Chapter 9: The Tom Problem

“Hiya Lina,” I hear Tom say with characteristic politeness. Despite being my friend, he’s usually the quiet, reserved one.

“Hi,” she replies coldly.

I haven’t seen them interact much on their own. Usually, I’m the one who’s riling Lina up, with her getting mad and storming off in return. Tom just kind of sits there and observes. I see him looking over at me, and I wave at him with a smile. He smiles back politely, but I can tell he’s a little confused.

“Who’s this?” he asks.

“Nunya”

“Nunya who?”

“Nunya business, fuckboy,” she replies with a snorting laugh.

“Oookay,” he replies, rolling his eyes, as he looks to me for an answer.

“Tess! I’m Wolf’s cousin, Lina says you’re his friend?”

“Oh, you’re Wolf’s cousin,” he replies, glancing between Lina and I, “so you’re the date she tackled him over.”

I can see Lina freeze, before I put my paw on top of hers, reassuring her. “Wolf’s very protective of me, and Lina is too, from what I’ve heard and seen from the both of them. I’m not worried about it if you aren’t, Tom,” I reply.

He snorts as he turns around and walks towards the door, putting a few bills on his table as he does. “Some family you are if you’re dating his bully,” he yells as he walks to his car. My ears droop instinctively. Of course, he’s only protecting me through that comment, but what’s he going to think when…

“Don’t pay him any mind, Tess,” Lina says, scratching behind my ear, “I’m not proud of what I did to your cousin earlier, and it’s none of his business what you do with your romantic life.”

“I guess, I just…”

“Stop worrying, even if that cute face you make when you are makes me want to kiss you again,” she commands, smiling confidently at me.

“Okay.” I shift in my seat, getting more comfortable. The tail is still a little new, and figuring out how to remain modest while letting it be free is…difficult.

“So, not to be rude, but, I take it the change is newer to you?” Lina asks, gesturing to my fiddling with my tail.

“I…yeah,” I reply, “only started a few months ago, and it’s not complete so I’m not comfortable being around ‘cept when it’s near the full moon.” That wasn’t technically a lie.

“Oh, I understand,” she replies, “when I first started changing I grew like ten inches, and none of my clothes fit anymore. It was super embarrassing to walk into class as a ninth grader taller than any of the boys in twelfth grade.”

“Jeez,” I say, wincing as I remember the teasing she went through those few months, “that must’ve been really hard for you, I’m sorry.”

“So you must’ve graduated, then?” she asks, “I mean, I’ve never seen you around here.”

I shake my head, but struggle to come up with a believable half-truth, “I’m in the area, I just don’t hang around much, so we don’t really overlap. And most of my classes don’t require me to be there, so, y’now.”

It wasn’t untrue, per se, and while I can see Lina’s doubtfulness initially, I then see her face light up with recognition. “You’re one of those artsy types, arentcha?”

“I…yes!” I reply.

“Awesome! You’ll have to show me whatever it is you make sometime. What do you do?”

I think back to the sketches I had done. They weren’t bad, and I might be able to convince someone they were part of what I did regularly, with enough work.

“I do lots of pen sketches! Especially nature scenes,” I reply.

“Oh, I’m sure they’re gorgeous!” she replies, looking over to see the waitress bring us our drinks and food.

We dig in, me delicately biting off little pieces, her chomping through it in a way that’s not…uncultured, but is definitely less refined. I try not to stare to make her self-conscious. About halfway through, she stops and stares herself.

“You’re…remarkably proper for someone related to Wolf,” she notes.

I grin at her as I swallow a bite, then reply, “Thank you, I think.”

“It’s just, you’ve been very classy and polite to me, to Tom, to everyone you’ve met when I’ve seen you. You even stepped in for your cousin on such short notice! Hell, even the way you eat is considerate and delicate. Your aunt was right, you’re a very classy girl. I’m lucky to have you on this date,” she says, smiling earnestly at me.

“Lina,” I reply, “you are probably the most beautiful person I’ve ever seen. There’s no one I’d rather be spending this Valentine’s Day with.”

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She fumbles with her burger before putting it down, obviously flustered by my comment. I giggle at her, receiving a playful glare in return. We continue to work through our meals, before the waitress comes with the bill. She takes my hand, helping me down from the table, as we walk out to her car.

It’s now pitch black outside, and the moon is nearly full above our heads. Lina turns to me and grins, opening the car door for me as I curtsy and step inside, giggling. As we get in the car, I feel the phone in my purse buzz.

I take it out, and type in the password I struggle to remember (stupid fingerprint ID). I see a text from Tom.

Just fyi dude, saw ur cousin on the date w lina

I frown as I try to formulate a reply, Lina starting the engine and waiting for an opportunity to exit the parallel parking spot. Eventually, I find my words

It’s no problem haha, hope she was having fun

The text bubble pops up for a few minutes, before disappearing again. I sigh, he’s probably going to say something salient but annoying.

Aight bro. Just so u know it was going pretty well between them. U really want 2 see lina at your full moon parties?

“Who you texting?” Lina asks. “You’re doing the worried pout again.”

“A friend,” I reply, “they’re being annoyingly protective like usual.”

“Tell them it’ll be fine,” she says, “I’ve got your back.”

I know I’ve got to consider some stuff. I can keep Lina in the dark for now, but I know what that text from Tom means. It means he’s going to be using his best friend skills to look out for my best interest, and in the process, possibly ruin things for me. I only have one option

Hey Tom, will u be at the dance tonight?

Duh

Meet me out back where we used to play hooky in history at 6:30?

Bet.

C u there

I click the power button on my phone and put it away, smiling reassuringly at Lina, who is now pulling up to the school building. As we walk in, I check my phone to see, it’s 6:26. I’ve got to go. I look up at her and ask, “Hey Lina, I need to use the washroom. Can I meet you at the doors to the dance hall in ten?”

“Sure, sweetheart,” she replies, smiling as she pats my head and walks off towards the hall.

I walk as quickly as I can towards the back entrance without running away from everything. As I step out into the night breeze, I see Tom waiting. He looks at me, and raises an eyebrow.

“Tom,” I say, “I can explain.”

“Did Wolf tell you to be here?” he asks, chewing on some gum, offering me a stick as I decline with a hand wave.

“I…that’s what this is about,” I reply.

“Oh, so he’s gonna talk it out, I see,” he replies, “classic Wolf.”

“Nonono, you don’t…”

“Ohhh, you mean, he’s having you talk it out with me. Well, that’s a little sneaky, but I respect it. Would’ve appreciated the notice over text, but I suppose that makes sense,” he replies.

“Tom–”

“Of course, it doesn’t make sense that he wouldn’t clear this with me beforehand. I mean, he’s my best friend. Hell, I thought he was working tonight, didn’t even know he was gonna be here. I supposed, y’now, you would be, given that you’re Lina’s date, but–”

“Would you shut your damn mouth and listen to me, asshole?” I ask.

He looks at me and squints his eyes, “You’re his cousin, alright.”

“That’s what I’ve been trying to get at, dumbass, I’m Wolf. Wolf is me. I started transforming last month and I didn’t want to tell anyone yet in case it got out to my father, who’s very probably a little bit transphobic. I wanted to tell you, but to be honest, I was nervous about what you’d think, but now I’m on a date with Lina, who I’m pretty sure is in love with me, and hates me at the same time. And I was hoping that maybe, I’d be able to have a nice date for once in my goddamn life before everything falls apart.”

“Is that so?” I hear Lina say behind me.

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