Seth really wasn't expecting her to come over. Perchance it was a dastardly wish of his own subconscious.

It was.

"It's my lucky day," he expressed, "that I get to see your lovely face this early in the morning, especially with the mascara smudges around your eyes..."

Bella gave a surreptitious wipe at her eyes before crossing her arms over her chest, surveying him almost threateningly. "So, what did you do?"

Seth stretched his arms high up over his head. "Dunno what you're talking about. Unless you're delusional, then this is all a fantastic little dream brought on by the 'shrooms. What have I told you, Kid? No pickin' plants in the backyard! Don't make me get the bleach! Oh wait... that's what you want, isn't it? To mix it up with that other shit you got from Wal-Mart."

Bella wasn't amused. "Yeah, you're hilarious. But seriously now, tell me what you did."

"Srsssly, what did I do?" Seth taunted, "I mean, besides give all the little girls fantasies about my body."

"You're sick," Bella shook her head, "Oh well, then. I suppose I won't tell you about... well, you know already, don't you, smart ass? I'll just be on my way."

Seth reached out from his perch at the steps and grasped her wrist. "C'mon, tell me what's up. I need to know if I should run from the police. No more than usual, I hope."

Bella looked him over again, grimacing at the hand clenched around her wrist. He probably didn't know his strength, but she wasn't going to forgive him for being oblivious about something he should be aware of.

"Why don't you let go? I'm almost positive I'm losing all the circulation in my wrist because of you."

Seth rolled his eyes dramatically. "Don't be such a wimp."

Bella ignored the jab and tore her wrist out of his grip, wringing it out. "A man came over to my house and was asking me about you."

"Okay..." he trailed off, furrowing his brows. He wished she'd just get to the point already and leave him the fuck alone. He was having a splendid morning till she decided to drop by, effectively ruining it for him. She didn't know how much she got under his skin.

"Desmond Bly – do you know him?"

Seth quizzically nodded, but internally he was bristling. Whatever he did, Desmond knew about it. He was trying to blame him for things he didn't do, that much was obvious, but he wasn't exactly sure of Desmond's reasoning. Given, he did threaten Desmond with murder, but who knew that Desmond would actually take it to a whole new level. Seth hadn't planned on really killing the old guy, but now it seemed inevitable.

"He told me that you committed some less than holy acts that he didn't like the taste of. Why he came to me I'll never know. How he even found out about me is a mystery in itself."

"What'd you tell him?" Seth demanded, "'cause if you said anything, I swear to God I'll –"

"Settle down. Don't shit your pants just yet.." Bella ordered him. "I didn't tell him anything. Even if I did know what you were up to, why the hell would I tell a random man who barged into my house like he was all high and mighty?"

"Well, I guess your stupidity was avoided. This time."

Bella laughed at his expense. "My stupidity? I'm surprised you can even pronounce the word. Looks like repeating second grade so many times actually added something into your vocabulary. High five!"

"Eh, cooties. Repeating second grade like you said added to my vocabulary, but I'm still scarred."

She nodded in understanding. "So that's why you can't get a girlfriend."

"I'll have you know that I do have a girlfriend. She knows of my very serious condition." he retorted.

"Yeah, let's go with that. So, your girlfriend – is her name Jane Doe?" she chuckled. "Wait... never mind. Wouldn't want you to get to thinking too hard. Normal brain function is a skyscraper compared to what you can do."

She turned and walked off to her truck. When she reached the truck, she turned around, giving him a wry smile that made his heart flutter strangely. "I've been wondering about what you said the last time we spoke. About the dog comment. Now, it's not my business, but wouldn't you think that should remain a secret? You need all the cover you can get, wolf boy."

Under his breath: "Bitch," then louder, "Says the leech lover. You don't know how to keep secrets either, do you?"

She shrugged. "You wouldn't of figured it out if you didn't have that advanced sense of smell. It's only logical, you know, that you'd have better senses. At least, that's what I'm assuming." She then winked, which didn't do anything for his odd heart. "Watch out for that psychotic old man, why don't you? If you two paired up, you'd most definitely scare the little children around here. Particularly your inner child."

Seth didn't have any response, and watched her drive away with his tongue sewed to the top of his mouth. He couldn't explain why he was so tongue-tied. Couldn't understand the strange fulfillment that one specific organ in his chest funneled throughout his body. He was mildly afraid to delve deeper into what that meant.

He didn't like being wrong. When it was singularly directed at his principles, he really didn't like being in the wrong.

"Hey dumb ass, will you go do something useful?" a familiar feminine voice called above him. Grumbling, Seth stood and walking out in front of the house, calling up to his sister who was dangling out of her bedroom window.

"Now this is why random girls can find our house!" he shouted up to her, "'Cause you just yell my name for everyone to hear!"

"Why the fuck are you shouting?" Leah said, amused. "I'm not deaf."

"But you are going to be dead in a little bit," he replied.

"In your pussy-filled dreams, little brother," she grinned. She looked behind her, then back to him. "Mom wants you to come help her paint the foyer. Get your ass inside before I drag you in myself."

"Why, Leah, I had no idea you were into incest. Perhaps we should visit a therapist to discover the root of this icky development." he laughed, then shuffled over to the door, mind heavy.

He wanted to know what Desmond was up to, and decided that later he would confront the man himself.