A laughing Rachel walks in, followed by a very chatty Shade. I smile.

“You’re laa-aate!”

“Well, crazy Rachel here made a wrong turn, I had to take the wheel.” Oh God.

“You apparently didn’t wreck?”

“Not her car, but I totaled another…”

“Shade, what am I gonna do with you?” Shade and Rachel sit down, each ordering a latte. I shake my head and order a Frappucino, the best coffee-based drink known to… well… any being. I looked at Rachel, she didn’t know either my secret or Shade’s. She thought we were both perfectly normal humans.

“I thought you took decaf,” she said. I’d almost forgot that her voice sounded so… singer-like. Then again, she could’ve been a singer while we were gone.

“No, that must be someone else.” Niice cover, I thought sarcastically. Wonder what she says now.