There were many things that May didn't like about school, and one of the biggest issues she had was having Chad as a teacher. It wasn't anything against him personally, he was actually really at his job. What made it bad was when he purposely sought her out to answer a question or start a discussion based on something she had asked, told him about the night before or mentioned in the morning driving in. Plus, he had no problems with embarrassing her by telling stories about her childhood and it was never the good things you don't mind others hearing.

Her second biggest hate about school was the slop the cafeteria served on Wednesdays that was advertised as meatloaf but clearly wasn't since there was the big 'vegetarian friendly' sticker underneath the sign. May was a meat eater and the vegetable substitute used had fooled her more than once. Of course she also hated having to change in the open space of the girls locker rooms, Math and the odd run in that took place with her not so favourite group of shifters.

Mondays were also her least favourite day of the week, as it represented the end of the weekend, of being able to sleep past the alarm and no hectic rush to get a place she spent more time counting down the minutes until she was able to leave than anywhere else. So despite being told she could skip, May now stood looking up at the main entry wishing she hadn't insisted on still going. Her reasoning had been to keep everything looking normal to anyone that could be watching, something her parents hadn't been able to argue with and so here she was.

Now she regretted all of it. May felt like a lifetime had gone by since Friday afternoon and looking around as everyone talked with friends, moving off to homerooms, May could almost pretend nothing had changed. She left feeling nervous, but excited and worried about Josh formally meeting her parents. The party seemed like some kind of reward only now it made her stomach churn and the urge to run after her Dad's car nearly won.

"There you are!" Tiffany greeted, linking her arm in Mays as she kept walking up the path. "What a weekend."

"You're telling me." May sighed.

They'd nearly made it to homeroom when Tiffany slowed her walk, looking around like she had lost something. "Weird."

"What?"

"Jerk Squad is missing. Leanna too?"

May nodded. "Yeah, I spoke to her yesterday. They've all got this, gastro bug from eating raw chicken on some pizza that was at the party. Good thing we missed that."

"All of them?" She didn't sound as though she believed May at all.

"Yup."

Then the moment May had been mentally preparing herself for finally happened. Josh was coming towards them looking as casual and relaxed as ever. He smiled when he saw them, waved and forgetting the weekend, May did the same back. She was happy to see him, to try and move on from everything that had happened. Never mind how she instead thought about what her mother had pointed out what she had already been thinking - he wasn't Caleb.

"Hey you!" She smiled up at him, already knowing his arm was going over her shoulders. May leaned against him, holding his hand like it was the most natural thing in the world and perhaps it could have been if not for the feeling that it was wrong.

"Hey yourself." Josh leaned forward, kissing her short and sweetly on the lips. "Morning Tiffany."

"Hey you." She answered in the same sing song tone May had, smirking as she watched the pair of them.

Chad barely glanced their way as he went through the usual morning ritual. May looked hungrily at the small tray of muffins Darcy had left for him, and ignored the puppy dog eyes her friend was also sending her brothers way. May was guaranteed those chocolate chip delights would be all hers since one of the new rules from the pack meeting was not to eat anything you didn't make yourself. The poison was hidden by other flavours, and chocolate, especially three varieties of it all loaded into a muffin, would have to be out for Chad since it would affect him. Though the thought of Darcy being involved was hilarious.

'But not Josh?' May found herself wondering, subtly looking over at him. He caught her staring and winked, making her blush at being caught and quickly looked away.

The day went by in the same way all Mondays do. At lunch, she tried not to focus too much on those around her as the missing presence of the shifters left her feeling lonely, which of course was stupid as she never talked to any of them anyway - except for Leanna. No one else seemed to notice them missing, except for Tiffany who had mentioned it that morning. There was a little talk of about the party, though it seemed more appropriate not to bring it up. David and Jake's rumoured arrest made it real and uncomfortable. No one wanted to end up like them or make it sound like they were also involved, so it was forgotten.

"You okay?" Josh asked May as they started towards their next class. The fact their schedules were the same bothered her today. She wanted some time away from him to think, and it wasn't happening. "You've been really quiet."

"Yeah. I just can't be bothered today."

"Can I do anything for you?" He offered.

May was about to say no, when she thought about her mother asking him to draw for her. Josh had always been so perfect, or as she now thought, too perfect and unable to silence the doubts again, she decided to throw something stupid out there. Something that help prove how genuine he really was.

"No, it's fine. But hey, you know my Dad and have seen how gets with certain topics. Last night we got in an argument about Batman." May started, and Josh nodded along with her. "You see, Dad is a traditionalist as thinks only Lois Lane could ever be right for him. Cause she knows his secret, and she's a strong enough character on her own to balance him out."

"Well of course." He agreed without any doubt. "Who do you think he belongs with?"

"Black Widow." May kept her tone neutral, while inside she was waiting for him to point out the most obvious things wrong in her story.

"Black Widow?" He asked, thinking for a moment. "Oh right, her."

"Yeah. That series DC released a couple of years ago with their two big sellers was the best! She is talented and smart enough to go out and help him fight, but then as Natasha, she and Bruce would totally hit it off! It's a much better match."

May waited for something to click in his mind about what she had said, but he only shrugged. "I'm going to go with your Dad on this one. Lois and Clark is just what everyone knows. You can't just change what's always meant to be."

"Well lucky for rejected Black Widow, they're in two different universes. Lois only has to worry about Wonder Woman moving in on her man." May told him with a smile. "But you knew that, right?"

He looked completely confused for a minute as they walked into the classroom, before trying to look offended. "Yeah, of course!"

It didn't prove anything. If she hadn't been paying attention and someone asked her something like that, she could have got it all wrong too, though that was a lie and she knew it. Learning the difference between DC and Marvel had been her first lesson after getting the hang of the alphabet, but not everyone was like her, even if they claimed to be a huge fan too. Letting it go, she struggled through their final class and finally it was the end of the school day.

"So how long are you grounded for this time?" Josh asked, gently pushing her hair back to tuck behind her ear. It was a sweet gesture and May was struggling to remember why she was so eager to find fault with him; any girl would kill to have a boyfriend like him.

"A week." She answered quickly, glancing over her shoulder to Chad's office.

"They're really strict aren't they?"

"Yeah." May sighed. "But what can you do?"

"Sneak out later?" He suggested.

"What?"

"I'll take my Mums car, we can go hang out or something."

"I don't think that's a good idea." She didn't actually want to be grounded, and her Dad would know before she even managed to get out of her bedroom. "I'll talk you later okay, I better go."

She moved to knock on the office door, when he stopped her. "Are we okay? You seem really strange today."

"I'm just tired, and it's Monday. We're fine." She assured him. They were, she was just being paranoid. May stepped closer, determined to kiss him like she meant it yet instead she froze. "Caleb."

She said in barely a whisper, but Josh had noticed.His brow creased in confusion before anger took its place. "Did you just say, Caleb?"

"He's here." She mumbled, and turning around it was only a second later that he was walking towards them.

"Why?" Josh snapped at her, instantly on the defense.

"Beats me." May really didn't know. It wasn't like last time when Chad wasn't around. No one told her to expect him and after their last talk, she thought that was that - again.

"Fancy seeing you here." He greeted, his smile not quite reaching his eyes as he looked only at Josh. In fact, May likened it more to a snarl than a smile. "Hello June."

May cringed and ignored his greeting. "What are you doing here?"

"Dropped in all of Leanna's homework and a project for her. She won't be in tomorrow either, and didn't want her to worry about school right now." He shrugged.

"Oh she's sick right?" Josh asked, faking his interest.

"Tiny flu. Nothing you should worry about." May knew exactly what he was implying, and narrowed her eyes at him. "How's the wrist?"

"Fine, why wouldn't it be?" She challenged.

"Because-" Caleb started, moving closer and putting her hand up, May stopped him.

"I should go, I think Dad was actually picking me up today." Josh quickly told her, leaning inb he whispered. "Are you okay to be left with him?"

Still able to hear him, Caleb rolled his eyes and folding his arms in front of his chest, he glared at Josh in a way that made him want to run far, far away.

"Chad will here any second. I'll talk to you tonight." She assured him, yet as he went to kiss her - a subtle sign of claim that Caleb didn't fail to notice, May turned her head so instead he only kissed her cheek.

"Tonight then." Josh walked quickly around the corner, and May let out a big sigh of relief before turning to Caleb.

"What was that about? Are you what, stalking me now"

"I was telling the truth." He held up a tiny USB. "Want to check it out for yourself?"

"Then why are you here, shouldn't you be hurrying home?"

"Cody dropped him off on the way to your place. He's coming with us!" Chad startled both of them as he swung open the door. He foraged through his bag, and found his keys before he started looking for something else.

"You're kidding."

"Safety first." Caleb smirked.

"Shit, forgot the marking laptop. Be right back." Chad disappeared back inside the office.

"But seriously, how is your wrist?" Caleb took her hand and carefully pushed up her sleeve, his eyes narrowing on the already yellow bruise. His thumb grazed over the mark, sending a shiver through her whole body. 

'Stupid!' She scolded herself, but it was more for her own benefit than anything else. How many times did May have to tell herself to let Caleb go, to stop thinking of being with him again. Yet her body clearly wasn't listening to her brain as her breathing hitched slightly and all she could do when she glanced up was stare at his lips. Josh didn't kiss like Caleb; May was positive no one else ever would be able to make her feel like he did. Even so, that changed nothing and she had Josh, not Caleb and what ever this was now had to stop.

"It's healing fast, I just can't lift anything too heavy with it." She admitted, pulling her hand from his to try and break whatever hold he managed to have on her. "Stupid, weak human remember?"

"You're not stupid, or weak." He told May sincerely. "Please don't think that about yourself. You're still with that asshole then?"

"It was an accident!"

"Poisoning how many of our kind to then be taken easily, was an accident?"

"You don't know that, and he isn't an asshole." May snapped back. "He's lovely, and caring and nice. I know these are strange concepts to the you, but maybe you could learn a few things from him."

"Trust me, there is only thing I want to learn about Josh and that's what he is hiding."

"He isn't hiding anything." May cringed as she didn't sound as convincing as she had hoped. "Where the hell is Chad?"

May barely stepping into the office before he appeared, the container of chocolate chip muffins sitting on top of a the laptop. "Thought you might want a minute, alone."

"It's not alone if you're eavesdropping."

"Selective hearing." He winked. "Muffin? They smell delish!"

"Why take the risk?" She took the container and walked out to where Caleb was staring down the corridor at seemingly nothing. "What is it?"

"Nothing really. Thought I heard something." Caleb looked at Chad as he came out, locking the door behind him. "Must have been a cleaner."

Chad tensed, that guarded look on his face resembling Caleb as he too looked around. May gave up trying to do the same thing, instead inching a little closer to Caleb. Without a word, his arm went around her back, his hand easily resting on her hip as they stayed close together following Chad who took the lead down the hall. It wasn't until they were nearly at the car-park May realised what was happening.

"Heard of personal space?" She growled at him under her breath.

"Yes." Caleb smiled, looking more like the old version him she missed. "But I like this much better."

So did she. "You need help."

"Are you offering?" He asked easily, obviously flirting. Flirting. With her. May rolled her eyes, not answering, but she also didn't push him away as they went to the car. "What are you doing?"

May paused as she opened the front passenger door. "Getting in the car?"

"Up front?"

"Well, yeah?"

"I'm older, I sit in the front." Caleb complained.

"Chad's my brother, so this is practically my car and I sit in the front." She went to open the door and he leaned against it so she couldn't. "Move!"

"I've known him longer than you."

"Doesn't count. Now, move!"

"What's the magic word?" Caleb smirked, clearly enjoying himself.

"You're kidding." He shook his head and sighing May did as he wanted. Move, please."

"Of course, that's all you had to say." Caleb opened the door and motioned for her to get in, yet before she could he slipped in front of her and got in.

"You jerk!" May practically screamed at him.

"Seriously, you two weren't even this annoying as three year olds. May, get in the back. We need to go." Chad finally got involved and slamming the door behind her she did as he said.

Pulling out her headphones she turned her own music on loudly, and prepared to sulk like a three year old, she stared out of the window while Caleb had the courage to actually give a little laugh under his breath.

"You seem to be in a good mood today." Chad observed. "I heard about Saturday night."

"Well he had it coming." Caleb grumbled.

"Yeah, never liked him much either. But you know, violence doesn't solve anything."

"You can spare the lecture." Caleb glanced back at May who oblivious to their conversation continued to look out her window.

The afternoon light warmed her skin, while her blonde hair seemed just a little more golden. On it's own accord, his chest tightened and he regretted not choosing the option of sitting beside her. Maybe she would have decided to talk to him; if he asked about her day would share it? As if sensing him staring, she looked over and he didn't hide the fact that he was. The look on her face was unreadable, confusion clouded her eyes as she frowned before she gave a little sigh and went back to staring out the window. 'What are you thinking?' He wanted to ask, but he didn't.

"Wasn't going to lecture. Just saying." Chad shrugged, silently observing the pair.

"How much does she hate me?" Caleb asked, surprising Chad with the question.

"I don't think she hates you, but well, you might have to work on earning her trust again. She's being cautious now you're back in her life. Honestly, I don't know what happened. She hasn't even talked to me about it, and from how she's been since, I'm guessing you fucked up big time."

"Understatement of the year." He mumbled.

"Well maybe you should fix that."

"Should I? She has Mr. Perfect now." Caleb glanced back again, paranoid she was listening, but the music was definitely too loud for her to hear much of anything else.

"There is a perfect person out there for all of us, no matter what or how other people may see them. That's why they're your person, you know? Do you really believe he's it for her?" Chad realised that all of their suspicions about the pair had to be true, but what was worrying was what actually happened to drive them so far apart. Maybe they were just too young, or fate or whatever it is that brings mates together had other ideas. Neither Caleb or May came from a family who had it easy as far as mates were concerned, so why would they be any different?

"No." Caleb sat up a little straighter. How could he actually think his chance was gone because Josh was around? Barely ten minutes ago she had still gone to him for security, whether she realised it or not. May still let him touch her, be close to her. The other morning, she even admitted she missed him. "No I don't believe it."

"Believe what?" May asked putting her earphones away - paranoid from the way both guys in the front kept looking back at her.

"That Chad's a better driver than I am." Caleb lied easily earning a punch on the arm from Chad.

"Well I don't feel the need to hold onto the armrest in fear of my life when driving with him." May added amused.

"You're hilarious June." He huffed back, rubbing the spot Chad hit. This time when he turned to look at her, she was smiling at him and all he could do was smile back. She was his person and he was going to make sure she remembered that he was hers.

__________

Josh was furious. No, that wasn't a strong enough word for what he was feeling. Weeks of hard work on his behalf was being ruined because one stupid dog came back to town right when his mission started. It had to just be his oh so good fortune that werewolf was one had the ability to come in the way of his mission. There was very little on file that linked May and Caleb together; nothing more than family friends. It was supposed to be easy. The information they had highlighted the Winters girl as their best target and so far, everything had been going well. At least it had been up until May had shared to him about her slightly more complicated relationship with Caleb. Josh had been right to worry about what impact this could have on their relationship and since the party he had been brainstorming on how to fix it.

May was their way into the pack. He needed her, they needed her and today he knew she was starting to drift away. Was it because of Caleb though? Had something happened after he left, before the team went in to collect more of the creatures. Josh hadn't liked the plan, they were technically still just kids - like him. Most were his age too and since they looked so, human, it was hard to keep that emotional distance. Except with May. There had been no choice other than getting involved if was going to succeed, and it wasn't like she made it hard for him to do. The girl was beautiful, interesting and maybe one day, she would even manage to leave that primitive pack mentality and loyalty behind and join them, her true kind. There were already a couple of people like her in their organisation and they understood how dangerous it was to let these monsters exist in the world unchecked.

Yet none of that would happen if he was exposed. Her parents were already being cautious because he knew she was too much of a good girl to do anything to get her grounded for a week - again. She had freaked at his idea of sneaking out and unlike other kids in their classes, May rarely ever went to any of the parties. Clearly her parents did like him though, as they allowed her to go out with him so maybe if that stupid raid hadn't happened, he wouldn't be in this position now and Caleb wouldn't be running his mouth how Josh had overheard that afternoon. 

He was a suspect.

Well, Caleb suspected him at least. May was on his side and he needed to keep it that way.

"He has to go." Josh declared as he arrived home.

"Who?" Tanya asked, looking up from sharpening the small blade of her dagger on the kitchen table.

"Caleb. I heard him talking to May today, he thinks I had something to do with what happened at party."

His Dad laughed, loud and full of his amusement. "You did!"

"Dad, this is serious. What if he turns May against me? We need her."

"I thought things were going well?" Suspicion took over from amusement instantly. "Have you been misleading us in your reports?"

"No, but everyone's shaken since the party. I can't afford his influence on her right now."

Ryan thought about this for a moment. "It's simple."

"It is?" Tanya asked.

"We just need to get rid of Caleb. He'll be presumed dead and Josh, you will be there to comfort May in her time of need."

"Dad I don't think-" Josh started only to be cut off.

"Don't even worry about it Joshua. Just focus on your mission and leave the rest to us." Ryan got up and clapped a hand on his son's shoulder. "You've done me proud today son. You saw a problem and brought it to our attention before it could turn into something worse. I'll make sure the General is aware of your good work."

"Just make sure May isn't involved okay? We have no reason to think she is one of them anymore. She's passed everything we've thrown at her, and the story about her parents meeting checked out." Josh reminded his father.

"I know. She is still too valuable for us to worry about at the moment, so your little crossbred mutt is safe." He grinned, not comforting Josh at all. "You just better make sure she keeps on playing the game."

Josh nodded. "Of course."

_____

So, there we have it. Confirmation he is definitely involved. Thought it was the right time to add it in... hope you thought so too.