Disclaimer: Not mine.
A/N: Hey guys! I'm so so so sorry about the delay but schools been crazy on me. The weekend is almost here though so you should expect a few more updates soon. Just got a moment before bed to finish this little bit up but I can't promise it's amazing. I did proof it a bit but my eyes were tired so I apologize for any errors.
Thanks for reading and reviewing!
You guys are awesome, awesome, awesome.
-Savanasi
Miss Imprint
Chapter 12: Confrontation
The only thing worth reading about werewolves that didn't involve silver bullets or Harry Potter, though that was definitely interesting, that was local were the spirit wolves.
The Quileute reservation preservation site went on for eons about the spirit warriors and their ability to transform into wolves in response to threats from the Cold Ones. When I'd visited this website for school, I'd written off the legendary battles as a bunch of racially-charged drivel filtered down through generations into its modern mythical form.
But now, I was starting to believe.
What if, God, what if he was?
Could we still be friends? I mean I was okay with him being a wolf but if he wanted to attack me half of our lives I'm not sure we'd pull it off.
You know, with me surviving that is.
Besides, I had goals and being puppy chow was definitely not on the list.
But so did he; we'd both dreamed about Rhode Island since, well since it started mattering to us. We were going to get out of here and go explore.
If he could actually turn into a wolf, which was ridiculous, but at the same time-I don't know what to believe.
But if he could, did that mean he was bound to stay on the rez, like forever?
I tried not to think about that. I couldn't bare it. But I also couldn't bare the not knowing, if I had to go on unsure, and hesitant in our friendship then it wouldn't be worth having. He was a single truth in my life and I wasn't about to lose him.
There was only one way to find out if he actually was a wolf. I just had to see if I could pull it off.
The next day at school, I was armed with an extra little bag, tucked far down into my new cherry-red trench coat.
I took a breath as I turned down the corridor towards my locker.
I wasn't sure if I wanted him to be there or not. I had just settled on the latter when I saw the empty hallway.
Disappointment flooded through me anyway. But I ignored it. He'd be here later. He would.
I had just spun the combo on my locker and clicked it open when a shadow fell over me.
"Hey Cass." Seth. But his voice was subdued.
I turned up to look at him and he looked so incredibly concerned and nervous that I was reaching over to pull him into a hug before I even realized.
"Seth." I breathed slowly as his arms wound around me gratefully. They tightened just ever so slightly and I felt myself being lifted onto the tips of my toes.
But he seemed to be supporting my weight without much effort.
So I let him.
Eventually though it had to end and he let me down gingerly. I stepped back, offering him a small smile and he returned it eagerly.
I felt my stomach flip at the sight. He was too damn gorgeous for his own good.
"So I wanted to paint again tonight, you in?" I asked, breezily, doing my best not to look at him.
"Sure." He sounded casual but one look at his face told me otherwise. I'd seen that look before. He'd had it on his face the day he'd gotten his first letter from Brown.
It was hope mixed with confusion and a slight sense of being off-kilter, as if the world was the same but just shifted slightly to the left.
"Awesome, I'll um, well I'll meet you at my house? Say seven-ish?"
"Done." He walked off first, his steps long and languid and I watched him. He was so graceful. It was almost inhuman.
But was it inhumane?
Now, that was the question.
Night fell quickly and by seven the skies outside were pitch black and overcast. The moon would not be of any help tonight. I packed an extra flashlight, double checking that the batteries were new. A water bottle followed along with a Swiss army knife and two kitchen knives. I'd also grabbed a thick wooden stake with a silver edged pendent on the top.
It was the best I could do.
There was no way I'd go out there unprotected. I felt the doubt start up again, was this really stupid? I mean I knew it wasn't going to be true, it couldn't be.
But if it was, a small part of me was scared. Frightened to an awesome degree; if he changed and I couldn't stop him. I could die.
But I think in the back of my head I knew that he wouldn't, I trusted him.
He wouldn't hurt me.
He couldn't.
The doorbell rang and then I heard the knob turn. It was open.
"Yo, yo, let's get this show on the road." I felt my nerves flush away. This was Seth after all. I would be fine.
"In the kitchen!" I quickly made sure all of my extra equipment was tucked away in my satchel before grapping my easel and heading out to meet him.
"All ready?" He tugged on my French braid, the side of his palm grazing my face and I felt it all the way down to my toes.
It was decadent.
He was decadent.
He was dressed in cargo shorts and a wife-beater, which traced the contours there in sharp relief. I tore my eyes away from his chest and headed out.
Head in the game, Cass, it's time to put the plan in motion.
"So you promised you'd tell me what that thing was."
"Huh?"
"Don't play dumb, I've seen it twice now. What is it?" He looked at me, his eyes narrowed in suspicion.
"What do you think it is?" The words were strained and he rubbed the back of his neck hard before abruptly shifting forward. He was closer now.
Much closer.
Please buddy, I've known you since you were four, there's no way you can intimidate me.
"A wolf?" If I didn't know any better it was almost like he wanted me to guess. I started to feel less sure of myself. I had assumed he'd hide it, that he'd get angry and then I'd just have proof. Emotion had to be the key. That was the only time he started to shake. But here was, edging me on.
"Pretty much." His voice was so nonchalant but he was inching closer still as if he wanted to physically push me towards the answer. I was torn between moving towards him and sinking back.
I chose the latter; and backed into my easel.
It fell to the ground with a soft thud, the grass padding its landing. Neither of us moved to secure it in its proper place.
"How do you know about them?" He was closer still right now; if I reached out I'd feel him, feel his scalding heat against my rapidly cooling skin. It was cold out.
And he looked so incredibly inviting, his glasses across the bridge of his nose, his hair tousled gently.
"You know, don't you?" He stepped that one last inch and we were flush against each other again.
I wasn't sure what to do, but I knew there was nothing that would get me to step away from him. Not now, not when we were so close to what we'd almost had this afternoon.
It didn't matter.
So what if he could turn into a wolf, I'm sure the growling was just a misunderstanding.
"I'm not sure what you're talking about." I wanted him to say it. But really I just wanted to be closer. Suddenly even this wasn't enough. I could feel his heat permeating through the thin cotton that separated his chest from mine. It soaked through the trench coat I was wearing, through a long sleeved white thermal and into pores.
I needed more.
I lifted my hand slowly and it drew his gaze like a magnet. I brushed it lightly up his sides, running it up against those melt-me-into-butter abs that he'd sprouted and it was like brushing my hand against burning rocks. He tensed as I reached the tip of his top.
I was on my tip toes as I brushed my hand against his skin, so incredibly soft and virulent. And then I stopped at the base of his neck.
It was his turn.
"You've always sucked at lying, Cass." The words were hushed as if he was afraid loud noises would disrupt us. He was probably right.
He start at my waist, both hands spanning it easily before running them in parallel up to the top button of my trench coat.
He undid it slowly, watching my face and then another and another until it fell loosely at my sides. His lips were tightened slightly and I watched hungrily as his tongue darted out to moisten them.
And then I felt his fingers against my back, his thumbs caressing my stomach. Through the cotton it was like he was against my skin and he burned a trail up my sides and behind me, pulling me against him. And then suddenly his hands dropped to my thighs and he picked me up so that we were eye level. My legs wrapped around his waist automatically.
"Even if I'm right," I paused and watched his eyes tighten. His fingers stilled, and I leaned into him as they unconsciously pushed me forward.
"It doesn't matter, none of it matters to me." I looked him in the eye, and there was relief mixed with something, I wasn't sure what but then he dropped his forehead against mine and I felt the heat from his skin sear me from my head downwards.
"Cass?"
"Yeah?" I could count his eyelashes we were so close.
"I'm going to kiss you." I had a feeling he meant for the words to come out more swarthy and swashbuckler-y but I could hear the nervousness.
He was still Seth, no matter how much muscle he packed on.
I laughed, nuzzling him with my nose.
"Not if I do it first." And with that I pulled him towards me, our lips colliding once, twice and then three times.
And then as he wrapped his arms around me more firmly, pulling me higher, and pressing his lips against me oh so exquisitely, I'm fairly certain my brain exploded.
