~Rachel POV~

My leg bounced with the tension of deep thought. I was nervous yet again, but for good reason. Though he came off as a pretty nice man, the sheriff had a way of making me feel as though I was in trouble, even before saying anything. To top it off, I was here to be 'enrolled' as a citizen of Beacon Hills, which would allow me to get my driver's license and finish the paperwork for my new upcoming job.

You're an idiot! I told myself. I had been allowing myself to get way to comfortable here, and it was going to kill me, literally, if I didn't remember the dangerous brother I had and got too settled.

But Beacon Hills had brought me things I hadn't had in years: friends, purpose, even a few good memories. It had helped me shake some of the loneliness of being an outcast and runner.

"Alright, sweetheart," the sheriff said, "I need your full name first off. Any social security? Address?" "No, sir. Nothing." His look was skeptical, but I also saw some concern. "Darlin', how have you managed this far without identification?" "…Kindness of strangers." I muttered, my cheeks flaming.

"Is there anything you need to tell me?" "Not at all," I said, panic making my heart leap, "I just…haven't had a stable life. That was the point of coming here."

Well, I HALF told the truth. That made it feel a little better.

"What about your family? Do they know where you are?" "I…" His eyebrow rose and I fought for more words. I sighed, "My only living relative is my godmother, Angela Few. She's an older lady, blind. I couldn't care for her and make a living. I was forced to put her in a home where people could tend to her."

Liar.

I'd never even met extended family of my parents', much less anyone they were close enough with to be a godparent. I had no one. Just Damian, and he was set to kill me.

"Well…I'm sorry about that. Just…give me your name, and date of birth." Easy enough.

"Rachel Lynn Brodie. December 5th, 1995."

I hadn't even heard my real name and birthday spoken aloud in a long time. But I did remember for myself every year on April 15th that I was older than the previous day.

The sheriff typed out the letters on his keyboard. "You're not even in the database, sweetheart, are you SURE there's not-"

"Sheriff! There's been an emergency call down at the hospital! Someone was hurt, and they think they have camera footage of the attacker! They're asking for you personally." "Got it, on my way." He looked back to me. "I've got to go, I'm sorry. I'll have to meet you again later." I nodded and he took off, coat, gun and badge in hand.

The station grew quiet with only a couple of cops left, and they were too taken up with their phones to notice me. I didn't mind the walk.

I opened the doors, then gasped as I bumped straight into Theo. Of all people.

His sly grin was in place before I even thought his name. "Hello, Rachel," he nearly purred. I was sure he got pleasure out of my discomfort. "What, Theo?"

"Not even a greeting? That's rude." I gave him a blank stare. "I got word that you might need a ride home?" "No, thanks," I couldn't get the words out fast enough for my liking. "Well, that's a long walk. And a gentleman doesn't let a lady walk alone."

"Theo, I really think I could use the walk…alone." "Too bad. It's either I walk with you or I drive you back. Choice is yours."

"Is it really?"

His smile said it all.

~Theo POV~

I liked that I was getting an angered reaction from Rachel. That's what I had intended all along, because if she was the creature, and she got mad, she couldn't hide it. Even if she wasn't, there was something off about her. In a way, it drew me in, and made me curious.

I stood behind her as she climbed into my truck, feeling her unease hit me with crashing waves. Even though I did feel SOME satisfaction, it wasn't at all like normal. Once she was in, I went to close her door, leaning in for a second to meet her eyes flirtatiously and say, "Don't forget to buckle up."

As she glared at me, I felt my smile grow bigger, and I reached across her lap to buckle the strap. She grabbed my arm, surprisingly hard for a human. "I think I've got it," she snarled through clenched teeth before throwing my arm back away from her.

Man, she was a firecracker.

But still, those eyes hadn't changed. She was either really good at lying, something I could understand, or she really wasn't a supernatural and I'd have to hear from the little dipshit about how wrong I was.

I climbed in beside her, keeping my smile in place as I started the engine and put the pedal to the metal. Her fingertips dug into the seat she sat on. "Would it kill you to drive the speed limit?" She hissed. I pressed harder on the gas. "Maybe."

She grimaced and kept her eyes on the road. "So," I said, "I hear you're going to be getting a job at the hospital. That's big." "…Sure." She said.

"Well, one thing I know is that it always helps to have your friends check on you occasionally." Her eyes swung from the road to me, and I swallowed the want to burst out laughing. "Don't flatter yourself by saying you're my friend. I'm surprised you aren't banned by the place."

I bit my tongue hard to keep from telling her exactly why I wasn't banned from the hospital. I had more than earned the right to walk in whenever I pleased. It occurred to me that this girl was getting under my skin. In a way it amazed me, and in every other way, it pissed me off.

"Maybe I wouldn't be so drawn in to irritate you if you didn't make it so easy," I chuckled. I swore I saw fire in those blue eyes! And yet, they still did not change color. Damn it!

Finally, we arrived at Cora's house. "Thanks for the ride," she said, unbuckling and beginning to get out. But just to throw in that last little dig, I was already out of the truck and opening her door for her. But she surprised me with simply sitting in the seat, her eyes locked on mine. "Why do you feel the need to force your will on people? Is it a power thing?" "Liam would tell you it's a 'dick thing'." I said. "I know what Liam says, he tells me all the time. I want to know why from the source."

It really got on my nerves that she'd stated how much time she spent with Liam. Problem was, I didn't understand why. "Guess that's just something you'll have to find out as we hang around together more." "Ugh, don't bet on it."

"Sorry sweetheart, it's a price you have to pay when you hang around the people I hang around with." "That's another thing!" She growled, hopping out of the truck, "My name is not 'sweetheart'! I've told you my name, now use it instead of the damned demeaning pet names!"

I watched as she trudged up the stairs and opened the door, which she slammed behind her. I really admired her. At any point, unbeknownst to her, I could rip her throat out, yet she challenged me. Even as a human man, I would easily overpower her, but she didn't seem afraid of me. But there was one thing I knew, and that's that she WAS afraid of something.

And I was going to find out what it was.

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