Cats VS Dogs.

Dakarai

Dedicated to weirdoninja for telling me about Teen Wolf, from which came the newest member of my cast!

Photo is of Dakarai Sarr

As soon as everyone got back to my place, they began dispersing. Sydney and Shawn disappeared into the trees, shifting and padding to their respective sleeping trees. Lisimba promised to visit the next day, and Anton did as well. 

"Where will you sleep?" I asked anxiously. They didn't look as adaptable as Sydney and Shawn. Lisimba chuckled. "Though our hair is gray, we are not as fragile as you may think. The shifter bloodline keeps us feeling young. We will sleep in the forest in cat form." 

Anton stretched. "Do not worry, it is no trouble," he assured me. "In fact, I am looking forward to, how you say, roughing it?"

I smiled. "All right, if you both are sure." 

"Kabungo yaye kikuyu," Lisimba waved. "Good evening." 

"Good evening," I reciprocated, pleased by his native tongue. 

"Tomorrow, Cassie," Anton boomed, enveloping me in a hug. 

"Goodnight," I squeaked. 

He and Lisimba disappeared into the forest. Jasper was left standing before me. Of course, I suddenly felt awkward. 

"Cassie, I don't want things to be awkward between us," he said seriously. 

"Why would they be awkward?" I stammered. Good job, Cassie. As if you didn't know why. 

Jasper graciously skipped over my awkward comment. "I don't mean to lead you on. And I won't say I'm not attracted to you, but I am. But we cannot be together." 

I paused to try and muddle through the fuzz in my brain. Was this really happening? Jasper Marks just told me that he found me attractive? 

"Why not?" I asked, lifting a hand to my throat. A defensive habit. 

He sighed. "It's nothing you should have to concern yourself with. You'll just have to trust me on this." 

Though I hated myself for it later, I let it go. "Okay." 

There was a moment of silence before he said, "Goodnight, Cassie." 

I cleared my throat. "Goodnight, Jasper." 

Without another word, or even another look, he turned and jogged into the woods. 

I made sure to lock the doors and windows before I went to bed. Before, it had seemed like Jasper was overreacting, but now, I could see that he obviously knew something that he wasn't telling me. 

I tidied up my cozy little cabin before I went to bed. I loved waking up to a spotless home, especially since Lisimba and Anton had promised to drop by the next day. 

As  I curled up in my bed, I pulled out my cellphone. Two messages from Aunt Emily, wanting to know how my vacation was going. I glanced at the clock and saw it was about ten-thirty, too late to reply. I would make something up in the morning. 

I scrolled through my contacts until I came to Jasper Marks. My thumb hovered above his name. I bit my lip. No, I didn't really have anything to say. Well, actually, I had a lot to say, but nothing that would be appropriate or useful. He had already told me how he felt about the matter. But he didn't know how I felt about him. Probably just as well, it would only make things awkward. 

~

There he was. I tensed to spring, eyes glued to the large rat. It's nose twitched as it sensed me. I rose up, about to jump when the mouse shattered with a sound like breaking glass.