Page 4 of Surge of Fire

"You're going to go wait for them, since you always have energy to burn? Am I right?"

Them. Aydan and Granger. Who else couldthembe?

My cheeks heat. "I don'talwayshave energy to burn."

Although the truth is that I'm one of those people who really never seems to tire. I mean, I'm out like a light when I sleep, but I rarely feel the urge to sleep. I didn’t realize that was strangebecause growing up, Granger and Aydan have always been the same way.

"You're focusing on the wrong part…" She sighs dramatically, like she thinks I'm a lost cause. "I get the whole being excited for your best friends to arrive. It's been three years. I get it. Just as long as you're beinglogical."

"I'm a science major, I'm always logical," I tease.

She laughs because we rarely are, even though we should be, and then her expression grows somber. "Harsh truth time, Sam. Aydan didn't love you as a kid or a teenager. He had your whole lives to make a move, and he didn't, because he doesn’t want to. You have to come to terms with the reality of your situation, and you’re not. I mean, it's bad enough you've been pining away for him–"

My brain finally catches up with her words. "I've been dating people! Sleeping with people!" I suddenly feel like a cornered animal.

"And comparing every single one of them tohim." Her words are spoken like they're a fact. Better yet, like a slap across the face.

"I haven't."Have I?

"You sure? Because I'd hate for him to show up, still not want you, and completely shatter what’s left of your heart." Her dark eyes are gentle, but her words are cruel in that terrible way only honest words can be.

I slip around her, escaping like the caged animal I am. "Got it. Heart-armor is activated!"

She snorts, shouting after me. "Nerd!" But when my hand touches the handle, she adds on, "No matter what, I'll be here. Heaven knows you've helped me through enough broken hearts."

Opening the door, I look back, "I won't need you for that…" I almost promise, but I never make promises I can't keep. "But thanks."

I escape out into the night and just start walking the dimly lit path. There are almost no lights in the cabin area, just these little fairy ones, which I adore. They're green and tiny, lining the paths from our cabins to the central buildings on this small campus. The lights remind me of the stars overhead, or at least stars in an alien world.

As I walk, the hair on the back of my neck suddenly stands on end. I don't move, just let my senses stretch out until I see the wolf in the distance. He's lounging in the branches of a tree that hangs just over the far-off fence that surrounds the Institute. It’s almost comforting that I sensed him, that my instincts haven’t dulled since going off to college.

Our eyes lock and hold. If he really wants to kill me, he can. Even from this distance, I doubt I could outrun him. But he stretches lazily and turns, disappearing into the branches. Apparently, he was more curious than hungry today.

I smile.That has to be a good sign.Growing up, Aydan was the fearless one, Granger was the smart one, and I was the idiot who loved animals to a fault. One day we found a wolf caught in a bear trap. As stupid as it was, I was determined to help him, and Aydan and Granger cared enough about me to help.

We managed to save him. In thanks, he didn't rip our throats out. We'd occasionally catch glimpses of him over the years, and each time, he seemed to acknowledge us before disappearing, until the next time.

The wolf has always been a sign representing the three of us. We call ourselves the Wolf Pack. And for the first time since leaving for college, we’re going to be back together. It can’t be a coincidence that I saw a wolf today.

Aydan might never love me the way I want him to love me, but he’s still my friend, and he loves me like family. This summer I’ll try to keep my feelings hidden as well as I can and not ruin our possible last summer together by spewing them out. I’ll flirt with other boys, maybe fuck a few of them, too. And I’ll just be glad for this time with my best friends.

That's the plan anyway.

Up ahead, I see a bus pulling up to the main building, and I start jogging. I don’t know if it’s them, but Ithinkit is. Or maybe I hope it is. I know I should be solely focused on making a good impression here. This isn’t just a summer program for me, after all, this is where I’m hoping to work after I graduate. But right now, I don’t care about anything other than reaching them.

Aydan and Granger.

My hair starts to tear loose from the bun at the back of my head, whipping my face as I run with all my might. I feel like I’m ten again, like the whole world makes sense again, because Granger and Aydan are in it.

The bus driver is speaking to Ms. Gerald. Students are unloading from the bus, but they are a blur as I look from face to face. And then I see him. Aydan. He’s huge compared to them, huge in every way. He’s at least a head taller than the tallest guy around him. It's the one way he's like his father.

His dirty-blonde hair is nearly as wild in the wind as I imagine my own is, only his is much shorter. His biceps and arms are massive, bigger even than when he left, and I start to slow. He has a scruff of a beard, unlike the clean-shaven look he had in high school. It makes his high cheekbones look softer in a way that whispers for me to trace my fingers over to see if it feels that way too.

I’ve nearly come to a stop as my heartbeat fills my ears. This was a mistake. All of this. The instant, overpowering need to make him mine threatens to bring me to my knees.

I need time. Time to lock away my heart.

And then his pale blue eyes meet mine. I can’t run toward him, or away from him. I’m rooted in place. My heart is dying right in front of his eyes.

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