A/N: I hope you all enjoy it! 

Cody's Pov:

I should have been keeping my distance from Nia. I know this and yet I haven't been trying very hard to do that.

I didn't change classes or seats. Or even started to ignore her.

How could I do any of that when it feels so right to be sitting next to her and talking with her? At least I wasn't pushing the methodical envelope and asking her to hang out outside of class.

That surely has to count for something, right? A flick on my forehead brought me back to the present.

Sitting at a table across from June while we eat dinner together, the idle chatter of the other customers filling in the background. June glared at me as she sat in her seat again.

"What's with you?", She asked in a harsh tone that made me flinch, I didn't think I was that obvious.

I grabbed a fry from my plate and filled my mouth with it. I still haven't told her about the incident from a few days ago.

June crossed her arms tightly before she stood up and started to leave. I got up and rushed after her almost chocking as I was mid swallow.

I managed to grab her just before she left the building, I coughed a few times before I said, "June"

She turned to face me with a raised eyebrow as she waited for me to continue.

I leaned closer whispering the words next to her ear in a rushed way, "I didn't want to worry you, but I used my power a few days ago. It was a life or death situation."

"Damn it all Cody", She growled as she pinched my inner upper arm until I groaned in pain.

I pulled away from her rubbing the no doubt red mark she left on my skin as I made my way back to the table. The sound of her footsteps reached my ears so I grumbled under my breath, "Life or death isn't a good enough reason for you."

"It wasn't your life or you would have told me earlier. We can't be doing heroics, Cody", She explained her reasoning as she took her seat again glaring at me as I took my seat again.

I opened my mouth to say something only to realize I didn't know what to say. I pointed at her as I opened and close my mouth like a dying fish.

What was I supposed to say here? I couldn't let Nia die because she made my power go crazy. Or I haven't changed classes because being next to her is peaceful.

I let my arm, drop slightly grabbing the rest of my fries from my mostly empty plate. June narrowed her eyes at me as I ate my fries.

"You at least did the memory reset thing on the person right?", She asked as she started to eat the rest of her own fries.

I looked away from her as I realized that I didn't reset her memory, the second time I used my power around her. But what are the chances that she even saw me using my powers?

She was probably too distracted by the whole almost dying by a car thing.

I mean if she remembered something she would have brought it up by now, right?

"Cody, don't make me give you a truth potion," She hissed the threat out in a low tone so that a few passers-by didn't hear.

Luckily before I could say a word of reply I heard my name being called, "Cody, Can I see you for a moment in my office?"

I turned at the sound, taking in the sight of my professor, Mr. Witmen. I quickly gathered my things as I stood up, "I'll see you later, June."

I wrapped my hand tighter around the strap of my backpack as I caught up with Mr. Witmen. Once I was at his side I glanced over at him as I asked, "What is it you wanted, Sir?"

"It would be better if we waited until we made it to the office", He told me cryptically before asking, "How are you finding the class so far?"

"It's challenging but rewarding", I told him unsure of what else to say about it.

We continued the idle chatter as we made our way to the office, yet there was a tension that hung in the air. The tension became even heavier as we entered the office.

"Take a seat", Mr. Witmen told me as he closed the door and locked it.

Something told me not to take a seat but I didn't want to be rude. I sat at the edge of the seat, eyeing the windowless room as I became more nervous.

I took a deep breath as I kept the memory of just before I left with the professor in the back of my mind just in case. Mr. Witmen stood in front of his desk not that far from me.

"I wanted to talk to you about my niece, Nia. I don't like you being around her at all and I suggest you switch seats", He spoke seriously, his body relaxed and his eyes fierce as they looked me over.

Doing something of your own volition is one thing, being told to do something that you were already planning to do is something else entirely. It makes a person not want to do what they already planned to do in the first place.

An act of defiance that feels instinctive and hard to ignore. All the reasons for me to stay away from her flew out the window by this act of defiance.

I smiled at Mr. Witman as I finally responded, "I can't control the actions of your Niece. If she wants to spend time with me, who am I to deny her?"

He smiled at me, a smile that reminded me of a predator. He closed the short distance between us as a humorless laugh escaped him.

He placed his hands on the armrest before I could make a move to get up. His brown eyes became a dull cold shade of gold similar to the way Nia's eyes changed that day.

His voice mirrored the coldness in his eyes, "You will give my niece space, shifter. Because if you don't someone is going to get hurt."

A/N: Thank you for reading. Please leave a comment! The next chapter should be up next Monday. 

If you can't wait you can always read ahead over on my Patreon. Chapter 14 is already up over there.