Harold chuckled as Trevor went quickly out the door. Once the door was closed, Harold remarked, "Well, I knew you two would be sleeping together, but I'm grateful that it would be with your clothes on."
"DAD!" Melissa replied, her face getting very red. Harold chuckled at his daughter's response.
"I'm going to order some pizza," Harold said as he headed to the phone. "I've still got a few more bags in the car. Could you bring them in for me while I order the pizza? And is meat lover's ok?" Melissa simply nodded her head as she headed out to the car where the bags were located. At the same time, Harold made a phone call to Moe's Pizzeria for some meat lover's pizza. After about fifteen minutes or so, Melissa and Harold finished moving all of the bags upstairs, and the pizza came to the door. Soon after, Melissa and Harold were at the table eating and discussing the day.
"So, dad," Melissa started, "I see you did a little shopping. And you didn't bring me along."
Harold chuckled and said, "Well, I had to get some new clothes for my new form. Most of my old clothes don't fit me well anymore, and the college gave me some funds to get some new professional clothes. And I didn't bring you along because you, young lady, have no idea of what professional means."
"You mean boring, right?" Melissa asked while rolling her eyes.
"Exactly my point," Harold said with a smirk. After a few minutes, Harold asked, "And how is school coming along? I hear that there was trouble?"
Melissa quickly replied with, "Oh, it was nothing. Just some rumors going around about you and Virginia. Apparently news of the fight that you, Virginia, and Ms. Decrux were involved in has gotten to the school." She sighed as she took a bite of the pizza before continuing. "I'll admit that it did bother me to hear all of these nasty things about you and Virginia. She seems to be a nice woman for you, dad." Melissa took the time to omit the part where she and Trevor visited Virginia.
"Well, take it from one who's been there and done that. Don't pay any attention to those rumors. Most of those people don't know what they're talking about anyway," Harold said as he started on his third slice of pizza.
"That's true," Melissa said as she thoughtfully chewed on her slice of pizza.
After a few minutes of silence, Harold asked, "So, how are things coming along with you and Trevor? You two looked cute sleeping together."
Melissa coughed as she choked on a bite of pizza and her faced turned red. "Dad!" she exclaimed.
"What?" Harold responded with a grin, "Just saying that my girl looks cute sleeping with her boyfriend."
"Dad! Stop that!" Melissa responded even louder as her face turned redder.
Harold laughed as he watched his daughter's reaction. After a few minutes of laughing, which even Melissa started to crack up a little, he continued, "No, seriously though, I can see you two are getting along together. Any plans?"
"Um...well..." she started, a blush on her cheeks as she looked around, "We do have plans for a picnic tomorrow afternoon. He's going to show me a special part of town that has a nice view of the lake."
"I see," Harold said as he continued to think. "And how do you feel about him?"
"Um..." she said as her face turned a bright shade of red, "I like him. When I'm with him, I feel so safe. He protects me, and he respects me. Definitely grade A boyfriend material."
Harold nodded his head as he thought for a moment, "So, are you going to become a werecow to be with him?"
Melissa looked at her dad and blinked before sighing and answering, "Yeah, the thought's crossed my mind. I honestly could see myself being with him for the rest of our lives."
"Even as a cowgirl?" Harold asked as he raised his eyebrow up.
"Dad," Melissa responded almost laughing, "I probably wouldn't be a ranch girl per say, but I am thinking about something on the lines of civil service or something. I'm not sure yet, though."
"Fair enough," Harold replied before taking a drink. He thought for a moment and said, "Well, I hope you have a good time tomorrow. And in case I don't see you before you go on your date, be sure to bring your birth control pills."
Melissa's eyes widened as she did a double take. "Wait, what?" she asked.
Harold chuckled and said, "I'm not stupid, dear. I can see what's going on here. It's clear to me that he loves you and respects you, and you feel the same way about him. I can tell what'll happen, and if and when that happens, I want you to be prepared. If you want to be a werecow to be with Trevor, I'm perfectly fine with that. Just be safe."
Melissa looked at her father and asked, "Do you really mean that?" Harold smiled as he nodded. Melissa squealed as she ran over to her father to give him a hug and a kiss on the cheek. "Thank you, daddy."
"You're welcome, dear," Harold said as he hugged her back. "Now, I do believe that you have school tomorrow. I think it's best off to bed with you. And before you go on your date with Trevor, I want to speak with you."
"Okay, daddy. Good night," Melissa said as she went up the stairs to get ready for bed. Harold just simply smiled and sighed. Her little girl was growing up perhaps a little too fast.