“Is that make up?” The boy with light grey eyes squinted at Jason's face as if he needed glasses.

Oh no. Melissa paused next to Jason and covered her lower face with a hand as the faint gratitude on his face vanished in a second. Of all the things he could've said.

“Why? Wanna know where I got it from?” He grinned but the corners of his mouth tightened.

“Not at all.” The other guy's dead straight face shifted into a unexpected smile that pressed his eyes into curved slits. “Make up's not my thing. Nor is glitter.”

“It's not mine either,” said Jason as he passed the phone to her. “It's hers.”

“So you both change yourself to suit the others preferences?” The stranger peered at Melissa through the strands of black hair that curtained his upper face evenly on either side. It was longer than the rest of his hair which had been cut short. “You've done a great job. If I didn't know better, I'd think you were a real girl.”

“I am a girl,” snapped Melissa.

He reared back and the breath caught in his throat audibly. Wait, is he actually surprised? Her newborn guilt went up in smoke.

“Oh. My mistake.” He glanced at Jason wordlessly.

“I'm not a girl,” growled the latter. He tapped the waistband of his jeans with a smile that almost made her cover her eyes instead. “I've got proof, if you need it.”

“Do you always offer this evidence of yours to people you don't know?” The stranger might have seemed concerned if he hadn't hid a small laugh behind his fist.

Jason laughed too but it sounded like he wanted to punch him in the face. “Are you always this annoying to people you don't know?”

“Yes, now that you mention it.” The dark haired guy smiled again but this time its inauthenticity struck somewhere beyond her irritation.

Why does he seem so –?

“You should probably try changing that.” Jason tilted his chin up but his eyes narrowed as if he had sensed something too. “Might come in handy one day when you need friends.”

“I don't think anyone who asks me to change who I am could be considered a real friend.”

They stared at each other for a tense moment and, although he didn't say anything straight away, Jason's expression shifted as if he had only just realised he was talking to another human.

“You don't think?” A wicked grin haunting his features. Guess I got that wrong. “Why don't you know?”

“I'd prefer to be alone than waste time with shallow people so I'm afraid it's not something I'm familiar with.” A small smirk overthrew the other's solemn tone as he stepped back. “On that note, I hope you both have a good day.”

“Damn.” Jason looked him up and down, clearly confused by his plain attire. “Are you a gamer or just super judgy?”

“Neither. I just have standards.” The pallor of his skin clashed with his black, long sleeved shirt and cargo trousers. “Don't you?”

Did he just look at me? What a bas- Melissa scowled but her phone made another noise before she could say anything. Surprisingly, Jason didn't seem to have heard it. It was her mum.

Any sign of her?

Nope. You? She texted back.

“Yeah.” Jason started to frown and the fingers not hooked into his jean pockets curled. “And friends.”

Although one's missing and the other one's passed out on my sofa. Melissa decided to keep that information to herself.

“Well done.” The stranger stepped further back and pressed a hand to his chest with some of his fingers tucked out of sight. “Enjoy the rest of your day.”

He walked past them and Jason turned to watch him go with an odd look on his face. What the – Is he checking him out? I thought he liked Satara?

“What's wrong?” she asked, less softly than she would have a few seconds ago, as his attention returned to her.

“Nothing. What did your mum say?”

Nothing, my foot!

“She hasn't come back yet. Let's keep looking,” she added before his disappointment could counter hers. “Maybe she went to buy medicine and stuff for Spy.”

“I told you she doesn't have any money,” he said as he followed her, looking over his shoulder this time.

Does he actually like guys?

<><><><><>

I can't find her, Sin.

Jason sat on the chair closest to Sinastar and pressed his interlaced hands against his damp forehead. His elbows dug painfully into his thighs. We've been looking for her all morning but I don't know where she's gone or why. Is it because I said –?

“Jay?” Melissa stood in the doorway as if she needed his permission to enter her own dining room. She had a plate of sandwiches in one hand and a glass of water in the other. “He's not up yet?”

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

He shook his head and she placed the food and drink on the table, then dragged it closer to him and pulled up a chair for herself.

“You didn't finish your breakfast so I thought you might want …” She gestured at the plate and glass.

“Thanks,” he croaked. But I'm not hungry.

“She'll come back when she's ready.” She obviously couldn't think of any other way to reassure him when neither of them knew why Satara had left in the first place.

“If she can,” he said with a bitter laugh.

“What do you me- you think the police got her?” She winced as he pressed his lips into a firm line. “Sorry. It's just – she seems more careful than that.”

Yeah but for some reason she left without telling anyone where she's going. The unspoken statement floated between them.

“She is.” His fists moved to his mouth. “Normally.”

None of this makes sense. She was so worried about leaving Sin here with Judy but now she's gone without even leaving a note. If she left by herself, that's what she would've done, wouldn't she? Does that mean someone took her?

“If – if the police found her, it's not like she'd be in danger though, right?” Melissa spoke slowly, giving him time to speak as she picked up the plate. “They think Spy kidnapped you two but they don't know he's here or that any of us were at the clinic. As long as Satara doesn't tell them anything, she should be okay even if they did catch her.”

“She told you that?” Why would she tell Melissa anything? Did she make a mistake? He fought to keep the suspicion off his freshly washed face. I'd better be careful.

“Yeah, and I know Spy isn't her brother.” She hesitated. “And I think she's got a sister or someone who looks like her but I'm not sure if she's got anything to do with all this – why are you looking at me like that?”

How the hell does she know all that? I thought we were supposed to keep quiet about everything in case they talk to the police. Yet another piece that didn't match the puzzle of his friend's personality.

“I'm just surprised,” he said. “Tara doesn't really talk much.”

“Yeah, I noticed.”

“Even to people she knows.” He accepted the plate from her but didn't touch the sandwiches. “Even if they want her to.”

“You're trying to figure out how I know all that, aren't you?” She shrugged. “She only told me some of it.”

“Why?” Why would she tell you of all people?

“I don't know.” She picked up the glass of water too. “She only started talking after I brought up her doppelganger.”

Even if she was shocked, there's no way she would've said anything. She must've had a reason. Another possibility squeezed his chest. Or she just doesn't care any more. About anything.

“You met her si- doppelganger?” His slip up earned him a triumphant grin.

“They are sisters, aren't they? I knew it.” She punched the air and hastily steadied the glass in her hands. “Okay, so let me get this straight.”

“I'm not gonna tell you any-”

“Satara ran away with you two but that's totally got nothing to do with dating.” She ploughed on with a faint smirk. “The police think Spy kidnapped you but for some reason you can't tell the police that he didn't. Is it because he's got a history so they won't believe you?”

Jason picked up a sandwich and looked her dead in the eyes as he bit into it.

“Okay, so he's probably kidnapped or killed people before. If he was Judy's patient, it means he's definitely got some issues.” She continued to monologue aloud like a cartoon villain. “But why're you guys with him anyway if he didn't kidnap you? Where're you all going? I know you're not going to answer that.”

She huffed as he took another bite. This tuna actually isn't that bad.

“So you guys were coming to see Judy obviously but for some reason that turned into a blood bath.” She frowned at Sinastar as if she were trying to put a name to his face. “You didn't want the police to find you, which means the people who died weren't from the police. And I doubt Judy would be okay with you killing her patients. Why exactly didn't you report it? Because you've got something to do with it or because you're on the run for something else?”

Wow. The last few days really have been crazy, huh? And she doesn't even know about the transformations or what zai is yet.

“Oh my god, did you guys rob a bank or something? No wait, Satara would've had money if you had. Did you get caught selling drugs?” She eyeballed him shameless with less contempt than he expected. “Is Spy like an undercover drug lord? Do you guys deal for him?”

He wanted to laugh at the mental image but wouldn't give her the satisfaction. Nor did he want to choke on the second half of his sandwich.

“You don't give me druggie vibes. That guy he attacked did but not you.” She nodded at Sinastar. “Besides, I doubt you would've chosen to deal at Judy's clinic of all places.”

“What guy?” He picked up the first half of his second sandwich.

“He was running away from Spy.” She rolled her shoulders, shrugging off the touch of a bad memory. “He didn't get away.”

“Good.” He held out a hand when she glanced at him and toasted her with the glass she passed him as if it were filled with wine instead of water. “Thanks.”

“What's that?” She pointed at something in his lap and he nearly spat out his drink.

Satara's – no, his – white and black headband hung out of the pocket he had stuffed it in. He tried to concentrate on swallowing his water instead of bringing up his memories but failed.

Satara made a soft noise of assent without looking at him. “You can give it to him. If he wants it.”

“Hey, why're you giving it to me when it's hers?” He looked down at the material as Sinastar arranged it across both palms and held it out to him as though it were a sword.

“I've already got one.” She waved her headband at him and he took the one he was offered.

“But I'm not –” Sinastar placed a hand against his forehead and tilted his face back up, effectively silencing him.

“You are now,” he murmured with a brotherly, affectionate expression. “If that's what you want to be.”

Goddamnit! He finished drinking and returned the glass to her. “It's nothing.”

“Looks like a headband,” she said before he could push the material into his pocket again. “Satara's sister was wearing one too but hers was black.”

How the heck did she meeting Saytarnia and why is she still alive to tell us about it? She held his conflicted gaze as though they had been friends for years. If I ask her about it, she's definitely gonna know they're sisters. Tara didn't keep that quiet about it either. Maybe she really doesn't care any more.

“Where did you meet her?” He looked away from the victorious gleam in her eyes.

“She saved my life.” She waved off his unspoken alarm. “It wasn't anything fancy. Just a mad driver who shouldn't have a licence.”

“She saved you?”

“Yeah. Satara seemed weirded out by that too.” She fiddled with the base of the glass. “Is she a – Did her sister do something bad?”

Something bad? He bit back a caustic laugh but it must have shown up on his face.

“She did, didn't she? That's why you're both surprised.” She tapped the floor with her foot. “Are you all trying to find her or are you running away from her?”

“You know what? I don't even know any more.” He buried his face in his hands.

The innocent confusion on Melissa's face, so unlike Satara's mistrust, was painful to look at.

“Did she – hurt Satara? Or Spy?” Her breathing hitched. “Is she the one who messed up the clinic? Please tell me it wasn't.”

Why would she care even if it was? Because Saytarnia saved her? He lifted his head but movement in his peripheral vision distracted him before he could ask anything else.

“Sin?” He turned just as Sinastar's head rolled in their direction and nearly fell out his chair as he leaned closer. “You awake?”

The twenty year old's eyelids flickered and he made a small sound. “... ress.”

“What?” Jason placed a hand on his shoulder and wanted to jumped up in delight as his eyes opened.

He's awake! Dread warped his excitement. Oh my god. He's awake and Tara's not here.

“I'll go get Judy.” Melissa snatched the plate with the remaining quarter of his sandwich and placed it on the table along with the glass before running out of the room.

“Are you okay?” His grip tightened and Sinastar's dark, dangerously weary eyes stopped drifting around the room beyond him. “Sin? Do you need anything?”

“My … phone.” Determination lined his faint voice as he lifted his hand.

Where the heck is his phone? He remember the semi-traumatic experience of changing the other guy's shirt. “It's in your pocket – uh – I'll get it for you. One sec.”

This is cool. I'm not doing anything weird. He patted the sides of Sinastar's trousers and found the mobile, freeing it from his left pocket. This is totally fine.

“Thank you,” murmured Sinastar.

He took the phone and quickly tapped at the screen with both thumbs.

“No problem.” He swallowed his significantly reduced saliva. You just woke up from a coma and you've already got someone to text?

“Could you – turn on – my location?” Sinastar spoke slowly as if each word didn't want to be uttered aloud and held his phone out to Jason.

“Uh – sure?” He tried not to look at the other strangely as he did what he was told, distracted once again by the screen. Damn. This phone's more expensive than it looks. “Done.”

“Thank you.” Sinastar struggled to put the phone back in his pocket. His eyelids flickered down. “When they come – could you – let them in – please?”

“What? Let who in?” Jason tapped his arm incredulously. “Oi, are you sleeping again?”

Sinastar slipped back into the same half dead state he had been in for the last twenty four hours and didn't answer.

“What the heck?” Jason leaned back to look for a clock. Who's coming? His friends? Are they tracking his phone? What kind of friends do that?

“Spy?” Judy hurried into the room with Melissa and her mum in tow, pausing at his side. “I thought he was –”

“He was! I saw his eyes open,” said Melissa quickly.

“He fell asleep again,” agreed Jason before either of the women could speak.

“Did he … say anything?” Judy looked nervous.

“Yeah. He said to –” Someone knocked on the front door, three sharp, militant raps of the letter plate, and they all turned towards the sound as Jason blinked and finished his sentence. “– let them in?”