Nineteen – Frances
Thud. I looked up at the ceiling. Nick didn’t seem to hear it.
“Nick, what room’s above us?” I questioned.
Nick looked up from his paper, where he was attempting to do the crossword. “Um…Jack’s, I think. Why?”
Thud. A grunt proceeded the thud.
“Didn’t you hear that?” I asked.
Nick frowned in confusion. “Hear what?”
“Obviously not.” I muttered darkly. “Something’s wrong.” I added in a louder voice.
“How so?” Nick asked, giving up on the crossword and folding the paper.
“Well, thuds are coming from Jack’s room and I can’t hear any rock music. Plus, Taylor’s stormed off. Jack bit Ail, Taylor’s in a mood with Ali and that probably means he hates Jack.” I summarised. “I’m going to go see what’s happening.”
“I’m coming too. I can hear the thuds as well.” Ali said, standing up and walking to my side. I smiled at her warmly, and she smiled shyly back.
We climbed the stairs and headed towards the sound of the thuds and yells.
When we reached Jack’s room, the door was shut but it was obvious that the shouts and bangs were coming from the other side.
“You ready?” I whispered to Ali.
She nodded slowly and placed her hand on the door knob. She slowly turned it and quietly opened the door. The scene in front of us was chaos.
Taylor had a bleeding nose and Jack had a split lip. Blood was smeared on the walls and even on one of Jack’s unfinished paintings. By the looks of it, both boys were going to have a black eye.
“STOP IT!” I screamed.
Taylor and Jack stopped fighting long enough to see Ali and I staring at their bloodied faces.
“This is pathetic. You’re fighting and you’re both injured, when we should be worried about Ali!” I shouted, glaring at them both.
“But Frances…He’s ruined my sister.” Taylor whispered, hastily wiping his bleeding nose with the back of his hand and smearing blood across his face.
“No he hasn’t.” Ali said softly. “The only words I said to Jack when he found me were: ‘save me.’”
“So I did.” Jack finished, flashing Ali his trademark cheeky smile.
I sighed and pushed my fringe out of my eyes. “So it’s settled. Let’s just go downstairs and get you guys cleaned up.”
We all trouped downstairs to the kitchen, where Nick was waiting for us. Nick’s eyes widened when he saw the blood on Jack and Taylor’s faces. Remarkably, both Jack’s lip and Taylor’s nose seemed to have stopped bleeding and all that remained of their fight were the puffy eyes and the smeared blood.
“Jesus.” He groaned. “What happened to you guys?”
“Rather physical debate.” Jack grunted, walking to the sink.
“My God.” Ali said, after he stomach gave a particularly loud rumble. “I didn’t realise how hungry I am!” She strolled over to the breadbin and took out a slice of bread.
“Ali, no!” We all shouted, but it was too late. She’d crammed the bread into her mouth.
Twenty – Taylor
Ali fell forward in slow motion, onto her hands and knees. Her back arched as she retched. She coughed and sobbed, cursing the heavens. She retched again, only this time, vomit followed. I walked forward and knelt next to her, placing one hand on her back and the other on her forehead.
“She’s burning up!” I shouted at Nick and Jack. “We have to get her outside!” I looked over at Fran, who stood as motionless as a statue. Together, Nick, Jack and I picked up Ali and carried her out into the back garden.
We laid her on the deck and I once again placed my hand on her forehead. Her temperature was rising and falling rapidly. She was going to change.
“Get back!” I shouted at the others. “She’s going to change!”
Everyone backed away, except for Nick, who walked forward and grabbed my upper arms. He dragged me away while I kicked and shouted. I watched, helpless as Ali writhed on the deck, screaming and crying.
YOU ARE READING
Wolfish Affection (UNDERGOING HUGE AMOUNTS OF EDITING)
LobisomemFrances and Taylor have one thing in common: they both turn into giant wolves. But what Frances doesn't know is that Taylor is the guy that made her turn into a wolf. But when they find happiness...it begins to fall apart.
