Chapter 4

Kris

It has been at least a month since my run-in with those native boys. And during that month, guess who haunted my dreams every stinking night?

The image of the boy was still vivid in my head. The rest of the memory was blurry, but I found that my vision of him seemed untouched. I could still see the worry in his eyes...

I dreamt of an alternate reality. I actually thanked my saviors. And that one boy would take my hands and smile with relief.

"Don't leave me," My dream-self would whisper.

"I'm a part of you now," he would say.

And then the vision would change. I'm alone in the woods, struggling for light, food, shelter, and signs of life. I collapsed to the ground sobbing.

There was a snuffle from behind me and I looked up. I scrambled to my feet and buried my face in his fur.

"My wolf," I cooed. And the big brown wolf would press his nose to my cheek, as if to tell me that he wouldn't let me go.

And that's about when I wake up feeling confused and heartbroken. At first, I thought it was just an average dream, but then it began to reoccur, and now I think it means something.

First, though, I need to solve the biggest mystery. What's with this "my wolf" nonsense? Is there actually a wolf out there that will search for me if I'm lost?

The alarm went off. I hit the snooze button and turned it off. The problem with my alarm clock is, the thing won't shut up for another thirty seconds, even after I turn it off. Now, I hit snooze before it annoys me to death.

I got dressed for work and grabbed my purse. I took my convertible because Clara stole my Escalade.

I work in a special kind of club in Seattle. It's open to teens and adults alike. We don't sell alcohol, and we do not allow dirty dancing. But it's a cool place to hang out. If you pay extra, you're allowed in the roller rink where I work as the DJ.

It's nice being the club's DJ, being able to choose the music, take requests, and send shoutouts. I love looking at couples skating together and friends grouping on the rink. Here, I've seen just about every kind of person there is.

There are the populars, who wear fancy skates and glitzy clothing and can't stand having anything but the salad at the food corner.

There are the locals, who wear just about anything they want if they can get away with it.

There are the couples, Mr. and Mrs. alike. They will always hit the rink when a romance song is on.

There are the BFFs, who laugh with each other when one of them slips, help each other up, and continue skating, giggling like maniacs.

And then there are the natives.

Every time a copper-skinned boy hits the rink, my heart skips a beat. But it's never that handsome boy that I ran into a month ago, much to my dismay.

"Hey, Krissie!" Dillan laughed, sitting next to me at the DJ booth. "Miss me?"

"Hardly," I laughed, kissing him softly. "What're you doing here? Give some skates to those girls over there!"

"I'm on break. And I wanted to see the world's sexiest girl alive before I went to that stuffy room again."

"Shut up and get to work!" I yelled, pushing him towards the "stuffy room."

"Okay, I see how it is. I guess I won't give you my goodbye kiss, then," Dillan sighed, looking depressed.

"Aw, poor baby," I muttered and got back to playing Linkin Park. I got lost in my thoughts again, and before I knew it, it was lunch.

"I'll be back!" I told Dillan, running out to my car.

"Hey, wait for me!" he pouted. I stuck my tongue out at him and drove off.

I found a Carl's Jr. and ordered a pretty messy burger. Then again, all of the burgers were messy. I got a soda and walked to a table.

I felt myself going back to Lala Land when a hand hit my shoulder. I shrieked and turned.

"Kris?"

Oh, God, it was him.

"Um, hi?"

I walked to another table.

"Kris, wait!"

"Get away from me," I hissed. The boy jumped back, surprised.

"So you do remember me," he chuckled.

"What do you want?"

"Nothing, I just recognized you. Do you mind if I sit here with you? Then we can go our own separate ways."

I found myself nodding. I pointed to the chair across from me. The boy grinned and sat down, holding onto a burger of his own.

"I hope you don't mind, but you know my name, so isn't it fair if you tell me yours?"

"Brady Logan."

"Kristen McCarty."

"Kristen? I thought you were more like a Kristine."

"Yeah, but it's on my birth certificate, so get used to it."

"Are you always in a sour mood?"

"Not usually."

He seemed to relax. At least until I continued.

"Not usually, that is, unless somebody stalks me for no damn reason."

Brady frowned.

"I'm not stalking you. It's just by chance we ran into each other again. Besides, don't you think I'd remember a girl that doesn't even say 'thank you' to somebody that saved her life?"

I scowled. I didn't like equal terms.

"Okay, so it's all by chance. But you still got in my way."

"When, then or just now?"

"Both."

"Okay. Then what if I said that there was something about you that attracted me to come here? What if I told you that the same attraction compelled me to save you?"

I didn't answer.

"Don't you think you're being a little unfair, here?"

"No," I said bitterly.

"Oh, come on," he groaned, tilting his head back in frustration.

"I'm not weak. I didn't need saving."

"Same as you didn't need a coffin after those men were finished with you."

I glared at him. He stared back.

"You're a very different girl, Kris," he said.

"You're a very difficult boy, Brady," I retorted.

"True," he whispered, looking down at his hands. "I'm probably more stubborn than any guy you'll ever meet. But there's something about you... I don't feel anything near what those men were feeling. I don't even feel actual emotions anymore! It's more like a glowing."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"I just feel attracted to you, and then when I'm close to you, I feel happy."

"I barely even know you," I gasped, scooting away.

"I'm sorry if I freaked you out. I'll leave."

I didn't want him to leave, but I couldn't stay, either. I clutched my purse and got up. His eyes followed my movement.

"I'm late for work," I mumbled. I didn't look to see if he heard me. I just power-walked to my car and drove away.

AN: Aw, Kris has feelings!!!

LOL, that sentence cracks me up. There's this boy in school that hangs out with a bunch of girls. One of my best buds yelled out, "Chris has feelings!" and we yell it at him constantly. Okay, you're bored. I'll update soon!