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They had arrived in Greenbrooke two nights ago and settled into Rafe’s condo, though the master was currently staying in his mansion. Chance had been told he couldn’t leave the far too lavish place just yet as he needed to adjust to the noises of the city first. Everything had been a lot louder than any of the training he had done with his handlers and panic had set in while they were still in the car entering the city.

He had embarrassingly had a panic attack, head between his knees as he covered his ears to help block out so many people talking and the sounds of cars and music coming from both cars and buildings. And the smells. Chance much preferred the country as he wrinkled his nose in distaste as they slowly moved along streets until finally parking underground.

Over those two nights he had adjusted a bit to both sensations and wasn’t nearly as panicked or twitchy so he’d been allowed an outing. Carefully observed, naturally, but they kept their distance so he could feel like he had some freedom and took in the sights and sounds on ground level. It was all so overwhelming but amazing! Growing up at the secluded manor meant he hadn’t gotten out much and if he did, only on short errands to the small town. None of the buildings compared to Greenbrooke. Sure, he watched a lot of movies and shows so it wasn’t like he had no idea such things existed but he’d never walked amongst them and down streets crowded with people even at late hours.

Actually, he wished they weren’t nearly as crowded as his nose twitched when a man walked by. Chance had fed before leaving to help keep his urges in check but some people seemed to smell tastier than others. Then again, perhaps it was… popcorn? Did humans smell like popcorn? Chance decided to follow his nose around the corner and found a movie theatre that seemed to have just had a movie let out with the amount of people milling about and holding bags and drinks.

He stood back watching the scene for a few minutes, enjoying the way people interacted as they discussed what they had just watched. Some groups were noisier than others and some laughed as they dodged through traffic to get to their own vehicles. But everyone was having fun. He found himself wandering closer as more people left and his senses weren’t nearly as bombarded. He hadn’t been to a cinema before either and while he doubted anything would have a start time at that hour, Chance still wanted to peek through the windows and maybe see what was playing and see if he’d be allowed to attend a showing soon.

He was still wide-eyed and in awe of everything around him, his gaze going everywhere except to where he was walking. He looked forward just in time to avoid shoulder-checking someone as he swivelled enough to only lightly clip her, and stopped a couple of steps behind the girl. “I’m so sorry! I was looking everywhere but forward. Are you okay?” She was still standing so that was something! Chance had improved on learning his new strength but an accidental running into someone wasn’t something they had worked on.

Thursday nights were usually spent at the dance studio, but with no competition that weekend, and the Thursday being one of the girls’ birthdays, Mrs Valdez had allowed them the night of freedom. Plans had been made excitedly, and the group of teenage girls had decided to go to the cinema and watch a movie after spending several hours at a bowling alley that did birthday specials. Lyric had thoroughly enjoyed herself. She hadn’t won at bowling, but that was fine, she’d had a heap of fun, ate too much cake, and then they’d gone to the cinema where she’d proceeded to stuff herself on soda and popcorn while they watched the latest Disney release.

Lyric and the girls stood around for a few minutes, excitedly going over the movie and how much they’d enjoyed it, before the other girls began to get picked up by their parents. Lyric knew that Nocturne would be nearby, had received a text saying he would meet her at the Starbucks around the corner. Lyric had smiled at that, knowing how much her brother hated being around her fawning friends and their girlish fantasies of dating him. Or other things. Lyric tended to shut down those conversations when they got too much for her to handle. There were just some thoughts you didn’t let grow about siblings!

Waving goodbye, and making sure her phone was back in her back pocket and her little handbag was on her shoulder, and the rest of her popcorn was safely in hand, Lyric spun around to start walking towards the Starbucks – not watching where she was going, she only saw the other person a second before they touched, with him dodging to the side and Lyric trying to spin away as well. They still clipped shoulders, and Lyric finished spinning to face the other person, a teenage boy not much older than her. She blushed, brushing some hair behind her ear as he apologised. “I’m sorry!” She added in her own when he finished talking. “I wasn’t looking either. I’m okay. Are you?” He looked overwhelmed, but Lyric didn’t want to say anything in case that was his everyday look and she insulted him.

“No, I mean yes, um,” Chance took a deep breath and let it out slowly. He didn’t need it but the habit of breathing was still too engrained in him to have stopped or have to focus on while blending in. But the deep breath helped to steady him and stop jumbling up his words as he stared at the human that seemed far too concerned for him. He was nobody! “Yes, I’m fine, but no, it was my fault. Please don’t apologise.” All right, that was a better attempt at speaking. Perhaps he could do a bit more? He was even managing to smile now!

“I just moved to Greenbrooke from a small town a bit further north and I’ve never seen anything like it. I keep getting distracted,” which was an understatement but he didn’t think the girl would appreciate his struggles of becoming the best vampire he could be. A glance over her shoulder to where he knew his handlers were lurking reminded him that they were very interested in his best self and that made Chance focus more on his instincts and coming off as normal.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” He asked again and then gave a shy smile and looked at the ground, embarrassed. “Sorry, you said you were. I didn’t meant to doubt your word. I was just worried.” He didn’t want to upset her! For all intents and purposes, she was his first friend in Greenbrooke; or at least the first non-vampire he’d spoken to. “I’m Chance Wa--” he cut himself off when one of his watchers mentally told him not to use his last name with a stranger and he quickly cleared his throat to help cover it up. “What’s your name?”

Lyric blinked at the babbling, biting her bottom lip to stop herself from giggling at the flustered boy. She didn’t want to be rude, but it was kind of adorable and definitely just a little amusing. “Too late,” she grinned, “I already did.” Lyric resisted the urge to stick her tongue out playfully, and instead offered her hand at his introduction, waiting for him to take it before giving a shake and reclaiming her hand like it was the most natural thing in the world to do. “I’m Lyrical,” she said, still smiling. “But you can call me Lyric, everyone does.”

With introductions out of the way, Lyric latched onto the second most important bits of information Chance had given. “Welcome,” she grinned. “I’ve lived here my whole life. Do you still go to school? If you’re starting at the Highschool, I’d be happy to show you around!” He looked like he was only a few years older than her, but that was possibly old enough to not go to school anymore, but maybe he was closer to her age than that, too, and there was nothing worse than starting school and not knowing anyone! Lyric hadn’t experienced that firsthand, but she’d seen it and made it her mission to befriend anyone starting new.

“Are you going to see a movie? My friends and I just finished watching Cruella and it was really good, so you should consider it if you are!” She paused. “Though they might not have any more screenings of it tonight.” On that note, Lyric dug her phone back out of her pocket to check for any messages from Nocturne, and after a pause, quickly sent him one saying she was chatting with a friend and would be a few minutes later, so that he wouldn’t worry. It was getting late, but Lyric felt comfortable in the busy street that nothing from the darkness would jump out and bite her with so many people to see. Not that she was about to say anything like that to her new friend.

Lyric shoved her phone back into her pocket. “Sorry. Just making sure my brother wasn’t getting antsy. I’m meeting him at Starbucks.” She pointed vaguely in the direction of the Starbucks in question. Lyric chewed her bottom lip for a moment as she considered Chance. “Want to walk with me?” she asked, aware that he was probably going somewhere or on his way to meet someone – most people were, when they were out that late. Lyric smiled brightly, to put him at ease. “It's okay if you have to leave though. It was nice to meet you.”

Chance smiled more easily as Lyric gave her name. It was so pretty and matched her well. But she seemed younger than him and was a human so it didn’t matter how pretty she was. He’d be lucky if his escorts let him see her again, especially once he was properly settled in and being established within the Family and whatever his new jobs would be. That was a bit sad to think about, especially with how kind Lyric was being and the way she peppered him with questions that had him laughing and wondering if he was actually supposed to answer any of them but figured he’d try anyway.

“No, I graduated high school last year,” which was mostly true. He would have graduated then if he had attended a proper school but with his illness and how his life was promised to defending Rafe and his Family, Chance had been home schooled; if it could be called that when vampires took turns teaching what they thought he should know. He had an odd smattering of history he knew well, math and English had been drilled into his head, and various other areas that they all dabbled in, learning together. It was kind of fun.

“And no, I’m not here to see a movie, though I was planning on it another night now that I know it’s here. I just wanted to get out and thought I’d explore a bit.” He made note of the suggested movie though as it sounded like it could be fun. Cruella Deville had always been one of the scarier Disney villains and her theme song still lingered in his head years later. He actually started humming it lightly as Lyric checked her phone before realising he was doing it and quickly stopped. That was probably weird.

“You want… I… I’d like that,” Chance didn’t think a girl he had almost knocked over would be so friendly and then trust him enough to walk with her, even if it wasn’t very far. His first day out in the big city was going fairly well so far! Sure he kept feeling like a fool and sometimes he felt a small urge to get a little closer to her neck but he’d kept everything in check!

“You’re lucky,” Lyric said genuinely, “I can’t wait to graduate school! Then I can dance all the time!” She twirled lightly on the spot, as if that was the embodiment of all dance, and grinned brightly. She loved dancing! It was everything to her, and always had been. One day she hoped to become a professional dancer, but her dream was to work for Cirque du Soleil – the tricks and aerial displays they did were absolutely amazing! She loved it when Nocturne took her to see a show, and hoped they’d be able to go to another one soon. They were so amazing. Lyric sighed wistfully, but cheered up again almost instantaneously.

“Awesome!” Lyric grinned, and when they were both walking in the direction of the Starbucks she was meeting Nocturne at, Lyric slipped her arm companionably through Chance’s, and began to point out all the tourist points as they walked by, telling him about each of them as much as she knew, and why he should or shouldn’t spend his time on them. Some of them were great, like the bowling alley she pointed out where she’d spent the evening with her dancing friends for Alice’s birthday. She also pointed out some of the restaurants she was particularly fond of, noting the best options they had for food.

“And that one is my favourite,” she said enthusiastically as they passed another restaurant, “They make the best curly fries.” Still clinging to Chance’s arm, Lyric looked up at him brightly. “What’s your favourite food?” she asked, curious and excited. “I love ice-cream, but I don’t eat it very often because of my diet, but that makes it even better, you know?”

Chance was enjoying the little tour and liked how animated Lyric could be when she talked about something she liked. It just sucked that so much of it seemed to be food-related. Chance really wanted to try the curly fries as he only ever had straight fries but food didn't taste right for him. He had no regrets with accepting the Changing but it would take a while still to adjust to some things.

"Ice cream is pretty great," Chance agreed with a smile. It had been one of his favourite evening treats in the before times. "And I think you should enjoy it as often as you want. You don't need to be on a diet, Lyric, especially if you dance as often as you make it sound." It was startling that a young woman would think she needed it, even as a dancer. Hopefully she wasn't pushing herself too much. And then he was hit with how bold he was being and glanced away.

"Sorry, that was very forward of me. You don't know me and I don't have a right to say such things. But um my favourite food is lasagna." Chance felt like an idiot now and lost all of his courage to ask his new maybe-friend for her number.

Lyric smiled sweetly at the concern about her being on a diet, and shook her head, brushing stray strands of hair out of her face with her free hand afterwards. “No-no,” she insisted, giving his arm a gentle squeeze with her own. “That’s why I have to be on a diet! I have to make sure I get enough calories and whatnot because I dance so much.” She smiled reassuringly. “It’s not like, to be skinny or anything. But if I don’t be careful, I could end up sick.” Lyric didn’t mind her diet; it was all delicious foods, and it was for a good cause: dancing!

“Lasagna is good, too!” Lyric said enthusiastically, beaming. “I haven’t had any in a really long time.” She added honestly, “I don’t eat much meat. I prefer my veggies.” She grinned and stuck her tongue out, eyes bright with her amusement. “What do you like to do for fun?” Lyric asked, curious as she suddenly changed the subject. She could see the Starbucks not far away now, but she wasn’t ready to say goodbye to her new friend, even though she didn’t want him to accidentally meet Nocturne – her brother was far too intense, and she was scared he’d scare off her new friend before she really got to know him.

Chance nodded at the explanation. That made some sense and it sounded more like a dietary plan to avoid issues than a weight-loss diet. One of the vampires at the country manor liked watching reality shows and Chance had sat with him for the one about eating disorders and their recovery process. It was so sad to see so many people struggle and very eye-opening for the issues that were out there beyond his little odd world. “Veggies are good as well,” he finally spoke, not wanting to worry Lyric at his silence and slight frown since it didn’t have anything to do with her. “Gram loves cooking and made sure we all enjoyed it and vegetables were always included.” He smiled fondly at the memory of the ‘family’ meals since Gram was actually his great grandmother that elected to be Turned in her fifties after a good life of serving Rafe. She oversaw the country manor still and always made everyone sit together for dinner.

He blinked at the sudden topic change and smiled again as he started to figure out that was just Lyric. She was friendly, chatty, and curious. Chance didn’t mind it but he was also kind of boring and worried his answers wouldn’t interest her; or she would ask a question he couldn’t answer. “I watch a lot of movies and shows.” He hesitated on the reasoning and finally gave a little shrug. “I was sick a lot growing up.” It was the truth but he didn’t know how to say he was healed because he died and was reborn. Did that really count as getting better?

“Anyway, I don’t want to intrude on your time with your brother,” Chance slowed his pace as the light from inside Starbucks spilled out onto the sidewalk just before them. He didn’t know who her brother was but if it was the man leaning against a bright blue motorcycle, holding a clear cup of some iced coffee concoction, and alternating his glare from him to somewhere behind him… then Chance really didn’t think he should stick around. “And um, thank you for talking with me.”

“Oh, that’s so sweet,” Lyric gushed, enamoured by the idea of a cooking grandmother who made fancy and delicious family meals. Her own family was small, and Nocturne did most of the cooking, though Lyric also knew how and helped out upon occasion, when she wasn’t busy with homework or dancing practice. “I hear grandmothers make all the best meals,” she grinned. She had no firsthand knowledge on that fact, since she had never met her mother’s parents, and her Papa’s were too busy with their Guardian duties. Not that Lyric could say all of that to her new friend.

“Really?” Lyric asked, curious but not bold enough to ask for more information as she hugged his arm again. “I’m glad you’re doing better, then!” He didn’t seem sick, a little wide eyed and overwhelmed, but if he’d been sick a lot as a kid that certainly explained why he wouldn’t have come into the city even if he didn’t live all that close. Everyone seemed to drop by for some reason or another! She was curious about what had ailed him, but it wasn’t her place to ask, and she figured he wasn’t contagious if it was something that lasted his whole childhood.

When he slowed down, she did too, looking towards Starbucks and seeing Nocturne glaring at them both. She grinned impishly, but did unwind her arm from around his. “He’s a bit protective,” she said with a smile, “doesn’t like boys.” She giggled, amused, and fished out her phone. She sent a quick text to Nocturne while she grinned at him from beside her new friend; she made no effort to hide the screen; the contact was listed as Tigger: stop glaring. ur facell stick like that. she giggled, and turned her attention back to Chance when she saw Nocturne dig his own phone up. “Quick. What’s your number while he’s busy scowling at my text.” Her voice was a mock whisper, filled with naughty delight.

“Oh,” Chance wasn’t sure if he was happy or not at having identified the brother. But was it better to have some random guy just glaring at them? At least it wasn’t nefarious, just a protective big brother which he respected. He was a Warden, after all, even if he kind of sucked at the job thanks to his health issues. But his family was charged with being the day time protectors of Rafe’s Family and they had always taken the job seriously. It seemed Tigger did as well. “Is that really his name?” he asked, amused at the idea but his new friend was named Lyrical so it wouldn’t be that odd.

“What?” Chance was back to being wide-eyed at the request. Sure, he had wanted to ask her for her number as well but he thought that would be too forward as well. Besides, just because she’d been so friendly didn’t mean she wanted to keep in touch. Chance could easily see Lyric helping overwhelmed strays regularly as she seemed to have a kind heart. But while he warred with himself, he dug up the information for his new phone. He honestly never had one before three days ago but he was good with most technology he’d come across and was figuring out the smart phone fairly quickly; he just hadn’t remembered his own number yet but rattled it off when he found it.

He leaned in close again to double check the digits and smiled at seeing his name in someone’s phone that wasn’t in the Family. But doing so also gave him another whiff of Lyric. He’d done well with her clinging to his arm but his hunger was growing the longer he was so near her and Chance took a step back to help fight the urge. The scary brother approaching was also a good reason for space.

Nocturne spotted Lyric long before she saw him. It was hard not to when he could pick out her laugh easily and had been watching for her and knew the direction she would come from. But that direction also had some blonde kid she was hanging onto and a couple of men trying to be casual while staying back. They were doing a decent job since he didn’t see them right away and they kept their distance but they still sent a shiver down his spine. Had Rafe discovered who he was after all? Were they watching him or had they been on Lyric’s tail and it was a silent threat that they knew who she was as well?

He was busy glaring between the friend and the watchers when his phone dinged and he rolled his eyes, knowing it was Lyric. Nocturne sighed at the message and tossed the remnants of his drink out in the bin near him. I have reason to, Noct sent back, hesitated, and then sent her another text with their code for vampires, knowing she would see it pop up given the way they were crowded around their phones instead of saying it aloud. Let’s go get a meat lover’s pizza. It was something neither of them would ever say by accident given how little meat was in their diets. He tucked his phone back into his pocket and got on his bike, getting Lyric’s helmet ready for her to quickly put on.

Lyric laughed outright at the question about Nocturne’s name, after a moment of confusion. “No,” she said, completely delighted. “I’m Piglet, and I have a friend who got Pooh, so we couldn’t leave him out.” She paused, and laughed again. “Probably should have called him Eeyore. He’s such a party pooper!” Her clear affection for her brother belied that comment, and she smiled as Chance took a step back after double checking she’d put the right number into her phone.

Opening up the messenger again, Lyric sent him an emoji-filled text that was a combination of happy faces, and grinned triumphantly when it went through; that look melted away as Nocturne’s text message came through, and a deep frown pulled her eyebrows down and pursed her lips. “Oh! Sorry. I have to run.” The codeword for vampires had the little hairs on the back of Lyric’s neck standing up on end and she rolled her shoulders to try and dispel the sensation. She knew the chances of vampires being around was higher at night, obviously, but knowing Nocturne had gotten a vibe and she hadn’t bothered her.

“It was really lovely to meet you! Text me!” Waving enthusiastically, Lyric glanced over Chance’s shoulder in time to spot one of the men Nocturne must have gotten vibes from, and she glared at him hotly for a second before spinning on her toes and dashing down to where Nocturne was sitting on his motorbike; she climbed on with practised ease and jammed the helmet on her head, buckling it before wrapping her arms around her brother’s waist. She released one hand long enough to wave again, then clung on as Nocturne kicked the bike into gear.