Once in a Full Moon(35)

Brandon, in his brown leather jacket, was doing his best to chop wood. He struggled because of his wounded hand. He swore under his breath and shook out his hand in pain.

Then he caught sight of me. Startled, he jumped. “I didn’t see you there,” he said.

“I didn’t mean to scare you.”

“No—I’m glad you came.”

“You hurt your hand again—”

“Oh—it’s nothing. I’m really surprised to see you,” he said. “I guess that scarf is really important to you. To leave the game . . .”

“Oh, yeah,” I said. “The scarf.”

“But you’re wearing another one,” he said, pointing to my green-and-white-striped one. “How many do you have?”

I didn’t answer, I just stood nervously.

“I’ll get your things for you. I just have to adjust this.”

He stacked the broken pieces of wood with his good hand.

I didn’t care about the scarf. I only cared about him. I wanted Brandon to touch me so badly and I wanted to touch him, too—to feel his embrace and lips against mine. I wasn’t about to make the first move, and neither was he apparently. It wasn’t my personality to be so romantically forward.

“Do you need help?” I finally asked.

“No, you sit down. It will just be a minute.”

I sat on the chopping log.

Was he stalling so that I’d have to stay with him in the woods longer?

I rubbed my shoulder. If something didn’t happen soon, I was going to scream.

“Is something wrong?” he asked.

“Just tension,” I said.

“What do you have to be tense about?”

“Oh, everything, I guess. School. Tests. Boys.”

“Boys?” he said. “Ah . . . that is stressful. Here, let me,” he said, and came around behind me. “Your scarf is in the way. Do you mind?”

“Uh . . . no.”

He peeled away my scarf and pressed his hand against my skin. My flesh tingled in his warm, strong hand. I was so in heaven, finally having Brandon being so close to me. Before I knew it, I felt his lips against my neck.

I was so overwhelmed I was afraid I’d fall off the chopping block and melt into the snow.

Suddenly Brandon stood in front of me and extended his good hand.

I stared up at him, his royal blue eyes shining down at me. I took his hand, stood, and he drew me close to him. Even through our heavy coats, I could feel the heat from our bodies pressed together. Overhead the clouds drifted apart, exposing a perfectly full moon.

The moon glimmered above us, magically illuminating us. When I’d looked at a moon like this before, it had always been when I’d felt alone—now it seemed to be smiling at me, as I was finally under its romantic glow.

I remembered Dr. Meadows warning me about the full moon. Beware of a kiss under the full moon. It will change your life forever. She had been right about the snow, the woods, howling, and an outsider. But what was the chance that she was correct about the rest? And what did it mean, really? I was so attracted to Brandon, I didn’t know what to do.

“What? Is something wrong?” he asked.

“Oh, just something someone said. About the moon.”

“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”

“Yes, it is.”

“Just like . . .”

He gently glided my hair away from my face.

“I’ve been wanting to do this since I first saw you,” he said.

It was then he leaned into me and did what I’d been dying for him to do for so long. Since he first looked at me in Mrs. Clark’s class, passed me in the hallways, and saved me in the woods. Brandon kissed me. His lips were so tender I thought I was in a dream.

It felt like nothing I’d ever experienced before. Deeper and more soulful than when I kissed Nash.

Something truly special had happened to me after seventeen years of living in Legend’s Run. I’d fallen in love.

I began giggling with delight as Brandon wrapped his arms around me.

“What’s so funny?” he asked.

“I don’t know. I’m just so happy.”

“I am, too.”

I was in heaven in Brandon’s strong arms. I didn’t want to go back to the game. I didn’t want this moment to ever end.

He caressed my cheek, and we kissed again so passionately I thought I’d gone to heaven.

I leaned my head against his chest and he stroked his fingers through my hair. I could feel his heart pounding as fast as a bullet train. I gazed up and saw he wore a soft smile.

The full moon shone strong. He continued to stroke my hair and then kissed my neck and ears. My body tingled as his lips tickled my skin.

We kissed again, but suddenly he drew away.

“I don’t have to leave,” I said, referring to the game.