A/N: All cannon characters and settings belong to the brilliant mind of Patricia Briggs. The rest comes solely from my imagination. This is written merely for my own pleasure and the pleasure of others. Also, I tend to get long-winded, so some of my chapters may be long, no, not may be, will be. You have been warned.

********************A&O********************

A few days later, Juliana had managed to finally stuff her hurt down deep so that Cole, at least, was fooled into thinking everything was fine between them. She knew Kara didn't buy it, but then Kara could smell the lie. But Kara didn't pry, she already knew why Juliana was upset but keeping it to herself. Juliana was glad that she was finally able to sit in the cafeteria again to eat lunch. She got there before Kara and sat down so she would only see Cole if she turned her head really far, which meant her back was to the lunch line and the open area leading into the cafeteria. That was why she was startled when Kara sat down across from her and two guys joined them. She hadn't seen them coming. "Hey Kara," she said and frowned a little.

"Hey Jules. This is Kyle, that's Ryan," Kara said, introducing the guys. "This is Juliana, but you guys already know that."

Ryan turned to Juliana and smiled. "It's nice to meet you."

He had a nice smile and Juliana found herself returning it, just a little. "It's nice to meet you too. Wait, what do you mean they already knew who I was, Kara?"

Kara rolled her eyes. "Exactly what I said. It's not like this school is huge, Jules. Just because you don't know everyone's name doesn't mean a lot of the kids here don't know yours."

"Oh. Good point, I guess," Juliana replied.

Ryan turned his attention to Juliana. "I have a little confession to make," he said and gave a quick smile. "I asked Kara to introduce us."

Juliana gave him a puzzled look. "Why?"

"Because I wanted to meet you," he said with a shrug. "I think you're really pretty, and you're different, and I like that," he added.

"You do know I'm a werewolf, right?" she asked.

"Yeah. What of it?"

"That doesn't bother you?" She figured that might have had something to do with why Cole suddenly liked Kelly, he didn't want to date a werewolf, but maybe she was wrong. Maybe he just thought she wasn't good enough. She pushed the thoughts away because that would just make her hurt again.

"No, why should it? You're still a person, Juliana. I mean, my granddad's a werewolf, and sure it's a little freaky that he could pass for an older brother or something, but I don't have any problems with you being a werewolf."

She sat back in her chair. "Huh. Okay then. In that case, call me Jules. That's what my friends and family call me. Well, except for Uncle Samuel, he still calls me Little Wolf most of the time, and every once in a while papa calls me little one. But for the most part, friends and family call me Jules."

"Alright Jules," Ryan said. He suddenly felt a bit nervous but plowed ahead with what he was thinking. "Um, do you have a date to homecoming yet?" he asked and there was a hopeful look in his eyes.

She'd all but decided to not go, but now, well, she was having second thoughts. "Not yet, no," she finally said.

"Would you do me the honor of going with me then? We can go as friends, if you like. I mean, we did just meet and I don't want you to feel awkward."

Juliana was glad her parents had taught her how to tell when someone was lying. She looked into his earnest face and knew he was being completely honest with her, even when he'd said he thought she was really pretty. "You know what? I think it would be fun, so yeah, I'll go to homecoming with you." Sure, it wasn't Cole taking her but he'd made his choice and she needed to give up the crush she had on him.

"Cool. You just tell me what color you're wearing and I'll make sure we match."

It felt odd sitting there talking about the homecoming dance with a boy she just met but she figured that was just because she wasn't used to it. She didn't really have many friends. Sure there were others at school she talked to, but in terms of close friendship, it was just Kara and Cole. She wondered briefly what Cole might say about her date but then she shrugged it off. It didn't matter. It wasn't like he'd asked her what she thought about Kelly.

********************A&O********************

After school Juliana went straight home. She needed to go to Missoula to get everything to make her homecoming dress. The one she'd been designing the other day before she found out Cole and Kelly were dating. "Hi mama, can you take me to Missoula?" she asked as soon as she was in the front door.

"What do you need to go to Missoula for sweetie?" Anna asked.

"Um... because I need to get some stuff to make my homecoming dress," she replied with a grin.

"You're going after all?"

"Yep. I have a date. He's a friend of Kara's, from her drama club. His name is Ryan and he seems nice. He said we can go as just friends if I'm uncomfortable calling it a date since we just met."

Anna went to her and hugged her. "Well then, let's go get you whatever you need," she replied and went to get her coat and bag.

They spent hours shopping but Juliana was pleased with her purchases. She would ask Grandma Aria to help with the final fitting, to be sure the dress fit perfectly, once she had it put together. She was anxious to get started on it because she had less than two weeks to get it done.

********************A&O********************

Cole bowed out of getting pizza after practice. He had to finish his research paper, that was the excuse he gave them, and it was partly true, but he also wanted to talk to Juliana. He wanted to know what she and Ryan Carlson were talking about at lunch. He didn't try to reason it out, why it bugged him. It just did. He pulled in just behind Anna and Juliana.

"Hi Mrs. Cornick, need some help?" he asked because she was taking several bags out of the trunk of her car.

"Sure. If you want to grab the last two bags, go for it. It's all going in Jules's room," Anna replied.

Cole snagged the bags, closed the trunk, and followed Anna into the house and down the hall to Juliana's bedroom.

Juliana was surprised to see him but she gave him a faint smile. She waited until her door was closed and she was certain her mother was in the kitchen, before she spoke. "Why aren't you with the team? Don't you all go get pizza after practice?" she asked.

"Yeah, we do, but I didn't go tonight. I have to finish my research paper, it's due tomorrow, but I wanted to stop here first," Cole replied.

Jules sat Indian style on her bed. "Oh? How come?" she asked.

Cole perched on the edge of the bed and looked at her. "What were you and Ryan Carlson talking about? I didn't even know you knew him," Cole said, avoiding answering the question directly. He, Kara, and Ryan were all one grade higher than Juliana, they were all juniors, he wasn't sure how Jules knew him.

"I didn't until today. Kara introduced us," Juliana replied. She gave him a puzzled look. "He asked me to homecoming," she added.

He'd been looking around the room and his head jerked back to look at her when she said that. "What? What did you tell him?"

"I said yes. Not that it's any of your business, Cole." She knew she sounded grumpy when she said it but she couldn't help that.

Cole frowned. "You're my friend Jules and I don't want to see you get hurt. You don't even know him."

Juliana watched him a moment. "What makes you think he's going to hurt me?"

"I just do. Don't go with him, Jules."

Juliana shook her head. "We're going as friends, because you're right, I don't know him, but maybe I need to stop being afraid to let people in. You have your football buddies, Kara has the drama club, me, I have no one. If I'm not at your practice I'm sitting here at the house, alone." She shrugged. "Besides, it's not like you have any say in what I do or who I maybe go out with. You didn't ask my opinion on Kelly," she pointed out. "I'm not mad at you, Cole. I just don't think you have any right to tell me not to go to the dance with the only person who has asked."

"You're right Jules, you're right. I don't have any. But you're my friend and I care about you. I'd be a pretty crappy friend if I didn't worry about why someone who has never even said hello to you in the halls suddenly asked you out. I've been crappy enough already."

Juliana scooted over to him and hugged him. "Thanks for being worried. At least I have an edge," she said and when he gave her a puzzled look she added, "If he tried to do something I didn't like or want I could break his arm."

Cole blinked then laughed. "Good point, Jules. Just be careful, okay?"

"I will." It felt nice knowing he was worried.

"I gotta get home and finish this stupid paper so I can turn it in tomorrow. See you later, Jules," Cole said and left.

Juliana watched him go and her smile faded. She'd done a pretty good job of fooling him into believing everything was fine. She tried to ignore the way her wolf whined in her head and went to work on her dress. Anything to distract her from how she really felt.

********************A&O********************

Juliana lifted her gaze to the full length mirror she stood in front of. She was a little nervous about the dress she'd designed, afraid it wouldn't look right on her or that the color would look awful now that she had no other option but to wear it. But when she looked at herself in the mirror she just stared, stunned by her reflection. The dress fit perfectly and the soft lavender color looked lovely against her skin. The dress itself looked like she'd taken layers of gauze and draped it in frilly vertical lines down her body, from the waist down, and wrapped it tightly around her from the waist up. It had a single strap, going over her right shoulder, to keep it from being a strapless dress. It flowed around her when she moved and for the first time in her young life she felt... beautiful. Her mama had helped with her hair, putting it in a twist that left the ends to trail down in ringlets. Because her grandpa required all of his wolves to wear a cross she'd picked out a purple choker made of velvet with a lovely black and purple cross on it. That way she still followed the rules and it matched her dress. A few hair clips with purple gems on them were discreetly clipped into her hair, the gems sparkling when the light caught them just right. Anna then helped her with her makeup, just a bit of eye shadow, blush and lipstick, and the over all effect was breathtaking.

"Jules, honey, you look beautiful," Anna said softly.

Juliana turned and gave her mother a shy smile. "Thank you mama." She bit her lip a moment. "Is it normal to be nervous?" she asked.

Anna went to her and hugged her. "Yes, sweetheart, it is. Even if this isn't a romantic date, it's still your first date. I don't know any girl who wouldn't be nervous on her first date. Come on, let's not leave that poor boy out there with your papa too long," she said and was rewarded with a soft giggle from her daughter.

"Papa can be very scary when he wants to be."

"Yes, he can, especially when it comes to protecting the people he cares about," Anna said.

********************A&O********************

Ryan was sitting on the sofa across from Charles. He'd met the man's eyes briefly then lowered his own. He knew enough about werewolves to know keeping eye contact could be a bad thing.

"Your grandfather speaks highly of you," Charles said. "I trust you won't give me a reason to contradict his high opinion."

"No sir," Ryan replied. "I like Juliana. She's sweet, honest, and yes I think she's pretty. We're going tonight as friends, but if we become more, that's her choice, sir."

Charles studied him a moment then nodded. The boy was calm, that was impressive, and he was being truthful. "Why has it taken this long to become friends if that is how you see my daughter?"

"Honestly, sir, I was nervous. I've known Kara since she moved here and I saw her and Juliana together all the time, but I was always nervous about approaching her. Especially after what Ronnie Harper did. She always seemed... skittish of people. Kara and I are in drama club together and I asked her about that, she said Juliana had a really rotten life before she came to live with you and Mrs. Cornick and I didn't want to do something to upset her. Then, two weeks ago, because I'd finally asked Kara to introduce us, she dragged me and my buddy Kyle to the table she and Juliana always sit at for lunch and did exactly that."

"What has Kara told you about what Juliana is?" Charles asked.

Ryan frowned. "I'm not sure what you mean, sir."

"My daughter is a submissive wolf. That makes dominant wolves, and sometimes dominant humans, feel very protective of her. I believe that's what you're feeling, it's why you're making it her choice, because you feel protective of her."

Ryan nodded. "Yeah, I guess I do. I didn't know about that. I guess granddad hasn't told me everything there is to know about werewolves."

Charles heard the bedroom door open and turned. "You're growing up on me little one," he said when he saw Juliana.

Ryan stood and turned. "Wow, Jules, you look beautiful," he said. He'd gone with a shirt in a pale lavender with black dress slacks, jacket, and tie.

"Thank you," Juliana said with a shy smile. "You look really handsome," she admitted. The purple shirt actually looked pretty good on him.

When they got to the living room Anna took several pictures of them together then kissed her daughter's cheek. "Have fun tonight sweetie."

"Have her home by midnight," Charles said after giving his daughter a kiss on the cheek as well.

"Yes sir," Ryan said before he offered his arm to Juliana and escorted her out.

"I'm surprised you didn't tell him to bring her home earlier," Anna said.

"He won't do anything to hurt her or pressure her or else I would have," Charles replied.

Anna arched a brow. "You know that just from talking to him?" When he nodded she shook her head. "I don't know how you do it honey. I still would have been doubtful but I trust your judgment."

********************A&O********************

They arrived at the school and Ryan escorted her inside. Kyle and Kara were waiting for them. Kara went with a dress in red and black. The dress looked like it was draped over her frame, mostly in a dark violet red that split at the waist to reveal the black inner lining. There was sheer fabric with lace attached to it across her shoulders and arms to look like a short cape that was actually sleeves. It looked good on her.

"Hi guys," Ryan said as they approached them.

Kara turned and her eyes widened at Juliana's dress. "Jules, that dress is absolutely gorgeous. Where did you get it?"

"I made it," Juliana said, a hint of pride in her voice. "Yours looks gorgeous too, but I could never pull off the red and black like that," she added.

"You made it? That is absolutely amazing," Kara said then she preened. "Thanks. Come on guys, let's go dance," she added and they headed into the gym. It had been transformed from a bland gymnasium to a gold and silver dream.

"Wow, the homecoming committee did a great job," Juliana said.

"Yeah they did," Kara agreed. Music was playing, kids were talking and laughing, and everyone seemed to already be having a blast as the quartet found a table to sit at.

Juliana glanced around the gym and her gaze found Cole. He stood with the jocks and their dates, his arm around Kelly, who's little black dress looked like if she bent over she'd flash everything she had at the room, and some of the good feelings Juliana had disappeared. Seeing him hurt but she shoved it down. She wouldn't let it ruin the night. She'd known she'd see him with Kelly, she'd thought she was prepared for that, but the dress made Jules wonder just how intense things were between the two. She shook her head slightly. No, she wouldn't think about that. She really didn't want to know. There was a festive air to the dance because they'd won their homecoming game the night before and people were still stoked about the win.

"You okay?" Kara asked softly. She could practically feel Juliana's emotions but she'd also seen the slight head shake, although she didn't think Ryan noticed.

Juliana shrugged. "Doesn't really matter, Kara. We're here to have fun, right? Let's have fun."

********************A&O********************

Cole stood there next to Kelly, his arm wrapped around her waist, but when Juliana walked in he found he couldn't take his eyes off her. She looked beautiful and it made him remember feelings he'd tried to get rid of because she was just his friend. If he'd known she had stronger feelings for him, he'd have never asked Kelly out. But he didn't know. When he finally tore his gaze from her it took a lot more effort than was pretty.

Kelly frowned up at him. "What's wrong?" she asked.

"Nothing, just thinking too hard, I guess," he replied and was glad she let it go. He let her drag him onto the dance floor to distract himself from his thoughts.

********************A&O********************

Juliana was shy about going out onto the dance floor, she wasn't sure she was much of a dancer, but soon Kara got her out there and she was having too much fun to be embarrassed. There was a lot of laughter, a lot of fun, they munched on goodies from the long table set up on one end of the gym, and she found herself really enjoying the night.

A slow song came on and Ryan looked at Juliana. "Care to dance?" he asked and held a hand out to her.

Jules bit her lip then slipped her hand into his. She could try to let herself think of him as more than a friend. He was really cute, after all.

Ryan was careful as he pulled her close. He kept a comfortable distance between their bodies so she wouldn't tense up. It wasn't just because Charles Cornick was one scary mofo, he didn't want to do anything to make her uncomfortable. The night was coming to an end though and he wasn't sure if he'd have the courage to even try to see if there was a spark between them if he didn't do it now. As the song ended he leaned down and kissed her.

Juliana was startled when he kissed her and she froze for a second. Her first kiss and it didn't move her. Not like she thought a kiss should. She pulled back from him and looked down. "I'm sorry Ryan, really I am. You're cute, and you've been really great, and I wish..." She sighed softly. "I just... I don't feel that way about you, I'm sorry."

Ryan touched her arm. "Jules, it's okay. I had to try, had to see. I told you, if it's just as friends then okay. But the only way to know if there's a chance for more is to try, right? Honest, it's okay."

She'd started to panic, thinking he'd be upset, but his words diffused the fear. "You're sure?" she asked and when he nodded she relaxed. "Okay."

********************A&O********************

Cole was on the dance floor, not all that far from where Ryan and Juliana were dancing, with Kelly practically plastered against him. You'd think his mind would be on his girlfriend pressed against him with the promise of more than a dance but he kept glancing discreetly at Juliana. When the song ended and Ryan kissed her, Cole wanted to go pull him away from her. He didn't hear what Juliana said to Ryan but he saw her reaction and he'd actually started to pull away from Kelly when he saw Jules relax. Whatever was being said she wasn't upset anymore and he was able to let himself be tugged off the dance floor by his girlfriend.

********************A&O********************

Juliana was quiet on the short drive to her home. She felt kind of bad because she wasn't up to going to the little 'after party' that everyone knew about. She'd asked Ryan if he minded taking her home and he'd assured her he didn't. "I'm sorry this wasn't such a great night," she said softly. "Maybe you should have taken somebody else, someone who wasn't such a... loser," she added.

"You're not a loser, Jules. I had fun tonight. You do remember I asked you to go as friends, right? Is this because I kissed you? I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done that."

Juliana shifted in the seat. "No, it's okay. It was nice, but I still feel bad that it didn't make me feel the way they say a kiss should. You really are great, I guess we're just not... compatible."

Ryan reached over and gave her hand a squeeze. "Don't sweat it. Tonight was fun. Hey, you should come watch rehearsals, come give me, Kara, and Kyle some support," he said with a laugh. "You can come watch us prance around in tights." The drama club was doing A Midsummer Night's Dream.

That made Juliana laugh. "Maybe I will."

They pulled into the driveway and Ryan walked her to the door. "Thanks for a fun night, Jules," he said before he kissed her cheek and went back to his car.

"You too, Ryan," she replied and went inside. She was an hour early but she was happy to be home. She was confused about a number of things and decided it was time to open up to her mother and get some much needed advice.

"You're home early," Anna said when Juliana came inside. She studied her daughter's face. "Is everything alright?" she asked gently.

"I don't know, mama," Juliana replied. "But can we talk in the morning? I'm kinda tired," she added.

"Of course, sweetheart," Anna said and after Juliana slipped into her bedroom Anna shared a concerned look with her mate. Something was weighing heavily on her daughter's mind. Anna just hoped she was able to help her with it when she finally confided in her come morning.