“Yeah and don’t put perfume on your neck, you know because of the chomp…” Jen started.

“Chomp, chomp. Yeah I got it, Jen,” Jacque interrupted.

Jacque closed the door to the bathroom and leaned against it. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. “I can do this,” she said out loud. It wasn't that she was scared of bonding with Fane, she wanted to be with him more than anything. No, she was just a big chicken about pain and wasn’t really looking forward to being bitten. Then she remembered what it felt like when she thought he had died. She realized that in comparison to that feeling, a bite would be a piece of cake. On that thought she was able to move forward feeling much lighter.

“Are you ok, love?” she heard Fane ask in her mind.

She smiled at the warmth she could feel coming through such a simple question.

“I am excellent, wolf-man. Although, I am missing you,” Jacque told him.

“I will see you soon, micul incendiu (little fire).”

“Fane, stay with me,” Jacque whispered in her thoughts.

“Always,” was his simple reply.

True to his word, Jacque could feel him like a shadow in her mind and it calmed her nerves and made her feel cherished.

Jacque soon stepped out of the bathroom and her two best friends stopped and stared, open mouthed.

“Well, how do I look?” Jacque asked them, a little unsure.

“You look amazing! Fane won’t be able to take his eyes off of you,” Jen told her.

Sally nodded her agreement but didn’t say anything. Jacque looked over to her bed and saw that Sally had retrieved her suitcase and begun putting clothes in it for her.

“Sally, you don’t have to pack a whole bunch it’s just one night and then I will be back here,” Jacque said.

Sally’s face fell a tiny bit. “You will be back, but only for a few days. Then you will be packing more than an overnight bag,” she told her, sounding so lost.

“I really hope you guys are considering coming to Romania for our senior year. Alina looked into the foreign exchange program, and found that it would look really good on college applications, and she has offered to be ya'lls host family. Have either of you talked to your parents about it yet?" Jacque asked.

“I mentioned it to my parents and once I pointed out that it could give me a leg up in getting into the international business degree programs I just happen to all of a sudden be interested in, they were surprisingly okay with it,” Jen explained. “ I kind of think my mom wants a break from me. You both know that if my mom and I are in the same room for too long it’s like two pissed off cats who have been tossed in cold water and are ready to rip someone’s eyes out. So I was going to surprise you later but now’s as good a time as any. Romania won’t knowwhat hit them when I get done,” Jen teased, although the statement was more true than not.

Jacque squealed in child like delight and hugged Jen tight. “This is so great!”

“You do realize that squeal is totally not sexy and if we are in Romania together and you are with me while I’m trying to get my game on that you are not permitted to make such a noise, right?” Jen told her, sounding put out.

“Oh, shut up and let me be all sentimental for a sec.” Jacque hugged her for a minute more and then backed up, holding her hands in a surrender gesture. “Okay, I’m good, it’s all under control.”

Jacque turned to Sally, who had been watching the exchange. “So what about you, Sally? Have you talked to your parents?”

“I did and I told them the same thing Jen told hers, considering we rehearsed it with each other complete with back up guilt trips if the whole college reference didn’t work, and hell must have froze over, pigs must have sprouted wings, and you must be half werewolf…wait, that last part is true, the point is they said yes!”

This time Sally and Jacque squealed in unison. “Oh come on, surround sound squeals? REALLY?” Jen whined. “You two are not invited when I go hottie hunting,” she growled at them.

Sally and Jacque relinquished their squeals to turn and look at Jen. “Did you just say hottie hunting?” Sally asked her incredulously

Jen turned her chin indignantly. “Spot on, Sherlock.”

“Just checking. I want to be completely clear on what I should say to your new beau when you finally nab him,” Sally teased. “Something along the lines of, 'Hey Don Juan, did Jen tell you about her hottie hunting days back in the day, as in a couple of days ago back in the day?'”

“My sweet Sally, the point is you just admitted that I will be successful in nabbing a new beau, hence the hottie hunting will undoubtedly work. Ding ding ding, I win,” Jen chimed.

Jacque rolled her eyes at her two best friends. “I’m thinking your parents aren’t considering it a hardship to have you two go to Romania. I don’t know, just a hunch.”

Sally glanced at her phone and saw that it was 12:15. “We've got to head if we want to make it on time.”

Sally and Jen each grabbed a bag and headed for the stairs with Jacque following.

“Wolf-man, we are heading your way, hope you’re ready for this,” Jacque sent to Fane.

“I have been ready for you since I laid I eyes on you. Be safe, I will see you shortly.” Fane sent the words with a caress that caused Jacque to shiver.

As they pulled out of the driveway, Jacque leaned her head back against the head rest, closed her eyes, and pictured Fane’s face, her future.