Flirtations

The parking lot is only about halfway full. I notice a bus from Clearview already parked near the front of the school and several groups are exiting their cars, heading towards the football field.

When we step out of the car, the smell of other wolves hits me first. I feel a momentary discomfort from having wolves not of our pack on our land, and I notice Ellie shiver slightly beside me, but the feeling passes quickly and, as I adjust, I'm able to pick up the scent of other supernaturals. Witches, tieflings, yuan-ti, and something else I can't quite place. Maybe the new goliath I heard about on the Clearview team?

As an omega, what I lack in strength and speed is made up for in my heightened senses, particularly smell. I hear it only gets worse in pregnancy; another joy to look forward to. Whatever this smell is, it's strong and I think there is more than one of them nearby. I can tell Ellie smells it too as she lifts her head up slightly and tilts it to the side, a curious look on her face.

"Maybe the goliath brought his family?" I whisper to her. She nods, satisfied with this answer.

"Come on, Ellie! I want to get good seats!" Addy grabs my sister's hands, pulling her along.

"I'll pick you up at 8!" Dad calls after us as we hurry after the girls.

"You really don't have to hurry," I call after Addy. "This is just a practice game, so I doubt there will be too many people here."

"Just let her pretend this is the real high school experience," Star whispers to me. "Maybe if she believes all games are as boring as practice ones, we won't have to come back."

I laugh lightly. "Wow, I didn't realize you were such a manipulative big brother… although now that I think about your track record with me, I guess I shouldn't be surprised."

"Hey! I'm not manipulative!" He slaps my chest, and I smirk when he winces slightly, shaking out his hand.

"The truth hurts doesn't it?" I tease.

"Not as much as your pecs. Are you wearing a lead bra or something?"

"Iron actually. And a matching chastity belt. Do you want the key?"

"Actually, I was thinking that I need a set for myself. Do they sell that at Victoria's Secret?"

"Omega Selection, actually."

We dissolve into silly giggles. "That's not a real store!" Star doubles over, wheezing silently. I love his laugh, it is so sweet and carefree. I never hear him laughing for anyone else. Not for Taylor or Addy, but with me his stoic facade drops and he seems more like the fifteen-year-old boy he is. I want to hear that laugh everyday.

"Oh? What, are you suddenly an expert on werewolf specialty stores?"

"Werewolf specialty stores? Is that even a thing?"

"Absolutely! Where do you think we get toothbrushes that can be used without opposable thumbs? Do you know how hard it is to keep my wolf canines pearly white?"

The girls turn around to look at us curiously as Star is now openly wheezing from laughter. "Stop it! Now you're just messing with me."

"Am not! Do you think I want to walk around with dog breath all the time? No thanks!"

"What do werewolf toothbrushes even look like?"

"Like a big bracelet with bristles. Kind of like my porcupine thong: alphas beware."

"Please stop."

"What? Am I scandalizing your warlock sensibilities?"

"Yes, I have an aversion to purity."

"So this angel look is all an act?"

"Angel? Look who's talking, Goldilocks."

"What? All angels have to be blonde?"

"And white, according to most classical art."

"That's stupid. Angels come from heaven, right? Well, that must be where you're from, because you've got the heavens mapped out on your face."

"Wow. Cheesy much? What does that even mean?"

I scoff. "You don't know why I call you Starlight?" He looks at me curiously. "Your freckles," I clarify. "They look like stars."

Alastair blushes deeply, making said freckles pop beautifully, just like a darkening night sky makes the stars shine. "Seriously, you're so corny."

"Corn? Cheese? Add some rice and chicken, and I could be a Hawaiian haystack."

"Who puts corn on Hawaiian haystacks?" Addy pops into our conversation to ask as we slide into the middle of the bleachers next to the girls.

"Wow, judgy much?" Ellie teases her new friend.

"As a representative of the culture you are appropriating, I have the right to be judgmental about what you put on Hawaiian haystacks."

"I don't think Hawaiian haystacks actually originated in Hawaii," Star points out.

"Citation needed," she responds.

"What?! I don't need a citation to prove that something isn't true? You need a citation to prove that it is."

"Potato. Patato."

"Now those are good on Hawaiian haystacks," I chime in.

Star and Addy stare at me like I'm crazy. "Now I know you've got to be kidding," Star says, betraying me to join his sister's side of the debate.

"Huh, I guess you really don't know everything," I tease. "Maybe haystacks really are authentic Hawaiian cuisine."

"That's besides the point," Addy cuts in. "Regardless of whether Hawaiian's invented haystacks or not, the dish is still an appropriation, because the name was inspired by the toppings which are common in many Hawaiian dishes."

"Which are?" Ellie asks.

"Pineapple and coconut."

"Ew!" Ellie and I respond in unison.

"I hate coconut!" Ellie continues. "It has a weird texture and the strings get stuck in my teeth."

"Yeah, who would ruin a perfectly good meal with coconut?" I add.

"Real Hawaiians who know how the dish should actually be prepared," Addy responds indignantly.

"But I thought the coven has lived on this land for generations." The unspoken question lingers in Ellie's voice.

"Oh, well… you see…" Alastair looks away, uncomfortable.

"Our fathers are Hawaiian," Addy says bluntly.

"Citation needed," Alastair mutters.

"You don't know?" I can't help but pry.

Alastair seems reluctant to answer, but Addy has zero shame or filter, per usual. "Mom had us both while she was in college and living in Hawaii, before she took over as High Priestess. So it's highly likely that our fathers are Hawaiian, or at least Polynesian, just based on our skin tones and facial features."

I immediately pick up on the unspoken implications of what was just said, but Ellie? Sometimes I wonder if it's the ten month age gap, or maybe it's the fact that Ellie has never needed to be as careful as me in what she says. Either way, she occasionally misses subtle social cues, as evidenced by her next question: "Why don't you just ask them?"

Addy just stares at my sister like she has grown a second head; like she just suggested the most ridiculous thing ever. Alastair grimaces, obviously uncomfortable by this line of questioning.

Thankfully we are all saved from that awkward explanation by the squealing of electronic feedback. The source of the unpleasant noise: the football coach standing in the middle of the field, tapping his fingers into a handheld microphone.

We all grasp our ears, but the screeching is already fading. "Sorry," Coach Hallman whispers loudly into the mic. A few parents chuckle. "Ok, so I would like to thank all the friends and family members who came out here to support these super players." A few more chuckles. I just roll my eyes, but Addy seems delighted by the silly pun. "I know you are all eager for the game to start, so I won't take up too much of your time. Without further ado, welcome to the first practice match between Grandville and Clearview High which officially marks the beginning of the Kanawa District supervaristy football season!"

Ellie whoops when our team jogs onto the field, and Addy quickly gets into the spirit of things, cheering along. I'm happy to see our sisters enjoying themselves, but I've been through all this more times than I can count. I'm unimpressed. Alastair looks no better, wincing slightly at the sound of his sister's yelling so close to his ear.

"Buckle up," I whisper into his ears over the noise of the crowd. "If Addy follows Ellie's lead, they're going to be like this all night."