Howl - Brieanna Boyce (free novel 24 TXT) 📗

/> I smiled, “Relax it’s no big deal we’re friends right?”

Kale smiled, “Yes we are.”


I went into the bathroom and got in my pajamas and when I walked out Kale was still awkwardly standing and hadn’t bothered changing.

I rolled my eyes, “you’re going to sleep like that?”

“Well uh, no I guess not,” shyly he slipped out of his shirt and pants so that he was in his boxers. His golden bronze skin glimmering in the moonlight, the sculpted muscles shaping his chest and torso, a curious line of hair that disappeared under his remaining clothing, he looked like a god even I had to admit that. I shook the thoughts away this was Kale after all.

I crawled into bed lying on my back and staring at the ceiling, I felt Kale climb into bed next to me; only our elbows touched and yet it seemed like a fiery current was flowing between both of us.

“Goodnight Kale,” I said barely whispering my voice coming out much weaker and frailer then I’d intended.

“Night Skylar,” Kale responded quietly.

It took longer than most days for me to fall asleep, due to the awkward silence between Kale and I that is until I heard the reassuring sounds of his soft, yet humorous snoring. I chuckled quietly to myself and let sleep blanket itself over me.

I was sitting in the rain walking down a street with houses that all seemed very familiar, the clouds loomed overhead ominously as rain pelted angrily, soaking me to the bone. So that all that was left of me was a small, shivering, pathetic creature. My breathe came out in ghostly clouds, my hair sticking to my face and neck as if my hair were trying to hide itself against my pale flesh.

Tristan sauntered over with a grace that seemed a mix of the technique of a ballerina but the strength of a leopard. His eyes were blank only accentuated by the shadows underneath them, he was also leeched of color, and he went up to me and backslapped me. I felt the world spin and the blood leak out from my mouth.

“You lie next to him,” Tristan said, his tone matter- of- fact like. He seemed to have no emotion his blonde hair sticking to his face. He like Kale; also looked like a god. Except whereas Kale looked like a kind, merciful, god; Tristan looked cruel and unforgiving.

“What are you talking about? You have serious issues Tristan you know that?!” I rubbed my face extremely ticked off and surprised, Tristan had never hit me before.

Tristan grimaced, “You’re sleeping next to that wolf.”

I looked at him horrified, “How in the hell would you know that? Are you stalking me?!”

Tristan growled, “That’s not the point.”

I sneered, “You know what you’re absolutely right the point is that it’s none of your frickin’ business and that if you ever hit me again I’ll hit you back.”

Tristan was shaking, “You’re my partner it is my business.”

I was exasperated there was nothing more I wanted to do then punch something, in fact I was shaking and it wasn’t the cold, my body had adjusted to that, no it was the fact that he was pissing me off and that just when I thought I knew what was going on something sideswiped me and left me clueless.

“What the hell do you mean I’m your partner?”

Tristan sighed, “It means me and you belong together forever, it’s part of being a vampire.”

“No!” I screeched I briskly walked up to him and poked him hard in the chest, “You listen to me, I’m not anyone’s “partner,” or “mate,” or whatever, I’m Skylar, I’m not some animal you can’t just say I’m yours and just expect me to swoon, No! Besides I’m not you’re anything, you beat me, captured me in a basement, tried to bleed me dry, and get me to drink Ashley.”

Tristan rubbed his forehead as if I was pestering him.

“Oh I’m sorry am I bothering you?! Well maybe next time you’ll think first before following me, or interfering in my dreams, or slapping me across the face, don’t you dare say I’ll forgive you, I won’t.”

Then I left the dream and woke up in bed relieved. I turned around and faced Kale not realizing how close he was looming to me. His hair was a mess and his mouth was gaping wide as he snored. It took everything I had not to giggle. Without warning he wrapped an arm around me and pulled me close, I smiled and traced the muscles of his chest softly, I lay my head against his chest listening to his strong, steady, heartbeat. I looked up and saw that he had stopped snoring and that his gaping mouth was closed and smiling. I could’ve pulled away but I rested my head against him enjoying his earthy scent until I fell into a deeper much more comfortable sleep.

When I woke up again I was in the bed by myself I sat up pouting a bit, until I saw the letter on the bed next to me.

Dear Skylar,
Went to go get us some food, be back later.

Kale

I smiled at the note and put it on the nightstand beside my bed; I got my clothes out and went into the bathroom to take a shower. I took off my clothes and started the shower then hopped in letting the water soak through my hair, but I found the shower to be much shorter then most of the one’s I’ve taken since I changed. I didn’t think about what I was going to do, I didn’t stress out, or even think I just got cleaned, dried myself off and got into a pair of faded ripped jeans, a long sleeved striped tee, and a beret.

I looked into my reflection in the mirror and for once I wasn’t horrified. I mean I still looked weird. One blood red eye and another piercing gold, almost yellow eye and my mahogany colored hair and little ringlets. I was unbelievably pale and I was so small. I was only 4’9” and a whole 90lbs, I was tiny compared with everyone else, add some freckles and I’m a freak show. The more I examined myself the easier the new appearance was to accept. I was prettier there was no denying it; I’d just never be able to blend in. Ever.

I finally walked out of the bathroom, I felt so disconnected for some reason like I was observing everyone and everything else from underwater. As though I was somehow disconnected from the rest of the world, I walked into the kitchen and saw Ashley at the table eating cereal quietly. I grabbed frosted flakes and sat at the table across from her. I grabbed a spoon and opened the box of cereal eating it dry.

Ashley looked at me and raised an eyebrow, “You’re so weird Skylar.”

It wasn’t exactly the type of conversation I was hoping for but beggars can’t be choosers. “Yeah I can be,” I said nonchalantly and continued eating.

“So did you wash the sheets?” Ashley asked.

“I just washed them last week why would I wash them again?”

Ashley was eating the cereal and glaring at me, “Don’t play stupid with me.”

“I’m not stupid,” I huffed, “but I still have no clue what you’re talking about.”

Ashley looked at me confused, “You didn’t bang him.”

I gaped, “No! I didn’t!”

Ashley laughed, “Well I’m sorry virgin Mary I just figured… I mean you two were sleeping next to each other…”

“Why does everyone expect me to be a whore?”

“I don’t think you’re a whore… he’s just good looking…Are you interested in him?”

I took another spoonful of frosted flakes, “No, I just don’t think you’re his type.”

Ashley pouted, “Why because I’m not a tease like you?”

“I don’t appreciate you insulting me Ashley, I’ve risked my life for you I could’ve drunken your blood but I didn’t. You obviously don’t understand how hard it is to resist blood. I fought Tristan, my friend since the first grade; and I did it for you I didn’t even know you.”

Ashley glared, “How long are you going to hold that over my head?”

“How long are you going to stab me in the back for someone you hardly know, you know what bothers me the most? It’s that you don’t trust me, after everything we’ve been through; in fact if anything it should be me not trusting you. Not the other way around.”

Ashley huffed and stood up, “You’re really something you know; if it wasn’t for me you wouldn’t have anything, not this motel not your job you’d have nothing.”

“Yeah, well neither would you! You’re a fake, you’re a self centered brat, and you pretend to be something you aren’t for others. I accepted you for that, for the worst parts of you and the best. You’d be just as lost without me as I would’ve been without you.”

Ashley didn’t say anything, she was like this sometimes; it didn’t matter what you said to her she was unreachable. Well that was fine with me.

I stormed out of the kitchen, leaving my mess just because I knew it would bother her, Kale walked in with food.

“Hey,” he said smiling, “I brought breakfast,” he said carrying McDonald’s bags.

I nodded, “It’s nice out and I know this really great park.”

“Well… shouldn’t we invite Ashley?”

I snapped, “No we shouldn’t.”

Kale blinked surprised, “all right then.”

I took his arm and led him to the park sitting on the swing set, he sat himself next to me and opened a bag and handed me a hash brown which I ate while staring up at the clear blue sky. The weather seemed calm, completely contradicted my inner turmoil and yet it was impossible for the weather and Kale’s presence not to calm me a little.

“So why are you so upset with that girl?” Kale asked.

I began swinging on my heels so that I only rocked a little, “because she can see right through me.”

Kale smiled, “You can see right through me and I don’t fight with you.”

I sighed and swung more lifting my feet a little off the ground, “What is your biggest fear and your biggest desire?”

Kale raised an eyebrow and stopped swinging, “Why?”

“Because those are the most intimate things I think you can ever know about a person.”

Kale sighed, “My biggest fear is that I’ll disappoint everyone and my biggest desire is just to have my mom back.”

I stopped digging my feet into the ground and looking at Kale shocked.

Kale looked at me, “What’re yours?”

“My biggest fear is that I will disappoint everyone and my greatest desire is to have my family back.”

Kale smirked his golden eyes seeming a little brighter, “Yeah sure copycat.”

“Meow,” I said smiling.

Kale laughed, “Were you being honest?”

I nodded “Yeah, I really was.”

Kale leaned into me but before his mouth could meet mine I put a hand out to stop him. Kale opened his eyes and looked at me with a mix of confusion and hurt. He then sat up and cleared his throat looking away. I could see his jaw clenching and the muscles in his throat working.

“Kale,” I muttered, “I want