Magic of the Moonlight

Before I got to the cafeteria, Nash pulled me aside. "I have to talk to you about something."

"Are you going to tell me who painted Brandon's Jeep?" I asked. "Because I already know."

My former boyfriend paused for a moment with a quizzical look. "No, that's not it. I really need to talk to you."

"All right," I said. He led me into the empty speech and drama classroom. A rack of clothes and boxes of shoes and accessories were stacked at the back of the room. Nash and I sat in chairs face-to-face, so closely our knees were touching.

"So what's going on?" I asked.

"I can't sleep," he whispered.

"I know - you haven't really been yourself lately. But I've had a lot on my mind with my fight with Ivy - so I'm sorry I didn't ask you about it earlier. How's your arm?"

"I think I'm going to have a scar for sure. But the problem is I've been having trouble sleeping. I think I'm having post-traumatic stress or something."

"I'm sure you are. It's understandable."

"So you think that's it?"

"Yes. It was traumatic. It was awful for me just seeing you being attacked," I said truthfully. "I'm sure for you it was horrendous."

"I just can't shake that night," he said with a far-off look. "Ever since, I've felt really odd."

Odd? That didn't sound good. "What do you mean?"

From his furrowed expression, I could tell he was worried. "I have these bizarre dreams, and I wake up really exhausted."

Dreams? "Maybe it's the medications for your bite."

"You think so?" he asked as if he hadn't thought of that himself. "I hope so."

"Maybe you should see the school nurse," I offered.

"She'll send me to a shrink."

"Why would she send you to a shrink over dreams? We all have wild dreams."

He placed his hand on top of mine. "I dream about that night," he said.

I didn't want to hear any more. "You've always had a fear of wolves," I consoled him. "It's only natural to - "

But he didn't take his hand away. "I know if I tell you - you won't say anything to Ivy or Abby."

"Of course not, but you don't have to tell me. I don't think I really want to know."

His grasped my hand intently. "I dream I'm a wolf," he said.

My heart plummeted to the pit of my stomach. Oh no, I thought. Not again. Not Nash!

"Isn't that weird?" he asked, a bit shaken. "Odd? Bizarre?"

"It's probably just nerves," I said, trying to reassure him as much as I was trying to reassure myself. I wasn't about to accept the alternative - that Nash could be experiencing what Brandon had before he turned into a . . .

"But to be safe, why don't we go to the nurse?" I said.

Nash took both of my hands in his. They were strong and a little rugged from playing sports. "This feels like before," he said, "when we were dating. I'm not sure why I always messed it up with you. I know it sounds cliche . . . but you are the best thing that ever happened to me."

His words were so honest and caring that it really did shake me inside.

I laughed nervously. I didn't know what to say. These were the best moments, when Nash's armor was removed and I could see deep down in his soul. I always sensed that he didn't share his truest thoughts or emotions with other girls - that, for some reason, he only shared his fears and dreams with me. It was something I wished he would have confessed and realized when we were dating.

But now wasn't the time to consider his romantic feelings for me. I had to get him to the nurse to see if his dreams and strange feelings might just be the result of an infection from the wolf bite.

The nurse didn't find anything out of the ordinary with Nash and sent him back to class. I was relieved, but only slightly.

After school, when Brandon and I were alone on the hilltop, I shared Nash's confession with him. "Nash told me he's been having strange dreams."

"About you? I see how he is trying to make his comeback with you."

"No, it's worse than that."

"What could be worse than that?"

"He dreams he's a wolf."

"You don't think . . ." Brandon looked concerned.

"It's not possible. You are related to the Legend's Run werewolf, Nash isn't."

"Then I'm sure it's nothing. Just bad dreams."

"That would be awesome," I said. "But I just wanted you to know."

"I'm glad you told me. There's something I want you to know, too."

"What?"

"I got word from my dad today," Brandon said enthusiastically. "He told me he's getting close to an antidote."

"You're kidding!" I exclaimed.

"Wouldn't it be great if he had something for me before the next full moon?"

I rested my head against his chest.

"It's funny," he said. "I think I might miss it. There is some part of me that seems to crave those nights."

"I guess it's in your blood."

"And the way you look under the full moonlight. It's extraordinary."

"Well, if you don't mind my saying, I think I'd miss it, too."

He leaned in and kissed me. There was a tiny part of me that hoped Dr. Maddox took his time with the cure.

Brandon and I took our school relationship slowly. Though Ivy and Abby knew about Brandon, we were still concerned not to go public until his condition was cured. The vandalism stopped, but the teasing didn't. We heard "Wolfie," "Wolfman," and "Werewolf" muttered under Eastside students' breath as we walked down the halls, and I didn't want it to become worse if they found out the truth. I wasn't so worried that Nash might reveal the secret, since he seemed to be preoccupied and recovering from his own trauma regarding the attack. However, I didn't want to make life even worse for Brandon. An Eastsider dating a Westsider would be major news in our school, and though I didn't want to hide it anymore, I knew for Brandon's sake that we had to wait for the cure.

Nash continued to show up to class restless and irritable. But as the days wore on, he became increasingly interested in me. Even when I told him I only wanted his friendship, he didn't waver in his attention. Nash didn't use the threat of revealing Brandon's secret as an attempt to win me back, but rather this time he tried chivalrous and charismatic actions. He was more charming to me than he ever had been. And though Nash opened doors for me, texted and called me, and mostly ignored every other girl who came his way, it didn't change my feelings. I had one heart, and it was meant for Brandon.