I wasn't sure if my first day was a success or not. Partly probably. Ignoring the blood and embarrassing encounter I hadn't told anyone about. I did a quick refresh in the restroom, washing my face with some water and redoing my hair in the best way possible. I looked at myself. Still a mess.

I turned off the faucet and exited. Rachel was right outside, glaring daggers at me. "Are you trying to make the fool out of me?" She hissed. "What are you talking about?" I snapped. "The shooting exercise." I went back to that training. "And?" She bristled. "You made the fool out of me with that stunt you did," she hissed. "What stunt?" I blurted, tempted to shoot her instead. "You know exactly what I meant. When you offered that competition." I laughed humorlessly. "I never forced you to participate in it. You feel so threatened by me, by everything I do, that it has become your obsession. Start living your own life and leave me be."

I stomped past her further down the hall to go home, but I had this terrible feeling of being followed. Stoping, I twisted to watched my cousin walk in the opposite direction. Shaking it off I continued my way and decided to take the elevator. I still felt watched and followed, but no one was around. The halls were empty, lit by the dim light in the ceiling. Yet this feeling wasn't unfamiliar.

I took the stairs, taking an alternate route, then slid behind a wall and grabbed my knife. There were light footsteps coming towards me and when the person was close enough, I lunged out of the shadows, tackling the man. I straddled him, pressing my knife against his throat. "Why are you following me?" I snapped. I knew who this was. He was ridiculously handsome.

The same guy from earlier, who I had run down in the elevator. "This is the second time I end up on the floor." My lip curled in a sneer. "I don't appreciate being followed." His eyes flicked over my face. "Feisty little thing you are." I tightened my grip, pressing harder. "Careful, I'm not afraid to cut." He laughed coldly at that. "Oh, I don't doubt it, sweetheart." I glared, "maybe I had to go this way too."

I moved away. "Then go." He slowly got up, eying me. "I think you owe me a dinner now." I held his icy eyes and notched my chin up. "It was an accident."
"This wasn't."
"No, this was enjoyable."
His lips curled in a wicked a grin, obviously approving my answer. "Leave." He walked passed me. My eyes fell on the knife he had dropped. It clicked into his place for me then. I picked it up and threw it. It grazed his neck, leaving faint cut to bleed before slamming into the wooden door. He twisted. "You forgot your knife... Sunstreaker." I then turned my back on him and took the stairs back up. I wasn't as unaffected as I tried to be. My heart was racing so fast that I wondered if he could hear it. But fear is exactly what he tried to accomplish.

I scowled at my stupidity. How hadn't I figured it out sooner? When I was certain I was out of view, I started running. In case he decided to come after me a second time. I probably wouldn't be able to keep this up a second time.

I went home, locked the doors and headed upstairs.

***

Entering the lobby, I took note of how quiet it was and then I saw the reason why. I sipped from my ice coffee, other hand stuffed in my leather jacket. Sunstreaker approached from where he had been waiting. "I want dinner with you tonight." I held his stare. The gold in his eyes seemed to be more vibrant for some reason. "And why would I want that?" I asked, trying to pass me but he refused. "Because I want it." I took another sip. "And then? What purpose would it serve you?"

"We will leave at seven. I checked your schedule, don't worry." Sighing, I watched him walk away. I might needed something stronger than ice coffee. The bastard was testing me. He definitely wasn't stupid. Maybe he knew I hadn't been unaffected last night. That it had all been an act to ward myself.

I caught Jake waiting for in the Main Hangar. "You look terrible." I snorted and ignored that. I couldn't bring myself to tell him either about my encounter with Sunstreaker. If he did, he would report it and we both would become targets. I suppose from now on, it is my burden to carry. "And I wasn't even there to keep you awake." I laughed and linked my arm through his. Together, we started our duty and followed our training program for the day.

"Will you come to the lake tomorrow?" I bit my lip. "Come on! It'll be fun." Yeah, except I couldn't swim and I already almost drowned on our boot camp. "I already have plans." He cocked a brow but I quickly changed the subject. "Let's head for the shooting range already. To claim the best spots."

We passed a group of men and one of them twisted, as if doing a double tap. "Excuse me?" Jake and I stopped, turning towards the group. The man was tall and well build. The same electric blue eyes I had seen before. Not human: they seemed to say. From how the others acted and waited, I got a sense of who this was. "Sir." I lowered my head and so did Jake. "What's your name?" I assumed it was directed to me, considering the strange interaction I had with Jazz and Ironhide the other day.

"Skylar Banes, Sir."

A second man stepped beside him, also staring at me. "Is there a problem?" I asked when both just continued to stare and somehow seemed to communicate without actually talking. "No, you just stand out, that's all," the second male said. As I always seemed to do. "If you excuse me, we only have five minutes left." The lie rolled smoothly off my tongue. "Of course." The tallest said, then turned back towards the group. I grabbed Jake's arm, dragging him with me. "What is that all about?" I shook my head. "I don't know." And a part of me didn't want to know either.

***

"Shall we go into town and grab a bite?" Jake asked as our shift finally ended after so many long, tiring hours of training and debriefing. "Actually, I'm about to go home. Maybe tomorrow." He wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me closer. A soft gasp slipped from my lips as he pinned me against the wall. His hand slid beneath my dark blue N.E.S.T t-shirt. "Jake—" It was almost seven O'clock. His lips found mine seconds later. Jake lowered his hands, grabbing my ass and picked me up.

It was a frenzy of tongues and teeth. Jake ground his hips into mine. "Are you sure you don't want to come?" I was tempted to drop Sunstreaker and go home with Jake instead. But doing so would bring me in more danger and Jake, too. "I'll pass by tonight, alright?" He caught my lips and slowly set me back down. "Alright." Then he was off. I straightened my shirt and fixed my hair before approaching the hangar three.

    Sunstreaker's alt-mode was already waiting for me there. Perhaps this was all a mistake and he would just smash me to death or drive me over. There was no one here and I couldn't do anything if he transformed and started chasing me around. Perhaps a little bit relieved, he opened his door for me and I hoped in. His holoform fizzled in beside me.

    "Where are we going?"

    He started driving. "Worried I'll take you to a secluded area, my dear?" I glowered. "Don't worry." He grabbed my leg possessively. "I have no intentions of killing you... yet." I gritted my teeth. "I'm not deaf to the whispers. They're all talking about you. The silver haired beauty with a temper." He looked at me then. I was pretty sure that as soon as hype around me wore off, he'd find a new possession so I waved it off.

    "Where are we going to eat then?" I asked. While it was his company I had to deal with, I was starving. "You'll see." A surprise then. I sat back and ran my hand over the smooth leather. His engine rumbled at that. I curiously glanced at him. And after a double take, he caught my eyes. "What?"

    "Nothing." We drove on until reaching a grill restaurant. "Sweet." I unbuckled and slid out. The grill was new and opened only last fall, but it had grown to be popular amongst the citizens. Due to budget reasons didn't I visit restaurants that often.

   We walked inside and were greeted by a female. She looked at me, then at Sunstreaker and batted her eye lashes. I was tempted to snort. "Table for two," Sunstreaker said, waiting. She quickly nodded and hazily led us to our table. Sunstreaker grabbed my waist when I was just about to slid between the table and bench.

    "Take the chair. I want to see what's going on behind you." Frowning, I stepped back and slid in the chair while he sat down on the bench against the wall. "I snatched the card from the wooden stand. "Well, since we are each other's company for the next two hours..." I trailed off, scanning the list of foods and drinks. "... why not a question for a question?" He drummed his fingers on the table. "Sure, go ahead, sweetheart." Ignoring that, I lifted my chin up. "Why did you kill those four men?"

    "Because they deserved it. Did you enjoy toppling on top of me twice?" I rolled my eyes. "First time was an accident, second time, you chased me, so I acted." He cocked his head to the side. "Doesn't answer my question."

"No, I did not." His eyes flashed, as if he didn't like my answer. "Do you have other activities you like doing besides killing things?" He kept drumming. "No. Where do you live?" I didn't like these questions and the bastard was testing me. "Currently, whenever I feel like living. Sometimes with friends, sometimes with my uncle." I quickly stirred the conversation away. "Any family?" A muscle ticked in his jaw. "I have a twin brother. I want the addresses of these places."

"That's not a question." He ground his teeth. "I don't fucking care. I want those addresses." I laid the menu down on the table. "But I won't." His anger radiated from him. "You will." Perhaps if we were alone, he would've lunged for me, my throat. "No, I won't." The drumming stopped. Perhaps the last indicator before he'd do something stupid. "I'm not in the mood for your nonsense. Go stalk someone else." He leaned onto the table. "I won't. I want your whereabouts and if you don't give it to me, then I'll start from scratch." I sighed and turned back to my menu. Fine, question for a question was a terrible idea. I just want to keep him talking. These silences were awkward and awkward. I should've left with Jake for our hookup.

"Take an appetizer and desert," he said. Too keep me longer, but I was hungry enough that I would do it anyway. "Are you going to the lake?"
"No."
He cocked his brow at my quick, sudden response. "I have other plans." The waitress returned with our drinks. "Thank you." I sipped from my soda. I needed to be sober tonight. "What other plans?" He angled his head. "Just... other plans," I replied coolly, shrugging. "Which include what? Eating pizza?"

"Maybe." He stared at me, not amused. "You're lying." I sighed, shaking my head. "I don't want to go. Happy?" He seemed more pleased with that answer and luckily didn't push on the matter. I was more than happy to focus on the food. I was nervous enough as it was. I knew damn well what I got tangled up with.