School. I hate this place. The humans flock to me, the girls fawn over me, and the guys just want to be my friend. Like I give a shit. I couldn't care less about coming here, but Matthew makes me. My constant ploys to leave and go to college early are constantly shot down with his ridiculous ideals and excuses. If it weren't for Dee, I'd be long gone to some obscure college with quartz nearby.

Today was no different than any other. The same kiss ass humans trying to get my attention in every class. The same teachers that don't have a freaking clue about anything outside of West Virginia, and forget knowing anything outside of Earth. They're just like weak little ants scurrying around, waiting to be lunch for an Aurum or to get in the way and get hurt when one of us has to kill and Aurum.

That was until I walked into my second period math class. I knew she was there before I even saw her. I just had a feeling, deep in my gut. She glanced up at me as I walked into the room. There were seats in the back, which was where I usually sat, and seats across the room. But there was one seat directly behind her. I was drawn to that seat, to her, like a moth to a flame. What was it about this human girl that drew me in? Sure she's beautiful, but damn, there's lots of beautiful females in the Luxen community.

I walked up the aisle where Katy was sitting, staring at her notebook. The girls sitting around her were talking.

"God, what I wouldn't do for a piece of that. A Daemon sandwich should be on the menu," a redhead girl said from next to Katy.

"That is terrible," the one with glasses responded.

I just ignored them and plopped my ass in the seat directly behind Katy. I watched as her back stiffened when she realized I was behind her. I didn't know what came over me, but I had to talk to her. I pulled my pen from my pocket and used it to poke her in the shoulder blade.

She turned slowly and looked over her shoulder at me. My lopsided grin, lit up at seeing the look on her face. She looked happy that I was talking to her, but worried. I'm sure it had to do with our last conversation.

"How's the arm, Kittycat?" I asked. I loved ribbing her. She got so fired up and I loved seeing that fire.

I stared at her, smiling a real smile. The only person who usually got real smiles from me was Dee, but I couldn't help it. Watching her emotions flash across her face. Watching her try to hide it all from me was funny as hell.

"Good," she finally answered. She ran her fingers through her hair then pushed some of it behind her ear. I get the splint off tomorrow, I think."

"That should help," I said without even thinking.

"Help with what?" she asked.

Smirking, I used my pen to gesture all around her. I was going to piss her off and enjoy it. "With what you've got going on there."

Immediately her eyes narrowed at me. The scowl that crossed her face was both funny and cute as hell. There was that fire I wanted to see. She wasn't going to take anything I said lying down, and I loved it.

The girls sitting next to us quieted, listening intently to our conversation. I'm sure they were waiting for me to be horribly mean to Katy. That was my reputation after all.

I leaned forward, almost touching Katy's cheek with my nose. "Less people will stare without the splint is all I'm saying," I whispered. I knew everyone in class had now turned to stare at the two of us. This was sure to get back to Ash, but I didn't give a shit, I just kept eye contact with Katy.

Her cheeks flushed, but she didn't move or look away. I wanted to know what she was thinking. What made her cheeks turn so red? I felt drawn to her. The need to touch her was palpable. We continued to stare until some asshole across the room broke the trance.

"Ash is going to kick your ass, Daemon."

I grinned, not backing down from Katy. "Nah, she likes my ass too much for that." I could play their game. But I didn't give a shit about what Ash thought or any of them for that matter.

Keeping my eyes on Katy I tipped my desk forward, getting even closer. Now I was sure this was getting back to Ash. Maybe she'd finally get the hint and back off.

"Guess what," I whispered for only Katy to hear.

"What?"

"I checked out your blog."

Her face changed from heated, to embarrassed, to excited, before she spoke. "Stalking me again, I see. Do I need to get a restraining order?" she quipped.

I smirked, I loved her quips. She had no problem being a smartass. "In your dreams, Kitten." I smiled wider. "Oh wait, I'm already starring in those, aren't I?"

She rolled her eyes, continuing with her smartass comments. Her eyes lit up with challenge and she looked more gorgeous than any Luxen female I've encountered. "Nightmares, Daemon. Nightmares."

I smiled, leaning back in my seat just as the teacher started calling roll. She turned around and I could see how the muscles in her back and shoulders were strung tight as a spring. I chuckled softly.

I watched her through the entire class. I could tell she was doing everything in her power to not turn around and look at me. It was as if she could feel me looking at her. Then when the bell rang, she couldn't get out of the room fast enough. I laughed to myself, messing with her was going to be fun.

I went through the rest of my classes, ignoring the glaring stares from Ash during History class and dodging questions from Adam during Science. When lunch finally rolled around, I was met by a jealous Ash who insisted to keep up the show and sit on my lap. She whispered as she scolded me for being stupid and letting people think I was interested in the human girl.

"What are you doing," she growled. "Why are you even paying any attention to that girl?"

"I'm not doing anything, Ash. Just drop it."

"I would if I didn't have so many people come and tell me about how my boyfriend was getting all close and intimate with some girl. You may be in denial now, Daemon, but we will be getting married after graduation."

"Ash, I'm not getting into this with you again. We aren't together. And we definitely aren't getting married."

"You'll come around," she said, smiling like she knew something I didn't. I just sighed.

"Katy!" Dee exclaimed, bringing me out of my thoughts.

Everyone at the table turned and stared at the girl standing before us.

"Sit," Dee told her, hitting the top of the table across from her. Shit, she invited Katy to sit here? This wasn't going to end well at all. "We were talking about…" Dee started to say, but was cut off by Ash.

"Wait. You did not invite her to sit with us? Really?"

Katy froze and I gripped Ash around the waist. I pulled her back into me, trying to keep her from making too big a scene.

"Shut up Ash," grumbled Adam. "You're going to make a scene."

"I'm not going to make anything happen," Ash insisted. She wrapped her arm tighter around my neck. "She doesn't need to sit with us."

"Ash, stop being a bitch. She's not trying to steal Daemon from you."

Well damn, that kind of sucked, but I was glad Dee put it out there. Katy's cheeks instantly turned red and I could feel Ash starting to vibrate with anger and power. I was worried that others around us were going to start to feel the shift in the room. It was unmistakable when the source was ready to be unleashed. There was no way we'd be able to hide it.

"That's not what I'm worried about." Ash snickered as if me giving Katy my attention was ridiculous. The thing was, I could feel how tightly wound Ash was sitting here. She was worried. She knew I was interested. "For real."

I sat there, not looking at any of them trying to keep Ash under control and wishing that Katy would just go sit somewhere else to put an end to this ridiculous game. I ground my teeth so hard I worried I would grind them to dust. Trying to keep Ash under control and not look at Katy was testing every bit of my strength and power.

"Just sit," Dee insisted. "She'll get over it."

Ash's anger intensified. I pulled her tighter to me and whispered in her ear. "Ash, just stop. Let Dee have her friend."

She turned on me, shooting daggers from her eyes. I could see the glow starting to take over.

"I don't know if I should," Katy said quietly to Dee.

Snapping around, Ash said, "You shouldn't."

"Shut up," Dee growled. She turned to Katy and with a kindness in her voice, she said, "I'm sorry I know such hideous bitches."

"Are you sure?" Katy asked meekly. Where the hell is my hellcat? Seeing her back down from Ash was kind of annoying. It made me want to get her to react. I liked it when she reacts.

Looking up from Ash's neck, I skimmed my eyes down Katy small but perfect body. I liked the way she looked and I liked how she was usually so full of piss and fire. This meek shit wasn't her. I tilted my head as I looked at her. I wasn't sure why I liked to screw with her so much, but I did. I wanted to see my hellcat again. I decided to push. Keeping my voice as dry and unfeeling as I could I challenged her to be strong. "I think it's obvious if you're wanted here or not."

"Daemon," Dee hissed. Tears gathered in her eyes when she locked gazes with me. I just hurt my sister, and it bothered me. Dee turned to Katy, tears in her eyes, "He's not being serious."

"Are you being serious, Daemon?" Ash asked, tuning her body to look at me. Her voice was annoyingly condescending. She wanted me to be the one to make Katy go away.

I looked at Katy and could see the hurt and betrayal that I placed there. I tried to steel myself. She had to get away from us. She had to be kept safe. If she got too comfortable, she would be hurt again, possibly worse this time. I narrowed my eyes at her. "Actually I was being serious." I leaned in, away from Ash and tried to get her to understand with just my eyes. I knew she probably wouldn't but I had to try. "You're not wanted here."

"Daemon," Dee cried out. "Please don't do this."

Katy's face fell. Hurt and sadness swam in their depths. I felt bad for hurting her, but she wasn't the fireball I thought she was. She couldn't handle being in our lives, she'd be a liability, she'd get hurt.

"Run along," Ash said in a condescending tone. She made a gesture for Katy to leave.

I was right to shove her away. She'd get hurt. I kept telling myself over and over, she'd get hurt. I couldn't be responsible for getting her killed. I couldn't take that responsibility. Look at what it did to Dawson and Beth, it got them killed. I can't do the same thing, I can't. She'd get hurt. She'd get killed.

Katy stood there, unmoving for a moment. It seemed like a lifetime. She gazed around her, unseeing. Like she was replaying the entire situation in her head. Like she was seeing every time she'd been hurt or betrayed in that instant. She steeled herself, staring between Ash and me. Then she moved, faster than she should have been able to. She turned her plate upside down over our heads. Chunks of meat, sauce, and noodles fell all over us. Most of it landing smack in the middle of Ash's head, covering her blond hair, most of the noodles landed on my shoulder.

Around us it seemed the entire cafeteria gasped. Dee squealed, smacking her hand over her mouth to stifle her laugh.

Shrieking, Ash jumped from my arms. She stared at Katy, barely controlling her anger. The source rolled off of her, the atmosphere in the cafeteria quickly changed to that of an electrical storm. She was ready to blow. "You… you…" she whined, wiping her hands down her face.

I pulled a single noodle that had been hanging from my ear and stared at it in disbelief. This was my hellcat. This was the girl who didn't give a shit. She was full of piss and fire, it just took me to get it out of her. I would enjoy pushing her to bring out her inner wildcat.

I started laughing, a deep and appreciative laugh. She was amazing. Of course she had no idea how much danger she was in, but she didn't give a shit either.

"I will end you," Ash growled, pulling me out of my humor. I jumped up and wrapped my arm around her waist, pulling her into my chest.

"Calm down," I ordered in her ear. "I mean it. Calm down."

"I swear to all the stars and suns, I will destroy you," Ash snarled.

Katy surprised me with her attitude. The hellcat was still there and still full of fire. She was pissed and she was still pushing. "What does that mean? Are you watching too many cartoons again?"

I could feel the anger and power rolling off of Ash as she strained against my hold.

Suddenly Matthew was there, hovering behind us. "I believe that's enough," he ordered. Ash instantly relaxed in my arms and reined in her anger. She pulled away from me, but this time I let her go. She sat and started pulling napkins off the table to clean herself up.

I pulled the clump of noodles off my shoulder and sat, trying desperately to hold in my laughter. It would only enrage Ash again.

"I think you should find another place to eat," he said quietly looking at Katy. "Do so now."

Katy turned and with her head held high, she walked out of the cafeteria.

"What the hell was that?" Adam asked.

"I don't know," I said numbly. "But I'd like to find out."