Babysitting
Lily was sorting out the last of jaspers school lunch and hanks pack up when she heard a knock at the door. She reached for a dishcloth but stopped short when she heard Taylor’s voice echo down the hallway. “Hey I’m here aunt lily” he called, swinging into view and grinning at her.
“Hey Tay, thanks again for this” she sighed and rubbed her forehead against the back of her arm.
Taylor shrugged one shoulder and tossed his backpack on to the kitchen table “no worries, how hard can a 13 year old be” he grinned.
Lily raised an eyebrow at him and shook her head. “You’ve got no idea” she chuckled quietly. “So jaspers out with Hank right now. He took him to Adams for target practise” she explained. “There’s a casserole in the pot, but it’s gotta feed you all so don’t scoff the lot” she pointed a finger at Taylor. “Kylee isn’t allowed out right now she’s grounded like I explained over the phone”.
Taylor nodded and investigated the casserole with grin “got it. Jas is out with uncle Hank. Kylee confined to barracks” he mock saluted her.
Lily rolled her eyes again and grabbed her purse “if Hank’s back before me, make sure he doesn’t skimp on your money” she teased. Lily kissed Taylor’s cheek and headed out for the day.
Taylor hummed to himself and kicked off his sneakers “hey barbie!” He yelled. There was a thundering of steps down the stairs and kylee skidded along the wooden floor “Tay!” She beamed, launching at her older cousin. Taylor fell back, caught of balance but he managed to stay on his feet. “So come on...” he teased. “Spill it! Why you grounded this time” he said flatly.
Kylee huffed and flicked her hair back over her shoulder “some asshole at-“ “woah! Language lady or else your mom’ll blame me” he raised an eyebrow and folded his arms.
“Some guy” she corrected and copied his posture. “Was being a bully. So I might have hit him” she shrugged.
Taylor couldn’t keep his face straight and burst into a chuckle. “Did he gets you back?”
Kylee scoffed a laugh at him “seriously?! What do you think I am? Human” she teased.
Taylor nodded and smirked at her “Atleast you didn’t set him on fire. Your mom would have grounded you for life then” he teased. Taylor sat at the kitchen table and pulled out his books. “I got some assignments to do... so scram it squirt. Don’t try anything, my hearing is better than yours remember” he threatened with a playful edge. “No sneaking out and no sneaking anybody in”
Kylee waved her hand and headed back upstairs to her room.
————-
A few hours passed by and Taylor was getting cramp in his hands every time he picked up the pen so he set his books aside and stretched himself out in the chair. He turned his head slightly to listen upstairs. Kylee hasn’t come back down since earlier and he’s heard nothing suspicious. But that in itself was sort of suspicious. He was considering investigating but kylee made her way downstairs, hair all curled and makeup on.
Taylor raised both eyebrows at her “what’s all that for?” He teased. “ are you even old enough to wear that stuff”.
Kylee threw him a glare “I’ve had nothing else to do so I’ve been practising” she shrugged.
“Oh yeah... what’s his name” Taylor asked folding his arms.
“It’s not for a guy” she snapped. Kylee would never admit it, but she’d been getting trouble from a group of girls at school. Comments about her dress sense, telling her she was to skinny. The general mean girl stuff.
Taylor shifted in his chair a little and didn’t push the subject. Thanks to his wolf side he was good at reading people’s body language and the tone of their voice. Plus he knew kylee had inherited uncle hanks stubborn attitude. “Casserole is ready by now if you want some” he said softly.
Kylee was already sorting her bowl out “well duh, that’s what I came down for” she grumbled. “When is mom gone be back anyway?” She asked, sorting out a bowl of food for Taylor aswell.
“She didn’t say. Just that I gotta wait for her or your dad” he shrugged taking the bowl when it was offered to him.
“I don’t need a babysitter anymore, I’m not a kid” she huffed, jumping up to sit on the kitchen side.
“Just be thankful it’s me instead Sof” he chuckled. “She’d have had you doing your homework or family research” he teased.
Kylee hummed in response as she took in a mouthful of casserole. “Have you seen rose lately?” She asked.
Taylor shook his head “not for a few weeks” he answered. “I heard my mum talking to grandma about how she was travelling with Mina” he shrugged.
“I wish mom would let me drop school like that and go travelling” she huffed and looked out the kitchen window.
“Id give you the same speech grandma gives me about school being important, but I know you won’t listen” he teased.
“Stuff like that shouldn’t apply to us, were special” she argued.
“Your mum went back to college after everything that happened back then” he quipped.
“Dad didn’t! He dropped outta high school to hunt the bad guys” she countered.
“Now you’re just picking holes” he said, pointing his spoon at kylee. “Gota enjoy life while it’s good, my dad says” Taylor smiled.
Taylor suddenly felt his stomach drop, and the hair on the back of his neck stand on end. They were being watched. His eyes turned icy blue and he looked up at kylee “get to your room and don’t come out” he snapped. Kylee frowned at her cousin but she didn’t argue, vanishing from site. Taylor headed out to the back porch looking around at the woods, every sense tingling at the highest. When he stepped outside into the yard he changed into his wold form, ears pricked against the wind and nose high scenting the air. He could smell another wolf again.
Over the past weeks he kept getting the tail end of a scent. It was hardly noticeable on the wind but he smelt it back at home. A few times at school. And a few times at uncle sams diner. But this was the strongest yet. There was a twig crack and his head snapped to the side, eyes piercing the forest line, scanning for anything. His lips curled back and his tounge jutted put between his lips in a low growl.
“Taylor” whispered lily from inside the kitchen. Her eyes glowing gold and her skin radiating a soft orange glow. “What’s wrong?” She whispered again. Looking in the same area.
Taylor grunted and shifted back to human form, coming inside and closing the patio door. “I just...” he trailed off and rubbed his neck. “I’ve been picking up another wolf scent lately” he explained.
“Could Aaron be back in town?” She asked, eyes fading back to normal.
Taylor shook his head but kept his eyes on the yard “I know Aaron’s scent and that’s not it” he answered. “I think it’s a girl. And she’s old” he explained. “Doesn’t smell aggressive or nuthin’ I just haven’t seen who it is yet” he said.
Lily nodded slowly “ go sit with kylee for a few minutes in wolf form please, I’ll just walk the property line and see if I find anyone” she said and vanished.
Taylor did as he was told and padded upstairs on four legs. Kylee swueaked when she saw him, forgetting just how big his wolf form was. “What’s going on” she whispered as he curled around her. “Tay is something wrong?” She asked again. Taylor didn’t answer. He kept her hidden amongst his fur and stared at the doorway waiting for lily to return.
After a few minutes lily called him back downstairs. He changed back halfway down “nothing?” He asked.
Lily shook her head “nobody out there” she replied. “ I’ll talk to hank later about it though, I trust your nose” she teased.
Taylor smirked and shrugged his shoulders “best one in the family” he chuckled.
Lily sorted out Taylor’s payment for a days babysitting and sent him on his way. “ let me know when your home please, just to be safe” she instructed as he bounded away down the road.
