A/N: This chapter is called Lucas because I got the quote at the beginning from a book called 'Lucas' (and I always name my chapters after whichever poem/novel I take the quote from), so it actually has nothing to do with her brother. Sorry for any confusion that might cause.
Also, 100+ reviews? You have got to be freaking kidding me. I might need someone to slap my face and wake me from my shocked stupor at some stage. Really, honestly, you people are the most wonderful people in the entire world.
And finally, as a warning: this chapter is a little fluffy. I hope none of you are hardcore cynics...

"Is this what it's supposed to be like? Is this how it's supposed to feel?

Like a rollercoaster?

Like a lifetime's emotions squeezed into a single minute?

Like heaven and hell, sweet and sour, light and dark?

Like losing your mind?"

- Kevin Brooks

My stomach had long ago resituated itself in my throat, my knuckles were white from gripping tightly to Embry's laughing form, and my breathing had decided to abandon its regular pattern and was now coming in short gulps as I tried to grab oxygen from the air flying past us. Every single one of my body's reactions indicated terror, but I felt none of it.

Pure adrenaline was flowing through my veins, and a flush rose on my cheeks in spite of the cold wind lashing at them. The forest passed us in a beautiful green blur; my head was constantly twisted to the side in order to better watch it go by.

When we stopped, it was too soon. Much, much too soon. I stayed motionless on the back of the bike, and Embry eventually had to peel my hands from around his waist and lift me off.

"Are you okay?" He looked concerned.

I laughed loudly, the excitement flowing out of me.

"That was amazing. I can't believe I was almost too scared to do that!" My voice was throaty after breathing in air that moved past me at such a high speed for so long.

He looked pleased; immeasurably so.

"Excellent, I'll have you cliff-diving in no time," he winked as he pointed behind me.

It was only then that I actually opened my eyes to our surroundings, and I fought back a gasp of recognition as I realised we were right back where we'd started: at the beach where I'd first seen him. It looked different without the dark night and flickering firelight to set it off. More… normal somehow. Which was odd, because there was nothing about this current situation that felt normal to me.

I followed his point and saw the immense cliffs towering over everything, the sea lapping menacingly at their base.

I snorted.

"Yeah, that's not happening. At all. Ever."

He grabbed my hand, twined his fingers around mine and pulled me down the beach with him. I was surprised by the gesture, and my eyes immediately flicked to his face and gave this away. He caught me looking and grinned.

"Oh, so it's okay that you randomly kiss me whenever you feel like it but I can't hold your hand?"

I smiled at the insanity of it and didn't respond because, as usual, he was right.

We moved down the beach slowly. It was a dull day, and while there was no rain, the wind was fierce. I used my free hand to pull my hair out of its plaits, allowing the wind to dry it into the soft waves it had already began to form.

We stopped at the remains of bonfire; the massive area of charred earth was still surrounded by the circle of logs. He sat down on one, pulling me down beside him and wrapping his arm around me.

I jolted unconsciously at his touch again and sighed. All these little affectionate movements seemed to come so easily to him, yet my brain had to practically abandon the rest of my body before I could even consider kissing him. I felt him stiffen at my sigh, and tentatively leaned my head against the crook of his arm to show that it hadn't been because of the contact.

"You seem constantly surprised whenever I come within a foot of you. Is it… do you want me to back off a little?" he asked quietly.

I had to remind myself that I had only known him a week then, because it honestly felt as though he could read my thoughts. Even Aidan could never have been this perceptive so quickly, and we had shared a womb, for Christ's sake.

"No!"

My own vehemence surprised me.

He laughed, twirled his fingers in my hair while murmuring "Good."

"It's just that… I'm not good at this. I used to be good at this, but now…" I shrugged my shoulders as best I could while still in his embrace. My mind was caught up in frenzied thoughts.

I used to be good at this, but now…

I knew that sentence would bring on questions. I knew he would ask what had happened to make things this way for me, in that gloriously husky voice that seemed to both plead and reassure at the same time.

But could I tell him?

Would he wish I had kept my mouth shut if I let the secret out? Wish that it was something he'd never found out about because it was something that required acknowledgement, and once he knew, there was no way to take back the knowledge? It would be something he would have to deal with. Would he thank me for forcing that upon him?

I had to constantly remind myself that I'd only known him a week. It was beyond insane and into the valley of the terminally deluded to even think about telling someone I'd only known a week a story that personal.

I couldn't. Aside from the trust issues that I wasn't quite ready to get over yet, I wasn't going to burden him with my crap. It just wasn't fair.

All through this thought process I felt his eyes on me, but it was only now that I looked up and met his gaze. His eyes were curious, but patient. I sighed again, half smiled.

"Too soon to tell me?"

"How do you do that?" I breathed.

"Do what?"

"Know what I'm thinking, almost before I know what I'm thinking."

He grinned, but didn't answer. I asked him what he was thinking, and he grinned some more but still wouldn't tell me. After several minutes of this, I pulled off the white scarf I'd been wearing around my neck and waved it in his face.

"Fine. I give up. This just means the 'East of Eden' discussion has to start sooner though."

"You still don't believe that I've read it, do you?"

"Nope. So tell me your favourite part and prove me wrong."

I tilted my head back so I could send him what I imagined was a challenging glare. I'm clearly not as intimidating as I like to think though, since he just glared right back at me.

"'I think I love you, Cal,'" he whispered.

I bit down on my lip hard. My favourite part. He'd just voiced the beginning of my favourite part.

"'But I'm not good,'" I intoned, grateful I'd read the book so many times over that I knew it word for word.

"'Because you're not good.'"

My head was still tilted to the side, with my chin raised a little so I could see him better. He kissed me again then, slipping the hand that wasn't already around me up my neck and into my hair. It was just like the last time: I felt everything in me disconnect until I was just reacting with no thought involved whatsoever. His ragged breathing when we eventually broke away indicated he was enduring something similar.

My head was dizzy, and my stomach, which had started performing magnificent acrobatic acts as soon as his lips touched mine, still hadn't returned to normal. I took a deep breath and attempted to think rationally again. It was utterly impossible. I'd never had any kisses like that, ever. I'd had some damn good kisses in my time, don't get me wrong, but nothing that made my brain fall out and my world spin on its ass like it did with Embry.

He got up after that, and I reached for his hand without thinking about it for once. We walked back along the beach, talking quietly like we had every day this week about the trivial things that matter so much.

My cell phone was set to silent and it was with a pinch of regret that I checked it and noted the fifteen missed phone calls from my mom. I sighed deeply, and told Embry that he'd better take me home now. The disappointment in his face was so potent that I laughed loudly, and he stared at me, totally nonplussed.

"You look like I've just told you I kill kittens in my spare time."

We were at the motorbike now, and when I tried to get on he stopped me, leaning close to my face. I felt my stomach begin its circus act again and I was sure he was going to kiss me, but then I felt his warm breath on my ear.

"Cats are severely overrated."

He drove me back, and I spent the entire journey attempting to ignore the addictive exhilaration the motorbike brought out in me so I could focus on the hell that was going to be waiting for me at home. It was impossible to block out though, and I ended up passing the time in much the same way I had the first time I'd gotten on the back of the bike.

He parked one street down from my house, I guess not wanting to aggravate the situation any by showing my mom and dad that I'd spent the day driving around on the back of a motorcycle.

I hopped off, and I think he was moving in to kiss me goodbye when I grabbed his hand and tried to haul him off with me. He didn't move of course. I rolled my eyes at my pathetic upper body strength.

"Addie, what exactly are you doing? Besides trying to give yourself a hernia, I mean?" He looked amused.

But an idea had occurred to me, worked its way into my brain and I was now powerless in preventing myself from attempting to carry it out.

"I think it's time you met the family."

His face froze then and I almost shouted "HAHA" at the quick transition he had just made from mocking my strength to totally freaking out.

"You're not serious?"

"Completely."

"But… your mom hates me." His voice was strangled.

"My mom doesn't know you. I hated you that night at the bonfire, for Gods sake, and look at me now. All she needs is to get to know you." I smiled wickedly.

"You hated me?"

"Of course. You were unbearably smug."

He looked a little heartbroken, and I kissed him in apology. He smiled then, and I wondered how much of that heartbroken look had been a show just to get this reaction from me.

He climbed off the bike, and traipsed after me down the street at a comically slow pace. I could feel small spits of rain starting, their timing uncannily perfect for once. Tripping lightly up my front path, I wondered about my mood. I must be giddy from the afternoon. That had to be it. There could be no other explanation as to why I wasn't quivering in fear or anger right now. Because I should be. My mom and dad were going to be furious. Not only had I run away for a couple of hours without leaving any explanation, I had run away with a boy they had explicitly told me I wasn't to see again. A boy I was now going to bring into my house with me in an attempt to introduce them all.

Enough. Just get it over with.

I pulled open the front door, and it creaked as I led Embry in behind me and shut over with a bang. My mom came storming out of the front room, my dad close behind her.

"Adalia Marie George, do you have any idea how worried…"

Her mouth formed a perfect 'O' of surprise and the words appeared to fall right out of her mouth as she stopped dead, taking in the sight of Embry standing just behind me. I took a deep breath.

"Mom, Dad: there's someone I want you to meet."