"Hurry up." Faun said impatiently, waiting at the door for Declan.
Declan popped out of the hallway with a blank expression. "Says the one that overslept."
"Well if you had let go of my tail on time then we wouldn't be late." He fired back. "Weirdo." He grumbled.
Declan swept forward at this, an intent look on his face. "What was that?"
Faun quickly opened up the front door and hurried out. "Nothing." He was quick to deny, protectively covering his tailbone with both hands even though his tail wasn't out.
Declan chuckled quietly at this, Isla had already called that morning to invite him to hang out at the fair, nearly hanging up in shock when he actually agreed.
He glanced down at Faun who was happily skipping in front of him, leading the way out of the woods.
The only reason he was going was because of Faun, he didn't even deny it when Isla accused him.
He had made sure to inform Isla that he was coming with his guest, not hesitating to tell her to not bother him and absolutely no questions.
He hated to admit it but Faun was a terrible liar and with how persistent Isla was, there would be no way he could hold out on her.
The town was bustling as it was a Monday morning and although Faun kept a little bit too close to him, he didn't lose his fascination with just about everything around him.
The town was naturally quite busy on an average Monday but today, the fair was what pulled the crowds of people milling around.
The closer they got to the fairgrounds, the closer Faun got to him. Declan didn't even blink when he felt Faun grab a fistful of his shirt, it was better he stayed as close as possible so that they didn't lose each other in the crowd.
Isla had told him that she and Lou would be waiting by the cotton candy stand so as soon as they were admitted in, he headed straight for that.
Faun nearly broke his neck looking around, his eyes wide open as he stared excitedly at everything happening around them.
The fair was bustling, brightly colored stands and rides all around them, Declan didn't have to glance at Faun to know that he was literally buzzing from the excitement.
"Declan!" Isla's cheery Faun alerted him to their presence, she had gathered her blonde hair in twin pigtails, waving him over.
As Declan came closer with Faun in tow, he realised that the only reason that Isla hadn't hurried over to mow him down was because Lou was firmly holding onto her hand.
She didn't even let go when Isla hugged him, keeping her hold firm.
"I lost her a couple times already, I'm not letting that happen again." Lou muttered with a straight face at the question in Declan's eyes.
"I didn't believe you'd show up." Isla said with a wowed expression, looking up at Declan like she expected him to disappear.
"Same here." Lou shrugged.
"So where's your guest?" Isla asked curiously, looking around.
Faun had hidden behind Declan, still wary of Isla.
"He's probably terrified of you." Lou teased.
"Oh my…" Isla panicked, looking horrified. "I'm so sorry about the other day." She apologised sincerely.
Faun stepped out at this point. "It's fine." He murmured in a small voice, looking away.
Isla immediately perked up at this. "Then let me show my gratitude by buying you cotton candy." She exclaimed, already tugging her hand from Lou's hold to take Faun's hand.
"We'll be right back." Isla waved at Lou and Declan, tugging Faun behind her as she headed for the cotton candy stand which was still in their line of view.
Declan watched Faun as they both left, noting that although he was caught off guard by Isla's boundless energy, he didn't look terrified.
He glanced back to Lou to find her knowing eyes on him but he ignored her, keeping a straight face.
"Think they'll be okay?" He asked reflexively, although there was really no need to, they could clearly see Isla and Faun from where they stood.
The line for cotton candy wasn't long so they would be back soon.
"Let's hope so." Lou shrugged. "Who is he to you?" She asked casually, settling down on the chairs that had been arranged for fair-goers.
There were a number of chairs around tables that had umbrellas poked into the centre to provide shade.
Declan studied her intently, he knew Lou wasn't the nosy type and tended to mind her business so naturally, he knew that the only reason she was asking was because Isla asked her to.
"An old family friend." He answered after a brief spell of silence.
Lou whipped her head up at this, shock evident on her beautiful face. She clearly hadn't been expecting a response from Declan.
"Don't have that look on your face." He grumbled.
Lou just raised her hands up in a gesture of surrender.
Over at the cotton candy stand, Isla was chattering nonstop.
Faun didn't mind because it meant he spoke less and gradually, he became less awkward around her.
He had been expecting a barrage of questions or at least an uncomfortable situation that would make her realise that he wasn't an average human but there was none of that.
Instead it was just Isla rambling on about how she could never get Declan to leave the house and what they had done that morning before he and Declan came.
Finally, it was their turn to buy and Faun's eyes went wide at pink clouds on sticks. Was this the cotton candy?
He hadn't come across it yet in any of his cook books and there wasn't the chance to check his phone for answers but he was curious about what it would taste like. It couldn't be terrible, right?
"How many do you want?" Isla's sweet voice breached his thoughts. "My treat."
"Two." Faun said shortly, rubbing his ear.
"Just two?" Isla looked dismayed. "You can ask for more, you know." She said, buying more.
Faun's eyes were wide, the green depths twinkling as he carefully balanced the four sticks between his fingers.
He had asked for two because he wanted to give one to Declan but Isla had gone ahead and bought two more for him, it made him grin slightly, his sharp fangs peeking out.