Shadow of the Day (Wolf Moon Sequel)

Chapter 14: Distraction

"Lila baby!" Jared cried, scooping me up in a huge bear hug the minute I stepped out of my car. "Are you ready for fun in the sun?"

I yawned, "I'm ready for bed," I mumbled, leaning my head against his broad, warm shoulder as my eyes closed. Wyatt and I had stayed up way too late last night. Not to mention the things we did took a fair bit of energy out of me. Plus the early wake up call; five am courtesy of my sister who was pumped and bouncing excitedly.

It sickened me how people could be so darn cheery at such a god forsaken hour of the morning. The sun wasn't even up yet. Hell the sun hadn't even thought about getting up. But here I was at six am, at school, with a bunch of teenagers ready to go on an almost entire day in a bus all the way to Florida for a week.

"Lila!" Jared whined, putting me down on my feet, "Come on! Be excited! Wake up! We're going away for a week with no parents! No responsibilities! Why are you so...not excited?"

"Because I'm tired," I grumbled, shuffling to the back of the car to where my dad had popped the trunk. I took my bag out and hefted it easily onto my back while Ivy took hers and grinned at Jared.

"You ready?" she asked, bouncing with excitement.

He put on a deep voice, his face dead serious, "I was born ready."

They both fell into laughter and high-fived each other while I just watched with sleepy amusement.

"Alright girls, remember the rules please," Dad said, pulling us both into a hug, "And try to call every night okay?"

"Got it," I said, the biting cold wind of the first day of March, of spring break, was waking me up finally. I pecked my dad on the cheek and Ivy did the same on his other cheek at the same time before we pulled away.

"Come on girls; you have to load your bags," Mrs. Steel said, grinning excitedly as she popped up beside us.

"Kay," I shrugged, Ivy, Jared and I making our way to the two buses while Mrs. Steel stayed behind to talk to my dad.

"Hey girls, ready for a week in the hot sunshine?" Matt asked, also looking excited. Dakota and Mirah stood on either side of him; Dakota looking bright eyed and excited while Mirah looked sleepy. Fashionista Mirah didn't have her usual carefully put together outfit. Instead she wore a pair of baggy sweats, a sweatshirt and her black hair was up in a ponytail. She didn't have any make up on, but even then all she ever wore was a bit of blush, eyeliner and lip-gloss. Mirah didn't do early mornings. Dakota did though, and she looked like her usual self; except also in sweatpants and a big, warm sweater. Matt and Jared wore jeans (typical guys) and big sweaters themselves. Ivy and I were dressed like Mirah and Dakota, in sweats and warm sweaters. I had been tempted to take Wyatt's hoodie but my pack would recognize it even if it didn't have his scent on it anymore.

"Ugh, don't even mention sunshine," Ivy pouted, tapping her pale cheek, "I'm so pale I always burn. I have never once gotten a tan. I hate it."

She pushed her sleeved up and grabbed my hand, pushing my sleeve up before resting our bare arms next to each other. My tanned arm looked surprisingly dark against her pale skin.

"Wow," Mirah giggled, "That sucks."

"No kidding; look at all you guys! You have such great skin tones, you can tan! I can't. I'm like a bloody vampire; I go in the sun and..." she trailed off to make sizzling noises, "I burn like a hamburger on the BBQ."

My eyes popped. Oh. My. God. Vampires in the sun? Was that even possible? How could that have slipped my mind?

I looked around while my friends chatted and found Wyatt standing with his coven, packing their bags on the other bus. We weren't taking the same bus as them fortunately, but Ivy was on their bus with her friends which meant I wouldn't get to see her except for pit stops. Same for Wyatt. I guess I could tell him at the next pit stop.