Selena and Peter looked back to see a blonde girl wake herself up with a loud moan. The kids around her laughed, already talking about how she was having a wet dream. Selena rolled her eyes and turned back to stare at the front of the bus. What idiots, she thought. She noticed Peter was still staring.
"Got a crush?" She asked annoyed. Peter looked away and sat back in his seat. He simply shook his head without a word and Selena sighed.
"Sorry about what I said before," Peter repeated for the millionth time as they exited the hellhole known as high school.
"Look, it's fine. Really." Selena assured. Peter didn't look convinced.
Selena took the opportunity to hug him and noisily place a giant kiss on his cheek. Peter smiled at her exaggerated gesture.
"Fine," he said wrapping an arm around her shoulder and placing a kiss on her head. She shoved him away playfully and he reached out to ruffle her hair.
"Hey Shelly," Selena greeted as they walked up to the tall girl. She smiled as she saw them.
"Hey let me show you a trick," Peter said as he dug out 3 oranges from his backpack.
"Who carries that much fruit with them?" Selena asked incredulously.
"Someone who eats a lot," was his reply. He began to juggle the fruit and you could see Shelly become amused. Selena smiled at the act before she noticed Roman approaching them with the same blonde who had been on the bus that morning.
"Have you met my cousin Letha?" Roman introduced as he walked up to them.
"No." Peter replied as he extended his hand out. "Peter."
"Hey." She responded but didn't take his hand. Instead she just stared at him longingly. Selena didn't like her already.
"That's Selena," Roman introduced as he pointed towards her. Selena waved politely before wrapping an arm around Peter's torso. He immediately placed his arm around her out of habit and Selena enjoyed seeing Letha's crestfallen look.
"Well if the circus is over let's get going," Roman said staring straight at Selena. She sent him a wink causing him to smirk.
"I'll sit with Shelly, you sit with blonde bimbo," she told Peter. He gave her a look. "Oh, don't deny the way you looked at her this morning," she accused. She felt annoyed at the fact that this average girl might hold Peter's interest.
"I didn't." He said, grabbing her. "Or are you jealous?" He asked his face an inch from hers. She looked him in the eyes and the tension between them rose before she broke out in a smile.
"Me? Jealous? Many of men would die trying to tap this ass," she said confidently walking away. He groaned as he watched her get into the car. Roman and Letha had been watching them. Roman could feel his jealousy rising but had felt some relief when she had walked away from him. Letha on the other hand was feeling foolish for dreaming about Peter when it was obvious his heart belonged to the beautiful girl who now sat next to Shelly.
Peter slid into the seat next to Letha and she could feel her heartbeat quicken. He was unusually warm but she found it comforting.
Roman went on to explain about the crazy man that he and his cousin had found in the road. He continued to ask Letha to find out more about him and she thought they were both absolutely crazy for wanting to hunt the demon dog. Selena had to agree with that one. They were both insane.
She patted Shelly's hand in comfort as she saw she had begun to get worried. Shelly smiled and Selena smiled back. She thought Shelly was adorable.
Peter stretched his arm out behind Letha and Selena gave him a look. He simply smiled innocently before turning his eyes back to the road.
Peter and Selena hopped out of the car as soon as they arrived at their home. Roman followed them upset.
"Why did you tell her we were hunting a demon dog?" He asked.
"It calls less attention to seem like you're a retard than to look like you're hiding something. People paying attention to me isn't the same as people paying attention to you," he explained. Roman nodded in understanding.
"Alright. See you at midnight."
"You bring the shovels and I'll bring the rest," Peter replied. Roman nodded before turning to Selena.
"Bye hotness," he said placing a kiss on her cheek. She opened and closed her mouth, completely surprised at his action. Some nerve, she thought as he climbed back into his car. She sent him a wink, liking his boldness.
"What the fuck was that?" Peter asked trying to mask the jealousy in his voice.
"Not sure," she replied as she skipped down the steps. "But there's something about him, don't you think?" She asked coyly. If Peter wasn't going to make a move then Roman certainly would. "I'm going to take a bath. Kitty needs some relaxation," she announced as she walked into their house. Peter stood scowling obviously unhappy with the exchange between her and Roman. She shrugged it off as she grabbed a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt before heading to the bathroom. There she ran a hot bath and let herself soak away the worries she had.
She played some music on her phone as she relaxed in the bathtub. She felt her ears and tail pop out as her muscles entered a relaxed state. She played with her tail as it soaked in the warm water. It was black, long and fluffy. Just like her mother's had been. A fluffy tail was a true gem among the Nekojin and she valued hers immensely.
The only problem with having a tail was clothing. She'd sewn small zippers into the back of all of her sweatpants. Then she'd just open the zipper and allow her tail to go through without her pants riding down.
Her mother had taught her to do it. But only to the clothing that she'd wear when she was relaxed because that's when she'd need it.
The water turned cold so she stood and dried herself with the towel. She made sure to dry her tail and ears thoroughly before getting dressed.
"Hey Lynda," she greeted as she walked out of the bathroom and into the kitchen. The older woman smiled at her.
"Hey Sel. It's just us two for the night. Peter went out," she told her as she placed a plate of food in front of her.
"Mhm, I know. Is this duck?" she asked as she took a bite. Lynda had always been an excellent cook.
"Yup." Lynda took a seat next to her and they both ate while making small talk. "So how's school?"
"It's not so bad. I think the bus ride is the worst part honestly." Selena answered as she took a bite.
"Made any friends?"
"Besides Peter? Roman Godfrey I suppose. His sister Shelly is sweet and I like her," she replied. "Roman isn't dangerous by the way. He doesn't understand what he is."
"Just be careful," Lynda told her. "Sel, I know you and Peter get along really well. And I can see the way he looks at you. He really does love you," she said as she put her plate in the sink.
"Funny, I thought he was in love with that Letha Godfrey girl," Selena replied nonchalantly.
"The pregnant girl?" Lynda asked. She'd heard the whispers all around the town.
"She's pregnant?" Selena asked surprised. Letha still looked like a stick to her.
"Yes. Peter is showing interest in her?" Lynda asked surprised. She always assumed Peter and Selena would end up together.
"Not sure," she replied honestly.
"He might just be doing it to piss Roman off," Lynda said with a sigh. She knew her son. "Look, Sel. I know you care about Peter. And if someday you two end up together I'll be the first to support it. But you know about our kind and yours."
Selena stayed quiet. She understood what she was saying. She was Nekojin. He was a werewolf. Cat and Dog. They typically don't mix.
And that made breeding almost impossible. There had been very few nekojin-werewolf couples who had been able to conceive a child. Usually that child would be born only one or the other.
And Selena had always wanted to be a mother eventually. That was something to think about.
"And well, as much as I hate to say it, if you like Roman there's more possibility there," Lynda continued. Selena's head snapped up.
"Who said I like Roman?" She asked defensively. She was right though. Conceiving with an upir was extremely more common among those couples. Lynda smiled.
"Sweetie, I've seen you with both. It's not hard to tell that there's something there. Just make the right choice." She said as she patted her hand. "Either way I'll still support you."
"Peter doesn't like me being with Roman."
"Of course not. He feels threatened. But let me tell you, if he goes around and fools with the Godfrey girl then he's an idiot and you owe nothing to him." Selena smiled at Lynda. She'd always taken a stand on things and it was refreshing. "I'm going to bed. See you in the morning kitty cat."
"Goodnight," Selena called out to her retreating figure. She sat on the couch and contemplated things. She'd never had a true boyfriend. Sure she'd had flings and sex but none ever meant anything.
She figured it had been because the guys in high school were all the same and they bored her. But Peter and Roman were both more than a normal person could handle. She believed in fate and she was convinced she ended up in Hemlock Grove for a reason. She just wasn't sure what that reason was.
She spent the next hour lounging around. She had almost fallen asleep when there was a knock on the door. She groggily got up and pulled the door open and came face to face with Roman.
"Hey," he greeted as he stared at her. Her ears and tail were out again and he thought they certainly suited her. She was dressed casually, in a black t-shirt and dark grey sweatpants. "Can kitty cat come out and play?" He asked with a smirk.
"Where's Peter?" was her only reply. His smirk disappeared in annoyance.
"I dropped him off at your cousin's. He said he needed to speak with her." She nodded and leaned against the doorframe.
"So you came for me?" she asked with a raised eyebrow. He genuinely smiled and Selena was a bit surprised at how lovely his face was.
"Yes. So come on." He said taking a step down.
"Where are we going? I have to change," she replied looking at herself. He shook his head.
"Nah, you're fine. Might want to grab a hoodie and cover those though," he said gesturing to her ears. She nodded and grabbed a hoodie from her pile of clothes.
"Can't cover this though," she said pulling at her tail.
"Ah don't worry. We're just going to my place. Everyone should be asleep," he replied as she threw shoes on.
"Your place?" She asked incredulously as she locked the door behind her. She followed him to his car and took a seat besides him. She pulled her hoodie up and covered her ears. Anyone driving by wouldn't be able to notice.
"Yea. Just to hang out," he said as he drove. "So...how are you?" He asked.
"Small talk? Really?"
"Okay then. Um. What's it like to be a cat?" He asked. They were about five minutes away from his home. She could smell it.
"It's alright. I can hear things easily and smell things better. Sometimes it sucks because those things can be overwhelming. But my body stays warm and I take naps easily."
"So what kind of cat? Like house cat or panther shit?" He asked.
"Slightly larger than a house cat. Our size has always been beneficial for us when we need to get away fast. No one pays much attention to a cat running past you, but they'd probably shoot a panther."
"So like do you guys have enemies?" They had arrived at his house. More like mansion, she thought.
"Yea. Used to be werewolves but we had a truce centuries ago. There's other kinds that really enjoy what I taste like though." She replied as she got out of the car. Her ears twitched as she tried to listen for the sound of his mother.
"Is your mom home?" She asked. He shook his head.
"Nah. Said she had some stuff to fix at the institute."
She sighed in relief and followed him into the house. He led her up the stairs and into a large room. It was pretty plain except for the expensive television and stereo and the huge bed.
"Wow. I wish I had a bed like this," she commented as she threw herself down on top of it. She sunk into the foam mattress and could smell the lavender from his sheets. He really did live like a King.
Roman grabbed some blunts and a bottle of vodka from his dresser and lit one up. He threw himself down next to her and inhaled before passing it. She took it and inhaled happily.
"So what's a king like you doing in a small town like this?" She asked as she gave it back. He took it silently and passed her the bottle. She took a drink and cringed at the harsh taste.
"Family business is here," he replied simply.
"Ah, Godfrey institutes. Saving lives and shit right?" She asked as she waved figures in the air. He took the bottle from her and took a drink before setting it down next to him.
"I guess. What about you?" He asked as he mimicked her waves.
"Lynda and Peter are the only ones I have left. Trust me when I say that a town with a killer wolf isn't my first choice for a home." She took the blunt from Roman's fingers. She could already feel her worries melting away.
"Not much of a home. You sleep on the couch."
"Hey. Not all of us have rich mothers," she replied as she stood. Roman watched as she danced around his room and grinned. There was something wild and raw about her that made him want to gravitate towards her. He took another hit
before walking to his stereo and playing some of his favorite music.
"Angsty punk rock. Very fitting," Selena noted. He smirked and took another hit as she danced her way towards him. She took it out of his hand, her mood already elevated.
"Come on," she said happily dancing wildly to his music.
"Fuck it," he replied as he danced along with her. Maybe it was the way that she moved so recklessly that made him want to join in. Maybe it was her laughter that filled the room. Or maybe it was just the fact they were both fucking high. But he didn't care what the reason was as he headbanged to the music and she danced around crazily. She made him feel alive.
Peter walked into the house late at night. He and Destiny had discussed the matter of the dead girl and had agreed to do it tomorrow. He set his bag down in the chair and looked around.
"Sel?" He asked as he noticed she wasn't on the couch. He opened the bathroom door but no one was there either. He opened his own bedroom door. Empty. Lastly he opened his mother's room but all he could see was her sleeping figure.
He began to get worried. Where could she be? It was already two in the morning. He dug through his pockets for his phone and dialed her number.
"Hello?" Selena answered with a giggle.
"Sel! Where the hell are you?" He asked worriedly.
"Chill Peter. I'm with Roman," she replied with another giggle.
"Hey Peter!" Roman called into the phone from a distance. Selena laughed and so did Roman.
"Are you fucking high?" Peter asked angrily. How could she be so reckless?
"Shhhh Peter. Don't be so mad though we're having fun."
"So much fun," Roman said this time directly into the phone. Peter could hear Selena's giggles as he heard movement. Roman's laughs filled his ears.
"Roman wants to see my cat form," Selena giggled, "Roman stop it," she giggled at something he had done and Peter could feel his jealousy and anger rising. "Bye Peter," she said happily as she hung up the phone.
"Motherfucker!" He yelled as he punched the wall. There was no way in hell that he'd let Roman see her that way.
Her transformation was much like his. It required no clothes. No fucking way would he let Roman touch her. He cursed as he grabbed his mother's keys and ran out the door.
"Okay, close your eyes," Selena ordered. Roman covered his eyes with his hand, peeking through his fingers. "Roman!" She laughed.
"Alright, alright," he replied, this time covering his face with a pillow. She undressed quickly and stretched, preparing herself for her change.
Her transformation wasn't gruesome like Peter's. She felt herself grow smaller until she was facing the bottom of Roman's bed. She gracefully jumped onto it and trotted towards him. He still had the pillow covering him so she scratched at it. He dropped it and took a look at her.
"No fucking way," he said as he stared at the cat in front of him. She was a fluffy breed, almost like a Siberian cat. But she was slightly larger than the average house cat. She happily crawled into his lap and stared up at him.
Her eyes were the same color, he noticed.
"You're a fucking cute cat, you know that?" He told her as he pet her head. She purred with satisfaction. She leaned forward and placed a wet lick on his nose before jumping off the bed. She meowed loudly at him as if trying to say something. He got the hint.
"Okay okay," he said as he once again placed the pillow in front of his face. This time he snuck a peak as she transformed back into her human shape. His eyes stared intensely for a moment at her naked form as she redressed before once again shielding his face.
"Alright, you can look," she said as she laid next to him. Transforming always left her feeling sleepy and these sheets were softer than what she was used to.
"Do you mind if I sleep here?" She asked with a yawn. Roman shook his head and took a drink from the now half full bottle of vodka.
"Knock yourself out," he replied. She grinned as she made her way underneath the covers.
"Ugh, Roman I think I might steal your bed."
"You'd have no place to put it, genius," he reminded her with a tap on her forehead. She rolled her eyes and let out another yawn.
"I'd figure something out." She closed her eyes and relaxed into the bed. It was a nice change from the couch she'd been sleeping on. Roman watched as she slowly fell asleep and smiled.
"Goddamn Roman, got a girl in bed literally just to sleep," he muttered to himself. It was unusual for him not to make advances but he knew he had to tread carefully with her.
He stood as he heard a loud car approach their house. He looked out of the window and noticed that his mother's car was parked in the driveway. He must've not noticed her come home. He watched as Peter ran out of a beat up car straight towards the door.
He heard the loud knocking as he exited his room. He was on the staircase when he heard the door being opened and saw it was his mother.
"Is Selena here?" Peter demanded. Olivia simply stared at him.
"Do you know what time it is? Do your people just not have any manners?" She asked obviously irritated. She was wearing her nightgown and had been enjoying a drink before Peter practically beat the door down.
"Selena is here with Roman and I need to see her," he said urgently. He tried to push past her but she blocked his entrance.
"Roman can have whoever he pleases as a guest. If she's here it's because she wants to be. It's obvious to me that you weren't invited. Now go home before I call the police for trespassing," she threatened in a calm voice. Peter stared at her angrily before finally backing down and walking back to his car.
Olivia sighed as she closed the door, making sure to lock it. She didn't want werewolves stinking up the house. Their smell was absolutely horrid. She turned and locked eyes with Roman.
"Use protection dear," she said before walking back into the study. Roman smirked. His mother could be ruthless sometimes but he welcomed tonight's episode.
He made his way back to his room and changed into his own pair of sweatpants and a tank top. He looked at the sleeping girl and felt himself feel happy.
Her breathing was even and her ears and tail twitched every so often. He was surprised that the commotion downstairs hadn't woken her. He turned the lights off and climbed into bed next to her. This was the only time Roman has slept with a woman without touching her.