Thank you to all of you who reviewed! You're the ones who keep me going. So this chapter is dedicated to all who have reviewed, I really appreciate it.

Disclaimer: I don't own the Darkest Powers series. And yes, I realize it totally just bums out your day, it bums mine too.

Chapter 8: First Sign

Days passed in no time.

Jessa spent most of her time reading and even convinced Aunt Lauren to drive her down to the public library, and when Tori found out about that she just had to come along too. No one was enrolled in school, mainly because where they were staying was only temporary. Kit told her that they were trying to keep as low a profile as possible; so going to school was out of the question.

But no school meant extremely bored teenagers. Chloe starting teaching Jessa everything she knew about necromancy, which, unfortunately, wasn't much. Jessa soon found out that Chloe was waaaaaaay more powerful than she was, and she wasn't even jealous because Jessa could tell that Chloe's power was also a curse.

But since Chloe was super powerful, she didn't need to know all the stuff needed for summoning and whatever else necromancers wanted to do, because she could already do it without even trying. So that meant that Jessa didn't learn much from Chloe, but that didn't matter to her because at the moment she was more focused on her werewolf issues.

The night with Derek was extremely helpful for her. It made her realize just how cool being a werewolf was and that it wasn't a curse, not really. She felt like maybe she could beat the thing that had killed so many of her friends. The fear that once gripped her every time her mind wondered towards the Change was gone and replaced by curiosity. She wasn't sure if Derek knew how much he had helped her, but she sure appreciated it.

Jessa soon found that being cooped up inside for days at a time sent her nerves reeling with restlessness. Before she had left the lab she had never been outside before. She had never seen the sky, or the moon, or the sun, or grass, or cars, or trees, or at least not in person. She had seen them in pictures and on videos the scientists allowed them to watch. And when she broke out she was completely over-whelmed. The noise gave her headaches for weeks; all the scents caused her nose to be useless. She wouldn't go anywhere near a city and cars scared the crap out of her.

For months she was a nervous wreck, but slowly she became accustom to it. And she started visiting the cities, then she moved into the cities. And once she was used to the cities she started working odd jobs, doing whatever it took to earn money. Well, no whatever it took, because she did have morals, and she would starve before giving up her morals.

She cleaned houses, she babysat, she helped people move, she worked at stores. She only stole in the beginning, when she was still scared of everything around her, and later when she first moved into the city and needed new clothes. She took showers at the places she snuck into, ranging from schools to fitness gyms.

But ever since the day she had escaped the lab she had spent part of her time outside, even if it was only in the city. But since coming here she found that since she had no need to be outside, she didn't go. And on her fifth day at the house her nerves were all jumbled up and screaming at her to get outdoors, not enjoying being cooped up, reminding her of the memories of the lab. So she went outside.

The forest was different during the day than at night. Birds were calling to each other, filling the air with their voices. The sunlight made everything glow, casting pattern-like shadows on the ground. She was amazed at the amount of wild life so early in the spring. Was New York normally this lively? She didn't know, but she loved it.

It seemed to go forever, and Jessa wondered just how big it was. There weren't any houses around theirs, not for miles and miles, so she needn't worry about someone seeing her. She walked all over, finding creeks and stopping often to check out something that looked weird.

She soon spent a part of every day out in the forest, loving being surrounded by the plant life. Sometimes Simon went with her and sometimes Chloe and once she even went with Tori. She liked being alone the most, but she enjoyed their company too, enjoyed talking to them and feeling accepted. She never went into the forest with Derek, and she wasn't sure why. She often scented trails of him winding through the trees, but never followed them, assuming he liked his moments alone out there just as much as she did.

Her and Simon had made an unspoken agreement to slow things down. They talked a lot, a LOT, and yeah, they kissed every once in a while, but generally they kept it slow. Jessa found out a lot of stuff about him, like the fact that Simon was diabetic. And as soon as she figured that out she talked to Chloe and found out what being diabetic meant, it didn't seem polite to ask Simon.

Before she knew it she had been there for three weeks. It amazed her how much time could fly when you really had nothing to worry about.


That night Kit announced that he was taking them all to the movies and then eating dinner afterwards.

"We have all been in this house far too long, and I think a night out will help everyone."

Chloe was extremely pleased at that announcement, being some sort of movie fanatic, and immediately knew what she wanted to see.

They all got ready, Tori coming into Chloe's and Jessa's room to supervise what they were going to wear.

"It's just a movie, Tori." Jessa said exasperated, as Tori had Jessa undress yet again, "They won't even see us!"

"It still matters!" Tori continued to look through Jessa stock of clothes, "Here, try this on."

It was a pair of jeans, a simple blue shirt with a dark purple jacket. Jessa sighed and tried it on, really not enjoying the whole dress-up doll feel.

"Perfect!" Tori beamed once Jessa had it on, Chloe nodded in agreement.

Jessa went over to the dresser and brushed her hair. Her black hair reached past her shoulders a few inches and shined in the of the rooom.

"You're not leaving your hair like that, are you?" Tori asked from behind her shoulder. Jessa suppressed a groan, something told her she wasn't.

15 minutes later Tori was beaming with joy, and Purple was squealing at Jessa's newly done hair. And Jessa had to admit that it was beautiful. Tori had taken a curler (which was burning hot and scared the crap out of Jessa. Why would anyone want something that hot that close to their head?) and had loosely curled the top layer of her hair.

"Wow," Chloe said dreamily from the doorway of Tori's room (Tori had refused to move her 'styling equipment' into their room).

"Thank you, Tori, I love it." Jessa said, still staring at her hair.

"And that's why you guys keep me around." Tori laid the curler back on her dresser, "Now hold still, we still have make-up to do."

The make-up scared Jessa just as much as the curler. Every time Tori got close to Jessa's eyes she would flinch, thinking her eyes were about to be poked out. The final result: a beautiful smoky-like affect that brought out Jessa's bright cat-green eyes.

"You look amazing." Chloe said quietly from Tori's bed.

"Thanks." Jessa blushed, and had to agree. She had never felt this beautiful before, and she kind of liked it.

"Now, we have to choose my outfit." Tori threw open her closet door.

When that job was done they fixed Tori and Chloe's hair and make-up, Jessa watching, since she had no experience with either field. When everything was finished all three girls looked stunning, and Jessa was kind of sad that they were only going to see a movie and eat out, it felt like they were meant to do so much more.

She was worried what Simon would think. Would he think she tried too hard to please him? Would he think it was pathetic? Oh, God, she was so nervous.

Tori, Jessa, and Chloe all went down the stairs at the same time, and Jessa kind of felt like they going to the ball or something important, like the girls in the old fashioned fairytales.

Chloe was the first to reach the bottom step, and Derek, standing close by, beamed the biggest smile she had ever seen appear on his face. He approached her and picked her up in a hug, her feet leaving the ground. Chloe giggled and his lips met hers. Jessa looked away, feeling like looking was intruding on something private. She was just really glad that Kit and Aunt Lauren were no where in sight.

"Oh, get a room." Tori muttered as she reached the bottom of the stairs, followed by Jessa.

Simon was leaning against the wall. He smiled when he saw Jessa, and she blushed and smiled back. He walked around Derek and Chloe, who were still in each other's arms, and came towards her. He wrapped his arms around her waist gently, and kissed her softly in the lips.

"You look beautiful." He murmured against her lips. Jessa's stomach flipped with joy, and melted in his arms, enjoying the kiss as much as she could. It didn't last long, but it was sweet and warm and made her feel so much better about how she looked.

The ride to the movie theatre was interesting. They had to drive the mini-van since the only other car they had was, well, a car, and they couldn't fit into that. Derek and Chloe were sitting very close to each other in the very backseat, trying to cuddle without being obvious about it. Kit was driving and Aunt Lauren was sitting shotgun. That left Tori, Simon, and Jessa to cram into the middle seat, which was just about as fun as it sounds.

"Jessa, you're sitting on my hand!" Tori snapped.

"Then move it." Was it really that hard?

"Why should I move? You're the one sitting on it!" Tori gave Jessa this weird look, a look Jessa didn't understand.

"And you're the one complaining!" Jessa shot back at her.

"Just scoot over!" And Tori pushed up against Jessa, pushing her closer Simon. Who the hell did Tori think she- Oooooo…. Now Jessa understood. She took Tori's lead and shifted closer to Simon, and now her whole left side was pressed up against him. Would he think this was weird? Would he mind if she was this close to him? She was stressing out way too much. She gave him a hesitant smile. He gave her a warm smile back, twining his fingers together with hers.

She was stressing for no reason.

They all sat in the same row when they reached the movie theatre. Chloe sat in Jessa's right, and Simon on her left, his knee touching hers as Chloe explained what the movie was supposed to be about.

"The whole plot is pretty basic. The normal falling in love and saving the damsel in distress. But this director is a hero in the business. He can turn the most ordinary plots into something amazing. Plus the screenwriter is well known. I think it will be pretty good." Chloe chattered on and on, and Jessa just nodded, not really understanding what she was saying.

It was a relief when the lights finally dimmed and Chloe stopped talking to focus all her attention on the pre-views.

Jessa really had a hard time paying attention during the movie. People all around them were shifting and whispering, and she heard everything. A couple in the very last row of the theatre were making out and they were not heeding the signs telling everyone to stay quiet. Then there was that horribly strong popcorn smell filling the room. Combine that with the booming volume of the movie and you have the perfect recipe for a headache.

At some point she looked over Chloe's head and caught Derek's eye. She raised an eyebrow? Are you getting a headache? He shrugged, glanced over Jessa's head, making sure Kit and Aunt Lauren were watching the movie, then wrapped his arm around Chloe's shoulder, and she snuggled closer to him. Thus saying, Yeah, but I can live with it. Jessa rolled her eyes at him and tried to focus on the movie.

Simon's knee touched hers the entire time. And once Jessa realized that trying to watch the movie was impossible, she moved her attention onto Simon. She really wanted more than just his knee touching her, and debated taking his hand, but would that seem desperate? She knew that she had been thinking the same thing earlier while she was getting ready, that he would think she was trying too hard, and seem pathetic. She knew she was stressing out for no reason, knew that he liked her and wouldn't even think she was pathetic. But she couldn't help it. She blamed it on her screwed up childhood.

She sighed quietly and scratched her arm.

The movie was over 1 hour and 17 minutes later. 1 hour and 17 minutes of Jessa's life wasted. 1 hour and 17 minutes she spent stressing over whether or not she should take Simon's hand, which was solved 23 minutes before the movie ended, when he took hers. It was nice, his thumb making slow circles on her skin, causing goose bumps to rise all across her body. Then she spent the last 21 minutes wondering if her palms were sweaty.

Jessa was stressed out by the time they had left the theatre and were loading into the cars, just wanting to go home. As they waited for Derek and Chloe to get situated in their seat Jessa absently scratched her back.

They went to eat at some burger place, and Jessa got this huge burger that even made her eyes widen. Add a double order of fries and you have one happy werewolf. Jessa had no problem eating that much in front of Chloe, Derek, Simon, Tori, Kit, and Aunt Lauren, they were used to it and knew that she burned calories like a furnace in Alaska during the dead of winter. But the waiter shot Jessa a surprised look when she ordered, and so did the waitress who brought the food, and then the people who were sitting at the table next to theirs.

Derek got just as much food as she had, but did people shoot him weird glances? No. Talk about sexist.

"Maybe you shouldn't eat all of that." Derek said quietly, so quiet you needed werewolf ears to pick it up.

Jessa glanced down at her food, having already made it through half of it, she was more than certain that she could finish it all. But she knew girls did not eat this much, especially skinny ones like her. With a sigh she ate a little more then stopped staring longingly at the food she wasn't allowed to finish. But she could always take it home! She smiled, knowing exactly what her midnight snack would be tonight.

Simon held her hand on the car ride home.

"Did you like the movie?" Simon asked her, his voice barely above a whisper, his mouth right next to her ear.

Jessa smiled to herself, "I had trouble paying attention."

Simon frowned at her, not understanding, but Jessa didn't want to elaborate, so she just laid her head on his shoulder. Simon released her hand and snaked an arm around her waist, engulfing her in his warmth. His hand rested on her stomach, and he tickled her for a few seconds until she hit him playfully, and he accepted defeat and stopped. She snuggled close to him, not really caring what Kit and Aunt Lauren thought, they could deal. Simon rested his cheek on her forehead, and Jessa breathed a peaceful sigh. This just felt so right and wonderful.

The adults called it bedtime when they got home. Aunt Lauren didn't leave any of them alone together until they all reached their assigned bedrooms, making sure that nothing more than quick kisses were exchanged.

Jessa changed her clothes while Chloe was in the bathroom. She was so happy, so filled with joy she forced herself not to squeal like a little girl. Where was Purple at, she needed to dish all the juicy stuff to her.

When Purple didn't appear, Jessa shrugged and decided it would have to wait until morning. Making sure Chloe was still out of the room Jessa jumped up and down excitedly, then collapsed on the bed her breath heavy. She could still feel Simon's arm around her waist and his breath against her ear. She could feel his knee pressed against hers and every other time he had touched her that night. Her stomach flipped happily and she forced herself to calm down, taking deep breathes. Still, she was unable keep from beaming like a lunatic.

She scratched her arm, wondering why it was so itchy, remembering all the times she had scratched it during the night. Then a weird sensation ran through her forearm, kind of like a twitch, only it was different. Worried Jessa looked down at it and froze with fear.

The skin of her arm was writhing, like snakes were moving underneath it. Her muscles were spasming.

Her chest went cold and her happy mood vanished so fast it was like it was never there. She just stared as her arm continued to spasm then stop. And even after it stopped she stared, not wanting to believe it.

Itchy skin, muscle spasms; they were warning signs. They were warning signs of the Change. Oh, God. She was going to Change. She was going to Change soon.

So! Do you like it? Are you mad that I left it cliffy? Let me know what you think by reviewing. All you have to do is click the little button below. Go ahead, click it. I dare ya.

Thanks- Cheerfully Blue