Fox Play (21 page)

"I want to know what you're going to do to me. Can you please get it over with? Are you throwing me out of the pack?"

"Is that what you think?" she asked quietly.

"I don't know what to think if you won't tell me."

"Do you think there's anything I can do that would be worse than what you're doing to yourself? Besides, you went in with me."

I curled up next to her, and she was so warm.

"You were right to be angry with me," she said. "I should have talked about it with you, but we got caught up with everything, and it all got away from me. I didn't intend it this way. I wasn't trying to blindside you or put you on the spot. I wanted to see if it was feasible."

"It's not."

"I am sorry. Will you forgive me for letting it get away from me, and for you finding out about it this way?"

"Yes," I said.

"Good." She lifted my chin and stole a kiss. I didn't put any passion into it, but it felt nice anyway.

"Can we talk hypotheticals for a minute?"

"That's not practical."

"Humor me?" she asked. I nodded. "Let us say we could magically wave our hands and give you all the diplomas you needed to be legally entitled to teach, and Francesca were to help you. Would you want to do it?"

"It doesn't matter," I said.

"Hypothetical, and I have a magic wand. Please play my game, Michaela."

"All right. Magic wand. Zap." I thought about it. "Would I be locked inside a school?"

"You would be teaching the natural sciences with an emphasis on hands on experience. You tell me?"

"It would still be more time in a building than my current job."

"True. But a whole lot less in a car."

I smiled weakly. "Point to your side. I don't mind that part, but it's not the best part." I considered it. "I like teaching Angel."

"I thought you might."

"I like the kids."

"They respond well to you, and Scarlett thinks you walk on water. She probably does especially now after you pushed me into the lake."

"Hmmph." I thought some more. "It doesn't matter what I want."

"Do you forget my magic wand? Yes or no. Would you want to do it?"

"Only the sciences?"

"And maybe math."

"All right," I said. "Yes, I'd want it. But it doesn't matter. I can't."

"Forget teaching requirements and think about qualifications. What aren't you qualified to teach?"

"Lara, I audited the teaching classes. I know the requirements. And an 8th grade education isn't it."

"Yeah, yeah. The material. Do you know the math?"

"At a high school level? Of course."

"Chemistry. Physics?"

"I don't know about the physics. I might have to read up a little."

"Biology? Conservation? Geology?"

"Yes, of course. Those are my job."

"Lab work?"

"Yes."

"Okay, so what can you NOT teach?"

I thought about it. I knew these topics inside and out to the college level, except the physics was light, and I had only take a few college math classes over the years, maybe four or five. Of course, I didn't have a single college credit, but I had learned the material nevertheless.

"I guess I could teach all of it. But I don't have the credentials."

"So, magic wand waving in the air still. If I got you the credentials, would you want the job?"

"Yes, but-"

She held out her hand. "Shake on it, then."

"Lara, we can't get me false credentials. It will catch up to the kids eventually."

"I wouldn't dream of it," she said. "If I get you legitimate teaching credentials, will you teach my school?"

"Yes."

"Shake on it, little fox." So I shook her hand. It wasn't like she'd get me the credentials.

Then she began squishing me in a tight hug.

"Of course," I said. "I wouldn't have any students."

She laughed. "Yeah, right." Then she lifted her voice. "Francesca, can you pull yourself away?"

Francesca turned around, then excused herself from a conversation with Michele Lassiter. She came and sat on Lara's other side.

"Francesca," Lara said. "Can you explain the state legal requirements for teaching at a private high school?"

"There aren't any."

"What?" I said.

"What matters is that the students are taught the required material sufficiently to pass the state exams. But we're accredited, so it's a little more than that."

"How much more?"

"High school diploma or the equivalent and demonstrated competence in the material being taught."

"I don't have a high school diploma. Or equivalent."

"Francesca, do you think that's a problem?"

She laughed. "Probably not. She might have to read a few books before taking the GED exam. Or she could earn a diploma from Wolf Valley if she tests out of all the subjects. The GED exam might be easier, but if she does it my way, then if there are any subjects that she's weak, I'll know what they are and what she needs to study."

"How long doing it that way?"

"Well, it's not like she'll have trouble with the sciences or math. I don't know about the other subjects. We have an intentionally difficult curriculum."

"By fall?"

"Oh, I thought you were wondering about this week. Probably by the end of May, maybe sooner."

I stared at her.

"From working with her, are you comfortable if Michaela teaches math and sciences."

"Absolutely."

Lara smiled sweetly. "I would like you to start immediately. Perhaps you can give notice tomorrow morning. We'll get you caught up with your backlog so your boss is left with a happy taste."

"This is crazy," I said. "They deserve better than me."

Lara's face darkened. "Do you know the material we're talking about?"

"Yes, but-"

"Can you teach that material to these kids?"

"Yes, but-"

"Do you want to teach these kids?"

"Yes, but-"

"Do you want to spend every night in my bed?"

"Lara-"

"But what?" she asked.

I turned to Francesca. "Shouldn't I student teach?"

"You have been," she said. "What do you think we've been doing?"

I stared at Francesca. She shrugged and smiled.

I turned to Lara. "You win."

She smiled. "I usually do."

* * * *

We sailed until five. I eventually warmed up. We sailed back to the marina and docked, and the kids all descended on me.

"Wow! Michaela," said Angel. "What did Lara do now? I wasn't looking, but suddenly everyone said you pushed her in and she pulled you in afterwards. And couldn't you have done it about three hours earlier?"

I smiled. "I'm sorry you didn't win."

"Was it cold?" Scarlett asked.

"Horribly," I agreed.

Sophia and Ava stepped up. "Angel and Scarlett have been telling us about your classes. We want to know what sort of interviews you're going to need to accept us as students. And are you going to have any camps or anything this summer we can attend?"

I sighed. "You'll need to talk to your parents first. I'm not sure they're going to want you studying with me."

"What?" said Ava. "Why not?"

"People who push the alpha into the lake aren't necessarily the first people you want teaching your kids," I said.

Ava laughed. "I saw the whole thing. That was so cool."

"Your mother may not agree, Ava," I said. "For now, I am letting the alpha handle it."

"Is she really mad at you?" Ava asked.

"No. She apologized for what made me so angry. But the last time I went too far, she threatened me with a spanking on my bare bottom in front of the entire pack. It could still happen."

"She wouldn't!" said Angel.

"My experience is that the alpha rarely bluffs," I said.

After that, I let myself be herded, along with everyone else, onto the boats back to the island.

* * * *

Dinner was another large picnic. After the third person asked me what Lara had done to get pushed into the lake, I was ready to find a beer or three and let them put me to sleep.

But then I turned around, and June and Benny were walking across the lawn towards us, holding hands. He looked nervous. I forgot my own issues and focused on his.

"Hey, Benny," I said. "It's good to see you."

"Heya, Michaela," he said. "I heard you went swimming earlier. How was the water?"

"Oh god. June!"

"I didn't tell him," she said.

"Does the whole town know?" I asked.

"Pretty much," said Benny. "Glad you're okay."

"Michaela, will you help with introductions?" June asked.

We didn't introduce Benny to everyone, but of course he needed to meet Lara and Elisabeth. I made a point of introducing him to Donald and Michele Lassiter as well. After that, I hung out nearby and watched how he interacted with everyone.

Lara came up beside me. "Feeling better?"

"I'm still not qualified," I said.

She sighed. "You know I'm going to win. Stop struggling. Francesca and I will get you qualified, and you'll be great."

"All right." I watched Benny. "What do you think so far?"

"I think we'll tell him. I don't know how it's going to go. Are you sure you want to go first?"

"Yes. He knows me, and I'm far less threatening. I can shift slowly, make it take a few seconds, and that might help him believe, too."

"I'll have some blankets ready afterwards. The humans can be touchy about nudity."

"Yeah. I am sometimes, too. I don't like to be naked around strangers, at least not standing around naked."

We stood side by side, leaning lightly against each other. "Are we all right?" she asked me.

"I'm worried you don't respect me."

"How do you feel about me?"

"I love you, Lara."

"And I love you. And respect you deeply. Nothing has changed. Your only flaw, as far as I am concerned, is your lack of self-esteem."

"How about my ability to fly off the handle?"

"If the situation had been different, do you think I would have been calmer?"

I laughed. "Maybe not."

"Are we okay?" she asked me again.

"Yeah. We're okay."

"Good."

Dinner was ready shortly after, our usual huge platters of food. Sophia and Ava brought plates to Lara and me. Mine was wolf sized. I ate what I wanted, and Lara took care of the rest for me.

We lit a bonfire. The pack loved its bonfires. Lara spent some time talking to Benny. I edged away and people watched for a while, then Lara caught my eye, and I saw June disappearing into one of the cabins. I walked over to Lara, suddenly nervous, and sat down on the ground in front of them.

"Little fox," Lara said. "Benny and I were having the most interesting conversation. We were talking about secrets."

"Secrets. That can be complicated."

"Yes. He said some things that suggest he is amazingly good at keeping secrets."

"Benny's a good man," I said. "I'd trust him with my secrets."

Lara nodded to me, and I turned to address Benny directly. "So, want to see a really big secret?"

He laughed. "I imagine it's not that big a secret if you're going to show it to me while everyone is watching so intently."

"Oh, I think you might be surprised. You're a good man, Benny. I am going to show you something. Do you promise to never talk about it to anyone else without my permission?"

"What's going on, Michaela?"

I took a deep breath. "Just promise. It's nothing illegal or immoral."

"All right, Michaela. Sure."

I was already wearing loose clothing, so I didn't bother undressing. I simply shifted, making it take a few seconds, and then when I was done, I stepped daintily out of my clothing and sat back down in front of him.

Benny stared at me. And stared. And stared. Then he said, "That is so cool!" He looked at Lara. "Is that really Michaela?"

"Want to pet her?" she asked. "Her fur is really soft." I stood up and jumped into Lara's lap, then stretched across both their laps. I startled Benny a little, but then he reached out and ran his fingers through my fur. I shifted around until he found the right spots, then closed my eyes in bliss.

"She likes this, too," Lara said, then showed him how I licked my ears scratched.

"A tame fox," Benny said.

"No. Michaela. Were fox."

I opened my eyes and looked over my shoulder, then leaned up and licked Benny's face real quick before settling back down.

"Were fox. Like, werewolf."

"Yes, but a fox. Isn't she glorious?"

I preened. My fox loved being complimented.

"Yes," Benny agreed. "She seems big for a female fox."

"She is," Lara agreed. "Weres are usually bigger than their natural counterparts."

Benny looked around. "Are you all were foxes?" he asked.

"Oh no," Lara said. "Michaela is quite unique. How are you doing with this, Benny?"

"Does it hurt?"

"Not for Michaela," Lara said. "Would you like to see her do it again?"

"Could I?" The anticipation in his voice was obvious. I slithered off his lap. Elisabeth was waiting nearby with a blanket, and she stepped forward. I turned sideways to Benny, then shifted and Elisabeth wrapped the blanket around me.

"Am I a pretty fox, Benny?" I asked him.

"It's real." He said, dumbfounded. "Really?"

"Yes," I said. "Want to see again?"

"Yes."

"Don't blink." I crouched down, wrapped in the towel, and then said, "One, two..." And on three, I shifted.

"She's really a fox," Benny said.

"Were fox," Lara said. "Yes."

Benny looked around. "June disappeared. Does she know?"

"She knows," Lara said. "Benny, you understand the significance of this secret, don't you?"

"Yes. No. I don't know."

"Can you imagine what would happen to Michaela if the wrong people found out about her?"

"Ohh," he said. "I would never tell. But where is June? She should see this!"

"Benny, are you sure you're okay with this?" Lara asked. "Are you sure you can keep Michaela's secret?"

"Yes," he said. Then he addressed me. "Will you do it again?"

I grinned a fox grin and shifted to human, then immediately back to fox.