I'll Be Back
Looking Up
"O'Hara?" Wolfie turned his head to see the eleventh grader from his potion class—the one he was now in—approaching him.
The kid reached out and ruffled his hair. "You can just call me Vasily. And you remember…"
"Bloodstone and Moonshadow," Wolfie said, somewhat taken aback by their presence. Then, he startled, realizing he'd heard Emily leave, and turned his head, confused.
Wanda sighed. "Give her time, and she'll come around. We're kind of stuck with her during Magical Theory during the morning period, though you're lucky not to have potions with her as well. She's always trying to argue with everything I say despite knowing I'm right. Grudge as you said."
"So, you're the kiddo's girlfriend?"
"And I saw you over there talking to Crimspell. Friends with her?"
"Nope. I came in a bit late and only saw the last part where she was picking on our freshman buddy here, and I told her in no uncertain terms that we didn't like it," Vasily said, sitting down without asking again despite neither Wolfie nor Wanda saying it was okay. "And, Emily was a bit loud in saying you're not actually his girlfriend."
"Oh, great," Wanda sighed.
"Don't worry," Stanley said. "We made it clear that Wolfie here is our buddy."
And there came another ruffling of the head. Wanda frowned. "He's not a puppy, you know."
"But it's rather obvious you like her."
"Visley. Leave the poor kid alone," Fester sighed. "And you can call all of us by our first name. And stop rubbing his head. As she said, he's not a puppy. Actually, so your aunt made perfumes. As in magical perfumes."
"She did. And they stunk," Wanda said, wrinkling her nose. "And yes, I know that he likes me, and he knows that I like him. It's complicated."
"That…" Vilsey burst out laughing. "Um. Okay." He then leaned over, frowning. "Busy day for you?"
"Don't know what you mean," Wolfie said.
"Yeah. Vilsey told us about the faucet," Stanley said. "Which is odd, given the fact it's not a full moon."
Wanda flinched. "Hey. Could you maybe not go around telling people he has his werewolf abilities outside of, you know, the time frame that is normal for werewolves. Maddie's shy."
"Maddie?" Vilsey frowned.
"You heard what his full name is. Quite a mouthful, but that is a definite nickname for someone—yeah, with that powerful of a name," Fester shook his head. "And ignore the girls. They'll lose interest in a few days."
"Says the person who is oblivious to the fact that the girls have not lost interest in him at all," Visley sighed, starting into his lunch on a trey. "Did you make your own lunch? I buy mine because I don't have time."
"I like the tomato dishes," Fester said. "And they don't use garlic. Ever."
"Um. Yeah. Of course, they don't do that at this school."
"My brother made it. As I said, he's my legal guardian."
"You told them?" Wanda said.
"Why wouldn't he?" Vilsey asked.
"He tends to be private, yet he's already opened up to you three already. That's actually a good thing."
"I was overwhelmed," Wolfie said. And he was overwhelmed.
Wanda sighed. "Well, there's that as well. Be careful not to overwhelm him, though…"
"Yeah. We'll look out for him."
"Which, you said during potions you weren't lucky to have Adolphus as your older brother when I asked if you were related. Or was it him being your legal guardian?"
"Um, I'm just not lucky. But I am lucky I have him."
Vilsey laughed. "Yeah."
"Careful," Wanda said. "They were smart getting you to be partnered with them during potions as you're actually good at them. Don't let them take advantage of you."
"Woah. We…" Vilsey shook his head. "I mean, having the kid genius is advantageous, but that wasn't when we first met. And with how nervous he was, I just couldn't not help him out."
"She was joking," Wolfie said. "She knows I won't let people take advantage of me."
"But you will let them bully you," Wanda said.
"Does he?"
"I bullied him and his female friends back in elementary school because I was jealous of them. He'd defend them all the time, but never once did he defend himself. Though," Wanda frowned. "I do have to admit you were standing your ground today, or trying to. Not your fault she brought up parents."
"She's bulling Winnie," Wolfie muttered.
Wanda sighed. "I'd forgotten there was someone else involved. Seriously. Please learn to defend yourself, or do you like being treated like crap? I know you don't."
"Wait? Is a friend of yours also being bullied by her?" Vasily asked, turning his head to look back at the cheerleading table. Wolfie didn't bother looking, as he didn't want to draw attention to himself, although something told him being friends with those three might do that. But then—
"You three are my friends."
"Duh," Vasily said.
"Why would you think otherwise?" Stanley asked.
"Yes," Fester said.
"He's asking because," Wanda frowned. "Winnie Witcherson was a friend, just as Emily Normal and Hector Spector were. Things happened."
"Like?"
"Vasily," Fester said. "Don't push. Let him tell us when he's ready."
"Fine. But he's just—I want to help him, seeing him panicking when he launched the faucet head into the light fixture."
"He—what?" Wanda stared. "You did what?"
"I didn't mean to. And I don't get why I'm not getting in trouble."
"Because, Wolfie," Wanda said, "This is a monster school and accidents happen all the time like this."
"Oh."
"Told you."
"But you really managed to launch it into the light fixture?" Wanda shook her head. "Can this not go beyond this table."
"Got it. No talking about werewolf abilities being able to be used outside of the full moon, though I don't…"
"Trust me," Stanley elbowed him. "It's not usual."
"And if you want to help, you won't go around blabbing about all the amazing things our Wolfie can do, which yes, I know you want to do," Fester said. "And just to let you know what all of his ulterior motives maybe, this one has always wanted a little brother. Well, a brother, because he's got a lot of older sisters. So beware of him wanting to coddle and indulge you."
"Um, got it, I guess."
