Sorry I posted this so late, I forgot. Anyways, enjoy. I don't own Wolfblood.
Mr, and Mrs. Vaughan sat at either end of the table, Ollie and Joe sat on one side, leaving the other for Maddy and Rhydian. Just one look at the food made Maddy's stomach shrink, there were things that looked like meat but she knew better; lucky for her there was a roast waiting in her fridge for her at home, the thought made her stomach growl. The Vaughan's were like Shannon's family, they passed food around in a circle so everyone had some; no one started eating until everything was served, if you needed more you had to ask them to pass it to you. She was okay with this, years of practice with her friend's families. Mr. Vaughan was the last to receive the mush they called food, the smell did not match the look of it. "It is tofu." Rhydian wolf whispered to her. The taste was just as deceiving as the smell, for a meat substitute it tasted nothing like it, now she understood why Rhydian was always around hers for dinner. She ate it anyways; it was the best thing to do in situations like this.
"So Maddy," Mr. Vaughan called over to her. "What are you interested in?"
Out of the few times Maddy has interacted with Rhydian's foster family, Mr. Vaughan was almost never there; she was never sure how to act around him. "My mates and I run the photography club." She said moving the veggies around her plate. "And I like running." She saw Rhydian trying not to smile, it was their inside joke about being wolves; always looking to run around the woods.
"Really?" He said in response. "Rhydian you're in the photography club as well, right?"
"Yeah, once you start hanging around people with cameras you just kinda pick up the habit."
"Were like a cult." Maddy said as a joke, she got a few chuckles from the adults.
"Really?" Ollie asked excitedly.
"She is kidding." Rhydian said as if it were obvious, Ollie's face fell.
"Are you guys dating?" Joe asked out of nowhere.
Maddy didn't know how to respond. "You're not her type." Rhydian deflected.
"Enough." Mrs. Vaughan said. "We don't ask those kinds of questions Joe, we respect each other's privacy." Joe made face but then went back to his food.
"Do you like football?" Ollie asked her.
"Um, I don't mind it." She said before taking another bite.
"Rhydian is good at it." Joe added.
"I know, I went to the only game he played last year." She was surprised to see she had almost cleared her plate. The Vaughan's went on to talk about the many things they were interested in, even Rhydian joined in on the conversation, he looked very at home.
"They liked you." Rhydian told her on the way back to her place, they were walking hand in hand as slow as they dared; her parents were expecting her.
She gave a slight laugh. "I'm glad. I like your foster brothers, they are lively."
"Yeah, good thing for me they take most of the attention so the Vaughan's leave me be most days." He seemed happy about this but Maddy wasn't sure. He noticed the look she was giving him. "Less attention from the humans is what I need." He reassured her.
"Mum and dad are warming up to the idea of us." She said lifting their joined hands. "I might even get off grounding soon, maybe then we can go on a real date." Rhydian asked Maddy out right before they left; since she has been back she has been grounded the whole time, only allowed out for school.
"I think that is a great idea."
Maddy knew her house was getting closer so she stopped. "Full moon is coming." She said looking up at the almost round form. "Two days I'm guessing."
"Think your parents will let me around for it?"
She gave him a look. "As mad as they are, they wouldn't be irresponsible." Maddy turned so she was in front of him. "We should probably say good night now, if you're lucky I'll bring you roast for lunch tomorrow." She said giving a sly smile. Pushing up on her toes she wrapped her arms around Rhydian's neck and pressed her lips gently to his. It didn't take long for the fire to spread through her body, Rhydian must have felt it took because his arms reached around her middle and pulled her as close as he could. Maddy knew they were going too far when he back her in to a tree, but she didn't care. His arms moved downward lifting her off the ground, she giggled with excitement. His lips moved to her neck trailing a line of fire in its wake. The sound of her mobile going off make them jump, Rhydian set her back on the uneven ground; she tried to catch her breath before answering. "Hello?"
"Maddy where are you?" Emma asked from the other end.
"I'll be home in a minute."
She must not have hid her deep breathing well enough. "Are you okay? You're breathing heavily."
Maddy shut her eyes to think fast. "Yeah, we left the Vaughan's a bit late; I was just running to get home on time."
"You didn't have to run love, just give us a ring next time so we know that."
She sounded so concerned Maddy felt bad for lying. "I didn't even think of that." She continued to lie. "I'll see you in a few minutes." With that she hung up. She waited a minute before bursting out laughing. "That was way too close."
Rhydian nodded, his face was flushed. "I think I better go now." He seemed unsure, but he leaned in and kissed her cheek. Maddy gave his arm a slight squeeze then jogged off I the direction of her house.
Her mum and dad sat at the table waiting for her when she got in. A plate full of roast was sitting I her usual seat. She rushed over to it and took the biggest bite she could, thankful for the first time that they always had meat in the house. Maddy heard her mother chuckle at the sight; she just took another mouth full. Her parents were sitting down with a mug in front of each of them. "So what did you and Rhydian get up to tonight?" Her father asked, the remembrance of a few minutes ago made her cheeks heat.
She looked down at her plate, trying to conceal her face. "We played football with his foster brothers." She responded mouth full.
"Are they nice?" Emma asked.
"A little loud but they seem to like Rhydian which is good." She said with a shrug.
"He knows the full moon is in a few days right?" Daniel asked.
"Yes, he knows. He will be here." She paused looking at them. "If it is okay with you."
Her parents looked at each other then back at Maddy confused. "Of course, where else would he go?"
"I don't know, but it is not like you guys have been entirely inviting lately." She said taking more roast.
"It is you were not impressed with lately, not Rhydian. And it is not our fault you always seem to get in to trouble with him; it was never like that before he showed up in your life." Her mother tried to explain.
"It is not his fault, we don't go asking for trouble. Look at it his way mum, were his pack and you're always turning on him."
They seemed taken aback by this. "Love, that is not what we are trying to do. We just want to keep you safe. You are our daughter it is what we are suppose to do."
"Well just don't go blaming him the whole time; he has made a few mistakes but so have I. We just try and fix them but sometimes it just gets worse."
"We promise to try and see it from both sides, but you are our cub and were going to protect you first."
"I'm not a cub!" She stood as she said it. "I'm a wolf, and I'm with Rhydian now so you better start treating him right." She pulled out her chair and made her way to her room; as much as she tried to sound more adult she couldn't help but think they way she just said that was child like. Now in her room she lay on her bed. "When are you going to learn Maddy?" She asked herself out loud. She sat up in a huff and began getting ready for bed.