Andie

I thought it was nice of Tristian to invite me to lunch with his friends, even though it's clear some of them don't want me here. I'm sure Maverick and Piper are more than thrilled to get some alone time, I know they'll eventually search for me and probably join me anyways. When I left my second-period class, I wasn't all surprised to find Conner waiting for me. I have to admit though, I was kind of hoping to find Tristian instead since he seems the most friendly out of the four. Once he spotted me, he didn't really bother to say anything but instead just walked away, I followed him.

"So, where are we going exactly?" I asked trying to catch up to him.

"Back of the school," Conner replied bluntly.

"Why?"

"No one seems to be able to find us there and if they do we hardly get attention." Conner had to lead me down several hallways, walking briskly finally turning down an empty hallway and opened a door. Attention from what? Once we were outside, I spotted Tristian and the twins already standing by the fence. Wow, there is literally nobody else besides us back here. Seeing both twins standing next to one another is a bit eerie.

"So uh, who's who?" I glanced from one twin to another. Seriously how does their group tell them apart?

"I'm Ben and that's Wilder," Ben explained pointing at himself than his brother. Conner had immediately sat on the grass and began tugging out strands, what in the hell is he doing? Why am I surrounded by weirdos?

"Oh thank goodness, you two are finally here!" A blonde boy came running up to the fence, who the hell is that?

"Hey Mikah, this is Andie, we invited him to join us for lunch," Tristian remarked.

"More like you invited him." Mumbled Ben. Excuse me? The fuck, if you don't want me here, say it to my face. Mikah had shifted his stare to me and smiled.

"Hey, nice to meet you, I'd shake your hand but we kind of have a fence blocking us." Mikah scratched the back of his head.

"Likewise." I did my best to put a smile on my face even though what Ben mumbled kind of pissed me off.

"So where the hell have you two been?" Mikah's attention immediately turned towards the twins.

"Relax, they ran away from home, woke me up at 3 AM, and now are crashing at my place," Tristian explained. Upon hearing Tristian call them out, both twins had glanced in my direction, Wilder looked nervous and Ben seemed a bit defensive.

"What? Oh my God, are you two alright? What's going on? If you need another place to crash, my house is open!" Mikah's words flooded out of his mouth so fast I had a hard time catching what he said. His whole demeanor changed, it went from being a bit irritated to now being to utterly worried about the two.

"We're fine, our phone just got smashed is all," Ben replied.

"How'd it break?" I asked. I got to pitch in the conversation somehow, otherwise, I'll feel like useless space. I always feel like a third wheel when I'm with Piper and Maverick, I already feel as if I'm not wanted with these guys. Although judging by many reactions, I don't think I should have said anything. All five boys had put all focus onto me, both Conner and the twins genuinely looked frustrated at my sheer existence.

"Sorry, I fucking asked." I snapped.

"Don't take it personally, they just...get nervous around new people," Tristian said while biting his lower lip. Is he nervous too?

"Uh." Mikah suddenly cleared his throat,

"So you two are okay then?" He asked with this obvious guilty smile.

"Yeah." Ben reverted his attention to Mikah.

"That's great! Wonderful! What I like to hear!" He laughed nervously.

"Just drop the bomb on them already," Tristian smirked.

"So! I spoke to Wilder's science partner and well. Uh. Kind of already promised that he would work with her after school...today." Mikah's tone had gotten lower as he finished his sentence.

"Seriously?" Wilder snapped, shit, that's the first time he's spoken since I've been here. And by the looks of it, it's the first time his friends really heard him too. He looks irritated at the whole situation he was forced into. Mikah winced,

"I know, I know! I'm sorry, I was trying to get a hold of you this whole time you two were gone! See I already promised her, she's very sweet and I just think she doesn't deserve her partner avoiding her. Plus, she even told me, all of us could go along with you, Andie could join us even! A bonding experience!" Mikah finished babbling. Wilder rolled his eyes a bit dramatically then gave me this dirty look.

"I doubt your friend wants me to tag along." I gave the same look in return.

"Ah, shit." Tristian had said under his breath. At first, I thought he was starring me, I soon realized his attention was focused on someone behind me. The twins' gaze had also shifted to whoever showed just showed up. I finally turned around to see some dude, who honestly just looks like a jackass, and I guess the other guys behind him are his friends, all four of them appeared to be strolling up to us. All of them had these menacing smiles plastered on their stupid faces, just who the hell are they?

                                                                          Tristian

Grant and his puppets have been picking on me since day one. Usually, Mikah goes into 'protective-mother-mode' but he's currently on the other side of the fence. He had already grabbed the fence looking as if he was about to scale the thing if necessary. Ben usually helps if things get too out of control however he's outnumbered. Wilder freezes up anytime any violence occurs around him and then there's Conner the pacifist. I guess Ben isn't all that outnumbered, I'm here even though I can't fight too well but Andie looks as if he's ready. Honestly, I know Grant and his puppets aren't gonna miss this opportunity to pound my face in.

"Oh, hey didn't think I'd find you here," Grant said very sarcastically, we both know he knows where I go to for lunch. He and his posse stopped within a couple of feet away from us, smirking.

"Lay off Grant," Mikah said cautiously. If the fence wasn't so tall I know he would have climbed it by now. Seriously, Alice Jackson High wanted two species to get along but she separates them? Yeah, that makes sense.

"What? Pissed you can't protect your boyfriend?" Grant mockingly said.

"Oh, just fuck off." Andie had suddenly spoken, he had placed himself in front of my friends and me, looking straight up done with this whole mess. Andie was staring Grant down, Grant had made his way to Andie with a couple of strides and was now standing directly in front of him. Holy shit, I knew Andie was short but damn, their height difference is very noticeable. It's as if a chihuahua is barking at a great dane.

"Seriously, you plan to take me on?" Grant scoffed.

"Dude, we aren't supposed to pick on any magicals. We could get expelled for that shit." One of Grant's puppets fretted. He has a point there.

"Shut up. I'm not picking on him cause he's a magical, I'm picking on him because he clearly wants to start something, besides no one is going to find out." Grant smiled mischievously and proceeded to stare down at Andie.

"Still want to fight me, pixie?" Grant shoved Andie's shoulder, I'm surprised Andie is still standing his ground and not freaking out right now. The tips of his ears are bright red, then suddenly with what I'm sure is all of his strength, Andie shoved Grant back pretty hard, making him stumble a bit. Grant glared at Andie, grabbing him by the collar of his uniform, lifting him off the ground. Holy, shit!

"Crap, you guys have to help him," Mikah exclaimed frantically. However before any of us could even get a chance to do anything, Andie straight-up bites Grant on his hand.

"What the fuck?" Grant shouted while pretty much throwing Andie on the ground. His hand was bleeding, Andie had spit something out of his mouth and was instantly getting off the grass. Holy shit.

"Dude.." Ben mumbled while his gaze shifted to Andie. I don't think any of us expected him to bite Grant. Andie was even ready for another round, not even phased by what just happened.

"Pick me up like that again, see what happens next time." Andie spat. I expected both, well probably all of us, to get into this huge fight, when an overwhelming sense of dread took over. I was frozen in place, I couldn't, and didn't want to move. I glanced at my friends for some reassurance everything would be fine but they seemed to be experiencing the same fear as me. I then turned to face Grant and his posse, when they also had this petrified look on the faces, except Andie, who just looked annoyed. And he just rolled his eyes. Is this feeling not affecting him?

"I believe this school was made so bullying wouldn't happen." A male's voice taunted. Standing behind Grant and the idiots were the two vampires I was introduced to this morning, I think their names were Maverick and Piper. My stomach is in knots, the longer I stare at the duo the worse it gets. Are they causing this horrifying feeling? Grant mumbled inaudible words and walked off with his crew following close behind. As soon as they were gone for sure, Andie had kicked the fencing startling Wilder and Conner.

"I was handling the situation just fine." Andie spat towards the couple.

"You got thrown to the ground, I don't consider that handling the situation very well." Maverick frowned pulling on Andie's ears. Andie swatted his hand away.

"Seriously though, are your new pals alright?" Maverick said 'pals' in a sarcastic tone but he genuinely seemed to be concerned for us. What's with these two? The dread seemed to subside a bit however there was still uneasiness lingering in the air. Andie leaned against the fence crossing his arms,

"Like I said, I could have handled it." He mumbled.

"Uh thanks though, no one got hurt, except maybe Grant," Mikah said trying to break the tension.

"It wasn't all that big of a deal," Maverick replied.

"Okay, wait. Are you two the ones making the atmosphere like this? Seriously what the hell is going on?" I asked the pair. Upon hearing the question though, all my friends groaned.

"Don't tell me you guys can't sense it!" I exclaimed.

"Tristian, we all sense it, they're vampires. All vampires give off that unsettling aura." Conner explained. I averted my eyes to Andie, who was staring back at me with a fascinated expression, this might be the first time since I met him that he doesn't look irritated or bored.

"Right then, how the hell does he seem so chill?" I pointed at Andie, directing the attention to him. Or tried to, the stares ended up going back to me.

"I don't experience fear," Andie explained.

"How the fuck do you not experience fear? It's a damn feeling!" I shouted.

"Some elves don't feel it. At least none that I know of, it's a feeling some are born without. You know how when humans are born, they seem to be feeling joy, that's basically the equivalent to us being born without fear. And some elves are born without other emotions and feelings or none at all."

"So what? You didn't feel dread just now?" I lowered my voice some.

"Uh no? I have no idea how to even imagine that feeling. I just felt....tingles or vibrations all over my body, like those chairs humans have in their malls."

"Massage chairs?"

"Yes!" Andie looked excited for a brief second. That is fascinating, although I'm not entirely sure how to process that.

"I'm shocked your pal doesn't know that." Piper curiously said. Her eyes feel like they are looking into my soul.

"He's never been to the other campus." Mikah, Conner, and Ben stated, Wilder just nodded in agreement.

"Interesting." Maverick got closer to me, and as he did that feeling of dread returned. What the hell is he doing?

"Lay off." Andie snapped, pushing himself off the fence and getting in between Maverick and me.

"Relax, I was only teasing." Maverick backed off a bit, the dread subsided. Andie turned to face me,

"Beside's that horrible impression, those two really don't mean any harm." He placed his hands on his hips. Am I supposed to just believe that?

"Right...I guess I'll take your word for it." I replied, Andie nervously glanced away when we made eye contact. What the hell was that?

"Hey, you three doing anything after school? If not, my friend has this thing to go to, you can join us if you like." Mikah exclaimed. What on earth is he thinking? Both the twins, Conner and I gave Mikah a very what-the-actual-fuck expression.

"Well, I don't see why not. You three seem alright, I'm sure Emah won't mind, we already have a nice little group forming." Mikah smiled. What is he doing?

"Sure, why not." Maverick took the bait. I glanced at Wilder who looked anxious, why didn't Mikah ask us first? He doesn't mean any harm, sometimes though he gets the better of himself.