"All right, Aaron! You're on my team!" Garroth says. "And Violet, too!"

"Ah-ah!" I shake my head lazily from my spot under the umbrella. "That'd be three on one side and two on the other. I'm sitting this one out."

"Aww... Okay. Aaron! You're on my team!" Garroth repeats happily.

"Yess!" Aaron cheers, running over to stand by Garroth.

"Wait, wait wait wait a minute." Travis says.

"What?" Garroth demands.

"I don't wanna be on the same team as Zane!" Travis says.

"I can say the same thing about Travis." Zane says.

"You guys agree with each other!" I say sweetly, ignoring Zane and Travis' glare. "You'll be perfect teammates!"

"PUT ME ON SOMEONE ELSE'S TEAM!" Zane demands. "VIOLET, PLAY WITH ME!"

"Nuh-uh, I said I'd sit this one out!"

"THEN GARROTH, LET ME PLAY WITH YOU!"

"B-but I already called dibs on Aaron!" Garroth protests.

"Wait. You called dibs on me like I'm some sort of prize?" Aaron says.

"That's not what I meant!" Garroth says.

Aaron laughs. "I'm just kidding!"

"Yeah, is he like, some kind of prize?" Travis asks.

"I mean... he's stronger than you guys, and I wanna win! So..."
"Are you calling me weak?" Travis dares at the same time Zane yells "WHAT THE?!?"

"I mean... ah..." Garroth looks at a loss for words, but I decide to take matters into my own hands.

"He's totally calling you guys out." I assure them.

"VIOLET!" Garroth yells.

"Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhohohoho!!" Travis gasp/laughs. "I knew it."

"Yeah, like, before we got here, Garroth was all like 'Zane and Travis suck, he he he he" I try my best to mimic Garroth's voice and laugh.

"I DID NOT!!" Garroth says angrily.

"Why you---" Travis starts.

"I trusted you, brother!" Zane yells.

"VIOLET, WHAT ARE YOU DOING??" Garroth demands.

I smile and point to them, shifting my weight on the blanket so the sand doesn't get on it. "Watch."

"All right, Zane." Travis starts, all business-like. "I hate you, and you hate me."

"I hate you with a passion."

"Agreed! But I'm not about Garroth getting his cake and eating it too." Travis says. "Want to crush him in this volleyball game to show him he sucks?"

"What are you proposing?" Zane asks.

"I'll tolerate you. For this game ONLY." Travis says.

"GGGGG. Fine. Deal! But I'm not shaking your hand!" Zane yells.

"Ohhhhh, I see what you did there, getting them riled up to play! Sneaky!" Garroth tells me happily.

I laugh. "Yeah."

"But, you know we're gonna own them. Right?" Aaron asks.

"I know." I smile.

"Hahahahahahah!" Garroth laughs evilly. Zane and Travis finish planning their demise and then they all four go out to the volleyball net and grab the ball. Aaron holds it first.

"Here we go!" He throws it, and it lands right at Zane's feet, who doesn't even move. Travis dives for it too late.

"All right, first point is ours!" Garroth cheers.

"Why didn't you get it?" Travis demands from his spot at Zane's feet, spitting sand out of his mouth.

"Because you dove for it and I thought you had it!" Zane yells at Travis.

"Make an effort next time!" Travis yells back, grabbing the ball and throwing it to Garroth. He serves it and Zane actually hits it back to Aaron, who bounces it to Travis, who throws it towards Aaron and Garroth. Both of them go for it at the exact same time and miss.

"All right, point for us!" Travis says.

"Hmph!" Zane says. "See? Go for it at the same time and you risk that."

"I still consider you lazy."

"Naaah, I'm the lazy one!" I call.

"Shut up!" Zane spits.

"We've gotta step up our game." Aaron says angrily.

"Right!" Garroth says. "Let's make sure not to do that again!"

"But---that was totally your fault." Aaron says, like it ends the matter.

"No way, it was yours!"

"The ball was headed towards me!"

"WE'RE ON THE SAME COURT!"

"IT WAS ON MY SIDE!" Aaron yells.

"WE'RE ON THE SAME SIDE!"

"That's not---ugh! Let's just work together!" Aaron grumbles.

"Aaaaah... and now you see the depth of my plan." I whisper, giggling.

"Wow... what greeaaat teamwork." Zane tells Aaron and Garroth.

"Thanks!" Garroth yells. "Now come on Aaron, let's keep it up!" They play for a while, both winning and losing a few times, until Garroth misses one again.

"First one to three." Travis says. "This is it."

"Last round." Aaron adds.

"You said we were good at teamwork, Zane." Garroth mourns. "I was a fool, blinded by your LIES!!"

"Oh, look, you've come to your sense!" Zane says. "Such a shame... I was enjoying our quality time together. Now I have to finish you, too!"

Garroth serves the ball, and after a few pass-backs, it ends up landing on Zane and Travis' side.

"HAHAHAHA! WE WON!" Garroth says.

"SUCK IT!" Aaron yells happily.

"AARON!" I yell in surprise.

Aaron flushes. "Sorry, I get a little competitive."

I laugh and sit up to watch Zane and Travis get angry. "Nah, you're all right." I start giggling. "They do suck!"

"YOU MEAN ZANE SUCKS!" Travis hollers.

"WHY YOU---" All five of us stop dead when we hear girls giggling behind us. I look over and see two girls watching the volleyball game with interest.

"Woah! I think those babes are checking us out!" Travis says. I roll my eyes and duck further under the umbrella. Why do I associate myself with these people in public?

"Oh, woo-hoo." Zane says sarcastically.

"Oh, come on, you can't tell me you don't mind being admired from time to time." Travis protests.

"I'm ugly, so I don't care." Zane says matter-of-factly.

"I mean, you have a point..." Travis says innocently. Zane growls at him.

"I mean, it's pretty obvious who they are admiring." Garroth says proudly.

"Me. Obviously." Travis says. Zane scoffs.

"Even I have a better chance of being admired than YOU." he says.

"And he said he was ugly." Aaron points out.

"AARON YOU AREN'T HELPING!" Travis yells. Personally, I think the girls are checking out Aaron, but they obviously don't know he's engaged. BACK OFF, SUCKERS! HE'S TAKEN BY THE AARMAU SHIP!! WAHAHAHAHA!

The girls keep giggling. Honestly, they sound like idiots!

"Should we go ask them who they are admiring?" Garroth suggests.

"I think I know how to figure that out without making a complete fool of ourselves." Travis says proudly.

"HEY YOU'RE WITH KATELYN!" I remind him loudly.

"Um, I know. But she and I are adult enough to know that people look at beautiful things! And admiring the way people look doesn't mean you're interested. Plus... I wanna go home and tell her I was being checked out. She's so cute when she gets flustered!"

Yep. Travlyn is now a ship.

"That is, IF they're even checking you out." Zane reminds him.

"All right, so----here's what we're gonna do!" Travis says. "We're gonna wonder really loudly what they're doing, and hope they say something!"

I sigh. Boys. "I have a better idea. Split up, and see who they follow with their eyes. Okay?"

"That's brilliant!" Garroth cheers.

"You know what? I'm down to do this." Zane says. "Just to see the look of hilarious disappointment on Travis' face."

"You in, Aaron?" Travis asks.

"I... don't care." Aaron sighs.

"Right!" Travis cheers. "Now----BREAK!" He, Zane, and Garroth run in different directions. Aaron stays where he is, and the girls don't move.

Ha.

"M-me?" Aaron's tiny voice squeaks.

"Darn it!" Garroth says from the ocean.

"HAHA!" Zane cackles. "THAT'S HILARIOUS!"

"Aw, man!" Travis says from behind a box.

"Whatever! I'm just glad it wasn't you or Garroth!" Zane says. I watch Aaron go paler by the second as the girls come over to him.

"Hey, there handsome!" says one. "I see your friends decided to leave ya alooone. Wanna come hang with me and my friend? We can show ya a good time around the island."

"THANKS BUT, NO THANKS!" Aaron yells, sounding panicked. "I UH... HAVE TO GET BACK TO MY FIANCEE, SO, UHHHH...UH YEAH!"

"Awww, you're so shyyy, that's adorable!" The girl coos. "But, you can have fun, right? I mean, this doesn't have to be a romantic thing. Just... getting to know you!"

Aaron looks so nervous, I almost imagine he might say yes just because he doesn't know what to do. The girls inch closer, beaming at him.

Nuh-uh. Not on my watch.

I leap to my feet and run over to Aaron, grabbing his hand to hide my left ring finger. "Honey-bear, who are these two?" I ask sweetly. Aaron gives me a very weird look and I mutter, "Just roll with it" under my breath and understanding washes over his face he gets it and nods, turning back to the girls.

"Uhhh, these are... are..." Aaron says weakly.

"Hmph! And who are you?" The girl snaps, eyeing me.

"Well, I'm his fiancee!" I squeal, looking her over and clicking my tongue to show I don't approve of her outfit or style. "You weren't trying to make a move on my soon-to-be-husband... " I look up at her, making my disgust clear. "Were you?"

She seethes under all that makeup. "No, of course not! We were just inviting him to come with us around the island! Weren't we, handsome?"

Yeah... I have no idea how to help him on that one. He's gotta answer that one, because if I answer, it'll blow everything and make Aaron look really dumb. And it would make me look possessive, which is soooo not worth bailing Aaron out.

Aaron sputters for a few seconds, then yells, "GARROTH!"

Garroth slides in behind us in a position that I did not need to see him in. "Why, hellooo, ladies." Garroth says in what I identified as his "prince charming" voice back in high school. "I heard you wanted someone to have fun with." Garroth purrs.

"Oh hey..." The girl says. "You're handsome too... But..." She gestures to Aaron. "He's cuter."

"OH YEAH?" Garroth yells, back to his squeaky voice. "WE'RE BROTHERS, SO IF YOU GET WITH HIM YOU GOTTA DEAL WITH ME!"

"Okay no, thanks... I'm good." The girl says, and turns to her friend. "Let's go."

I instantly let go of Aaron's hand. "Sorry." I say. "You just looked like you needed help."

Aaron smiles at me. "Don't worry about it. I'm kinda glad you did help, because... I had no idea what I was doing."

"Hahaha!" Garroth says, watching the girls run off and ignoring us. "Am I good at chasing away ladies or what?" He pauses. "Wait. I chased off ladies. LADIES, COME BACK!! I DON'T HAVE A FIANCEE!"

Travis laughs behind us, gasping for breath. "A-a-aaron... what was that?"

"Uh, what do you mean?" Aaron asks nervously.

"You j-just..." Travis pants, still laughing. "You had no game there, man."

"I have to admit." Zane says. "I thought you'd be a little more suave about it."

Aaron flushes red.

"WAIT." Travis gasps. "Don't tell me."

"What?" Zane asks.

"Was that the first time you've ever been hit on?" Travis asks.

"Uhhhh..." Aaron looks at me helplessly.

Garroth comes back, right on time. "I'm back. The women got away." He sniffles.

"THAT'S THE FIRST TIME YOU NOTICED BEING HIT ON, ISN'T IT??" Travis asks Aaron, ignoring Garroth.

"Whoa, REALLY?" Garroth says in surprise.

"Even I've been hit on." Zane adds in. Travis laughs like a madman.

"No, you haven't." he tells Zane.

"I was! Back in high school!"

"Your sister doesn't count." Travis mutters.

"Uh, GROSS!" I yell. "Travis!"

Zane sticks his tongue out. "UGH! No, I meant, a lot of goths liked me."

"Thaaaaat... makes sense." Travis says. "But at least Aaron's not the only one, I mean, Vi, you've never been asked out, have you?"

Garroth and Zane both slap him. "OW!" Travis complains.

"Shut up, you wet noodle!" Zane orders.

"Yeah, Vi's had more successful relationships than you!" Garroth says.

"She has?" Travis asks, yelping when both Garroth and Zane slap him again.

I flip my hair behind my shoulder. "Uh, I will have you know, I had guys ask me to prom every year! And I didn't have to be a stalker to get a date!" I snap.

"Okay, maybe you're not as sad as Aaron then."

"I mean, Aph hits on me!" Aaron says defensively.

"Yeah, but did she try to pick you up with lines like they were using, or...?" Travis prods.

"No..." Aaron admits.

"So, never?" Travis asks, sounding close to tears with laughter.

"CAN WE JUST, LIKE, DROP THE SUBJECT!!?" Aaron yells.

"So was this the first time you've been noticed?" Garroth asks anyway.

Aaron sighs. "Yeah. Fine. That was the first time I actually realized it was happening. Or had someone that blunt. I mean, it's happened a few times before, but never that clear."

"What about those times with Michi?" I ask. "Wasn't she creepy enough to train you against this stuff?"

"I thought Michi was just being a jerk." Aaron says, then it dawns on him. "SHE WAS HITTING ON ME?!"

"Oh, boy." Travis sighs.

"Of all people..." Zane says. "Honestly, I wouldn't have expected that from you. I would think you'd be a little more aware of that kind of thing."

"Well, I mean, I was a loner for a good portion of my life." Aaron says. "So... I'm not quick to pick up on these sort of things. At least with other people. I knew Aph really well, and I liked her, so those things came naturally. But with other people, I guess I just don't see it. The only time I ever came close to thinking someone thought of me like that was in college."

"With Jenny?" I ask.

Aaron nods.

"Mm. I see. Well, that honestly makes sense." Garroth says. "Man, it's like they KNOW you're off the market! What I'm more concerned about is WHY DIDN'T THOSE BABES THINK I WAS A CATCH?!"

"Oh, they did." We all turn and walk over to two familiar people lying on beach chairs. Guy gets up and turns to us. "You just weren't their type. He was." Guy says, pointing to Aaron.

"I'm everyone's type!" Garroth protests loudly.

"Don't flatter yourself, sweetheart!" Guy laughs.

"Yeah like, you... I'd put you at like, a six." Nate says calmly. "And Aaron-dude, like, seven. But, I think his girlfriend is cute too, so---"

"What about me?" Guy challenges.

"Oh. You're always my ten." Nate tells him.

"So, college." Travis begins greedily. "Aaron, did something happen?"

"I, uh, don't remember it that well." Aaron laughs nervously.

"WHY AM I A SIX?!" Garroth demands.

"Because, we know ya, bro." Nate says, getting up. "You're probably prettier when you, uh, don't talk."

"Roasted!" Guy says giddily.

"All right, I think we're done here." Travis sighs. "Can we just go buy tacos and relax?"

"Yeah. Let's go." Aaron agrees.

"It okay if I hang out with you guys instead?" I ask Guy and Nate. "Just thinking about tacos makes me want to throw up right now."

"Sure, bruh---I mean, uh, girl." Nate says. "We got plenty o' time."

"Bye!" Garroth says, following Travis and Aaron. "See you back at the house!" He glares at Nate once and then leaves. Zane follows him.

Nate turns to Guy and I. "Was I too harsh on him?"

"The truth is always harsh!" Guy says.

"Man." Nate says. "I need to work on being less harsh."

I laugh. "So Nate, what would you rate me at? Or do you only rate guys?"

"Nah, bruh. I rate everybody." Nate laughs. "You'd be like, maybe a seven or eight. Because you're pretty cute. But, like, not as good as my bruh here." he gestures to Guy, who I expect to snap back with some funny comment, but Guy just stares at his phone screen.

"Hmmmm. In-ter-est-ting." Guy says, looking up at us.

"What?" Nate and I chorus.

"One of my friends from the Theory Forum said there's a rumor going around about Ultimas back on the mainland."

My vision tunnels to snow. Ice. Woods. A red glare. A haunting laugh.

Kill the Ultima.

VIOLET, STOP!

I snap my eyes open again, to find that Nate and Guy are both staring at me. "Are you okay, sweetie?" Guy asks, sounding concerned.

"I'm fine. Just a headache." I say quickly, smiling. "What was that about Ultimas?"

"Well, Nate just called it a fairy tale, and I was going to check the article, and---" Guy glances down at his phone and stops dead, his face whitening in fear. "Apparently, an article was released that says Ultimas exist... t-the Lycan family is under investigation."

I let out a squeak, but Nate and Guy don't notice.

"The Lycan family?" Nate asks. "That name sounds familiar. Isn't it that Aaron-dude's last name?"

"No, they're Wolfweres." Guy assures him. My heart stops beating quite as fast and I swallow the lump in my throat.

"Um, I changed my mind. I'm going to---I've got a---gotta go!" I tear across the sand, feeling my blood pump in my veins and through my body.

The Lycan family is under investigation.

Aaron's secret is out.