An hour and a half later, I was standing in front of Jimmy's house, watching the lights blink on and off, not wanting to go in. "Don't tell me you're chickening out on me now?" said a voice behind me. I turned around, knowing whom it was. His scent was so strong it made me weak in the knees. I breathed it in, memorizing it. I knew it wasn't just my Feral side that was falling for him. It was the whole of me. I watched as he took me in. I was glad when I heard him breathe a sigh of contentment. "I wasn't chickening out," I said, challenging him, "I was waiting for you." Angel searched my eyes, not believing a word I had just said. "Let's go in," he said, satisfied that he had been right. It was an interesting night, to say the least. We talked to a lot of people and had a few cokes, not really anything. Though, whenever other guys looked at me, checking me out, he had put his hand on my back possessively, telling them to back off with his gaze. That surprised me, since usually the first contact guys make with a girl they like is with the "holding hands theme". That told him he was different, that maybe it could actually work out between us. He brought me home after it was over, though he didn't get out of his car. He wanted to take it slow, cause he didn't push for a kiss, or anything. He just dropped me off, promising to see me at school the next day. Later that night, I lay in my bed, thinking about him. How can he be so different? I wondered. Any other boy would've pushed, but not him. I don't understand anything anymore. After that thought, I drifted off to sleep, my dreams promising me visions of Angel.

The next day at school was...there's no other way to put this...boring. Angel wasn't there. He had used the excuse of being sick to get out of going. Or maybe he just wants to lure me to his house I thought. I had already decided to go over there after school. "Hey Sydney."
I turned around to see Luke, the flirt, walking over to me. "Hey."
"So where's that new guy that was with at the party last night?" he asked, taunting me.
"He's...somewhere," I said, avoiding his gaze. He moved closer to me. I felt his arm slip around me, and his hand started caressing my stomach. Immediately my body rejected him, wanting his hands off of me. I wriggled away from his grip.
"Oh come on, just one kiss," he said, his eyes begging me.
Without meaning to, I let my eyes glow their bright yellow color. Luke backed away.
"What are you?" he asked.
My powers were even stronger than usual because I was in full Feral mode, and I could sell his fear, along with other things. My eyes returned too normal and I ran.
I didn't stop until I reached a house, Angel's house. He was home; I could smell him. I didn't know why my feet had led me here, but I got up enough nerve to knock.
The door opened instantly, like he had been waiting for me. I collapsed into his arms. He reacted instinctively, realizing who I was. I let it all out, all my stress over the years, through my tears. He held me, letting me cry, as I buried my face in his well-toned chest.
After I had calmed down considerably, he led me over to the sofa and wiped my tear-streaked face with his hand.
"What's wrong?" he asked, a worried look on his face.
I couldn't tell him "nothing"; he wouldn't buy for a second. "I just, I can't be myself.
"What do you mean?" he asked. The look in his eyes made me spill everything. The only one that had known before was Mom, and she usually acted like I was normal.
When I was done, I twisted around in his arms to see if he believed me. "Well?"
"Give me a minute, this is a lot to take in."
"You don't believe me," I told him. Before he could protest, my eyes turned Feral. He didn't move, taking me in. I could smell his fear.
"Relax, I'm fine," I said, my eyes turning back to green, "You don't have to be scared, you know."
"I'm not."
"You reek of fear. I can smell it on you."
He blushed. I laughed at his embarrassment and felt him pull me closer. His hand came up to frame my face. I melted into his touch, wanting him to just kiss me already. He must've heard my thought, because next thing I knew, he was kissing me gently. I relaxed against him, wanting more. He made me feel so good, like I had no care in the world. No responsibilities, no-
I broke away, realizing something that I should've known a long time ago. I was due to start my heat cycle in a day or two, and my Feral side had chosen Angel as my mate! This was not good.
"What? What's wrong?"
"I have to go," I said, standing up.
"Hey, wait," he said, grabbing my arm and pulling me back down next to him. "Talk to me. What wrong?" I sighed, reluctant to bear myself to him. "Come on, you can tell me."
"Fine. You know how cats get heat cycles?" I said, bringing what we had learned in science just that week.
"Yeah."
"Well, I get them too. I get them instead of what normal girls get. And it's not pretty, at all."
"Where are you going with this?" "My Feral side has chosen you...I have chosen you, as my mate."
"So that's where you're going with this." He paused for a moment, then said, "But that's good. I'll be the only one that's able to calm you."
"Yeah, you might be able to protect others, but who's going to protect you?"
Angel gave me a "you've-got-to-be-kidding-me" look. "Believe me, I can handle you."
"Uh huh, sure you can. Anyway, I don't usually go to school during that time anyway. If I did, I'd snap at the teachers and get sent to the office. It's happened before."
"I believe you on that one," he said, laughing.
I watched him. I couldn't believe he was okay with this. I mean, its not every day you find out your friend is a mutant. "So, why weren't you at school today?" I asked him.
"I had some things to do. Something unexpected came up." I raised an eyebrow at him. "My grandmother came into town."
"Oh, I see," I said, fully knowing what he meant. There was an awkward silence, which I broke. "I need to get home. Mom's probably wondering where I am."
"I'll see you tomorrow then?"
"Maybe, maybe not. Depends," I answered, pulling him toward me for another kiss. A moment later his kisses left my mouth and started trailing down my neck.
"Your mom's home," I said, hearing the car door shut. I opened my eyes to find him staring at me. "What?"
"That just amazes me," he said. I grinned. "Come on, you can go out the front door." He stood up, drawing me to him, and we made our way to the front of the house. I opened the door and stepped outside, Angel following me. We faced each other, his hand caressing my face again.
The moment our lips met, I knew it was going to be intense. At his touch, the tension from my body was gone, and I knew that my heat had started. It was the most passionate kiss I had ever experienced, and I didn't want it to end. When we finally broke away, we were gasping for air, our foreheads rested against one another's, and our breaths mingled.
"Angel!" came a little girl's voice from the kitchen.
"My sister, Jenny." I nodded, feeling my body grow hotter. I had to get away fast or I would lose it.
"I won't see you at school tomorrow," I said, "And I have to go now before I lose control over myself."
"All right. See you!" he said, as I ran off. I fully intended to take a long cold shower when I got in the house. Those were the only things that kept me going during those usually four days alone.