A/N I don't own Twilight or any of the characters except Kirsten and Corbyn.

I was aware I was dreaming. Ever since talking with Quil I couldn't help but think of the legends. It was interfering with my studies. I haven't seen Quil since that night, or Kirsten for that matter.

Her parents sent out a search party. Mom told me my Uncle Sam and the boys even helped looked for her but they all came up empty.

Corbyn and I were worried to say the least. Being questioned by the police was beginning to infuriate us. All they did was ask the same questions all over again until we both broke down and couldn't talk anymore. The police report that was filed stated that after Kirsten dropped off Corbyn, she went straight home. After dinner, she took her dog out and he ran off. She followed and didn't come back. Neither did Buster.

It was hard to sleep at night, and to my intense relief neither could Corbyn. We stayed up well past one in the morning every night keeping each other busy. While video chatting we often tried focusing on our homework without discussing where our friend could be.

To think that Kirsten was out there all alone and more than likely scared gave me an anxiety attack that caused me to cry so hard I couldn't breathe. With all of this stress on me, all the pitying glances that got sent out ways during school was the last thing we needed. I needed Quil now more than ever and alas, it was his turn to avoid me. I've called exactly 58 times since that night we last spoke and he only left me one voice message Saturday night:

"Claire, I'm sorry. I'm really busy with work and helping find Kirsten. I'm sorry about your friend, we all are trying our best to find her. Please, stay out of the woods. Go directly to school and practice and go straight home. No funny business. I'll call you when I can."

A week later and no call. How could he be so selfish? To ask me to think of the legends that terrified me and think of him at the same time? To not call me back or at least visit me? All of this made no sense, he was always there for me.

If no call by tomorrow, I was going over to my aunt Emily's place. There was no way he could avoid me there.

….

I awoke to the sound of thunder. I looked out my window and –surprise- it was cloudy. I took a hot shower and dressed for the day. I wore my dark green sweater with black tights and brown combat boots. I put my hair in a ponytail and set off to the kitchen to eat a banana.

I donned my forest green lightweight coat and got in my car. I had to take four deep breaths before I started it and made my way down to the little red house. I repeated what my responses would be if Quil tried to argue with me. No way would I leave that house without my answers.

As soon as I pulled up I was greeted with the smell of baking bread and tension. I walked through the door, not surprised to see Embry and Jake sitting at the table accompanied by Emily. I felt as if I interrupted something important.

"There she is! Where have you been Claire-bear? We've missed you!" Embry's attempt to lighten the mood didn't work as planned. He sounded tired.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to come unannounced. I thought Quil would be here..." I had to stop myself from blabbering on. I could feel my cheeks burning with embarrassment. Why did I think I could pull this off? I was the cowardly lion.

My aunt Emily, bless her soul, saved me.

"You're always welcome here, love. We were just discussing some business. Embry and Jake will gladly get Quil for you."

That was their cue. They got up and made their way to the door while shooting me sympathetic looks. Did something happen to Quil? Did they find something out about Kirsten? I dismissed both of those thoughts right away. The boys would have called me if something happened to either of them.

My aunt mentioned something about laundry that needed folded and left the room. I sat on the living room couch and fiddled with my hands. If everyone seemed stressed, Quil would, too. Why did I bother coming over? I knew this was a bad idea. Maybe if I left right now I wouldn't run into him.

No! I came here for a reason.

"Relax, Claire. You look like you're going to give yourself a stroke."

I jumped at Quil's voice. For someone so huge, he was definitely sneaky. I looked up to his face and saw he was trying to smile, it looked more like a grimace. He looked as awful as I felt. He came and sat next to me, holding my right hand. I welcomed it. I missed him so much, I don't know how I could have been so mad at him. It all seemed pointless.

"Kirsten..." I began. I didn't even know where to start. I could feel the tears welling up and I tried to hold them back. I hated crying in front of him. It made me feel weak. I thought for sure after spending so many hours at night sobbing I would have cried myself out. I was wrong.

He sighed and ran his fingers through his hair.

"We've been looking. We can find anything."

He had a weird pitch to his voice. The pitch he made when lying. I looked him in the eyes, my sudden sadness replaced with anger.

"Quil Ateara you will tell me the truth about my best friend! No more lies! Where is she?" My voice was rising. I had to keep it down so my aunt wouldn't come and investigate.

He looked at me with sad eyes, I could almost see him trying to come up with a good excuse. There was no point. We knew too much about each other.

"Claire... I don't know what to say or how to say it..." He was looking down now, using the same tone he used when I was younger and gotten hurt. How dare he do this? I ripped my hand out of his grip and stood up, looking down on him. He will not do this to me.

His head snapped up and hurt spread across his face.

"Don't do this shit to me! I needed you and you ignored me," I couldn't stop the tears from spilling over now. Shit. "I needed my best friend and you decided other things were more important. You always do that! I'm sick of it! I understand there are other things more interesting than an almost seventeen year old but if you didn't want to hang out, you could have told me! You're always lying and I'm tired of trying to keep up. Either tell me or leave me alone."

He stared at me with a mix of sadness and regret.

I let the silence wear on for two minutes before I huffed my way out of the stifling house and into my car, the tears and rain water stinging my eyes. I drove home and ran into my room, sobbing into my pillow for what felt like the millionth time this week.