Leafpool and Crowfeather, if they were human.

Leah woke up late. Skylar's thick auburn hair was the first thing she saw, but Leah was too distracted to notice anything besides that it was already 8:30. 8:30! School had started over an hour ago, and if she was late to Bio one more time… Wait. She checked the alarm clock she and her sister shared and saw the date: November 23. She hated winter. No flowers or leaves, and all the poor animals went hungry. Skylar was still asleep, snoring gently in the next bed, and with good reason. Today was Saturday.

"Sky, wake up." Leah prodded her sister, and Skylar whipped around, fastening her green gaze, a shade lighter than their father's and a couple darker than their mother's, on Leah. Leah had no idea how she had ended up with amber eyes when all of her relatives looked upon the world through brilliant green. She envied Skylar that.

Skylar mumbled something about rights, but just then their mother Sandra slinked in. Sandra was the most nimble and light footed person Leah knew. Firenze (his parents were Latin American) strode in after his wife. It was easy to see where Sky got her flaming hair: Firenze's head was equally, if not more so, ablaze. Her parents coaxed Leah and Skylar downstairs with promises of bacon and sausage. The Thunder household was definitely not vegetarian. Yeah, it was a retarded last name. In Firenze's ancestors' native tongue, it was 'Trono,' but it got better. Leah and Sky went by Trono, as did Sandra and Firenze, but Sky just had to tell her (now ex) boyfriend Ashton. Two hours after the break up, all of Forrest High School knew about the "Thunder" clan. Curse Sky and her big mouth.

Leah pulled on a tank top and shorts, throwing on a jacket and her black ballet flats before rushing downstairs. Sky flounced around in a low cut tee, the kind Leah blushed about just imagining herself in one. Sky had more than just green eyes that Leah was jealous of. Ok, maybe Leah had a figure, but even if she did she could never flaunt herself like Skylar. Her chest was smaller and her hips less prominent. Her eyes didn't glow like Sky's did, and they never would. Her face wasn't ugly, but she didn't think she was anything special, unlike Skylar, who had dated six boys before Leah had even considered going out. They were as different as sisters could be.

Leah got out all of the vitamins. She had taken responsibility for her family's health a few years ago. Her father's friend Cindy had shown her the pills and explained what they were for and how to use them. Poor Cindy had been in a car accident when she was a kid and needed her leg amputated because of the damage. She limped around on a fake leg ever since. Leah shook these thoughts out of her head and made piles for every person, including herself. She swallowed easily, watching the patterns of clouds in the sky and wondering if she could draw them.

Around ten, Brandon, Skylar's current boyfriend, pulled up in his rusty Ford. Leah liked Brandon, sure, but she wasn't sure if he was right for Sky. His cousin, Hayden, was probably a bad influence, and Leah couldn't shake the feeling that there were secrets.

Brandon's sister Tanya sat in the back seat, politely leaving room for Sky next to Brandon. Leah squeezed in beside Tanya, and Skylar tried to get Tanya to tell a story from camp. Tanya, Brandon, Skylar, Sterling and Faye (twins like Leah and Sky) and… Corbin had all attended the same adventure camp last summer. Leah felt herself flush. Corbin was the most obnoxious and selfish person Leah had ever met, but still... He'd set up countless traps and strung thorns and razor wire across his heart, and just as some of those defenses were falling down for Faye, whom he had loved, she had an accident. A fatal one. Climbing in the mountains, a ledge had given way, and Faye plunged to her death. Although she felt horrible, it wasn't as bad for Leah, since she had wanted Corbin for a while. She felt awful about her pleasure. Sterling had never been the same since. Brandon had made it worse, because Sterling had been crushing on Sky when Brandon showed up to carry her off into the sunset. Tension rose easily as heat off pavement.

Leah was relieved to be dropped off at Sophie's house. Her best friend and partner in crime, Sophie was fun to be around and Leah needed that. Sophie always had something to do and something to say. Today she had quite a lot to say.

"Omigosh Lee, Ashton just texted me and he totally dissed Brandon. Should I tell Skylar?"

"No, let him pout. Remember when they first broke up, how in the locker rooms…" Leah and Sophie giggled their way through an hour. After a few precious minutes of calm, Sophie screamed.

"Lee! LEE! Brian just texted me and-and-" Sophie was hysterical. She'd crushed on Brian for years and everybody but her knew that he'd been crushing right back. Leah grabbed for the phone and Sophie continued to scream.

"Soph, shut up a sec and let me read it." Leah snatched the phone away.

Bry_I_am: hey sophie

Softee36: hey brian

Bry_I_am: me and my friends are going to see the new {insert geeky war movie here}. Wanna come?

Sophie hadn't responded yet, so I did for her.

Softee36: k. should I meet you and everyone else there?

Brian took a moment to respond, and when he did, he was clearly nervous.

Bry_I_am: um.. this might sound weird, but I was wondering if you could come to my place before and then I could drive you…?

Sophie was almost crying.

Softee36: alright then. See you 2nite. Bye.

By that point, Sophie was running around her room screaming. I grabbed her foot and she fell in a convulsing heap. She's such a freak.

I sketched the designs of the tree's branches that shadowed my room. Thoughts of Corbin crowded my head. I needed out. I walked down Ravine and turned on Sycamore. The corner on River and Hollows was having work done, so I avoided the right side of the street and stepped carefully. Apparently I wasn't being careful enough, because the next moment I tripped over my flats and landed on my butt.

"Ow," I grumbled to myself.

"Nice balance." I looked up and looked back down quickly. Crap. Corbin stood over me, and I remembered he lived in the Highlands. Which, of course, was where Hollows lead into. God.

"Need any help?" Corbin unfolded an arm and yanked me back to my feet. Had it been any earlier in the evening, my blush would have made him think I was choking. Fortunately it was too dark to see clearly, so I was safe. Corbin hadn't let go of my hand yet. He had pulled me up very, very close to himself. We stood there for a while, too close and my butt stinging. He was looking at me like I was an alien who had just climbed out of the sewer. I self consciously covered my eyes with my hair.

"So, um.." I feebly tried an attempt at conversation and successfully jolted Corbin back to Earth. He threw my hand back at me, and his face looked disgusted, pained, afraid, and… guilty?

"Yeah. Night." Corbin turned around and loped off into the shadows. It was so hot. God, I am such a girl!

I lay in bed later that evening, and I saw Corbin and myself, and he held me. It was a wonderful dream.