"So, now that we have my moms' permission to date," began Ben, managing to say that with a straight face, although he could not hide the smile or blush on his face, "would you like to go out with me to the Halloween dance next weekend?"
"That depends," began Kenya Adaeze. "What are your curfew arrangements? Because of school, mine is 10 pm Sunday through Thursday night. Since I help my uncle at his convenience store on Saturdays, I only have until midnight on Fridays, but Saturday nights are wide open."
"Ben's is similar," began Samantha Twist, before her son could answer. "10 pm Sunday through Thursday nights, with homework done before he goes out, but Friday and Saturday nights have been wide open since he experienced his first transformation."
"We trust our son," began Frances Twist, "and werewolves have different... needs, compared to some of the other weres in Moon Lake. This way, Ben's schedule is also open in case he has to attend a pack meeting, which are usually either on Friday or Saturday nights."
"I see. My aunt and uncle belong to the local werepanther collective, but when I first arrived in Moon Lake, I thought it best to wait and see how things developed before joining."
"And now?" asked Frances, trying not to have her question appear too leading.
"Depending upon what happens next, perhaps it is time for me to establish some roots in Moon Lake," admitted Kenya, as she reached out to hold Ben's hand in hers.
MEANWHILE...
Karen Yuletide was all excited to have her next date with Peter Talbot. Even if he wasn't a werelion, which did a lot to satisfy her fur fetish, there was something, enigmatic (for lack of a better word) about the man. An interesting quality that made being with him quite... intriguing.
Karen would have loved the chance to talk to her roommate and friend Jenny Harper about it, but after her afternoon therapy session with Doctor Frances Twist, Jenny had planned to spend the rest of the day (and night) with her fiance Harry Jenkins and his family at their place.
So, at exactly 6 pm, Karen was standing on the front steps of her dorm building as Peter approached on foot.
"Prompt," the two of them said, almost in unison, which made them smile at each other.
"Ready for your next lesson about weres in general, and werelions specifically?" asked Peter, after giving Karen a quick, but certainly not chaste, kiss.
"Yes," she replied, smiling at her boyfriend, "but I don't understand the request for me to bring an empty tote bag along," admitted Karen, indicating the green bag with the 'reduce, reuse, recycle' logo on it that she usually used to go shopping with.
"You will learn the reason why soon enough," was Peter's only comment, as he romantically took her arm in his, and then began leading Karen across the campus grounds and into the woods.
Could tonight be the night Peter makes me his werelioness? hoped Karen. She had her introductory sample of the were birth control pill for lionesses with her, but surely even weres picked more romantic moments than a casual walk through the woods?
Didn't they?
That was when Karen noticed that Peter was carrying a tote bag too, but his didn't look empty. Yet it was on the opposite side of his body, so she couldn't see what might be in it.
What's going on here? Karen asked herself, looking up to see if she could see an answer on Peter's face.
Yet her new boyfriend simply smiled at her again and continued leading them deeper into the woods surrounding the college.
ELSEWHERE...
"Okay, while I clean up from dinner and get the dishwasher going, you guys get the living room ready, and then we'll cut a rug," announced Martha Anderson, as she rose from the dinner table and started collecting the empty plates and glasses.
"Cut a rug?" repeated a confused Eric Anderson. "Is something wrong with the carpeting?" he asked, looking down at the floor coverings that came with their new home in Moon Lake.
"That just means it's time to dance. Or in this case, start your dance lessons," explained his father.
"You going to need some help with that?" asked his son Nate. While he wasn't much of a dancer himself, Nate knew it might be interesting to see his parents attempt to teach his younger brother how to dance.
"If you don't mind Nate," replied William Anderson. "Let's clear some floor space in the living room and get everything ready."