My CEO

To Be "Normal"

“He did not look at you.”

“He did!”

“You’re delusional.”

“I’m not!”

Max groaned, sitting up from his bed. “Dude, he was looking at the entire group, he probably glanced at you, but it meant nothing.”

Liam, now dressed in a comfy t-shirt and shorts, sighed as he threw his suit in his laundry bag. “Well, that I know… it means nothing but, still! It felt like my destiny was right in front of me! I’ve got to get that internship!”

The other male, clad in his own sweats and hoodie that he couldn't wait to throw on after a full day in stuffy dress clothes, rolled his eyes. “What, so you could be his lap dog?”

“No, so I can feel like I belong somewhere.”

Max didn’t have anything witty to say to that; every time the two spoke about their potential futures, it always led back to Liam’s desire to “be normal”. It was hard to keep the mood lighthearted when Liam was often down and insecure about his werewolf identity.

“...You belong anywhere you want to be, quit thinking so negatively.”

Liam shook his head as he gazed over at his friend. “Tell me, if I disclosed that I was a were-person on the application, you think they would consider me just as much as a regular human like you?”

The other shrugged. “It wouldn’t hurt to give it a try?”

“And risk losing my dream job? No way.” Liam huffed as he dropped himself on his bed, letting out a long breath. He’s seen people be turned away because of what they truly were; he refused to take such a risk when he was so close to getting everything he’s always wanted. “Face it Max, no one likes us. So this is the closest I can get to being normal, I hate being born like this.”

“Your family would hate to hear you say that. And besides, I like you.” Max responded.

“Well yeah, you're weird.” Mumbled Liam as he waved away his roommate’s comment. “Family is different though. They want me to embrace it but I just can't. They don’t get how hard it is.”

Max shook his head at the statement he found a bit immature. Werewolves have been around for ages; for Liam to assume that this struggle was only his came off as a bit childish. “I’m sure they do. It’s been in your family for generations, your elders know exactly how hard it is.”

“Well, humans don't get it.” The werewolf replied; his head bowed, eyes trained on his knees. “...I just want to be a normal human. You got it easy, Max.”

“I didn't ask for it easy.”

“And I didn't ask to be a werewolf, so.”

Max was again stumped; there wasn't much he could say after that without sounding like an a-hole. He simply sighed, laying back down on his bed. “I’m sorry dude.”

Liam shrugged it off, standing again to retrieve his school bag. “It's fine. I just really want to practice for the interview. The one thing that could make me seem normal, it’s right there…”

“I got it.” Max hummed as he mindlessly gazed up at the ceiling. There obviously wasn't much he could say to improve his friend's confidence, and who was he to stand in the way of the man's dreams? “Just… don't be too hard on yourself.”

“Don’t worry about me. I want this.”

Liam sat down at his desk, pulling out a few books he borrowed from the library about interviews. Max glanced over at him, silently scanning the various titles with his eyes. He shook his head, a soft breath escaping him as he laid back down, staring at the ceiling again.