New Dawn

T h e W o l f

AT EIGHT O'CLOCK AT NIGHT, NAHUEL PICKED ME

up for our red eye flight to Italy. Mom was crying and she blubbered something to me as I climbed into Nahuel's car.

I responded very calm and collected, "I love you guys so much. Don't worry about me, I'll be fine." Mom kissed me on the forehead and Dad gave me a massive bear hug. Cris and I did our secret handshake and he gave me a hug as we laughed together. There was a strange feeling nagging at the back of my thoughts, that the next time I saw my family it wasn't going to be the same. The goodbye felt as if it were for good. As we drove off, I poked my head out the car window, "Bye. I love you all so much."

The gold necklace burned a hole in my jeans as we sat in silence. I wanted, so badly, to tell Nahuel my secret but something inside me held the words back. Instead, I attempted to distract myself, "Where are we going first?"

Alarm and surprise morphed his features as the question slipped past my lips.

"What?"

Again, he didn't answer.

I continued, "We don't leave until midnight and it takes less than an hour to get through security and get our bags checked and the airport is only an hour away. So there are a few hours missing here." My eyebrow raised in suspicion.

Nahuel finally chuckled, "Nothing gets passed my girl." I smiled as he went on, "We are gonna stop by the house first." I could tell he was hiding something from me but I didn't want to start a fight or argument so I played dumb.

"For three hours, okay." I chuckled and the subject dropped.

We pulled into the dirt road and headed down his driveway; the forest was oddly quiet. I uncomfortably climbed out of the car. Nahuel walked around the front of the car and grasped my hand. "Let's go sweetie." I unwillingly followed as he pulled me down the path to his front door. This was the place where Nahuel's crowd of people held their get– togethers with alcohol and music so I had a good idea that this would be very similar to that.

"Surprise!" Tons of people leaped from their hiding spots and I jumped back, as if I were startled. I was surprised but not startled – I was already expecting something but I put on a good show.

"Oh my gosh! Nahuel this is so amazing." I turned and kissed him.

All my friends were there and I was happy to see them one last time. Marisa was the first to my side. She wrapped me up in one of her hugs that would bring a smile to anyone. Her chocolate brown hair was put up in a casual pony tale and she had my t– shirt on with a dark washed out pair of skinny jeans. I laughed at her shirt, "I'm never getting that back am I?" I smiled. She was a great friend to have – she was remarkable and a very sweet person. But I hadn't seen her in awhile.

"No way! I'll miss you so much and this is all I have to remember you by." She was being sarcastic but pulled me up in a hug again before she left to let the others greet me.

Michelle and Sammy were next. They were my work out buddies. I loved them so much and I would miss them even more. We had a group hug and exchanged some inside jokes before I moved on. Nahuel invited all of his guy friends; Bryce, Beau, John,

Tyler, Peter, and a lot more but those were the only ones that I knew. Sadly, I couldn't get to everyone – he had almost invited his whole senior class.

Cassidy came up behind me and shielded my eyes, "Guess who?" She sang the words teasingly in my ear. I swirled around and pulled her up in a hug. Her strawberry, golden hair was crimped and flowed past her shoulders. She wore her big torques belt with her blue jeans and my favorite shirt of hers. "I can't believe your going to Italy." Her voice was high and squeaky.