• Dear Mom and Dad How are you? I am having SO much fun at camp. The food is great and the bond fires are HUGE! It is so cool. Well I have to get going. Bye for now,

    Love,

    Sara. smile

    Hmmmmm......I thought. I need to change it to make it a little longer. Mom will freak! I tried again

    Dear Mom and Dad, Hiya! How are you? Camp is SOOOOOO great. The food is so good. The campers are cool too. Though there is one boy who is kinda ALWAYS keyed up. He runs around looking for.......well I have Absolutely NO idea. We all think he is TOTALLY crazy Anyway, the camp bond fires are soo big. At the end of camp we have a big bond fire, and there is a dance around it. Well I have to go now. Seya!
    XOXOXO,
    Sara.

    Now that’s better. Maybe that will keep her from worrying. I thought. NAH! Who am I kidding? Surely not myself. "Sara! The bond fire is about to start! We better go!" My friend, Anna said her tall, pixie, like figure hanging in the doorway. "Okay I'll be there in a moment, Anna Chill will 'ya?" I answered to her. I left my small bottom bunk in my warm, little cabin. I was at camp for the first time ever. But everyone at the camp had come to THIS camp since they were babies. I was unlike any of the kids.
    I was short, with long blonde hair. I look like I am 12. I had Dark green eyes. I was a fragile, looking type. I could have been passed as a princess if I really tried. I have only been at camp for 1 day out of the whole summer. Which had just started. One day when my parents had first brought it up I said "Ugh! A summer camp? Are you KIDDING?”
    I walk around to the camp to get to the bond fire and sat on the far left side where I never usually sat. A boy came up and sat in the seat next to me. I looked at him and said Very politely (or so I thought) "HIYA! I'm Sara. What’s your name? How are you?” He just looked at me until Anna came up to me and grabbed me by the arm. "ow, ow, OW! Let go of me!" I screamed. "Do you know who that is?!" She asked. "Well no 'cuz you interrupted me when I was talking to him!" I said with anger trying to hide the pain in my arm. It didn't work too well. "Not with him your not." She said in a voice that ended that conversation. Which I did not feel was right.
    "Why not? Are you like in love with him or sumthin'?" I said with a hint of sarcasm in my voice. "NO, of coarse not. Nobody talks to him. He is like..... Like spoken for you could say." She hinted more of that past tone. I looked at the boy. He was the boy I had described in my letter to mommy and daddy. He wasn’t as keyed up as before. I looked away and asked "What is he always looking for?" "Nobody has a clue. He keeps to himself. Only sometimes a boy or girl would bump into him or ask 'Man, what’s your prob?!' I'm trying to get you away from that weirdo." "Oh." was all I could think of. I looked back at him to just look away because he was staring at me.
    "What is his name, Anna?" I used her name so I would not have all these people around me gasping and then screaming his name in my ear. "Huh? Oh his name is Jared." she said flatly. Trying to change the subject. "You know, Anna. I'm gonna head to the cabin I don't feel too good 'Kay?" I said without taking my eyes off of Jared. "What? Oh 'Kay." She said absent mindedly, smiling because she won the fight to get me to quit talking about Jared.
    When I got back to my cabin standing outside, believe it or not was Jared. He was very pretty, standing staring at me. He looked like he could be 16, even though he had a baby face and he was only 14. Obviously he knew he caught me by surprise because his face went from serious to smiling. I just stared at him like a total idiot. “Hello, I am Jared. I believe you asked me my name, well before your friend pulled you away. I am doing fine thank you. What about you?” Jared said.
    “Uhhh fine. Thanks.” I could not think of anything else to say to him. He was still smiling as he shrugged off the cabin and walk toward me. I couldn’t help but stare at his face. He was VERY cute. I had never seen him this way. Of course I had never seen but the back of his head and his face in dim light at the bond fire. He had black hair. His eyes where piercing pools of blue. He was thin and tall. A very white smile. His skin was darkened. I just stared, until he said something. “Well, aren’t you gonna ask me?” he asked. “What? I I don’t understand.” I stuttered. “What am I looking for? What’s my ‘prob’? Rind a bell?” It did. It reminded me of taking to Anna.
    “I really don’t care much. Sorry to disappoint you.” I said to him. “What? It doesn’t bother me that you’re not Really nosy. It is kinda good. I like the not nosy kind.” He said smiling again. “Why don’t we go into a cabin or sumthin’ you look like you are gonna freeze.” He said smiling. I turned and walked into my cabin.
    “Huh. Interesting.” He said.
    “What?” I asked. “Oh its nothing.” He said I could almost hear the smile in his voice.
    I sat on Anna’s top bunk, with a sign on it that said. ‘STAY OFF!! THIS MEANS YOU SARA.’ I laughed every time I saw this. After my little fit of laughing, Jared stared at me puzzled. “What’s so funny Sara?” He asked his tone puzzled. I wondered why he said my name it was like we weren’t alone.
    “Huh? What? Oh little private joke I like to think of.” I said.
    “It’s about me isn’t it?” He asked his tone offhand.
    “Huh? What no….no that’s not it. See the little piece of paper on this bed?”
    “Uh-hu so?”
    “It says ‘Stay off!! This means you Sara.’” I stretched the you part.
    “Oh I get it Ha ha.” He said with his back facing me. He was looking, AT MY STUFF!!!
    “Hey what’re you doing?” I asked jumping off the top bunk and landing (or should I say falling) with a thud.
    “What? Did I offend you?”
    “Just a little bit! You’re kinda looking through my stuff.” I shot back at him through clenched teeth.
    “What no I’m not. I am looking out the window, Sara.” He said.
    “Oh, I’m so sorry, Jared. Can’t you forgive me?” I said with a weird tone, but the apology was real. I don’t want to upset him. He was so nice; I didn’t want him to leave.
    “Why are you being so melodramatic? Its kinda silly if you ask me.” He said and sighed.
    “What’s wrong?” I asked.
    “I have to leave now Sara. My brothers and sisters will be looking for me.”
    “Wait.” I said.
    “What?”
    “You have brothers and sisters?” “Yeah I’ll explain later. Goodbye Sara.” He said.
    “Oh ok see ya.”
    Whoa. He actually really truly talked to me! Just then Anna walked in.
    “Hiya, Anna. How are ya?” I asked sounding a little too happily.
    “Ummm fine, I guess. What about you? I thought you said you felt sick or sumthin.” She said.
    “Oh I’m just great. I talked to Jared, He is really sumthin.”
    “YOU WHAT!?!?!” Anna asked, I was surprised she reacted that way.
    “What’s wrong?” I asked, surprised. “How…..could…..you…….he…….HUH?” She muttered to herself seeming confused enough.
    “Umm, Anna I think you should go to bed.
    “Oh ok I think your right.” She seemed to stiff a yawn.
    “Are you gonna go back to the bond fire?” She asked.
    “Yeah.” I said, hoping Jared would be there so he’ll ‘explain later.’
    I got to the center of campus just as Jared was about to leave, his tall figure bent down again searching, when I said “Yo Jared?” He straightened at once and said
    “Sara? Hello.”
    “Hey. Yeah it’s me who else would it be?” I said.
    “What are you looking for?”
    “Oh, now you become nosy.” He said with a strong sarcasm.
    “Can I……well……Meet your Brothers and sisters?” I asked.
    “What? Sure I guess. Nobody has ever asked me that.” He said sounding confused at my question. He walked over to me.
    “Why?” He asked.
    “Huh? Oh I have no idea. I just want to know who they are.” I said to him.
    “You know my sister, Anna, I’m not sure if-
    “Anna is your SISTER?!?” I cut him off. “Yeah, why? She never told you?”
    “Uhhh NO!”
    “Are you angry?”
    “No, I’m sorry. I’m just…..surprised. She always reacted weirdly when I talked about you.” I said, confused (YET AGAIN!)
    “Hmmm. That’s weird.” He muttered to himself.
    “Sara?” He finally said.
    “Hmm…” I said lost in my thought.
    “I was wondering, It’s kind of well sudden…..but-
    “Oh just spit it out huh?” I cut him off rudely. “Jared I’m”
    “Don’t worry bout it. Will I just finish already! Will you Hang around me?” “What?”
    “You heard me. At least I’ll Know you’re safe.” In the short time I have know him, he changes A LOT! Now he wants me to be safe. I mean huh? We just met. I was thinking for so long When I realized I was alone. Had he said goodbye? I could not remember.
    “Hmm, Jared?”
    “Yes.” He said from behind me scaring me to death.
    “Oh! Hey didn’t seeya there.” I said startled. He looked unhappy.
    “Jared, what’s wrong?”
    “Hmm.” I had pulled him back to reality, apparently.
    “Oh nuthin’. Just thinkin’ . Will you answer my question or not?”
    “Yeah. I’ll hang around.” I wondered why he was looking at me like we had know each other for years and years.
    He said nothing and I said nothing for a long time. Finally he said to me
    “Sara? I have to go now.”
    “’Kay. Bye.” He turned slowly almost unwillingly and strode away.
    “W-o-w.” I said. As I walked back to my cabin I thought of things I would say to Anna. ‘Why didn’t you tell me, Anna?’ I walked quickly through my cabin door to find Anna standing, waiting for me. “Where have you been??” She asked suddenly.
    “Out, why?”
    “Don’t get attached to Jared, once camp is over we’ll disappear again.” She said. “Again?” I asked.
    “Sara.” Her voice changed.
    “We should get to bed.”
    “Fine I’ll ask Jared Tomorrow in the morning.”
    “Goodnight Sara.”
    “Fine ‘Night.” I dozed off after a while.
    The next morning You Will Never Guess who was at my cabin’s door. It’s hard to believe but Jared.
    “Good morning Sara.” I was in a bad mood this morning.
    “It’s a morning, Jared. How are ya?” “Fine, thank you. You?” “Tired.” He laughed softly.
    “Jared?”
    “Hmm.”
    “Anna said that you would disappear Again. What….what does that mean? You don’t have to tell m-
    “Don’t listen to Anna, she’s just so grouchy, I’m not gonna go anywhere.” He cut me off. I feel attached to him already, despite Anna’s really weird words. “Aren’t you hungry, Sara lets go eat.” He said. Just then Anna stumbled out of the cabin, frowning, staring at Jared.
    “Can I like talk to you, Jared?”
    “excuse me Sara.”
    “’Kay.” I heard mumbled yells from Anna, and soothing, calm words form Jared.
    I didn’t hear all of it but I heard some. “……Wrong with you? Sara Parker? WHY?.....”
    “Anna. What is wrong with you? Why are you acting like this?” I really stopped listening and for the next three days I was trying to figure out what Jared had said. Then I got a wake up call “Sara Parker? Mail.” “Yay momma wrote me back.” That was what I said This Is what I thought ‘Great my pardoned mother whopedefrinkingdo.
    Dear Sara, hey sweetie! How are you? I’m glad your having fun at camp. I hope you stay away from that weird young man; I’m counting on you,

    Love, mamma.

    Wow, she actually listened to my lie! Sweet. “Sara, your awake! Well you know what I mean. Welcome back to earth, I….I have something to ask you.” “Shoot.” “You wanna go to….to the dance?” Was all he could choke out. Aw crap. “Uhhh, sure I guess.” Wow that was SO sudden. I hardly knew him for a week. Ok then Back to reality. “What did you say, Jared? I wasn’t paying attention.” “I said ‘Kay sweet.” He had a twinge of…. What was that? Regret? Couldn’t be.
    “Cool see ya later, Jared. Bye.” “Bye.”
    Later that day I decided that I would write back to my mother

    Dear Momma and Dada,
    Hey! How are you? I was talking to a new boy at camp and he is sooo nice, but he is the kinda Always keyed up boy. But I still like him. Bye bye mamma and dada.
    Love, Sara

    Back to the real world. I can’t be telling mamma that! Well I really don’t care but, still! I am so just gonna forget bout it tonight. I have to get to the bond fire now! Jared will be worried. Just then there was a knock on the door. Hmm, I wonder who that could be. “Are you decant?” “Very funny. You can come in.” “Cool.” He walked in the door, wearing a blue striped t-shirt, and ripped jeans and a leather jacket. I raised one eyebrow “Nice.” “You like it?” “Sure, I guess.” “
    You guess a lot.” “I know.” I laughed. His booming laugh joined in. “Ready?”
    “As I’ll ever be.” He rolled his eyes as if I had just told a bad joke. “What?” “Nuthin’” Fine I don’t care. Once we got to the bond fire just about umm EVERYONE was staring at Jared and I. “ugh!” “What?” “Haven’t you noticed all the people staring at us?” It was meant to be a rhetorical question and he knew it but he went on and answered anyway “Nope not really. Don’t worry. You freak out easily.” “Shut-up!” “Whoa. Sorry to offend.” “Ugh!” I said again and stormed off.
    “Sara, wait!” “Why should I?” “Cause.” I waited, “Cause I said so.” I laughed bitterly “What? Oh pl-ease! Don’t make me la-la.” I was staring at his angered and pained face which is what made me stutter. “Whoa man, how’d you do that?”
    “Do what?” “That.” “What Is that??” “Never mind.” “Sara?” “What?” “Are you still mad at me?” “For sure.” “Oh. I’m sorry. I was being rude. You talk like that all the time.” “You talk like you’re from some old movie.” “Forget it, forget that I said you could take me to the dance ‘cuz I changed my mind.”
    “What? No, Sara, please. What did I do wrong? I want to make sure your safe. Please don’t do-“Dude shut up.” I said and walked away. I didn’t go to my cabin, I just walked. So far I left camp limits. Big mistake. Jared came looking for me. So I hid in the bushes.
    “Sara? Sara, hunny come out please.” Jared said. Hunny? Did he really say hunny? “No I don’t wanna.” I said to him. “Come on, Sara please? Come out. I’m sorry.” “Sorry ain’t gonna cut it.” “Can’t you be mad when we get BACK to camp?” “NO.” “Ugh! Sara, stop that.” “Make me.” “Where are you? I can’t see you. “Good. I hope you don’t find me.” “I’ll find you after a while. So you might as come out now.” “Fine. Turn around.” I could see him, but he couldn’t see me. He rolled his eyes but turned around. I left my hiding place silently and walked back in the direction of camp without telling Jared.
    He caught up with me. “Hey. What’s wrong, Sara?” “Ummm, What do ya think?” “Oh right.” We walked silently for a while. I was startled by him calling me hunny. “Hey, um, Jared?” “Hmm?” “Did you call me ‘hunny’?” “Yeah, actually I did. Why?” “I dunno. I just wanted to be sure.” “Wait, where’s your anger? Your madness?” “Huuh?” “Nuthin’”
    He really seemed to like that word. “Why?” “Huh?” “Why did you call me hunny?” I guessed he saw the unanswered question in my eyes, because he didn’t take long to answer “Well I really don’t know. It was like…like It slipped out.”
    “Oh.” “What’s wrong?” “Nothing.” “What is wrong, Sara?” he said sounding a little annoyed. “I- I thought, you meant it.” I had gotten to my cabin and I walked inside. I sat on my bed, not caring to what was going on.
    “Sara....Hello? Are you alive?” I thought that was Anna but I couldn’t be sure. It was. Jared walked into the cabin. “Sara? Are you ok? Please wake-up. I really liked you awake.” He sounded upset. Good. Serves him right. “Jared, I’m not in the mood.” “What made you so upset?” Now he just sounded annoyed. “Nothing. Nothing at all.” I said quietly. I looked at him his piercing blue eyes full of apologies’. “What made me upset was the fact you called me hunny.” I hesitated. He thought I was done speaking “Well I’m sorry. If you didn’t like it you should have told me.”
    “I wasn’t done yet.” I said through clenched teeth. “oh.” “You said it sort of slipped out and it made me sad, not mad.” “Oh” he said again. “Sara, I’m sorry I hurt your feelings. This is all my fault. I’m so stupid.” “It’s not your fault I’m being overly-sensitive.” That seemed to hit a nerve on him. “It is my fault. I hurt your feelings. I was being……not sensitive.” “Shut-up will you?” I said angrily.
    “Yeesh!” “I’m sorry. I just don’t like you to take the blame. I annoyed me.” “Oh.” Was all he could say. “Your going to get caught if you don’t get back to your cabin, Jared.” Anna said. I had forgotten she was here. “Your right. Bye, Sara.” “Seya.”
    The next day my father wrote to me instead of momma.

    Dear Sara, Hi sweetie! How are you? Your mother is in the hospital. She fell down the stairs at home and broke her left arm and leg. She told me to tell you she said hi, and stay away from that boy at camp. She also said she would write you as soon as she could. Should I tell her you told her to get better? I probably should. Well I’ll see you soon,
    With love, Dad.

    Aw crap. I was lost in thought when Jared walked into my cabin and sat next to me. “Hi!” He said cheerfully. I said nothing. “Sara? Hello? Anybody there?” “Jared.” “Hmm?” “You have to help me get out of here.” “What?” “It’s my mom. She’s……In the...hospital.” “I’ll help you.” “Seriously?” “Um-hum.” “Thank you Sooo much Jared! I love you!” “What?” “What did I say something wrong?” “Did you say ‘I love you’?”
    Oops. “Umm yeah. Oops” “I didn’t say there was anything wrong with that. I just was wondering if I heard you right.” “Thank you, Jared. I love you.” “Me too.” Thanks? Why would I say thanks? “Jared, thank you.” “No thank you, Sara.” “Will you tell me sumthin’?” “Anything.” “What did Anna mean by ‘Disappear Again’?”
    “She meant that the first time I ever talked to someone other then her or my brother, We where about to move.” “Oh! That reminds me!” “What?” “Can I meet your brother now?” “Sure.” We walked in silence to his cabin which made me realize, I’d never seen his cabin before. We walked into his cabin to see a little figure with curly blond hair with a book in his hands. “Sara, this is my brother Mike. Mike this is my…… girlfriend, Sara.” I smiled widely at the word. “Hey.” His voice was loud in his small body. “Hello.” Nice. I thought. I’m such a chatter box. “Hey, Sara?” Mike asked. “Hmm?” “What’s your favorite book?” he asked. “Uhh. Probably……Secret Garden why?” “Good book. Not my favorite though. I like Little Women”
    “that’s a good one too.” “Sara, Lets go.” “‘Kay.” “Girlfriend? Cute.” He laughed. “Cute huh?” “Yeah.” “Cute this.” He said, grabbing me hand and pulling closer to him. “Hey.” I said after he let my hand go. “Shush.” “Sorry.” I honestly was sorry. He carefully dragged me around the camp his arm around me. I looked up at him. His eyes where full of happiness. Happy. Awwww That’s so cute! We walked around the camp and saw all the people we crossed where staring at us. He didn’t seem to notice.
    “Hmm.” I said after a while. “Yes?” “Haven’t you noticed all the people who are staring at you?” “Nope not a bit.” “Right.” Anna’s stare was boring into my back. “Jared, Where are we going?” “To the bond fire.” “Okie-dokie.”
    “Okie-dokie?” “Yeah.” We had reached the bond fire by then. We walked to the log seat thing we usually sat at. I heard murmured whispers. I saw a girl named Aria staring at Jared. He looked at her and she winked.
    I stared at her and then Jared who seemed to tense up. “Yo, Jared? You okay?” “What? Oh I’m fine.” I scowled at Aria still staring at Jared. “What’s wrong with you?” Jared asked me. “Aria is what’s wrong with me. She’s staring at you and she winked.” “And?” “Nothing. Really. I just… just think it makes me jealous.” Me jealous? That’s not like me. “You jealous?”
    “I know I know. It’s not right, I don’t like it either. I feel like… like I want to hit her. I never feel that way.” “Whoa, Sara calm down.” I just stared at him and eventually smiled. “What?” “I dunno. I’m just happy.”
    “Oh ok. I thought you where mad.” “I’m not mad anymore.” “Cute.” “Thank you.” “Welcome.” “So. I can’t wait till the dance. It seems like fun.” I said to make a conversation. He wasn’t having that. He sighed. And shook his head. “I don’t wanna talk right now, Sara.” “Oops sorry.” “I have to go now bye, Sara.” “Bye.” “Sara Parker? Mail.” A voice said the next morning.

    Dear Sara, hello sweetie! How are you? How’s camp? Your mother is doing great! She misses you so much. Don’t worry hunny. She’ll be fine.
    Love Daddy.



    I can’t wait until the dance. I just want to go to the dance, talk to Jared then make our daring escape. As I was thinking I wasn’t paying attention and I bumped into Mike. “Oh hey Mike!” “Hiya Sara!” “Say do you like the book TWILIGHT?” “Never Bothered to read it, sorry.” “Here.” He handed me a soft covered book with Two hands holding an apple on the cover. “That is so sweet. Thank you Mike.”
    “Your welcome.” “Do you know where Jared is right now?” I asked. “Hes at our cabin.” “Cool thanks.” I walked to Jared’s cabin to see him packing up a bag. He hadn’t heard me come in. “Jared?” I seemed to startle him. “Oh! Hey Sara! How are ya?” “Fine. What ch doin’?” “Packing up a bag what ch doin’?” “This is fun. I like this game.”
    “Your funny, Sara.” I know I am. I didn’t say that out loud.
    “So what’s the bag for?”
    “Packing Items and positions.” “Ha ha funny.” “Why are you packing ‘Items and positions’?” “For our little trip.” He winked at me. “Oh. Why are you packing so Early?” “Tonight’s the dance, Sara.” “What?”
    “The dance is tonight, and we leave after the dance.” “Oh my God! I totally forgot. Gotta go Jared, Bye!” “Seya.”
    I have to find a dress, and shoes and make-up! “Anna?” “Yeah?” “Do ya have a dress I can use?” “Yeah sure. In my top drawer.” “Thanks, Anna you’re a lifesaver!” I pawed through her drawer to find a blue and light green satin dress with the tags still on it. “Wow, Anna, It’s so pretty.” “You can keep it.” “Really? Anna I love you.” “You too.” We where quiet for a while wile I put on my new dress. “You know, Jared won’t shut-up about you, Sara.” “What?” “You’re all he can talk about. He really likes you.”
    “Awwww, that’s sweet. Anna are you going to the dance?” “Yep. I gotta get ready.” “See ya there.” “‘Kay.” She smiled at me. I smiled back. I walked out of the cabin to find Jared standing like he had when we first met, leaning on a wall. I’ll have to admit he looked good in a tie and kaki pants. Not overdressed not underdressed.
    “Nice.” I said raising my eyebrow. “You look lovely.” I couldn’t help but blush. We walked side by side holding hands. I have to also admit I was klutzy in heels. I almost fell (If Jared hadn’t caught Me.) three times.
    When we got to the dance bond fire thing, everybody was staring at us. “Can we leave earlier?” “Sure. May I ask why?” “They are staring.” “Sorry, I haven’t got to dance with you yet.” “We can dance ANYWHERE else.” “I want to dance here.” “Fine.” Where was the music? Isn’t there music at a dance? That’s just weird. That never happens…… All of a sudden we where dancing. A slow paced dance, not very fast. I didn’t know I could dance at all.
    “Wow.” “Hmm?” “I had no idea I could dance.” He shook his head and smiled. We didn’t talk much about anything but we would bring something up sometimes. “So, How long are we going to dance?” “Just long enough.” I didn’t see that one coming.
    I also didn’t see this coming. We stopped dancing. Or he stopped dancing And he walked me over and we sat down on our long thingy. Sitting with us was Mike, Katie (a girl at camp), Anna, And Caleb (a boy at camp). “Hi Anna. Caleb, Mike, Katie.” “Hi” they all said in harmony. Like they practiced it.
    Suddenly we weren’t there anymore. Gosh he moves fast. We where at the mucky lake. It looked pretty with the sun setting behind it. Like one of those old romance movies. “Wow. It’s-it’s so pretty.” “I know.” He was facing me away from the sunset. “Can I try one thing?” Oh no. “Yeah.” I said quietly.
    He put his hands on my shoulders and leaned in smoothly. Like he knew what I was thinking. The kiss wasn’t at all bad. What was bad is what happened after it. “Parker, Smith!” “Aw crap.” I said, Only loud enough for Jared to hear. “Don’t worry, Sara.” “Yeah?” I said to the voice calling us.
    “Why aren’t you at the bond fire?” “Because we wanted to watch the sunset.” Jared said seeming at ease. “Well next time tell someone.” “I told, Anna, Caleb, Katie And Mike.” “Well okay then. Carry on.” I wanted this to be a moment to remember. Now it will be a moment I will try to forget. “So close.” “Hmmm?” “ Now I’m gonna have to try to forget this moment. It’s not like we can have a re do. The suns already set.” “Who says?” He leaned in smoothly, Yet again. And kissed me. This time I wasn’t as scared. Still terrified but not as terrified. We eventually got up and started walking toward the camp.
    Hand in hand we walked to my cabin, to pack my ‘items and positions’. I didn’t care at this point what happened to us if we got caught. We where together, and that’s all that mattered. A strange feeling. I wonder why I had that, I’d never had this feeling before. “I really don’t want to get you in trouble.” I said to Jared. He sighed a happy sounding sigh and chuckled.
    “If we get caught we run.” “No dip Sherlock.” “Like I haven’t heard that before.” “All the ladies must say that to you all the time.” I said and laughed. When he got what I had said he laughed and rolled his eyes. I scooted him out the door telling him to get some comfortable clothes on. I changed into tennis shoes and my favorite blue t-shirt. I put on old tattered jeans.
    He walked in wearing almost the same thing as me. I was wearing my hat. He wasn’t wearing a hat. “Ready?” I suddenly remembered that I borrowed Twilight from Mike. “Oh!” “What?” “I have to return the book I borrowed from Mike!” “He won’t mind. I’ll return it once you finish it.” “Okay. Let’s go.” I grabbed my backpack and slung it onto my back. I had just noticed he was carrying a guitar case. “You play the guitar?” I asked as we walked out of my cabin.
    “Yeah, since I was ‘bout two.” “Wow. I can’t even play the kazoo!” I laughed and his and another laugh joined in. “Who’s that?” “That’s Mike. He wanted to say goodbye.” He shook his head and smiled. “Bye Mike.” I said. “See ya!” I started to think of the first night I met Jared. I sighed. “What?” “I was thinking of what Anna said about you the first time I tried to talk to you.”
    “What did she say?” “She said you were….spoken for.” He looked puzzled. “I wonder why.” “I dunno. At first I asked if she had a crush on you.” He laughed. “That’s uncomfortable.” “Tell me about it.” We walked in silence for a while. I remembered why we where here walking by the light of the off-white blue moon. He saw I was wearing a thoughtful look on my face.
    He took my hand and walked faster pulling me along with him. “Whoa! What’s the rush?” “Come on. We’re being followed.” “What!” “Yes. Act like we’re aloud here.” “Okay.” “Hello strangers.” “Hi. How are you?” “Fine. What brings you out here?” “Hiking. We’re going back home.” “Need a lift?” “No thanks.” I said. “Hey. Didn’t see ya. You’re a quiet one.” “Yeah.”
    “Well you best be gettin’ on your way.” “Bye.” After he left I asked Jared, “Jared. What are you always searching for?” “What?” “When you run around looking under things and then finding running around even more.” “Oh that.” “Yes that.” “I really don’t know either.” “Jared. I can tell your keeping something from me. What is it?” “I… I don’t want to tell you. I’ll scare you. Then you’ll run away and get lost.” “Try me.” He took a deep breath as if about to confess a murder. “I’m not Like you.” “Of coarse not! You’re a boy.” “No you don’t understand. I’m not…...not”-Deep breath-“Human.” “What? What’s that supposed to mean?” I hope I didn’t sound scared as I was.
    “Want to see?” I gulped “Yes I do.” He put me on his back. Wow he’s strong. “W-o-w. Your really strong, Jared.” “That’s part of me.” He said unsure of what he was doing. “Are you sure? Promise me you won’t run away screaming I couldn’t deal with you…” He trailed off. “Yeah, yeah I promise.”
    He ran into the woods and set me down gently. “Are you sure? I could take you- “No I want to see.” I did. “Okay.” He figure slouched into a crouch the way a dog would sit and became what he was. “Are you scared?” He asked me, I wonder how a Ware wolf can talk. “No” I lied. “I don’t want you to be scared. Don’t think for one second that I’ll hurt you. I won’t.”
    “I-I trust you.” I did. I did trust him. I didn’t care if he was a ware wolf. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to. I’m so, so sorry. I’ll take you back to camp and you won’t see me again.” “No! Don’t leave! I-I can’t let you. I care about you too much.” Jared’s eyes became so soft. “I care about you too. And I’m not about to lose you.”
    He changed back to person form. “Would you like to keep going?” “Yeah sure.” “You know you’re the only one who knows. Not even Mike and Anna. I never told them.” “You didn’t? Wouldn’t have they figured you out yet?” “I don’t know why they haven’t yet.” “Do you-you howl?” “What? No. Not as much as I used to.” “So you can howl, but you don’t. Right?” “Right.”
    “Wow.” We walked again by the moonlight and it was a bit more awkward knowing his secret. We were holding hands. He seemed like he was lighter, happier. I was thinking of the book in my backpack suddenly weighing 10 pounds. He slipped his hand out of mine and sat down on a rock. He picked up his guitar case and opened it. “What are you doing?” I asked.
    “Playing you a song.” My throat got thick.
    “Thank you.”
    “You welcome.” I sat by him on the rock and he smiled. The melody stared flowing in a beautiful song, I swayed gently to his song. My eyes got teary. He looked at me and his eyes were deep, I couldn’t help but stare at his face.
    His eyes, his smile, his teeth. I looked nothing like him.
    “I- I can’t thank you enough.” “For what? I want to be here with you.” “You know what I mean. Not only this but for-for trusting me.” “I do trust you. More then Anna.” I laughed. I didn’t care. I just want him to stay with me.
    “Why didn’t you tell Anna and Mike?” “I didn’t think they could keep my secret.” “Mike most likely could.” “He’d write a book about it.” He chuckled.
    I thought about that for a second. Then Jared’s song drifted to an end. He looked at me and smiled. I couldn’t help but smile back at him. For a second I forgot Jared wasn’t all human.
    “Look at the stars. Aren’t they pretty.” Jared said looking up.
    “Yeah.” I said also staring up. He had to be so perfect but one little flaw I’m willing to forget if he is. It makes no sense to think of him as dangerous. He said he wouldn’t hurt me, and I trust him. I put my head on his shoulder.
    “You know what?”
    “Hmmm?”
    “I trust you.”
    “Good I want you to.” I just smiled and nodded. He was happy, I was happy. He could be a cat too and I wouldn’t care.
    “Are you anything besides…that?”
    “Nope. Now you know all me.”
    “Okay.” We sat silently staring at the stars. I didn’t want to ruin the moment I had here so I just sat there. He seemed to be thinking the same thing. I shook my head. He looked at me with a puzzled expression.
    “What?”
    “There coming to look for us aren’t they?”
    “No not yet. Anna and Mike won’t tell. They are out only roommates.” He said, positive. I let it go, for now.
    “Do you have any……powers?”
    “Yeah actually, I do. I can sense people when they’re coming.” I just nodded in response. I smiled thinking I would have to move sometime.
    “We have to leave soon, don’t we?” I asked kinda disappointed.
    “Ten minutes. But don’t worry. We’re well on our way.”
    “Really?”
    “Yep. We’ve gone about twenty miles.”
    “How-“
    “I carried you while you were asleep.”
    “When did I sleep?”
    “Two or three hours ago.”
    “Oh. What time is it?”
    “A little after three in the morning.”
    “Okay.” I sat there about to nod off again. But I had one more question.
    “Jared?”
    “Yes?”
    “Do you have to sleep?”
    There was a long pause. “I don’t have to, but I can.”
    “Oh Okay, lucky.”
    He sighed.
    “We have to leave don’t we?”
    “Yes.”
    “I’m tired though.”
    “Would you like me to carry you?”
    “No, but you can If you wanna.”
    “Your dead on your feet. I’m gonna carry you.”
    “Fine.” I gently nodded of in Jared’s arms, smiling. I woke up to bright lights and light, soft music. “Jared? Whe-where are we?”
    “Were at the hospital.”
    “How in the-“
    “We got here just now. Your mother is still asleep so we have to wait out here until she wakes up.” He smiled.
    “how In the world did you get here so……so…oh. I know.”
    “Yeah I ran. You stayed on my back. That’s why you didn’t get cold.” He winked at me. I nodded and laid my head on his shoulder. He put his arm around me.
    “What time is it?”
    “Uhhh. Around eight in the morning.”
    “Okay. Good. My mom gets up at eight thirty. We won’t have to wait long.” I yawned and shifted in my seat.
    “How can you still be tired?”
    “Har har. I’m not still tired, I’m just board.”
    “Okay.” He said sarcastically. I sat there and waited with Jared, Strumming on his guitar. He plays the guitar so beautifully. I love it. I want him to never stop playing.
    “Miss Parker? Mrs. Parker is awake, you may go see her.”
    I walked into my mother’s room. She wasn’t paying attention.
    “Mamma?”
    “Sara? Oh Sara honey! Hi! How’d you get here?”
    “Jared came with me. He helped me get here.”
    “Thank you Jared. I’m Sara’s mother.”
    “Nice to meet you Mrs. Parker.”
    “You can call me Karen.”
    “Okay.”
    “Momma, how are you feeling, really?”
    “I’m great now. Can you hand me my phone?”
    “Sure.”
    “Bill? Hey you’ll never guess who’s here with me……… no guess again. Fine I’ll tell you. Sara is!..... Of coarse I know that……Yes that’s all well and good. She’s here now so get your butt over here.”
    She snapped the phone shut and looked at me. I smiled at her. She smiled back.
    “Mrs. Parker? Do you need some medicine?” The nurse said peeking her head in the door.
    “No thank you.”
    “’Kay. When your ready call us.”
    “Okay.”
    “Did you cut your hair?”
    “Yeah. It’s easier to brush it if it’s shorter.”
    “Oh. Good Idea. Who cut it?”
    “I did.”
    “You did a good job on it.”
    “Thanks.” My mom took in the clothes and my hair filled with leaves and then she understood.
    “Sara! You didn’t! Did you?”
    “Sorry. You where in the hospital I couldn’t leave you alone to fend for yourself.”
    “I have your father. I’m fine. Your in serious trouble.”
    “Mrs. Parker. It was my idea.” Jared spoke up, I had forgotten he was here with us.
    “Oh?”
    “Yes.”
    “Jared! It wasn’t his fault. Ignore him.” I shot him an angered look. Don’t worry, I thought. He’ll be fine.
    “Whose fault is it, really?”
    “Mine.” Jared and I said in unison. I stared at Jared. He stared back. I began laughing. He joined in then my mother.
    “Why are you laughing, Sara?” Jared asked.
    “I don’t know.” I said between laughs. He just shook his head.
    “How can someone not like you?”
    “Lots of ways. For one my moms pretty peeved right now, as you can see.” I looked at my mother talking to the nurse about some drug.
    “Anna looks nothing like you. How are you related? You don’t look related.”
    “Oh. She’s adopted.” He shrugged. I nodded slowly.
    “Sara? Can you keep a secret?”
    “I’m already keeping a huge one; I don’t think my brain can handle it.” I said sarcastically. He rolled his eyes.
    “Don’t tell but, I ran away. Nobody knows that either.”
    “You really trust me.”
    “Yes, I do.”
    “Why?”
    “I dunno. I just…do.”
    “Okay. Good luck with that.” He rolled his eyes and I sighed.
    “Miss Parker?”
    “Hmm?”
    “I’m afraid that children 16 and under have to leave.”
    “Oh okay.”
    “Sara?”
    “Yeah mom?”
    “Are you staying with your father?”
    “No probably not.”
    “Okay.”
    “Bye momma”
    “Bye Sara honey.” We walked out of the room holding hands and left without notice.
    “Sara, where are we staying?”
    “I have no clue. But we can’t stay with my dad; he’d rip your head off.”
    “I don’t think he could rip a ware wolf’s head off.”
    “Very funny.”
    “How much money did you bring?”
    “Uhhh, about 100 bucks. Why?”
    “I brought 90. We could get a cheap motel room with two beds or something.”
    “Okay. That’s good.”
    “Hmm, food.”
    “What? Food. I don’t have to eat.”
    “Of coarse you don’t.” I muttered to myself. He just glared. Apparently he heard me, I smiled. We were walking down a familiar street. It was the street that leads to the old ware house I’ve seen a million times.
    “Say, Jared where are we going?”
    “I dunno, you know your way around here. I really don’t.”
    “Well, if we keep going straight, we can get to the old warehouse. We could stay there. I go there all the time. It’s safe, I know it.”
    “Okay, whatever you say boss.” I rolled my eyes.
    “You don’t have to eat?”
    “Nope.”
    “Dang. I really thought you were normal. Now you’re just outdoing me.”
    “Sorry.” I stuck my tongue out at him.
    “You are so immature.”
    “Thank you.”
    “You’re very welcome.” He said with heavy sarcasm.
    “Jared? I’d like you to meet Mr. Old ware house thing.”
    “’Mr. Old ware house thing?’”
    “Yes.”
    “Okay, that looks like a dump.”
    “A homey kind of dump.”
    “Shush.”
    “Whatever. I told you it was old.”
    “Oh okay I get it.”
    “Oh shut up, your ruining my moment.”
    “You’re such a child.” He muttered to himself.
    “Thank you ever so much.”
    “Welcome.”
    “Why?”
    “Hmm?”
    “Why here? Why now?”
    “I dunno, ask my mom. ‘Karen? Why did you break you leg Now?’” I said in a pretty bad impression of his voice.
    “Hardee har har.”
    "I'm Hilarious."
    "Aren't you?"
    "Yep I really am."




    TO BE CONTINUED WHEN I THINK OF SOMTHING ELSE.