Cassie gathered her books from her locker and just barely managed to resist slamming it shut. Ever since she'd become the social leper of the school, she'd received more whispered comments and nasty asides than she'd ever thought to hear in her life. She tried not to let them affect her, but it had been a tiresome day, and her defenses were wearing thin.

Straightening her shoulders, she held her chin high as she turned back to the whispers and stares. They had all heard about the attack in the woods, but for the most part, they weren't relieved she'd survived. They were especially annoyed she was here, while Marcy was still in the hospital, and probably wouldn't be getting out until tomorrow.

"Cassie."

She braced herself, her hands tightened upon her books as she turned toward the sound of the mellow voice. The girl standing behind her was staring up at her with hazel eyes, heavily outlined with eyeliner and mascara. The dark makeup brought out the gold flecks in her eyes. Her short hair had been dyed a blood red color that stood out at spiky angles around her pretty, heart shaped face.

The girl looked vaguely familiar, but Cassie was too drained, to place her. "Danielle," the girl said, taking obvious pity on her. "We met in the bathroom a couple weeks ago."

Her overwrought mind finally recognized the girl. Dani had been kind enough to give Cassie some towels when she'd freaked out over Devon's arrival at school. It was hard to believe she'd ever fought against the bond connecting them.

"Oh, hi Dani, I'm sorry I just… well I've just been out of it lately."

Dani's smile was sympathetic as she glanced around the hall. Students went out of their way to avoid walking near Cassie, and none of them did a good job at muffling the snide comments they dropped as they moved past. Cassie fought the impulse to start punching them all, or just walk out, but she would not give them the satisfaction of seeing her crack.

"I understand. I heard about what happened in the forest, I'm glad to see you're ok."

Cassie's eyes widened, no one, other than the teachers had bothered to ask her if she was ok, and she was fairly certain most of the female student body wished she'd died so they could have a crack at Devon. She would like to think their hatred of her was because of the strong appeal Devon had told them about yesterday, but Cassie knew it had always been there, bubbling just beneath the surface.

"Thank you Dani." Dani smiled and touched Cassie's hand. "You probably shouldn't be seen with me though."

Dani glanced around the hall and gave a small wave of her fingers to Julie Jenks who turned away quickly. "I've never cared what these people thought of me, and believe me Cassie, being on the outside is better. You don't have to play by their rules all the time."

Cassie couldn't help but smile at the eccentric girl. "I suppose you're right."

"I'm always right," Dani declared forcefully.

"Is everything ok here?" Devon's emerald eyes were severe as he appeared at her side. Dani colored as she ducked her head shyly. Although Dani was one of the few who didn't hate her, apparently she was also a Devon groupie. Devon's eyes burned into Cassie's questioningly, his body tensing in preparation to defend her. Something he'd been doing far too much of lately.

"Everything's fine," she assured him. "Devon this is Dani, she was just making sure I was all right."

His shoulders relaxed as he nodded briefly at Dani. "Nice to meet you."

Dani's face was scarlet as she thrust her hand out. He shot Cassie an amused look before taking hold of her hand. "You too," Dani muttered.

Dani pulled her hand away as the heat in her face spread down her neck. "I um… I should be going," Dani stammered. "I'm glad you're ok, Cassie."

"Thank you, Dani."

She turned and quickly disappeared into the throng of students. "Where did she come from?" Devon inquired.

"I met her a few weeks ago, when you first arrived."

Devon slipped his arm around her waist and pulled her against his side. Warmth erupted in tingling waves that enveloped her from head to toe. She pressed closer as she rested her hand on his chest and dropped her head to his shoulder. The strength and comfort he offered helped strengthen her and buoy her confidence once more.

He dropped a kiss on top of her head. "Let's get you some lunch."

She frowned up at him, aggravated at the interruption, she didn't feel like moving. His green eyes twinkled as he grinned at her. She loved it when he smiled like that, it gave him an air of boyishness that was charming and heart melting. "I can hear your stomach rumbling."

Blushing slightly, Cassie ducked her head as she silently cursed his enhanced hearing. Squeezing her once more, he turned her and moved with the flow of students toward the cafeteria. Though she still received dirty looks, the whispered asides drastically decreased. Mainly because none of the girls wanted Devon to think they were catty and cruel, and none of the boys wanted to risk his wrath.

The smile slipped from his mouth as he stared at the students. Apparently they weren't as discreet as they'd thought, at least not around him. His jaw clenched as his hand locked upon her waist. "It's ok," she told him. "I'm becoming used to it."

"You shouldn't have to."

Cassie shrugged and placed a quick kiss on his cheek. There may be nothing he could do about it, but she thrilled at his desire to protect her. "I'll meet you at the table."

"I'm coming with you."

Quirking an eyebrow, she shook her head at him. "You don't eat."

A muscle in his cheek jumped. "I don't care."

"You can't follow me everywhere Devon, I can do this myself." She had to face a good chunk of her day alone as it was, and if she didn't start developing a thicker skin now, then it was going to be a very long, very hard year. "I'll be fine."

He reluctantly released his hold on her. Cassie gave him a small, reassuring smile before heading in to swim with the sharks. The buzz instantly grew around her; the murmurs became louder and nastier as she wound her way through the crowd. She did her best to tune them out, but they only got worse the farther from Devon she got.

Her rumbling stomach clenched as her appetite vanished. Instead of all the talk dying down with time, it seemed to be growing in force, becoming angrier. Regretting her decision to leave Devon behind, she almost turned away from the lunch line, but she couldn't let them know they were getting to her.

She kept her chin held high as people snickered and whispered behind their hands. Though she didn't know why they bothered to stay behind their hands, their whispers were as loud as gunshots to her. "Look who it is."

She didn't bother to look up as Mark Young appeared by her side. Having sensed something off about Mark, Chris had cautioned her to stay away from the muscular boy years ago, but Cassie would have stayed away without Chris's warning. She'd never felt anything for Mark, but he'd been relentless in his pursuit of her.

"Ah, but you're not so special anymore are you?" Cassie continued to ignore him as she moved at a snail's pace through the line. "How the mighty have fallen. Guess that's what you get for being a slut."

She'd been trying not to give him the satisfaction of reacting in any way, but she couldn't stop herself from shooting him a dirty look. He chuckled, enjoying that he'd finally gotten a reaction out of her. Cassie shivered; her skin crawled as his arm brushed against hers. "Truth hurts, doesn't it?"

She kept her chin held high, but inside she was a seething mass of raw nerves and revulsion. She wished she hadn't sent Devon away and that she'd never stepped foot in this line. There were many things she wished for, but none of them were going to do her any good right now. She was here, Devon wasn't, and Mark seemed determined to make her miserable.

"Doesn't it, whore?" Cassie's jaw clenched. If she hit him, she would probably injure him, and she knew her conscience couldn't handle that, no matter how much he deserved it. "I'm talking to you."

Her eyes quickly flickered toward him. His eyes were feral, frantic. She was surprised and horrified by the lack of control radiating from him. She took a small step back, her attempt at bravery forgotten in the face of his unstable persona. She didn't know what was wrong with him lately, but this was the second time she'd seen him half crazed as he came after her. The first time had led to the school hating her; this time she thought it might lead to actual violence.

Cassie glanced around the cafeteria, searching for an escape, but they had slipped into the inner area of the lunch line. A wall now blocked her back and students were crammed around her. Out of habit, and looking for something more to protect herself, Cassie grabbed a tray. She held it against her chest in a poor attempt to shield herself from his bizarre behavior.

She silently begged the crowd ahead of them to move faster. "You always thought you were too good for all of us, for me. Now you're nothing."

She shot a glare at him as exasperation boiled up to replace the disgust inside of her. "I am too good for you," she retorted, unable to stop herself.

His eyes bugged out of his head, his hands fisted at his sides, and briefly she thought he might hit her. "Bitch!" he spat.

Cassie had enough. Tossing her tray onto the metal railing, she turned and began to shove her way through the crowd. She ignored the disgruntled looks she received. Pushing free of the crowd, she inhaled a shaky breath as she tried to regain control of herself.

A hand seized hold of her arm and ripped her around. A startled cry escaped her as Mark's grip became painful. "Don't you walk away from me!"

"Let go Mark." She tugged on her arm, but he wouldn't release her.

Cassie's hand fisted, she didn't care what they said about her afterward, she was going to knock him on his ass. Another hand shot forward and seized hold of Mark's arm in a bone crushing grip before Cassie could let her fist fly. Devon's lip was curled and his eyes gleamed dangerously as he stepped forward. "Let her go before I break your arm," he snarled.

Mark's mouth dropped as Devon relentlessly clenched down harder. Mark's fingers released her, not by choice, but because he couldn't hold onto her anymore. He tried to pull his arm free, but Devon refused to let go. Devon clenched his jaw, a muscle twitched in his cheek as he glared violently at Mark.

"I told you before to stay away from her."

The words were spoken quietly, but they caused the hair on Cassie's arms and neck to rise. She could sense the unraveling restraint Devon fought so hard to keep in check. Cassie glanced at Mark's arm; it would only take a little more pressure for it to shatter.

"Devon," Cassie breathed.

Chris blocked the curious stares of the students passing by as he stepped beside them. "What's going on guys?" he asked cheerfully for the benefit of those surrounding them, but his eyes were dark and turbulent as he studied Devon. He glanced at Cassie before focusing his attention on Mark.

Cassie stroked Devon's arm as she tried to pierce the thick cloud of fury filling him. His eyes burned hotly as they flickered to her. She was momentarily frightened of him and what he might do. She'd never seen him like this, frenzied and so very close to killing. Cassie's breath caught in her chest, but she didn't move away from him. She wouldn't abandon him now, this was her Devon. She just had to reach him, to stop him from doing something he would regret.

"Devon please, just let him go. It's ok."

His eyes flickered briefly, light came momentarily back into them before the darkness descended over him once more. He turned back to Mark, who was still gaping down at the hand clenching his arm. Cassie shot Chris a pleading glance, but he remained stony as he glared at Mark.

There was no one to help her now, no one to stop Devon if he snapped completely. Devon took a step closer to Mark and pulled his arm against his chest. Abandoning all caution, she threw herself forward, instinctively knowing that Devon wouldn't hurt her. Shoving her way in between them, she stood on tiptoe to grasp hold of Devon's cheeks and bring his mouth down to hers. She stood awkwardly, her lips pressed against his compressed, firm mouth as she waited breathlessly to see what he would do. His body remained unmoving for a moment more, and then everything changed.

Cassie had only meant to divert his attention from Mark, to keep Devon from harming him. She hadn't expected all of the frenzy he'd been feeling toward Mark would be diverted to her. His rigidity melted away, he released Mark as his arms clamped around her. He lifted her off the ground and pressed her flush against him.

She'd never felt him this wild and savage before. His fingers threaded through the bottom of the loose twist in her hair to cup her head. His mouth was unrelenting against hers, desperate, ardent. She was certain he would never hurt her, but she also realized he was barely in control of himself. His mouth opened against hers as his tongue plummeted in.

A small moan escaped Cassie. She forgot all her doubts and concerns as she melted against him. Heat pooled through her entire being and warmed her everywhere. Her heart hammered in her chest, her hands clenched at his neck; she couldn't seem to get close enough to him. The entire world, and the awful events of the day, disappeared as she became completely focused on him.

He worked the knot out of her hair, letting it free to flow down her back. His tongue caressed her mouth; he tasted her in prolonged deliberate strokes as he savored her. The muscles in his arms were rigid, yet she could feel a small tremor working through him as his kiss became almost bruising in its intensity. She didn't utter a complaint, didn't make a sound. She knew he needed this, he needed her.

She just hadn't realized how much.

A shiver raced through her as his teeth sharpened and lengthened. She could feel them against her bottom lip. She was scared, and more than a little in over her head, but she couldn't stop the thrill racing through her.

Curiosity, and an overwhelming impulse she couldn't deny, took hold of her. Gingerly, she flicked her tongue over the tips of his elongated teeth. Devon shuddered as his kiss became harsher. She was lost to him, lost to everything he was, and the breathtaking sensations he made her feel. Never in her life had she experienced anything as breathtaking as this, and she craved more.

She craved all of him.

Cassie took a stumbling step back as Devon suddenly released her. It took her a moment before she could get her wobbly legs firmly beneath her again. Breathless she stared up at him, shaken, and unfulfilled. His emerald eyes were dark and tortured as he gazed at her. For the first time it hit her just how difficult it was for him to be around her.

Tears sprang to her eyes; her hand flew to her swollen lips as a choked sound escaped her. The last thing in the world she meant to do was upset him in anyway, but that was exactly what she was doing to him.

"Devon." Her voice was choked with horror and sorrow.

His darkened gaze turned to Chris as small tremors ran through his fisted hands. "Mark?"

Chris cleared his throat; his face was flushed as he glanced at Cassie before focusing on Devon. "Ran off the first chance he got."

Devon nodded briskly. "Get her away from these people. I have to go, but I'm leaving her in your hands."

Cassie blinked away her tears as his gaze turned back to her. She longed to comfort him, but she instinctively knew she shouldn't. He was close to completely unraveling and her touch might just push him over the edge.

With a shaking hand, he briefly touched her cheek before turning on his heel and disappearing into the gaping crowd. Cassie blinked rapidly as she recalled she was standing in the middle of the crowded, oddly silent cafeteria. Questioning, condemning stares were focused upon her. Chris stepped forward and slid his arm through hers.

"Come on Cassie," he said gently.

She stared helplessly up at him, for years Chris had been her rock, the one person she could turn to when she required solace, and right now he was just as lost as she was. He led her through the crowd as it began to come alive again. The comments were no longer whispered as accusations were hurled at her. She barely heard any of them through the haze surrounding her.

They were at the cafeteria doors when Melissa came strolling around the corner. Her eyebrows rose when she saw them, and her mouth parted. Her gaze shot behind them as the buzz in the cafeteria increased. "What happened?" she demanded.

"A lot," Chris muttered. "We're leaving."

Melissa didn't question them further as she fell into step beside them. Cassie made it all the way to Chris's car, and was settled into the backseat, before she started to cry.