Disclaimer: Refer to Prelude.

Author's note: Sorry for the long wait...life's been quite hectic and I'm not the most disciplined of writers. A big, big thank you for all of your kind words. Thanks for brightening up my days.

A Moment's Reprieve

Chapter 3: The New Prey

Jennifer walked down the crowded school corridor feeling horribly self-conscious.

The ex-Snowflake Queen was once again reduced to a mere shadow of her former self. Her raven hair was dull and lank, her lips chapped and dry. Her once glowing skin was now dreadfully pale, and dark rings circled her eyes. She had never looked worse…a fact which did not go unnoticed.

She bit her lower lip but held her head up high, determined to ignore the whispered mutterings that trailed after her.

Go fuck yourselves.

(I heard she caught an STD!)

(Eww! Really?)

(Uh yeah! She fucks everything!)

Jennifer stopped in her tracks, her nostrils flared.

Patricia Smith…

…how long had she gone without? How long since she last feasted…?

Mhmm…

She turned to the two gossiping girls and flashed a toothy grin.

"Pat Smith!"

They both started in surprise. The other girl quickly muttered something incoherent about a prior engagement and ducked away out of sight.

"Oh! H-hi, Jennifer!" Patricia Smith replied in a fluster, nervously balancing her textbooks in her arms.

"I was looking all over for you!" Jennifer exclaimed brightly, advancing on the shorter girl.

Patricia tittered nervously. "You…were?"

"You and I. We have a lot of catching up to do."

"We…do?"

"Meet me after school in the gym, okay?"

"Uh…what? I-I mean…what f – why?"

"To welcome you to the herd, of course!"

"Huh?"

"Silly! You've made it to the Flag team!"

"Oh!" Patricia remarked, dazedly. "The Flag team! But I thought Melody Caldwell got the…"

"Melody Caldwell dropped out." Jennifer said shortly. "So, are you in or what?"

The red head nodded slowly and uncertainly.

Jennifer grinned.

"Don't worry; it'll just be you and me." She leaned in closer to the petrified girl. "As the head, I take a personal interest in each and every single one of my members."

Patricia gulped. "Cool…"

"I'll see you later."

As Jennifer turned to walk away, she caught sight of Needy approaching from the opposite direction. The blond took one look at her and turned right around.

Damn it, Needy!

The brunette quickened her pace.

"Come on, Jen! We're gonna be late for class!" Needy called, waving her arm desperately to her best friend who looked supremely unconcerned.

"Needy," Jennifer began coolly when she finally reached her impatient friend. "Jennifer Check never hurries, okay? She saunters."

"Jen –"

"And anyway, school hallways were practically designed for lingering to chat up boys– which is something you'd know if you used it for anything else other than stampeding through to the goddamn library."

"Right, Jen." Needy replied with exaggerated patience, rolling her eyes in the process. "Look, the only place we'll be doing any lingering today will be in detention if we don't get our asses to class soon! The bell rang five minutes ago!"

Jennifer burst out laughing. "God, I love it when you swear!"

Needy shook her head, smiling despite herself.

"Needy! Wait up!"

Jennifer reached out a hand and grabbed Needy's left shoulder. The blond gasped in pain, and recoiled from her touch.

"Needy!" Jennifer exclaimed, looking deeply concerned. "What's wrong?"

"Stay away from me!"

The brunette's eyes narrowed dangerously.

People were starting to stare, and Jennifer hated being the center of unwanted attention – particularly under the current circumstances.

"You know where I'll be." She murmured coldly to the harassed-looking girl.

Looking up, she raised her eyebrows at the small crowd of teens before her. Everyone cleared a path for her almost immediately.