Thank you MewMewCherry and SundaySolis for being my first reviews! It means a lot, so keep them coming!
Enjoy the story! (:

~ ... ~ ... ~ ... ~

The car ride home was, in short, awkward. All eight people piled into Meghan's van, Meghan driving, Sam-whom Hadley trusted least- in the passenger seat, Jared Jacob and Seth in the first-back row, and Hadley Pippa and Paul in the far-back. Meghan smiled back at Hadley and Pippa, "I hope you don't mind girls, we're going to have to work on your bedrooms for a while more. Because of the late notice and all of you guys coming. So for right now, we have to have you both sleeping in the living room." Hadley shrugged, "It's fine,". Meghan nodded her head and returned her gaze to the road.

Seth sat up in his seat, turning around to watch Hadley. He was mesmerized by the way her eyes told she was thinking as she watched out the window. Because she was his imprint, though, he couldn't help but notice the small scar just bellow her right eye. It brought pain to his chest at just the thought of something or somebody hurting her. Hadley faced him, a gentle tug in her chest. Seth smiled at her, the blonde quickly regaining her composture, "What?". She watched Seth carefully, curious as to why he had paid such attention to her so far.

Hadley continued her curious stare towards Seth, the fifteen year old just continueing to smile at her. "Why do you keep looking at me? It's rude to stare." Paul burst into laughter, the other guys laughing along side him. "Maybe I am related to her!" Paul caughed out in-between laughter. Seth's face drew blank, sighing and shrugging.

The car became silent once more, Pippa watching her sister and Seth. Seth continueously looked back to Hadley, smiling every now and then. Pippa tugged on Hadley's arm, gesturing for the blonde to lean closer to her. Hadley did so, earning a questioning glance from Paul. "I think Seth likes you. A lot." the eight year old whispered. Her older sister raised a thin eyebrow, slowly shaking her head 'no' and returning her gaze back out the window. Pippa rolled her eyes at Hadley's ignorance, Jacob chuckling at the pair of sisters.

By now the scenery had turned to endless forests of green and brown, immediatly catching Hadley's interest. Seth's eyes quickly drew back to her, pure love over-throwing his features. Because of Hadley, his life was pure bliss. Just because of her gentle and cautious breaths, he had reason to live.

Hadley was well aware of Seth's eyes on her. This time, though, she didn't object. For some reason unknown to the blonde, it felt good to have his eyes on her. She'd never admit it for any means, but for now, she was content with knowing he was watching her.

"We're here girls!" Meghan squealed from the front seat. Pippa giggled at her excitement, beaming at Hadley. The fourteen year old's eyes scanned across the cream colored home, the deep green woods surrounding it, the misty beach down the road, and the five built men scrambling out the van doors.

What kept coming to Hadley's mind, though, was how all five of the 'guys' she had met were all so tall, built, and warm to the touch. For the moment, she'd drop it.

But that's only the moment.

~ ... ~ ... ~ ... ~

Meghan showed the two girls around the quaint little house, Pippa holding tightly on to Hadley's hand. The boys had settled down on the soft couch, flipping through the channels. Seth's attention, though, was focused on Hadley. How gracefully she walked, how thin but athletic she was. He hardley knew her last name, and already loved everything about her.

In the end, Hadley and Pippa ended up in the living room with the guys. Pippa watched them for a while, her small face scrunched up in thought, "Why are you all so big?". Her small voice seemed so out of place among those of the rowdy guys. They all looked at her, raising their eyebrows. "It's not normal to be that big without taking steroids or something." Pippa shrugged, crossing her arms. The guys began to chuckle, amused by the eight year old's observations.

Sam took control though, facing Pippa and meeting her eyes, "We work out a lot. And we have a very busy job, where we have to be this big and strong." Pippa nodded, looking up to her older sister. Hadley slowly shook her head, seeing through Sam's lie as if it were transparent.

Another reason Hadley had to distrust Sam the most. It would be one thing if Pippa had asked him individually a question. But he deliberately answered the question of an eight year old, with a lie. Her 'parents' lied to her almost her entire life, and she would not be lied to in her new home.

Seth watched Hadley, immediatly seeing that she knew Sam was lying. He yearned to tell his imprint, yearned to tell her the truth about everything. But she couldn't even trust her own aunt, so why would she trust some guy she had met just that day when he suddenly told her that she was his soul mate. Don't think that'd work out the best.

"Everyone, how about we have a quick snack and head to bed. The girls have had quite a day." Meghan suggested, a smile still plastered on her face from the excitement of her neices' arrivals.

~ ... ~ ... ~ ... ~

The guys had started to leave, yelling their goodbyes to Paul and kindly smiling goodbye to Hadley and Pippa. Seth remained in the doorway as Meghan took Pippa to find her things.

Hadley looked at him, the same tug in her chest as she had felt earlier as their eyes met. "Why have you kept looking at me today?" her voice was softer than she had expected, raising an eyebrow with her question. Seth smiled as her face slowly softened, her question still lingering in the air. But for a while, the question went un-answered. The two watched eachother, and for the first time that day, Hadley began to take in Seth's features. His rich brown eyes caught her attention, reminding her of her father's before his 'depression' as she called it.

"Because you're just that beautiful." Seth's words broke the silence, snapping Hadley's attention back to him. Her eyes widened, searching Seth's face for any sign of a lie. She didn't find one, though. " Would you like to go to First Beach with me tomorrow?" Seth asked, hope painting his features. Hadley hesitantly shrugged, a thin grin finding it's way to her lips, "That'd, be nice. Yes."

Seth's face lit up, his eyes sparkling. "Can I pick you up here, around, eleven?". Hadley nodded, her grin remaining on her pink lips as Seth's smile grew. "I'll see you then, Hadley. Good night." and with that, Seth offered a smile and gentle wave before slowly stepping down the front steps. Hadley silently watched him go, her face returning blank, "Good night," she mumbled, slowly turning around and heading upstairs to find her things.

As she walked up the stairs, though, Hadley couldn't help but wonder what had come over her in the kitchen. She hardly ever smiled. When she did, it was strictly to Pippa. Not some guy whom she had met that day. But a tiny voice in the back of her head kept repeating,

"It's how it's supposed to be."