Mabel's plan was simple but efficient. Her idea was to wait for Eevee to get hungry. I don't know how long I waited in the bathroom, but it was for a pretty significant amount of time. While I was in there, Eevee had a blast with the house. By blast I mean it sounded like she was a frickin wrecking ball. Glass and porcelain shattering sounds erupted into the air nonstop... giving me extreme anxiety, of course. How was I going to explain this to mom? Only when the sounds died down and I heard Eevee pant and mewl as if hungry and tired, did I give Mabel the signal. Aka, I messaged her [I think she's hungry.]

Mabel snuck a food bowl through a crack in the front door. As I expected, Zoey had left it unlocked...as usual. The Pokéfood was laced with sleep-inducing drugs. Nothing sketchy, Mabel assured me. After a few minutes, there was only silence from the other side of the door. I had to assume the drugs worked, but even so, I was terrified of opening the door...

Thankfully, Eevee was out cold. She was curled up next to the food bowl, breathing softly. It was strange. She looked so adorable while asleep...I felt the urge to pet her, but my fear of her and the events that had taken place up to this point stopped me from touching her at all. I headed to the front door and let Mabel in.

"Thank you, Mabel!" I'd never been so happy to see anyone before. I gave Mabel my warmest smile. "I seriously owe you one."

Mabel was wearing the same outfit she had been earlier. A green, plaid dress and fluffy white scarf. Her cheeks were stained pink from the cold, and she was shivering quite a bit. I suddenly felt guilty. I dragged Mabel from whatever she'd been busy doing...all because I couldn't handle my own Pokémon. I was an embarrassment. Wasn't I supposed to be the one saving her from an evil Pokémon, or something?

"Hey, you," Mabel smiled, tucking her hair behind her ear. Her smile was like that of a goddess. I felt my negative feelings being blown away...my heart raced. "I was happy to help."

"Well, er, yeah," I swallowed, rubbing the back of my neck. "I hope I didn't interrupt something important..."

Mabel giggled and stepped close, lightly touching my stomach, "Avery, seriously. Don't worry about it. Seeing you again is worth it." My eyes widened at her words, but she just blushed and stepped away. "U-um, anyways, let's see her..." Mabel turned away from me and kneeled, gazing at Eevee. My mind raced. Mabel had wanted to see me again...she seriously liked me. And I liked her.

"She seems completely normal." Mabel glanced about the room and laughed. "Though your house doesn't. It's the opposite of normal..."

It was. Nearly every nearby object that was delicate or had been on a low surface was destroyed. Vases, cups, dishes, statues, etcetera. They were all knocked off and shattered. The couch and my mother's armchair were completely chewed apart, their insides pulled out like guts. And the blankets that had been down here...well...they were in complete tatters. Eevee had really done a number on the area...I clutched my head and dropped to my knees, exhaling heavily into my hands.

"What am I going to say to my mother?!"

"The truth, I guess. That your Eevee went on a rampage. Where's her Pokéball, anyway? You should return her to it before she wakes up." Mabel lightly touched my shoulder. I didn't move. I stared at Eevee through a crack in my fingers, aggravation stewing inside me. Not at her, but the situation. Marissa had seriously fucked my life up...

"I'm going to have to pay for all of this. My mom doesn't work. My Journey is going to be postponed even more..."

I froze when soft fingers curled with mine and pulled them away from my face, squeezing in reassurance. "We'll figure it out..."

Staring at Mabel's beautiful, freckled face was too much for me. I wanted to run my fingers through her dark curls and crush our lips together. My heart hammered. I wanted to kiss her. I wanted to kiss her so badly. Mabel must've noticed my gaze, because she wet her lips. The sight of her tongue flicking across her soft, pink lips was too much for me. I felt a familiar, hot stirring in my pants. That was what knocked me out of my stupor.

I shook my head, swallowed, and quickly stood up. "I uh...yeah, I guess we will figure it out..." Mabel didn't say anything. I knew she was disappointed, but I just couldn't. She was too young, and honestly...too good for me. If she found out about my rising interest in Poképhilia...if she found out that I'd busted a load to the thought of her getting rawed by a Zangoose...it'd be all over.

I had to keep her at a distance. "But all the money in the world wouldn't fix the core of the problem," I sighed, gesturing over my shoulder. "You can come up to my room." I flinched when Mabel still didn't react. But she did follow me. I could hear her footsteps behind me on the stairs. I pushed open my bedroom door and found Eevee's Pokéball.

"I hear some Pokémon are able to get out of their own Pokéballs. I sure hope this isn't something like that..." The mere thought of Eevee getting out of her ball while I wasn't aware of it, creeping up on me while I was sleeping...I shuddered. "You think it's possible, Mabs?" I turned to look at her. "WOAH!" I exclaimed, surprised to find her super close and right in front of me.

"You're starting to make me mad, Avery," Mabel murmured. I backed away, swallowing hard. She had a strange expression. Sad and angry at the same time. I didn't know what to say. "Do you...do you not find me attractive?"

"I do!" I responded, "I seriously do but...you're too young for me, Mabs!"

Mabel grasped my hands again, hard. I couldn't escape now. "I want you to kiss me. I've wanted you to for so long. At least give me that..." Staring into her emerald eyes, I was extremely tempted. It was just a kiss, right? And if I didn't it'd hurt her feelings. Swallowing hard, I gazed down at her. Our height difference was big. She was about 5,2 to my 6 feet so I really had to lean down...Her pink, moist lips were so close to mine...I could even feel and smell her warm, sweet breath.

We both suddenly froze. A very terrifying sound had filled the air. Scampering. Eevee had woken up...but I had her Pokéball this time. I was ready. Mabel sighed when I pulled away and walked past her. "I'm not letting you avoid it anymore, Avery. After we deal with your Eevee, we're talking about this." If it was just talking, I didn't mind. It was the other stuff that scared me... I sighed with relief and turned toward the bedroom door.

My relief died quickly. I heard the front door being opened. That had to be my mom! I threw away every thought except "I need to protect her" and raced out of my bedroom. I hurdled down the stairs.

"Avery, what is the meaning of this!?" For once, my mom sounded angry. Rightfully so... "Ohhh, who is this?~ How cute!"

"Wait! Mom, stay away from that Ee...vee." I trailed off as I rounded the corner and found my mother holding Eevee in her arms, lightly stroking the top of her head. It was a disturbingly cute sight. My Eevee wasn't acting up at all. She was just lying in my mom's arms as if nothing had even happened, purring softly. Mabel quickly came to my side, and we both stared in shock at the sight that lay before us. My mom cooed as she ran her fingers across Eevee's soft fur, ruffling the strange little curl on the top of her head, tickling her belly. Eevee looked like she was in heaven. I didn't know what to say or do.

My mom wasn't distracted for long. She glanced at me. I was disturbed by the fact that she was wearing makeup. And was dressed up. Where had she been tonight? And why did she have some weird ass affinity with my demented Eevee? "Mister, you are in big..." My mom noticed Mabel behind me, and her mouth became an even firmer line. "You're in a world of trouble, Avery Higgs. An underage girl in, I assume, your bedroom. That's horrible, Avery! I raised you better than that!"

"Wait, mom, I-"

"Oh Mabel." My mom bowed her head in apology. "I'm sorry if my son coerced you into doing anything, he will take full responsibility." Mabel opened her mouth, probably to deny the accusations toward me, but my mom wasn't done. "And Avery Higgs- you let your Pokémon run rampant through the house while you did who knows what with Mabel?"

I sighed. This was such a bad misunderstanding I didn't even know where to start. From the beginning, I guess. "That Eevee in your arms...she attacked me. I had to lock her in my room. Then, I had this huge ordeal where I tried to confront her and calm her down, and she attacked me again. I fell down the stairs, I ran into the bathroom -ignore the hockey equipment in there, I tried to uh...armor up I guess- She destroyed everything while I was locked in the bathroom, terrified for my life."

My mom stared at me, then she slowly turned her gaze around the room.

"It's true ma'am," Mabel spoke up. "I actually came over just to help Avery out." She gave me a sad look and stepped forward. I could tell she was feeling bad about a wide array of things, namely that even my mom didn't approve of us being an item. She was just too young; didn't Mabel understand that? Mabel pointed toward the drugged food bowl. "I brought some food that makes Pokémon sleepy so that Eevee would settle down."

My mom was quiet as she gently touched and poked at Eevee's stomach. She seemed pretty happy to be holding such a cute Pokémon...I wish I could trade places with her. Eevee was my Pokémon, after all. "Well, that does explain why this Eevee is so sleepy. Look at it, the poor thing can barely keep its eyes open..." We all stared at Eevee in silence. My mom sighed softly. "Our house is a mess..."

I clenched my fists. "I know, mom. I'm sorry. I'll clean it up, and I'll pay for the repairs and everything."

My mom smiled. "Such a good boy..." I felt warm from her praise. She stroked the side of Eevee's face. "Alright then. I believe you. You've never lied to me before about something serious. I doubt you'd start now. I'm sorry for accusing you, Avery."

I chuckled. "It's understandable. Mabel and I did come from upstairs. We were up there so I could grab this." I shook the Pokéball in my hand. "I'm gonna return her to her Pokéball now."

Eevee's soft, sleepy gaze turned toward me. For a second, it turned deadly sharp. But I returned her before she could act on whatever murderous thoughts entered her brain. With a flash of red light, she disappeared. We were all left standing in silence, contemplating what to do next. I'd never had a Pokémon, and I couldn't see how I could possibly use this one...I had no choice but to head to Jack's and return it. As for getting another Pokémon... I technically had my Trainer's license now. It was in my Pokedex. I'd have to try my best and catch a wild one.

"It's dumb," I muttered, "Jack gets the tamest Pokémon in the world who loves him. When I called him, he was cuddling her. And he doesn't even deserve it. He's a pervert and a dick half the time. If anyone deserves to have this evil creature," I shook the Pokéball, "it's him."

"Avery," My mother exclaimed. "don't talk like that about your best friend like that!"

She was right. I shouldn't. But I was mad. Mainly mad at Jack's bitch of a sister. I stared at the Pokéball with disdain. "I'll have to bring Eevee to him." When Mabel and my mother gave me questioning looks, I coughed. "I'm gonna give her back to Jack."

Mabel seemed horrified by the idea. "What!? But she's your starter. You can't just get rid of her..."

"Well, I don't know what to do with her. I have no experience with Pokémon...and I don't feel like getting killed by the crazy thing." Mabel crossed her arms and shook her head, seeming deep in thought.

"Well...just keep her for now. We'll figure it out." I guess that was one of Mabel's sayings now. 'We'll figure it out.' Well, how were we supposed to figure something like this out? I couldn't even risk letting Eevee out.

"How about you bring her over to my place tomorrow? She and Baron could bond."

I raised a brow. "Baron?"

Mabel nodded. "My Growlithe! I was actually putting him to sleep before I came here..." She trailed off and glanced at her Pokétch. "Hmm, I guess I should be heading home soon. Let's get this stuff cleaned up and then I'll head out. Sound good?"

My mom glanced at her in surprise. "Honey! You don't have to help clean!"

Mabel raised a hand. "I want to. Don't worry about it. As I told Avery earlier, I'm happy to help him out." She shared a strange, special smile with me, her cheeks bright red. My mom couldn't find it in her to refuse. And I certainly wasn't gonna say no. So that was the plan. I set Eevee's Pokéball aside, and then the three of us got to work cleaning up the mess she'd left down here.

Sometime later, it was finally over. We had multiple heavy-duty trash bags filled with shattered, sharp objects and more. It shocked me, and my mother, how kind Mabel was. She stayed for the entire clean-up and she didn't complain at all. Just smiled at me and worked. I was ready to just wave goodbye and call it a night because I knew what would happen if I walked her home, but my mom was having none of that.

"Be a gentleman, she helped clean. You can walk her home!"

She was right, again. Mabel gave me a look. "You don't have to come." Her unspoken words still reached my ears. 'But I'd like you to." The mere thought of being alone with her was too much...but there was no way for me to say no without coming across as the biggest dick in the world. She'd travelled all the way across town to get to me. On top of that, she'd helped me with my Eevee problem. And she helped clean. I owed her.

"I'll come with you." I nodded. I wasn't going to be an ass to her just because I wanted to avoid her in the romantic sense. The least I could do for her after tonight was walk her home. "Just let me grab my coat." I headed upstairs. I grabbed several things. The first was Marissa's Pokéball belt. I strapped it around my waist. Next, I grabbed my only coat and a baggy hoodie of mine. I pulled the coat on and hurried back downstairs. When I reached her, I handed Mabel the hoodie.

"Here. It's way too cold to be walking around in something like that." I glanced at her dress. Mabel gazed at my shirt like it was a gift from a god or something. Her eyes glittered and she smiled at me. My heart raced. Gosh, how could someone make glasses look both cute and sexy? I certainly didn't. Mabel accepted it and hugged it to her chest.

My mom observed this whole exchange with a raised eyebrow. "So… that's how it is," she chirped.

I glared at her. "You! Shut it." My mom did a motion like she was zipping her mouth shut and smiled.

Then, she waved. "You be safe, honey. I'm going to bed. Long night..." I meant to ask her where she'd been all night, but before I could she was already walking away. So, it was just me and Mabel. I glanced at my mom's retreating back, and then Mabel again. My eyes widened. She'd pulled the hoodie on and it was way too big for her. She was so damn cute!

"Want a snack or something before we go?" I asked, strapping Eevee's Pokeball to my belt. Mabel shook her head, smiling.

"I'm all set. Thanks for coming with me, Avery."

I nodded. "Yeah. No problem." I double checked to make sure I had everything, and we headed outside.

The first few minutes were relatively quiet. We both just walked, not saying much. The air was cold, and we were shivering. I gazed around. Hearthome City really was beautiful when it was nighttime, wasn't it? The bright lights of all the buildings, the stars overhead. I was shocked out of my thoughts by something soft and cold: Mabel's frigid fingers twining with mine. I swallowed and looked at her. "Hey..."

Mabel squeezed my hand and hugged my arm. She gazed up at me, her green eyes bright and pretty behind her glasses. "Hey...Avery. Do you think maybe...you can stop thinking so hard about us?" Her request was so soft, and so earnest, I couldn't possibly say no. And I didn't want to. She was right. Maybe I had to just stop thinking about all this...I liked her. She liked me. Maybe that was all that mattered.

I wrapped her hand up in mine.

"I'm not going to leave without you," Mabel said suddenly. I furrowed my brows.

"What?"

"On my Pokémon journey. I won't leave without you. I'll wait. Even if it takes months. It...just wouldn't be the same without you."

I hated that my heart raced so much in response to her words. "Mabel..." I squeezed my eyes shut. "I...don't understand why you like me. I mean, me liking you is obvious. You're so beautiful. And you're kind and smart. You helped me out in class, you've taught me a lot...but me? I'm nobody. I'm a loser who went to school later than the average person along with Jack. Speaking of Jack, he's my best friend and a pervert. That's the type of person I hang out with. So why?"

Mabel giggled. "So, you admit you like me?"

I rolled my eyes, my face burning. "Mabs..."

"There are a lot of reasons to like you, Avery Higgs. But I like how honest you are. It's so cute. How mad you get at things that frustrate you. The way you complain. Your sarcasm...I find all these things endearing. I like how tall you are...how you wear glasses like me...but most of all...I like how nice you are. You're so sweet, Avery. Juliet tried to hurt you, and her family has done horrible things to Pokémon...and you still wanted to be kind to her. You're an amazing person."

The things she said were kind, but they were also an ugly reminder. I wasn't honest. Not completely. Nor was I some good guy. I'd jerked off to Mabel and a Pokémon and liked it. Poképhilia wasn't something I could hate, not anymore. I hated to admit it, but I was...interested in it. So, I just smiled, and let her hand go. "Yeah..."

"Avery?"

I couldn't look at her. "Mabel...I appreciate your feelings. But I won't be leaving with you. I'm sorry."

"Avery what...did I say something?" The hurt in her voice was like a knife to my heart. I didn't want to hurt her feelings but ending things here was in her best interest.

I turned to look at her. "I'm sorry, Mabel. Ok? I'm...I'm not interested."

Mabel shook her head. "I don't understand. You just told me you like me..."

I didn't know how to respond. How did I explain why I couldn't be with her? Because I wanna fuck Pokémon? No, I couldn't say that. So, like an idiot, I just froze up. "I-I need to go Mabel."

"Avery, don't run away from me again. I'm not a kid!"

"Yes. Yes, you are, Mabel." She flinched. There were tears in her eyes. "Mabel, please don't cry…Thank you for tonight. Seriously." I turned from her and hurried away, shoving my hands into the pockets of my coat.

I'm an asshole. I'm fully aware of that. But things would never work out with Mabel. I'm nineteen, she's sixteen. Hardly appropriate...or maybe that was just an excuse- and a convenient one. The truth of the matter is, I couldn't pretend Poképhilia didn't exist anymore. Nor could I hate it. Like I said, I was interested in it. And I couldn't expose Mabel to something like that, even if she didn't hate it. Jack and I were perverts, and his sisters were weird, but Mabel was a normal girl. An amazing girl.

I didn't want to go home. Maybe because I knew I'd be alone. The streets were mostly empty, but it was nice to see even a few other people walking around and conversing with each other. My head was hurting, and I had this strange, subtle ache in my chest. Regret, maybe. Or maybe pain knowing Mabel was probably going to ball her eyes out cause of me. Better she cries because I rejected her than because she found out what I was interested in. That the nice, amazing guy she knows isn't real.

My plan was to go to Jack's and just give him Eevee. After that, I wasn't sure what I was going to do. Maybe beg for my job back? I was lost in my thoughts, hands in my coat pockets when I heard a voice.

"Hey, Avery." A familiar voice knocked me out of my self-pitying stupor.

I turned in the direction of the voice. Yep. My fears were confirmed. Juliet Harmon, in the flesh. Hands full of bags, again. Hot, as usual. Just looking at her irritated me more than it usually would for some reason. Maybe because of what just happened with Mabel? "Hi... You stop me for a reason?" I wanted to make this interaction as quick as possible.

Juliet scowled. "I'm not allowed to say hi?" I enjoyed the bitter, angry expression on her face.

I sighed again. "Juliet. Why do you want to say hi to the guy you tried to trip? And I don't like your attitude. So, forgive me for being harsh, but kindly screw off." I turned to walk away.

"You know what? You're an asshole."

I should have just walked away then and there. There was no point arguing with Juliet. Even so, I spun around and met her gaze. I wasn't in the mood today. Juliet was glaring at me, her ruby red lips pursed. Her calling me an asshole was the definition of irony. Did she not understand that I was only an "asshole" to her? "Juliet, leave me alone. I'm not in the mood for your shit today. Go bother Jack, or something. Get it through your head that I don't like you, and I probably never will. I don't even know what Jack sees in you."

Juliet's face darkened with rage. "Oh please, everyone at school acts like you're some dependable guy, but really, you're just a piece of trash, Higgs. You're worthless. Jack gives you handouts and you think you're on my level and can talk to me like that?"

I shrugged. What did she expect me to say? "Listen, Princess. I know you're used to people showering you with attention and affection, that's obvious considering you were a bitch the last time we ran into each other and you still expected me to carry your bags, but I don't care about you. And I don't care about what you think of me. For the last time, leave me alone."

"You don't know what Jack sees in me? I don't know what that uptight bitch sees in you."

Uptight bitch...? Mabel, of course. I clenched my jaw. I tried to let the comment go, but...I couldn't. Marissa screwing me over, Eevee trying to kill me, and rejecting Mabel- it was all too much. Now, Juliet refused to leave me alone and was talking shit about the sweetest girl I've ever met.

I spun around and stuck my face in Juliet's. "I'm worthless? I'm trash? Your sister raped a Pokémon and you think I care about your opinion? The way you got mad when I said it was disgusting, I bet you do it too!"

Juliet's eyes widened. Her face grew pale as a sheet, then bright red just as fast. Her mouth fluttered open like a Magikarp, as if she wanted to say something, but then shut. At first, I felt good about saying that. Even if I didn't mean it. When I saw tears brim Juliet's eyes, I knew I had taken it too far. I knew that would hurt her the most, I'd just said it instinctively. I didn't even mean it...but I wouldn't apologize. Not to her. She deserved this...right? So why did I feel bad...I averted my eyes. Tried to calm down. Maybe I did owe her an apology…Things just got so escalated so fast…

"I'm...I didn't mean to take it that far. I'm sorry Juliet. Just...leave me alone." I started walking away. Juliet's next words stopped me.

"I was nice to you. I warned you about your sister. I offered you an extremely well-paying job at my house...But... I'm done being nice. I'm going to ruin your life, Higgs. And your sister's, too." Zoey, again? I felt that anger rise again, and I spun around. Juliet's face was a mask of hatred.

"You leave my damn sister-"

Juliet shoved me. Her voice was a sharp, angry whisper. "My sister rapes Pokémon? What about yours?"

I felt cold all over suddenly. I didn't know what to say. "I...what?"

Juliet smirked at me. Stepped close. Her eyes were dark, and she wet her luscious lips. "Mm. I like that look on your face, Higgs. You don't know?"

"Don't know what...?" Part of me already knew. I was horrified. I wished this interaction had never happened, I wished I'd been nicer and not let my frustration get the best of me. But it was too late for that. I'd provoked Juliet, and escalated this little feud to a point of no return...

Juliet seemed genuinely happy to see me suffering. "You don't know that your sister "rapes" that adorable Shinx of hers?" I couldn't say anything, do anything. I was shocked into a stupor. Zoey...and Static? I looked around, praying that no one was nearby to hear this. I was in luck, no one was- the one good thing about this entire ordeal. "She makes videos of it, you know. I wonder what'd happen if your mother found out...or maybe the police. That'd be a shame."

No. Absolutely not. Even Zoey wouldn't go that far...right? "I... don't believe you."

Juliet laughed. "Well, it's the truth."

I started shaking my head over and over. It couldn't be true. Zoey wouldn't do something like that. But I knew deep down Juliet wasn't lying. That's what she'd been trying to warn me about.

"Hey. Don't look so down, Higgs. I won't tell anyone. If you say sorry to me..." I glared at her. I hated her. Only Juliet would blackmail someone like this! Juliet wet her lips when she saw the hatred in my eyes. "And if you carry my bags, of course." I wanted to hurt her. I've never wanted to hurt someone before, especially not a girl, but she'd dragged Zoey into this. No one fucks with my sister, but still, there was nothing I could do. It had to be a lie... right?

'Zoey wouldn't... Zoey couldn't...'

"Hello? Did you hear what I just said? Carry my bags and walk me home or I'll seriously ruin your life, Four-eyes." I stared into her eyes. She was dead serious. Her dark brown eyes glittered.

"You're an absolute bitch, you know that?" I snapped. Juliet giggled.

"I tried to be nice, but you decided you'd be rude to me. I have my limits, you know. Here you go..." She chirped happily and extended her bags out to me. I took them, glaring at her all the while. "Now. Say sorry."

I forced the words out through clenched teeth. "I'm sorry."

Juliet thought about it, then she smiled. "Actually. I kind of liked it when you called me Princess. Say... I'm very, very sorry, Princess."

Was she serious? Her cold smile made it obvious she was. I shouldn't let her do this, but I didn't have a choice...I couldn't let her do anything to Zoey. "I'm sorry...Princess," I spat.

"Mm, music to my ears. Oh, you should message your mom or something. You're going to spend the night and I have very fun activities planned."

I had limits. She was pushing them. "I'm not spending the night. "

Juliet looked at me like I was the biggest idiot in the world. " "Oh? So, you want me to send the Jennies a video of your sister anonymously? I can do that! I sure hope she doesn't get into too much trouble." I didn't know what to say. "Your sister's life is going to be ruined if you don't listen to me, Higgs."

Juliet smiled. Maybe she saw the cold acceptance of the situation on my face cause her next words were: "Good boy."

I gnashed my teeth together. Damn it. "Listen, Juliet. I'm sorry, okay? Please don't fuck with me. I just had a bad day. My Eevee is psychotic, and I have a lot to deal with. I'm sorry so just let it go... please!" I was actually begging her.

Juliet's expression was unreadable. She stared at me for a long time. Then, her lips curled into a grin. "Hmm...nope~" Her voice was sing-songy.

My anger returned, tenfold. I shook my head. "You're crazy. And a narcissist! I say one bad thing about you, and you blackmail me. What is wrong with you!?"

Juliet grabbed me by the shirt and stuck her face in mine. Her breath was sweet. "Say all you want about me. I don't care. But you insulted my sister. I won't forgive you for that. Ever." She shoved me away. What was I supposed to do? She was right. I'd taken it too far, but this...this was making it even worse. I glanced at the Pokéball attached to my belt. If only I'd had a normal Pokémon. None of this would have happened...

I was miserable. Absolutely miserable. "What do you even want from me...?"

Juliet sighed in exasperation. "Calm down, Higgs. Nothing too horrible...at least not to me. Maybe to you." She smiled when she saw my confused expression. "Curious? Let's just say I'm giving you a better perspective of these things."

What did she mean by that? The fact that I didn't know made it all the more terrifying.

Juliet wrapped herself around my arm and smiled at me. "I hope you're not camera shy, Higgs," she purred.