The Wolf

Ch. 29: Welcome Home

"Hey, Blake," I call out.

He's wearing an aviator jacket and his backpack is hanging off of one shoulder. He's ditched skinny jeans for sweatpants and he's wearing thick woolen socks. He turns around, "Hey, Nico, what's up?"

"Can you give me a ride to school? Be my carpool?" I inquire, readjusting the straps of my backpack.

"Yeah, sure. You're not riding with Alex?" He questions, slipping on snow boots.

I mentally recoil at his question, but I put on an indifferent smile. "Nah, he's been going with Kayla, and three's a crowd." I wonder when Blake is going to remember my breakdown from the other night over Alex.

Blake face-palms, "Of course, I forgot they go together." He zips up his jacket all the way to his chin. He grabs a grey beanie from within his pocket and slips it onto his head.

I put on my sneakers. He opens the door and I go to step out, but he holds me back.

"Aren't you going to put your coat on?" He asks, looking at me strangely.

"Right," I say, I run to my room and grab a hoodie, zipping it up mid-way.

"That's it?" He gives me that strange look again. The same look that asks the question, 'Are you OK?' I'm really starting to hate that look.

"Let's just go!" I complain as I push past him to reach the outdoors.

The ground is covered with a heavy blanket of snow and the sky is concealed by thick layers of grey clouds. It seems as though we're going to be getting more snow today. The wind whips at our faces and plucks at our clothes. Blake shivers in his thick coat, looking bitter.

"Ugh, I hate the cold," He groans, stepping off the porch, stuffing his hands deep into his pockets.

"It doesn't really bother me," I note, looking for any signs of goosebumps or shivering, but there isn't any. I guess the whole ordeal with Nyx really did change me. I'm not sure whether I should be worried or not. Does my body still suffer if I can't feel the elements?

Blake's cheeks are rosy and his nose is running by the time we get to the vehicle. "How are you not affected at all?" He asks incredulously, fumbling with the keys to his truck. "You're not even shivering! Are you an oven with your own supply of heat or something?"

I shrug and pull myself into the passenger seat. Our breath is white against the air in the car. Blake's hand reaches out desperately for the heat and turns it all the way up. We sit in the car for a good five minutes before Blake decides that it's time to go.

"It's not too hot for you, is it?" Blake inquires, driving down the winding roads. He loosens the scarf that threatens to strangle him.

"Nah, it's fine," I say, looking out the windows as the wintry scenery passes by. Not only can't I feel the cold, but I can't feel any warmth either. A pit of dread settles in my gut. Maybe I should worry.

"So, how are you feeling? Have you recovered enough to be going to school?" Blake questions, eyes on the road.

"Yeah, I'm perfectly fine. Plus, if I stayed in that cabin one more day, it would've turned into The Shining." I joke.

Blakes laughs heartily. "Honestly, I'm surprised you lasted two weeks. I thought you would've escaped much faster than that."

I give a sly grin, "Who says I didn't?"

"Oh, OK, Mr. Sneaky."

Blake and I banter back and forth, talking about school and pack events like the Christmas party as we go. It's good to be able to talk to someone without worrying about stepping on eggshells around them. When we arrive at the student parking lot, I'm almost disappointed to go, but I know that I have no choice.