The Wolf Next Door

.2.

I wake up and stretch. I run my slender fingers through my thick tangled brown hair. Slowly standing up, I make my way to the bathroom to do my hygiene routine which basically is washing my face and brushing my teeth. I put in my coloured contacts, put on some mascara and walked into my room to find clothes. My closet is pretty bland, mostly dark clothing. Skinny jeans and a maroon tee-shirt. I never go anywhere but the grocery store so I don't really have anything fancy.

Opening the door and checking for any letters is what my mornings consist of, none. I shut the lid to my mailbox and hear a leaf crunch behind me so I turn around. I see a male, smiling with his hands in the pockets of his somewhat 'too tight' ripped skinny jeans that may have been washed one too many times because the black is starting to fade slightly.

"Hi, I'm Yugyeom! Your new neighbor." He says cheerfully. I bow my head slightly and give a soft smile. It grows silent as he awkwardly looks at his feet. I puff out my cheeks as I play with the nob of my mailbox. "Well, I hope to see you around." Yugyeom smiles making his eyes squint as he turns around and walks away. I smile slightly as he rubs the back of his hair and kicks a few leaves as he walks to his house, I snap out of it once he's out of sight and walk in my house. I slip my shoes off at the door and walk to the kitchen. I fill my kettle with water and placing it on the burner, then turning it on. I go down the hall to my room and grab my black fuzzy socks and a book; which took me a while because I just finished the book I was reading and now have to choose another one. I walk down the hallway putting my hair into a messy ponytail once I hear the high-pitched whistle of the kettle. I pour myself a cup of tea and sit on my window seat looking at the woods and the birds with my book in my lap and tea in my hand. I drink and read as I slowly fall asleep.

2 weeks later

I slip on my shoes and go outside to check the mailbox for letters. For the past 2 weeks everyday before Yugyeom goes to school he comes to my mailbox to say good morning. It's never long conversations, more like simple short talks about the weather. But to avoid having to talk I just ask him how school is doing. I open the mailbox and see a letter from the fairy across the woods asking me to join a tea party which in my opinion sounds lame and boring. I'll find an excuse again so I don't have to go.

"Good morning Yoon Eun-Kyung." Yugyeom says like he does every morning. I throw the letters away quickly so he wont see that it's from a fairy. I turn around and smile.

"It is a good morning isn't it?" I say looking at the dark trees. "What are you doing in school today?" I've been interested in this 'school' thing ever since he mentioned it, I wish I could go to school.

"It's a Saturday, there is no school." He laughed. This happens every Saturday, it's so confusing with his schedule I don't know how humans remember all this stuff.

"I'll be alright." I laughed. "What are you and the guys going to do today?" I hear him call his friends 'the guys' so I picked up on it.

"Well nothing really, maybe going out to town and window shopping." He looks at his house then back at me.

"Window shopping? What do you need windows for?" I asked confused. He started laughing and it made me feel stupid. I start to get uncomfortable so I play with the nob of my mailbox.

"Have you ever went window shopping?" He chuckled.

"No, why would I need windows. I already have them." I said in the most serious tone I could so I didn't seem stupid.

"Well it's 6:30 right now, we will probably be ready by 8:00. Come with us and see the magical world of window shopping." He waved his arms in the air. Really, what could be more magical than us mythical creatures?

"Sure, I'll go. I want to see this cool magical world of windows." I smiled waving my arms in the air too. I've noticed that I have gotten more comfortable with him the past two weeks and it's cool to have someone to talk to. Now I'm nervous to meet his friends, I hope they like me.

I go inside and make a pot of tea since I have an hour and a half to get ready. I took a shower last night so all I have to do is get dressed and put on my face. I never do anything to my hair except maybe brush it if I'm going out. Us wolves take pride in our mane whether we are in wolf form or human form, it's a part of us that we love. I grab my cup of tea and set it down on my nightstand in my room. I look in my closet and choose a black flow skirt and black nylons to go underneath a black tank top and a maroon knitted cardigan. I wear a black choker that has a wolf charm on it. It's kind of like a good luck charm. I get a pair of black army boots and my outfit is complete. I lay it on the bed and walk to the bathroom to put on my makeup. A thin line of eyeliner and mascara complete with tinted chapstick. After I take a good look at myself to make sure my blood red eyes aren't peeking through my dark brown contacts. I look at my wooden clock that the gnomes made me and see that it is 7:15. What am I going to do for 45 minutes? I put my empty tea mug in the sink and wash it. After I put it away I walk outside into the cold air, it is the end of winter and it is still snowing, but not as bad, more like sprinkling snow that only gets bad at night. I sit on my porch and sigh, I rest my elbows on my knees and rest my hands in my palms. I see witch Elanor and instantly panic, they could walk out and see her. Witches are exactly how you imagine them, big pointy hats and capes, she even flew here on her trusty old broom. They just don't have moles or long pointy noses, they actually look beautiful. That's the only thing humans got wrong is their faces. They are naturally beautiful to lure men in and eat them; other than that witches are very nice!

"What are you doing out in the open? You know everything that goes on in the woods! The humans could come out at any moment and see you! Come inside, come inside." I push her inside and close the door. "Would you like some tea?" I ask as she sits down on the sofa.

"No, but I would like an explanation of why you're going out with those boys." She gave me a motherly look. We aren't the closest but the witches, especially witch Elanor are the protectors of the forest along with the fairies (but they can be stubborn sometimes).

"I'm just going shopping for windows! They don't suspect anything, I'm just a normal human to them." I explain.

"The thing is dear, you aren't a human. I'm just-" She quickly looked at the door. I looked at the door then back at where she was sitting and she was gone.

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