Chapter 4:

I was really glad that Jake made me get up early to do my homework this morning, because my teacher gave a DYRT quiz right before lunch about the short story we had to read. She even corrected them right away while we did some silent reading, and those who failed had to stay in for lunch and read it in lunch detention. I'd been to detention before, lunch, and after school. It wasn't fun either time, and Jake wasn't too happy to find out that I went there.

The ground outside was still a little soggy from the rain yesterday afternoon, but it wasn't so bad that we had to eat inside. I found a picnic table with my three friends, Abby, Kit, and Joey. Joey was a girl. Her full name was Joanne, but she hated it. So she told everyone to call her Joey. She was sort of a tom-boy too, always running off playing sports with the boys when she finished lunch and had some time before the period was over. She had short black hair, cut even with her chin, and bright brown eyes.

Abby was a real girly girl. She moved here from California with her parents for some job they had. She had long blond hair that she curled every night, the way they used to do with the rags rolled up in the hair. She tried to do it to my hair once, but my hair is so thick and straight that it didn't hold. Abby loved La Push. She said it was really different from California, but it had a certain je ne sais quoi, about it. She had to explain to me what that meant. It's french for "I don't't know what", basically. I think it's just because she thinks my brother is hot.

Kit was my best friend since elementary school. She's Quill's younger sister. She knows about the wolves, but her parents don't really like to expose her to it that much. I think they're afraid if they do, she might turn as well. They didn't mind Quill turning, but Kit is their baby girl.

"Quill told me that you spied on their meeting last night." Kit whispered to me when we sat down. I flushed immediately, cursing Quill and his big fat mouth.

"Yeah." I said sheepishly.

"So?" she pressed. "What happened?"

I shrugged. "Not much."

"Oh, come on! I bet Jake was furious!"

I shrugged again, picking at my peanut butter and jelly sandwich that Jake made for me that morning. He even cut the crust off for me. Even though I had known Kit forever, I still didn't feel comfortable discussing my personal life, such as what happens between Jake and I when I get in trouble, with her. It was embarrassing. I mean, there are probably other kids out there that still get spanked, even kids older than me, maybe. But who ever wants to tell someone else that they went over their older brothers knees and had their butts spanked until they were a crying, messy heap over his lap? No one, that's who.

"Yeah but he got over it. Just said he better not catch me doing something like that again." I took a bite of the sandwich. "Which believe me, I don't think I will."

I didn't even want to mention what I heard. That I might be the next one to turn. Maybe if I didn't talk about it, it wouldn't happen.

"Kia!"

I heard my name being called, and looked up to see Collin and Brady heading towards me. They were seniors in high school now. They changed when the Volturi came last time, and they were only thirteen.

"Oh no." I mumbled as they got closer. I eyed them suspiciously as they sat down at my table next to Joey and Abby. Abby stopped talking to Joey and looked at the two of them, sizing them up. "What do you want?" I asked, hoping they weren't here to bring up what happened last night.

"Don't sound to glum." Collin said, taking a bite of an apple he had. "We just wanted to let you know that Jake texted us and asked us to bring you home after school."

"Why?" I demanded, feeling a little irritated. He said he would pick me up.

"He has to run to the Cullen's after work and talk to them about some important stuff," he hinted. I huffed, putting my sandwich down on the picnic table. "Brady and I are gonna drive you back to Sam's house after school."

"Okay." I replied gloomily, putting my face in my palms.

"Why don't you come over to my house after school?" Abby asked me.

"I can't." I told her. "I'm having dinner at Sam's tonight. And I'd have to ask Jake first."

"Aww, come on." Abby gave me a pout. "You know we haven't hung out together in forever! When was the last time you came over to my house?"

I shrugged. "I don't know."

"Exactly!" she drawled. "So you should come over tonight. Joey's coming over. I'm sure Kit will come over too!"

"Yeah, totally." Kit said.

"I can't." I repeated. Maybe on a day I was feeling a bit braver, but I didn't want to do anything to upset Jake. "Maybe next week."

"We'll see you after school." Collin said as he and Brady stood up.

"Okay." I replied, then they walked back the way they came from.

"Come on," Joey said, leaning in over the table. "It's not like we're going to be doing drugs or anything! We're just going to Abby's house!"

I would never do drugs. Not only are they really bad for you, but all the health teachers at school say if you try them once, you'll never stop. They say you'll get addicted and end up living on the streets, or worse, in jail. Besides, if I ever even looked at a drug, Jake would kill me.

"I can't!" I said more firmly. "So stop asking, because I'm not doing it."

I stood up, grabbing all my lunch in a big fistful and tossed it into the trash can near by, making my way back to the cafeteria.

When school ended, I waited out front for Collin and Brady. I knew they would take a few minutes to get to me, because they got out when I did, and the parking lot where they parked their car was full of other students. I sat down on the grass and pulled some up, mindlessly. Why wasn't I allowed to go to the Cullen's while Jake was there? I wanted to know what was going on too. Besides, if I did end up changing, I didn't want to be left out.

"Kia!" I looked up to see Brady parked along the curb, Collin calling my name out the passenger window. I threw my handful of grass back onto the ground, grabbed my backpack and stood up, slinging it over my shoulder.

When I got into the car, Collin turned around and handed me his cell phone.

"Jake wants you to call him." He told me. I took the phone, flipping it open and dialing Jake's number. Because I didn't have my own cell phone, I had to remember Jake's number, along with practically everyone elses. I knew Sam's cell, his house number, Seth and Leah's cell, Edwards cell, Alice's cell, and the Cullen's house number.

"Hey." Jake answered.

"Hey, Jake." I said, cheering up a little at his voice. "Collin and Brady said that they're taking me cliff jumping!"

"What?" Jake demanded, as Collin turned around in his seat to look at me, then realized I was just joking, cracked a smile. "They're doing what?"

"Cliff jumping?" I replied. Jake was silent for a minute before he responded.

"You're funny. You almost had me there, for a second." I smiled.

"Why are you at the Cullen's?" I asked him curiously. "Why couldn't I come?"

"After last night? You already know more than you should." Jake told me, his voice a little more stern, but not quite. "Besides, I'm not going to be here long. We're just talking about some options, and then I'm coming back. Emily's making dinner tonight, remember?"

"Yeah."

"How'd school go?"

"Good."

"Do you have any homework?"

"I have a take home test for a book we finished today."

"Do you want me to help you with it tonight?" he offered. I smiled.

"Please?"

"Of course. Any other homework?"

"I have to think of what person I want to research for a paper we have to write. It's going to be one of those long papers where they make you research and write note cards on it, and they check every other day. Then you have to write like five pages on it."

"Oh." Jake said, and he knew exactly what I was talking about. "That's not going to be fun."

"I know."

"Well, start thinking a little bit while you're at Emily's. Maybe her and Sam will help you brainstorm a little."

"Okay."

"Alright. I'll see you in a little. Love ya, kid."

"Love you too, Jake." I said, then flipped the phone shut and handed it back to Collin.

"You guys are starting your papers too?" Brady asked. "We started ours last week. They're a real pain in the ass."

"Yeah. I haven't even read more than ten pages on my dude." Collin laughed.

"So what do you do when they check your note cards?" I asked.

"I just skim through the book and make some stuff up."

"Oh." I said, as we pulled into Emily's driveway. They stopped the car and I got out. "Are you coming for dinner tonight?"

"No, it's just the originals tonight."

That's what they called Sam, Jake, Quill, Embry, Seth, Leah, Jared, and Paul. They were the first eight to turn when the Cullen's had moved here. Then it was Collin and Brady, and a few others, Will, Skye, Patrick, Flint, and Mark.

"Oh, okay." I closed the door, and waved to them as they drove away.

I walked up to the house, then stopped before I walked in. Would Emily be mad at me for last night? Would she even want to talk to me? I started to feel nervous. I wasn't sure if I wanted to find out just yet.

"Kia?" Sam's voice appeared behind me, and I turned around to see him coming up the driveway. "What are you doing?"

"I'm-Jake told me to come here!" I said.

"Yeah, I know that. But how long have you been standing out here?"

"Not long." I replied. "I just got here."

Sam came up the steps, looking from me to the door, then back to me.

"So. . . what are you waiting for?" he asked, glancing around as if expecting some reason for me not to be inside just appear. I shrugged and he raised en eyebrow at me.

"You're not doing anything suspicious, are you?"

"No." I said, taken aback.

"Then why are you standing on my porch. You don't even knock when you come here." he crossed his arms at me.

"I was just. . . I didn't know. . . I'm afraid that Emily was going to be mad at me and not want to see me." I said, ending so fast that my words just tumbled out. Sam seemed to get the gist though, and nodded slowly.

"I see." he said. Then silence.

"Well? Is she?" I asked.

"Yes."

I sighed, slumping my shoulders.

"Don't worry. Emily isn't one to hold a grudge." Sam winked, then opened the door and motioned for me to go in. I slumped my shoulders, grabbing onto my backpack straps and headed into the house before him.

Merry Christmas! Hope everyone enjoys this chapter, and the holiday as well! Comments are greatly appreciated ;)