I was still waiting on the beach, still waiting for Jade to come back. I don't care how long I'll wait, I don't want to leave her out here alone.

She ran off and it's my fault. I shut my eyes tight, I tried to not be so hard on her, but she still ran off. She really did love me. I opened my eyes, what have I done? I've hurt her feelings, and it's all my fault. I've really hurt her. I felt a tear fall down my cheek.

Then I heard a whisper near my ear, "Hey Casper."

I shrieked and jumped to my feet, and turned around to see Jade. Jade...

I feel so guilty now just looking at her, I only said, "Oh Jade." Then I put a hand to my face. Feeling so guilty.

Jade looked at me, "Casper..." First she trailed off then she got her courage back, "Casper, I'm sorry. Really I am."

I finally took my hand off my face and looked at her, "Me too."

Jade then shook her head, "No Casper, I'm the one who is sorry. It's just...You have no idea, I feel so happy and alive with you, you really have no idea."

I then smiled at her, "I know how that feels, I feel so alive and happy when I'm with you too."

She then looked shocked, "Really? Then why did you reject me?"

I sighed, "I told you why already, I love Shawna. And you're my best friend, and nothing's going to change that. I really care for you, just not that way."

Jade looked at her paws, "Oh."

I got on my knees and put two fingers under her chin and made her look at me, I gave her a smile, "I know I mean well to you, and I get it. To be honest...Sometimes I feel that way about you, ever since I first met you. Honestly I thought I was going crazy and then I ignored it because you're a lioness, but then lately when we became close, I started to feel it."

Her eyes stared at mine, "Really?"

I nodded, "Yeah I did. But it's just a crush, and what you feel about me it's a crush as well. It can't happen, honestly if I was a lion just like you, we would be together. But we can't, you still have a long life ahead of you and so do I. And right now, Shawna wants to be with me, and I do too. I can't be with you like that. But if I was a lion then that would be a different story."

She giggled a bit, "You know sometimes, I imagine that you're a lion in front of me including right now."

I smiled at that, "Was I handsome? What did I look like?"

She smiled, "You look strong, proud, you have a long mane, and you have a big heart. Actually you have a big heart right now."

I smiled still, and muttered, "I'm not surprised."

She giggled again, "I knew it." Then she changed her expression to all guilt and seriousness, "So are we good? Do you hate me?"

I shook my head, "No I don't hate you. I could never hate you. I've told you before, I will always be with you. And that comes from my big heart." Then I winked.

She had a devilish smile on her face, "Well to be frank with you, I did enjoy the kiss. I've never kissed a human before.

Then I said, "Well I've never kissed a lioness either! Your mouth was bigger than mine!"

We both laughed real hard. Then she said, "To tell you the truth, while I was gone, Leon found me."

My eyes went wide, "What?! Did he tell your father where I was? I-"

She laughed, "No he won't tell anyone, he didn't force me to go with him. He understands why I ran away. He feels guilty for not standing up for you when my father exiled you."

I was shocked, "Really? He really said that?"

She nodded, "Yes." Then she said, "Look there's something else I need to tell you as well. He...He said He's actually in love with me, before he went back home. And now I realize I was a fool for not seeing it before, I've been so blind."

I shook my head, "Ah, don't blame yourself. You didn't know. Maybe there's still time, do you feel the same way?"

She shook her head, "I don't know. It's all new to me."

I smiled at her, "Well maybe you should give it a chance. If he loves you, then you try to be with him. We'll go find him now if you want."

She shook her head again, "No maybe later. I'll think about it." Then she smiled at me again, "Thanks for understanding me."

I smiled at her, "Well I didn't want to see a mopey lioness out here, it makes me feel bad."

Then she wrapped her paws around me and hugged me, I returned the hug as well.

She said, "Casper."

I said, "Yeah?"

"I love you Casper."

My face went pale, "Uh, as a friend?"

She pulled her head away from my neck and said, "Yeah as a friend."

I smiled at her and hugged her again, "Good." I sighed, "Good."

*****

I drove us all the way back to camp, I hope I'm not in trouble, and I seriously hope that mom and dad don't see a lioness sitting in the passenger seat, they would freakin kill me!

But thank god no one was waiting for me, I parked the jeep. Then me and Jade piled out as fast we could. Me and Jade made it to the tent in time before someone would see her.

I shut then opening of my tent fast, and panted and panted and panted. "Whew, well that's too much running even for me."

Jade laughed, "Well lets put at it this way, at least I run faster than you."

I glared at her, "That's not helping me Jade."

She laughed hard, "Well that's what you get for being such a slow runner."

I gave her a mock stare, "What? I'm not a SLOW runner, I'll have you know, I've done track back in school!"

She cocked her head, "What?"

I laughed, "Oh forget it."

Then Jade yawned, "Well, I'm tired now. I'm going to sleep, good night." Then she got on her belly and rolled on her back. Then she sighed.

I laughed, "Good night Jade." Then I bent down and stroked her chin, then I went to my bed and sat on it. Before I could sleep a thought just came, hmmm maybe I better check on the picture I took from that cabin. The faded photo of Karone and that human that I don't know.

I went to my suitcase, because that's where I put it, and searched, but couldn't find it. Huh? That's weird. I could have sworn I put it in there. I searched some more, deeper in the suitcase this time, but still couldn't find it.

What? Did someone come in here and take it?! Then I hollered for Jade, "Jade, someone took the photo."

Jade looked up at me, "What?"

I freaked out and said, "The photo, it's gone. The photo's gone. Somebody took it!"

*****

"Casper, where have been last night? Everyone here was worried."

I looked at Eileen and said, "Well I'm fine it's....A long story."

Then Eileen shrugged, "Well you might as well tell us, because we really want to know."

It's the next morning and here I was getting grilled by my own sister. I was getting ready to have breakfast until my nagging sister, Shawna, Walker, and Tabitha all came into the tent. I'm surprised that mom and dad haven't came in with them. Busy again, I suppose.

I raised my hands in defense, "Look guys I'm fine. Really I am! Like I said it's kinda a long story."

Walker said, "So tell us man, what happened last night?"

I looked at Jade and then she looked back at me, I don't want to tell anyone about what happened between us on the beach, it's pretty embarrassing. Not to mention I don't want Tabitha saying I told you so, I told you so. It really is best not to say a word.

I looked back at them, "Me and Jade were having a fun time at the beach, and we were late nothing more." I hope that was a good excuse.

Everyone here agreed, and then my sister finally dropped the grilling me attitude, I hate her when she does that. She said, "Alright brother, but you need to stop being so late. Seriously if you want to protect Jade from mom and dad, then you need to act like a normal person and quit being late."

I sighed, "Can't get much normal than this girl."

Eileen just sighed, "Whatever bye." Then she left the tent. While everyone else was still there.

I looked at them, "Well? Are we leaving now?"

Walker then said, "Come on guys, lets go."

Then Walker, Shawna and Tabitha left except me.

Jade then looked at me, "Casper, you didn't ask them about the photo. You were planning to ask one of them."

I sighed, "I know Jade. But what good will that do? I mean, I really don't think that one of them have anything to do with that."

Jade then said, "Well they were the only ones who ever show up in here, so they must have found it."

I looked at Jade, "Yeah, but they never knew about the photo. Someone else must have took it."

She cocked her head, "Who?"

I shook my head, "I don't know, I wish I knew then maybe I wouldn't ask myself the same question."

Jade said, "How are we suppose to find it?"

I shrugged, "Maybe we won't find it, so what can we do about it? I don't know who took it anyways." Actually now another question popped into my mind, why would someone take the photo anyway? Could it be that human on the photo? Is he alive up to this day? Did he saw us leave his cabin? I don't know what to think anymore.

I sighed, "Look lets not dwell on it any longer than necessary, we just need to go on day by day."

She sighed as well, "Ok, I guess. By the way I'm hungry, now bring the princess her food already!"

I laughed, "Yes your majesty."

*****

I already got the food, for Jade and me and we ate together. Then not very long after I got the food I promised Shawna that I would talk to her about last night. She still wouldn't let it go, and considering that I'm her boyfriend now, I just couldn't keep the secret anymore.

Jade said that she was planning to go to the savannah and go look for Leon. I asked her, are you sure it's a good idea? Then basically she told me, yes I need to find Leon. I want to know if he really loves me, if I feel the same way.

I couldn't argue with that, and then she left the tent and sneaked out of here. Then I went to look for Shawna. I finally found her sitting on the same rock that we kissed on. I hope things go as planned. I took a seat beside her and she smiled at me.

"Hey handsome." Then she planted a kiss on my cheek, "How are you doing today?"

I shrugged, "Doing alright, considering everything that happened this morning."

Shawna just shook her head a little, "Well we were all worried about you. You know you're not involved in this alone you know."

I laughed, "Yeah, yeah, I know. It's like I said...It's a long story."

She gave me a concerned look, "Casper, what happened?"

I sighed, "Well...Look don't get me wrong we haven't really done anything to each other. It was just a little unexpected to me."

She gave me a quizzical look, "What do you mean? What are you talking about?"

I just blurted it out, "Jade kissed me."

She then said, "Awww, that's sweet."

I shook my head, "No, I mean on the lips. Like a lover."

Then she said, "Oh, really?"

I nodded, "Yeah really, I mean it's like I said, it was just unexpected, I didn't know what to think. It's just that we were talking and it turns out she fell in love with me for a while. I couldn't believe it."

Shawna was pretty shocked to hear that, "Well I kinda figured you guys are close, but not that close."

"Well she wanted us to be closer. But then I told her I was in love with you, and she took it so hard and then ran off. I've felt so guilty for hurting her, I care about her, but not that much. I don't know how long she was gone, but when she finally came back, I was happy and guilty at the same time. But me and her patched things up and we decided to just remain friends, that's all."

Shawna only let it all sink in, then she finally said, "Casper? Do you love her?"

I looked at her surprised by the question, "No Shawna, I don't love her. Well honestly I've felt it before, but it's just a crush nothing more."

Shawna finally got the picture, "I'm sorry I asked you that. It's just....I didn't want to get in between you and her. I care about her feelings as well."

I smiled at her, "You mean you don't mind Jade being that way? With me?"

She said "Well, I was shocked at first, but no I wouldn't mind it. But you don't want to be with her, do you?"

I shook my head, "No, I want to be with you. That's all that matters."

Shawna then smiled, "Well good because I don't want to start a cat fight with her." Then she started laughing.

I did as well, "Thanks Shawna, it means a lot to me that you don't hate her. I mean, it was just one kiss!"

She nodded, "Well I would never hate her, she's my friend too. And besides you know what's right and wrong. And to be honest, if you did want to be with her that way, I would never have stopped you."

I was shocked to hear that, and then I said, "Well she's just a crush, and you're not."

She laughed at that, and then she kissed me on the lips, "I better not be."

I laughed as well, and then we kissed again.

I wonder how Jade's doing out there? I hope she's okay.

*****

I've found Leon hours ago  pretending that he's looking for me, he figured that I would come to him. And now here we are lying on our backs on the grass looking up at the skies during the night. We were pointing out the constellations.

I pointed at one of them, "Look it looks like a tree, see the branches?"

Leon smiled, "Yeah, and here's the one that looks like an antelope." He laughed.

I laughed with him and when we finally stopped, I looked at him and said, "You know Leon, I really am glad that I found you. I was afraid I wouldn't."

Leon then rolled on his back to stare at me, "Well I was wondering if you would look for me, you know after what happened last night."

I sighed, thinking about what happened last night, I decided to change the subject just a bit, "Did you tell my father that you've found me last night?"

He shook his head, "No, I pretended I never found you at all."

I nodded while I was on my back, "Good, because I don't want anymore dram right now. It's been a tough night last night."

He said, "Does Casper hate you right now? Any regrets that he's having?"

I shook my head, "No, he doesn't hate me, he would never hate me. Of course I thought he would, but no he doesn't."

He smiled, "Hey that's good, at least you would still have your friend. Well a human one at that."

I had a glum look on my face, I sighed and then I rolled on my feet and stood up.

Leon had a concerned face, "Jade? What's the matter?"

I sighed again, "Look Leon, I'm trying to get over it. But it's....I still feel for him right now. Even when I say that we're still friends."

He got on his feet as well, "Well it's normal to still feel this way. There's nothing wrong with it."

I looked at him and said, "But he doesn't want to be with me! I mean I'm trying to let him go, but a part of me can't. And on top of that I'm sorta stuck with him. He's probably with Shawna right now."

He cocked his head, "Shawna?"

"The human girl he loves."

Leon got the picture, "Ah, makes sense now."

I nodded, "Look I like Shawna as well, but not as much as Casper. I mean me and him, we have so many things in common. We both feel alone, we don't have a lot of friends, and most of all we have parents that don't listen very well."

Leon smiled at her, "Oh, your dad listens, he just doesn't get Casper like we do."

I let out a frustrated sigh, "Yeah well can't change the past now that's for damn sure."

He laughed at that, "Nope, we can not. We can either run from it or learn from it."

I nodded, "Yeah and you wanna know what I've learned?"

He gave me a curious look and I answered, "Not tell your parents about your friends of different species, that's all."

He laughed, "Well too late for that now."

I shot my head up, "Right, so that's why I'm not telling my father crap until he calms his attitude."

He nodded in agreement, "No kidding." Then we both laughed.

Then I looked at Leon and said, "Hey Leon."

He looked at me, "Yes?"

"About last night, you know what you've said, do you really love me? You know in that way?"

He grinned, "What? Did my lips locking with yours didn't answer your question?"

I sighed, "Leon."

He walked toward me, "Listen Jade, I know what you're going through. Every time I try to tell you how I feel and when you run off before I tell you, I feel like I'm being rejected as well."

I looked away from him and stared at the ground, "Well what you've been through is a lot more different than what Casper did to me."

He nodded, "Well he was just trying to warn you, that it wouldn't work out. He was just trying to teach you things."

"But what he doesn't understand is that we have a lot of things in common."

He shook his head, "Sure he does. Give him a break. He's a human, remember?"

I nodded, "I know, but you never answered my question." Then I raised my head and look into his eyes, "Do you love me or not?"

He nodded, "Yes, I do."

I was taken back, "I'm trying to believe you, Leon. I really am."

Then he said, "Didn't you feel the same way about me?"

I thought about it and said, "Well when I first met you, I thought you were handsome, but a lot of females were all over you and I thought you didn't want to be with me because I'm a princess."

He shook his head, "No Jade, I do love you. I've never stopped loving you. I didn't want anyone else, but you."

He seemed to make it clear, because I can see it in his eyes, "I believe you."

Now he was shocked, "What?"

Then I pounced on him, he yelped, I pinned him and then I planted my lips on him and started kissing him deeply. I pulled back after we ran out of breath. Then I smiled down at him and said, "What took you so long you jerk?"

He smiled back at me and then we nuzzled and kissed each other again.

I do realize it now, I shouldn't be with Casper. I should be with someone else and it's Leon.

*****

I was walking back to the tent after I've told Shawna good night to her, I was almost there when I was near mom and dads tent, the light was still on inside. Huh, mom and dad are still awake? I guess I could say good night to them. I haven't talked to them since the whole Karone attacked me and Shawna thing. I screamed that I hate them, maybe it's time to patch things up and stop avoiding them.

I was about to enter when I heard them having a serious discussion. They were talking about me.

I heard mom say, "Christopher, I don't think you get what I'm saying! He's already showing the symptoms!"

Then dad said, "Look I know what you're saying, but he never even shown them before we came here!"

I was confused, what are they talking about? What symptoms?

Mom said, "No Christopher you don't understand! First he starts saying that he was talking to a lioness, now for the past two nights he never came back to the camp! He's getting worse Chris! We both know what happened to our son back at home. What happened to him when he was Thirteen."

What? What does she mean when I was thirteen? What are they babbling about?

Dad said, "Alright Angie I get it. We're still worried about him after what happened at the hospital. He almost died, but he's still alive."

Mom said, "But that experiment almost killed him, and now look what he's becoming. Now he's like one of those test subjects that happened here years ago, before he was born."

I heard dad shushed her and said, "Be quiet Angie someone might hear you. Look we'll talk about what we'll do with Casper tomorrow night, ok?"

I decided that was all I had to hear after he was done. I ran to my tent and zipped up the opening, and then I sat on my bed stunned.

What were mom and dad talking about? They mentioned something about me being thirteen and something about a hospital. And what experiment? What test subjects? Ones that were here before I was born. What were they getting at? They also said I almost died in the hospital, something almost killed me. They even mentioned about me telling them about Jade, and how I almost haven't came back here for the past two nights.

What's going on? Do they know something about my ability all along? Did they know I could talk to lions the whole time? Before I came here? Were they lying to me? After everything I've told them?