Werewolf Skin

16

After school, Sean and Arjun came up to me at the back of the classroom. Outside the room, lockers slammed. The tile walls echoed with shouts and laughter.

The two guys studied me solemnly. “What’s up?” I greeted them, zipping my backpack.

Mr. Shein waved and walked out, carrying a bulging briefcase. The three of us were alone in the room.

“How’s it going?” Sean asked.

“Is it weird being in a new school?” Arjun said.

“Yeah. Kind of,” I told them. “Especially since I know I’m only here for a few weeks.”

“You’re lucky!” Arjun joked. “Sean and I are stuck here.”

“Wolf Creek isn’t so bad,” I said. I swung the backpack onto my shoulder.

The two boys stared at me intently. They didn’t say anything. Sean shoved his hands into his baggy jeans pockets. Arjun fiddled with a silver ring on his little finger.

Finally, Sean broke the silence. “You don’t believe in werewolves,” he said softly.

“Huh? Well…” I hesitated.

“You didn’t raise your hand,” Arjun added. “Everyone else did.”

“Yeah. I know,” I replied. “I really don’t believe in them. I mean, come on, guys. It’s practically the twenty-first century. See a lot of guys with fur on their faces walking around the streets? I don’t think so!”

I meant it to be funny. But they didn’t laugh. They kept staring at me with their solemn faces.

“Werewolves exist,” Arjun said softly. “We can prove it to you.”

“For sure,” I replied sarcastically, rolling my eyes. “The Easter Bunny exists too. I saw him riding a bus back home in Cleveland.”

“We can prove it to you, Alex,” Arjun insisted. “We can show you a werewolf.”

“A real one,” Sean added.

“No, thanks,” I said. “I really-”

“You can take pictures of it,” Arjun interrupted.

“Yeah. You can take a whole roll!” his friend cried.

That made me stop and think. I remembered the photo contest I planned to enter. I needed a Halloween photo-a really good Halloween photo-for the contest.

They moved closer, surrounding me, forcing me to back up until I bumped into the windowsill.

“Want to see a real werewolf, Alex?” Sean demanded.

“Want to take photos of a real werewolf?” Arjun asked.

They stared hard at me, challenging me.

“What do I have to do?” I asked.