A/N This is my first fanfic, so I hope you like it! I would appreciate any reviews, and constructive criticism would be helpful. Enjoy! :D

Disclaimer: I do not own the Darkest Powers trilogy.

Chloe's POV

His face lowered to mine and I knew what was coming. I knew it. But when his lips touched mine I still jumped.
"S-s-sorry. I-I-"
"Skittish as a cat." he murmured. His hands slid to the back of my neck and he tilted my head up. "If I'm moving too fast-"
"N-no."
"Good." He kissed me again, and this time I didn't jump. I didn't flinch. I didn't gasp. I didn't do anything. Simon kissed me, and I just stood there, like someone cut the cord between my brain and my muscles. Finally, the connection caught, and I did kiss him, but awkwardly, some part of me still holding back, my gut twisting, like I was doing something wrong, making a huge mistake, and- Simon stopped. For a moment, he hovered there, face above mine, until I had to look away.
"Wrong guy, huh?" he said, his voice so soft I barely caught it.
"Wh-what?" He eased back, and his eyes went blank, unreadable.
"There's someone else," he said. Not a question. A statement.
"S-someone? A boyfriend, you mean? From before? No. Never. I wouldn't-"
"Go out with me if there was. I know." He took another step back, the heat of his body fading, the chill of the night air moving in. "I don't mean a guy from before, Chloe. I mean one from now." I stared at him. Now? Who else? There was only one other guy-
"D-derek? You think..." I couldn't finish. I wanted to laugh. You think I like Derek? Are you kidding? But the laugh wouldn't come. Just this thundering in my ears, breath catching like I'd been smacked in the chest. "Derek and I arent-" "No, not yet. I know." "I-I don't..." Just say it. Please let me say it. I don't like Derek. But I didn't. Couldn't.

So I just stood there, staring at my feet. "Simon, I-"
A small laugh interrupted me. Confused, I looked up at Simon. He looked just as confused as me.
"You really are a funny one, cutie." Liam. He stepped out of the trees, limping slightly. Soon after, a huge black wolf followed him, though it was more careful to stick to the shadows. At first, I hoped it would be Derek, but one look at the scars on the wolf's flank told me otherwise. It was Ramon. I froze, stiff with terror. The last time I met up with these particular werewolves, I had stabbed Liam in the leg, and he probably wasn't happy.

Simon stepped in front of me, hands raised, as if he were surrendering to the police. A growl cut him short. Ramon. Simon paled as he caught sight of the wolf at Liam's side. He dropped his hands, and swallowed thickly.
"Who are you?" he asked. A fresh wave of fear went through me as I remembered that Simon had never met Liam and Ramon. Liam's gaze turned to Simon, but the smirk remained.
"Liam. This is my buddy, Ramon." he gestured to the wolf beside him. "Pleasure." he added sarcastically.
"What do you want?" Simon continued. I mentally willed him to stop asking questions. He was just going to get us into more trouble. Luckily, Liam ignored him, and turned back to me, his smirk now gone, and replaced by a wry smile. I met his gaze, his eyes so intense, I thought he could see right through me. Then again, he wouldn't see much. Just an increddibly depressed tennage girl, having gone through her first unofficial break-up, willing him to look away and let her go home. But, of course, he wouldn't. He was a werewolf, and looking him in the eye was a challenge...and the biggest mistake I've ever made, which is saying quite a lot, actually.

I tore my gaze away, and Liam's smirk returned.
"What are you doing in the forest cutie? Without the mutt to protect you?" he asked, saying the last sentence in mock concern. I opened my mouth to reply, but Simon answered for me. "I'm here, aren't I?" I felt my heart swell. Typical Simon.
"Oh?" Liam teased.
"Yeah." Simon answered, his voice trembling. Liam chuckled, and I clenched my teeth. Leave it alone, Simon, I willed.
"Something funny?" he asked, faking innocense. Liam's chuckling stopped abruptly, and his gaze went cold, sending chills down my spine. He stepped forward, and I put a hand on Simon's shoulder. Surely, he's figured out that they're werewolves. If he hasn't, then he was in for a rude awakening. He gently brushed my hand off, and met Liam's eyes. "Is that a challenge?" he asked, his vioce chillingly quiet. Simon didn't respond, just stood frozen in place, and I wasn't quite sure he heard, so I answered for him. "N-no." I cursed my stutter, and drew in a deep breath, prepared to say the next line without it, but Liam's gaze landed on me, and I panicked. "I-it's n-n-not." I turned to Simon. "Right, S-simon."

Simon nodded, and his eyes lowered to the floor. "'Course. Sorry about that. Let's go, Chloe." I almost sighed with relief, as we cautiously turned our backs to Liam. We made it about five steps, before I heard a vicious snarl erupt from behind me. I wheeled to see Ramon charging towards me, teeth bared. I stood rooted to the ground as I stared into the mouth of my killer. Seconds before Ramon leapt, I felt a strong hand push me to the ground. Dazed, I look up to see Simon standing over me. Ramon's eyes flashed surprise, but he didn't stop. He lunged at Simon, and I could see the terror in Simon's eyes, even though his back was turned to me. He let out an agonising scream as Ramon's teeth sunk into his outstretched arm.

A/N Well? What'd you thing? Is it okay? Pleeeeeeease review!