I'M IN LOVE WITH A WEREWOLF

Zeke's Pov

"I know you probably have a lot of questions, and I understand if you need some time to process what you just saw," Zeke said after getting dressed and walking over to Jannie.

"I don't know, Zeke," Jannie replied, looking at him. "All my life, I believed werewolves were just a myth. But that's clearly not the case. Are there more supernatural beings out there?"

Zeke sat down next to her on the ground.

"Yes, there is," Zeke replied. "One of my sworn enemies is one of them." Jannie frowned and asked, "Wait... Aren't vampires and werewolves enemies?" He nodded in agreement. "Yes, vampires exist. They've become good at blending in with humans over the centuries."

"Omg, I can't believe this! It's like I'm Bella from Twilight," Jannie said, bursting into laughter.

"Except I'm Team Jacob," she said, almost crying from laughter.

"What are you talking about?" Zeke asked, relieved to see her laughing.

"It's a book about a girl who falls in love with a vampire, but a werewolf loves her too, and she ultimately chooses the vampire," Jannie explained, wiping away a tear.

"This is ridiculous!" she exclaimed, falling over from laughing too hard.

At this point, Zeke couldn't tell if she was laughing or crying.

"Oh my God, this is crazy. I can't believe I'm in love with a werewolf!" Jannie exclaimed, rolling on the ground.

"You're in love with me?" Zeke asked, surprised. Jannie suddenly fell silent. "Jannie?" he murmured as he lay down next to her.

"Yes," she whispered. "I'm in love with you, too," he replied, glancing at her.

Light rays broke through the trees as the sun rose, illuminating her face. Jannie's grey eyes sparkled like never before, allowing Zeke to see every black dot around her iris. "You're so beautiful," he whispered, feeling his heart skip a beat as she smiled back.

"Kiss me," she said softly. Zeke pulled her over him, their lips brushing together.

He felt her hands on his chest while he tangled his fingers around her back. He never wanted this moment to end. It felt unreal, and Zeke never thought it would come to this.

Jannie's Pov

They kissed briefly, but Jannie had to pull away from him.

"What's wrong?" Zeke asked as he sat up with Jannie still on his lap.

"I'm just trying to understand what I mean to you. In the book I mentioned, the werewolves would imprint on someone—another werewolf or even a human..." Jannie paused, letting her hands rest on Zeke's shoulders.

"Is that what this is? Can you explain why you need me so much?" Jannie mumbled nervously, and Zeke felt his heart race. Their eyes locked, and Jannie felt tears welling up.

"Hey, why are you crying?" Zeke whispered, catching one of her tears with his finger.

"I'm so exhausted. I don't know what to think anymore, and my head really hurts," Jannie mumbled, feeling the effects of her hangover from last night.

"It's okay; let's get you home," Zeke replied, carrying Jannie to the car.

________

Jannie must have fallen asleep during the ride home because she was in bed, wearing pink pajamas and shorts, when she woke up later that night. She didn't know how long she had been out, but it was dark outside, indicating it was clearly night.

Her mouth felt like sandpaper, so Jannie got out of bed and grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge.

"Jessie?" she called out as she heard the toilet flush. "Hey, Jessie?" she said again, pushing open the bathroom door.

"Ohh," Jannie mumbled and blushed when she saw Zeke pulling up his boxers.

"You're not Jessie," she said, looking away. 

"This is embarrassing," Jannie mumbled, and she heard Zeke chuckle. 

"Jessie left for a date about an hour ago. She told me to let you know she texted you her location and a profile. Whatever that means," Zeke said, sounding a little confused. 

"Oh, good. It's just a safety procedure we follow when we meet someone new. The profile includes a picture and information about the guy she's with," Jannie replied. Zeke nodded approvingly, "That's a smart thing to do, but it's really sad that you actually have to." 

"Yeah, but better safe than sorry," Jannie shrugged, sipping her water. "By the way, how did I end up in my bed in my pajamas?" Jannie asked, blushing even more.

"You fell asleep in the car, and I didn't want to wake you, so I carried you upstairs. Jessie woke up when I unlocked the door. She changed your clothes and invited me to sleep on the couch. I just woke up before she left, and I didn't want to leave you until I had answered all your questions," Zeke said with a smile. Jannie took a few breaths before responding.

"Okay, let me just use the bathroom real quick, and then we can talk," she replied, and Zeke walked out.

"I was thinking about ordering a pizza. Do you want one, too?" Zeke asked,

"Sure, I'll have a large pepperoni with extra cheese. Oh, and please order from the Italian place around the corner; their menu is on the fridge," Jannie replied. Zeke nodded and closed the door.

Jannie used the toilet and quickly showered, feeling like a new person afterward. She applied her favorite oil to her face and body, enjoying the smooth and refreshed sensation. Wrapping a towel around herself, Jannie returned to the living room.

"Wow, you smell amazing," Zeke remarked as she passed by the kitchen.

"Thanks," she replied quietly, walking to her dresser beside the bed.

When she turned around, she caught Zeke staring at her with longing eyes.

"Could you turn around for a minute?" she asked. Zeke rolled his eyes in response. "Fine!" he said.

Jannie shook her head as she dressed in soft grey shorts and a white t-shirt.

"You can look now," she said nervously, wrapping a shirt around her hair.

"Why do you have a shirt around your head?" Zeke asked, frowning.

"I have curly hair, and the shirt's material is the gentlest to use when I dry it," she explained, distracted by Zeke, who was only wearing black boxer shorts and a white tank top.

"So, have you had time to process everything?" he asked as he turned around the kitchen island and entered the living room.

"I don't know, really," Jannie replied, sitting on the couch.

"I can't focus on it clearly, but I know my feelings for you."

"What are they?" Zeke asked, taking a seat next to her.

"They are crystal clear. I can't fight them anymore. I've never felt this way about anyone, and it scares me. You pull me in with a force I can't resist." Jannie laid everything out in the open, knowing she couldn't avoid the truth.

"I'm in love with you, Zeke," she admitted. "It feels insane since you are who you are, and I'm just an ordinary girl from the city." She paused, realizing there was no turning back now.