“Let me see you stripped down to the bone, let me hear you crying just for me."
I leaned over, snatching my phone off my night table.
“Hello?” I asked quickly, thankful for the sudden distraction of a phone call. After I woke up from my nightmare I couldn’t get back to sleep and struggled to keep calm and stay…well human. I'd take any distraction at this point.
“Lila!” a familiar voice squealed, “Guess what!”
“Keira? Is that you?” I asked, frowning.
“Yup! Now guess what!” she said excitedly.
“I don’t feel like guessing, just tell me."
“We’re fifty minutes away from your house and counting!” she cried and I heard whoops in the background as well.
“What?” my jaw dropped, “You’re coming over? Shouldn’t you be at school?”
“Nope! Three day weekend baby! All six of us decided to come spend it with you!” she explained excitedly.
“Um…wow okay then." Well. I had asked for a distraction, hadn't I?
“Oh my Gosh! It’s fine if we come over right?” she asked worriedly.
I chuckled. “Yes, it should be fine. I was just surprised, that's all.”
“Oh thank God!” she exclaimed, “Well! I better hang up now but I’ll see you in less than an hour!”
She hung up before I could say anything and I shook my head, rolling my eyes as I dropped my phone onto my night table.
Eight o’clock in the morning. Half an hour before I had to catch the bus…if I went to school.
Caleb popped into my thoughts and I cringed. I immediately diverted my thoughts to something that wouldn’t make me want to hurt someone and decided that I was staying home today. I couldn’t face him, not again and certainly not with his words still fresh in my mind. Today was my break day and I most certainly deserved it.
I heard Ivy get up and get ready for school, and after a while she came into my room and saw me lying flat on my back, eyes closed.
“Are you coming to school?” she asked, and even with my eyes closed I could picture her frown in my head.
“No."
“You’re not feeling well?” she asked, and I felt the mattress dip as she sat down, her hand touching my forehead.
Being a werewolf meant I was fortunate enough to have a temperature that ran a little higher than the average human, so I could at least feign a slight fever.
“I don’t feel too good,” I admitted, but it wasn’t because I was sick. It was because I was scared.
“I’ll call Dad and tell him to call the school,” she assured me, kissing my forehead, “I’ll see you when I get back from school okay?”
I nodded and listened to her footsteps recede and my door close. I checked the time and saw she would be leaving in around ten minutes. Perfect. I could take a quick shower while she was still here.
When I emerged from my shower and dressed, I winced at my face. My eyes were still bloodshot from my almost Change yesterday and had bruises under them from my restless and limited slumber. My face was still pale and my body still sore, but fortunately all my scars were gone so that was a plus.
I wandered downstairs and ate breakfast, although I didn’t particularly feel like eating I knew I needed too.
For almost forty five minutes I lay on the couch watching cartoons before the doorbell rang. I hauled myself up off the couch and hobbled to the doorway, trying to practice walking normally even though my limbs felt stiff and ached.
