Can't Love a Werewolf, Without Getting Fleas.

I woke up to my alarm going off in my bedroom… I was in my closet…. On the floor.

I squirmed as my body protested, stiff and sore. I almost got mad at myself as to why the heck I fell asleep on the floor until I looked up at my wolf drawing. I was a little more than half way done. It honestly looked really cool.

I smiled to myself, ignoring the faint pain as I got up and went into the bathroom to start a shower. I took off Colton’s anklet, because I didn’t want to get it wet and risk the chance of even more fading.

Then it hit me. Today was Friday. The day of the dance.

A weird sensation spread itself through my body at the thought.

I stepped out and changed into some simple clothes; a pair of jeans and white cami. I pulled my hair back in a low ponytail and brushed my teeth and all of that jazz.

I grabbed my backpack and ate some cereal.

Now…just to make it through the school day.

*

History = ok.

Math = Great. Blake and I talked about my dress, and he told me how Brooke reprimanded him and insisted he get a tie to match my dress. Cool.

Gym = Not so great. Why? Colton Sparks, that’s why.

We were playing free football, meaning you could pair up with whomever and throw the ball back and forth. I picked Blake. Brooke picked Rachel. Leslie picked Violet. Colton picked Brian, etc. Because the gym was closed off in preparation for the dance.

Except Colton and Brian = RIGHT NEXT TO US.

COLTONS POV:

As I threw the football with Brian, I felt my palms sweat. I decided it yesterday. Hearing that Jason kid ask her out was the last straw. I’m done with guys hitting on Shaylee, and I’m done being jealous. That’s why…I’ve created a mastermind plan to ask her to go to the dance with me, and not the leech.

I just had to figure out how to ask her. Without her boy-thing noticing.

Gah, even in simple jeans she was unbelievably gorgeous. I ached just looking at her.

I blame this whole thing on my wolf. Making me like her. Stupid animals and their territorial issues.

According to the wolf, that need I remind you is VERY much apart of me, Shaylee is his, and he was hers. No one was going to change that. Not Blake, not Jason, no one. But things don’t work out that way in human world. You actually have to make the girl fall for you. You can’t just wrestle her into submission and claim her as yours.

I wish.

SHAYLEE’S POV:

“So you thinking about going to the after party?” Blake brought up as the ball flew in a spiral motion toward me. I caught it in my hands at an odd angle, but I caught it nonetheless.

I shrugged. “Maybe, I’m not into the whole ‘get-drunk-and-act-like-a-demented-frat-boy’ scene.” I threw the ball back.

He chuckled. “I think you should come. It will be fun. There will be a tiny dance floor, not nearly as big as the school’s but still big. Then there will be drinking, which you don’t have to do at all. And then there’s plenty of space and rooms where we can just chill and…talk.”

I froze.

“Ouch.” I rubbed my forehead. Bad time to freeze when a ball is flying toward you, but still. What did he mean by “plenty of space and rooms where we can chill and… talk”. Is it just me, or did that sound wayyy sketchy??

“Way to scare your date off Cunningham.” I rolled my eyes. Seriously? Was this a habit or a hobby of Colton’s to get into my personal life?

“Shut up Sparks. Mind your own Business.” Blake caught the ball as I threw it back.

“Just Sayin’. If your trying to get into Shaylee’s pants, I highly doubt that’s the way to go.”

I scoffed. “Excuse me. But I’m with Blake on this one. Get. Out. Of. My. Personal. Life.”

Brian laughed at Colton as Colton’s face twisted into a scowl. “Sorry,” he defended. “Didn’t know you wanted him into your pants.”

That’s it.

I chucked the ball as hard as I could right at Colton’s head. With my luck, he dodged it way before it even got close.

“Oooh. Fiesty.” He prodded.

“Your such a jerk! Stop trying to ‘protect’ me, stop ‘looking’ out for me, and stop getting into my business. I’m not your freaking sister!” I heaved. I really just wanted to punch him.

Blake wrapped an arm around me and I turned around before I hugged him back. The feeling of him being close to me didn’t make me feel as safe as I thought it would. But it made me feel a little safe. And that’s all I needed.

“Don’t let him get to you.” He breathed as he brushed a piece of hair out of my face.

I nodded, as I leaned my forehead against his chest. I had totally forgotten about Brian and Colton behind me. Or the rest of the class throwing footballs.

It was just Blake and I. His cooling skin somewhat comforting to my flustered, angry face.

He pulled my chin up, and his baby blue eyes locked with mine for a moment and for a somewhat weird reason. I couldn’t bear to look away.

He leaned down.

Closer.

Closer.

It hardly registered that he was about to kiss me in front of our whole gym class, until his cold breath hit my face. But I couldn’t turn away. It was almost frightening. Maybe I wanted it? Was that why I wasn’t turning away? But all of me was screaming to turn my head and I couldn’t.

Suddenly a feral sounding growl rippled through the air. The image of my wolf flashed in my mind, and all of a sudden, I had strength. I turned my head to the side right as Blake closed in. He ended up kissing my cheek instead.

“Damn.” Blake breathed, and I could barely hear it. But I didn’t laugh, or smile, or apologize. I was actually shaking. That was way scary. I couldn’t control my own body for a moment there.

“Kodak moment!” Someone gushed from beside us, and I turned my head, well aware that I was still in Blake’s arms.

I jerked a little in surprise, but calmed down when I saw that it was just Brooke. I’m glad no one had super-sonic hearing, because my heart was beating like crazy. Partly from embarrassment, but more from fright.

Brooke snapped a shot of us on a disposable camera, with her beaming smile. “This is adorable. I’m totally scrap-booking this.” She nodded, as if agreeing to her own statement.

I smiled half-heartedly as the bell rang. I nicely let myself free from Blake’s arms and headed up the hill. As I passed Colton Sparks, I couldn’t help but notice he was smirking like crazy. So much so, it was a borderline smile. Like he had won in some game that I knew nothing about. Which of course was completely unfair and made him seem somewhat insane.

But either way, I didn’t speak to him. Even though, for some reason I couldn’t understand, I kind of wanted to…

I shook my head, trying to rid that feeling. Didn’t work.

Just keep walking. Just keep walking I reminded myself like Dory. Hey, it worked for her didn’t it?

As I walked up the hill, a cold wind blew, but that’s not what made me shiver. The whole way up I felt hard eyes on my back. And as if I weren’t going crazy already, I heard a voice in my head—that wasn’t mine.

You can’t run forever Shaylee. You’ll have to give in to me; it’s your destiny. Then suddenly my skin exploded with goosebumps. An uneasy feeling made it’s way inside of me.

"You’re mine." it spoke.

And then it was gone.

Talk about twilight zone. This must be what I get for having a birthday near Halloween.

*

I was thankful for Lunch. It made life much better. Warm food always cured empty feelings inside of you. And right now, I had a pretty big one.

I felt like a part of me had been ripped away when that voice entered my head. Almost like I lost my mind virginity…it made me sad. But was that even possible? Or am I truly going crazy?

I sat with Leslie and Violet and the rest of them today. I needed to talk to them about when to come over so they could do my hair and makeup.

For some reason in the chaos between Blake and Colton, Leslie and Violet always made me feel better. Like I was strong and in control around them. Not weak and scared and freaking out.

“We’ll bring our stuff to your house, since you don’t really have a car.” Violet teased, and I pouted.

“Hey! Don’t make fun of the less fortunate.” They laughed.

“Yes, because we all know your less fortunate. Especially in the head.” Leslie said, patting the top of my head.

“Ok. We get it, Shaylee’s poor and stupid, but can we PLEASE talk about what you’re going to do to me?” I offered.

“I was thinking your hair should go up.” Leslie smiled.

“Noooo way. It should go down.” Violet argued.

And so their fight began. I looked to Luke and Brian for help, while Harrison just pointed at me and laughed.

I’m glad my pain was entertaining. Both boys shrugged as if it were impossible to stop the two with any kind of interference.

“Violet. Your totally blind, do you see how great her hair looks when it’s back, like it is now?”

“Ok. So? She has great wavy hair that’d be perfect to curl! Why waste that?!”

“Ok. We’ll settle this with the expert.” Leslie smirked and both Violet and I raised an eyebrow.

Now who was that?

“Colton.” Leslie paused and there went my appetite. His face was masked with his mop of black hair, and he stared at his plate, not eating anything.

For a moment I almost got worried. Huh.

He glanced up so you could barely separate his deep brown eyes from his dark hair.

“What do you think would look better on Shaylee. Hair up, or down?”

I thought he hadn’t heard her, or was either ignoring her, as he didn’t move. But then he lifted his head up and swept his hair to the side before studying me.

Our eyes locked, and I was a goner. Not like it was with Blake where I couldn’t look away, but more of the fact that I didn’t want to.

I studied him, as he studied me. Both of us just scanning one another’s face. The world dissolving around us. My heart fluttered a million beats per minute and my face flushed brighter than it ever has.

How long did we stay like that? I didn’t know.

Were people noticing? I didn’t care.

Was he feeling what I was feeling? God I hope so.

“Up.” Up? What the hell is he talking about? We’re sitting here staring at one another, lost in each other’s eyes and he says “up”?

“HA!” Leslie’s loud voice erupted from beside me causing me to slowly come out of my trance.

I looked at Colton and he was turned the other way. I frowned.

“I told you!” Leslie continued. Then I realized…up…as in he wants my hair ‘up’.

Oh.

Right.

Then the bell rang. Fourth period? Oh, this should be interesting.

*

And it was. The bell rang to signal tardy students and Colton wasn’t in the seat beside me.

I sighed, reading the bellwork and copying it down.

What were the two ways that a flower can be pollinated…hmm…

It can be pollinated through the air, by the wind carrying it. And it can also—.

BAM. A hand slapped down in front of my desk.

I followed the hand to a set of brown eyes.

Colton.

“Yes?” I questioned, wondering what his excuse was for being late.

He lifted his hand to reveal a piece of paper and a picture.

I grabbed both. The first piece was another one of those slips, telling you all about the art show and the auction.

The second, a photo, was a picture of a piece of paper. On the piece of paper, was what looked to be a flower of some sort.

“What’s this?” I asked him, still noting that he hadn’t left the front of my desk. He’s just lucky the teacher had to make a quick errand for more white board markers.

“It’s my iris.” His what?

He must have read my expression, because he answered me. “I drew a flower to enter into the contest.” His voice was soft, and different. Not like it was around Blake or Brian.

I giggled. It looked more like a five year old got a hold of the paper and drew a bunch of oval-like circles.

“Did your sister draw this?”

He pouted. It was adorable. I mean.. it was ok, if your into cute guys pouting.. and stuff.

“No. I did.”

I laughed harder. “Colton, you may be a track star, but you are certainly not an artist.”

“Hey!” He protested. I nudged him playfully and smiled.

He sat down in the chair to face me, leaning on the black table casually. “I know it sucks. But I’m still going to enter it.”

I analyzed him. “Why?”

“Because, I figured if I enter with this horrible piece of crap, then you will feel more confident about entering your art piece.”

That was…. That was unbelievably sweet.

“That’s… really nice of you.” I smiled, and my cheeks went a slight shade of pink.

He shrugged. “So are you going to enter?”

I debated it.

Ok. So I was really, really scared.

But Colton had such a strong (and bizarre) faith in me.

I had worked all night on it. Did I really want to put all that work to waste?

The teacher walked in and immediately started class before I could answer.

*

I walked out of class and paced outside of the building, next to the brick wall.

Abruptly, two strong arms picked me up from behind and lifted me off my feet.

“You are going to look so beautiful in your dress. I can’t wait for tonight.” Blake’s cool, wispy breath tickled my ear.

I giggled despite myself, and before I could react Blake had trailed kisses from my jaw down my neck. My skin reacted immediately by igniting on fire. Each kiss sent a weird shockwave through me. And I bit my lip in order to keep in whatever my body was about to do.

COLTON’S POV:

This was it. Do or die. I had to ask her. The way she smiled at me in fourth period, and the unbelievably intense stare down we had at lunch. I was flying on cloud nine. Hell, I was on cloud nine hundred.

The teacher called me over to inform me she knew I was late and I wasn’t “that sneaky” or whatever, so Shaylee had left before I could do anything. But the anticipation was killing me. Never in my life had I been so nervous about asking a girl out; much less one who already had a boyfriend.

Everytime I thought that, I wanted to smack my head against a wall. It was my fault she ever went out with Blake. I pushed her away at the beginning, refusing to believe she might be back.

I still didn’t quite understand it. How she was brought back from the dead. All I knew was this immensely strong feeling I had for her.

And now she was with him.

I sighed as I gathered my things together and made my way outside.

But I wished I hadn’t because the scene that lay before me made me want to throw up.

Blake.

He was slobbering all over Shaylee’s neck and she was smiling like a fool—like she liked it.

Ha. Who am I kidding? SHE HAS A BOYFRIEND! Why would she dump him, to go with me to the dance?

She wouldn’t.

Great I went from cloud nine hundred, to cloud negative one thousand.

I sighed, shaking my head and going back inside.

I think I’ll take the long way to the parking lot

*

SHAYLEE’S POV:

Blake and I walked to the parking lot to find his car, and I kind of stumbled still dazed by his kisses.

He’s never kissed me like that before…

But right in the middle of it, Colton happened to pop in my mind. Why? I don’t want to know. Nor do I want to know why my mind thought it was him kissing me.

I felt bad all of a sudden. Like I cheated on Colton for Blake, but that was impossible. First off, Colton doesn’t like me. Second off, Blake’s my boyfriend—not him.

Which reminded me. The art show.

I didn’t know why, or how I instantly stopped walking at the thought of the art show but I did.

I still hadn’t decided whether or not I wanted to enter it.

“Shaylee, you alright?” Blake asked when he noticed by abrupt stop.

“Uh. Can you stay right here? I think… I think I have to do something.”

“Uh..”

Before he could answer I took off back into the school.

I ran until I stopped outside the art room. I read the name plaque before entering the crayon-smelling place.

“Mr. Moody?” I asked the curly haired man as he gathered his things together off his desk.

“Yes?”

“I was wondering if I could sign up for the art show Sunday.”

He stopped what he was doing and looked at me. He scrutinized me a minute before quirking an eyebrow.

“I thought I made it clear to enter before school ended today.” He replied curtly.

“I know, and I really do apologize but I’m really shy with my work, and I’ve already started a piece, which I’m almost done with.”

“Miss…”

“Turner, Shaylee Turner.” I answered eagerly.

“Right. Miss Turner. I’m afraid I made the rules clear. You should have come at lunch or before school to sign up.”

“Please Mr. Moody, I’m a really hard worker, and I’d like to think I’m good at what I do. But my biggest fear is letting people see my artwork. This really is a big deal for me. I worked all night long last night and all I am asking of you is to let me sign my name on a simple sheet of paper.”

He paused, deep in thought.

“I’ll show up early Sunday at school to help setup for the art show, I promise. Just…please.” I begged.

He didn’t move at first but then took a deep breath, following with a loud sigh.

“Alright. Hold on. Let me go get the sheet out of the back.”

“Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you!” I exclaimed, hugging him.

He chuckled slightly. “Alright, I understand, you’re happy. But I need to get that paper.”

“Oh, right.” I said before refraining from hugging him.

He disappeared behind a door to the far back left of the room, somewhat near his desk. He then reappeared with a clipboard and a yellow piece of notebook paper attached to it.

He stopped in front of me as he read the list.

“Did you say your name was Shaylee Turner?” He questioned in an odd voice.

“Yeah. Why?”

“My dear girl, you’ve already signed up.” I what?

“Excuse me?” I questioned, as he handed me the list.

I scanned the sheet, the yellow surprisingly bright. But the black pen on the paper made the names easier to read.

There were a lot of names, which sort of made me nervous. All of them were most likely better than me, and probably took year-round art courses, where as I had only taken a few in middle school.

But there was no mistaking it. Near the bottom of the page were two names.

Colton Sparks. Was one of them, and underneath his name was mine.

Shaylee Turner. It read, plain as day. Only I couldn’t help but notice that the handwriting was exactly the same.

I smiled to myself. “Right. I guess my friend signed me up. I mentioned it to him that I was going to. So he must have known I’d forget.” I explained to Mr. Moody.

He nodded. “Well you better thank him, then.”

I smiled even bigger, the action causing my cheeks to hurt. “I will, believe me.”

******______******

Songs of diss chapter:

Dani California: Red Hot Chilli Peppers

Newport Living: Cute is what we aim for.

Teenagers: My Chemical Romance

Heaven Help Us: My Chemical Romance

Break Your Little Heart: All Time Low

Running in the Rain: Hinder --like you haven't seem them before ;D