It was all Eric Anderson could do to concentrate on his third period class.
When did Frieda scratch me? he wondered, before realizing it must of been when she handed him back his cellphone.
Yet when he looked at his wrist, Eric barely saw anything.
"Depending upon the severity of the wound, scratches take the longest time period to infect and transform a normal into a were," he remembered reading in the town handbook. Frieda must of done it to protect me from Julie or anyone doing her dirty work from affecting me, but timed it so the full effect wouldn't happen until after school lets out for the day. After all, Julie did threaten once to have a wereskunk scratch me, but that was after I dumped her and before I met and fell in love with Spenser. Gee, I wonder if Spencer knows and—
"Mister Anderson," called out the teacher.
"Yes, sir?" replied Eric, afraid he might be in trouble.
"I can see there is a lot on your mind at the moment. Hopefully some of it involves algebra. Can you solve this problem I have on the board?" asked the instructor, pointing to a section of the dry erase board in the classroom.
Eric heard some of the other students snicker, and felt their stares, but he didn't flinch as he looked at the problem and replied, "3x + 5 = 20. 20 -5 = 15. 15 divided by 3 = 5, so x = 5."
"Correct, but please try to stay more focused on the matter at hand and not whatever else you might be thinking about right now," requested the teacher.
"Yes sir," replied Eric.
The rest of class seemed to drag on, but Eric was practically the first one out of his seat when the bell rang ending third period. Without seeming to be rushed, he went out the door and waited for his girlfriend to get out of her class across the hall.
"Spencer, I—" began Eric, as he saw her smile at him.
"I know. I thought I smelled it before we parted company, but Frieda texted me during class, although I only got to read it just now. She also says she's made all the arrangements for the three of us this afternoon. Isn't this great?" Spencer asked happily, while hugging her boyfriend.
"Yes. I can't believe that—"
"Hey Eric. This the lucky lady?" asked John Shaffer, as he came out into the hallway.
"Yes. John Shaffer, my girlfriend Spencer Lawson. Spencer, John," said Eric, by way of introductions.
"Lawson," said John, while shaking her hand. "Heard about the incidents with that creep and his father on the news. Good work between you, your father and his SEAL buddies. I'm hoping to enter the military myself after high school graduation." Depending upon what happens to my mom between now and then.
"Well, my dad will be the first to sing the military's praises, so if you have any questions, I'd be more than happy to give you his contact info," offered Spencer. Man, is he tall!
"Thanks. I'll take you up on that Senior year. The way you two look at each other, I can tell you have something special going on, and from what I smell, it's going to get even better soon. Meanwhile, it's lunch time. See you," said John, before walking off toward the cafeteria.
"He must think I'm a Freshman too and not a Sophomore," realized Spencer.
"Or not know that I have a thing for slightly older, hybrid weres," Eric said in return, which got him a loving hand playing with his hair briefly.
"I have to get to my next class. You going to be okay?" asked Spencer with great concern.
"Between my new insurance policy," said Eric, showing her the slight scratch on his wrist, "and Frieda meeting me for lunch, I should be. See you later honey."
"You too dear," said Spencer, blowing him a kiss before walking off, since there were school regulations in regards to public displays of affection.
Eric entered the cafeteria, got his lunch, and looked for Frieda Knight, who he found sitting by herself near where the teachers who also had this lunch period normally sat.
"So..." began Eric, sitting next to her.
"My ride will be picking me, you, and Spencer up after school," began Frieda. "I've timed it so you won't start really feeling the effects of your first transformation until around 5, but by then..."
"Thanks, but what I was going to ask you was why this way, and not..."
"We're still going to do that," replied Frieda, being careful what she said near the adults, since she knew some of them were weres too. "But this way, if Julie does try any of her dirty tricks between now and then..."
"I understand," said Eric with a smile, while reaching out to hold Frieda's closest hand. "Spencer's on Cloud 10 right now, but while I wish this was under much better circumstances, I hope we can all be friends as well as... you know."
"I'd like that too," replied Frieda, squeezing his hand while giving Eric a quick peck on the cheek.
However, it was just at that moment that the two new friends heard someone shout "SO!" and looked up to see Julie Stovall staring at them from the other side of the table, not caring who else was in the cafeteria at that moment, let alone nearby, as some of the teachers at the next table turned to stare at the angry were-mermaid.