Melissa Jenkins was sitting on the front steps of the school, troubled by the rumors that were flying around in the school. Were they really true? Did Ms. McCoy really scratch her dad to claim him? What was she supposed to figure with all of this? She didn't know all that much about what was happening with Ms. McCoy and her dad, but before Virginia changed him, Melissa could see changes in him.
"Penny for your thoughts?" a familiar female voice said behind her. Melissa turned to see Alice standing behind her, smiling at her. Melissa smiled back, grateful to see a friendly face. "We were starting to wonder what happened to you."
Melissa pouted as she turned back around. "Sorry, it's just I've heard some things and well..."
Alice sat beside her and said, "Rumors flying through the school? Yeah, in a small town like this, it's pretty normal. I've heard about twenty different things about what happened yesterday, and I don't believe not one of them. None of the people there know the truth."
"And you do?" asked Melissa.
Alice looked at Melissa and shrugged her shoulders, "Nope, and I don't pretend I do either." She sighed and said, "I can get how you feel. If it were my dad and mom they were talking about, I'd be worried too. But this, this is just rumor stuff. Yeah, it's about your dad and Ms. McCoy, but don't let it bother you. It'll pass soon as soon as some other rumor pops out. Maybe it'll be a who transformed whom, or maybe about some sort of marriage announcement. But rumors are just that, rumors. As long as you don't let them bother you, they'll just go away like a bad rainstorm."
Melissa smiled at Alice and said, "Thanks. I needed that."
"Hey, glad I could help," Alice said as she stood up. "Now, I know your boyfriend is waiting for you with the rest of our group, so if you're done moping..."
"Hey!" Melissa said as she stood up and chased after Alice. Alice just grinned as she went back into the school with Melissa following closely behind.
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Tachibana no Akane, hearing the troubling news from her granddaughter Megumi, made a call to the head of the raccoon clan, Randolph Cousteau. After a few minutes, Randolph picked up.
"Hello? Randolph? This is Akane."
"Akane! What do I have the pleasure of talking with you this day?"
"I have received troubling news from my Granddaughter. Are you familiar with a wereraccoon by the name of Alice Decrux?"
Randolph sighed into the phone and said, "Her again? Let me guess, she changed another man into a raccoon?"
"Not exactly, although she is being investigated for a Statute 1A charge."
"I swear, that woman. She gives us raccoons a bad name."
"Well, I just wanted to warn you that she may go after a young woman by the name of Melissa Jenkins. She is a friend of my granddaughters'."
"And you're afraid that Decrux would go after her. Not like her, I'd admit, but I'm sure that there's a story behind it. One that I'd care not to listen to at this moment."
"As long as you understand then."
"Right. Frankly, she's been giving me grief ever since she started her whole scam. It's a shame we can't do anything to her legally, at least not yet. Still, I'll have a couple of my men keep an eye on her to make sure she doesn't do anything...bad."
"I am glad to hear that," Akane said smiling. "I have sent Daisuke to look after Melissa as well. That should do till at least the police finish their investigation."
"Understood. And thanks for the warning, I really appreciate it. Decrux has been a knot in our fur for a long time, and if it were up to me, I'd like to see her spend a long time in jail for what she's done."
"Very well, then. Shall we talk again at our regular meeting?"
"Sounds good. Thanks for the warning and I'll talk to you soon."
With that, both parties hung up their phones. Randolph picked up his phone again and made a call to several people. He was going to keep a close eye on Alice Decrux just to make sure that she didn't do anything wrong.