The wolf and I

Is this real life? Or am I dreaming? Because honestly, life has a funny way of giving you everything you’ve ever wanted, only to snatch it away the second you get comfortable. Just when you think you’ve got it all figured out, bam! Right in the gut.

I was practically floating when I got into this new school. At my old one, I was practically invisible, a ghost haunting the hallways. But here? Here I was in the cool kids’ orbit, part of the inner circle, and they were all so, so lovely. They treated me like I belonged, like I’d been here all along, and I couldn’t help but feel a little dizzy, amazed at how quickly the world could shift on its axis and suddenly revolve around me.

Let’s rewind, shall we?

I’d officially survived (and thrived, dare I say?) for a whole month. At first, it was a little strange, like walking into a magazine spread. Everyone looked impossibly perfect – the girls with their model-esque figures, all curves and angles, dressed in the latest trends. And the guys? They were just as polished, like they’d stepped right out of a catalogue. And then there was me, with my decidedly pear-shaped body and clothes that screamed “effortless” because, well, they actually were.

But somehow, Veronica, a vibrant redhead with a smile that could melt glaciers, spotted me. And then, she just adopted me. Into her group, into her world. And suddenly, I was adored. Everyone was so kind, and I loved hanging out with them, even if, sometimes, a tiny little voice in the back of my head whispered that something felt a little… off. But I was happy, truly, deeply happy, and I wasn’t about to rock the boat.

Then, a week later, they arrived. Three new boys, walking into our perfectly curated universe like they owned it. You could feel their presence, this undeniable aura that they were somehow better, above the fray. People actually parted in the corridors when they walked by, like the Red Sea. Whispers followed them, a hushed reverence, but it didn’t seem to faze them one bit.

At lunch, they just… joined us. Slid into our booth as if they’d always belonged. It turns out, the blonde one, Peter, was Veronica’s boyfriend. Then there was Luke, who was kind of a classic playboy, flirting with every single girl at the table, except, strangely, me.

And then there was Nolan. He was… Nolan. He looked like a superhero who had walked off the screen and into our cafeteria. Think Henry Cavill, but somehow even more chiselled. I could practically map out his abs beneath his t-shirt, imagine the flex of his muscles when he leaned down to pick up his bag in class, or the subtle shift as he placed his lunch tray on the table. He was a walking, breathing statue.

Anyway, Nolan sat right next to me on his first day. He didn’t say a word to any of the girls. But I could feel his eyes. Following me as I ate my grilled cheese, a silent, intense gaze that prickled my skin. It was getting a little ridiculous, this quiet treatment. So, I did what any normal person would do. I turned to him.

“Hey,” I said, putting my hand out, my voice maybe a little too loud, a little too bright. “I’m Leah.”

“Nolan,” he replied, his voice a low rumble, and he actually shook my hand. My palm tingled from the contact. I turned back around, a little breathless, and that’s when I noticed it – everyone at the table was staring at me. My cheeks flushed. I just shrugged, pretending to be utterly fascinated by my half-eaten sandwich. A few awkward minutes later, the comfortable hum of chatter slowly resumed around us.

And so, days turned into a week, and Nolan, it turned out, was a bit of a mystery, an enigma wrapped in a gorgeous package. When it was just the two of us, he’d actually talk, spilling out words like a fountain. But at lunch, surrounded by the usual crowd, he’d transform back into silent observer, only dropping a comment or two here and there, always perfectly timed.

“Congratulations on completing a month here!” Veronica sang, bumping my shoulder as I wrestled a textbook from my locker.

“I know, right? I can’t believe it’s already been a month. It feels like I’ve known you guys forever,” I gushed, which was honestly kind of true. They’d become my whole world in such a short time.

“You know what? We absolutely have to celebrate tonight,” she declared, pulling out her phone. Before I could even blink, my pocket buzzed with a new notification. It was an invitation to a party at her place tonight. My first real high school party. My stomach did a little flip-flop.

As I walked out of the school building, my backpack feeling lighter than usual, I heard someone call my name. I turned, and there was Nolan, jogging towards me, that effortless grace even in motion.

“I’ll pick you up for the party tonight, okay?” he said, a quick burst of words, before his coach yelled his name, pulling him back towards the athletic fields.

I nodded, watching his retreating figure, a small smile playing on my lips. Pick me up. My first party. My first pick-up. I walked the rest of the way home in a daze, already mentally sifting through my closet, trying to figure out what a “first party” outfit even looked like.

I opened the front door to the warm, comforting scent of chocolate chip cookies. Ah, Mom was in her element, getting an order ready. I practically sprinted into the kitchen. “Mom, can I please, please have a bite?”

She pointed with a flour-dusted hand to a plate next to the garbage bin. “Have a bite from the ‘try and error’ pile, sweetie.”

“Never letting any go to waste,” I said, plucking one. It was perfect, gooey and warm. The only reason it was being discarded was because it was misshapen, not because of its deliciousness.

“Soo…” I started, trying to sound casual, but my voice still trailed off.

“Uh-huh, I’m listening,” she hummed, kneading a new batch of dough.

“I got invited to this party tonight. Can I go?” I asked, finally blurting it out. She stopped kneading and turned, a knowing look on her face.

“What party? Where is it? Who are you going with?” The questions came fast and furious, a rapid-fire interrogation.

After giving her all the details, Veronica’s house, Nolan picking me up, the whole shebang, and pulling out my most convincing puppy-dog eyes, she finally, finally said yes. I let out a squeal that was probably a little too loud for our small kitchen and bolted for my room. Operation: Find the Perfect Outfit was a go.

First, a quick shower. Then, the inevitable. My room transformed into a war zone of fabric and hangers as I embarked on the quest for the ultimate party look. Twenty outfit changes later, I stood in front of the mirror, wearing a black fishnet lace top and a short skirt. It screamed hot girl party outfit, but I felt… shy. Like I was wearing someone else’s clothes. Just then, my phone buzzed.

Veronica: What are you wearing?

Leah: (photo attached)

Veronica: DO NOT CHANGE THAT. It’s hot. I want to see you wearing that.

I sighed. Guess I was wearing it then. I grabbed my trusty denim jacket – a little bit of a security blanket – and pulled it on. Taking a deep breath, I walked out of my room.

The doorbell rang, and Mom, ever the welcoming committee, went to open it. Standing there was Nolan, looking like he’d stepped out of a magazine. His hair was perfectly gelled, catching the light just so, and his clothes… his clothes fit him in a way that made me forget how to breathe.

“Hi ma’am, I’m Nolan,” he said, his voice deep and polite, shaking Mom’s hand.

“You better have her back by midnight, or she won’t be allowed to any more parties,” Mom warned, ever the protective one, and Nolan nodded, a small, amused smile playing on his lips.

I walked down the stairs, and it felt like time just… stopped. My breath caught in my throat. He looked even better than I’d imagined, and judging by the way his jaw had subtly dropped, I think he might have had a similar reaction to me. We just stood there, staring at each other, the air thick with unspoken words, until a small cough broke the spell.

And then another.

Both our gazes snapped to my mother, who was grinning like the Cheshire Cat. “Better get going, or you’ll be standing here all night,” she said, faking a few more coughs for good measure. A blush crept up my neck, and I practically flew to the door, grabbing Nolan’s hand and pulling him outside, eager to escape Mom’s teasing and the sudden, intense heat that had flared between us.

Nolan pulled up to Veronica’s house, and my jaw practically hit the floor. It wasn’t just a house; it was a sprawling mansion, lights spilling from every window, music thumping faintly through the walls. “Veronica lives here?” I breathed, shocked.

“Yeah, her and a few other kids from school too,” he replied, a casual shrug. I just nodded, still trying to process it. It was… weird. Like something out of a movie. We parked, and Nolan, ever the gentleman, came around to open my door.

He paused, a question in his eyes. “Are you fine with holding hands?” he asked, his voice low. I looked at him, feeling a blush creep up my neck, and nodded shyly. He held out his hand, warm and steady, and I slipped mine into his. It felt… natural. Comfortable. And just a little bit thrilling. Hand in hand, we walked towards the booming house.

The front door swung open just as we reached it, and there stood Veronica, glowing in a short black mini-dress. “Welcome to my humble abode,” she beamed, gesturing grandly.

Inside, the party was in full swing. Bodies swayed to the beat, laughter and chatter filled the air, and the distinct smell of alcohol hung heavy. Nolan subtly tugged me closer, his arm slipping around my waist, guiding me through the throng of dancing people. It felt good, being so close to him, like a protective bubble in the midst of the chaos.

Soon, he steered us into a slightly less crowded room where our friends were already gathered. “Hey guys!” I greeted, and they all converged on me for quick hugs and excited hellos. Nolan, meanwhile, peeled off to join Luke and the other guys, who were huddled in a corner, talking.

“Let’s dance, Leah!” Veronica shouted over the music, a mischievous glint in her eyes, and she pressed a red plastic cup into my hand.

I looked at the vibrant liquid swirling inside. “What’s in here?” I asked, my voice barely audible above the bass.

“Don’t worry about it,” Veronica said, tilting the cup back and downing the vibrant liquid in one big gulp. We started moving our hips, and after a few songs, I could feel myself loosening up. The music was thumping, and I was actually dancing, hands above my head, shaking my hips and head to the beat.

Suddenly, a pair of hands gripped my waist. I gasped and spun around. It was some guy I didn’t recognise, his face too close. I tried to push him away, but he just pulled me closer, a smirk playing on his lips.

Then, out of nowhere, a loud growl ripped through the air, cutting through the music like a knife. The bass abruptly died, and silence descended.

My head snapped in the direction of the sound. Nolan stood there, breathing hard. The distance, or maybe the dim party lights, made it hard to tell, but his eyes looked black, like twin pools of shadow.

“Take Leah back, Veronica,” Peter said, his voice unusually sharp. Veronica immediately pulled me away, tugging me further into the room. Nolan, meanwhile, was storming towards the guy, grabbing his collar with one hand. Then, he dragged him out to the backyard, and everyone parted, creating a wide path as they passed.

I looked at Veronica, my eyes wide with fright. “Are they going to fight?” I whispered, a knot forming in my stomach. I didn’t want Nolan to waste his energy on that useless guy. We walked out together, following the hushed crowd. The sight in front of me made my breath catch. Nolan was beating the guy to a pulp, each punch landing with a sickening thud.

When he finally seemed to think it was over, he got off the guy and started walking towards me, his chest still heaving.

Until that guy whispered something. I felt Veronica gasp beside me, a sharp intake of air. Nolan growled, a deep, guttural sound, and turned around slowly, his back to me.

“Did you hear what he said?” I frowned, asking Veronica, but she just shook her head, her face pale.

It all happened so quickly that my mind couldn’t even process it. In one minute, there was a wolf where Nolan had stood. And that’s the last thing I saw before the whole world went black.