yeah, the ink may stain my skin,

and my jeans may all be ripped

i'm not perfect, but i swear i'm perfect for you.

___

For some odd reason, I couldn't get Chance or the black wolf out of my head. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw them both. Every time my pencil touched my sketch book, I was drawing them both. Every time I dreamed, I dreamed of them both. They were in every crevice of my head. I don't understand why. I only saw the wolf twice and I only had a small conversation with Chance but they both left imprints in my mind.

How could a man I just met and talked to for ten minutes, leave this big of an effect on me?

After I had gotten home from the store, it was midafternoon and I decided to venture in to the woods again. Call me crazy but it felt like the woods were calling for me, begging me to step into them again.

I went to the place where I first saw the wolf. I brought my sketch book this time, hoping to draw the wolf some more. When I made it to the spot, I noticed that the wolf was already sitting there, like he had been waiting for me to come and knew that I would come.

I went over and sat down against the tree. The wolf took a few steps toward me and stopped at beginning of my shoe. I stared into his golden eyes and felt like my world was stopping. What was happening to me?

"Hey, buddy. This is so weird. I'm out here, talking to a wolf again, like he'll talk back to me. I brought my sketch book," I lifted the book from my lap and showed the wolf. He tilted his head to the side and stared at me with watching eyes. "I wanted to draw you, which sounds to weird saying. I feel like you can understand me so, if you can, lay down or just stay still."

The wolf laid down in front of me, resting his head on his front paws. His ears were up and alert and he looked content, safe. I began flipping through my book looking for an empty page. When I got to a blank page, the wolf relaxed even more. I looked over and noticed the grey and brown streaks running through his fur that I hadn't noticed before. The light from the sun was bringing out the different colors in him, giving me a side of the wolf, I had never seen before. If anything, I think I fell more in love with the wolf. He was really beautiful. Before I began drawing, I stuck my hand out slowly and ran my hand through his fur. A light purr erupted from his mouth and his eyes closed. I began to draw.

***

After a few hours, the sun was beginning to set and I decided that I should get home before my family began to question where I was and where I was spending all of my time these days. When I made it to the back door, my grandma was standing at the door with a hand on her hip and a disapproving look on her face. "And where have you been, young lady?"

I looked back and saw the sun setting and my fingers were itching to take my phone out to capture a picture. "I was in the woods."

My grandma looked shocked. "Didn't I tell you the one rule your grandfather and I had here was to never step foot in the woods? They are a dangerous place, Bailey! You could have gotten seriously hurt out there. What were you thinking?"

I huffed. "I was thinking that I'm almost twenty and I can decide what I do with my life. I'm not a child anymore, grandma. I can make decisions for myself."

She gave me a weird expression. "You think just because you survived the woods this time you know what's best for you? I have lived here my entire life, Bailey. I know what is in those woods. I know what can happen to a young girl like yourself in there. There are wolves in there. There are creatures that can seriously hurt or kill you. If you want to stay under my roof, you will abide by my rules. Do you understand?"

I nodded, felling myself getting frustrated. "Yeah, I understand you."

"Watch your tone. You might be an adult but this is my house."

I felt my cheeks heating up. "I get this is your house, grandma. But you can't tell me where I can and cannot go. The woods are calling for me. I am drawn there. You can't forbid me from a place that actually makes me feel safe, a place that doesn't make me feel like my entire world is ending."

My grandma gave me a weird look, her eyes darting from me and the woods. "What do you mean you feel drawn there?"

"Just like I said. I feel like I belong in those woods. There is just something about them. I don't feel like talking about this anymore, alright? I'm going to bed, goodnight."

"Bailey, we need to talk about this."

I stormed up the stairs and ignored my grandma's pleas to talk to me. I felt angry and hurt and betrayed. I felt like I couldn't breathe. I sat on the window sill in my room and stared out into the woods, wanting nothing more than to jump out the window and be free in there.

***

I never went back downstairs after coming back from the woods yesterday. I just hung out in my room and watched Netflix on my laptop until I fell asleep. The following morning, I awoke to a piercing echo in my ears. I closed my eyes tightly and put my pillow over my head, hoping for the ringing in my ears to stop. Something was wrong. I heard voices speaking. They were coming from all directions. It sounded like there were different people talking in my room but when I opened my eyes to look, it was just me.

I heard my parents and grandparents' voices speaking. I knew they were downstairs but it sounded like they were in my room with me. I tried focusing on their voices and once I did, the ringing in my ears stopped and all I could hear was them.

"We need to tell her, Dad."

"No, we can't tell her, not yet. You could be wrong."

I heard my dad take a deep breath. "She is changing! You heard what mom said. You know mom saw the eyes. She even went into the woods. What if she met someone? What if she met the one? It could always happen. She might not be one of us, but she can still find someone. I did with her mother."

"Just give it some more time, honey. She is only showing small signs. This could be a faze. The full moon isn't for another week. We'll find out then if she is really changing. She's too old for this anyway. I just think we should wait it out. I don't want this for her. She deserves more, a normal life. She won't get that with him." My grandma said, and I was utterly confused.

I heard my dad sigh. "I know. I just hope, for her sake, she gets out of here fast if it is someone like him."

My grandpa was about to say something but suddenly I was screaming. Their voices in my head sounded like they were screaming as well. I screamed and screamed until I blacked out.

***

When I awoke, it was dark outside. I could smell the trees and the musty smell of the leaves. I opened my eyes wider and noticed that I was, once again, outside in the woods. The moon was shining brightly above me and I realized that I might have been further from my grandparent's house then I have ever been before.

My hands were clutching something. I looked down and saw the black wolf curled up to my side like he was protecting me. My body shivered and a nice numbing sensation took over my body and made me feel whole.

I was beyond confused as to how I got out here to begin with. The last thing I remember was waking up in the morning and screaming until I blacked out. How did the wolf know I was out here and why were my fingernails caked with dirt? I felt like something bad was going to happen.

I began to stand up, to take in my surroundings and hope that I knew the way home. When I began to stand, the wolf stood up. His ears were up and he was alert, taking in the surroundings around us. His golden yellow eyes bored into mine. The gaze was intense and I felt like I was one with the wolf.

Fuck, did I bump my head or something when I wandered out here? Am I going crazy? I sure as hell might be because how can I be one with a wolf? That doesn't even make sense. So many questions were running through my head and I was scared. I didn't know where I was and all I heard was the sound of water streaming down.

My throat felt sore, like I had been screaming for hours. My hand was still clutching the wolf's fur and for some reason, the wolf made me feel safe. The wolf began to walk forward a bit. When I didn't move, he stopped and looked back at me as if he was asking me to follow him.

I began to follow the wolf until he stopped at the edge of the woods. He took me directly to the path that led me back to my grandparent's house. I noticed that my bedroom window was wide open and the only thought that ran through my mind was: did I fucking jump out the window?

I looked down at the wolf and kisses his snout as if saying thank you for keeping me safe and bringing me back home. I walked over to the house and began climbing up the vines and was astounded that I had so much confidence to do something this dangerous.

When I made it back into my room, I shut and locked the window. I looked outside and saw the wolf sitting at the edge of the woods and I smiled.

***

It had been two days since I somehow jumped out the window and didn't die or break something. It was now Monday and when I came down stairs to get some breakfast, my grandpa asked me if I could run into town and pick up some milk and orange juice since he and my dad drank it all. Of course, I said yes and he said to take my time.

I borrowed my grandpa's car and drove into town. I decided to stop in a small clothing store first before picking up the drinks. I walked around and found myself in the shoes section staring at thigh high boots. I picked out a pair of black leather boots and tried them on. They were on sale for a really great price and once looking at myself in the mirror, I decided that I needed them.

"They look really good on you." A voice said, a chill running down my spine.

"Chance?" I said, looking up and seeing that beautiful man.

"Hi," He said, giving me a breath-taking smile.

"Hello, how are you?"

Chance sat down on the bench. "I'm great, you?"

I unzipped the boots and put them back in the box. "I'm great too."

"That's good. Hey, I have a question for you and it might be a little awkward."

I looked over at him and smiled. "What's your question?"

Chance scratched the back of his neck, looking nervous. "I was wondering if you maybe wanted to get dinner with me. I know you're new here and I was thinking I could show you around. I'm not a creep, I swear. I just-I don't know."

Chance was blushing and I was smiling like an idiot. "Actually, I would love to get dinner with you. I don't know anyone around here so it would be great."

"Fantastic. How does tonight sound? I know it's very soon and kind of last minutes so I would understand if you aren't available or something."

I shook my head. "No, I'm available tonight."

"Great! I can come to your house and pick you up. I know where your grandparents live," Chance's eyes widened a bit, "I didn't mean for that to sound so creepy. I just, I sometimes help around their house and repair things since they help my family out."

I laughed. "It's okay, I figured you would know where they lived. The town isn't that big anyway."

He smiled. "Okay, great. Should I get your number then? So, I can text you when I'm on my way?"

I nodded and took my phone out from my purse. I unlocked it and handed it to Chance. He quickly typed in his number and texted himself so that he would have my number as well. "Alright, cool. I'll see you tonight then"

"Yes, see you tonight."

Chance gave me a charming smile and then he left. I quickly bought the shoes, went to the market to get my grandpa the milk and orange juice and then drove home wondering what the fuck I was going to wear tonight.

______________