Kalika seemed to have made quite an impression. She had only seen a few Night People around, and only one of them was male.
Jayden Stillman. She smiled at the thought of him. Gorgeous. Mysterious. Who could want more?
There was one little problem. Jayden's best friend was human. Alisha seemed nice enough, she supposed grudgingly. But it was dangerous having a human involved with a Night Person, even if they were only just friends.
She found Jayden in her last class that afternoon. "I know I'm new here," she said, sitting down beside him. Her voice was soft to avoid being overheard. "But what's the situation on the Night People here? Are they Daybreak or what?"
Jayden frowned a little. "There's only five of us. There's Elaine Harman, Dara Blackthorn, you and me, and Hazel Lovett." He drummed his fingers on the table top. "Elaine and Hazel are both with CD. As for Dara, I was never sure to what side she was on. And for me, when it comes to sides, I'm pretty neutral."
Kalika frowned. She would have preferred a full Night Worlder, but he was better than nothing. "What about your friend Alisha?" she asked.
Jayden's expression changed slightly. His eyes flashed with brief longing, before they clouded over again. "Alisha doesn't know anything about the Night World or Daybreak. I've known her almost all myself. She's my best friend."
Kalika didn't say anything. It seemed Alisha was going to be a problem. "Don't you think that's a little...dangerous?" she asked.
Jayden shook his head. "She's okay," he said. "You just need to get to know her."
Kalika had no intention of getting to know Alisha. She wanted Jayden.
The teacher came in and class started. Kalika quickly lost interest. Jayden would be a challenge. What fun was there in going after a guy unless there was a little competition?
But if Alisha proved to be too much of problem, she would have to be eliminated.
* * *
When Alisha headed into the cafeteria the first thing she noticed was Jayden sitting with the new girl, Kalika.
She frowned, trying not to pay attention. When Jayden saw her and waved she forced herself to smile and wave back.
What did she have to do to get him to notice her? Now with Kalika around it was going to be even harder.
After getting her lunch she joined Elaine and her other friends Dara and Hazel.
"Who's that girl with Jayden?"
Alisha shrugged. "Don't know. She's new," she answered gloomily, sitting down.
As she watched miserably, she saw another girl coming in and taking a seat between Jayden and Kalika. "Oh great," she muttered sourly.
She noticed the others exchanging glances. "You know, 'Lish, did it ever occur to you that you could just *talk* to Jayden?" Dara suggested.
"You mope and drool all the time whenever he's not around," Hazel pointed out. "Could you *be* more obvious?"
Alisha flushed, glaring. "I may go all gooey eyed but I do *not* drool!" She hadn't realised her affections for Jayden were so obvious.
If everyone else knew about it, had he noticed? If he had, why hadn't he ever said anything to her? Jayden looked up at that moment, and she met his eyes directly.
Something seemed to be shimmering on the air between them. Alisha thought about all the years she'd known him. The times when he'd been there for her, helped her, the times they'd hung out when it seemed like there was no one in the world but the two of them.
Fall all he'd done, she couldn't help herself from falling in love with him.
She thought about the secret she knew he was keeping from her. Was this the reason he didn't want to get close to her? She wanted him to tell her. He could tell her anything, so why wouldn't he tell her this?
Was it really that bad?
Fingers snapped in front of her face, making Alisha blink. When she glanced back at Jayden the shimmery thing had gone.
"Talk about gooey-eyed!" Elaine snickered.
Alisha glared again. "Oh shut up," she snapped at her. A thought occurred to her. "Hey, did you find anything out about that girl?"
Elaine nodded. "Her name is Kalika Silverflame, the other girl is Sylvie Acevado. They're both new here. They're best friends. Sylvie has lived with Kalika's family since she was five and her own was killed. Kalika came here after apparently being kicked out of her old school for being a trouble maker."
Alisha frowned. That girl was flirting with Jayden even as they were speaking.
"What, exactly, are you planning on doing about it?" Hazel asked, smiling slightly.
"He won't believe it if you try to tell him that," Dara pointed out.
Alisha wasn't happy. She didn't exactly know what she was going to do. She had to do *something*.
She just needed to figure out what.
* * *
Jayden could clearly see Alisha was uncomfortable about him hanging out with Kalika and Sylvie. Sylvie was Kalika's "pet" werewolf, she had told him. She'd had the wolf since she was a cub, but Kalika had told him sometimes it was nice to have some human (using the term loosely) company.
He could understand what she meant. What he didn't understand was why Alisha didn't want to accept Kalika. His other girlfriends had never been a problem. He didn't want to hurt Alisha, and he certainly didn't want to risk loosing her.
After lunch he met up with her in the hallway. "Seems you're getting on okay with the new girl," she said. Her politeness was clearly forced.
If only he could *tell* her, he thought. He was never sure how Alisha would react to truth. The consequences were the other reason he kept silent.
He shrugged. "She's okay." There was an uncomfortable silence.
"Are you going out with her?" Alisha asked him bluntly.
Jayden was surprised. "No." He had considered it to help take his mind of problems with Alisha. But now...
Why should he run his life by what Alisha thought, anyway? They could never be together. He would have to accept that, and so would she.
"Why are you so bothered, anyway?" he asked, slightly annoyed.
Alisha looked at him, her eyes shining with tears. "Just asking," she muttered. "I - I have to go now." She turned and hurried away."
Jayden sighed. Open mouth, insert foot.
"What was all that about?" Kalika had appeared silently beside him. Her yellow eyes were shimmering, her expression concerned.
Jayden shook his head. "Nothing. She's just - overreacting."
"Oh." She pulled her schedule out her purse. "Can you show me where the geology rooms are?"
"Sure." He took her in the direction she needed to go. He studied her as they walked to together, taking in her breath taking beauty. Those hawk-like eyes, shining like jewels, those red lips, so ripe and full, that raven hair looked so soft. His fingers were itching to bury themselves in her locks.
But what good was striking beauty when he didn't know what was underneath? What was she really like? Was Kalika really worth all this bother?
He just didn't know.
* * *