CHAPTER FOUR

Burnett led him to his cabin.

While on the way, a group of teens walked past and eyed at him like the ones they usually gave to an odd new kid at school.

Oh, great, he complained mentally. He was already the odd one on his first day at the new school. Perhaps he couldn't help it. After all, he was going to school with a bunch of vampires, werewolves, fairies and who knows what else. And his pattern signified him as the kid who often got singled out.

He was about to ask Burnett what they were, but the idea of being next to a vampire - let alone talk to one - creeped him out. Maybe he'll get used to it eventually, but until then he will need some time to adjust.

Burnett studied him with the corner of his eye. "Is there something on your mind?"

He considered denying it, but curiosity piqued.

"I was just wondering what those kids were," he answered. "I mean, I saw their patterns, but..." He trailed off.

Burnett didn't answer for a long minute as if considering how to answer him without freaking him out. Finally, he did, "They're werewolves. You'll eventually learn to discriminate between the patterns. Don't worry, we're not as intimidating as you think."

He questioned that, but decided not to say it.

Once they arrived at his cabin, a new question formed in his head and it got out of his lips before he thought it through. "Do I have any roommates?"

What a stupid question, he thought. But he did want to know if he was rooming with a vampire or a werewolf.

Burnett didn't speak. He just nodded as if he didn't know how to answer his question. And that might indicate he was rooming with both.

"I'm rooming with a vampire and a werewolf, aren't I?" the question escaped his lips before he could stop himself.

The headmaster nodded carefully.

Great. He'll be the first meal on a vampire's or a werewolf dinner list. If one of them didn't kill the other to get to him first.

"Take some rest," he told Snow. "Dinner's at six. It'll be more public and you'll probably feel better when you meet everyone."

Or not.

Snow took the last steps between him and the porch, up the stairs and slowly swung opened the cain door. He leaned his head inward to see if any of his roommates were in. He couldn't be sure, but the cabin seemed empty. Which was fine. He needed some lone time.

He found his bedroom, and immediately stepped in and crashed onto the wide empty bed. He gripped the sheets as frustration ate him from the inside.

He had thought that coming to Shadow Falls would help him figure out what he was, or what he might be. But now, the idea of being here felt wrong. Maybe he wasn't normal, but he could barely grasp the concept. That and the realization of him being adopted made the anger and hurt unbearable.

The memory of the newspaper and the looks on his parents' faces filled his head. It felt like he was inches away from exploding. He punched the bed so hard the wooden bed frame creaked.

The sound of the cabin door swinging brought an abrupt halt to his punching.

"Prob'ly in the room," an unfamiliar deep voice said.

Urgh! Here we go! He sat straight on the bed. Can't someone have their privacy?

A knock sounded on his door. "Hello?"

He took a deep breath and said nervously, "Come on."

A curly brown-haired boy opened the door and stepped inside uninvited with a friendly grin on his face.

"You must be the new guy," he said and offered his hand. "Hi, I'm Frederico Gonzalez. Call me Freddie."

Snow took it cautiously and introduced himself, "Snow."

"Hm, nice name."

It is until you start making fun of it.

Freddie twitched his eyebrows at him and studied his pattern.

"I know. I have a weird brain pattern."

Freddie snorted. "Trust me, you're not nearly as weird as the ones we have here."

Snow checked his pattern and didn't recognize it. He wasn't sure acting ignorant was a bad idea, but considering he would be spending quite some time with this guy, it would be nice to know what he was facing. "I'm sorry, I'm still new to this whole supernatural thing. So I'm not sure what you are."

Freddie smiled. "I'm shape-shifter. And the guy in the living room's a werewolf."

Footsteps sounded in the short hall, and a African-American guy with a muscular build appeared at the door. The blue tank top he wore only enhanced his masculinity. He gave him a nonchalant look, like he didn't care who he was. His wide posture sent shivers down Snow's spine, even though everything about him said sexy.

"I'm Michael. Michael Hoffman!" he said, but didn't smile or offer his hand.

Snow twitched his eyebrows to read his pattern. It was the same as the group of kids that he saw on the way here.

He nodded politely. "Um... Snow."

The werewolf stared at him. "What's wrong? Are you afraid of me?"

"No." He didn't want to admit it. Showing fear would get you killed faster. He'll probably have to watch his back for the entire semester.

Heck, maybe he shouldn't have come here, after all.

Freddie giggled as if he found the situation funny, except Snow didn't feel the same enthusiasm. "I swear if Diego's here right now, you wouldn't be able to lie worth a damn."

"Why?"

Michael shot out of the room. Freddie continued. "You didn't know? Vampires are keen to hearing heartbeats. They can tell when you're lying."

This new info disturbed him, though not quite as much as some other things he tried not to think about. Compared to him discovering his being supernatural and the discovery of being adopted and some other problems he had forced himself not to worry about, the idea of vampires being able to hear your lies didn't hit the headache list. He already had enough written down to worry about that.

"I'll leave you to yourself now," Freddie said and started walking, then stopped and swung around, "Oh, hey, you're going to dinner, right?"

"Yeah, probably," he said hesitantly.

"Good, 'cause I think there are some people hoping to meet you. Everyone thinks you're going to be as interesting as the Galen girl."

"Who?"

Someone appeared at their door and interrupted their conversation. Snow looked around Freddie at the new stranger, and his breath caught. To describe the new guy as good-looking was an understatement. Long black strands with light brown highlights covered his thick eyebrows. Cheekbones of a young supermodel. He had a Mexican feature to his face; his chin grew a tiny goatee. Snow felt his breath taken away by the presence of this new stranger.

"Hello, I'm Diego," the boy introduced himself. "Diego Harris."

Snow realized he hadn't talked. "Snow. Snow White."

"Snow White?" Freddie repeated with an amused tone. "Your name's Snow White?"

Snow shot an angry look at him. "Don't start."

He really didn't want to hear anyone mock his name on his first day at a freaky school. Freddie covered his mouth, but still laughed a little behind his palm.

Snow looked back to the stranger. Diego. He twitched his eyebrows and recognized it as Burnett's brain pattern.

Holy shit! This guy was a vampire.

And that turned his mesmerization to fear in an instant.