By the end of everyone's first period class that morning, the news had spread like wildfire across the social circles of Moon Lake High School.
Brian Walker had publicly dumped Julie Stovall, instead of the usual custom of it happening the other way around, and the were-otter's news that the were-mermaid's curfew/grounding was now extended until at least Valentine's Day of next year also blew everyone's minds.
Considering that it was now only the Tuesday after Thanksgiving...
No one dared approach Julie for fear of incurring her wrath. Yet by the time Spencer Lawson and Eric Anderson met in the hallway between their first and second period classes, the fact that Stovall was mad as hell had them concerned too.
"You have to be extremely careful today Eric," Spencer warned him as they walked each other toward their second period classes. "If what I've heard is true, you cannot let yourself get distracted by any book or whatever, because if Julie manages to even just nick you with a fingernail..."
"I know honey. I've heard the news too, although thankfully not many people have connected me with her yet," Eric whispered in return. He was still kind of sore from Julie's attempted attack yesterday and walking at times with a slight limp, but thankful that he and Nate had kept their parents from finding out about the incident.
("The softball took a bad bounce. We were trying to play catch outside while you two were busy down in the basement," they had told their parents during breakfast that morning when they saw Eric walking a bit funny, instead of revealing that Julie had almost twisted his penis off. Nate and Eric were both thankful that she didn't scratch the younger Anderson in the process, or else he'd be a were-merman by now instead of just a normal human still pining for a fursona of his own to be with his girlfriend Spencer.)
"Hey guys, I assume you heard the news?" asked Frieda Knight as she approached the young lovers. The fact that her first period class was near where Eric and Spencer was heading for their next class allowed the three of them to meet in the hallway between first and second, since Frieda's second class of the day was back near where her friends had just come from.
"Yeah. How hot tempered is she today?" asked Spencer, while Eric just shook his head in disbelief and kept a weary eye open, not wanting anything to do with the Mayor's daughter.
"Don't know, don't care, because allegedly Brian Walker and me are on her hit list now too," said Frieda flatly, since no one at school knew Julie Stovall was also hoping she could get back at her parents at some point as well. "She at least suspects, if not knows I'm on Team Eric now instead of her side, so whatever's going through Julie's mind can't be good for any of us."
"Yeah. While I don't thing Julie would stoop that low, as long as she throws the first punch, so to speak, the rest of us can all take care of ourselves and declare self defense if it actually gets physical, but Eric's the most vulnerable right now," observed Spencer.
"Especially during Freshman lunch. Spencer's a Sophomore, and my brother and his friends are all Juniors," Eric reminded the ladies.
"Then what if we do it this afternoon instead of waiting for this weekend," suggested Frieda.
"You mean..." began Spencer, as their new friend turned to look at Eric.
"Eric, do you truly love Spencer and want to be with her completely?" asked Frieda, staring at the young man. The original plan was for Frieda to help induct Eric into were society that weekend. Thus he would become a werepanther so he could totally be with Spencer. Lawson would have already done it herself, but being a natural hybrid (part werewolf, part werepanthress, and part werecat) were, there was no guarantee what Eric would have transformed into in the process.
Now a very irate were-mermaid was forcing a change in the agenda.
"Yes," he said without hesitation.
"You do realize that once you become a were, there's no going back?" Frieda asked him.
"I don't care. I love Spencer and want to be with her always," replied Eric, while reaching out to hold his girlfriend's hand in his, an act which made Spencer smile.
"GOOD! Give me your cellphone," requested the red haired, full blooded werepanthress, to which Eric did.
After a few button pushes, Frieda handed it back to him. "I programmed my number into it. Something you should have anyway since we're friends now. Spencer already has it," said Frieda, smiling at the other girl. "I'll sit with Eric during lunch. That might turn a few heads and wag some tongues, but I don't care anymore. Even without this current mess, I'm sick and tired of Julie's BS and probably would of stood up to her sooner or later anyway. I assume you're both free this afternoon?" asked Frieda, to which Eric and Spencer both nodded affirmatively.
"Good. I'll make the arrangements for some place private and after school today, Julie won't be a worry to either of you for much longer," promised Frieda.
"Thank you," both Eric and Spencer seemed to say in unison.
"What are friends for? Got to get to class now. Take care," added Frieda, kissing both Eric and Spencer on their cheeks before leaving.
Eric and Spencer took a moment to wave to Frieda as she departed, then finished the short journey to their second period classes.
With their destinations being right across from each other, Spencer and Eric stood in the hallway between classrooms momentarily.
"Watch your back honey, and I'll see you when second is over," promised Spencer.
"Deal," said Eric with a smile.
But as Eric started to leave, Spencer thought she smelled something funny.
Even currently in her human form, a quick but discreet whiff with her sensitive nose before Eric had completely pulled away from her confirmed it.
OH MY GOD! I have no idea exactly when she did it, but unless this is just wishful thinking on my part, Frieda must of scratched Eric in the hallway! Even though it will still take hours before he's anywhere near the verge of experiencing his first transformation, his scent's already starting to change! My boyfriend's on his way to becoming a werepanther! thought Spencer happily, as she reluctantly walked into her own classroom.