A Bad Idea Gets Worse Chapter Four

His smile widened. "Sounds like a great idea" he said as he followed her away from the party.

Hmm...this wasn't one of my brightest ideas, Everest thought to herself. I probably shouldn't be alone with him...Oh, well. The two of them walked along the shore, away from everyone else. As the firelight flickered into the distance, the beach grew steadily darker. Eventually, the sky around them was a dark grey, storm clouds brewing over their heads.
"I think it's going to rain again," Ever observed, turning to leave the beach. They had walked reached the end of the beach. The only thing they could do now was turn left and head up the street.
Suddenly, a thought hit her so hard that she stopped. Her jacket. She had abandoned it beside the pyromaniac. Really, what was she thinking? What was wrong with her? Everest cursed herself silently. She was such an idiot! Her black shirt was too thin to hide her wings if it got soaked. Sure, her wings were about the same color, but she wouldn't be able to hide their shape. How would she explain that to Caleb?
"On second thought," Everest said, wheeling around to face Caleb, her hands clasped behind her back, "I'm afraid I'm going to have to leave you. Something in dire need of my attention has just come up."

He frowned. His human side was sad as well as it watched on. "Oh that's not good to hear. Is it something that I can get you? I'm very fast" he suggested, shocked as he said the words

Everest could smell the rain now. It wasn't here, but it was definitely coming. Soon. "Yeah," she said, nodding nervously, but trying not to look calm. "You could...go get my jacket. I left it by the fire on the beach. Some idiot might be using it now or something. It might not even be there. I-" Everest stopped before she could break into tears. "I just need it."
At the beach, Taco felt dejected. He was standing on the outskirts of the group, watching the crowd. No one seemed to notice that he wasn't taking part in the festivities. No, notice wasn't the only appropriate word. No one cared. Taco glanced down at the ground, defeated and alone.
What was that? He squinted. It looked like a jacket, with a skull and crossbones on the back. He grinned. It was the leader's! Taco stooped down to pick it up. He inspected it more closely, turning the leather around in his hands. Yes, it was! He knew what he would do. Taco would keep this jacket safe until the boss called another meeting. Then, he'd hand it to her. Everyone would have to realize just how important he was, then!
Taco walked home, on the opposite side of the beach from everyone else. He tucked Everest's jacket underneath his arm, hidden from view.

He nodded. He took a sniff of the air to get her scent this quickly followed it back to where they were. He followed it where it was still strong, in her jacket.

Everest wrapped her hands tightly around her, her eyes flickering nervously to the sky. She could feel it, deep within her heart. Caleb wouldn't make it in time. It felt inevitable. Even now, the smell of the rain was becoming more intense. The sky whispered to her, it's beginning Everest swiveled around and dashed up the street, the sky ripping open behind her.
The doors at the side of the street were simply a blur to her. Everest picked the closest one and hurriedly ducked inside. Thankfully, it was just a cafe. People glanced up to stare at the girl panting furiously in the doorway, but that was it. Her back must not be soaked yet. Everest let out a sigh of relief. She plopped down into a chair, absently wondering why it rained so much.

He was so close and then it began to rain. Since someone else seemed to have it and be in motion, he wouldn't be able to follow it for long. The scent was potent but quickly fading. He growled lowly then headed back to where he had left Everest. She was gone. He followed her very faint scent into a cafe. He resisted shaking his hair like he wanted and felt himself weaken a little. Rain never helped him stay in that form

Everest waved from her seat at the cafe table. As Caleb made his way toward her, she drummed on the tabletop, watching the obnoxious rain splatter against the window. How would she get outside, if it kept raining like this? Caleb obviously hadn't found her jacket. What kind of werewolf was he, anyway?
"I had to get inside," Everest admitted. "Sorry. I would've waited for you, but the rain..."

He smiled at her. "No problem. Sorry I couldn't get your jacket. I lost...the trail I was following" he said slowly, just in case she didn't know his true identity.

"Really?" Everest said nonchalantly, glancing outside again. If he wanted to tell her he was a werewolf, he would have to say it outright. She sighed. "I'll have to get a new one, then. It wasn't actually mine. It was my brother's. He'll be devastated."

"I'm so sorry. We could maybe go find it after it stops raining..." he suggested, wanting to spend more time with her. It felt like he was desensitizing his werewolf sick hunger.

Everest laughed, though somewhat halfheartedly. It looked like the rain was simply pouring down harder. She sighed inwardly. This could take some time. "Like I said, it's not my jacket. I don't care if we get it back right now," Everest shrugged. "I'd just...really like to get home." Her eyes slid down to the table. Ugh. She felt like such a little kid. What was wrong with her? Why was she telling Caleb this? He didn't need to know anything about her. No one did.

He smiled softly and a tremor rolled down his spine. He didn't have too much longer in that form anyhow. "I'll walk you home. Or run you home, either one" he offered.

Everest peered miserably outside. No. She knew she shouldn't do it. She couldn't.
Wait. What was stopping her? A few feathers? Those could be explained away, hopefully. He would never have to find out. Everest stood. "Alright," she shrugged. "I'll go, but only if you can be fast."

He chuckled. "Fast is my middle name" he said as he escorted her outside, holding the door for her.