I've been seeing that guy around all week. Everywhere I go he lurks in a shadow somewhere. There one second, gone the next. It's creepy. I walk down the trail on my own. If I'm not imagining him, he might try talking to me again. If I am imagining him then I get a nice walk.
As I pass the track I sigh before sitting with my back against the mound of dirt I call a jump. The track is the end of the trail so all that are around are the trees covered in dying leaves. Maybe this was a dumb idea. If this guy was stalking me, I doubt he would come out here just to fuck with me. But he did come out here before and this place isn't close to any other houses or buildings.
"I'm so stupid," I barely whisper as I cross my hands over my knees and rest my forehead on my arms.
"What makes you say that?" A familiar voice asks, causing me to jump to my feet and look to the trail. The same man stands with a smile. This time he has a black tank top with his shorts. I'm surprised to see that his feet are bare. Any normal person would be freezing out here in only a tank top and shorts.
We assumed that I could always go out in the cold because of the dragon part of me. I can go out, like I am now, in jeans and a t-shirt without a jacket. "Who are you and why do you keep showing up everywhere I go?" I keep my eyes on him and his shit-eating grin.
"Cutting right to the chase, are we?" He nods. "I know where you got that," this time he chuckles slightly. "How about we make a trade?"
"I just want you to leave me alone," I say as firm as I can.
"And I'll tell you my name if you tell me why you named your dog Sarah," he nods and runs a hand through his hair.
"How do you know my dog's name?"
"I heard you say it. 'Sarah go home!' it was great," he laughs at his mocking of me. "Now answer the question."
"How the hell could you have heard that? How do you even know who I am?" My voice raises as does my anger. Who the fuck is this guy!?
"I will answer all of your questions in due time. As long as you answer mine in return."
"Fine," I try to stay calm. "I named her after my birth mother. Now tell me who the hell you are!"
"My name is Shawn Categore and I know what you are," he acts like he's in a movie.
"What am I?" I roll my eyes.
"Half dragon," he crosses his arms.
"Got any proof?" I try acting as if he's wrong.
"See, telling you how I know, will have to wait for another time. For now, I'll see you soon," he waves slightly before sprinting away. I sprint after him through the trees. How is he faster than me? Humans are always slower than me. He leaps over a fallen tree as if it's nothing while I chase him. I run in the same direction for some time before Shawn disappears. Continuing my search for a few minutes I curse under my breath before looking for the trail. Or any trail.
"Shawn, fucking, Categore. What the fuck kind of name is that?" I mutter as I search. I kick a small branch out of my way as I step onto the trail. My head snaps towards the bushes as they russell. A small squirrel comes running past my feet. Curse that fast bitch for making me so skittish all the time.
After a few minutes, I feel something hit my shoulder and spin around. Nothing to be found. The weight is still on my right shoulder. I turn my head to find a chipmunk sitting on my shoulder, holding my shirt. "Oh, hi, little dude," I smile as I relax. The chipmunk grabs onto the top of my ear before climbing over my head to my other shoulder.
I check my pockets and pull out the small bag of sunflower seeds I brought out here. What? A man can't have a snack? I take out a small handful of the snack and eat a pinch before holding the rest up slightly for the chipmunk. The little rodent climbs onto my arms and sits on my wrist as it pulls, one piece at a time, from my palm.
"I'm gonna call you... Clare," I nod as the little furry creature eats. The stripes on her back have a black line going horizontally across them. I start walking again and Clare continues to eat out of my hand until she sits back on my shoulder. Eating her leftovers, I rant to her about what's been going on. She makes small noises as I speak. I know she can't answer but it feels good to say it out loud. As I see my house in the distance, Clare lays in a small ball of fluff on my shoulder. I smile at the adorable animal. Sarah barks and sprints towards me as I get closer to the house, causing Clare to jump onto my head.
"Hey, Sarah," I smile and bend down to pet her. "This is Clare. Clare, this is Sarah." Sarah barks and Clare climbs to my pocket with the sunflower seeds. I can hear the bag crinkle as she digs around in there.
"I guess dogs would scare me too, if I was a chipmunk," I shrug. "Okay," I stand and reach in my pocket. Clare holds my hand as I pull her out. I go to a tree and set her on a low branch. "I can't keep you in my house but I can always come out here." I give her some sunflower seeds and she scampers up the tree with them. Sarah and I go inside and leave my shoes by the door.
"Hey, how was your lonely walk in the woods?" Olivia asks as she and Bree help Pops and Dad get dinner ready.
"Actually, I made a chipmunk friend," I say in a matter-of-fact tone.
"A chipmunk?" Dad gives me a confused look.
"Yeah, I gave her sunflower seeds and named her Clare," I nod as I join them.
"You're weird," Olivia sets plates at the table.
"Good observation," Bree and I set the now finished spaghetti and garlic bread on the table. We all sit down for dinner.
"Bad news, guys," Pops says after we've all gotten some of the food. "Everyone has been invited to the Gales for a 'soiree' "
"The hell is a soiree?" Olivia and I ask together.
"It's an evening get togeth-" Pops interrupts Dad.
"It's a fancy-ass word for a party that you have to look good for."
"So I have to make sure my good clothes fit?" I say through the sauce-covered noodles in my mouth.
"Yes," Pops nods.
"After dinner, you guys will have to make sure you have decent clothes. No stains or holes. If you don't have anything we can go into town tomorrow morning," Dad tells us. We finish eating and after cleaning up our dishes I go to my room while Olivia and Bree go to theirs and our dads watch TV in the living room.
I search through my dresser for my best clothes and throw them onto my bed before going to my closet and doing the same. My bed only has two shirts, a single pair of pants and an overshirt. They look pretty small. I try on the pants first. They're too tight to even get on past my thighs. I give up and put on a random pair of jeans as a sort of reference instead of wearing pajama pants.
Anyway, I try on both the white shirts next but both of them fit too tight to be comfortable. I throw them with the pants and try putting on the over shirt. The second I get it on my arms I hear the sound of the fabric ripping and taking it off. The arms have ripped to the point of barely hanging on while the middle has a gash in it. Wow. I take the pile of clothes out to the living room before throwing the overshirt into the trash.
"When's the last time I had to wear really nice clothes?" I ask as I look at my fathers.
"I think that would be..." Dad starts.
"Your cousin's wedding, three years ago," Pops finishes.
"We need to go get clothes tomorrow," Olivia comes out of her room with Bree, both holding a pile of Olivia's collection of old clothes.
"She has a lot of nice clothes but they're all from years ago. Why do you need the dress from your seventh-grade dance?" Bree's accent comes out slightly as she holds up the light yellow sundress Olivia only wore once.
"I don't know," Olivia shrugs.
"Okay, we can go to town to get stuff tomorrow. And we'll donate those clothes on the way," Dad tells us. "Put them in a bag." We put our clothes in a bag and set them in the bathroom before going back to our rooms. I pull out my laptop and start playing one of the games until I get bored.
I check the time and decide to text the group chat with all my friends. I recently added Lizzy to it after asking if she wanted to join. That way we can all make plans without having any miscommunications because we can't just talk to each other.