Chaeyoung was in a terrible mood. 

After Juyeon paid for her music box, he'd set it in her hands and then turned all of his attention to Dahye. The two talked the entire way home, and though they both tried to bring her into the conversation multiple times, she couldn't bring herself to say more than a few words each time.

Because he'd invited her home.

To the palace. She was coming with them to the palace, and the two of them were talking about how their parents wanted them to all get together and go spend another vacation in the islands, and it took all of Chaeyoung's energy not to scream.

She knew that she had no right to be upset. Juyeon had never once indicated that they were more than friends. She'd never once indicated that to him either. She knew that he must have had plenty of friends before she'd arrived at the palace. Plenty of beautiful friends too. Beautiful and perfect, like Dahye, who was the prettiest vampire she'd ever seen and who was a talented dancer in ballet and hip hop, who played three instruments, and was the youngest scientist at the vampire nation's version of NASA.

Chaeyoung just couldn't compete with her.

She knew she had no right to be upset, and yet she couldn't help feeling hurt. And that just made her angry. Angry not at Juyeon or Dahye, but at herself. She was angry at herself for letting her feelings get out of control.

Still, she told herself that this was a good thing. It was good that she realized that Juyeon wasn't interested in her before her crush on him grew into something deeper.

"Nickel for your thoughts?"

Chaeyoung looked up, surprised to find New standing in front of her. "Do you mean 'penny for your thoughts'?" she asked, laughing.

He shrugged, sitting down on the bench beside her. "I don't know how human money works. I'm trying."

"I appreciate the effort," she said, patting his shoulder. "I'm not thinking anything much," she said after a moment.

"Liar," New said immediately. "I may not be able to read your mind, but I can tell that much. Plus, we can feel your emotions, remember? I don't know what you're feeling, but you're not happy."

"I wish you guys couldn't tell," she grumbled, crossing her arms in annoyance. "I guess I'm just stressed about training, that's all," she said, hoping that he wouldn't be able to call out her lie again.

"Why would you be stressed? Juyeon says you're doing great." New sat up straighter, looking around. "Where is he, by the way? Shouldn't he be with you? You know, as your personal guard and everything?"

"I wanted to be alone with my thoughts," she said, closing her eyes and leaning back on the bench. "Plus, we ran into his friend in town. Dahye, I think," she said, even though she fully knew that was her name. She couldn't get that name out of her mind, and every time she thought of the two of them together, she felt a pang of jealousy. "They're catching up."

New's chuckle made her open her eyes again to look at him. "What?" she asked, just making him laugh more. "Why are you laughing?" she said, putting her hands on her hips and mock-glaring at him.

"Because Juyeon must be over the moon, that's why. He's had a crush on her for the longest time."

"Oh. He has?" she said, trying to keep the hurt out of her voice.

"Yeah, it's obvious. But none of us can tell what her feelings towards him are. She pretty much treats us all the same."

Those words brought some relief to her, but not much. She couldn't see how Dahye wouldn't be able to fall for Juyeon. Not when he was so sweet, and cute, and considerate, and talented...

She halted her thoughts before they could go further. She'd told herself that she would now try to get over him, and that wouldn't happen by her thinking of all the qualities she liked about him. Instead, she should try to be happy for him and hope for his happiness.

"I think they'd be cute together," she finally said. "I hope she likes him too."