Escaping from the wolf

Suddenly, I heard a buzzing in my ear; everything was in absolute silence. I felt my legs and arms numb, my whole body felt that way. It hurt. And I must have hit very hard, that was obvious. Then, several distant voices could be heard until I opened my eyes abruptly, and the light blinded me.

"Anne, oh my God! Are you okay?" Carolina was kneeling next to me, her face showing concern, so what had happened was serious.

"Carolina, what happened?" I murmured, trying to get up. My head was pounding.

"Anne, you had an accident," she said.

Then I remembered. The truck, the horn blaring, Thomas warning me, and after that, I didn't recall anything more. I sat on the pavement, holding my head. Students from Johnson were at the large cafeteria windows, watching what was happening; I guessed the principal hadn't let them out. A few teachers were around, talking or arguing with the truck driver.

But I couldn't see Thomas anywhere.

"Where's Thomas?" I asked her. I noticed she hesitated to tell me but eventually just looked behind her in the direction of the cars. I followed her gaze.

There he was.

Lying on the ground between the two cars, with blood around him. I covered my mouth with my hands and quickly got to my feet.

"Anne, Kayler will be here soon and will take him to the doctor!" Carolina said, following me.

I almost ran to kneel beside him. I wanted to touch him, but I couldn't; his eyes were closed. I don't even know how he intervened; I don't remember seeing him get between us. "Thomas..." I lamented. Seeing him like this breaks my... heart. A tear rolled down my cheek.

"He saved you, Anne," Carolina said, kneeling beside me. Snowflakes continued to fall.

"How?"

"He stepped in between that truck and you. You probably lost consciousness from the slight impact he couldn't avoid, but if he hadn't been there... you'd be in worse shape."

I looked at his hand, and without thinking twice, I took it, intertwining my fingers with his. I could feel that warm touch of his.

"Tell Kayler to hurry."

"There he is." She got up and went to find her boyfriend. I looked up and saw him coming with the rest of the pack... Apolo was with him. He stopped dead when he saw me with Thomas but ignored him and came towards me. "Anne, are you okay?" he asked.

"Now you care?" I retorted quietly, not looking at him.

"I've always cared about you..." he murmured. Kayler and the others approached and carried Thomas to the car. I never separated from him, never untangled our hands, even though Apolo was watching, even though he got into the car with us. Dante had taken care of explaining things to the principal and the other teachers. Carolina sat in the passenger seat, and Kayler drove. Thomas rested his head on my lap while Apolo held his feet.

The drive to the hospital was swift. When we arrived, Kayler's doctor was already waiting with a stretcher. They placed Thomas on it and took him to emergency care. He's a werewolf. I know he'll be okay. Apolo, Kayler, Carolina, and I waited on some benches in the hospital.

Carolina squeezed my leg, offering her support.

Hours passed with no news of Thomas. It was all silent until, half an hour later, we saw the doctor coming out of the room where Thomas had been taken. I quickly went up to him. "How is he?"

"He'll be fine; he's a strong guy. We just stitched up the wound on the left side of his abdomen. He recovers quickly," he explained. I felt relieved hearing that. "We've already taken him to his room; you can go in anytime." I smiled in gratitude, and he left. I turned back to the others.

"You see? I told you he'd be okay. Maybe I don't know Thomas well, but he seems like a strong guy," Carolina said.

"Anne, calm down," Apolo spoke now.

I didn't respond; I felt a bit uncomfortable with him there. Carolina gave me a disapproving look, probably because I was about to say something unkind. In the end, I took a deep breath and sat on the bench.

"Do you want anything, Anne? Kayler and I are going to the cafeteria."

I shook my head. She nodded and left with Kayler. Now I was alone with him. He stood a few meters away from me, and I could feel his gaze on me.

Suddenly, he started walking and sat next to me.

I tensed.

"Anne, I know we've had our differences..." he started to say. "I..." He fell silent.

"Apolo, you don't have to say anything, really." I looked at him. "Besides, it's not the time."

He nodded, not very convinced. He had dark circles under his eyes and his clothes were disheveled. I could also smell a hint of alcohol. Looking at him from this perspective, Apolo wasn't unattractive... But he's not like Thomas. God! I can't believe I'm comparing them.

"I didn't have time to tell you anything out of fear, but I think it's time you know the truth, why I left you."

I frowned.

"Could it be because you didn't want me?" I asked, with some annoyance.

He clenched his fists and stood up.

"No, Anne, that's not it."

"Then tell me."

He thought for a few seconds before deciding:

"What happened is that..."

"Anne," Carolina's voice interrupted him. I looked at her. "Thomas woke up; he's asking for you."

I immediately got up and walked toward her, leaving Apolo behind. I took Carolina's hand, and we headed to Thomas's room.

"Did something happen?" I asked.

"Nothing new," I sighed.

We stopped in front of the white door. I looked at it, and she smiled at me.

"Go in; I'll be here."

I nodded, took the doorknob, and entered. To my surprise, Thomas was sitting on the bed, trying to get up. I approached him immediately. "What do you think you're doing?"

He looked up.

"Anne, you're okay," he confirmed, wincing in pain. "Damn."

"Lie down, Thomas," I ordered softly. He obeyed and lay down.

"Don't worry, little Anne, the pain will go away quickly," he murmured. I shook my head. Even though what he said is true, being a werewolf and all.

"Thank you," I murmured. He was only wearing his pants; his shirt was missing, revealing his flat abdomen and a bandage on the left side. His hair was completely disheveled, and I found it too sexy. What am I thinking?

"Don't thank me. I wasn't going to let anything bad happen to you," he smiled wryly.

I returned the smile but it faded as I remembered why I wasn't speaking to him, and I tried to ignore it; we would talk about it later. Or maybe not.

"Thomas, I know it's not the time to discuss this, but I don't like the people around me to lie to me," I sat on the edge of the bed. He sat up, looking somewhat serious. The topic seemed to make him that way. "I'm going to tell you the truth. I came because Clark needed a pure heart for a ritual, but if you're already ready..." he said with a hint of mockery. He always makes everything a joke.

I shook my head at his words.

"Are you sure that what you came for has nothing to do with me?" I asked.

Silence. His eyes watched me, unreadable.

"No, Anne, don't worry... It has nothing to do with you."

And I don't know why I felt he was lying to me.