Edgar had leaned away very slowly, his face reading mine. The frightened crease in his forhead faded away once he knew I didn't have a clue what that was. I sighed in frustration. I bent over, grabbing a piece of scrap paper, and my pen.

'I know what you are now, but could you kindly explain what THAT is?'

Was he reading over my shoulder? When I handed it to him he went straight to writing on it. His answer was simple and short.

'Later. The housewife is watching.'

It was true. Mrs. Vaughnin was extremely edgy today. She was barking at a girl in the front for not knitting something right. I looked infront of us at the thread and needles. It seemed so insignificant to fact that Edgar was some weird unknown thing next to me. After contemplating that, I scooted away, trying not to get his notice. I was being hypocritical, I know, but it was instincts kicking in. His head moved to look in my direction quickly, then his chair made a scooch to his left, away from me.

Looking around, I saw Mrs. Vaughnin eyeing me. When neither of us looked away, her face turned into pure rage, and huffed away to her desk. I blinked in confusion. What had I done to her? I know I wasn't even going to touch those objects infront of me, but why would that trigger such anger? I shook my head, forgetting about it.

Edgar was simply cutting cloth and threading his needle, like a good student. I watched his hands move quicker than everyone else. I heard people hissing in pain. I looked back to Edgar, seeing him use a thimble to avoid the needle point.

Seeing as there was no point in just sitting there, I grabbed my drawings out and continued on my castle. Time passed quickly. Next thing I knew, Edgar was tapping me on the shoulder, mumbling about how we were going to be late to art class.

I was anxious when we made our way outside to the wheels. Would we be able to speak out here? I hoped so. If I had to wait any longer my heart would burst.
Wait, heart? I meant brain. I swear it.

"Now, you're telling me you have no idea what I am?", Edgar asked.

"Well, I know what you are, but like I said before, I don't know what THAT is... Now explain", I finished it off with a harsh edge to my voice. I was very impatient with him.

When he didn't answer, and instead grabebd for an apron, I made an impatient noise and sat at the wheel that I had occupied yesterday. He had a container with him when he sat at his, and plopped it onto the metal cylinder. His hands were muddied, and wet within two seconds of the the wheel spinning.

"I expect you know what werewolves are, of course?"

"The hairy, huge beasts that tear people apart? Yep, who doesn't? ", where was this going exactly? Was he actually hinting that werewolves exist?!

"Yes, those hairy beasts. Well, a werewolf is human, who sort of morphs into a ... wolf. Well, a lycanthrope is the same. Instead, I change into a different animal."

My mind stopped. My heart stumbled. My eyes widened.

"You've got to be kidding me. What kind of animal? Is it a full change? Do you look exactly like that animal?", I flung questions at him, in a hushed voice of course. Though, who would believe me? I don't belive myself half the time. I try to forget.

"No kidding involved. I'm completely shocked that I'm telling you this. I've only been allowed to talk to my... family about it. And it depends on how I feel at the moment whether I'm in full change or not.", he was sculpting a huge bowl, and stopped short.

I didn't miss that he didn't tell what kind of animal he was. What is the worst it could be? A rat? What if it was a skunk? I could see not wanting to tell me that. Instead of busting him with questions I watched his fingers decorate the bowl.. or was it a vase? He made swirls and lines, even poked a hole or two.

"I've been a lycanthrope since I was a small child. My family tells me I was britten by a monster.. I didn't fully know what they meant until the changes started."

Edgar stopped the wheel and placed his masterpiece on a drying board. Eventually he turned to me, and gazed at me. It wasn't a look of waiting, he was just... looking at me. In return I watched him. Watched how the wind blew his hair into a bigger mess about his face. His eyes were blissfully beautiful. The green was a bit darker today, a nice shade that belonged in the forest.

When I got a pang in my stomach, I was mentally thinking of how I must look. My own eyes were a mix of blue and gray, and dull too. My skin was that of any other beach haters, pasty and white. My hair was another story. It was a wash of raw umber, very messy too. I usually would braid it or just let it fall about. Sitting here, looking at Edgar, I got my first shock of caring about my appearance.

The time passed, and all we did was stare. Stare and watch him play with clay.

"This class has halted to an end, Abby. Will we continue this conversation after school?", he had been talking so formally, but had a touch of desperation in his voice.

"I suppose we should. Where will we meet?", I asked while he cleaned up.
After a few minutes of that, we walked in the door and filed into line as the bell rang.

"Meet me at your car. I walk to school."

We parted after that.

I could not concentrate at all during English, though Miss Holbrook ended up snoozing fifteen minutes into class. Edgar would be meeting me at my car in... I looked at the clock: 1:10, only 30 minutes. He hadn't pushed me at all for my secret, but freely spoke of his. Did he trust me already? Did I trust him?

The minutes ticked away as I sat being thoughtful. I wondered whether his animal form kept his eyes. Those magnificent eyes. I could see them right now, on the inside of my eyelids. Will they ever go away?

*DIIIIIIIIIINNNNGG*

When I jolted up right, I rubbed my sleepy eyes. At least I killed my 30 minutes with sleep. Miss Holdbrook was still asleep on her desk, with a wet spot right next to her mouth. I laughed lightly and went to her desk and said her name to wake her up, needing to repeat a few times until she did. When she did, she thanked me. I waved her a goodbye afterward.

Walking to my car was like walking in one of those slow dreams, where there were people lined on either side of you, just watching with smiling, snide faces. I looked for my car, and thankfully saw no one standing near it.

I sat there, and scoped the lot for him. When I didn't, I turned my car on, giving him 3 minutes to be at my car. Hey, I waited right? To my suprise, when I looked back up from playing with the radio, he was waiting outside the passenger door.

"May I come in, mademoiselle?", he asked with a thick accent. I bet he had French the last class.
"Sure."
Before he climbed in he had to adjust the seat, he had longer legs than normal people. Hah, normal people.

"Where will we be headed?", I asked as casually as I could. I pulled out of the lot, watching several people do double-takes at my car, and who was in it. Let the gossip fly.

"Go to Monty's Coffee shop down the street. It's nice, and has the best coffee in town. In my own opinion, of course."

"Monty's? That is quite an original name. Is he the owner?", we had a Wilbert's in Bismark.

"Yep, it is her name. Though she goes by Lee. She's my sister", he announced in a low voice.

My car swerved a little as I tensed. His sister?! Was he feeding me to the sharks or something?

"I don't think that's a good place, Edgar. For one, I don't think my nerves could take it, and two, I just met you, and your'e letting meet part of your family?", I tried to make a joke out of it as best I could. It's a relfex sometimes to joke around when I'm so shaken.

"I think it's a wonderful place. There's no need for you panicking, Lee already knows your coming", he tried to assure me. Was that really reassuring?

I slowed down, not wanting to go any faster than 20 mph. How did she know? I tried to think out the ways she could know already. He probably called her, right? Or maybe they can talk mentally with one another.

Oh yeah, that could definitely happen.

"I called her and told her, when I got out of my class. Hey, I might even be able to get us free drinks if you want", again with the reassuring. I collected myself, knowing I must be looking stressed as hell. Which, I really was.

We reached the coffee spot, and only a few people were there, reading books and sipping there drinks. All normal here. I stepped out of the car, while taking a deep breathe.

"No one is gonna execute you, Abelinda", he reached for my hand and squeezed then let it go quickly. That brief moment of contact confused me. No one ever touched me. Even hugs with my own mother were rare. It felt... nice.

Once inside of Monty's I tracked that it was a retro wave of the 90's. I think posters covered every wall. The furniture was crazy, some with animal patterns, others with stars and comets on them. Edgar ushered me towarda a cow-printed love seat with a table infront of it. And there we sat, just looking around, when I saw his sister. It had to be her, due to her bug-eyes, and jaw-dropped face.

She had a firm face when she pulled herself together. Her hair was just a tint lighter than Edgar's, and blue eyes. Blue eyes that had the same light as Edgar's. They spoke as well. What they said seemed to have a censored sign written all over it.

When she reached us she stuck her hand out to me and said,"Hi, there Abbs, I've heard so much about you." The implications were apparent in her voice.
I shook her hand back politely and could only smile at her. She radiated furocious waves of heat. I looked to Edgar to see the same firmness to his face.

"Well, what would you like? I know what Edgar gets everytime he's here. You look like a tea kind fo girl", she assumed.

I held back a smile,"Nope, I'm a vanilla frap kind of girl."

"Great, be back with that. Edgar, try to hold your tongue while I'm gone, please", She twisted around and walked back over to make our drinks.

Looking at Edgar again, he bore an amused face,"What was that about?"

"Lee is just a little worried. She's never seen me take such an interest in someone before", he turned his face away before I could read his eyes. I could feel the way he pushed a double meaning into his words again.

"Why doesn't she understand it? She should too, shouldn't she? I mean, I thought you guys have never met anyone like you outisde your family", that is what he said.

"Oh, she is, but I guess not to the same level as I am. She also wanted to be here when I talk to you about what we are."

"Oh, the tongue comment, right."

"Yeah, I tend to defy her anyway. What she really wanted to be here for is when you tell us what you're all about, Abelinda." Edgar turned his body towards me and folded his hands together in his lap. Studying me.

I wanted answers to the questions in my head, so did he. So, I started blurting them out.

"Does it hurt when you transform into whatever you are?", I just couldn't resist.

"When its a full transformation it can be, if it's a slow one, or if your injured", he answered cooly.

"Does it depend on anything for you to change? I know during the weeks that it gets closer to the full moons, supposedly werewolves change more often", I smiled proudly at that remark.

"I am far from a werewolf, but if I get hot under the collar, it can tend to get antsy", he answered.

"When what tends to get antsy?" His answer still had me confused as my mind racked it about.

"My animal, of course", he answered as if it was obvious. Oh yes, very. I mean, come on, who doesn't have something squirming inside them, wanting to rip its way out through your flesh.

I stopped that thought there.

"Alright, one Cappuccino with extra cinnamon, and a vanilla frap!" Lee said brightly, interruping us. Her mood was a complete flip. I eyed her, waiting for the furocious waves to bombard me. Nothing came but a mild smile.

When I looked at Edgar, he seemed pleased with her changed mood. I grabbed my drink for something to do in the awkward silence.

"Lee, I was just answering some of her questions. Mind coming back in a few?" he asked her in a completely pure voice that should turn anyone to goo. I would have cracked under it.

It broke her nice reserve. "I don't think that is a good idea Ed, but whatever. Those are on the house", she looked at me and shook her head once, needing confusion written on her forhead.

"So, you were questioning me?" He seemed unruffled by anything that had just passed.

"What is your animal? You have been sly long enough, but I am positively curious", I amended quickly. I was nervous, but with excitement not far behind.

"Well, in truth, I wanted to show you him, for it to be a surprise. Will you tell me yours, or show me her?" I loved the way he made it seem like his animal was another being. Which it was, I guess.

"I didn't think of it much. I rarely think of it. When I do it gets.. antsy." and at the moment it twisted in my abdomen. Please, not here. My head lowered and I tried to calm myself.

"Oh," he exclaimed," We should take these to go then. Will your house do, or mine for our outing?" he asked casually.

I thought of the look on Christians face, when Edgar would walk through the entrance of our shab little house. It was comical. The thought of my aunts wasn't though. And Uncle Howie's hair would fall out at the sight of a boy in his house.

"I'm going to guess that silence means mine?"

"Definitely. Red-faced Uncles aren't so appealing to me."

"Me either."

He stood up and took my drink for me as when headed out to my car. Before I was out the door, Lee 's eyes caught mine from over the counter. They were trying to communicate with me, as if warning me. Though, they were sympathetic too. I couldn't get anymore than that since Edgar was pushing me out the door.

Back in my car, I turned the radio up, since my favorite 80s song was on. Who didn't love REO speedwagen? Edgar had a huge smile on when I started singing. Of course I would sing with a total stranger in my car. I couldn't care right now. I loved the spontaneous confidence I seemed to get so randomly.

During the horrible screaches of my voice, he would tell me to take different streets. It seemed we went on for a long time before we got to his house. Didn't he say he walked? Man, could he walk a long ways then.

It was just a regular house, with a wooden fence that was well kept. He led me to te door, and opened it for me. I walked in, and was confused. This couldn't be the same house I saw from the outside. The inside started out with a big living room furnished in all blue shades. Well, blue and a light gold color. The crapet was an off white. It was utterly gorgeous. I couldn't get a closer look, since Edgar was pushing me through it too fast. We rushed by a sparkling kitchen, where he paused to put our drinks down and then resumed pushing me forward to a hallway bathed in family photos. We were at the stairs when he finally quit the shoving. He was walking up them, without a backwards glance. His body was tense. Did he think I was afraid? I stubbornly walked up after him with loud thumps.

"There is no need to put dents in the floor, Abelinda. This is my room, enter if you wish", and he slid through the door.

I held my breath for a second, trying to prepare myself for this. I had a strange feeling this would change everything. Without warning to myself, I slumped in with my eyes squinched closed.

When I heard him laugh, I opened them. Only to see a lovely lit room. Yes, lovely. He had a fairly large room. The bed was on the floor, with no frame. A huge desk with a computer that seemed to be high-tech. The more I looked, the more facinating things I found. His walls were decorated with no orderly fashion. Then after sudying them, I got their themes. One wall was dedicated to one band, that was called Muse. Another was pictures of art, and then the one next to that was a photographers dream wall. Sunsets, woods, rivers, and pictures of random people filled the wall beautifully. I extended my hand to one picture that caught my gaze frantically.

A girl was sitting on a cars hood, with a bag half open and things falling out. Her face was fustrated. Her face was familiar. Her face was mine.

"That was the first day I saw you. Though, I had no idea that you weren't normal then, I had a strange urge to take the photo."

"You caught me in one of my worst moods. I couldn't find my car keys to lock the door."

He pulled my hand from the picture and turned me towards him. His face was etched with stress."I suppose I should show you now", he stepped back and mustered up some humor to wink at me. My hands turned into fists, and clammed up. I felt goosebumps roll down my arms.

Then, he took a deep breath and he shook his head. I heard a weird sound. It sounded like an earthquake hapening right infront of me. I watched as Edgar's hair grew darker, spots appearing in places, and his hands distorted. His green eyes chnaged as well. The pupils narrowed, and became slits. Yellow bloomed around them, but the green grew bolder. They became cat eyes. His body convulsed several times, and he hunched over, grunting, while the hair sprouted all over. No other sound erupted from him.

In mere minutes Edagr had changed into a panther. A full-blown, beautiful panther. He lifted his head to me and strolled over on all fours, brushing my legs. Astonishment washed through me when I found a smile working on my face. I hesitently reach down and stroked his back. His fur was silky, but bristly all at once. I marveled at the spots running down his spine.

Then he abruptly moved away. The big cat trembled a few times, and then Edgar was sitting on the floor, staring at me with his regular green eyes. Under them I saw a shade of pink glitter. Blushing? Why would he... Oh my! I shut my eyes and turned around immediately.

Once I saw him shirtless I knew not to look any further. Shifting, he lost all his clothes.