And They Call It Puppy Love

Fate played its mischievous game, orchestrating their meeting in a hilariously unconventional way. On a sunny afternoon, Adrian, the epitome of clumsiness, found himself entangled in a series of mishaps that led him straight into her path.

It all began with a banana peel—yes, a banana peel. Adrian noticed her sitting in the college coffee shop. That smile was intoxicating. His gaze was startled when she looked up and met his eyes. Her eyes were mesmerizing. He blushed. She blushed.  He never saw the jocks standing up until it was too late. He slickly avoided that collision, in an almost graceful spin. Adrian would have come out on top, the epitome of agility, if he had noticed the banana peel.

As his foot hit the farce inspiring trope, he was airborne, careening through the air, crashing into her table and the one next to her. Coffee flew, pastries soared, and an assortment of plates, cups, napkins and utensils crashed to the ground.

As she stood up to help him, her foot caught on the chair, and soon fell on top of him and the mess. The entire café was silent.

“Hi, I’m Adrian.” He extended his hand to the lovely creature that was sprawled on top of him.

Her immediate confused look was briefly replaced with a smile before riotous laughter erupted from both. “Hello Adrian. My name is Eliza.” In the following years, Eliza branded this as their perfect first date.

As their relationship bloomed, Adrian and Eliza dove headfirst into a whirlwind of adorably hilarious dates.

Their ice cream escapade turned into a sticky mess as Adrian’s cone took a nosedive, splattering chocolate all over his face. Eliza couldn’t hold back her laughter as she tried to lick her own melting treat, inadvertently smearing vanilla all over her nose. She blushed when Adrian licked her nose clean.

Clinging to each other for dear life on the ice rink, they resembled a pair of clumsy penguins. Every wobbly step – for they neither ever quite glided on the ice – sent ripples of laughter echoing through the rink, drawing amused looks from onlookers as they fell to all fours.

And who could forget their fateful trip to the movies? Somehow, with romantic comedy tickets in hand, they wound up in a slasher movie. They giggled at the mistake during the opening credits. Jumping out of their seats at every suspenseful turn, they found themselves clutching each other tightly, heartbeats racing. But as soon as the tension broke, their nervous jittery whimpers transformed into fits of howling giggles, ignoring the scolding “sssshhhh” from other movie goers. Eventually the manager thought they were drunk and threw them out.

As their relationship blossomed, Adrian decided it was time to take the next step and proposed to Eliza. Filled with joy, she accepted, but with a mischievous smile, she added, “if we’re going to be together, we need to be completely honest with each other. I have a secret I need to tell you.”

Adrian, intrigued, replied, “Me too. But you first.” They playfully argued,

“No, you first.”

Finally, they settled on saying it together, counting down, increasing building anxious anticipation, “Okay, 1, 2, 3.”

Simultaneously, they confessed,

“I’m a werewolf.”

Both went silent, flinching, momentarily shutting their eyes in fear of the other’s response.  

“Wait! What? You are? I am. You? No, really? Yes!”

Shocked and bewildered, they stared at each other before bursting into laughter.

“I’m so in love I did not even sense your true self,” Adrian admitted.

Eliza agreed, saying, “Likewise. This was clearly meant to be.”

And just like that, their lives and relationship took an unexpected turn. Was this fate or dumb luck? Neither cared to find that answer, and merely embraced each other, overwhelmed with love.

Embracing their supernatural identities, the loved transforming together; transforming for each other.

They took off at top speed through fields under the clear moon lit sky that pierced through the veil of the treetops in the woods just beyond their favorite clearing.

Their new favorite weekend activity together – chasing down a business man, waitress, tourist or other passerby – gave new life, even when their prey got away. When they caught a meal, as they most often would, Adrian, equally annoying and charming, would screech his favorite corresponding verse from Sweeney Todd about the taste of certain meat pies. Eliza jokingly detested his singing – even in the shower it was painful – but appreciated the effort in short bursts.

“Darling,” Eliza coyly called Adrian at work one day. “Remember that theater manager that kicked us out a few months back. How about dinner and a movie tonight?”

Their journey led them to an enchanting wedding in the heart of their favorite spot, an ancient grove, sacred to all clans of their kind. As the couple exchanged vows, all in attendance, including their proud parents, uncles, aunts, siblings and cousins, shed a tear. There had never been a more perfect couple. As the preacher directed them to kiss and announce the couple to the world, they revealed their true forms, transforming into an eclectic mix of creatures.

Andrian whispered to his new bride, “Where did all these Weres come from?”

“Is your cousin a weasel?” Eliza was honestly curious.

“We don’t talk about that side of the family,” Adrian continued the fun. “ At least the skinks stayed home!”

As they shed their pink flesh, the two proud fathers competed in horrible bad dad jokes at the expense of the pastor, whose smiles of thanks, at being asked to stay for the wedding feast, turned to horrific realization as he became the main course.

Ah, that was a wedding for the history books.

The years passed. Lovers became parents. Parents became grandparents. Now in their golden years, Adrian and Eliza sat together on a porch swing, outside the house they built together, their hands clasped tightly. The gentle breeze carried the echoes of their laughter as they reminisced about the extraordinary journey.

As the sun began to set, casting a golden glow over their cherished memories, they leaned in closer. With a nostalgic twinkle in his eye, Adrian turned to Eliza and asked, “Any regrets, my love?”

Eliza’s face beamed with a warm smile as she replied, “None. You?”

“None at all.”

As the evening descended upon them, they continued to rock gently on the swing, basking in the glow of their extraordinary love.

As the moon rose in the deep purple sky, Adrian rose, “Once more for old times’ sake?”

Easily, without hesitation, Eliza simply smiled, stood and answered, “Sure!”

Perhaps just a little slower, more deliberate now, a tad stiffer, even a little pain, they shed their human forms, shared a lunar roar, and took off into the night never to be seen again.