Bitten

Chapter Five

"Thomas."

Thomas grumbles in his sleep. He doesn't want to wake up; the sun feels so warm on his face, his covers so light and perfect. He feels just the right amount of sleepy and Thomas feels as if he could stay in bed all day long.

But that is apparently not what Thomas's little brother, Chuck, thinks.

"Thomas," Chuck whispers in Thomas's ear. "Wake up! Breakfast is ready!"

"Go back to sleep, Chuck," Thomas grunts, pushing Chuck as far away from him as his sleepy body is able.

But no matter how hard Thomas tries, he can't keep Chuck away for long. As soon as Chuck is pushed out of Thomas's reach, he launches himself through the air and lands on Thomas's side.

"But Thomas!" Chuck whines, lengthening the o's and the a's in Thomas's name. "Papa's made macaroni!"

"For breakfast?" Thomas muses, still more than half way asleep. It's quiet for a moment; Chuck probably waiting on Thomas's answer, but again Chuck has never been the patient one in the family and the second Thomas's snores sound out loudly, Chuck shakes Thomas's shoulder wildly.

"Wake!" Shake, shake, shake. "Up!" Shake, shake, shake, shake.

Thomas groans loudly before brushes Chuck off of his shoulders again.

Thomas distantly hears chuck huff in annoyance over Thomas's snores, then chuck taking a deep breath in- "mom!" Chuck screams loudly, extending the o.

Thomas darts out of bed, flings himself at chuck and covers his mouth. Chuck giggles slightly muffled under Thomas's hand while Thomas glares at him.

It's not his mother he's afraid of; she's the biggest sweetheart Thomas has ever met, and would probably just tell Chuck to leave Thomas alone while he sleeps. It his horn-headed sister he's afraid of, Teresa.

Thomas can just picture it. She'd stomp in here, mad as a devil, pointing dingers at Thomas and Chuck. Probably yell at them about the noise. She never was a morning person.

"Shut it, Chuck," Thomas whispers. Chuck tries to raise an eyebrow, but can't, only succeeding in raising both of them. "Or you'll wake the dragon," Thomas raising his eyebrows for emphasis.

Chuck's eyes widen when he realizes what's about to happen. Even though Chuck was only seven, four years younger than Thomas's eleven, he was infinitely less oblivious than Thomas was. Chuck shoved Thomas back with all his might, and took Thomas's surprise to dive under Thomas's covers.

It's too late once Thomas hears the heavy stomping footsteps coming around the corner, which Chuck obviously heard before him.

Thomas freezes when his door, flings open to reveal the dragon herself, short black hair crazed and blazing blue eyes rimmed with red from sleep. She was dressed in a huge sweatshirt - was that his? - and sweatpants.

Thomas prays to God that she's not on her period; those are the worst days. Thomas wrinkles his nose. Gross.

Teresa must see him wrinkle his nose and takes it differently, thinking it's about her appearance, and her scowl deepens.

Thomas gulps audible. If looks could kill, Thomas thinks, I would be fifty feet under.

"If you two absolute buffoons," Teresa starts gravely. Thomas can feel the bed shake slightly from Chuck's attempt to condescending his laughter. "Don't get you act straight," Teresa takes the time to shut the door and make her way over to the closet. "I'm going to take one of these hangers, unravel it, and shove it up your ass!" Teresa finishes, waving a coat hanger at him and the lump under the bed covers.