AN: I'm back. For real! I promise. I had some personal issues to work out. But I'm here to stay. And I re-read over this story, and there were quite a few mistakes. So I'm going over these first nine chapters before I start to add anymore new ones. I'm thinking it will take about a week to go through them all. But by next week some new ones should be coming in. I promise! And I changed my screen name.

But- this is the only story I'm updating. All my others on a hiatus!

So, I'm thinking you should just start at the beginning and read all the chapters over as they start to repost. This is chapter one edited.

Re-edited chapter two will be up tomorrow!

Read and review! Thanks!

I'm back! Promise!


Chapter One

Brooklyn's POV

June tenth.

I crossed the day off on my calendar, smiling secretly, thinking all of things I wanted to do this summer. It had been a long year, a lonely one, and I had decided things needed to change.

So in the middle of December, after figuring I wasn't going to get the only thing I had ever wanted- needed, in life, I gave up. I had to, it was the only way to get on with life, at least for me. So the day after Christmas, once I had enough money, I headed over to the hair salon, bleached my already blonde hair, an even more dramatic, paler blonde, and after, I spent over five hundred dollars in Forever 21, Hot Topic, and Victoria Secret; because a girl could never have too many pairs of bras and underwear.

Once I headed over to the tattoo parlor, I had my cartilage pierced, along with my nose, and I had a small black heart-shaped tattoo behind my ear.

My mother completely blew a few gaskets when I got home. There was a lecture and a whole lot of screaming involved, but she really couldn't do anything. I was a young out of control teenager, doing what ever I pleased when ever I wanted. . .but honestly, I had a great excuse, one I may have over-used- I was just following in my older brother's foot steps. . . Which was a sort of a lie, because I didn't want to be like Kai, he was. . .well, he was to put it lightly; a ticking time bomb, just waiting to explode.

I couldn't even count how many times my brother had gone out of the house in the middle of the night, in the past month- and it wasn't due to his patrolling schedule. He had phased when he was fourteen. He was nineteen now, and was just as out of control as he was with his anger as when he had first shifted into a wolf.

I sighed, thinking of how he used to be, before he. . . found out.

Shaking my head, I made myself focus on getting dressed. Like I said before it was June tenth, which meant it was officially the beginning of summer break, and my sixteenth birthday.

After appearing to be presentable enough, I headed down stairs, towards the kitchen where I could smell mom already baking the chocolate cake.

I tried, but failed miserably to sneak past her towards the back door.

"Brooklyn," she called, her voice tinged with a faint Australian accent that she had gotten from her teen years. Dad said that it used to be stronger than it was now, but faded over time.

I stop mid-step, and slowly turned to face her, plastering on a huge- fake- smile just for her. "Hey, Dimi-"

"Mom," she snapped, giving me a disapproving look. I felt the urge to roll my eyes. I didn't understand what the big deal was. "It's mom, Brooklyn. How many times have we've been over this? I'm your mother, not one of your friends."

Duh.

I think I was completely aware of that. "Did you want something, mom?" My good mood was fading fast.

"Yes," she smiled, and reached out to me, pulling me into a hug, practically suffocating me in the process. "I just wanted to say happy birthday to my only daughter. Is that such a crime?"

Yes. "I don't know. Is it?" I asked, smartly.

Her arms fell limply to her sides, as she let go of me, and backed away. A frown was etched on her face. "Fine. Be that way, but it's not going to get you anywhere. I just wanted to inform you that we'll be having the party-"

"Party?" I snapped.

"Yes, Brooklyn. It's your birthday, Hannah and I are throwing you a party at their place, like we've done every year since you were a year old."

Exactly, I wanted to say. I so did not want a party filled with family and all my parents friends. I wanted to go out, with my own friends. I just about to argue that, when I was attacked from behind, and lifted into the air. I didn't even screech, because I was so used to this.

"My little, Brooks, all grown up!" Dad said with enthusiasm and sadness.

I didn't move until he put me down, which he did after another moment of squeezing the breath out of me.

"Yeah. Sixteen. I think we've established this already. May I go?" I asked, getting impatient. I wanted to get of the house, away from the suffocation of my parents.

Dad held his hands up, palms out as he faced me, a surprised look on his face. "Are you saying I can't even wish my daughter a happy birthday, anymore?" He glanced at mom. "Whoa, they get their license, and then the next thing you know, they don't need you anymore."

I didn't think it was funny, at all, but mom and dad sure did.

I groaned. "Please?"

I was almost positive that they would have let me go at the moment, if Kai hadn't stormed in the kitchen, looking all angst-ridden, and furious. He made a bee-line for the back door, probably trying to leave without anyone bothering him, like I had tried a few minutes before.

But mom wasn't having any of it. "Kieran," she ordered, a warning in her voice.

He paused, for a half of a second before glancing in my direction, his blue-green eyes annoyed and clouded with whatever other emotion he was trying not to show. "Happy birthday, Brooks," he grumbled, and pulled the door opened.

"Wait," Mom called, her face annoyed as usual when Kai was in this mood. "Are you coming to Collins meet, before the party?"

"No." His face stayed blank, as he tapped his fingers rapidly on the door handle, taking a few steps outside, only leaving half his face visible.

I rolled my eyes, and shot a knowing look at mom, not getting why she even tried anymore. He never did anything that involved family. Heck, I would be extremely lucky if he decided to show up at my party at all.

"Be careful," dad shouted after him.

"Whatever, Brady," Kai shot back, slamming the door loudly behind him.

I think we all winced at that.

Like I said, I was taking some cues from my brother, not that I liked to admit it, but it's where the whole 'call your parents by their first name' thing. The only difference was that I did it to annoy mom, and Kai did it to prove a point, one that he's been trying to make for the past five years.

Dad's face composed itself as it tried to mask the hurt that was still evidently clear. Mom gave him a sympathetic look, the same one she had given me over the last year.

I shuddered remembering what had caused all those looks of pity and disapproval. But even if I had been able to go back in time, I still wouldn't have changed my decision to do what I did. I just wish I would have had more time to figure out my plan of action before just diving right in and kissing Caden Danvers on the mouth that day on my fifteen birthday last year. Maybe if I would have had those extra few minutes of serious thinking, than I wouldn't have pulled Caden only a few feet from everyone and confessed my apparent undying love for him right there, in ear shot of at least twenty wolves with super hearing.

To say the least, it was the most humiliating moment of my life, but nothing compared to the horrified look on Caden's beautiful face when I pushed my lips against his.

Just thinking of that memory, of those last few hours of that day, the last day I had ever saw Caden since, made me cringe. Obviously I had some serious problems, being the girl who fell in love with a vampire- half vampire- even when was evident that her brother hated vampires with a passion, and her mom, didn't shy away from showing her obvious dislike towards Caden, for a few more reasons than one.

I shook my head, cursing myself as I stood in that kitchen, watching my parents comfort each other with a blank stare on my face. I hated the fact that they didn't have just one messed up child, but two.

Go figure.


Collins' POV

Roughly I pulled my fingers through my short auburn hair as I stared at my father in disbelief. "You're not coming? Again? You're joking," I hissed bitterly.

Dad gave me a look, one that said I was being unreasonable. Like I was the one who was bailing on him for the hundredth time, instead of the other way around. "Collins, please. Not today, please don't start with that. . .not right now. You know I have a duty-"

"A duty?" I mimicked. "Really, dad? You sound like your going off to war here. They don't need you there. Sam and Jared can take care of it. Heck, I bet even Seth would offer to help to. He probably doesn't have any obligations at the moment. Unlike you, who promised-"

"I know, and I'm sorry, but you're aware of my situation. Like I was saying before you cut me off, I have to do this. It would be irresponsible not to." He tried to keep calm, his voice wasn't loud or angry indicating that he was upset, not mad, but his hands had started to shake.

I glared at him, crossing my arms over my chest.

"Paul," Mom chasted, motioning to his trembling hands. "Calm down. You haven't phased in ten years, you wouldn't want to ruin all that hard work over something like this," she said soothingly, going to his side, and petting his arm with an affectionate look.

I wanted to puke.

They were well over the age of thirty, but that unfortunately didn't mean anything to them. They were still all over each other, all the freaking time. It made me and River sick, but of course my stupid twelve year old sister thought it was adorable or something disgusting like that. Her obsession with romance novels was really rotting her brain.

"Collins, apologize, for talking your father like that. It's not his fault that Asher Uley phased. You know how hard it must be on him, being deaf. Image not being able to hear for sixteen years, and then one day you have all these voices in your head, and you don't understand them."

Like I cared what was going on with Ash Uley. He was a jerk anyway, who didn't care about anything unless it had to with his idiot of a brother Hunter, or his younger brother Mason, who thought he was just so freaking funny. Mom and dad had made us all learn Sign Language for him, along with all of the other parents who were involved with the pack, but it was a complete waste. I had tried a few years back, when I was thirteen to sign to him when I went over to his house to deliver a pie to Emily, and he answered the door. It did not go well, and I ended up looking like a retard, because Ash wouldn't respond to me, just stared at me before slamming the door in my face.

The memory added to my anger.

"What does Ash turning into some freak of a wolf have to do with dad missing my gymnastic meet, again? I don't see the point of why he has to be there. It's not like Ash is going to appreciate it."

Mom's blue eyes narrowed. We had the same colored eyes, except mine had a gray-tint to it thanks to dad. "I don't have to justify mine or your father's actions to you, but we've known Sam and Emily Uley for a very long time. And I found Emily to be a very kind person. If that's not enough of an explanation for you, than I would advise you to say no more. You can go wait in the car with River and Ava. I should be out in a minute, but I don't want to hear another word about this."

I scowled, and picked my gym bag up off the floor, sliding it onto my shoulder with ease. "Sure thing, mommy-dearest," I said under my breath, but I could tell dad caught it by the way his expression darkened.

I headed out towards our blue Dodge Caravan, and slid into the back seat. River was occupying the passenger side, and Ava was sprawled out in the middle section, a book placed on her knees, as she pushed her glasses up so they were perched high on her nose.

"Apparently it's that time of the month, huh, Collins?" River taunted, noticing my angry expression.

I growled. "No it's not. Shut up."

He laughed, and made a goofy face at me in the rear view mirror. "What ever you say. Just don't let your sour mood mess up your floor routine out there."

As if that were even possible. I had my floor routine memorized to a T. I wouldn't be surprised if I were able to nail all the moves with my eyes closed. It was the vault that I had to work the hardest to perfect. Landing blind wasn't my style, at all, and it took me years to be able to get a simple roundoff entry vault.

"Don't worry about my floor routine, I can do that myself. Why don't your worry about how your going to get Bridget to talk to you," I smirked at River's expression.

Bridget Clearwater was seven when River imprinted on her, and now she was eight, and she still didn't like him, or talked to him unless forced.

Ava also laughed at River's face. "Why don't you buy her a new Bratz doll? I'm she would appreciate that." Ava was very mature for her age, using words like appreciate, incompetent, and intangible- whatever that meant. She was a little too smart for her age.

River groaned, and rubbed his eyes which were clouded with irritation. "I've given her like at least six of those, and each time I hand one to her, she just thanks me and leaves the room. It's like she hates me. Somehow, I think she knows that I imprinted on her, and she despises me for it."

I rolled my eyes. "Now your just being paranoid."

We all three watched as mom opened the front door, and gave dad a kiss that I think was suppose to be short, but apparently wasn't.

"Isn't dad coming?" Ava asked, turning her head away from the front door, I think both River and I did the same.

"No. He's not. Unfortunately Ash Uley phased like an hour ago, and is having some sort of mental break down or something."

"He's not mental," Ava frowned, as she turned to stare at me, her light blue eyes hurt. She probably didn't care about Ash's well being either, it was just her crush on Ash's younger brother Mason that had her all defensive.

I didn't respond to her, and waited for her to turn back around.

"Man, that's gotta be rough. How's he taking it?" River asked, actually sounding concerned. His best friend besides our cousin Kai, was Hunter Uley, Ash's eldest and most retarded brother.

"I'm guessing not well, considering the whole freaking pack is racing over to support him."

River turned in his seat to stare at me in shock at my tone, as was Ava. "Collins-"

I held up my hand. "I know. Save it. I'm in a bad mood."

They both continued to watch me, as my jaw stayed clenched until mom finally opened the front door, and slid into the drivers' seat. She noticed the silence and raised an eyebrow. "What?"

"Nothing," I answered quickly.

After a moment, she shrugged her shoulders and started the car.

When we pulled out of the driveway, I closed my eyes.

I could already feel that it was going to be a long day.

I just hoped it would be less stressful.


Taylin's POV

Restless.

That was how I felt from sitting in the car for over an hour now.

We were on our way to La Push to attend Brooklyn James' birthday party, that was going to take place later on in the evening.

We had been living in Vancouver for about two years now. Dad said it was good because it had several parks- Golden Ears Provincial Park, and Pinecone Burke Provincial Park. Both were spacious and great for hunting, when our thirst became too much to handle.

Fortunately, when it came to control, between me, my brother Soren, and my sister Ivy, I had the best self-restraint. I could go a little over a month without having to hunt, but anything over that, and I became desperate, unable to go out and interact with other humans without picturing them as a juicy looking deer. Soren and Ivy though, could barely last two weeks without needing to feed.

As I stared out the window, watching the trees go by, I heard Ivy sigh from where she say beside me. "Are we almost there, yet? It's been hours already," she complained, fanning her face, as if she was actually parched.

Dad ignored her, because she's been doing this every ten minutes now.

"It's only been an hour," Mom's smooth voice sounded from the passenger seat.

Ivy pouted. "It feels so much longer though. We'll never have time to actually shop if dad drives any slower."

The person in question grunted, and speed up a little.

Ivy always did that, where she would compare dad to say, grandpa Edward, who drove so fast, that even I was reluctant to get into the car with him at times.

"Why are we even going to this party, again? We barely even know these people anymore," Ivy whined.

It was times like these that I wished that I didn't have great hearing. I wished I could block her out, just this once. I glanced in the back to see Soren, who was snoring lightly, looking as peaceful as ever. I envied him at that moment.

"Because all of those people that we apparently 'barely know', are my friends, even if I haven't seen them in a while, they still are," dad responded, switching lanes with ease, and turned to get off the highway.

"I think it'll be fun," I put in, trying to lighten the mood slightly.

Ivy huffed haughtily. "Yeah right."

Honestly, I didn't mind going to see all of dad's old friends, mainly because of one face in particular that I was eager to see.

Kieran James, or more commonly known as Kai.

Kai.

I sighed.

Sitting there, I could still image the photo in my mind. The one that the James' had sent over in their Easter card. The four of them stood huddled together in front of their mantle. My eyes had quickly scanned over the other three faces until it had come to land on Kai's handsome face.

The thought of that face, made my stomach clench.

He was absolutely beautiful, there was no doubt about that, and just by looking at him you could tell that he had girls fawning all over him. With his lightly tanned skin; a few shades paler than a normal Quileute because his mother was Australian. The way his shaggy light brown hair fell into his blue-green eyes that held no visible emotion in them, but you could tell, just by the way his strong jaw was clenched, that he wasn't fond of having his picture taken.

After we had received the picture, mom had told me about how when I was younger, Kai and I would sometimes would play during get-togethers. She said that we used to pretend we were married, and used Kai's sister Brooklyn and his cousin Collins as our children.

I wished I remembered it, so I could somehow recall it, if I got the chance to have a conversation with him.

I made a noise of panic at the thought of having any actual conversation with him.

Ever since then, that picture was burned into my brain, and more often than not I imagined what he would like now, in person.

I couldn't help but smile a little, because I was finally going to get to see him.


AN: Next re-edited chapter will be up tomorrow! Promise!