I know, I know. I'm a bad author. I haven't updated. :c I'm sorry. So I updated to make up for it!! Forgive me?

Disclaimer: Not mine. Ashley is, though.


I was so pissed off. At this point, I was sitting in my car, which was parked at a playground, holding my wrist. I knew Alice didn't mean to hurt me, but God, I wish she would've grabbed something else. Or Edward should have at least stayed with me.

Ugh, that was making me even more pissed remembering how he hadn't even looked at me before he'd left. She'd said his name, and he was gone. I watched the kids playing on the playground. They were so carefree. They didn't know that vampires walked this earth. They didn't have to worry about anything. I remembered when I was a kid. I wasn't like them.

I had to be an adult. I was responsible for many things that my parents should have been.

I jumped when someone tapped on my window. There was a boy about my age standing right outside my car. I was already in a bad mood. I scowled. Great. Now I'm going to be murdered. Lovely. I wonder how Alice and Edward would react to that . . .?

Being reckless, like I usually was, I got out. "What?" I snapped. The boy had to be maybe half a foot taller than me, but that didn't stop me from being hot-headed.

He looked at me with concern. "Is your wrist okay?"

I rolled my eyes. "Yes, it's fine."

"I'm Matt, by the way. I saw you messing with it. You looked upset. Is everything okay?" I looked him over carefully. If he tried to kidnap me, then I could describe him to the police. He had short black hair and hazel eyes. His skin was dark. He was possibly Indian.

"Yes, everything's fine," I muttered. "I'm Ashley."

He nodded, still watching me carefully. "Are you sure your wrist is okay? Do you need anyone to look at it?"

I appreciated his concern, but it was fast becoming annoying. "I'm fine," I bit out, each word precise.

He raised his eyebrows and chuckled a bit. "Fine. I was only trying to help." He paused, glancing at the playground. "So what are you doing here?"

"Shouldn't I be asking you the same question?" I replied angrily. "You're the one luring young women from their cars." It suddenly occurred to me. "Hey, are you a rapist or something?"

He laughed aloud at that. "Not at all. I was walking home. I lost a bet with my dad." His lips twisted into an unhappy grimace. "And you never answered my question."

I sighed, looking at my wrist, then carefully glancing at him. He was watching me like I was going to tell him the secret of life. And that unnerved me. "Some family issues," I hedged.

He nodded nonchalantly. "That's too bad."

I thought about what he'd said. He had to walk home? That was strange, and it caused an ache of pain in my chest. I'd had to walk home when I was younger. The walk was a mile and a half. I wanted to help him, though I didn't even know him. "Do you want a ride home?" I found myself asking, not knowing entirely where the words came from.

He looked at me, surprised. "No," he snapped.

I backed a few steps away. Jesus. I was only trying to be nice. "Fine. Forget it."

He completely shocked me by going to the passenger side of my car and getting in.

"What the hell are you doing?" I snapped.

He smirked at me. "You offered. I changed my mind."

I got in, muttering profanities to myself. I couldn't believe this. I finally tried to do something good, and he shot it down immediately, then turned around and completely changed his mind. Things like that infuriated me. Indecision was something I did not deal well with.

"Thanks," he said sincerely.

I glanced at him then sighed. "No problem," I said easily. "Where to?"

He gave me directions, and I followed them. We were both silent in the car. It was a cloudy day in Forks, and I was thankful for the lack of rain. I knew it was short-lived, so I was thanking the gods every minute it wasn't raining.

"When did you move here?" Matt asked, drumming his fingers on the window. I would never say anything to him, but it was bugging the hell out of me.

"A month ago or so," I replied.

That was about the entire conversation we had until I pulled up to his street.

"Hey, drop me off here," he said with a sly grin, unbuckling his seatbelt.

My eyebrows dipped. "I could take you to your house. It's really no big deal," I insisted.

His grin grew larger, and there was a sparkle in his hazel eyes. "I don't want my dad knowing I cheated. But hey, if you ever want to hang out, just call me." Then he handed me a piece of paper. He hopped out of the car and began to jog presumably toward his house.

I stared in wonder at the paper. Where had he found the time to write his number down? I'd been watching him like a hawk the entire trip, making sure his hands weren't going to pull out a gun or something of the sort.

Then it hit me. He'd already had it written out. He knew I was going to give him a ride home. I scowled. Damn it, I'd been tricked. I huffed in frustration as I turned around. But when I glanced at the clock, I saw that an hour and a half had passed.

Well, at least he passed the time, I mused to myself.

I took a deep breath and headed back for my cousin's house, unwilling to face whatever worry or anger I was going to get, but knowing that I had to.

Yay, I updated! I feel so proud of myself. Sorry for the wait. Other things have been more important. But I'm starting to prioritize.

Review, and I promise the next update will be faster.

- J.C.