Wolfish Affection (UNDERGOING HUGE AMOUNTS OF EDITING)

Wolfish Affection - Chapters 4 - 5

Four - Taylor

After Frances took off, I did my best to try and follow her, but I couldn't ignore Nick like she could. I guess that's one of the perks of being an older sibling: you can ignore people. I never had any brothers or sisters, there was just me and my mom. And my dad. Sometimes. When he was sober enough. Or drunk enough to beat the living hell out of me and my mom. The last time he hit me was the day before I was bitten. I had been wearing his hiking boots to walk through Borderline Woods and I had walked through the carpeted rooms of the house without taking his muddy boots off my feet. He slapped me so hard, it lifted me off my feet, send me flying across the kitchen and my head met the corner of the doorframe. It cracked my head open and I would've died if it wasn't for my amazing mom. She heard my father shouting and came downstairs to find the floorboards stained red with my blood. My dad's got another two years of rehab before he's out. By which time, I'll be far away from Cumberland, hell, I'll be far away from Maryland. Hopefully.

As soon as Nick, Jack and I hit the home turf of Nick's mansion, we shifted back. None of us cared that we were naked because we each had a shed equipped with clothes, shoes, everything we needed to adjust to being a human again. We each walked to our respective sheds and changed into our clothes. I thought about how I was going to tell Nick I was going to look for Frances. Then I'd have to get past Jack, our human guard wolf.

I decided not to tell Nick at all, just sneak out, Jack wouldn't tell because I knew he was pro-reebellion. Hopefully, Jack would tell me how to get to his house, that way I could make sure that Fran was alright. I walked out of my shed, only to find myself face-to-face with Jack.

"You heading out somewhere?" He asked casually. I realised I'd been muttering to myself while I was in the shed.

"Yeah. I am." I said, like it was the simplest thing in the world. But Jack wasn't going to let it be simple. Or so I thought.

"Go straight ahead, turn right when you reach the big oak tree, then go straight on until you reach the triangle of birches, turn left and then just keep going until you see three birdfeeds because then you're in our back garden."

"What?" I said, confused by what Jack had just told me.

"You heard me." Jack said. "You're going to see my sister, aren't you? And that means you're going to need directions. So I gave them to you."

Jack's kindness shocked me, but I decided that I could trust him. "Just don't tell Nick. I'll be back soon." I murmured.

Jack grinned and gave me a good luck salute. "Just tell Fran, if you see her, that I miss her too, but I can't come home."

I saluted and grinned in return. "Gotcha." I then walked past him, and headed for the place that he once called home.

As I walked, taking the path that Jack had directed me to, I thought about how he was so similar to his older sister. They both had black hair, complete with floppy fringes that fell over their eyes (or in Fran's case, eye) and green eyes that sparkled in the light. Not only were they alike in terms of appearance, but in personality as well. They were both: strong-willed, competitive, nice when they wanted to be, evil when they wanted to be, the list went on and on.

I reached the oak tree. I turned right.

I came to a triangle of birches. I turned left.

I kept on walking. I saw three bird feeders. I was in their back garden.

Now I had to guess which room was hers.

"Fran!" I called.

Five - Frances

I'd finally found something to do. Was it homework? No. Was it something worthwhile and productive? No.

I was lying on my back, staring at the ceiling, looking at nothing in particular.

"Fran!" A distant voice shouted. I ignored it and kept listening to Green Day.

Whiskey shots and cheap cigarettes!

"Fran!" The voice called again. I ignored it for a second time. Green Day kept blaring their amazing music through my headphones.

"Frances!"

I finally took my headphones out, not bothering to pause my iPod, and tried to figure out who was yelling for me. The more I listened and thought about it, I realised the voice was coming from outside.

I walked to the window and looked out. There, standing in my back garden, was Taylor.

"Frances!" He called, happiness creeping into his voice when he saw my face at the window.

I quickly looked in my mirror and checked my hair, making sure it wasn't too crazy. I returned to the window and opened it.

"Any chance you could let me in? It's cold!" He called cheekily.

I laughed and shut the window.

A moment later, I was at the back door, trying to get the key off the top cupboard. Because my mom didn't believe in hooks, she prefered to put the keys on the top of the cupboard. Naturally, I couldn't reach them.

Eventually, with the help of a chair and the end of a wooden spoon, I reached the keys and put them in the lock. I looked out of the window and saw Taylor, shivering and looking cold (he only had a T-shirt and jeans on) but he was grinning like a maniac.

I finally got the door open and held out my hand. Taylor walked forward and took it. His hands were freezing, so I led him into the warmth of the house.