Disclaimer: Well, my initials are JS not SM, so I'm almost positive I'm not Stephenie Meyer

Author's Note: For any who are confused. I decided to go a different direction with this chapter and almost everything is pretty much different, especially the end. I suggest you re-read it.

This is kinda a filler. Sorry. Just needed to introduce some people, ideas, characters. You get it, right?

...

Cauldwell Convenience Store sat on the corner of La Push Main and Market Street. The store front was simple brown brick, the sign over the door faded. It was a tired building. Much like everything else in La Push.

The sky was a muted gray when I arrived at my family's store. Maria was working today. Bells chimed as I pushed open the door, escaping from the chill air. Maria's blond curls bounced around her face as she looked up to see who had entered. Her face lit up.

"Taylor! When did you get back from California?" Her voice was eager and I suppressed the urge to laugh. I pushed my curtain of brown hair back from my face and approached my best friend.

"I drove in yesterday, school's out for the summer. Although," I motioned towards the door, "the weather hasn't changed much since I was here for Christmas. It's June, shouldn't it be sunny? And, I don't know, warm?" Maria just laughed.

"Oh Taylor. This is Washington, not California. We don't 'do' sun here." She hugged me tightly. "Tay, I missed you so much! How is college treating you?" I smiled at my friend, the one who suffered through all those years of high school with me.

"College is...well, it's school. Nothing special. Book club is the only thing that keeps me sane. It's nice to have some other bookish people to communicate with." Maria wrinkled her nose up at this.

"Books. Who needs those? You can't have a conversation with a book," Maria walked back around the counter, "Now, what can I help you with? Anything in particular?" I shrugged, shoving my hands in the pocket of my Stanford sweatshirt.

"Nothing, I just came to see what's up. La Push is pretty dull without my partner in crime."

"Great! Let me just finish my inventory check and lock up. Blake will be here soon to take over my shift anyways." Maria bustled about, a clipboard in hand. I pulled Jane Eyre out of my bag, reveling in the rustling of pages. Books were my escape. They could take me to places that I could only dream about, show me things I could only imagine. "Tay! Tay! Earth to Taylor!" Maria broke my daydreaming and I closed my book with a snap. "Are you ready to leave? Blake just pulled up!"

"Yeah, yeah. Sorry, I just got...carried away." I swiped at my hair, pushing it out of my face.

Maria just laughed. "You and your daydreams." She grinned devilishly at me. "Now tell me, how are the men down at Stanford? Fast, slow, big, little? Spill," she demanded, hands perched on her hips.

A red stain crept onto my cheeks, I could feel my body temperature rise. "I don't really pay attention. Not to the boys in Stanford anyways." I blushed harder. Trudging towards the door with my eyes down, I called out, "Let's go Maria, we've got things to do, people to see."

I could hear Maria's footsteps behind me as we exited the shop, her feet crunching on the gravel drive out back. "Wait what? Who did you meet?" She gasped. "Did you meet him when you were working over Christmas?" She grabbed my arm and turned me around. My face gave me away. "You did, didn't you? You were checking out the customers! My little anti-social caterpillar! I'm so proud! So who is it?" Her lips pursed together and she took a step towards me. I pulled my arm from her grip and turned around, walking toward the sidewalk.

"No one."

She ran to catch up with me. "Come on! Tay, we tell each other everything. I told you I liked Tristan Reynolds in fifth grade! And that's embarrassing!" Tristan Reynolds was the nose picker of La Push Elementary.

I stopped, turning to face her. "You never told me that." I crossed my arms over my chest.

Maria paused for a second. "I didn't? Oh, well now you know I guess." She imitated my position, crossing her own arms. "So now it's your turn to spill. Dish." I ran a hand through my hair, letting it fall in front of my face to hide the creeping blush.

I sighed. "Fine, I met Em-Embry Call." I spun around quickly and walked away. Maria laughed behind me.

"What's so bad about admitting that? At least he's good looking. Sure he's a little young for you but-" I cut her off, harshly.

"This is why I didn't want to tell you. You actually think that I, of all people, could ever stand a chance with a guy like Embry Call?" I laugh cynically. "I've got a better chance with Johnny Depp. I'll stick with my own kind thank you." I let my hair drape across my face again.

Maria only rolled her eyes. "Your own kind? And what kind would that be? You've never had a boyfriend before; you've never even been kissed!" She sighed and hugged me. "Just cut the melodramatics okay? We're gonna go cliff diving!" She glanced at me for confirmation.

"Yeah, I guess."

"We're gonna go to Londy's Diner and order strawberry banana milkshakes!"

"Yeah, sans the banana." I hated those things.

"We're gonna go shopping!"

"If we must."

"We're gonna dye our hair!"

"Let's hold off on that one."

"We're gonna get you a boyfriend! Yes!" Maria shouted, pumping her fist.

"Umm, no." My hair blew in the wind and I pulled it away from my eyes roughly.

"Why not, Tay? It'll be exciting! Summer romance...Just like in Grease!" Maria had an unhealthy obsession with John Travolta. "Just let me try! Please?" She whined, blond hair blowing in pleading eyes. I huffed and looked away. I guess she took that as confirmation of her crazy plan. "Great! We'll start by cutting your hair!"

That made me freeze. There was no way in hell Maria was touching my hair. I gently fingered the silky brown strands.

"No way in hell Maria, are you touching my hair."

God, I'm stupid. I can't refuse Maria anything, I swear.

"See, it looks great! And you can't hide behind your hair anymore either!" She beamed at me, teeth white against her copper skin.

I scowled in return, crossing my arms. "Maria, what's so special about that. I liked my hair the way it was." I glared at the wall next to Maria's head.

"Just be thankful that I at least gave you bangs. It's not even that different. I only took off a couple inches..."she trailed off, glancing down to the piles of hair lying on the bathroom floor.

"A couple inches!" I spluttered, "More like two feet!" And it was true. My waist length brown hair was no more, instead choosing to fall just below my chin. Thick bangs slashed across my forehead, brushing my eyebrows. My glare intensified.

"Oh come on my anti-social caterpillar! It's time to break out of your cocoon...or is it a chrysalis? Whatever, the point is it's time to turn into a butterfly. You're 19, act like it!" Maria tugged at her blond curls in frustration. "Besides, I thrive in this environment. Drool worthy make overs are what I specialize in!"

Dryly, I replied, "As much as I appreciate the cliché attempt at cringe worthy chick flick makeovers, I'd rather just stay myself." Maria crossed her arms over her chest.

"What, you won't even let me do your make up? Or help you buy clothes? Shoes? Not even a single pair of high heels?" I laughed and just shook my head.

"The hair was enough for one day, and I'm begrudging you that." I reached to twist a strand of hair, forgetting that it was inconveniently sitting on the bathroom floor. I don't think I'd ever get used to that.

"Whatever, I'll convince you yet my caterpillar." I looked at her strangely. "What? Something wrong with your new nickname?"

I snorted. "I'd prefer not to be compared to a fat larvae, thank you." Maria wrinkled her nose.

"What's a larvae, caterpillar?"

A/N: Thoughts? Flame it, praise it, just review!