I know I said I'd have this up this past weekend… sorry, but unfortunately you'll have to get used to me being late on updating… It can't be helped at the moment.

It's Not Please

(Kate's PoV)

Last Spring had literally been the semester from hell. And I wasn't looking forward to this one being any better. This was senior year, and it should have been amazing. But all I could think as I started unpacking my things in my new room at Spenser was that I still hadn't heard from my best friend, and that this year was going to royally suck without her. She should have been back by now.

The boys were still freaking out… way more on edge than I'd ever seen them. They hid it well, but I could tell, especially with Pogue that he was way worried about Andie. Don't get me wrong, I understood why she left. She and Caleb hadn't seen eye to eye in a long time, and their constant fighting was tearing their already small family apart even more. She needed space…fine, she had it. But where the hell was she?

Summer had dragged. I filled out college applications; though there wasn't really any reason to. Harvard was a given. But it was something to do other than listen to Caleb and Reid argue and Pogue whine about his bike or his hair or whatever. At least now there was an excuse to hang out with some new people. I'd heard there was a new guy on Reid and Tyler's floor, and of course, I'd have a new roommate. I had mixed feelings about this. After all, no one would replace Andie. But on the other hand, I could use someone…calmer? I was tired of the drama.

I had just finished throwing my shoes on the floor in my closet and kicking my bag under my bed when there was a knock on the door. I sighed. Here goes nothing. When I swung the door open I tried not to groan. The first thing I noticed was that she was blonde. And giggly-looking. Shoot me now.

"Hi, I'm Kate." I said, faking a smile and stepping back to let her in.

"Sarah Wenham; it's nice to meet you." She said cheerily.

My fears were obviously misplaced, as she started to unpack; I learned that she was from a public school in Boston. She was here on scholarship. My respect for her increased a level.

"Hey, so party at the Dells tonight. Everyone that's anyone will be there. I can introduce you…if you'd like." I offered. Pogue was sure to be late again, and I really didn't want to brave Kira Snider's glares alone.

She smiled brightly. "That'd be great!"

The fire was roaring when we got to the Dells. I introduced Sarah to the couple of girls that Andie and I actually liked, and then glanced around the gathering party. "So, first thing you need to know is Aaron Abbot is a prick." I said. Sarah smirked.

"Noted." She answered. I could see Kira scowling at us, as Aaron gave Sarah his normal creeper-once-over. I shivered slightly. Every time I saw him I was reminded of that day he nearly assaulted Andie in the hallway. He didn't come back to school for months, and when he finally did he gave the boys a wide berth.

"Who's that guy?" She asked, pointing across the dancing flames. I squinted. Hottie; that's who.

"No idea. Must be new… I don't know much about him, but I intend to find out." I promised.

I turned in time to see Pogue and Caleb walking towards us, followed by Tyler and Reid. "There they are." I murmured. Sarah turned slightly and I heard her intake of breath.

"Who are they?" She asked. She was awe-struck, but really, who wouldn't be?

I grinned. "The Sons of Ipswich." I replied, before running to jump up into Pogue's arms. Our relationship had been strained for the months since Andie left. We were on some sick rollercoaster of emotion, and I couldn't tell if it was my fault or his.

"Hey Babe." He muttered. I stepped back.

"This is Sarah. My new roommate—" I saw Caleb grimace, but he quickly pulled himself together. I shot him an apologetic look and continued with the introductions.

… … … … …

(Andie's PoV)

The trees formed a solid wall of shadows on both sides of the truck as I sped down the highway. I gripped the steering wheel tighter and squinted into the night. I was edgier than normal. Something was off, and I had no idea what. The sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach was a warning. A warning I'd learned quickly not to ignore.

The previous spring and summer had been a constant race against time. An unvarying fear of the dark. I learned more than I ever thought possible. And managed to lose more of myself than I could have even imagined. John Winchester was one hell of a teacher. He taught me to be someone else. Someone new.

I pressed the gas pedal down even further, and inhaled deeply. Another job; it's just another job. I kept repeating my mantra to myself; wishing I'd start to believe it. Pulling my truck off the well-travelled highway and into the trees, I parked away from the clearing I could see up ahead. Stowing the keys in my pocket I let myself out and swung the door shut quietly.

There was a flickering light up ahead, a fire. And yells. My hands reflexively went to my waist. My fingers curled around the knife that was hidden there. I was filled with a foreboding I hadn't felt in a long time. I was good at my job… so good that I'd quickly surpassed my so-called teachers. Solo hunts were inevitable—we got more accomplished when we split up.

Which, on the bright side, meant that I'd lost the babysitter I'd seemed to have been stuck with for the first couple months. I chose my own cases to work now. And this one was all mine.

… … … … …

(Kate's PoV)

This was not happening. Aaron Abbot must be on crack. And Kira was officially the bride of Satan. She accidentally-on-purpose knocked into Sarah. "So, you're from the Boston Public, right?" She asked, in a sickly-sweet voice that made me want to gag.

Sarah smiled innocently. "Yes. I just transferred here."

Kira was going to say something cruel, I could just tell. "So, how does one go about getting into Spenser from a Boston Public?" She asked in the same sugary tone, Aaron laughing viciously.

I must have missed some sort of altercation, because suddenly Aaron was shoving Caleb. Bad idea, bro. "Look, Aaron I don't want any trouble." Caleb protested. I shot him a glare. Did he not remember what Aaron had done to Andie? That jerk needed to be buried in the ground already.

Aaron scoffed and shoved Caleb again. "Oh really?" He asked, pulling the tough guy act. I was about to intervene; I mean, if I had to kick Abbot's ass myself I would. Pogue moved at the same time, and one glance at Reid and Tyler showed they were just as ready for a fight.

Aaron's lackeys were flexing their pathetic muscles and sneering, and I felt the need to pull on Sarah's arm until we were slightly removed from what was sure to become a fiasco.

Suddenly the hot new guy appeared out of nowhere, tripping into Aaron and seemingly trying to alleviate the building tension. "You were being kind of bitchy." He told Kira, as though people called her a bitch to her face every day. Even though now was not the time, I really wanted to go tell New Guy that he was officially my favorite person ever.

The silence that set in was full of a strain that was nearly tangible. It seemed like we were all just going to stand there like that forever until a shockingly familiar voice echoed behind us. I spun on my heels so quickly I nearly gave myself whiplash, and I wasn't the only one.

She looked… well, not like my best friend. Her eyes that used to sparkle with mischief now seemed to glow hauntingly in the firelight. Her beautiful dark hair was streaked through with shades of purple, and her olive skin was paler than I'd ever seen it. The moonlight glittered off the small diamond in her nose. She looked twenty two, not almost-seventeen, even being as tiny as she was.

I could tell the boys were shocked beyond belief. I was wondering if Caleb was in the midst of a heart attack. That was not his little sister.

She smirked, looking a little more like her old self. "Boys, boys, boys." She muttered, slipping agilely between her shocked brother and the king of loser-ville. "Can't we all just get along?" She asked, placing a hand lightly on both of their chests as though she was going to shove them apart.

New Guy cleared his throat and seemed to stage whisper something to her that no one else caught. She threw her head back and laughed, breaking the spell that everyone must have been under, and that's when all hell broke loose.

… … … … …

(Andie's PoV)

It was indescribably hard for me to be back here. It felt like there was a constant knife in my chest. I longed for my childhood on the cliffs at Marblehead and the stupidly pointless fights with my brother. Everything was simpler then. Easier. Better.

There were only two people that I didn't recognize as I glanced swiftly around the small gathering of angry boys. One was the pretty blonde standing next to Kate, looking bewildered. The other was the darkly attractive boy that was standing a mere breath away, keeping himself between Caleb and Aaron as well.

I was still snickering about his comment. "Teamwork?" I repeated, arching an eyebrow.

"Well yeah. I mean, I distracted them, you…" The stranger seemed to be at a loss for words.

"Completely dumbfounded everyone?" I supplied. He chuckled. "I'm Andie, Andie Danvers. I'd shake your hand but they're a little full right now." I continued, giving my hands a pointed look. Neither Aaron nor Caleb had moved since I'd shoved myself into the middle of their fight. I had a hand firmly on each of their chests, knowing that if Aaron tried something again, I'd be the one to put him in the ground. If I could kill vampires with one hand tied behind my back, the school bully wasn't going to be a problem.

"Chase. Collins. Nice to meet you." He said, his voice still an octave below the general volume of the party.

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