The Wolf In Me

02 | Something Strange In The Woods

Dylan

I don't know what I was thinking when I went against Nicole's rules.

When I talked to her.

Or, I knew exactly what I was thinking. That I needed to teach Nicole a lesson.
She took everything for granted, including my love for her. But I wasn't one of those unlucky boys who had fallen under her spell.

My heart belonged to someone else. Someone much more sweet and innocent. Someone who actually loved me for who I was, and not for my status as team captain.

❂ ❂ ❂

The practice went as it usually did.

That meant scoring better than the other half of the team in every game we played that evening.

Even though there were less than twenty people watching us we got cheerings from Nicole where she sat on the front row.

I knew she was there simply because I was playing. Otherwise, she would never had shown her face on the football-court. Or, if I wasn't here, she would've taken the next best boy she could find.

That was how she usually worked. At least nowadays.

I hadn't known Nicole as long as others in my class, but I had heard from Hyde, who happened to have known a lot of stuff from his cousin Sam, that she used to be so much different before High School. So much better.

Learning those things which I despised made me despise the thought of getting involved in Nicole's business even more than I already did. I swore that would never be the case. Unfortunately, I did not succeed with that task.

For Nicole had me wrapped around her little finger, just as she had with every other boy on our team. And I couldn't break through.

❂ ❂ ❂

I made the decisive goal that led our team to victory.

Again.

When I got off the field Nicole rushed into my arms, as if I was her boyfriend.
"Congratulations, Dyl," she said, smiling while throwing my bang away. "You are going to rock that game tomorrow."

From the day we met, Nicole had clung onto me like a wild monkey. She had picked me to be her boyfriend.

Hyde had warned me about her, but honestly, I didn't really have a choice. So from day one in High School I got known as her boyfriend. The boyfriend without his own will. The boyfriend who couldn't even talk to other girls without his girlfriend searching her up and threatening the poor girl.

It had happened a few times, but as Nicole's father was the prime minister, she always got out of the situation unpunished, even if she was actually guilty. Especially when she was guilty.

To this day I still didn't understand why she was so happy with her decision. I wasn't interested in her, would never be, in fact. But she had too much power over me.
What people said was true, and there was no escaping that fact.

My thoughts wandered back to the moment I now had to tackle. "Sure," I answered and removed the hand which had found a place on my shoulder some time in the past couple minutes.

Nicole didn't seem to approve of my action, but as soon as she was about to confront me I heard someone shout my name and I turned around. Hyde. My saviour. He waved, tried to catch my attention. "Dylan!"

At least now I had a proper excuse and could leave without making it seem like I really didn't want Nicole's company.
I turned to her again. She was not happy. "I guess that's my cue to leave then," she said, her mouth in a thin line. She wasn't happy at all. "I need to get ready for the game anyway." She waited for me to kiss her lips, and I didn't exactly have another choice.

As soon as Nicole's ugly fur-jacket was out of sight I practically ran to Hyde where he waited for me. I sighed deeply.

"Is she climbing onto you again?" he wondered.
I didn't have to give him an answer. "Yes," I just said.

I nodded. Before doing anything else, I looked up on the stand and on the only spectator who was still sitting on her spot, inspecting us from her bird-view. Ayesha. I smiled at her, but she didn't answer.

"Can we take a walk?" I asked, now turned to my best friend again. "I need some space from Nicole's irritating ass."

"Sure," Hyde answered. "I was about to do that anyway."

❂ ❂ ❂

We took it slow, explored the nearby forest surrounding the football-court.

"Did you hear about the party Nicole is having before the game? A pre-party to cheer us up and get us into the mood." Hyde seemed to look forward to it.

"No, I didn't," I answered. "If I'm being honest, I'm not really into the whole idea. You shouldn't get drunk right before an important game. And I can't be the only one who thinks that way."

Hyde laughed. "Well that's a shame for her then, because I think you were the only reason why she decided to throw one. So that she could have you."

"She will get disappointed then, I'm not going." I had made up my mind.

Hyde looked at me. "Wow, my boy is getting independent. Going against his girlfriend's will. This is a moment to remember."

"Shut up," I laughed.

Hyde did shut up. At least with what I told him to. But then he started howling instead.

I watched him with a murderer's look in my eyes. "Stop it," I said. "People can hear you."

"What man, I'm just having fun. Besides no one is here at this time." Hyde was right. The forest was dead. "See, we're alone." He went back to his howling.

But we weren't. I didn't know if it was my mind playing with me, but I thought I heard a growling. A wolf, to be exact.

"Stop it, I'm serious," I said, now starting to lose my temper.

He still didn't stop.

A few more howlings came out of his mouth before he looked at me, scared. "What was that?" Hyde asked.

It was quiet for a moment. But then something answered his howling. Something not so far away.

"Try it again," I whispered to Hyde. "I need to test something."

He looked at me like I was crazy. "Oh, hell I won't," he answered. "This is becoming creepy."

"Fine," I sighed. I had to do it myself. I used all my strength. The howling that came out of my mouth was loud.

It was silent for a few minutes. "It's probably gone," Hyde said.

I shook my head. "I don't think so," I said. "It must be waiting."

"For what?"

I didn't answer.

"For what?!" Hyde asked again.

I turned to him. "I don't know!"

I maybe didn't know what the wolf was thinking now, but at least I was right in one thing. The howling came again. And this time it was really close. The bushes. I walked a few steps forward.
Hyde started to get scared, "C'mon, man," he said. "It's getting pretty dark and I promised Sam she wouldn't have to wait for me this long."

"Fine, stay there then," I said as I walked even closer.

"Dylan, please." Hyde begged. "Please, can we just go back?"

"Stop sounding like a little girl, Hyde." I pushed the bushes away, while I was turned his way.

"D-Dylan," Hyde now stammered.

I sighed, slightly annoyed. "What?!"

"T-turn around." Hyde's eyes were wide-open.

I did as he said. Two glowing yellow eyes were staring at me. Then the growling became louder and louder.

I screamed.

But then it was already too late.