Chapter 10

Twilight and Takumi were lying on the couch, watching a movie.

"Are you ok?" He asked.

"Why?"

"You seem a little sad these days."

"It's probably boredom."

"Is it possible that you're homesick? I remember reading somewhere that wolves are social animals."

"I do miss home."

"I'm not trying to chase you away, but why don't you go back?"

"I can't shift yet."

"I can take you."

"How?"

"I'll come up with something."

"You don't know where to take me."

"You can give me directions."

"I don't want to cause you more trouble."

"I don't mind."

"It's fine."

"Ok. Have you called your dad?"

"With what phone?"

"The same you always pass by in the kitchen. You also could've asked to use mine. Why does it feel like you're trying to come up with excuses?"

"I'm not."

"I don't believe you."

"Then that's a you-problem." She snapped.

She tried to get up and leave, but he took hold of her wrist.

"Wait, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be pushy, but I'll stop."

She sat down and was quiet for a while.

"I don't know if I want to go back, ok." She leaned against him.

"Does it have to do with why you left in the first place?"

"Yeah."

"Here." He pulled his phone out and put it in her hands. "Call your dad."

"What?"

"Call your dad. If you're not sure when or even if you're going back, at least call him and let him know you're ok."

"Ok."

She made the call, and he went to the kitchen so she could have some privacy.

After a few moments, she came to the kitchen.

"Do you mind if I share my location?" She asked.

"I doubt I have much of a choice because he was probably going to come whether he knows or not."

"He won't if I tell him not to."

"It's fine. You can share it."

"Ok." She went back to the call.

After a few more moments, she came back and gave him the phone.

"How did it go?" He asked.

"I pretty much got the lecture of my life, but he was happy to hear from me. Thank you."

"Any time, Frozen Fire."

"What did you call me?"

"Frozen Fire. It's because you look kind and gentle, but, in reality, you're… something else."

"No, I'm not."

"Tell that to my stomach. I can still feel the kick you gave me the other day."

"Whose fault was that?"

"It wasn't my fault that I sleepwalked. It couldn't be helped."

"Is a nickname necessary? It kinda makes it seem as though I'm your girlfriend, which will never happen."

"Friends give each other nicknames, don't they?"

"I guess so."

"Anyway, since tomorrow's Saturday my friends and I were planning on hanging out, and I thought you should come too. They don't mind, I've told them a lot about you, and they've been dying to meet you. It'd be a great chance for you guys to meet."

"Sure, I'll tag along. Wait, what exactly have you told them?"

"Relax, I haven't told them about you being a wolf or any of our other dirty little secrets. Whatever dirty thing happens in this apartment, stays in this apartment." He winked. She gave him an I-hate-you-and-I-wanna-murder-you look.

Just then, a sex scene came on, and it was intense and explicit. She was trying to fight her urges, but the scent of his arousal wasn't helping her at all, if anything, it was making it harder, and she was sure her entire face was bright red. Her eyes were anywhere but on the TV, and when he changed the channel, she felt relieved.

"Rengoku..."

"I know."

"Know what?"

"That this is awkward."

"Yeah. But I was going to say we're not going to have sex."

"Right. Things between us would become awkward if we did."

"Definitely. Was that movie a rom-com by any chance?"

"Yeah."

"That explains why I was starting to fall asleep. At least, until that awkward sex scene. This is why I prefer horror movies. I mean, they also have sex scenes but not that intense."

"We could find one to watch."

"That would be great."

"I just need to take a quick shower first."

"Did you find one?"

"Yeah..."

When she turned around, she didn't expect him to be in anything but a towel. Her eyes couldn't help but take in everything. He had broad shoulders and muscles but not too much like someone who goes to the gym every single day. He had enough to show that he does work out, maybe three or four times a week. She wondered just how hard his abs were.

"Sweet mother of all that's fine and gloriously sexy, those might be the sexiest man legs I've ever seen," She thought. "Someone doesn't skip leg day."

"Why are you only wearing a towel?" She asked.

"I'm a guy. The only thing I need to cover is my lower half."

Just then, the unthinkable happened. His towel fell off. She watched as it fell to the ground. And when she looked back up, she couldn't stop her eyes from locking onto his penis.

"Damn."

It wasn't her first time seeing one. Wolves are always naked after shifting, so they're comfortable with being naked in front of each other. In a way, that made them nudists. Despite all that, she couldn't take her eyes off it.

"His v-line wasn't lying," She thought.

"I'm pretty sure this is the part where you're supposed to faint, not stare."

She snapped out of it and turned back around.

"My bad, I didn't realise that I was staring. This is awkward."

"It wasn't, but now that you said it, it is. On the bright side, you've seen me naked, so now we're even."

"More like things just got weirder between us. Are you sure that you're 16?"

"According to my birth certificate and parents, I was born 16 years ago, so yes."

"Don't get me wrong, I believe you. It's just: you're very tall for your age, and I don't think 16-year-old boys have to shave their faces as much as you do."

"I'll take that as a compliment, and you can turn around now. I'm dressed."

"Right."

"Anyway, the reason behind everything you just said is that I have a high growth hormone-releasing factor. The acceleration of the secretion of growth hormones by my anterior pituitary body is almost three times faster than an average boy, so I'm developing fast," He sat down next to her. "Believe it or not, I was 11 when I first grew facial hair, and four months ago, I was 5'9."

"Tell me you're joking."

"I would, but that'd be lying. I've always been tall for my age, and I may still grow."

"So, you're the fucker who stole most of my height."

"And doing so led you to me, so it wasn't a total loss."

"But I've been the same height since I was 12. My dad keeps saying that my growth spurt will kick in any minute but we both know that it's not happening, and he's just saying it to make me feel better."

"At least, it adds to your cuteness. Was your mom also short?"

"No, she was around 5'7."

"What about your dad?"

"7'2. You'd think that would've earned me a few more inches, but, oh well."

"What are my chances of survival if he came here looking for you?"

"You haven't done anything to hurt me, so they're pretty high, but that's up to him."

"Hopefully, he'll have mercy on me."

"I can call him again."

"I'm pretty sure it's a little too late since he knows where I live."

The next day, Twilight was pacing back and forth around the apartment nervously. She was so nervous that she hadn't even eaten breakfast or showered yet.

"Hey, I'm done showering. The bathroom's all yours."

"..."

"Uh, did you hear me?"

"..."

"Hey." He put his hands on her shoulders.

That brought her back to reality.

"Huh? Did you say something?" She asked.

"Yeah, you can use the bathroom now."

"Right."

"This is why I said we should shower together. That way I could give you a nice massage to calm your nerves."

She glared at him. "First of all, that's exactly why I said no and because I've seen more than enough of you yesterday. Second, I'm not nervous. I'm worried because what if your friends turn out to be like you?"

"What, you mean handsome?"

"No. I was thinking more along the line of perverts. Having to deal with you is already bad enough, I don't want to have to deal with more of you."

"Don't worry. They're not like that. Besides, no one, except me, is allowed to sexually harass my Jelly-Boo."

"How do you come up with these nicknames. Also, that did nothing to make me feel better."

"Trust me, they're ok people. I wouldn't be friends with them otherwise. Now, go get ready and then we can have breakfast before we leave, ok?"

"Ok, dad."

She was in and out of the bathroom within ten minutes and hurried to the kitchen to eat breakfast.

"You look pretty in a dress," He said.

"We're friends, so of course, you'd compliment me."

"No, I'm being honest. I'm sure you can tell."

"Right," She blushed. "So, where are we meeting up?"

"At a cat café."

"That sounds cute."

"You bet it is."

On the way, a few girls were looking at Takumi, and blushing like schoolgirls. Twilight noticed this and decided to have some fun.

"Hey, Rengoku, I need you to play along."

"With what?"

"You'll know soon enough. Just walk for a few metres and then stop, pretend like you're waiting for someone. Try to look natural."

"Ok," He was interested in what she had planned.

"Great," She walked across the street into a restaurant. She asked to use their restroom and went there. Once inside, she undid her side ponytail and tied her hair in two low pigtails. She walked out of the restaurant and waited. She pretended as if she was waiting for someone when, in reality, she was keeping an eye on Takumi, waiting for the perfect time to strike.

It didn't take long for a girl to walk up to Takumi. It was clear as day that she was a hooker and wanted to get into his pants. Then Twilight made her move before words came out of the girl's mouth. She went over to them and hugged his arm, her chest pressed against it.

"Daddy, Kitten missed you, even though I only went to the bathroom for a few minutes." She said in a childlike voice while burying his arm deeper into her chest.

"Don't worry, next time daddy will go with you."

"Really? Daddy's the best. Can we go get ice cream?" She batted her eyelids.

"How about you be dessert when we get home? Does that sound fun, Kitten?" He said lifting her chin and she nodded her head like a little kid.

"Let's go then." They walked away; she was still hugging his arm. She looked back to see the bewildered and broken look on the girl's face. She just smirked.

When they were a good distance away, she let go of his arm. He burst out laughing.

"Who would have thought," He said when he finished laughing.

"Thought what?"

"You look like a masochist, but you're actually a sadist."

"There's a lot of things you don't know about me."

"You should wear your hair like that more often. It suits you."

"Let's get going," She blushed.

"Yes ma'am."

After a few minutes of walking, they reached their destination.

"Rengoku, why are we here?"

"This is the place."

"But you said we're going to a cat café."

"This is a cat café. The waitresses cosplay as cats."

"I thought you said your friends weren't like you."

"I did say it might just be my opinion."

"Right." She sighed.

"But we're not going in, we're just meeting up in front of it."

"Geez, you almost gave me a heart attack."

He chuckled.

"Tak-kun!" They both turned to where the voice came from.

"Ichiya, I told you not to yell so loudly in public, it's rude."

"Sorry Keito, I'm just so excited." The two males approached them.

Ichiya was a 5'7 guy who loves playing basketball. He's known for being loud and outgoing. Most of all, he thinks of Takumi as an older brother, even though they're the same age, not to mention they're in the same class. He's one hell of a flirt but has terrible luck with the ladies. Yep, a hopeless romantic.

Keito, on the other hand, was the quiet type, being 5'11. He doesn't talk much unless he thinks it's necessary and still believes in being a gentleman. But, secretly under his intimidating exterior is a total anime and manga lover and cosplayer. Everything in his room is anime related from his walls, bookshelf, computer, and even his bed and floor. The only thing missing is his ceiling.

"Sorry about that, Takumi," Keito apologized.

"Nah, Tak-kun doesn't mind at all. Right?" Ichiya threw his arm around Takumi's shoulders.

"Ichiya, it's rude to throw your arm around someone's shoulder without permission."

"It's ok."

"See, Kei-kun, Tak-kun doesn't mind."

"How many times have I told you that it's not Kei-kun, it's Keito."

Twilight looked at them with confusion and then burst out laughing. The kind of laugh that sounds like a pig struggling to breathe. Yep, she snorts whenever she laughs.