Grim as Ever.

Brian was more than surprised when she touched his hand. His eyes lowered to stare at her gesture, before they slowly rose back up to glance over her face. "Yeah." He breathed, "You're right." He smiled and tried to relax. "Glad you think so." The waitress brought their drinks and Brian was quick to pick up his glass of wine and take a drink. "So... put any more thought into your college major?"

---

Morgana smiled at Matts use of the word intimate. It sort of helped erase any doubt in her mind that this wasn't real. "I want to get you know better, too." She beamed and placed her hands on the table and looked up into his eyes. "I feel like you know a little more about me than I do. What's your background? I assume you and Brian aren't real brothers and that's just a cover up? How did you two get to the top of this town?" Morgana had a lot of questions.

@ foREVerYours.

Nikki took a sip of her drink, glad to see that Brian was relaxing a bit. “Well, I’m thinking my best bet is nursing, I’m really interested in it.” She glanced around before looking back at him, “If I choose to be a nurse, I can transfer to a college closer and keep my credits...”

---

Matt was glad to hear that she wanted to get to know him. “We aren’t brothers, we’ve been friends for so long we’re brothers by choice.” He laughed softly, trying to figure out the best way to tell her how they got to the top. “Well, It started when we were turned, not too far from here. Brian and I were on a road trip with our girlfriends and we came across Sam and his pack, they, uh killed the girls and turned us.” He was hesitant to go on, but knew he had to, “After that we, mostly Brian, decided Sam needed to be taken down and took over Havenport, we’ve been working things out ever since...”

@ dance macabre

Brian didn't know why he was already becoming so protective of Nikki, but he didn't like the idea of her going hours away from him. He knew how creepy that was for him to think, so he didn't let a word of it slip past his lips. Instead he just smiled, "That's a good career choice. Lots of options." He took another sip of his drink, looking around the crowded restaurant. Sometimes it was hard to turn off aspects of his unnatural self. He could hear conversations that were going on all the way in the kitchen, he could hear the guests at the table next to his breathing, and he could hear how fast Nikki's heart was beating. Was she a little nervous too?

---

Morgana figured the only thing she could really give was her condolences. "Shit, I-I'm so sorry..." She chewed on the inside of her lip, wondering if the man who had interrupted their lunch that day was Sam... If it was, he seemed to really put Matt on edge. Morgana could only wonder if she was in danger, but that didn't deter her from wanting to get closer to Matt. They were interrupted by their waiter returning and placing their food down in front of them. Morgana gave a small thanks, and picked up her drink, taking a sip as she looked across the table at Matt.

@ foREVerYours.

“I’ve actually been looking into it and found a college about twenty minutes from Havenport that I can transfer to and I won’t lose my credits,” Nikki smiled, hoping it would help. She wasn’t fond of the idea of going hours away from Brian even though they weren’t serious, Nikki really wanted to see how things would pan out for them.

---

Matt felt relieved to have the whole story off his chest. He was finally starting to feel like there weren’t anymore secrets looming over him. “It's alright, I’ve got a handle on my feelings about it now, I don’t think Brian has dealt with it well.” Matt took a sip of his drink, “On to a happier note now?” He smiled at her.

@ dance macabre

@ foREVerYours.

Brian tended to look at the darker side of things, that shouldn't be a huge surprise considering what he was and what he had went through. Even if the two of them weren't serious or exclusive, when he thought about her going hours away it worried him. That was to far away if something were to happen, he couldn't protect her.

Swallowing his worry, he just smiled, "Hopefully that works out. But I don't mind to make the drive to see you."

---

Morgana nodded at the mention to change the subject to something a bit lighter. "I found a job. Downtown, a little music store. I start next week, so pretty excited about that... If it goes well, I should be able to move out around the same time Nikki goes to college." For some reason though, Morgana didn't really want to have small talk or talk about her own life. She wanted to poke and prod Matt, to learn everything she could about his condition, but she was holding herself back. The last thing she wanted to do was upset him and she figured she would learn everything in time.

Nikki felt like something was off with Brian, but she decided to ignore it. She didn’t want to start questioning him and ruin their date. She smiled hearing he wouldn’t mind making a drive to see her, “That’s sweet, I’m really hoping I can get closer to here though.”

---

Matt nodded, “That’s exciting.” Hearing her mention moving out around the time Nikki went college, he raised an eyebrow, “Are you planning on staying in Havenport?” He asked, hoping she would say yes, Matt was really starting to like her and he didn’t want her to go and leave him.

@ dance macabre

Brian smiled and leaned forward a little, clasping his hands atop the table, "I hope you can too. I'm just now getting to know you, and if I'm being perfectly honest, really starting to like you, too. It kind of sucks that you're going to be going so far away, but even if you do, I'll make the trip." He promised her.

---

Morgana nodded, "Yeah, of course! I gotta stay close to my dad and I wouldn't just want to pack up and leave just as I'm really starting to like you..." She blushed, chewing on the inside of her lip, hoping it wasn't to forward of her.

@ foREVerYours.

Nikki blushed a deep red when Brian said he was starting to like her. “I’m really starting to like you too,” she told him honestly. She looked over at him, “Well, I’ve got free time from now until college starts, so we better get as much time together as we can.”

---

Hearing her mention liking him, Matt couldn’t help a small smile, “I’m glad to hear that, I’m starting to like you too.” He wanted to get to know her, Morgana was the first girl in so long to catch his eye. Matt knew she was something special.

@ warmnessonthesoul.

Brian smiled towards her as the waiter brought their food and asked if everything looked okay. "Everything looks perfect." He smiled, barely moving his eyes off Nikki.

After dinner, he led her back to the car, holding her hand in his. "How about we just go back to my place?" He asked. He knew Matt would still be gone, so they'd have the place to themselves.

---

Morgana was relieved to hear the feelings were mutual. They ate after the food came and once they were done they headed back to the car. Morgana quietly reached for Matts hand, first just grabbing the tips of his fingers and then interlacing them with hers. "Anything else planned?" She asked.

@ foREVerYours.

Nikki smiled as she followed him out to the car, “That’s fine with me.” She was just happy to spend time with Brian alone. It was nice having it be just the two of them.

---

Matt glanced over at her as they walked to the car, “I’ve got an idea, but it’s a surprise.” He opened the car door for her and then got in. Matt drove for a while and then parked in an almost empty parking lot. He opened her door for her and took her hand, leading her to the pier, “This is my favorite place when I come here.”

@ warmnessonthesoul.

Brian started to head home, deciding to take the long way through the woods. He hated the interstate and loved the scenery of back roads. "Are you having fun tonight?" He asked.

---

Morgana followed Matt up to the pier, holding his hand tightly. "Wow..." She looked around, watching the black waters rush up against the posts. She had never noticed how pretty something like this was when it was overwhelmed by hundreds of people. "This is gorgeous."

@ foREVerYours.

Nikki nodded, “Yeah, I am. I’m really happy we got to do this.” She looked out the window as he drove. She smiled over at him as drove.

---

Matt smiled slightly, “It’s nice out here when no on else is around. You can really see how beautiful it is.” He loved the quiet and he was used to being alone, besides Brian, but he wanted Morgana to know that he always wanted her around.

@ warmnessonthesoul.

Brian was almost half way home when a large wolf jumped out of the woods and came darting into the road. "Fuck!-" Brian gasped, knowing it was just a normal wolf. He swerved, landing his car in the ditch. He quickly got out and looked around, not seeing the wolf anywhere anymore. "Nikki? Are you okay?" He ran around to open her door.

---

Morgana smiled, "It really is beautiful." The moonlight was reflecting off the water, making it seem just that much more romantic. "I'm glad you brought me here." She could tell this was kind of just his thing and she was glad he was showing it to her.

@ foREVerYours.

Nikki had blood coming down from her forehead, she wiped it away from her eyes, “I’m fine, it’s just a little blood.” She unbuckled her belt and got out, leaning against the side of the car, “What was that?” Nikki asked, she had only caught a glimpse of whatever it was before it crossed the road.

---

“I know we haven’t known each other long, but I want you to know me,” Matt told her. He didn’t open up to people, but Morgana made him feel more comfortable.

@ warmnessonthesoul.

Brian didn't want to scare her, "It just looked like a wolf..." He pulled his phone out and held the light up to her forehead. "You may need stitches..." He frowned and looked around the woods. Whoever it was seemed to be gone, like they were just trying to scare him. "Let me call Matt..." Brian frowned, feeling bad that he was about to ruin their night.

---

Morgana blushed me turned towards Matt, "I want to know you too." She took his hands in hers and pulled him closer before Matts phone started to ring.

@ foREVerYours.

Nikki shrugged slightly, just trying to keep the blood out of her eyes, “Okay...” She wasn’t too worried about herself. She was relieved when headlights pulled up and stopped, seeing Matt get out. When Morgana got out, Nikki bit her lip, knowing her sister would be worried, “I’m fine, it’s just a cut.” She said before Morgana got too close.

---

Matt smiled, it faded slightly when his phone rang. He answered it, “Hello?” He talked with Brian for a minute before hanging up. “I hate to cut this short, but we have to go.” He took Morgana’s hand and lead her back to the car. Once they were both in and he was driving, he glanced over at her, “Dont freak, but Brian was on his way home with Nikki and he put the car in the ditch.” He said as they pulled up to where Brian told him they were.

@ warmnessonthesoul.

Brian looked over at Matt and frowned, "Fuck I'm sorry..." He pulled Matt over to the side. "A werewolf jumped out in front of the car. I can still smell him."

---

Morgana was the first one out of the car, running over to her sister. "That's not just a cut!" She exclaimed, grabbing Nikki's face by her cheeks and pulling her head closer so she could examine it.

Morgana heard a tree branch snap and she turned around to look into the woods. "What was that?"

@ foREVerYours.

Nikki sighed, “It doesn’t hurt and the bleeding is slowing down, it’s okay.” Her body tensed when she heard the branch snap, she grabbed Morgana’s arm, getting ready to run, “I have a feeling it’s whatever ran out in front of Brian’s car...”

“Brian...” Nikki called, not taking her eyes off the spot where she heard the branch snap.

---

Matt nodded, “I picked up the smell as soon as I got out of the car. Do you think whoever it was is up to something?” Before Brian had a chance to answer, Matt heard Nikki call for Brian.

@ warmnessonthesoul.