Chapter 4

Monday, October 16, 2045

I was still quite a bit sore as I walked to campus. My father and I had moved all of Laura's possessions either into our house, or into a storage shed until she had time to sort through it and decide what items could be sold. At least Coach Davis would not be able to complain that I had not worked out hard after missing practice on Friday. About a block from campus I found Allan waiting for me. He touched me on the shoulder and said, "You better be careful today. Gina definitely managed to get in touch with Darryl over the weekend. I've heard that he plans on ambushing you in the hallway today."

"That was expected," I replied. "At least this means that after Friday's game I can give my step-mother to be a hug. I also will get to see her sitting by my father at games."

Allan just smiled at this. "That will be a very unpleasant surprise for Gina. You know that she still believes that someday you'd see the light and ask her out on a date"

I tripped and stumbled for a moment upon hearing this. "Gaaah. I'd rather go live with my mother than spend any unnecessary time in Gina's company."

Seeing we were still about half a block from campus, Allan whispered. "Is she going to be okay?"

I replied equally quietly. "She woke Sunday morning, confused and upset, but Laura managed to calm her down. The visible changes are limited, but she's definitely going to have non-human ears and a tail of some kind. She probably has 3 more days to go though."

"How about we throw a party for her next Saturday?" Allan mused. "Something to show her that no matter what she looks like, she still has friends."

I merely nodded as we were entering the campus and I could see Darryl and Gina standing in front of the main hall, glaring in our direction.

"Where is she?" Gina screeched. "You have to know where the animal is hiding."

Darryl moved to block my path and a rather reluctant looking Tristan stood next to him. "You won't pass until you answer the lady," Darryl threatened.

"Calling Gina a lady is a stretch. She has none of the poise, charm and dignity a lady displays," I replied sharply. "As for your threat to keep me from passing, I have classes today, and I intend to go to them. Now, you just got your arm unbroken, shall we see if I can break it again? " I flexed my arms and handed my backpack to Allan.

Darryl stood in front of me for a moment longer and then stepped to the side, silently staring at me. Gina gave a hiss of protest, but Allan slipped through the opening and I followed, entering the campus. Darryl gave me a rough shove as I passed, but Tristan stood motionless. I was able to pass by and Darryl stood there with his back to me as the door swung closed. Just before it shut with a click, I heard him murmur. "This isn't over yet, freaklover."

First period was not too bad, but two of Darryl's friends were in the class, and I found myself the target of juvenile pranks like spitballs whenever the teacher's attention wandered away from the students.

I was surprised to find that Mrs. Barlow approached me before second period started and actually thanked me for showing that I cared. "I know that I don't show much compassion to the students," she said. "What most of you don't know is that ten years ago I had a son enter MORFS while attending school and one of the other students decided to take the opportunity to beat him to a pulp. It happened during a class break and none of the other students lifted a finger to help him. He barely survived and the damage was actually made worse during stage two. He took his own life once he graduated from high school. Since then, I just cannot seem to open up to my students." There were tears in her eyes, but I could not reply and she then went to the front of the class and ignored me for the rest of the period.