Megan rode up on her motorcycle and walked in. "I know, I know. I'm late. I'm sorry." she walked back to to change into her apron and then returned. "Next time, there will be consequences Megan." "I know." "Good, now go serve table 23." "I'm on it." she walked over. "So, what can I get for you?" They ordered and she walked back towards the kitchen to place the order.

Jace ran quickly,vaulting over parked cars and short walls. He flipped off of buildings and over benches. He wanted to be early for work, so he could get some reading in before his shift. a smile crossed his face at the thought of cracking open the newest book in the series he was reading. The 9th book in the sword of truth series. Chainfire. He smiled a somewhat wolfish smile as he dove over a short wall rolling as he stood up brushing dirt off his clothes. He looked at his watch. 11: 25 35 minutes until his shift started. He smiled and headed toward his desk in the back to start reading.

Shiro slipped into her uniform for the day. She worked in a pastry shop on the edge of town near her house. It had a good communal considering and she could get her morning run done before work. The shop's name was Maison Blanc and they carried all sorts of items from chocolate shaped roses to cakes, cookies, and breads. She liked working there considering cooking was one of her talents and she wanted to be an aspiring patissiere.

Inside the shop she was doing her usual routine of making the famous light strawberry cake roll. She prepared the jelly roll pan lining it with wax paper and setting it to the side. Then she reached for her mixing bowl setting it on the table next to the pan. She poured baking powder and flour in at the right amounts watching and counting carefully. Moving to get the other bowl she put in the eggs, vanilla extract, and granulated sugar beating it with the electric mixer just enough until the mixture turned in a beautiful pale lemon color. She added a touch of water and beat it on a lower speed for several more seconds before getting the flour mixture and sprinkling it over the egg mixture slowly. This procedure took time and skill and yet what she found amusing was that the head chef put her in charge of making this cake. It pleased her yet made her think 'Wow, I'm getting better everyday!' Finished sprinkling she picked up the mixer and turned it to a very low mixing speed giving it about five seconds watching for when the two mixtures were just combined. She smiled setting the old equipment away so they could be washed by the other chefs. She got out her icing spreader and picked up the bowl. She began pouring the mix over the pan while spreading the batter evenly. She huffed picking up the pan itself and setting it in the already prepared oven. Now all she had to do was wait a few minutes.

She pulled the cake out of the oven and smiled at the crisp golden look. It looked refined yet delicious to even look at. She set the hot pan on the counter and sighed. Looking up to all the customers eagerly waiting for her cake whilst eating one of the bakery chef's or the chocolatiers items. They wanted to eat and she had to provide. Her heart fluttered in excitement like it did before a race. This is what she liked about the work place too, you could see the customers play and have fun as they could watch you bake the cake. Also it provided a way for customers to feel safe in what their eating. Going back to her work she set herself to pulling the edges of the cake off the pan and and setting the cake out on a cooking towel. She sprinkled with the one tablespoon confectioners' sugar and then rolling up towel and cake, jelly-roll style, starting from one of the cake's short sides. She set it to cool on a wire rack. Seventeen minutes later she unrolled the cake and removed the towel. She spread the cake with frozen yogurt and sliced strawberries, to within one half inches of edges then rolled the cake once more. She moved to set it in the freezer which would cool it down much faster. Usually it took four hours but if she put it in the freezer it would take only thirty minutes. Since she had time to waste she wandered out from behind the counter and sat down at one of the tables. Her co-worker Chikane who she had became fond of, brought some tea over and winked. "Thanks buddy. Now you get back to making that yummy bread. I want some after work." She laughed and Chikane smiled as she moved her hand to pat Shiro's shoulder. She wandered back to her station as Shiro took a sip of tea relaxing. "Hmm. Nice."

Damian sighed quietly as he walked around with a group of friends. He had been attending a high school, just to look for her... whoever she was. It wasnt hard to make friends, and there were a lot of girls there. So far, he hadnt had much luck.
"Hey something wrong?" one of his friends asked.
Damian looked up and smiled, "Nope, nothing wrong. Just tired.. you know with all the tests coming up." he said stretching.
"I'm starvng." another complained.
Damian grinned, "You're always hungry." he teased with small chuckle. The others laughed in agreement. "Alright.. then I guess we could stop by somewhere and grab something to eat." he suggested. Damian was impressed with himself. He had gotten used to this human life rather quickly. It was easier than he thought.

One more level, Zacky...One more level, and you will be the SUPREME LORD OF ALL THAT IS DEATH AND BLOOD. Zachary repeated that to himself over and over again, driving the motivation into his hands and through to the game. He had been playing the same one for ten hours straight, not stopping to eat or relieve himself. Not even the wolves last night could distract the boy from his concentration. Zachary Gershale would become the Supreme Lord of all that is Death and Blood if it killed him, but hopefully it wouldn't get to that.

"Yes!" he shouted in delight, easily manipulating his character to dodge a blast of fire. "The bastard's on his last bit of energy!" The bastard, of course, was the Devil himself, the current Supreme Lord. He had put up quite the fight, which had started over an hour earlier. It left Zach's character, Luc, with a very small amount of energy, but if he stuck it out for just a little longer-

RING! The cell phone's shrill cries of attention erupted the peace Zachary had created for himself. He dropped the controller in surprise and searched frantically for his cell, but the communication device was smothered by a thick layer of blankets and pillows (the insulation did little to soften the phone's deafening shrieks). Zach thought he found the little shit within the cushions when an explosion echoed from the TV speakers, followed immediately by the Devil's harsh, cruel laughter. Zachary cringed and slowly looked up at the screen, letting loose a small cry of agony when he saw Luc's vaporized form behind huge, flashing red letters:

"YOU HAVE LOST"

His grief quickly turned to anger once he located his cell. Pressing various buttons to access his voicemail, Zachary's face twisted in total rage when he heard the voice of the interruption.

"Zacky, you will NEVER GUESS where I'm calling from! VIVA LAS VEGAS, BABY! Charles brought me here last night and it's been absolutely-

"VIXEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEN!"

Shiro finished up her tea and walked back over to her counter. She pulled the cake out of the freezer and smiled bliss taking over her expression. She wasn't done though but she was glad the cake was looking quite yummy. She set it down and looked for her sugar again. She sprinkled the confectioners sugar on it adding a powdery angel-like look to cake and she sighed. This was one of her best cakes out of the many times she had made it. It had more servings too which made her feel better. The customers would get good food and there was more to pass around. She had studied up on the cake and this was the result. She nodded, now noting that research would always help in the long run. She picked up her blade and began slicing the cake into portions carefully measuring each one like a pro. She was used to measuring the cakes and cookie in her head. It was a certain skill she had but thing was, if you told her to measure something that was wasn't bake-able she couldn't do it.

She pulled out a fancy tray and put the sign up for the cake. She hurried to design the cake slices in an elegant, and sweet manner. She slid some strawberry slices on to the platter just to make it look pretty. The strawberries acted as a border for the cake. With one last touch she took some chocolate icing and lightly crisscrossed the cake adding the fancy look without changing the main flavor too much. Now that the cake was finished she moved back to the other side off the counter to let the other chef's serve the finished cake. She picked up her handmade recipe book and flipped the page's. It was her choice on what to make next. She had lots of recipes to choose from too. She bit her lip looking through her book. This would take some time indeed.

Megan grabbed the orders and walked around, setting them on people's tables. She leaned over on one of the counters for a minute before her friend Jordyn snapped her out of her apparent trance. "What? Who? Where?" Jordyn laughed. "Wake up." "I am awake, I was just thinking." "Well, you got table 7." "Got it." she walked over and went through the usual routine: 'What do you want?' they order, you get them the food, they eat, they pay, then they leave. Such an exciting job. Jordyn walked over again. "Hey some of us are heading down to the lake later. Wanna come?" "Why not the beach." "Why not the lake?" "Touche. Sure I'm in." Jordyn smiled and walked over to take care of her next table.

A small bit of snow flurries fell over the town park where Duncan had been posing as a homeless person. "Wake up young man why are you sleeping out in the cold where is your mother?" A woman asked and bent down next to Duncan. "What? Oh um thanks but no thanks I am fine but I was greeted by a wolf last night see if you could find him please?" Duncan asked all nice and as the woman left and turned into his true form and ran for the city.

He scavenged through the trash in search of food when he saw a group of teenage girls approaching him. "Don't came any further." He said in a high pitched dog like voice. "What did that dog just- ?" One of the girls said as Duncan bolted away. "Man people don't realize that I am a wolf, Humans can be blinded by what they don't comprehend." He said in a back ally of some food place. He transformed again and went inside, while sitting down at a table.

Jace sat at the main desk in the middle of the library watching over everyone that walked around. Surely if the human whom he was to mate even existed she would be here. He had to believe she would be a reader like he was. He looked amongst the females that were there. Some were attractive it was true but he just didnt feel....it. Whatever it was. He was told when he saw her he would just know. It would click into place. Kind of like his life had just received meaning and purpose. He sighed inwardly as a kid came up to him. "Hey could you check to see if you have the scott pilgrim books?". Jace turned to the kid and smiled. "Sure let me check for you" he went thru the computer looking up the item. "Im afraid we dont have it at this library but the one in the next town does if you want i can order it I just need your library card"." Yeah cool thanks" the kid said as he handed it over.

Still much too upset to "refight" the Devil, Zachary zipped up his faded sweater and pulled a cigarette, his last one, from the carton he kept in his pocket. Placing the smoke in his mouth, he stepped out the door of his two-bedroom home, the one he had purchased the day after his arrival in Willow Falls; it had nearly wiped out his savings, but he considered it a wise decision. Lighting the cigarette as he hopped down the steps, Zachary dug into his sweater pocket for his keys and unlocked his car, exhaling heavily as he climbed inside. Once the door was shut and the keys hanging from the ignition, he leaned back in his seat, eyes closed. Chill out, Zacky, he told himself. Vixen didn't know you were in the middle of probably the greatest battle you've ever fought, so it's not his- Oh who am I kidding?

Zachary sneered out his windshield, his eyes flying open. He placed the car in reverse and backed out of his drive way, still feeling extremely upset with his older brother as he took the shortest route into town. The man always felt it necessary to call up Zach every time something new and amazing happened in his life. It wasn't like Zachary didn't like talking to his brother; he absolutely loved it. But not while he was occupied!

By the time he reached the gas station, Zachary's cigarette had burned just millimeters from the filter. He climbed out of the car, locked it, and started for the store, depositing the butt of his smoke on the top of the garbage bin just to the side of the door. He nodded stiffly at the cashier behind the counter and strolled the aisles, trying to calm himself again before buying the nicotine sticks his body craved. Stopping in front of the magazine displays- one centered on gaming stopped him in his tracks- Zachary looked out the window. The pastry shop, Maison Blanc, stared back at him. It was a modern place, but there was something warm and accepting about the place. He had never been inside of it, though a fresh loaf of bread sitting on a rack told him that he should change that soon.

After purchasing a new package of smokes and that gaming magazine, Zachary crossed the street and entered the bakery. Sweet smells entered his nose, and he breathed in deeply. A smile crossed his face.

Mina paused in the middle of the sidewalk, fumbling to get her book out of her bag.
Content with herself, mina slung her black messenger bag over her shoulder and held onto her book.
She went into the library and sat down, pulling her feet up next to her.
The girl allowed her auburn hair to fall in front of her face as she leaned over her book intently.
Mina looked up when she heard the fabric of her bag sliding across the table she was at, and onto the lap of the person next to her.
With an annoyed growl, she tore the bag from the person's grip, stood up, and hurried out of the building, not seeming notice the fact that she had forgotten her book.

Duncan realized that he was warm enough to make his way to the 24 hour library. He ran out of the store and into the cold. After a few minutes of running Duncan ran inside the library and sat down in an empty seat which had a open book in front of it. "This was checked out a few hours ago." He said sniffing the pages and caught the scent of a young girl in her late teens, a Human. Duncan left the library and followed the scent from the book to a girl standing on the sidewalk. "Hey um, excuse me. You forgot this book back at the library." He said quietly and handed out the book to the red headed girl.

Damian and his friends took a seat as they walked into the resturant.
"So what you going to eat?"
Damian looked at his friends before shrugging. "To tell the truth.. I'm really not that hungry" he answered. While the others ordered, he leaned back against the chair and looked around. His eyes caught a girl who was talking to another waiter. He heard them say something about going to the lake, but didnt think much about it. Why did he care if some random stranger went to the lake? This whole mate thing was driving him insane.
"Curse that damn witch." he growled to himself.
"What?" his friend asked raising his eyebrows.
"Oh.. did I say something? Just ignore it." Damian said with a nervous smile. With a long dreadful sigh, he rested his head on the table. He liked the woods way better. Maybe he'll visit the park later... nobody really went there, and well.. he enjoyed running on all four. He looked at his watch, and tapped his feet.
"You sure you dont want anything?" Mark asked for the last time.
"I am one hundred percent sure I dont want anything. Just hurry up and order.." Damian muttered.

"You take that new table. I gotta get that old guy his coffee." Jordyn said, pointing to a man who was a regular here. She nodded and walked over to where damian and his friends sat. "So, what can get you guys?" she said, a smile on her face.

"Well.... is there anything you would like to recommend?" Mark asked raising his eyebrows.
Damian lifted his head and looked at the girl when she came to get their order. He looked at her name tag, before shiftig his eyes back to her, meeting her eyes. "I... dont need anything.." he finally said after a few minutes as the others ordered what they wanted. Okay.. this was weird. All this time he had been around a bunch of girls, but nothing. Now he was sitting here, staring at a stranger.... having this weird feeling.
"Crap.." Damian muttered. His friends gave him a weird look, wondering why he was talking to himself.
"Like I said... ignore me." he said sinking down on his seat.

(crap. editing!)

"coming right up." She said, and with a smile she left to get the food. She rushed around servicing other tables before coming back carrying a tray with their food on it. "anything else?"

Mina turned quickly when she heard sombody aprouching her.
"Um, yeah thanks." she said softly, her musical voice light.
She brushed back her auburn hair and looked up with her emraled eyes.
Mina smiled slightly, that was rare for her, but she was thankfull to have her book back.
"Some creep tryed to snatch my bag, I didn't notice I left it." She muttered.
She was clearly pissed off, but was slowly calming down.

"Eh, I'll take a pizza." Mark said with a smile.
"Okay, and I'm out." Damian interrupted. He got up, and hurried out the door. Once he was outside, he leaned against the building wall. Through the window, he took a quick peek before turning away. "Seriously? After all this time... you're going to make her... someone I just met... my mate?" he complained to himself. Actually, it was more to his inner wolf. He sighed and quickly made his way towards the park. This sure was going to be hard. How was he supposed to make her like him? Damian sat down on a bench and looked up at the sky, deep in thought.

"Oh well sorry I guess I will see you around." Duncan said and turned away knowing that she didn't want some supposedly bum talking to her. The girl gave off the impression that she was angry at everyone and everything. "Goodbye." He said with a slight smile as his eyes flashed a light gray as he walked back to the front door of the library.

"K, well, enjoy your food." She looked down at her watch as she walked away. "Ok, one more table then I gotta go." "Why?" "Cause, I wanna get to that old theater before it gets late enough that I need to climb the fence." "Oh, well, ok." Megan smiled and turned towards her last table of the day.

After she had finished with the table she walked out the backway and left her bike there while she headed down the road towards an old theater building. She slipped on her hoodie and put up the hood, taking a glance over her shoulder.

MIna watched him and paused.
She sighed, feeling bad for not being very polite.
She quickly went up to him again, with a slight sigh.
"Sorry for being rude, I just don't like peaple like that creeper that tryed to snatch my bag. I'm Mina"
She turned slightly and held out her hand.

"Yeah its fine you just need some sleep that's probably it." Duncan said and walked back into the heated building and looked around in search of a place to sleep, maybe in the Historic Fiction section. "Oh by the way, my name is Duncan." He said as the warm air slipped out of the building.

Jenson pulled herself to a trot. She was in her wolf form, her white figure seeming like a quick cloud, but now she was slowing. She had been running for a while, in the forest of course, she knew that the sight of a random, wild wolf might freak a few people out, even enough to go and grab the nearest shotgun. She shivered at the thought. She had now come to a creek and bent her head to lap at the cool, clear water. Once she had satisfied herself she morphed back into a human, her now naked body shivering, not really enjoying the light breeze. She hugged her elbows to her sides as she scampered to find the place that she had set her clothes. She always removed everything that she was wearing before she changed, not wanting to be all dramatic and rip her pretty clothes off. She smiled, finally finding the evergreen and bending to pick up her belongings.

Jenson changed quickly, although being out in the middle of the forest, being as modest as she was, she didn't want anyone to peek.



Jenson began jogging out of the forest to find that her stomach had started to grumble. She fixed her shirt and stepped into the closest food store, a bakery she had been in so many times. She smiled at Shii and walked over to compliment on her cake before taking a seat in the booth in the corner.

Shiro looked up to both the new customers not hearing the customary greeting from the other chefs twice which was bothering her severely. She glanced at the chefs already knowing what she would see. They were busy handing out desserts and taking orders. She though wasn't so busy so she put on a sweet smile and raised her voice over the din of noise and laughter. "Welcome to Maison Blanc Sir! If you need anything feel free to contact one of the chefs or me personally! Also hey! Nice to see you around Jenson." She winked and went back to the book. She was pleased with the compliment but she had work to do. She stared at the page sure that she had found the right recipe. The lemon angel food cake would certainly be something for today. How to say, a recipe for the warm-hearted and sad who need cheering. She chuckled and set the book down reading through her handwriting memorizing the steps she had written down long ago. Seeing that real roses were needed and a few other preparations she called over a chef. "I want you to heat the oven to three hundred seventy five degrees then go and get me some roses." The chef looked at her curiously but she nodded and shooed him off. "Hurry hurry. You heard me." Finished with the preparations she got out her utensils and started her challenge.

She started with sifting the flour onto a plate, then stirring in the lemon zest, setting it aside for later. Putting the egg whites, salt, and cream of tartar into a large bowl she picked up her mixer to whisk until the stiff but moist-looking peaks formed. She was moving fast trying to get the cake down in good time. She picked up her bag of sugar and examined it carefully. "Chef! I said superfine sugar!" She tossed the bag to the chef who instantly disappeared into the back of the shop. He reappeared with a fancy bag that had the words printed on it 'Frenchies finest!' She smiled and looked to the chef. "Thank you. I will make sure you get praise, for you have gotten the task right. For once." She waved him off as the man blushed and walked away to go back to work. Moving to the next step she began to hum to herself. She gradually whisked in the superfine sugar, a tablespoon at a time, and continued to whisk for one to two minutes. She looked out to the crowd. She was pleased that it was lively but yet at some points the noise level was amazing and at others whispers on the breeze. She figured it was the way of a gossiper in a coffee shop and she giggled being silly. She gently folded in the flour mixture using a metal spoon, swirling figure-of-eight motion. Finished, she poured the mixture into an 8-inch deep angel food cake pan having no need to grease it . She picked up the pan and slid it into the oven. She was supposed to bake until the cake was well risen and golden and when the top bounced back when pressed with a fingertip, which was twenty five to thirty minutes but it was time to spare she thought. She leaned back on the counter and sighed. She wondered when she could talk to Chikane or another one of her friends instead of dreaming off into space. It would have been more pleasurable to have a conversation.

Jace watched as the girl who had walked in and almost got her bag stolen got up and left. Jace growled under his breath angry that she had left. She seemed interesting to him. He looked over at the thief and then got up and walked toward him. Gripping the table tight he leaned forward. "Get out of here. Now and if I ever see your face here again. I will make you wish your mother had never met your father." the kid yelped and then quickly ran out. Jace looked up and around. His hair set on end when he smelled a wolf enter. But calmed when he realized who it was. Sitting back in his chair he watched the surroundings. Looking outside he saw the girl talking to the wolf and sighed inwardly scratching his head. This was getting harder and harder for him, He banged his head against his desk a couple of times.