Full Moon Kisses:A Full Moon Novel(16)

       
           



       
EIGHT

girls and gangs

We saw you following Nash away from school the other day," Ivy said the next day at the mall when we met by the food court for some girl time after school.
"You did?" I asked. I was surprised they noticed and wasn't prepared to talk about it.
"Yes. Where were you guys going?" Abby asked.
"Yeah, what's going on? A secret rendezvous with your old boyfriend?" Ivy teased.
"Does Brandon know about this?" Abby said as if she was worried about my boyfriend's feelings.
"Yes, he knows," I said.
They both paused. "So you did go somewhere with Nash?" Ivy said. "Do tell."
"It was no biggie. Really." But the fact was it really was major news. Nash was a werewolf, and he wanted to see if he'd ever be cured. But now that he knew there was a possible antidote and he'd be taking it on the upcoming full moon, he was a much happier person.
However, I couldn't tell them about Dr. Meadows. They would want to know all sorts of information, and I was hoping to skate through the next week without incident. We only had a little over a week until the full moon appeared and I didn't need any more drama with my friends.
"Where did you guys go?" Ivy insisted.
"Did you make out?" Abby raised her eyebrows.
"No," I said. I wasn't one to lie-I always cracked a smile when I tried to even tell the slightest fib; or worse, I would break out in a rash. But I couldn't tell them what we really did.
"He just wanted to talk. That's all," I said.
"About what?" Abby asked.
I sighed. I hung out with Abby and Ivy to get my mind off my troubles. Instead they were pushing me back to the difficult thoughts of werewolves. I knew my friends would be persistent. I wasn't sure why I expected anything else.
"Ooh, there are those guys again," Ivy said.
"What guys?" I was happy to have the subject switched from me and Nash to anything else.
"Those thugs," Ivy said, pointing down to the first level. "Totally gross!"
I saw the backs of a few guys talking to a pretty girl with a few shopping bags, but I couldn't tell who they were.
"We saw them yesterday outside the coffee shop. It was like they were deliberately pushing our buttons," Ivy said.
"Maybe they were flirting," I said.
"Didn't seem so. They were asking us strange questions," Abby said.
"What sort of questions?" I asked.
"All sorts. Did we like the outdoors?" Ivy remembered.
"They asked me if I liked wolves," Abby added.
"That is weird," I said.
"We didn't answer, just ignored them and walked on. Eventually they left us alone." Ivy took a breath. "This one guy had tatts and spiky hair," she said. "He was totally gross."
"I thought he was cute," Abby said, defending him.
"You did?" Ivy asked, making a disgusted face. "You would."
When the girl moved on, the guys turned around. They were in plain view. I stepped closer to see them below. It was Ryder and his two friends. I froze. They seemed to be scanning the shoppers for something-or someone. Ryder continued to eye the shoppers, then suddenly glanced up and caught sight of me watching him. I lost my breath. He stared at me as if he'd found what he was looking for. Just then Ivy pulled me toward the store and out of view.
"Uh … we have to leave," I said anxiously.
"Why? We haven't even bought anything yet," Ivy whined.
"I don't know. We just do." I felt weird with those guys in the mall. Even with hundreds of people in the same place, I didn't feel safe. I must have appeared as if I'd spotted a hungry zombie.
"What's wrong?" Ivy asked me.
"I've seen them before, too," I confessed.
"You did?" Ivy was shocked. She put her hands on her hips. "Where?"
"At the convenience store when I was getting gas."
"Which one?" Ivy asked.
"The one in Westside."
"I meant which guy." Ivy rolled her eyes.
"Oh … Ryder."
"You know his name?" Abby asked, intrigued.
"Why were you getting gas in the Westside?" Ivy asked.
"I was on my way to Brandon's."
"You shouldn't be stopping there," she warned.
"Who cares why she was there? How do you know his name?" Abby wondered.
"He was bugging me-he was really rude. But then he introduced himself."
"That's weird," Ivy said. "Promise you won't go there anymore."
"He was trying to pick you up," Abby said. "He likes you."
"I wouldn't want to go out with him," I scoffed. "Can we just leave?"
"Why? They won't bother us again," Abby said. "I'm not going to let them spoil a good day of shopping."
"What if they come back to bother us?" I asked.
"Then I'll kick them with my brand-new heels," Abby said, holding a Macy's bag.
"Seriously," I said.
Abby glanced around. "They're gone."
I inched a few steps toward the glass overlook; they'd disappeared.
"I wonder who they are," Abby said.
"We know one of them is Ryder," Ivy retorted.
"They aren't from around here, I know that," Abby said. "They don't go to school here, and they appear to be around our age."
"Maybe they are juvies or homeless."
"They seem like they are searching for something," Abby said.
"Trouble," Ivy said emphatically.
Suddenly we spotted them coming up the escalator only fifty feet away.
Ivy gasped. Then she pulled us into a lingerie store.
"Why do we have to hide in here?" Abby said.
"They just spotted me," I said. "I feel really weird."
We hurried to the back of the store and hung out behind a display of bras.
The guys came in.
"Can I help you?" a saleswoman asked them.
Ryder paused. "You? No, I'm not looking for you."
"They are following us!" Ivy said.
The woman gave him a puzzled expression as he glanced around.
"Did you see a girl with a pink headband in here?"
"Honey, they all have headbands," she said. "Feel free to check around."
The saleswoman walked away from the guys and helped another customer.
Abby tugged at our shirts. "Quick," she said, and we raced into a fitting room.
She locked the door, and we all stood on the bench.
Ivy was panicking. Sure, we didn't know these guys, and no, he hadn't done anything to us besides being rude, but their vibe was deadly.
"Shh!" Abby said. She put her hands over Ivy's mouth.
We could see a shadow move by the door. Then it paused. Black boots poked through the bottom of our door.
We all held our breath. I thought Ivy or I would faint.
"What is he doing here?" Abby whispered. "This is the ladies' changing room!"
Abby was ready to open the door and attack but I held her back.
We were filled with fear as we waited.
Then Ivy's cell phone rang.
Ivy tried to cover her phone when the boots disappeared.
"Jake?" Ivy whispered. "These weird guys are following us. Can you come to the mall, now?"
Abby opened the door and peeked her head out. "All clear."
We sneaked out of the room and peered into the store. When we didn't see them, we walked through the aisles until we reached the entrance. We all gazed around; fortunately the guys were nowhere in sight.
"That was so creepy!" Ivy said.
"What does he want?" I asked.
"I think he wants you," Abby said, turning to me.
"Why?" I asked. "Why would you say that?"
"Because he asked the clerk for you. You're wearing a pink headband."
"I don't know why he wants me," I said, freaked out.
"It's okay," Ivy said, putting her arm around my shoulder. "He's gone. Let's banish those losers from our minds. Jake will be here soon. We have real men to talk about. What's up with you and Brandon?"
He's going to turn into a werewolf in a few days, I wanted to say. As if I didn't have enough to deal with already.
I texted Brandon about meeting us at the mall, but he responded that he was taking his grandmother to the doctor.
We waited until Jake and Dylan met us outside the store. They hung out with us as we continued to shop. Ivy's and Abby's minds quickly were distracted with things they could add to their spring wardrobes.
I, however, had two particular things on my mind. Who was this Ryder guy, and what did he want with me? I met Brandon at his house after the mall. I was preoccupied by my frightening experience but was so relieved when I saw my handsome and strong boyfriend standing outside his guesthouse. I rushed to him and gave him a hug, my body caving into his. Apparently I couldn't hide my worries from Brandon, as he immediately gave me a curious look.
"Sorry I couldn't meet you at the mall. Your text sounded strange. Weren't you girls having fun?"
"That rude guy from the gas station was there."
"Really?"
"He was following us."
"He was?"
"Yes, he gives me the creeps," I said with a shudder.
"Are you sure he is really following you? Or could it just be a coincidence?" he asked in a tone that was trying to soothe me.
"He was bothering Ivy and Abby, too," I continued. "They must be a gang of some sort. He was trying to talk to other girls at the mall as well. It's like he's trying to test us-or find someone special."
"Well, you are special," he said.