The Vanishing

Chapter 3

We stayed up all night and we didn't figure out what a silver aura means.

I woke to someone nudging my shoulder lightly. I must have fallen asleep on one of the chairs.

I looked up groggily to Patrick, looking perfect as ever.

"Hey, sleeping beauty. I got you a coffee. I don't know how you take it so I grabbed some cream and sugar as well." He said, handing me the cup.

"You didn't have to do that, but thank you." I said.

"Consider it a peace offering. Wyatt wants to give you some space. He said he gave you quite the scare before I got there yesterday and he feels really bad." Patrick said.

"It was kind of scary to tell you the truth, but as far as I'm concerned we're okay. He didn't hurt me. The 'Yer a witch, Arden' of the whole situation just made it worse." I said, mimicking Hagrid.

He stifled a laugh. So Patrick's a Harry Potter guy then. Interesting.

"Can I ask you something?" I asked.

He shifted a little uncomfortably. "Sure."

"People seem to think of you as aloof, rude, and quiet. But you seem like you are the opposite. You've been very helpful and kind to me since yesterday. Although I do remember our first meeting when you scowled at me." I laughed a little. "I guess my question is, why are you suddenly being so nice?"

"You have trust issues." He said simply.

"Okay, fair point. I live in constant fear that someone is going to find out what happened at my school. I've developed some trust issues along with some slight paranoia. I'm not wrong though." I said.

He sighed. "No, you're right. I just don't like to get close to humans, because they can never understand what we go through. There are some who are nice, but I also try not to get too close to them to protect my secret."

"That sounds really lonely." I said while stirring in some cream and sugar into my coffee.

He looked at me then. "Sometimes it is. Though I have Wyatt and my parents, which makes it easier. I will say that whatever has been said about me is probably true. However, I'm being extra nice to you because it would be nice to have another friend other than Wyatt, and I know he feels the same way. Humans always leave..."

"Because you'll outlive them?" I asked. I'm not sure what he is and I really want to know.

"What?" He furrowed his brow before realizing what I meant. "I'm not a vampire."

My face started heating up.

"I'm a werewolf." He said.

"Casual." I laughed. "I have so many questions now." I said and he chuckled a little bit.

"I'll answer them eventually I'm sure. Do you have any plans for today?" He asked.

He started walking towards the secret door and I followed.

"No, I don't." I said as we started walking towards my dorm.

"Great. Want to get out of here for a bit?" he asked.

"Like off-campus out of here?" I asked.

"Yes, like off-campus out of here." He said with a hint of a smile playing at his lips, making him even more attractive.

"Is that even allowed?" I asked.

"Sure it is, with special permission. Lucky for you, the one and only special privilege of being a part of the Westfall family is that Wyatt and I can leave campus whenever we want." He said.