Even the soft music playing from the radio couldn't distract from the awkward tension inside the car. I stared out the passenger window, and tried to ignore the intense stare that was coming from a certain blonde in the backseat. Xavier kept his eyes on the road and from an outsider's perspective he seemed as nonchalant as ever. Being in the front seat of the truck I could see that while his body seemed relaxed, his jaw was clenched. That was the only tell-tale sign with Xavier that something was bothering him. 

"So... are we not going to talk about how you two were just dry humping?" Nate asked and it effectively broke the silence. A laugh barely escaped Ashley's mouth. I turned to glare at her and she quickly gathered her composure. She smacked Nate's arm in a reprimand. 

"Are we not going to talk about how you don't know how to knock?" I snapped back at him. 

"How long has this been going on?" Nathaniel asked. 

"Well-" I started but got cut off by Xavier.

"It's none of your damn business Nate. Let it go and do not tell Nico about it." Xavier stated. 

"First off, chill out dude. Secondly, ew guys. Why? Thirdly, how on God's beautiful green earth have you guys been able to pull this off? In a house full of hunters? You're just sneaking around, and NO ONE noticed. It's a damn miracle you are both alive, and Nico hasn't murdered you. You know he did NOT want us dating each other. We're supposed to be like a family. Which brings me back to my second point. Ew," Nate finished his speech with a big sigh and then leaned back in his seat. 

Before I could respond to any of that, Xavier cut in. "We're not actually a family, so it's not gross. Also, we're not dating. It is purely physical, and platonic." Xavier's words cut deep. I glanced back at Ashley again, but she was now glaring daggers' at Xavier. 

"Do you think I'm stupid?" Nathaniel asked. 

"I mean a little..." Xavier started and they both laughed. "C'mon man. You saw the locals where we were. There weren't a lot of options," Xavier said and they laughed harder. My stomach dropped at the passive comment. How could he say that? I knew we were just messing around, but I thought it meant at least something to him. 

"That is such a douche thing to say Xavier," Ashley said. 

Xavier glanced at me, but I didn't give him the satisfaction of looking like anything other than bored. 

Xavier changed the topic, him and Nate started talking about common household objects you could turn into a weapon. Ashley chimed in a couple times, but I completely zoned out. I ignored the tightness in my chest, and the burning of my throat. I would not cry. I grabbed my locket, and took a couple deep breaths. I tried to focus on what Nico talked about to us in our meeting yesterday. It was a quick meeting, and we all immediately dispersed afterwards. Xavier and I were especially quick to get out of there after being caught by Nate. Neither of us wanted to be confronted about whatever it was that was between us. 

We found out that Nico wanted Ashley and I to infiltrate the high school. Ashley was excited, but the idea of going to an actual school again gave me serious anxiety. It would be especially hard to join now in the middle of the second semester. Nathaniel and Xavier are going to the local college. Eldris was going to start joining different group organizations to get involved in the community. Nico was going to be going out at night to stalk the shadows. Hopefully, we get a lead quickly and it is all over soon. 

Nico was concerned that I would be recognized, because I lived here as a child. So, my cover is that I am in the foster system. Ashley is my foster sister, and Eldris is the one who is taking care of us. The boys are our foster brothers, and they will drop us off and pick us up on their way to the college that is just a few blocks away from the high school. The ideal situation is that no one remembers or recognizes me. 

"Alright, we're here. Don't forget the number one rule for this mission-"Xavier got cut off by Ashley.

"Always stick together! We know! Have fun grocery shopping." Ashley jumped out of the truck and I hurried after her. As soon as I stepped out of the truck Ashley was immediately in front of me. 

"Let's go. See ya in an hour, losers!" She called to the boys before linking arms with me. Nate hopped in the front passenger seat where I was, and flipped Ashley off as they drove away. 

We began walking through downtown Mirion. There were a lot of colorful storefronts along with restaurants, and some beautiful, well preserved historical buildings. The whole place was abuzz since it was an unusually warm day, and the weekend. 

Ashley and I made our first stop at Lucia's Boutique. We needed some clothes that didn't scream "get too close and I'll break your neck". We needed to appear approachable. 

Bells hanging from the handle crashed against each other as I pushed the door open. We walked inside and took in the smaller, but very bright store. A barrage of different perfumes and essential oil scents smacked me in the face. I tried not to scrunch up my face when Ashley and I wandered through the racks. 

"I'm going to puke." I whispered to Ashley, and she snickered. 

"Because of some of these atrociously bright colors?" She asked. 

"Well that, and the smell is just overpowering. It's like it's 2010 and we've just walked into Hollister." I mumbled to her. 

"Girl, you're crazy. It is not that bad at all." She laughed. 

"Sure." I smile back, but I am unable to tell if she is joking. 

"Are we going to talk about what happened in the car?" Ashley asked. 

"Maybe later. I need to stop feeling murderous first." I said. I want to sort through my feelings before I talk about them with Ashley. 

"I should've known you'd say that. I'm gonna run to the restroom. Don't tell Xavier that we split up and you didn't hold my hand while I peed." Ashley winked and then walked away. I smiled again and shook my head in amusement. 

I turned to find the clearance section and immediately collided with something. I stumbled backwards, and realized I had collided with another girl. She seemed to be around my age, but a couple inches taller. Her skin was a beautiful mocha color, and her brown hair had tight curls that I envied. She had bell bottom jeans on with an old green graphic tee. 

"I am so sorry. I didn't see you!" I said quickly. 

"You're totally fine! That was probably my fault. I am a total mess constantly." She offered me a smile and it made my embarrassment fade. 

"I'm also a total mess, so I understand." I laughed. 

"Olivia." She put out her hand. 

"Belle." I shook her hand. She tilted her head and looked at me curiously. Her nostrils flared and then she slowly took her hand from mine. 

"Did you just move here?" Olivia asked. The smile is still on her face but there is something almost apprehensive about it now.

"Yeah, actually yesterday." I said.

"Oh, did you move here with your family?" She asked. 

"Um. Not quite, I'm in the system. I just got placed in a new home with couple other kids." I said as nonchalantly as I could, and tried to ignore my heart beating out of my chest. 

Olivia studied me for a second. I knew I was bad at lying, but surely a stranger wouldn't be able to notice. "Well, wherever you came from, I'm glad you're here now. Are you going to Mirion West?" 

"Yeah, I start on Monday." I responded. 

"Hopefully we have some classes together." She said. She pointed at a shirt next to me. "That color would look good on you." I turn to look at the forest green shirt on display. When I turned back towards her she was gone. The sound of bells drifted through the store.  

~~~

The ride back home was silent. I thought about mentioning Olivia and how off-putting that conversation was, but something wouldn't let me. On the outside the conversation seemed normal, but something was not quite right. I will have to do a little investigating of my own at school on Monday before I brought it to everyone's attention.

We got home and I quickly went to my room to find some clothes to train in. Xavier trailed close behind me.

"B, can we talk?" Xavier asked once we had entered my room and the door was shut.

"Nope," I replied while changing into a cropped black tank top and black bicycle shorts. His eyes watched my every move.

"I feel like we should. I feel like you're mad, but you shouldn't be," He said while crossing his muscled arms.

"Ah, just what every girl wants to be told. That she shouldn't be mad. If this is your version of an apology you can go piss off," I bared my teeth at him. He took a step back, and studied me.

"I don't need to apologize. We are not dating. We agreed that this thing between us was only physical. I was just being honest," He reached for me but I dodged his touch, and scoffed.

"You don't need to apologize? You basically said you're only fucking me because there were no other options," I spitted out at him. My eyes started to burn from unshed tears, but I refused to cry.

"Okay, you're right. That was the wrong thing to say. I was just wanting Nate to back off, but I shouldn't have said that," He said while reaching for me again. I brushed him off and stormed past him.

"Where are you going?" Xavier asked with a sigh.

"Doesn't matter. You now have plenty of fuckable options, so you don't need to worry about me," I said while opening the door and then slamming it shut behind me without a care of who heard. I stood in the hallway for a full minute debating my options, and trying to calm down. I knew that Xavier wouldn't stand dumbfounded in my room for much longer so I needed to leave. Instead of going to train I went to Ashley's room. She somehow managed to get the biggest one with the best view.

I knocked on the door, but then opened it without waiting for a response. Ashley looked up from her spot on the bed surprised, but then the surprise faded once she saw who it was. She scooted over and patted the spot next to her. I immediately collapsed face down on the bed beside her.

"I think I'm being dramatic," I mumbled into one of her pillows after a couple minutes of silence.

"I think that about myself every day, but then I ignore it," She laughed.

I turned my head towards her," I do like him. I didn't mean to get feelings, but it just happened. I haven't communicated to him that I want something more though, so it's probably not fair of me to be this angry at what he said. Right?" I asked.

Ashley looked at me for a moment before responding, "Even if you didn't want more from him, it wouldn't have been okay for him to have talked about you like that. Your bar is way too low, girl. I never understood this whole no strings attached, hooking up thing that you and Xavier were doing. I just didn't see you as the type of person to want something like that."

"I know...I think I was just so consumed by my grief for so long that I got to a point where I just wanted to feel something. Although, it only ended up with me feeling worse. I thought Xavier was starting to actually care about me, but then he will say something like he did today," I sighed.

"I know what you need," Ashley said.

"What's that?" I asked.

"Let's go to a party," Ashley stated while getting off the bed. She walked towards her closet and flung open the door. She smiled at me before disappearing inside.

"A party? I don't know Ash. We've never been to a party, and what would Otets think? Also, how would we even find one?" I asked.

Ashley reemerged from her closet with an armful of clothes that had the tags still on them. She started throwing some at me, and I recognized them as mostly what we bought today.

"First off, we could tell Niko that it is a good opportunity to infiltrate the social scene here and get the tea. No one talks more than drunk teenagers. Also, I made a friend in the bathroom who I've been chatting with all day. She just sent me the address of the house party she'll be at tonight. And, we're invited," Ashley smirked.

"Tell me you're not talking to people in the bathroom. That's so weird, Ash," I laughed.

"What? She needed a tampon. Now, let's get dressed."

Ashley ended up wearing a tight, thigh length, silver off the shoulder dress. She paired her shiny dress with black stilettos, and then put her hair in a high pony. I was unaware that she had heels, or a dress like that in her closet. She said that she had been saving the outfit for something special. I only bought more casual clothes so I had to borrow an outfit from Ashley. Unfortunately, she wore an extra-small, and I did not. I only managed to squeeze into one of her many dresses that she wanted me to try on. It was a black cocktail dress that clung to every curve. I paired it with my black boots, and then decided to wear my hair down to cover some skin. Ashley then did my makeup before she did her own. When I looked in the mirror I didn't recognize the woman that was before me.

We grabbed our purses, and jackets before heading downstairs. I kept pulling at the fabric in hopes that it would cover my butt more. Niko and Eldris were nowhere to be seen, but the boys were sitting on the couch playing cards when we came down. They both did a double take when they saw us. I watched Xavier swallow and clench his jaw. Something akin to anger appeared on his face.

"Where the hell are you both going looking like that?" Xavier asked.

"Last I checked, it's none of your business," Ashley replied sweetly while we made our way to the door.

"It is my business considering Niko left me in charge while him and Eldris are out tonight," Xavier countered.

"We'll be home before they're back," I called over my shoulder. Ashley opened the door and we walked into the night.