In the Heart of the Forest

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If you have made it this far, I am honestly surprised. Even I can't read this far and I'm the author...

Thea

It's been two months since my almost-kiss with Logan. At least, I think it was an almost kiss. I have replayed the moment in my head countless times. The way his body felt against mine. The way he held my face so tenderly. What it felt like to have his breath on my neck.

But what really gets me, are his strange requests. "Don't go in the forest," he had said. I know it could be considered dangerous, but the way he pleaded with me made me think it was more than that.

"I can't always be there to protect you."
Protect me from what? The wolves? How could he? Why did his words seem to hold a greater meaning than what he let on? Before he left, he held me as if it was the last time he would ever be near me. And it was.

His classes switched so we don't share any classes at all. He never looks at me. Whenever we are in the same hallway together he leaves. I mean, I know we didn't talk much before that night, but he never avoided me.

Is he embarrassed? Did I do something wrong? I wouldn't have told Carter if that's what he was afraid of. Carter. How could I have forgotten? I have always thought I would be a loyal girlfriend, but there has always been something drawing me to Logan.

Maybe it was just physical attraction, but it seems like more than that. The way he looked at me that night--like I was the most precious thing he had ever seen--Carter never looks at me like that. Yes, I still like him, but he just doesn't feel the same.

I am always reluctant to participate in any kind of physical touch, but being with Logan...I wanted nothing more than to have him hold me in his arms and never let go. But that's just a childish fantasy that will never come true. Now I sound all emotional and lovesick.

Since then, I have kept my promises. I have stayed in my relationship with Carter, and I haven't gone into the forest, but I still wonder why he made such strange requests. My Wolf Boy, always a mystery.

I stare out my bedroom window, watching as the first snow falls. It's beautiful, really. I have seen snow a couple of times, but there is something different about the snow here.

Back in Georgia, the snow did look pretty, but it's so much prettier here on the tall pines. I put on my thickest coat, my boots, and a pair of black gloves before going down the stairs and outside into the winter wonderland.

The air is crisp and I can see my breath. I open my mouth and stick out my tongue, trying to catch the large snowflakes on my tongue. I dont feel any, so I close my mouth. I probably looked like a freak.

I am home alone on this fine Sunday afternoon. My dad had to go in to work for some meeting, and my mom is with her work friends in the big city having lunch. Carter offered to take me to Ginger's, but I wanted to stay home and enjoy the snow.

It had been snowing for about three hours before I came outside, so now there are about two inches of snow on the ground. I am almost afraid to mess up the pristine yard. I ignore that thought and walk across the snow-covered lawn all the way to the forest's edge.

There is something about the snow that is just relaxing. I'm sure it's not relaxing when there is a blizzard or something, but the light snowing happening right now is quiet and soothing.

I look into the forest before me. If I hadn't promised I wouldn't, I would be walking in them now. I'm not sure why I am so loyal so his word, but for some reason, I am.