Chapter Seven

He walked slowly past the swimming complex and towards the gymnasium, lost in thought. He had finally asked her, and she had turned him down gently, but surely. What did he expect anyway? That she would throw her arms around him in joy?

"I love you heaps," she had said, "as a friend, but I can't feel anything more. I'm so sorry."

…so that's what they will always be: friends. He knew she had been flattered that he asked, but that was it. No, he won't even think of anyone else. It was the first time he had felt something like this and it would be the last. Only, why did he have to fall for his friend? Why Romy? It could easily have been one of those girls that giggled and flirted around him.

Sanjo sighed, refusing to let the sadness from his past lives ebb from the waves of this current dilemma. It was always like that. Whenever something depressing happened, similar memories would come crashing down like blocks from the centuries past. One on top of each other.

"Go away, go away," he thought, splashing some water from the drinking fountain onto his face. He would go home alone today, telling his friends he had extra homework or something. They would believe him anyway, since they thought he was some kind of study geek. Then he would do some meditation to free some of the pain, or his parents would be worried. Besides, it was normal for life to throw things at you, and all you can do is try to move on…

******

Jade balanced herself on the high beam, arms to her sides, and swiftly did some flips and twists, landing perfectly.

"It's a little unfair that Richter let me into the team instead of Lucia Jovellanos," she thought guiltily. "After all, she's not the one with shapeshifter blood."

Feeling a little daring in the isolated gym, she did an impromptu floor routine, singing On the Beautiful Blue Danube aloud. Suddenly she noticed a pair of half- downcast eyes gazing blankly at her. He stood slumping in the doorway, hands in pockets.

"Sanjo you perve," she yelped embarrassedly. Looking more closely, she realised that something was wrong. "What's the matter? You look awful."

"Thanks," he muttered darkly, turning away.

"Hey, don't go!" she chirped, running after him. "I think I'm a good listener, so do tell me what happened. It might help you know," she said comfortingly, putting a hand on his shoulder.

Sanjo did not bring himself to say anything for a while. His eyes flittered about her face, as if he was reluctant to let her see the pain reflected there.

"Well," she asked softly.

"She…she said she can't," he gulped, looking down and blinking furiously. 

"She? Oh you mean Romy don't you? Phil and I knew you had it coming all along Joe. I'm so sorry," she whispered, suddenly feeling as miserable as him herself. If only she could say something fitting, blame someone. However there was no- one to blame, since neither of them was at any fault.

"I don't know what to say Sanjo," she admitted sadly. "I know you've always kinda…kinda liked her. It's too bad she doesn't feel like that too…maybe you guys just aren't meant for each other. You aren't soulmates or anything…"

"Don't say that!" he snapped. He watched as tears came to her eyes, and she looked away. "Sorry Jade. You know, you're probably right, I just can't face it yet."

She nodded, smiling broadly, eyes shining. Before Sanjo could present his prepared speech about having loads of homework to do, she quickly pulled on her trackpants and shirt on top of her gym suit and linked her arm through his.

"Come on, let's catch the bus back to your place. They don't have to know all about it right now, if you don't want them to," she sniffed.

He agreed, letting her lead him out of the gym.

"Jade?"

"Hmm?"

"You're a real good gymnast…and a great friend too."

"Thanks Sanjo, and trust me, everything's gonna be fine."

Jade wondered why she was feeling like she just received some good news. How could she be happy when one of her friends was just going through a hard time? She decided that it had something to do with being picked to be in the school gymnastics team…

*****

"Gee, she's cute. If I were him, I wouldn't just stand there drivelling…"

He grabbed his assistant by sleeve, glaring.

"You're here to help me look for clues, moron. How would you like me to tell the boss you're not doing the job properly? 'Cause if I don't find him or her on time," he said lowly, "You're going to pay."

The assistant nodded fearfully. It wouldn't do to annoy him: he was lamia.

"Well, it can't be either of those two, can it? I mean look at them! Do they even faintly look mutated…?"

"The mutation may not stare you in the face ok? I know both those people to some degree, and no- one know much about her…or her two other foster sisters for that matter. They're all orphans," he said slowly in sudden realisation.

"We can definitely leave out San…the Old Soul. I know that his parents are full- blooded vermin. The girl and her friends should be followed more closely…"

Unbeknownst to the retreating figures of the shapeshifter and her friend, two men left the gym, looking nothing more than two patrons…

No one knows what it's like

To be the bad man…

Behind blue eyes…

******