Bark (The Werewolf Journal's Book 1) Read Free Page A

kiss and headed home.  Arnie had played as cool as he could act around Sarah and Elena – acting as though Elena’s behavior didn’t faze him; when in truth, Elena had scared the shit out of him.  He didn’t understand what was happening to him.  When he woke up in the morning to clean his wounds, they were gone as if nothing had happened, and now the way Elena reacted when she read his palm.  She was terrified, and Arnie could see it. She saw something she didn’t want to tell him, and he knew it.  It’s just all too strange.  Maybe I’m just going crazy.  If I’m not, I’m too scared to even think or try to know why all this shit is happening. For now I just hope this is all just one bad dream, Arnie thought to himself as he headed home.
     
    It was 6 o’clock when Arnie got home, and just as usual, his parents weren’t there.  Arnie never liked staying home alone.  There was nothing to do, and ever since his dad disconnected the cable, it was even more frustrating being in that boring old house, not to mention that his parents almost never had any food in the fridge.  Arnie felt so restless.  He couldn’t keep still.  Maybe Danny and Jay are doing something, Arnie thought.  Arnie called Jay but he wasn’t home.  Danny was home, and he always jumped at the chance at getting out of the house, especially when his parents were arguing.  Arnie quickly got some sweats on, an old shirt, and rushed out of the house and ran over to the basketball court.  Danny was shooting a basket when he noticed Arnie.
     
    “What took you so long?” Danny asked smiling.  It was easy for him to say when he only lived two houses down.
     
    “I kind of got mugged by a gang of pretty girls,” Arnie said while playing.
     
    “Yeah, right.  Sarah wouldn’t like that.  You ready to face me?” Danny asked competitively.
     
    “So what will it be, Danny boy, 21 tip in?” Arnie challenged him.
     
    “But, of course. Nobody’s the master at this court on 21 like me.”
     
    “We’ll see about that, Danny.”
     
    “I break ice, of course.”
     
    “C’mon, Danny, you always break ice.”
     
    “That’s because I never lose.  Great night, don’t you think, Arnie?” Danny said, yelling as he stepped up to the basket. “Full moon, nice and cool, and the smell of horniness in the air!”
     
    “Just shut up and shoot the damn basket,” Arnie said, annoyed with Danny’s
    boasting.
     
    “What’s the matter, Arnie, scared I might beat you?”
     
    “No, I’m just afraid I might be dead by the time you shoot.”
     
    “Okay, okay,” Danny said, firing the ball toward the rim.
     
    The shot wasn’t a very good one for it bounced right off the rim. Arnie jumped
    for the ball, grabbed it, and dribbled away from where Danny was defending.
     
    “So how’s everything at home?” Arnie asked dribbling the ball, shooting it
    in the hoop.
     
    “Same as always, parents always fighting.” Danny replied, handing Arnie the ball.
     
    “That’s two for me and zero for you, Danny.”
     
    “The game’s just beginning. Don’t get cocky.”
     
    “I guess the real question is, how are you doing?” Danny asked as Arnie shot the ball, missing the rim.
     
    “I’m fine, but been having these weird nightmares.”
     
    Danny took the ball, dribbling off, shooting it in the rim. “What about?” Danny
    asked.
     
    “I’m running through the woods naked and, well . . . forget it,” Arnie said, changing
    the subject.
     
    “The only dreams I have of being naked are the ones with Gwen Stefani,” Danny replied with a laugh.
     
    Arnie then drove in, jumping in the air, shooting the ball in the hoop.  He came down, ramming his knee into the pole that held the basketball court.
     
    “Are you all right?” Danny asked with concern.
     
    “Yeah, I think so.”
     
    “Well, can you move your leg?”
     
    “Yeah, but I think I bruised it.
     
    Danny grabbed Arnie’s hands, trying to lift him up. Arnie