NINE | AVOIDANCE

Ms. Jin seems to really like routine. All throughout the class, she remains in firm control over the lesson and has us use the same learning technique as yesterday. I find myself struggling little when we go over some of the odd sounds that certain words make. The tutoring schedule she gave me only has two scheduled dates on it. Today and tomorrow after school. I can't say if I'll need any more than that, which is maybe why there are only two.

All I know is, during the entire lesson, I make sure to keep as much focus as I can on the class. Now that I know she can read minds, I don't want her to know about...certain things. I take avid notes, writing out the new phrases phonetically again and make quick notes to ask her about them later.

When the bell dismisses us, Ms. Jin comes over to my desk. She has bells in her hair again, they jingle a little when she moves, but not at the right times. Like when she takes a step. Only when she tilts her head or physically moves her head - like when she nods. It's creepy.

"This afternoon, Scarlett. Please be on time. And if anyone gives you any grief, just tell them you're staying behind with me for tutoring." She says in her normally chipper tone. I nod, knowing she means Zane.

"I'll be here, though I may be a little late. I have PE as my last period-"

"Ah, yes. The fastest route here is probably around the outside of the school. Too many students loiter in the stairwells, but I'm sure that won't be an issue for you." She waves a hand dismissively.

"Alright." I pick up my stuff and leave her room. I make a mental note to keep my Latin textbook with me so I can come directly here after PE.

- - -

"These are yours." Darine hands me a hole-punched stack of papers when I walk into the choir room. I stare at them for along minute, then smile up at her as she limbs to her spot on the riser. This may be the nicest thing anyone's ever done for me. Well, any *human* has done for me. Pack stuff doesn't count since they were family.

"You're awesome. Thanks." I start leafing though the sheet music. "I don't have a hole puncher, this is so great." I look up at her. She shrugs, cheeks rosy and face relaxed.

"What're friends for?" She asks rhetorically and picks up her binder again. Ms. Jones is talking to a few lead singers in her office. I join her on the risers once I've retrieved the simple black binder I purposefully kept empty for this class. I juggle the binder and papers on one knee while fiddling with the clasps to pop open the rings with the other. "You're so weird." Darine shakes her head and helps me open the rings without a word.

"What would I do without you?" I ask dryly, feeling embarrassed - and surprisingly defensive. She barks out a surprised laugh.

"You're *welcome*." She nudges my shoulder with hers playfully when I straighten. I smirk back at her, my smile falling away when Ms. Jones comes back out to torture us with her cruel instruction. But, God, this lady is amazing. By the end of the period my throat aches, but we sound opera-house worthy.

Like yesterday, Darine and I leave together, chatting about the upcoming performances the choir has lined up and important dates to remember for practices. We depart where the hall branches off and I wave to my friend. My human friend. She's right, I am weird. I shake my head as I think about the response I'd get from Paris for having a human friend.

I sigh to myself and filter into the girl's locker room to change into my clean, second set of sweats. The ones from yesterday are going to be washed and turned into cleaning rags. They're way too torn up to wear around the town, even Mom would throw them out if she saw them. But towels are expensive and the fabric is good...or will be once I've gotten the bloodstains out.

My nose twitches as the scent of fresh paint hits me when I come out of the girls' locker room. I stop dead when I see one of the walls is covered in an artistic rendition of the Coach, complete with bulging biceps tiny volleyball shorts and veins popping out of his face. The room is conveniently empty. Save for the artist who is emptying the rest of his two cans of spray pain onto the wall.

"What'cha think?" Yuri takes a step away from the wall to survey his work before nodding to himself. "My work here is done." Yuri winks at me, then ducks into the guy's locker room. I'm still staring at the spot where he was when he comes back out, hands in pockets. Looking as nonchalant as ever.

"Yuri, give us a sec." Zane's suddenly beside me, not even looking at the graffitied wall and reaching for me.

"Z, 'member that favor you owe me?" Yuri slings an arm over my shoulder and pulls me to his side. I almost immediately push him away, scowling. "I'm cashing in."

"What the hell is this?" Lyle's voice booms from the doorway of his office. He stalks over to the wall, eyes budging from his head. Actually, looking exactly like the caricature Yuri made. I stare between the Azures, then back at the masterpiece graffiti. *Holy shit*. "Who's responsible for this?"

"*Yuri*," Zane's voice goes ice cold, his eyes narrowing when he finally realizes what's going on.

"Coach, I hate being a snitch, but I saw Z hiding a bottle of spray pain in his pack." Yuri tells the Coach. I gape at the bulkier Azure as he throws Zane under the figurative bus. Coach Lyle goes bright red and stalks off towards the locker room.

"You're crazy." I stare at him. Zane goes pale and swears under his breath before taking off towards the locker room. After a second of silence, I hear yelling.

"Baby, I'm a *genius*." Yuri tells me matter-of-factly, just as the Coach comes back out with Zane's back pack wide open with Zane in toe. There are two bottles of spray paint tucked inside. Zane snarls at his cousin, eyes murderous before making his expression blank as the Coach turns to face him.

"Scrub it down, Azure. You're not leaving until it's *all* gone." Lyle sounds like a drill sergeant. Zane just nods, and I'm sure he'll be stuck here for a while - even with his Wolven strength - there's just too much paint.

"C'mon, let's get going before he decides to kill me here." Yuri nudges me and goes over to the wire-mesh baskets with footballs. He selects one and throws it at me. I reflexively catch it and follow him to the far side of the gym. Others are lining up in their own groups, practicing throwing the almond-shaped ball in perfect arcs.

"Why are you helping me?" I ask Yuri, tossing the ball over to him. He catches it and smirks, glancing to where Zane is now scrubbing at the wall. He has a huge wire brush in hand and a bucket at his feet.

"Z never looses it. Well, almost never." Yuri flashes me a full grin. "You make him seem almost human."

"I haven't *done* anything to him." I argue, frowning.

"You just being here has affected him. After you guys fell down that hill he went nuts. It was the first time he's lost his cool since... Well, it's been years." Yuri hesitates, glancing back at his cousin. "And you're all he ever talks about too." He's grinning again. I blush.

"That why you keep flirting with me when he's around?" I arch an eyebrow at him, tossing the ball back.

"Yeah," He shrugs. "And it's fun to see your reaction too."

"Heartbreaker." I feign hurt, pressing my hand over my chest.

"Don't even joke." Yuri laughs and tosses the ball back with less force than before. "Z was right about one thing, you do have a shit-poker face."

"Shut up." I blush.

"He's a good guy, you know. You two should talk out whatever it is he did. Or you did?" He's fishing. I shake my head.

"I just need time to process stuff. I...don't trust easily." I skirt around the truth, wondering how much Zane told him. The two seem close. But then again, so are me and Mom. And I haven't told her about Zane. Not really.

"Point taken." Yuri shrugs again, tossing the ball in the air thoughtfully. "Did Caly ever get up the nerve to invite you over?" He changes the subject.

"She did..." I nod slowly. "I told her I'd think about it."

"You should. Come by the territory, I mean." Yuri looks at me coolly, oddly pensive. "You shouldn't try to distance yourself just 'cause you're in another Pack."

"How'd you-" I blink.

"You don't smell like a loner. Their scent is faint, but it's still there. Your Pack." He frowns, turning his head a bit. Like he's smelling the air. "I don't know what happened between you and your Pack, Scarlett, but their scent is faint enough that I know the bond should be breaking. Any day now." His frown deepens. "You shouldn't be alone when it does."

"I'm not alone." It's the truth. But also total bullshit. Mom hasn't been near me in months.

"If you say so. Just...be careful." He warns before his face relaxes and he goes back to being his usual carefree self. "I'm sure Z would be happy to keep you company."

"Shut up." I blush again, the heat more intense than before. Yuri laughs and finally throws the ball. We don't talk much more after that, our banter is light when we do. Like we've been friends for years. It's the kind of ease I felt with my family - before. It staves off the growing hollowness I feel inside.