d and silent as Kat flas

hen I found you in the hall,"

do? I was still completely torn about what had happened. They had touched me and kissed me against my will. If it was all against my will, then why had I e

d the house carefully, nearly jumping for joy when I saw Darren snoring on the recliner. I flopped d

r practically demanded Lauren provide me with a cellphone. So, being Lauren, she got me the lowest quality phone possible.

ho was on the other end. The only person w

the last couple of years, chuckled. "Just calling t

e same," I shrugged. "N

ren never wanted me. "We've actually just gotten word your father's been sen

t's been years and yo

on, it seems," Melissa chuckled. "They sho

g my eyes. Lauren was expecting the next check any day now.

the other end. "You haven't

had long ago given up on receiving any of the checks,

other lo

ated. "Thanks for the info, Sophia.

en't gotten any since Grandma died, and I rea

so," Melissa sou

gh. I woke with ragged breaths. My dream was set at school, where the twins hurled cruel insults my way. After the in

e found calming now sounded sinister. I flicked my lamp on and pulled myself from bed. The chill of my room did nothing to

We lived in a part of California that was horribly dry for most of the year. Everything a

of yellow across the forest beside the house. Everything was completely dark under the pale ligh

deafening crack of thunder would sound and make me jump a little. I squinted harder at the forest below me. I couldn't tell if it was

he forest. The fur surrounding their intelligent eyes was dark as night. I had only a glimpse of their elongated snouts, but if I had to guess, I would've said they wer

me up, and the sight of the strange animals had kept me up for the remainder of the night. I knew Lauren wouldn't notice if I stayed home from school.

lagued with Kieran and Ethan. The day passed quickly and effortlessly, and once 2 o'clock came around, I got dressed for work. It wasn't a long shift, thankfully. I wa

n on some football game re-ru

?" Kat frowned. "I wasn't sure if I

d. "Sorry, had

Kat frowned, curling a lock of f

up. I had a hard time falling back a

a girl know!" Kat scof

lips. There was no way I planned on pulling out my

n't have a phone? Can't yo

," I frowned. "Besides, I n

ever occurred to me that she might be on

need to replenis

I've already spent too much money on

ents should help with?" Kat grimaced

a long story, but I

sound very nice,"

is," I shrugged, hop

ne of her favorite things to do. At one point, I almost thought she had some strange crush on him. Kat reluc

platter Ellen sauce all over my dark shirt. The manager working at the time gave me another shirt to change into, but unfor

left the bathroom, I slammed into something hard. That something emitted a familiar intoxicating smell,

n on me, his full eyebrow cocked as

s unruly, tousled hair hung on his head, a strand falling down to just reach his eyes. He looked like t

ice even. Ethan and Kieran held some unseen power that mad

oday," Ethan pointed out, a se

d to act concerned? It was clear that the approach I was taking had no effect on their behavior. They

ared to Ethan's large build, I probably seemed like a defensive kitten, but I didn't care. Everything w

ring to search the room for Kieran's intense gaze. I had been in the kitche

special about y

d. Sure, I had run into her by ac

sour expression. Her hazel eyes pierc

ed, reacting much too

rms over her chest. "You must th

re talking about," I snapped back at her,

y?" Kat barked at the caramel-ha

shrugged, trying not to

e in here asking for her specifically," Jenny sna

as she said that, and my

heir waitress," I forced

y suspicion crossed Jenny's face. "

ether, but that wouldn't solve anything. Was I really going to

, my stomach doing flips and my heart r

I walked up to their table. Ethan sat on th

eth together. "What c

ed away before they could say any more. It took

huge trays to carry drinks. One little misstep, and all your drinks would go tumbling

front of them when Kieran's rough

t the fuck