Things were different from then on. As time went by, Ernest slowly became warmer and less defensive around Dana, starting to even enjoy the Irish girl's company. She was always laughing, putting an optimistic twist to things even when times seemed the darkest. Ernest heard what everyone was saying about them at school, and often now people would ask if the two of them were dating, to which Dana often preceded him in responding that they were only friends. Occasionally, the two would go on strolls around town together. Despite Ernest feeling reluctant at the idea of being around Dana's parents for too long, he quickly came to appreciate them. 

Maylin Byrne, Dana's mother, was always kind and attentive towards him. She managed to be caring and curious enough to inquire about things concerning him, without being too intrusive and putting him in embarrassing situations. Her hair was even redder than her daughter's. She was a tall, fine woman with dark, intelligent blue eyes. Dana's father, on the other hand, was a lot closer to his daughter temper wise. He was always joking around and bringing gayness to the household, and Ernest found himself quite comfortable in his presence. Tall, with brown hair, green eyes quite similar to his daughter's, and glasses, Roger Byrne was quite the character, and although his wife would sometimes scold at him for being so exuberant, you could easily tell that he still made her melt just as much as the first day they met. Often times he envied the ambiance in the Byrne household. Dana and her family seemed so close, and they appeared to love each other so much...compared to his own situation, this seemed almost alien-like to him, so much joy and sympathy within a household.

Dana, for her part, always made sure that Ernest felt included. She'd often mention and bring the conversation back to him, she invited him to participate when he (too often) tended to revert back to his initial shyness, and most of all, she was there for him. Dana was the type of person who made it seem like the world might not be such a disgusting place after all.

Ernest remembered some of the conversations they'd had lying on her bed, or while simply watching TV. Sometimes Dana would talk about the rest of her family; at other times she'd describe Ireland, and her life there. Occasionally she asked Ernest about his own condition, despite seeing that he'd rather forget it all together.

"Why don't your mother and you ever talk?" She inquired.

"Ever since my first transformation, she stopped talking to me. I was six back then. I do remember her playing with me before that, though."

"All this because you're a werewolf? Does it not matter that you're her only son?" Ernest shrugged at this point, staring at Mr.Muffins, Dana's purple toy rabbit, which was lying carelessly at the other end of the bed.

"Apparently not. It's just that she's afraid of me though. I can understand that, I mean...were it not for the locks on my door and her own, I'd have probably killed her by now." Dana rolled to the side, resting her head on her right hand while looking up at him.

"Her protecting herself on a full moon is one thing, but I still find it disgusting that she'd ignore you the rest of the time. What, does she think it's your fault that you're this way?! It's not like you chose it! If she has to hate something, it should be the transformation, not you." Ernest didn't respond, instead choosing to look down and crack his fingers.

"Were you ever bitten? Is this how you became a werewolf? Because if not, it might have been passed on by your father, and that'd be why she didn't stay with him. Hell, maybe she blames you for what she believes to be her 'biggest mistake', AKA having sex with him, or falling for him, even."

Ernest considered this while walking next to his high school's gymnasium. They had an indoor pool with actual competitions going on in there for whoever enjoyed swimming (that definitely didn't include him, as he despised water for anything else but a shower and for pure survival purposes). The teen leaned against one of the walls. From where he was he could see people enter and exit the building, without necessarily being seen himself; a definitive plus for someone victim of frequent bullying.

He pondered on Dana's words. He highly doubted that his curse was hereditary (how many werewolves were there in the world anyway?), but at the same time, he didn't remember having been bitten as a child. On the other hand, this meant nothing, as any of his memories preceding the transformation were extremely fuzzy – for all he knew, he had been bitten, but simply couldn't recall the event.

"Then again, wouldn't I remember something as scarring as being bitten by a werewolf? You'd think I would..." He sighed, glancing at his watch as he did so. It was five past ten, Dana said she'd meet him at her house at forty five, so he had quite a bit of time to waste.

He gazed with moderate interest at a group of girls who were waiting outside for some of the male swimmers to come out. There was a blond and two brunettes, all three of them giggling madly, their attention switching back and forth from their Iphones and blackberries to their friends' faces. Ernest scowled. The one with short hair and long, purple painted nails was a bitch he personally knew. She was always asking him why he was such a loner, and if he was a virgin, and why he never had a girlfriend, and if he was gay, so basically, nothing he wasn't used to. It didn't make it any less annoying, especially with her loud, obnoxious laugh and pack of harpies; not to mention the fact that the guys who she occasionally dated or hung out with were absolute douches to him.

He fidgeted a bit before once again glancing at the time: 5:15 pm. Perhaps he should consider walking some more instead of simply waiting there for absolutely nothing.

"Are you sure you're not waiting for anything in particular? Anyone? Nothing, no one at all?" His conscience mocked. Ernest blocked out the implication, looking once again in the direction of the gym's entrance. Swim practice was now officially over, and a few boys had already started coming out, their hair still messy and wet. They were all talking with animation, laughing about God knew what. Ernest briefly wondered what it felt like to just be like anybody else and laugh with friends while having a good time.

"Well...I do have Dana now." The thought made him smile. He still had trouble getting used to the fact that he now had someone who actually considered him a friend. It was just quirky enough to seem unreal, yet concrete enough to cheer him up.

The smile died on his lips as his eyes returned to the entrance of the gym. Strolling casually with a bunch of other dudes, laughing wholeheartedly, his blond curls darkened by his earlier swimming and hanging loosely before his eyes and forehead, was the one who stood up for him five months ago.

Ernest's heart raced at Ben's sight. Despite him knowing full well that the teen regularly went there, and that he'd see him get out sooner or later, the sight of him always gave Ernest some sort of a heart attack.

"He probably doesn't even remember..."

The souvenir of that fateful day was still fresh in his mind, despite the fact that he and Ben hadn't spoken ever since, except for the time he bumped into him in the hallway. Ernest watched him with the other boys, and even a few girls as well. They were all laughing and chatting pleasantly, with Ben occasionally nodding here and then, still with that pleasant, peaceful air so characteristic of his person. One of the girls grabbed his arm while giggling and telling him something that Ernest couldn't quite hear from where he was. Although he couldn't explain why, that sight filled him with bitterness and annoyance. The way she was looking up at him, especially, like a purring kitten rolling on its back and trying to charm its surroundings, disgusted him particularly, even if he couldn't tell why.

"Slut."

"Why?" His conscience countered. "Why is she a slut?"

"'Cause. She's also a major bitch, in case you don't remember."

"Of course, that's what bothers you."

He glanced away for a few seconds before looking back in that direction, unable to help himself. Despite all of his efforts, his eyes would always go back to where Ben was standing. The girl had now let go of him, but was still talking to him animatedly. Ernest briefly wondered if she was his girlfriend. Maybe, after all, her behavior sure seemed to indicate it. Plus they seemed fairly compatible: her with her long, perfectly toned, straight chestnut hair, and her long eyelashes and rosy cheeks, versus Ben's blond head and handsome complexion. Part of Ernest contested that assumption by claiming that she was far too fake for someone as simple and natural as Ben.

"Whatever, it's none of my business anyway. Plus, what do I care? It's his life, not mine", he decided. He felt a bit startled, perhaps briefly realizing that he cared more than he ought to. Ernest's gaze softened as he watched the other boy walk away from the group, briefly waving goodbye to the group.

"Ben..." For a split second, he realized that the blond was alone, and that this would be an ideal time to go and talk to him. Thankfully, that ridiculous thought was immediately cast aside. What the hell would he say anyway?

"Oh hey Ben, remember me? I'm the no life whose ass you had to save from Eric and his gang. Don't remember? Oh, sorry, that's alright. Well, see ya later then!" At that moment he hated himself more than ever; a part of him wondered why Ben had even decided to help him that day. Perhaps it'd have been better had he simply let him get fully humiliated, at least then he wouldn't...

Ernest sighed. It was almost time for him to meet Dana, and he'd wasted enough time near this stadium anyway. The boy turned around, taking only a few steps before being interrupted.

"HEY ERN!" He jumped back, startled.

"D-Dana! What are you doing here?!" The girl had apparently snuck behind him while he was daydreaming.

"Just thought I'd go and fetch you. Then I decided I'd go check out the gymnasium first. I wasn't stalking you, don't worry," she teased, making him roll his eyes.

"Well," he started. "I guess we might as well go the--"

"Who's he?" She interrupted, looking back in the opposite direction. It didn't even take Ernest five seconds to understand who she was talking about, especially since he was now walking by himself.

"No one," he promptly mumbled. Dana looked back at him inquisitorially, before her eyes started shining in a way Ernest found strongly suspicious.

"Hmm, he looks nice. Why don't we go and say hi?" She proposed.

"NO!" The word escaped his lips before he could restrain it, filled with terror. If there was one thing his shyness couldn't withstand, it was Benjamin Hetchsen. At that moment, he hated Dana for even acknowledging the blond's existence.

"Why not? Maybe we could become friends and stuff!" She added, grinning broadly. Something told Ernest that Dana was doing this on purpose, although why, he had no idea. Fact remained, he tried staying calm, but it was extremely difficult for him to keep a straight face.

"For fuck's sake, why?! Out of all the people in this goddamn school, why'd she have to pick him?!"

"Dana, he doesn't even know us, you can't just go up to people like that and talk to them!"

"You don't know him?"

"No, of course not!"

"You don't have to be so defensive! You were looking at him when I got here, so I assumed you knew him from somewhere." Her face was almost neutral, but she couldn't contain the amusement in her voice, and Ernest definitely wasn't blind to it: the redhead had an idea up her sleeve. Any doubt previously entertained had now melted into the certainty that Dana was up to something.

"Whatever, let's just go," he groaned, starting to walk away. He was petrified at the idea that Dana had actually caught him staring at Ben.

"Now what is she going to think?"

The boy decided that the best thing to do was simply to pretend like nothing had ever happened. Dana was skipping by his side, humming happily. They climbed a few stairs before walking on and finally reaching the outside of the school. Ernest was going to walk on straight ahead when Dana caught him by the shoulders and instead turned him to the right, going in that direction.

"What are you doing?" He asked, still fairly annoyed.

"I thought we'd take another path to my house that goes directly through the woods. That way I'll show you my fav hangout spot." Ernest sighed. He knew his behavior tended to get close to antisocial, but he still hadn't gotten used to being around somebody's company for that long. Except to get bullied or rip them into pieces, but that didn't exactly count.

"Fine. If it makes you happy."

"Yay!" She exclaimed, before grabbing hold of his arm and urging him to follow her. As they were running, Ernest noticed quite a lot of things. For one, he took note of the fact that the leaves were turning yellow, orange, and all sorts of other shades, indicating that autumn was coming. He felt the sting of Dana's hair, pushed by the wind and whipping his face as the two made their way through the branches. He felt her strong and surprisingly firm grip on his right arm. He also heard her laugh cheerfully, a gay sound which seemed just as much part of the surroundings as the chirps of the birds and the croaks of the occasional raven here and there.

"Dana." The affection contained in that thought surprised even himself.

"Oh my gosh Ernest, you're so freaking slow I swear! What kind of werewolf are you?!"

"Thank you, Dana."

"Oh I don't know..." he drawled, gradually slowing down. "maybe..." he suddenly jumped on her, and the two collapsed in a bush nearby. It stung and was a bit painful, what not with all of the branches, but hey, definitely worth it. "THIS kind?" Dana gasped, before tackling him back, and the two started rolling on the ground, playing like a bunch of puppies, or small children, getting dirtier and dirtier by the minute. Dana ended up pinning him to the ground, standing proudly on top of him. She then approached her face close enough for their noses to touch, staring deep into his eyes. The girl drew even closer, until finally her lips brushed his ear as she started whispering inside.

"THIS...is pwnage, the Lion King way." She added as an afterthought, as Ernest laughed and tried to pull her off him. "BE THE SIMBA OF MY NALA!" This time he downright burst out laughing at how random the whole thing was, before eventually pulling her off of him. The two then instinctively crouched into animal-like positions, as if they were in their Were forms, circling each other like two predators about to strike.

"You know Ernest, it's okay, I won't laugh at you for giving up. Not all of us can be pimps," the girl added with a falsely understanding tone.

"You're right Dana. It wouldn't be gentlemanly of me not to actually let you win for once." He then launched in the girl's direction, before falling to the floor, missing her by an inch. The two of them were laughing as Dana then swiftly climbed up the nearest tree, not afraid in the least. It was done with an agility to turn envious even the most talented of acrobats. The girl knew it, and added to the effects by standing at the very edge of the highest branches, sticking her tongue out at Ernest as she did so. The boy rolled his eyes, smirking by the same occasion.

"Should I call the firemen to come and fetch you?" he mocked.

"Nah, don't worry. A cat always lands on its paws," she added in the same undertones. She then yawned before lying leisurely all across the branch's surface. Ernest started to wonder how people could not immediately understand their true nature just by observing their attitudes. Everything in Dana screamed "FELINE" with big, capital letters. Then again, it might have been obvious that she was a werecat, but it definitely wasn't the same for him. Who could have guessed that the timid, pallid boy and favorite bully victim had in fact the potential strength to kill every one of the people in the school?

Feeling a bit tired, he walked in her direction before sitting down against the tree, arms crossed behind his head. It was now almost sundown, and the entire forest appeared to be glowing with some sort of warm, fiery peacefulness. The colors of their surroundings were as vivid as Dana's hair color, and as he looked up at her, still lied across her branch, Ernest was once again astounded by the fact that she had barely moved in town five months ago.

The boy snapped out of his reverie as a small branch hit him in the face.

"Ern!!! Ernest!"

"What?!"

"Do you wanna sleep over tonight?" The first response that came to mind was to say no, and retract once more. Despite the fact that they had been friends for a while now, and despite Dana being perfectly able to defend herself against him, he still had this innate fear that somehow, things would go wrong. Or perhaps it was that stubborn idea that no one could possibly want to be in his company. Whatever the reason, he deeply hesitated, and stuttered a bit, even. He jumped as Dana landed right next to him; even if he knew that her being a werecat definitely helped a lot, fact remained that he was impressed with her agility, and the ease with which she kept climbing trees.

She sat right next to him, cuddling up against him as she did so. Ernest cringed instinctively, feeling uncomfortable.

"I'm not used to being hugged," he blurted out, unable to restrain himself. He immediately realized how mean that sounded, and regretted his words instantly.

"Well you better get used to it, because I don't plan on stopping, and I'm a huggy person," the girl retorted, not at all vexed. For some reason, this had an instant effect on him, and the boy found himself relaxing, actually getting to enjoy the physical contact. For a few seconds they remained silent, the two of them occasionally gazing at the sunset, still huddled up against one another.

"Ern, you don't have to come if you don't want to. It's okay. But I just want you to know that, if you do, I'd really love that, because I just love being with you. I always talk about you to my parents-- no, really, I do, you can even ask them if you don't believe me, and I know it might seem a bit early to say this, but to me, you're my best friend Ern."

"I am?"

"You're my best friend too." He uttered the words so softly that one could have easily missed them, but Dana didn't. She abandoned his shoulder temporarily to look at him, a bright grin illuminating her face.

"Then I guess at least something is going alright."

"Yeah, I guess you're right."

He just stood there gazing back at her, not responding for a while, before hesitatingly wrapping his arm around her shoulders.

"SO...are you sure your parents are okay with it?"

"Mhm," Dana nodded, doing that pout Ernest loved so much, where she pulled out her lower lip with a very resolute expression. "dude, my mom loves you, and my dad's totally chill with you staying over so, don't worry about that." Her expression suddenly became a bit worried as she added. "You sure your mom won't mind though?"

Ernest gave a slight shrug.

"'Course not. She probs' won't even notice."

"Then it's settled. My house it is!" the girl exclaimed cheerfully. She got up and started springing. Ernest eventually followed, dusting the leaves off of his body, as his thoughts briefly returned to Ben.

"What is he doing right now?"

"Ern, you coming?" Dana inquired, sounding a bit worried. The boy managed a grin and a nod, hoping that the two were convincing enough, before running to join her.

As they walked away, neither of them noticed the dark figure observing them from behind the bushes.