One month later...

Show off, I think as I watch Daniel prancing around the ice-skating rink effortlessly. He’s clearly been doing this his whole life, he was captain of the hockey team for all four years, even as a young freshman in high school.

He turned to me then proceeded to pose like a female figure skater performing in front of an audience, I can’t help but giggle a little at his goofiness, he looks so ridiculous.

I, on the other hand, was holding onto the railings for dear life.

After some begging on his part, and reluctance on my part, Daniel finally got me to get off the railings.

With my hands clenched tightly in his, Daniel faces me and skates backward, not even having to glance behind him.

That little show off.

“Don’t let me fall!” I say trying to move my wobbly feet in front of the other. I was more like walking on ice than skating, trying to keep up with his pace.

“Never.”

And then we fell, Daniel maneuvered his body so that he took the brunt of the impact, me landing swiftly on top of him.

I laughed, “you let us fall, asshole.”

He smiled, reaching up a hand to swipe my hair for my face. “No no, I meant to do that.”

“Yea, suuuure.” I giggled, with his forefinger and thumb, he cradles my cheek.

“Did I ever tell you how much I like your laugh?”

“Maybe once or twice,” I say and Daniel presses his lips to mine.

Butterflies erupt in my stomach and I part my lips to deepen the kiss, my once freezing body now feels warm to the touch.

“Hey knock it off nasties! This is a place for children!” Trey’s booming voice interrupting our moment. Sure enough, people all around the rink were staring at us with amused or disturbed expressions.

My face turned beet red.

“Angeline?”

“Yeah?” I say dusting myself off.

“Do you want to go to prom?”

Do I want to go to prom? Yes, of course, it’s my senior year and I have never been to a school dance or any school function before. This was probably my last chance, but, could I afford to go to prom? No.

I didn’t know how to say this to him without feeling some embarrassment? I don’t want anyone to feel sympathy for me or see me as a charity, both were equally degrading. So I just told him no, that I did not want to go.

“Oh,” was all he said, and immediately I got a little worried.

“Why? Do… Do you want to go to prom?”

“No it’s no big deal to me either way, I already went last year, you’re honestly not missing much.”

“You went to prom?! What was it like? Was it fun? Where was it held? Is it like in the movies?”

Daniel gave me a confused look, “you sure you don’t want to go?”

Oh right.

I go back to feigning disinterest, “yeah I’m sure. That stuffs overrated anyway.’ I say dusting myself off.

“I mean if you change your mind, just let me know. It’s never too late.”

“Thanks, but I don’t think I will.”

——————————————————————————————

“Did you see him?”

“The new guy? He’s gorgeous!”

All around me there was a noticeable buzz. It was the girls mainly talking in hushed tones amongst themselves, I could only catch snippets.

“Apparently he’s Daniel’s cousin.”

“Makes sense, they have some fine ass genes in that family.”

What are they talking about? A new student? A new student that’s Daniel’s cousin?

I’d have to remember to ask Daniel later because everyone was losing their freaking minds over it.

It wasn’t all that surprising though if he really was his cousin, and a werewolf at that, he was bound to be good looking, as all werewolves are.

This is why I don’t understand what the big deal is, but whatever I guess.

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All throughout the day, I can’t help but feel like something’s… off. I don’t know how to explain it but it was like someone was watching my every move?

But every time I would scan my surroundings, I found nothing out of the ordinary, yet the feeling wouldn’t go away.

I haven’t felt like this since, well, my time at Chambers.

Don’t overthink it, that life’s behind you, you’ll never have to worry about any of them again.

The lunch bell finally rings and I make my way towards the cafeteria.

Daniel and I weren’t eating at the cafeteria today, today was our day, we’d pick one day of the week to spend our lunch hour together, just the two of us. We’d meet up at the cafeteria doors, grab a quick bite, then go to the cabin in the woods, Daniel would bring his guitar and I’d sing. Sometimes it was covers of songs, sometimes it was a little something I wrote. But we always had fun together.

I always look forward to this day of the week.

“Angeline!” I hear someone call my name.

“Yea?” I say turning around, I see Lacey rushing towards me.

“What’s this buffoonery I hear about you not going to prom?!”

“Yeah, I just… can’t go.”

“Why?!”

“Because I don’t… want to?”

“But why? It’s so much fun! Why don’t you actually want to go?”

“Because...” I hesitated, “ because I can’t afford it, ok?”

“I could always pay-”

“No! That’s the opposite of what I want! I’m tired of making people feel sorry for me or feel like they have to be obligated to help me. I would never accept the money anyway.”

Lacey paused for a moment, “okaaay, I can respect that, but would it make you feel better if it was a hand-me-down or something? I have a crap ton of dresses that I had only worn once, they’re yours to choose from if you want.”

“Really?”

“Yes! My mom is also kind of a seamstress, she likes to do it on the side. She’d love to have another client! She looks forward to my school dances. She makes all my dresses, she also has a collection of dresses she’s made for fun, they are just sitting in a closet, you can look through those too. How does that sound?”

“That would be great! But I could also pay for the labor, I’m working now.”

“It’s no problem, she does it as a hobby only, she wouldn’t accept the money either.”

“Are you sure?”

“What are friends for?”

“Seriously thank you, Lacey.”

“Anytime.”

Lacey began to delve into the hair, makeup, and the corsage she’d be wearing to prom. I tried to share my enthusiasm when suddenly, that feeling came back.

But in the mass of rushing people, I could not spot anything out of the ordinary.

My paranoia is momentarily forgotten when I see his smile.

His mesmerizing, charming, and boyish smile.

He stood leaning lazily against the open door. The throng of people surrounding him way bigger than usual, but I paid them no mind.

My sight was only set on him, I couldn’t help the smile that formed on my lips, matching his.

I blend perfectly to his side and stand on my tippy toes for a kiss. Daniel wraps his arm around my waist and holds me tightly against him, then plants a tender kiss on my lips.

“Hey babe,” he greets me, “I will introduce you quickly to my cousin and then we can be on our way, okay?”

“Okay,” I nod and smile.

“Angeline, this is my cousin Keenan, and these are his friends Alan and Shane,” Daniel says turning us to face someone behind him.

The blood in my veins turned ice cold when I saw exactly who stood before me.

I was frozen, frozen in complete and utter terror.

No.

This can’t be.

His face was as angry, vicious, and beautiful as I remember.

Suddenly it was like I could only see through a tunnel, the voices were far away and my face was devoid of all color and blood.

A mixture of fear and dread filled the pit of my stomach and I just knew… he was here for me.

To finish what he started.

He was going to kill me.