***MISS RILEY'S POV***

When Kate had revealed that she was involved with that creature of a man I had seen that night, I was terrified. I didn't know what to expect, all I knew was that the weird man saved me and Kate was involved with him.

So she had to be good... right?

She hadn't been at school today and I had actually planned on talking to her, I wanted to see her for some weird reason.

It wasn't like me to grow attachments.

But when she had no showed to my class, I had checked attendance, and come to find out she hadn't been at school. It worried me of course, and the most horrible thoughts came to mind. Like her being dead, or her being hurt or in trouble.

Then I had gotten the news about a recent death, and the name had rung a bell.

Emily Reed.

I remembered her and Emma talking about her Monday in homeroom, her and Kate were friends... or more than that, I wasn't sure. She had been murdered, and it broke my heart knowing that Kate was most likely grieving right now.

I wanted to see her, I wanted to make sure she was ok, even though I knew now what she was capable of doing. If she was anything like that man she was a weird wolf creature, and the thought of her looking like that scared me, I still didn't fully believe that it was real.

Because things like that didn't exist... because if werewolves existed, what else did? Vampires, witches, fucking Bigfoot?

The thought of mythical creatures existing scared me, humans were fragile compared to them in the stories and myths...

What if that was what was killing the people around town?

I tried pushing the thoughts out of my head but it was nearly impossible, the worry about Kate was eating me alive. It wasn't weird right? I mean she was one of my students, I had a right to be worried about her...

Didn't I?

Teaching was impossible too, I couldn't focus so I had to give the students a random worksheet to work out. I was consumed with the thought of Kate, I wanted to her be ok, I wanted her to come to school tomorrow... I couldn't go another day worrying about her.

I needed to know she was alive.

I knew the weird attachment was bad, especially with Kate, but I couldn't help it. It was there, and I knew it wasn't going away because once I allowed myself to have feelings for someone...

It turned reckless.

I didn't fall easily, I didn't let anyone get under my skin or intimidate me, but Kate had done it. She had broken down my barriers and gotten deep under my skin. I knew it as bad, I knew it was wrong, but it felt right, and I couldn't stop thinking about her. I knew it was a possible relationship, maybe, just maybe somewhere down the line...

No wait, I didn't want that... did I?

Did I see myself having a relationship with Kate? Did I really think of that?

I groaned as I realized I had accomplished nothing on these after school hours, knowing I needed to get home. I didn't want to stay out late, remembering the murders and what Kate had told me.

How she had actually cared enough to tell me.

I folded my grade book and packed the worksheets away in my laptop bag, grabbing my purse and keys and heading for the parking lot. Then soon remembering the frightful night when I was confronted with that man as I walked out of the double glass doors.

I shivered, realizing it was getting chillier outside, and I pulled my coat tighter around my torso, letting my long brown hair wrap around my neck to cover it from the wind. I walked swiftly to my car and as I saw it come into sight I felt weird.

Like someone was watching me.

The hairs on the back of my neck stood up, and I was to worried to turn around and look, but oddly enough... it didn't feel threatening.

It felt protective.

I threw my bags into my car, climbing in and pulling on my seat belt, realizing it was getting dark. Cranking my vehicle quickly as the lights came on, revealing a familiar face to me, making me gasp.

It was Kate, on the outskirts of the woods.

What in the world was she doing? It was to cold to be outside, and why was she here if she hadn't showed up at school today?

Was she... watching me? Making sure I got home safe?

I pulled out of the parking lot and made my way home, feeling odd as I kept seeing Kate's still figure. It was a bit creepy but then it was ok because I knew she meant no harm to me. I didn't understand why she was there, but I was planning on finding out tomorrow if she came to school.

Because I needed to know if she was ok, because I cared about her.

~ ~ ~ ~

The next morning was a blur, all I could think about was seeing Kate, seeing if she was ok and would be at school for me to see her. It worried me, knowing that she might not show up again today as well but I couldn't freak myself out.

Kate would come back to school when she was ready...

But I was hoping that day was today.

Her face yesterday had held pain, regret, and she was hurting, I could see it clear as day, but I wanted to see her myself. I wanted to know she was physically ok, even thought I knew she wasn't ok emotionally.

I just needed to see her, dammit.

I sipped my coffee lightly as first hour continued to work on their quiz, watching them silently as my mind wandered aimlessly. I could practically hear the clock ticking because it was going so slow, I just wanted it to be second hour already.

Just to see if Kate was here.

Some students began returning their papers and I started grading, putting it into the grading system and realizing report cards were coming up.

And I wondered how Kate was doing.

I pulled up her scores, realizing she had a really D- in my class, and I wondered if she knew about this. She was practically failing, because if she missed a homework grade or failed a test she would soon have an F, and I didn't want that.

She had enough to deal with.

I couldn't see her other class grades but I was worried, knowing she could well be failing all her other classes. The last thing I would want her to do is repeat her senior year, she would need tutoring or something...

And if she needed, I would.

Then the bell rang, nearly startling me out of my chair and I stood, walking over to my door to greet second hour.

And Kate.

It was weird, I hadn't felt compelled to talk to Kate since the kiss and all of that but now since I knew about her secret I felt as if we had this weird bond.

I knew it was all in my head though.

I greeted my usual students and hoped to God that if Kate was here she wouldn't be late, I just really didn't want to have to fuss today. Then she rounded the corner and I smiled, seeing a pained expression on her face as she locked eyes with me.

I grabbed her arm lightly as she went to pass in front of me, pulling her over to the side, "Hey, how are you?"

She shrugged, smiling weakly, "I'm getting by."

It kind of broke my heart because I expected a lot more from her, but I wasn't letting her get away, "What were you doing yesterday outside of school?"

She gave me a wry look and sighed, "I was making sure you got home safe."

"Why?"

She looked around uneasily, sensing that something was wrong here, "I can't tell you all of that."

"Why?"

She looked at me hard, "Because I can't Miss Riley."

"But I'm worried about you, Kate."

She made eye contact with me then, I could see the anger and worry in her eyes, which were intensified. Like they were... glowing?

"You should be worried about your safety, not mine," then she walked into the classroom, leaving this conversation open ended.

I slowed my heart rate, joining the rest of people in class as my eyes continued to study Kate from afar. I couldn't stop worrying, what did she mean I should worry about myself? I mean I knew the killers were out but was I a target?

Did she know I was in danger?

What exactly was going on here under my nose, because I didn't like it at all. The way her eyes had lit up with light, they had been glowing, her irises had been extremely bright and it was freaky.

But in a way, sexy, because I loved Kate's eyes, and when she was mad she was a little cute...

Oh God Jennifer, you should hear yourself... you sound like a teenage girl with a crush.

Which I wasn't a teenage girl, I was a woman, a 24 year old woman, and even if I was attracted slightly to an 18 year old student...

I could do nothing about it.

I realized Kate couldn't take the quiz that I was planning on giving the rest of the class and I passed them out, skipping her because she looked to worried to take a quiz.

She hadn't even learned the material barely.

I passed by her desk and mumbled, "You can make it up at the end of the week."

She nodded slightly, putting her head down on her desk and hiding her face from me, worrying me even more. I sat at my desk studying her, wondering what I could do to make her feel better, but I knew I could do nothing.

The bell rang to quickly, and I had felt compelled to ask Kate to stay after class to discuss her low grade but I knew she had a class after this.

So I would ask her to come after.

I spoke, "Kate, can you come back after third? We need to talk about your grades."

She sighed heavily, rolling her eyes, "Yea, sure," then she was out the door.

It was weird to see Kate like this, usually she was cocky and overly excited to come by to my class after hours, but now... she seemed distant. She was definitely worried, that was plain as day, and I knew she was sad because of Emily...

But was there something else?

Then third hour filed in, forcing me to continue with my daily teaching. But the thoughts of Kate coming by after school didn't come to a stop, and I knew they wouldn't anytime soon.

Because I wanted to talk to Kate, alone.

***A/N***

So sorry the updates had to come to a stop but I've been busy doing things these last couple of days. Hope you guys enjoy the update and happy reading!