Padded Feet And Drumbeats

by InsomniacFlaaffy

Music and the smallest of misunderstandings can bring people together. But what are the repercussions of running away from your fate and learning too much information?

12. Chapter 12

"I really fucked up, 'D," Russel said as he paced back and forth in the kitchen. All his mind could do was repeat what Alanah said to him over and over like a scratched record. "I should have said something to make her feel better."

2D sat the table with a bowl of shredded wheat in front of him. He stuffed a spoonful of soggy, squared wheat bits into his mouth as he watched the larger man walk about. "Maybe you need to wait a bit, Russ," he said through a mouth of cereal. "She'll come around eventually. They always do."

Russel halted in his pacing to raise an eyebrow at the taller man. "What do you mean by 'they'?" His eyes locked on 2D as he had his arms crossed over his chest.

"Well, y'know," 2D said, rolling his wrist and hand in the air. "Women can be everywhere with their emotions. Happy one moment then sad and crying the next. Alanah just needs space and stuff like that. Time to think about what happened and such. She'll realize that you didn't do anything and say sorry."

His words made Russel scowl in disapproval and he snorted. "You need to stop hanging around Murdoc," he warned. "You sound as sleazy as he is. None of this is Alanah's fault, it's my fault." Russel frowned and admitted, "I am afraid of what she is," then lowered his head in shame. "I shouldn't deny that fact any longer…"

"You mean her werewolf side?" 2D asked as he continued eating. "Yeah, she told me about that. She said something about needing a friend that understands her. I don't think I'm the right friend for her though…"

Russel blinked several times, pondering on his thoughts. So Alanah hid herself in 2D's room. Of course she would flee to the only person in this place she formed some sort of connection with. Plus, the mansion was a dangerous place if you were alone and if you weren't a resident. Kong Studios knew who lived within its walls and wasn't afraid to 'get rid' of trespassers. It might try to do something to Alanah if she was by herself for too long, which had Russel worrying.

Pushing those thoughts away, Russel's mind returned to the matter at hand. He wasn't a great friend to her if he couldn't accept a part of her that she was born with. He grimaced and let out a frustrated huff at himself. Why was he so afraid? She didn't make any attempt to hurt anyone and she just wanted to be friends with him. He was used to ghosts and demons, but werewolves? It was unknown territory to him, and the unknown sent a chill down his spine. Maybe he was just ignorant? Maybe he could learn more about Alanah's werewolf half, if she wanted to be near him, that is.

"If you want my honest opinion," 2D said after he ate another spoonful of cold cereal. "I think you guys need to do something together and make up. Like hang out for the day or something like that."

Russel only frowned in response.

2D said, "Aw, don't be like that, Russ. Like I said, she'll come around eventually and everything will be fine."

"You're talking about me, aren't you?" 2D and Russel's heads turned to see Alanah standing in the kitchen's doorway.

"Hey Alanah," 2D greeted with a wave of his free hand. "I never got to ask how you'd sleep last night."

"Um, not great, to be honest," Alanah replied, fiddling with her fingers. "I had a terrible nightmare…"

"Uh, did you hear our conversation? Russel asked, a bit nervous. Talking about her behind her back didn't feel right.

"Only the last part," Alanah said then casted her gaze downwards. "Sorry…"

"No need to apologize," said the taller man. "Werewolves got, like, supersonic hearing and stuff. Not like you can help it."

"I'm a wolf, not a bat, Mister 2D," she corrected and faced Russel. "Though I wouldn't mind handing out with you for the day, Mister Russel. We can talk and do other things. If you want to, that is…"

Russel was surprised. She wanted to spent time with him even after their disagreement? What went on during their time away from each other? He didn't say anything at first as he was trapped away in his thoughts. Perhaps going out and away from the studio would be the best for both of them. Just to get their minds off the thought of looming death and possible war. It was then when he found his voice again.

"Yeah, we should go out and get our minds off things," he vocalized his thoughts out loud. "Meet you in the carpark in a bit?"

A light blush appeared on Alanah's face at his words and she nodded her head quickly. She turned and left the room to change out of her night clothes. Russel glanced down at himself for a moment. He couldn't just stroll outside in his pajamas now, could he? He needed to change too.

"Did I just set you two up on a date?" 2D asked, slightly wide eyed.

"It's not a date," Russel said through pursed lips. If Alanah was there to hear him, she would probably run away in embarrassment.

"Look at me!" 2D beamed proudly. "Stu the Wing-Man! It's got a nice ring to it, don't it?"

All Russel could do was reply with an irritated sigh and he exited the room. As if he needed a wingman to help him hookup with some girls. He knew how to be a man and how to ask a girl out on a date. But this wasn't a date, Russel repeated to himself. It was just two friends spending time with each other who happen to be the opposite genders. Nothing wrong or strange about that.

He made quick work of changing into his day clothes, a black turtleneck and jeans; something warm for the chilly weather and grabbed his beige jacket. Russel zipped up his jacket when the lift's doors open to the carpark and he stepped out. Alanah finished dressing before him and was waiting, passing the time by speaking to Murdoc as the two stood at the Winne's door. She wore faded blue jeans and a familiar green hoodie she seemed attached to. Though he thought it was shredded beyond repair. Yet the jeans were a better choice than those white shorts he saw her wearing previously, Russel thought. He didn't hear much of the conversation when he approached them, but it came to an end when Murdoc handed Alanah something.

Murdoc stared at him for a moment then retreated into his lair when Russel came up to his side. There wasn't a single comment about them hooking up or anything of that sort from him, which Russel was thankful for. Plus, it confirmed that Murdoc was under the influence of Vicki the whole time.

"There you are, Mister Russel," Alanah said, facing him with a smile on her face. In her hands was a jewel case with a solid black backing to it.

Russel took immediate notice to the case and the fact that Alanah actually spoke to Murdoc without appearing uncomfortable as she did before. Curious, he asked, "What's that?"

"Oh yeah," she replied and looked down at the case. "This is the demo disc of all the music I've, the Misbehaving Beauties in extension, made so far. You know, the one that Vicki took behind my back? The one without the rapping, yeah?"

"Yeah," he said, nodding his head a little. He hadn't forgotten that slightly offensive comment Vicki made about rapping.

"Um, we could listen to it while we're out," Alanah suggested. "That's if you want to, that is. I could use the constructive criticism."

"Sure," Russel answered. "I don't mind lending an ear to a budding musician."

Alanah beamed at his reply as she held the jewel case close to her chest. Together, the pair walked side by side to one of the cars that made the carpark its home. Russel dug through his jacket pocket for his keys and unlocked the doors with a press of a button. Both entered the car at the same time and closed their doors behind them. It was quiet between them as they sat in their seats, staring at the carpark's concrete wall ahead. He hadn't started the car yet because they didn't have a destination to go to. Where could they go at this early in the day?

"So," Russel said as he drummed his fingers against the steering wheel. "Where do you want to head to, Alanah? The world is our oyster ready to be cracked open."

"Anywhere is okay," said Alanah. "I'm not picky as to where we end up. Just as long as we get away and enjoy ourselves."

A place came to mind within seconds and he suggested, "How about London? The weather looks like it's gonna hold up today and the drive would be nice. There's plenty to do in London. No chance for us to get bored in a place like that."

"I've never been to London," she said, "I've only heard that it's popular with tourists and the like."

"How long have you been in the country, girl?" Russel asked, a bit puzzled.

Embarrassment turned Alanah's cheeks pink and she started smoothing out her hair at its ends. "W-well, just look at me. I don't really get out that much or scream 'adventurous'. The only times I leave the city is to hunt and sight-seeing isn't on my mind during those moments."

The car's engine roared to life when he stuck the key into the ignition and gave it a turn. "London, it is," Russel decided. He pulled the car out of the carpark and drove down the spiraling road that coiled around the massive hill that the mansion stood upon. When the vehicle passed the iron gates and wheels rode on asphalt instead of dirt, there was no sign of the twins' car waiting for him. Russel could breathe a bit easier at the revelation. Like hell he wanted to deal with those headaches this early in the morning. Alanah's shoulders relaxed as she peered out the window, as if she was searching for the twins herself and coming up with nothing.

Once again, it was quiet between the two adults as neither had made the effort to switch on the radio when they hit the highway. The only sound was the white noise of tire rubber speeding over the road. The soothing noise and gentle bumps of the vehicle could lull anyone into a quick slumber. Alanah was beginning to fall asleep from the car ride as her head started dipping to the side.

Not wanting her to be groggy during their trip, Russel spoke up through the silence. "You still want me to listen to your music?" he asked, keeping his eyes on the road ahead.

Alanah jumped a little at his voice as he must have caught her right before she fell asleep. "Oh, uh, yeah," she said, rubbing her eye and yawning. Her fingers fumbled with the jewel case and she opened it. She took out the CD with 'The Misbehaving Beauties' written in black marker on its surface and pushed it into the car's music player. "These songs aren't complete," Alanah explained while the CD loaded. "But I hope you enjoy them anyway. The first song is called 'Bitez'. I named all the demo songs simple words with simple meanings."

From the speakers, electronic music filled Russel's awaiting ears. The beat of the bass drum caught him, and he found himself tapping his index finger along to the song. Soon, the song intro played which was Laura's singing voice that took over, after a series of shamisen notes.

"Cry for this action. So delightful, show the way. Kill, just to die. Tell me, where's the vampire hiding at? Fight for this action. Really like you, all the way. Kill, walk away. With you, with you, with you; it's you, it's you, it's you, it's you…"

Immediately, on perfect cue, Alanah began rapping at a quick pace. "Keishou, keishou! Best occasion, this will be my masterpiece! It's our nation, less elation. Bet you'll find your destiny! Need to fight you! Leave it for the firefighter! Pumpin' you! We can find it, husslin' you! Tune it up, we'll pop back atchu!" The way she moved her hands and put feeling into every word she spoke; he had never seen this side of Alanah before. She seemed so sure of herself at that moment when she was always shy and reserved. It was like she was a completely different person.

Alanah continued rapping, "Keishou, keishou! Best occasion! He's so patient, that's the key! It's not my show, let's not lie though. Bet you'll find your destiny!"

Laura's voice came in for the pre-chorus, "Kill, forced to die. That's 'cause you're a monster, just come in! Whoa, oh, oh, oh, oh! Whoa, oh, oh, oh!"

"Find your destiny!" rapped Alanah, "Keishou, keishou! Best occasion, this will be my masterpiece. Bet you thought that you adventured far enough to hit your fate. Bet you thought that you could, could, could, could, could cast away!"

The song, though short, came to an end as the music faded out. Alanah hit the pause button before the player went to the next song. She looked over at Russel and said, "Um, how was that?" she twirled her hair around her index finger. "That was the first time I ever let someone listen to me rap. I hope I wasn't too bad…"

"That was…something," Russel commented.

Alanah flinched. "S-something…?" she repeated then held her head down.

Fuck, he thought, that came out completely wrong. He had to save himself and Alanah's feelings quickly. "No, no," he said, "It's a good kind of something. I just didn't expect you to break out into rap. You're just so quiet and stray away from attention that it surprised me, that's all."

Alanah lifted her head and straightened out her back. "Oh," she said with a nod. "Yeah, I understand that. I thought rapping would add some flavor to my music. Something to make it stand out compared to other electronica songs. I know it's somewhat taboo for a woman to be rapping."

"Alanah, listen. It doesn't matter if you're a man or woman when it comes to rapping. As long as you have a message to tell and enjoying yourself then you're good. That's the thing about music, anyone can do it, no matter what background you come from. You did a good job, I'm impressed."

Russel could feel Alanah staring at the side of his head. He felt himself grow warm underneath his jacket and shifted his weight in his seat. Was she expecting him to say something else? Did he not react the way that she wanted? His hands gripped the steering wheel a little tighter and exhaled a steady breath out his nose.

Finally, Alanah spoke up through the silence. "Thank you, Mister Russel," she said, and he felt her gaze travel away from him. "I was a little nervous rapping in front of you, but the song wouldn't be the same without the rapping. It would sound better in Vicki's voice, but you know her opinion about rap. I don't think my voice is really that good for rapping…"

"Don't put yourself down, Alanah," said Russel. "Your voice is fine for rapping. You just need practice."

"There's so much for me to learn and I'm willing to do what it takes to be seen. I'm not a nobody anymore. I can finally be someone and make people happy after a lifetime of disappointing everyone around me," Alanah explained.

"Your own happiness matters more than the happiness of others. You'll set yourself for failure if you think about some strangers' feelings. Just be real to yourself and keep your eyes on what really matters."

"I'll keep that in mind," Alanah responded. "Let's keep listening to the CD, yeah?"

The worn down play button and the music resumed onto the next song. Together, they listened to the entirety of the demo disc during their whole drive to the large city. The songs were all a mixture of pop and electronica with Alanah rapping in places where it was needed. While she didn't play every instrument in her songs, Alanah used computer programs to mimic instruments which was a feat in itself. Russel learned that the only thing Vicki and Laura contributed to the album were their voices and a state-of-the-art studio for Alanah to use. There was no doubt about it that Alanah was talented despite all the shit that she deals and had dealt with. Starting at the bottom and clawing her way to the top with so many worries on her mind; he could respect that. Reminded him of himself actually. He hadn't noticed how much they had in common, besides the werewolf part, that is. That was something pretty important to consider, after all. Though they came from different culture and society, they were so much alike.

Russel paid for parking for the whole day at the meter; he wasn't planning on returning to the studio anytime soon. He drove into the half-lit parking garage and parked in an empty space near the entrance. When he shut off the vehicle, Russel looked over at Alanah, who was waiting patiently for his cue.

"What do you feel like doing first, Alanah?" he asked. The clock read 10:13 AM; quite a few places would be open at this time for them to go.

"Well, what can we do?" she asked her own question. "London is such a big city. There are probably plenty of sights to see…"

As if to give its own suggestion, Alanah's stomach growled loud enough for the both of them to hear. Russel couldn't help but to let out a laugh and Alanah's cheeks went rosy.

"I guess we can start with breakfast," he said. "I know of a great place I think you'll like."

They left the car and walked at each other side towards the exit. Russel watched Alanah out of the corner of his eye quietly. Her sight wandered all over the place with great interest around the garage. It was almost like she never seen or been in a place like a parking garage before.

"So, you have to pay to park your vehicle in this place?" Alanah asked. "You don't have to pay to park on the street back in Essex though."

"Well, London is a major city and a condense area," Russel explained as they turned off onto a sidewalk. He fitted his sunglasses over his eyes and continued talking, "It has tons of businesses, so the city uses things like parking meters to bring money back into the local economy. You don't get out much, do you?"

She shook her head. "Not really. I either stay inside or keep to rural areas when hunting. I never stray too close to the larger cities and places like that."

"Then we need to take you out into the real world more often," Russel declared. "There's a lot to see out here. Staying inside can get boring after a while."

"When the twins stop harassing me, then I'll be okay with visit placing more. I enjoy sightseeing," Alanah added.

Alanah shielded her eyes slightly as they left the shade of the tall parking garage and the rising sun shined its bright rays in her face. She adjusted the red beanie on her head to block out some of the light without sacrificing her sight. When they reached the sidewalk on the main street, Russel took the outer side closest to the road out of both force of habit and to be polite. He was a gentleman, after all. Being mid-morning, London was a little busy with people heading to work and local businesses opening for the first rush of customers. Russel felt Alanah grip his arm of his jacket as they passed into a somewhat crowded part of the sidewalk. He didn't shrug her off at the gesture. She was, most likely, nervous with all the people around and didn't want to lose him. Thoughts of a younger Noodle clinging to his side when he brought her to the city for the first time also came to mind as they continued their travels. Those memories made him smile a little as his body went on autopilot, pushing against the moving crowd. The two broke away from the sidewalk to cross the busy street at an intersection, heading towards a park nearby. He didn't hear anyone calling his name through his own thoughts until he felt several quick tugs on his sleeve. Focusing back on the world around him, Russel stopped in his tracks and turned to face Alanah.

"Mister Russel," she said, moving herself closer to him. "There's a man following us. I think he's trying to get your attention…"

He peered over her and saw a black man, a tone darker than he was, speed-walking in their direction. Russel cursed to himself quietly and frowned slightly. At times, he wished he wasn't famous so he could just blend into the background like he used to. But that was wishful thinking. The man, dressed in all black, approached them with a bright grin on his face. Alanah hid behind him when the stranger came near.

When the man came close, Russel opened his mouth to ask what the guy needed, but he started talking a mile a minute.

"Oh my God!" he exclaimed excitedly. "You're Russel from Gorillaz, aren't you? Of course you are! It's great to finally meet you in person, brother! I'm your biggest fan, man!"

Russel relaxed a little but still was a bit on guard. He was thankful it was just a fan and not some media outlet wanting another interview from him. He wasn't an asshole so he might as well humor the guy while he was here. Hopefully, Alanah didn't mind him stopping for a bit to chat with him. He seemed friendly and harmless enough.

The black Brit went on with his almost one-sided conversation, unable to contain himself in front of him. Russel could only nod his head at the words, acknowledging the fan with some interest. They discussed mostly music and upcoming tour dates, but his stomach growled loudly, wanting food instead of boring small talk. He had to listen to his stomach before he developed a headache out of hunger.

"Well, it was nice to get the chance to meet you," the man said, not wanting to hold him up any longer, and gave Russel's hand a firm shake. His dark eyes drifted from the larger man, caught a glimpse of Alanah behind him, and his demeanor changed like with a flip of a switch. He released Russel's hand. His lips twisted into a tight scowl and his eyes remained on the woman as they narrowed.

Alanah took immediate notice to the man's staring and she raised a hand in a wave. "Hello…" she greeted politely.

The man ignored her greeting and turned his attention back to Russel. "Brother," he said. His voice had lost all its friendliness it held before. "Why are you hooking up with this Wonder Bread looking-ass woman? Come on, man. You can surely do better than a blue-eyed devil."

"Excuse me?" Russel said, eyes widened behind his sunglasses. Did this random man just say what he thought he did?

"Um," Alanah responded, "My eyes are brown though. Not blue…"

The man was quick to return his attention back on Alanah and his mouth upturned into a fierce snarl. "Oh, shut up, you Yankee hick!" he snapped and pointed a finger at her. "All you colonizers are just the same. Taking good black men from poor black women. Got yourself a case of negrophilia, huh? Want some exotic mixed babies to show off to your other cracker friends? Why don't you take your flat ass back to your own country? Or better yet," the man grinned at her wickedly. "You could make the world a better place and just go away forever. Not like you'll be missed."

"B-but," Alanah tried to defend herself through a shaky voice, almost on the verge of tears. "I-I'm Welsh I was born in Wales…"

He then said with sarcasm heavy in his voice, "Okay, will sheep fucker be better for you, master?"

Russel had enough of this man; he should have stepped in earlier, but he was taken aback from shock. He grabbed the man by the front of his shirt and pulled him in close. He could see the visible fear in the man's trembling eyes as he made the shirt wrinkle in his tight grip. "Shut the fuck up, you motherfucker," Russel growled through his teeth. "You don't get to talk shit about my friend."

"Brother, brother," the man chuckled nervously and smiled awkwardly. "I'm just looking out for you! We have to have each other's back in this day and age. We have a common enemy! You know how white women can be with people like us. They hop from dick to dick like rabbits. She probably with you because you're rich and famous. She'll just use your money, drain you dry, and search for the next black dick in line. Just open your eyes to the truth, man. That girl is just another person here to oppress you and I."

"That's not true!" Alanah blurted out loud before breaking down in sobs.

The man smirked slightly at her crying, as if he was getting enjoyment from it, and Russel shoved him to the ground. He towered over the downed man with rage coursing through his blood. While he called Muds a cracker from time to time for being an actual asshole, Alanah did nothing wrong to warrant anyone being rude to her. Yes, he understood fighting their oppressors for equality but hating innocent people because of their skin color was wrong. Especially if that person was his friend. How dare this random nobody call Alanah a racist and make her cry.

"My man –" the man started to say.

Russel was fast to interrupt him, not wanting to hear another word from this disgusting man. "Didn't I say shut the fuck up? I am not your man and I'm not your brother, not when you have such a nasty personality. Can't believe I even shook your hand."

"You're going to treat a fan like this?" he asked. "When we share the same struggles too?"

"I don't want you as a fan or listening to my music if you're going to be a damn racist. Now get the hell out of my face."

"Oh, come on, Russel. Everyone knows you can't be racist to trailer park trash," the man replied with a scoff. "Thought you were cool, man, but it looks like all that fame blinded you the real problems in the world. You pretty much sided with them!"

Oh, how he wanted to make this guy eat his words. To make him pay for making Alanah cry but if he retaliated with his fists, then he would make things worse. Russel grabbed Alanah's hand and stomped away in the opposite direction with her in tow. He needed to calm down and get her away from this awful asshole. The guy was shouting at his back, hurling more white racial slurs at Alanah the further they went. He had to glance over his shoulder several times to make sure the creep wasn't following after them. The crowd had grown thicker behind him as the morning rush set in full swing, swallowing the man and his harsh words. A familiar sight of a breakfast café that he planned on them visiting got his attention as they rounded the street corner. They ducked into the café's open entrance as he pushed the door inwards with his free hand. A tiny bell overhead chimed softly and the scent of freshly made breakfast foods overwhelmed his senses. Ignoring the mouth watering smells, Russel brought Alanah inside the building and turned to face her. Her feelings mattered so much more than his stomach at that moment.

Alanah had her head down low, hiding her face in her bend of her free arm and crying loudly. Her entire body shook with each gasping breath she took. Russel rested his hands on her shoulders. Her shakes vibrated through his arms. She dropped her arm and raised her head slowly. The whites of her eyes were pinkish from crying and tears continued to roll down her cheeks. Her face was blotchy and wet with snot running down her upper lip. As she stared up at him Alanah began to cry-talk unintelligible words at him. Russel soon realized that her words weren't even English, but Welsh rambling strung together through her crying. His stomach twisted in knots and he pulled her in close to his chest into a hug. Their day had barely begun, and it was completely ruined by some racist that didn't matter. He should have done so many things to that guy. Should have beat that guy within an inch of his poor excuse of a life. But he knew in the end that wouldn't solve anything. Fuck this, Russel thought, he was going to salvage this day even if it killed him. They deserved to have a nice day together with all the nonsense going on in their lives.

"Good morning and welcome to our café!" A woman's voice greeted them from behind, and Russel turned to the voice's owner. The young adult waitress holding several menus in her arms must have felt the tension radiating from him because her smile transformed into a confused frown. "Is there something wrong, sir?" she asked with concern.

Russel removed his sunglasses and shoved them in his pocket. "Some asshole made her cry before we got here," he explained vaguely. "Can we get a table, please?"

"Oh, yes. Right this way." the red-haired waitress said and waved her hand towards the right of the building then led them in that direction.

Russel, grapping an arm over her shoulders, guided Alanah to follow behind the waitress. The woman showed them to an empty booth that bordered the café's wide windows and faced the streets. He sat Alanah down and then seated himself across the narrow table, squeezing his large body into the small space. The waitress snagged a stack of napkins from off another table and set them next to Alanah before she placed two menus between them.

"I'll give you two some time to decide what you want to order," the waitress then she walked away from the table.

Alanah reached over to the neat stack of napkins and took one from the top. She kept her head down while she wiped her face clean. Her small body trembled as she sniffled and breathed hard through her nose.

"Alanah," Russel called her name. He had to make her feel better somehow. This day had just started and he had to make it right to the very end of it.

"I swear I'm not using you for personal gain, Mister Russel…" she said as she wiped the corners of her eyes. She lifted her head up and make eye contact with him. Her eyes held sadness and her lips quivered as she frowned. "I-I just wanted a friend. Maybe I should have found a friend elsewhere…"

"Don't you even dare listen to an asshole like that guy," he said forcefully. His eyebrows furrowed under the brim of his cap and he bared his teeth. "I know good and well that you're not using me for whatever shit that jackass assumes you do because of your skin color. He's nothing but a nasty, horrible excuse of a human being and his words mean nothing. If it matters, he is dead to me and I should have beat his ass into the concrete for saying that shit about you."

She was quiet as she just stared at him.

He continued his rambling, "You're a good woman, Alanah. I like you. You're different from others and that not because of…who you really are. You're sweet, kind, quiet, and any person is a complete fool to not want you as a friend. Hell, I like hanging out with you and I've been with plenty of celebrities in my life. You're different from all of them. You're genuine and normal," He looked around a bit and saw that the café was somewhat empty with no one near them. "Well, as normal as a werewolf gets." His sight wandered to the people walking outside the café, "I'm…I'm not sure how to express that I enjoy having you around," then he looked back at Alanah. "I really wouldn't do this with anyone else. Except for Noodle. We have a ritual while on tour where we get breakfast at each city we stop at. But this is a little more special than that, I think."

Alanah didn't reply but she sniffled as a deep pink blush covered her cheeks. Russel felt himself get warm again at the nonsense that came from his own words and soon found the menu more interesting to look at.

"Are you ready to order?" the same waitress approached their table with a writing pad and pen in hand.

"What do you want to order, Alanah?" he asked.

"B-but I don't have any money on me…" she mumbled.

"Just order whatever you want," Russel offered with a smile. "It's my treat. I'll pay."

"Oh!" she said then picked up a menu, skimming over her choices. "Well then. Thank you, Mister Russel." Alanah started naming off the food she wanted to the waitress while she wrote them down.

The waitress raised a quizzical brow. "Ma'am, you know you just ordered three meals for yourself, correct?"

Alanah nodded her head. "I know. I-is that okay?" she asked.

The woman was quick to answer. "Um, sure? If you can eat all that food on your own. But I'm not here to judge you, of course. You're a paying customer, after all."

She hid the bottom of her face behind the menu and looked away from the waitress. "Th-thank you…"

Russel relayed his almost equally large order to the awaiting waitress, who scribbled it down with haste.

When she was done, the waitress nodded with a small smile on her face. "Alright," she said. "I might take few trips, but I'll be back with your meals." She turned around and left the two, heading towards the kitchen.

"For someone as small as you, you don't hold back when it comes to food orders," Russel commented. "Woman after my heart, I guess."

Alanah placed her menu off to the side and rested her hands on the table. "Well," she began to explain then she looked around before continuing, "My kind burn quite a bit of calories just with everyday activities and transformations. So, we eat a lot to counter the rapid loss."

"So, like a hyperactive metabolism, right?"

"Uh huh. We're, what you call, health nuts and exercise to keep our bodies in top shape. I'm small but I'm strong for my size." Alanah then confessed, "I could pick you up and haul you over my shoulder if I wanted to. Actually, you would be great for squats, Mister Russel."

Russel laughed a little, scratching at his face. "Well, I hope we don't get in a situation where you do have to carry me. But if it comes to that, at least I can rely on you to take me some place safe."

Alanah smiled slightly and Russel smiled back at her. It was good to see her in better spirits than she was minutes ago. As if she needed to keep thinking about an awful person like that man. If only he could get rid of the twins without a battle of life or death in the future. Sadly, people like them just didn't disappear and were hard to get rid of. Especially when those people were hard to kill werewolves. The dark thought started to creep up at the edges of his mind which he was quick to quash it immediately.

"I want to learn more about you and your kind," said Russel, "I thought about what you told me about people are scared of things they don't understand. And you're right, I think if I understand you if we just talk about your kind in a way that's comfortable for you."

Alanah's eyes widened a little. "Really? No one has actually wanted to know more about me. I keep to myself all the time or others find Vicki and Laura more interesting than me, which I'm fine with. Not like I really…put myself out there like they do."

"What do you mean by that?" Russel knew some of what she was implying but he wanted to know her answer.

"Well, you know," she replied as she waved her hand in the air. "Just look at them compared to me. They are the perfect image of a woman that garners attention. Large breasts, wearing makeup, and dressing rather feminine. I'm the exact opposite of them. I have a flat chest, make makes my face itch, and prefer more gender non-conforming clothes to wear." Alanah turned her head to the side and mumbled, "Not that it makes me better than them or anything like that…"

"Don't put yourself down, Alanah," Russel reassured. "You have other qualities that people see instead of that superficial stuff. Not everyone is attracted to just looks. Sometimes, a personality really sells it to a person whose actually in love."

Alanah then asked, "Have you ever been in love, Mister Russel? Not like a crush but real love?"

While the question didn't catch him off guard that time, Russel wasn't expecting to talk about love as they waited for their meals. But Alanah was waiting for his response and it was rude to keep her waiting. He let out a heavy sigh fall from his lips as the memory of lost love crawled up from the depths of his mind. "Yeah," Russel answered. "I've been in love before. But only once though…"

Alanah tilted her head to the side and asked, "Once?"

"No one can really replace your soulmate when they leave, the pain is still there, festering and trying to heal, even though years have passed." He didn't mention any names and kept his response vague. There was no reason to get into the messy details.

Alanah's head droop a little. "Oh, I see…" she said, seemingly dejected at his answer. She avoided eye contact with him once more to look out the window again.

Russel was a bit confused. Was that not the right answer to give her? Not like he was lying to her with what he said. Should he have worded it differently? Maybe he should of – Oh; the realization hit him upside the head like he was a brain-dead moron. Why didn't he figure this out earlier in their relationship with all the obvious signs in his face? "Alanah, do you have feelings for me?" he questioned. "I mean, it's fine if you do. Plenty of people do and have. You could have told me, earlier, you know. I wouldn't have treated you differently if you did."

"I-I don't want to ruin our friendship…" she confessed under her breath. "Or appear as if I'm just using you because you're famous. Or trying to, excuse my language, fuck my way into the music industry, like some would say. People will assume things, like that nasty man from before. They always do. And I'm such an easy target."

"You say you want to protect me, but it seems like you need the protection in the end," he said, looking over at her. "I want to acknowledge your feelings, but I don't want you to end up hurt. I would never forgive myself if that happened."

"I'm sorry," Alanah apologized. "I just want to keep you safe. I have to protect you. You're…you're the only thing I have that I care so much about now." She reached over the table and grabbed a few napkins from the stack. Tears were forming again though she wiped them away quickly before they fell. "I'm just scared that the worst will happen to you. I-I had a nightmare about you last night and I can't get the horrid thought out of my head."

"Alanah, I –"

"I'm sorry for the long wait!" the waitress unknowingly interrupted their conversation as she returned to the table. She unfolded a smaller table to rest a large platter full of food on it. As she handed out their meals, she spoke up, "Oh, I'm so sorry! There was so much going on that I forgot to get your drink orders!"

"I'll take a black coffee," Russel ordered.

"I guess I think I'll just have water to drink," said Alanah.

"Alrighty," the waitress cheerfully said when she finished handing them their meals. "I'll be right back with your drinks." She folded up the table, fitted the platter under her arm, and hurried off back to the kitchen.

Russel had two plates of breakfast food in front of him: a large stack of fluffy pancakes with bacon, sausage, and fried eggs along with a spicy omelet to bring the entire meal together. Alanah had the exact same meal as he did, but in a larger quantity and a plate of crepes with it. He watched as she attacked her food with no mercy using her fork and knife. Never had he seen her eat like that before and it was surely a show. Her eyes held a golden glint in them as she tore into her pancakes like a starved animal. Russel could only look in awe while he enjoyed his own food. It was a complete 180 turnaround from her usual reserved personality. The only time she returned to normal was when the waitress came back with their drinks.

"Thank you," Alanah said through a mouth full of food and took the glass out of her hand. She chugged down half of the cup's content in seconds before continuing with her meal.

Alanah was done with her food way before Russel was so she waited patiently for him to be done. It didn't take too long for him to finish his meal and coffee. Russel paid for their meals, left a reasonable sized tip for the helpful waitress, and scooted out of the booth. Alanah followed by his side out from her seat as they left the café in unison. The door's bell rung over the growing noise of the hustle and bustle of the outside world. The sidewalk had gathered even more people during their time inside, going about their lives as they traveled in either directions.

Alanah wrapped her arms around Russel's left bicep when they followed the flow of the on-foot traffic. "That was a good breakfast," she said, and she smiled up at him. "Thank you, Mister Russel."

Russel fitted his sunglasses back over his eyes. "Don't mention it," he replied. "Couldn't let you go hungry while we're out on the town."

"What else is there for us to do in London?" she asked. "I'm kind of walking blind in a big place like this."

After a moment of thinking, Russel suggested, "How about we take a ride on the London Eye?"

"The London Eye?"

He nodded his head and explained, "Yeah. It's a massive Ferris wheel that's a pretty popular attraction."

Alanah's eyes lit up with wonder and she whispered, "Ferris wheel…"

The famous Ferris wheel wasn't too far from their location as Russel recognized the streets easily. Though the attraction was blocked off from sight by the surrounding buildings, he knew which way to go for the shortest walk. He knew the local area like the back of his hand. Alanah had no better guide to the city and surrounding places than him, other than a paid tour guide. They continued down the sidewalk with the usual noises of urban life framing the background of their world. Out the corner of his eye, Russel observed Alanah in silence, watching her try to see everything around her all at once. He let out an amused snort through his nose then focused his sight ahead of him. Having her weight on his arm and just watching her from time to time was an interesting experience. He hadn't felt this way in a long time. That was when he was with Del, holding onto his arm all the way back then. Now, he was doing the same thing with Alanah, thought she was none the wiser of his thoughts.

His mind recalled her words she said in the café; how she didn't want to ruin their friendship with her feelings towards him. Russel's own feelings were mixed and confusing in general. Not that he didn't like Alanah. He cared about her immensely and he could not ignore his growing feelings for her any longer. He was a fool for denying his emotion and even the words of others. But he still had feelings for Del that lingered all these years. He was a special kind of person but, then again, so was Alanah. They both meant so much to him. It felt like had to choose between past love long dead or move on into the future and start anew.

Russel sighed, loud and hard, from his mouth. This was a difficult predicament he found himself in now. What was he going to do?

"Mister Russel? Is there something bothering you?" Alanah stopped looking around to stare up at him with her brows furrowed in concern.

Immediately, Russel shook his head in response. "It's nothing, really," he lied. "Just the usual thinking, that's all."

She frowned. "Are you sure?" she asked with worry heavy in her voice.

"I'm sure. It's nothing to worry about right now. We're here to enjoy ourselves and have fun. Not to worry about dumb stuff."

Alanah raised a brow unobscured by her sideswept bangs and she narrowed her eyes. She was quiet for a moment before nodding her head, accepting his reply. "Okay then," she said. "Forgive me for worrying so much."

The London Eye came to view as the buildings around it parted into a massive opening. The Ferris wheel towered over all other structures around it as it stood firm on the bank of a wide river. Alanah's eyes grew wide with fascination when her sight rested on the Ferris wheel. Her neck craned upwards the closer they got, taking in the attraction's full height. She had never seen anything that tall in her life, Russel thought. While there were people walking about in the general area, there wasn't a long line waiting for the ride which was a relief. They weren't standing around in line for too long when they reached the ride operator behind the ride's controls inside of a carnival-esque booth. He took his wallet out his pocket and paid the man extra for a private pod for just Alanah and himself. They could talk as much as they wanted without nosey people listening in on their conversation.

Russel felt Alanah's grip on his arm tighten as they climbed the stairs to an awaiting empty pod. They entered the pod and Russel took a seat close to the door, which brought Alanah down to sit next to him. A second ride operator pulled the pod's door closed with a thick thud and locked it tight. The pod was made of steel and long, sturdy glass all around for a 360-degree view of the surrounding area for miles. Alanah seemed to be on high alert in the closed off space, kneading his jacket in her fingers and eyes darting about wildly. She let out a surprised squeak when the pod shook a little and the ride began to move slowly before stopping again to let other patrons into another empty pod below them. When the ride began to ascend again, Alanah relaxed herself and released Russel's arm from her death grip. Fear was replaced with wonderment the higher the Ferris wheel climbed.

"The view is beautiful from here," Alanah commented. "You can see everything. I wonder what you could see at the top."

"Now that we're alone, we can finally talk," Russel said then he turned his body towards her, folding his left leg on the seat. "Can you tell me about you and your kind, Alanah? I don't want to be in the dark and guessing the answer anymore."

His words made Alanah sigh and she said, "I guess you have the right to know more about me and lycanthropy in general." She turned to face him and crossed her legs together on the seat. A deep inhale puffed out her chest then she exhaled, unclenching her jaw and relaxing her shoulders. "When I told you that I lived within a cult in the middle of a forest, I wasn't completely lying to you," she admitted.

Russel had his whole undivided attention on the woman. He wanted to know everything about her and wanted her to spare no detail.

"The Pack, my mother's Pack, does live in a forest located in Wales," Alanah spoke and she looked out the window at the calm river below them. "My mother and father were the leaders of the Pack with me as their heir. I was to be married off to the strongest and most capable man in the Pack when I came of age and was to lead when my parents retired."

"That would make you werewolf royalty. Well, thank you for gracing me with your presence, princess," Russel joked.

Alanah smiled a little and laughed. "You could say that. But I told you already what my mother and the rest of the Pack thought of me ruling in the future. My father was rather neutral about the entire situation. That was the kind of man he was; level-headed and always looking at both sides of the problem. But he knew how my mother and the other members would abuse me and how unhappy I was there. He was actually the one who suggested I should leave."

"Your father must have really loved you," he said, recalling his own fond memories of his father.

Her eyes met his own and she nodded as she said, "He surely did," then she frowned. "That's why my mother had to get rid of him. If he was gone, there wouldn't be anyone to put tales of human society in my head. I would succumb to despair and listen to every word and order she said and made. But I wouldn't be here if I did listen to her, now would I?" A smirk tugged at the corner of her mouth.

"If it's okay, may I ask how he died?" He felt a small connection with Alanah. Both of them were missing important people in their lives. He hoped that he wasn't overstepping some kind of boundary with that question.

The smirk disappeared. "With a silver dagger coated in wolfsbane. Silver and wolfsbane both are deadly to a lycanthrope. My mother wanted to make sure he was dead for good with no chance of him healing. Stabbed him so many times all over his body," Alanah said, deadpanned, and she shivered. "I-I can still smell his blood sometimes…"

Russel frowned, reached out, and held her hand in his own. "I understand how you feel. How the smallest thing can trigger those horrible memories." He swallowed hard and confessed, "Sometimes, I can still hear gunshots and screams when I'm alone with my thoughts. They haunt my dreams too."

"I do see my father in my dreams sometimes," she added. "We never have enough time to talk for long, but I know he's watching over me, even in death. He knows about you, Mister Russel. You have piqued his interest, strangely enough."

"Glad that I made a lasting impression with him then," he said, "But let's move on to a different subject. Are there more of your kind in the country? You guys don't look any different from humans at first glance. Wouldn't you all fight over territory?"

Right when he asked his question, their pod came to halt at the Ferris wheel's peak. Both looked down at the world that spread out before them. Streets and alleys crisscrossed everywhere with the tannish buildings decorating the area with dark shingled roofs. A suspension bridge painted white built over the river let vehicles cross safely and sailboats of various sizes rode over the dark waters below.

"Yes, rivaling Packs did fight over territory in the distant past," Alanah answered. "But it isn't like that anymore…"

Russel remained quiet yet intrigued.

"We're a dying race, Mister Russel," she said, her voice dripping in sorrow. "Werewolves and humans used to coexist in the same world. From old tales, we would help each other through hunting and trading. Something changed in that simple world and rumors spread like a wildfire. Rumors about how my kind were cursed and unholy. Then the humans started slaughtering my ancestors, killing, burning at stakes, and driving them out of their homes. More and more Packs began to disappear until only a few remained including ancient members of my mother's Pack. Our numbers continued to decline as human society pushed us from our ancestral homes and into hiding until my mother's Pack was the only one with strong enough members to survive the drastic changes. We are the last known werewolf pack in both Wales and England."

"That's pretty harsh," Russel stated, turning his head back to face Alanah. He never thought she would be apart of a race of creatures that were going extinct. All the depictions of werewolves in Hollywood movies made them out to be blood thirsty monsters that needed to be killed, like most monsters that roamed at night. "But what's your mother's deal then? If humans and werewolves lived in harmony once in the past, that is."

Alanah replied, "My mother is bitter and blinded by rage by the treatment of my ancestors. This caused her to hate humans with a passion and the rest of the Pack will follow her rule to their dying breath. They all want revenge, which means killing or turning humans to expand the Pack's numbers and reclaim territory." She turned her attention back to him and flipped his hand over with his palm facing up. Her finger traced the lines in his skin and she spoke again, "My father taught me that humans are precious; they need to be protected and I want to uphold his word. Plus, I could never hurt a human or infect them with lycanthropy."

The Ferris wheel started to move again, slowly making its full rotation.

Now, Russel was a little curious. He asked, "How does a human become a werewolf? Don't you bite them or something like that?"

His question made Alanah laugh and brought a smile back to her face. "Nah, it's nothing like that. That's all a myth made up by uninformed humans," she said. "Lycanthropy is a blood affliction, so a human has to either drink a werewolf's blood or have a werewolf pour their blood on an open wound." She drew a line with a finger across his thick wrist. "But there are items, like amulets and rings, that were blessed by Arianrhod, the Welsh Moon Goddess, and passed down through Packs for centuries. When werewolves and humans lived among each other, trusted humans were given these blessed accessories to give them the power to take the form of a wolf. While most are long lost to time, my father managed to keep an old blessed amulet safe. He then passed it down to me before he died, so my mother wouldn't use it for nefarious means or destroy it. I have it hidden in a place she would never find it."

All this new information was a little difficult to wrap his head around. At least he understood Alanah much better than he did before. "Had turning me into a werewolf ever cross your mind?" Russel asked, curious. He wanted to ask her that question ever since he found out about who she really was.

Russel felt Alanah squeeze his hand and her eyes grew wide. "No, never!" she exclaimed. "I could never do that to you ever!" Alanah then calmed down and explained, "I-I don't want you to end up like Mariah and Murphy. Nothing but violent monsters looking for their next victim or meal. I could never curse you with a life you never wanted. You already have so much to deal with."

"It's okay," he consoled her. "It was only a question. From movies and books, those transformations look too painful to bear with constantly."

Alanah shrugged her shoulders. "It depends on the person actually and which form they want to take." She told, "Whether it be more human-like or wolf-like, it can be uncomfortable for some and pleasurable to others. The shifting of bone, the growth of fur and muscle, the popping of joints; it is certainly is an experience to go through for the first time. Newly turned werewolves have their first transformation under the full moon. I could change freely as long as I could remember. Most likely because I was born this way and didn't have my blood rewritten."

It went quiet in the pod again for a moment. The sound of the wind blowing against the pod and the ride creaking was the only noise that could be heard between them Their hands remained together. Neither made the effort to let go. The warmth of the other comforted their anxieties that lied under the thinly veiled surface.

Before the ride came to an end, Russel said, "Hey, Alanah,"

"Hm?" she responded.

"I just wanted to t say thank you. For sharing all this stuff about your kind. You didn't have to, but you trusted me enough to let me know more about you. I know I wouldn't be so trusting if I was in your situation."

Alanah blinked a few times then smiled softly. "It's because you're my friend. I would do anything for you. I would give you the Sun, Moon, and stars if I could. I would even put my own life on the line if that means protecting you." Her fingers interlocked with his and she conceded, "I like you a lot, Mister Russel. Everyone was right all along, I guess…"

Hearing it coming out of her own mouth hit differently than him assuming what was on her mind. It was flattering, strangely. He had to wonder how long it took her to gather the courage to say that. But what she said had him speechless once more. She was sweet, cute, and kind. He liked her shy smile and enjoyed their conversations. And he hadn't let go of that small hand of hers most of their time in the pod. In the beginning, he was sure he wasn't ready to move on during that rainstorm several days ago. But now? He was unsure of his feelings and doubting his previous thoughts. "I…" He drew blanks on what to say to her next, as if his mind short-circuited. He was Russel Hobbs. He knew how to talk to people, had tons of interviews under his belt, spoke with famous artists from all around the world. Though in the presence of a girl that he could be possibly falling in love with, he was at a loss of words.

Right then, the Ferris wheel's pod shook as it came to a stop back at the ride's start. There was a loud clunk of the lock and the ride operator pulled open the door. He looked at the two puzzled, as if he somewhat knew he was interrupting something. Russel had to thank whatever higher power was out there for stopping their conversation at that moment. He wasn't confident that his mouth would say the right words. Saying that he liked her, which was transforming into something more, grew harder to say out loud. His emotions were complicated. It was like he was trying to prove to himself that he still loved Del. All he was doing was pushing Alanah away when she needed someone to support her. He still had time to mull over his feelings for the time being.

They continued to hold each other's hands as they stepped out of the pod and down the metal platform. Suppressing thoughts of love, Russel pondered on other activities they could do with their time. There were plenty of areas within London to visit while out and about. Why not take her around to his old neck of the woods? He hadn't been to the Soho area since Gorillaz got big and there was a chance he would run into an old friend too.

"We should head over to Soho next," Russel suggested while they walked from the London Eye and back towards the main street. "Plenty to do there. Never a dull moment during the day or night."

"You used to live there with your uncle, correct?" Alanah asked.

"Yeah," he answered. He remembered that Vicki did say that she was a big fan of him before they met. It wouldn't surprise him that she listened to and read all their interviews. "I haven't seen him or kept in touch with him, ever since Murdoc came along and kidnapped me."

"I understand how you feel," Alanah said. "I haven't spoken to my mother in years either."

Russel's thoughts went back to his own parents. Since he moved across the ocean all those years ago, his mother and father were distant, to say the least. They sent letters and money for support, but after an entire year, it just all stopped suddenly. No warning, no goodbyes, no nothing. All that he was left with were questions and a broken heart. He had a feeling that the death of Del and the crew was a catalyst for his parents to get rid of him and live a normal life. But, then again, he could just be thinking of the worst outcome of the situation. He shook his head a little as he frowned. There was something lingering in the back of his mind that still believed his parents loved and cared about him. That was another thing he and Alanah shared; they both left their homes for a whole new, frightening world. At least he could say that the both of them were doing alright for what it's worth.

When they reached the Soho area after a short bus ride, memories came flooding back to Russel. He wore a wide grin on his face as he started rambling on about every place they walked pass, every street corner that he called home. Even though he came here immediately after he graduated high school and only spent a few years there before coming to Essex, Russel felt at home. Well, home away from home, of course.

Alanah quietly digested every word he said with great interest the further they travelled into the urban area. She acknowledged his fond memories and asked plenty of her own questions with each location they went by. She expressed how Hip-Hop and Rap influenced her music and her growing tastes in human society greatly in their conversation. Her eyes shined and sparkled as a more confident Alanah began to reveal herself to him in a public place such as this. She started to match his enthusiasm over the new place around her, becoming more outspoken and pushing away her reserved shell. She didn't immediately shrink away when a fan came up to them, excitedly, for Russel's autograph even.

Thankfully, to both Alanah and Russel's relief, this fan was much nicer than the last one. She was about Alanah's age with a punk motif that she wore outwardly in metal spikes on her clothes and lightning blue, shoulder length hair. While Russel signed the woman's denim jacket sleeve with a black marker she provided, she and Alanah sparked up a conversation.

"You're a new face around these parts." The woman commented. "How are you enjoying yourself out here?"

Alanah replied, "It's such a culture shock compared to my home back in Wales. I would not mind living in a place like this so I could learn more to further my music career."

The woman raised a proud fist at Alanah and smiled wide. While Alanah didn't understand the gesture, she returned with a smile of her own. "Right on, mate. Soho is the place to follow your dreams, especially when it comes to music. Wouldn't be surprised if I see that cute face of yours on a poster in a shop in a few years." She winked at Alanah, which had her slightly red in the face and she directed her gaze to the side.

"There, all done," Russel said and handed the woman her marker back.

"Tops! Thanks, mate." She said, gave him a thumbs up, and stuffed the marker in her jacket pocket. "Hope you two have a good date!" The punk woman flashed them another bright grin then turned to walk away.

"D-Date?" Alanah stammered.

"A date? Wait, no. We're just –" Russel began to say but his words fell on deaf ears as the woman was out of earshot now. His mouth hung open as words got stuck in his throat again. A sigh only came out and he pinched the bridge of his nose. If one fan thought they were out on a date, everyone would think that they were together. And if tabloids and magazines saw them like this then… "Fuck…" he swore to himself. He should have realized that hanging around Alanah would, in the end, lead to people assuming things. And with assumptions, came rumors. He could see it now: Gorillaz Drummer Seen in Soho with Mystery Girl! Is She His New Fling? All these outer factors going against him, rushing him to a decision that he wasn't ready to make. Or he didn't want to admit it. Not yet. Just…just…Russel squeezed his eyes shut and hung his head down low. The brim of his cap hid all his emotions under a dark shadow. He felt himself spiraling out of control. Their time together only revealed to him how lonely he was after all these years. How he missed the warmth of holding someone's hand and enjoying a day with someone close.

"Mister Russel?"

Russel lifted his head slightly, peering over the rim of his sunglasses at the sound of her soft voice. Alanah was in his personal space now, in front of him. Her hand raised slowly for the curve of his face, but she hesitated and rested her hand back to her side. She cocked her head to the side a little and said, "Let's just enjoy the rest of our day, yeah? I don't care what those people assume anymore. Let people assume all they want. We know the truth. Right now, the only people that matter are me and you. Not that nasty man or that punk lady. Just Alanah and Russel together."

He raised his head back to its original position and could only nod a reply. It was strange hearing something like that coming from Alanah. But she was right; this was their day of fun. Why let the thoughts of others bother them and put another damper on their time? He felt a sudden rush of renewed energy, grabbed Alanah's hand, and went forward as he led the woman further into Soho's figurative maul. There were many placed he could show her and so little time in the day.

Many shops were visited on their adventure; coffee cafés, bakeries, plenty of music shops; no stone was left unturned nor their stomachs left empty on their trip. Russel was surprised that Alanah's stomach was almost as bottomless as his own with all the food she was eating. Though both made sure either didn't overeat and get sick in the process. Many of his old friends crossed their path, memories were shared, and laughs filled the crisp autumn air. It was mid-afternoon during their outing, grey clouds blanketed the sky and there was a sudden drop in temperature. Seeing that the weather wasn't looking that great anymore, Russel cut their conversation short politely. He didn't want to get them all caught up in the bad weather. His old friends took it well and went on their way in the opposite direction.

Alanah was saddened that the talking came to abrupt end but understood the reason for then sudden decision. The woman's head tilted slightly to the sky and she sniffed the air. "It's going to rain soon," Alanah concluded.

Russel immediately speculated that it was an animal thing and said, "Then we better get going before we get caught in another rainstorm." His mind was quick to recall that stormy night where their lives collided. Only several days had passed and it felt like he spent a whole month with her. So many things happened in such a short amount of time. Days ago, he would never believe it if someone came to him and told him that werewolves exist. Certainly, she had opened his mind to the other creatures of the night that wandered in the world around him. It had him thinking what creatures he passed by in everyday life as they hurried to the bus stop.

A soft drizzle began to fall as the pair rode the bus back to the main London area only to come down as a light shower when they started heading back to the parking garage. Hoods were drawn over their heads to block out most of the moisture and they walked at a brisk pace to lessen their time in the storm. The gray concrete walls and ceiling of the garage became a haven to them as a roll of thunder rumbled in the distance and the shower grew stronger in seconds.

"Sorry that we had to cut everything short," Russel apologized as they approached his car. "I will never get used to how damn much it rains in this country. It's sunny one moment then boom, you're soaked from head to toe. The worst, I tell you."

"Stuff happens," Alanah dismissed with a shrug of her shoulders. "I do believe there is this joke where people condemn a meteorologist for predicting the weather wrong. But I'm thankful my hair didn't get wet," she then added while she pulled her hood down off her head. "Another tidbit with werewolves is that our hair gives off the smell of damp fur when wet. The smell can stick to our skin and can gather unwanted attention."

"So that's why you use soap and shampoo with heavy fragrances like lavender," he presumed as he unlocked the car and opened the driver side door.

"Correct," Alanah acknowledged as she entered the passenger seat. "I was surprised you didn't notice when we were in the lift together. That was one of the reasons why I was quick to leave the room. Didn't want you to question anything about me at the moment."

Russel situated himself behind the steering wheel again, hooked in his seatbelt, and started the car. "I get you," he spoke. The vehicle pulled out of the parking garage. The sound of rain droplets pattering against the body of the car and windshield became background noise as he continued talking. "Knowing me, I would have just guessed you worked with dogs as a side job. Dog grooming pays well, surprisingly."

"It's not a farfetched idea," she mused and ejected the CD from the player, returning it to its jewel case. "Probably something I would do if I didn't proceed with a music career along with selling fresh meat and animal skins."

"You never did tell me how you met Laura and Vicki," he stated when they hit back on the main road. "It's obvious that those two don't respect you and your work. Why even stay with them?"

Alanah's eyes casted down to her hands clasped together in her lap. "Well," she answered. "I owe them a lot for all they have done for me over the years." She raised her head to look out the window and watched the rain roll down the glass. "Several years after my mother killed my father, I finally gained the courage to run away from home. All I took with me were the clothes on my back and the blessed amulet my father entrusted to me. I traveled on foot and hitchhiked my way into the country from a forest in Wales. I didn't care where I went, just as long as I put distance between myself and my mother's toxic and crazed ideologies."

Russel's lips turned down into a frown at her words. He heard horror stories about hitchhiking and seen enough slasher films to know that was not a great idea. Alanah was a small woman and was smaller when she was a teen, if his memory served him right. She was cute and innocent. Anyone could have taken advantage of a girl like her when given then chance. Her being here in one piece made it evident that she could handle things herself.

"It was truly a blessing of the Goddess that I found some nice humans who were willing to drive me anywhere I wanted," Alanah spoke. "But my final destination was Manchester since I remembered it being a city of interest mentioned by my parents. I had no money to my name, no home, or any type of human identification to go by. To human society, I did not exist," A smile appeared on her face. "And yet, I was free. It was like a weight was lifted from my shoulders or like the lock to my cage finally unlocked and fell away."

Russel asked, "Couldn't you just pawn off that amulet of yours for some quick money?" He knew the country was never friendly to the homeless and thinking about Alanah being hassled by the police didn't settle well in his mind.

"Pawn off?" Alanah repeated. Her face twisted in confusion then the realization clicked in her head. "Oh, you mean like selling it for temporary money or something of the like. Well, as much as I know the amulet is worth a decent amount of money, I couldn't part with it. My father trusted me to keep it safe and who knows what would happen if it ended in the wrong hands."

Russel nodded his head in both acknowledgement and mutual agreement. He understood why it would be a bad idea to pawn off something as valuable as a magic amulet now.

"Anyways, for a while, I lived on the streets. Hiding under the guise of a runaway teen during the day. And by night, I shed my human skin, hunted small animals for my meals, and slept in trash lined alleyways. Though I wasn't in a dry, warm house every night, I still wasn't being oppressed by my mother and the Pack. I wouldn't trade my freedom for a year's worth of hot meals."

He remained quiet. Cruise control was switched on when they reached the highway.

Alanah continued as she turned her attention back on Russel. "How I met Vicki and Laura was seemingly fate. It was after I stole your band's CD and traded my shoes for a secondhand player from a homeless man that was approached by these wealthy, well dressed women." She brushed loose strands of hair behind her left ear. "They claimed to have been watching me since I ran away, and I couldn't help but to fear them. I've never seen them in my life, so I assumed that they were sent by my mother to bring me back home. But they didn't smell like the forest I was born in and I gave them the benefit of the doubt back then."

"What happened next?"

Alanah answered, "Strangely enough, they took me to get some food. They let me order anything I wanted, just like you did, which was welcomed since I've been eating raccoons and rats for the past two weeks."

Russel grimaced. The thought of werewolves catching rabies from eating urban animals came to mind for a bit.

"They introduced themselves after I finished my food. Most likely after I was convinced they meant no harm to me," she went on. "Vicki took immediate notice to the CD I had and struck up a conversation about Gorillaz and music in general while Laura quietly observed us. I commented how I was fond of your music and always wanted to create something to make my mark on the world. That was when Vicki smiled and gave me a 'generous' offer that I 'couldn't refuse'."

"I would take a guess that offer was making their music in exchange for room and board," he presumed.

"And you would be correct, Mister Russel," Alanah said with a smile. Her gaze went to the road ahead of them, looking into the distance. "A roof over my head, cooked food to eat, learning how to make my own music, and people to call my friends; how could I not accept their wonderful gesture of charity? It wasn't like an offer such as that was going to sit me down and give me free food again. They knew my secret before we even met, so I agreed to their offer. Not like I had anything to lose if I rejected them. I left everything behind in Wales, or so I thought."

"But it seems that your mother and her followers have other plans," added Russel. "She wouldn't mess with you while in the care of a vampire. But she's striking you where it hurts the most; people you care about."

"It doesn't help that the mansion and landfill are large areas," she said, dejected. "One of my mother's goals is to reclaim territory from humans and capturing your home would certainly give the Pack the upper hand they need." Her frown deepened. "I'm really sorry I brought you and everyone else into my affairs."

"Alanah, I've dealt with ghosts, zombies, demons, Death itself, and even managed to tolerate damn Murdoc Niccals for all these years without completely snapping his neck," Russel glanced at her from the corner of his eye and flashed her a confident smile. "Fighting off werewolves would just be another chapter in the strange book that is my life."

Alanah blinked and opened her mouth but no words came out. It hung open for several seconds before she closed it and gave him a silent, affirmative nod. Perhaps a simple nod of the head expressed more than words could at the time.

The rest of the drive back to Essex was quiet and uneventful after their conversation.

The carpark's shutter raised when the vehicle came near and the high beams from the car filled the dimly lit area with a bright yellow light. The car was parked in its usual spot, adjacent to the Winnebago, and shut off. The sound of the metal shutter creaking as it lowered to the ground echoed and eyes adjusted to the low lighting of the dank carpark. Russel and Alanah left the car simultaneously and stood off to the side together. The many noises of Kong that had become common, everyday sounds droned on in the pair's ears.

"Back in familiar territory," Alanah commented, looking around the general area absentmindedly.

"That we are," Russel replied.

Alanah then looked up at him and she smiled, "Though it had a rocky start, I really did enjoy my time out with you. I don't think I will forget this day," she said. "As silly as it sounds…"

Russel was about to respond to her when Alanah stepped into his personal space again. She craned her neck up and softly pressed her lips against the left side of his face. Electricity surged through his entire body and his skin broke out in goosebumps almost immediately, like he was receiving his first kiss. He locked up as an array of emotions rushed him and hit him at full force. The spirits within him were losing their minds; their voices a cacophony of unintelligible words and sounds. Alanah stayed for several more seconds before inhaling deeply then disengaging by taking a step back.

Her eyes, irises a mixture of gold and brown, looked up at him with something wild to them. Her face went flush with red and she fiddled with the sleeve of her jacket. Without another word said, Alanah turned on her heels and quickly walked away towards the hallway leading to 2D's room.

"O-oh, excuse me, Miss Noodle," Alanah apologized when Noodle came out of the same hall and almost bumped into her. She made a hasty escape from the carpark and disappeared out of sight.

Noodle didn't say a word to her when she passed her by. She only watched the older woman behind her purple fringe, following her movements until Alanah was gone.

Russel lifted his hand and pressed his fingertips where Alanah's lips met his face. Was that her way of returning his tipsy kiss from the other day? Or was it due to her declaration of her feelings towards him? Maybe it was a combination of the two. Soon, he felt his face grow warm. Friends don't give each other kisses. Friends don't confess their feelings for each other. Friends don't contemplate past love when confronted with conflicting emotions. His hand dropped to his side in defeat. Perhaps the term 'friends' was no longer the right word to describe their relationship. Though 'lovers' wasn't the correct word either. It was generally confusing, and he bet Alanah felt just as confused as he did.

"So, you were with her all this time," Noodle remarked as she stepped up towards Russel. The way she said 'her' was full of venom and vitriol, which was unlike the teen's usual zen-like disposition. It had him frowning almost instantaneously. "Did she drag you out to the city to use you like a walking bank?" she asked and placed her hands on her hips. "I would understand if it was happening to someone like 2D, but this is under different circumstances. Different 'inhuman' circumstances."

"Noodle," Russel said with a familiar fatherly tone of voice and mimicked her negative body language. "What we did while we were out is no one's business. And I don't appreciate the way you talk about Alanah, assuming certain things that she would never do. You don't even know her."

And you just met her a few days ago," Noodle countered, prompt and standing her ground. "Seriously, I would expect this kind of behavior from the others, but you?" she shook her head twice. "You're not like that at all, Russel. You're cautious and being friends with this creature is putting your life and everyone's lives in danger."

"Well, a lot has happened over the few days," Russel explained. "You're right, I am cautious. But this is different. I learned more about Alanah and her kind today and promised to be a friend to her. She's not what you think she is, Noodle. Her mother and her followers are the real threat to everyone. Alanah is much different than you believe, and she has been nothing but nice to you. She's proven to me that she doesn't want to hurt any of us. She wants to protect us and our home. So, I'm not sure what she needs to do to earn your trust."

"Monsters and demons don't deserve my trust," Noodle spat out. "For all we know, this woman could be waiting for us to drop our guard and attack when we are at our most vulnerable. I just know she is using you and you won't open your eyes to the trust. I'm trying to save us from them."

Russel gritted his teeth and let out a harsh breath through flared nostrils. "And so is Alanah!" he argued, throwing his hands into the air. "You want me to open my eyes? My eyes are already open and I'm getting tired of you giving her hate for something she can't change. Alanah doesn't want to stand up for herself against you because she respects you and your home."

Noodle opened her mouth to continued speaking but Russel cut her off quickly.

"I'm done talking about this, Noodle," he dismissed, turned his back to the teen, and walked to the lift. She was set in her ways, but he didn't have to tolerate her bad mouthing Alanah when she knew not a single thing about her. In his fit of sudden anger, Russel didn't notice that Alanah was still in earshot of the heated conversation when he passed by. He entered the lift, slammed his fist on the panel of buttons, and its doors came together at the middle with a rattle.

It was quiet in the carpark again. Alanah kept herself in the hallway's threshold, seemingly unable to move from the spot. She casted her head down, pressed her body close to the wall, and the fingers on her right hand curled around the wall's corner. She hated fighting, especially if the source of conflict was her. Alanah closed her eyes; this wasn't supposed to happen at all. She just wanted a simple life living within human society whilst making music. Was that too much to ask for?

Feeling and smelling a presence close by, Alanah pushed her thoughts away and raised her head.

It was Noodle who stood by her side. Her sharp gaze behind purple hair brought a chill down Alanah's spine. It took all she had not to break out into a nervous tremble.

"O-oh Miss Noodle," Alanah managed to say. "Forgive me for eavesdropping on your conversation…"

"If it wasn't for Russel," the teen said in a calm voice laced with poison. "You would be dead right where you stand. He is the only thing stopping me from releasing my wrath upon you."

Alanah was speechless. All she could do was stare at the slightly smaller girl with her mouth agape.

Noodle continued, "I do not want your olive branch of friendship you keep trying to extend to me. For all I am concerned, you are no better than the undead that rise from the landfill. Your tricks will not work on someone like me. When we defeat the enemy, your kin, you will leave this place and never come back. Do you understand what I am saying?"

Her harsh words began to set in. Alanah closed her mouth, swallowed hard, and nodded her head quickly.

The teen made no effort to acknowledge her answer. She turned her body towards the hallway and walked out of Alanah's sight. The sound of Noodle's boots thumping against the floor echoed in her ears before it faded into white noise. As much as Alanah wanted to break down and cry like she always did, she didn't. She held in her tears that prickled at the corners of her eyes and let out a heavy breath pass quivering lips. Her back pressed against the wall and she slid down to the chill floor beneath her. She drew her knees to her chest, rested her forehead on top of them, and sat by herself in complete silence. The thoughts gathered over the day settled in her mind. From that nasty man to Noodle; maybe humans weren't as wonderful as her father spoke of them through the stories he used to tell her?