The End of The Beginning

Chapter 12

Chapter 12

            We weren’t even walking for thirty seconds when I collapsed on the sandy ground. I don’t even remember what happened. Rose later told me that she tried everything she could to wake me up, she splashed water on my face, slapped me, used some sort of reviving the dead spell that didn’t work because I wasn’t exactly dead…yet. Later she basically gave up everything and just let me sleep. We were out on the open beach for three days, she told me. She tried to drag me into the woods, but she didn’t have the strength either.

            I was only slightly aware of some things. I was aware of the wind blowing my hair into knots and my shirt slightly moving slightly up my chest (which I know Rose tried to ignore but she couldn’t) I was aware of high tide almost whisking me away, but Rose stopped it with some other weird power she had. The last thing I was aware of was Rose crying on the second day, when I still wouldn’t wake up. She slept on my chest, and listened to my heartbeat, making sure I was still breathing.

            For those times when I wasn’t aware, I was dreaming. I dreamt that I was some hot guy who led a normal life with two parents and an awesome little sister with a girlfriend. (Her face never showed up in any of the dreams.) I dreamt that Greystone Orphanage really was gone and Rose was actually alive. On that last night, I dreamt that it was ten years into the future and I was just graduating college. I was packing up my bags. I guess I had just received my diploma. In my dream, I was…well…I was hot. My blonde hair was in place and my aqua eyes stood out. I was tall and I had muscles. I was in my car driving home and I really looked genuinely happy. I felt genuinely happy.

            Next thing I know, I’m awake. I am aware of everything. I blink my eyes open to find Rose dabbing my forehead with a wet towel. (Where did she get a towel?!) I sit up, propping myself up with my elbows. Rose noticed right away and knocked me back down, drowning me in a hug. She buried her forehead in my chest. She is crying.

            I wrap my arms around her perfect body, she is shaking. I brush her sunset orange hair out of her face. Her green eyes look more vibrant than usual. It is now that I realize that I suddenly have abs and my hair is perfectly blonde and my eyes perfectly blue. What the heck happened in those three days?! I feel taller and more muscular. My arms can wrap around Rose’s body perfectly. She fits perfectly with me; two pieces of a puzzle meant to be put together. I never want to lose her.

“Owen,” she breathes into my ear.

            I look down at her emerald eyes and she looks up at me. She looks so happy, I always want to see her this happy. I put my arm around her, bringing her as close to my body as possible. With my other arm I put my hand on her cheek and her nose is touching mine. I smile at her, my heart beating a mile a minute. Before I can change my mind, I move my mouth the extra inch, and it was in that moment that I shared my first kiss with the most beautiful girl in the universe.

            I close my eyes. All I see are roses. Green stems, the color of her eyes, orange petals, the color of her hair, and pink, the color of her soft lips.

            We eventually break apart. We just lie on the ground together, silent. She looks at me, but this time, she sees me. This sounds weird, but she actually is looking at me like I mean something to this world, like I’m not just Owen, but I’m Owen. I must not be making sense.

            Breaking the silence, she whispers in my ear only three words. They aren’t the words “I hate you” or “leave me alone” as I am so used to. She says three words that make my heart melt into a pool of feelings. She says three words to me that I will remember forever, even if I get a concussion or amnesia, I will remember these three words. Three words, and I kiss her again. I love you.

            I whisper back to her the words, “I love you more”. She smiles into my shoulder, her perfectly white and straight teeth showing.

            I hear a growling behind my back…that’s never a good sign. Damn it. It sounds familiar…too familiar. I’m afraid to look back, but I do. Drooling two feet behind me is a giant scarred grey wolf. A freaking grey wolf.