Lycanthrope Club Vignette: The Bet

The doorbell rang. Heidi emerged from the kitchen, sauntered over to the entryway and opened the front door.

Cynthia was standing on the porch, scowling. She was wearing a blue jogging sweater and sweatpants with yellow stripes. Behind her a white sedan roared down the street and disappeared into the night.

"Look who finally made it," said Heidi, smirking.

Cynthia rolled her blue eyes.

"Yeah, whatever" she said, stepping past the redhead.

Chuckling, Heidi turned and followed her into the house.

"You know, Melinda bet me you wouldn't show," said Heidi mischievously.

"Yeah?" said Cynthia disinterestedly.

"Yeah, if you didn't, I'd have to go through it instead."

Cynthia froze mid-step.

"Damn it," she muttered after a pause. "I knew I shouldn't have come."

"Yeah, well, you never welch on a bet," said Heidi. "Even for...." Heidi broke into chuckles again.

"Yeah, laugh it up," growled Cynthia.

The pair made their way into the kitchen. Inside, Lily and Melinda were sitting at the dining table. Both girls looked up and grinned wickedly when they saw Cynthia.

"Ta-dah," said Heidi, gesturing grandiosely. "Here's the lady of the hour."

Cynthia glared at Heidi and then Lily and Melinda.

"For the record, I hate all of you for making me do this," she said flatly. "And if this gets out…" she added menacingly.

"I don't think you have to worry about that happening," laughed Melinda. "We're not stupid."

Cynthia grimaced. She peered over at the table and saw several bags of chips and other snack food along with a stack of plastic cups and a few soda bottles sitting there.

"Got any beer?" asked Cynthia hopefully. "This night will go a lot faster if I can get shit-faced first."

Melinda shook her head. "Sorry, I promised my folks there wouldn't be any drinking."

"For Christsakes," exclaimed Cynthia irately. "If we're actually going to do something this messed up we might as well get drunk."

"Yeah, about that," said Heidi slowly. "I don't think we could get drunk."

Three heads turned to Heidi.

"Wait, what?" said Cynthia, alarmed.

"Huh?" said Lily.

Heidi shrugged. "I had, like, seven beers a week ago at Margaret Abrams' seventeenth birthday party last week," she explained. "Barely got a buzz. I think our…condition has something to do with."

"Are you saying we can't get drunk anymore?" said Cynthia, horrified.

"Looks that way," sighed Heidi. "Sucks, doesn't it?"

"Oh boo-hoo," said Melinda, rolling her eyes. "We're all underage anyways."

The three cheerleaders gave Melinda exasperated looks.

"And I thought Yvette was the little-goodie-two-shoes here," snorted Cynthia. "Where is she, anyways?"

"Couldn't make it," said Heidi. "Didn't say why."

"Well, at least I don't have to put up with her tonight," muttered Cynthia.

"Maybe if we tried something stronger, like scotch or something," suggested Lily.

"Your parents got anything like that in the liquor cabinet, Melinda?" asked Heidi slyly.

"No," said Melinda firmly. "Let's get started." She turned to Lily. "You got the stuff?"

Lily nodded. She reached down under the table and produced a black leather purse. She reached inside and pulled out a smaller, glossy red bag, which she promptly unzipped.

"Your aunt is OK with us borrowing these?" asked Melinda as Lily arrayed the shiny tools on the table.

"Yep," said Lily happily.

"Your folks won't be coming home until 10, right?" said Heidi.

"The concert ends at 9:30 PM, and even with no traffic it's at least 40 minutes from Sunsdale," said Melinda. "We're good."

"Wait…we're doing it in here?" said Cynthia in surprise, looking around the kitchen.

"The bathrooms are too small and we're going to need a faucet," said Melinda. "It'll be easier to clean up in here too."

"What about the-" began Cynthia, turning.

Heidi and Lily lifted an old shower curtain against the screen door, covering it. They started duct-taping it to the top of the frame.

"Christ, you're actually going to make me do this?" groaned Cynthia, turning back to Melinda. "Please, Melinda, call it off," she whispered desperately.

Melinda folded her arms and nodded, smiling smugly.

"You can change upstairs in my bathroom," she said. "Don't break anything and try not to wake the neighbors."

Cynthia's face turned beet red. Saying nothing, she stormed past Melinda and exited the kitchen. A few seconds later soft, distant creaks could be heard as Cynthia ascended the stairs.

"Jeez, she was pissed," remarked Lily, holding the shower curtain taut as Heidi applied the last strip of tape.

"I know," said Melinda gleefully. "This is going to be awesome."

"I wouldn't keep pushing her, Melinda," warned Heidi.

"Or what?" said Melinda. "She lost the bet."

"I just wouldn't rub it in her face," said Heidi. "Don't think just because we're friends now she wouldn't get you back for this. She doesn't take shit from anyone. Hell, she'll probably be even madder now than if you two were still enemies."

Melinda frowned, looking thoughtful.

"That's part of the reason I'm doing this," said Melinda.

"Huh?"

"We have to do to something about that ego of hers," said Melinda. "It's too dangerous for her to be so emotional now that she's a werewolf. Don't you remember what happened during sixth period French last week?"

Heidi bit her lower lip, looking uncomfortable.

"L-Look, we were having trouble with the final routine during cheerleader practice, OK?" said Lily without much conviction. "It left her in a really bad mood."

"That's an explanation, not an excuse!" insisted Melinda.

Suddenly, there was a muffled groan from upstairs. All three girls looked up at the ceiling. There was a banging sound followed by an ominous, inhuman growl that brought one to mind of the possessed girl from The Exorcist.

"I'll admit she needs more practice," said Heidi, shaking her head. "I'd be finished by now."

"Sh'yah right," laughed Lily. "You take so long we'd have to take a number if you were up there."

"Take a number? That doesn't even make any sense."

Above, there was a soft cracking sound – like something fragile had fallen to the floor and shattered into a thousand pieces – followed by more growling.

"That'd better not be one of the soap dispensers," said Melinda, irritated. "Anyways, the point is she needs to dial it down a bit and learn to control herself. That's why I think a little ritual humiliation is in order."

"If you say so, Melinda," said Heidi, shrugging. Suddenly, she brightened up. "Oh, oh! I almost forgot! Let me grab my camera."

"What? No! NO!" yelped Melinda, grabbing Heidi by the arm just as she was about to run out the door.

"What? Oh come on, Melinda," protested Heidi. "It's not like I'm going to post in on Facebook or anything."

"I don't care," hissed Melinda. "No pictures."

"Look, even if the pictures did get out, so what? People would just think they were photoshopped or CG or something," argued Heidi.

"I don't care. No photos," insisted Melinda, tightening her grip.

"Jesus, alright, alright," said Heidi sorely, pulling away.

It was then that they realized there were no more noises coming from upstairs.

"I think she's done changing," said Lily. "I got everything ready here."

There came a series of thumps followed by several loud creaks, as though something very heavy was slowly making its way down the stairs.

The kitchen door opened. A massive, furry creature stepped inside.

Over seven feet tall, it resembled a Labrador as much as it did a wolf, with tufted, pointed ears, dark, blunt muzzle, and piercing green eyes, but it also sported long, luxurious locks of blonde hair and perky breasts. Sleek, light brown fur on its back lightened to golden yellow on its ventral end. Powerful muscles bulged beneath its pelt, giving it a toned, athletic appearance. Its front "paws" were really more like hands, with long jointed digits, though they terminated with sharp talons. A long, bushy tail wagged behind it as it walked.

The creature sighed.

"OK, here I am," said Cynthia, her voice now deeper.

"You look fabulous," chuckled Melinda.

"Just get me something to eat and do what you have to do," barked Cynthia. "And remember, nothing below the belt," she said, gesturing at her sides. "Er…you know what I mean," she added fiercely.

"We have two raw sirloin steaks in the fridge with your name on it," said Heidi. "I'll go grab 'em. Lily, why don't you get started?"

The Hispanic teen grinned wickedly. She reached down and lifted one of the devices from her bag in the air. She flicked the switch and it immediately started buzzing.

* * *

"I think we need to take a little more off the right side."

"Yeah, and smooth out the tail a bit there."

"Here, take the other curling iron; I'm still finishing here."

Melinda put the comb down on the table, took a step back, and then cupped her mouth, barely suppressing her laughter.

Cynthia was standing sullenly on all fours on the kitchen floor surrounded by piles of yellow fur. Her arms and legs had been almost completely shaved, leaving only a thin layer that did little to hide her pink, naked flesh. The fur around her paws, ears, and chest, however, had been finely curled and teased, making them resemble pom-poms. The fur around her chest was particularly fluffy, completely obscuring her breasts. All in all, Cynthia looked rather like a…

"You're a poodle!" cackled Melinda, no longer able to hold it in. "A poodle!"

Cynthia snarled angrily and stood up, brushing aside Heidi and Lily, who had been in the middle of shaving and curling her tail. The look of savage fury on her face contrasted hilariously with her silly fur-cut.

Lily looked up at Cynthia and broke into laughter as well. Heidi quickly followed suite.

"Oh God, I-…I-can't-believe…God, you look so cuuute!" teased Heidi.

"We gotta get her a diamond collar!" exclaimed Lily, tears rolling down her eyes "Oh, OH! I have some pink hair dye! Let's add some highlights or something!"

"OK, that's it! Show's over!" spat Cynthia. "I'm changing back."

"Awww…I haven't tied any of the ribbons yet," protested Lily, half-joking, half-serious.

"No way," cried Cynthia. "You gave me a poodle cut. It's over. I'm done. Fuck off!"

The enraged lycanthrope was just about to storm out of the room when suddenly there was a flash of light followed by a soft beep. Cynthia slowly turned around and saw Heidi holding a cell phone.

"HEIDI!" exclaimed Cynthia and Melinda simultaneously.

"Aw, come on, just one picture," said Heidi, smiling maniacally.

"No fucking way," roared Cynthia.

Heidi turned to Melinda with a plaintive look.

"We-ll," said Melinda slowly. "I suppose ONE photo wouldn't hurt," she conceded, smiling evilly.

Cynthia's eyes bulged in shock and fury. She stood there for a couple of seconds, stuttering incoherently. Finally, she threw her arms into the air in disgust and marched out of the kitchen, slamming the door behind her.

The three girls were silent. Then, they started laughing again.

"Christ, that was the funniest thing I've EVER seen," chortled Heidi.

"Some of my best work!" sniggered Lily.

"Hopefully she'll be a little less bitchy after this," said Melinda.

"Doubtful," said Heidi, shaking her head. "I'd watch your back, Melinda; she's not going to forget this. I know I won't."

"Whatever," said Melinda, sounding unconcerned. She glanced up at the clock. "Shit, it's getting late," she added. "You'd better pack up."

"Almost done," said Lily, placing a pair of scissors in the glossy red bag from before.

"Great," said Melinda. "Can you start sweeping up the fur? I have to take out the trash for tomorrow."

As Heidi and Lily picked things up, Melinda walked over to the screen door and tore down the shower curtain. She opened the door and slipped outside into the warm summer night. She chuckled to herself as she made her way through the backyard around the house towards the side gate. Her nose wrinkled as the stench of refuse grew stronger but Melinda had learned to endure the smell. She undid the latch on the gate, opened it, and wheeled the garbage can out to the curb outside her home. As she walked back to the gate she heard a car coming down the street. It stopped nearby her house for a few seconds, engine idling, then roared away. Melinda shrugged and then made her way back to the kitchen.

"OK, you almost do-" began Melinda as she opened the screen door.

There was nobody in the kitchen.

Melinda stood there for a moment, staring at the mounds of yellow fur littering the floor.

"Uh, girls, where are you?" Melinda called nervously. "We, uh, we need to get this mess cleaned up, like, NOW!"

There was no response. Melinda sniffed the air. She could still detect traces of each girls' scent but she couldn't tell if they were still in her house.

"Where are you!" cried Melinda.

She hurried out of the kitchen and into the entryway. There was no sign of any of the three cheerleaders. She climbed the stairs and knocked on the bathroom door.

"Hello? Cynthia, you done yet?"

There was no reply.

Melinda gingerly nudged the door. The bathroom was empty, though she saw the shattered remains of a soap dispenser on the tile floor, its contents spattered everywhere.

"She's going to pay for that," muttered Melinda furiously.

Melinda dug into her left pocket, producing her cell phone. She dialed Cynthia's number as she trotted down the stairs. The ringback tone played once. Then twice. Finally, Melinda heard a voice as she reached the bottom.

"Hello?"

"Cynthia!" cried Melinda. "Where the fuck did you go? Where are Heidi and Lily?"

"I'm in the car with my folks," said Cynthia over the phone. "We're giving Lily and Heidi a ride home."

"What! But-but, you were supposed to help clean up!"

"We did," said Cynthia, sounding bored. "We picked up the food and drinks and shit."

"What about all the goddamn fur!" exclaimed Melinda. "There's enough down there to-…to-…start a wig shop!"

"Oh, I'm sorry, Melinda," said Cynthia, her tone saccharine sweet yet unmistakably malicious. "I guess we forgot."

"Forgot!?" screamed Melinda angrily. "My parents will be home any-"

Melinda looked up suddenly. She made out the telltale sound of a garage door grinding open.

"Oh well, better hurry up, then" said Cynthia. "G'night."

"CYNTHIA!" roared Melinda. "You… Lily and Heidi…you bitches!"

Melinda looked around wildly. There was no way she could clean all that fur up with the vacuum. Best she could hope for was to sweep up as much as she could into a corner of the kitchen – maybe the pantry – and hope her parents wouldn't notice. She shoved the phone into her pocket and rushed into the kitchen.

What she saw made her jaw drop.

The fur was gone. Not one trace, one hair remained. The floor looked spotless.

"Melinda, we're home!" called her mother from the garage.

Still stunned, Melinda slowly stepped into the kitchen, looking around. It was as though nothing had happened.

Suddenly, she heard her phone ring. Melinda fumbled around her pocket for a few seconds before lifting the device to her ears.

"Hel-Hello?" she murmured, dazed.

"Hi Melinda, it's Heidi," said the voice on the other end. "Just calling in to make sure everything's alright."

Melinda was a silent for a moment.

"Uh, yeah," she said, confused. "It's just…the fur…"

"It disappeared, right," said Heidi.

Melinda's eyes widened, and then narrowed.

"How the-…how the hell did-…you knew, didn't you!" she hissed.

"Oh yeah," said Heidi, sounding smug. "Lily found out a while back when she was practicing curling on her, uh, werewolf hair. It always disappears after a couple of minutes after you change back"

"Why didn't you TELL me?"

"It was Cynthia's idea," said Heidi. "I told you she'd get you back. See you tomorrow!"

There was a click, followed by silence.

Melinda stood there for a moment, fuming. She gazed around the kitchen, sighed, and then pocketed the phone.

"Touché," she admitted, smiling wanly.