Three months had passed and Dani noticed that Ben was different. He seemed buffer and he'd lost weight. Probably to impress Kayla, she thought, smirking. His shortness, however, had remained the same. Ryker's voice scared her for she'd not been expecting it. "Ben's looking renewed," Ryker commented.

"Yeah, I think it's to impress you, Kayla," Dani replied causing Kayla to blush. Catherine shared a glance along with a smirk. Ryker was smirking at Ben who was chatting to Tim.

"When it comes to relationships, Ben's the confident one," Ryker said as he turned to face Kayla. "If he likes you, he'll make sure to let you know." The bell rang at that point for free period. Dani and Ryker grinned and left Ben and Tim alone with Catherine and Kayla.

~~~~
A little time later, Dani and Ryker were walking out the dining hall after leaving the pairs alone. Ryker disappeared to his room for a few minutes and later returned with a piece of paper. "What's this?" Dani asked, taking the piece of paper.

"It's a poem I wrote when I first developed a crush on you," he replied, blushing. "It's as cheesy as heck though. But, I thought you might like to see it. To see how much of a cheesy 15 year old I was." Dani smiled.

"Let's read it then?" She asked and Ryker nodded. She cleared her throat. "This girl has eyes like the sun
She makes my heart run

She makes my cheeks heat
When our eyes meet

Is it love?
That makes me feel like a dove?

What is this feeling?
Like an ice cream that is appealing?" Dani blushed. "You were such a cute little Rykie! It's so cute! Though, I feel it's missing something." Ryker nodded.

"I couldn't find a good way to end it," he admitted.

"And it's still in prime condition! How did you manage that?"

"I protected it with my life," Ryker joked. "Kidding! I put it in my side desk and forgot about it." Dani gave him a look.

"It must've left a smear of something for you to remember it just like that." Ryker shrugged.

"I guess.." He said in reply. "Or it could've been the fact of my hidden feelings for two years. Only this year did I comfortable enough to approach you and get to know you better."

"And look where it landed you," Dani said before planting a peck on his cheek. Ryker blushed.

"Yes. I couldn't be happier now that your my girlfriend," he said. He turned his head away. "I don't like it when couples act too... lovey-dovey, ya know what I mean?"

"Yeah, I know, some lovey-dovey...ness is fine, but when it's too much it's just blehg!" Dani replied. Ryker's tone grew serious.

"You know Quin's accident a few months ago?"

"Yes, I'm the one who told Niomi to take him to infirmary. What about it?"

"They discovered a virus in Quin's bloodstream and they think that's what caused his erratic transformations. Maybe Shifta unctrolla does exist."

"But his accident was three months ago, why would this only surface now?" She asked.

"You know Quin had a blood test recently?"

"Yes."

"That's when they discovered the virus. If Quin keeps shifting uncontrollably, he could injure himself again."

"I do wonder why Quin had the blood test anyway. Has he been shifting uncontrollably?"

"I don't know the reason for the blood test either, but he has been shifting uncontrollably."

"Why am I only hearing of this now?"

"Maybe Quin only told the boys and not the girls what happened?"

"I don't know."