"Maya, we'll be reunited soon," Lacroff said as he looked at a picture of young Maya.
---
Alex walked over to Maya and glanced at what she had been staring at.
"I told you, he's just a good friend," Maya said, unable to take her eyes off them.
---
"You're a good guy, Jack. It's her loss. Now, hold my hand and let's go back in."
They headed back inside. Maya stared at them and smiled sheepishly.
They all retired to their homes, but Sofia and Jack stayed behind to help clean up.
"Jack, you don't really have to—" Maya began.
"I asked him to," Sofia cut in.
Olivia and Wendy noticed the tension.
"I think we should call it a night," Olivia announced.
They all said their goodnights and prepared to leave.
"Sof, I thought you were sleeping over?" Maya asked.
"And I thought you could see through Alex," Sofia replied coldly as she walked out.
---
"What was that about?" Wendy asked.
"Alex asked me out."
"And?" Olivia pressed.
"I said yes. I haven't told her yet, and now she's upset." Maya sighed. "I mean, she kissed Jack."
Wendy turned to her. "And how do you feel about that?"
"It's cool with me," Maya said, blinking rapidly.
"I think she already knows," Olivia added.
"Go and rest, sweetie. Happy birthday."
---
Sofia and Jack avoided Maya for weeks.
---
One day, Maya overheard Alex on the phone.
"I'm not playing tonight."
"Why?" asked the voice on the other end.
"Because too many eyes are fixed on me after the straight wins at the casino. I need to lay low."
Maya walked into his room.
"You gamble?"
"Yes, but it's totally safe, I promise."
"Hmm... It's like an addiction. You'll keep betting your money and might lose."
"I always win, Maya." He smiled and moved closer, wrapping his arms around her waist.
He leaned in to kiss her, then lifted her.
"What are you doing?" she laughed.
"Practicing for when I carry you on our wedding day... and maybe our wedding night?"
They kissed passionately and fell onto the bed.
---
"Coming!" Steve yelled as he opened the door.
"Jack, right?"
"Yeah... is Sofia in?"
"Yeah, come in. Sofiiiiia, your boyfriend's here!" Steve shouted.
"We're not— We haven't..." Jack tried to correct him.
"Hey, Jack. Is he bothering you?" Sofia asked, glaring at Steve.
"Follow me."
---
Sofia gestured to her artwork.
"This explains why I look like this," she said, pointing to her paint-covered self.
"Wow. You're so talented."
"Thanks. Let me wash up. Feed your eyes," she chuckled as she walked away.
Jack lost track of time, staring at the paintings.
Two hours passed. He knocked on her door.
She opened it.
"Tell me you have a new skin from showering this long," he joked.
They both laughed.
"I came back 20 minutes ago. You were so lost looking at my paintings, I didn't want to interrupt… You look at them the same way you look at Maya."
"Hmm… It's sad she's the only one who doesn't see it."
"Sof?"
"Yeah?"
"Why did you kiss me?"
Sofia smiled.
"Why did you kiss me back?"
She pulled him by the shirt and shut the door.
---
Alex invited Maya to a party. While they were dancing, gunshots erupted in the hall.
They were dragged out by men.
"Where is his money?"
"What money?" Alex asked.
"The one you picked up from the casino," one man said.
"I don't know what you're talking about. Let her go!"
"Maybe this will jog your memory," the man said and hit Alex with the butt of his gun.
"No!" Maya screamed.
"You have three days to get the boss's money—or next time, it'll be a bullet through your pretty girlfriend," the man warned.
They left. Maya stared at Alex.
Alex took her home.
---
Maya was furious and silent.
"Maya, I'm so sorry. I know—"
"Who were those guys?"
"Some people from the casino."
"You said it was safe, Alex."
"They're just some troublemakers."
"They had guns, Alex. Real bullets."
"Guns don't scare me."
"Oh, congrats. Well, they scare me. I can't live like this. I can't live in fear."
"I'll protect you. I'm your safe space."
"I don't think I can ever feel safe around you, Alex. We're done."
Tears filled her eyes. "Goodbye, Alex."
She walked into her house. Alex stood there, stunned and heartbroken.
Maya ran into her mother's arms.
"You were right, Mum," she sobbed.
"It's okay, Gummy Bear. Mama's got you."
Olivia entered. "What happened, sweetie?"
Maya told them everything.
---
"Hey," Sofia greeted Maya in the hallway.
"Hey, Sof. I'm so—"
"Your mum told me. Hope you're okay?"
"I am now. I've missed you, Sof," she said and hugged her.
As they pulled apart, Sofia asked,
"Have you spoken to Jack?"
"No. Do you think he's still mad at me?"
"Just talk to him. I have art class."
She took a step, and Maya called her back.
"Sof... are you guys—?" She crossed her fingers.
"Maya, I'm your friend, and I have to be honest."
"Shoot."
"I think you and Jack should be friends until your feelings are clear. So you don't hurt him."
"How do I clear things up? Everything feels clogged in here."
She touched her chest.
Sofia laughed.
"Find yourself, Maya. Discover who you are. And no, there's nothing going on between Jack and me."
She walked away.
---
"Wendyyyyy, we have a problem!" Olivia called out, turning up the volume on the news.
"Two men were viciously ripped apart in the woods. Their remains were found early this morning by an officer on parole. It is believed they were shredded by a wild animal. No DNA was traced. The FBI is on the hunt for the 'Man-Beast'..."
Olivia switched off the TV.
Wendy turned to her in shock.
"This means war," Wendy muttered, pacing.
---
"Hey," Jack said, tapping on the door.
"Everyone's left. Why are you still here?"
"Trying to connect with these legends," Maya said, pointing at the paintings.
Jack smiled and sat beside her.
They both spoke at once and laughed.
"You go first," Jack offered.
"I'm sorry, Jack. For how I treated you and Sofia. I almost let Alex ruin our friendship."
"It's fine. I just wanted you to be safe."
"I know."
Jack noticed her eyes; white, teary.
He hugged her tightly.
"Don' let go, Maya. Close your eyes and slowly tell me what he did."
---
"Darren, you've got to see this!" Ms. Shelby ran to him. He was already watching the news.
"You know what this means, right?" she smiled.
"It's time to gear up," Darren replied.
She raised her hand for a high five.
He responded—but too high.
"Arrrghhh, what the hell, Darren?!"
He ran for an ice pack and realized her wrist was dislocated.
"What the f*, Darren?!"**
"Language, Shelbs."
"I'd headbutt you, but my brain might melt out."
"I'll pop it back real quick."
"No! I'll pass out."
"You're going to fight werewolves. Consider this pre-training."
"Fine. Give me a five-count."
"1, 2, 3, 4, 5…" She opened her eyes.
"Wow, didn't feel a thing."
"That's because I haven't popped it yet," Darren grinned.
---
"Do you think it was him?" Olivia asked Wendy.
"It looked like something he'd do, but he's not stupid. He wouldn't endanger Maya."
---
Olivia nodded.
"Werewolf hunters... Are there any here in Beverly Hills?"
Wendy chuckled.
"With all this? There'd be plenty coming."
---
He walked toward her, pills in hand.
"Get your ass in this chair and pop my wrist back in.
Or I'll put on Ghostface and stab you thirty times in your skull.
I'll do the counting—with my eyes open this time. From one to—"
Shelby noticed Darren smiling.