The following month was absolutely wild.

Latisha was by no means a strict mentor, but she was relentless in her teaching. If I didn't get the hang of something the first time, I had to do it repeatedly — until progress was made. Breaks were only given once I'd made said progress. I was pretty sure I'd never felt so much sweat in places I didn't know could be sweaty. My body, too, felt like I had taken a beating after each session. And I hadn't even included when I tried to learn things from the Grimoire and tried to "connect" more with nature. It felt like a meditation session, but it still drained me mentally. Luckily, when I returned from each session, Bella always had a snack or something to drink ready for me. She was seriously a Godsend!

The first thing Latisha and I tackled was fire, which was what originally awakened my magic.

First, it was generating a flame in my hand. Then, I had to transfer it to my other hand. After that came control of how big or small a flame I could make. Only then did we begin target practice.

"Most witches never have to use their spells offensively," Latisha spoke as she showed me how to hurl a ball of fire at a bag of rocks she had set up about 30 feet in front of us. We were in an open field, trees surrounding us on each side. "That doesn't mean you shouldn't learn how to do it, though," she continued. "You never know if you have to fight or use your knowledge to teach the next generation." Latisha's ball of fire hit the bag right in the center. The brown, stringy material sizzled from where the fire had impacted. She gave a hum of approval at her success. Then she gestured for me to copy her.

I took a deep breath, trying to calm the nerves jittering in my stomach. Whenever I used magic, I could feel it deep inside me, tugging at something… indescribable. The closest I could come up with was like someone had a hook through my navel and pulled lightly each and every time. My skin began prickling like the static on a TV; the hairs on the back of my neck and arms almost rose each time. My senses felt sharper and more focused. It was hard waiting for the weekend to practice. Using magic was addicting and invigorating at the same time. It was worth the way it drained me — just to feel that same thrill again next time.

A small flame burst to life in my palm. It flickered red and yellow, slowly warming my cool hands. The gloves I had been wearing when I arrived were discarded by a tree to my left. The stone circle was visible through a few trees to my right. It felt surreal that my first meeting with Latisha had only just happened a little while ago.

I let the flame dance between my hands, slowly growing and warming me. Then I stood — as closely to how Latisha had moments before, legs spread in a fighting stance — and threw the fire at the bag. It barely hit the lowest part. I huffed.

Latisha laughed. "Practice is the only way to get better." She went over to me and gently corrected my stance, adjusting my legs so they weren't as spread, lowering my shoulders, and showing me how to swing my arm. I tried again and finally hit the bag, although it was the top part this time.

Latisha smiled as I did a happy dance and threw my fist in the air. "Well done, Katherine."

We took a break after that, and I gulped down my water bottle like a parched person who had just discovered water in the desert. My muscles were sore, and I felt exhausted. But I still had questions, and I knew Latisha was more than willing to answer them. She was sitting against a tree to my left, eyes closed, with a content smile on her lips. I had never seen anyone who looked so serene—so at peace.

I licked my lips, wondering how to phrase my questions.

"Is something on your mind, Katherine?"

I jumped a little at Latisha's sudden question. Had she actually read my mind?

She raised her eyebrow at me. I sighed. Might as well get it over with. "Is… is it possible to read other people's minds? Or say… shield yourself against that?" I tried to keep my hand from fidgeting with my bottle cap. A cold gust of wind rustled through the trees, and I shivered.

Latisha conjured a large flame and sent it to float between us. The gentle warmth caressed my cheeks where the cold had hit before. "It's possible," she told me as she leaned towards me. "But not many people speak about shielding themselves," she looked at me, eyes intense with curiosity and something else I couldn't quite place. "Mostly, they wish to read minds. Is there a specific reason you're asking?"

I almost flinched. I didn't want to tell her that I knew Edward could read minds, but I was also curious why he couldn't read mine. Was that some defense mechanism my latent magic had put in place? Maybe Latisha had the answers. "I believe there's… someone at school who might be able to… sense thoughts," It was hard trying to find the right words and not out Edward directly. "If I wanted to avoid their sense, how would I do that?"

Latisha leaned back against the tree, a thoughtful expression on her face. "Someone at school, you say?"

I tried to hide my grimace. "I don't want to scare them with my thoughts about all of this," I gestured between us, trying to cover up, but I wasn't sure if Latisha believed me.

She shook her head and sighed. "You mean one of the Cullens, don't you?"

I couldn't hide my surprise this time as my eyebrows rose and my mouth opened. "H-how—?"

"I've been keeping an eye on them for some time now," she said, looking at me with an unreadable expression. "You're wise to have noticed something different about them," Latisha sighed again. "I didn't know one of them was a mind reader. That's worrying indeed." She frowned.

Was Latisha wary of them like the people from La Push? Of course, I knew they were dangerous; they were vampires, after all. But they wouldn't hurt anyone, at least not on purpose. Edward's persistence about not drinking Bella's blood was a testament to that. "I don't believe they're here to hurt anyone."

She eyed me warily. "Why do you say this?"

Damn it. Now, I would have to find a way to explain what I knew without making it sound like I knew. "It's just that they…. they go on about their lives and don't really involve themselves with other people," my left arm found my right and squeezed. "I actually think they're trying to keep a safe distance." My eyes darted to the ground, hoping Latisha would believe my words.

She hummed but didn't speak for a long time. When she finally spoke again, she came to sit next to me, gently touching my shoulder. "I was going to wait to introduce you to supernatural creatures, but it seems you're more aware of your surroundings than I gave you credit for."

I swallowed, feeling both nervous and excited at the same time. Had Latisha known they were vampires all along?

"The Cullens," she began, "Are a species called vampires. I have never seen a coven as large as theirs, but I moved here because I knew they would come. I had to try and protect this town," Latisha squeezed my shoulder, then closed her eyes and inhaled. "My…. last witch coven didn't believe they would come back here again so soon or pose a threat, so they let me go here by myself. I… haven't heard from my sisters since."

I blinked, trying to absorb the information. Had Latisha been a part of Stephenie Meyer's imagination, too, or was this just how the world had turned out from what she had written? Latisha trying to protect Forks against vampires. Where had she been when Victoria and her army attacked? When the Volturi came? Then again, she was only one woman. A singlewitch. And she'd said that witches were more powerful in covens. Perhaps that was why she hadn't — wouldn't — take an active part in what was happening — Would happen….

Jeez, this is a confusing mess…

"They're different, though, to other vampires I've encountered," Latisha finally said. "They aren't nomadic; they don't hunt in town—I've never even seen them hunt people in my crystals—and their eyes!" She exclaimed. "They're no color I've ever seen on a vampire before. Normally, they're almost always blood red."

I shuddered. While the Cullens controlled themselves and were no threat to people, the thought of other vampires scared the hell out of me. "You've fought vampires?"

Latisha laughed half-heartedly. "Yes," she answered. "They're faster than your eyes can perceive. One moment of slipped concentration, and you're dead." She took hold of my other shoulder and looked directly into my eyes. "Only one thing can kill them. Fire."

I shuddered again. It seemed like Latisha was glad that fire was the first element I had to learn. "But the Cullens…?"

"Have done nothing wrong," Latisha answered. "Yet," she continued. "Beware of them, Katherine. Vampires are alluring to humans, even more so to other supernatural beings." She squeezed my shoulders again. "They are made to lure people to their death. All they want, all they can wish for, is blood."

I swallowed. This was a warning if I'd ever heard one.

"You must concentrate, construct walls around your mind. It might require tremendous energy initially, but the more you do it, the more it'll become second nature." She let go of my shoulders, got up, and lowered her hand to help me get up, too. I took it and wobbled a moment, finally feeling blood rush to my numb legs. "I'll begin to do so as well." Then she looked up at the sky. "You should get home; it's almost time for dinner."

"What about Bella?" I asked, though a part of me already knew the answer.

"She can't know about them," Latisha sighed as she spoke. "Humans panic easily. Although she's taken quite well to your situation, you shouldn't overwhelm her." She walked over to me, pulling me into a tight hug. I froze momentarily, not expecting her to display her feelings like this. "Protect her instead," she whispered before letting go of me. Then she waved and made the giant floating fireball disappear as she walked away between the trees.

Yet another reason I couldn't tell Bella anything. Just perfect.

School was a different can of worms. Edward didn't even acknowledge me unless we were working on a project, so I usually worked with Brittany or Jerry instead. After a while, Bella also seemed to forget her frustrations with him, but her eyes would still occasionally dart towards the Cullen table when she thought no one was looking. Other than that, she seemed happy and was excitedly gushing about the books she and Emily planned to read for Book Club. They shared a love of darker literature, which had me clutching my stomach in laughter at their discussions during lunch. Who knew Bella had such morbid taste? It was almost ironic that she would fall in love with Edward.

It was also a wonder I even finished my lunch some days, with the amount I was laughing.

During this time, Jerry and I began to talk more, too. He began showing me his sketches — which were more cartoony than mine — but I loved them nonetheless. He had a talent for capturing unique characters. One day, during Art Club, he even showed me one of the cartoons he was working on.

"These are so good!" I enthused, admiring his line work and the natural way the story in the comic flowed. "I bet you'll be working as an illustrator for a comic book after High School." It was hard not to trace the lines between the different scenes as I began to reread it again.

Jerry rubbed his neck; his ears were slightly pink. "Thanks," he softly said. "I'm not so sure about after High School, but maybe one day." Of all of Brittany's friends, Jerry was the most self-conscious and timid of the group. When I found out, I made it a point to praise his work at every opportunity I got. An artist was nothing without their confidence. How would they even get their work out there?

At least, that's what my dad told me every time I doubted my abilities.

"Nonsense!" I told him, squeezing his shoulder. "You should publish some of these in the school paper; they're fantastic!"

Jerry paled. "The school paper?" He squeaked. Then he ran a slender hand through his shoulder-length, blonde hair. "I don't know… am I really that good? I mean, what if they don't want to publish them? What if they think they're too goofy?"

I squeezed his shoulder again. "They're amazing and perfect. Stop fretting so much, Jerry," I told him. "You're an amazing artist; you, of all people, should acknowledge that." Then I smiled my biggest, warmest smile. My hand was still clutching the comic.

Jerry blushed and waved me away as we both laughed and continued to talk about his cartoons.

It wasn't long before a whole month had gone by. At first, I didn't notice how much time had passed until I began seeing posters for the Spring Dance, which I had completely forgotten was girls' choice.

Brittany was gushing about a boy from her Spanish class whom she planned to ask to the dance. "What about you?" she turned to me as we entered school. "Planning on asking anyone in particular?" She nudged me and winked.

I groaned and shoved her away. "Nope. I'm going to Seattle with Bella that weekend. We're going to shop for books and have a nice girl's outing," I replied. Might as well give Bella an actual excuse other than her going alone.

"You're not going?" Brittany pouted. "But it's so much fun!" She gestured wildly with her hands as she spoke. "I was even going to teach you the group dance!" Then she stepped in front of me and showed me the most bizarre set of dance moves.

I snorted. "You guys have group dance?" Of course, Brittany would make something like that up. Theater kid, indeed. I was also pretty sure that Erica would rather die than dance in front of an audience, and Jerry would have asked to stand behind Brittany so no one would even see he was there. Emily was probably the only one brave enough to actually dance beside Brittany.

She stopped dancing, crossed her arms, and scowled. "I'll have you know that it was featured in the town's newspaper last year."

"Of course." I bowed as we came to a stop in front of Biology. Then I sighed. "It's something Bella and I have planned for a while," I lied smoothly. "We didn't know the dance would be that Saturday."

Brittany smiled. "Next dance, I'll teach you, for sure."

We laughed before I went into class to find my seat next to Alice. She looked like she was ready to bounce out of her own seat at any moment. "Excited for the dance?" she asked me, although I was sure she'd heard Brittany and me talk just before. Her vampire hearing was exceptional, after all.

"Bella and I have something planned that day, so we won't make it," I told her as I sat down and began finding my books and notepad. "Maybe next time."

Alice beamed. "You'll have to let me take you shopping then!" A part of me was sure she was moments away from clapping her hands together. Her excitement was very infectious.

I laughed. "Sure."

The Spring Dance seemed the only thing everyone could talk about during classes. The teachers had to shush the students more than once, but this didn't deter them from whispering about it instead.

Jerry was behaving strangely as he entered English with me one day. Now that I thought about it, Erica had been quieter during Biology, too. They were usually more reserved than Brittany and Emily, but today was almost a little weird. Because Brittany and Jerry had been my partners in more than one English project since Edward had begun to ignore me and Bella, we had been hanging out a lot in class before the lesson started. I wasn't entirely sure when Edward would talk to Bella again, but I knew it would be soon. Mike would ask her to the dance in the Biology classroom, Edward would become jealous, and everything would finally work out. It had to.…

"Um, K-Kathy?" Jerry mumbled next to me as I sat down beside Edward, who was looking out the window to his left, just like he always did. For all intents and purposes, he seemed like he didn't know anyone in class existed.

"Yes, Jerry?" I answered without looking as I began fishing out my English supplies.

I heard Jerry swallow while I frantically searched my bag for my pencil case. How the hell did my things keep disappearing in that damn bag? "I um… was wondering…" he stopped, and I looked up at him momentarily. His cheeks were flaming red, and he was rubbing his neck. What had him so flustered all of a sudden?

I frowned. "Are you okay?" My hand was still rummaging through my blasted bag.

Jerry swallowed again. His hands were fidgety, almost as if he didn't know what to do with them. "Yes — I…." He took a deep breath. "Do-you-want-to-go-to-the-dance-with-me?"

Smack!

I'd finally found my pencil case, but instead of carefully taking it out, I lunged it into my face, just as he asked. Ow…. My nose is going to hurt all day from that…

"Oh my God! Kathy! Are you okay?" Jerry rushed down to remove my hands from my nose as I rubbed it.

"Yes, fine. It's just my nose." I pulled my hands away from his quicker than I probably should have. To my left, I sensed Edward tense up like he was trying to keep himself from laughing. Bastard….

Jerry inhaled again. His shoulders were square, and he seemed more confident. "Will you go to the dance with me?"

I sighed. "Sorry Jerry, I'm not going to the dance. I'm going to Seattle with Bella that day."

"Oh," he said, shoulders sacking. I hated myself right then. He'd finally looked so confident, but I had to crush it. "Do you have to go that Saturday?"

I twirled a lock of my red hair between my fingers. "We've planned it for a while, so we can't go another time," I told him, the corners of my mouth turning downwards. "Sorry."

He shrugged. His head hung, and he looked so small and dejected. "It's okay." Then, he finally went to his seat.

I let my head fall into my arms, relishing their warmth. Of course, I should have expected someone to ask me. I hadn't asked anyone, but there was bound to be someone who also found me attractive. Bella couldn't possibly be the only one drawing attention. It was just so… absurd. Had I given Jerry some wrong signals? I wasn't sure as I went through all our conversations in my head. Maybe I should have been less enthusiastic, touched him less, or given him fewer smiles….

"Mr Cullen?" Mr Mason's voice finally made me look up from my arms. Edward was staring at me with the most intense and curious look. My face felt hotter, and my heart began beating faster. The air around me felt charged, just as when I was using magic. What the hell is this?

"He published it in 1929, sir," Edward answered the question I hadn't heard. Mr Mason seemed satisfied and went back to lecturing.

As if I'd resurfaced from almost drowning, I was finally able to turn my head away from Edward. My hair fell in front of my cheek and shoulder, shielding me from his stare. What had just happened? This was supposed to happen to Bella! He was supposed to stare at her when Mike asked! Why did nothing happen the way it should? Honestly, it felt like the whole universe was out to punish me for coming with Bella in the first place…

Class went excruciatingly slow. I tried to sketch several times but stopped once I noticed I was drawing a familiar mop of disheveled hair or a couple of intense, familiar vampiric eyes. Why was my subconscious so against me, too?

"Katherine?"

I jumped in my seat at his quiet, velvet voice. People were packing their bags and getting out of their seats. Had I really not noticed the bell?

"Yes?" I stuttered and swallowed. Somewhere in my mind, I knew I should ask him what he wanted—why he was talking to me again. But it was like that part of me was hidden deep within a lake of water, muddled and unable to reach me.

Edward sighed, looking serious. "I'm sorry," he said. "I know I'm being very rude to you."

"That's an understatement." My mouth moved before I had the chance to think my words through. It was like he'd cast a spell that made it impossible for me not to answer him.

He chuckled, a bitter smile on his serious face. "It's better if we're not friends," he told me. "Just trust me."

"What about Bella?"

He narrowed his eyes. "Her too."

"She's just looking for answers," I told him before I could stop. "So am I — so why did you move her out of the way first?" It was like a dam had broken; I couldn't control my mouth as it laid my thoughts bare before him. "Why not move me? I was in front of her, after all."

To say he looked shocked was an understatement. Words did not do justice to his expression at that moment. Then he began to laugh—almost manically.

"Of all the things…." I heard him mutter before he composed himself and looked at me again. "You know I can't answer that." His face was serious again.

I huffed; his laughter had broken the spell. "Oh, come on! Not even a hint?"

He chuckled and shook his head.

"You're no fun," I grumbled as I gathered my things. No one was left in class now; even Brittany was gone.

Edward chuckled again. "I don't mean to be," he said before he sobered up again. "I'm being very serious, you know; you should stay away from me."

I couldn't help my eye roll. "Because you're trying soo hard to keep distance between us right now." Even through the sarcasm, I could feel myself beginning to anger. If he could just stop being so freaking cryptic! I grabbed my bag and slung it over my shoulder.

Edward's expression hardened. "You might not get it, but that's exactly what I'm trying to do." It was clear to see that he was beginning to get angry, too.

My eyes narrowed at him. "Well, why the reneging right now, then?" I berated him as we began to walk out of the classroom. "Shouldn't you be ignoring me?"

He scoffed and narrowed his eyes at me, too. "Fine." Then he turned around and stormed off.

Brittany looked at me with big eyes as I walked into U.S. History five minutes late. Luckily, Mrs. Brown didn't notice me slide quietly into my seat, or she deliberately ignored it. Either way, Brittany was on me as she began to whisper once I had fished out my books and a pen.

"What happened with Cullen? Are you guys talking again?"

I sighed. "No, it's nothing like that," I whispered back and tried to keep my eyes on the blackboard to write down Mrs. Brown's scribbles.

Brittany gasped, making several heads turn towards us, even Jerry. He looked so small and unsure of himself as he blushed before turning around. I felt embarrassed and bad all over again, hoping I could somehow cheer him up in the future — in a more friendly and less… misleading manner. Erica had looked back, too, a bigger smile on her face than in Biology earlier.

"He didn't ask you to the dance, did he?"

I scoffed. "Of course not! Why would he—"

"Miss Henderson! I would appreciate you focusing on the lecture instead of Miss Gray — especially since you were late to class." Mrs. Brown sternly told me before she turned around to write more on the blackboard.

I blushed. "Of course. I'm sorry, Mrs. Brown."

The rest of the day was equally weird. At lunch, Bella came to sit with Brittany and me instead of Jessica. I had an inkling why but didn't say anything out loud. I planned to once Bella and I were in the confines of our home or perhaps in the Gym changing room.

So today was the day Mike would ask her to the dance. Just like Jerry had asked me. He wasn't at our table today, and once I asked Brittany about it, she grimaced.

"I think we need to give him some space. Especially since he probably thinks it's an excuse."

I almost spit out the water in my bottle. "Excuse me? Bella and I are going to Seattle on Saturday of the dance! We didn't know it would be the same day!"

Bella raised her eyebrow at me but at least tried to play along, however unconvincing it sounded. "Y-yeah, it's true. We wanted to see what books we could get there instead of in Port Angeles."

Amidst Bella's corroboration of my story, my eyes flickered to the Cullen table. Alice and Edward looked like they were discussing something, Jasper looked wary, Emmett looked like he was trying not to laugh, and Rosalie looked outright pissed. If scowls could kill, her's would have murdered Edward — and I'm sure Alice, too — many times by now. It made me extremely curious until Edward's gaze met mine, and I quickly looked away.

Just before the bell rang to signal the end of lunch, Erica materialized at our table and asked to speak with me. I got up and followed her into an empty hall. At first, I was confused since she'd been so quiet today, but as I took in the growing rose color on her cheeks, my face began to pale.

"Umm…" Erica softly began as we stopped while brushing a hand through her short, dark hair. "We could go to the dance together… if you want?"

My body froze. This was not happening. Not again.

I opened and closed my mouth several times before clearing my throat. "…Thanks, Erica…. that's sweet of you, but…. Bella and I are already going to Seattle that day…." My left arm found my right and squeezed. "Also…. I don't really…see you that way. You're more of a friend to me." I felt incredibly awkward. The hand, not squeezing my arm, took hold of the strap of my bag as I began fidgeting with it. It was one thing for a guy to ask me to a dance, but I'd never expected another girl to ask me. I wasn't entirely sure how to feel. Erica was my friend, and I enjoyed our small conversations before Biology class, but I hadn't even thought she would like me that way at all.

Erica sighed and ran a hand through her hair again. "I figured as much," she spoke quietly. "Most women do." She looked deflated, like Jerry had earlier, but not as intensely. Her head hung slightly, her shoulders sagged, and her expression was glum.

I frowned, too. It wasn't fair that two of my friends had to be sad and disappointed because of me. I hated being the cause of misery. "Maybe you should ask Emily," I blurted before I could think.

Erica's frown became laden with confusion. She lifted her head, and her body froze momentarily. "… Emily?"

I nodded, really hoping I had read the shy, almost blushing looks Emily sent Erica's way correctly. With my recent track record of noticing people's attraction, I wasn't entirely sure, though. With Jessica and Mike, it was obvious to see because I already knew who they were into. It was another matter entirely when I didn't have inside knowledge.

Erica didn't say more but walked away with a faraway look in her eyes. I shuddered slightly, but other than that, I tried not to overthink things as I went to French. A part of me swore I heard quiet laughter behind the corner before I went in the opposite direction.

As the school day finally came to an end, Bella looked at me like she was tired and done with the day, too. "That excuse of yours came in handy…. Mike and Eric asked me to the dance…." She looked absolutely mortified as she told me. Her eyes were big; she was clutching her bag to her chest, and her body seemed more tense than before we'd entered Gym. She had finished getting dressed and showered quicker than me, so I figured Eric must have asked her while she waited for me.

I tried to hold in my laughter, I really did, as we walked towards the truck. Bella's glare didn't help either. "At least you know how it feels now," I told her in between my laughs.

Bella groaned and tried to hide her face in her hands, which almost caused her to trip over a patch of grass. Her bag fell off her shoulder and almost brought her down with it, too.

I laughed but stopped walking, and as Bella found her balance, I said, "We could always do it, you know. Go to Seattle after all." I gripped the strap of my bag just a little tighter.

She smiled and adjusted her own bag. "I'd like that."

We reached the truck, and both went inside. As Bella began to drive into the car aisle, the silver Volvo — with Edward behind the wheel — came to a smooth stop in front of us, basically cutting us off.

Oh right. Tyler still needs to ask Bella. I'd completely forgotten.

Bella was glaring at the back of the Volvo, knuckles turning white on the steering wheel. She was probably thinking about running into it. I almost snickered.

Then, there was a knock on the passenger-side window, and sure enough, Tyler was there. Bella gestured to me, and I tried to crank the window open. It was extremely stiff, and I had to give up about one-third of the way.

"Sorry, Tyler, we're stuck behind Cullen," Bella grumbled, the annoyance in her voice clear as day.

"Oh, I know! I just wanted to ask Kathy something while we're trapped here."

What the heck?

I blinked a couple of times, unsure of what I had just heard.

"Will you ask me to the spring dance?"

This could not be happening. Not once, not twice, but a freaking third time? Whatever happened to him asking Bella? It was her truck that he'd— Oh….

I was the one he'd almost run over….

Crap.

"I'm sorry. Bella and I are going out of town that Saturday." My voice shook as I spoke, probably betraying my disbelief.

"Yeah, I was told that," he casually said.

Oh God, no…

"It's cool. At least we still have prom." Then he disappeared before I could answer again. I had half a mind to shout at him through my partially opened window, but my gaze flickered to the car in front of me, where I saw Edward shaking with laughter in his rearview mirror.

It took only a moment for my anger to focus on a single little spot on the rear of the Volvo. Smoke began rising as a small flame appeared where I was looking. My skin tingled, the air felt charged with electricity, and that familiar pull at my stomach was all I could feel. A part of me was hoping the car would slowly burst into flames….

Bella's hand grabbed mine, and the flame immediately went out. The magical atmosphere vanished like a popped bubble. She looked at me with big eyes. "Careful, Katherine," she whispered gently.

I sighed but decided to let go of my anger. Edward's little stunt was not worth exposing my magical abilities to the world.

Soon enough, his siblings joined him in the car, and the line of vehicles forming behind us could finally begin to clear out of the parking lot.


NOTES:
Massive chapter, I know xD

I was having trouble with chapters 15 and 16 because I couldn't figure out how to pace the next part of the story. Thankfully, I've figured out the perfect way to make Katherine suffer through the next part, muhaha! I hope to post the next chapter in a week or a week and a half.

Also, I feel like I haven't mentioned this before, but all your comments, hits, likes, favorites, and whatnot make me feel all gooey inside every time I refresh the statistics page :3

Thank you, guys, from the bottom of my heart, for reading and liking this story! I appreciate every last one of you - from the silent readers to the commenters. You guys are the ones driving this story forward! :3

xx
Minnie