A/N: For any of you who have read my other fic 'This Could Be Anywhere in the World' this is the beginning Seth/Talulah story I mentioned. To everyone else- you don't have to have read 'TCB' as they don't really link in anyway that could become confusing, but it would most defiantly be appreciated!
This is the first time I've introduced an O/C as a main character, so bare with me and please give it a chance. Also, as lovely as BooBoo is, he's not my Seth- I've replaced him with Brandon Boyd (Incubus).
Reviews (as always) are very much appreciated.
Redx.
The door to the Clearwater home opened and Seth walked slowly out, swinging his arms into a blue plaid over shirt as he descended the porch steps to his waiting car.
He walked around to the back, double-checking the security of the trunk-, the last thing he needed was for it to open halfway down the highway and spill his clothes.
A sound a few houses down caught his attention and he looked up just in time to see Quil Ateara peel out of the driveway and towards the edge of the reservation, his sister Talulah stood with her hands limply by her side as their mother hugged her.
"You got everything honey?" Sue Clearwater appeared at the door, a large Tupperware container clasped between her hands.
"Are you kidding me?" Leah scoffed from behind her, arms folded sternly across her chest. "I think you put everything except the kitchen sink in the trunk, he'll be lucky if he can get the damn thing of the rez!"
"I can't believe my baby's going to college!" his mother pouted, choosing to ignore her daughter. "I'm so proud of you!"
"Ma!" Seth exclaimed as Sue yanked him in to her arms, wincing slightly at the strength of her grip around his torso. "It's not like I'm going overseas, it's a five hour drive."
"Oh suck it up, your leaving me- I'm allowed to be upset!" she scolded pulling back to look up at him. "Now give your mother a proper hug before I kick you in the shin!"
Seth shook his head and wrapped his arms around her. "I'll miss you too Ma."
Sue broke away from him and busied herself in the dangerously overfilled backseat of the car, leaving him to face Leah. His head flicked around quickly as Tallulah Ateara sped past in her truck, his eyes following it until it was out of view.
"Yeah, like that's ever gonna happen!" Leah snorted as he rolled his eyes. "Lulah's way out of your league."
"It's nice to know you think so highly of me." Seth deadpanned and she shrugged. "Well I guess I'll see you in a couple of months."
"Whatever." she sighed indifferently, looking straight past him.
"Tell Embry I said bye." Seth turned back to his mother. "All set?"
"I think so- where the hell has your father got too?" Sue ran past him and back into the house "Harry!"
He closed the car door and stood with his hands in his pockets, looking out over the reservation. He jumped as arms wrapped around his shoulders from behind him.
"If you even think about not coming back for Christmas I will hunt you down and scalp you, do you understand?" Leah groused, resting her cheek against his back. "There's no way I'm dealing with Aunt June and those animals she calls her children by myself."
"I'll be back for Christmas, I promise." Seth chuckled, patting her forearm. "And you know if you wanna come visit, just gimme a shout- Embry too. And stay the hell out of my bedroom while I'm gone!"
"Jeez you're acting like none of us have found your porn before-" she said letting him go as he turned toward her. "If you don't want people to know about the kinky stuff, you should hide it better!"
"It was in a lock box!" he exclaimed as his cheeks turned pink. "And I'm not kin- why the hell am I discussing this with you!"
"Have a nice trip little brother!" Leah chuckled, bypassing her parents as she went back into the house.
Sue held a tissue to her nose, her eyes glistening with unshed tears as she regarded Seth. Harry glanced over at her and rolled his eyes. "Pull yourself together Suzie, the kids going to college not outer space!"
"I can't help it!" she wailed, flinging her arms around her sons neck, his eyes bulging as she squeezed. "My baby's all grown up!"
"Let him go, Sue," Harry sighed, shooting Seth an exasperated look. "If he doesn't leave soon he'll hit afternoon traffic and won't get to campus until dark- you want him driving on a road he doesn't know in the dark?"
"Cookie's and sandwiches are in a box on the backseat, drinks are in the cool bag on the passenger seat-" Sue loosened her grip and pushed him towards the driver door. "Take regular breaks and let me know when you get there."
Seth slipped into his seat and turned the ignition as his father leaned through the window. "You better do as she says or she'll be hunting you down in the morning. Look after yourself kid, work hard, don't get too drunk and wrap it before you tap it!"
"Harry!" Sue exclaimed in surprise.
"I am way to young and good looking to have someone calling me grandpapi." he shrugged walking back toward the house.
She rounded on Seth, her eyes narrowed. "If you knock anyone up so help me god, I will castrate you!"
"What is it with the women in this family and their obsession with maiming me?" he frowned. "I'm not totally stupid Ma, I know to be careful."
"That's my boy." she reached out her hand and patted his cheek. "Now you've got everything? Sure you're okay with the house, because if you're not then we can-"
"Dad checked the place out twice," Seth said, cutting her off. "He met two of my housemates and he told you- they seem fine! I'll be okay mom, I promise."
"I know," Sue nodded, her eyes welling up. "I really am so proud of you baby."
"I gotta go okay? I'll call you as soon as I get there." and with that he started the car and backed away from the house.
Talulah let out a sigh as she pulled up outside the small townhouse she would be calling home for the next year. Her key's tinkled as she stepped on to the sidewalk and stuffed them in her jean pocket, pressing the button to release the lid of the trunk and looking over its contents as she tried to calculate the number of trips it would take to get all her stuff up to her room.
"Wondered when you'd be showing your face!" she looked around the car in search of the owner of the disembodied voice, finding a petite blonde grinning back at her. "Since you took your sweet time I took the window bed- you snooze you loose, bitch!"
"It's nice to know you've missed me Erin, it warms me-" Lulah patted her chest. "Right here."
"Shut up and get over here!" Erin exclaimed, holding out her arms and enveloping her less than enthusiastic friend. "Oh don't act like you don't love me! Not everybody is lucky enough to call me their best friend, you should be thankful. So how was summer at the rez?"
"Cold, wet, boring-" she shrugged turning to grab a box. "And did I mention that it was wet?"
"Should've have come to Florida with me," Erin said grabbing the handles of a small duffle and lugged it from the trunk. "The bodies on the guys there would've put you brother to shame!"
"Really? You're still going with this whole 'Quil is hot' thing?" Lulah cocked an eyebrow at her grinning friend. "That's disgusting! I mean for starters he has the mentality of a five year old- he still wears Spiderman undies and not to mention the fact that he actually smells like stray dog if he gets wet, which is a lot when you live where we do. A lot."
"Got any photographs of him in the underwear? Or wet?" She pursed her lips. "Preferably both at the same time?"
"I think I'm gonna be sick." Lulah pushed passed her friend and towards the house. "Have you seen Tate yet?"
"Yeah, he was upstairs moaning about moving his stuff about to accommodate his new roomie," Erin explained, following Lulah up the stairs. "I think he's still a little sore about the last one moving in with his ex, but I've met the replacement and he is definitely an improvement!"
"He is?" Lulah walked through the open door to her bedroom, and dumped her box on the bed.
"Hey Lulu!" a deep voice boomed from behind her and she squeaked as she felt herself encased in a set of thick arms. "I've missed you- my days just aren't the same without a helping of sarcasm and some bitch on the side!"
"I could say the same for you Tate, but I try to make a point of not lying to peoples faces." she groused, wriggling from his grip and looking over her shoulder at him. "Actually, I did miss- about as much as I miss a bad case of the runs!"
"Wow!" Tate scoffed. "I was kinda only half serious about the bitch comment, but you have really taken it up a notch or two over the summer huh?"
"No rest for the wicked, sweetie," she smiled, patting his arm. "Girls gotta get her jollies somewhere!"
"Ooh," Lulah and Tate turned to find Erin looking out of the window on to the street bellow. "The newbie's here and he is even more fuckable than I remember! Come on, let's go say hi!"
"Erin- I'm quite capable of walking down the stairs in my own!" she exclaimed trying to twist her wrist free from Erin's grip as she tugged her down the stairs and she could hear Tate chuckling behind them.
"Girls a nympho!" he said pushing past them towards the front door, earning him a little slap from Erin. "Hey man, I'm glad you're here - I can already feel the hormonal balance shifting in our favor!"
"Yeah like that'll ever happen!" Lulah scoffed leaning against the wall as she waited for her new housemate to step inside.
Erin stepped in front of Tate and Lulah smirked as she heard her giggle nervously. "Damn, she's got it bad!" she mumbled under her breath.
"Hi remember me? I'm-" she reached her hand out and a smooth voice cut her off.
"Erin. Of course I remember- it's nice to see you again." he said and Lulah watched as a pink blush crept up the back of her friend's neck.
"Jesus, will you let the guy in the house already?" Lulah exclaimed heading back toward the stairs as she turned to her with a frown, moving out of the doorway and let him through.
"Lu?" her eyes widened as her head whipped round.
"Seth! What are you doing here?" The corner of her mouth twitched with the threat of a smile, but she pursed her lips.
"You two know each other?" Tate looked expectantly between the two of them and Seth nodded.
"We're from the same reservation." Lulah said, crossing her arms over her chest. "Our moms are friends."
Seth's face hardened as he listened to Talulah, his eyes narrowing as she explained. "We've also seen each other naked!" he added and watched as her cheeks grew pink.
"We were two!" she grumbled through clenched teeth and he cocked an eyebrow.
"Nope, I think we were older than that!" he smirked as her body stiffened.
"Uh, maybe we should go get the stuff from your car before she rips your head off-" Tate edged, thumbing back towards the door. "I mean, I'm all for winding Lu up a little, but maybe it's not such a good idea when you've gotta sleep in the room next door? Come on, I'll give you a hand with your bags."
Seth shot Lulah a hard stare as he followed Tate from the building and she stiffened her shoulders defiantly.
"Wow, small world huh?" Erin chirped, eyeing her friend.
"You could say that." Lulah leaned back in to the wall.
"Is something going on?" Erin frowned. "Is there like- history with you two or something?"
"Nope." she said popping the 'p'. "We're not even friends."
"You sure? 'cause it kinda looked-" she stopped talking at the look that passed over Lulah's face, and held up her hands. "Fine, not even friends, I've got it! Uh- well in that case, would you mind if I got to know him a little better?"
Lulah shook her head. "You can do what you want Erin, it's nothing to do with me."
"Cool!" Erin grinned and clapped her hands together, turning toward the boys as they walked back in and her hand reaching out to grab a small box from the stack in Seth hands. "I'll show you to your room."
"Hey?" Tate paused next to Lulah. "You sure everything's okay? You need me to call Erin off?"
Lulah's face softened and a small smile found its way onto her face as she patted his forearm. "I'm fine sweetie, I just wasn't expecting to see someone from back home, that's all! Let Erin do what she needs to do- it's not a problem."
"If you're sure." he nodded, watching her closely. "Let me drop this stuff upstairs and I'll help you with the last of your things, okay?"
"Thanks Tate." they both looked up the stairs as a round of giggling broke out. "Good luck up there!"
"I think I'm gonna need more than luck!" He exclaimed. "Maybe a blindfold and earplugs."
E/N: It's short, but the chapters do get longer I promise!
