Not Yours

"I think you've shrunk." Tommy teased, looking at his shocked little cousin. "Yeah, I swear you were this tall two days ago." Tommy raised his hand a few inches over her head, "I don't think that's how birthdays are supposed to work kiddo. Maybe you should go to see a pack doctor!"

"For a matter of fact, Thomas! I am going to the doctors!" Carter snapped and took a big bite out of her scrambled eggs on toast, giving her cousin a hard glare.

"Woah, I was only joking, Cat, no need to be using my full first name! Why are you going to the doctors?" Tommy asked, concern for his little cousin painted on his face. He looked up to his Aunt Jocline and she mouthed 'later' and then turned back to talk to his father.

"Mom hasn't told me." Carter muttered between mouthfuls. Tommy took a seat across from his cousin. She was 4 years younger than him but they were best friends.

"Eh, doesn't matter, Kiddo. I go to doctor appointments all the time!" He chuckled.

"That's because you always get into fights with the other guys." Carter pointed out matter-of-fact-ly.

"That may be true. But it's just playful fighting. It's a wolf thing." Tommy scoffed.

Carter gasped, "Shh! Don't brag!" Tommy shook his head and hoisted the soon to be birthday girl into the air, lifting her out of her chair and hugging her.

"Thomas! Put me down!" She screeched and other patrons of the café turned their attention to the pair. A few of them chuckled and went back to their own business.

"So what do you want for your birthday from Cousin Tommy?" He asked and Carter began to list off the bejillion things she wanted.

"Hey! Hey! I don't have very much! I work at a café for goodness sakes!" Tommy snorted and set her down on the ground. Carter pouted and sat back in her chair and attacked her breakfast again.

"Don't you pout! You're going be a teenager sooner! You know that pout won't work on me anymore!" Tommy chuckled. A sly, sheepish grin took the pouts place and she giggled nervously.

"What!? Pshh... I would never." Carter tried to say with a straight face.

"You're a liar too? I'm shocked! Who are you?!" Tommy gasped. "Dad!"

"What Thomas?" Uncle Andrew asked, in a tired voice.

"An alien has taken over Carter's body! Or a narcoblix, you know that vampire that takes over your body when you are asleep! Oh no! She is getting possessed by a ghost!" Tommy cried, falling to his knees dramatically.

Carter was a furiously bright red colour, as everyone was staring at them again.

"Son, don't be an idiot, obviously she couldn't be taken over by aliens! Obviously is a possession." Carter's uncle corrected and turned back to Carter's mom.

"Uncle Andrew!!" Carter whined.

Tommy grinned.

"You're so mean to me!" Carter whimpered, resorting back to pouting.

Tommy's grin faded quickly.

"I'm sorry Carter..! You know I'm only joking, right?!" he asked, concerned. "I'm sorry!"

Carter's pout turned into a champion smile. "I totally got you!"

Tommy seized her up again, pinning her arms above her head and tickling her until she felt as if her sides were going to burst.

"It's not nice to trick people, Cat!" Tommy tisked, shaking his head.

"Thomas Miller!" snapped the voice of Jocline. Tommy looked up to his aunt.