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I think I paid attention to more details of
tonight's game than I had any other game. As people started parting
the gates, Cale told all of us to tell anyone we talked to that we
sat on the visitor’s side. We had the radio on while leaning
on the back of his van with the doors open, and who did we run into
but my own sister Tori. He couldn't have planned it
better.

I, of course, got home
a few minutes early, Cale kissed me on the cheek, and said good
night. Topher made fun of him said he should give me a proper kiss
and Cale told him to grow up. I thought it
was weird too, I felt uncomfortable, especially
with Topher and Nic watching our every move. I’m glad this night
was over.

Even though the date was odd
it went fine; the oddness could have been my fault. I liked him
even though his hair was nicer than mine, at least better groomed,
it was always washed and styled, none of the dirty grunge look. He
dressed cool, at school anyway. He was tall and slim very nice to
look at and always wore boots.

I had dated some boys in
seventh and eighth grade but Junior high dating was never
serious, everyone usually went out in large groups and we were all
dropped off by parents. None of the gatherings or so called dates
were as well planned out as tonight. I actually think I could
consider tonight my first real date.

I was dreaming about my wolf, we were running
in the ravine behind my house. When I got to the top of the dirty
slide Cale was standing there, I turned and the wolf was gone. Then
Cale and I were by my garage door and he was being mean to me,
shaking me. I said to him “Cale stop, it's me. What are you
doing?”

“Cut” someone said. And just like that we
were interrupted; we were on a movie set, people and cameras
everywhere. Cale let go and said “I don't know, sorry.” The look on
his face changed, he felt his chest and arms, checking to see if he
was really there or was he dreaming. We looked at each other and
then around us and everyone from the set was gone. It felt like
Cale had really stepped into my dream. I woke up with a pounding
headache, it was 3:17a.m.

We went to a movie on our
second date and he brought me another rose. We went out on a
Tuesday because he said he had a gig that weekend. My mom actually
let me go out on a date during the week. Maybe she was letting me
because she liked Cale or maybe it was because we were in High
School now. The date was just all right, I was less nervous this
time, I think. He wore thick striped corduroy pants and a button
down shirt and he styled his hair different, and not a good
different either I thought he looked a little geeky. I told him he
looked too old to be in high school and I ran my hand across his
unshaven face, he could grow a full beard. He grabbed my hand,
looked at me, I swear he was going to tell me I was right but
replied, “Yeah I graduated a long time ago but decided to re-enroll
in high school for the fun of it” and laughed.

Before we said good night he asked “After our
date the other night did you sleep...I mean did you have a dream...
I mean a good dream... did you have fun?” What was he really asking
me? Was he asking me if I had the same weird dream as he did?
Noooo, it couldn't be. I just stared at him and realized my mouth
was open and replied “I had a lot of fun but I don’t remember my
dreams...” I lied. He kissed me goodnight on the cheek.

The third date we went
on was the following Thursday and he gave me another rose. We met
the guitarist from one of the bands he managed for dinner and they
talked business, it was fine I guess, boring for me. He was dressed
nerdy again, he never dressed or acted like he did in school on our
dates, in other words not cool and not hot looking. Maybe Storm
wasn't the only Jekyll and Hyde, maybe Cale was too, hot guy by
day, nerd boy by night.

Every date from then on, he
would come a little early, give me a single red rose and chat with
my mom and or dad. I started to notice that, at least it
seemed as if, he liked my parents more. It was like
waiting for my parents to get done talking to their friends so
we could get going. He was much more interesting and sexy in
than outside of school.

Every conversation
we had was all about him. Anytime I brought up something I had
done, he had done it and of course, he did it better.
Like once, I told him about Nic's and my ski trip and
that Nic had all sorts of bruises all over her because we were
knocking each other over. He did it and did it better, he and his
buddy broke arms and legs when they went skiing. I talked about
swimming and he of course he did that too and his experience was
superior to mine. Plus, he had done a million more things than I
had, I'm not sure how someone so young has accomplished so much
already. Maybe I was just jealous, however, I found him to
be very boring and I wasn't interested. After
my seventh rose I couldn't take it any longer, we had
never
really
kissed. He always just kissed me on the cheek or forehead.
Weird, especially after seven dates. He didn’t seem interested in
me that way.

The final straw that broke
the camel’s back, as the saying goes, was when we were on a date
that I don't remember much of. He had coaxed me into having a glass
of wine at dinner, a dinner he made for me at his apartment. His
parents weren't home either. I remember it being so clean it didn't
even look like anyone lived there. I was very nervous about it so I
drank the wine, it didn't even taste that good. After dinner we
cleaned up and I remember putting my coat on, when I woke up we
were parked in a driveway of a house I'd never been to. The house
we were at was a white ranch with green shutters in need of a fresh
coat of paint. A couple trees in the front and one that peeked over
the top of the roof from the back. I saw Cale come out of the side
door and shut my eyes quickly before he got back in the van so he
wouldn't know I was awake.

I'm not sure why I faked it
for a couple of blocks but I did. I wanted to know where we were
coming from so I pretended to wake up. I think I took him by
surprise by the look on his face but he put his hand on my shoulder
and said “Hey, sleepy head.” He smiled at me and I forced a smile
back.

“I'm sorry. Did I fall
asleep long?”

“No, not long at all,” he
glanced at me as a cars headlights passed us by and his eyes glowed
just like Logan’s did that night, the same mirror-like reflective
looking eyes that showed no color at all. I froze not able to
breathe or move, but made myself look out my window so he couldn’t
see my reaction until I forced myself to breath and swallowed back
the bile that began to rise in my throat. Something definitely
wasn’t right.

I didn't notice the names of
the streets we turned on, it was too dark and my vision hadn’t
returned its focus yet, but I bet I could find it again. We were in
Brecksville and weren’t far from the highway. I didn't say much on
the ride back home and neither did he thank goodness, I didn’t want
to have to force another smile on my face.

That night when I got home I
noticed I had a bruise and a couple of marks in the crook of my
arm. I didn't feel like anything else was out of place, I don't
think he
did
anything to me but, whatever happened wasn't right. It felt
creepy and sinister, maybe even vindictive. That was it for me, way
too outlandish for me. I was going to have to end it, but before
that I should see if I could find out why his eyes looked the same
as Logan’s did, it seemed a little too coincidental.

I went up to him in Art
class and was going ask him straight out if he knew Logan and then
tell him flat out ‘we should just be friends’ but when I got to his
desk he started talking about this and that and how awesome he was.
I think he liked to hear himself talk. Then he announced he
was going out of town for a long weekend and wouldn't be back
until next week. He started talking about his trip and what he was
going to do. It was business mixed with pleasure and by the end of
it I had no idea what he said. Nor did I say a word to him, I just
walked back to my desk.

Nic asked “How did it go?
What did he say?” I looked up at her in confusion and shrugged my
shoulders.

“Huh, you didn't do it?
Addie, you’ve just got to do it.”

“Maybe later
today.”

“Yeah, later today” she
agreed. “I have to tell you something…”

“Ok”

“The notes of your dreams
you gave me, they’re gone.”

“What?”

“Yeah all of them – gone
into thin air – I asked my mom if she’d been in my room and she
said no and I believed her. Everything in my room was out of place
like someone was looking for letters or something. It had to be the
other night ‘cause mom said Rusty was barking his head off at
something even though we always said if someone robbed the house he
wouldn’t bark.” She just looked at me. “Aren’t you mad or worried?
ALL your notes are gone.”

I replied nonchalantly “Not
all of them I still have mine.”

“What do you mean you have
yours?”

“Well I held on to some
‘cause they just seemed silly or odd or were repetitive, so I
didn’t give them to you.”

“I’m not sure if I should be
mad or not.”

“Well don’t be you can see
them, they’re silly.”

I sat down and started to
work on my project. I was concentrating on how I would break up
with Cale when I remembered he told me he was going out of town for
a long weekend. In fact, he made it sound like he'd be gone for at
least five days. That's five days I don't have to talk to or see
him that perked me right up.

Even though I wasn't bold with Cale,
when I got to history I decided to be bold more of the
time with everyone and I was going to start now. I
 looked Storm square in the eye and asked him “What
did I do to you to make you hate me so much?” He looked
stupefied like he had no idea what I was talking
about.

I continued “I like
being your friend and if you don't want me hanging out with your
girlfriend, I don't have to. If I did something stupid, because I
do stupid things tell me what I did and I'll try and fix
it. But you acting all huffy and cold around me is awful and I'm
done with it.”

He looked at me with his
piercing green eyes and said “I don't hate you, what made you think
that?”

“The fact that you treat me
like crap, say rude uncalled for things to me and completely ignore
me other times. You're just down right mean to me
sometimes.”

Of course he didn’t deny it
but said “Sorry I… I'm not sure why.... actually I do
know.” He paused and I gave him a look to go on.

He continued “It's just that
Cale is the biggest playboy in school and he’s just dating you to
screw you, then dump you and now all the other guys will think
you're a slut. Plus, I don't like the guy.”

“Why do you talk to me like
that? It's rude – don't do that. And why do you care what everyone
else thinks?”

He shrugged his shoulders
“Well it’s true, he always dates younger girls and he does it so he
can…… get lucky with a….. a non-experienced girl.” He stammered on
“Did I state that lady like enough for you?” with a disgusted look
on his face.

“Well for your information
we have been out with him seven times and he
hasn’t tried
a thing. “
I said making quote marks in the air with my
fingers, and then thought at least not that I remember.

“He will...” Storm warned
“...and then he’s going to dump you.” 

I interrupted him
waving my hand and smiled, I leaned closer to him and said “Me
first.” Storm looked at me confused “I tried breaking up with him
this morning but I didn't.... he talks a lot.” I paused, shrugged
my shoulders and then leaned back toward him. “He doesn't know it
yet, so please don't tell anyone.”

Storm winked at me as if
he knew how to keep it a secret, he leaned back in his chair
with a self-satisfied smile, or was it more of a smug look. A few
minutes passed he reached over and put his hand on the back of my
chair, “Do you want to sit with me at lunch today?”

“Come
again?” I replied.

“Sit with me at lunch and
you can tell me all about it.” I smiled at him. That wasn't so bad;
it felt really good to get my friend back. Plus,
admitting I was going to break up with Cale out
loud, made me feel like a cloud had been lifted and made it
seem more real. I was going to break up with Cale.

Nic was going to be late to
lunch today so when I got to the cafeteria, I spotted Storm,
grabbed some lunch and went to sit with him. He looked like a cat
that just ate a canary.

“What’s up? You look really
happy or like you just did something mischievous?”

“Nothings up, just in a good
mood, so spill, why are you breaking up with Stud Muffin?” Storm
asked with a tinge of sarcasm.

“Well... he's actually
boring, he talks about himself all the time and I just don't think
he's my type.... Why are you smiling so much?”

“I just don't like the guy.
I never thought he was right for you.”

“I never knew you had any
thoughts on who was right for me.”

“I've thought about it, so
you’re breaking up with him because he’s boring?”