Lycanthropy and Me: The First Semester(mlm)

Day 63. Friday, Last Quarter/Day 64. Saturday, Waning Crescent

Day 63. Friday, Last Quarter

As he exited the shuttle van, Hunter took in the earthy scent that blanketed Redwood's campus. It had just finished raining. The air was damp, the lawn was slick, and the paths were muddy. He stretched, slipped on his headphones, and gave the hill a glance before heading to his next destination.

By the time Hunter walked up to Marconi, his sneakers were soaked. He punched in the door code, which Grayson had given to him ages ago. The change in temperature caused him to shudder, and Grayson's lingering scent told him to head for the common room.

Grayson, Ashley, and a person Hunter didn't recognize were sitting in one corner. Grayson glanced up as he entered with a look of surprise.

"You look like you're freezing. Why didn't you call?" Grayson asked. "I would've waited for you by the vans."

"Felt like waaaalking." Hunter yawned.

Before he could sit, the third individual stood and thrust out their hand.

"Notes Friedman."

Hunter blinked, tipping his sunglasses down. The person before him was short and thin, with pale skin, brown hair, and green eyes. They were dressed in a vintage tweed suit decorated with button pins, argyle socks, and oxfords shoes. He shook their freckled hand. "Uh, Hunter Reeds?"
"Of course!" Notes squeezed Hunter's hand. "Your reputation precedes you."

Hunter grimaced. "I bet."

"Notes wants to come with us," Ashley explained.

"Oh." Hunter shrugged. "Okay."

"I have a keen interest in the local fungi. Did you know that the Pacific Northwest is home to 1,500 mushrooms? And I intend to journal them all! My morals get loose around morels!" Pleased with their own pun, Notes clasped their hands together. "Shall we move upstairs to further discuss our endeavors?"

"Sure." Grayson shrugged. "We shouldn't hog the couch anyway. It's almost time for movie night."

"We can find something fun to watch upstairs," Ashley said, grabbing her backpack. "Let's go!"

As Notes and Ashley headed up, Grayson caught Hunter at the stair landing.

"Did you walk here from the pit?"
The 'pit' was another fun Redwood term for the driveway and shuttle van area on campus. Other terms of endearment included the 'hellmouth' and 'the pick up'.

"I just wanted to stretch my legs, is all," Hunter replied, glancing up the stairs. "The drive was long, and I'm kind of sore."

"How was your session?"

"We all--" Hunter caught himself. "We...talked about stuff?" He moved past him. "Come on, they can't get into the room without us."

At the landing he caught Notes and Ashley hovering outside Grayson's door.

As Grayson let them into the room, Hunter tried to strike up conversation. "So uh, Notes? What're you studying?"

"Accounting!" Came Notes' quick reply. "Though I must admit I'm not enamored with it. So I try to sit in any interesting lectures as often as I can!"
"You mean like auditing?" Grayson asked, rummaging through his drawer.

"Somethin' like that," Ashley said. "You got any snacks?"

"No." Grayson tucked a sweatshirt under his arm. "Sorry." He handed Hunter the shirt.

"Thanks." Feeling all the more moist, Hunter shed his jacket and sneakers and headed for the bathroom. There he found himself contemplating another nap as he slipped a damp band shirt over his head and dried himself off with one of the complimentary lilac scented towels that sat on the rack above the toilet.