Chapter 1 lexie

I was looking outside my window. My parents and I lived in a small town in Watson. The town had one park that was overgrown with woods. “Lexie,” a voice yelled as I groaned and put my diary down. "Coming, Mom," I yelled. I pulled my hair up as I got dressed in ripped black jeans, an oversized shirt, and boots. I headed to the kitchen. "Morning, guys," I said, sitting down and fixing my plate. "When do you leave for work, baby?" Mom asked. "In a minute," I replied. After breakfast, I finished up. "Bye, Mom and Dad," I said as I kissed their heads. "Bye, baby/bear," they said. I grabbed my bag and closed the door.

I passed a few shops and stopped at Coffee & More Cafe to get drinks for myself and my boss. “One mocha latte and one white mocha cold brew,” I said to the barista as she nodded. “Name?” she asked. “Lexie Smith," I replied. She wrote my name on a cup as I waited for the drinks. I grabbed them when they finished making the beverages.

I arrived at the library, holding the cups in my hands, and pushed the door open. The library was two stories high, with the bottom floor housing children's books and a play area, as well as our break room and a check-in/check-out counter. The top floor had computers, as well as teen, young adult, and adult fiction and nonfiction books, along with a few tables and chairs. “David,” I yelled while setting my things on the counter. “In here,” he yelled from the back. I went to the back, where there were stacks of unopened boxes in the corner and old books scattered around the shelves.

"What are you looking for?" I asked, handing David his drink. "Ben's books. He wanted to pack them with him," he replied. I helped him look for them and found them. I handed them to him. "How is Ben doing?" I asked. "Good; he got recruited, so he's leaving tomorrow," he said. I headed to the front to put away the books that had been turned in. "I'm sorry," I said. "It's fine; we are going to be closed tomorrow so I can be with him before he leaves," he replied as I nodded.

A couple of hours went by when a girl walked in. She had a dark pink skin tone, green eyes, and black hair with pink streaks. "Hi, I'm Mimsy. I had a book on hold," she said. "Is it *The Hidden Heart*?" I asked. She nodded and took the book from my hands. "I like your mate mark; a vampire, right?" she asked. I pulled my jacket sleeve down. "Yeah," I said. "Mine's a merman," she replied.

After a while, I wiped down the counter and cleaned up the play area, putting the kids' books back on the shelves. "Have you met your mate yet?" Mimsy asked. "No, and I'm Lexie, by the way," I said. A couple of hours passed, and I started to clean up so I could lock the library. "I'm heading out, David," I yelled into the office. "Alright," he replied. I grabbed my things when a note fell out. 'Would love to get to know you, Mimsy,' it read. I saved her number in my phone. 'This is Lexie. Want me to show you around?' I sent to her. 'Would love that,' she replied as I stopped at Hearts and Kings fast food.

"Can I get a chicken sandwich with just chicken and cheese and a large soda?" I asked. She typed in my order as I paid for it, waiting for them to call my order number. I grabbed my food and drink and headed home, pulling my jacket closed.

When I got home, I saw Mom and Dad at the table. "What's wrong?" I asked, setting my stuff down. "You're being picked to be a nurse," Dad said as Mom handed me the letter. "You're leaving tomorrow afternoon," Mom added as I read the letter. "What? No," I shook my head. "This has to be a mistake," I insisted. "It's not," my dad said as he hugged me while I cried. Mom fixed dinner for us as I picked at the food. "I don't want to go," I said as they looked at me. "You have to, sweetie," Mom said. "They recruited you," Dad added. "I know," I said sadly as I ate my meal. "I got an ice cream cake," Mom said, making me smile. "I want a slice," I said, handing her my plate. She gave me a slice as I looked at my mark. "You have to keep that hidden; they can't know," Mom said. "Why?" I asked as she looked at me. "You know why, Bear," Dad said. "To keep the demon line pure," I replied, rolling my eyes as I finished my slice of cake.

I went upstairs to my room, got in the shower, and then dressed for bed. I lay down on my bed and fell asleep.