Reine avoided thinking of herself as immortal. The thought of living forever scared her more than anything she'd encountered in her already long life. She'd never met anyone else like her, but they had to exist. She didn't have proof, but she couldn't be the only one with this curse.

Dying and coming back to life undoubtedly left a person confused and in shock, mistakenly believing they had been just close to death. The associated memory loss was nature's way of wiping the slate clean for them to make a new start, but it made the adjustment that much harder.

These people most likely only began to understand - and more importantly actually believe - that something remarkable had happened when they no longer got sick, didn't age, and most noticeably, always healed from their injuries.

At least this is how it had happened for her.

Witnesses to these miraculous events may have started resurrection myths like those about vampires. This was ridiculous, of course. While the undead in folklore and storybooks feasted on the blood of the living, they shared only the most banal similarities with the life Reine now led.

The role of blood was likely a key to why she was unable to die naturally, but it wasn't because she had to drink it. It was science, plain and simple.

The cellular regeneration causing the potential for reanimation, superhuman skills, enhanced senses, and general invincibility she possessed must have been from either molecular inheritance or genetic mutation within DNA carried throughout the body via the circulatory system. If it was possible for Turritopsis nutricola - the so-called immortal jellyfish - then there must have been a chance for people to have a similar ability.

In terms of the other staples of supernatural lore, garlic, holy water, and crosses were obviously red herrings invented by superstitious folks to give themselves a sense of protection from the perceived evil. The historical methods of killing a vampire were likely the most accurate parts of legend and would probably be the only way to truly kill an immortal. It was unfathomable to heal or regenerate after staking through the heart, beheading, or burning.

Because she was frozen in time and could physically only resemble a certain age group, Reine had to move and change her identity often. She was relatively lucky to have features that could pass for 18 as easily as 28 years old, so her life was disrupted about once every decade.

It was always an uneasy change, though. The more often she did it, the more likely her actions would be noticed. And the next time would be even harder because she'd immensely miss the young woman who'd woken her with her knocking and was standing in front of her now.

"Morning, sleepy head! I thought you'd never answer the door," Noor exclaimed cheerfully as she stepped into Reine's 1892 Queen Anne house. "So, what's his name?"

Reine furrowed her brows. Noor Hamad was her only real friend, but she never talked to her about men. Even though on the surface their relationship was that of sisters, she had very strong maternal feelings toward the younger woman and didn't think it was appropriate.

Still, Noor's question unwittingly made Reine think of the handsome journalist she met a day and a half earlier. However, there was no way for the girl who'd already made herself comfortable on the couch to know about their encounter.

"What on earth are you talking about?" she asked.

"Ha! I was right." The girl giggled. "You're blushing. I'm talking about the Beemer parked in front of the house. I thought you had a guest."

"Oh, no, that's mine. There were some great after-Christmas deals so I traded my old car in." Reine lied with a slight twinge of guilt. She didn't want to unnecessarily burden her friend with the whole truth.

Heading home from a late-night movie a few days after Christmas, an inattentive driver running a red light almost ruined the perfectly crafted life she worked so hard to establish. The damage was so extensive that Reine suffered a fractured leg, several broken ribs, and a broken nose from the airbag. All of these injuries had already healed by the time the firemen extracted her. They were not only astonished she was alive, but that she refused any medical attention.

The impact from the collision was concentrated on the front left side of her car, demolishing half of the vehicle and making it unsalvageable. She was left with no other choice than to buy a replacement car

"That explains the paper tags. Congrats. It was about time you upgraded that old Passat. But please be careful; those rear-wheel drives can't handle ice." Since the death of her parents in a car accident three years earlier, Noor had become somewhat of an expert on automobile safety.

"They threw in the snow tires. And it's not like I go anywhere except work and home, right?" Reine reassured her, sitting in a plush armchair. "And downtown the last two days for a conference. But I guess that was work, too." She frowned. "See? I'm totally boring and predictable. Happy New Year, by the way. When did you get back from Aspen?"

"Last night. And of course the flight was delayed. But the skiing was amazing. I wish you would have changed your mind about coming." The girl adjusted her silk headscarf.

"You know I don't ski. It would have just ruined your fun." Reine repeated the same excuse she had given Noor multiple times since being invited.

"Whatever. But I did get you a little souvenir." She handed over a small gift bag.

Pushing aside the tissue paper, Reine pulled out a pair of socks decorated with ice skating moose.

"Thanks, sweetie. I love them. They're more suited for the season than this." She laughed, pointing to the sushi design she was currently wearing.

Noor was the only person who knew her well enough to notice her preference for quirky footwear. The girl also made it a point to add a new piece to her collection any chance she got.

Reine stuck the socks back in the bag. "So, are you ready for your last semester of college?"

"Rennie! Classes don't start until tomorrow, so I'd appreciate it if you'd stop reminding me of the inevitable, okay?" Noor picked up the remote control and turned on the television.

"Fine. Tell me more about your trip."

Noor put her Gucci sneaker-clad feet on the coffee table. "The hotel was great, but the spa left something to be desired. I mean they didn't even have a seaweed body wrap."

"How dare they call themselves five-star." Reine teased, just as a phone began to ring in the other room. "Sweetie, do you want to answer that?" she asked, after the fourth ring.

Noor didn't look away from the screen. "Mine's here in my pocket. It must be yours."

Reine rarely made outgoing calls on her cell phone, and she received even less. Her number was unlisted and only her departmental administrator had it for emergencies. No wonder she didn't recognize the ring. Rushing over to her purse, she rummaged through it, and answered mid-ring. "Hello?"

"Hey, Reine. This is Gabe Moran."

Her heartbeat accelerated. "Hi. Uhm, how did you get this number?"

"I have experience getting things that aren't seemingly available."

The double entendre didn't escape her attention, but aggressive men had never appealed to her. "In some places, they can arrest you for that."

"Right. I'll keep that in mind next time." He chuckled. "So, listen. You totally took off on me Friday night. I mean, I don't blame you after I practically broke your hand, but I've been feeling so bad about that. And I still have your scarf."

"It wasn't that bad, I told you," she said as quietly as she could, knowing Noor was within earshot. "Don't worry about it."

"I still want to make it up to you. Come on, I swear I'll be good." There was a hint of mischief in his voice.

She sighed. At least she'd get her scarf back. "Fine. What did you have in mind?"

He paused. "I'd like to keep the details a surprise, but are you free tomorrow night?"

"I have class until nine, but I can be there in half an hour if that's not too late."

"No, that's perfect. Do you know where the Montgomery Prep School is?"

When Reine confirmed its location, they finalized the meeting's details.

"See you there," she said before hanging up.

Noor turned around and grinned. "Was that him? I knew you were blushing earlier. Are you going on a date?"

"No! It was nothing." Reine threw her phone back into her purse. "And besides, it's none of your business."

"Well, it's either nothing or it's none of my business, but it can't be both." Noor turned to face the television again. "And it sounded like a date to me."

Reine wanted to avoid the discussion altogether. She didn't need Noor to think badly of her for strictly being in non-committed liaisons; she wanted to at least appear to be a better role model than that.

The more she thought about it, however, the less she could deny that she didn't want Gabe to fit this mold. Yes, she was physically attracted to him, but there was something else. Something more. If she let herself give into it, then she'd risk getting hurt. And she swore she'd never let that happen again.

Although Noor didn't press the issue, she ended up just replacing it with one Reine hated even more.

"I wish we could be roommates, Rennie." She pouted in spite of knowing perfectly well the conclusion to this very familiar conversation. "It's ridiculous both of us live alone in these huge houses. We'd have some much fun."

Reine felt a twinge of sympathy for the girl. Nevertheless, this was one topic she wouldn't budge on and her answer always remained the same.

"You know that's impossible, Noor. I love you dearly, but I'm just so used to being on my own. And with my crazy schedule and everything . . .," she protested, but that didn't make it any easier to watch her friend's disappointed expression.

There was no way she could tell Noor the truth. She didn't even know where she'd begin. How would she even attempt to tell her friend that the woman she'd known for over three years and thought was a twenty-seven-year-old graduate student had actually been alive since at least the late Fifteenth Century? How would someone with a maximum life expectancy of just eighty years react to who or what she was?

She could never reveal the truth to anyone. In a few short years - as the progressive and inevitable signs of aging appeared on everyone but her - she would have to sever the ties with those in her current environment and start her life over again somewhere far away.

No matter how much it would hurt them both, that meant eventually having to leave Noor, as well. It was an unhappy reality Reine experienced all too often, and dwelling on it wouldn't change anything.

Unfortunately, that still didn't lessen the pain she felt at the thought.