“W-wha.. F-Freidreich? Re-reading this book? This one?” he stumbled over his words, feeling insanely stupid. He didn’t know if it was from the situation or her beautiful smile. “It it good? Have you… have you read it?”
Wren shuffled his feet, looking down at the book and trying to hide his face. He was blushing like crazy, but hoped the hair falling into his eyes would hide it just the slightest.
She laughed again. "Put your hair back cherry cheeks. Freidreich is the name of the ghost that has possessed this book. And of course I've read it. It's written completely in German. That's where werewolves originated ya know? Germany. Killing sheep and cattle." She had almost forgotten there was a werewolf standing in front of her. She was treating you like a friend. She then grabbed the book and sat down. "Can you read in German? If not I could read out loud and translate the story to you. It's a bit cheesy. A vampire falling for a werewolf. Oh but I love it. The idea of the hatred of vampires and werewolves ending when two lovers defeat the odds." She levitated above the couch a bit as she spoke with such passion before falling into it, and was glad she had worn torn up jeans today. "Maybe it's stupid. I mean I never could love one but it'd be cool knowing a vampire who does. At least. I don't think I could." She then looked at you with big wide eyes.
Wren cleared his throat, glancing from her eyes to the book in her hands. His face grew even redder.
“You can, uh, read it aloud. I mean, of course, I know German… but I’m down for a… a storytime,” he stuttered, sitting down next to her. He fiddled nervously with his hands. Why was she acting like this? This was so unlike her…
So he decided to embrace it. Why not? He smiled down at her, his fangs only slightly visible. He brushed his hair aside, crossing his legs at the ankle and getting more comfortable.
“Go ahead,” he mumbled. “Let’s hear it.”
Something in her snapped and her eyes suddenly went cold and sharp as she opened the book, and began to read outloud. At first she started out slow, stumbling over her words, cursing herself inwardly as soon it became fluent and easier. She slowly relaxed into the couch and even leaned on him a bit so he could see the book and follow along.
Wren noticed the change and stayed quiet, genuinely intrigued with the story. Since Valentina was the only vampire he’d ever known, with the exception of her parents, he found it extremely hard to believe that romance between the two races was possible. Though, with her weird swings today, his heart believed it was slightly more possible that it had been before. As he turned his attention away from the book and onto her face, it seemed all the more possible. Maybe, just maybe.
He found himself drifting and shook his head slightly, forcing his attention back to the book.
She blushed a bit when his eyes focused on her sharp and hard features. A jutted out jawline, pointy ears, sharp eyes, pointy nose. She was all angles. Not that she hated it. She had stumbled a bit when he drifted but as he returned his attention to the book, so did she. She was usually very in control of herself. She blamed the love spirit in the book, possessing her to change how she normally was. Yes. That had to be it.
Wren tapped his clawed finger on his knee while he listened. He was a fidgety person, but he kept realizing how close she was. It made his nerves worse. That tingling on every area of his skin lingered as the hair on the back of his neck stood on end. Not only his face, but roughly his body was flushed. He could feel the inner wolf in him longing to come out— something that happened often when he was anxious. It was just a matter of keeping it at bay, which he was generally good at.
Suddenly her mother called out for Valentina. She dropped the book instantly and bolted for the stairs, more then happy to escape the uncomfortable situation. She then flew down the stairs and into the kitchen, only to be told to go with Wren to the store to buy extra groceries, since they would be staying for dinner. Valentina had only had breakfast an hour ago. She groaned and headed upstairs to get her umbrella, then headed into the library. She said very curtly. "Come alone Wren. We have to go get extra groceries since you and your parents are staying for dinner."
“Uh, oh, yeah, ok,” he said, following her out. He gave one last glance at the book before leaving, grabbing his coat and slipping it on. He walked with Valentina down the stairs. At the base, Stitch ran up to him, whimpering and licking at his hands. He scratched his dog on the head with a smile, then looked at Valentina to see if she had left without him or not.
She was petting Coco. She was an old dog and looked very tired from all this running around. "Good girl. You can go lie down and rest if you want, pretty thing." She kissed the top of her head, opened up her umbrella, and headed out the door, glancing back to make sure he was following.
Wren patted Stitch and told him to stay as he slipped out the door after the vampire. Happy to be outside, he smiled, breathing in the cold, fresh air. Clouds coated the sky, keeping in most of the cold as a breeze whisked by. Wren didn’t even need his jacket— maybe from being a werewolf, maybe from his nerves. He couldn’t tell.
He walked happily next to Valentina, looking up at the sky with a grin.
She wore a heavy black coat, the kind that looked sorta like the type mystery solves like Dick Tracy used to wear back in the day. She also wore boots, black and lined with fur. The umbrella was to keep the sun from killing her. She walked along angrily, cursing the cold angrily as her nose and cheeks got red, since this coat didn't have a hood on it and she had forgotten her hat.
“Hey,” Wren mumbled, looking over at her. “You seem pretty cold. Do you want my jacket? I’m warm basically wherever, so I don’t really need it.”
He took off just his standard brown jacket. All he had was a t-shirt underneath, showing his toned arms and tan skin. He held it out, cocking his head like a dog would do.
She blushed and nodded. "Uh yeah…that…that'd be great." She smiled a bit, not used to such kindness. It caught her so off guard that she actually accepted it. 'Fantastic now I'm gonna smell like dog all day!' She sighed and kept walking.
Wren was surprised that she had actually said yes, but he slipped it on her shoulders anyway. The jacket was unusually warm and smelled of the hot chocolate she had made him previously, despite not having any on it. His hands lingered on her shoulders for just a slight bit too long, until he realized what he was doing. He quickly pulled away, shoving his hands in his jean pockets and looking down at the sidewalk.
She inhaled the smell and smiled a bit as she buried her face into the hood. Her heightened smell adored the rush of new delicious scent that surrounded her,no matter where it came from. She even had a little bit of pep in her float as she stopped at a stop light and pressed the button, humming a bit.
“You seem happy,” Wren mumbled, keeping his voice low. “It’s nice.”
He smiled over at her, his big brown eyes holding a kiddish twinkle. His heart raced just slightly as they set on the woman.
He took his hands from his pockets and let them hang loose by his sides, swinging in just the slightest as they walked, then stopped for the street light.
She suddenly realized what had happened and her eyes went cold as she zipped up the jacket and impatiently pressed the button till the two could cross. She made sure to keep a few steps ahead,back to her usual cold pissy self.
Wren was getting tired of this, but his nature made him slightly too scared to ask about it, so he just automatically assumed it was his fault. He let out a quiet whimper and cursed himself silently for it. He hated when he did that.
He took that respectful distance behind the woman and ceased to interfere, until curiosity got the best of him.
“I’m… sorry,” he crooned. “Did I… did I do something? Or is it just… who I am?”
He said the last part even quieter than the previous.
"A vampire must always keep steady and refined form, never to slip into such silly things as emotions. Especially a young lady such as yourself, an iron front. You are a cold dead hearted beast, not some frilly girl with flowers in her hair." She was quoting her mother, anyone could tell. Her mother was strict and pounded the values Valentina should have into her head. Her father was more the romantic type, sweet and endearing of his children.
Wren cocked his head, looking like a confused puppy yet again. “That’s… basically the opposite of how my parents raised me.”
He was quiet for a moment before continuing.
“I think people should have the freedom to create their own values,” he uttered. Despite being a big doof, he spoke quite elegantly. “At least, that’s my moral.”
"Well you are a werewolf I am a vampire. We are raised differently." She said coldly as she turned another corner, lightly levitating above the ground. Her eyes rolled as she spoke, hugging herself, still cold. But she was used to the cold, she was never anything else.
Wren narrowed his eyes. “How you were raised shouldn’t effect the choices you want to make.”
He didn’t even know what he was trying to do right now.
“I’ve seen how happy some little things make you…,” he mumbled. “You should pursue them.”
Wren looked at her again with his large, brown, puppy-like eyes. “Your life’s been tough. It’s ok to let go just a little bit.”
Suddenly she stopped, stiff backed, and she turned around. Her pink eyes had begun to glow a little bit. "You leave me and my life alone Wren." She growled out. "Life has given me clots I'm just trying to make blood." She said lowly. "And you have no say in my life. It's MINE. Not yours. So leave it alone." She then zipped off fast in front of him, flying off fast. She was pissed. 'Who the hell does he think he is?'
Wren stood there, dumbfounded. His heart dropped to his stomach and he felt somewhat of a profound sadness wash over him. He debated whether to follow after or go back. So he just stood there, thankful no one was there to watch his heart break just a little. The wolf inside pleaded to be released and chase, but Wren put it at bay and pushed forward slowly.