Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight, or its characters. They are the work of literary genius Stephenie Meyer.

Sometimes in the howl of the wind I can hear him singing to me again, breathing gently in my ear, churning my name on his tongue like a lullaby. In the sound of the rain dripping onto the roof from the trees I can almost hear the gentle creak of the floorboards as he pads down the hallway, barefoot, from his own bedroom toward my own.

I can't think about him when the sun shines. When the sun is shining down through the forests like ribbons all I can remember is how he hated the sun; how the sun had only reminded him of what we had lost.

This morning, like most mornings in Forks, Washington, it was raining. The drops pelted my face when I stepped out under the canopy that surrounded my home, and suddenly I could remember his laugh, and his voice telling me I was his best friend. I hugged my arms tightly around my body and smiled, sinking myself into the memory. I stayed there for awhile until my skin was soaked and my hair was plastered to the sides of my face. When I finally realized what it was I was doing, I dropped my arms in horror. This was ridiculous and I had school; soon.

I raced into the tiny cabin which my mother and I called home and threw myself into the shower. To my surprise I was at Forks High School with five minutes to spare. I didn't like spare minutes, especially at school. I had never really connected with anyone here other than him, and being here only reminded me of how alone I was now.

I pushed open the car door with one hand and flung my backpack over one shoulder with the other. Sloshing through the puddles that littered the parking lot my jeans became spattered almost immediately, and my teeth were chattering when I reached the doors.

First period was the bane of my existence. It was in that class, history class, that the only person in the school who bothered to talk to me sat right next to me. I pleaded and begged with the heavens to allow the seat next to my own to be empty today, to give me just one reason for happiness in my hopeless life. I deflated when I spotted her, Amy Taylor, sitting in the same seat next to mine, as always.

"Elena," Amy eyed me with pity saturating her features. "how are you?"

I sank into my seat and sighed, rolling my eyes. "I'm fine."

"Fine? Dear, there isn't any need to me brave. You can talk to me." Amy patted my hand reassuringly.

"Has anyone ever told you that you converse like an old woman?" I snapped.

Amy shook her head. "Poor Elena. Have you heard anything from your brother?"

"Brother?" I asked in a dead tone that I didn't even recognize.

"Aaron?" Amy pushed.

Anger shot through every vein in my body in seconds. What right did she have to pry into my life? What right did she have to say his name? She hadn't even known him; she didn't even know me. I flung my chair back with one leg and stomped out of the room. I just couldn't handle school today.

I knew if Aaron were here, he would probably explain to me, in detail, why stealing our mother's car was not a good idea. But he wasn't here. Aaron had chosen another life to live, a more dangerous life that didn't involve me. I slammed my foot on the gas, smiling when the car lurched forward to eighty.

I had never been to the La Push reservation. I had never had much reason to go there before, and I had only moved to Forks a year before. Now, however, it was the only place I wanted to be; the one place that held no memories of Aaron and how he had betrayed me. I rolled down every single window in mom's Volkswagen and let the cold breeze blow onto my face and through my hair silencing every conviction I had that said this was wrong. When I reached First Beach, I nearly sprinted to the water, pulling off my sweatshirt and my shoes as I ran.

The water was a dull grey and from the clouds overhead I could ascertain that it was impossible for the water to be warm. I didn't care though. I slowed to a walk when I neared the water, pulling off my socks and tossing them behind me. I closed my eyes and sunk my toes into the sand, tensing my body for the sprint into the ocean.

One, two, three…

"You probably shouldn't do that."

I whirled quickly at the sound of the voice, my eyes already tightened into a glare. "I'm busy." I hissed.

He smiled. "Yes, I can see that."

Only after he spoke again, did I notice what he was. He was beautiful, that much was obvious. His skin was pale, white almost. His hair was black and looked like silk waving in the wind. Underneath his black eyes were dark circles that made it seem as though he hadn't slept in months. He was one of them. Like Aaron.

I felt my mouth drop and I took a step back. "Leave me alone." I commanded, but felt silly telling him what to do at all. He could kill me in seconds if he only had the inclination to do so.

His smile deflated and he took on a wary look. "What's the matter?"

"Leave. Me. Alone." I emphasized each word slowly and matter-of-factly, squaring my shoulders and clenching my fists.

"I'm only telling you the water is very cold, and there is a storm coming in soon." He replied, his voice full of obvious confusion.

"I won't have anything to do with your kind." I hissed. "Leave." I thought Aaron would be the only vampire in Forks. Apparently these woods were fraught with mythical creatures. My body was beginning to shake uncontrollably both from fear and from my own determination to pretend I wasn't afraid of him. I watched in satisfaction as my words took him by surprise and he took his own step back.

"I'm sorry?" he asked politely.

I didn't want to be here anymore. I didn't want to see this beautiful immortal with the faint light from behind the clouds glinting off his skin; I didn't want to be reminded of the brother who had been my best friend before he was pulled into this life of death and blood. I turned on one heel and ran, my feet kicking up sand in my haste to escape from his tousled silken waves and his melodious voice. I ran from him and myself and Aaron, my breath coming in small, faint gasps as I reached the trees. I forced myself forward though I heard nothing in pursuit behind me.

I felt my hair becoming snagged on branches but I pushed forward, though my bare feet cried out in protest. A part of me felt that if I ran, then this would be less real somehow. Eventually, however, I collapsed from exhaustion, my entire body feeling as rubbery as jello. I sank into the cold wetness of the forest floor and waited. I wasn't sure what it was that I waited for, and neither did I care. I tried in vain to dispel the memories flooding in my mind like a waterfall.

"I can't change what I am, Lena." Aaron pleaded, reaching one hand for me.

I pulled away before he could touch my arm. "You're not anything, Aaron. You're my brother, my best friend. You don't have to do this, be this."

Aaron sighed and looked away, folding his arms across his chest. "Please, Elena. I need you to understand why I'm doing this. You're my sister; I need you to support my decision."

I gasped. "Your decision? You want me to support the fact that you want to be a monster? That you want to kill people? How could any decent person support a decision like that?"

"I can see you're not going to ever understand, Elena." Aaron replied, his green eyes, so like my own glinting in anger now. "But I don't need your approval. If you can't accept it, then I won't force you too. Goodbye, Lena." He hesitated before pulling me into a bear hug. "You're always going to be my best friend. "

My hands clawed at the ground as I tried to fight it. I couldn't think of him, it hurt to much. He might as well be dead. He might as well be dead.

"I can help you."

I heard the voice whispering in my ear, but at first I didn't react to it. It took me a moment to realize that the voice had been real in the first place. When I did, I turned slowly, my eyes meeting the dark brown eyes of a large, muscled man. "W-what?" I stammered.

He smiled. "I can help you. If your lost. Are you hurt?"

"No."

"Good." He reached one russet colored hand out to help me stand. "I'm Jacob Black.