Frieda Knight was on her way to her next class of the day when she heard someone call out her name.
She turned in the crowded hallway of Moon Lake High School and saw Spencer Lawson, her girlfriend and co-lover of their mutual boyfriend Eric Anderson, approaching.
"How's it going honey?" Spencer asked in a low voice as she drew near.
"Rough," was Frieda's only answer.
"I've been sensing some very weird vibes from you and Eric over our emphatic link," commented Spencer. "Want to talk about it?"
"I'd love to, but don't have the time now. Eric gave me this note," replied Freida, handing the folded piece of paper to her co-lover. "I've already got Dad looking into this teacher that has apparently targeted our man for grief this year."
"Jeff Wilson?" said Spencer, while scanning Eric's message. "Heard of him, but have yet to have the displeasure. He's bad news on the student grapevine, if you know what I mean. But what did you mean about your father?"
"I'll explain later," promised Frieda. "By the way, did you sense Eric changing within the last hour?"
"I thought so, but that couldn't of happened here, right? I mean, in the middle of the school day, let alone in public?"
"One would think. Then again, we've been so worried about him, maybe Eric just went to a bathroom and blew off some steam," incorrectly guessed Frieda. "I did buy all of us outfits for the new school year from Awareness," she added, referring to the clothing store that specially catered to weres, "so we don't have to worry about our man exposing anything we don't want exposed," Frieda said with a sly smile. "But I've really got to get to my next class. I'll see you after school," vowed Frieda, before taking off.
I wonder if I should of told her the rumors I've heard about Eric and the so called Tusk Brigade? Spencer asked herself, before going off to her next period class. Nah. We're both worried about our darling as it is. But we're definitely having a family talk later, Spencer promised herself, before entering her next class.
MEANWHILE...
"Well, fancy meeting you here," said Brian Walker with a smile, as he spotted Patricia Monet already sitting in a chair in his next class.
"What does that make now?" she asked in return.
"Every even numbered period class so far, plus lunch and study hall," replied Brian happily, as he took a seat across from her.
"With two more to go before the end of the class day," observed Patricia, referring to fifth and sixth periods, while smiling at her boyfriend.
"Don't know how long I'll get to sit next to you, since most teachers usually like to arrange their students alphabetically. By the way, did you get the text saying we're not needed at the Elders' Council building after school?"
"Yes. Care to walk me home after school Mister Walker? Maybe stop at the convenience store for a soda on the way and then tackle our homework together?"
"Your place or mine Miss Monet?" Brian asked in return, barely stopping himself from wanting to call Patricia Mrs. Walker, a title Brian longed to give her as part of his burning desire to share the rest of his life with the love of his heart.
"We'll see," was all his girlfriend said with a smile on her face as the bell rang and the teacher entered the room.
A FEW MINUTES LATER WITHIN THE HIGH SCHOOL...
"That's wrong! The answer is 660.49," declared Jeff Wilson, confident in his response while belittling the student who got the problem wrong. Tell me the book's wrong and how to teach my class, he bitched in the back of his mind, while moving on to the next math problem. Nobody tells me how to run my class. Not even the Principal! Just wait until I get that Eric Anderson in my class tomorrow...*
ELSEWHERE...
"Okay men. What are we going to do about that dweeb Eric Anderson?" Rex asked, keeping his voice low as he and his cohorts stood in the back of the high school gym, ignoring the coaches talking about the start of the new school year and what the gym class rules were.
"The usual?" Harry asked, while Larry nodded in agreement.
"Normally I'd agree with you," said Rex, "but did either of you know that kid was a were-panther?"
"I smelled something feline about him, but I also smelled fox and wolf too," replied Larry, as Harry nodded in agreement.
"Yeah. The weirdo must have an equally weird family," guessed Rex, not knowing Eric's parents were werefoxes while his older brother was a werewolf, let alone the hybrid nature of Spencer Lawson. "Then I guess it's Plan B," assumed Rex.
"Go after the girlfriend," said Harry, while Larry nodded his head in agreement. "But does he have one?"
"The dweeb mentioned being at the Knight estate Saturday, so it must be Frieda Knight," guessed Rex. "But how that ass hole rated such a class act like her is beyond me."
"Yeah. Frieda Knight is H-O-T!" agreed Harry.
"Come on. Do we really want to take on the Knight family?" asked Larry. "I've heard stories about her old man..."
"Me too," agreed Harry.
"We're not going to rough her up. Yet," replied Rex. "We'll just threaten Frieda and say that unless that jerk Eric starts doing all our homework for us, then both of them will get what they deserve!" while punching a fist against his open palm for emphasis, but making sure none of the coaches saw the gesture. "She'll cave and tell Eric to do as we say. If she don't, then we'll give Anderson what he deserves for mistreating and dissing us."
"Meaning...?" wondered Larry, as he and Harry looked at their leader anxiously.
"If that bastard doesn't cooperate, we'll beat him up in front of Frieda Knight," explained Rex. "Then, if Eric still doesn't agree to do as we say, we'll show Frieda how real men treat a woman in front of him," he added, as all three members of the Tusk Brigade smiled, anticipating their impending fun.
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*Just click the PREVIOUS CHAPTER option above for the full reference to this sequence.
AND ON A PERSONAL NOTE, I've been on the wrong end of plenty of bullies in my life, and luckily survived to tell the tale. Obviously such demeaning attitudes toward another living being are wrong and
should be stopped.—tmw.