"I need this Chad, please let me stay with Tiffany." May begged after class the following day. She'd realised at lunch she had never actually arranged being able to hang out with her friends after school, so all the plans she had were currently on hold depending on this conversation.

"You want to do that now? There was another attack yesterday May!"

"I know, but-"

"No buts. It's not happening!" He told her firmly as Tiffany came back in.

"Please?"

"Yeah, please!" Tiffany added.

"No!" Chad glared at May, not hiding how annoyed he was. It had been a long, stressful few days and he just wanted it to end. "You should know better May."

"Come with us!" Tiffany offered, sensing a losing battle.

"Definitely not."

"Tiff, can you give us a sec?" May watched as her friend reluctantly left and keeping her voice low, she turned back to Chad. "This is part of being normal and besides, if you know who is involved, we know I'm safe. Mum and Dad think so!"

"What happened to breaking up and giving a Caleb another go? You entering dangerous territory if you think you can be with both of them." Chad growled. "This isn't like you May."

"It's not like that." Though May realised that's exactly how it looked. "If Josh is involved, he could be our way into the Hunters. After what happened yesterday, well, I don't doubt he isn't so innocent anymore."

"What do you mean?"

"The delivery guys. I've seen them before."

"You just decided to leave that part out?" Chad rolled his eyes, before slapping his hand against his forehead. "Gods May. Spill it."

"They were at the party and knew Josh. He said he had met them at a work thing with his Dad, and well, if he's involved his parents probably are too, right? And I really think that's the case as when his Dad came to see him yesterday after-"

"Josh's Dad?"

"Yeah. He was the guy on the bike."

"How do you know that?" The way he said made May think he didn't actually want to know.

"I went and checked it out when I saw Josh sneaking around at lunch. Well, not sneaking, just not doing what he said he was doing and whatever. His Dad's scent was left behind as well as Josh's. Chad, I really think I can help. Keep your friends close and enemies closer right?"

"While I understand that May, no. I can't let you put yourself at risk like this! Your parents would kill me!" He groaned.

"It's just hanging out together after school. I told you, just tell them I had detention or something."

"I'm not lying to them either. Your plan sounds like a good idea, but it's not. We know nothing about these people, or what they know about us. To try and play Josh could be-"

"At least let me work out if he is definitely involved. And if he is, well, I'll back right off and do what you think is best. If he isn't then I will just feel like a bitch and you can use this whole thing in every argument we ever have to prove your point about always being right." She shrugged. "I'm not a kid anymore Chad. I want to help, and I know I'm onto something. Please let me do this."

"I can't May. I'm sorry." His word was final and as he finished packing up his things, May knew she was going to regret what she was about to do.

"Fine. Let me go tell Tiffany the bad news and I'll meet you back at the office."

"May, don't get mad. Try and see it from our point of view okay? Would you want anyone you care about doing something like this?"

"No, but I never get a say in what everyone else is doing despite it being like a million times more dangerous than this." She snapped back. "Like, I dunno. Going on a raid."

"That's different."

"Not really. See you at the office."

May left before he could argue anymore, and seeing Tiffany talking with Josh, Darcy and a few of the other guys, she took a deep breath and went over.

"How did you go?" Tiffany asked instantly.

"He said no. But you know what, I don't care." May shrugged.

"Really?" Josh asked, not expecting her to be rebellious at all.

"Really. I just gotta leave Chad a note so he doesn't totally freak out."

So she did, and getting into Rob's car with Josh and Tiffany, May tried not to think about the disaster that she'd be going home to later. So she focused on her mission, or what she was calling her mission. Playing the girlfriend role was easy as she'd been doing it for a while now, except avoiding his kisses was proving hard. Not only that, every time they did touch, May only felt like she was hurting Caleb - it wasn't a great plan. It just just the only one she had at the moment without getting too many people involved. 

Luckily, Rob and his team mates were actually fun to hang around. Human dynamics were so much easier sometimes when compared to the pack mentality of those around their age. There was not as much competition between the young as they try to establish their own places in the pack as well as the world. As soon as a table became available they declared it theirs - so maybe there wasn't too much of a difference between human and shifter young when being territorial. To get started, since despite the talk, no one was really sure what to do since it wasn't computerized in any way, May and Josh teamed up against Tiffany and Rob. Before long, Rob's older brother had appeared from the kitchen to give them some pointers and a few quick lessons and during that time, May found herself relaxing. Despite the question mark over Josh, she still did enjoy hanging out with him, yet the feelings she had forced herself to have struggled to reappear since they'd never really been there in the first place. 

They'd only been out for just over an hour when Mays phone starting ringing, and seeing it was her Mum, May went outside to take the call. "Please don't be mad."

"May, I'm not mad." Miranda started, and May cringed at the suppressed anger in her mother's tone. "I'm furious!"

"Why? I just want to hang out with my friends. My human friends! Can't you understand that?"

Miranda was quiet for a few moments. "It's not the best time May. We've talked about this."

"I'm safe. No other shifters are here, just humans and we agreed about how with Josh is probably a safe place considering our possible suspicions. Nothing is going to happen."

"You don't know that!"

"You also agreed enough to let me go back to school." She answered, prepared to carry on the argument.

"Where there was another attempted attack!" Miranda practically screamed down the line.

"Mum, I know what I'm doing. Will you just trust me?"

"You ask that after running away from Chad!"

"I didn't actually run-"

"May." She warned.

"Mum please understand. I've had no time with my friends lately, I need this. Can't I just get to feel like a normal teenager for once? You know I don't fit in with pack, wouldn't you love to just go back and be able to hang out with your human friends and just forget all this stuff for a while? Besides, you know me. I'm not how you were at my age. Please let me have this." Again Miranda went quiet and May knew she had hit a sore spot. "Mum?"

"I can't believe I'm about to do this." She mumbled. "Fine. You'll be home by six otherwise there will be an actual grounding and you can deal with Chad and your father on your own."

"I love you! Thank you Mum!"

"I want a message every half hour until then so I know you're okay."

"I will. Promise!"

May ended the call and went back inside, not feeling as guilty as she had before yet she knew she had nearly gone too far with her Mum. Slipping through the crowd, May put herself at Tiffany's side and winked at her friend who only smiled back - the understanding clear.

"I've got a great fake id though, I've never had any issues buying beer before." Josh boasted to a few of Rob's friends. That got May's attention.

"Good. You can be our supplier for Friday night then!" One of the girls declared.

"What's happening?" May whispered to Tiffany

"Party planning. Think you can be a little rebel again on Friday night?"

"Not a chance. I have no idea how I'm even still here and after last time, do you really want to go?"

Tiffany thought about this for a minute before smirking. "If Rob is, I'm there."

"Everything okay?" Josh asked, joining the pair.

"Yeah. So you've got a fake ID?" May teased. "What would your Mum say about that?"

"Nothing because she doesn't know." Suddenly he was kissing her and May froze, completely taken by surprise. Luckily it wasn't supposed to be anything more than a quick peck, but May felt him tense in front of her before he looked her in the eyes. "Sure you're okay?"

"Ah, yeah. I've got coffee breath." She gave him a shy smile and glanced at Tiffany who looked completely confused by what she just saw.

"I don't care about that, I probably do too!" He laughed, seemingly unaffected.

"Josh, your turn bro!" One of the guys called out and leaving to take his shot, May slumped down into the nearest chair.

"What happened to Caleb over Josh and that little, I need to break up with him thing from yesterday?" Tiffany instantly asked, sitting beside her. "By the way, real smooth. You looked freaked out when he just kissed you!"

"It's complicated." May groaned.

"You really know how to pick them." Tiffany attempted to joke, but May just nodded along sadly.

Despite that, the next hour went by smoothly. May found herself getting pretty good at getting the right balls to get into the pockets and thinking only of the present, she managed to ignore the guilt and doubts in her mind. At least until everyone started to head home.

"Want to come to mine for dinner?" Josh asked. It was only five thirty, and May didn't have to think hard about her answer.

"I just need to ask my Mum."

Following the same format as their last conversation, eventually May was allowed to go. She could hear Chad and her father in the background and knew going home was going to be a nightmare, but if she could find something to make Josh innocent - or guilty, it would be worth it. Right now, that was all that mattered and she wasn't about to waste her chance at going to his place.

"Oh no." Josh groaned as they got out onto the street. Instantly May turned to see Nate and a few others heading their way. "Does he follow you or something?"

"Who?"

"Caleb or whatever his name is?"

"That's Nate. His twin." May pointed out. "Not Caleb. Remember I told you about his brother, but he's cool. Don't worry."

Josh looked completely confused. "They're identical twins."

"Yeah?"

Josh muttered something under his breath as the group walked past them - well nearly all of them as Nate did stop.

"June, what are you doing here?" He grinned in his usual goofy way, yet his eyes never left Josh.

"Nothing, we're just leaving." She smiled, tugging Josh's arm to keep walking.

"I don't think we've met, I'm Nate."

"I'm May's boyfriend, Josh." He introduced, narrowing his eyes at Nate.

"Boyfriend?" Nate looked at May who felt about two inches tall.

"Ah, start walking, I'll catch up okay!"

Josh looked between the pair before reluctantly nodding. Sure he started to walk away, but he looked back every two steps to keep an eye on them.

"I thought that-"

"I know. I just need a tiny bit of time to sort out some stuff." May told him quickly.

"This explains a lot. So how much time exactly?"

"That depends on Josh." She sighed. "It's just that, well, I'm trying to work out if he is involved with the hunters."

"What? I didn't realise that was your boyfriend they were talking about! Shit. May! What are you thinking?" Nate scolded before glaring at Josh. "How old is he again?"

"Seventeen." May didn't quite get what he meant by that, but ignored it. "I'm thinking about what's best for the pack. Why are you even out?"

"I'm on patrol. Mum finally let us go out with some of the local groups. Well, it took an hour of being lectured like you know, she's never given any of us any training or anything. I got stuck with this lot, Caleb's with her. I'm actually surprised she let him out of the house since he's been a real ray of sunshine. I tell ya, he's got issues May. I guess she needs to be watching him to make sure he doesn't lose his shit. Again. Apart from Mum and Dad, I don't think many of us could take him when he gets that way and maybe getting out the house could be good for him too. I dunno." Nate folded his arms, looking completely and almost scarily serious. "You're so lucky Caleb didn't see you guys instead of me. It would have been a quick way to work out if your boyfriend is who he said he is with a pissed off wolf going after him."

Thinking about Caleb made everything even harder and May said a silent thank you to whatever powers that be that ensured it wasn't Caleb she and Josh had crossed paths with. "Well that's hope it doesn't come to that. Please don't say anything Nate, it's hard enough as it is. I haven't spoken to him since yesterday and I need to do this with Josh. God, why couldn't he still be keeping as far away from me as possible!"

"May, you're an idiot it if you think he was keeping away. I should have guessed earlier from how he was- you know what. Never mind." Nate gave her a hug. "I won't say anything, for now. Be careful. With everything. I trust you know what you're doing, but if anything happens, call me or any of us."

"I will. Thanks Nate and you be careful too." May ran to catch up to Josh who quickly put his phone away and after a few blocks of silence, she had to break it. "So how about Tiffany and Rob. I never saw her with a sporty guy. She thinks walking to class should count as gym."

"Opposites can attract." He put his arm over her shoulders and pulled her close against him. "He was talking about her at lunch actually. He's liked her since last year."

"No way! I never would have picked them at all."

"Yup, guess you never know what someone else is thinking hey?"

May swallowed nervously. "I guess so."

Getting to his house, there was music coming from the kitchen and after a quick hello to his Mum, Josh took May up to his room before they were stuck downstairs with her. His room, like the rest of the house was fairly bare and there was little to give May any indication this was where Josh actually lived. The bookcase was practically empty, with only the old, worn and positively ancient books from school on it. No pictures, trophies, collectibles - nothing to show any proof of his interests in anything he talked about. Well nothing except for one comic on his desk, and from the quick look at the cover it wasn't anything old or as interesting as the ones her Dad had.

"Drink?"

"Yeah, thanks."

"I'll be back in a minute." He smiled before disappearing and listening to his steps on the stairs, May saw his wallet by his bag.

Biting her lip, she nervously picked it up and sure enough, he had a bank card, student ID and a loyalty card to the coffee shop they had been at earlier. He had a few dollars and some change too, nothing that had any alarms ringing until she saw the zipper behind the card holder section. Opening it, she found a drivers licence and it didn't have Josh's name on. Knowing he had a fake ID, she decided this must be it as the date of birth had him four years older than her. The picture of him used for it had Josh looking much younger than he did now. As far as fakes go, she'd never be able to tell difference and seeing another card behind it, she pulled out a credit card that also had the name Thomas Molloy on.

"Okay, that's weird." She mumbled to herself, quickly putting everything back how she found it.

Sitting on his bed, she pulled out her phone and after sending her Mum another, I'm okay, message looked around trying to work out what she should actually be looking for. Listening to downstairs, music was all she could hear and getting up, May looked into one of the desk drawers. A few pens, a notebook and a small plastic sleeve full of similar images that were like the one she got for her birthday greeted May. Taking it out, there was nothing unusual about them and so she put it back. The next draw was empty, and the third was locked.

Listening again, nothing had changed and so she looked around for a key, remembering feeling something in his wallet. Sure enough, in the change pocket there was a small gold key that had the lock opening.

"I will Mum!" Josh called out and groaning in frustration, May didn't want to stop, but she did and casually stood by the window as he walked in. "Sorry, Mum is another mood. I didn't put the rubbish out this morning."

May took the cola with shaking hands, unable to look him as she just nodded. How could she get a look in that draw?

"Most of my stuff is at my Dads, it's pretty boring in here. Did you want go outside for a bit?" He offered, looking at her cautiously. May couldn't have looked any more uncomfortable than she did in that moment.

"You know, I just had a call from my Mum and Dad is really annoyed she let me stay out. I should probably just go home." May decided. She could come back another time or never. What made her think she could do this?

"Don't. Please, stay." He put down his drink and moved to stand in front of her. "You've been acting weird lately, are we okay? I miss you."

"I've just got a lot going on. I'm sorry." She tried not to cringe as he hugged her, not wanting to ruin what, if any, leverage she had with him.

"You know you can talk to me right, about anything at all." Josh assured her yet May laughed. She actually laughed and slapping her hand over her mouth, she wasn't sure how she'd be able to stop as the nervous, giggly fit kept going. "What did I say?"

"Nothing, it's nothing. Honest." She wiped her eyes and took a deep breath. "Sorry."

He only frowned, not believing her weak apology. "Is it your family, that you're having these problems with?"

"Problems?"

"You said you've got a lot going on, and you're clearly stressed."

"Why do you think it's my family?" She asked, trying not to get defensive.

"They seem really harsh on you. You've been grounded so many times and I don't think you even do anything wrong." He explained kind of making sense. "Even your friends seem to treat you terribly, from what you said about Leanna and her brothers. Those guys from school seem to give you a hard time too, Tiffany mentioned something the other day when I asked her after what happened at the party."

Bringing Tiffany into it had May bristling, and she wanted to tell him he was wrong, but instead she found it in herself to nod. "You're right."

"You're better than them, don't let them stress you out, or make you think you're worth less than they are." Any other time, his kind tone and gentle touch would have had her swooning. Those days were over, and she felt sick that she had fallen for the perfect guy he had sold to her. Perfect doesn't exist. "You May, are special. I just wish they could see what I do."

"What do you see?" She asked softly, thinking how it had to be a little strange for him to be showing signs of a five o'clock shadow when few of the guys in her year had really only just started to grow facial hair. The lines around his eyes were just a little deeper than you'd expect on a seventeen year old too. How had she been so blind?

"You're a great friend. You're smart, and fun to be around. You may not always feel it, but there is a confidence in you I wish you'd embrace. You're a leader. Everyone at school looks up to you May. They would follow you anywhere you took them." May was pretty sure none of that sounded like her. Maybe when she was younger, a little more fearless perhaps, but growing up with the twins had always made her feel safe and supported. She'd grown up thinking she could do anything. Her parents and family had only nourished that idea too - so Josh really had no idea what he was talking about.

"I doubt that."

"May, you're different to them. It's not a bad thing and don't let them make you think weaker than they are." Josh paused as he noticed the way May frowned; knowing he must have been too pushy. He needed to boost her confidence, get her to question those around her and if possible, drive her away from them. If he could plant the seeds of doubt, an argument with her parents when she got home could easily be all it took to push her their way. "From what I've seen of Leanna-"

"Enough Josh. I don't want to talk about it anymore." She slipped away from him and tried to work out his angle. Did he want her upset, angry maybe?

May was saved by Tanya knocking on the door and peeking in, she smiled at May. "Dinner is ready you two."

"Thanks, we'll be down in a sec." Josh turned back to May and gave her a tiny smile. "Don't let them make you feel like an outcast, because you are above that."

"We shouldn't keep your Mum waiting." May walked out and forced herself to keep up the act.

Eating was hard, as she was unable to stop thinking about what they put in it this time and the more talk there was praising her, the more uncomfortable May felt. Thankfully Tanya soon excused herself to go book club gathering and as Josh loaded the dishwasher, May took a chance on finding out what was in that draw.

"I just need to call Mum, I'll be back in sec." She told Josh, kissing his cheek as she left him.

"Okay. Want to watch a movie?"

"That would be great!" May tried not to run upstairs, and getting into his room she closed her eyes to focus on listening to the house.

It was quiet except for the clink of glasses and the rattle of cutlery being loaded in the kitchen and moving fast, she got the key and unlocked the draw. At first she was disappointed with only a few cardboard folders sitting on the top. They were unmarked, and lifting them up, she nearly dropped them as she saw the black gun.

"Shit." She whispered.

Looking at it closer, a box of bullets was in the opposite corner and seeing another folder underneath that, she remembered the ones in her hand. Flipping it open, her mouth dropped at seeing pages of Josh's handwriting, full of things about her, her house and family. Seeing the family tree, May felt the rush of rage flood her system. Her Dad had a big red box around his name, while she and her mother's side had green ticks. More than that, she saw her grandparents names there, uncles and cousins she had never met or knew about on her father's side too.

Professional looking reports with images of Bianca, Dean and their families were in the other folder, a basic guide to the structure of the pack. Question marks had been placed around highlighted comments about her Mum's workplace, Jason Carpe and even Rory. Chad was there too, the names of the other pups he'd lived with when in Carolina's care - even she was there with her father. More than that, May found her old school reports, doctor notes and a whole separate divider that had her interests listed. Web history, game scores and even a mention of the gymnastic and dance group she had joined as a little girl.

Her whole life was within those folders.

Pictures of her at school, at Tiffany's house and even just walking around the shops. Thankfully Tiffany also had a green tick next to her name, like her list of friends yet May's heart skipped a beat the few pictures that had her with Chad and her Dad in their wolf form. They were in the forest and had surely they would have sensed someone watching them. Worse than that, the other wolf pictures had names and question marks as they sought to match each animal with its human other half.

Then one section really got May's attention and seeing the plant with the beautiful flower Bianca had warned them all about since they were old enough to understand, May read about the impact Wolfsbane had on the shifters.

'The flower and it's leaves are toxic to the creatures. A single dose of the leaf has the werewolf incapable of changing it's form for up to twenty eight hours. Repetitive use, or a high dosage up the equivalent of one plant, can remove this ability completely.'

May shuddered at the thought of a shifter having their ability to change being removed. It was who they were, two beings united as one in the skin of the wolf.

'Research involving the flower has proven to be a reliable toxin. Vomiting, fever, a sensation of burning internally, with also limb numbness are mild side effects. Increasing dosage has heart, lung, and organ failure. Internal bleeding and brain hemorrhaging has also been seen in some cases. Organs removed from subjects show extreme acidic like damage.

The flower must be crushed for the poison to manifest. Consumption of the flower bud if not chewed, produces mild nausea and on occasion (depending on age) ulcers through abdomen.'

She stopped reading, not wanting to know more about the tests they had done. Turning the page, the images of the suffering shifters made her want to scream and with shaking hands she closed the files. There wasn't anything else she wanted to see in there.

"May, you coming?" Josh called from downstairs.

She took a few random pages, and shoved them into her bag before putting everything back. Grabbing her phone she texted her Mum to pick her up and asked her not to let her Dad or Chad come too. She didn't want any of her family any where near these people. The only relief she had was her Mum also had a green tick so maybe that made her less of a target.

"May?" Josh was closer now, his steps heavy on the stairs.

Getting the key back in it's place, she felt like she might break apart. Fear had taken over and a light sweat broke out over her forehead. How could she get out of here without him knowing she knew if she was one word away from completely freaking out?

The confirmation that her Mum was on her way, but not alone made May want to cry and then, it all just went away.

'Trust me, you can do this.' She told herself, only the feeling she was just simply talking to herself wasn't there like it normally was.

Just like yesterday morning, May felt completely comfortable and at ease with herself, with her abilities that she was so used to thinking of as flaw in her DNA from her freaky shifter genes. She used to love using them and being able to keep up with the shifter pups; it had told her she would shift when the time came only when that didn't happen, she then instead resented them. Calming down the confidence Josh seemed so eager for her to believe she had took over and as the door opened, her phone was at her ear.

"I understand. See you soon." She said in defeat.

"Everything okay?" Josh asked instantly, unsure about the look in her eyes as she watched him come in. There was fear there, but something else that set him on edge - like really, he should be the one who was afraid.

"I can't stay. Mum's coming to pick me up." May sighed. "Sorry."

"It's okay, I guess you were lucky to come out this long right?" He smiled.

"True."

May knew what was going to happen before it actually did, and preparing herself his hand came up and held the back of her neck as his other one went to her waist. He held her against him and went in for a kiss which had May surprising herself as she kissed him back. Guilt weighed heavily on her chest, her thoughts only of Caleb which only made everything worse.

"How long until she gets here?" Josh asked, still keeping her close as he rested his forehead on hers.

"She said about ten minutes, so not long at all." May applauded herself for being able to play along. Yet once she left, this was over. It didn't matter if things got awkward between them because she was going to make sure he and his people were made to pay for everything they had done. There was a second where she wished she had more Bianca than Miranda in her, as the desire to rip him to shreds warmed her body up in an almost eager anticipation.

"Damn." He whispered against her ear.

Caleb flashed into May's mind then, but different to any other time. It was like she could sense his presence with her, but he wasn't actually there, or anywhere nearby. It was so strange.

"May, are you okay?" Josh was getting really confused with what was going on with her. Ever since the party, she'd been strange and he blamed her ex. Despite what May had to say to assure him they were okay, he knew they weren't. 

"I was just thinking about what you said before." She lied.

It was then a feeling a dread took over from her thoughts of carnage. It wasn't because off Josh or being at his house. It wasn't because she didn't want her Dad coming near this house as there was no doubt he wasn't with her Mum to pick her up. Maybe even Chad too. Caleb's presence only grew as the feeling of fear and panic fought to take over. Somehow she managed to keep her face straight, though breathing became a struggle. Something was wrong with Caleb and she was stuck here; the realisation made her dizzy with a rage that wanted to be released.

"Really?"

'Calm down.' The voice in her head commanded and slowly, May did. Just a little bit.

"I- ah, you're right. I am treated unfairly by them. They underestimate me, see me as the weakling in the family because I'm not like them." And so did Josh. "I'm not going to let them get away with it anymore."

"Good. I'm glad. You are better than all of this, and being different is not a burden."

"It's a gift." May smiled while looking up at him from under her lashes, and Josh sensed something had just changed in her, but what - he didn't know. He liked it though, a little less innocent and a little more fire. "I'm special, aren't I Josh?"

"Yes." He swallowed nervously as she inched closer to him, her hands running up the front of his chest. "You are."

May heard the car and she knew Josh was to distracted to notice. Had the shifters they'd taken been distracted, had they played them too? What about when they did the tests of wolfsbane on them? Her nails pressed through his t-shirt and against his skin; would he like it if she showed him how wrong about her he had been, that she was just like the others he and his people deemed monsters. Now wasn't the time, but one day it would be.

"My Mum is here. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Okay." He dumbly nodded, following after as she practically ran down the stairs. Another wave of panic washed over her making her fingers fumble undoing the lock on the front door. 

Josh helped her as his phone began to ring and without looking back, May went straight to the car and got in. Ignoring her father, she got her phone out as her mother reversed the car and without even looking at Josh or his house or Chad who was in the backseat as she suspected he might be - she called Caleb.

"This is not on young lady!" Braydon growled from the front seat, turning around to look at her. He saw it instantly that she was completely oblivious to everything around her except for that phone. "May!"

May simply hit redial when Caleb didn't answer.

"Who are you calling?" Chad asked, glancing nervously at Braydon.

"I need to speak to Caleb." May didn't mean to cry, but the words came out in a loud sob that had Miranda reaching out to Braydon. "Why isn't he answering?"

"Maybe he's just busy helping with dinner or something?" Miranda tried to sooth, feeling as anxious as May looked. 

"May, what's going on?" Chad took her hand, and before he knew it, May had reached over to hug him. "Did something happen with Josh?"

"I need Caleb. I need to know he's okay." She cried into his shoulder.

Braydon got his own phone out, just as Cody's name appeared on the screen and Miranda diverted from the way home - already heading to their house instead.

"Cody?" Braydon answered.

"It's bad Braydon. Can you come over?"

"We're already on our way." He told him, and Miranda only put her foot down that little bit harder on the accelerator.  "Is Caleb-"

"No." Was all he said before hanging up.

"Chad, he isn't answering!" May couldn't fight the dread anymore, the panic and fear completely controlling her as she screamed at her phone.

"We're going to his house okay? It's going to be fine May." Chad assured her, holding her close yet she pulled herself free and wiping her eyes, kept trying to call despite it going straight to voicemail every time and as he tried to pry it from her shaking hands, he had no idea what to say next as she stopped everything, her face going blank as stared at him like she knew something he didn't.

"No, no it's not." May went to say more, but stopped herself and looked away. Settling back into her seat, she took a deep breath and then just stared out the window at nothing as the rushed to his house. 

It didn't matter how quickly they arrived because May knew he wasn't going to be there and despite the fact she had just got Caleb back - he was gone again only this time she didn't know if he would be returning.

______________

Double update! It was actually one massive chapter but figured I needed to break it down a bit - sorry for the delays lately - if you missed my profile post, I was on a cruise! Had a great time and now back to business ;)

So... I've started the next chapter BUT should I do some of Caleb's pov to open with or just leave it as is and that part will come when it's time?

Hope you're still enjoying the story! Thanks for reading x