Escaping from the wolf
23

"Long live loooove!" I exclaimed at the top of my lungs while Thomas held me by the waist.

"Anne, stop drinking, okay?" he said very close to my ear. The music was blasting so loud at PopCap; I don't know why I hadn't come here before, this place is amazing.

"Come on, Thomas, leave me alone and enjoy!" I laughed. I continued dancing with my eyes closed and enjoyed the moment. I think I'm too drunk to remember this tomorrow. Without thinking twice, I opened my eyes, grabbed Thomas by the collar of his shirt, and pressed my lips against his.

Damn.

Eight hours earlier...

Kayler's father watched us attentively; I don't know why since we don't know anything about that guy, we don't even know him.

"Wait... what do we have to do with this? We don't even know him," Carolina said.

"That's right, I've never seen him before," I added.

Kayler's dad lowered the folder and sighed, as if he knew we'd say that.

"The idiot was watching you. He knew what we are," Kayler spat angrily, more to himself.

"But who did this to him?" his father wondered.

"I don't know," Connor, crossing his arms next to Kayler, replied, "but whoever it is, they're one of us. But maybe not from our pack." He looked at me when he said that last part.

"I'll call the police chief, he should be able to give us answers." Kayler's father approached us, handed the blue folder to Carolina, gave her a half-smile, and walked past us. I heard footsteps running behind us. I assumed he left in wolf form. Kayler approached Carolina.

"Are we going home?" he asked.

"No, I'm going to Anne's house and taking this folder with me. We have a lot to investigate," she said, though she didn't sound very happy. And Kayler noticed.

"Carolina..."

She took me by the arm.

"Oh, and if you don't mind, I'll take the car."

Without saying more, we started walking towards Kayler's car, Carolina got in the driver's seat, and I took the passenger seat.

"I still can't believe how he kicked us out of school," she said as she started the car and backed out. My gaze was on the guy lying on the ground, the others covering him with a sheet, Kayler not taking his eyes off his girlfriend, and Connor... Connor.

Kenzie.

I don't know what to do.

"Anne, are you listening?"

I looked at her.

"Yeah."

She made a turn and, while on the road, accelerated.

"I think he thought we might know something about that guy," I responded to what she had said before.

She laughed sarcastically.

"I'm his girlfriend, Anne, we've moved past that stage of distrust."

"Okay."

I felt her looking at me.

"There's something wrong with you."

"It's nothing."

"I know it is, but I also know you'll tell me when you're ready. I understand."

I looked at her.

"You understand me but not your boyfriend?"

She huffed.

"It's different."

"Uh-huh."

The rest of the way was somewhat quiet because the radio was on low, until we reached the town. We passed by the high school; I looked out the window, which was open. Further ahead, I spotted Thomas near his car with the keys in his hand, looking at the car. He was on the other side of the road, in the lane close to my window. I looked at him as we passed by, and he did the same.

It happened in slow motion, just like in those drama movies. After leaving him behind, I felt like I wanted to keep seeing him. I don't know why, but I felt it.

"Looks that say it all," Carolina said, throwing me a hint.

I laughed.

"You're crazy."

"That laugh, Anne. Oh, friend. You're off."

I shook my head, ignoring her.

When we got home, neither my dad's car nor my mom's was there. To be honest, I haven't seen her; it seems like she's avoiding me. Maybe she already knows what I'm going to ask her.

Carolina and I went to my room, took off our jackets, and sat on the bed with the folder in hand. She opened it.

"I don't know how we didn't realize he was following us."

"He was very clever," I whispered.

The first page said "Property of Augusto."

"Augusto... Hmm, I don't recognize the name," I admitted.

"Neither do I."

We turned to the second page. It was a photo of Carolina fighting with Paige, who had just arrived. They were on the ground, Paige underneath while Carolina was on top, choking her. I remember that. "Oh my God, what a good photo," she murmured, almost laughing.

"You were the first person to defend me." I stared blankly, remembering all the times those girls had thrown my books, locked me in the girls' bathroom all night; I still remember crying and asking for help, but no one could hear me. Dad thought I had spent the night with a boy.

I also remember a day when they threw trash in my hair. When they bribed me to do their homework. So many awful things I went through. And I did it alone. No one wanted to be my friend, no guy looked at me, it was real torture.

"Anne," Carolina's distant voice pulled me out of my thoughts.

"Huh?"

"What are you thinking about?"

"Nothing," I smiled at her.

She nodded and turned to the next page; it was about Carolina and Kayler, with him carrying her to his car. Carolina smiled as if remembering something. On the next page was me, riding my bike to Carolina's house. Wow, he didn't miss a thing.

"There are so many pages, and I can't stop thinking about Kayler," she said, closing the folder abruptly. "And I know you can't stop thinking about Thomas."

I pressed my lips into a thin line. As painful as it is to admit, yes, I think about him.

"You know what? Tonight we're going out to have fun. It's girls' night!" Carolina jumped on me, causing me to fall backward to the floor. I let out a muffled scream with a smile.

---

The music at PopCap was blaring loudly. Carolina and I headed to a table at the back. It was packed with people, mostly young. They were drinking, laughing, and flirting with the girls. Many were on the dance floor. The lights were blue and pink, as well as purple, green, and all those bright colors that make a nightclub feel private. You can kiss your guy with those lights on, and it gives a magical air.

"Can I get you anything?" a waiter, not unattractive, came to us.

"Two vodkas!" Carolina shouted over the music. I gave her a disapproving look. "No, you know what? Just bring me the bottle."

The guy moved a little closer to her to hear.

"Just bring me the bottle!" she repeated.

The waiter nodded and left.

"Shall we dance?" she asked me.

"You know I don't dance."

She rolled her eyes and started scanning the room, probably looking for a dance partner.

I had put on a silver dress that reached below my thighs, some low black heels, and my hair, as always, loose. Carolina wore a form-fitting pink dress with a slit in the back, showing off her back. She also wore her hair loose. "Oh, it can't be!"

"What's wrong?" I looked at her.

"Kayler, Thomas, and Connor are at the table on the other side. And they're watching us! How did they know we'd come? Damn."

My pulse quickened at the mention of Thomas. I looked for him until I found him. They didn't take their eyes off us. But they were serious. The waiter returned with the bottle and two small glasses.

Carolina didn't think twice and took a big sip. She looked at me.

"It's your turn, Anne, and don't look at them."

I thought about it. I wanted to drink but at the same time, I didn't. I decided to do it, for all the things I remembered now, for all the hurtful words from my dad and the disappointment with Apolo. I took my glass and filled it with liquor. I drank it in one go.

"That's it!"

She took another sip, I did too, and we continued drinking until the bottle was below halfway.

"It's almost empty!" she exclaimed, looking at the bottle.

I laughed.

I looked around for the waiter and, seeing him, I whistled... Actually, it was an attempt at whistling but it worked to catch his attention.

"Bring us another bottle!" I told him.

We were definitely drunk.

"Oh, no, the three musketeers," *hic* "are coming for us."

I looked. Yes, there they were, looking very serious as they approached us.

"Girls, stop drinking, okay?" that was Kayler.

Thomas approached me.

"Anne..." he started.

"Anne nothing. I've had enough."

"That's the spirit, Anastasia, let them know they don't boss us around!" She stood up, swaying. Kayler tried to help her, but she wouldn't let him. "My name is just Anne, not Anastasia, but I like it."

Carolina took me by the arm.

"Let's dance."

I stood up, felt dizzy, and Thomas grabbed me by the waist, taking me away from the guys. The lights were confusing me. I was very dizzy.

"Let me go!"

He released me.

"What are you doing, Anne?"

I laughed.

"Well, right now I'm standing here, talking to a liar like you."

"Why are you doing this?"

"That, my dear friend, is none of your business."

He sighed.

Thomas looks so handsome, I don't know, he wears jeans that fit him perfectly. A tight shirt that shows off his physique and his hair, tousled and sexy. Love is crap. You can never be with the person you want.

"Do you believe in love, Thomas?"

He looked at me seriously but didn't respond.

I laughed at his indifference. I turned and shouted:

"Long live loooove!"

Thomas tried to stop me, but I wanted to dance. So finally, I pressed my lips against his.

Damn.