Hey kitties! A lot of awesome things are about to happen in this book and I can't wait to write them! Don't forget to VOTE and COMMENT for each chapter! It helps me in the Watty Awards! 

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"Right here is good," I said, starting to open my car door.

                  Ronny frowned in the rear view mirror. "I thought you said you were house 16? You're making me park ten houses over."

                  "I'll run the rest of the way. I like to run."

                  "In jeans and a t-shirt?" Ronny rolled his eyes and started to move the car foward, when I dug my nails into his arm, making him slam on the breaks. "Why the hell do you want us to stop at a random house?" he demanded.

                  "I told you... I like to run."

                  "Pepper you're lying to me," Ronny turned around in his seat while Gary ripped off a fresh piece of paper out of his notebook and started to form a new doodle. "What's wrong? Does this have to do with Hunter? Your dad?" Ronny asked, shaking my leg with his hand. "You haven't said a word since we saw your dad on the motorcycle and then made that call. Do you want me to go in with you and help you hang up your clothes--?"

                  "I'm fine," I said, starting to gather my bags together. "I just...I'm worried about wearing these clothes," I lied. "And my dad barely noticed my makeup and hair. Maybe I look the same--"

                  "What!? The only reason your dad didn't say anything about your new makeover is because he doesn't want you to get cocky and come home with fifty men that are going to be trailing behind you like hungry dogs tomorrow!" Hungry dogs. My mind thought back to Sin and Hunter and the pack of wolves at the front of the mall. My stomach clenched. "You're going to look amazing, doll! I promise! Right, Gary? Doesn't she already look amazing even in her trash bag clothes she has on now?"

                  Gary briefly looked over his shoulder at me, then nervously looked back down at his drawing and nodded his head a few times.

                  Ronny smiled at me. "Hell, I told you before. If you were a guy..."

                  "You're right." I returned the smile, but it was one that didn't quite make it to my eyes. "Thanks for everything. I'll pay you back--"

                  Ronny looked at me for another moment. He knew I was hiding something. "Don't worry about it," he said dryly, then turned away and placed his hands on the wheel. "Don't forget we have that small assignment for Trinidad."

                  "Got it." I gripped all my bags as best as I could, shut the car door behind me, and started to make my way towards the driveway light at the top of the garage. I was careful to stay out of sight from my bedroom window and any other windows, especially where the curtains were closed. I couldn't take any chances that Sin was still up in my room or peeking through any windows at me.

                  I turned over my shoulder, let down the bags in my left hand and waved brightly at Ronny's car as he pulled away. Once he was out of sight, I dropped the bags in my right hand straight to the ground and started in a dead run around the back of the house towards our backyard entrance gate. Knowing it was locked. I sprinted at the fence, jumped, gripped the tops of two iron poles and hauled myself over the fence, landing silently on my feet like a cat. I crept on the short green grass along my family's stupid new Olympic-sized pool  until I came to my dad's tool shed and slowly pulled open the doors inside.

                  That was when I heard a rustle.

                  Turning back around, I squinted along the darkness. If Sin was honestly going to follow me into the tool shed after all of that ninja creeping, he was in for it. After a few moments, I stepped into the shed, flicked on the little light bulb hanging from the ceiling, and searched for the nearest pointy object as rapidly as I could, while still watching the pool area with skeptical eyes.

                  "Perfect," I said, lifting up a pair of gardening scissors.

                  "Roof!"

                  Shrieking, I whirled around and pointed the scissors at Salt, who sat directly behind me on his cute little butt. His tongue hung out of his mouth like a fruit roll up and at his paws was a tennis ball.

                  "Salt! I'm so happy to see that you aren't on the kabob and Sin isn't ripping your cute little tail off and eating it like corn on the cob! He could have deep fried you and cut you into little pieces into mini-hot dogs, and I never would have found you!" I half-whispered, kneeling in front of my puppy and checking my phone for the time. Salt kissed me on the face until I had to wipe the slobber off of my face with the back of my hand. "Salt! It's 7:30, boy! It's way past your bedtime and there's an intruder in the house. Why on earth are you out here with your ball?"

                  Salt ceased his panting and tilted his head at me.

                  "You dumb, cute little pup, don't you know someone is in our house? You're supposed to rip them a new one like I taught you, not licking your genitals and waiting for me to play fetch with you! Don't conform to the other male species, Salt! Don't do it! You're better than this!"

                  Salt started to pant again and kicked his ball at me. When I stared down at it and covered my mouth with my hand, Salt started to lap at his privates.

                  Chicken was written mockingly on the ball in black sharpie.

                  "Son of a..." I gripped my gardening scissors in my hand and looked out the shed window into the pool area, where a dark silhouette of a man stood with their arms crossed over their wide chest.

                  "Your dog is cute," Sin said.

                  I know what you're thinking. How in the hell do I know the difference between Hunter and Sin's voice? Even though they were twins, there was still a tone and emphasis in their words that was different from each other's.

                  "He's aggressive when I tell him to be, I promise you. So get off my property, Trinidad, or I'll tell Salt to eat you and poop you out so that I can angrily throw you into the trash where you belong with my pooper scooper."

                  "You're the only aggressive person here."

                  I growled, gripping the scissors tightly in my hand. I started to make my way towards Sin when Salt zipped through my legs towards Sin and practically leaped into his arms, barking happily like the betraying little fur ball he now was.

                  "Wow, so aggressive," Sin laughed out sarcastically, letting Salt lap wildly at his shadowy face and whine with excitement. "Who's a good puppy? Who's a good boy? So is there any particular reason why you're hiding in your shed, Pepper?"

                  "I needed a weapon, of course." I held the scissors out in front of me. "Get away from my dog before you give him fleas. I mean it."

                  He put Salt down. "What are you going to do? Stab me? I didn't do anything wrong. Not to mention, I'm standing a good twenty feet away from you." He then gave Salt a pat on the butt and he went hurrying towards the house, shooting like a little puppy rocket into the backdoor doggy flap and out of sight.

                  "What are you, the Dog Whisperer?"

                  "Yes. Your puppy told me to tell you that he tore into the remains of last night's ham in the garbage can."

                  Was he serious right now? "Let's see," I started, waving around the scissors in my hand and ticking off my fingers as I spoke, "you trespassed onto the property of your student, you tranquilized my butler, and you most likely molested Salt. That's three different charges. One of which is animal abuse. That deserves a stab."

                  "Salt?"

                  "That's my dogs name."

                  Sin shrugged. "You stole my wallet. Had you been home I would have just asked to come in and you would have given it to me then. But you weren't home, and I didn't want to cancel my credit cards unless I was sure you didn't take it."

                  I threw my hands out. "Seriously?! You're acting like what you did was normal!  You tranquilized my butler! Poor Bernard, he did nothing wrong to you! Have you seen his mustache? He's as innocent and classy as it gets! I'm sure he would have just let you in if you said you had to see me! Or -- here's something crazy -- you could have just asked me in person for the wallet!!"

                  "You shouldn't have stolen it in the first place." Sin was quiet for a long time. Before I could verbally attack him, he cleared his throat. "I also had to look through your house a little for other things," he admitted."

                  "What?"

                  "Pepper..." Sin took a step towards me, his shadowy hands out. "I checked your family's records and called a good friend of mine. He did some digging. Some deep, deep digging because it was hard to clearly find your family's records under all of the fluff and normal entries. Your mom and dad don't work for an advertising company. At least, not anymore. They used to about fifteen years ago."

                  "What are you saying?"

                  "I'm not saying anything--"

                  "Except that you think they're lying to me? My own parents lying to me? Why would I believe any this?"

                  "Pepper--"

                  "Don't you "Pepper" me, you trespassing teacher psycho dude. Just take your freaking expensive looking wallet and go home to your fifty story mansion or wherever you live in this castle town, ok? I don't want to be force fed these little stories you've made up and I'm too tired to call the police to arrest your ass." I started to storm towards him, the gardening scissors clenched in my hand. Stopping a few feet before him, I restrained myself from stabbing him right in the center of his chest and took his wallet out of my back pocket.

                  "Pepper, please listen to me," Sin said, right as I handed the wallet out to him. "You shouldn't be in Orange Gate County. Don't you want to know why? What if your life or your parent's life is in danger?"

                  "I don't want your help, Sin! Take the wallet, and tell your brother to leave me the f alone."

                  He froze for a moment. "You've seen my brother."

                  "God dangit, you stupid teacher dude, haven't you learned not to piss me off by now? Leave! Scram! Shoo! Go sharpen some pencils!" I reached out to take his hand and we both froze as an odd electric pull formed as our skin came in contact. Shaking it off, I put the wallet in his hand and closed his fingers around it.

                  "Take it and go. I wanted to look up your name and go all FBI on your ass and dig up some dirt. But now? Now I know that you've already done that to me, so I'm just not in the mood anymore."

                  "Pepper--"           

                  I threatened him with the gardening scissors. "JUST TAKE IT!" When I went to lunge at him with the weapon, Sin literally disappeared into thin air and then reappear at my side. And because I had thrown my entire body at him I fell straight to the ground and ate grass like a freaking deer. Honestly, the nerve of supernatural creatures. The. Nerve.

                  Kicking out my feet, I tried to trip him over and instead hit a rock. Or at least, what I thought was a rock and was really his calves. "How in the world...?" I trailed, then continued to kick his calves as I screamed, "Fall over, damn it! Fall over like in the movies. Fall, fall, fall!"

                  "You're not the only one that runs, Pep.. I'm all muscle."

                  "Pep?"

                  "That's what your mom's note to you said in the laundry room. She wants you to put away your delicates, by the way."

                  " Pep? Peppy-peppy-roo. You can just come over my house and call me whatever you want, can't you?"

                  "Unless you want me to fail you... Technically."

                  "Fail me?" Now he was messing with me. The nerve. The FREAKING nerve. Oh, now I was going to kill him. I reached over to grab the gardening scissors I had dropped when Sin got to them first and chucked them into the darkening sky.

                  Sin had the nerve to laugh at me. Laugh. Pretty soon I was chasing him around the yard like a mad woman, him gracefully ahead of me just beyond my reach, and me frantically clawing out with my hands and trying to claw his face off. "Fine, I'll leave. I'll leave. I really just don't understand you."

                  "Good."

                  "What's so good about that?"

                  "That you don't know everything about me. Or do you have "friends" for that as well?"

                  "I'm sorry for doing that, I should have approached you in person."

                   We both stopped running and come to some sort of silent truce. I watched him start to back away, trembling violently. I still wanted to kill him so dang bad, but maybe that was because I couldn't really see his face. Boy, was he something pretty to look at. It's hard to kill a beautiful man, it really is. Especially when he holds your permanent record in the palm of your hand but that's a different story.

                  "I'm  watching you leave my driveway. Keep walking, and I won't stab you in the back and leave you to bleed out in my backyard. That's so white trash and totally not good for the grass, but I'll do it."

                  Sin didn't move an inch. "You would tell me if you were speaking to my brother, right? If he was trying to communicate to you in any way?"

                  I took my phone out and pretended to dial 911. "Hello, police? I have my psychotic and pedophiliac teacher on my property."

                  "I'm serious. Tell me you would."

                  I crossed my arms back over my chest. "I would."

                  Sin dropped his hand at his side. "You're really frustrating and blunt, Pepper. You saw him today, didn't you?"

                  Instead of answering, I stuck my phone back into my pocket. How could I even begin to explain to Sin that his brother had purchased a tight outfit at the mall right after I had mopped about wanting to buy it but not being able to wear it at school? Most importantly, did I even know that it was Hunter? Maybe it was someone else. Maybe someone with mirror aviators and black hair had bought that outfit, thinking their girlfriend would like it after I silently sobbed about not being able to get it.

                  Or maybe he wants to prepare his dinner in a cute little outfit before he tears you to pieces and leaves you to die... How romantic!!

                   "I don't even have your number," I said, shaking myself from my thoughts.

                  My phone started to vibrate/ Sin revealed to me his phone was in his hand as well.

                  "But I have yours. I checked the caller ID when you called your house phone. Whether you chose to add me to your contacts or not, I want you to text me from now on if you see my brother. And you know what? If you're not going to answer me and tell me if you saw him today, and if you're not going to text me the next time you feel like your life is danger, suit yourself. Hunter's business is my business, I'll find out on my own. Whether or not that's after you're ripped to shreds is up to you."

                  He then hopped the fence and started to walk away. Just. Like. That.

                  "I don't like you, Sin Trinidad!" I called out, running until I was at the fence. "I don't like you at all! You're freaking mysterious as hell and you're so frustratingly hot! Just stop it. Stop being so...mysterious and hot!"

                  Sin paused, his back still to me and chuckled. "And what secret do I have that would make me so mysterious to you?"

                  At that, I was speechless. Did that mean Sin Trinidad had a secret that he didn't want the world to know? Was it about his brother? His family?

                  He started to walk again.

                  "How old are you?" I demanded.

                  Sin paused, stuffing his hands in his pockets. "That depends. How old do I look, Miss Ballard?"

                  "I announced that in class."

                  "Well unfortunately, you were right about most of that rant. I'm 19."

                  "That's sick."

                  "In human years, at least," he added, making my eyebrow arch.

                  "Whoa there, puppy breath. Are you seriously telling me you're 19 in human years? Wouldn't that make you in dog years like...."

                  "91 years old?"

                  Now I was really speechless.

                  "My parents did give me this job, and I'm really happy they did because I've always wanted to be a teacher. Problem is..."

                  "You're an unprofessional, nosey pedophile who's secretly attracted to men?" I finished. "And your true age is how old you appear...but backwards?"

                  "No," Sin said, his shadowy face looking over his shoulder. "The problem is that I have a new student that's starting to really tick me off. See you in class."

                  "Do I have detention again tomorrow for calling you a pedophile? I didn't mean it, honest!"

                  He didn't answer and waved me off. As I watched Sin Trinidad leave my property and the light from the garage dance along his brown hair, he turned over his shoulder and his bright blue eyes lit up like two blue crystals as they locked with mine one last time. I was relieved that his eyes had been clear and not cloudy. That I already could tell the difference between Hunter and Sin. At least, I hoped that I did. I really, really hoped that I did. Because if I didn't, confusing the Trinidad twins could have very well be the death of me.

                  After Sin turned back around and continued down my driveway, I relaxed a little and started towards the back door of the house, wondering if Bernard was awake yet.

                  When gripped the handle of the backdoor, I paused and the hair on the back of my neck stood up. I felt someone else watching me from behind. Especially as I walked into my house. Especially once I locked the door and scanned the backyard.

                  "I'll get those bags of clothes outside in the morning," I mumbled, flipping the lock. I checked every lock in the entire house. Then I checked them again when my parents came home. Luckily, my dad had seen the clothes I had left outside and brought them all in. When they asked me how my day was, I told them it was normal and about my shopping adventures. I didn't mention any of the crazy changes that were happening to my life. The Werewolves. The Vampires. And then there was what Sin said about my mother and father. I kept my mouth shut about that. Just another thing that I would have to investigate.

                  It was late, probably around midnight when a rock hit my window. At first, I ignored it and just sat there, staring at my phone and daring whatever it was to really catch my attention. Sure enough, a much louder smack was heard against my window that created a large crack in the surface. Startled, I slammed my laptop shut and leaped off the bed. After many moments of convincing my bladder there was no reason to explode, I slowly approached the window with "Jaws" dramatic music playing in my head, and peering down towards the driveway that was lit by that single garage door light. When I saw that there was nobody there, I slowly opened the window and stuck my head out.

                  "Sin?" I found myself whispering.

                  To the right of my window was a package. Checking to my left and right again, I brought the package inside, shut the window and all of my blinds, and threw the package onto my desk. My heart pounded loudly in my chest. The package wasn't too heavy. What could possibly be in there? A baby kitten? A bunch of newspaper? Apple sauce? Someone's chopped off fingers? Oh please not the last one....

                  Slowly, I cut open the box.

                  Oh yes, it was the outfit that I had wanted at the mall. The beautiful, yet overpriced corset and leggings. The combat boots.

                  And a note.

                  Sitting on my bed, I started to unfold the note. "Please don't be a freaky stalker, please don't be a freaky stalker."

                  “There are poisons that blind you, and poisons that open your eyes.”

                  Sweet dreams.

                  After reading that, you better believe I slept with a knife under my pillow.

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OH SNAP. Her parents aren't advertisers anymore?! What does this mean??

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