Italics is for the wolf speaking through Tommy's body

Tommy stood up and dug out his cell phone out of his pocket. Tommy then dialed the number to Lori's house.

"Hello?"

"Lori, hey, do you have time to talk?" Tommy asked as he started to pace.

"Sure Tommy, so, what's up?"

"Well the wolf wants to take a mate and I'm afraid to tell the person that I'm in love with them."

Lori instantly knew who Tommy was talking about, but she wanted Tommy to be shocked that she knew.

"Tommy, we're talking about Merton here, right?"

Tommy stopped dead in his tracks; Lori knew that he was in love with Merton? But how, had he done something to show it? Did Merton know too?

"…"

"I'll take your silence as a yes Tommy."

"How did you know?"

"Tommy, you were good at hiding it most of the time but I saw the longing and sadness in your eyes when Merton left, so, I watched you for a few days after Merton came back and it wasn't hard to tell."

Tommy gulped, "Really?"
He was worried that Merton had figured it out as well and was just waiting for Tommy to say something.

"Oh, don't worry, Merton is oblivious to it, so you're safe," Lori said after recognizing the panicked tone in Tommy's voice.

Tommy gave a relieved sigh at that statement and started to pace again.

"I don't know what to do Lori, between the wolf wanting a mate and trying to keep Merton from finding out I'm in love with him, I'm going crazy."

Lori thought for a few minutes, and then asked, "Tommy, would you put the wolf on the phone, please?"

Tommy stopped pacing again; he didn't know how to answer that, he thought Lori had no idea that the wolf was separate from him.

"Lori, I don't know what you're talking about," Tommy answered after a few tense seconds.



"Tommy, stop pretending, I've known since you bit me for the Werewolf Syndicate," Lori said.

"How did you find out?"

Tommy was curious as to how she found out; had Lori already begun the integration when she was cured?

"The wolf inside me took over; I had no control, that's how I know he is separate for you, at least for now."

Tommy thought for a second and came up with a startling question.

"Lori, if you know that the wolf is a separate entity, then do you think Merton knows now too; I mean he was a werewolf for a time."

"I don't think so, his transition to evil wasn't as fast as mine and I resisted but Merton might have given in to it," Lori replied.

"I hope he doesn't know, I don't think I could handle it if he found out I hadn't told him and him hate me for not telling him."

"Tommy, even if he found out, I don't think he would hate you."

"Lori, I'll let you talk to the wolf now."

"Thanks Tommy."

"What do you want girl," the wolf asked.

"If I tell you something Tommy won't know unless you tell him, right"

The wolf was curious; what could Lori want him to know and not Tommy?

"Yes girl, so what do you want to say to me?"

"Merton is in love with Tommy," Lori replied.

"How would you know?"

The wolf was suspicious of Lori, why wouldn't she tell this to Tommy? What was she up to?

"Merton confessed to me when I asked him about why he hadn't flirted with anyone since Sloane."

"Why didn't just tell Tommy then?"

"Merton made me swear not to and then he cast a spell that would cause me to lose my voice if I tried to tell Tommy, but you are the loophole since I'm telling Tommy's body but not his mind."

"You mean one of his spells actually worked the way he wanted?"



"Yeah, I was surprised when I lost my voice when I tried to tell Tommy a few days after I found out."

"Well I'll get them together, all I need is the comet coming and I'll tell Merton that Tommy is in love with him."

"Great, well you can let Tommy back in control now."

The wolf faded to the back of Tommy's mind allowing Tommy to regain control. Tommy had one last question for Lori before he ended the call.

"Lori, did you get angry at me when you realized that I was in love with Merton?"

Lori was shocked; Tommy was asking if she had been mad when her opinion didn't matter.

"Honestly Tommy, when I first came to Pleasantville, I thought the two of you were together but after finding out you were just best friends I didn't think it any more about 'til after we broke up."

Tommy was shocked; Lori had thought he and Merton were dating when she met them? Tommy's jaw dropped and he was silent for a few minutes before saying goodbye and hanging up.

Tommy looked down at his watch.
'10:08, well I better head back to the apartment before Merton locks me out,' Tommy thought.
He got up and started the short walk back to the apartment, letting his wolf night vision guide him.

Little did Tommy know that a new evil being had heard his entire conversation with Lori and knew Merton would be his weakness. She had plans for this small town that she would not let be ruined.