Fearless

Sleep is for the Weak

Chapter Twelve: Sleep is for the Weak

Pain shot through every cell in my body as my bones broke and reshaped themselves a hundred times into those of a wolf the size of a grizzly bear. My skin scorched as if it were flaming embers as fur grew up over my whole body. A muzzle stretched its way out of my mouth and nose. 

I could see horror on Rebekah's face as I pushed myself off of the muddy ground of our clearing. Recognition flashed in her eyes. The initial fright was gone, awe had replaced it. She extended a hand towards me. Her petite hand drowned in the fur between my ears. "You have got to teach me how to change at will." she breathed out. I closed my eyes and willed myself to change, to be human once again. My bones started to snap. I felt like I was on fire, but the pain only lasted a second. Then, I was standing in front of her. Rebekah's hand was now on my bare chest instead of my forehead. Her cheeks burned bright red and she mumbled apologies. 

"Here," she handed me my clothes, which she had folded neatly. She looked away as I got back into my clothing. Once I was dressed, I walked around so that I was behind her. I put my hands on her waist and pulled her to me. 

"Imagine yourself as a wolf. It doesn't matter what the wolf looks like, just identify it as yourself." I instructed. "Feel the heat under your skin as it moves, picture paws and a muzzle instead of hands and feet and a mouth and nose. You are the wolf, you're always the wolf." I told her. 

Rebekah pushed air out through her teeth. I took my eyes off her when she started to remove her clothes, so it wouldn't rip apart. Her skin radiated heat and then there she was, standing on all fours in front of me. 

"Come on, let's go surprise everyone." I said with a wave of my hand. I started to walk to the clearing back towards the house. Rebekah easily kept up with me. I watched as she pranced around happily, leaping and jumping as she tested how far she could go. She sped in circled around me until we made it to the backdoor. I opened the door for her and let her inside. 

Charlie, Aaron and Sam were in the kitchen cleaning up. Rebekah crept closer to them, crouched down so they couldn't see her. I was leaning against the wall beside my bedroom door, a perfect view of what was playing out. Sam had one of Charlie's beautiful glass vases in his hand when Rebekah lunged at him. He tossed it up into the air in fright. Rebekah changed back and caught it smoothly. 

"Thank you, Rebekah." Charlie said with a smile. Charlie placed it on the middle of the island. Sam was sputtering and looking from me to Aaron to Rebekah over and over. I came up beside Rebekah. She gave me a worried look. 

"Maybe that wasn't the best way to tell him," she said quietly. Sam laughed and threw his arms around her. 

"You just surprised me, is all." he mumbled into her hair. Rebekah pushed him off of her gently. "What, what's wrong?" Sam asked worriedly. 

"I'm uh, kind of, naked." she blurted. An awkward silence filled the house. 

"Let's get you back into your clothes," I said as I put my arms around Rebekah's shoulders. I led her over to my room. Once the door was closed I plopped down on my best face first into my pillow. 

"Rebekahhhhhhh." I whined. "My pillow smells like your hairrrr." she chucked another pillow at me. 

"And that's a bad thing?" she asked. I knew she had an eyebrow raised at me. "My hair happens to smell like my strawberry shampoo." she said. 

"Yeah, I know. I'm smelling it right now from my pillow. It's nice. Don't ever change shampoos." I told her. Her laugh rang throughout the room, the beautiful noise bounced off the walls and right into my ears. I flipped over onto my back. Rebekah was standing by my night stand, her back to me. I snaked my arms around her waist and pulled her down on the bed. I gave her a small kiss on the cheek. "I love your laugh, it's a very pretty sound." Rebekah grabbed my chin in her small hand. 

"Quit kissing my cheek." she demanded sassily. 

"Well, then what would you like me to kiss?" I asked. "How about your shoulder," I planted a soft kiss on her shoulder. "collarbone," another one there. "or your stomach?" I felt light, feathery kisses up from her bellybutton to the place where each side of her ribcage almost met. 

"What about my lips?" she pulled my lips onto hers. I moved slightly so I was leaning over her, my forearm carrying the weight of my upper body. I pulled away from her. Rebekah smiled sweetly at me. She put a hand on my chest and pushed me up so that she could sit in front of me. "You need to get some rest, those have got to heal up." she reminded me. 

"Sleep is for the weak," I mumbled as she got up from my bed. 

"I've got to go home anyway. My parents are probably freaking out. I haven't given them any explanation as to why I've been gone all weekend." Rebekah was about to slip through the opening in the door. 

"Rebekah, wait!" I said. She looked at me from over her shoulder. 

"You can't tell your parents, about any of this." I told her. 

"God, Michael. Do you think I'm stupid? I'm not going to tell them. They'd throw me into a psychiatric ward." and with that, Rebekah was gone. 

A/N sorry this one is a bit longer than normal, but the last chapter was CRAZY long, so I thought you might not mind too much if I cut this one down a little. I haven't done an author note in a while, have I? Well, I'll try to remember to add them more often. If I forget, comment to remind me and I'll gladly add one *insert creepy smiley face here* also! IM OUT OF SCHOOL FOR THE SUMMER so you can expect more frequent updates since I won't be out for eight hours every day. Hope your summer is as good as mine has been so far