The day is cold and bitter, with heavy clouds forming a dark, all-consuming blanket that seems to drape over the town of  Havenly like a funeral shroud. It's my favourite kind of weather. The wind is frigid and brutal enough to slice through your skin and straight into your bones. 

Despite, and probably because of the bad omen, I'm practically buzzing with anticipation. 

Yesterday was the most fun I've had in a while. The relief of finally having a plan and an accomplice is making me virtually high. 

At first, Rhina had just been a game. She still is, but there's something more now. I had needed a distraction from my woes, and she seemed to be the perfect candidate. Easy to rile up and mess around without any consequences - otherwise perfect. But after I had seen her in the woods? The gears in my brain had slid into place and a plan had formed faster than the oncoming rain. 

Shifter packs are extremely secretive, and even though the rules in the past years have become far less restrictive, they are still heavily enforced. Watching her shift had been the perfect leverage I needed, and I didn't even have to go looking. 

The memories of the night before brings a smile to my lips. The way she had run from me seeming to forget who the actual predator was. It would be hilarious if she weren't so cute.  And that look of resignation that had crossed her multi-coloured eyes when she realized I had trapped her in a bargain? It all swims through my mind as I walk down the bustling hallway, on my way to class on time for once. 

I spot her before she sees me. I use the opportunity to appraise her, taking in warm brown skin and gorgeous hair. Shes the tallest amoungst the group shes surrounded by, but not by much. Almost six feet if I had to guess. 

The tasselled ends of her scarf sway down her heavily coated back. She's about ten times larger than last night, donning gloves, a vest, about three jackets and a hoodie. 

She looks ridiculous - snow men wear less layers. 

Hooked over her puffy shoulder is a fabric tote bag, with the words Bi-conic printed out in alternating blue, pink and purple lettering. I can just see the tip of a creased refill notepad jutting out from the top and a bundle of what appears to be gym clothes.  Why anyone would specifically choose to do PE in the middle of winter when you had the option not to, I don't know. Especially since she looks like a hypothermic Eskimo. 

It's a good thing I grabbed her forgotten bag from the clearing on my way home yesterday, would have been a shame for the approaching storm to destroy her laptop and...three pieces of scrap paper.

I'm a few paces away from the group when she spots me. I can see her contemplating whether or not to make a run for it. I reach the cluster before she gets the chance to decide. 

"Good morning," I greet the lot of strangers before turning my attention to the deflated wolf. The pout has returned, marring her features in disapointment. 

"You forgot something," I say as I hand over the satchel. 

Before Rhina has the chance to respond the boy nearest her left is already speaking over her. 

"Ri-ri, I didn't know you made a friend! Honestly, I wasn't sure you knew how," The boy smiles brightly. He has the same brand of energy as Rhina, but a lot weaker, more diluted. Another wolf then.

Unlike Rhina, his hair is blonde and has a thin nose with high-cut cheekbones that make his face apear sharp. The effect is softened by his smooth voice and polite words. 

"We are not friends," She practically growls. 

"You're right," I declare, directing my smile at the blonde boy, "We're far closer than that, Right, bestie?" 

The last word irks her as much as I'd hoped. 

She snatches the proffered bag, looking through the sparse contents, making sure everythings where she abandoned it.  

The boy nudges Rhina with a sharply pointed elbow, muttering something about rudeness before making introductions.

" I'm Eron, but the way, " He states, thin-lipped grin still in place. "And that's Shelby and Monica," he gestures over to two girls, one tall with bright red hair and the other short, wearing a floral cardigan and marry-janes. 

"It's so nice to meet you. Rhina has told me so much about you," A complete lie, but it has the intended effect. 

The three strangers practically beam in unison, all smiles and compliments about my leather jacket (Thrifted, of course).

All the while, Rhina broods as she watches the interaction take place. I note that she's barely said a word all morning, silently shivering while I mingle with her friends. 

The bell rings, signifying the start of first period. Everyone separates, walking in the directions of their classes after quick goodbyes. 

Rhina, as expected, does not wait for me to catch up.  

When I jog up beside her she finally speaks, "You better have not gone through my things," I can barely hear her over the sound of chattering students buzzing through the halls.

I chuckle before responding, "Oh, you bet I did. Even took a screenshot of your search history," Another lie, but she doesn't need to know that. 

Rhina narrows her eyes but says nothing, fiddling with the strap of her bag. 

We walk past rows of blue lockers on our way to class in tense silence. I strum my fingers across the metallic surface, knowing the noise must irritate Rhina. 

Eventually, she snaps (always the first to break the silence).

"You're following me again," she grunts, shoving gloved hands into her pockets. I notice how her elbows are pointed out, maintaining distance between us. 

I let her keep it. 

"We're in the same class, furball." I'm slightly offended that she didn't notice me the first day, but it's not exactly out of the ordinary for me to go overlooked. 

The laugh that escapes Rhina is almost hysterical.

" Why Goddess, have you forsaken me?" She pulls her hands out of her pockets, raiseing her arms skyward, beseeching some deity or other. 

The action makes me snort.

"Who knew Mrs. Serious was capable of a sense of humour,"  I goad, plucking the glove from her outstretched hand and sprinting the final distance to Mrs. Skew's classroom. 

I'm met with annoyed stares and currios snickering when I burst through the door.  I emediatly my slow pace, haunting my momentum and advantage over Rhina. 

I nod my apology to the teacher and continue hoping through the rows of desks and clustered students, avoiding Rhina's grabbing hands and whispered curses. 

I slide onto my seat with perhaps too much zeal. The plastic legs of the chair wobble precariously before giving out. 

I squeeze my eyes shut in anticipation of the fall. When my ass remains unbruised I hesitantly blink them open. A large hand grips the edge of the stool, keeping me tilted to the side. 

Rhina is close enough for me to make out the discolouring between her blue and green eye. 

Stupidly, my breath catches and my heart is racing for more reasons than the adrenaline. 

Rhina smirks, and dam does it look good on her. "Give me my glove or I'll drop you," She whispers, probably so none of the onlookers can hear. The gods forbid Alyssa and her gang have something new to gossip about. 

"Why? Are you cold?" I tease, drawing back my arm with the glove tightly clutched between my own naked fingers. 

She falls for it and lunges forward to grab the garment. I take the opening to whisper into her ear, " Want me to warm you up?" 

The chair slips, but I steal the wrist that had been fighting for the green mittin. The initial blow is worsened when a wolf crashes on top of me. I'm pinned to the filthy carpet by a pile of winterwear and a feeble stool. 

What a way to die.

Rhina moans in pain as she rises to her haunches, a hand on either side of my head.

"Someone's eager," I wheeze. I barely get to appreciate the stellar view as I try to cough the air back into my lungs. 

Mrs. Skew is the first to rush over, half reprimanding, half worried. Other kids crowd us, expressing similar concern.   

Rhina indelicately extracts herself from me, elbowing and kneeing as she regains balance, using the snowsuit for help as she rolls backwards. 

Mrs. Skew helps me up, far more gentle than the furball. After rightening the chair and demanding the class settle, she orders us to the nurse's office to check for injuries. 

I brace my forearm against my ribs to stop the ache as I manoeuvre around the furniture and out the door. 

Rhina's face doesn't quite blush but rather darkens a shade or two deeper—her hand flexes in and out by her side.

I throw over the glove that started this whole debacle. It hits her face and she scrambles to catch it before it can drop to the floor. 

"What an apex predator," I breathe, in actual wonderment at her lack of hand-eye coordination. 

Rhina rolls her eyes, "You sound like my mother."

I don't know how to respond, so I let the comment slide. Instead I ask, " Not a fan of the cold?"

Rhina regards me for a moment before answering, " My wolf makes it easier, but without her I go into a sort of shock,"

I crack up, "No kidding," I asses her. 

Bomber jackets never looked so good, not that I'd ever admit that. 

Her eyebrows crease together. "It beats wearing a skirt on the brink of a snowstorm," 

I smile and play with hem of the pleated material. " I love being cold," Seeing her appauled reaction turns my grin feral. 

We argue over the weather all the way to the front office. 

It's hard to keep the wolf talking, only managing to drag her from the lapsing silence with barbs and insults. 

"Call me that one more -," Rhina's rant is cut off by a slender old woman, peaking her head through the door and ushering us inside. 

"Hello girls, What brings you in this morning?" Her voice shows no sign of her age, sweet and clear, while her tone is more professional and urging. 

"Hel -," 

"Morn -," We speak over each other, rushing to explain ourselves to the expectant nurse. 

I plaster on my least favorite smile - good girl, people pleaser, - and describe the series of events that landed us in her office, ( using as little detail in my part of the accident as possible). 

She has us take a seat in the chairs lined up along the wall and performs a basic concustion test. After a few slightly intrusive questions and blinding light displays, she leaves the room to fetch some paperwork. 

As soon as she leaves rhina relocates to a chair closer to the oil heater bolted to the wall. I grab my things and follow her. I doubt the radiator will do anything about the cold, but perhaps her irritation can keep me warm. 

Rhina stares blankly at the wall ahead. 

I stay silent, knowing she can't handle the stillness well.

Rhina Shighs, hunching her shoulders forward.

I turn to her, eyebrow raised. 

Still facing the wall, she asks, " When's your birthday?"

"Why? Suddenly interested in small talk?" I know exactly why she's asking, but I like hearing her voice.

"No. I need to know my deadline," she grummbles. 

"So you can by me a present?" I tease, leaning over the arm chair. 

Her jaw tenses and she licks her teeth,"So I can know how long I have to get out of being your slave," She replies carefully. I can hear the rage simmering beneath her voice, and decide push further. 

"Twelfth of December. You know the numbers 12/12 mean pationate love in numerology," I whisper the last part into the shell of her ear.

A wooly hand smothers my face as she roughly pushes me away. I cackle at her adorable flush and flared nostrils. 

"Spare me the witchy facts. We need to make a plan, because theres no way in hell I'm becoming your 'magical best friend', or whatever it is a familiar actually does." Her voice is gruff and almost desprate as she hides her embarrassment. 

"So we're a 'we' now?" I goad, knowing the avoidance is streatching her patience thin. 

Finally, she snaps, springing from the chair with balled fists. 

She hoards over the chair, arms bent at the elbow as she cages me in. 

My face must turn scarlet as she grits out her next words, " Quit joking, or I'll make you," my breath catches as I become painfully aware of how close she is. My stomach flips as she continues, " You said you needed another person for this ritual? Then we'll find one. But make fun of me one more time and I'll break my vegaterianism and rip you to shreds." 

A small gasp catches in my throught and I have to fight it down. "Is that a promise?" I bite the corner of my lip, not able to help myself from teasing, even when the wolf's eyes glow with murder. 

Before she can make promise on her threat, the nurse - Ms. Robert, as the plaque on her desk reads - bustels through the door. Rhina leaps about ten feet away, getting dealt with a scolding look from the wrinkled woman. 

After scratching out a few hall passes, the nurse sends us off to second period - assured of our health. 

Once back in the hallway, Rhina becomes unsure, rubing a hand to the back of her neck. All pervious confidence apparently evaporated. 

"Fine," I relent, " Give me your number. I'll text you the details for our next meet up so we can draw up a plan." 

Rhina reluctantly pulls out her phone. "I'm gonna regret this," she mumbles. 

I nod enthusiastically as I save my number into her contacts. 

As soon as it loads she yanks her phone away and is walking down the hallway.

"Call me!" I shout, turning in the opposite direction and waltzing to class.