The groups had split up in different directions. Lance and James both reached for my hand protectively. The little light that shone from the moon showed territorial looks on their faces. I slowed my pace and fell into step with Chace, leaving Lance and James ahead.

“Do you like plotting those two against each other?” Chace asked jokingly.

“I didn’t do anything.” I said guiltily.

“You don’t mean to,” he said. “... but you do. It would be even harder if you had a scent. I can already tell it would be irresistible.”

Lance stopped ahead of us as if he’d been listening. Crap. He probably had been listening.

I stepped in front of Chace as if it would help. Chace, realizing the change in mood, moved me aside, seeing Lance heading right for us. James sped past Lance and pulled me out of the way.

I wanted to yell something, but nothing came out as I took in the scene.

Chace’s eyes were a brilliant red and although his stance was seemingly relaxed I could tell he was aware of every leaf moving in this place. Lance stood at an even taller height than usual and he looked stockier. Good Lord, they were both tapping into their immortal selves.

“Lance! Stop being an idiot!” I yelled.

“Just let them go. We can’t do anything.” James said, restraining me.

“I’ve seen them both fight before. This won’t just end up bad, it’ll end up really bad.” I said frantically.

Lance made the first punch that was dodged by Chace. I cringed as Chace counter attacked, getting Lance right in the nose, blood spewed.

I elbowed James in the stomach and he loosened his grip in surprise, giving me the chance to pull away, which I did. I dove in between the two and Lance’s fist connected with my face.

...Sometime Later...

Everything was dark. I think my eyes were closed. I could hear faint sounds in the distance. Someone was combing their fingers through my hair.

“I can’t believe you and this stupid school!” A voice yelled. “We spent all that time sneaking her in the school and they won't take her because she's human. That stupid nurse is a vamp, her ancestors were human." The sound became clearer and closer until I recognized it as Chace's voice.

"Don't worry." said James. My eyes were still closed, but I could tell he was the one in my hair. I was lying down with my head in his lap. "Dayna said she's meet us by the car with the potion. The same potion that healed Rayne before."

"I'm such an –" Lance started.

"You don't talk." Chace said, pissed.

"That would've been your face if she hadn't stepped in!" Lance barked.

"No, that sorry punch was dodged; that's why I wasn't able to pull Rayne out of the way in time!" Chace retorted.

I was about to tell them to stop, but then an unbelievable pain hit my jaw. My eyes popped open and I let out a muffled scream. Holy Ish! My jaw couldn't move! Everyone in the car looked horrified. Chace and Lance were in the front and James was with me in the back.

"Ray." James said delicately. "Don't try to speak. Your jaws a little broken and shattered, but when Dayna gets her with the –" There was a knock on the window.

"Oh my God, Rayne!" Dayna screeched when she opened the door to find me in the backseat. "Lance you freakin' bastard!"

I couldn't see how he responded because I closed my eyes in hopes of restraining my tears. Then someone moved my jaw and I screamed, damning the tear that forced its way out from under my eyelid. Next, a warm liquid slid down my throat. The pain immediately subsided, but I still couldn't move my jaw.

"The students are still out roaming the forest. I don’t think anyone knows you guys are gone." Dayna said. "And for God sakes, could you at least cover her up?" She took off her jacket and draped it over my bare legs. I could feel my jaw start to move again.

"Let's go back to the woods." I said.

Dayna smiled at me then gave Chace and Lance evil looks. James lifted me like I was a fragile China doll.

"I'm fine." I said, getting out of the car. "I just don't want you guys to get in trouble on the second day. We have enough time for that later."

...

We made it back to the forest in silence.

"I'm sorry." Lance said. He'd been saying that a lot lately.

"Yea." I said quickly.

"I didn't mean to –"

"I don't care that you punched me. I care about the fact that you were in a fight with Chace." I said, keeping my tone under control.

"So you're mad because of Chace?" he asked, angered.

"First off, I'm not mad. Second off, I'd react the same way if you were fighting some other guy over a few petty words!" I was beginning to lose the grip on the cool I had going.

"Yea right!" Lance barked.

"Quit being such an ass. I mean you're hiding from the public when you're with me, but then you turn into this green monster and want to claim me!" I yelled. "Just decide where I am already because I'm lost as hell!"

"You're here with me." he sighed. "I love you ok. I just –"

"Yea Lance, I know it's hard, but I have people and friends who aren't afraid or too embarrassed to be seen talking to me." I said shortly.

"Yea well they're not dating you." he said.

James and Chace's coughs showed that they didn't agree with Lance's reasoning.

"Well I don't see why you're so jealous then if guys don't wanna date me because of what I am." I responded.

"Just because they don't wanna date you doesn't mean they don't wanna screw you!"

This time there were no coughs from James or Chace, but James spoke up. Thank God.

"Well that's a given, but if I were a guy after you I'd want you for more than that."

I looked at Chace. He widened his eyes as if asking 'what?'. He let out a sigh.

"I guess I'd want more too." he said not looking at any of us, uncomfortable that he was admitting to wanting more than sex from a girl.

"Both of these guys wanna screw you!" Lance yelled. "They're gonna say whatever."

Chace nodded as if it were basic hand guide rules, but still defended me...

"That's not really much of an argument." he said. "I'm sure even Chuck wants to do her."

"Ok. Conversation terminated." I said, walking away from them all.

The bell rang 20 minutes later...

We managed to get quite a few nature sounds, and nobody found out about the fight incident.


AP Calculus

Of course Chace got a seat beside me in the back of class and as fate may have it, Lauraine grabbed a desk on the other side of him. She gave him a long kiss that he returned. She smirked at me and Chace wiped his bottom lip slowly with his thumb. He was probably expecting me to comment - anything to show that it bothered me. Sigh, it was just the player's game.

"Sis," I said in a fake happy tone. "...you have the house to yourself after school today. I'm going to the movies with James." I looked at Chace to let him know I didn't care if he joined her in the empty house.

"I think it would be cool if we all went to the movies afterwards." Chace commented.

"Wouldn't you rather come home with me?" Lauraine asked seductively.

"Yea, but I heard this Scarlet movie is supposed to be real good." he said, still looking towards me.

"Yea, whatever." I said.