I don't own the virals series or song lyrics used in this story.

Tory looked over at the ocean as she pulled her knees closer to her chest.

There's a fire starting in my heart
Reaching a fever pitch, it's bringing me out the dark
Finally I can see you crystal clear

She didn't know what to do about Ben. He started that whole madness for her. Every time she thought about him now her heart speed up and she swore she could feel warmth spreading through her starting at her heart, like the thought of him started a little fire in her heart.

Then she would get so mad at what he did. How he lied. How could he do that to the pack? To her? But she always remembered his expression from when they talked. He truly didn't mean for it to happen.

She remembered their first meeting afterwards. It was so awkward.

Hi and Shelton had no idea that he had told her about his feelings. They thought that she was just upset about getting mixed up with the gamemaster. While that was part of the reason, it wasn't the full reason she was upset with him.

He took them aside, and flaring, Tory heard him tell the guys that she knew he had started this mess for her.

Even mad at him, she felt like he was bring her back to herself, in a way. She knew that by not talking to him it hurt the pack, and by making it easier on her, he was helping the pack, therefore helping her. He knew how much the pack meant to him.

She put her head on her arms, closing her eyes. It was painful to think about this, but today was a painful day. Today marked a year since the police knocked on her door, informing her of her mother's death.

All day she had avoided everyone; Shelton, Hi, Kit, even Cooper. Kit had given her the day off school, and she had spent the entire day one the beach, staring at the ocean. It reminded her of her mother's eyes, and it reminded her of Ben. The most two people whose memories she had of the two caused her the most pain.

She knew that Cooper was just at the edge of the beach, watching her but he didn't approach her. He could sense her need to be alone.

She also knew that Hi and Shelton had come and checked up on her throughout the day. They convinced their parents to let them have the day off, knowing that even if she wanted to be alone, they still were going to be needed. Even Ben had rung her a few times.

Ben. She sighed again. She felt like she was closer to understanding him now. Understanding why he acted like he did at Jason's party. Why he hate Jason and Chance. Why he supported her. Why he followed her. Why he said what he said when he was drunk, but she couldn't understand for the life of her why he liked her. It made no sense to her.

Just like it makes no sense to you why you like him,her brain whispered.

SHUT UP! She growled at herself. I don't like him that way. He's a pack member and that's all. He's barely even that at the moment.

Give him a chance. Even you understand some of his motivation as to why he lied to you.

NO I DON'T!

Yes you do. You would have wanted to be in the thick of the action too if something you did put innocence lives and the pack at risk. You would have done your best to stop what was happening.

I would never have lied to my pack mates.

No, but you wouldn't have sit idly by. Neither would Ben, even if you told him to do.

Why am I arguing with myself about Ben?

Because you know that you need to start talking to him again. Three months is a long time to stay mad at one of your best friends and your crush.

"HE'S NOT MY CRUSH!" She screamed at the ocean. "I just want my mum," she sobbed, her heart breaking.

She needed her mum more than ever right now. She needed the comfort her mother provided and the advice that she knew she would give. It wasn't fair that she was taken away from her.

As her tears started to slow, she heard four bodies coming towards her. She looked up to see Hi, Shelton, Cooper and Ben walking towards her.

Why is Ben here? She asked herself, and then she remembered. It was Friday and this weekend was a long weekend so Ben came to spend some time with his Dad and with the pack. He had told them so last night over chat.

Hi and Shelton sat down either side of her, both putting their arms around her. Cooper came and laid his head on her legs, which were now crossed in front of her. She sensed rather than saw Ben leaning against a nearby rock, looking at her.

She didn't know how long they all just sat there lost in their own thought. All she knew was that it was dark when Hi shifted.

"So we thought that we would go and watch a movie, just the four of us," Hi said softly, and then he held up his hand as Tories mouth opened.

"No we can't just watch a movie here, at one of our houses or in the bunker. The three of us a treating you to dinner, the movies and then to ice-cream afterwards. We are not leaving you alone tonight Tor," he informed her, leaving no room for argument in his voice.

"We left you alone all today, just like you wanted, but we know the night time is going to be worse for you. You said so yourself that night was always hard right after she died," Shelton added on. "We can't leave a pack mate alone when something is going on with them. Even when you were mad at Ben, you didn't leave him alone to face everything by himself, so we wouldn't do that to you."

Tory frowned. She didn't remember telling the guys how hard the nights where right after her mum's death. How the nights still got the best of her time to time.

"You let something slip after we found Bonnie's treasure. You didn't realise you let something slip you were that deep in thought," Ben replied to her unspoken thoughts.

"Whose in who's mind now?" she asked softly, causing all three boys to smile, even if they were small, sad smiles, they still smiled.

Looking at the guys Tory felt a little better. Her mum's death still cut her raw and so did her thoughts she had before about Ben, but seeing them there, ready to support her should she need it, made her feel a tiny bit better.

She nodded her head, and they all made their way back to her house.