Happenstance
Stumbling into work, I quickly make my way into the back. I'm not normally late, so I'm hoping my boss will let me off easy. If it wasn't for the weirdness involved with changing my bandage, I wouldn't be late at all... When I got home after the encounter in the woods, I'd immediately gone upstairs to put my things away and redress my wound - only to find that there was no wound. It was completely healed, no signs pointing to me ever having it in the first place other than a bit of blood that had seeped through the bandage.
"Bruce! I'm here!" I call out once I've clocked in. I've been working for Bruce, the local veterinarian, as an intern of sorts for the last year and a half. I've liked it so far. I've gotten to learn from him and help animals, and that last part alone was like a dream come true.
"Ah, great, you're here." Bruce says while walking into the main exam room from the cat section. "I've just finished up with the cats, so all you'll need to do tonight is clean and monitor Mr. Casey's dog, Bear. He should be fine, and I'll be here early tomorrow morning to check on him so don't worry about it for when it's time to close up and go."
I nod in understanding, grabbing Bear's chart off the nearby table to look over it. "I'm sorry I'm late."
"No worries, this is the only time you've ever been late." He says with a lopsided smile. Dr. Banner was a very good-natured man, and while I wouldn't say we've grown close I would definitely say that we've become like friends. He's been happy to teach me everything he knows and guide me with my studies, and I wanted to follow in his footsteps, like the great mentor he is. "Alright, I have to go. I'll leave you to it. Remember, flip the sign to closed at eight." He points a finger at me and then at the clock as he hangs up his lab coat and grabs his keys.
"Have a great night, Dr. Banner." I smirk, saluting to him as he leaves. Sighing, I get to work on cleaning up the exam room. There's only about three hours until eight, so I might as well get started now since nobody seems to be coming in.
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It's Eight o'clock, and I've just flipped the sign on the front door to 'Closed'. In another half hour I'll be heading home.
After Dr. Banner left, I got started on cleaning and really didn't have anything to stop me. Nobody came in, and there was only a few calls to set up appointments that I put in the system. I left sticky notes on the computer to let Bruce know when he got in tomorrow morning. Other than that, all I had to do was occasionally peek into the dog section of kennels to check on Bear. He's been fine, just kept knocking his water bowl over. Sighing, I walk into the dog section to check on Bear one last time, only to see that he's done it again.
"Come on, man. You can't keep doing this." I groan, unlocking the gate to his kennel and giving the chocolate Labrador a pat on the head. Grabbing his bowl and the wet towel that I had placed underneath it, I retreat from the kennel and lock it back up again as I hear frantic knocking on the front door. "You'll have to wait until morning for more water, buddy." I say, placing the items down on a nearby counter as I point a finger at him in a scolding manner.
The knocking continues and I roll my eyes as I make my way out to check who it is. I hesitate for a second when I make it to the lobby and can see Yelena through the glass of the front door. She's soaked from the rain that started an hour ago, blonde hair framing her face in limp wet curls. My brows furrow in confusion as I hurry to unlock and open the door.
"I hit a dog!" Is the first thing out of her mouth, causing my eyebrows to raise. "It's raining, I didn't see it! I went to take a turn and she was just there and I couldn't stop in time!" She continues hysterically.
"Hey, it's okay. Where's the dog?" I try to calm her down, my hands raising to almost touch her shoulders as I ask.
"In the back of my car." Yelena breathes out, turning to walk towards the SUV I see in the parking lot.
Following her, we get to the back of the vehicle and she opens it up. There's an American Akita laying in the back on a blanket, and it quickly raises its head up to growl and snap at us. I don't see any bad injuries at first glance, but that doesn't mean much. Yelena jumps back in surprise at the dogs actions.
"It's okay, she's just scared." I reassure her, before returning my attention to the dog as she nods. Slowly, I step closer as the dog continues to snarl. My head tilts down, and I try to focus on emanating a calming presence. My eyes seem to focus weirdly on the dog, in a way I can't quite explain. The colors and details looking a bit sharper, the dim lighting a bit brighter and allowing me to get a better look at things... The Akita jerks back suddenly before whining and laying her head down.
"I think she's calmer now..." I say, clearing my throat. That was weird. I start to pet the dog, figuring out a way to get her into the clinic. "Can you help me with the door if I carry her?" I ask Yelena.
"Yeah, of course." She nods, closing up her car as I take the dog out carefully. We make our way into the clinic and I bring them to the main exam room.
Upon closer examination of the Akita, who seems perfectly content to let us interact with her now, she seems to have a broken leg. I've seen Bruce do enough of them that I'm fairly confident in my ability to splint it and put her in a kennel overnight for him to check her out in the morning. I tell Yelena as much, as well as I'll be giving her a pain killer and she offers me to help move her into her kennel.
"Thank you." I say, after we've gotten the Akita situated and cared for. "Of course." She says, offering me a small smile as she rubs warmth into her arms.
"I have a sweatshirt you can borrow, you look cold." I head to where I keep my phone and keys in the exam room and grab the dark grey sweatshirt I have laying over the back of the chair there. "Here."
Yelena looks slightly surprised, but takes it nonetheless. "Thank you. Again. You seem to have a habit of knowing when I need something, and letting me borrow it from you." She chuckles, pulling the sweatshirt over her head.
"What kind of person would I be, if I didn't help a lady out." I chuckle, smirking slightly.
"Right." She laughs. "You know... If that dog doesn't have an owner, I think I'd like to keep her." She continues shyly, looking back towards the dog kennels.
"I can check her for a microchip and leave a note for the vet to call you tomorrow?" I offer, grabbing the scanner and going to scan the Akita for a microchip. The scanner doesn't find a microchip, so I come back into the room with Yelena where she's giving me a hopeful look.
"No microchip." I let out with a big grin, which she matches at the news. "I'll leave a note for Dr. Banner to call you, but I'll need your number."
"Sure. You can have my number." Yelena waggles her eyebrows at me as I move to grab a notepad and pen, making me blush slightly.
"I didn't mean it like that -"
"I know." She cuts me off. "Still, you can have my number. You seem pretty cool, and I'll need to return your sweatshirt anyways." Laughing, she takes the pen and writes her number on the note pad before she hands me her phone with the contacts opened up to create a new one. "Plus, what if either of us ever need help in English." Her head tilts in faux seriousness, eyes sparkling with laughter and mischief.
"Okay." I giggle, relaxing a bit with her playful attitude. Typing my number and name into her contacts, I hit done and hand her phone back to her with a smile. "So, any name ideas for your possible new dog?"
"Yeah, I think Fanny."
"Fanny?" I ask, trying to hold back a laugh. "Yeah, why?" Yelena narrows her eyes at me while leaning forward, as if daring me to say something about it. Honestly, she looks kind of scary and there's no way I'm saying anything about her name choice now. Gulping, I respond while shaking my head. "Nothing."
She smiles, straightening up in happiness. "That's what I thought." She giggles.
"So, anyways... Are you going to the party Friday night?"
"I wasn't planning on it. Why? I thought you had Family Night?" My face pales, I should have chosen my words more carefully.
Yelena's brow furrows for a second before she responds. "Well, I heard all of the lacrosse players are going to be there, and since you seemed to be doing really well earlier at practice... I just thought maybe you'd be there, and that if you were then maybe I just might come." She glances away.
I blink in shock for a second. Is she saying she wants to go to the party with me? Oh, I should say something, I've been quiet for too long!
"I may be going to the party after all, then." I breathe out, color tinting my usually pale cheeks. She smiles at me, teeth gleaming.
"Great! I'll see you there."
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It's Friday now, and I'm playing the first elimination for lacrosse. This will decide if I make the team, and make first line. I really really needed this to go my way, because everything else in my life has been going the exact opposite.
That morning, I'd woken up three miles into the woods by a creek. No memory of how or when I got there. And when I woke up? I saw the thing that attacked me across the creek, hidden in the fog. Or at least I thought I did. Nothing makes sense anymore, and I'm starting to believe maybe I'm going crazy. I can see, hear, and smell things that I shouldn't be able to see, hear, and smell. I'm sleepwalking. I'm suddenly great at lacrosse. I don't seem to need to use my inhaler everyday like I used to. I just don't understand what's happening to me.
"Dianna!" Kate shouts, running up to me and practically skidding to a stop on the side of the field.
"What, Katie?" I grumble, in no mood for any of her antics right now. I'm tired, and everything is too loud.
"The fiber analysis came back on the body found in the woods..." She wheezes, out of breath. "You were rig-" Coach's whistle cuts her off and I make my way out on the field.
"No, Dianna wait!" She calls out to me, trying to grab my arm.
"It can wait. This can't." I say, sliding my helmet on and gathering into a circle with the rest of the team. This has to go my way.
"Alright alright, people! You know how this works!" Coach says, looking at the teenagers surrounding him. "You don't make the cut, you likely sit on the bench for the rest of the season. You do make the cut, and you get to play! Your parents are proud, your girlfriend is happy!" Vision smirks at that. "Now, get out there and show me what you've got!" Coach shouts, the rest of the team cheering and sliding helmets on while running out onto the field to get in place.
Taking my place, I roll my shoulders to loosen them up some. I have to make the cut. The whistle blows, and both sides of the field come alive with players rushing at each other. The ball manages to get passed to me and I take the chance, scooping it up and attempting to make it to the opposite goal when something slams into me - or rather, someone.
It's Vision. He shoulder checked me into the ground, glaring at me and giving a faint smirk before he runs off again. I let out a low growl, there's no way I'm about to put up with his shit.
We line up again, and it's me and Vision facing off with the ball between us. I stare the ball down, and when the whistle blows I take off, scooping the ball up fast as lightning and spinning around Vision. He looks shocked for a second that I moved so quickly before he turns to come after me, but it's too late. I've already made my way through the obstacle course of players blocking me from my goal, spinning around and dodging them before finally a trio of them block my path. Still, they're no match for me right now. I tuck my head in and jump, launching forward and rolling off their backs as they ducked down to tackle me. I make the shot and it flies between the goalie's legs, hitting the net and scoring me my first goal.
Hearing cheers, I look at the bleachers to see Yelena and Wanda sitting there together again. Yelena is jumping up and down and waving, unintelligible screams of approval coming from her. Wanda is just standing there, a soft smile on her face as she readjusts the beanie she has on her head that has been knocked askew from Yelena's overexcited movements. My team rushes around me in excitement at our score, blocking my view of the bleachers as they pat me on the back and we knock helmets together. I grin widely, happy something seems to be going right for once.
"McCall! Get over here!" Coach shouts. Slowly, I disentangle myself from the mass of other players and make my way to him. "Yes, Coach?"
"What was that? This is a lacrosse field. Now, are you trying out for lacrosse or for gymnastics?" He lets out in a rather intense manner.
"Lacrosse, sir. I'm sorry, I was just trying to make the shot."
"Well, you made the shot." He says, staring me down. "You know what else you made? First line. You're starting, McCall." He smiles, patting my on the shoulders roughly.
"Yes!" I whisper excitedly. I did it, I made first line. Finally, something was going the way I wanted it to go. I glance at Kate on the bench, and she looks concerned about something. She's not cheering like I thought she would be. That kind of hurts, but I'm not so worried about it right now. I'm just excited that I actually managed to do it.
Now, to finish up tryouts and get ready for the party.
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I'm heading into Kate's house. She had texted and said she had something to show me, and honestly I wanted to know why she disappeared after tryouts. I had looked for her afterwards, looking forwards to telling her how I managed to do it and make first line, but she was already gone.
Letting myself in, I make my way up the stairs to Kate's bedroom. We've been best friends since we were little kids, so I'm not worried about barging in or anything. They've always let me know that I'm welcome any time at all.
Bang bang bang. I slam the side of my fist against Kate's bedroom door, hoping to startle her. Almost immediately her door swings open and she grabs my arm, dragging me inside before slamming the door shut.
"What the hell, Katie?!" I squeal, with me ending up the startled one.
"You have to see this!" She breathes out, releasing me only to rush over to her desk and start rummaging through stacks of papers she has laid out next to what appears to be like a million books. "I've been doing so much research, going through book after book and website after website and article after arti-"
"How much adderall have you had today, Katie?" I chuckle. She's all over the place right now, her dark hair barely contained into a messy bun and her shirt on inside out.
The tan girl stops and thinks for a second. "A lot." She admits. "But that's not the point! The point is, the joke from the other day? I'm not so sure it's a joke anymore!"
Confused, I look at her like she's grown a second head. "What do you mean, it's not a joke anymore?"
"I mean, Dianna... That with everything I've read, and everything you've told me is happening to you..." She sighs. "I think you're turning into a werewolf."
It's quiet for a moment, and then I burst out laughing at her. "You can't be serious, Bishop." I say, wiping a tear from my eye. A werewolf? Seriously? She thinks she can get me with that joke again?
"Dianna!" She shouts, coming closer to put her hands on my shoulders and shake me. "I am serious. You can hear things better. You can smell things like you're a damn bloodhound. You can suddenly play lacrosse like you're a pro, and don't think I haven't noticed that you haven't had to use your inhaler at all anymore." My smile slowly fades. She's right, something has changed me. But a werewolf?
"Werewolves don't exist, though."
"Unless they do and just keep their existence hidden." She breathes out. "It's not like people are very friendly towards things that are different, so it would make sense. I mean, we've had our fair share of those experiences just by being gay."
I tilt my head in contemplation. She has a good point. Shaking my head, I refuse to think any further on this right now. "There's no way I'm a werewolf, Kate!" I say, pushing her hands off me as I step towards the door. "I can't think about this right now, I have to go get ready for the party. Yelena said she'd meet me there."
"Dianna, no! You can't go to the party. If I'm right about this, and I'm pretty sure that I am, then you shouldn't go anywhere tonight. It's the full moon!" Kate shouts, moving to block my path. "You'll physically change and your bloodlust will be at its peak. The party is at Wanda's house, and you'll be meeting up with Yelena. That is guaranteed to make your pulse race, which can trigger the change!!!"
"Kate, back off I'm going to the party! I'm not a werewolf!" I shout back pushing her aside roughly. "I know you don't care about being on the sidelines, but I do, okay?! So, stop trying to drag me down with you." I glare at her, and she flinches. Breathing heavy, I stomp my way out the door, down the stairs, and to my bike outside. There's no way I'm missing this party. There's no way I'm missing out on this chance. Angrily, I hop on my bike and pedal back home to get ready. It's going to be a good night. It has to be.
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Music blares as I make my way up the front of Wanda's house, and I can see tipsy teenagers spilling out into her yard while dancing with each other. My black riding boots make a nice clicking noise as I step inside onto the tiled floors. It's difficult to make my way through the throng of idiots grinding on each other in the middle of the walkway, and I can't say I'm a fan of the random touches I'm receiving where my skin is exposed from my white crop top as I do so. I should have worn a jacket... Is all I think when yet another beer scented teenage boy brushes against my lower back, but I wanted to seem cool and where a nice outfit. So here I am in a simple white crop top, dark skinny jeans and black riding boots, with my hair done in loose dark brown curls over one of my shoulders. I'm wearing my favorite jade frog pendant, and it falls perfectly down right above the valley of my breasts.
"Dianna! You made it!" I hear Yelena call out, and a second later I feel a hand on my wrist as she drags me out back to a quieter section of the party by the pool. She turns to me and flashes me a dazzling smile. "I'm so glad you're here. I've been bored out of my mind!" She laughs, taking a sip from the red cup in her other hand. By the smell, it seems to contain something fruity but with the harsh undertone of vodka.
I raise an eyebrow at her. "How could you be bored with all of this going on?" Gesturing at the crowd of people around us, I look her in the eyes with a small smile.
"Oh, hush. You know as well as I do that not a single person here is capable of having an intellectual conversation." She rolls her eyes. Since exchanging phone numbers, Yelena and I had been texting on and off. We'd talked about school, lacrosse, how it is being the new girl, how overbearing her sister Natasha could be... Overall we'd just hit it off. We'd established pretty quickly that, although both of us were lesbians, that we'd be better off as friends. And honestly, I could see her becoming a great friend.
"The only other person here I would've liked to have a conversation with is currently busy with someone's tongue down her throat." Yelena chuckles, throwing a glance back towards the house. Following her gaze, I can see Wanda making out with Vision by the back door. He has her pushed up against the side of the house, one of her legs lifted slightly over his hip and held in place by his hand as he very much is shoving his tongue down her throat. I grimace, wanting to look away before I puke at the sight, which only makes Yelena laugh a bit more.
"I'm going to go get you a drink, you look like you need it!" She shouts to me over the music, and before I can turn to protest she's left me.
Groaning, I look back at Wanda. I can't help it, it's as if she's a magnet that I'm drawn to. She looks gorgeous in a tight red dress, stopping just above her knee, making it a little risky to have her leg up so high. My ears decide to tune into the moment she's having with Vision as well, and I hear her let out a small moan as he presses himself further against her and moves to kiss his way down her jaw and to her neck. My cheeks flush at the sound, and before I can look away and try to do literally anything to keep my senses turned away from what's going on over there, I make eye contact with her as they flutter open. Vision is focused on kissing her neck and doesn't seem to notice that Wanda has become distracted.
We stare at each other for a second, and upon closer inspection it doesn't seem like she's truly enjoying it. Her jaw seems tight, her brows furrowed ever so slightly... Slowly, she pulls her leg from Vision's grasp and places it back on the ground. There seems to be a deep sadness within her eyes as we look at each other, and I can't figure out why. Why would she look so unhappy at her own party, with her popular boyfriend showering her with attention?
Vision's hands start roaming her body more fervently now that one of them has been freed. He continues to kiss his way down her neck, leaving marks, his hands gliding over her hips to pull her to him as if to ride his thigh that has slipped into place between her legs. I can't help but let out a low growl at that. At the way he marks her and grabs at her so possessively. At the lack of attention he pays to her and how she doesn't seem to truly be enjoying his ministrations. How could he not notice? How could anyone have a goddess like her with them, and yet not treat her as such?
My head starts pounding, and a cold sweat breaks out over my body. Wanda's eyes have fluttered closed again, a slight look of disappointment still evident on her face. I'm still staring at her, unable to look away as my mouth start to hurt, my gums burning where my canines are. My hearing seems to increase, like someone turned the volume up on the party and yet I'm also hearing my own pounding heart. I blink in pain and anger, wanting nothing more than to go over to Wanda and tear Vision off of her. But I can't do that... It's not my place...
I groan, stumbling away from the party. My head feels like it's splitting apart, everything is getting to be too much. "Dianna, are you okay?" I think I hear Yelena ask, but I don't care. I make my way out the front of the house, tripping over myself as I go and making people laugh. Every part of me wants to turn around right now and rip them to shreds. Whimpering in pain, I take off running down the street back to my house.
When I get home, I immediately make my way into my room to the adjoining bathroom. I switch on the shower full blast, nothing but cold water, and step in with my clothes still on. Letting the water run over me, I shiver and try to calm down.
Suddenly I'm screaming in pain as my fingernails are replaced with what looks to be claws. Kate was right.
All I can think about is how thank the Gods my mom isn't home, or she might hear me scream and be in danger. The burning in my gums intensifies and I shut off the shower, stepping out and over to look in the mirror. Tears stream down my face as I open my mouth and stare at my reflection. Where my normal human canines once were, now they have extended into proper fangs - with the ones on top being slightly larger than the ones on the bottom and closing into an almost perfect scissor bite. My ears start to stretch and elongate to a point, my eyes beginning to glow a wolf yellow.
"Aaaarrghhh!!!" I scream, stumbling into my bedroom and onto my bed. It's like I can't breathe. Like every nerve on my body has been lit up like a Christmas tree, and there's nothing I can do to stop the pain or the assault on my senses as they seem to get sharper. I slowly pull myself up to look out the window behind my bed, and I can see the full moon peeking out from behind some clouds to shine it's beautiful glow down on me. Strength seems to fill my body at the sight of it, overflowing like a cup that's been given too much to hold. A sudden clarity seems to hit me as I look at the moon.
The last thoughts I have before I black out, are the images of Wanda's sad face with Vision pressing her against the wall.