Eliot sat slouched in his seat, shoulders curled inward, pencil moving steadily across his notebook.
What he was drawing wasn't notes or formulas. It was werewolves—big ones, sharp-eyed and angry, muscles tense beneath thick fur.
Some stood upright on two legs, towering and powerful.
Others crouched low on four, jaws parted just enough to show teeth.
They looked like they could protect themselves. Fight back.
Eliot sighed quietly, resting his chin against his palm.
"Eliot!"
The sound snapped straight through his thoughts.
"Stand up, Eliot Winters," Mr. Hargrove said.
Eliot jolted and stood. His glasses slid down his nose, and he pushed them back with one finger.
His silky black hair stuck out in soft, uneven strands, like it had never agreed with gravity.
He was small—noticeably smaller than most of the boys around him—and it showed now more than ever.
"Y-yes, sir," he said, quietly but clearly.
Mr. Hargrove, a middle-aged man with a permanent frown and tired eyes, cleared his throat.
"You were distracted."
Eliot swallowed and nodded.
A boy near the window leaned over and smirked. "What were you drawing this time—your wolf monsters?"
A few kids laughed.
"Enough," Mr. Hargrove snapped, and the room went still.
He sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "Eliot, you tend to disappear in this class. This year, every student must join a school club. You will choose one."
Eliot's fingers curled at his sides.
Clubs meant people.
Talking.
Being noticed.
"O-okay," he said. "But—"
"Yes," Mr. Hargrove cut in, already anticipating the question. "There is a science club this year. Room 204. Mr. Miller runs it."
Eliot nodded, relief loosening something in his chest.
"Go sign up," Mr. Hargrove added. "That's all."
As Eliot sat back down, the classroom buzzed again.
He hugged his arms lightly around himself. New people again, he thought. Great.
He reached the science lab just as the lesson was wrapping up.
"Eliot," Mr. Miller said from the front, not unkind but firm. "You're late. Don't let it happen again."
"Sorry, sir," Eliot replied, voice soft but steady.
Mr. Miller nodded and returned to dismissing the class.
Eliot grabbed a lab coat from the rack and slipped it on, the sleeves a little too long.
Three boys were already there.
One—tall, broad-shouldered, clearly unimpressed—leaned against a table with his arms crossed. Leon.
Another sat neatly at a workstation, glasses slightly crooked, organizing equipment with focused care. Theo.
The third lounged nearby, spinning a pen between his fingers, watching everything with amused interest. Rex.
When the room finally quieted, Theo glanced at Eliot's notebook as it peeked from his bag.
"Hey," he said gently, "you draw werewolves, don't you?"
Eliot hesitated, then nodded. "Yeah."
"I noticed earlier," Theo said, almost shy himself. "I like them. You make them look… strong."
He pulled out his own sketchbook and opened it.
Theo's werewolves were completely different.
Smaller.
Softer.
Round eyes, fluffy ears, tails mid-wag. Still clever-looking, still confident—but friendly. Approachable.
"I like them like this," Theo said. "Not scary. Just smart."
Eliot's lips twitched. "They're… cute."
Theo smiled.
''I'm Theo and you?''
''Eliot''.
Leon let out a short breath. "Please tell me this isn't turning into a werewolf thing."
Rex snorted. "Oh, it absolutely is."
Leon rolled his eyes. "Figures."
Theo glanced between them. "Actually, uh—if you want, you could all come by my place sometime. I want to show some stuff I'm working on."
Leon grimaced. "I hope it's not werewolf-related."
Rex grinned. "You hope. I know."
Leon sighed. "Fine. Whatever."
Rex shrugged. "I'm in."
As the others drifted off, Theo lingered beside Eliot.
"Hey," he said quietly, lowering his voice, "do you… want to come too? You don't have to if you don't want to."
Eliot looked at the cute werewolves on the page, then back at Theo. Talking felt easier here. Natural.
"…Yeah," he said. "I'd like that."
Theo smiled, and for the first time that day, Eliot didn't feel like shrinking away.
They packed up and headed out separately, but Eliot walked lighter than before—already thinking about science, werewolves, and the strange feeling that maybe he'd just found a place where he belonged.
--
Eliot stepped inside and dropped his bag by the door, sinking onto the couch.
His mom, Maris, looked up from the kitchen. Soft brown hair in a messy bun, eyes sharp and always noticing everything. "You're home early… or late?"
His dad, Marcus, leaned against the doorway, tall, broad, calm. "How was school?"
Before Eliot could answer, Elara, his sister, breezed in, phone in hand. Long, glossy hair, sparkling eyes, and that dramatic energy that made everything around her feel like a live show.
"You only sit like that when you're about to say something important," she said, pointing at him with a dish towel.
Marcus muted the TV. "What happened."
His sister Elara, appeared out of nowhere, perched on the arm of the couch. "This is either good news or catastrophic."
Eliot swallowed. "I joined a club."
His mom blinked. "Okay. You...What?"
''hmmm...''
His dad nodded slowly. "Still with us."
"Science club," Eliot added.
Elara sighed and rolled her eyes. "Predictable but acceptable."
"And," Eliot said carefully, "I made a friend."
The room froze.
Maris sat down hard in the chair across from him. "A real one?"
"Yes."
Marcus leaned forward. "Did they speak first or did you."
"…Both."
Elara gasped. "Character development." She pulled out her phone to record.
''Chat...'' She turned the phone to him ''My brother just said a sentence''
''Stop recording.'' Marcus said head jerking towards Elara.
''Name.''
Eliot shifted. "His name is Theo. He noticed my drawings. He likes werewolves too."
Maris's eyes softened as she placed a hand on her chest. "That's sweet."
Elara squinted. "That's suspiciously perfect." She lowered her phone and sighed.
Eliot's ears warmed. "He's nice. And there are other boys too. One grumpy. One… loud."
Marcus nodded with a smirk. "Balanced group."
Eliot took a breath. "Theo invited us to his house. To show some science stuff."
Silence.
Then—
"His house?" Maris mom said walking forward.
"Yes."
"How far," his dad asked picking up the remote.
"I don't know."
"What kind of science stuff," Elara pressed. ''And can I record this?''
''No.''
''Are you sure Eliot? I mean is it safe?'' Maris asked concern etched don her face.
"Safe," Eliot said quickly. "Probably."
Maris crossed her arms arching an eyebrow. "You're asking."
"Yes."
His sister leaned closer. "Say it properly."
"…Can I go to Theo's house?" Eliot asked his hands trembling out of excitemement.
Maris studied him for a long moment. Really looked. Not hunched. Not shrinking. Nervous, yes—but hopeful.
Marcus smiled. "I think he should." He sighed switching the channel ''Besides this is the first time I heard the word a friend from him.''
Elara groaned. "Great. The quiet one is social now. What do we do."
''And also I want to go to Dia's house''
''No.''
Maris turned to Eliot who looked up lazily.
she looked at him for some time then sighed, then nodded. "We'll meet the parents."
Eliot's shoulders dropped in relief. "Okay."
Elara smirked. "Don't forget us when you're famous for wolf science."
''And great that boy for me.''
''Help me cook first.''
''My little brother just made a friend...'' Elara squealed and shot up.
Eliot almost smiled.