Chapter 2

Shift Change

Shit, shit, shit. It couldn't be, I thought. I need to get out of here. I could hear myself screaming inside my head to run away, back down the trail and get out of here before I really embarrassed myself. And yet as I was thinking that I could feel my legs slowly moving me toward the frightened girl. She was petrified. I could see her leaning back from me inch by inch as I advanced. I couldn't let her be scared of me. That would never do. So I turned and ran back to woods, just barely out of sight. I sat in the underbrush and stared at the girl as she heaved a great sigh and turned back to her painting.

She was really good. It was an ocean scene, and the complexity of the waves was almost perfect on the canvas. I sat and watched as she mixed the colors to create the blue tone she needed for the sun's highlight on the water and noticed that she had unusual bright pink and orange striped nails. I wonder if she did them herself. The wind blew again and she shuddered, zipping up her jacket. She looked back my way and I took the moment to study her face, not that I could ever forget it. Her eyes were definitely her most stunning feature. They were perfect almonds with thick long lashes framing the blue-green irises that had just a touch of warm honey brown around the pupil. She had high cheekbones, and a cute button nose. Her mouth was set perfectly, not too wide or too small, with the corners pulled up just ever so slightly. Her lips were glossed a raspberry pink. And I could swear the freckles that fell across her cheeks literally glittered in the sunlight. Wait…what was I thinking?! This was crazy! This was…

That's when I felt the consciousness enter my mind. Enough. I had to stop thinking like this if I was going to avoid ridicule. I forced myself to look away and shut the thoughts up in the corner of my mind. I ran towards the rendezvous point to meet Brady and Seth.

Crap. Seth.

He knew me better than anyone. I was going to have to work really hard to keep him from noticing something was up. I slowed my pace and took a breath before entering the clearing.

"Hey Leah!" I heard Seth shout at me and saw him grinning at me. "Have a great morning run?"

"Shut up, runt," I teased.

"Awww come on, Leah…don't be like that," Brady chuckled.

"Yeah, yeah. Ok, down to business. You know the drill."

"Yeah. Not like we haven't done this a hundred times already." Seth griped, they were walking away to their routes before I remembered what I had to do. What I was dreading doing.

"Oh! Hey guys!" I shouted.

"What?"

"There's someone out there. I found her on patrol to the west about 15 minutes ago. I thought I smelled vampire so I checked it out. It's just a girl painting by the cliffs. Definitely not a leech though, not a strong enough scent. Just in case you pick up her trail."

Seth cocked his head to the side. "Interesting. Ok. Thanks."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah."

Then Brady asked the question I was hoping he wouldn't. "What's she look like? Just in case."

I took a breath and tried to conjure up a neutral picture of the girl. Her face swam in my mind, staring toward the trees, those eyes looking right at me, but also right through me.

"Damn!" Brady laughed.

"Shut up, Brady! Have some respect will ya?" I snapped.

"Whoa!" He stepped back. "Defensive much?"

"Relax, Brady. It's just her time of the month!" Seth laughed. I wanted to kill him for that, but honestly he probably covered for me better than even I could have done at that point.

"You better run, mongrel!" I belted and made a move for Seth. He and Brady took off into the woods, their laughter echoing in my mind as I changed back, where my thoughts could be my own again.

AN: It's short, I know, but at least its fast, right? And there's another one in the works. Please please please review! I love reading them!