I was the first to arrive at the diner the next day. I had barely sat down before I ordered a double cheeseburger with curly fries and a chocolate milkshake. Jayden wrote it all down, then gave me an awkward smile before he left. I opened my mouth to stop him. I wanted to ask him how he was doing, but somehow the words didn't leave my mouth. We hadn't talked about the death of his brother, not really talked. Not the way we used to, and it tortured me. I could tell he was hurting, but somehow, I sensed that he no longer wanted to share it with me. Either that or we just didn't really know how to talk to one another anymore. It left me feeling awful.

"Did you order already?" Amy said as she rushed inside and sat down. It had started to rain, and her hair was soaked.

"Yes. I couldn't wait," I said. "I haven't had anything proper to eat for two days."

Amy took one glance at the menu then ordered a bacon burger. I suddenly regretted my choice of burger and asked Jayden if he could add bacon to my cheeseburger.

"Already did," he said with a wink and a shy smile. "I know you, remember?"

I smiled too, relieved. Then Jazmine arrived, just as soaked as Amy. She threw herself next to me and sprayed water on me when she took off her jacket. She grunted, annoyed.

"I hate this weather. Isn't it supposed to be summer?"

"This is summer around here, I’m afraid," I said.

"Ugh. I hate this constant rain."

Amy and I exchanged a look as Jayden brought us our food. The smell alone was so satisfying. I ate a couple of curly fries even though they were burning hot.

"Do you want something to eat?" Jayden asked Jazmine.

She barely looked at him, then grumbled. "Just a milkshake, please."

"What type?"

She exhaled. "It doesn’t matter."

"Strawberry?" Jayden asked.

"Sure. Whatever."

It was obvious that Jazmine found it hard to even talk to Jayden. It had been going on for a little while now, and I wondered if it would ever be better. I wasn't sure I understood her reaction since we all knew she had nothing to do with Logan's death. Still, she apparently felt that she did. I sunk my teeth into my burger while Jayden left. Amy drank from her milkshake.

"Could you not slurp it so loudly?" Jazmine asked.

I looked at her.

"What?"

I shook my head. "Nothing."

"How's the girl doing?" Amy asked, chewing. "My parents told me your mom agreed to take her in."

"She's okay, I think," I said. "Her name is Veronika. She doesn’t say anything. I can't get her to speak to me, but she seems to like me. Besides, it's nice to have another girl in the house."

"I bet," Amy said. "You think your family can keep their teeth away from her?"

I sighed. The thought had struck me a couple of times. I hadn't known Veronika more than a day, but already I felt very protective of her and, to be honest, I didn't trust my cousins around her. I had seen Huey and how he looked at her during dinner the night before. I knew that look in his eyes a little too well, but luckily, so did my mother and she had sworn to protect Veronika. I just hoped that she would keep that promise. I had almost brought Veronika with me to the diner, but my mom told me not to. She wouldn't explain why, and I got the feeling she was afraid someone might see her and know she was staying with us. I was very curious to know more.

I took another bite of my burger while wondering how Veronika was doing back at the house. I had left her in my room watching TV.

"Could anyone explain to me what you're talking about?" Jazmine asked. "What girl?"

I shrugged. "I don't really know much, to be honest. Just that she is an orphan."

"She lost her parents," Amy said. "Mr. Aran took them. Our mothers found her in the RV where they lived. She was hiding."

"Was my mom there too?" Jazmine asked.

"Yes," Amy said. "All four of them worked together, even Robyn's and Jayden's moms."

"I heard them when they came to our house with the girl," I said. "They asked my mom to take care of her."

"So, you're telling me that my mom, my mom, helped save some kid from Mr. Aran?" Jazmine asked.

I nodded while chewing. "Yes. Why is that so surprising?"

Jazmine shook her head. "I just…I’m just surprised is all."

"What I want to know is what kind of powers her parents had since Mr. Aran took them," Amy said. "They must have had some and have used them illegally. My parents have told me Mr. Aran is like a police officer of sorts who is allowed to take you down if you use your abilities. We're not allowed to use them and especially not when there is a risk that humans might see us." Amy looked at me. "Were they vampires?"

I shook my head. "I don't know anything about them. My mom hasn't told me anything. But there was one thing…" I looked in the booth behind us. It was empty. I leaned forward. "When she touched my hand, it was like she…flickered for a few seconds. It's hard to explain, but it was like she wasn't really…there anymore. And then when it stopped, she whimpered and crawled under the dining table, and it took me an hour to get her out of there. It was like it scared her. Like she was afraid. And, frankly, it scared me a little too."

"Maybe she's a witch," Amy said and looked at Jazmine, who had gotten her milkshake and was drinking it.

"What?" Jazmine snapped. "So, you think we have some sort of connection just because of that?"

"What's going on with you?" I asked. "It can't just be because of what happened to Logan."

Jazmine finished her milkshake. She answered with a shrug.

"Jazmine?" Amy said. "You can share it with us. Whatever it is."

Jazmine looked at me, then at Amy, and I could tell she was wondering if that was true.

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you."

I sighed. "After what we’ve been through so far, I'll say try me."