I didn't hear any knocking. I just heard Gunther start to go crazy and my dad suddenly calling me.

"Katie? I think your boyfriend is here."

Uh oh. I can't even remember who my parents think I'm dating right now.

I book downstairs, my dad's at the door and there's Keith, lingering awkwardly outside. It's so jarring to see him out of the apartment, my first thought is that he's gone nuts again. But he doesn't have that darkness in his eyes, and he was sane enough to remember the mask.

Still though. He looks scared about something.

"Uh. Hi… sweetie?" I say.

But I'm not sure he's heard me over Gunther's barking.

"Easy, boy," my dad holds Gunther by the collar. Then he says to Keith, "It's nothing personal, he doesn't like Katie either."

Gunther usually just avoids me, I've never heard him actually growl before.

My dad goes to shut him in the bathroom like you would with a goddamn werewolf.

"What's going on, why are you here?" I whisper to Keith.

"Pidge, I need you to…" he shuts up when my dad comes back. "I mean. Can you come out tonight? My darling."

I look at my dad too. This is really NOT an ideal way to get me out of the house.

"Uh… Dad?"

My dad looks between us. I'm sure he's sizing up this new boyfriend of mine.

"It's a bit late. What are you kids planning on doing?"

Oh god. What ARE we doing?

"Uh… there's a really nice moon out tonight and I thought it'd be a good time for a… picnic," Keith shuffles.

Damn, Keith, you're a hopeless romantic and an even more hopeless liar.

"A picnic?"

"Yeah, we've been waiting for a good night for this," I try.

My dad widens the door. God, Keith, it's not that warm out, are you going to stand there or are you going to come in like a normal fucking person?

"Don't you need a warmer jacket than that?" my dad asks.

"Uh… I–"

"YES can he borrow one of yours?" I cut him off.

My dad chuckles and pulls one off the coat rack. I was sorta hoping that was gonna buy us more time than that. Whatever's going on, I wish Lance had been the one to get me. He may say some stupid shit but it always seems to work out.

Lance.

Tonight's the full moon.

Oh shit.

"You kids don't have to make up a midnight picnic to get out of the house," says my dad. "But I'll grant you, it was a good try."

"Please, Dad, it's important."

"Of course it is," he says. Then he turns to Keith. "You know, it's more romantic to sneak in through the window."

"Uh… what?" says Keith.

"Sure. I won't say I'VE never done that…"

Dear god.

At least my new boyfriend seems to have passed inspection. Despite categorically failing the Gunther test and showing up unannounced in the middle of the fucking night.

My dad hands me something and I know it's a last-minute condom.

"Let us know if you need anything else," he says.

It's almost too bad I don't date because I have some EXCELLENT wingmen.

"Uh, no, that should be fine," I say. Then I look at Keith. "Right?"

"Yeah," he says, though I'm not sure he looks like he's really thinking about it. He just looks desperate to get a move on and this could not possibly reflect well on our fake date. Or my choice of fake boyfriends.

"When should we expect you back?" asks my dad.

I really hate that question.

"Uh…" I hope Keith can carry this one because I have no idea what we're doing.

"Whenever," he says.

I really prefer Lance as a fake boyfriend.

"Tomorrow," I say through my teeth.

"Okay, well, drive safe," my dad says.

I hope he doesn't realize Keith doesn't have a car.

"Yup, we will! Bye, Dad!"

I'm out the door before I can grab any of my stuff. Feel so fucking naked without it.

This had better be important.

"Okay, what the fuck is going on?" I whisper as Keith basically starts to drag me off.

"I'll tell you when we're out of earshot."

It's a combination of things that's making me feel upset. I want my stuff with me and my routine's been interrupted and I'm actually pretty fucking scared about whatever it is that's brought Keith to my house tonight.

I pull my hand out of his grip.

"Keith, my dad thinks this is a BOOTY CALL. You'd better have a good excuse."

He scoffs.

"Don't worry, I'm not that kind of guy."

"Really? That's not what Lance says."

Then he gives me a look. I probably shouldn't have said that.

"The fuck did Lance tell you?"

Probably shouldn't use the specific colorful words Lance did. Man, I thought it had just been a JOKE.

"…the... opposite?"

I can't see most of his face but I think he's upset.

I should just stop trying to have friends.

I start to apologize but he shoves the balled-up jacket at me and cuts me off.

"Things have gotten better since I met Shiro. Back when I didn't have anywhere to live, I did what I had to do not to sleep out in the cold. Now we're gonna drop it, okay?"

That's a lot less funny than what Lance said.

Also, does he even sleep anymore? Was this before he was turned?

But we're gonna drop it. No more questions.

"Yeah."

I want to tell him I'm sorry to hear all that, but I'm not sure that falls under "dropping it." I bet Shiro would know what to say.

He's walking so stiffly. I hope he's okay.

Come to think of it, I don't actually know how he met Shiro in the first place.

"How DID you meet Shiro, anyway?"

He scoffs, eyes ahead.

"I'm his biggest disgrace."

I should probably stop prying tonight.

Wonder if we're out of earshot yet.

"So. Why do you need me? Shiro's at work?"

He picks up the pace.

"Shiro's at work and the cops showed up."

Fucking shit.

"What happened?"

"Sounded like someone called it in as a dogfighting ring."

Are you fucking serious.

"Who the fuck creeps around the warehouse besides you guys?"

"How would I fucking know that?"

"So where's Hunk and Lance?"

"I don't know! Wherever animal control took them!"

My insides get cold.

"And you just WATCHED them?"

All I can think of is the time I saw him punch a werewolf twice his size.

"Pidge, if I attack a human it's gonna go– VERY badly!"

Well, that doesn't make me feel any better about walking around the city at night.

"And you didn't even fucking text me before you just showed up?"

"I'm a little fucking tense, okay?"

"Yeah, I fucking noticed! I'm a little fucking tense, too!"

"Look, I need you right now, okay? Where would they have been taken?"

I'm one hundred percent certain he would rather have Shiro for this, and I ALSO would rather he have Shiro. There's a reason Shiro usually gets cage duty. Whatever he is, he's really good with people and probably doesn't eat them.

"Well… I can only guess they've been taken to the dog pound."

Is that shit operational at night? No way is it open for visitors right now.

"Okay, where is that?"

"Gimme a sec." I have nothing but my phone and a cross and a condom. Thank god for pockets.

"You've gotta be shitting me," I say. "It's on the other side of town."

"Then we're going NOW," Keith says.

I really hope this pound doesn't immediately destroy aggressive dogs.

We're running through the streets now, definitely looking like the casual law-abiding citizens we are. It's fucking cold out, even running this fast, even in my dad's jacket. And I'm starting to doubt Keith remembers I need to fucking breathe. I'm sure this story is going to be hilarious someday but right now I'm just not feeling it.

. I wonder if there are any other werewolves out tonight.

When we finally stop I take out the cross.

I move to tuck it into my shirt. There's a sharp noise.

It's Keith, flinching into a defensive curl. He only relaxes a bit when the cross drops out of sight.

"Are you… okay?" I ask.

"Where did you get that?"

Does he really think I'd buy this of my own accord?

"…from Shiro."

He looks hurt. Then angry. But he turns away.

"So, THAT'S the trust I get…"

Fuck. I may suck at friendship, but I'm aware this is a pretty bad corner. It's not that I don't trust HIM, I just don't trust that vampiric rage I've seen him fly into.

"It's not THAT… I mean, I'm sorry…"

"No, don't be sorry. You SHOULDN'T trust me. No one should."

Pretty broad statement there.

"Not even Shiro?"

"I ripped his fucking arm off, of course he shouldn't trust me."

Shit.

"Uh… do you want to… talk about that?"

"No, Pidge. I really, really don't."

He may not want to talk about it, but I'm not not saying something for a second time. I can think of one good thing to say, and I'm surprised it came from someone other than Shiro.

"Keith. There's no such thing as having to like someone."

I can see my breath but I can't see his.

Something's changed.

The mask comes off, it's wet and ruined, he lets it drop to the ground even though I doubt he's brought another.

He has no heartbeat but I can feel him shaking when he clings onto my shoulder.

It's not me he's crying about. It's someone he hurt but who still loves him. It's someone to whom he is the biggest disgrace. It's somebody he loves, too.

I'm not so good at this but I put my arms around him. He's so cold.

I guess my mom was right about learning things outside a classroom.