While Jamie would have wanted to help defuse the hostility between Riley and Trevor, she had to admit her presence would probably only escalate things. It'd be better if Sarah talked some sense into those two before she could tell them how she felt about this whole domination thing. So she agreed to go hang out with Malice for a while. Malice's 'parents' were going to the Williams' baby shower and she decided to come along. Of course, it wasn't quite the same thing as a normal baby shower. Marlysa wouldn't be giving live birth, she'd be laying a clutch of eggs. Also, Mr. and Mrs. Wesley weren't really Malice's parents by birth. She was just adopted into the family after her infection led to the others' conversion. Not that Jamie really cared, familial connections have changed quite a bit since the outbreak.
The baby shower was nice, but it was a little boring for Jamie. She was a bit interested in having pups one day, but that wouldn't be for a long time now. The Wesley had gone there not only because the Williams were family friends, but because Mrs. Wesley was also pregnant. Though Jamie wouldn't have been able to tell if it weren't for the slightly roundness of Mrs. Wesley's stomach. Though Malice was also interested in having pups, she seemed just as bored with the baby shower as Jamie. So when the guests of honor had to leave because Marlysa was about to lay her eggs, Jamie and Malice decided to walk back to Jamie's house.
One might have worried about two teenage girls walking home at night alone. However, Jamie and Malice were hardly helpless. The muscles they got from their double-doses weren't just for show. Then again, crime was at an all-time low in Lyre. Most likely because Animalians were not greedy or malicious creatures and very few humans would want to risk dealing with a pack of uplifted wolves and dogs.
"That was kinda interesting," said Malice.
"The only thing that interested me was that new formal combat thing," said Jamie, "I bet my tail that Trevor and Riley will be doing that before too long."
"I'm sure Sarah will have talked them down from their machoism," said Malice.
"Hopefully, but I know they'll do it anyways," said Jamie, "They can duel over me if they want, but I'm making it clear to them that I'm not picking one just because he managed to out-muscle the other. I have a lot more depth than that. They'll have to court me properly."
"So...does that mean you're not hanging onto Simon?" asked Malice.
"I didn't really want to get him involved in this. I just wanted those two to stop barking at each other and focus on me," said Jamie.
"So you won't mind if I claimed Simon?" asked Malice.
"Well, it's fine with me, but it's not gonna be that easy," said Jamie, "There are still plenty of girls who have an interest in him and some won't back down so easily."
"I don't mind a little challenge," said Malice, "Personally, I think Abby and Sarah found their mates a little too easily. Samson and Travis are good matches, but I want to feel that I've accomplished a great feat when I get Simon."
"You better not see him as a trophy," said Jamie with a warning glare.
"What exactly do you mean?" asked Malice.
"That you just want him for boasting rights," said Jamie.
"What? No!" said Malice, "Well, I might brag about beating the others, but Simon means more than that. I want to be a cop as much as he does and he actually seems to like me. At least, that's what it seems like. But I want to be his mate, to have a family together, someone who can really have a close bond with me."
"You sound more sincere than most of the other girls," said Jamie.
"Which is one of the reasons why I need to win," said Malice.
"Your sister did a pretty big favor for me with my potential mates. So I think helping you with your potential mate would make us even," said Jamie, "I should still warn you, even with my help, there will still be some fierce competition."
"Then I'll just have to beat them all," said Malice, "Not literally, of course."
"Just be glad this isn't a Scott Pilgrim comic," said Jamie.
"Sarah mentioned that too. Who is this Scott Pilgrim?" asked Malice.
Jamie grinned and said, "I'll show you some comics I have. Just don't take them too literally."