Daci

 

“Face it, the guy’s strange. He only had one or two friends, and he’s some kind of Comi-con nerd or something now.” Veronica stared at me. “What’s wrong with you, anyway? Why do you always stick up for him?”

My best friend, Veronica, was a snob. I’d known it since I met her in first grade, when my family moved into town. I loved hanging out with her most of the time. I immediately became one of the cool kids when she befriended me. Now that we were in college, she knew all the right people to get invited to the best parties, and how to have a great time. A great time as long as she was happy and controlling everything.

“He wasn’t that bad. He was quiet. That didn’t make him a weirdo,” I said.

“That’s your opinion. I can name about fifteen people who agree with me and I can’t think of one who agrees with you.” Veronica rolled her eyes. “Wait a minute! Are you in love with that freak?”

“No! Just drop it, Veronica. You’ll never see him for the kind-hearted person he is. I don’t want to hear you belittle him, because he doesn’t deserve it,” I said. I felt sad that so many people thought Barry was strange or weird.

“Anyway, you’re probably just pissed because he didn’t give you as much as a glance when he was around.” I smirked. Veronica loved male attention, and he never gave her one iota of his time. When he saw me, his eyes never strayed.

“Eww. You’re so gross. There’s no way in hell I’d want that,” she said.

“Okay. Keep telling yourself that.” I chuckled. I knew she was getting furious.

There was so much Veronica and her friends didn’t know about Barry. It wasn’t like I was interested in him in a romantic way, or wanted him to be my boyfriend. We loved to hunt and play together. I felt an unshakeable bond between us. I couldn’t quite put my finger on it. I just felt like I had to defend him because I knew he’d do the same for me, if circumstances ever called for it. And he’d stayed a good friend since I met him. He was someone I could always depend on.

He may have been a little different than the other boys, but I admired that about him

“Here comes your weirdo boyfriend now,” Veronica said.

I looked in the direction Veronica’s eyes were focused and saw him. I was shocked. Why would Barry be on our campus? He didn’t go to school here -- he was attending the community college.

He was walking toward us with purpose in his step. His stride was like he was stalking prey. His face was void of any expression. He was on a mission. I’d remembered seeing him look like that when we were hunting rabbits in the fields.

Barry was more handsome than I’d remembered. His body was more muscular, and his face had thinned and looked much more defined. My Coy-wolf howled and kept flipping her tail wildly in the air. She’d never been so restless before.

“Daci,” He called my name when he was within five feet of me.

“Yes, Barry?”

He kept walking, but he was marching in place. No matter how much he tried, he couldn’t get any closer to me.

“What’s wrong? Why aren’t you coming closer?” I asked.

“I’ve been looking for you. I’m so close, but I can’t quite reach you. I love you, Daci,” Barry said. His arms were outstretched toward me. I tried to reach him, but it felt like there was an invisible wall between us.

“Daci,” Barry said as he disappeared before my eyes. He appeared to have been mysteriously yanked away.

“Barry, please, don’t leave me. Come back. I love you, too.”

I jumped out of my sleep and sat up straight.

I looked around at my surroundings. I wasn’t on the couch, and I didn’t see Maximus. I was in a huge four-post canopy bed with a beautiful eyelet comforter wrapped around me. My eyes shifted over to the desk near the window, where I saw the pink robe I’d been wearing draped over the back of the chair. I let my hands roam my naked body.

I hope this freak didn’t rape me, I thought.

I quickly jumped out of bed and grabbed the robe, wrapping it tightly around me, and then I tied the belt tight.

I walked into the hallway and made my way into the bathroom. After relieving my bladder and washing my face, I walked into the living room and saw Maximus’ tall form curled up on the couch. For a brief moment, I felt bad for him.

I looked down and rubbed my eyes. As I looked up, I screamed. Maximus was standing in front of me. I hadn’t heard him get off the sofa and move.

“It’s okay, my pet. I didn’t mean to startle you. Did you sleep well?” His fingers pushed the hairs back from my face, then down my long mane.

“Yes.” I drew out the ‘s’ for an extra second or two.

“I sense a but. What’s wrong? I want you to be completely comfortable in our home.”

“How did my robe get removed?”

“My love, I took it off your beautiful body. You certainly would have gotten way too warm with it on. Not to mention, it would have been extremely uncomfortable wrapping around your legs. I assure you, as tempting as you were, I didn’t do anything to violate you.”

“Thank you for thinking of my comfort, I think.”

“My love, my body aches to feel yours, but I want you to want me. I reiterate: I’m not a rapist.”

I pulled my robe tighter. “Do you have any clothes I can wear?” I asked.

“I’ll see what I can find for you. Are you hungry?”

“I’m starving. I feel like I haven’t eaten in weeks.”