"O-oh shit, I'm sorry sir, I wasn't lo-" Vivian started before opening her eyes.
"Oww, jeez." It's Wilson, rubbing his nose. "No, it's okay Viv, I wasn't looking either."
"I'm sorry Wilson, there is just so much on my mind, and I -"
"Are you okay?" Wilson interrupts.
"Am I - wh- what makes you ask that?" Viv asks, completely taken aback.
"Well, you look paler than normal, and you are usually so aware of your surrondings. Something big mu-"
"NOPE, nope. There's nothing really, just, thinking about, ummmm- my future. Yeah, my future once I get out of Maplewood." Vi quickly makes something up. 'How can this boy read me so damn well.'
"Anyways, I got to go Wilson, we got Chemistry class in 5 minutes." Vivian says, quickly gathering herself and walking away.
'Jesus, I am such a mess. Even struggling to talk to someone like him, I must be royally fucked.'
After getting lied straight to his face, Wilson wonders why he even bothered in the first place. 'She looked so distraught. She looked like me.'
And then something caught his eye. In the corner of his vision, he sees Josh, who has his fists in a tight clench.
'Fuck, I talked to 'his girl' again, and I'm gonna get my shit kicked in again.'
Walking to class, Wilson tries to think of ways to avoid his fate.
'I just need to make it through the day avoiding him.'
He pondered for a little, 'I know, I won't go to lunch, I'll just go hide in my next class!'
Wilson's plan was perfect, or so he thought.
He had done similar moves too many times before, and Darius was there, waiting for him.
He brought him to a hallway that nobody ever walked in during Tuesday afternoons, the Humanities department.
Soon, Wilson was on the floor.
"Look, I'm sorry, she just looked worried ab-"
"And that gives you the RIGHT to speak to her."
"I was just -"
"ESPECIALLY AFTER YOU RAN INTO HER!"
"ME!? I looked away for a split second and then she r-" Wilson began to defend himself before - *crack*
Josh punched him in the lower ribs, cracking at least one of them.
Brutus covered Wilson's mouth with his hand to muffle the scream. As soon as Wilson calmed down, he pulled his hand back and slapped Wilson across the face "Why did you spit so much saliva out when you screamed bitch. God, you are a disgusting creature."
"How dare you accuse someone so perfect of -" Josh starts to get angry again before another voice chimes in.
"Hey, um guys, whats going on over here?"
The boys turned and looked to see Lily, who was now on her way from the other end of the hallway.
Josh quickly lets go of Wilson. "Oh hey, you're Lily, right? Vivian's friend, a grade above us. I don't know if you remember me, but my name is Josh, and these are my friends Darius and Brutus. You know Brutus though, he's in your class." Josh said with a big smile.
"Yes, of course I know you. You're the star linebacker for our school's football team, who wouldn't. And Darius, he is the striker for the soccer team, and Brutus is the center for the basketball team!"
"It's great to meet another fan of sports. Now, is something wrong?" Josh asked, acting oblivious to the fact he was still completely smothering Wilson.
"Yeah, I was gonna ask you the same thing. I just wanted to see if you guys were all good. The names Wilson, right?" She said, looking down to the boy on the floor covered in sweat and tears.
Wilson nodded his head, afraid his wavering voice would get him more beatings later.
"Are you okay." She asked
'Obviously I'm not you fucking idiot.' Wilson thought. Still, Wilson nodded, afraid of what would happen if he didn't.
After a long hesitation, Lily says, "Alright, but you guys should head to lunch now, I hear they are short on food today."
"Oh, thanks for the heads up, we will head there now." Josh said, standing up and smiling at Lily. It was the fakest smile ever, anybody could see it.
"Well Wilson, see ya another day." Josh added, walking away in the direction or the cafeteria. 'This isn't over.' He thought, staring daggers at Wilson.
Wilson laid there for a minute more before getting up and cleaning himself up in the bathroom, before heading to the school's nurses office to get his ribs looked at.
Viv left her Biology class to see both Lily and Ally waiting against the lockers outside the classroom.
"Um, hi girls, couldn't wait until I reached my locker I see?" She says looking 75 feet to the right where her locker was located.
"No, it could not wait." Lily says. Ally shrugs, also being kept in the dark.
"Okay, what is it?"
"It looks like your boys are getting into a bit of fight. Well, fight is the wrong word for it."
"'My boys' is the wrong words for whatever this is. I don't have any boys? Who and what the hell are you talking about?"
"The nerd and the jock right?" Ally asks.
"Wilson and Josh? They are NOT my boys whatsoever. I've never liked anyone, so why the he-"
"What about that one g-" Ally started with a smile.
"We promised we would never speak about that again." Vivian looked Ally dead in the eyes.
"Anyways, here, look at this." Lily pulls up a video. It begins and quickly zooms in to something at the opposite end of a hallway, where after a second, it focuses and shows 3 guys, clearly distinguishable from one another, standing over a smaller man. The one holding him to the ground punches the nerd in the ribs, where another covers his mouth and then slaps his face.
Ally, in shock, says, "Why didn't you do anything?!?"
"I did! I heard a weird noise, saw this and got my phone out. As soon as I got this, I went and stopped it before it got any worse." Lily said defending herself.
They both look to Vivian, who appears unaffected by the video.
"So, why should I care?"
"WHY SHOULD YOU CARE!?! First of all, where is your humabity." This question makes Vivian flinch. "And secondly, isn't this just wrong to see your future hus-"
"Drop it."
"Fine, but seriously, they are probably fighting over you!" Lily finishes.
"There is no way that is whats going on. Josh has always bullied Wilson, it probably ju-"
"Yeah, but never like this. Could it be related to when you ran into Wilson this morning?" Ally added.
"You saw that?" Viv said embarrassed. Ally nodded.
"You know, that makes sense. Maybe Josh is defending you as his territory. God, that'd be so hot." Lily says dreamily.
"LILY, NO IT WOULD NOT BE!"
"Your loss. I think Josh is hot af, and I like a man who can get rough." Lily says.
"Thats fucked up, he just beat the fuck out of a defenseless classmate and you're falling for him" Ally says in disgust.
"Gurl, I'm playing. It's obvious that this man is mentally deranged. I mean, breaking a rib over a nerd bumping into your crush is insane." Lily responds.
"There is no way Josh is secretly in love with me, he could have any girl he wanted. Anyways, why the hell would they have fought over me. I've never seen any of them even make an advance on me."
"You're as blind as a bat." Vivian flinched again. "Josh has been not so subtlety hitting on you for years, you moron." Lily says.
"Really?"
"And you're supposed to be the smart one?" Ally adds smiling.
"Fuck you."
"Love you too."
"Well, they can fight for all I care. I really don't give a damn." Viv says, now walking to her locker.
"Jesus Viv, you're just gonna let your perfect mat-"
"I said drop it."
"But seriously, you're not gonna do anything? You're gonna let him get his shit kicked in?"
"I've seen it happen for 12 years. Anyways, what am I supposed to do?"
"Go talk to Josh, confront him about it."
"Never in a million years would I volunteer to go talk to that idiot." Vivian said as she finally left the two girl behind.
Wilson laid there on the bed in the nurse's office. His chest was reasonably in severe pain, as it was confirmed he had 2 lower left ribs cracked.
"You should really go to a hospital." The nurse said to him, concerned with his decision.
"It's alright, I've already emailed my teachers, so I'm just gonna go home. My mom is a doctor anyway."
Before the nurse could rebuttal, Wilson got up and left. He then walked all the way home.
Upon returning home, he went and grabbed an ice pack from the fridge, placing it on his acing body. He then went searching for his father. He knew he was in the gym or training area, he always was.
As he entered the gym, his father looked away from the punching bags, but didn't stop punching after seeing him.
His dad, Lucas, stood at 6' 8" and was built like a truck. He could definitely hold his own in any fight. Being a retired professional fighter, he was only defeated once in his life. He was a father of 3, Wilson being the youngest and weakest. Clearly, his superior body genes missed Wilson. Instead, he got a superior mind, something that Lucas was never pleased about.
"Hey, dad."
Nothing
"Dad."
No response
"DAD!"
"WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU WANT!"
"I broke some of my ribs."
"I don't care, just go - wait, you broke your ribs?"
"Yeah."
"How the fuck did you manage to do that?"
"That kid at school Josh, he -"
"Ah yes, this kid Josh, your supposed bully. I swear, this kid sounds better and better everytime I hear about him"
"Dad, that's not cool."
"Anyways, what did Josh do?"
"He punched me in the ribs."
"And you let him?"
"There isn't exactly much I can do, he outweighs me, outmuscles me, I'm completely outmatched."
"Then you're supposed to level the playing field. God, for such a smart kid, you're really stupid." His dad says, going back to the punching bags.
"You know I don't like working out. I would rather -"
"You'd much rather have your head in a book, I know, I know."
"When's mom getting home?"
"Whenever she gets off work."
"Oh, okay, I'm gonna go look at what I missed today." Wilson starts to walk out. Behind him, Lucas has clearly had enough of something.
"Son."
"Yeah dad."
"When you finish u there, come get me, we need to talk about something."
"Alright father." Wilson said. 'Oh how fun, he's just gonna try to convince me to start working out again.'
A couple of hours go by, and Wilson leaves his room, still shaken from the pain in his body. He makes his way down to the gym again, where his father is still going at it.
When he enters, Lucas actually stops what he is doing and drops his dumbbells. Taken by suprise, Wilson asks, "Is everything okay?"
"I'm tired of you getting beat up at school."
"Dad, I'm not gonna start working o-"
"It shines badly on me."
"Badly on you? You do realize that not all 3 of your sons have to be jacked and strong like you just because you are a fighter. I don't have to be the spitting image of you. "
"It's not that because I'm a retired fighter that it shines poorly on me. It shines poorly on our whole family."
"How the fuck does me being weak portray Mom in a bad light?"
"Because WE are the TOP!"
"The top? What do you mean?"
"I guess it's about time you learned."
"Learned what? I know almost everything I need to."
"I, I, jesus, uhg, why couldn't you have just figured it out yourself."
"Figure wha-"
"SON, WE ARE ALL FUCKING WEREWOLVES YOU IDIOT!"
Dun dun duunnnnnnn
I won't end it here like last time, just wanted that dramatic point... not really dramtic though. Sorry ;)
"Excuse me?"
"Yeah, we are all werewolves, and the best of the best at the moment. That is why -"
"You're trying to tell me that I, Wilson Coleman, am a Werewolf."
"Yes."
"You expect me to believe that."
"Why would I lie to you?"
"You have got to be fucking with me."
"I am not, I am being 100 percent seri-"
"Did my brothers set you up to this dad? Where is the camera, this has got to be some sick -"
"WILSON!" Lucas boomed at a level so loud it rung throughout the house. It froze Wilson in his shoes.
Wilson's father took of his shirt, and slowly, his hair began to grow. In addition, Wilson also noticed that 4 fangs started to appear in his father's mouth. He was too stunned to move, too stunned to talk, too stunned to breathe.
His father's hair retracted, and he put his shirt back on before slapping Wilson back to his senses.
"I- I- I- I- I don't know what to say. I -"
"Yeah, neither do I. Your brothers were so excited by this news, but I had no idea -"
"My brothers are werewolves too?" Wilson said in astonishment.
"Well of course. And so is your mother."
"My loving mother, she is a werewolf?"
"She is a great and powerful werewolf."
"I see..."
"You are taking this surprisingly well."
"Well, I always knew my family was weird, but I just never knew it would be something like this."
"I know this'll be hard for you to take in, but I will be here, and I will help you -"
"OHHHHH, NOW you wanna be here and support me? Where were you the rest of my life when I -"
"I was busting my ass off you little shit. And anyways, what was I supposed to do. You weren't exactly like me or your brothers."
Wilson was silent for a few seconds. "Hmmm, as much as I hate to admit that you had a reason to be an absent parent, now that I think about it, I suppose you're right..."
"Exactly. See, I'm not all brawn and no brain!" Lucas said, attempting to connect with his son with a joke.
It did work, but Wilson became serious again. "I guess that's why you selected mom to take care of me solely."
"What was I meant to do? It was the best option for you. You weren't the fighting type. But now, you must be."
"Hmm, maybe you weren't such a shit father." Wilson said with a straight face. Lucas had no idea how to take this. Then Wilson asked a question. "You said best of the best. What does that mean?"
"Currently, we are considered the best, the strongest pack."
"Pack? Like actual wolves?"
"Yeah, I guess so. It's pretty much the same."
"How is the strongest determined?"
"You'll learn."
'Well, that's cryptic as hell.'
"Uhm, okay, then what's the name of our pack?"
"Goldmane, we are The Goldmane pack."
"Goldmane, that is very close to Coleman. Are you telling me that -"
"Yes, we are the head of the pack."
"This is insane. Not only am I supposed to believe that werewolves are really, but that I am in a fucking werewolf pack, the leading family of a werewolf pack"
"Not just A werewolf pack, THE werewolf pack, at the moment."
"What, am I supposed to believe next, that vampires are real?" Wilson says sarcastically.
Lucas goes silent and starts twiddles his fingers while whistling.
"VAMPIRES ARE REAL!"
"Yeah, they are. We kinda have a complicated relationship with them though, you'll learn about it later."
Wilson started to freak out, "Holy shit, everything I know about the world is a lie. If werewolves and vampires exist, then who am I to say that -"
Lucas slaps Wilson hard, as he always does. "Snap out of it. Gravity still is gravity. Night and day are still the same."
Wilson stops hyperventilating and calms down. After composing himself, he asks, "Wait, so why haven't I become a werewolf? Am I like adopted or something?"
"Hell no, you're just fucking weak as hell. Which we will be changing."
"But Dad, I don't want to wo-"
"IT DON'T MATTER WHAT THE FUCK YOU WANNA DO, YOU ARE GONNA GET FUCKING STRONGER!" Lucas's fangs showed again. "Anyways, wouldn't it be nice to be able to stand up for yourself?"
"I- I guess so, but I can't allocate too much time. Maybe only -"
"I don't care how late you have to stay up, but from now on, we train 3 hours everyday."
"3 HOURS! EVERYDAY!!!" Wilson's mouth damn near hit the floor.
"Yes." Short and sweet, to the point, leaving no room for discussion.
"O- okay dad. But like I said, why am I not a werewolf yet?"
"Because you haven't hit your 234th full moon yet."
"What is special about the 234th Full Moon?"
"I don't know, it's just the moon that you transform on. Someone did the math." He said shrugging.
"The 234th full moon?" 'Given that I was born on a full moon, how ironic, that is 29.5 days for a full moon cycle times 233... that's in - "-only 2 days!"
Look, I used 234 because I thought it would be a cool nimber to use. And the math works out right for people that would be almost 19. I swear I'm not being lazy, I actually did the math!
"Yeah, I waited until the last possible time I could tell you, otherwise, I wasn't sure you'd believe me."
"I still don't completely."
"I know, but you have to trust me on this."
"How can I, this is so insane!" Wilson justifiably states.
"You just have to. Now, I can finally be the kind of father I'm used to being, so let me help you."
"Fine, but let me heal up my chest before we start training."
"Oh, that'll be fixed in no time."
"Excuse me?"
"I said you'll be ready to train in no time. Maybe even in as little as 10 days."
"Now I know mom is a good doctor, but she isn't THAT good of a doctor. That's physically impossible!"
"For normal humans, yes, but you forget, in about 48 hours, you will be a werewolf. We have all of our physical abilities enhanced at the base level, and even more so when we transform."
"Is that right? Is that why you were such a good fighter?"
"Oh no, I limited myself to only the himan equivalent of my strength. It cost me my one and only match against another werewolf." Lucas said looking depressed.
"Damn, so thats why you got your ass kicked."
"What did you say boy? You want YOUR ass kicked right here and now?!?"
"Ah, no sir. I'm sorry dad, I know that's a sore subject... I'm just a little out of it." Wilson made a reasonable excuse up.
"Speaking of out of it, that night, in 2 days, you are gonna have to be home before sundown."
"But I have classes that go past that time."
"Oh yeah, stupid engineering major, with all you science and math classes."
"Hey."
"Sorry, but you will need to skip class."
"SKIP! I've already missed some of my classes today for my ribs, I can't..."
"Do you want to kill all your classmates and then get killed yourself?" His father asked him straight up.
"No, no I don't." It was such a stupid question.
"Then you will be home before sundown, or else that is what will happen to you."
"Fine, I guess I could just vomit in class." Wilson says defeated.
"You can do that?" Lucas asks in astonishment.
"Yeah, it's a little something I picked up a while back, thought it would get me out of some beatings... it didn't help. He would just get mad I vomited on him."
Lucas starts laughing and wipes away a tear. "Wew, that is funny. Anyways, do whatever you have to, just make sure you are home in time. I'll have to trust you on this one because I won't be able to come and get you."
"Alright dad. Hey, can I ask you a question."
"Yes son."
'He said that with love in his voice, maybe he really is telling the truth.'
"You said it was easier with my brothers. Will I ever be able to catch up to them?"
"Who knows. The harder you train, the more likely you will. You do it right, and maybe you will even surpass them. Anything is possible." He gave a big thumbs up.
'What a motivational man.' Wilson thought
"Anyways, I think your mom should be home by now. Have her go tend to your ribs. You're still human for a few more days."
"Will do. Thank you, dad."
Wilson leaves the gym and goes up to his warm and embracing mother, who immediately gives him some anti-inflammatory medication.