Clutching the steering wheel with white knuckles, Nayeli tried to steady their shaking breath. Despite their best efforts at self-soothing, the levitating objects behind them refused to drop below window level and away from prying eyes. No amount of platitudes could calm the hurricane in their head and by extension, in their car. Nayeli swatted a crumpled receipt out of their face with their free hand.

Normally, it wasn't this bad. Nayeli was able to control their stress enough that it didn't interfere with their surroundings, both at work and in their personal life. On the rare occasions that it did, it could be brushed off with plausible deniability. A book falling in the school library blamed on gravity. A classroom door slamming shut attributed to a sudden gust of wind. But Nayeli knew that one day, someone might catch on to these little "coincidences". They just didn't expect that someone to be like them. Or at least, that's what their accuser had implied during their lunch break.

Nayeli glanced over at the notification on their floating phone, which they had secured to their wrist with a beaded lanyard. 

Where are you?

They looked ahead, checking for pedestrians. After confirming that there were still none in sight, Nayeli concentrated their energy on the phone's speech-to-text button. Without removing their grip on the wheel, Nayeli dictated, "Almost there".

"This is why you don't let a pretty face bring your guard down," Nayeli mumbled to themself.

 

...

 

Mook paced back and forth, the echoes of her footsteps bouncing off the brick walls. Her ears pricked up at the distant sound of a car pulling into the abandoned streets. Unsure of the driver's identity, she sniffed the air intently. 

It was them.

Mook took a second to decide how to approach their fellow teacher's aid without causing alarm. Her stealthiness could be a blessing and a curse at times. 

A long shadow stretched across the corner, and Mook decided to address its owner.

"Mx. Muñoz?" Mook called out.

The shadow froze, the scent of fear filling the air.

"It's me, Mook. Buathong," Mook reassured. "Miss B.?"

Nayeli cautiously emerged into view, tucking a small canister into their jacket pocket.

"Was that pepper spray?" Mook asked incredulously.

"You have private information about me and asked to meet in the sketchiest part of town," Nayeli retorted. 

"I know. We needed to go somewhere that we wouldn't be watched. I couldn't exactly ask about certain... happenings in a crowded cafe."

Nayeli looked down at Mook, narrowing their dark eyes. "What are you saying?"

"The kite that was wedged in a tree for months somehow came loose on your first day at work. That student who nearly ran in front of the swings miraculously tripped before they could get kicked. Near your playground post." Mook lingered for a moment before continuing. "And objects always happen to fall by themselves whenever you get nervous."

Nayeli opened their mouth as if to protest before clamping it shut. The leaves strewn on the floor slowly began to circle the two young adults. It tousled Nayeli's short curls, curls that Mook had always loved.

"Nayeli, I know you're different. And so am I. Maybe not the same kind of different, but I have to hide parts of myself too."

Nayeli paused. Mook could sense the conflict in their mind.

"Let me show you."

...

 

Before Nayeli could question further, they noticed thick, dark hair sprouting from all exposed parts of Mook's skin. The young woman's face elongated, claws emerging from her nailbeds. Mook grew so large that her clothes, which typically hung loose on her slight frame, stretched to accommodate her now hulking form. The brown drained from her amber eyes, leaving glowing yellow irises in its stead. Nayeli looked up at the creature before them, trembling.

Under any other circumstances, Nayeli would have ran or found the nearest object to hurl at the perceived danger before them. Maybe even give the pepper spray another try. But something kept them in place. Not fear, but a strange, comforting voice that seemed to say, "It's alright. I won't hurt you". 

Mook confirmed this feeling by baring her fangs in an awkward attempt to smile. Nayeli's muscles relaxed, and the swirling leaves slowed their pace, as if stirred by a gentle breeze rather than a fervent dust storm. 

Suddenly, Nayeli understood how Mook always managed to placate the most petulant students or frazzled staff members without even speaking. It was more so much more than just her disarming smile or charming presence. They also realized why people backed down the few times Mook had gotten angry. Even when in human form, flashes of the wolf were visible. Terrifying, powerful, and beautiful.

"Can you understand me?" Nayeli asked.

"Yes," Mook replied in a gravelly but somehow still gentle voice.

"Does it hurt when you transform?"

"Does it hurt when you move objects with your mind?"

"No, it's more painful when I try to repress it."

"Same here. My life would be so much easier if I could just be like this."

Nayeli slowly rested their hand on Mook's shoulder. The fur beneath them felt glossy and soft. 

...

Mook savored the sensation of Nayeli's fingers in her fur. The two were close at work, or at least as close as Nayeli would allow. Whether on the playground or in the classroom, they had always leaned on one other for support. It was no easy task balancing the demands of the admin, students, and teachers they assisted with a smile on their faces.

 Discovering that they hid similar secrets required a level of trust deeper than what they already shared. One that couldn't be sustained through occasional coffee dates or shared meals in Mook's car during lunch, away from the gossip of the teacher's lounge.

"Feels different looking down to talk to you," Mook joked.

Nayeli chuckled softly. Mook sighed in relief, happy to bring some normalcy back to their conversation. 

"Do you think there's more of us out there?" Nayeli finally asked.

"There has to be," Mook answered resolutely. She reached into her back pocket and pulled out a piece of paper folded into quarters which she handed to them. Nayeli opened the paper and smoothed it out, revealing a purple flyer with bold orange graphics.

 

 

"Would you like to go together?" Mook offered.

The leaves around the two monsters finally settled to the ground, and Nayeli gave a tentative smile.

"Yeah, it's always better to know someone at these things."