As Nate and Alex rushed off to their respective fourth period classes so they wouldn't get in trouble with the Moon Lake High School Principal, Nate had a startling revelation.
I still don't know Alex's last name!
MEANWHILE...
With the beginning of fourth period for most of the school, lunch breaks began, staring with the Freshman class.
Julie Stovall found Eric Anderson in the lunch room, sitting at what she was starting to consider their spot, but could see that Eric appeared lost in deep thought.
As usual.
"Hey there. What's weighing on your mind this time?" Julie asked, sitting next to her fledgling boyfriend.
"Us, actually," admitted Eric.
"Oh?" asked Julie, actually excited to hear that.
"I really like you Julie, and I know that you like me to," said Eric.
"I do," confirmed Julie, perhaps a little too eagerly, but she didn't care at that point, wondering what was on his mind.
"I've even been dreaming about you. A lot," admitted Eric, before telling her about the one he had last night.
Julie's eyes widened as she realized they had the exact same dream about each other, but before she could decide whether or not to tell him, Eric said, "But I was wondering though. If I ever do decide to become a were, would it matter to you what kind of were I became?"
Julie just stared at Eric in disbelief, trusting her first instinct that now was not the time to admit that she longed for the two of them to spend the rest of their lives together, happily ever after, as were-mers.
Instead, she stared directly at him and asked, "This has something to do about that rogue, doesn't it Eric?"
Eric didn't hesitate when he confessed it did. "I felt so helpless and vulnerable. Besides the fact that there's no way of knowing what Yvette would of done with me in hopes of getting my dad, one little bite or scratch and..." If Eric even remembered that he called Julie, in tears, while everyone else was downstairs fighting, he never said and she didn't press the issue.
"There's also the more pleasurable way of becoming a were," said Julie coyly, to which Eric actually blushed.
"Why is that even necessary?" asked Eric, once he found his voice again.
"Considering how far back it and weres date, I've always thought it had something to do with making sure the various species continue. But let me hazard a guess here. You think that by becoming a big strong were, you'd have a better chance of protecting yourself, your family, and maybe even me if the situation arose. Am I right?"
Eric simply nodded his head in agreement.
"That's a lot of bull and you know it!" said Julie, a bit upset.
"First off, Yvette Smith was an anomaly," began Julie, while looking directly at Eric. "When this whole mess started, I grew curious and checked with my grandfather who also happens to be the oldest person I know in Moon Lake. He says that there hasn't been a rogue anything in decades, and the last was a werebear who thought he and his mob should be in charge of Moon Lake back in the late 1920's gangster era."
"Really?" asked Eric, staring at Julie while trying not to get lost in her beautiful deep blue eyes again.
"Secondly, every were has its strengths and weaknesses. Yet, even the apparently bigger and stronger ones like the wolves and bears can be defeated if you know how. Shear strength of numbers alone will win over any opponent, even them. That werebear I told you about? The Sheriff at the time got the whole town behind him and united, they beat that werebear and his mob."
"Wow!" said Eric, lost in thought over that. He realized it wasn't just Nate and Ben who defeated Yvette, but his parents and the Twists as well. Together. That was six against one, proving Julie right.
"My grandfather was just a kid at the time, but I'll be sure he tells you the story whenever the two of you get to meet," promised Julie. "Now then, last, and to answer your question," she said, while holding Eric's hand in hers. "If I didn't already have some very strong feelings for you Eric Anderson, I wouldn't be here sitting with you right now. When the time is right, I trust you to make the correct decision as to if or what kind of were you might ever decide to be. But you promise me right now that you will think it completely through," with both your brain and your heart, Julie silently added, while squeezing his hand a little tighter in hers, "without letting your fears and doubts have any say in the matter."
Eric reached up and wiped away the tear that was starting to form in the corner of her eye. "I promise," he vowed to her.
"Thank you," said Julie, trying to keep her voice from breaking. "Now then, are we still on for our date after school today?"
"I'm looking forward to it," replied Eric with a big smile on his face.
The two Freshman sat together and talked about more innocent things, like where they would go and what to do after school during their date, while they finished eating.
When the bell signalling the end of Freshman lunch rang, Julie gave Eric a quick peck on the cheek and said she'd see him later. They would meet her mother after last class at least long enough to give her their book bags to take home while they went out.
The two students held hands together leaving the lunchroom, until they realized that their fourth period classes were in different directions.
As they reluctantly parted company, Julie thought over the situation.
Despite his worries, Eric and I had the exact same dream? My fourth period is Study Hall. Maybe I should call my mom and get her advice on all of this.