Hudsonville: Tales of the Hunted

Chapter 15: Long Trek Back

On their way back home, Vick, Drew and Cici were all pretty quiet. It was quite obvious there were hurt feelings all around. Vick and Cici still hadn't made up for their earlier argument, Vick and Drew, well their relationship was just generally complicated, and as for Drew and Cici? They were on good terms, but surely there was still some unspoken tension between the two in some way, shape or form.

It wasn't until they entered the threshold of the valley that anyone spoke.

"How's business going?" Drew asked out of the blue. Vick's ears twitched but he hadn't responded. Drew attempted again.

"Your paper, how's it going?"

This time, Vick turned. He grit his teeth. "I don't have a press anymore, so no."

"...You lost your press?" Drew asked.

"Not lost—stolen. And it's none of your business."

"Chill out. I'm just asking."

"Yeah? I didn't ask you to ask."

Drew picked up his pace to walk alongside the floating Vampire.

"Hey, what's your problem, man?"

Vick turned to Drew, sneering. A vein throbbed on the teen's forehead.

"You really don't give a damn, do you?"

Drew, face reddening with frustration, turned away and ran his fingers through his hair.

"I thought we talked about this." Drew said.

"Frankly I don't think we've talked about it enough! You idiot. What were you thinking? What did you think was gonna come out of this?"

Drew didn't answer.

"Tell me!" Vick demanded.

"I thought I was doing the right thing!" Drew shouted back. "God, for once, I just want to do the right thing. Can't you see that? Why can't you see that I'm trying here?"

"Patterns, Drew, patterns. It's the same crap you were on two years ago, it's having the exact same effect. You know, you're probably the reason wolf boy's gonna be killed."

Drew's expression twisted. "How is that my fault?"

"You're an enabler. You enable people's stupid ideas, you give 'em false hope. You could've just said no."

Drew scoffed and kicked a rock out of his way on the path.

Behind them, Cici strayed, having listened to the two bicker for some time. She felt it best to let themselves work out their differences, but that feeling was beginning to waver with every exchange. Her droopy antennae ticked and twitched. Her eye was focused ahead.

"Look, I'm sorry." Drew said. "I didn't think too much of it."

"Well there's your problem, you don't think." replied the Vampire.

"Vick." Cici cut in.

"What? I'm right."

"You don't need to insult. Use your words."

"Okay, my words are, I think Drew's a reckless, selfish, thrill-seeking, monkey-brained troglodyte."

"Vick!"

"That is not a word." Drew said.

Vick devilishly smirked. "Of course you would say that."

"Shut up, man," Drew rolled his eyes. "You're like, twelve."

"Fifteen."

Cici sighed. "This isn't going anywhere."

"Yeah, so how about we play 'little red schoolhouse' and shut our traps, eh?"