Chapter Twenty-Two

“Where have you been?” Jana asks at school the next day.

“At home,” I sarcastically reply. “Where else would I be?”

“Well, it’s just…I feel like I haven’t seen you much lately. I mean—OH MY GOD. What happened to your leg?”

I glance at my ankle. “Nothing it’s just a scratch.”

“Um, scratches don’t require the use of heavy bandages.”

I don’t say anything. We walk side by side through the crowd of students in the hallway until we reach my locker. I spin the lock a few times and it clicks open.

“Did you hear about those two sophomores who went missing?”

“Uh, no. I don’t really keep up with the news. Plus, I’ve been busy.”

“Oh, well. They can’t seem to find them. I don’t know them, though. But that’s so awful.”

“That’s what search and rescue is for.” I do think it’s a little strange that two girls go missing. But who knows? Maybe they decided to get out of this place, and didn’t tell anyone.

Jana cuts the thick air by asking, “You’re still coming to work today, right?”

“Yeah, why wouldn’t I? Just because you haven’t seen me in a couple of days doesn’t mean I quit my job,” I snap. Why am I being so bitchy to her? I take a breath and collect my thoughts.

“Good, because Lily’s acting weird lately. I think she might quit.” Jana cringes.

“Lily, Lily,” I mock. “I can’t stand her.”

Jana leans against the set of lockers beside mine, folding her arms across her chest. “Candra, what’s wrong with you today? You’re never like this.”

“I’m in a shitty mood,” I reply, which is entirely true.

“Sorry to hear that,” she mumbles. “Anyway, I guess I’ll see you in class.”

I want to apologize for my behavior, but I choke on words that never leave my mouth. How can I explain to her what’s going on? She’ll never understand. Most of the werewolves of West Hartford—from what I’ve learned—don’t want their identities in the open. They don’t want humans finding out we exist. We’re nothing.

My stomach feels fuzzy. First period whizzes by, and as soon as I hit the door for second period, I realize Ben’s not in his desk. I search the room, but he’s nowhere.

Maybe he’s at his locker, I think.

Classmates file into their seats, and still no sign of him. The tardy bell rings, and I know then that he’s not coming to class. I almost feel stupid for asking him to stay with me last night. I should’ve let him leave, go home, wherever.

English is one big blur. I’m ready to leave, and it’s only noon.

Jana’s late for lunch, but sits with me at our usual table by the back windows.

“Where’s Blake?” I ask as soon as she sits.

“Oh, he had some plans with his family today. I have no clue what they’re up to. An annual get-together or something,” she blathers.

“Sounds boring.” I snort.

“Maybe, but at least he’s not at school.”

I weigh the options. “True.”

“What really happened to you?” Jana’s eyes are like truth serum. I can’t hold my words back. Once I open my mouth to speak, they’ll flow like water.

“I was born an idiot,” I answer, staring at the plain table.

“No, you weren’t. Why would you think that?”

I hiss the words through my teeth as I look up. “Look, there’s stuff going on that you don’t know about, stuff I can’t tell you. So, it’d be nice if you stop asking me questions.” Instantly, I regret saying it, and turn my face away.

Seconds of silence dangle between us. Jana’s face speaks for itself. A combination of shock and hurt crumples her features.

She says, “Okay,” and picks up her tray. 

I battle with myself for two seconds.

“Wait!” I yell.

She turns around and walks toward me, keeping her distance.

She’ll be even more pissed when she hears about Ben. I might lose her on this one, but I inhale, exhale through my mouth, and say, “Have a seat.” When she does, I say, “Ben stayed the night with me.”

She’s speechless, I assume, since she doesn’t say anything at first. So I’m quick to add, “I ran into his mom, and things got a little out-of-hand.”

“I hate to say it, but I told you so.”

I shrug it off. “Yeah, I know I was wrong.”

Her eyes soften. “They’re crazy, Candra. I didn’t tell you to stay away from Ben for just any reason. In case you haven’t noticed, they kind of hate you.”

“I’ve noticed,” I say, staring anywhere but at her.

“So, tell me,” she starts, “why didn’t he pick you up for school this morning?”

I groan. “You noticed?”

She nods.

“I have no idea. When I woke up, he was gone.” I’m quick to add, “But we didn’t sleep together, if that’s what you’re thinking.”

“Uh-huh.” She doesn’t sound convinced, and her smile is nothing but wicked, a slap in the face. Why didn’t I listen to her, Randy and Beth?

~*~

Work drags, even though customers flood in, like we’re giving away free clothes. I’ve never been so busy in my life. And sitting around all the time, doing nothing but folding shirts and jeans, and taking pictures for the website, doesn’t prepare me much.

“Whoa! That was rough!” Jana exclaims, pretending to wipe sweat from her brow once our last customer leaves.

I blow a raspberry. “Yeah, too much for me. Where’d all those people come from?”

She shakes her head, and tidies up the counter. “I have no idea. Is it bad that I hope they don’t come back for a while?”

“Funny. You read my mind.” I throw her a smile.

She steps down from behind the counter, and leans against it. “I meant to ask you if you want to go to Hartford with me and Blake this weekend.”

I shrug. “Yeah, sure. What’s going on there?”

“Just a getaway trip. Nothing fancy. We wanted to get some fresh air for a bit,” she says.

I smile and think, You have no idea how much fresh air I need, but refrain from saying it aloud. “I’m in.”

“Good! C’mon. Let’s get this place cleaned up, before another herd stampedes through here,” she says, taking off toward the supply room.

The clothes are in lumpy piles, and sizes are completely out of order. Somehow we manage to get everything back where it belongs, and neatly.

“I need to get the new shipment and spread it on the table, so we can take pictures,” Jana says, chewing on her lower lip.

“I’ll go grab the boxes,” I say.

Jana nods. “Yeah, sure.”

The back of the shop is where we store new arrivals. It’s a tight area, but everything’s in a specific place. Livia has designated shelving for certain clothes—shoes, shirts, bottoms, new shipments. All I have to do is find the boxes and open them.

Something catches the corner of my eyes, something dark and…shadowy.

He’s here.

The hairs on my neck tickle my skin. I wonder how he got in, but then I realize none of this makes sense. He’s a dream, unreal. Period.

As soon as I turn toward him, he darts out the exit door. My stupid self decides to follow. Who is he? Why does he keep stalking me?

“Hey, wait!” I call behind him. He’s not far ahead, but he moves fluidly, like he doesn’t have feet.

I hobble past dumpsters, and their disgusting odors cinch my nostrils. As he floats through the alleyway, I remember him chasing me in my dreams. Now it’s the other way around.

A man steps out of a back door, taking out the garbage. He stares at me as I race past him, and then calls behind me, telling me to slow down. He doesn’t see what I see. He doesn’t have dreams that haunt him in real life.

The shadowy figure halts, and turns around to observe me. He raises a hand, points a wispy finger at me, and says, “You didn’t listen,” and just…vanishes.