WW just stared at his hot dog, watching the skin sizzle and pop, beginning to blister. He didn’t look at his parents, or at Cori flirting with Pan. He just took another big swig of his drink and did his best to ignore the fact that he was the fifth wheel.

But he was. And it sucked. So, he tuned out their conversations, their happy voices. He didn’t want to listen to them being happy and gooey. Man, I’ve got to get a boyfriend. He sighed. Then no one would be the fifth wheel. No one would be stuck staring at their hot dog, being blinded by the fire as the sunlight slowly began to fade. His permanent frown rested on his face. It seemed like it would never wash away.

Until Pan began to tell another story, that is. His voice was soft and enchanting, and WW quickly remembered the reason behind Cori’s great interest in him.

He was a magical plant person, who’d grown up in a magical land, and had actual magic powers. Plus, as it turned out, even if he hadn’t been all of those things, Pan was one hell of a storyteller. WW couldn’t help but listen in.

"A few years ago, I went to an elven city. I think I mentioned it before, how I attended one of their fires? But I didn't mention that elves and my kind don't… Exactly get along."

"Why not?" Cori asked, tilting her head.

"They think we're useless hippies, we think they're horrible, violent snobs." Pan shrugged.

"Violent? Elves?" Cori's eyebrows raised.

"Very. If they find someone trespassing in their land without permission, they… Well their punishments are quite… Harsh." Pan frowned, glancing over to see if WW was listening.

No one could see that he was.

"Then why did you go to their town?!" Cori gasped.

"It was on an errand for my queen. She wanted something that only the elves knew how to make. So, I went in disguise. I stained my hair brown... It didn't wash out for months." He chuckled. Cori just leaned in closer. He grinned at her. "So, there I was outside the elven city. It'd taken me a week's travel to get there, and I had my fake brown hair and my lips stained red with cherries, right? Well there was this guard at the door, two fores taller than me, easily--"

"Fores?" Cori interrupted, causing Pan to suddenly stop. Stop interrupting him. WW thought grumpily.

"Yeah? Like. The length of your forearm?" Pan lifted an arm up and gestured between his elbow and wrist. "You don't use that as a measurement?"

“No, we measure differently.” Cori said quietly. “That’s neat, though! S-Sorry for interrupting again.”

Pan just smiled sweetly at her. “It’s alright, I want you to understand what I’m saying,” He chuckled, “Anyways, where was I?”

WW had to stop himself from saying, “The guard.” Thankfully, Cori was quick to answer in his stead.

“Right! The guard!” Pan grinned. “So, I’m coming up to him, and I start sweating. My disguise was just thrown together, and I hadn’t been able to check that the brown hadn’t washed out after it had rained the night before. Pretty sure he could see me shaking as I come up to him. He had these arms thick as trees and he was scowling—Kind of like WW does.” He nudged WW, who huffed and shot him a quick glare. “Yes, exactly like that!” Pan beamed.

WW just rolled his eyes and looked away.

“Anyway, when I get to him he asks me what I’m doing there, and I tell him that I was visiting family. I was expecting him to see straight through me, y’know? But instead, he just says ‘Go get warm, alright?’” Pan’s impression of the elf’s voice was deep and gruff, and made Cori giggle.

“Aw how sweet of him to worry about you.” She laughed.

“If only he’d known, huh?” Pan smirked. “So, I went in. I was supposed to be there for market day, so I could buy the thing for my queen, right?”

“What was it that she wanted, anyway?” Cori asked, leaning closer. She wasn’t the only one hanging off every word, though… WW was just much better at hiding it. He put his hot dog into its bun as he eagerly awaited the answer.