So, I was going to wait and finish up my other stories before I posted another Nine Lives one, but I couldn't help myself. This is kind of a sequel to my first Nine Lives story, Protection Needed? So you can read it, but it isn't needed to make sense. Hope you enjoy!

I watched Alek and Chloe through the window, seeing her laugh at something he said. He smiled at her, then added a comment that made Chloe's eyes widen and slap at his chest gently. I smiled softly at the scene. Ever since they had started dating, Valentina had asked me to do some extra patrols, in case Alek was too distracted to help. Personally, I thought that was crazy. If anything, Alek is being more careful and protective around her. But I wasn't one to argue with her.

I didn't draw attention to myself as I entered the little café. I picked my usual table after I ordered my coffee, the one with little carvings on it, such as A.B + B. L and other things. I loved to pass time looking at them, imagining if I wasn't Mai, maybe I could have a life I could carve into a table. Wishful thinking, I scolded myself. Concentrate on Chloe. I walked up to the counter and grabbed my drink. I turned around right into someone. My coffee sloshed right onto his feet.

"Oh, I am so sorry." I exclaimed, grabbing some napkins and handing them to him.

"Hey, it's okay. No harm." He looked at me curiously. "Do I know you from somewhere?" He asked.

"I don't think so." I answered as I studied him. He had black, curly hair with bright blue eyes and a nice face. Pretty tall, around six feet, I'd say.

"Oh, you're Valentina's daughter, right?" A memory came rushing back at me.

"Jasmine, meet Ben." My mother introduced me to boy around my age. I was bored; at 12, formal parties like this were not my thing.

"Hello." I said politely.

"Hi." He replied. That was it before I was whisked away by Valentina to meet other important Mai.

"Yes, we met at that party." I recalled.

"You remember that?" He asked, laughing.

"Vaguely. I tend to block out the majority of those parties."

"I was lucky; I only went to a few."

"It's Ben, right?" I asked hesitantly, my memory could be way off. To my relief, he nodded.

"And you're Jasmine." He stated.

"Yeah, or Valentina's daughter, I go by both by others like us." I lowered my voice to say the last part. He laughed as he leaned down to wipe his shoes with the napkins I gave him.

"I'm really sorry." I repeated.

"It's fine, I needed new shoes anyway." He reassured me.

"Let me buy you a drink, to make up for it." I suggested.

"You don't need to do that." He tried to protest.

"Please? If you aren't going let me feel guilty." I insisted.

"Alright." He gave in.

I ended up buying him coffee and we sat together. About ten minutes after we sat down, I bolted upright, looking for Chloe and Alek. They had left.

"Damn it." I hissed.

"Whoa, what's wrong?" Ben asked.

"I was watching Chloe." I explained. His face was blank.

"The Uniter." I explained further. He nodded, now understanding. "I was supposed to be watching her, but then I spilled coffee on you and got distracted. Valentina is going to kill me." I groaned.

"Not if she doesn't find out." He said, smiling. I sent him a questioning look. "Let's go find her." He suggested.

I nodded slowly. If I found her soon and convinced Alek not to say anything it could work.

He stood up and drained the last few drops of his drink. We were almost out of the door when a bunch of Alek's friends walked in.

"Is that the quiet hot girl with a guy?" I heard one ask another, so loudly I could hear him without trying.

"I think so."

"Weird." Another one added.

I brushed by them, making sure Ben was behind me.

"Ooooh." One called after I left. I scowled, they were so immature. I couldn't figure out how Alek hangs out with them. I'd rather be the quiet and not talk to anyone than hang out with people like them.

"You know them?" Ben asked after we passed.

"Unfortunately. They're friends with Alek and go to my school." I clarified. "I don't interact much with humans, so they think I'm kind of weird."

He nodded, as if my explanation made perfect sense.

"Okay, where would they most likely go?"

I thought about that for a minute. Probably Chloe's house. I thought I remembered something about her saying her mom was out with Frank.

"Probably her house." I voiced my thoughts and started walking in that direction.

I relaxed when we got to her house and could hear them inside. In fact, hear way too much of them. I made a face. "Wanna go up on the roof?" I asked Ben.

"Are we allowed up there?"

"Yeah, that's usually where we watch over Chloe from."

"Sure." He told me. Once we were up on the roof he looked at me and smiled.

"This has been the coolest re-meeting I've had." He said.

I laughed, "Me too." Then my phone rang. It was my mom.

"Hello?" I answered.

"Are you still watching Chloe?" She said abruptly, no hello or anything. I gritted my teeth.

"Yes, she's at home now."

"Good, I think Alek can handle it from here." With that she hung up.

"I'm off patrol duty." I said as I slid my phone in my pocket.

"Cool." We got off the roof and started walking when he said, "Oh, I have to go. I need to help my dad out at his store." He looked apologetic.

"That's fine." I forced a smile, I really liked him, and I had only known him about an hour.

"Here, you should give me your number, and I can call you." We exchanged numbers and he left. I had to stomp down a girlish giggle as he left. I shouldn't be acting like this, I reminded myself. Who cares? Another voice said. I agreed, I was finally going to act like a real girl. I walked home with a smile on my face, holding onto my phone like a lifeline.

There's the first chapter! Hope you liked it and you can tell me if you liked/hated it in a review! Reviews make everyone happy, although the probably make me happiest. Please review!

Allie