Kristin seemed to get the idea and I felt like we had an unspoken agreement. During school she kept to her new circle of friends and only nodded in my direction when we passed in the hallway. It was just a light nod, with the smallest smile, and I instantly knew that Kristin was helping to keep my reputation perfectly intact. She seemed to understand which was unnerving and part of me wanted her to be offended by my weird behaviour, and never speak to me again. Actually that was exactly what I wanted; for Kristin to keep distance, because I couldn't.
You're pathetic. My inner wolf snarled.
"No, you're pathetic!"
The smell lingered in the air; vanilla, strawberries and coconut. Kristin was by the old bridge near the river and without a second thought I started walking towards her. I had to make sure we were still okay; even though I was sure we were, even after I scared the crap out of her the other morning during her run. It was like there was some other supernatural entity controlling my actions.
What happened to the big badass wolf?
"I'm still here," I muttered to myself as I walked around the trees and over the plants, weeds and bushes. I knew the woods like the back of my hands. I could close my eyes and still go straight through the middle and get to the other side without any problems.
My footsteps became silent as Kristin came into view and I stayed hidden from her sight. She was sitting on the edge of the old bridge facing the water and I couldn't help but wonder why she favoured that bridge so much. The new bridge was well... new and much sturdier and safer.
I was never going to understand women.
Creep... creep.
She was so focussed on the water flowing beneath her that I had gotten right up close without Kristin noticing my presence.
"Be careful, you don't want to fall in." I warned as I grabbed her shoulders and jerked her forward, just enough to get a reaction. I wasn't cruel enough to actually push her over the bridge, although it could have been the push she needed to stay away from me.
"What can I say, I live on the edge," she laughed and carefully swivelled her body so she was facing me. I had to give her credit, she had amazing balance. Most people would have fallen over board into the water at the attempt.
"Right." I snickered.
"In fact, last night... I was banned from seeing you but here I am," she slid off the edge of the bridge onto her feet.
"So why are you here than?" I knew Kristin wouldn't stop seeing me if she didn't want too and again, part of me wished that she would stay away, for her own safety because I was losing the strength to keep my distance.
"Like I said, I like to live on the edge," she shrugged and took two steps towards me.
"So this is goodbye than?" I tried to sound serious, like some pathetic idiot from one of those horrible chick flick movies my sister was always watching, although I couldn't hold back the snicker.
It was useless.
"What makes you think I give a damn about what my mother has to say?" she closed the small gap between us in one step and I didn't walk away like I should have. I didn't want to even though I needed to.
"I don't know," I made sure not to stammer but it was difficult; she was messing with my brain. I couldn't think clearly let alone talk in big sentences.
She smiled and stood on the tip of her toes and I let her make the first move, that way I could walk away if I gained the strength. I felt her hands as they reached for the back of my neck, and then her lips were pressed against mine as well as her body.
