The two walk down the street and neither of them said a word. White could feel his wolf jumping and wagging excitedly inside him as it practically growled to let out. White thought it was still fifty years early for him to stand in front of Lynn but here they were walking down the street like any other person. He stuck his hand in his pocket with the bags on the other and buried his head in his hood, he hasn't felt this excited in so long.
He still couldn't tell how Lynn had managed to find him. He had sped off immediately he knew no one was watching, and from the distance she was, there was no way she could have seen him enter the alley. He was pretty surprised to see her but what had hit him more was the fact that she'd asked for a white wolf. His mind tried to wander but he shook it off as he knew she hadn't seen him in his human form, it was simply a coincidence. She had caught him off guard when she moved close to him, he loved the way her stares had been focused on him and he wanted more of it, but he had to draw a line. Not 'cause her stares made him uncomfortable, but because he could feel the little ounce of control he had left leaving him. He tried not to think too much about things and simply enjoy the moment. Stealing a glance at her, he couldn't help but compliment how cute she looked. She had on a white turtle neck with a black and white checked buckle pinafore dress. The left side of her hair had been weaved halfway and a silver hairpin stuck out beautifully on her hair. A smile escaped his lips as a sense of satisfaction filled him.
"Is it me or are a lot of people looking our way?" Lynn said as she had lost count of how many heads had turned their way, she could bet it wasn't her that grabbed all the attention but the dazzling creature next to her. Even his way of walking was graceful and satisfying to watch. The awkward silence was killing her as he hadn't uttered a word since they'd left the alley and obviously her last sentence hadn't gotten a reaction from him.
"You new here?" She pushed as she looked at him hoping he got the hint that it was his clue to give a reply but no word left his mouth. "You obviously are. There's no way I wouldn't notice someone like you around. Also makes sense why you aren't familiar with the bus stop."
Still no reply.
She really wished she could stop talking, it was pretty obvious to her that he didn't want to get involved in a conversation but her mouth just kept moving on its own accord. Meanwhile, White wasn't trying to avoid a conversation but rather thinking of the right answer to give to her. She'd asked if he was new around but he didn't know how to answer that. New was an understatement as he had practically roamed the street for over decades...in secret that is, but she didn't have to know that.
Silence fell between them again and Lynn wished she hadn't volunteered to show him the way. She hated awkward situations like this. She slid her hands into her pocket as she could feel the weather taking a windy turn. It felt like a light shower was about to show up. Taking a turn, the direction of the wind changed and the sweet scent crawled up her nose.
"I actually thought this earlier but you smell really nice," The words slipped out and she knew she'd messed up. No one just tells someone they smell nice, that's like a high-level rate of creepiness! she screamed internally. "I meant you have a nice taste in cologne. I would love to recommend it to my friends– you know?"
She said with an awkward smile as she hoped he would fall for her childish excuse, but as usual...he still didn't say a thing.
"You really don't talk much huh?" She said under her breath as a part of her felt down.
"I didn't put on one."
Her head shot up as his reply caught her off guard "huh?"
He looked at her as their eyes meet again, "I said I didn't wear one today."
"Oh, really," she said as she looked away unconsciously. She couldn't get used to his defined look, and his voice wasn't an exception. She thought about his reply and wondered, if he didn't spray on today then does that mean he naturally smells that good?! How much more does he plan to defy the law of life?!, she thought.
"That's pretty cool," she said and changed the topic "Also, next time you find it hard to locate a place you could just make use of the map on your cellphone."
"I don't have one of that?" He replied and she looked up at him thinking he was joking, but he had seriousness written on his face. She looked away in surprise. "For real?...Wow. It's rare to see a teenager not have a phone. Being without one is like... pure torture."
She didn't realize the abrupt stop from White, when she finally noticed he wasn't next to her, she looked back to see him staring at the ground. She walked back to him to see what he was staring at but there was nothing on the ground.
"What's wrong?" She asked as she caught his eyes blinking profusely.
"I'm fine...sorry," he said.
"It's okay," she replied, more worried about his sudden reaction.
"Let's keep going." He said and walked ahead. Lynn felt something was up, but that became the least of her worries when he made a turn to the left.
"That's the wrong way." She pulled him back and pointed straight down three blocks ahead "The bus stop is over there".
"Oh...sorry," he said bashfully and a little smile escaped her lips. "Thank you."
"Anytime." She replied with a shrug of her shoulder. He stared at her like he had something to say and she raised a brow as if to ask 'what's up?'.
"Bye." He said and left.
She cocked her head a little in confusion. She agreed with Noel, he's a huge catch, but the fact remains that he's still strange.
Watching him leave, a strange sense of familiarity flooded her. It felt like she'd seen something familiar...
...a picture flashed in her head, so fast she could barely make it out but suddenly... her heart dropped.
"Ugh!" A groan escaped her lips as she clenched her chest. It felt like a rock had been dropped on her heart as the chilling lonely heavy feeling made her breathing cut off for a second. Taking in deep soft puffs as she felt her heart stabilize, she slowly lowered her hand, wondering what that was all about. Remembering what Noel had said about heading to the hospital, a wave of concern hit her. "Could something actually be wrong with me?"
"Are you okay?"
She flinched at the voice and looked up to see White standing right in front of her. She hadn't noticed him walk back. He had concern written on his face.
"Y-yeah, I'm fine... Did you forget something?" She asked.
"Ah...well– no, not exactly," he lowered his head as he fiddled with the strings in his hand. He glanced at her and looked back at his hands again, then he stretched out one of the bags to her. "I would like you to have this."
She stared at the bag and back at him as she had the look why? written on her face.
"It's my thank you to you."
"What? No...you really don't have to. It's fin..."
She paused as he took her hand and gently placed the bag in it. The cold feel of his hands made her wonder if he was one to get cold easily.
"Please take it. I'd truly like you to have it." He said, but she didn't know how to react to this. Noel would totally nag her if she saw this.
"But– didn't you get this for someone?" She asked and it seemed she hit the nail on the head as his blinks gave him away.
"Uh, yes...but you could say it met the right owner," he said and let out a chuckle. She looked at the bag. She hadn't helped him to get something in return, but how could she say no when he makes such a face?
"Guess I'll take you up on your offer then. Thank you." She said and he tried to hide the beam that spread on his lips. He's a nice guy, she thought, then she felt something cold touch her hair. She looked up and a drop of rain fell on her face, followed by another.
"Rain?" She said and looked at White "You should get going before...what are you doing?!"
He took off his hood that exposed the white t-shirt he had underneath and she flinched as he covered her head with it. Its size fits just like an umbrella.
"I don't want you to catch a cold." He said and her face wrung up.
"What are you talking about, it's just a shower." She said as she took it off.
"It's gonna pour." He said and she looked at the sky that still had the sun gleaming.
"Doesn't seem like it would to m... Hey!" She yelled as he was already making his way to the bus. She was about to chase after him when the storm came down like it'd been holding back. "What the–"
She looked around for a place to stay but there wasn't any so she ran her way back, taking a shorter route to the salon. She went in and the doorbell jingled as Noel stared at her through the shop mirror.
"Girl I thought it was your turn to get lost." Noel joked as she noticed the red sweater Lynn was hanging up. "Where'd you get that?"
"Oh, he lent this to me,"
"Really? how thoughtful of him... So what's he like?!" Noel asked excitedly as she knew Kareem would shave her head off if she tried to get up. Lynn sat on the empty seat next to her as she gave Noel's question a thought. How did he know it was going to pour? Anyone would be deceived that it was going to be a light shower, she thought and replied.
"I don't know, he's just strange."
"What? That's it?" She asked disappointedly and Lynn shrugged. Noel let out a sigh.
"I don't know what I was expecting from someone who has Chris engraved on her heart."
Lynn stared at the small bag in her hand. It didn't feel heavy.
"Right, he also gave me this." She said, raising it for Noel to see.
"What's that?"
"A thank you gift."
"What's in it?"
"I don't know," Lynn said and it actually dawned on her that she didn't know what he had given her. She peered inside the bag and saw a small box. Taking it out, she appreciated the exquisite design of the box. She took off the lid and the heart pendant caught her heart immediately.
"Wow. It's–pretty." Lynn said as Noel nodded in agreement. She took it out of the box to get a closer look and she watched it glitter. A frown appeared on her face "...but I feel bad taking this."
"Why?"
"I mean, I think he got this for someone else."
"What makes you say that?"
"He was obviously shopping." She answered but the blank look on Noel's face told her she had to broaden her words. "This is obviously a female's necklace which we both know he has no plan of wearing. So he must have gotten this to give to someone else...a female.
"Ohhh!" Noel said as she finally got her point. "You're right about that... but you still don't have to overthink all this. Let's just say it met the right owner."
She said with a smug and Lynn couldn't help but laugh at her words. She stared back at the pendant as she wished she had thanked him better. She decided she would do that if she gets to see him again.
She put it back in the box carefully,
...but she had failed to notice the bloodlust standing across the street.