“You didn't really have to follow me to my place, y’know?” Fred said but Jean wasn't bothered by his words whatsoever.

“But how else will I learn about you quickly?” he asked, all smiles and joy despite looking like he hadn't slept in a good few days.

Fred was even questioning if Jean had showered in a while because there seemed to be a stench that followed them since they were in his apartment.

“Why do you need to learn about me? It's Saturday. Go hang out with your friends,” Fred said, sighing as he smiled at a girl from one of his classes, walking on with his hands in his pockets and feeling out of place with someone—a human—by his side.

Since he moved to Pennsylvania from Ireland, he mostly kept to himself. Though if he was being honest, he always kept to himself anyway, even back home, especially around too many humans. With all the stories his Granda used to tell him about humans killing his people, he had had all kinds of nightmares about them as a kid. He had a damn phobia at some point, growing sorta out of it despite how uneasy they still made him feel.

It was best to have them charmed by him than actually getting close to him. Safer for all of them.

Safer for Jean too if he was able to take a hint.

“I don't have friends, dude,” Jean said, laughing lightly.

Fred turned to look at him and he was surprised. Jean was weird, no doubt, but his seemingly relaxed reaction to that fact genuinely shocked Fred.

“...Oh,” Fred said, feeling bad for bringing it up. “I'm sorry.”

He paused walking down the sidewalk when Jean stood in front of him, eyebrows raised and vampire themed messenger bag in front of his chest.

“For what?” Jean asked as he placed the bag’s strap over his shoulder, looking quizzical.

“...For bringing up the friends thing?” Fred asked.

Jean laughed, hands going in the pockets of his pajama ghost pants that he wore outside proudly.

“Don't be sorry. I like being alone. People are just…well y’know. So…” Jean said, moving back to stand by Fred, both of them continuing their walk, “same school, huh? Haven't seen you around here.”

And now it's small talk. Way to try and make this not seem weird at all, Fred thought, laughing softly.

“I haven't seen you either, and I know because there ain't no way I could forget a gorgeous face like yours,” Fred said, winking down at Jean.

Again, Jean didn't respond or react to Fred's uncontrollable flirtations and it was by far the weirdest thing about the guy.

“So do you remember anything from last night? Or when you…wolf out?” Jean asked, changing the topic again.

Fred noticed he did that a lot. It was like his mind worked on overdrive. Or the seven cups of black coffee he drank just before he followed Fred out of his apartment.

“Yes. I remember it all...You're really into this stuff, aren't ya?” Fred asked, bringing out a keychain he had found in Jean's room.

It was a flat plastic Frankenstein’s monster head, with the bolts and everything. It was by far the most normal thing in that room from what Fred has seen. The guy had shrunken heads around his window.

Truth be told, Fred was actually surprised Jean hadn't been haunted yet, possessed by a wandering spirit even. The little guy had been playing with some dangerous shit.

Fred's usual smile widened, amused when Jean grabbed the keychain out of his hand and looking all embarrassed.

“It's…I grew up watching those classic horror movies. They're my life. A big part of it anyway,” Jean said, scratching the back of his neck as he awkwardly looked at his boots.

Some may have found Jean's statement a little sad, but Fred thought it made sense and he was glad for the guy. Not many found something that could get them so passionate.

Fred opened his mouth to say something, about to suggest they sat in the café they were passing as he suddenly wasn't in such a hurry to get home, but then a sickly sweet scent filled his nostrils, a familiar mix of honey, lemon and cinnamon. It was so strong, even from so far away, that it made Fred have a sneezing fit.

“Whoa. Are you okay?” He heard Jean ask, feeling the guy’s thin fingers on his shoulder.

Fred stood up straight, unable to answer as he turned around and began to head back the other way, a confused Jean running after him.

“Hey! Wait! I thought we were going to your place?” Jean said as he caught up to Fred, having to jog to keep up.

Fred paused for a second, wondered if he had time to comment how dirty that question was but ignored it and marched on, headed for the highway leading out of the town.

“Go home, beautiful,” Fred said to Jean, glad he was able to keep up his laid-back tone despite his building nervousness.

The things headed for the city weren't that big of a deal but he didn't know how he was going to deal with them. Sensing from the build up of the stench in the atmosphere and the way some of the other sensitive beings on the streets ran indoors, they were probably mad and ready to destroy.

And of course, I have to deal with it. How does this town even stand when I'm not around?

“What? Why? What's going on?” Jean asked, still following Fred and was starting to frustrate the young werewolf.

“You've seen enough, wouldn't you say? Much safer if you went to your supposedly regular human life, wouldn't ya say? I may look abso-fucking-lutely amazing, but there are ugly secrets I doubt you can…wolf down,” Fred said, stopping to wink at Jean before turning around and marching forward.

He would've ran but there were humans around, a lot especially on a Saturday, and too many of them knew him.

He sighed when he still heard Jean following him, but the guy did make Fred laugh when he asked, “Did you just make a wolf pun?”