CALL OF THE MOON

Chapter 4

Corey laughed a nervous laugh, and he finally looked at me.

"I can't tell you. I can only show you, and to tell you the truth, I have been wanting to do this, from the first moment I laid my eyes on you," Corey said earnestly, as he laughed uneasily.

At first my brain didn't register what he was saying, but after a few moments passed, my eyebrows rose at the realization of what he was talking about, and the heat rose between us.

"Corey,” I whispered, as his eyes held mine.

I could tell he was nervous, as his forehead began to sweat, and he licked his lips a few times. We stayed in that position for a few moments, when I finally whispered,

"Show me."

Without a second, or missing a beat, he put his palm to my cheek, dipped his head and pressed his lips to mine. He was gentle and his lips were soft. At that moment, he pulled back and stepped closer to me, closing the gap in between us. Slowly, Corey put both palms to my cheeks and again pressed his lips to mine.

Gently, he parted my lips with his tongue, and as our tongues touched, I felt tingles down my spine. My hands ran up his chest and rested on his neck. Corey rested his forehead against mine as the kiss ended, and we were both breathing unsteadily.

"Sammy, I don't know what came over me," he breathed, and I smiled gently.

"It's okay," I whispered.

Abruptly, he pulled back, and he had a look of frustration on his face.

"No, Sammy, it isn't,” he said sternly, and I looked at him, startled.

What just happened? Why is he upset? I wondered.

"Corey, shouldn't..." I started, but he cut me off by looking at me seriously.

Startled, I searched his eyes, but I found nothing but anger and frustration in them.

Why is he suddenly acting this way? Did I say something that made him mad? I was clueless.

"We should head back. Dinner's almost ready,” he said gruffly.

Immediately, he let go of me, turned on his heel and stalked away. I stared after him.

What really just happened back there? I wondered.

Corey didn't even turn back to see if I was following him. He just continued walking, fast-paced, towards his house. Nervously, I swallowed hard and followed him as I silently racked my head with questions on the way back.

Did he have a girlfriend? Did my dad tell him not to be more than friends with me? I continued to ask myself these questions as I grabbed my socks and shoes and I followed him back to the house.

I was relieved to see my dad's cruiser parked in the driveway as we approached the house. I sighed a sigh of relief and I hurried past Corey for the door. I heard him sigh sadly as I passed him, but I didn't turn around. Frustrated, I walked into the house and saw my dad sitting in a chair next to Bill. Marta was busy in the kitchen.

"There you are, honey. Did you enjoy your walk down to the beach?" asked my dad with a smile. I winced and said,

"Dad, I think I will just see you at home. Go ahead and stay and eat. I just need to go home," I stuttered as I looked at him with a pleading look, and my dad stood abruptly.

"Honey, what's wrong?" he asked, concerned.

Suddenly, I got a determined look on my face.

"I just need to go home," I stated firmly.

My dad and Bill looked at each other in surprise for a moment, and then they looked back up at me, concerned.

"Oh okay, honey, I will bring you a plate home,” said my dad.

Thankfully, my dad was not a hoverer. He gave me my space when I needed it, and he didn't ask too many questions. That was one thing different between my mom and my dad. My mom hovered and wanted to know everything about anything that was going on in my life. On the other hand, my dad was pretty chill, and as long as it wasn't serious, he really just let things be. I smiled in relief and looked at Corey's dad apologetically.

"Thank you for inviting me. I can't stay tonight. Can we do a rain check?" I asked Bill.

He nodded as Corey walked into the house. My dad and Bill both looked at him, and I didn't. Quickly, I looked at them and grinned.

"Okay, see ya," I said and quickly walked past Corey and out of the door.

As I passed Corey, our hands brushed each other, which shot a jolt of electricity through my veins.

What was that? I wondered as I jumped into my truck.

I sighed a heavy sigh as I started it and drove to my house. My breathing returned to normal as I walked into my house, and as I set my backpack by the door, as I flipped on the light.

Grimly, I pulled a frozen pre-made dinner from the freezer and popped it into the microwave. While my food cooked, I grabbed a soda from the fridge and the microwave dinged. I grabbed my meal and headed upstairs to my room.

It was dark in my room and the only light shining was the moonlight coming from the window. Carefully, I found my desk, and I set my stuff down and switched on the light. I saw my furry ball of sun-colored and white fur curled in a little ball on my bed.

My cat Peaches, my faithful little friend. My dad didn't really like cats, but he made an exception for me because he was happy that I was coming home to stay. The little cat made a sweet high-pitched purr noise as I sat down, as if to say hello, as she pulled her head up and looked at me with sleepy eyes. She then yawned, and the little fur ball blinked at me. After that, she swung her head back in her little ball formation. I smiled at her, ate my food, and took the trash downstairs.

After that, I threw away the cardboard tray, and I washed the fork I had used as I heard a wolf cry not too far away, and the cry sounded sad, almost heartbreaking. I looked out the kitchen window and gasped. There was an oversized wolf staring back at me.

The wolf was handsome with his red and brown fur coat. I had never seen a wolf that big, or up this close before, I thought to myself. His eyes, though, looked like the saddest eyes I had ever seen. Evidently, I took a deep breath and decided to see how close I could get to him.

Slowly, I opened the back door and stepped carefully onto the wooden floor of the back porch. The night air was warm and clear, and the night sky twinkled with the stars. The wolf stood stale as he watched me. Cautiously, I took a couple of steps towards the edge of the porch, and he turned quickly to jump away.

"Please don't go," I breathed, and he turned back to me.

Quietly, I inched towards the stairs, slowly reached the bottom of the steps, I slid down the railing post with my back and sat on the soft grass. The wolf looked curious and inched towards me.

"Please, don't hurt me," I whispered, and the wolf snorted as he dropped to his belly.

Bravely, he crawled towards me and stopped just next to me. Noticeably, his eyes were a beautiful green and gold.

"You are a beautiful creature," I said.

The wolf winked at me, and I smiled in surprise.

"I guess you can understand me," I whispered.

At that moment, the wolf grunted softly and slapped his paw on the ground. I studied him for a moment and then raised my hand. He looked at my hand and turned his head to the side. Slowly, I reached my hand out to touch his fur, and he raised his paw and softly slapped my hand down. His claws were huge and dug into my hand a little.

"Ow," I said as I pulled my hand back quickly.

Naturally, I looked at my hand and there were two deep red scratches on the back of it. I looked at him, and he looked at me like he was sorry.

"Well, I guess you didn't mean it," I said, and he squeaked, which sounded like a laugh.

Cheerfully, I smiled and reached out to touch him again. The wolf pushed his face against my hand. His fur was so soft as I ran my fingers through it, and he seemed to purr a soft purr.

"Do you like it when I pet you?" I asked.

In response, he pushed my hand close to me and inched forward a little more. Cautiously, he laid his enormous head on my lap. I ran my hand over his head and scratched behind his ears, and as I sighed a deep sigh, and I felt him do the same.

"I got to tell you, after the night I've had, this is for sure the best part," I hummed happily.

Smoothly, the wolf pushed his head against my chest and I rubbed him under his chin. Gratefully, I enjoyed the silence while I rubbed his fur, and I thought about Corey and his behavior tonight. For a moment, I laid my head back against the wooden post behind me and sighed as I looked up at the stars. The wolf made a low grumbling noise. I sighed and looked back down at the wolf. I decided to let it all out, and this seemed like a good time to do it.

"My best friend, I have known since I was a kid, used to be the sweetest guy I knew. Now I don't even get him," I sighed, and he did the same again.

"I mean really, how are you going to show someone you have feelings for someone and then just push them away, when you are the one that is doing the showing?" I cried as tears began to fall from my eyes and the wolf lifted his head.

He made a whining noise that confused me.

"Are you okay?" I asked in concern as I sniffed, and the wolf made a soft barking noise.

Suddenly, the sound of a car pulling up startled the wolf, and he jumped to his feet. Without warning, he leapt into the forest, and I stood up.

"Bye," I whispered after the beautiful creature as I quickly brushed myself off, and then I heard my father call my name.

I stood in the backyard for a moment, and then I started for the stairs.

"Sammy?" He called again.

For a moment, I looked back at the forest and then back at my house. I wondered where the wolf had run off to.

Did he really understand me?

The wolf acted as if he did, and seemed to feel what I was feeling. That confused me. I thought wild animals stayed away from humans, or attacked them when they felt threatened. This situation, though, fought against everything that I had ever learned about wolves. I sighed in confusion as I walked up the back steps, over the porch, and went inside.

"Are you alright? What happened at the Clearwater’s tonight?" he asked, concerned.

Meekly, I looked at him and sighed. I knew he had been worried about me all night, but the phone rang before I could respond. My dad grabbed the receiver quickly and put it to his ear.

"Wilcox residence,” he answered.

"Yes, of course, she is right here,” he said and looked at me.

I started to shake my head no, but he handed me the phone, anyway. I scowled at my dad and he chuckled.

"Hello?" I answered, a little irritated as I glared at my father. I really wasn't in the mood to talk to anybody.

"Sammy?" asked a husky voice.

"Yeah?"

"Meet me in the forest behind your house,” said the voice.

What? Who was this strange caller? I asked myself.

"Wait, who is this?" I asked.

There was a chuckle at the other end of the line.

"It's me, Corey,” he said, and my eyebrows shot down in anger.

At that moment, my father looked at me in question.

"Why, I mean no, I can't!" I said and slammed the phone down.

I stared at the phone angrily. The nerve of him, acting like nothing ever happened. Who did he think he was? I thought angrily.

"Sammy?" My father said.

Frightened, I jumped at the sound of my dad's voice, and I looked at him. For a split second, I had forgotten he was even in the same room as me.

"Honey, did Corey do something...to..."

He sighed. He seemed to be having trouble choosing his next words.

"To hurt you," he finally said. I looked at the floor and then back up at him.

"No, dad, it was nothing."

"Then why are you so angry?" He asked skeptically.

Heavily, I sighed.

"Because, dad. He should call his girlfriend to meet him in the woods in the middle of the night, not me," I angrily cried as I shook my head in frustration.

At that moment, my dad smirked, and I looked at him in question.

"What's so funny?" I asked, and he gave me a reassuring look.

"Honey, Corey Clearwater doesn't have a girlfriend. To my understanding, he has been waiting for you. Ever since you stopped coming around, he has always asked about you. I think he may have a crush on you, sweetheart. I have seen him around other girls, and they try to talk to him, and he just ignores them,” my dad explained as he smiled at me.

An image of what had happened earlier with Kim popped into my head, and I remembered how Corey acted around the girl. He wanted nothing to do with her. My dad was right, Corey Clearwater was all about me.

"Really?" I asked, and my dad nodded.

"Well, he sure has a funny way of showing it," I said as I crossed my arms over my chest, annoyed.

My dad looked at me faithfully.

"Honey, give the kid a break. He just got the girl of his dreams back in his life."

I rolled my eyes at him. He was such a drama king at times. My dad laughed at me as I shook my head.

"Okay, Mr. Dramatic. I'm going to bed," I said as I laughed, and my dad laughed too.

"Goodnight, kid. See ya in the morning."

"Night, dad."

Contently, I went upstairs to my room and shut my door. I changed into a pair of shorts and a tank top, and I thought about what my dad had just told me.

Corey has a crush on me? I shook my head at the thought.

Suddenly, I heard a tapping sound at my window, and curiously, I looked at the window. The tapping sound continued. Cautiously, I walked over to the window and opened it. Shockingly, I stared as I saw Corey standing on the porch roof at my window.

"Corey!" I exclaimed in an angry whisper.

"What are you doing here?"

He stared seriously into my eyes, and I reared back for a moment.

Why was he looking at me like that? And how did he get on the roof without me hearing it? I wondered.

"I needed to see you. I just don't want to leave things how we left them," he whispered back.

Transparently, my eyes roamed over his bare muscular chest, down to his dark cut-off jeans and low-cut sneakers. He had combed his hair back, and glistened in the moonlight like it was just freshly washed. Suddenly, I had the urge to touch his chest, kiss his lips, and feel his body against mine. I shook my head at the thought.

Why am I thinking like a raging, hormonal teenager right now? I wondered, and I shook my head again.

"Can I come in?" He asked as his eyes trailed over my body.

I swallowed hard and nodded as I stepped to the side. He climbed in and looked at me. I looked at him and then I asked,

"What's up?"

I crossed my arms over my chest. Evidently, I was still annoyed, and I really wanted him to leave me alone at the moment, but I pushed the feelings aside.

"I'm sorry about earlier," he said apologetically.

I searched his eyes, and I could tell that he was being sincere. I sighed a heavy sigh.

"Corey, I don't understand, I..."

He cut me off by closing the distance between us with one stride and pressing his lips to mine. At first, I wanted to push him away, the nerve he thought he could just kiss me any time he wanted to, but then at that same moment, everything melted away and my hands found the back of his neck. Corey’s arms came around me, and as our skin touched, it sent a shock right through me. He leaned his forehead against mine.

"Sammy, you are my best friend, my heart and my soul. I have been so lost without you. I'll be whatever you need me to be, and I will always be here for you,” he whispered as he closed his eyes.

I smiled and felt a rise in my heart. We stayed that way for a couple of moments, comfortable sharing the silence. He then let go of me, looked out the window, and sighed. He then looked at me.

"What?" I asked.

"I have to go. I will see you tomorrow."

Before I could say anything, he was out of the window and off of the roof. He disappeared into the forest without a sound. Confused, I stood there for a second, trying to wrap my head around the current events, and shook my head. I walked over to the window and closed it. Still in shock, I turned off the light and crawled under the covers. As I heard a wolf cry in the distance, it sounded different this time. The cry was happy. I smiled.

"Goodnight my friend," I whispered.

I have felt a little better since Corey came and apologized. However, I was still a little angry and confused about what happened between us on the beach. However, now that he came over and cleared some of the air between us, I could ask him what that was all about. Easily, I drifted off into a dreamless sleep.