"OK, I'll be there." Anne does not add the obvious "unless I'm eaten in the meantime." That goes without saying. But neither feel the odds are high. If Anne has not gone for a day without being devoured in a long time, she still spends way over half her day outside any lad's belly. And if she exercises a little care, a little more than she usually wants to for that matter, she should have no problem.

Of course should is not the same and won't...

Anne is almost out the school door when she hears "May I claim this snack?"

She turns to face Stephen, who is good news and bad. He is sweet on her, and has been quite considerate. There is at least a chance she can talk him out of swallowing her. But why should she really want to? He is after all sweet and considerate. Still, one does not want a boy getting the idea he can gulp a lass down at his whim, even, or maybe especially, if he can. "Can I have a rain check on that? I'm playing a game of Table tonight."

Oh? Do you have a diner yet?"

"I don't know. Mingmei didn't say."

"Well, let me give her a call and see."as Stephen pulls out a cell phone. It is hardly a waste of time. Finding the diner was often the last thing done since it is generally easy to find an interested boy. So it proves this time. A moment later Stephen is announcing "I'm in, so I'd better not spoil my supper. Instead, why don't I walk you home so you will be sure to get there tonight?"

"Thank you." Tho Anne is not at all sure how thankful she actually is. Stephen makes her relaxed and nervous at the same time. Considering she is currently on the outs with Robin, Stephen might be considered her chief boyfriend of the moment, but Anne is not sure what that means, and even less sure what she wants it to mean.
It does mean that Stephen is walking too close to her, and not close enough. At least she could trust Stephen not to overdo it, but she isn't that sure this is a virtue.
There are practical [another virtue Anne finds herself questioning] problems to Stephen as a boyfriend as well. He doesn't know she is the Wotch. Of course, given the number who know, at least in some degree, there seems little reason not to add another, but Miss West [That is correct, isn't it? She has never said, but somehow it is hard to think of her as ever loving a man. It is hard enough to think that any man would dare swallow her.] is down on anyone knowing. Adding Stephen would be a problem, and it would be about impossible for him not to learn. At least Robin already knew and if he will just apologize...

Having lived with such standards all her life, Anne sees no problem in worrying much more about whether he is about to put his arm around her shoulders than whether he is about to grab her and swallow her whole. Not that she expects either, but her being devoured will raise no eyebrows, which is not the situation if he just hugged her.

Finally, or maybe too soon, she is home, and Stephen is promising to pick her up to escort her to the game. A problem since a little magic will get her there faster and easier, but for reasons she has never really understood, Miss West has a down on using magic to make things easier. So best to accept the escort.