Midnight Howl Read Free Page B

table?”
    I glanced around. My mom was setting the table while Molly poured milk and water into big glasses. “Hailey’s so moody these days,” Molly said to my mom. “She’s very self-conscious. Getting to be a teenager, right? I try to give her some space.” My mom
mmmmed
in agreement.
    Jack was getting the corn bread out of the oven, but he rolled his eyes at me. “I like how parents blame everything they don’t like on our age,” he said pointedly. “Hailey’s room is upstairs. Just look for the wolf doorknocker.”
    “Thanks,” I said, and headed upstairs.
    The hall was dark, and a line of light shone around the edges of Hailey’s door. I hesitated, then knocked.
    There was no sound from behind the door. Wasshe there? Should I knock again? I would feel stupid standing in the dark outside her door if she had headphones on or was in the bathroom or something. I waited and waited and then finally raised my hand to knock again.
    Suddenly, the door flew open.
    “What?” Hailey asked.
    I looked past her and my mouth dropped open. I couldn’t tell what color her walls were because everywhere, from floor to ceiling, there were images of animals: pictures printed off websites, cut out of magazines, and on posters. Lion cubs wrestled playfully. A raccoon clung to a tree branch. Horses galloped over dunes. A hundred different animals were playing, hunting, eating, and basking in the sun. The largest poster of all showed a line of wolves coming over the crest of a hill, their cool amber gazes watchful and calm. Looking in from the dark hall, it was as if Hailey’s door had opened into the wild.
    “What?” Hailey asked again. “Please, my room is
private
.” She stepped out into the hall and closed the door behind her.
    I realized I had been staring, which was pretty rude. “Oh, sorry … wow, it’s like a zoo in there!”
    Hailey ducked her head. “I really like animals,” she said softly. “I don’t like zoos, though. Wild animals should be free.”
    “Um, I can understand how you feel,” I said. I paused, but neither of us seemed to have anything more to say. “Anyway, dinner’s ready.”
    She followed me down the hall toward the kitchen so quietly I almost turned around to make sure she was still behind me. I just wanted her to
say
something. Hailey seemed kind of intense, and she made me a little uncomfortable.
    I was starving when I sat down at the table. Jack set a plate in front of me with a flourish.
    “Hey, this looks really good,” I said, digging in. The veggies from the shish kebab were tasty: juicy and warm and flavored with different herbs.
    “This steak is perfect, Mike and Jack!” my mom exclaimed from the other end of the table. “Absolutely delicious.”
    “The corn bread didn’t turn out so well,” Jack said, gazing at a bread basket full of blackened slices. “It got kind of scorched.”
    He looked sad. I reached out and grabbed a piece of corn bread. “I’m sure it’ll be fine with a little butter,” I said cheerfully. I slathered on some butter andtook a big bite. It was surprisingly edible. “The unburned parts are delicious,” I said, chewing. Jack laughed.
    Later that night, Hailey led me up to show me my room, which was down the hall from hers.
    I smiled at her. “Dinner was great. Jack’s a good cook.”
    She shrugged. “Sure.”
    “I guess I won’t starve out here after all,” I joked. “Maybe I can even get Jack to learn how to make vegetarian sushi.” Hailey made a strange noise and turned away from me into her own room.
    I stared after her. Had she just
growled
at me?

CHAPTER FOUR
    The next morning, I woke up early and lay in bed, trying to remain calm. I took a deep breath and let it out slowly, staring at the ceiling. It was my first day at Wolf Valley Middle School, and I was scared to death. What if everyone hated me?
    It’s only for three months, I told myself.
    Three months sounded a
lot
longer now than it had when I agreed to this