Wolves in the Woods

Chapter 2

^^Picture of Connor Nichols^^

Chapter 2

 “Ash! Wake up Ash!” I heard a voice whisper into my ear as that same person shook me.  I opened my eyes to see Jay and Kacey standing over me.  “Did you hear the wolves last night?”  Jay asked excited as Kacey sat down at the foot of my bed.  I shook my head at Jay.  “Really?  They woke us up, they were pretty close to the house I think.”  Kacey stated looking out one of my bedroom windows.  I had actually slept really well last night, whether it was the comfy new bed, or the exhaustion and the long flight and car ride.

I slowly got up and pulled out my bathroom bag from under my bed as Jay and Kacey adventured around my room looking out my windows and all the artwork that hung on the walls.  I shooed them out and made my way to the bathroom at the end of the hallway.  It was just your average bathroom, except, maybe a lot bigger.  It had a jacuzzi bathtub in the furthest corner  and a shower next to it.  The sink was next to the jacuzzi.  I placed my bag on the floor and started putting my soaps and brushes on the counter that surrounded the sink.  Across from the sink over by the shower was a hutch for towels and a towel rack on the shower door, next to it was another door which I assumed went to the toilet.  

I finished unpacking and walked over to the shower with a towel, my shampoo and conditioner and body wash.  I turned on the water and let it heat up as I stripped down and climbed into the warm water.  I washed my hair and used my favorite body wash that smelt like vanilla and raspberries to wash away yesterday and start fresh today.  

Once I was finished, I wrapped the towel around myself and climbed out.  I dried off my body and walked back to my room for fresh clothes, I put on clean undergarments and chose a pair of ripped jeans and a plain white tank top.  I headed back to the bathroom and started to dry my hair after putting product in so it wouldn’t frizz or get tangled.  I towel dried it until it was damp, then left it so it could dry on it’s own.  My hair is a dark brown with tints of reddish-purple.  It’s naturally straight with the occasional loose ringlets at the tips of my hair which cascade over my chest.  As I waited for it to dry, I applied some natural eye shadow, some blush and mascara.

Once I was finished I headed down the stairs to the kitchen where my father, Jay and Kacey were waiting with pancakes, my favorite.  I sat down at the island and grabbed a plate and grabbed two pancakes.  I'm not much of a breakfast person, but I can never pass up pancakes.  I started eating, but could only finish one and a half.  So I got up and put my plate in the sink before heading upstairs to write in my journal.

Once I got upstairs, I walked into my room and pulled out my last unpacked bag which had my journal, sketchbook, and a few other things that were close to me.  I grabbed my journal and made myself comfortable on the bay window that looked out onto the woods and part of our new front yard.  I didn’t write in it everyday, only when I remembered or needed too.  I opened it up the book and turned the the next clean page.

Dear Diary,

      Yesterday we moved to our new house.  It is so beautiful out here, and the house is lovely.  Hopefully this fresh start will be good for us.  I know we are all running away from something, but sometimes it’s easier to run then stay.  Dad and Amy took the main floor, Jay and Kacey are sharing the second floor, and I get the third floor all to myself.  Amy is coming with Mazie in a few days.  Jay said that he heard wolves last night, so of course I’m going to find out if this woods has them.  Maybe when I’m out there exploring I’ll find some nice ones that will let me draw them.

I put down my journal and went back to my bag and pulled out my sketchbook, then walked into my closet to get a navy striped cardigan and my favourite pair of matching navy converse.  Then made my way outside into the woods.  After about an hour I could no longer see the house or find any wolves.  I continued walking until I found a clearing in the forest.  

I walked out further into the clearing and looked at the array of colorful wildflowers.  Not wanting to hurt them, I sat at the base of a tree looking onto the field.  I would just sketch this for today and look for the wolves later.  I started with the tree line, working my way toward myself so I wouldn’t smudge the pencil lines that created the mirror image of the field.  I don’t know where I get the artistic ability from, neither of my parents could draw, but I found peace in it.  My father could write, and my mother could cook, I tended to set flamed to everything in the kitchen.  I had to get Kacey to make me pancakes so I wouldn’t burn the house down.

I don’t remember how long I had been drawing, but as I looked up to find my next art subject in the field, I heard some people approaching.  I quickly got up and made my way back a few trees so I could still see the field but they couldn’t see me.  I only had a few flowers left when I saw the three figures approaching.  They were all boys, about my age, probably older and going to be seniors like me.  

I finished drawing and scurried to close my sketch book before they found me.  I quickly got up to flee because I didn’t want any trouble, but was too late when I clumsily headbutted the first boy’s chest.  I didn’t expect them to be this close so soon.  As I started to fall back, I grabbed the closest boy to try and stabilize myself but ended up pulling him down with me.  

He quickly took his weight off me so he wasn’t hurting me, and looked at me.  “Mate.” He huskily whispered.  What?  Did he just call me his mate?  Or is he Australian or whatever?  I mean we don’t even know each other's names and he’s calling me his friend?  Or is he talking to the other two boys?  But he’s still staring at me with his beautiful, light blue grey eyes, and I couldn’t help but stare at him.  He was really cute, with his tousled hair and bright eyes.  

I quickly realized the situation I was in and frantically tried to get out from under the him and get out of the woods.  He didn’t look happy by my urgence to get away from him, and gently grabbed my wrist as I tried to get away.  He gave me a once-over, causing me to shift uncomfortably.  Suddenly his eyes glazed over like he was deep in thought, but quickly snapped out of it.  He let go of my wrist, but kept his hand extended for me to shake it.  “Hey, sorry about that.  I’m Connor Nichols.  What's your name?”  He asked with a cheeky smile showing off his perfect teeth.  I looked at his hand then quickly back to him and signed “Sorry I really have to go.”  Before running off back through the woods the way I came.  

Now I know what you’re thinking, “Ash, your mute?!”  Well the answer is no, I’m not mute, I just don’t like to talking to strangers, or unless it’s necessary.  I am actually fluent in Sign language, French, and Spanish.  But I rarely use them.

By the time I made it back to the house I had remembered something very important, I left my sketchbook back at the clearing..