I'M NOT THE SAME AS I WAS. [ open ]

[maya]

The park was a place Maya always found herself venturing through at night. It was so peaceful; so quiet. It was almost as relaxing as the walls of the forest. The gentle squeak of the swings rocking back and forth by the hands of the wind played in the background. The sound of branches scratching together kept her on her toes slightly. It may muffle the sound of anyone walking up behind her. Maya's brows furrowed, and she tilted her head back to look at the sky. Her dark, wavy hair rolled around her shoulders and spilled down, reaching the small of her back. She didn't check the weather, because normally she could smell what was coming, or sense a change in the atmosphere. It smelt like rain. It wasn't coming yet, but it would soon. A frown graced her lips. She wanted to enjoy the night, and not have to worry about getting soaking wet. A soft sigh left her lips. Guess she was going to have to call it an early night.

As she turned to make her way back towards her apartment, she stopped. She missed her brother. A lot. She missed having him around and having someone always there. Maya didn't do lonely well. She liked being by herself to an extent, but not all the time. Especially when she had her brother right by her side for so many years. Maya's brows furrowed and she looked down at her hands. A drop of water landed on her hand, and she looked up, wondering if it had started to rain, but to her surprise, it was an actual tear on her face. Maya didn't cry. She did everything in her power to hold back tears and swallow the pain or hurt, or whatever it was that had her upset. She never let it show through tears. Her lower lip trembled and she slowly began making her way over to the swings where she sat down on one. Maya had never actually broken down, but the longing to have her brother with her was overwhelming her. She didn't know how to handle it. It was a pain she couldn't swallow.

It was then it started to rain, and Maya was grateful. She didn't want the tears on her face to be visible. She hoped it bored. She wanted to let it out. To just sob, to cry, and to feel better. That's what crying did, right? It made you feel better? She hoped so. She didn't want to feel the pain and sorrow of being alone. She was an independent young woman and she was going to stay like that. Tonight was the only exception to her being weak for once. The rain began to fall heavily. It was smacking off the metal slide, hitting the walking path, and within only a few minutes, she was soaked to the bone. Her wavy hair was now drenched, her long-sleeved v-neck was stuck to her skin, and her jeans were plastered against her legs. She didn't care though. It was hiding her pain, and she didn't care.

[eli cole ryder]

Eli had just gotten off work at the towns’ strip club. It wasn’t exactly desirable work but it was something Eli was good at; he had few morals, no shame and a strong sexual drive which – on more than one occasion – he was able to act upon while at work. The tips weren’t bad, either. Since moving to Converse he’d managed to rent a small house outside of the town, buy a car and dabbled in school. All of which might seem like small accomplishments for a twenty-three year old, but for Eli, they were progress towards a goal. A goal that still seemed unobtainable, but progress nonetheless.

He yanked open his car door and swung himself inside, throwing his bag of work clothes – which consisted of thongs and various “traditional stripper” outfits – into his back seat before turning the engine over and flicking his headlights on. The radio turned on and hummed soft country music in the background as he took a moment to gather his thoughts. It was late in the evening and he knew he should head home and get things done but work left him with a wild craving, a yearning, a need. He tapped his hands on his steering wheel and mentally went down the list of places to check for single, eager young ladies; the list was unfortunately short; his work had the best opportunities and it’d come up empty today. Exhaling in a pouty sort of fashion he jammed his stick-shift into first and left the parking lot.

He hadn’t noticed before but it’d been lightly raining when he left work and was slowly turning into a full-fledged down pour as he made his way down Converse’s main road. His windshield wipers worked in vain to keep his line of sight clear. Eventually, he was forced to pull over to the side of the road, cursing softly under his breath for his neglect to buy new wiper blades as his all but made worse. He cracked a window and lit a cigarette, eyes wearily squinting, making out distant shapes in the darkness. He’d pulled over near the park and he could swear he saw someone just sitting out in the rain. His gut instinct was to ignore it; it was their choice and who was he to care what they did? But as the moments ticked by the rain only got worse and they didn’t move. His callous uncaring turned into curiosity with a mild underlay of concern.

He finished his cigarette before pulling his sweatshirt hood up and stepping out into the rain. He strolled casually towards the swing set, walking heavily through puddles with a shuffling gait. Within moments his sweat shirt hung uncomfortably from his skin and his gym-shorts sagged, heavy from water they quickly absorbed while clinging tightly to his waist and legs. He shoved his hands uselessly into his sweat shirts wet pockets, unsure of what to do with them. As he neared the figure became feminine; long wet hair, a shapely body draped with wet clothes; shamelessly, his interest peaked. He scented the air now, and beneath the aroma of rain and wet earth was kin – she was a werewolf. That was a relief, he’d always felt uneasy when with female humans, never certain when he may shift.

Beneath his hood his brows scrunched together as he studied her. She seemed alright, distressed or upset maybe – but that didn’t concern him – or that’s at least what his face revealed. He set her with a cool, stony gaze as he came to a step a mere inches from her. From what he could tell she was pretty, even water logged as she was. He reached out and grabbed the chains of the swing she sat on; “Here I thought you were hurt and got out in the rain to instead find you what – moping?” Normally he was a very gentle, smooth talking flirt with women, but she didn’t look like she was in a mood for that. She looked like she needed help, and to be told what to do for her own good. “You look like a drowned rat. Get in my car and I’ll give you a lift, you’re going to scare people sitting out here like a crazy person .” His voice was steady and, for the most part, unemotional. A lift to where? Probably his house, cause he was bossy and an ass like that; but that was Eli, helpful and caring in his own, ass-a-nying, womanizing way and whether she recognized it or not, he was trying to be helpful nice.

[maya]

The tears had finally stopped flowing. It was just now her sitting there, staring at the ground, watching as the water flowed in between the mulch like small rivers. She was consumed in her thoughts. There was nothing else around her at the moment. Normally, she would have been aware of the car that was coming through town, or the close of the door as someone got out, but not tonight. It didn't matter. Only when someone grabbed the chains on her swing and was standing so close to her she could feel the heat of the body beneath the soaked clothes, did she come to life; and it was like someone lit a rocket under her ass. The first statement from the guy was completely unheard. A sharp growl flew from her lips and she rocketed to her feet, right in the strangers face. There was no fear in her now silver-blue eyes. Her hand launched forward and curled in the fabric of his hoodie. Finally, her instincts slowed a bit and she realized he wasn't about to hurt her. He was wondering what she was doing. Her eyes darkened a bit back to their normal blue, and she let out a heavy breath. Seriously? You scared the shit out of me, you dick.

She sunk back down into her swing, looking up at the stranger that was now telling her to get into his car so he could possibly help her out. Brow arches and a small snicker leaves her lips. Does that really work? Girls fall for that? Stands up again and ducks under his arm. Getting away from this guy. He must be out of his damn mind if he thinks she getting in his car to go only God knows where. Doesn't really feel like beating the shit out of someone tonight for trying something on her. It's not on her agenda for things to do. Walks about five feet away before turning and looking at him. Because this one doesn't. Eyes him up and down before continuing her walk. If he's persistent and as bold as he comes across, he'll follow, which will give her some amusement to keep turning him down. Maya was never the type of girl to just up and trust someone. Hell, the only time she ever rides in something with wheels is when she goes to work and back. Cars aren't exactly her thing.

The rain still wasn't letting up, and a streak of lightning lit up the pitch black sky. It was soon followed by a crack of thunder so loud it caused her sensitive ears to ring. Damn. It was getting bad. She didn't feel like going home, though. Not one of those nights where she wants to be couped up by walls. Can't stay out in this weather for much longer though. Even for a werewolf who was used to harsh elements, it wasn't comfortable.

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[eli cole ryder]

She hadn’t reacted how he thought she might. He expected anger, maybe surprise, but he hadn’t expected this; her hand fingers clenched around his hoodie, drawing it tight around his wet body. He felt, through that little contact, her body go from tense – ready to fight – to lax as she slowly realized he wasn’t going to hurt her. His own body reacted accordingly; his heart rate increased and that pulling – that familiar, twisting knot in his stomach to shift bubbled to the surface. He breathed rapidly and focused instead on the sexual pull he suddenly felt. The act of a women showing power as she had was oddly arousing for him, he discovered. His brown eyes flashed to their paler, glowing wolf-eyes briefly as his mind went dirty and ran with the idea of grabbing a fistful of her long, wet hair and---

-god damn cool it. He stomped on his sexual desires and willed his breathing and hear rate to normal to discover she was talking now and she did not seem happy. He laughed out loud at her retort, his lips smiling genuinely; she was honest, bold and rude – but reminded him of himself. “Should have been paying attention.”

[/color] He shrugged as way of response, his smile fading to a cheeky, coy grin before fading away. He watched intently as she sank back down onto the swing and slowly put his other hand on the opposite chain and leaned towards her. She wasn’t having it, though. She made a curt remark and ducked underneath his arms and strolled off. He scowled at the now empty swing before turning around to find her facing him, telling him she wouldn’t take the bait like so many women before her had done..more or less.

He was, momentarily, at a loss. She was right to assume that he was trying to pick her up and had, quite honestly, never had a women refuse him before. He, to say the least, didn’t like it. He growled quietly to himself. He quickly caught himself and internally scolded his rise of anger; he hat come to check on her and hadn’t had the intentions of picking her up – he shouldn’t be mad about this, but no matter how much he told himself that the more he wanted her.

“I came out here to check on you and see if you needed help – don’t be so full of yourself as to assume I was picking you up.” [/color]He had, but she didn’t know that. He took a slow step after her, “Besides. If I had been trying, it would have worked. Women don’t refuse me.” [/color]There was a slight edge of challenge there as his larger strides caught up to her. He placed a hand on her shoulder and leaned towards her ear, talking against the wind and the rain. “If you want to walk around all night in the rain, or go back to whatever hole you live in, fine. I offered you a ride – nothing more.”[/color] He paused and thought for a beat. “- but that’s not to say we couldn’t find something better to do. Even if it was just talking about-“[/color] He motioned at her as if to say ‘whatever it is you girls talk about.’ “But I wouldn’t rule out ripping your clothes off right here, right now – or anywhere – if that’s what you thought I had in mind. I can be that guy, but I can also be a nice guy.” [/color]Kind of a lie. He did use women, but he didn't always like that he did. His voice was low and his eyes dark. He pulled off the hood of his sweatshirt as it was completely soaked through and only dripping water down his face and clinging uncomfortably to his ears and cheeks.

He wanted to warn her not to poke the bear -- he didn't know how he would respond if she pushed him too far. It was fair, for a women to deny him, but it had never happened and he was uncertain about it beyond the fact he didn't like the sting it did to his inflated ego and it made him want to dominate her - roughly. But it also intrigued him; she was like a breath of fresh air as far as women went -- annoying, but interesting.

He let out a breath, finding himself again sexually aware of her; it was a habit and it was apparently hard to kick. He could say he didn't want her all he wanted but he and his body both knew it was a lie. When he was around women they were naked. He got what he wanted and the moment -- the rain, the lightning and the tension he felt building between them -- that made it all the more exciting for him. It was a game now for him, and he'd be damned if he lost.
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