Disclaimer: I own nothing!
Wolf's POV:
A Hug
How did my life get so complicated?
Jacin's still hanging around, and he keeps shooting me these weird looks. I get that he wants to figure out who I am, I want to know where I know him from as well, but it still makes me uncomfortable.
It's becoming harder and harder to keep my emotions in check. They're cracks gradually developing around the walls I build around myself, and it's really starting to have a negative effect. My seizures are becoming more common. Almost daily I feel sharp bursts of pure agony tear through me. And I'm starting to wonder if they're really as harmless as the police keep insisting. My body is constantly aching, though the pain is so dull it's more annoying than anything, and I've been feeling hungrier lately too. And my new (I don't even know what to call it. Friendship?) with Scarlet isn't helping.
Good news, I've finally grown accustomed to that weird seizure that only targets certain areas of my body. Bad news, I am really, really struggling with the whole, "not-liking-Scarlet" thing. Actually, that's an understatement. I'm completely failing at it.
Every time she shoots me a smile it sends both a wave of warmth and a shot of searing pain through me. Every snarky comment makes my mouth twitch with the urge to smile. Whenever I see one of the popular girls insulting her, outrage pulses through my bloodstream and I have to resist the urge to just punch them then and there (Scarlet usually does that for me anyway). Whenever I see another guy flirting with her, I bristle with envy (and bite back a smirk if Scarlet slaps them). I've began to simultaneously look forward to and dread seeing her. Confused? Me too.
I miss my old, uncomplicated life.
Rrrrrrriiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnng!
I jump at the sound of the school bell. It's the end of the day already?
I glance down at my open exercise book. It's completely blank.
I sigh in dismay and close the book. Great. The Romeo and Juliet project is looming ever closer and I spent an entire lesson in a fog of self-pity and frustration.
"Class, I want you to write a practice essay for Romeo and Juliet on the contrast and similarities shown between love and hate, due in next week." Ms Hoshi tells us. This statement is met by more than a few groans, but she ignores the class's discontent and starts packing up her equipment.
"Hey Wolf!"
I turn to see Scarlet smiling up at me and my heart skips a beat.
"Can we work on the homework assignment together? I haven't been paying much attention to this project."
I roll my eyes. "Why does that not surprise me."
"Hey, it's not my fault Romeo and Juliet is a stupid story. If they want me to make an effort, they should pick something interesting!"
My mouth twitches with the urge to smile. I did mention that's been happening more frequently, right? "Alright, I'll help. You're place?"
"Actually, I was wondering if we could work at yours." Her happy expression turns sour, "I'm not exactly eager to spend more time with my dad."
"Shouldn't he be at work or drowning his sorrows in a bar somewhere?"
Scarlet barks with laughter. "Probably, but I wouldn't be surprised if he got fired today and decided to blame me for it. God knows it wouldn't be the first time. So… can I come to your place?"
I hesitate. On the one hand, spending more time with Scarlet is a very bad idea, and I'm not sure I'm ready for her to find out about my… familial situation. On the other hand, a part of me, a big part of me, wants to spend more time with her, to show her something of my life other than what she's seen at school, and I know the police would be happy to see that I'm actually talking to someone.
Scarlet stares at me, waiting for an answer.
I sigh. "Alright."
Her answering smile wipes away any regrets I might have.
I shift my weight, feeling inexplicably nervous. "Well, this is where I live."
Scarlet frowns, obviously confused. "Isn't this the police station?"
"Yes."
Her frown deepens. "Why do you live at the police station? Are your parents really serious about their jobs or something?"
I gulp. "No…"
"Then why-"
Suddenly, her eyes widen, and she gazes up at me. "Wolf, you do have parents, right?"
I blink at her. How did she figure that out so fast?
"Right?"
My gaze falls away from hers, which is all the answer she needs.
Before I know what's happening, Scarlet has thrown her arms around my middle in a tight hug. "I'm so sorry."
I don't reply. I'm too busy trying to process… whatever is happening right now. Scarlet is hugging me. Scarlet is hugging me! It's been years since I've been hugged by anyone! I don't know how to react!
Awkwardly, I return the hug, heat rushing to my face. My heart is pounding at a million miles an hour, and my muscles feel tense like I'm expecting an attack. Which is sort of appropriate, because as soon as Scarlet hugged me, a seizure hit. And it's a bad one. Flaming sparks shoot through my nerves, attacking my cells with a vengeance. Acid burns through my veins, splitting apart the thin tubes and eating away at muscle and bone. Hammers beat against the inside of my skull, breaking it apart at the seams. But I barely notice the pain. All I'm aware of is the girl wrapped in my arms pressing her face into my chest. Compared to that, the pain, terrible as it is, fades to nothing.
Scarlet, oblivious to all that's going on inside me, murmurs quietly, "I've just been complaining about my dad to you, and you've had to listen to me arguing with him at that hospital, and-"
"Hey, it's alright." My voice sounds oddly shaky. "Your dad is a piece of work. I hear what he says to you as well during those sessions. I'd be surprised if you didn't complain now and then."
"Still, you don't even have a dad."
"Which isn't your fault. I can handle other people talking about their parents, whether in a positive light or a negative light."
Scarlet lifts her brown gaze up to my face, and I feel my blush deepen. "You're sure?"
"My sessions are next to yours, aren't they? Have you ever heard me complain?"
She frowns, looking uncertain. "Well if you're certain…"
I nod.
Scarlet gives me one last squeeze (making my heart beat even faster. How has it not burst yet?) and lets go. I'm not sure whether I'm relieved or disappointed.
She turns to the police station. "So, it's okay if we just walk it?"
"Should be."
"Good enough for me." And she walks over and pushes open the doors. I pause to take a deep breath, trying to calm myself down before following.
Grant is at the reception desk, filling out some form or another. He glances back at Scarlet and I as we enter the building. "Hey kid. Good day at school?"
"Fine."
"And what's your name Miss?"
Scarlet gives him a small wave. "Scarlet. Wolf's helping me out with English homework."
"That's nice." Grant turns back to his forms, before frowning and looking back up again. "Wait, what did you say?"
"Wolf's helping me out with English homework."
His eyes widen with shock and he looks up at me. "You actually invited a friend from school over?"
"Um, yes?" I reply. I didn't do anything wrong did I?
Grant gapes at me for a few moments before grinning hugely. He runs around the reception counter and into one of the corridors, shouting at the top of his lungs, "Hey! Z finally made a friend!"
"What?"
"Finally!"
"Thank God!"
"Who is it?"
Scarlet is laughing her head off at the reactions of the police officers. I groan. I think I know what the favourite topic of conversation at dinner tonight will be.
A/N: I hope this has filled all your Wolflet cravings for the day.
Wolf's life is progressively getting more and more complex, and his frequent seizures are finally starting to take a toll on his body. And Jacin hasn't even tried recruiting him yet! Things aren't looking like they're going to get easier for Wolf anytime soon.
How much worse are Wolf's seizures going to get? Was Scarlet really as oblivious to the effect her hug had on Wolf as she seemed?
Please review!
