and let everyone vote on it.
Happy Reading
_______________________
Part Four
William
We had a late run that night for it was Friday. Chris was in the lead, guiding us along the perimeter of our domain which covered all of the town of Riching. We covered miles in minutes, the frigid air weaving and flowing through my fur like an icy snake. I shivered hatefully, wishing I was back inside, warm by the fire. Adam was up ahead by Chris, lapping up falling snowflakes with his long tongue. Luke and Travis were a little to my left, pounding the earth in unison. In their human form, it was almost impossible to tell them apart if you didn’t know them, but in wolf form, they were as different as night day.
Luke was a gray wolf with a smaller frame compared to Travis. His tail was always erect, the end a glaring white. Travis, on the other hand, was striking gold, his bronze fur long and thick. His tail was low to the earth, his ears flat against his head in sudden wariness.
This threw me off guard and I slowed my pace. The other’s seemed to sense the same thing, for Vince on my right, the large russet-colored wolf, slowed to a light lope. Chris was a few yards ahead, his black ears flicking this way and that. Adam was cowering at his side. I caught the whiff of wolf in the air and immediately my hair stood on end. It was uncommon for other packs to come into our territory. We were very protective of our lands and it was too dangerous to meet up with other animals.
Abruptly, Chris let loose with his Alpha Male call, his inky-black muzzle tipped towards the starry sky. Vince followed, his bellow deep and throaty. Travis and Luke ensued, theirs high like that of a sweet chime. Adam then brought up the call, his voice soft in the increasing wind. I came last, my howl ringing out above all the others. My howl had a twang to it, signifying who I was to all in hearing radius.
We waited a few seconds and then, the returning call was picked up. Chris was the first to react, letting loose a yip of shock and excitement. He shot into the woods like a bullet from the barrel of the gun. Vince followed, howling like a little pup. Adam, Luke, and Travis left after them, tromping through the snow.
I, however, hung back. I knew who it was and it just made me more depressed. I hated when they came to visit. My brother’s weren’t the same when they came snooping around, poking their noses in our business. Sighing once, inhaling the evening air, I started off in the opposite direction, towards home, hoping to erase them from my mind. But it was hard. They were hard to ignore. They always brought trouble with them. I couldn’t help but wonder what mischief they would conduct this time.
Veronica
My eyelids fought the heavy fatigue hanging over my body like a thick fog the next morning, consuming my very being. My hair was damp around my head as I stomped through the parking lot, the misty air clinging to my head. Escaping through the sliding doors, I was met with an overly cheery Rebecca Martin. “Veronica! Good to see you. I was just getting off shift.”
“Yeah, sorry I’m late,” I apologized, hoping that she wouldn’t put that down on the record. I was already running thin with the boss as it was.
“No, it’s okay. I won’t tell, promise.” She smiled at me, but it didn’t leave me feeling any better.
Once I was changed, I met her in aisle three. “Just continue stocking the cereal as if you were here the whole time.”
“Got it.”
“See you later, Veronica.” Rebecca waltzed off, whistling an annoying tune that grated on my ears. It was too early for this. Mechanically putting the boxes in their rightful places, I didn’t notice when I zoned out until a familiar voice shook me from my dronish state.
“My, you look wide-awake!”
Jumping slightly, I looked up to see William’s frame towering over me. I smiled in spite of my mood. Seeing him was like a breath a fresh air, though his eyes were just as piercing as normal. I couldn’t stare at his face for long. “Hey, Will,” I greeted with forced enthusiasm. I owed him that much after the way I treated him. At the thought of this, my cheeks highlighted in color, making me bend further over to hide it.
“Been working long?”
“No, just got here.”
He nodded, staring off into space, lost in thought. “Well, I better get going. Brother’s getting hungry.”
I smiled. “How are your brothers?”
“Good. There are all still idiots.”
I laughed. “Travis and Luke still at home?”
“Yeah, the morons still don’t know what they want to be yet.”
“Not a surprise. They were always goofing off when in school.”
“So true.” We shared another laugh before it grew awkward.
“Will, I am sorry about yesterday. I shouldn’t have acted like that—“
“No, it’s okay. If you want to date a complete asshole, that’s your business.”
Staring at him as if only seeing him for the first time, I stood up. “What?” I asked, not sure I had heard him right.
“Nothing.” He shrugged. “I just said that if you want to date an ass—“
“No, I heard you.” Shaking my head, I tried to think coherently. “Mike’s not an—“
“Don’t even start, Veronica.” He rolled his eyes heavenward. “You know as well as I do what Mike is but you keep crawling back. That guy has you wrapped around his finger so tight that you’ll never be able to get away now.”
“You don’t know what you are talking about, Will, so just shut your trap!”
Will laughed harshly. “Have fun working, Veronica.” With that, he walked off, his hands deep in his pockets. I stood there, fuming like a smoking candle. I couldn’t believe the nerve of him! He was supposed to be my friend, supportive and trustworthy. But lately, he hasn’t been the Will I used to know. Will would never have spoken to me like that. The Will I knew was kind, soft-spoken, cheerful all the time. Something was up with him, but I hadn’t the patience or the time to worry about him. I had my own problems.
Growling with frustration, I got back to work, slowly returning to my robotic mode.
