Protected

Bonfire

The next night, after dinner, we went out into the massive backyard between our two houses and made a bonfire. The flames lept up, flickering and dancing firelight across our faces. We roasted marshmallows while Riley taught the werewolves how to make s'mores. We sat quietly for a little while, eating our food. 

"Tell us about werewolves," I said, breaking the silence.

"What about them?" Josh asked.

I shrugged, "Whatever you want to tell us."

Riley nodded enthusiactically, her engagement ring sparkling in the firelight.

"Well, you have to get bitten on the neck," Zay said, "Otherwise the bite just kills you."

"It makes us immune to disease," Farkle said, "No cancer, no arthritis, no flu."

But Lucas just sat there, his jaw clenched, as if in anticipation of something horrible. I put my hand on his chest.

"What's wrong?" I asked quietly.

He shook his head and offered me a half smile, but I could tell it was forced.

"Immortality," Josh said.

"What?" Riley and I cried at the same time. Lucas winced and then glared at Josh. I turned on Lucas. This was what he was in anticipation of. How could he not tell me this? All of the happiness of the past few days was gone.

"You're Immortal?" I cried, on the verge of tears.

He nodded without meeting my eyes.

"So you're going to stay in all of your seventeen year old perfection for eternity while I get wrinkly and die?" I cried.

He nodded again.

"Maya, I-" he started to say, reaching for my arm.

"Don't touch me," I snapped, wrenching my arm away from him and storming off to the house. I heard Riley doing the same thing behind me, and I knew she had just had the same confrontation with Farkle.

We both stomped inside and upstairs, stopping in my bedroom and collapsing on the bed. We wrapped our arms around eachother, just like we did in the bay window. Riley was already crying, and I could feel my tears start to come, too.

I was going to die, and Lucas was going to live forever. The worst part was, there was no doubt in my mind Lucas would have loved me as I grew old. Staying in his perfection while I deteriorated until he was left kissing someone old enough to be his grandmother. I shuddered at the thought, and more tears came.

What was I going to do?

There was a knock at my door, and I considered screaming GO AWAY, or at least ignoring it. 

"Come in," I called feebly.

Josh pushed the door open, followed by Zay. I sat up, but Riley was already asleep next to me. That was what happened when she got too upset: Her body couldn't handle it, so she fell asleep. She wasn't used to dealing with so many negative emotions.

Josh and Zay both knelt on the floor next to the bed.

"I'm so, so, so sorry, Maya," Josh said quietly.

I shook my head, "Don't be. It wasn't your fault Lucas didn't tell me before. Didn't you see his face? He knew you were going to tell. He was scared of it."

Josh opened his mouth, then closed it.

"Then I'm sorry you had to find out this way," he said.

I shrugged, "That wasn't your fault, either."

"You guys should get some sleep," he said, sighing.

He and Zay left. I'm never going to get to sleep, I thought. But, before I knew it, I was sinking into an uneasy unconsciousness.