I'll Be Back (Great Uncle Dracula Fanfic)

Neighborly

When Wanda smiled, buyer beware—there was always something she wanted from him.

Wolfie glanced at the floor and his hands. They weren't friends—not since they both started Kindergarten. Wanda was instantly popular among the girls in their class as she stood out as a talented, pretty witch. Her new friends didn't want anything to do with boys, leaving him alone at school until Hector and Winnie approached him, asking him if he wanted to play.

"She didn't take that well."

While his brother told him their aunt was now living at the senior home, Wolfie sat down on the stairs. Now, his older brother said, "I'll leave you to talk with Wanda, Maddie."

"Seriously, don't call me that!" Wolfie snapped, his head jerking up so he could glare at his older brother. "And don't leave..."

"I've got to help with getting out stuff into the garage," Adolphus said, spinning the keys on their keyring around his finger. "Behave."

"What do you mean behave?" Wolfie muttered.

"Oh, I don't know?" A grin spread across his brother's face. "Other than not running into the streets haphazardly, I'd say not doing anything with your girlfriend..."

"She's not my girlfriend!" Wolfie protested, his face turning a bright red. Now he remembered their older brothers teasing them about that, or perhaps he remembered all along. And, there were feelings there.

"...that I wouldn't approve of, or Aunt Larentia for that matter," his brother finished before turning to leave.

Wanda walked over, brushing her hands behind her black skirt and white lace underskirt before sitting down. Her top was nearly strapless, with thin straps over her shoulders, while locks of brown hair were so dark that they were roughly black cascade down to her shoulder blades. Placing her hands in her lap, she said without hesitation, "I wouldn't mind being your girlfriend."

Wolfie glanced away, finding himself irritated while his cheeks remained flushed. She knew how he felt, and yet, "Don't play with me."

"I'm not."

"Why would you want to be with a wimpy werewolf like myself. Remember? That's what you always called me," Wolfie folded his arms.

"My. I didn't think that bothered you." There she was getting irritated with him.

"You know it bothered me, yet you did it anyway," Wolfie said.

"Seriously," Wanda muttered, looking at him, her mouth pushed together and her eyes with that usual frustration, clearly upset by something. "All I wanted was for you to stand up for yourself just like you did with everyone else. And look what happened."

"What happened?" Wolfie looked at her, baffled.

"There you go again, treating..." Wanda turned her head but then paused, looking at him, a look of worry in her eyes. "What do you mean, what happened? You left."

"Because Aunt Larentia couldn't take care of us anymore, so we got shipped off to a family member who could." Wolfie frowned. "Are you saying..."

Wanda's eyes were wide. She then said sharply. "I'm not saying anything, so don't you worry about it. But..." She lifted her arm and motioned for him to move closer with her hand. "Slide over here."

Wolfie glared.

"Just, I'm glad you're back. Okay. I won't do anything to you. Not like..." Wanda sighed, patting the spot on the step next to her. Wolfie tilted his head, then slid over. She reached one arm up and let it wrap it around his shoulders, pulling him closer into a welcoming hug. She smiled, though her eyes seemed focused on something in the distance as she spoke. "I really am glad you're back."

He sat there, letting her hug him, unsure of what to say, particularly with her abrupt announcement that she wouldn't mind being his girlfriend, which wasn't what he'd expected of her or anyone when he got back. The fact he'd not expected it—that there was reason to, made him decide what to say next. "Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why wouldn't you mind being my girlfriend?"

"Because you're cute. Always have been, albeit..."

"No, I'm not," Wolfie shook his head, baffled at her suggestion that the opposite sex might find him attractive. His face flushed. "I'm gawky, nerdy, scrawny as hell—scrawny werewolf to boot. Not at all the ideal boyfriend." He let out a snort. "You, Wanda McWitch, could have any guy you wanted, as popular as you are."

Wanda let her arm hang over his shoulder. "Maybe I'm not looking for an ideal boyfriend. You know, that stereotypical idea boyfriend kind of garbage. So think about it, will you?"

Wolfie frowned. There probably wasn't anything to think about, given that there was something that definitely bothered him about her request. "You picked on Emily and Winnie. I can't..."

Wanda's arm slipped away, and she let her arms rest in her lap. "That."

"That. You know it always bothered me that you did that."

"I don't do that anymore."

Which surprised him. "Wait. You and they are..."

"I didn't say we're on speaking terms. They both have a very firm opinion of me from our elementary school days, and I don't think that will..." The corner of her mouth twisted up. "It's okay. I'm over it. You don't have to be my boyfriend."

Wolfie stared, confused. Of course, Wanda could be frustrating like that.

"And to clear something up, I've not changed my mind about wanting to be your girlfriend, Wolfie Johnson," Wanda stood up, then twisted around, still smiling. "But this time around, I'm going to put your happiness before my own."

"I don't follow," Wolfie said. "When have I not ever been happy?"

"Idiot," Wanda said, still smiling, yet there was a bit of hurt in her eyes. "You shouldn't ignore those negative feelings of yours until they bottle up and explode."

"That..." Wolfie frowned, rubbing the back of his neck. He knew what she meant, even if he didn't like admitting that habit of his. "Fine. I still don't follow..."

"Wolfie Johnson, why do you think I picked on Emily Normal and Winnie Witcherson? After all, I've remained the most popular witch in our class well into middle school, and you know my parents are well off enough so I can have the latest trend if I so desired."

The smile faltered as he looked at her, his eyes wide. "You know, that always confused me."

"Because I was jealous."

Wolfie stared. "But, your grades are better, you were more popular, you..."

"Silly. I picked on them because they got to hang out with you, and I saw them as competition, or did you not even notice the fact I never picked on Hector Spector as I did them." She stood up straight, still smiling while his jaw dropped. "But I'm not going to be that girl anymore. After all, that wasn't a girl you could like, but you knew that wasn't the kind of person I really was."

He let out a deep breath. "I'm glad. I'm glad to hear that."

"But you're not, I think going to like what I'm going to say next."

"Why not?" He looked up at her.

"The other reason I called you a wimpy werewolf," Wanda frowned at him.

"There was another reason?"

"I wasn't the only one not being myself."

Wolfie froze, his eyes widening, his blood growing cold.

"Because the Wolfie Johnson I know, he's actually pretty amazing, and it's okay to let others see that." She smiled.

"I'm not."

She sighed, tucking her hands behind her back. "So, do you start school on Monday just like everyone else?"

Wanda changed the subject. Wolfie let out a sigh. "Yes."

"Good. I'll see you at school then. Oh, and mom will likely be over later with some food for you and Adolphus."