Her.

Thalia.

"Love you, dad." She kissed the man's cheek before taking one of the smoothies he was offering her, her love for sweet yet healthy things came from him, and her stubborn streak from her pops, she was looking forward to seeing him the upcoming week, he always got a week leave including weekends in a month, for her being with two fathers had been the most normal thing, the concept of a mother was foreign since her dad was a mother enough for her, he was always there when you needed him, even when it came to her timely necessities, there was always an I got you, baby, just as he placed a whole lot of everything on her bed.

He had taught her everything he knew about magic and the craft, molded her into the woman she was, and if she ever got in trouble, she would be reminded that her troubling ass gave him cesarean scars, it made her laugh more than anything, that bond only grew as she grew up, she was happy, safe and protected. As she drove herself to school after dropping pop's suits at the dry cleaner and getting coffee at the local Starbucks for her new friends she parked at the school's senior lot.

Just after her Roman showed up in his jeep along with the twins, a Runx also parked opposite her and Marc climbed out, they all walked toward her with smiles, it had only been a week and a few days of knowing theses people but it felt like a lifetime, she was grateful to them in her life, she offered the tray of coffee to everyone. "Oh I love you, you're a savior." Allen praised as he sipped on the extra milk and double sugar, this made her chuckle, she appreciated moments like these just like her brothers.

"So have you decided on what to do with the vamp?" Alyssa questioned with a sideways glance at Roman who had pulled his shocking red hair into a ponytail, it actually accentuated his beauty more, she found herself envious but not any more than that. "I thought Amon was to be told." Thalia offered as they walked toward the school building. "And that's what I intend to do, if only he weren't an elusive leech." The response made everyone laugh lowly, of course, Roman would say that with no respect at all for the vampire.

"Then it's settled, we'll see you guys at lunch, try to avoid Lex as much as possible." Roman ordered and all three nodded. "Who is Lex?" Thalia asked out of curiosity, she felt like she knew the person that name belonged to, tall dark, brooding, wolf. "He's right behind us." Roman replied just as the wolf stepped into view shocking Thalia, how had he not sensed him, her magic wasn't rusty therefore he was masking himself but how. She questioned herself until she realized that the wolf had crossed personal space.

"Could you-know what I will move." Thalia grumbled moving away. "What do you want cujo, any more accusations to throw at me." Roman sounded annoyed, almost angry, and that made Thalia feel uncomfortable, how could Roman seem like that, this wasn't a fight she wanted to get in between so she decided it was better to make more distance and head for her locker, but before she could a hard body came up behind her, dammit.

"My feisty little witch we meet again." Him again, Thalia was now the angry one, she hated the wolf behind her. "Why do you smell like that?" Lex growled lowly making a move for Roman. "None of your business Lex, you have literally no right to ask me anything." Thalia watched with fascination, there was definitely a past between the alpha and the witch and she wanted to know more, curiosity will be the end of her. "I can very well do as I please Roman, why do you smell like a leech!" He growled louder this time but the students never stopped to watch or do anything in particular, they seemed too afraid, even the humans who couldn't feel the animosity radiating off Lex.

"I'm not obligated to tell you anything, Lex." Thalia heard Roman reply as she tried to move past the wolf blocking her way, a hiss came from behind her that's when she saw Lex holding Roman's wrist, he was squeezing so hard she herself winced but the anger burning inside her overshadowed everything, suddenly the wolf behind her was clutching his head. "Let him go, or I fry his brain." She threatened as the wolf was now screaming on his knees. Lex smirked and released Roman whose purple skin healed immediately, it wasn't something new to Thalia but fascinated her seeing it in another person.

She let go of the wolf who slumped to the ground. "I see you've recruited another one, you sure know how to pick them, do you will think she will stick around once she knows?" Lex taunted and Roman seemed taken off guard by the question, what didn't she know that wasn't already on display, what secrets lay hidden by Lex and Roman. "I doubt she will, after all, you've tried everything to get the others away from me, she won't be swayed, don't count on it." Roman replied confidently and turned to Thalia, he nodded and the two of them walked toward their lockers.

She wondered what she was missing besides the obvious fact the alpha who was supposedly taken had feelings from Roman, what big secret was there with him, along with that contemplation came the very fact that the small city of HalKrest was more interesting than she thought it would be, Roman had given her advice that she would stick by, don't get involved unless necessary, she made her way to class with a lot of questions but one thing was for sure, she was determined to get them, one way or the other, Knowledge was power.

The first three periods were relatively okay, there wasn't much talk between her and Roman, though she wanted to bombard him with questions, it wasn't exactly the ideal place to do that. "Lex and I have a past, I'm not going to tell you yet because it's hard for me, but I will when I can, and thanks for having my back." The boy exclaimed and she shrugged it off. "You've been good to me, I couldn't just stand there and see him do that to you." It was her honest truth, she couldn't see Roman being hurt when she could do something, we protect our own.

"We have to find Amon, he should be here, the sucker never misses his rugby practice." That was something that interested Thalia, a vampire playing rugby would've been a sight to see. It was lunch when they sauntered into the cafeteria, just like her first day and the descriptions which had been given was how the place was, they got their food and made their way to their usual table by the corner, no one bothered them there. "Anyone interested in going to the mall this weekend, I need shoes?" Allen questioned but it was obvious, all of them were going.

"Why don't we go, we could have a friend date." Thalia offered with a smile, of course, the friend date would be accepted, she hoped. "Friend date huh, sounds okay." Marc replied first and the rest just nodded, they all ate afterward in casual chatter. "Roman, there he is." Alyssa nodded toward the god of a man who had walked in, he was tall like Lex, dark and mysterious, he was definitely a panty ripper that one, and she was mesmerized by him. "Hello earth to Thalia." Roman snapped his fingers in front of her face. "Ah, withdrawal." He called out making the rest of the group snicker.

"He's just-." She couldn't finish that thought. "We know and you never get used to it." Alyssa replied also wistfully sighing. "Girls, hormones under control, we still have to talk to him, and it's not exactly a turn on if you're drooling over him." Roman reprimanded making the two other boys snicker, she was in a world of her own and didn't care. The witch beside her began writing letters in the air, it was a message and when he finished writing the burning letter drifted into the air. " Let's hope he shows up." Marc mumbled with a bored stare as he finished his food.

They all got up as the bell rang, lunch was over meaning more learning, somehow she just wasn't looking toward to it, a lot of things were on her mind but saying that out loud would be a lie, a vampire was on her mind, and she hoped that she wouldn't make herself look like a joke in front of him."Penny for your thoughts?" Roman mumbled beside her in the lab, it startled her but she was fine after. "Just thinking about learning alchemy." That was a straight out lie but could she afford to tell Roman that she was seeing Amon naked, her body pressed again his, heat rising between her thighs that needed quenching.

"If you say so sweetheart, let's get on this." Roman replied with a smile and they continued on with their work, she didn't know what to do with herself except learning hopefully her mind wouldn't hold on to the forbidden imagery of a vampire, her parents would ground her for life if they knew what was going on in her head. They finished the whole three periods without much of a hitch since she was concentrating on school, the bell rang signaling the end of school, when she looked at Roman he seemed eager to leave. "Did he reply?" Thalia asked and the witch shook his head.

"We are about to find out." He replied with a slightly hopeful smile, when they walked out of the class her stomach did somersaults, and handstands, goddess this vampire was making her a mess. "Hello Amon." Roman greeted the vampire who seemed to ignore him completely and kept his eyes trained on her. "I will talk but only with her." She was officially doomed.

+++

LMJ