The Girl with the Wolf Features

Chapter 8

** Possible triggers, includes, themes about death, and self deprecation. **

Dinner was awkward to say the least. Mom and Nora kept looking at me suggestively, dad was unusually quiet, and Noah. Well, he was oblivious to everything when you put food in front of him.

It was my turn to put away dinner. I hummed to myself while putting the steak that was uneaten in a sip bag, stuffing the veggies into a Tupperware. After the food was securely in the fridge I turned to the sink, grabbing the sponge and starting the water.

"Hey Ami, can I talk to you while you do dishes?"

I jumped, a squeak leaving my mouth. I definitely was not expecting anyone to be in the kitchen with me, least of all dad. "Yeah, what are you needing dad?"

"That girl you were with at school, is she?" I nodded, my cheeks red. "She seems nice," I nodded again, not trusting my voice. "So you two kissed...."

"I really tried to hold myself back. I wanted to be friends first, but she confessed that she felt the pull to me too. She stayed during two panic attacks to make sure I was okay, both of which were pretty bad ones. And, she... is so unbelievably good to me, she makes me feel alive, wanted, and needed."

He pulled the sponge and dish out of my hands, holding them tight. "I didn't realize the strength of the bond you two share, you need to tell her."

"I-I want to have a friendship first before I tell her." Dad grinned, giving me a tight hug.

"That sounds like a great idea." He let go enough so he could give the top of my head a kiss. "Soulmate or not, you two are adorable together."

I groaned, "seriously, you too? It is bad enough that teachers are betting on the various aspects of Lillia and I's relationship."

Dad let go of me completely, his head thrown back as he laughed. "That is hilarious, I might have to get in on these bets myself."

The blush on my face that had just faded returned, flushing my face and neck bright red. "Dadddd..."

"Fine, I won't." He looked at me, "remember to take my gun with you if you go out into the woods at night. Okay?"

"Okay."

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I had trouble sleeping again. It wasn't that I had trouble because I was anxious or worried, in fact it was only happy feelings.

Knowing I could see Lillia tomorrow made me giddy. I could hold her hand, hug her. I smiled like an idiot, I could possibly kiss her too.

Tossing the covers off me I went to my window, opening it halfway. I pushed the giant beanbag that I got as a present one year to the window. Grabbing my blanket and pillow before curling up in it. I learned that sleeping near the open window was the best way for me to sleep when I couldn't in my bed.

Since I got my ears I have been almost hypnotized by the finer details of the nighttime sounds. It feels like I can hear what the forest is saying. The tiny peeping frogs chatting about their day, the hoot of an owl telling their young to behave, the rare howl far off in the distance, signaling the attack.

Everything is just perfect, lulling me to sleep within seconds.

-~†~- -~†~- -~†~-

I gasped for breath, screaming at my burning body, my heart racing, every muscle tight. I was still fourteen, Emma, pronounced dead at the hospital. I was still covered in her blood. The four years of my life since she died had to be a dream.