Page 6 of Mixing Drinks For Tipsy Weasels

"On the scaffolding," I point out.

"Yes, but how?"

"You can pass paint cans up to me, right?" I ask.

He nods. "Sure...why?"

I don't wait for him to respond and drop my bag on the floor. I pull forth a shift, letting my body shrink and take on my least weasel form, giving me the paws I'm going to need in order to climb up the scaffolding.

Sami stares at me as if he was expecting something else. Maybe I've never told him what I am. It's hard to keep track of who knows and who doesn't.

I bounce over to the scaffolding, feeling freer than I did before, especially with the stress of the exam still hanging over my head. I should shift more, but technically it's illegal when in public and it's just not as fun to shift alone in my room.

The scaffolding doesn't cause me any problems, though I much prefer scaling trees to climbing up metal, but it's still perfectly possible.

I reach the platform and shift back into my human form. "All right, pass up the paint?"

Sami just looks at me in disbelief, while D gets with the program and hands up a pot of white paint. I'm guessing that's going to be the base coat of whatever we're doing to the arch.

"We're just painting it white, right Sami?" I ask.

"For now, yes," he responds, finally getting his bearings back. "That was a lot quicker than finding a ladder."

I shrug. "Perks of having small paws."

Rupert scowls from where he's standing beside his friend.

"Got a problem with that, Rupes?" I ask, regretting trying to provoke him instantly, but not being able to do anything to stop myself from doing it. After I realised he was going to be doing ball prep with me, I promised myself that I'd leave the past in thepast, and yet when he's in front of me, I don't seem to be able to help myself.

He rolls his eyes and shifts himself. His weasel form is bigger than mine, and he makes quick work of the climb until he's on the platform opposite. He shifts back and runs a hand through his hair. "Even if we're both up here, no talking."

"Fine by me. We can work together without being sociable."

"Good." He accepts a can of paint from Sami, who is watching the two of us in a way that only makes me think that Rupert has told him that we tend to wind one another up.

Which is a shame. I like Sami, he's a sweet guy. I'd hate for his opinion of me to be tainted by Rupert's.

I pull my phone out of my pocket, glad that some witch somewhere developed a spell that allowed clothes, and the contents of my pockets, to magically transform with me. I can't imagine what it must have been like for shifters, either mythical or not, to have to be naked every time they changed form.

It certainly wouldn't have made what Rupert and I just did possible.

I get my music app and stick an earphone in, leaving my other ear free in case any of the others need me. I hope they don't, but it's always better to be safe.

Upbeat music fills my ear and I let myself drift into my own zone as I paint the arch in front of me. I'm not sure what difference painting it white actually does, but this is what we've been asked to do, so I'm just doing as I'm told. Maybe it's about whatever is going on top of the paint once I'm done.

"Will you stop that?" Rupert snaps from the other side of the arch.

I pause and look at him. "Stop what?"

"Singing."

"Oh, I didn't realise I was."

"It's annoying."

"Maybe that's because you don't have music of your own," I suggest.

He blinks a few times. "What?"

---