I sighed, looking at the calendar on the wall. The full moon was in two days, which just so happened to also be my birthday. What a sad present. I bet you’re wondering why the full moon is a sad present on my birthday. I guess I should explain. My name is Acwulf, but my friends call me Wolf. Sometimes I wish it wasn’t what I actually am. And yes, I just said that. Don’t call me crazy. I am a werewolf. In two days, I will turn 15. I will also turn into a wolf for the night. I’m glad I don’t share a dorm with anyone. I heard a knock on the door. “Come in,” I called. My friend Naomi walked in. “Hey, Wolf.” she smiled and sat on my bed. I smiled. “Hi.” I like that she doesn’t say Wolfboy, like Brazen and Harlow, twin tricksters, do. “What’re you looking at?” she asked. “Just the calendar. My birthday’s in two days.” Her eyes lit up. “Got any plans?” I shrugged, acting as if I didn’t have plans yet. What I didn't tell her is that I’d have to drink a potion or eat a fruit before midnight, lock my door, not go to any night-outings, and turn into a wolf if I see the moon. Fun, right? Naomi, Brazen, and Harlow didn’t know the actual reason why all that stuff happened every full moon. They just asked why my door was always locked then, and why I didn’t, couldn’t take night classes. I just said that I was studying, or I was very tired. But I never answered the locked door. My teachers knew, however. They knew why my door was always locked on the full moon, why I couldn’t go to late classes, or detention. They knew my biggest secret. They said they’d never tell, and they never have. I guess they’re kind of scared of me. Not just because I’m a werewolf, but because I’m one of the smartest and most powerful students in my year. Everyone, even my friends sometimes, are scared of me. I sometimes lose my temper easily, and I’ve heard myself yell. You don’t want to hear that. At all. “Want to meet Brazen and Harlow? They’re outside by the woods,” Naomi asked, jarring me from my thoughts. “Sure.” I stood, and followed Naomi outside. We met Brazen and Harlow by the woods. “Hey, Wolfb-” Brazen started. His sister stayed silent “Stop. Don’t call me Wolfboy, please,” I snapped. “Okay, Wolf,” Brazen amended. I sighed, “Thanks.” Harlow smiled, “Hi, Acwulf.” She’s the only one of my friends who calls me that. “Hey. What are we doing, exploring the woods again?” I asked. (Continued Below)
“Yep,” Brazen and Harlow said in unison. Naomi and I locked eyes. They do everything together. They are literally the only people in our year who share a dorm. Otherwise, they’d sneak into each other’s instead. “Well, let’s go then. We have about 2 hours until sunset,” Naomi predicted. “2 hours and 12 minutes,” I corrected. Then I wished I could suck the words back in. All three of them stared at me. “How’d you know that?” Brazen asked. I shrugged. I memorize the sunset time of everyday, because one of those days, there's a full moon. And I want to be prepared. Of course, they didn’t know that. Brazen accepted that answer. “C’mon.” He ran to the forest, followed by Harlow. I looked at Naomi. She shrugged. “We’d better follow them.” So Naomi and I ran after the twins, and found a grove of trees. When we caught up to the twins, they were climbing one of the trees. “What the heck are you doing?” I asked. “Climbing a tree.” Brazen smirked as he replied. I sighed. “I can see that, but why are you climbing the tree?” Harlow was less annoying. “Picking these.” She waved a fruit in the air. Naomi gasped, “Wolf fruit? I’ve heard legends of those. They go in potions for werewolves. Those taste different for regular humans. For werewolves, they taste like chocolate.” I cursed under my breath. My mom had a tree of those in our backyard, for me. My parents claimed that it tasted like apples to them, but to me, it tasted like chocolate. I hated that Naomi read so much. “Dare you to eat it,” Brazen called as he took two fruits from the tree and jumped down. His sister followed with two fruits in her arms. I studied the fruits. Yep, they were definitely wolf fruits. They looked like apples, but when they were ripe, they were purple. When unripe, they looked like regular red apples. They were ripe. “Sure,” I agreed reluctantly. Naomi shrugged. Brazen handed me one, and Harlow handed Naomi one. We all took a bite. I tasted the chocolate taste of the fruit. “What does it taste like?” Harlow asked. “Apples,” Brazen answered. Naomi nodded. I stayed silent. “What about you, Wolf?” Brazen asked. “Apples,” I lied. No reason to tell them now. “Good. No one’s a werewolf,” Harlow confirmed. That’s what you think, I thought. I looked up at the tree. “Race you to the top,” I challenged. Brazen’s eyes lit up, “Oh, you’re on.” He raced for the tree, and Harlow followed. Naomi watched, judging the contest. I was already halfway up the tree. I’d had a lot of practice climbing these trees at home. The branches were perfect for climbing on this one. I reached the top, and looked down. Brazen was halfway up, and Harlow just in front of him. They both got up there. “Wow, you’re fast,” Brazen said. “Yeah, did you practice on this tree or something?” Harlow agreed. I shrugged. “I have one in my backyard at home. I climbed it a lot,” The second I said that, I wanted to un-say it. “Why do you have a wolf fruit tree in your backyard?” Brazen asked suspiciously. I was saved from answering his question when the school bell rang. Brazen cursed, “Gotta get back. See you, Wolfboy.” I nodded, climbing down the tree. I passed Naomi. She waved, then yelled something I didn’t hear to Brazen and Harlow. Probably telling them to get their butt down here. I didn’t stick around to find out what she said, though. I was running, not wanting to get in trouble for being late for dinner.
