The end of css bell rang, and students of all shapes and sizes burst from the school building, making their way to cars and buses, some just walking down the sidewalks in different directions with eted smiles at the prospect of freedom. Vincent wondered how many of them were humans.

  The four cssmates of room 412 stood in a circle facing each other, apparently friends now. And Vincent was a part of this friend group, which in the face of another crazy day was worth it.

  “So, Vincent,” Max said, stretching his arm over his body. “How does it feel to be part of the supernatural world?”

  Vincent thought on that for a moment, listening to the sights and sounds of the end of the day, exchanging gnces with a few students as they walked by, one of them a cute girl with pointy ears like Tania Eln, which he looked away quickly from as elven had a beauty of their own that was hard to look at. As he continued watching students walk past and talking with each other, zoning out for long moment, the noises began to slow and slur and become nonexistent as he let his thoughts wander.

  “Hello, anyone there?” Max said, waving a hand in front of Vincent. “I’m talking to you, man.”

  Vincent shook himself free of the stupor and looked up at them, the pressure pushing on him. He smiled. “I feel fine.” And he did. While this world was totally new to him, he could get through it with friends.

  “Well,” Mizuki said, spping Vincent on the shoulder. “We’ve got your back.”

  “Well said,” Alexander said with a sly smile, his eyes looking past Mizuki with a sly smile as if he was eyeing something. And he was.

  Over Mizuki’s shoulder, among the students exiting the school, was another girl that looked at Mizuki as if she knew her.

  While Mizuki’s hair was frizzy, curly, and seemingly unkempt and thick, this girl’s hair was flowing and straight, and purely orange with one long strand of yellow that was a little longer than her front bangs. The girl swept her hair to the side in a lovely and fluid motion, her pink cross-shaped pupil eyes holding a striking bze of their own. She was taller than Mizuki, but had a simir body shape, with a generous bust. While Mizuki had a fiery intensity, this girl’s energy felt more rexed. An even and controlled fire just like how she wore her school uniform – tight and buttoned up. There was a mature, womanly energy about the girl who couldn’t have been a year or two older than Mizuki by the looks of it, though.

  “Whoa,” Vincent said, unable to hold his thoughts as he gazed upon the girl, her eyes were warm beams of radiance. When the girl met eyes with Vincent, he felt a warmth move over him like enjoying a warm fire but also an uneasy anxiety knowing fully well what would happen if the fmes touched him. He gulped. “Who is that?”

  “Oh, that’s Mizuki’s older sister, Hikaru,” Max said with a dismissive wave of his hand. Vincent felt a sense of hurt come from Max, as if he had been shut down by the girl, which made total sense as Max was the type to get himself in trouble with stunning women.

  “Well, that’s my cue, fels,” Mizuki said with a little pyful salute and spin of her body, walking away from them, hands behind her back as she walked backwards.

  The three boys stood together, watching her leave, admiring the warmth and beauty radiating from the two of them. Even Alexander looked impressed by Hikaru.

  “Is she a…” Vincent asked, trying to remember the word, as he admired the lovely girl that was Mizuki’s sister. “A Kindred… Phoenix Child as well?”

  “Oh, she’s so much more than that,” Alexander said with admiration.

  Max gred at Alexander in an interrogative manner. “She’s off limits, man. She’s got a boyfriend.”

  “Is that what she told you?” Alexander said with a little knowing chuckle as if he knew a secret that Max didn’t.

  Max growled, not liking this pyboy or his comments as if he knew things Max didn’t.

  “Besides,” Alexander said with a friendly tone. “A woman’s heart is never truly taken.”

  Max gave a little huff and folded his arms. He smirked. “Good luck with that, pyboy.”

  “Oh, I love the game of luck,” Alexander said, watching Hikaru with a little smirk. “So I may have to try my odds.” He watched the two of them walk down the sidewalk and get into a car, sly smile maintained. Then he blinked and gave Max and Vincent a zy wave. “Gentlemen, I bid you farewell.” And he made his way down the sidewalk to nowhere in particur.

  “He thinks he’s so cool,” Max said, watching him with jealous eyes. “As if he could” –

  And then, as luck would have it, a girl with rge shades and a sundress pulled up to the curve in a sleek convertible, her long blue hair settling as she screeched to a stop near Alexander. She lowered her gsses and motioned him over with a pyful finger. He made his way over to the passenger side, leaned forward, and kissed the girl.

  Max’s jaw fell to the floor. “That lucky son of a witch.”

  Alexander then hopped over the door, settling next to her before the two of them speed off in her fancy sportscar.

  “You’ve got to be kidding me,” Max said, messing his hair up with two hands in a frustrated motion. “How does he do it?”

  Vincent shook his head and smiled, tapping a sympathetic hand against Max’s back as he feigned a sob. “It’s best to not think too much on it, man. Some guys just shine in the light, ya know?”

  “I know,” Max said in a sulky tone as he kicked the ground like a stubborn child, wiping away fake tears. He continued grumbling some things under his breath as the two of them stood there watching the car disappear into the distance.

  “I want to know what he knows,” Max said, jutting his jaw forward in a pouty manner. “What is his secret.”

  Vincent found himself smiling, unable to hold his joke back. “Magic.”

  Max turned to him with a gre, then softened and smiled, the both of them exchanging a good chuckle.

  Following a round of ughter, Max pced hands on hips in a triumphant manner, puffing his chest out, and decring, “I can do whatever he can do, just watch me.” Then, in a puff of smoke, he transformed into Alexander. Well, mostly. There were things off, like he was now a blonde Alexander, and his face wasn’t quite right, as it was a mixture of the two. Even how he stood wasn’t like Alexander.

  Still, he was taken out of his moment of unease by the hirity that was Max as he tried to stand taller and puffed his chest out, saying, “I have the power, the power of magic,” then he took this ridiculous pose as if modeling for the camera. It just wasn’t right, and totally forced and funny, so Vincent ughed.

  “What?” Max said with a frown. “I’m being serious here.”

  “I know, I know,” Vincent said, waving his hand for Max to stop. After finding his composure, he was curious about something, as was going to be the routine for the rest of the year, he was sure.

  “As a shapeshifter, you can turn into anyone, right?”

  “Ah,” Max said, lifting a finger and speaking in a manner that Isabel often spoke in. “But I’m a Twinzer. And yes, I can shapeshift into anyone, or anything, so beware.” He wiggled his fingers around and made a spooky noise as if he was being scary, which he was not. As another poof of smoke gave way, he had transformed back to his original form. “My shapeshifting ability is a distinction without a difference, I suppose. But yeah, I have to keep a close eye on the person.” He tapped a finger below his eyes. “Follow their movements, even spy on them in the bathroom.” He had a silly smile on his face, the same kind of smile he had when checking out girls or being near Mizuki’s chest.

  “Dude,” Vincent found himself saying, wondering if he really spied on people in the bathroom. “Don’t be a creep.”

  “I ain’t creep,” he said, with a frown. “Besides, shapeshifting takes detective work, ya know. Like, I gotta know all the intricate, intimate details.” He wriggled his fingers about as if he was enjoying thinking about those details.

  Vincent looked like he did not agree. “Don’t you think that’s… taking it a bit far?”

  Max thought about it for a moment, then shook his head. “No, not really.”

  Vincent didn’t know what to say, fortunately saved by Isabel’s approach.

  “Did everyone leave already?” she said as she neared, which made them both turn.

  “Not everyone,” Max said, putting an arm around Vincent. “We’re still here, waiting for you.”

  She folded her arms and leaned her weight on one leg. “Yeah, I can see that.”

  “What’d ya talk to the teacher about?” Max asked.

  “He wants to do special sword training with me after csses,” she said.

  “That’s cool,” Max said, nodding as if he didn’t really think that was cool. “So,” Max continued, pulling them both in close, which they both seemed to not like but let happen anyway. “How’s about we celebrate and go get some food?”

  “Why?” Isabel said with a gre.

  “Because all we need is us three for a personal party,” he said with a smile.

  Vincent and Isbel exchanged a look.

  Isabel scrunched her nose and pulled away. “Don’t be creepy, Max?”

  “What?” he said, frowning. “There’s nothing creepy about a threesome.”

  “Ew,” Isabel said, shoving him, which saved Vincent again from Max’s hold on him.

  “You really gotta ease up, man,” Vincent said.

  “What’d I do?” Max asked, feigning a confused look.

  Isabel frowned. “Don’t ever utter the word threesome again, Max.”

  “I just meant,” Max said, treading as lightly as he was able, which was pushing it. “That the three of us should go do something together when I used that word. Not the way you’re thinking.”

  Was he serious right now? Vincent couldn’t tell, but Isabel looked like she might consider sucking the blood of a being for the first time.

  “Max,” she said in a stern voice, “If you don’t stop acting like an idiot, I will show you the meaning of the word bloodsucker.” And off his hurt look, she sighed and crified. “I’m fine with hanging out, as friends, not… in that other way that you’re implying.”

  “Well, hanging’s a start, at least,” he said. Then, he turned and waved his hand over the afternoon horizon. “And as the group leader, I promise to be better.”

  Vincent gave him a disproving gnce and shake of his head.

  “You’re not the leader,” Isabel said, scoffing. “Or a leader at all, not with your dirty mind.”

  “I’m totally leader material,” he said.

  “If you want to be the leader,” Vincent said, spping him on the back pyfully. “Have at it, buddy.”

  They all walked toward the parking lot, Vincent turning to Isabel. “Castile really wanted to do extra training with you?”

  She nodded. “He must have been impressed,” Max said, hands behind his neck. “You do have impressive moves.” His eyes lingered on her legs a bit too long.

  She gred at him, which made him jump back.

  “Sorry,” he said, sighing and regaining his composure. “Well, a teacher asking to work personally with you is a pretty sweet deal, as the guy seems to know his stuff.”

  Isabel nodded, pleased with herself. “Yeah, I’m looking forward to it.” She lingered, as if thinking about something. “I just don’t want to disappoint or let him down.”

  “He wouldn’t have chosen you if he thought that you’d let him down,” Vincent said. “Thanks,” she said, giving him a sweet smile.

  A rge van honked as it pulled up to the roundabout area where kids were picked up and dropped off. A dy with long blonde hair was driving, looking back and yelling at what seemed to be a dozen kids in the back, and one girl with simir-colored hair in the front that looked like she was in middle school. Was that Max’s family?

  Max gnced at the car, then back at them. “Whelp, that’s my ride, see you guys tomorrow.” And he was off, running toward the car.

  “So, he’s our new leader?” Vincent said, with a ugh.

  “I don’t know about that,” Isabel said, shaking her head and looking up at the sky. “He seems a bit unsure and shy, even if he is a jokester.”

  “Hmm,” Vincent said, rubbing his chin, looking at Isabel.

  Her face went red as he stared at her, and she blinked. “What, do I have something on my face.”

  He shook his head. “Nope. You just seem to really care about other people. It says a lot about you, as a person.”

  “As a being,” she corrected.

  “Oh yea,” he said, correcting himself as he rubbed a hand through hair. “As a being.”

  She turned to him and tilted her head, concern in her voice. “How are you doing?”He shrugged. “Fine. I mean, I can’t just curl up into a ball and forget about this new world. That won’t solve anything.”

  “Hmmm,” she said. “True. But that does sound kinda nice, the ball-curling and what not.”

  He ughed. ‘Yeah, it does, doesn’t it?”

  She pulled out her phone and looked down at it, tapping away. “What’s your phone number?”

  Vincent blinked. “You want my number?”

  She nodded and stared at him with unblinking eyes.

  “Okay, what for?”

  She chuckled, as if this was a silly question. “So I can call you, silly. Or text, or you know, hang out or something.”

  “Oh,” he said, figuring out he was a complete idiot, still. “Isn’t the guy supposed to asked or the girl’s number?”

  She rolled her eyes and let out a scoff.

  After they exchanged numbers, he tapped on his phone, pulling up her profile, thinking about how cool it was that he had a girl’s number in his phone.

  He noticed her staring at him, so he turned to her and blinked. “Do I have something on my face now?”

  “No, I’m just admiring your face. It’s cute.”

  “What?” Vincent said, his face getting hot from the compliment.

  He smiled, wanting to py along a little bit, knowing full well he didn’t like her like that but not being able to help himself. “Can’t I be handsome?”

  “Nope,” she said, putting her arms behind her back in an adorable fashion, smiling. “Just cute.”

  “I think I’m handsome,” he said, feeling nervous at this moment, scratching the side of his face. “But if you say I’m cute, we’ll just go with that.”

  She was staring at him, a wide smile on her face.

  “What?” he asked, and she turned away, flushing.

  She nodded, pleased with herself, a lightness in her step. It was nice being like this with her, instead of feeling like he had frustrated or upset her somehow. Part of him wanted to bring up Alicia again, ask Isabel more about her, but he thought better of it because he was enjoying this pleasant mood of hers, so he let the moment linger.

  When a tinted-out fancy bck car rolled up, Isabel gnced over at it, her tone sad and longing.

  “Well, there’s my ride, I guess I better be going.”

  Vincent whistled as he admired the fancy car. “That’s your ride? Looks expensive.”

  “Eh,” she said with a shrug, “It’s just a form of transportation.”

  “Comfortable transportation,” Vincent said, staring at the car. “So, you’re like one of those rich kids, then?”

  “I’m not rich,” she said, rubbing her arm. “My father is. I just happen to be his daughter.”

  Vincent chuckled. “Must be nice,” he said, longingly. “What’s it like?”

  “It’s Lonely,” she said, looking off into the distance, a sad smile on her face.

  “Oh,” Vincent said, not sure what else to say after that. Then, he added, “you’ll have to tell me more about that.”

  For the first time her tone was cold. “No, I don’t.” She paused for a long moment, then gathered herself, looking a bit ashamed at her terse reposnse. “I-I better be going, though.” She looked unsure of what to say, avoiding his eyes. “I’m gd we are friends, Vincent. Have a wonderful evening. Text me if you need anything, and” –

  A familiar presence made the hairs on Vincent’s neck stand on end as her voice filled his ears. It was Alicia.

  “Isabel, what are you doing with that dog?”

  Well, that was rude, Vincent thought as he turned to meet her lovely eyes and take in the soft scent of strawberries and coconut. Ah, what bliss. He didn’t know what it was about her, but something stuck his fancy.

  She gred at him with murderous intent as he faced her, yet he couldn’t help but admire her elegant and fearsome nature. She was stunning.

  “I-I thought you were in the car already,” Isabel stammered.

  “That’s the problem, Isabel,” Alicia said, leaning back and folding her arms over her chest. “Thinking. You don’t do it properly.” While her bust wasn’t as generous as Mizuki’s – not that comparing Mizuki’s bust to anyone as was even a comparison – her beauty was something to behold. What he thought, and saw of her, was something more than just a sexual, hormonal-induced excitement of a budding teenager. She was just lovely.

  This Alicia girl filled Vincent with a feeling of wanting to know her more because she was such an alluring sight, especially her fierce nature and attitude. He had no idea why he thought this, though, he just knew he wanted to know more about this mysterious sister of Isabel’s.

  Even though she was terse and rude and unpleasant in one way, she was so enticing in another way. And he just didn’t know why. He licked his lips, wondering what was making his heartbeat run wild in her presence? Still, there was no reason to be so mean to Isabel, so he intervened. “Why are you talking to her like that? There’s no need for it.”

  Alicia spun to him, fury in her eyes – a sexy fury that made his heart skip a beat as she bore a hole with her gre, which he would happily stare into all day.

  “I was not speaking to you, dog,” she spat, her body tensing as if she was annoyed, frustrated. “So do not address me as if we are acquainted. You are simply a mutt, which means you are beneath me.”

  Vincent frowned, a bit of his own anger rising. “Hey now, cut that out.”

  “Shut up,” she commanded with icy finality as she swung a hand out in front of her “I did not ask a question, so you will not speak to, nor address, me. If you do again, I will silence you quicker than your eyes adverting from staring at my chest a moment ago.”

  Gulp. So she had seen him gncing. It was still worth it, part of him thought.

  She stepped to him, fire in her eyes. “I am not here for you, so be quiet.” She let out a little huff of frustration, then as she paused to make sure she had made her point, her eyes staring daggers at Vincent, she turned back to Isabel. “It is time to take our leave, Isabel. Unless you want to walk home.” She turned on her heel and made her way toward the fancy car.

  Even though she was completely rude, there was something captivating about her, something amazing. Something about her energy projecting a raw, sensual heat that got him feeling like he wanted to go wild and crazy and howl at the moon. His heartbeat picked up as he watched her hips sway with the movement of her legs. He felt his palms get sweaty as he licked his lips, cautious of staring at her too long, but not wanting to look away.

  He found himself thinking things, naughty things, like what kind of underwear she wore, what sorts of things she thought about. He wanted to know what she did in her free time, and other sorts of things he shouldn’t be thinking. His heartbeat hammered against his chest as she arrived at the car and spun, meeting his eyes with an icy gre. The contact made him freeze for a moment, as if she was probing him, thinking what he was thinking, pulling him to her, ensnaring his body and mind and emotions and – then as she looked away, it was gone, loosened like the cutting of scissors to a taut rope, and he was released from her stare, her alluring, sexy, and wonderful stare. Was that her Connection Isabel had told him about the other day, or something else? It made his body feel weird. Or was it just his hormones going crazy just peering into her eyes? He didn’t know.

  “Isabel!” Alicia commanded. “This is your st chance.”

  “I-I’m coming,” Isabel said, giving Vincent a little nod and sad smile as if she knew what he was thinking too, before hurrying over to the car.

  A giant man that looked like he could punch a hole through the wall of their school stepped out of the driver’s side and moved to the passenger’s door Alicia stood in front of, bowing slightly as he opened it for her. His designer suit was well fitted around his huge and strong body, and he wore a stylish chauffeur’s hat.

  “Mistress?” the man said in a low, husky voice that.

  Alicia got in quickly, not acknowledging the man, but he gave Isabel a little smile. “Good afternoon, Miss.” She gave him a sad look, gncing back at Vincent for a moment, and he wasn’t sure why she looked so sad, which he wanted to know why. She gave the man a half-smile. “Afternoon, Charleston.” Then got into the car.

  The man shut the door, then slowly lifted his eyes to Vincent, which gave him an uneasy feeling as if he needed to run. It sent a shiver up his spine and then was gone when the man turned away, re-entering the car.

  “What was that?” Vincent said under his breath as the car drove away.

  He let out a sigh, checked his phone, then nodded to himself as he felt like running home, and so he ducked his head down, and made his way into a nice jog.

  .   .   .