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Chapter 4

Mom strolled passed the kitchen with a basket of clothing in her hand, but turned around when she saw me sitting at the island.

I averted my gaze from her and savored another mouthful of apple pie. This year, it appears that I'll be the only one that enjoys it.

"What exactly are you up to? What brings you here?"

I looked up at mom, perplexed. "Ugh, school doesn't start for another week." I reminded her of something. Is it possible she forgot?

"No, what brings you to my home? Don't you have any friends with whom you can go play?" For a long time, I just stared at her blankly. Was she trying to get me to accept that I don't have any friends? Like no other. I don't even have a passing acquaintance with whom I can say hello. Not even a human acquaintance. It's both humiliating and depressing.

We could hear Melvin approaching long before he walked into the kitchen. Mom was disgusted by his clothing, which consisted of his normal plaid shirt and worn jeans.

"Sweetheart, you should shave." As Melvin reached for a bottle of water from the refrigerator, Mom offered her advice. His beard didn't appear to be unkempt, at least not to me. He appeared to keep it trimmed and there was never any food in it.

I ate the final slice of pie on my plate as Melvin simply shrugged in response to mom.

"Get dressed, Louis; you're going with Melvin."

"What?" We stated it jointly, Melvin a little more vehemently. I cast a timid glance over at him. We've never actually hung out on purpose. In fact, I'd go so far as to say he avoids going out with me in public. Actually, it's a fact that used to make me cry.

"He won't be able to join us." Melvin mumbled something.

"And why not?" Mom yelled angrily. We all knew she'd get what she wanted. I put my dirty dishes in the sink before walking up to my room, nervously biting my lower lip.

When I heard the now-familiar rumble, I jumped into a pair of pants. I watched Tomy pull up in front of the home, ignoring the driveway, as I pulled back the drapes. He wore all black today and leaned against his automobile, his arms clasped across his broad chest.

I held out my middle finger and chuckled when he clutched his chest as though in pain after removing his spectacles and looking up at me. As I stepped back, I slipped on my Converse and dashed back downstairs, where Melvin was still muttering to his mother.

"Bye, have a good time!" Mom motioned Melvin to lean down so she could kiss him on the cheek. She didn't have to do that with me; instead, she had to stoop down and kiss my cheek herself. As I followed a grumpy Melvin, I grinned and waved goodbye.

When we got close enough, Tomy got out of his car and arched a thick brow in query, glancing between the two of us. "Mom insisted that I bring him." While walking around to get into the passenger seat, Melvin grumbled.

"It's all right, Louis can come along." Tomy made a joke.

"Thank you, Thompson," I say. When his jaw ticked, I said with a cheery smile that turned real.

"Get in," he urged as he opened the door and pushed his seat back to allow me to clamber into the rear. It's a good thing I'm small because there's not a lot of space back here.

Tomy got in after I was seated and fixed his seat.

"Get your wits about you." While buckling myself in, I told them both. They murmured, but they listened nonetheless.

"So, where are we going?" When Mom made Calvin take me with him, I was always ecstatic. I finally got to hang around with my older brother, and while I'd never admit it or tell him, Tomy was also really amazing. They'd abandon me on several occasions, but I'd take what I could get.

Melvin quickly replied,

"Town."

Tomy chuckled and took a cassette tape from the glove compartment.

"We're heading to the fair," he said "Really?!" I exclaimed, bouncing a little in delight. I enjoyed attending to the county fair, primarily for the food. When you're alone, it's not as much fun. Perhaps things will be different now that Melvin and Tomy are with me.

I sat back and gazed out the window as a slow rock tune began to play. Although Tomy and Melvin would converse between themselves, the twenty-minute ride to town was generally silent.

When I hopped out of the car, Tomy was parked in front of the small ice cream shop, and I handed him my leather jacket. The fair was traditionally held behind the strip of businesses, on the baseball field.

I had to jog a few times to keep up with their long strides, but it didn't seem like they were attempting to leave me behind on purpose.

"What should we start with? Get a funnel cake, perhaps! We could also play that game where we can win a fish!" I just once won a fish, and it died the next day. It's most likely due to the fact that it's been in a bag for so long.

"I guess we should win a fish last," says the narrator. I made a decision. I viewed their lack of response as an agreement.

We didn't have to wait long, and Melvin and Tomy simply had to pay for admission, but I purchased tickets for the Farris wheel, which is the only ride not suitable for tiny children. I followed closely behind them, spotting a few of our pack mates, but there were also humans.

The aroma of popcorn and fried food filled the room. Everything seemed more alive because of people's casual laughter and children's squeals of delight.

They didn't appear to be going somewhere in particular, and things seemed to be fine for a time. It is true that nice things do not continue indefinitely.

"Didn't you say you didn't want a funnel cake?" Melvin enquired. I knew he wasn't actually asking, so I took it as a cue to leave them alone. After seeing them become lost in the crowd and then whirling in circles for a while, I decided to go get some dinner.

I didn't mind waiting in line for a funnel cake. It's not as though anyone is expecting me. I observed a group of young people standing around talking and laughing. That's when I began to question whether living as a human would be so horrible.

They didn't talk to me in school because the bulk of our classmates were Wolves, and they made me feel unapproachable. Talking to me, for example, would be social suicide. It was my own kind that isolated me from everything and then forced everyone else to do the same. What would it be like to live in a largely human-populated city?

I proceeded to the picnic tables and sat at an empty one after ordering a funnel cake, a corn dog, and a basket of french fries. I looked around awkwardly while stuffing a fry into my mouth.

Onyxy eyes met mine, and I smiled at my father, who was dressed in his police uniform. When he didn't return my smile, mine slipped and I returned my gaze to my food. This wasn't as much fun as it used to be, and it reminded me why I stopped going to similar events.

I looked up as a basket of fries sat across from me.

"Hey, puppy," he said

"Hey, dad," I say. I didn't try to smile again and started eating my corn dog. Dad didn't say anything, but he never does, so I think that's where Melvin gets it. He eventually left because he was technically supposed to be working and I got up to wonder around again.

I was thinking about heading home until I saw Jason, who was dressed in a brown sweater and dark pants. I didn't mind that he was with his mates Nathaniel and Brandon. I put my best face forward.

"Hi!" I chirped happily, capturing their full attention.

"Hey, Louis," I almost melted when Jason said anything. I'm looking forward to my birthday. Because Jason has already turned eighteen, I know we'll be Mates, but he won't be able to feel the tie until I'm eighteen as well!

"How's it going?"

Looking around, Jason scratched the back of his neck.

"I'm just wandering around," says the narrator.

"No, Louis, you are not permitted to accompany us." Brandon chuckled, as if he sensed what I was about to ask. I chose to ignore him.

"Oh, Tomy and Melvin brought me here." My eyes tracing Jason's clean jaw up to his beautiful brown eyes, I said absently. They tasted like caramel to me. I should go out and buy a candy apple.

"Is Thompson here?" Jason eventually looked down at me and inquired. I gave a wide smile and a nod.

"Well, we should go find him," they said

"No, we don't require your assistance." Brandon made a snide remark. No words came out of my mouth when I opened it. Before the three of them stepped around me, Jason smiled.

My shoulders dropped, and I swung around to face the Farris wheel. Perhaps I should have invited Jesper to join me on the journey.

I handed him my tickets, and he double-checked that the bar was locked. Because people were still getting on, the ride up was slow, but once I was at the top, I could see everything. I had the sensation of being on top of the world.

I could see my father conversing with several of the other cops, all of whom were Wolves. Melvin and Tomy were finally located.

Tomy had a girl hanging off him while he tossed darts, and Melvin was off to the side talking with another female. When I saw Jason and his pals again, the Farris wheel began to spin. Jason had a bright smile on his face that made me smile, but when I observed he was chatting to Ciara Webb, it was swiftly replaced by a frown.

Before stopping to let people off, the ride went around again. When it was my turn to exit, I smiled nicely at the elderly gentleman before slipping down the stairs and collapsing in front of the crowd. As everyone laughed, my face burned with embarrassment. Some were considerate enough to try to keep their laughter to themselves, while others laughed without a care in the world.

I struggled to my feet and dashed in the area where I last saw my brother. It was a bad decision, and I collided with someone, dumping cold soda down the front of my hoodie. I screamed and yanked the soaked linen away from my skin.

"Be careful where you're going." The man snarled. I nodded and hastily apologized before walking around him. I didn't run this time, but I did keep an eye on my surroundings.

Melvin wasn't at the game, but he wasn't far away. He was conversing with a dark-haired woman who was munching on cotton candy. I tentatively tapped his shoulder, and he returned my stare. His smile fell as he took in my soaked hoodie.

"Louis, are you serious? It hasn't even been three hours since we started." Not knowing what to say, I fidgeted with my fingers. If that's what he thought, I wasn't going to ask if we could go. I really wanted to spend the rest of our time here with them.

Melvin's conversation partner stepped closer to him and examined me.

"How did you find out about the Runt?"

"He's my brother," he said

"Woah."

"Yeah." Melvin mumbled and shifted his gaze away from me.

I left them and the fair grounds behind after twenty minutes of standing about. I sat on the sidewalk in front of the closed ice cream store instead, close to

Tomy's car. I didn't want to be the last one to leave.

I didn't even catch a single fish.

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