"Come on Kat live a little would ya?" Rachel huffed as she flopped down on my bed. Kat is Rachel's nickname for me. She says I remind her of Kat Von D with the dyed black hair, tattoos and piercings or whatever. It's cool cause I call her Barbie cause well yeah. If you saw her you would get it. She totally looks like one I swear.

Right now she's trying to convince me that I should lie to Charlie. "I don't want to lie to Charlie." And I meant it. He had been good to me since I came here over two months ago. Life was barreling past me at a blinding speed. I couldn't believe it had been a month since I first met Rachel at grief counseling.

It turned out that while we might look like we'd have nothing in common we were so alike it was scary. Much to Charlie's delight we were practically inseparable now. If I wasn't at her house, she was at mine. I wasn't happy, but I wasn't suicidal anymore either. I guess this is what being 'okay' feels like. I may smile and laugh now but there was still a huge void in my heart that ached daily to remind me I wasn't whole. It seemed true happiness was still just out of reach for me. So I was settling for this feeling of okay.

Rachel flipped onto her back with a dramatic sigh. "You're not lying. You will be spending the weekend with me. We just won't be, ya know, at my house. Which if phrased properly will keep you from lying all together."

I laughed as I sat Indian style on my desk chair. "That's called a lie by omission."

Rachel waved away my logic. "Just live a little for crying out loud! Besides you should see these La Push boys!" She fanned herself as she let out a low whistle. "Hawtness for real."

I rolled my eyes at her as I answered flippantly. "Like I would care."

She was trying to convince me to go to La Push for the weekend with her. Seems she had landed herself an older man by the name of Paul. The only thing is that daddy didn't approve so they were keeping things on the dl until she turned 18. That was partly why she needed me to lie. I was to say I was staying with her this weekend and she would say she was staying with me. In reality she wanted us to go and spend the weekend at Paul's house.

Rachel snorted. "Last time I knew you didn't play for the other team." When I rolled my eyes she continued. "Hello. Hot buff guys half naked! What's wrong with you? At least go enjoy the eye candy."

Okay that slightly got my attention. I mean I was feeling a little bit more like my old self lately. "Half naked? Why on earth are they half naked?"

She wiggled her brows at me. "What can I say those La Push boys run a little hotter than most men?"

I rolled my eyes. "You're such a dork."

I watched the laughter leave her face only to be replaced with sadness. "Please Kat? I haven't seen Paul in over two weeks. I can't pass up the chance to spend an entire weekend with him."

And there was a sucker punch to the gut. I wonder if those puppy dog eyes worked on Paul cause they were sure as hell working on me. "Fine but I'm going to be miserable the entire time."

Rachel jumped up off the bed and bum rushed me in a huge hug. "YOU'RE THE BEST FRIEND EVER!" I had to cover my ears to shield them from her squealing. "You're going to have fun I swear! We can chill at the beach, do a little cliff diving, hiking…"

I gave her the 'ya sure' look. "Who are you trying to kid? You're going to be all lovely dovey with Paul." I did my best to sound disgusted. Cause yeah I had a feeling that I would be feeling just that if I saw them together.

She shrugged grinning like the cat that ate the canary. "When you see him you won't blame me." Grabbing my duffle she tossed it at me. "Now get packed already."

A half hour later we were heading down the road, only after I had called and cleared the way with Charlie of course. The way to La Push was longer then I thought. It felt as though I was leaving something behind. My skin broke out in goose bumps the closer we got to it. Something was going to happen, I was sure of it. Nothing is going to be the same. My heart started racing with a strange rush of energy. This isn't normal. Am I having a heart attack?

Rachel glanced over at me as the small homes that make up La Push started to come into view. "Are you okay?"

I frowned rubbing my arms. Man my hands are clammy. I couldn't shake the feeling of…something. It was almost like the feeling you get on Christmas Eve when you're a kid. Anticipation maybe? Is that what I'm feeling? I was used to feeling anxiety not anticipation. "I don't know. I feel…weird."

"Weird as in physically sick weird or fainting weird? Cause there is NO getting sick in the Subaru." True to her nature she tried to make light of something that had me weirded out enough for her to notice.

I raised my slightly shaking hand to my heart. "I promise not to defile the Subaru."

Rachel nodded grinning slightly. "Damn straight you won't."

To say I wasn't shocked when she brought the car to a stop would be a lie. It was a small home, nothing fancy. It was what us city folk would have called a shack if I was being honest. Now I did understand why daddy wouldn't approve. This would in no way be good enough for his little girl. "Oh my God..." I breathed as five half naked men broke through the tree line on my right. I was speechless, totally speechless.

"Was I right or was I right?" Rachel's tone of voice let me know she thought she was right.

I scanned each one over starting with the one on the right. He held the air of authority with him and I had no doubt he was the one in charge. The one beside him was of average build, the middle was a little taller than the other and more defined. The third one came all but running to the car much to the teasing of his buddies. I was guessing he had to be Paul. The other two in the group seemed slightly younger. One was tall and skinny the other short and stocky. All five of them didn't seem to have an ounce of fat on them, lucky bastards.

Rachel got out of the car like it was fire and raced into Paul's arms. There was squealing as he lifted and swung her around. She was so happy I felt like a voyeur sitting here watching. I turned my head to look out the window saving myself the aching pain that came from watching the happy couple. Slowly a figure emerged from the woods. It was another half naked man. He moved with the grace they all seemed to have but that wasn't what had my attention. Glorious well toned muscles moved under his tan skin. He had short black hair but I couldn't see the color of his eyes from my point of view. I really couldn't see a whole lot about him. One thing was obvious though, he wasn't happy. His handsome face was twisted into a scowl.

The insane part of me begged for him to look my way. I wanted him to see me. How insane is that? But he of course didn't. He stood with his back to me talking to the two younger guys. From their body language I was guessing they were all friends. Look at me. Fear and a sense of urgency welled up until I thought I might start to hyperventilate. "Please." I whispered aloud as I turned towards mystery man, my hand resting on the door.

As if hearing me he turned first to look at Paul and Rachel, then slowly he turned towards the car. My breath caught in my throat as the intense anger in his brown eyes seared me. He looked angry but the deeper I looked I could see the agony hidden beneath the anger. Something bad had happened to him, and like me he'd have scars to show for it. Instinctively I reached out to what? Comfort him? A complete stranger? I've officially lost it.

I was so engrossed by him that I all but jumped out of my skin when suddenly Rachel was all I could see. "Are you going to hide in there all day?"

I rolled the window down slightly. "Oh. Uhhhh, sorry. I um, got distracted or something."

Rachel looked over her shoulder then back to me smiling. "Looking to make new friends are we?"

I snorted even though I was sure I was blushing like hell. "Shut the hell up."

"You know I could have Paul invite them over. Or even better we can go hang at Sam's. That's normally where the group chills."

My eyes turned into saucers. "Yeah. NO. I'm good. But I wouldn't mind knowing who everyone is."

Rachel raised her brow but didn't ask which one I wanted to know about. That would be later when we were on the way home I'm sure. "Well obviously the hottest guy in the group is Paul, who is currently talking to Sam and Jared."

I looked over to where Paul and the one I assumed was Sam were standing talking. There was another guy, the average one, sitting on a tree stump. I guessed that was Jared. "Jared's the one sitting?"

Rachel answered without taking her eyes off Paul. "Mmmhmm."

"And the other three?" I asked in a flippant tone. Well that's what I was hoping it sounded like. I really just wanted to ask about the mystery guy but that would open a can of worms I didn't want to deal with.

We both looked over to where the other group had been standing; only now it was just the short stocky one and the skinny one. My distraction had obviously pulled a Criss Angel. For some insane reason I felt deflated. The excitement I had been feeling just a second ago was now lost.

"That" she said in a conspiratorial tone as she turned back to look at me grinning, "is Embry and Quil. Quil is taken but Embry is still single."

"Ohhhh no. I know that tone. No trying to hook me up!" Unless it's with mystery guy. Where is this coming from? This is sooo not me. I don't go gaga over a guy, not even with….I swallowed hard, Eric.

Rachel feigned shock and utter disbelief well. "I would NEVER think of doing such a thing! How could you even think that?"

I rolled my eyes at her. "Uh huh, yeah sure."

Just then Paul called out. "Babe?"

Rachel's entire face light up. "We'll be right in. Why don't you and Embry go in awhile?"

She did NOT just do that! I gritted my teeth as I watched all of the men turn to look at her and me. Quil clapped his hand on Embry's shoulder a huge smart ass grin on his face before turning and jogging off. "I'm going to hurt you." I mumbled under my breath as I watched Paul and Embry head in.

"You're going to thank me." You couldn't have gotten her smile off with a sander. Boy was she enjoying this too much. I was going to get her back if it was the last thing I did.

"Don't hold your breath Barbie." I replied with more than a little venom in my voice.

True to her nature Rachel just laughed at me. "I won't. Now come on. It's time for you to make some new friends." Grabbing a hold of my hand she started to pull me towards the house.

I groaned but let her drag me towards the house. Today, if nothing else, would be interesting.