Chapter 5

                                    

                                          
Rowan looked odd. Instead of a blank, jet face with a row of teeth and two different eyes, a small nose had sprouted, and instead of rows of teeth, it was a normal mouth; still with needle sharp teeth. 
"What's wrong with your face?!" Aiko snapped around, glaring at it. Rowan teasingly scratched at a needle-tooth with a wiry finger. 
"I get more 'human' as the days go on." It rumbled, crossing its slender arms. 
Aiko was still skeptical, still staring it down.
"How do I know you're not lying?" She asked defensively. Rowan looked at down at her gravely, picking up a small round mirror. It flicked the mirror swiftly, leaving a crack all the way across the mirror, and its slender figure faded away just slightly. Aiko almost gasped, holding the mirror. Was she gaining an attachment to Rowan? Surely not. 
****
Days passed, and Rowan got more human. It was around a week since it cracked the mirror, and by today, it had a full human face, except for jet black skin, and it had slightly less spindly limbs. Aiko sighed heavily as she pushed up from her bed, and stared at Rowan. 
"We need to go shopping before your form gets.. too detailed." Rowan distinctly nodded, also pushing itself up. She very quick told her mom she was leaving, and hopped on her vibrant blue bicycle. She rode down the road, down the alley, into the bike lot and appeared at the thrift store swiftly. She strode into the clothes aisle. 
"Pick." She whispered to it, gesturing at the neatly hung up clothes. It hesitated a moment, before pointing at a few.
At checkout, it was revealed it bought a white t-shirt with a black cloak along with thick black leggings, and finally 2 huge black boots. Its jet black skin and needle-teeth aside, Aiko had to admit the outfit was indeed charming. 
By the next day, Rowan had glowing, pale skin, and puffy black hair; It looked moderately human.
The school day wasn't out of the ordinary, but Haruki had a gleam of anger in his eyes when his eyes fell upon her. Whenever he did, Rowan would loom over him, furious green and red eyes would shine like jade- and ruby.
When lunchtime rolled around, Ines refused to sit with her, but across the cafeteria, with a load of new people Aiko didn't know at all. She was almost completely sure Ines was cross with her, devastating her. Haruki sat at the table beside them, shooting glances every while. Rowan still fumed at him, and it made her uneasy.
"What is your problem with him?!" She asked under her breath.
"That boy.. is strange. He gives me a strange, strange sense. Something.. I don't know of." It was indeed strange, and it puzzled her. 
By the end of the day, Haruki bolted past her, leaving a small, crumpled piece of paper on her desk, right by her hand. She uncrumpled the paper easily to reveal a note: 
meet me at the year 10 washrooms asap :)
-haruki" the words made Rowan fume beyond belief, but it did not actually know why.