“What? Are you kidding me?”
“He’s genuinely concerned for me,” I confessed. “I can’t blame him for that.”
Brandon appeared sullen. “I know . . . I’d be the same if I saw what he saw.”
“But I tried to convince him it wasn’t as bad as he thought. That you aren’t dangerous.”
“I’m sure he believed that,” he said, kicking the dirt.
“But what if he tells someone?” I asked.
“Who will believe him?” he wondered. “He doesn’t have proof.”
“I’m hoping that everyone will think he’s pranking them again and they won’t listen. But you’re already being called Wolfman and had your Jeep vandalized. I’m not sure what those vandals might do next. People love to pick on someone—and now you are the target. This could make it worse.”
“It’s okay. I can handle it,” he said.
I was pleased with his reaction, but I wanted him to have full disclosure of what the challenges might be. “I know you can. But Nash is competitive,” I said. “It’s in his nature to fight. I’m afraid he’ll go for the jugular.”
Brandon thought. “I’m not going to let him dictate my life.”
I was proud of Brandon’s bravery, and even though I was hoping everyone would see Nash’s declaration as a joke, I wasn’t convinced it would be okay. The more I thought about it, the more I worried.
“But . . .” I started, “when the next full moon comes out, do you think everyone will be looking for you?”
He thought again, this time taking a moment. “Yes, they will.”
Now I was really worried. It was one thing to be teased, another to be hunted.
“I can’t do that to you,” I said. “Just to have what I want. It’s not fair to you.”
“But then it’s not fair to you, either. To have to walk through the halls on the arm of a guy they are calling a werewolf.”
Brandon was so caring and concerned for my happiness. But, ultimately, I wouldn’t be happy if he was in danger.
“Then what do we do? Everyone freaked out about Nash in a costume. Abby, Dr. Meadows, the TV station. If they find out there really is a werewolf in town . . . who knows what they will do? I just know it won’t be good.”
Brandon stared off into the woods. “I’ve caused you enough trouble already,” he said.
“Caused me trouble? This isn’t about me—it’s about you.”
“I don’t care about me. I’m more worried about what will happen to you if everyone finds out you’re dating a werewolf. I can’t do that to you.” He leaned against a tree, as if we’d both been defeated. “There’s only one thing to do for now.”
“Yes?” I asked, hopeful he had a romantic solution. I imagined he’d suggest we run away together or meet again to figure out another plan.
Instead he appeared sullen again. “It’s best we stay apart,” he said firmly.
“What?” I asked, stunned. “But I don’t want that.”#p#分页标题#e#
“I want you to continue to hang out with your friends. I want you to continue to do what you’ve been doing. Until I find a cure.”
“You find a cure? Alone? I’m not going to just forget about you and go back to a normal life like these past few months haven’t even happened.” I took his hand and drew myself to him. “I don’t want us to be apart.” I leaned my head on his chest. He was trying to resist, but he caved in and held me.
“Then promise me something.” He took my chin and lifted it so I’d see him.
“What?” I asked. Everyone was asking me for promises I didn’t want to make. They weren’t the promises of love and romance that I was always looking for but promises of not seeing Brandon.
“That we’ll only see each other in secret. Until I find a cure. This is the only way I know no harm will come to you.”
I had to do what was best for him. In this case, Brandon was in much more danger of losing his life than I was of losing my friends by not sharing my secret with them.
“I want to tell them,” I said, tears welling in my eyes. “I want us to be normal. I want us to be together.”
“But I am not normal . . .” he began, softly tucking my hair behind my ears. “Not now, anyway. And when I am cured, it will be safe for you. But only when that happens.”
“Nash will think he won,” I said, tormented.
“This isn’t about Nash. It is about you.”
Brandon was asking me to wait. “If it’s for my own good,” I asked, “then why does it hurt so much?”