Chapter 8

• Saturday.
• Party day at Kayler's house that, of course, I'm not going to. I won't go because it's obvious that all the popular guys from school will be there, and the popular girls obviously. I don't fit in there. I prefer to be alone at home watching a marathon of something, eating popcorn. Maybe I'll order a pizza.
• Today I spent organizing the things that needed to be sorted out. I hung some remaining pictures, cleaned the house, took out the trash, and waited for mom. Who came in the afternoon today, around three.
• I already feel better. I took two pills that the nurse gave me yesterday and I think they have taken effect. But I'll take two more later. I was watching TV in my pajamas. It was around seven thirty. The music sounded quite loud, even though we're not that close. A large lake separates us. From the living room window next to the TV, I can see the house. From here, it looks somewhat small. The colorful lights illuminate it. I can see several cars parked and several people outside as well as inside. On the balcony.
• But where it must be crowded is in the living room of his house.
• Yesterday he left without saying anything else. What is Kayler hiding from me? Is it something serious? He and his pack of jerks"because they are jerks and womanizers"surely hide something. Maybe they are serial killers, or kidnappers of girls. There are many options.
• The moon was brighter than ever, reflecting in the water. But I wouldn't like to go out at night, again, lest the wolves be lurking around here again. A shiver ran through me just thinking about it.
• Wolves.
• How could I allow mom to come to this city so... Unknown to us. And to think that the boy who was killed in this same forest used to live in this same house. Maybe he sat in this same armchair to contemplate the moon, not knowing that one day those animals would tear him apart. Because I'm sure it was the same wolves that tried to kill me.
• The doorbell interrupts my thoughts and puts me on alert. I stay still. What if they want to do the same as last time? No, this time I won't fall for it. But there's something that bothers me, who knocked on my door the day I was almost killed? It was obviously a person and, besides, I saw her running in the forest and hiding, she even screamed!
• The doorbell rings again. Mom went to bed early because she was tired. What if I open it? What if it's the wolf? I definitely ruled out the latter because the wolf is not going to come to my door to tell me he's going to kill me... or is he?
• I got up from the couch and walked slowly to the door.
• "Who is it?" I asked, feeling my voice trembling.
• If they don't answer this time, I won't open.
• "It's Connor."
• I could breathe a sigh of relief when I heard Connor's voice. I hurried to open the door. There he was, dressed very well. I admit that Connor looks good.
• "I'm here for you." he smiled.
• I frowned.
• "For me?" I inquired, pointing at myself.
• He nodded as if it were the most obvious thing.
• "So we can go to the party together. Don't tell me you weren't planning on going." he crossed his arms.
• Go to the party with Connor?
• "Connor, I..." I started to say, but he interrupted me.
• "I don't take no for an answer. Now, go get dressed." he asked." Can I come in?"
• How silly. I had him outside in this cold. Where are my manners?
• I think the wolf ate them.
• "Of course, come in."
• Connor walked in and I closed the door. I gestured for him to sit down and he did. Now, speaking of the party, obviously I won't go. Although with Connor I think I'm protected. He has a car.
• "I'll wait for you here. Go." he smiled.
• I bit my lower lip. How do I tell him I don't want to go if he took the trouble to come and get me? I admit that I would really like to go to that party, but I don't want to see Kayler; however, it would be good to have some fun, drink. Say no more.
• "I'll be back in a few minutes."
• I smiled and went straight to my room. I put on a dress that wasn't too short but not too long either, that hugged my body nicely. I wore black booties. I let my hair down, styled it a bit. I lined my eyes and finally put on some lipstick. I think I look good like this. I grabbed my phone and a jacket because it's very cold.
• I went downstairs and there was Connor watching a show enthusiastically. I cleared my throat to get his attention. As soon as his eyes met mine, he got up immediately and just stared at me.
• "Are we going?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
• "Oh, yes, of course."
• I turned off the TV and we headed towards his car. I feel insecure going out to the yard at night, so I hurried to sit in the passenger seat. Connor raised his eyebrows.
• "Why the rush?" he joked, getting behind the wheel. He started the car and we set off towards Kayler's house.
• "I don't like going out at night to... the forest," I admitted, feeling insecure. "It makes me a bit scared."
• He gave me a questioning look. I know what he wants to know. But I won't tell him anything, I have enough with Kayler laughing in my face.
• "The forest is not bad," he murmured.
• "It's not about the forest," I confessed. "It's about what's in it."
• And I regret saying that.
• I noticed Connor furrowed his brow and glanced at me for a second before returning his gaze to the road. We entered the path that led straight to Kayler's house and for some reason, I was getting nervous.
• "Have you seen something?" he asked, I could sense some nervousness in his voice. "In the forest?"
• I bit my tongue to stop myself from telling him. My God! He and Kayler have lived here all their lives and I don't believe they haven't seen a damn wolf. Am I the one going crazy?
• "No, nothing."
• The rest of the journey we spent in silence until we finally arrived at Kayler's house. There were many cars, a lot of people too. Connor parked a bit far from the house and we got out. It feels strange to be at Kayler Brown's house for the first time, and his house is huge, from mine it looks small. We entered the house. The music was playing loudly, there were many people dancing, others were sitting on the couches drinking or playing some weird game.
• "Do you want something to drink?" Connor asked me over the music.
• "Yes!"
• He gestured for me to wait and I nodded. The last thing I wanted was to be left alone here. I put on my jacket and forced myself to sit on a couch that was as lonely as me. Kayler is nowhere to be seen, he's probably with Paige.
• "I knew you were going to come," someone whispered in my ear. A whisper that made my skin tingle. I didn't need to turn around to know who it was.
• Kayler.
• "Do you need company?" he asked, sitting in front of me with a beer in hand.
• His hair was messy as usual. I could see his dark brown eyes despite the dim light.
• "No," I replied curtly. "I'm better off alone than in bad company," I snapped.
• I'm not going to be nice to him. He didn't say anything to me yesterday and I'm not very happy about it.
• He laughed.
• "As rude as ever."
• I didn't respond.
• I need Connor to come now. And as if my prayers were heard, Connor appeared with two beers. I smiled to myself.
• "Here you go," he said, handing me the beer.
• I took it, taking a sip afterwards.
• Connor noticed Kayler and immediately his whole body tensed.
• "Well, well, so you're coming with him," Kayler reproached, standing up.
• "Yes, any problem?" Connor snapped.
• Kayler nodded. Apparently, he's been drinking for a while.
• "Yes, there's a problem," he began. "You can't get close to her, Connor, you know why?" he questioned. "Because Carolina Lane..." he pointed at me. "Is mine."