CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER TEN

ASTORIA'S P.O.V

The sound of the crackling of wood and the ground shaking woke me up from my slumber. I seemed to be standing on a tiled checkerboard floor, but there was no covering above the structure. Where in the world am I?

I stared down at my body, and I noticed I was in my 'Wolf' form, and my physique explained to me that I seem younger than my actual age. My vision was obscured with a deal ruby hue. I saw other creatures that looked like my kind running helterskelter, probably trying to stop the roaring inferno. I decided to move away from where I stood, noticing a huge part of the ceiling falling towards me. A huge werewolf came towards me, breaking through the huge concrete piece. I couldn't tell why, but I subconsciously recognized them as Leo and Lia.

To confirm my thoughts, the huge werewolf suddenly began to shapeshift, splitting itself into two similar werewolves; one was white, and the other, black.

"What's happening, Leo?"

"There's a fire, and your parents—"

"Leo!" Lia cut him in, obviously trying to stop him from saying something.

I frowned at her, urging Leo to blurt out whatever he had to say. Just then, a huge werewolf came lunging at us. Lia pushed me out of the way, and together, they both took down the werewolf.

"That's another rogue, Lia." I heard Leonsay in between forced breaths, morphing with Lisa to become a huge werewolf once again.

"Come on, Astoria. We have to go!" their voices interlaced each other.

I caught the sight of a rogue werewolf from afar, its face housing a cross scar that ran from its ears down towards the sides of his jaws. I tried racking my head to remember whom the rogue werewolf was, but Leo and Lia already pulled me into their back, riding me out of the rubbles of bricks and the unending fire.

*******

"Astoria," I heard a feminine voice call out to me. "Astoria…" then that of a male. I opened my eyes sharply, seemingly alert to where I thought I laid. Above my head were the faces of Leo and Lia staring at me. Was it a face of amusement? I could not tell. I looked around me, before it registered in my head that I was still under the safety of Lia and Leo's home. The fire was nothing but a dream.

I shrugged, chuckling a bit as I waved my hands, gesturing for Leo and Lia to get their heads off my face. They chuckled, either of them sitting by both sides of the bed.

"How was your night, Leo?" he asked, sweeping me off my feet by surprise.

He never struck a conversation with me, except the day before when he caught me going to the 'big room' to fetch water.

"It was fine." I managed to reply.

I smiled from the inside, acknowledging the fact that I was beginning to speak properly in the language the humans speak. I noticed Leo's hands sliding towards my back, but Lia immediately swats them away. I have been observant of the cat-and-mouse rivalry between the two, but today seemed a bit different—and fun.

"Would you like to go with me to the kitchen?" Lia asked, glaring at her brother coldly.

"Would you like to okay video games with me? I can teach you the best of moved and make yo an expert in an hour!" Leo chirped in, obviously trying to intercept Lia's question.

I giggled, watching the two obviously trying to see who gets my attention first. I obviously didn't relate to Leo that well, so I opted to follow Lia to… what did she pronounce the name of the 'big room' as again?
Ah… kitchen.

The only time I ever stepped in there was when I needed to drop the plates Lia dishes food for me, and when I needed to get water. Learning something new from Lia today is only adding to my excitement, as I look forward to exploring this world and if possible, look for anyone who could be my family.

Leo grunted, obviously touched his sister got my attention over his and stormed out of the room. Lia laughed endlessly, and she beckoned on me to follow her to the kitchen. Even when I have been stepping into the kitchen, today was my first time observing it properly. The furniture setting seemed way evolved than what I could have possibly imagined. While I kept wondering, Lia already pulled out two huge bowls that had handles and a wooden board.

"Do you remember what you are yesternight, Astoria?" she asked, washing the big bowls.

I stared at her, my expressions blank. I wandered into my brain, trying to remember if she mentioned what I ate yesterday. Not being able to decipher, I shook my head. She smiled reaching for a small weird basket. She took out something band said, "These are eggs."

I repeated after her, pointing to what she held, "Eggs."

"Correct, Astoria. Eggs." she affirmed, smiling.

I pointed to the bowls she rinsed, and she didn't hesitate to explain what they were to me. In a matter of minutes, Lia took me through a tour of almost all the kitchen housed. It was a lot, bit I was surprisingly able to nameamd recognise them all.

"Thank you, Lia." I said, watching her stir what she called 'fried eggs'.

She smiled for the umpteenth time, drying the plates that I had helped her clean to dish the fried eggs unto them. "You're welcome, Astoria."

CASEY'S P.O.V

"You woke up late today again, Casey. What the hell is wrong with you, huh? What in the…" I kept blethering to the mirror before me, brushing me teeth in a hurry.

The only thing that stood as my saving grace was the fact that I told Mom I wasn't going to be attending school today. I rushed to pick my clothes from the closet, rummaging through my favorites. I wasn't going for a date, so why was I finding it difficult to pick one?

I began deliberating on whether to call Lia or not, but I decided to settle for an outfit first. I dashed out of home, pondering on whether to make use of my mother's second drive or just take a taxi to be on the safe lane.

"Momma's gonna be cool with this," I thought, stepping back into the house to fetch the car keys from my mother's room.

Upon sighting the keys, Astoria flashed across my mind. For a moment, a feeling of guilt clutched my chest, and I felt I was only handing over the responsibility to Lia, who had never for once laid a complaint. I thought about getting stuffs for her along the way, I then remembered I was going to need something other than school books to pass the day at Lia's. I remembered The Hong Kong Trilogy, and I opted for that.

After a few minutes of picking up stuffs and deliberating on what to do, I zoomed out of the house, praying at the back of my mind my mother doesn't get mad about me using her car.

*******

Pressing down on the vehicle's horn frustratedly, I popped my head out through the driver's window, wandering what Lia and Leo were busy doing. Leo aside, Lia mentioned the day before she was going to be staying home. I decided to call her. After what felt like a few minutes of beeping with no response, Lia finally answered the phone.

"Hello—"

"Lia!"

"What is it???"

"I am outside, silly!" I huffed, pouting.

"My goodness! I'm so sorry. Leo!" I heard her calling out to him, "Can you help with the gate? Casey's outside."

I was brought to calm the moment I heard her say that.

"Sorry, Casey. Don't tell me that's why you're angry." Lia added, laughing.

I made out the voice of another person laughing at the background.

"Who is that, Lia?" I asked curiously.

Leo already opened the automated coded gates and I zoomed in, one handling the steering wheel and the other holding on to the phone.

"It's Astoria." she said in between short laughs.

I mouthed an 'Oh', surprised at how quickly Astoria and Lia were bonding. I drove slowly to there garage and parked the car there. Leo walked up to me and we exchanged pleasantries.

"What have you got in there, Casey? Chops?" Leo said, rolling his tongue flirtatiously.

"Your eyes should be going there, Leo. They aren't for you." I said, rolling my eyes.

"Oh, please. You can't say that, Casey. Come on." Leo pleaded persuasively.

I laughed, stretching the bags towards him. He reached for the bag, but I pulled my hands back immediately.

"Get over it, boy." I chuckled, stepping into the house.

The mentioning of 'boy' obviously infuriates Leo, so his reaction was quite expected.

"I am a man, Casey. M-A-N!" He stressed at the word 'man', making me laugh the more.

I dropped the bag into the sofa, and Leo resumed his games almost immediately. I scoffed, remembering the hell of a game fanatic he was.

"Don't you ever get tired?" I asked, walking towards the kitchen, since I made out that was where Lia and Astoria were over the phone.

Astoria was the first to startle me, popping out of the kitchen, plates in her hands. I couldn't even fathom what took me by surprise first, whether it was the okay eof fried eggs she was carrying with shaky hands, or the apron she tied to her waist.

"Astoria?" I called out to her, watching Lia walk out of the kitchen, my expression making her laugh silently.

Astoria immediately handed over the plates to Lia, rushing down to hug me.

"Casey!" she shrieked excitedly, hugging me tightly.

I hugged her back, surprisingly surprised to see her this happy. After pulling out of the hug, I stared at the plates, reminding my stomach we haven't had a thing simce I woke up from my unexplainable slumber.

"I hope I have a ate secured already?" I asked, scrunching up my nose to perceive the aroma of the fried eggs.

"Not until I get a piece of the chops," I heard Leo muffle.

I noticed he had already opened the bag I brought and had began to dip into the chicken chops and chips I had bought along the way.

"You," I screamed, dashing for Leo. "Better drop that now."

"Not happening." Leo muffled, stuffing more chops and chips into his mouth.

"Leo!" I yelled, running after him in fury.

I noticed Astoria and Lia laughing at the both of us as we chased after each other like cats and dogs. Leo didn't spare me an inch to get closer to him, and even when I knew I couldn't meet up, I still kept on chasing after him.

*******

"I'd get back at you for this, Leo." I yelled in between forced breaths, my hands on my knees.

I was breathing hard like a dog accursed with dehydration, and there was Leo, who wasn't bothered from the minutes of chasing him around. He stuffed the last chicken chops into his mouth, using his to give to wipe off the sauce that were on his fingers.

"Ah," he clicked his tongue, "Delicious. You should bring more this next time, Casey." he added.

I heard Astoria and Casey laughing, and it seemed they were already busy with their meal. I pouted, giving Leo a death glare. Lia stood up from the dining area and walks up to me, nudging me towards the dining table.

"Rather than chasing around breathlessly," she laughed and I stared at her coldly. "Sorry. Come have something." she corrected herself, but I definitely heard her laughing again.

I settled on a chair, staring at the eggs before me. I didn't bother enter the friend eggs and gone cold. I dived for the bread slices and stuffed the egg into it with my bare hands. I stuffed into my mouth, munching like that was my last meal. I was halfway done eating when I noticed Astoria and Lia staring at me in surprise.

"Huh?" I asked, and the shook their head in response.

"Nothing." they replied in unison.

TANNER'S P.O.V

I glared at my phone for the umpteenth time, worked about the unreplied texts and messages from Lia. She was obviously broken and angry at me yesterday, and I cannot pretend not to understand the reason why.

"... Tan?" I heard Miss Karen call out to me.

The whole class was staring at me, and I realised she asked a question. Thanks to Lia, I wasn't concentrating enough.

"Yes, ma'am?"

"Didn't you hear me???"

"Erm…" I stuttered, unsure of wat to say next.

"I just asked the two major dentition types, Tan! You weren't paying attention, were you?" her voice rised, and my instincts urged me to hide my phone immediately.

"There is the the Homodont Dentition, and also the Heterodont Dentition." I answered rather nervously, hoping Miss Karen didn't notice my hands traveling towards my back pocket.

She stepped down the podium that housed the class microphone and vegans walking towards me. I gulped down hard on my saliva, thinking about what would become of my phone and I. She stopped at my side and surprisingly patted my shoulders.

"Very good, Tanner. Sit down." she ordered.

I heaved a a sigh of relief, thankful not to be sitting in a 'red seat'. She walked back to the podium to continue the class, and I couldn't help but drift back to the thoughts of Lia. I didn't know why, but a little voice in my head had been trying to convince me ever since yesterday that I liked her too.

"Casey," I whispered to myself.

I had dropped her bag at Leo's, and I didn't bother to ask if she had retrieved her bag or not. I thought about texting her.

-TO CASEY

Hey. Have you gotten your bag from Lia? She mentioned you were stopping by yesternight.

Minutes after and I felt my phone vibrate.

-FROM CASEY

Yeah.

-TO CASEY

Erm, okay. Why aren't you at school today?

-FROM CASEY

I am at Lia's.

-TO CASEY

Ah, that's great.

I paused, expecting a reply from her. The school bell rang, indicating the end of the Biology lecture. I sat comfortably and focused on my phone, my consciousness urging me to ask Casey something about Lia.

-TO CASEY

I guess you three are discussing exams, huh?

-FROM CASEY

Yeah. Well, not really.

-TO CASEY

Anyone gossiping about me?

I tapped on the 'Send' icon without even realising it. I bit my lip in regret, immediately attempting to delete the message, but it seemed Casey read it already.

"Oh, shoot!" I cussed, seeing Casey's text icon showing she was already replying the message.

-FROM CASEY

No. Why would you ask that?

I ruffled my hair, feeling stuck and unable to comprehend what to say.

"Whenever you get trapped in a situation where you feel exposed, don't forget to use the 'I was only kidding' trick." I reminisced Leo telling me.

I smiled to myself, confidently replying Casey's text.

-TO CASEY

I was just kidding.

-FROM CASEY

Ah, I see. Well, there's something I'd like to discuss with you, Tan.

I narrowed my brows, wondering what Casey çould possibly want to discuss. Did Lia perhaps talk to her about me already? I couldn't tell why my hands shook vigorously, but I picked my phone regardless.

-TO CASEY

What is that you wish to discuss, Casey?yo