{ A/N: Sneaking in more time on the computer to update }

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"What's wrong?" you asked Kris as he stared at a paper in his hands, a faraway look in his eyes. "Gege, you've been frozen like a statue for almost five minutes."

Kris looked up, glancing at all of his friends. "Guys," he said, "our parents want to see us. Tomorrow."

They all froze. Xiumin looked at Kris warily. "Tomorrow?" Kris nodded, and Xiumin sighed in turn. "Lovely. You guys are lucky. Your parents are alright. But mine..."

Everyone flinched. Xiumin's parents were very uptight, snooty even. Xiumin had been raised with Chen because of how much his parents were gone, all the boys eventually living together once they entered college. Xiumin groaned and buried his face in his hands. "Do you think they'll be there tomorrow?"

"Probably," said Chen, patting his hyung's shoulder. "You know how your parents are when it comes to ours. They always look for someone to brag to."

You blinked, confused. "What's wrong with Minseok oppa's parents?"

"Nothing," Luhan assured, petting your hair. "They're just a bit...distant is all."

"More like snobbish," Xiumin scoffed. "Don't worry, mei mei. They're my parents, after all." You nodded, looking at your hands.

"We can't take Rinnie with us," Chen pointed out. "Xiumin hyung's parents will freak."

Tao nodded. "Mine might, too. Mama won't, but baba...." He shrugged. "I'm afraid he'd hurt her."

You frowned. "Can you not talk about me like I'm in the room?" Tao gave an apologetic smile.

"He's right though," said Kris. "Mei mei, it's not safe if you go with us tomorrow. They'll be visiting us here, though. Do you want one of us to go with you somewhere? I can tell my parents, they'll understand." He looked worried.

"It's fine," you assured, shaking your head. "I'll go to the library tomorrow. Study. We have exams coming up." You scrunched your nose a little at the thought of all the studying that would come in the next week or so.

"I don't like the thought of you being alone," said Lay with a sigh. "I want to go with you."

"No." You put a hand over Lay's. "You need to see your parents, gege. Don't worry about me. It's the library. I'll be safe." You nodded in assurance, but Lay still looked wary.

"What if a Hunter tries to get her?" Tao whispered.

Heads snapped up. "That won't happen," Kris said sharply.

Lay nodded. "It definitely won't. Mei mei, let me go with you tomorrow. My parents will understand too, after I...tell them I Bonded." He gave a soft smile. "Everything will be okay. I'm not going to take the chance of you getting hurt or caught. Luhan ge's bite marks are still on your neck," he pointed out.

"I'll really be fine!" You nodded quickly. "No one will hurt me."

It took almost an hour more of arguing before they agreed to let you go to the library by yourself. And even then, you were instructed to call every half hour, or one of them were to go after you.

- - - - -

"Are you sure you'll be alright?" Xiumin triple checked, wrapping a scarf around your neck, making sure it covered your nose.

You nodded, blinking up at him from behind the scarf. "I'll call, like I promised."

"Good." He smiled crookedly before you turned away from him, looking to Kris, who was going to drive you to the library since apparently walking to the library was dangerous.

"Ready to go, mei mei?" Kris asked, playing with his keys absent-mindedly. You nodded, following him out along with Lay, who just wanted to make sure you were seen off safely.

You sat in the passenger seat, Lay behind you. The radio was on, and none of you were talking. Lay had his chin on your seat as he played with your hair, letting the strands run through his fingers. He was humming along with the song, twirling your hair through his fingers.

Kris's gaze slid to the two of you. You were just looking out the window, not really minding the fact that Lay was playing with your hair. Kris looked back at the road, not knowing why the fact that Lay was doing that was bothering him.

"We're here," he said after a few minutes, the car rolling to a stop. "I'm expecting a call every half hour, mind