Imprint in Time

Chapter Four

Chapter Four 

So the next day after school, I met John at this little pecan tree out by my house. I noticed he had his guitar with him.

“Hey,” he said.

“Hi,” I said back.

“This is a nice little place you got here,” he said.

“Um, thanks. It came with the house. You know, property and all,” I said.

I know. Lame huh? Oh well. I mean, come on. It’s just John. Hey! That rhymed! Oops. Right. Story. I forgot.

“That’s interesting,” he said. He leaned closer. “You’re interesting,”

“Um, right. Now can you just hurry up and sing the song? I’m kind’ve cold,” I said.

“Oh. No problem,” John said. He gave me his jacket.

“Uh, no thanks. I’m good,” I said.

“Ok. But if you catch a cold, it’ll be on your conscience,” he said.

“Oh fine!” I said. I yanked it out of his hand.

I noticed that he was just staring at me.

“What?” I asked, putting on the jacket.

“Nothing. Now, this song is made especially for you. You inspired me to write this song,” he said.

“Wow. So what’s the name of it?” I asked.

“Well, I haven’t actually come up with the name yet. I just wrote it,” he said.

“Oh, well that’s ok,” I said.

“No! I know what I should call it!” he said. He practically screamed it in my ear.

“What should you call it?” I asked.

I was getting annoyed. He owes me a hearing aid.

“My Girl, Tiffany,” he said.

“Awww. That’s sweet. But I’m not your girl. The only thing we are is friends. And even THAT I’m not so sure about,” I said.

“Oh please. You know you want me,” he said with a smirk.

“Yes. I want you…………….fired out of a cannon!” I said.

“Harsh,” he said.

“I know. Now please, just sing the song already. I don’t have time for this,” I said.

“Ok. Fine,” he said.

He started to play. It was even more beautiful than the first time he sang it to me. Which he really didn’t………………….but he did. I don’t know. I’m getting confused, but it was very pretty. I wish I remembered the words so I could let you see how sweet he is. But I can’t. I just know that he sang from the heart. By the time that he finished, I was already on the verge of tears. And that’s odd because I’m not much of a crier.

“How was it?” he asked.

“Beautiful,” I said.

“Just like you,” he said.

“Thanks,” I said. I blushed.

“Hey, no snappy comeback,” he said.

“Oh, right. I guess I forgot,” I said.

“Yea. Forgot,” he said, using air quotes.

“Oh shut up,” I said, pushing him.

“Fine by me,” he said, as he leaned closer to me.

I knew what he was about to do, but surprisingly, I didn’t stop him. As he got closer and closer, I don’t know what came over me. I know that something in my head was shouting at me to stop. It was something like, “What are you doing idiot? You have a boyfriend!” The voice was really annoying though. So I just ignored it, and leaned in to kiss John. And, just like with Brad, we were SO close to kissing, when I saw something behind the pecan tree. I froze.

“John, stop. I saw something,” I said.

“What?” he asked, looking around.

“I don’t know. An animal, maybe?” I said.

“I’m not sure. Let me take a look,” he said. He looked at me. “Stay there,” he told me.

“No problem,” I said.

I sure as heck didn’t want to go check the ‘thing’ out. No matter what kind of animal it was. I really wasn’t expecting what happened next though. As John got closer and closer, we heard a growl from behind the tree. John turned back around to come back to me. Then the creature jumped out from behind the tree and landed on John.

I screamed. Very loudly. It was then that I realized it was Brad. And I know what I was SUPPOSED to do. Stop the clock. But something in my gut was telling me not to. So I just stood there with my eyes closed. And I kept repeating the same thing in my mind. “Brad, you don’t know what you’re doing. Please stop.” I kept saying that over and over in my head. Suddenly, I noticed that Brad had gotten off of John. He was just standing there looking at me. I looked over at John to see if he was alright. He looked like he was very scared out of his wits. But he was fine. I focused my attention back on Brad.

“I’m sorry Brad,” I whispered.

Brad, still in his werewolf form, turned around and ran off somewhere.

I was lucky that John didn’t hear me say that.

I ran to John.

“Are you ok?” I asked him.

“Oh. Sure. I’m fine,” he said.

“You sure?” I asked.

“Positive. It’s just a few cuts and scrapes. No big deal,” he said.

“Ok,” I said hesitantly.

“So what was that thing?” he asked.

“I don’t know,” I said, helping him up. “A big dog?”

“No, dogs aren’t that big,” he said.

“Well, whatever it was, it’s gone now,” I told him.

He sighed. “Yea. That’s true,”

“I should probably take you home now,” I said.

“No, I can walk,” he said.

“You know what?” I said.

“What?” he said.

“You’re a horrible liar,” I told him. “I’m taking you to the hospital.”

“Oh great!” he said sarcastically.

I gave him a look.

“Oh. Great!” he said with a smile.

“That’s better,” I said.

My luck, we didn’t have a car so we had to walk there.