight in the eyes. "You can't be here."

"You're protected," The dark haired girl told me serenely. "As long as we're here, no one will hurt you. But the killers are traveling, they won't be here long."

"Where's Alice?" Joel suddenly wondered. Who's Alice? I thought.

"Here," The girl replied, as another girl came waltzing in to my living room. She was tall and slim, the kind of body girls yearned to have. She had short dark brown hair and big curious eyes.

"Sorry, I was leaving a trace elsewhere to lose them," This new girl, Alice, said. "Who's this?"

"This is Charlotte," Joel explained, as if I wasn't there. "This is her house."

"I'm Alice!" Alice turned towards me and held up a hand cheerfully. "Sorry, we didn't mean to-,"

"-Disturb me, I know. Well, I just can't have you guys in here for too long," I said worriedly.

"We'll leave soon," Joel told me, and I instantly calmed down, for some reason believing him. But then, not a moment later, I heard someone slide open the backyard door, and to my horror, in walked Aiden and Nate. I wasn't sure what they had been doing together, but it didn't matter at the moment. The look Aiden was giving me made me want to hide under a rock.

"Charlotte?" Nate questioned, looking at the three guests I had standing around me suspiciously. "What are they doing here?"

"I don't know actually," I replied uncertainly, but Joel stepped before me.

"We were only here for a moment. Charlotte didn't know we were coming. We'll leave now," He said, and motioned for the two girls to follow him.

"I don't think so, man," Aiden growled, stepping forward as well. He glared something awful at Joel. I watched Aiden, demanding him to look at me in my mind. But he wouldn't look at me, and I stood there helpless.

Nate walked forward too, and crossed his arms. Both boys were wearing only tight fitted shirts, their muscles announcing themselves to the world. I feared for Joel because I had a feeling something along the terms of a fight was about to go down.

"Nate, Aiden, stop," I tried, my voice sounding so small I felt like I was behind a closed door. It seemed like it too, nobody bothered to acknowledge me.

"The killers had been here. There was nowhere for us to hide, and we had to warn Charlotte," Joel said, staring intently at Aiden.

"They're gone, Joel," Alice murmured softly beside him, and Joel nodded at her. "Let's go."

"You can't just come in here whenever you feel like it!" Aiden couldn't seem to let it go, and he started to breathe hard, getting so angry, I almost didn't recognize him.

"Aiden let's just let them go. Hopefully they'll get tracked down and we won't have to deal with them," Nate shook his head, placing a hand on Aiden's shoulder in an effort to calm him down.

"Okay, but I have to go outside first," Aiden told Nate, and with one last look at Joel, he stomped outside, slamming the door behind him. I watched him through the glass backyard door going outside, pacing around, like some animal with rabies. I was in complete shock, not being able to move or speak.

"Charlotte, what did you do?" Nate said to me, shaking his head still. "Aiden is going crazy right now."

"I-I don't know," Was all I managed, when usually I'd be screaming about my innocence. I just didn't have the fight in me right now, I was so disturbed by Aiden.

Moments later Joel and his friends decided to leave, once they somehow determined it was safe to do so. They left through the front door. The only bye I got was from Alice; Joel didn't say a word to me and didn't look back when he left.

"Oh, my, what's going on?" I wailed, flinging a hand to my forehead. Once the Elite were gone, I was able to breathe easier and think more clearly. I couldn't worry about Joel and his posse right now, I would just have to find answers to that some other time. My mind was strictly focused on Aiden, but when I jumped up to look outside (I had taken a seat on the couch momentarily) I didn't see him anymore.

"Nate, where'd he go?" I wondered, and without answering Nate walked outside. I followed him, looking all around our backyard. He was nowhere in sight. My heart jumped; I hoped he didn't do anything crazy. Was he really that mad?

"There he is," Nate finally said, and I looked everywhere.

"Where?" I cried out confused. Suddenly I saw, and I stayed rooted to where I stood, watching a giant wolf pacing back and forth just in front of the woods in my backyard. Was this a hang out spot for werewolves or something? I couldn't help thinking.

"Nate, is that another member of the tribe?" I asked him, never realizing that there might be more wolves out there other than Nate.

"Aiden's from a tribe. Just not our tribe," Nate explained.

I laughed. "That's weird, I thought you just said Aiden," I replied, running my hands through my hair nervously. "Is there another Aiden around here?"

Nate looked at me as if I had sprouted another head. "Are you going nuts? That's Aiden. Your Aiden…did he not tell you?" Nate sounded surprised.

I stared back at the wolf, which was now looking at us. My heart sank once I noticed that the wolf had olive green eyes.