The car slows again as we drive through the forest. I can't help but remember pulling in to this forest for the first time. It's been over a year since that happened. In that time, I've been a senior in high school, joined a conservationist charity, spoken in front of thousands upon thousands of vampire's, joined the royal council for the vampire's, gotten an amazing, wonderful, boyfriend, and graduated high school. Now, it was finally summer break. I had successfully finished my freshman year of college.

It was funny to drive past the high school. It was funny how they still had class, and I don't. I had done pretty good on my finals, too. They're probably studying right now, or trying to cram in that one last lesson.

Finally, we pull into the driveway.

"Welcome home, Maple Leaf." David says from the driver's seat. I feel yet another smile come on my face. I hope out of the car, grab my back pack, and close the door. I walk into the familiar grey stone house. When I do, I must accidentally open up a big hallmark card instead, because a big, 'Welcome Home Canada!' banner waves.

"Welcome home!" Abigail sing-songs, wrapping me in a big hug.

"I missed you."

"I missed you, too." We break away from the hug, but still hold each other's arms. "It's so quiet here without you, or David, or Emma." Abigail says through laughs.

"I know. It's weird without you guys up at school, too."

Madelyn wraps me in one more big bear hug, before letting me move onto Matthias. "Hey, kiddo." Matthias smiles at me. He wraps me in a hug slower than Abigail's, and his is looser, too. I know it means the exact same to him though. We also don't say anything, but I get the message loud and clear. We break away, and smile at each other for a minute.

"There's one last surprise, you know." Matthias smiles at me. Before I can know what's going on, the sliding door that leads to the stair case slowly opens up, revealing Gayle. I can't help but cover my mouth in shock.

"Gayle?"

"I missed you." He smiles at me a little desperately. We both run over to each other, and wrap each other in the tightest hug. It's tighter than when he came to visit me at school. Probably because since then, he's gone to the Fish and Game Officer Academy, and got himself some muscles.

"I missed you, too." I whisper into his ear. We break apart after, well, not long enough, but our lips find each other for that long awaited kiss. A kiss like this can't be sent through text. It cant be replicated on a call with a noise. It can't be duplicated by blowing a kiss at each other through a screen. It has to be done in person, and there isn't anything like it.

"I can't believe I get to do this all summer." Gayle says, looking down at me.

"Me neither."

"So, how do you feel about going on a little date, eh?"

"If it's okay with... with my parents." I look over at Abigail and Matthias as their smiles grow ten fold. I had never called them my parents before.

"It's alright with us, go ahead." Matthias speaks for Abigail, who I don't think can talk at this exact moment.

"Alright. Thanks, you guys, for all of this." I say.

"It's no problem." Matthias's eyes crinkle.

"Let's get going, then?" Gayle offers.

"Yeah, let's do it." I nod, and we walk out the door and to Gayle's truck. his time, it was parked behind the house so that I wouldn't guess that he was there. We're hand in hand, and only part when we have to walk to the other side of the car, but are rejoined again when we're seat and buckled in.

"I'm so happy that you're back."

"I'm happy to be back." I look at the window as the woods slowly start to be replaced by little buildings. "You really bulked up at training camp, didn't you?"

"Yeah, I was wondering if you'd notice."

"I missed our conversations."

"I missed them, too."

"And, not just that. I missed how we used to watch movies, and cuddle on your couch. I miss that weird little victory dance you would do when you would get an answer right on Jeopardy. I miss it all. All of it."

"Well then, it's a good thing that we've got a whole summer together."

"But that's only when you're not working."

"I'm sorry, darling."

"It's okay. We better make the most out of the time that we do have. Like right now, we're going to get ice cream, something that I can only wish that they served in the dorms."

"They don't serve ice cream up there?"

"Very rarely, and when they do, it doesn't taste very good."

"Well, I'm glad I get to take you out for a little rare treat." Gayle looks away from the road briefly to look and smile at me. We pull into the ice cream place, order our ice cream, and sit in the bed of the truck.

"So, how's being a Wildlife Officer? I'm sorry I haven't asked you this yet."

"Don't sweat it, it's no problem." A long pause comes over the both of us.

"Well, how's work?"

"Oh, right. Uh... it's fine- I guess."

"Why am I getting to feel that it's something else?"

"I don't know. It's just... it's not what I expected."

"What do you mean?"

"I thought I'd actually be making a difference. But all I've done is given tickets to people for dumb, petty, stuff."

"That's making a difference. Without you, people would be fishing willy-nilly and the population wouldn't have time to rest an recuperate."

"I was thinking more of a... big difference. I wanted to make real change that matters to other people, and not just the Karen's who just want to drive their yacht poorly through the river and not have someone in their way."

"I'm sorry that this isn't what you wanted."

"No, I like what I do. You know, on the off chance that I do get to educate people, or get to talk to the kids, it's great."

"But when you don't?"

"I look forward to the end of the day." Gayle says, taking a few digs at his ice cream. "Don't get me wrong, though, sometimes it flies by, but other times, it doesn't. Sometimes I don't want to do anything else, but other times, I just..."

"Why don't you do something else?" Gayle hesitates for a moment, as if to wonder his next answer. "I'm sorry, that was probably inappropriate."

"It's alright. It's just... when both of your parents income comes from a charity, there isn't a lot of money laying around for something like college. I mean, don't get me wrong we can always have food on the table, but... I don't want to put us under any financial stress, and student loans would just be... it'd all be too much."

"I'm sorry. Is there anything I could do?"

"Stand by me, if you wouldn't mind. I'm always happier when you're around."

"Of course I will, no matter what." I grab his bicep a little bit, and lean my head on his shoulder.

"I'm sorry if I was being selfish early."

"Why would you be selfish?"

"Well... you know, we just only talked about me. Let's talk about you, how've you been?"

"Oh, I've been pretty good. College is... fun, I guess. I miss all of you guys, to bits and pieces. Writing long papers is fun."

"Pull any all nighters?"

"No, I like my sleep."

"What about dorm food, is it any good?"

"It's alright. Nothing beats home cooking, though."

"The professors?"

"All awesome and accommodating?"

"And the other kids? They play nice, right?" Gayle says in jest.

"Yeah, they all did."

"Make any new friends?"

"Not really. I kind of just... kept to myself. I'd text with my lab partners sometimes, but it didn't beat you guys. Y'all don't have any competition."

"Good. 'Cause if we did, then I'd have to go and joust for your honor."

"Joust?"

"Joust. I shall be your knight in shining armor." He adds in a posh accent.

"You already are." I say as I snuggle farther into him.

"Hey, you want to do something sort of fun that gives us both more time with others and our community?"

"What?"

"Well, the school invited me to go and speak to the youth about ways to preserve the planet in their Earth Sciences class, so maybe an Earth Sciences major would like to come with me?"

"I'd love to." I smile at him.

"I'm already looking forward to it."

"Same here."

***

"Good morning, Sunshine!" Gayle calls to me as I hop into the car.

"Woah, look at you." Gayle took his work car with him, and in full uniform. I don't know what I should've expected, but I don't think that I was quite expecting this. Ladies do love a man in uniform. Good to know that it's not a myth, but a real life fact.

"Thanks." He replies. "Not too bad looking yourself."

"Thank you." I smile back at him. The sun was starting to come up, and Gayle pulls out of the drive way, and takes us through the familiar route, to our old high school. We walk into the office, and are greeted by an overly smiley secretary.

"Officer West and Ms. Wayward! Welcome back!"

"Thanks for having us, Cindy."

Wow, Gayle's on first name basis with the gal.

"Oh, it's our pleasure. Still remember the way to your old classroom?"

"Oh, we'll find out way. And if not, we can just take a stroll through memory lane. We still got a few minutes left in this period, right?"

"Yes, sir."

"Awesome, we'll be on our way then, thank you."

"Thank you." I repeat Gayle.

"Oh, its no problem." She says. We turn to walk through the door. "Oh! And if ya get lost, just ask anyone, I'm sure they'll be a great help!" She calls out. After murmuring more gratitude, we walk out of the office, and into the familiar hallways.

"I missed this place. Was it always this great?" Gayle asks.

"Maybe we just didn't quite notice it."

"There's a lot of things in life that we don't notice." Gayle says.

"Too true."

"Oh! It's the pictures from our prom!" Gayle stops dead in his tracks as we stare at a showcase. I smile at the formal dress. It was the same one I wore at Vlad's point that long time ago. "You looked absolutely stunning."

"Thank you. You weren't too bad yourself in a suit."

"Aww, thank you, my dear darling."

"I like that nickname."

"Yeah, me too." Gayle says. We rear a corner, and walk into the familiar classroom. Ms. Febuary promptly rises from her desk with her trademark big smile.

"Oh Canada! And Officer West!" She mock salutes to my boyfriend.

"Please, just Gayle."

"Oh alright then. So, how have you kids been?"

"I've been doing pretty good. Finally out in the working world."

"Very good, very good." Ms. Febuary laughs a little. "And what about you, Canada?"

"Oh, college is great. I did pretty good on my finals, so that's nice."

"It's always fun to do well in school. Well, the kids should be in here any minute, so you just sit tight, and wait until you here the chaos start to go through."

We do wait, and when the kids start to slowly pile in, I somehow feel the nerves start to come back into my stomach. Even though the chances of me seeing them again are limited, even though I've spoken in front of a class this size, and a hall 20 times its size. I guess I really have gotten out of practice with public speaking.

"Alright, everyone. Well, I'm sure you noticed out two guests today, and some of you might recognize them, but if you haven't, they are Canada Wayward and Officer Gayle West, and they are going to talk to you about a career in Earth Sciences. So, I will let them go on ahead."

"Okay, well, like Ms. Febuary said, I am Gayle West, I graduated last year, and I am a Fish and Game Officer."

"I'm Canada Wayward, I also graduated last year, and I'm studying to work in Earth Science Politics."

"Now, these aren't the only fields of work for Earth Scientists. There's scientists who do lab work, scientists who do field work, some of us go out to rural areas and install wells, or solar panels, or help poor communities. We are in the Peace Corps, universities, government, third parties, private companies, businesses, you name it, and an Earth Warrior is there." Gayle tells the class.

"There are lots of options for schooling. Of course there's your regular universities, or there's where I go, Lake Superior College. It's fairly small, it's best in the Mid West for that kind of stuff. It's all stuff that will help you with Earth Sciences, like public speaking and some bonus classes on Poly-Sci."

"The conservation officer academy is also pretty nice. It's a couple of weeks, it's intense, but it gets fun. I promise. So, let's just kick this off with a couple of questions, yeah?"

A few kids raise their hands. We answer the questions from topics like cost of both of our educations, our future's, what exactly we want to do, and some miscellaneous ones thrown in there.

"Oh!" Ms. Febuary exclaims after we answer a question. "I nearly forgot, I left some papers in the office, can one of you guys grab them for me?"

"Yeah, sure." I say. I walk away, but Gayle grabs my hand, and pulls me back for a brief second before kissing my knuckles. I smile at the unexpected PDA. "I'll be back in a few, okay?"

"Okay."

I walk off into the hallway, and walk towards the main office. All of the classrooms have stayed the exact same and somewhat different after a year. The photos and projects may be different, but they're all from the same angle, same place, same concept. I open the door to the office, and Cindy promptly springs up from her desk.

"You're here for Melissa's papers, aren't you?" She asks.

"Yeah."

"Always forgets her papers, that one." Cindy walks to the back , and returns with a stack of papers in hand. "There you are, my dear."

"Thanks." I smile, and take the papers in my hand. I walk back to the classroom, but hold suddenly when I see the display of last year's prom again. Gayle looked so great in that suit. I turn on my heel, ready to walk back up the stairs, but I hear a clamor coming down the hallway.

"Canada! Canada!" David comes running up to me, borderline using his enhanced speed. I don't have time to point him out because he quickly grabs my arm. "Come on, we've gotta go." He starts pulling me along the hallway, using his enhanced speed, and forcing me to use mine.

"David, stop!" I shout, halting mid-hallway, and forcing him to pause with us.

"Canada, we don't have time-"

"David, if you don't slow down, you're going to make us have to relocate!" I shame. What's gotten into him?

"We can't relocate when we're dead." David says, tightening his grip on me, and actually using his speed this time. I use it with him, as I'd like to keep my arm. Slowly, I feel the papers start to slip out of my hand.

"David! Your super speed! Someone will find out!" I whisper shout at him.

"That doesn't matter anymore, Canada."

"Why doesn't that matter? It always matters!"

"Not when the world knows."

"What?!" I don't care who hears anymore.

"It got out Canada. There was a leak among our kind. Someone published a list of all of the vampire's, and guess who's on the top of that list?"

I'm aghast. "Us."

"The secret's out, Canada. People know that we're real."