Then finally Bellatrix stepped out, her knees shaking. This had been her first time riding this monster that these humans called a “roller coaster”. She didn’t know why the pack insisted on staying so far away from these humans. They seemed content staying in the woods, unaware of how far humans had come.
She had always dreamed of exploring the human world, and it had meant a lot to her when Dominque had allowed her. The elders opposed it vehemently, but Dominique had supported it. So here she was, exploring the human world. Experiencing all these things that her pack refused to enjoy.
“Wohoo,” she heard a voice shout, and she turned around and saw it was Eric.
“Eric,” Bellatrix shouted, running towards him. “It was magical. I can’t believe I have never ridden it before. That was the best, ever. Thank you for making me do this.”
Eric gave her a charming smile. He was tall, with light brown hair that fell on his forehead endearingly. His hazel eyes were covered with a pair of glasses. He smiled, a charming, adorable smile.
“I can’t believe you have never been to an amusement park. I should take you to a water park next,” Eric said. “I am hungry though, maybe we should eat first.”
“Yes,” Bellatrix said. She was starving. “I want one of those ice creams, and I want those things on a stick, the one with meat inside.”
“A corndog?” Eric asked, amused. “How do you not know the name of these things?”
“I told you, I come from a very small and secluded town. We lived in a rather old way of living. That’s why I am traveling. To experience all this. To experience corndogs,” Bellatrix said, glimmering with excitement.
“That’s a lot of hard work just for corndogs,” Eric replied, laughing. “Come on, let’s go get food.”
Bellatrix followed him, looking around the amusement park in wonder. She was so glad that she had run into Eric. He had been helping her out for weeks. In fact, they had become fast friends. She liked Eric, she liked him a lot. He was the sweetest little thing.
Eric, like her, had been traveling. He said he was a blogger. He visited various places and posted on social media. Something that had initially confused Bellatrix, but with Eric teaching her, she had become an expert. She had her own Instagram account, and she had managed to get quite a following.
She and Eric had run into each other when she lost her money in Spain. He had seen her arguing with a police officer and had stepped in. Ever since, he had been showing her around, and they had been traveling together. It was Eric’s idea to bring her to the amusement park.
He had even shown her how to earn money while traveling. Odd jobs here and there meant that they could enjoy different experiences. He had taught her to stay in cheap establishments and to eat street food. It saved enough money for travel and other forms of entertainment.
“Where are we going next?” Bellatrix asked, when Eric had brought her an ice cream.
“Well, I actually got very good traffic on my blog last month and managed to earn pretty good. So, I thought I would take you to see the opera,” Eric said. “There is a ball afterwards, with music and dancing, and I thought you would enjoy it.”
“Oh, opera,” Bellatrix said, trying to remember what it was. “It’s the one with the loud, mournful singing?”
Eric laughed, and said, “That’s one way to put it.”
“Well, I look forward to it,” she said. “Thank you, Eric, for being with me.”
Eric blushed, something that Bellatrix didn’t notice. “It’s my pleasure,” he replied, choking.
“Is that cotton candy?” Bellatrix asked, pointing. “I want that.”
Eric laughed once again. “You eat far too much sugar. It’s not good for you, you know.”
“Where I lived, most of the time everyone ate meat,” Bellatrix said. “We never had stuff like ice cream and cotton candy. We had meat and fruit.”
“What is this place you lived at?” Eric asked. “You never tell me exactly where.”
“Ooh, I want to go on the roller coaster again,” Bellatrix said, changing the subject. It was her usual tactic for dealing with questions she didn’t want to answer. She didn’t know if Eric had figured out what she was doing, but he didn’t ask her again.
She went on the roller coaster again, and then again. She had never had so much fun before. Maybe if she told the pack about this, they might join her. Or at least show more interest. Especially the pups, they would have so much fun.
“Bellatrix,” Eric called her out when she tried to join the line for the ride once again. “We need to get back. We have that shift at the café, remember?”
She and Eric had been working at a local café. They worked as waiters, serving food to people. The café paid them well enough that they could eat comfortably. Eric had rented a cheap apartment from his friend, and they stayed there. Bellatrix worked as hard as she could. Even though Eric was often paying for her, she liked having some money so she could treat him as well.
“Eric, I am so glad I ran into you,” Bellatrix said. “I don’t know what I would have done without you. Probably be back home.”
Eric blushed, something that once again went unnoticed by her. “I am glad too, Bellatrix. I really am,” he whispered.
