Dinner at the Andersons' house was fabulous, both from a conversation and a menu standpoint for all present, except Eric.
While he was polite to everyone, answering any question posed to him and asking a few of his own, Eric just didn't have much of an appetite. Thoughts of Julie Stovall and the incident in his bedroom* kept running through Eric's mind.
What did I do wrong? Just what does Julie want/expect from me?
Then, as the meal entered that lull between the end of the main course and serving dessert (double chocolate layered cake), Nate Anderson stood and said, "It was nice meeting your folks Spencer, but I'm afraid I have a prior commitment this evening. If you will excuse me..."
"Sure son. Just remember what we said earlier," replied his mother, as Nate went to the kitchen. There sat the small travel bag that he would need, because he would be gone hopefully the entire weekend with his mysterious werepanthress.
As everyone heard the kitchen door to the outside world open and close, Mrs. Lawson turned to the Andersons and asked if everything was all right.
"Nate just has a new girlfriend we haven't had a chance to meet yet," answered William Anderson.
"You're lucky William," replied Evan Lawson. "With two sons, you don't have to worry about their romantic relationships as much as I do with a daughter. That last beau of hers—"
"Dad!" began Spencer, not wanting to discuss Jeremy again, let alone in front of others, while her mother gave him a stern look.
"The double standards of life may not be fair, but they do exist," was Evan's only comment before he kissed his wife on the cheek.
MEANWHILE...
Eric stared at the plate of half-eaten food before him. There was no question that he had lost his appetite, which worried his mother.
Something happened upstairs between him and Julie, but Eric still smells normal, realized his mother. Considering the smells that came from up there earlier, did Julie try to push the issue between them? And what was Eric's response? wondered Martha.
"Can I be excused?" asked Eric in a weak voice.
"But it's your favorite dessert. Double Chocolate Layered Cake," replied his mother, hoping he would stay at least for some cake.
"I'm not hungry," said Eric, finishing his glass of milk, wiping his mouth, and then rising from the dinner table.
"Okay son. If you say so," answered Martha. Then again, considering the way Evan and Maggie Lawson kept looking at her when they thought she wasn't looking, maybe it was a good thing Eric wasn't downstairs after the cake was served.
But instead of going back upstairs to his room, Eric walked over to the front door, grabbed his hat and coat, and left the house!
"Son?" said William, starting to rise from the table.
"Leave him be," suggested Martha, while grabbing her husband's hand. "It's Friday night so there's no school tomorrow. Eric just has some things to work out."
"If you say so dear," said William, sitting back down again.
Eric Anderson stood on the front porch of his house, staring up at the starry sky and the almost full moon. He had his wallet, house keys, and cellphone in his pants pockets; while there was a mini-flashlight in his jacket pocket in case of emergencies.
Not knowing where he was going or what he would do when he got there, Eric zipped up his jacket and set out for parts unknown.
MEANWHILE...
Samantha and Francis Twist had been covertly playing footsies with each other under the table during dinner, but now the two lesbian werecats briefly arched an eyebrow at each other in curiousity. Considering some of the looks that passed between the others during dinner, and the slight scent of pheromones coming from both Martha and Maggie, they wondered if there would just be dessert tonight, or if there would be any dessert as well...
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*Two chapters past in "Julie's "homework".
While I don't have the computer program to make such a nice chart like Blackjack88 did, the remaining guests/current seating arrangement of the rectangular table is:
ONE SIDE: Evan Lawson, Maggie Lawson, Spencer Lawson (empty) (empty)
OPPOSITE ENDS: Samantha Twist William Anderson
OTHER SIDE: Francis Twist, Ben Twist, Alex Ramsey (empty) Martha Anderson