You mindlessly scribbled down what you had to buy at the grocery story today after school. On the list there was eggs, chicken, rice, noodles, strawberries, apples, and hands. As in literally, hands were now covering up the list you were writing. The hands of a certain baby faced friend of yours. When you looked up, you found Ricky looking down at you as he stood by your desk.

“You okay?” He asked, his voice a low whisper. You blinked a few times, not understanding the question. Were you okay? You were. At least you felt like you were. So then why was he asking if you were? You figured your unconscious emotions must have betrayed you again by showing on your face. Once a walking billboard, always a walking billboard. And at that thought, you couldn’t help but smile.

“Yeah, I am.” You answered back as you shooed his hands off of your list, “Now move before you become my shopping list.” You laughed, however his hands didn’t budge an inch. He completely ignored your words and pursed his lips at you.

“Do you need a hug?” His puppy dog eyes shone down at you as he finally took his hands off of your list. Instead, he held his arms outwards, gesturing you to him.

A hug? A hug did sound nice right about now but you couldn’t help but be suspicious. Ricky was the give and take kind of guy. As in, he gives and then takes without warning. He’d give you a piece of chocolate and take the chocolate cake you bought for yourself the next day. All the while saying you owed him.

“What do you want?” You asked, narrowing your eyes at him.

“Nothing.” He answered back innocently as he waved his arms up and down, ushering you to hurry up and give in to him. You continued to glare at him and his shoulders deflated as he sighed, “Fine, buy me lunch and we’ll call it even. Deal?” By the end of his sentence, he was grinning down at you.

“Sounds good to me.” A voice came from behind him before it’s owner wrapped their arms around his neck. Ricky made a choking noise as he realized who it was immediately and a very satisfied Niel continued to hug him. “Hey, stop fidgeting. I agreed to your deal.” He joked and you couldn’t help but laugh once at the two of them and their usual antics.

And as usual, Ricky always went the roundabout route to make you feel better. How so? The deal he was proposing was pointless. When he didn’t bring his own lunch, he always ended up stealing food from you and Niel anyway. So it was a hug he was offering. A hug in exchange for nothing at all.

“Good morning, Hyunjoo.”

Their argument stopped just then and not only their but also your attention went to the person who just greeted you. Bang Minah. The Mayor’s daughter. Except, not exactly in the same way as before, considering her mother had taken over. Still the Mayor’s daughter nevertheless.

“Good morning.” You said back. Yet, she stood there still as though she was going to say something else. So, you waited and as you did so you noticed a few things about her.

Her hair had grown since the last time you saw her. But still, she had kept her signature bangs and two months was not nearly enough to change her naturally cute face. Her demeanor had changed a lot though. You deemed it for the better from how many actual pleasant conversations you had had with her, despite them all being about school. A rather fresh change from how they used to center all around one person. Though you could tell she held back at most times, it was still a major improvement.

As you waited, thinking vaguely about the boy she always used to talk about, she finally cleared and spoke again.

“Are you still going to the Spring Welcome today?”

Your lips parted in recognition of the word. The “Spring Welcome.” The name of the party the Mayor’s wife, well Mayor now, was throwing today. The reason school was ending early today at one instead of four. Because the party started at two thirty. The party to welcome spring to Springfield. A rather quaint way of putting it, you had to admit.

It would be the first party you attended since the werewolves first left. You hadn’t gone to the New Years or the Christmas party. You were staying by Tiffany’s side then. Your mom hadn’t gone to any of them at all and this was actually going to be the first one she did go to. A reason you had gone shopping for dresses with her last weekend. That’s right. Shopping for dresses with your mom. It was awkward. Very awkward. Still, you couldn’t help but enjoy yourself. Even if the two of you weren’t talking that much yet.

You had even agreed to go with Ricky and Niel. Daeryong and Soryong told you they’d be making an appearance there as well. And despite all of this, you had still forgotten about it and were making up a grocery list of what to buy today. You couldn’t help but think it was because going there again would remind you of them, of the fourteen werewolves who left. At long last all of you could attend one together yet at the same time, you couldn’t. You couldn’t because they weren’t here.

“We are.” Niel was the one who ended up replying to her question for you. You gave him an appreciative glance for pulling you out of your thoughts before looking back towards Minah, a smile on your face.

“We are.” You asserted again, no longer wondering if the strawberries would be ripe today at the grocer’s but instead how you were going to get home fast enough to change when you opted out of taking your car in exchange for walking to school today with Niel and Ricky.

You cleared your throat to fill the silence. You couldn’t believe how quiet it was in the place you were in at the current moment. That place being in the backseat of a car, seated between an awkward Niel and an even more awkward Ricky. And you were in that awkward mini seat in between them, feeling twice as awkward as they were right now. In essence, the three of you were the very definition of the word. In the passenger’s seat was someone whose attention you had caught with your action.

“What’s up, babe?” You could practically see the grin on his face as both Niel and Ricky turned to you, completely confused to the relationship between you and the blonde haired man, Daeryong. You shot him a look and he immediately corrected himself, “I mean, whatever is the matter, princess?”

The one driving the car, his browned haired mirror image, Soryong, now decided to chime in and effectively make the problem even worse, “You know she doesn’t like you calling her that in public.” You saw the smile on his face in the reflection of the rear view mirror and scowled at him, something you knew he caught. After you saw Daeryong simply go back to looking out the window as blissful as could be, you knew that you were wrong to ever think they could start a conversation that wasn’t in some way harmful to your sanity.

You leaned back in your seat and pointed to Daeryong, “Daeryong,” then to Soryong, “Soryong. They’re friends of Tiffany. They’re the ones I always talked about being there.” You had told Niel and Ricky that Tiffany was a friend who was stuck in the hospital. You didn’t tell them that she was shot by the Mayor or about the werewolves and the Elites of course. That would bring about an awkward conversation even more awkward then the two were making you feel by accepting the ride the twins had offered you. “And I’m not dating either one of them. They’re just always saying stuff like that.”

“I’m hurt by your blunt words, princess.” Daeryong feigned a pout from the passenger seat and you narrowed your eyes at him. You looked back to Niel and Ricky and pointed to him, mouthing the words, “See what I mean?” You cursed lowly as you reached forward and lightly smacked Daeryong’s arm. He grinned in response, way too satisfied with this situation. You couldn’t help but smile back, though you cleared your throat once more to hide it from his view.

Then, suddenly and without warning, Niel knocked the side of your head with his clenched fist. Not hard, but enough to get your attention. He smiled at you, telling you silently that he approved of the twins. Ricky, not wanting to be left out, voiced out his own opinion.

“They’re not so bad.” He crossed his arms against his chest and rose his nose in the air slightly as the two glanced back at him, slight smiles apparent on their faces.

“Nice to see you again, madame Mayor.” Daeryong bowed excessively as he greeted the mayor’s wife, now the mayor. She was visibly irked by it but that flash of annoyance on her face only lasted for a moment before it disappeared. At least she was not nearly as devious as her husband was. She didn’t hide her dislike for the Elites. Whether this was a good thing or not, you found it too early to be sure.

She noticed you standing behind the two soon after. Soryong saw the shift of her smile into a fake one and took a step back, allowing you room to stand next to him on the porch of the large house. Niel and Ricky took on the stance of onlookers in this situation. Neither of them exactly liked the mayor and his wife was not exactly their cup of tea either. Still, when you took a step forward, so did they.

“We gave Hyunjoo a ride. Along with her two friends, Daniel and Changhyun. Having different ideas as to why we arrived together is improper, Madame Mayor.” Soryong spoke confidently, a way that felt foreign to you after being so used to his rather timid self who appeared whenever he visited Tifffany. Daeryong was always Daeryong. Always joking around. Soryong, however, took up a more tenured tone when he spoke outside of that room.

“Right, well, welcome then.” She cleared throughout her sentence as she stepped to the side, allowing the five of you entry. As you all passed by, you, Ricky, and Niel all bowing slightly, she whispered to you, “Your mother arrived earlier. Do have fun while you’re here.” She spoke as though she knew of the relationship you had with your mother and it left a bad taste in your mouth. Still, you kept your composure and simply smiled back, causing her to be the one left with dissatisfaction about the encounter.

“I’m still wondering how her husband got elected in the first place. My parents hated the man.” Niel commented as soon as you all were out of an earshot’s distance of her.

Ricky nodded his head, rubbing his arms that were breaking out into Goosebumps from having to talk to her, “Same here. She’s creepy.” You laughed at his simple reasoning but couldn’t help but notice the lack of amusement on Soryong’s and Daeryong’s face. They were quiet, nothing to say on this particular subject. However, as soon as you opened your mouth to ask, as soon as you even attempted to question it, Daeryong interrupted you.

“We’ll be off now, you three. Maybe speak to some dignitaries, a few citizens here and there.” Daeryong waved his hand whimsically in the air as he imagined all of those he and his brother would talk to today.

“Mind your behavior.” Soryong looked from Niel to Ricky but once his eyes laid on you, he gave you a pointed look as though he especially meant those words to ring true for you. As though those words were meant only for you. You gave him a slight smile, naivety and innocence reflecting off of your features as you batted your eyelashes at him. He pointed at you, his eyes narrowed and you simply batted them at him again, causing him to tilt his head to the side as his hand remained pointing towards you.

You decided to give in to him despite how much longer you would have kept it up had you been anywhere else, “Okay. I got it.”

“Good.” He finally let his hand fall to his side and shift into his pocket before the two slugged off, disappearing into another room. Not before Daeryong threw you a smile that you saw out of the corner of your eyes, of course.

“Really Hyunjoo, where are you meeting all of these people?”

You turned to Ricky and froze as you tried to process the question. Well, more like process what he was even referring to.

Niel saw your confusion and decided to reiterate except in more explanatory terms, “He means, the last time you came to a party held by the Mayor, you came with seven guys no one even really knew outside of the party itself. Not to mention now you’re friends with a pair of mystery twins.” Niel paused as he thought over things again, trying to make sure he didn’t miss anything, “And you also somehow became friends with the most well-known guys at school. So again, where are you meeting all of these people?”

You understood the question now but that didn’t make it any easier to explain. How did you manage to meet all of them? You knew an answer but it most likely would do anything but satisfy the two who now waited patiently for you to say something, not willing to let this matter go so easily. So, you decided to tell them the answer that was so obvious.

The only answer in your mind that explained everything with two simple words, “Happy coincidence.” You shrugged your shoulders, a smiling making its way onto your face as you saw their jaws fall, once more dumbstruck by you. You took the opportunity to snake your arm through theirs, “Shall we mingle, too?” You asked, not waiting for an answer as you pulled them with you into the living room of the house, a smile on your face all the while.

Daeryong flicked lint off of the cuffs of his jacket in boredom. He looked up, stopping his action, only when he heard the footsteps of someone approaching the two of them. His face lit up immediately at who it was that neared him now, “It’s been awhile little sparrow.”

Minah ignored the nickname as she came to a stop in front of him and his less enthusiastic twin, Soryong, “Did my mother invite you?” She asked as her arms went against her chest. She let her eyes dart away from them to look around. She wasn’t being defensive, nor was she being rude. She was simply trying to mask that fact that these two were different from the regular partygoer who was here. That they were as she understood, “Elite.” A term she wasn’t interested in finding out more about in order to define precisely.

“As much as I’m sure you’d like it if we came only to see you and your much more mature self, I am sorry to report that that is not the case.” Soryong responded, his tone short and clipped.

Daeryong shook his head in disapproval and leaned towards her, “Don’t mind him, he’s just a bit paranoid.” Minah leaned backwards on reflex from the sudden closeness.

“You speak as though you’re not.” Soryong said from behind him, hearing his whisper that he in no way tried to hide. Daeryong straightened up again, allowing Minah a bit more personal space.

“You wouldn’t have happened to see anyone here who you haven’t seen before, have you little sparrow?” Daeryong questioned as he grinned down at her, his tone giving nothing away.

Minah gave a quick look around the large foyer. Helping them was the least she could do since after they helped her, Myungsoo was saved. Something she learned through one simple text from Myungsoo himself using Sungjong’s phone that said, “I’m fine -L.” She, however, found that she recognized each and every person in the room, whether it be the post man or her classmates. “There’s no one.” She answered, her eyes continuing to search the room inconspicuously.

Daeryong’s lips opened to respond when he was interrupted. Interrupted by his own brother.

“They’re here.” Was all Soryong said as he spotted, walking into the room through the large wooden doorway of the living room, a woman with dark red, fiery hair.

You looked on at the food in front of you distastefully. It was tempting. Unbelievably tempting. Yet, you couldn’t eat it. The fact that it could have been laced with Wolfsbane stopped you from taking a single bite, a single sip. No matter how nice it looked surrounded by the flower decorations that lined the tables and doorways of the house. No matter how hungry you were after having Ricky steal food from you despite Niel buying him lunch at the cafeteria. You wouldn’t eat it.

You were by yourself now as most everyone was in the main foyer or outside. Ricky and Niel included. They left a little while ago, looking for their parents who had also attended the Spring Welcome. Well, looking for Niel’s parents.

Ricky’s worked at the hospital and were actually both acquaintances with your mother. His mother is a doctor and his father is a therapist. Both of whom were too busy to come today. You had met them multiple times before. They were nice people. Especially nice to Niel and you. They always told you to take care of him because they were working so often. Niel would simply nod his head as though he had heard it many times before. As though he had been taking care of Ricky for forever now. Niel’s parents even treated Ricky like their own son and Ricky’s were the same way towards Niel. So, what you meant by them going to look for their parents was that they were going to look for Niel’s parents.

You still couldn’t believe they actually let you join the two of them. The two of them who had been friends since forever. Friends for so long they weren’t even able to recall the first time they met. Niel’s mother told you they often talked about you even before they approached you. Always talking about ways to strike up conversations with you. Always talking about how they could stop the rumors that surrounded you. Those two, they were ridiculous. Your ridiculous friends. Your ridiculous friends who you were wishing would hurry up and find you so that you wouldn’t have to keep on staring at the food on the table in front of you with a watering mouth as you were.

A hand reached into your range of vision, causing your lips to close as you flinched slightly. It was a woman’s hand, her trimmed nails painted a shimmering black. Your eyes followed the hand upwards as it grasped onto a chocolate chip cookie and brought it to it’s owners lips. Your guess was right. It was a woman.

A woman with short brown hair. Her eyes narrowed as she bit down into it. The silver, gold, and black bracelets on her wrist twinkled as she pulled it away from her lips, her eyes not leaving the small baked item. You looked to what she was wearing and felt underdressed in your turtleneck dress instantly. She was wearing a golden sequenced one piece with black star prints on it topped with a furry black jacket that covered down to her elbow. She was beautiful. Beautiful in a different way from Tiffany.

When she spoke, her voice had a raspy tone to it. A raspy tone that only added to the raw beauty she displayed in her outward appearance, “Would you like to hear what I’ve discovered about parties like this?” You went mute, not knowing how to respond to her. You simply looked on in silence, waiting for her next words. The corner of her lips curved upwards into a slight smile, “There are two kinds of people who attend them.”

There was something about her. Something about her you couldn’t put your finger on.

“Those who eat,” her eyes went flittering to you for a moment, her smile coming to full fruition on her face, “and those who don’t.” She bit down into the baked cookie and turned, sauntering off as she left you awestruck, just as she had when she first appeared.

Soryong reached forward, tightly grasping onto her wrist, “What are you doing here?” She was halted in her tracks as he pulled her hand towards him, forcing her to turn and face him.

She locked eyes with him only for a moment before diverting her gaze, her eyes looking away from him towards the other people in the room, “Did I surprise you? You, the great and almighty enforcer? Surely, you’ve been expecting us for a long while now. Considering the preparations you’ve been making.”

“We were, but that’s not what I asked.” Soryong let his eyes travel downwards, taking in the gold sequenced, star patterned dress she had on. From his lips came a sarcastic laugh, “Overkill as always.”

“You act as though it’s not your style.” Her eyes went to him again, her lips curving upwards, “Though maybe your style has changed since the last time we met.” She saw his stern expression falter and her eyes shone with delight. She took a step forward, lifting her chin upwards to reach his ear, “As for what we’re doing here,” she paused, a laugh escaping that was enough to make his eyelashes flicker once at the sound. She smiled next to his ear before she whispered, only enough for him to hear, “we’re hunting, of course.” 

A/N: What's this? New characters? You bet there are! Can you guess who they are yet? No names were revealed but I'm sure alot of you figured it out just by descriptions alone (and by looking at the foreward of the story). What's going to happen now? What exactly are they hunting? We'll just have to see tomorrow now won't we? I am going to keep up with the weekend updates as I did during Springfield (I don't think I told you guys this so I'm saying it again). See you all then!

Writing that last Soryong scene was blissfully fun.