Second Chances (Brett Talbot)

Into The Woods

He frowns looking down at the ground. A few moments of silence pass but he speaks up. "I'm sorry," he mumbles.

The apology takes me off guard. I stare at him in confusion as he bites his lip and glances back up at me.

"I'm sorry," he repeats, looking down at me, his blue eyes unreadable. "I know I'm an dick sometimes and I know that it's not an excuse, but I'm just so used to being an ass to you. I keep forgetting I can-" He stops short suddenly, look almost scared.

"Forgetting what?" I ask him.

"Nothing," he mutters, his expression hardens. "It doesn't matter. Let's go find Liam. We must be getting close to where Mason said they were split up. That must be where something happened if something did actually happen."

He walks away from me, not looking to see if I'm following him. I stand there confused about what happened.

What just happened?

Brett Talbot apologized to me then he cut himself off looking almost scared.

"Are you coming?" Brett calls, still not looking back at me.

I catch up and fall in step beside him. His eyes dart all around except in my direction.

What's wrong with him? What does he keep forgetting?

He suddenly stops short his head tilted upward like a wolf tracking its prey. Now that I think of it, he is actually part wolf.

We are standing at an intersection between the path and the road that winds its way through the woods.

"I smell blood," Brett says. I don't smell anything besides trees, but he has supernatural smell so I'll take his word for it.

"Whose blood?" I ask looking around for any signs.

"I can't really tell. It might be Liam's," he says. "I can also smell Garrett."

My blood runs cold and I start to panic. I look around wildly for signs of my brother.

"Liam!" I shout out to him. "Liam! Where are you!"

I run out into the middle of the deserted road and do a 360 degree turn

"Liam, please!" I call out in almost a beg. "It's me, Lily. I just want to know you're okay."

My voice is barely above a whisper as I sink to my knees on the road. It's dark now and I can barely see around me in the moonlight. I feel suffocated in the darkness, drowning in the fear that my brother is dead.

My breathing is labored as I squeeze my eyes shut, trying to think of where Garrett could have taken Liam.

Did he stab Liam like he did Brett? And was it also poisoned with wolfsbane? If so he could be dead right now.

All I could think of is Liam, my Liam, my twin brother, dead or dying in this big forest. Tears prick my eyes and I feel them slide down my cheeks.

I can't handle it. I want to scream. I want to tear my hair out. I want to punch Garrett over and over again for his betrayal against Liam and I.

How could he? How could my friend be a murderer and act like a normal high schooler, then he goes after his friends and kills them for money? What type of sick person does that?

I feel someone grab me in the dark, pulling me up. I struggle against the strong arms but they hold me tightly.

It's Garrett! He's come to kill me now for revenge since I got Violet arrested.

"Hey, hey, it's me. It's Brett," I hear Brett's voice in my ear. I instantly relax and he lets go of me.

I turn around to face him and without warning, he pulls me into a hug. I freeze at first but then relax against him. I put aside all of my history with the Brett; everything I have against him and all that he's said and done to me, and just let him hold me as I grip tightly onto the front of his sweatshirt.

He's warm. Warmer than any normal human, but maybe that's another werewolf thing. My head is resting on his chest and I feel his cheek on the top of my head.

"We'll keep looking," Brett tells me.

"Okay," I say in a horse whisper.

He lets go of me and steps back. Without Brett's body heat, I suddenly feel a chill and shiver in the cold, night air.

"Are you cold?" Brett asks me.

"No, I'm fine," I lie. "I'm just a bit chilly." I fold my arms in front of me for warmth, not wanting to show anymore weakness to him. He's already seen me this low. I need to show him that I'm strong.

Brett sighs, obviously not convinced. He reaches back and pulls off his green lacrosse hoodie in one swift movement. He holds it out to me.

"I said I'm not cold," I tell him. "Look we are wasting time. We need to find Liam."

"Just take it. I know your lying. I can tell," he replies. "You're wasting time by arguing with me."

Too exhausted to argue with him, I huff and grab the hoodie and pull it over my head. It's way to big for me so the sleeves are over my hands and it goes to my mid thigh making it look like I'm not wearing any pants. It's soft and still warm from his body heat.

"Better?" he asks.

I nod, not looking at him. "Thanks," I mumble. "Let's go."

At that moment, Brett freezes, his head tilted as if he hears something.

"What is it?" I ask him.

"A werewolf howl for help," Brett says, not looking at me.

I have a sharp intake of breath. "Liam," I whisper.

~•*•~