"Don't be upset.  Please," Donovan says quietly.  Her usual confidence is gone.  She gazes at Mandy sadly.  "If my life were different, believe me, I'd be singing a different tune.  But you have to understand I'm doing this for you.  For anyone unfortunate enough to have feelings for me.  You'll find a nice, normal girl and live the kinda life you deserve.  I'm a freak of nature."

Mandy meets Donovan's gaze.  "That doesn't matter to me!  Yeah, I was a little taken aback by that, I'll admit that.  But you're still you.  Even if you looked like that twenty-four seven, I'd still have feelings for you.  You're sweet, smart, funny, and beautiful… even in that form, you're gorgeous…  I'd be willing to make it work."

Donovan shakes her head and is about to say something when they hear the door bell ring.  Mandy gets up and heads downstairs.  Donovan follows for lack of anything better to do.  When Mandy opens the door, Donovan tenses up.

At the door is the mob of bullies and a few police officers.  The nerd has teamed up with the bullies and is still saying how the "mutie scum roughed me up hardcore."

"That's her, officer!" the nerd screeched, pointing at Donovan.  Donovan backs away from the accusing finger as though she is disgusted by it.  "She's the one!  She kicked me around and these guys saved me!  She turned into some kinda monster!"

The police officer looks at Donovan briefly.  "Is this true?" he asks simply.

"No, sir.  It's not," Donovan says just as simply.  "I will admit that I am a mutant and that I got involved in a fight with the tough looking young men with you.  But I was told that there was a fight in the street and went to see if I could stop it.  They tried to attack me and I defended myself by frightening them away with my power."

"That ain't true!" the leader of the gang snapped.  "She was mangling this kid and we all ganged up on her and made her stop.  We got away before she did any real damage and then came to get you!"

Donovan sighs in annoyance.  "It's safe to assume that you believe these kids because it's easier to trust a human than a mutant.  Normally, I would come along quietly and hope to get all this straightened out logically but you won't take my word on any of this.  So, with heart-felt regrets, I think I'll have to flee the scene!"

Before anyone can do anything, Donovan changes form.  She plows past the police and the gang, knocking most of them over.  Mandy moves to go after her but freezes when the policeman glares at her.  She watches anxiously as Donovan rounds the corner to another street.

The rest of the day was filled with searches for the mutant menace that was terrorizing teens all over town.  But no one was able to find her.  The police decide that she's already way out of town and give up the search.  Once the search is called off, however, Donovan glides over to the Harper household, making sure to be aware of where any cops could be hiding.  She perches on the window sill and taps the glass gently.

Mandy, who hasn't been able to sleep, rushes to the window.  She opens it hurriedly.  "Donovan!  I never thought I'd see you again!"

"Sh.  Just let me in and I'll explain," Donovan whispers.  She slips into the bedroom and pulls the curtains.  She turns off the light so that her shadow won't be cast against the curtain as she speaks.  "I don't have much time.  I have to get out of here soon."

"You came to see me first?" Mandy's heart is filled.  "I'll go with you.  Just let me grab some things."

Donovan grabs Mandy's arm as she looks for a suitcase.  "I can't take you with me.  It's too dangerous.  I can take on a few humans but not a lot and certainly not any with weapons.  I can't put you at that kind of risk."

Mandy stares at Donovan blankly.  "Then why'd you come here?"

"I just wanted to say good bye.  I'm probably never going to be able to come back here.  And while your life revolves around this town, I won't be able to see you for a long time," Donovan says sadly.  "I want to say good luck on your test and I know you'll graduate.  Just remember what I taught you and you'll be fine."

"This is bull!" Mandy snaps.  "You're going to graduate with honors in June.  You're going to go to Emerson for sound tech or whatever.  You're going to make a million dollars and show this stupid little town that you're someone special!"

Donovan sighs and sinks onto Mandy's bed.  Her added weight tilts the bed slightly and she stands up.  "I was going to do all that.  I'll never be able to do that now.  Maybe I can get my G.E.D. far away from here but I can't re-enroll in school.  My parents don't ever want to see me again.  I went there before this…"

Mandy throws her arms around Donovan.  "You need someone to be with you.  To take care of you.  To love you.  I can do that for you."

"No," Donovan says harshly.  "I won't kill your future.  You have a happy, normal life ahead of you.  I won't be responsible for you losing all the opportunities you'll be offered."

"Then what happens?  You leave and I'll never see you again," Mandy says.  "That's not fair."

Donovan changes back to her human form and Mandy's heart melts.  The anguish in Donovan's face is almost more than Mandy can bear.  She manages to stare into Donovan's pretty eyes and read the feeling there.  Donovan does feel the same way about her.  She feels obligated to protect Mandy from the perils that would accompany any kind of relationship they might share, however, and won't let Mandy make a decision based on their feelings.

"I'll see you again," Donovan's voice is thick with tears she won't shed in front of Mandy.  "When you leave this little town and make something of yourself, I'll be there to congratulate you and love you immensely.  If you'll still have me at that point.  But you have to get out of here before I can see you.  I can never come back."

Mandy touches Donovan's face.  Donovan pulls Mandy into her arms.  "I've had feelings for you since you first sat down in English class two years ago, Mandy Harper.  When you needed help in class this year, I felt as though my chance to get to know the real you had finally come.  You're more than just the silly cheerleading girl  with her head in the clouds…" Mandy smiles a bit at the reference.  She had played an air-headed cheerleading captain in a play earlier that year.  "You're a wonderful, smart, funny girl with a lot of heart.  To love a beast like me takes more courage than you know.  I won't give you up without a fight.  I may have to leave now, but I won't leave you forever.  I promise."

Their lips meet in a kiss neither has felt in their entire lives.  Unknown to each other, this is each of their first kiss.  Mandy's hands go to Donovan's hair and she holds her close.  After what seems like a life time, Donovan pulls away.  "I should get going."

"Stay with me tonight.  The search was called off.  You can leave tomorrow night," Mandy pleads.  "I just wanna know what it's going to be like when I can wake up in your arms for good."

Donovan smiles longingly.  "One night.  Then I have to get out of here, all right?"

"That's all I ask," Mandy blushes a bit.  Donovan waits for Mandy to say what's on her mind.  "Can you sleep in your real form?  Your mutant form.  You seem kind of fake to me like that now."

Donovan grins and changes back.  She rubs Mandy's cheek and takes Mandy to bed for what's to be their first and last time.

EARLIER: 

"Mandy," Mrs. Harper knocks gently on Mandy's bedroom door.  She is wearing a fluffy pink robe and bunny slippers.  "Mandy, I made breakfast for all of us.  Your father stayed home from work so that we can have a nice family day together.  After what happened yesterday, I think we need to be a closer family than we have been lately…"

Mrs. Harper opens the door and freezes.  She stares at the bed where Mandy is sleeping soundly tucked in Donovan's large wing.  Donovan, whose senses are more sensitive in her mutant form, wakes when Mrs. Harper opens the door.  She gasps and gets up, changing form again.  She's wearing a t-shirt of Mandy's.  The one Mandy had worn to bed.  It's torn in the back where Donovan's wings had pushed through.  "Mrs. Harper…"

"How… dare you?" Mrs. Harper demands.  She is sputtering angrily.  She looks down at her daughter, who is waking up and very frightened.  "My baby girl… you've corrupted her with your… mutie… freakish powers!"

"Mom, that's not true at all…" Mandy starts.

"You be quiet!" Mrs. Harper snaps.  She glares at Donovan.  "I'm calling the police.  I was willing to look the other day when you fled my house but I will not tolerate you abusing my daughter," she calls down the stairs.  "Harold!  Call the police!  That mutie's here!"

Donovan gasps and backs toward the window.  She looks at Mandy, a pained look on her face.  "Remember my promise, Mandy," she changes form and drops out the window.

Donovan uses her wings to glide to the floor.  Mr. Harper is at Mandy's window with a shot gun, shooting at Donovan clumsily.  Donovan avoids the bullets easily but is slowed down but a squad car pulling up the street.  She dodges the cops and scrambles in the opposite direction.

"Fly, Donovan!  Get out of here!" Mandy screams from the window.  She is pulled back by her mother.

Donovan takes a deep breath.  Her wings aren't powerful to lift her heavy body off the ground.  Though she doesn't look as though she weighs much at all, her skin is made up of a different substance than most people.  It has the grainy texture of stone and it makes her just as heavy.  She can glide pretty well but she is always pulled to the ground shortly after take off.  She has to be content with running.

Donovan will never be able to explain how the angry mob formed but after running for about twenty minutes, she's being chased by the men and women of her town.  She can see their weapons and the hatred in their eyes. 

The alley Donovan has run down is a dead end.  She sighs and looks around.  There's no way out except to climb the building next to her but it would take too long and the mob will get her before she gets very far.  She turns to face the people.

"Leave her alone!" Mandy suddenly screams.  Donovan watches Mandy rush out of the crowd.  She smiles when Mandy throws her arms around her waist.  "She's never hurt anyone!"

Mandy screams when the bullet hits her.  A man standing in the front aims his pistol better.  "Damn, missed the freak…" he mutters.

Donovan holds Mandy's body in her arms.  She feels the bullets ping off her stone-like skin but doesn't acknowledge them.  Mandy's chest is bleeding profusely.  She is rubbing Donovan's cheek.  "I guess… we'll have to wait a bit longer than we wanted to be together…"

"Don't say that…" Donovan feels tears slide down her face.  Mandy wipes them away.  "I'll get you to a hospital."

Mandy smiles weakly.  "I understand what 'star crossed' means now…"