Chapter 7

Azalea had water droplets in her hair and the moonlight shining on her seemed to give the illusion that she was shimmering. The merriment in her eyes shone through and made Terrence feel a tug to her he found downright terrifying. For a moment, Terrence was mesmerized and his gaze dropped to her lips so close to his. Azalea broke out into a smile and the moment between them was broken. 

"You scare to easily," said Azalea with a giggle. 

She did not notice the boys audible swallow or sharp intake of breath over her nearness to him. 

She put her arms down and looked up at him, her wet hair glistening in the moonlight. As Terrence stared at her, mesmerized by her beauty, she splashed him with water.

"Azalea that wasn't funny. Come on. Let’s go back inside," Terrence admonished, pulling his face away slightly from the water and her.

"Fine," grinned Azalea. She got out and put her night gown on.

"You need to dry off,” muttered Terrence, averting his gaze from where her hair soaked the front of her gown making it nearly translucent. "You also need some medical attention."

"Oh come on!" said Azalea putting her arm around Terrence’s shoulder in a friendly way as if they were old chums (which they were.). "You've done worse things."

"Have not."

"Have too. Honestly…who was the one that set off the fire alarm in 9th grade?” Azalea teased. “Oh and the time when you let off a smoke bomb-"

"I get the point," snapped Terrence. 

They reached the common room.

"Hey! It's 12:00! Terrence it's tomorrow and I won! Spit it out! Who is she?!" Azalea squealed excitedly, jumping up and down and dripping lake water in the common room. 

"YaLmmphy," muttered Terrence.

"What?" asked Azalea, her eyebrows furrowing in confusion.

Terrence took a deep breathe.

"Maybe I should show her to you instead," he said and lead her over to the fireplace in which the embers were still glowing faintly. Picking up a book that Terrence had been reading ever since this year started, he handed it to her.

"The History of Rugby?" Azalea asked confused. "Don't tell me….you’re in love with Rory Underwood?" Azalea said with a laugh. “Not when we know football is the better sport. I could understand David Bekham. He’s wicked,” Azalea said with a wink, while still laughing.

"Just look at the book," snapped Terrence.

Azalea opened it and gasped. The book dropped to the floor. It wasn't a book at all. It was a photo album and the pages showed hundreds of pictures. All of them Azalea’s pictures. She launched herself into Terrence’s arms in the blink of an eye.

"Terrence," Azalea said into his shirt. "I-I've loved you for a long time! I can’t believe you feel the same way!"

"Why didn't you tell me?" asked Terrence, his arms going around her and him finally feeling at peace with her against him. 

"I was afraid of ruining our friendship! We’ve been best friends since 9th grade! Why didn't you tell me you loved me?" she asked, her face still buried in his shirt. 

"Same reason as you," he replied. 

Azalea tilted her head upwards and her lips met Terrence’s in a soft sweet innocent kiss. They broke away and Azalea started moving back from him with a shy smile. Then, out of nowhere, Azalea was being pulled away at an alarming speed. Terrence looked behind her and saw Sybl holding Azalea by the arm. Azalea started struggling to get back to Terrence.

"Terrence! Don't leave me!" she shrieked.

Terrence reached out to grab her, but it seemed as if Azalea had gotten farther. She kept going farther and farther away from him until she looked like a small dot. Her screaming echoed in his ears the entire time. 

"Don't leave me again!" she shrieked.

Terrence woke up in cold sweat.

"I won't leave you," he whispered into the dark. "I won't leave you again."

He fingered the gold locket around his neck before opening it. It was made of pure gold and there was one picture of Terrence and another of Azalea. On the back the engraving said. 'I will always love you…. Terrence'.

The front of the locket had intricate gold swirls on it. Suddenly, something inside him told him to move. His wolf felt on edge. Without hesitation, he got up and put his clothes on that he had worn yesterday on. He crept out of the apartment slowly so as not to wake Silas. He then walked towards the flower shop he had first met Ashley at. Since then the two had become great friends and Terrence was like an older brother to Ashley. But he wasn't going there for Ashley.