Cold Cole (Werewolf)

Chapter 2: The Surprise

Friday's were Cole's favorite day of the week. It was the start of the weekend and there was no hockey practice so he could finally relax. However, on this particular Friday he wished the day would be over quickly.

It was his brother's 16th birthday. The one day where all eyes were on his brother and he couldn't be mad about it.

Groaning, he got out of his bed to turn his blaring alarm off. He grabbed his phone and sent his brother a half assed birthday text before entering the bathroom to relieve himself. While there he caught a glimpse of his reflection in the mirror. He looked rough. His eyes were so red and swollen that it was obvious he'd been crying.

Shrugging everything off he jumped into the shower.

"Today will be okay. Don't be jealous. He's your brother and you love him. Don't be upset. " He muttered to himself.

He washed himself and got dressed and headed downstairs to make himself breakfast steering clear of his brother's bedroom door. He always slept a bit longer than Cole anyway so he'd be able to avoid him this morning.

To his surprise, there was a spread of breakfast foods on the island. He grabbed a plate hastily and began to pile pancakes onto his plate before he was stopped by his mom.

"Sweetie those are for Hayden put them back. It's his birthday breakfast!" She said beaming like a ray of sunshine.

"So what am I gonna eat?"

"Well there's toast and cereal for you if you want." She said pulling the plate out of his hands.

" So why the hell does Hayden get a special birthday breakfast when I didn't for my birthday?" He asked angrily while grabbing a bowl to pour his Lucky Charms into.

"Well he needs all the food because he's a star athlete. He needs to be energized to train and play. Plus he's gonna need energy for his surprise party later!" She said kissing his cheek.

Cole paused and turned around fully to face his mother. He was now seething with anger.

"I never got a surprise party. Hell I didn't even get breakfast and I'm an athlete too!"

"Sweetie calm down not everything is about you. I expect you to pick up your brother from his practice later so that he could come home to his surprise." His mother said totally disregarding him.

Cole slammed his bowl down into the sink and stalked out of the kitchen. He grabbed his backpack and stormed out of the house slamming the front door behind him.

'I can't wait to escape this shitty town and my shitty parents and go to a university far away with only hockey to comfort me,' He thought as he drove out of the driveway.

School was a drag and before Cole knew it he was on his way to The Hangout with Nolan.

"So let's play a couple rounds of Street Fighter and eat some greasy pizza and then I gotta go pick up Hayden for his stupid surprise party."  Cole explained.

"Wait Hayden is getting a surprise party? Like your parents actually planned a party for him?" Nolan asked slightly put off.

Nolan had seen first hand on many occasions how Cole's parents had brushed him off without so much as a glance. They practically worshipped the ground Hayden walked on. It hurt to see how his best friend was treated by his own parents. While he wasn't physically neglected or anything, the lack of affection and interest in Cole's life by his mom and dad definitely had a huge effect on Cole.

"Yeah dude. Should have seen breakfast this morning. The entire counter was covered with food. So I said shit we eating good but as soon as I grabbed a plate and Kendra was like 'That's Hayden's food. There's cereal for you.' I was like what the fuck. Dude all I got was a damn wallet for my birthday. Like what the hell and she was like Hayden needs it because he's an athlete. So what am I then? A piece of toast? But that's not even the best part. Guess what they told me last night." Hayden ranted.