Grasp Heart

Chapter 4: Human Cover

"You read the news way too much," Allie complained as I scrolled through my feed, "Don't you know that no news is good news?"

"No news and ignoring the news are two different things," I said as she leaned against the back of my car beside me.

In spite of the ever-present chill in this locale, I was taking advantage of the passable, but overcast weather by standing outside until the last warning bell rang. Sitting inside all day, even if it hadn't yet been a full week, was already wearing on my patience. Well, that was only part of my plan.

I'd managed to snag a parking spot only two spaces down from the powder-blue Prius. These two extra leeches would apparently accompany their coven-mates to school, but instead of using the drop-off lane, they had seemed content to simply wait until the first warning-bell rang.

I'd watched the behavior yesterday from the safety of the lobby, but had taken up a closer lookout today. I'd planned on simply listening as I scrolled absently through my phone but, much to my surprise, I'd attracted humans.

Alissa had gravitated toward me across the parking lot and propped her butt dutifully on the lip of my Jeep's bumper. She was chatty and jovial, a gossip, but far too enthusiastic for anyone to hold that against her. Catalina had found us too and sat on Alissa's other side, quieter, but her attentive nodding and humming made it clear she paid strict attention.

"Why do you always look at stuff from Italy?" Alissa wondered, glancing over my shoulder.

I promptly pocketed my phone. My eyes darted sideways. The wispy female and bulky male were present, but the ginger-leech was still missing. He'd been absent since our confrontation.

"That's where Dad's on business at the moment," I explained.

In truth, I was looking for some trace, some evidence in the news of what had occurred just a couple weeks earlier. Something to show that someone among the humans had noticed my family's absence. But... nothing. The way it should be.

I swallowed thickly.

"So it's just you and your mom holding down the fort, unless you've got siblings?" Allie pressed.

I dragged myself back to the present.

"It's just me and Dad actually," I said, working through the crack in my voice.

"Oh, I see," she said awkwardly when I didn't elaborate, "So you could host parties?"

"I could do sleepovers, but not parties."

"Don't be a wet blanket!"

"Allie!" Catalina protested.

Wet blanket? I wondered, but shrugged for her benefit.

"Sleepovers are fun enough. Dad put security cameras up anyway so it would be difficult to throw a party."

"Ugh, what a bummer – "

"It's actually really smart," I snapped, glaring meaningfully at her before guilt trickled in. I backpedaled, "Back at our last place our house was... broken into, so... it's really important."

Alissa and Catalina glanced at one another and I quickly backtracked further.

"But, like I said, we can have sleepovers. What about your place – have you had parties there? May I come?"

Catalina rolled her eyes good-naturedly as Alissa's chatterbox switch flicked on. The week flowed uneventfully, a blessing, but I was on alert at all times. The blond boy from gym, Trevor, had taken up walking me to most of my classes, which I'd accepted with a cautious, more-lukewarm friendliness. Especially after I'd noticed the way Alissa admired him. If only she knew that she'd have no contest from me.