"That's going to take some getting used to," Hope sighed to Minnie before she left. She knew that she was probably not going to give August a decent chance, since he seemed like the most convenient person for her to let out her frustration on, since she simply didn't like him.
When Autumn spoke, Hope beamed. "Thanks, Autumn," She said, settling the plate of eggs onto the table, "What do you guys want to drink?" She asked, nosing through the fridge and pulling out a jug of orange juice, then filling a glass for herself.

***
Dan headed out towards the kitchen from his office. He was fairly sure that today was going to be an eventful one, especially if Hope remember his promise about her using his phone to call home, which would undoubtedly led to the other girls wanting to call their loved ones as well.

Luke followed Autumn into the kitchen and sat down at the table next to her. "Uh orange juice," he said to Hope, "Thanks." He immediatly grabbed scooped eggs onto his plate and grabbed two slices of french toast. He hadn't eaten this well in . . . Well in a long time. His dad couldn't cook for his life and Luke wasn't much better. So, growing up, his diet consisted mostly of TV dinners and fast food. When his dad remembered to go food shopping or buy Luke dinner that was. So, all in all, he was delighted by the large amount of cooking that seemed to go on in this house.

"Um just water please." Autumn asked her politely with a smile. She scooped some food on to her plate and started eating one thing at a time. That was a little OCD thing with her. She couldn't have her foods touching and she had to eat one thing at a time. Most people found her strange for doing that, but she didn't care what they said. She watched Luke eat as much as he did and it slightly amazed her. She'd never really seen anyone eat that much in her life. Than again it was really her and her father at her house who ate and neither of them ate very much.

"I'll have coffee," Dan said from the door. Hope paused mid-pour, glanced up, and then nodded, placing another glass of orange juice in front of Luke, then filling a glass of water up for Autumn. Dan filled up his own mug of coffee, added what looked to be barely a few drop of creamer. Hope sat down, sipping her orange juice, but not really touching any food. She'd already eaten, and something told her that Dan expected people to wait for him before eating, probably the way he looked at Autumn and Luke with faint surprise. She'd read or watched somewhere that the lowest level in a wolf pack ate last, but she wasn't sure if that the reason why, or he'd just expected a little common courtesy from the teenagers.
"You said I could use your phone today," Hope said, just to break the silence. Dan nodded, "Can I use it now? I already ate." She didn't like the faint pleading note in her voice, but found she couldn't do much about it.
"After everyone is finished," Dan told her. Hope opened the mouth to argue, but then shut it of her own accord, slumping slightly from her perfect posture.
"Can I go get dressed then?" Hope asked, wishing she didn't feel stupid for asking permission. Dan nodded again, and Hope slipped out, going upstairs and taking a brief shower and thev changing. She thought about straightening her hair, but decided against it. Instead of heading straight downstairs, she unpacked her things, carefully putting them away and setting out a four framed photographs -one of she and her boyfriend at Junior Prom; one of she and her friends all dressed up in their ballet costumes; one of she, her father, and her grandmother sitting on their porch; and the last one of her mother, who bore a striking resemblance to her daughter, though she had grey eyes and was, in Hope's opinion, far, far prettier- and two small white candles on her end-table.

August heard Minnie calling out to him and he trotted out of the woods, and saw her standing on the back steps. He barked once at her in recognition and went around to the side of the house, where his clothes were, to change. He always found it easier to change back into human form, probably because it was the form he was most comfortable with. It took him a little under ten minutes to change back, and was a little less painful then shifting into his wolf form. Once he was back in human form he pulled on his plaid pajama pants and his grey t-shirt. He brushed debri out of his matted hair as he made his way to the back door. He went inside and into the kitchen to find Minnie, Dan, Luke, and Autumn at the table.

"Good morning Dan" August said passively "Luke." He really wasn't in the mood for another dispute, actually he was a little afraid that Dan was still mad at him. He went and sat down at the table next to Minnie and grabbed a few pieces of french toast and some eggs. He considered making some more coffee but decided he'd had enough.

Minnie came back inside after August came out of the woods, in his wolf form. She went into the kitchen and sat down at the table next to Luke and Autumn, who were both already eating. She would've told them to wait for the others but they both seemed pretty hungry and they'd already started anything. Still, Minnie waited for Dan to appear in the doorway before eating.

"Hi Dan!" she greeted him perkily and then placed a single piece of french toast and a few scoops of eggs onto her plate. She began eating, listening silently to Hope and Dan discuss using Dan's phone to call her family.

Minnie polietly waited until Dan was done talking to begin her usual chatter. "Isn't this breakfast great? Hope and I made most of it. But Autumn helped set the table. Wasn't that sweet of them to help me out? It would've taken forever for me to make all this food by myself! So where's Gilthanas and Tori? They still sleeping? August and Emily are outside. I hope that's alright. Emily wanted to go out and I know you said they weren't allowed outside alone . . . So I told August to go with her. They're both fine. Emily was just playing soccer and August was in his wolf form just screwing around. I just called them to come and eat. They should be here soon. Emily has to put her sports stuff away and August has to change back. Oh - here's August."

She watched August walk in, noting the submissive way that he greeted Dan and the tolerant way he greeted Luke. Minnie could tell he was trying to behave himself, which wasn't something he did on a regular basis. She wondered if it had anything to do with last night . . .

He came and sat down next to her, piling food onto his plate. "Hi Auggie!" she chirped.
She noticed that his hair was all messed up, from shifting and running through the woods, she assumed. She gingerly reached out and grabbed a small brown leaf from his hair and showed it to him. "You have leaves in your hair," she giggled.

. . . . . . .

Luke really wasn't paying attention to most of what was going on in the kitchen. Lots of talking - most of which came from Minnie. He caught something Hope said about using Dan's phone. Luke lowered his eyes at that - hoping Dan wouldn't ask him if he wanted to call his dad, which he defienetly didn't want to do. He looked up when he heard his name, surprised that it had been August to say it. August seemed very . . . reserved for some reason.

"Morning," Luke mumbled in response, keeping his eyes trained on his food as he ate, tuning everybody out. He could hear Minnie giggling over something, but ignored that too.

Emily walked in and dropped her bag by the door. She could see the others from where she stood. With a sigh, she made her way to the room she and Minnie shared. She plopped down on her bed, and put her hands on her face, letting out another sigh. She placed her hands behind her head and stared blankly at the ceiling.

Autumn finished all of her food and sat watching the others. She heard Hope ask about calling home. Autumn would have loved to be able to do that, bit she knew she wouldn't get an answer since her dad was working all day. So with a sigh she stood up. "I'm going back upstairs." She said t no one in particular and then looked at Luke for a brief second before leaving the room. She went into her and Hope's room, finding her guitar case and taking out her guitar. She went out and sat down in the hall and began tuning her guitar. Soon she started playing Hallelujah and singing to it. She began getting lost in the song and putting more feel into the song and singing louder, not realizing everyone downstairs could probably hear her.

Emily heared Autumn playing and stood up, walking out and sitting next to her. She hummed along, listening to the song. She started to wish that she'd brought her guitar. Autumn was really good, from what she could hear. She smiled at her

Autumn had had her eyes closed and so she didn't hear Emily sit sown next to her. When she started humming, Autumn jumped a little. "Oh!" She said startled a little and stopped playing. "Sorry I didn't hear you sit down." She said with a small laugh and a smile to her.

Hope slipped past Autumn on her way back downstairs, and gave her a quick smile. She re-entered the kitchen, pausing in the doorway to look around before actually going in.

"If you guys want, I'll just do the dishes after I call my dad," She offered. She knew exactly why she viewed cleaning as a method of stress relief: her grandmother had forced her to put all her excess energy to use instead of running around the house like a little maniac, and made her clean.
She had a feeling she was going to need it.

***

Dan nodded at August when he entered, glad to see that he was at least attempting -or pretending- to behave. He nodded along to Minnie's talking, eating a few pieces of french toast and some scrambled eggs. Tori entered behind Hope, looking tired.

August rolled his eyes at Minnie as she giggled after extracting leaves from his hair and called him 'Auggie.' God he hated that nickname. His bimbo of a mother had always been fond of calling him Auggie when he was a child. That is, during their rare chance encounters. She always had this annoying way of saying it too. In her airy, soft, shallow voice that had always grated his ears. August greately detested being called Auggie, and snapped at just about everyone who did it. Except Minnie. He didn't mind it as much when she said it. Her voice was so the opposite of his mother's that it was almost soothing. Her voice was melodic and sweet and .... real. Not superficial like his mother's had been.

August finished up his breakfest and turned to face Minnie. "So Minnie" he said "What shall we do today? Watch a movie? I think we've run out of new movies to watch here in the house though..... I could go buy the video store and pick us up something. I mean.... If it's alright with you Dan?" August hated asking permission but he was already skating on thin ice with Dan. August doubted Dan would have a problem with him going out to just pick up a movie - he wasn't a pup after all. But he wasn't sure if he was still being punished for the episode last night.

August rolled his eyes at Minnie as she giggled after extracting leaves from his hair and called him 'Auggie.' God he hated that nickname. His bimbo of a mother had always been fond of calling him Auggie when he was a child. That is, during their rare chance encounters. She always had this annoying way of saying it too. In her airy, soft, shallow voice that had always grated his ears. August greately detested being called Auggie, and snapped at just about everyone who did it. Except Minnie. He didn't mind it as much when she said it. Her voice was so the opposite of his mother's that it was almost soothing. Her voice was melodic and sweet and .... real. Not superficial like his mother's had been.

August finished up his breakfest and turned to face Minnie. "So Minnie" he said "What shall we do today? Watch a movie? I think we've run out of new movies to watch here in the house though..... I could go buy the video store and pick us up something. I mean.... If it's alright with you Dan?" August hated asking permission but he was already skating on thin ice with Dan. August doubted Dan would have a problem with him going out to just pick up a movie - he wasn't a pup after all. But he wasn't sure if he was still being punished for the episode last night.

Emily smiled. "It's ok. Just wanted to let you know, that you sing beautifully." She ran a hand through her hair, before she looked at arms. "God I'm covered in dirt. I'm gonna go take a shower." She stood to her feet, smiling at the girl, before going to take a shower.

When Emily was done she changed into something more...dangerous, and re-entered the hall. She found Autumn still sitting there so she joined her again. "So, what kind of music do you like?" She smiled. If she was going to live with these people for...well who knows how long, she might as well get to know them and try to make friends. She let some hair hang in her eyes, hopefully concealing the strange golden amber color they were becoming. She stopped for a second when she heard something downstairs. It was August's voice. She couldnt quite make it out, but she heard something about going out, and a video store and she smiled, before looking at Autumn. I think someones going some where." She stood up, taking a step down the hall towards the others. She turned back to Autumn. "Come on." She motioned for Autumn to follow before going down to join the group. "So I hear someone's going somewhere?" she looked at August and the others with her eyebrows raised and a smile on her face.

"Oh well thank you." Autumn said with a smile as she thought about what to play. She watched as Emily got up to go take a shower and then turned back to her guitar. She began to play Welcome Home by Coheed and Cambria.

By the time Emily got back she was playing The Only Exception by Paramore. "Oh well I like pretty much everything." She said in reply to her question and then got up when she was heading downstairs. "I'm coming." She said with a small laugh and brought her guitar with her downstairs. She stood there quietly as Emily asked about someone going somewhere.