“But you guys were the ones who wanted lots of alone time together since Dad got back,” I said, “Maybe I need to stay at my friend’s house for a bit, so that you guys can get used to each other again? How about it?”

“Vernon, don’t you mean your boyfriend’s house?” Dad asked.

“What?” Mom asked.

“You shouldn’t be thinking that you can just stay here while his parents are out,” Dad said, “Besides, I don’t want to keep breaking promises with you. I just momentarily forgot about what I told you about regarding tomorrow morning.”

“Just give what you promised to me now,” I said, “I don’t want to go home yet.” Dad sighed and reached into his pants’ pocket to take out a red envelope.

“Fine,” Dad said, “Here you go.” He put it in my hand, the envelope felt oddly heavy. The two of them walked away, but for some reason, I could hear them even after they left Larry’s parents’ house.

“Well, at least the bird was wrong,” Mom said, “But are you sure changing your mind was a good idea, Goro?”

“He wants to be left alone, Estelle,” Dad said, “Let him make mistakes, but I think he has the same bond with his boyfriend that you and I do.”

“But Vernon’s only 16,” Mom said, “Do mates really come that young?”

“Larry is a tamer,” Dad said, “Taming and Mates are similar enough, but it’s also possible to have a mate who is a tamer who tamed you first before becoming your mate. There’s also the thing where they are mates first and then tame you. I feel like with these two we’ll never know which came first between those two.”

“Do you think they’ll try to be safe?” Mom asked.

“Who knows?” Dad asked, “Even smart kids can do stupid things.”

“Do you think you and I will be able to conceive before they do?” Mom asked.

“It’s more of a hope than a think,” Dad said, “Let’s go back and make sure that we can give Vernon a younger sibling.” All of a sudden, I was brought back to reality.

“What’s going on, Vernon?” Larry asked.

“I think my Dad had me listening in to their conversation,” I said.

“Oh, okay,” Larry said.

“So, what’s with the envelope?” Carly asked.

“It’s from my relatives in the home country,” I said, “It feels heavy, but it's supposed to be money. I just hope that he didn’t give me a whole bunch of ones as a joke.”

“Oh,” Carly said, “I see.”

“You better hide that then,” Larry said, “I think we have a ghost here that likes to steal money.”

“He’s not a ghost,” Carly said, “He’s not even dead. The thief is some guy who was infamous at one point, but we barely remember that he exists. I think he’s our Dad’s twin brother, but I don’t even know his name.”

“Dad has a twin brother?” Larry asked.

“Yeah,” Carly said. “Or at least I’m pretty sure he does.”

“Let’s just go to bed,” I said, “I want to get comfortable.”

“Oh, right,” Larry said, “I want to take a shower before going to bed, so I’ll meet you in my room.”

“Just don’t do anything else stupid tonight, you two,” Carly said. “I don’t want Mom and Dad to rush home from their trip because Luxius told on you again, Larry.”

“I can’t promise anything,” Larry said.

“I’ll try,” I said. Larry went to go take a shower, so I used that time to get my own shower in a different bathroom. Then, the two of us met in his bedroom and the first thing Larry did when he saw me was kiss me.

“You don’t even have that wet dog smell,” Larry said.

“If I did would you still want me?” I asked. Larry chuckled.

“I would,” Larry said.

“Do you still want me to sleep next to you in my Dog form?” I asked.

“Only if you only want to sleep next to me and not in a different room,” Larry said.

“So, my transformation is now akin to a yes or a no pillowcase?” I asked.

“That’s not what I meant,” Larry said.

“So my choices are sleep in your bed in dog form or sleep in another room because you can’t trust yourself to keep your hands off me when I’m in my human form?” I asked.

“If you want to put it that way,” Larry said, “I do want to mess around with you, but I feel like your safety is the top priority. I don’t want to do anything that could lead to you hating me later on.”

“You want to mess around fully clothed?” I asked, “Because the place that I’m uncomfortable with is my chest.”

“Why didn’t you say that before?” Larry asked.

“Because I thought that you’d think I was weird,” I said.

“Well, at least now I know what’s off limits,” Larry said, “And it wasn’t the part I thought it would be.”

“Larry, don’t you dare,” a voice said from behind Larry said. We both turned to see Luxius with his wings fully expanded.

“How did you get yourself summoned?” Larry asked, “I distinctly remember unsummoning you.”

“When you touched the forbidden jelly, it summoned all of us,” Luxius said, “Also, the reason I said that just before was because you guys were probably going to crush Lacey or Luther as they hadn’t  been able to get off your bed yet. Just give them a few minutes and they’ll  be out of the way.” Larry and I looked at his bed, where a snake dropped to the floor from under the covers and Lacey hopped onto the nightstand.

“Luther is a snake?” I asked.

“Yeah,” Larry said, “His powers are light, water, and healing.”

“Okay,” I said.

“Can we go to bed now?” Larry asked.

“Go right ahead,” Luxius said. Larry and I got under his covers on his bed.

I ended up falling asleep in my Dog form next to Larry. He used my large Dog body as both a pillow and a blanket. I woke up the next morning with a weird feeling in my chest. Larry was still sound asleep laying his head on my stomach and holding onto my tail like it was his favorite blanket, but something didn’t feel quite right. Larry felt heavy somehow.

“Larry,” I said telepathically, hoping it would wake him up, “Larry, please wake up. You’re hurting me.” His eyes fluttered open and he moved off of me. I transformed back into my human form. The pain eased, but didn't completely subside.

“Sorry, Vernon,” Larry said.

“You were heavy,” I said, “What happened?”

“I don’t know,” Larry said, “But you were comfortable to cuddle with last night.” I blushed.

“You shouldn’t have been so heavy,” I said.

“I’ve been told that I’m heavier when asleep,” Larry said.

“We both ended up passing out,” I said.

“Oh, right,” Larry said, "Your dog form is so fluffy. I could sleep soundly wrapped up in your warmth."

“It was nice," I said. Larry frowned at me.

“Your face says otherwise,” Larry said.

“Larry, what exactly does my face say?” I asked.

“That you’re upset because you didn't sleep so comfortably,” Larry said.

“How do you see that?” I asked.

“I can sense your emotions better since I tamed you,” Larry said.

“But are you really sure?” I asked.

“Vernon, I think I know you a lot better now," Larry said, "But obviously, I don't know how well I should expect to know you or how much more I need to learn."

“Do you still want to learn about me?” I asked.

“A hundred percent,” Larry said.

“What should I say?” I asked.

“How should I know?” Larry asked, “I don't know what I don't know.”

“You acted like you were experienced in interrogation," I said, "What are you curious about?"

"I don't know," Larry said, "But I do know that I am serious about you."

"Are you sure, Larry?" I asked, "You could ask me anything."

“I only dated like 2 people before,” Larry said, “Kissed, held hands, cuddled, and made out once. Never got to the point you and I are at now because I wasn’t so serious about them.”

“Are you sure we’re even ready to know that we're serious about each other?” I asked, "I'm 16 and you're almost 16."

“You’re probably right,” Larry said, "But I do think I'm really attached to you."

“Do you want to go have breakfast, Larry?” I asked.

“Yeah, I’m really hungry,” Larry said, “But I’m going to go change my clothes in the bathroom.” He grabbed his clothes before he left the room. I changed my clothes and went downstairs. I felt weird and tingly, but I didn’t want to think about it. When I got to the kitchen, I saw Larry talking to his sister.

“Carly, I’m serious,” Larry said, “I swear that last night I tamed my boyfriend and now I can feel his emotions.”

“This is another one of your tall tales, Larry,” Carly said, “I still can’t forgive you for the time you lied to me about the neighbors being zombies.”

“I didn’t lie,” Larry said, “Their son is a Zombie. And this is the truth too. I’d show you, but obviously it isn’t visible to you as you aren’t a tamer like me.”

“What?” Carly asked.

“He’s upset and annoyed,” Larry said.

“And over here,” I said making both of them turn towards me.

“You don’t like us talking about you without your involvement, huh?” Larry asked.

“Why would I?” I asked.

“You guys are both idiots,” Carly said, “Don’t tell me anymore, because I don’t want to hear about it. Also, my boyfriend, Marshall, is coming with us, so it’s a double date today. I really didn’t want to be a third wheel, but now it’s obvious that I made the right choice.”

“Do we really need to bring him with us?” Larry asked.

“I am not going to just be your driver, Larry,” Carly said, “I want to have a good time too.”

“Okay, but I’d like to have some alone time with my boyfriend,” Larry said.

“We were planning on going to the theme park anyway,” Carly said, “So, as long as we meet up at a certain time, we will be fine.”

“Do you have enough money to pay for your date?” Larry asked.

“Yes, just in case Marshall forgets money,” Carly said, “But I’m not going to give you any of it, Larry.”

“I never asked for it, Carly,” Larry said, “I just asked because I knew you went on a shopping spree last weekend with Mom, Aunt Ava, and Cousin Julie.”

“I didn’t spend the money I got from my summer job yet,” Carly said. “Where did you get your money?”

“Luxius let me sell his collection,” Larry said, “Dad said that I spent my allowance for the next few years when I begged him to buy me the newest game console and the games that came with it that I wanted for it three months ago, even with all the money I saved up that I gave him I was about $200 short. I did repay him completely when Luxius let me sell his collection, so I have about $352 left.”

“You guys get an allowance?” I asked.

“Yeah, if we get good grades and do the chores that we’re asked to,” Larry said.

“But the amount shrinks when we get a job,” Carly said, “And obviously, when we move out, we won’t get anymore.”

“I never got an allowance,” I said, “But I did get the red envelope yesterday from Dad that my grandparents on his side gave me.” I pulled the red envelope out of my pocket and opened it. I was wrong, they weren’t all ones, they were various bills. 1s, 5s, 10s, 20s, 50s, and 100s. “Okay, this seems like way too much money.”

“Yeah, that seems like way too much to carry around with you,” Larry said.

“How much should I bring?” I asked.

“Depends on you,” Carly said, “Also, have you ever been to a theme park?”

“No,” I said.

“I see,” Carly said, “Well, since Larry and I have season passes, we don’t need to buy a ticket, but you need a ticket. Larry can use his bring a friend for half off part of his ticket, but it doesn’t include food or drinks or merchandise.”

“I’ll bring what I think is best then,” I said, “Bigger bills are harder to make change for, so I’ll try not to bring anything bigger than a 20.”

“Yeah, makes sense,” Larry said.

“How much is the ticket?” I asked.

“I’ll pay for your ticket,” Larry said, “I was planning on it anyway. You just bring money for souvenirs and food.”

“Oh, thanks,” I said, “So, when are we leaving?”

“As soon as Marshall gets here,” Carly said, “But he’s already late, so who knows?”

“As long as he doesn’t take all his friends too,” Larry said, “We should be fine.” Carly’s phone got a notification sound, so she checked it.

“Ah,” Carly said, “The boy is on his way. He says the reason why he’s late is because his Dad decided to give him a lecture this morning about being a gentleman after he found out about the date.”

“Good for him,” Larry said.

“And the peanut gallery watched,” Carly said, “I don’t know who the peanut gallery is, but that sounds interesting.”

“He’s got siblings, right?” Larry asked.

“He’s the second of six, I think,” Carly said, “So, maybe it’s them?”

“Six kids in this day and age?” Larry asked, “His Mom must be a saint.”

“No, I’m pretty sure he doesn’t share the same Mom with most of them,” Carly said.

“Oh…” Larry said, “That’s what I get for assuming.”

“Yeah, and you sounded just like  Grandpa when you said that,” Carly said.

“Grandpa is amazing,” Larry said, “His stories are interesting and he doesn’t laugh when I’m serious like everyone else does.”

“Yeah, because you’re the boy who cried Wolf,”  Carly said.

“And I’m the Wolf,” I said, “Or at least I could’ve been, but I’m a Dog instead for some reason.”

“Yes, exactly,” Larry said.

“And I’m totally not jealous,” Carly said, “But you know, I’m pretty sure you guys aren’t even speaking the same language as me anymore.”

“Well, Vernon and I are going to get our breakfast and then we’ll go,” Larry said, “So, give us a bit and we’ll be ready soon enough.”

“Whatever,” Carly said. Larry got out two bowls.

“Is cereal okay with you?” Larry asked.

“Yeah,” I said.

“We have marshmallow crunch,” Larry said, “Chocolate goodness, peanut butter spheres, cinnamon squares, and cookie cereal. Which one do you want?”

“Whatever you’re having,” I said.

“Okay, peanut butter spheres it is,” Larry said. He took out a box of what I assumed was the brand name of the peanut butter spheres cereal, but upon closer inspection, it was not a cereal box, just a cardboard box that had a piece of paper taped onto it that said “eat at your own risk” with no words that said anything about cereal on it. Sure enough, the cereal was inside it, but the box was rather strange.

“Why does it just say ‘eat at your own risk’?” I asked.

“Luxius put it in here,” Larry said, “He thinks it’s funny. He changed all the cereal boxes to say something different. I think he changed marshmallow crunch to ‘eat when feeling fancy’.”

“But, Larry, why does this one say the word ‘risk’?” I asked.

“Luxius knows that some people have peanut allergies,” Larry said.

“Oh,” I said, “I was trying to figure out what those boxes were when I was trying to figure out what to make for dinner. Now it makes sense. Which one is labeled ‘eat only on a new moon’?”

“The cookie cereal,” Larry said.

“I see,” I said. Then, we ate and by the time we finished eating, Carly’s boyfriend arrived.