"Something is different," Brooke said when Indianna sat down in their next lesson.
Indianna reached into her bag and tried to hide her blush from Brooke.
She couldn't believe what had happened. She was no longer inexperienced, and the thought made her blush harder.
"What is it?" Brooke asked, grabbing Indianna's wrist and turning her around so they were facing each other.
Indianna shrugged and glanced at her wrists, her mind wandering back to how Greyson had held them earlier. She gritted her teeth and silently cursed herself. She was meant to be angry at him.
"Have you and Greyson made up?"
Indianna pursed her lips and frowned. "In a sense?"
"But you're still annoyed at him?"
"Definitely."
Brooke nodded and looked Indianna up and down.
"Something is different," she said persistently. "You just seem different. You have a weird... glow about you."
"Glow?" Indianna repeated and laughed. "Brooke, nothing happened between Greyson and me."
Brooke frowned before smirking triumphantly.
"Indie, I didn't say anything about something happening between you and Greyson," she said smugly. "You just did."
Indianna's face fell, and she cursed when she realised she had slipped up.
"What did you do?" Brooke squealed. "Wait, I thought you were angry at him! Are you not? Are you friends again and totally in lurve?"
"Calm down!" Indianna gasped and chuckled slightly. "I don't know what you're talking about. We did nothing."
"Don't even try to lie to me, missy," Brooke scolded jokingly. "You either tell me, or I'll assume the worst—or it could be the best, depending on how you view it."
"What are your assumptions, then?" Indianna wondered.
"You and Greyson became very passionate, and now you're friends and in love again," Brooke laughed. "But we both know that isn't like you, Indie."
When Indianna didn't say anything, Brooke gasped and her mouth turned into an excited grin.
"No way!"
"Shut up," Indianna grumbled.
"No freaking way!" Brooke repeated. "You two did it! You finally went through with it! Yes, girl! Congratulations!"
Indianna blushed and hushed Brooke.
"I can't believe it."
"Indie, neither can I! I told you make-up intimacy was a thing!"
Indianna couldn't help but laugh. "I'm still pissed at him."
"So it was passionate, angry intimacy?"
"I don't know what happened. It just did!" Indianna groaned. "We were arguing, then we were making out, and then things went further. Oh God."
"Hey, it's all right. The bond is stronger since you shifted. It was bound to happen sooner or later. You two have lasted longer than most mates," Brooke shrugged.
"How long was it before you and Harry became intimate?"
Brooke grinned sheepishly and scratched the back of her neck.
"Um..."
"Tell me, or I'll assume the worst," Indianna mocked, and Brooke rolled her eyes.
"I was drunk, so it happened sooner than I would've liked," Brooke admitted.
"How long?"
"Two weeks," Brooke mumbled, and Indianna laughed.
"Oh my gosh, really? I thought you hated him when you first met."
"I did," Brooke nodded. "But I couldn't deny the bond. I didn't know about werewolves, but I could feel there was something between us. We were both at a party, and it just happened."
"I guess it was the same for both of us, then," Indianna said with a small chuckle.
Brooke laughed and nodded.
"So what was it like? Was it good? Did it hurt?"
"The first time did," Indianna said quietly. "The second time..." She trailed off, her mind returning to the new experience. "It was much better."
Brooke laughed loudly and grinned.
"Make-up intimacy is the best," she declared. "Trust me, it happens with Harry and me a lot."
"I never would've guessed," Indianna said sarcastically. "You two don't argue much."
Brooke rolled her eyes.
"How can you still be annoyed at him after becoming intimate?"
"Because he was an ass, and just because he makes me feel good doesn't mean he's going to change my feelings about what he said," Indianna shrugged. "He was a dick."
"Isn't he always?"
"Well... yes," Indianna nodded. "I'm just fed up with him being a controlling ass."
"I feel your pain," Brooke admitted. "At least you're a werewolf now, so you stand a better chance of standing up to him. I'm literally useless compared to Harry. I'm not even joking. He could lift me with one hand. It sucks being human sometimes."
Indianna frowned. "You'd want to be a werewolf?"
"God, yes," Brooke nodded. "I know you're against it, but you have no idea how difficult it is for me. I have no power against Harry. None. He can do anything he wants, and I can't do anything. It's horrible at times. Sometimes, when we're arguing, I just need to escape, calm my head and sort myself out. But I can't, because I'm a weak human who can't get past Harry, who is a huge, strong werewolf!"
"I'm sorry," Indianna mumbled.
"It's not your fault," Brooke sighed. "You need to realise that being a werewolf isn't bad. You're strong and powerful. I've been human in a werewolf world for a while now, and it starts to get difficult after a while. You weren't human for that long, so you didn't see how tiring it could become. Always being the slowest, the weakest and being left out. It's not their fault; there's only so much a human can do."
"Brooke, no one could ever leave you out," Indianna smiled. "It wouldn't be the same without you."
"Thanks, Indie," Brooke said. "Just promise me you won't take being a werewolf for granted."
Indianna took Brooke's hand and nodded.
"I won't. I promise."
"Well, wasn't that just an adorable heart-to-heart?"
Indianna's face fell, and she spun around to glare at the person who had just ruined the sweet moment between her and Brooke.
"What's wrong with your face, sugar?"
Indianna's glare hardened, and Greyson smirked widely.
"You know, it isn't an appealing look when you glare."
Indianna threw her arms up in frustration and groaned.
"How am I meant to forgive him when he's a complete and utter asshole?"