The entire pack was seated in Vanessa's small apartment, in the livingroom. It was... Awkward. They were all used to the open sky and the chilly, but familiar, streets outside. They looked around, having long forgotten or perhaps never even known that people actually own things. It was cozy inside. Gabriel suddenly felt very guilty for having left without saying again. Jaze caught Gabriel's eyes and smiled. He understood. Gabriel realized they all did. They all understood him, and he understood them. They were a family, after all.
"Well not the Up-Town Pack definitely know we're here." Gabriel said. Conrad snickered in response. "They're dumb but you're right. No way they'd not catch our scent now that we've all travelled here in a group." he said, but quickly realized he had spoken out loud, with Vanessa in hearing range. "And by scent I mean smell. I haven't showered in weeks." he said, attempting to salvage the situation. Gabriel gave him a swift glance, and the pack fell into an awkward silence again.
"You guys had tea before?" Gabriel said suddenly to break the ice. Vanessa had made them all tea but smoe hadn't even tasted it yet. Conrad nodded, Jaze nodded, Robyn and Thomas shook their heads. Thomas spoke up for the first time in a long while. "Tea is an old lady's drink." he said and sniffed his cup, sceptical to it's contents. Conrad gave him a nudge. "That's rude. I happen to like tea, you're not calling me an old lady are you?" he said. Thomas grinned back at him. "Nah but maybe an old geezer." he retorted, finding himself quite humorous. "Watch it, kiddo." Conrad returned with a grin of his own.
Jaze shook his head and smiled. "Don't bite each others necks off." he said, to which Thomas and Conrad both responded with a snicker or a "hmpf". The atmosphere was lightening up in the room.
Gabriel looked at Vanessa. "Say, you pay rent, right? Is hot water included or does the landlord fix that?" he asked, curious. Ever since Vanessa had mentioned a shower Gabriel had been dying for some hot water. The entire pack probably was, but they could wait until the morning, when they were going to this other house Vanessa had talked about. They found Gabriel's impatience funny. Maybe he was getting attached to this girl, they thought.
