I started scribbling on my notebook without really listening to the things Mr. Helkins was saying, because it had been a long time since I had experienced such boredom. In the middle of the lesson, a breathless Mrs. Kalina came into the classroom, but I didn't raise my head to look at her. I decided that if I saw that pink costume again, I would probably go out the window.
- My dear students, I'd like you to meet your new classmate Daniel Evans. He transferred to us... - I didn't hear her words after that because suddenly a deafening silence erupted in my ears. I froze in my seat and slowly raised my head. Oh, Holy Moly. Those chocolate eyes. Now I know whose these golden eyes had been yesterday, and the familiar smell in the woods. It was him. I didn't think we would ever meet again. After a few seconds that seemed like an eternity, he started walking towards me, looking straight into my eyes. Eventually he passed me and sat down in the last row choosing a chair behind me. I came to my senses, feeling his burning gaze on the back of my head. I returned my gaze to the notebook on the desk, cursing everything that exists on this earth and asking the universe why he had to show up just now. I waited impatiently for the lesson to end and when I heard the bell I rushed out of the room as if something was chasing me. On my way to my locker, Em caught up with me.
- Wait for me. I'll put the unwanted books in the locker and we'll go to the cafeteria. You'll finally get to meet my brother because he finally graced us with his appearance at school. - We walked to her locker, she did what she was supposed to do and dragged me to the dining hall. As soon as I entered, I knew immediately that something had changed. I could smell the rainforest. I started to look around for its source, but there were too many people to immediately recognize who it belonged to. I looked at the table we were heading to and saw two new people. Daniel and another boy who had eyes as black as coal. Or rather, like a black hole that consumes you deep within itself. What the hell is going on? Mate... No, no, no. My wolf half is playing a prank on me. But those eyes... I quickly averted my gaze and ran out at an express pace. Fortunately, no one sitting at the table had noticed us yet. I could only hear the buzz of words shouted by Em, but I was already too far away to decipher their meaning. I run out of the cafeteria once again. I hope this doesn't become a habit for me.

**********

Out of the five fields, I ended up on a small basketball court where, according to the sign on the entrance gate, they put up an ice rink in the winter. I figured that if I'm already here, I can just sit here and skip the next lesson. Who needs philosophy? I climbed to the top of the small stands surrounding the field on both sides and laid down on a bench. I closed my eyes, absorbing the sunlight penetrating my skin. After a few minutes, something blocked the streams of sunlight that were causing a sea of yellow and orange under my eyelids. I pried them open and saw Daniel leaning over me. I sat up and straightened like a string. In the meantime, as I got comfortable, he positioned himself right next to me.
- What are you doing here? - I asked bluntly. After so many years of knowing each other, we don't need anything else but to speak directly, because we know when we are lying anyway. We know each other inside out.
- What do you mean, what? I'm in school. I guess that means I'm going to study and graduate from high school. - The brunet replied by lifting one corner of his mouth up while showing a dimple in his cheek. I will not be fooled. I've known his tactics for a very long time. It was to turn off my grey cells and activate the mode "Oh, how handsome he is! Why don't I just sigh at him a little?"
- Stop with the lying. You know perfectly well what I mean.- I looked at him raising one eyebrow up.
- I left. - That one word was enough to make me speechless. I turned my head away from him and stared at the line of woods behind the fence. You can't leave... Please don't do this... You know what will happen to you if you get caught... Stay... With me... I shook my head as words and images began to flow into my head. No, don't think about it. Remember the one rule to follow: don't show weakness.
- You're out of there, but...
- It's him, isn't it? But nobody knows anything. - He interrupted me by changing the subject.
- I... - I didn't know what to say, so I just sat there motionless, feeling his intense and concerned gaze on me. He was about to ask another question, but it didn't come up.
- Do you know each other? - Em appeared next to us out of nowhere. We both nodded at the same time to confirm her question. - Never mind that. I wanted to invite you guys to a party. It's Friday, after all. What do you guys think?
- We're up for it one hundred percent. Just tell us where and when, and we'll be there, right, sweetheart? We have the best parties. - he said, giving me a wink at " sweetheart". Ouch! That disgraceful party was a couple of centuries ago! I smiled artificially and jabbed him hard with my elbow between his ribs. With a wheeze he drew in a breath and coughed. He knows very well that I don't like to be addressed as " sweetheart" and I would like to remove this nasty party from the events of history. He started to get up, but managed to whisper a few more words to me:
- I'll talk to you later. - And he disappeared behind the fence.
- How do you know each other? - Em asked.
- You don't want to know. - I shook my head and pulled her hand directing her to the school. The next lesson is just around the corner.

**********

I had just started to dress up in something a little more revealing for the party when suddenly the doorbell rang. I threw on my robe so I wouldn't shine in just my underwear and ran downstairs. When I opened the door I saw a wide smiling brunet with chocolate eyes. Without asking he walked in, pulled off his shoes and settled on the couch sighing heavily.
- Are you coming in here or are you standing there waiting for salvation? - He looked at me standing there with the unlocked door in my hand. I finally closed it, wrapped my robe tighter around me and walked over to the couch.
- I ask again and expect a more honest answer than the previous one: what are you doing here?
- I've come to get you to come to the party with me, and by the way, we need to have a not-so-interesting conversation. - I rolled my eyes at the evasion of my question, but I'm patient. He'll answer me eventually. He didn't have his trademark smile on his face, so he was telling the truth, which was that the conversation would be more in the serious category. I showed with my hand that he should follow me. After entering my bedroom he threw himself on the bed and propped his head on his hand in anticipation. I started to get dressed at the same time asking:
- What do you want to know? - I said it unnecessarily, because I was flooded with his questions.
- Why don't they know anything? Where did you come from? How did you survive?
- Whoa, buddy. Calm down. I'll answer that. Not all at once. - I interrupted his stream of words to be able to answer at least one of the questions. - I mask the smell, which they don't do, by the way. I started doing it right after I arrived. I figured it would be safer for everyone. I found myself here by accident. I had intended to stay in Canada, but my plans changed a bit and I ended up here near Seattle. You asked how I survived... The last time we saw each other we both fell into a river. The stream picked me up and dumped me on the edge of some backwater somewhere in Texas. If it wasn't for Karl, I'd be long gone by now. How many years has it been? Seventy? - He counted in his head and nodded, confirming my guess.
- Good to see you old friend. - I smiled slightly at him and continued preparing for the party.

**********

We met in the year eight hundred and thirty-eight. I was sixteen at the time. He was eighteen. After my... escape to Mongolia, we did not meet until one thousand six hundred and fifty at the court of King Louis XIV. Since then we have remained on friendly terms.

**********

I snapped back to reality as he threw my shoes at me for the outing. Dan followed in my footsteps. We emerged from my burrow and immediately came upon his sports car. I looked at him in disbelief.
- You have to have a hobby. - He shrugged his shoulders and got into the car. Pff... what a gentleman. I opened the door myself and squeezed into the passenger seat. He started the car in the time it took me to get in, so as soon as he heard my door close he pushed the gas to the floor. Within thirty minutes we were in a big city that takes at least an hour to get to from our little hole. Well... He certainly wasn't driving legally, but I'm not going to point that out to him, because no one is a saint. We stood in traffic for a while to get to the parking lot, but luckily someone made a reservation. It was probably Em's doing. I looked out the window at the blood-red club sign and burst out laughing. The name "Virgin Blood" sounds very fancy.
- Do you have any toys? - He pointed his finger at the storage compartment in front of the passenger seat. I opened it and found a thigh band with five pure silver daggers attached.
- You were not idle in your selection. - He laughed quietly and then said that this was the most convenient form of weapon for me when wearing a dress. He is absolutely right. It's easy to hide and no one will even suspect that I'm hiding something under the fabric of the dress. It might not do much good in front of a bunch of werewolves and other creatures, but it's always something. I quickly strapped on my thigh band as we were already at the gate where the security guards let you into the private parking lot. Dan stopped, and one of the gorillas knocked on his windshield. The boy lowered it, then gave his name while looking straight into the man's eyes, which he clearly didn't like. The man clenched his hands into fists, gnashed his jaw and gave us a pass. When Dan parked he had a very cheerful attitude.
- Do they know about you?
- That I'm a werewolf? Yes, just that one fact of my life. In theory, I'm a member of their family. Cousin to Emilia, Adrian and... - after putting the facts together, I realized something:
- Raf...
- Yes, Rafael is their brother. Half brother. In theory, he was adopted by Maria and Cecil, but we both know that Raf is certainly a few years older than them. - It can' t get any worse than this.
- Do they...?
- No, they don't know. They think he died. I don't know where he is either. - And yet it could be worse. Rafael is our friend. I met him right after his transformation. I took pity on him and helped him when he was alone. Because of that, he is forever grateful that I took him under my wing and gave him a second chance for a better life. We all need a helping hand at some stage in our lives. He continues to maintain that he owes me a debt. I don't deny that he's close to me, so after we are out of here, I need to find my little brother. I have some suspicions about where he might have holed up.
- Stop thinking so much and get out of my baby. - I unbuckled my belt and was about to leave when a certain question still didn't give me any peace:
- You're not a fan of this type of event, what are you doing here? I know you said yes because Em invited us, but you always said no, no matter who invited you. - I saw out of the corner of my eye that he stiffened.
- Tell me I'm wrong. This isn't another mission, is it? - He had a look of guilt written all over his face that just made my hands drop.
- I might have expected this from you. You didn't just walk out of there. - I hissed angrily at him.
- It's not what you think. - He began to justify himself, raising his hands in the air in a defensive gesture. - The time for revenge has finally come. It also concerns you. You're coming with me because you're my plan B if plan A doesn't work out. - He looked at me meaningfully. - I know there will be a person here who has information about her death. Interested?