Cassie tried to stay strong against the new barrage of whispered comments following her down the hall. Her chase of Dani the other night had managed to set off a new wave of gossip and innuendo. She clutched her books tighter to her chest as she reached her locker, spun the dial, and flung it open.

"Who knew she was such a freak," Jess whispered.

Cassie glanced over her shoulder at the group of girls gathered fifteen feet away. They glanced discreetly at her and looked away when they found her staring at them. Kara, Jess, and Marcy were gathered close together, obviously enjoying her downfall.

Exasperation and betrayal burst hotly through her. She'd once considered all of them her friends. She'd held sleepovers with them, gone to their pool parties, partied on the beach with them. They had talked of boys, and shared their hopes and dreams as they discussed their futures with eager anticipation. Though they'd grown apart when Cassie had discovered her heritage, she'd never once stopped thinking of them as friends.

And they had turned against her so easily. Cassie slammed her locker shut but her pride wouldn't allow her to just walk away again. Throwing her shoulders back, Cassie made her way straight over to them without any hesitation. Their eyes were wary as they watched her approach.

"Hello everyone," she said with a forced grin. "How are you this morning?"

They glanced at each other before turning back to her. "Fine," Marcy answered though resentment gleamed in her eyes. "What is it Cassandra?"

Cassie opened her notebook and pulled out the notes she'd made awhile ago on the homecoming dance. It was a poor excuse, but she didn't care, she was tired of hiding from these girls, tired of slinking through the halls like a leper. She handed the notes to Marcy as she met her gaze head on.

"You asked me for these."

Marcy took them from her but barely glanced at them. "Things have changed since then."

Cassie forced herself to smile at the small girl as she tried to keep her temper in check. "I am well aware of that Marcy, but I am still on the homecoming committee."

Marcy's jaw dropped as she glanced at the other girls. "Uh, you know Cass…" Kara started awkwardly.

"You haven't been to any meetings in the past two weeks," Marcy interrupted.

"I've been busy, but I'll make sure to attend the next one. It's today right?"

"You can't be serious!" Marcy exploded as her leaf colored eyes narrowed severely.

"Oh, I'm very serious. You said yourself Marcy that I do have the best ideas, and we would like our senior year to be the best dance it can be."

Marcy looked at her like she'd sprouted another head. "But…"

"It will be fun; we can catch up on all the gossip. I can't wait to find out what's new and exciting in your lives."

They shifted uncomfortably and everyone except for Marcy appeared somewhat ashamed. Marcy looked like the top of her head was going to blow off and her face had turned magenta. If they hadn't been standing in the midst of a crowded hallway, Cassie was certain Marcy would have launched herself at her.

Cassie grinned back at her. It was good to have the tables finally turn, if only a little. She would never regain her social standing in the school, nor did she wish to, but she was damn tired of skulking around.

Maybe if she confronted them head on they would back off. Yeah right, and pigs would fly, she thought with a sigh. But at least she was making a stand; she was sticking up for herself in some way. It was a small jab, but it was a jab that made her feel a little better.

Even before Marcy's gaze shot behind her, and blatant lust shown in her eyes, Cassie knew Devon had arrived. Her body had become so attuned to his, so in sync that she would know him anywhere. His hand landed on her shoulder as he sought to give her comfort.

"What's going on?" he asked his voice low and grating.

"We were just discussing plans for the homecoming dance."

Devon's eyebrows drew together severely as he glanced questioningly around the group. "Really?"

"Yes, there's a meeting today, and since I haven't gone to one in a while I thought it would be a good idea to attend."

He stared at her in disbelief. "Really?"

Cassie smiled at him as she pressed closer to his side. Confusion radiated from him, but he didn't say anything more. "So I will see you later," Cassie said as she kept the false grin plastered to her face.

It was obvious Marcy felt like arguing this point, but with Devon present she wasn't going to say a word. Turning to Devon, Cassie slipped her hand into his and kept her smile plastered on as she pulled him away. "What are you doing?" he asked.

She waited till they turned the corner before her shoulders slumped and she relaxed against him. "I don't know," she admitted. She should have just kept on trying to fly below the school population radar. Now she was anxious she may have just poked the bear. "I really don't know."

He slid his arm around her shoulders and pulled her against him. "Are you really going to this thing?"

Taking a deep breath, she nodded as she nervously chewed on her bottom lip. She'd jumped before looking, but she was committed now, and she planned to stay that way. They turned another corner and Dani, Melissa, and Chris came into view by the cafeteria doors. "I am. It will be ok," she muttered.

Devon quirked an eyebrow, a smile twitched at his lips, but his eyes remained clouded with unease. "I suppose."

* * *

Devon leaned casually against the wall as he studied the ticking clock. Cassie had told him to stay away, she intended to do this on her own, but he wasn't willing to go far from her. Through the thick double doors of the gymnasium, he could feel her distress. He didn't know why she'd insisted upon this, but she was determined to go through with it.

Shifting a little, he shot a look at the group of freshmen boys eyeing him warily as they scurried past. He quirked an eyebrow, but paid them little attention otherwise. Chris strolled around the corner, a towel tossed over his shoulder, and his hair still wet from his shower. He was whistling as he walked, but tension hummed through him.

"How was practice?"

His whistling died off as he shrugged and pulled the towel from his shoulder. "I'll be glad when the football season is over."

Devon's attention turned back to the closed doors when Cassie's anxiety clicked up a notch. He fought against going in there and pulling her out. She would be infuriated with him though, and she was having a rough enough time without him adding to it. Chris studied the closed doors behind him as Devon's agitation grew. He was growing to hate the bitchy, cruel girls in this school. And he wasn't too fond of the lust filled, envious boys who were annoyed she hadn't chosen them either.

"Not going well?" Chris rested his hand against the wall as he studied the closed doors.

"No."

"I can't believe she's doing this."

"I can."

Chris snorted softly. "True. Are they almost done in there super ears?"

Devon shot him a disgruntled look that Chris easily ignored. Pushing aside the waves of distress pouring from Cassie, he turned his attention back to the room. He couldn't concentrate on what was being said if he didn't block her emotions out. They were talking about decorations, debating whether or not to go with the crystal disco ball. Devon was hoping they decided against the ball, as Marcy declared it was a necessity.

"I don't know," he answered Chris. "They're discussing disco balls right now."

Chris groaned as he rolled his eyes. "I hate those stupid things, they're blinding."

"Tell me about it."

Chris grinned at him as he used his fingers to bounce himself off the wall. "Yeah they bother Cassie a lot too, give her headaches. She has to wear sunglasses around them most of the time."

Devon frowned and withdrew almost completely from the monotonous conversation within. Chris's words had his attention far more than what color to use for the tablecloths. "She does?"

Chris nodded as he continued to bounce. "Yeah, the light bothers her eyes."

Devon dropped his head and rubbed the bridge of his nose. There was a nagging feeling in the back of his mind he couldn't shake. "How good is her eyesight?" he asked.

Chris shrugged negligently. "Don't really know. It's definitely better than perfect, far better than anyone I've ever met before." Chris eyed him for a moment as he tilted his head. "Except maybe for you."

Devon couldn't shake the nagging feeling something was wrong. That something wasn't quite right and there was something about Cassie they were all missing. "I see."

Chris stopped bouncing off the wall. "What's wrong?"

Devon shook his head and stepped away from the wall as the conversation inside turned to dresses. Cassie's boredom beat against him and he took that as his leave to rescue her. "I'll be back."

"Want me to come with you; those girls are like a bunch of leeches with you around." Devon couldn't help but grin at him. The kid had gotten on his nerves for a little while, but he was beginning to grow on him now. "Plus you might need some help with Cassie, she can't be mad at both of us."

"You would like to think."

Chris chuckled as he wrapped the towel around the back of his neck. Grasping both sides of it, he pulled it back and forth across his neck. "Lead the way."

Devon pushed the doors open and stepped into the dimly lit gym. The group of girls was gathered at the far end with a pile of papers scattered amongst them. Cassie was off to the side, leaning against a wall. Her head was bowed and her golden hair cascaded in front of her in thick waves. She lifted her head when the door opened; her eyes were vivid in the darkened room. Relief radiated from her as she took a small step away from the wall.

Laughter drifted in the air as Marcy waved her hands in an arch. Bending down, Cassie grabbed hold of her bag and swung it easily over her shoulder. The conversation stopped as their attention briefly turned to her before their heads spun toward Devon and Chris. There was a collective inhalation of breaths.

Devon paid them no mind as he strolled past, eager to get to Cassie. He craved her touch like a man in the desert craved water. A breath of relief and joy escaped her as his hand slid into hers. He saw no ire in her amused, twinkling gaze. Only love radiated from her as she stood on tiptoe to kiss him on the cheek.

"I thought you could use a rescue."

"I could," she agreed. "It took you long enough to get in here."

He grinned at her as he brushed her hair back from her exquisite face. His fingers stroked her silken cheek as she turned into his touch. He yearned to take her face in his hands and taste her lips. At the same time he longed to sink his teeth into her elegant neck and devour her sweet blood.

He shuddered as his hand tensed upon her. He knew he would never conquer his desire for her, but he’d hoped it wouldn't be as intense all the time. Just once, he would like to hold her, and know what it was like to savor the touch and feel of her without having to fight his own nature.

He reluctantly pulled away from her. She gazed up at him from under her thick lashes; sometimes he wished she didn't understand him as well as she did. He knew she saw into his soul, he wished he could keep his turmoil hidden from her, but it was impossible.

"Let's go." He was eager to get her out of here and take her somewhere she felt safe and sheltered.

"I'll see you guys Thursday," she called to the silent group.

Marcy's mouth dropped, strange sputtering noises escaped her. "You can't be serious!" she squawked, stunned into letting her resentment of Cassie show in front of him.

"Completely."

Devon shot Marcy a dark look as she continued to gape, and those strange noises still escaped her. "But we don't require any more help."

Cassie grinned at her. "After the ideas I heard today, I would say you do."

There was a collective inhalation of breaths. Pride bloomed through Devon as he pulled her closer and kissed the top of her head.