Free Memoirs of a Girl Wolf by Xandra Lawrence Page B

I didn’t know how long they lasted but I thought two hours sounded about right. 
    “Okay,” Mom said. “Let me know if you need me though.”
    I began to walk away. “I will,” I said behind my shoulder. As soon as she turned her back to me, I tiptoed to the side door, slipped my shoes on, picked up my purse, and quietly opened the door and closed it behind me. Once outside, I sprinted across the yard. I was running so fast and despite it being dark out, I could see clearly. The cool wind blew against my face and through my hair. Within a few seconds, the end of the lane came into view. Breathing heavy, I came to a stop as headlights shinned on me. I used my arm to shield my eyes and, smiling, I ran to the side door of the yellow Volkswagen waiting for me.
    8
    By the time we reached the beach, dust had turned to night and the full moon was high in the dark sky. I don’t know if it was the burger, but my stomach had started to rumble and the temperature kept rising. I felt as if I was baking. I couldn’t be sick, not now—it had to be nerves.
    He was already there, standing next to the public restrooms where I had told him to meet me. Kristen parked the car and I jumped out, smoothing my blue shirt over the waist of my faded jeans and using my hand to flatten my hair which was a frizzy red mess at the moment, I took a deep breath and said good bye to Seth and Kristen before running, then walking, then running again, toward Max who stood with his hands in his pockets.
    When I first walked up to him it was kind of awkward. We didn’t know what to say to one another or how to greet one another. He kind of gave me a half hug which felt even more awkward.
    “It’s my birthday,” I said because I felt like saying something but I wish I hadn’t told him that. Would he feel like I was expecting a gift?
    “Happy birthday,” he mumbled. “I didn’t know,” he added, apologetically as he swung his hands back and forth.
    “That’s okay,” I replied. My hair stuck to the back of my neck. I was dripping in cold sweat and my rumbling stomach turned into a slight uncomfortable pain. I was trembling as my entire body was vibrating. Spotting a wooden bench not far from us, I suggested we sit down.
    He liked this idea but instead of leading me to the bench he took me back to his parked car, a dented, rusty white SUV, he patted the hood and I climbed on while he retrieved something from his car.
    He jumped onto the hood next to me and opened the North Face jacket he wore in order to pull out a pint of Bacardi rum. He unscrewed the top and took a long sip then passed it to me with a strained smile.
    “Happy Birthday” he said, shaking the bottle.
    I looked back and forth between him and the bottle. “I don’t drink,” I said. Didn’t he remember that?
    He shrugged and took another long sip.
    “What about your scholarship?” I asked, thinking back to our conversation in the woods.
    “I thought you’d like me better if I said I didn’t drink,” he said.
    Red hair blew around my face. I grabbed hold of as much as I could and held it in place with a tight fist. “Oh,” I said.
    He took up so much of the hood with his legs spread far apart that I kept slipping from my place and a couple times had to jump back onto the car after sliding off. I scanned the parking lot behind us wishing the Volkswagen was there waiting for me.
    “You trying out for the cheerleading?” He asked without looking at me. He was watching the rolling waves of the lake before us.
    “Yeah,” I said. Try outs were Monday, though I hadn’t given it as much thought lately as I had weeks ago when Kristen suggested I may have a chance at making the team.
    “Cool, I’m dating a cheerleader,” he said, moving closer to me. He put his heavy arm around my shoulder and pulled me closer to his warm body.
    I held my hands up and pushed him away, but he wouldn’t let me go. I struggled a little which caused him to spill some of his Rum. He shouted,