I watched morning sunlight flicker across the brick walls of Wakefield High while Cal pulled his truck into a parking space. The school building seemed less like a house of horrors now and more like a small hill to climb—a minor speed bump to overcome. Well, a speed bump made of bad memories, overdue textbook reading assignments and missed homework.
Okay, maybe more like Mt. Everest, but I was hopeful. With Cal’s steady presence, Emma’s friendship, and Simon’s grudging respect, I felt ready to face anything—even high school.
It’s funny what a difference one day can make.
“You are so beautiful when you smile,” Cal said, brushing the side of my cheek.
I hadn’t realized that I was smiling, but now that he’d brought attention to it, I could feel a grin spread wide across my face. I had a hunch that I’d be doing a lot more smiling soon. High school was nearly over, and though I was still worried about the future, I’d started to form a plan for what I’d like to do when the summer ended.
Normally, when I looked at my calendar I noticed the moon phases first and the number of days until Samhain second. I hadn’t given the future much thought beyond survival.
But that was no way to live.
Last night while fending off inevitable sleep, and the nightmares that it brings, I let my mind wander to happier thoughts. If I could do anything I wanted after high school, what would it be? That was a tough question. First, I made a mental list of my favorite things—Cal, my friends, art, anime, flea markets—then I fantasized about how these things could become my future.
Gordy was enrolled in a program for art and digital animation. He was following our love of anime and manga, and was really good at it too. But as much as I’d love to team up with Gordy on a manga project someday, I had a different focus.
Ever since my brush with death, I’d been able to see a glowing aura around ghosts. What if I used my artistic talent to paint unique pictures of something that no one else could see?
I loved the idea of painting something totally unique so much I bounced on the bed and had to cover my mouth with both hands to hold in a squee of excitement. I crept to my desk and sat up most of the night sketching out ideas.
There were a few places in Wakefield where I knew I could locate ghosts. Perhaps, I could find my muse while helping spirits of the dead find eternal peace. That idea made me ecstatically happy.
My daydreaming also involved getting a stall at my favorite flea market, for showing and selling my paintings. I could decorate the stall with black satin, no burgundy damask, no purple velvet—the possibilities seemed endless. In each scenario one thing remained constant; Cal was always by my side.
I leaned into Cal’s hand, enjoying the rough feeling of his warm palm against my cool skin. Cal always ran hot. I was pretty sure it was a werewolf thing. I’d ask Emma if Simon was the same, but, you know, ewww. I was okay with them dating, sort of, but not quite ready for the intimate details.
“I had an epiphany last night,” I said.
I turned my head to gaze into Cal’s deep ocean eyes, his hand still cupping my cheek.
“About?” he asked, a lazy grin on his full lips.
Cal’s voice had gone husky and I was having trouble concentrating, but it was important that I share my idea with him. I had been keeping too many secrets lately. It was time to start letting people back in, and I was starting with Cal.
“What do think about running an art stall in the flea market?” I asked.
“Will we be selling your art?” he asked, cocking an eyebrow. “I can finger paint at best.”
I laughed remembering Cal’s attempt at making a valentine card for me last February. In the attempted drawing, I looked like Sasquatch, and a wolf that looked suspiciously like a poodle was holding an amorphous blob that was supposed to be his heart.
“My art, definitely,” I said. “I have an entire concept, but as for decorating the stall, I’m torn between all black fabric or…”
Cal closed the distance between us, pressing his heated lips against my own. His hand brushed along my cheek as he slid his fingers into my hair. Time stopped. We were the only two people in the universe.
I leaned into Cal, enjoying our moment of bliss. I felt energized and relaxed, all at the same time. Cal was better than hot chocolate.
When he pulled away, my lips tingled. He kissed the bridge of my nose and leaned his forehead against mine.
“I love that idea,” he said.
“So, if I create the paintings, you’ll help me with the stall?” I asked breathlessly.
“Yes, I’ll do anything you need,” he said.
“Anything?” I asked.
“Anything,” he said.
“Then kiss me,” I said.