He grinned thinking how she would react to his true age. "No, I'm with her." He pointed to Elisabeth.
"Oh." Disappointment flashed across her face.
"Lovely to meet you, Michelle. I hope you enjoy the lecture."
"Yeah, you too." She returned to her friends who were waiting for a full report, anxious and hopeful.
Most of the students seemed genuinely interested in Elisabeth's presentation. Jackson enjoyed watching her more than anything. She captivated him as she glided across the stage. Clicking through slides, her commentary sounded dramatic and her gestures showed excitement for the art. She finished with a question and answer period and there were quite a few queries that seemed to impress her. The last came from a boy in front. "Would you have coffee with me?" Laughter and snickering buzzed through the hall.
Elisabeth blushed. "Thank you, but I have a lunch date." She glanced up to find that date smiling down at her.
Jackson waited until the hall had almost cleared before making his way to the stage. Many students stopped to talk and personally thank Ms. Sidwell.
"Did you learn anything?" she asked as he approached.
He stuffed his hands in his pockets and rounded his shoulders. "Yah dude, I learned I'm totally crushing on the professor."
She chuckled, "Oh, I'm sorry. Fraternizing with students is prohibited."
Jackson pulled her close. "I guess I'll just have to quit school then." He gazed into her eyes and cupped her chin. "You had those kids wrapped around your finger."
"It went well, didn't it? It helps that they are all art majors."
"I think even medical students would have been enthralled by you."
"And you are completely unbiased?"
"Completely. Did I make you nervous?"
"Surprisingly, no. I enjoyed having you here. I felt you were supporting me."
"Good, maybe you'll invite me again."
"Of course."
They loaded the car and drove toward the shore. After enjoying a leisurely lunch at a restaurant on the water, they walked barefoot on the beach holding hands. The discomfort from earlier in the day seemed to have vanished. Jackson still had many questions, but he felt they both needed a break from their dilemma. His confidence in finding a way to make the relationship work grew with each passing moment.
Elisabeth drove home, so Jackson had the opportunity to observe. He tried to visualize her morphing into a wolf, writhing in pain as she transformed, foaming at the mouth, snarling. He found it impossible to fathom someone so beautiful becoming something so ugly. "Is it painful when you turn into a wolf?"
"No… there is some discomfort for a short time, I wouldn't call it pain. It does take effort though. I'm usually quite tired the next day." He remembered that her phone went straight to voicemail the morning after the full moon. Somehow, that seemed like a lifetime ago.