Sofia''s mind was a foggy thing. In fact that was the best way to define it, since she felt as if she was moving through a thick fog. She had been reasonably well all day, perhaps a little tired and with a bit of a sore throat but nothing more. However, as soon as they sat down on the bench she was shaken by an intense chill, and soon after she started feeling so drowsy that keeping her eyes open had been a real struggle. Not only that, but she had not been able to think clearly either. Yes, she naturally remembered the moment when she curled up next to her friend, seeking his arms, his warmth and the smell of his skin, and a part of her had been horrified by what she was doing. The other part had decided to silence the first and seek the comfort and security he provided. That was why she had done it, because she was sick and she felt calm and safe with him.
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In one gulp Sofia drank the contents, then grimaced. It was a bitter concoction that tasted like crap, but she knew it would bring her fever down pretty quickly. Her friend took the glass from her hands when she handed it to him, responding to her expression of disgust with an apologetic smile, and went to her desk to get the dinner he had prepared.
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Dave knelt down on the floor next to her bed and put the tray on her legs, holding it with his hands so it wouldn''t tip over. Sofia was overwhelmed with gratitude for everything her friends were doing for her, and she felt her cheeks turn pink. The soup looked very good, and the tea gave off a distinctive honey smell that made it very appetizing. Carefully, Sofia picked up the spoon and began to eat. The hot broth and chicken meat filled her stomach and chased away some of the cold that had crept into her bones. Between spoonfuls she also took sips of the tea. It was sweet and she could taste the distinctive honey flavor. When she finished her dinner, Dave removed the tray and put it back on the desk.
It was just then that Sara came in from the walk. Kas ran into the bedroom and climbed on the bed to give Sofia wet licks. She laughingly stroked the Dobermann''s back, though a brief glance at her friend, who was standing by her bed, allowed her to see an expression marked by a smile and a look of nostalgic sorrow. When the dog finished saying hello, he laid down at his owner''s feet, something she was grateful for because he would keep her warm during the night. Dave walked over to the bed and helped Sofia settle down to sleep. As he fixed her pillow, Sofia noticed that his hands were shaking slightly, and his breathing seemed a little more agitated.
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While that strange conversation was going on between her two friends, Sofia felt the full moon rising over the sky and the energy in her chest stirred. She was startled, not expecting it to rise so soon, when the sun was still shining brightly. She tried to escape from there before she was seen, but she was beginning to feel the changes happening in her body. As she ran, fur sprouted from her skin, her fingertips became pads and a tail grew from the base of her back. For some reason, only understandablewith dream logic, Sofia decided to stop running and turned around in horror. She was sure she had run a long way, but her friends were still there.
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Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
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Then her mind began to emerge from that dream world, prompting her to wake up. Slowly she began to become aware of reality, of the blankets covering her body giving her warmth, of the comfort of her pillow and of Kas''s presence next to her legs. As she opened her eyes she noticed morning light streaming in through the window, though she didn''t know how many hours she could have slept. Sofia pulled her hand out from under the covers. Nothing abnormal, as human as ever.
Then she let out a quiet sigh and looked at the spot where Dave had knelt to help her with dinner. It had only been her desires and wishes represented in the form of a dream, and nothing more. For the moment she was still human, her friend''s lips had never touched hers, and she had never seen him with canine fangs. What had been real about that dream was the warm shudder that shook her belly when he kissed her, the same shudder she felt at that very moment as she remembered it.
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After stretching to loosen her muscles, Sofia left the room and went to the kitchen to get a glass of water. There she found her friend, who was preparing a breakfast of toast with olive oil and tea with honey and lemon. When he saw her, he smiled and approached her. His smile was again more spontaneous and wide than the night before, and he himself seemed to be well rested. Discreetly, Sofia glanced at his teeth, visible under the parted lip, and noticed that his fangs were indeed sharp, but they were of normal size. Plenty of humans had them like that. What surprised her was the brief twinge of disappointment she felt.
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With him this close to her, she as able toobserve his features better, and was aware that the dream version had also been distorted. In person he was even more attractive. As always, he wore his blond hair tousled, and the sun streaming in through the window highlighted its color. His eyes were a shade similar to the clear summer sky, a deep, vivid blue. He had not yet shaved, so a blond fuzz was growing on his chin and under his cheeks, making him look more mature, more like a man than a boy.
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“Fede is not a bad person and he cares about me, but he''s a solitary and bitter man. As long as I stay out of trouble and fulfill my obligations, he doesn''t mind too much if I stay out all night. He''s not my father, he''s just someone who has to take care of me.”
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“Yes, I miss them,” he answered, looking out the window without really seeing the street outside.
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“We shouldn''t. You had a high fever last night and it''s better if you stay home and rest,” said Dave, putting the toasts on a plate and taking them to the table. “I can make some dinner with what''s around here, or I can go out and buy something for the two of us. I don''t have a lot of money, but I think I could fix something, and Sara said she''d drop by after dinner.”
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No, Sofia thought, blushing visibly, Dave wasn''t like Sara''s sisters. In fact he was better. Maybe he didn''t have that chatty spark but he had stayed there all night to take care of her, had cooked her hot soup and tea, and even prepared breakfast. The idea of spending Christmas Eve with him seemed perfect. Perhaps she was a little sad to miss the party at Sara''s house, because the previous year she had such a great time with her family''s craziness, but the warmth that welled up in her belly made it quite clear what her preferences were. Smiling, she ran over to him and closed her hands over one of the teacups, tucking his fingers in the process. The boy was a little surprised, and his cheeks turned pink, but his lips responded by opening into a smile.
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