noun ~ a person of obscure origin who has gained wealth, influence, or celebrity

POLLUX

I smiled down at the elder man, not even bothered my new fish name. It wasn't the first time someone had double-checked I wasn't Pollock. In fact, I still recall the time a coffee barista wrote it on my latte.

"My wife's name was Flora." Claude piped up.

"Was?"

"Cancer." He shrugged. "Happens to most of us. We are not what we ought to be, lad."

I quirked an eyebrow. "I don't know, you seem in great health to me."

He chuckled. "Your eyes not working, son? My granddaughter says I look like a hunchback."

"A hunchback?" I grinned, bemused. "Are you sure it's my eyes you should check?"

His eyes brightened, and a thoughtful look passed over his face. "You're not from here."

"Is it obvious?"

"Only if someone looks for it." He shrugged. "You find a lot of things when you look for them."

"You sure do." I agreed. "But the surprises are often better."

"You in town long?"

"Just the day. I'm passing through."

"Oh? Where are you going?"

"Arleybay."

"Arleybay?" His eyes narrowed. "Ah, that place has a magnificent lake. Shame about the wildlife."

My head cocked. "Wildlife?"

"Mm, they used to get a lot of wolves around there." He tutted. "They would roam the trees. When I was a boy, we used to go there for the weekend to stay in the lake house. One of my friends, James, he went for a walk and never came back. We think the wolves got him."

"You do?" My curiosity increased. "When was this?"

"You asking my age, boy?" He narrowed his eyes.

"No." I laughed, brushing off his agitation. "I contemplated the possibility of being consumed by wolves as well."

"Nah, they killed them all." He waved me off.

My eyes widened. Killed? They killed the wolves?

"What did they look like?"

"Big. Bear-like." He frowned. "Fucking hounds snatched all the pretty dames, too."

Not just wolves. Werewolves.

Arleybay had a history of werewolves.

I mean, I knew there was something there. The way Clover reacted when... I shook my head, forcing it from my head.

"You be careful, lad," Claude murmured. "Not that safe out there."

"I will be." I promised him. "With a shirt that blue, I think I'll stick out like a sore thumb, though."

He smiled, taken aback by the shirt again. "Yes, it's a wonderful shirt, isn't it? You should buy it."

His thick thumbs fiddled with the price tag, a scoffing hum leaving his mouth.

"What is it?" I wondered.

"My son. He makes the prices so damn ridiculous for a piece of cloth." He shook his head.

"Your son?" I blinked. "Your son is Antoine?"

"Yes." He smirked. "He is in town. I thought I'd find him here... Anyway, when he gets here, I will make him give you it for cheap."

I shook my head. "Don't go out of your way for me. I can afford that price."

"It's always good to get a bargain, Pollock." He chuckled. "It will look better on you than I."

There was a shuffling noise, something only I picked up on because Claude continued to mutter about prices. My eyes drifted from the older man to spot a tall figure exit the back door.

"Father, are you giving out compliments? Should I be worried?"

Antoine Bordeux.

Still as clean and sophisticated as I last saw him. He wore a white suit shirt, unbuttoned at the top, much like Phoenix. His trousers were dark, and he wore familiar dark boots too. His hair was longer, curling at the nape of his neck and he had no shadow of a beard anymore.

"Antoine! Where have you been?" Claude tutted.

Antoine's warm brown eyes shifted from his dad, only to collide with my own. I remained still as he approached, adjusting the watch on his wrist.

"I was in the restroom, Father." He spoke, his voice as rich as it was before. "What are you doing here?"

"I was telling Pollock here that this blue would look good on him!"

Antoine looked back at me, quirking an eyebrow. "Is that so?"

"Sure is." I nodded.

I wondered if he recognised me. Surely I haven't changed that much in five years?

He cocked his head, dropping his attention to my summer outfit. His lips twitched slightly, and when he met my gaze again, his eyes were softer.

"You have grown your hair out." Antoine mused. "And... have half an ear."

"Seems I am not the only one who has gone for a longer hairstyle." I smiled.

He reached his hand out to me, and I clasped it firmly. "Pollux, glad to see you again."

"You know the lad?" Claude wondered. "Great! That means an even bigger discount."

Antoine released my hand with an eye roll. "Excuse the old man."

Claude scoffed, but I laughed, shaking my head. "He does not need to be excused. I am quite enjoying his company."

Claude grinned, eyeing his son with mischievous eyes.

"What are you in town for?"

"He's just passing through." Claude told him.

"Oh?" Antoine's eyes lit up with interest. "Anywhere exciting?"

"Arleybay!"

"Father, I am talking to Pollux." Antoine sighed.

"Arleybay is right." I laughed.

"Oh? Come to see the sites?"

"I've been before." I shrugged.

"You loved it that much you are going back?"

"More like I wanted to see if much had changed." I murmured.

He scrutinised me before speaking. "Something you left behind?"

"Probably a someone." Claude teased.

I tried to act as uninterested as possible. "That and other things."

"Ooh, left on a grim note?" Claude scolded. "That'll clog the pipes."

"Dad..." Antoine breathed a soft sigh. "Pollux does not need dating advice. I am sure he is capable of speaking his mind."

"How would you know?" Clauda chided. "You cannot speak his mind either."

I laughed. "I am fine and capable."

"Good." They both chimed.

My heart warmed at the scolds they sent to each other, and Antoine looked down on me with wonder.

"When are you going to Arleybay?"

"I was just going to keep on walking."

"Yet you stopped here?" He smirked.

"I was curious."

"You know what they say about the cat," Claude muttered.

Antoine ignored him. "You have a place to stay, or are you still on an adventure?"

"This is adventure number... three."

"Oh, you found a place? Or places?"

"I have a home." I nodded. "Things are just changing there, and everyone around me is happy and having babies and I..."

Antoine's gaze softened. "So adventure number three's goal is to..."

"Discover." I shrugged. "I guess."

"Well, why don't you come round for dinner tonight? Stay if you want. I am sure a bed is cosier than camping." He wondered.

It was a test; I was certain of it.

Know what you want, Pollux, and claim it from the man willing to give you it.

"Sure. I could do with some shade."

He grinned, patting me on the shoulder. "Great! I was going home anyway. I will take you there."

"Who will run the store?" I wondered.

He shrugged. "Nobody is going to miss out on clothes for two hours."

"I came here to tell you something, Antoine." Claude interrupted.

"What is it?" He asked.

Claude glanced at me, and recognising the privacy, I bowed my head and dipped out of the store to give them privacy. The sun washed over me again and I frowned at its humidity.

Only a minute or so passed before the door opened and the two of them stepped out. I lifted my eyes, watching as Antoine guided Claude out of the shop. The moment the elder male was through the door, he thrusted something blue into my chest. I laughed softly as Antoine locked up the shop. He typed something into a keypad and shutters closed across the windows.

"You coming to mine?" Antoine looked down at him.

"Nah, sun's still out. I'm going to the café." Claude shrugged.

"Tell Layla hi." Antoine grinned.

My interest rose at the familiar name of the waitress. I suppose in a town like this everybody knew each other.

"Let's go, Pollux." Antoine patted my shoulder. "You remember where I live?"

"Not entirely, but I am sure I can find it." I chuckled.

As we walked, Antoine continued to ask me questions. "So, Pollux, where have you come from?"

I named the nearest human town I could think of to home, and his eyebrow quirked with humour.

"That's a long way to come to a town." He mused. "Surely there are closer lakes and oceans."

I nodded. "There's a pretty good lake near my home, but it's just not quite right."

"I understand." He mused. "I tried city living when my business took off, but it wasn't for me."

"I get it." I chuckled. "Admittedly, the city life isn't for me either."

"Not a fan of the hustle?"

"I prefer the quiet." I shrugged.

"And Arleybay is that?"

"I suppose."

"My father spent a lot of time there." Antoine mumbled. "He said it was a beautiful town, but there was a lot of strangeness."

"He told me it was wolves." I laughed softly. "Bear-sized wolves."

Antoine quirked an eyebrow. "You don't think so?"

"It's a bit silly, isn't it? A wolf that large?"

I was laying it on heavy, but anything to protect myself.

"I think it is entirely possible." Antoine hummed, his house in sight. "Why not? Why not have that imagination? It would be pretty spectacular."

"You think so?"

"A giant wolf? Totally." He chuckled. "My daughter would go crazy. She loves them."

"I thought she was a unicorn girl?" I quirked an eyebrow. "I looked at your site, you know."

"Oh, that silly thing? I much prefer to meet someone in person than get to know them through an article." Antoine laughed.

"Well, tell me something about yourself, then." I smirked.

He observed me for a second before humming and looking ahead. This close, I realised he was rather tall, and upon that understanding also realised that I had not grown since I was seventeen.

"Well, you met my father." He cleared his throat. "He and my mother were born and raised here and then came me."

"Lone child?"

"Youngest of three." He chuckled.

"What made you become a CEO?" I teased, grinning.

"Ambition." He shrugged. "Small town life does not give you many opportunities. I left my lover to search for wealth and stability. And I found it, but I soon realised that wealth does not comfort you. People and home do."

"You didn't give it up, did you?"

He scoffed. "No, I just came back home hoping my teenage girlfriend was still around."

"And was she?"

He smirked, glancing down at me as we grew closer to his house. "She sure was."

"Let me guess, you married her." I rolled my eyes.

"Hey! Is that such a bad thing?"

"Just sounds oddly repetitive of a conversation I just had with your father."

He laughed. "I suppose the apple doesn't fall far from the tree."

We stopped on his doorstep and I patiently waited as he unlocked the front door. Once open, he stepped inside before holding it for me. I peered around, glancing at the clean décor.

I'd have to take my shoes off.

"You coming in? Or are you secretly a vampire who cannot enter without permission?"

I laughed, shaking my head as I entered. "The door thing is just a myth."

"And the vampire isn't?" He probed.

I squirmed slightly, but he just chuckled and waved me off. "Come, I will show you to your room."

"My room?" I cocked my head, staring inside.

"Of course, you can have the guest suite." He nodded, leading me up the stairs.

We passed by three doors that I duly noted. One was open a crack, showing a cream coloured bedroom with an enormous bed, another was wide open, showcasing a large family bathroom. The third was shut, but if the purple name plate was any hint, it was his daughter, Emily's, room.

We rounded a corner before stopping at another. As he opened the door, he nudged me inside. I eyed the cosy guest room. White walls, grey carpet and grey sheets on the bed. There was a dresser with a mirror above it, and dark grey curtains hanging from the window.

"Have a bath, chill out." Antoine hummed. "My wife and daughter will be home in around two hours."

"Your wife?"

"She's at work." He shrugged. "My daughter finishes school and comes home on a bus."

"There's a school here?" I wondered, not remembering seeing it.

"On the outskirts." He nodded. "A few towns come together."

"Oh, nice." I nodded. "Well, thank you for this. I appreciate you trusting me."

"Of course, Pollux." Antoine smiled.

"But now I owe you one." I mused.

Antoine shrugged. "Keep it on the side burner. If we meet again after tomorrow, I'll take up my favour."

I laughed. "Okay, we will see."

"I am certain we will, Pollux." Antoine grinned. "Shout you when dinner is ready."

And with that, the door shut, and I was left alone. I sighed, dropping my shoulders, my bag falling to the floor.

I pondered what to do for a moment, and with a soft shrug, I entered the door that smelt like chemicals. It was orangey, and I followed the scent to come across some pot-pourri on the window. Like the rest of the house, it was clean and white in here, but I didn't mind. It made it more like a hotel, rather than a home to grow comfortable in.

I ran a bath instead of a shower, taking Antoine's advice to heart. I weirdly trusted the man, and he did me, despite the circumstances of our first meeting. He was calm and wise, and he taught me to stand up for myself with his words. I guess I owed this man a lot in return.