9
Saturday.
It's the day of Kayler's party that, of course, I'm not going to attend. I won't go because it's obvious all the popular boys 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 remaining things to tidy up. I hung up some remaining pictures, cleaned the house, took out the trash, and waited for mom. She came in the afternoon, around three o'clock.
I'm feeling better now. I took two pills the nurse gave me yesterday, and I think they've kicked in. Later, I'll take two more. I was watching TV in my pajamas. It was around seven-thirty. The music sounded quite loud, considering we're not that close. There's a large lake separating us. From the living room window, which is next to the TV, I can see the house. It looks somewhat small from here. The lights of all colors 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 his living room.
He left yesterday without saying anything else. What is Kayler hiding from me? Is it something serious? He and his gang of jerks—because they are jerks and womanizers—surely they are hiding something. Maybe they're serial killers, or kidnappers of girls. There are many options.
The moon was brighter than ever, reflecting on the water. But I wouldn't want to go out at night again, lest the wolves start roaming around here again. A shiver ran down my spine just thinking about that.
Wolves.
How could I allow mom to come to this city so... unknown to us? And to think that in this same house lived the boy they killed in this very forest. Maybe he sat in this same armchair gazing at the moon, unaware 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 thing 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 them running in the forest and hiding—they 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 definitively dismissed that last thought because the wolf isn't going to come to knock on 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, my voice trembling.
If they don't answer this time, I won't open it.
"It's Connor."
I breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing Connor's voice. I hurried to open the door. There he was, dressed really well. I admit Connor looks good.
"I'm here for you," he smiled.
I furrowed my brow.
"For me?" I queried, pointing to myself.
He nodded as if it were the most obvious thing.
"To go together to the party. Don't tell me you weren't planning to go," he crossed his arms.
Go with Connor to Kayler's party?
"Connor, I..." I began, but he interrupted me.
"I don't accept no for an answer. Now, go get dressed," he requested. "Can I come in?"
How silly of me. I had him outside in this cold. Where are my manners?
I think the wolf ate them.
"Sure, come in."
Connor walked in, and I gestured for him to sit down, and he did. Now, speaking of the party, obviously I'm not going. Although with Connor, I think I'm safe. 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 pick me up? I admit 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, to drink. Enough said.
"I'll be back in a few minutes."
I smiled and went straight to my room. I put on a dress, not too short but not too long, that hugged my body well. I put on black ankle boots. I let my hair down, styled it a bit. I lined my eyes and finally put on some lipstick. I think I'm good like this. I grabbed my phone and a jacket because it's very cold.
I went downstairs, and there was Connor, watching a program animatedly. I cleared my throat to get his attention. As soon as his eyes met mine, he jumped up immediately and just stared at me.
"Shall we go?" 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 into 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 headed towards Kayler's house.
"I don't like going out at night to... the forest," I confessed insecurely. "It scares me a bit."
He gave me a look full of questions. 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 isn't bad," he murmured.
"It's not about the forest," I confessed. "But 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 anything?" he asks me, I could hear some nervousness in his voice. "In the forest?"
I bit my tongue to keep from telling him. My God! He and Kayler have lived their whole lives here, and I don't think they haven't seen a damn wolf. Am I the one going crazy?
"No, nothing."
The rest of the way we spent in silence until we finally arrived at Kayler's house. There were many cars, lots of people too. Connor parked somewhat far from the house, and we got out. It feels strange to be in 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 very loud, there were quite a few people dancing, others were sitting in armchairs drinking or playing some strange game.
"Do you want something to drink?" Connor asked me over the music.
"Yes!"
He signaled for me to wait, and I nodded. The last thing I wanted was to be alone here. I put on my jacket and forced myself to sit in a chair that was as lonely as I was. Kayler doesn't seem to be anywhere around, he's probably with Paige.
"I knew you would 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 disheveled as usual. I could see his dark brown eyes despite the low 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. Yesterday he didn't tell me anything, 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 pleas were heard, Connor appeared with two beers. I smiled to myself.
"Here you go," he said, handing me the beer.
I took it and took a sip.
Connor noticed Kayler and immediately his whole body stiffened.
"Well, well, so you come with him," Kayler reproached, standing up.
"Yes, any problem?" Connor retorted.
Kayler nodded. Apparently he's been drinking for a while.
"Yes, there's a problem," he starts. "You can't get near her, Connor, you know why?" he asks. "Because Carolina Lane..." he points at me, "...is mine."