7 Chapter 7: Livin' On A Prayer

Okay. I f*cked up.

I glanced downwards as I shifted to a slightly more comfortable position. The wolf was at the root of the tree, pawing at the bark of the tree as it looked up at me who was hugging the travel bag like it was my lifeline.

"How do I call animal control when my phone is by its side?! Playing that annoying song?! Also, why is it on loop? How did it even do that?!" I gasped in amazement as the song repeated.

Anyways. I'm f*cked. If I fall, I'd probably break a bone or something. If it can climb out here somehow, I'm dead. If the tree branch breaks, I'm dead. If... Why is every possible outcome negative?!

Aries... if only he were here... What happened to him anyways? I'm scared out here... Aries usually would have found me by now if he were around... But if something happened to him while I'm up here like this... What am I to do?!

"G-go away already! Why are you so interested in me?!" I yelled at the wolf as I waved my hand at it, trying to get it to leave.

The wolf conveniently ignored me as it continued scratching at the tree bark. I bit down on my bottom lip, hoping it would leave soon and opened the travel bag to search for a jacket to wear.

"Ah!" I gasped when the photos I had placed into Aries' bag fell out and right in front of the wolf.

Sh*t! Those pictures... My evidence against Aries! But more than that... The wolf won't touch it right?

I peered downwards only to find the wolf growling at me. It seemed insulted that I had thrown something at it.

"T-that's not it... Don't get too angry." I said in a soft voice, trying not to anger it as I worried what it would do to the photos.

Even if those were candid photos, it was still my face on there. It's an indirect way for the wolf to take revenge.

And it did just that as I watched the wolf rip the photos into pieces, almost as if it were playing with a rag doll.

My God... if that were me down there, I'd turn into dinner in a moment... It's settled. I'm not going down until it leaves!

I wrapped myself up in Aries' jacket and watched the wolf's antics. Even when my eyelids felt heavy and threatened to close, I pinched my thighs and forced my eyes open as I kept my eyes on it.

The wolf seemed to be disappointed that I had no intentions of playing with it as it laid down and stared at the tree bark. However, it would occasionally look up at me and tilt its head.

"Too bad! I won't come down until you leave!" I grinned evilly as I pointed accusingly at the wolf.

I feel like I'm going a little senile from the adrenaline rush. Meanwhile, the wolf seemed to sigh as it laid its head down on its paws again.

I grinned smugly to myself for choosing to climb the tree. I guess I was safe for now. As soon as I thought that, the world grew a little too cool and the darkness seemed to engulf me.

The next day, I awaken to the sound of birds chirping and the bright ray of sunshine on my cheek. I sat up in a startle that I nearly fell off the tree.

I fell asleep?! In this situation?! Ah, wait! Is it still...?

I quickly peered downwards but found no traces of the wolf. Even the phone was dead silent. Perhaps the wolf left to go hunt? Wolves are nocturnal creatures after all.

I slowly made my way down the tree as I picked up the phone and checked whether I could make a phone call. Just as expected, the phone was dead. Must be all that repetition of that song...

I sighed as I glanced at the photos that were strewn against the ground, picking up the ones that had managed to remain in one piece. Which is the photo of me picking my ears. Like. Why? Why was this the only photo that managed to stay in one piece? Out of all the other candid pictures?

"This wolf... It knows how to rile someone up just like Aries..." I said as my hands shook in anger.

"Sol?! I finally found you!" a familiar voice resounded as I saw Aries' handsome face pop out from the bushes.

"Ah! Aries! You're alright! I was so worried!" I exclaimed as I rushed to his side before being enveloped in his strong arms.

"Huh? I was at home the entire night. I couldn't find you in the morning so I rushed out to search for you." Aries said as he held me at arms length.

"What? So you mean you... slept through tha--- ?!?!?!?!" I said before my voice trailed off, my earlier worry turning into shock as I saw Aries in his birthday suit.

"W-w-where are your clothes?!" I stammered as I turned around.

"Huh? Oh. No wonder it felt a little airy." Aries said as he took a step closer to me.

"W-wait! Take this! It's all your clothes! P-put something on!" I exclaimed as I pushed the travel bag into Aries' arms, accidentally taking a peek at his body.

Wooow~ The lighting is so good. The sun reflected in his eyes made his ocean blue eyes dazzling to look in. The way the daylight glistened on the tips of his hair resembled the glittering starlight that lit up the darkest of nights. His lips that were parted shone a light pink as I stared at it open and close.

Just below that dashing face was his amazingly sturdy muscles. The way I could see each muscle contract when he moved was so mesmerising. And a little lower than that... Amazing. This lighting. A ray of light cut across Aries' buddy as the sound of light coughing could be heard from a distance.

"Eh?" I muttered in confusion when I noticed Aries' slightly flush cheeks.

Ah! Was I openly staring? Wha--

"M-my bad!" I said as I swiftly turned around.

"Its alright. It just felt a little weird to be observed from up close." Aries replied as I heard the sound of clothes rustling.

"Okay, you can turn around now." Aries said as he smiled warmly at me.

"... Well... You didn't uh... Encounter a wolf did you?" I asked as I tried to get my mind off the way I had oogled him earlier.

"Wolf? No... Did you?! You're not hurt are you?!" Aries asked as he quickly spun me around, checking my body for any signs of attack.

"N-no. Somehow, I managed to outrun it. It was a little weird but I'm here now." I grinned as I patted Aries' shoulder to reassure him that I was fine.

"Hmm... It's dangerous to walk around outside alone. I'll take care of anything you need done at night. Alright?" Aries asked as he smiled.

That smile... That wasn't a request but a warning.

"O-okay." I replied as I glanced upwards at Aries.

"Hmm? What is that?" Aries asked as he glanced at the shredded mess of photos on the ground.

"Ah, that... I dropped the photos... of me... in your room. The wolf ripped it to shreds."

"M-my... You didn't...?" Aries looked at me with teary eyes.

"I didn't do it! Why are you looking at me like that?!" I panicked as I felt like the boy who cried wolf.

"It's fine if you didn't rip it apart... Even if you did... I still have back up." Aries sniffled as I looked at him in amazement. Did I hear him wrong?

"W-what?" I asked, clearly baffled.

"Ah. Its nothing.... Hmm? What's that in your hand?" Aries asked as he tried to grab the only photo of me that the wolf did not shred to pieces.

"W-wait! No! Not this photo!" I panicked as I leaned myself against the tree to keep the photo from being taken.

"Sol..." Aries said as he leaned against me, cornering me against the tree.

"W-what?" I asked, clearly not going to give in to his intimidating presence.

"I don't want to have to do this. Will you give me the photo? Or will I have to resort to... extreme measures?"

*gulp*

No way... not the "extreme measure".

"... I..."