03/06/2009 18:08:00

I impatiently knocked on the door. After probably a hundred knocks, Simon said "Who is it?"

"Come on, just let me in! It's kind of important," I hissed, my mouth nearly touching the door. I heard him get up and walk over to let me inside. But instead of opening the door all the way, he just stuck his head out.

"So what is it?" he asked.

"What is this? Just let me in!"

Simon glanced over his shoulder for a brief moment before saying "It's kind of late, Vera… Maybe you should just go to bed…"

"Simon! It's like, what, eight? Damn it, let me in the room!" I was growing frustrated. He looked over his shoulder again, muttered "fine" and opened the door the rest of the way.

He closed it behind me and went back over to his bed where he had been working on a drawing. I looked around the room and noticed something was missing.

"Hey, where's Derek?" As I waited for Simon's answer I gave the room a good but subtle sniff. He had been here. Probably not too long ago either.

"Dunno," said the ever so helpful Simon. "So why weren't you letting me in…?" I asked. He shrugged his shoulders. "I didn't want you freaked out too. It's bad enough having one angry werewolf around, please don't make me deal with you and Derek!" I stifled a growl, not wanting to prove his point.

"Well," I said, "I guess I'll just have to tell you. Chloe and Rae are going check your brother's file tonight." At first, Simon looked slightly worried, but then calmed. "So?" he said. This only made me more frustrated.

"So," I said through gritted teeth, "We don't know what they put on those files. What if it talks about him being a werewolf?"

"Do you honestly think they'd be that stupid?" rumbled a voice behind me. I started. Once again, Derek had managed to sneak up on me. I heard a very faint laugh after I had jumped. I spun around to face him.

"You- you! Ugh! Where have you been?" I demanded, glaring. He ignored me, not saying anything. He walked over to his bed, throwing a look at Simon that read "why the hell did you let her in here?"

I sighed. "Derek, Chloe and Rae are going to look up your file." though his gaze seemed serene, I could see anxiety behind his eyes.

"Yeah, so I've heard. You know, you talk pretty loudly." I bit my tongue, not letting myself snap at his bait. He was just trying to avoid the topic of the file. Probably trying to make me angry enough to leave.

"And you're not the least bit concerned?" I growled, exasperated.

"No, not really. The people here probably assume we would try stuff like that. I mean, it's not like they hide the keys very well. The files are probably decoys." I considered what he said, but then shook my head.

"But what if they're not? If it does say you are what you are, Chloe and Rae will undoubtedly look up everyone else!" I gestured to myself and Simon. Still, Derek showed no sign of agreeing with me.

"Well," he began again, "the worst they'll probably find out about me is the stuff with the Albany kid. Even if they do look at the other files, I'm the only one with something worth hiding." Simon nodded his head in agreement. That was it, I'd had enough of them.

With my hand resting on the doorknob, I looked over my shoulder.

"Are you, Derek?"