11 Chapter 11 (2/2)
”My family is way too poor for that” Wyatt says. ”I'm the first in my family to actually go to college”.
”Oh right, I forgot” Jessica says, ”it wouldn't be likely for Aeris and Jackson to have one either, because laibah don't usually get very good jobs. They're not really allowed to work in most of the well paying jobs...”.
”Unfortunately, that is the case” Aeris says.
”Wait, laibah can shapeshift, right?” Jessica asks.
”Yeah, why?” Jackson asks.
”C-can I see it?” Jessica asks.
”No” Jackson replies firmly.
”I guess” Aeris says with a shrug.
”Oh come on, Aeris” Jackson says. ”You don't have to show her-”.
”I do what I want” Aeris says. Aeris grows two fox ears and a big tail, all of which covered in jet black fur.
”Whoaaaa” Jessica says as she stares at Aeris's ear. ”C-can I touch your ears?”.
”Don't push it” Aeris says.
”Aww, come on!” Jessica complains.
”No” Aeris says as she looks away from Jessica. As Aeris looks away, Jessica starts slowly leaning in to try and touch Aeris's ears anyways. ”Moving on, we can't really just show anyone our other forms, because if the wrong people see it, then- WILL YOU STOP TOUCHING MY EARS!?”.
”Sorry...” Jessica says as she pulls her hand away.
Later that day, after school was over, Emma and Wyatt walk back to the dorms together. Wyatt leaves with his backpack still on, and Emma only noticed it long after he left. ”Oh, Wyatt didn't leave his backpack at home... I guess he forgot or something” she says to herself. She then takes her dress out and begins working on it, occasionally putting it on to make sure it fits her.
While Emma sat at home alone, Wyatt ran to Savvy Threads before he came to work. ”Oh, hello again, Wyatt” Matilda says politely.
”Heya, Matilda” Wyatt says. ”I've got a favor to ask. You've known Emma for a while and know what kind of clothes she like, right?”.
”Umm...” Matilda responds, confused about where this was going.
”I was hoping you could help me pick out something to wear” Wyatt says. ”We're going to the festival together and I was hoping you could... maybe help?”.
”Oh my, you're going on a date!?” Matilda asks, suddenly excited. ”Why didn't you open with that? You had me worried for a second”.
”... worried about what?” Wyatt asks.
”Never mind” Matilda says, ”now if you're looking for something presentable, you could always try something formal”.
”But is it something she likes to see?” Wyatt asks.
”Look, child” Matilda says. ”I'm sure Emma would be happy just seeing you be yourself”.
”W-Wait, hold on” Wyatt says. ”It's not a date, w-we're just-”.
”Going out together and hoping for the best?” Matilda interrupts. ”Yes, sonny, that is a date”. Wyatt thinks to himself, as Matilda continues, ”Just try to find something you're comfortable with wearing. The last thing you'll want is to be uncomfortable for a day you try to be comfortable with each other. If you feel good, you do good. If you do good, then good things happen”.
”Uh...” Wyatt says as he thinks for a second, ”doesn't that saying usually start with 'If you look good, you feel good'?”.
”Don't sweat the details, sonny” Matilda says.
”I'm sweating the details” Wyatt says, ”I'm am most definitely sweating the details like crazy”.
Matilda sighs and says ”What am I going to do with you two? Why don't you try something formal? We have blazer jackets for 700 centi. Lots of people send old and used clothes to this store, so I'm sure you can find something in your budget”.
”Thanks, Matilda” Wyatt says. As Wyatt looks around the store, Matilda says to herself ”These two kids are definitely something. They remind me of when I was young...”.
After a while, Wyatt picks out some clothes, pays Matilda for them, and then stuff them in his backpack as he runs off to work. When Wyatt arrives, Amelia was already there. ”You're late” she says, ”by about ten minutes. What's with the backpack? Late day at school?”.
”No” Wyatt says, ”not really”. Wyatt then opens up his backpack and explains ”I was picking out something to wear to the festival”.
”Oh, so you ARE going?” Amelia asks. ”You're going with that girl, right?”.
”Yeah” Wyatt says.
”That's so sweet” Amelia says, ”you even picked out something nice to wear for her”.
”Yeah, well” Wyatt says, ”I'm still nervous”.
”Well, good luck then” Amelia says. ”I mean, good luck when you actually go... you still have a job to do”.
”Right...” Wyatt says.
”Oh, right” Amelia says, ”your request was brought up. The request for Wednesday off. Jim approved it, so you can take Wednesday off for your date. He told me to pass it on before he left, since he doesn't work the night shift”.
”Oh, thanks, Amelia” Wyatt says.
”Wasn't my decision” Amelia says, ”it was Jim. He is the General Manager, after all. But I'll take all the thanks I can get”.
The night passes slowly for Wyatt and Emma. Eventually, Wyatt gets off of work and comes home. When Wyatt arrives, Emma keeps her dress hidden. The next day of school and work go by much like the last one. Jessica wanted to see Jackson's half fox form, because she was curious how he looked. Jackson, however, did not care how much she pleaded. ”The answer is no” Jackson would say, ”and it will always be no”. Before they knew it, Tuesday began to pass, and Wednesday was coming. The opening day of The Autumn Festival. Wyatt and Emma found it hard to go to sleep for school the next day, for they knew that after school, they would have to find out how to compose themselves for the festival. As long as it took them, they eventually found sleep. Emma had finished her dress, and Wyatt had his suit that he bought from Savvy Threads. Both of them were physically prepared, but not mentally prepared.