We cooled off for a while before getting back into the swing of things. I ran through the lane I’d been working on a few times before moving to the second easiest lane. Mark insisted on misting me between every attempt, which was much appreciated. It allowed me to improve even faster, and I mastered the second lane in half an hour. 

When I met up with Mark for another misting, he leaned in close to whisper, “Your pancake is showing.”

I checked my shirt, which hadn’t ridden up, but my tail was the length of my hand now, long enough to poke into view. I tucked it in the back of my leggings before returning to training. At my fastest, I was now almost keeping up with Olivia. She pushed herself to keep out-pacing me, but I could tell it wasn’t easy from how hard she was breathing. 

I finished my lane a few seconds after she finished hers. Her lane was harder, so I hadn’t really caught up to her in skill, but I definitely wasn’t doing horribly anymore. Unfortunately, it still didn’t hold a candle to a tachak’s physical prowess.

Olivia fell to her hands and knees. “O-okay, guys, I’m done for today.”

Kiara laughed. “You’re just giving up ‘cause you don’t want the newbie to beat ya.” 

I fought against the urge to smile. I doubted Olivia was intimidated by my weak show of fitness. She’d likely gotten hungry or perhaps reached the end of her natural stamina for the time being. I could certainly attest to the metabolistic requirements for advancing so quickly; my stomach had twisted itself into growling knots that threatened to consume my muscles for sustenance. I’d already burned nearly every ounce of body fat I had to break down and rebuild muscles constantly for the last two hours. 

“Can we get something to eat?” I asked. 

“Sure. How about Rekki’s?” Mark asked.

“I’m fine with whatever.”

Vince jogged over. “I’d kill for some cheese fries about now.”

“Same,” Olivia groaned as he helped her up. 

“Kiara?” Mark asked. 

She giggled. “Do you really have to ask?”

“Rekki’s it is.”

We split up to shower and change in the locker rooms. I set my clothes on my shoes right outside the shower curtain so I didn’t have to walk around half-dressed. When I’d finished showering, I realized I didn’t really want to put on a sweater or jeans while soaking wet. Unfortunately, I hadn’t thought to buy a towel at the store. 

I peaked out of the shower, where Olivia and Kiara were in the middle of changing. “Uh, sorry to bother you, but could I borrow a towel?”

“Sure.” Kiara tossed me a rolled-up towel. 

Not wanting it to fall on the ground, I lunged to catch it and slipped on the wet floor. I might’ve been able to throw out my foot to stop myself, were it not for my clothes and shoes, which had decided to become a tripping hazard. I found myself on my knees and elbows with the towel in the crook of my elbows. Face burning beneath their stares, I scrambled to my feet and ducked back behind the curtain. 

My hands shook as I rapidly dried myself off. What would they say when they got over the shock of seeing my true body? They could’ve slipped out to call the guardians and report me, and I wouldn’t have any idea. I hung the towel over the curtain rod before collecting my casual clothes. 

Kiara had finished dressing and was gathering her things, while Olivia was pulling on her t-shirt. So they weren’t reporting me yet. That was good. I retreated behind the curtain to get dressed as quickly as possible. 

When I finally left the shower and returned Kiara’s towel, she gave me a sympathetic look. 

“You don’t have to be embarrassed of the ‘pancake.’ Seriously, I don’t know what Mark’s problem is. He’s usually not like this.”

“It’s fine, really.” I hurried out the door. 

Mark was already waiting in the lobby. “Vince went on ahead to reserve a table. Rekki’s is always busy this time-” He yelped as Kiara punched his arm. “The hell was that for?”

She huffed. “There’s absolutely nothing wrong with how Elva looks. I can’t believe you told her to cover up around us.” 

He gave me a questioning look. 

“I fell out of the shower.”

“Right.” Wincing, he rubbed his arm. “She’s shy about-”

Kiara brandished her fist. “No, she isn’t. She wanted to take her shirt off, and you told her not to. What’s up with that?”

He stepped back out of punching range. “Elva, help me out here.”

What was I supposed to say? It wasn’t like I was a good liar to begin with, and now I was supposed to come up with a lie that explained both of our weird behaviors? “Look, like I said before, I don’t really want to talk about it, but all you really need to know is that Mark has a good reason for doing what he’s doing, and I’m not upset at him at all, and… that’s it.”

Olivia darted around me and yanked the back of Mark’s shirt up. 

“What the-” He twisted around to swat her away. “What’d you do that for?”

“Just making sure you’re not infested, too.” She crossed her arms. “I can’t believe you’re in your right mind and still trying to cover this up. If your dad found out-”

“He’s not going to find out because you’re going to keep quiet about Elva.” 

“Why should I?” She threw her hands up. “For all you know, she plans to infest all of us.”

“What are you talking about?” Kiara sounded bewildered. 

Olivia clinked her hands on her hips. “You really should’ve gone to the summer training. That thing on her back is an otherling. It’s a brainwashing parasite from the Otherealm.”

Mark scowled. “Leah—Elva’s host—is dead, so Elva isn’t brainwashing anyone.”

“Murdered is not an improvement over brainwashed.”

“Leah died in a car wreck before Elva came to Earth.”

“That’s what she wants you to think.”

Kiara chuckled nervously. “Don’t you think he would’ve noticed if Elva was in the wreck with Leah?”

Olivia’s mouth formed a surprised ‘o.’ “I forgot you were at the crash.”

To be specific, he was in the crash, which was kind of a big thing to forget about, given he’d tried and failed to save Elva’s life. 

Looking a little rattled, Mark fixated on his shoes. “Liv, just leave Elva alone. She’s not doing anything wrong.”

There was a hint of penance in Olivia’s expression, but that didn’t stop her from saying, “I’m sure Leah’s parents wouldn’t agree.” 

“They know about Elva.” 

She stomped her foot. “This is insane. I know you wouldn’t be doing this if she didn’t make you somehow.”

“Because it’s so out of character for me to help someone who can’t pay me back?” He raised his eyebrows in a you-know-what-I’m-talking-about kind of way.

“It’s not the same.” She jerked her hand at me. “She’s not even human.”

Technically speaking, I was more human than not at the moment, but she probably wouldn’t count my host as part of me. She also wouldn’t trust that Mark was speaking his mind while I was around.

“I’ll wait by the car.” I turned toward the doors.

“Wait.” Mark took out his keys. “Here.” 

Oliva snatched them out of his hand. “You can’t give this to her.”

That was probably for the best. If I had the keys, I might be tempted to track down a portal. Or more likely, I would ransack his car for snacks and take a nap. I headed for the doors. 

“Give them back,” Mark insisted. 

“Not until you promise-”

I slipped outside before Olivia could finish. Mark’s car wasn’t far, and I leaned against it while I waited. 

A red sports car parked a couple of spots down the row. None other than Ethan Walker himself stepped out. He looked more or less human besides the gray skin and mini elephant ears. Well, they were mini compared to a real elephant’s ears, but they weren’t exactly small. When he came around the back of the neighborin car, I noticed he only had four stubby fingers on each hand. 

He caught my eye and flashed a brilliant smile. “Nice car.”

“It is.” Now was the perfect time to ask him about the portal. 

He leaned against Mark’s car. “How long’ve you had it?”

“It’s not mine.” How should I bring up the portal? It wasn’t exactly a common topic of conversation, especially when we were talking about cars. 

“Your boyfriend’s?”

“I don’t have a boyfriend anymore. The last one-” I stopped myself. Mark would probably discourage me from telling Ethan about Leah’s ex. “Nevermind.”

Leaning closer, he took my hand. “If there’s something you’d like to get off your chest, I’m a great listener.”

“Believe me, I wish I could talk about it, but I can’t. It’s kind of a secret.”

He kissed my knuckles. “I promise I won’t tell.”

“Ethan,” Mark shouted from the front doors of the gym. He sprinted over to us and swatted my hand out of Ethan’s. 

“The hell, man?” Ethan looked like he had half a mind to punch Mark. He gave me an apologetic smile. “Give me a sec to talk to my boneheaded brother.” He moved to grab Mark’s arm, but Mark dodged. 

“Whatever she promised, you can’t do it.”

“I can do whatever I want with whoever I want.” He waved at me to follow. “Come on, let’s take this somewhere else.”

I stepped toward him, but Mark held out an arm to stop me. 

“Cut it out, Elva. Let’s go to lunch.” 

I really was starving, but if I wanted to get Ethan’s help to the portal… 

“Sorry, Ethan. Maybe another time.” I got in the car. Before I could close the door, Ethan caught it.

“You two know each other?”

I nodded. 

“Why’d you act like you didn’t?”

“Did I?” I frowned. “I didn’t mean to.”

Mark got in the driver’s seat and slammed his door shut. “You’re not getting laid, bro. Give up.”

He leaned over to peer in the car at Mark. “You two an item?”

“No, but-”

“Then butt out.” Ethan offered me a hand. “You don’t have to go with him. I’ll take you wherever you want. We can make a date of it--lunch, movie, a-”

“She’s sixteen,” Mark snapped. 

He yanked his hand back like it’d been burnt. Stepping back, he stuck his hands in his pockets and straightened. “Mark’s your tutor.” 

“In a manner of speaking.” 

“Right. Bye.” He hurried over to the gym.