Jpov

I knew Talking to Tani in art was a mistake. I knew before I opened my mouth, while I was talking to her, and instantly after I left that I'd crossed a line I shouldn't have allowed myself to cross, but still… The way she'd smiled at me. Was that so wrong?

'Don't think about it,' I thought stubbornly. 'Don't think about her.'

But I couldn't help it. I had to. I didn't want to stop.

It was amazing how just a few minutes of conversation had utterly destroyed my resolve. I'd been struggling and struggling to stay away from her for weeks, and in the second she'd smiled like that I'd completely let it go. It was the same smile she'd had when we were kids. Seeing it was like seeing the summer sun after weeks of winter. Nothing compared to it. It was the best feeling I'd ever experienced.

I shouldn't have talked to her. I knew it was going to be that much harder to stay away from her now, but even if it was I didn't care. It had been worth it.

"You're in a good mood." Lewis said suspiciously as he, Chase, and I walked to gym.

"So?"

"You're never in a good mood lately." He continued.

"He's right." Chase agreed. "It's weird."

I shrugged while they both continued to watch me cautiously, as if I was a bomb that was about to go off.

"Did you kill a blood sucker between classes or something?" Lewis pressed apparently unable to restrain himself after about thirty seconds of silence.

"Jason doesn't care about that." Chase said rolling his eyes. "You're the only one of us who gets a thrill out of murder."

"It's not murder." Lewis scoffed. "It's hunting. Blood suckers aren't people."

"Speaking of people who are in a good mood." Chase said nodding towards the opposite side of the gym as we entered, where Alex and Tani were talking excitedly about something. I caught the words 'Force' and 'light saber' and knew they were planning to marathon The Star Wars movies soon.

"What does Aster say?" he asked looking at me. "Is Alex any closer to phasing?"

"Not that we can tell."

"Do you think being a geek has something to do with it?" Lewis wondered aloud. "Cuz I'd totally start reading comic books if it helped me stop bursting into wolf form every time I fight with my little brother."

"I think you've just got a short temper Lewis, nothing is going to help that." Chase said with a smirk and Lewis shrugged.

They continued to debate whether or not comic books really helped control phasing as we changed in the locker rooms.

"The entire premise is stupid." Chase said as he pulled his uniform out of his locker and took off his shirt.

"It could be working for Alex." Lewis insisted. "He reads a lot of comics, he's always got one with him at school."

"I don't care if he keeps a hundred comics with him." Chase said in exasperation. "You're not going to convince me a bunch of pictures crappily stapled together are going to stop a wolf from phasing."

"Ok but if they really did help." Lewis said pulling on his shorts. "Which do you think would be more effective? Marvel or D.C.?"

"I don't the publisher matters." Chase said, apparently becoming interested in the topic in spite of himself. "I think it be more about what kind of hero you're reading."

"So Batman or Superman, which one would give you better control?"

"Batman obviously." Chase said. "He's all about restraint."

"See I think it would be Superman." Lewis countered. "He's born with powers, super hero strength, sound familiar?" he asked with a significant expression. "Batman only needs restraint when he's fighting. Superman has to be careful twenty-four seven."

"What do you think Jason?"

"I think you're both idiots." I said rolling my eyes and their faces fell until I said. "We're obviously Hulks."

"Good point." Chase said with a laugh.

"Yeah." Lewis agreed. "People really don't like us when we're angry."

I grinned and after we shut our lockers we walked back into the gym.

They started debating what an over dose of radiation would do to our abilities but I lost track of their conversation when I spotted Tani sitting on the bleachers. She waiting for Alex and looking as usual as if her mind was somewhere else.

As always when I saw her the world seemed to fall away until she was the only thing I could see. She didn't realize how beautiful she was, I knew she didn't. She never had. Even when we were kids she didn't realize the effect on the few people who actually saw her. But then again maybe that was why she liked to be in her own little world. If she'd known how I saw her it might be a little overwhelming.

I'd never much liked being what I was. I didn't like fighting, even if I was good at it. It bothered me how so much of our power was so heavily influenced by the unstable emotions I'd fought so hard all my life to control. I hated how easily I could hurt people, how it had caused me to hurt her and I only tolerated my position as pack leader because I knew it was what the others wanted but if it allowed me to protect her… Well, maybe it was worth it. In this insane world of shape shifters and vampires, and god knows what else was out there, she was the one thing I could look at and see as absolutely good. A ray of sunlight in this dark shadow that had crossed over my life, and I would die before I let anything block it out.

Of course she didn't realize any of this. Even as kids, when my anger was so much more manageable, it was easier when she was around. I was more than happy to just watch her get lost in her own world, waiting for her to eventually come back to me. I knew she'd never known how much of a hold she'd had over me and I didn't tell her because I knew she wouldn't know how to react to it, but maybe that's why I'd been so angry whenever any other boy had given her attention. I wanted all of the time when she was aware of what was going on around her to be with me and that hadn't changed.

She was pulling at the sleeve of her left arm unconsciously trying to cover the scars that ran down her arm and I felt a cold weight settle in my stomach, freezing the warm feeling in my heart.

"You probably shouldn't stare at them." Said a voice and I looked down to see Rachel was standing next to me. "It makes her self conscious."

"Right." I said forcing myself to look away.

"It's weird though." She said frowning. "The one she's most self conscious about you can't even see."

"What are you talking about?"

"The one on her neck." She said.

"Her neck?" I asked looking at her in confusion. "She doesn't have a scar on her neck."

"Yes she does." Rachel continued gesturing to a spot between just above her collar bone and shoulder. "Right there. I'm not surprised you don't know about it. It's always covered, either by her hair or her shirt. Ask Sarah. It's why she only braids her hair to that side."

"Hey! Rach!" Chase said and we turned to see he and Lewis had been joined by Sarah. "Who do you think would win? The Hulk version of Lewis or the Hulk version of me?"

"What?" she asked looking totally confused.

"Don't ask." I said rolling my eyes.

"Alright ladies." Taffot said walking into the gym from his office. "We're playing basket ball today."

I saw Alex grin down at Tani who looked most unenthusiastic about the activity choice for the day.

"You gonna play?" Alex asked her and she shook her head.

"I think I'll take the zero for the day." She muttered and he shrugged then went to line up with the rest of the class while Tani stayed on the bleachers.

"Pick your teams." Taffot said tossing Chase a sack of pinnies.

Unsurprisingly, most of the points were scored mostly by Chase, Lewis, Alex, and I. Basketball was a tall person game, and when you had a foot over most of the class you had an advantage.

I knew Lewis and Chase were trying to show off as much as possible for their girlfriends, and I could tell Alex was enjoying his new found athletic ability but for once I didn't really care who won this game.

"Come on man." Lewis said irritated as Chase blew by me and dunked the ball. I'd been distracted when I'd noticed Tani staring at me. "Get your head in the game!"

I muttered an apology I didn't really feel and he made a hopeless gesture. I guess if Tani cared at all about sports I might have been just as competitive as them but I knew I could have scored eight three pointers in a row and she wouldn't have cared. She probably wouldn't have noticed. Every time Alex got excited about a basket he made he'd smirk at her and she'd roll her eyes obviously irritated her nerdy, level headed best friend was acting like such a guy. She laughed as he made a funny face and the ball went back into play.

With five minutes left in the game Chase and Alex had pulled ahead and play was getting very competitive. It wasn't just us anymore.

"Hey! Watch it!" someone shouted and we looked over to see a boy named Zach getting to his feet next to Alex who'd accidentally knocked him over.

"Sorry man." Alex said offering a hand to help him up but Zach ignored it.

"Just watch where you're going." Zach spat and Alex looked a little annoyed.

"It was an accident dude."

I saw Tani frown as her eyes moved to Alex, but the rest of the players started to regroup.

"Are you kidding? That was totally an intentional foul!"

"I didn't even see you!" Alex snapped and several people stared at him. He never shouted.

In unison Chase, Lewis, and I all started walking towards Alex, like me they thought he might be losing control, but my fear doubled when I realized Tani had gotten there first.

"Are you ok?" she asked putting a hand on his arm, but his temper increased.

"No!" he said indignantly. He looked mean. "He's been acting like a total jerk the entire game and now he's saying I fouled him?"

"It's not a big deal." Tani muttered.

"No it is a big deal." Alex said taking an aggressive step towards Zach who backed away realizing just how much bigger Alex was than him. "He's acting like an ass."

"Alex calm down." Tani said stepping between the two as if she'd have been able to do anything.

"I'm sick of people like him pushing me around!"

Several people were looking at them now, but I was surprised that Tani alone didn't look scared. Just concerned for her friend.

"Just let it go."

"No!" he shouted trying to push passed her but she didn't move. I saw a shudder go through him and gave up all pretense as I started to run. This had to be it. He was finally going to phase.

"Tani get out of the way." Alex snarled trying to get passed her to Zach. He pushed her a little too hard she started to fall but Chase caught Tani as I stepped between the two.

"Walk away." I said grabbing his arm and forcing him towards the exit of the gym.

"You're on his side?" he asked furiously.

"You need to calm down."

"But-" he started indignantly.

"Alex I don't give a crap about basketball." I said angrily. "And neither do you and if you lose your temper around her you're going to regret it."

I didn't say Tani's name but I didn't have to. What else did we have in common?

He glanced back into the gym where Sarah and Rachel had converged on Tani to see if she was ok and suddenly, it was as if the anger that had sparked so suddenly within him just vanished. He seemed to realize what he'd done and once again a moment we'd been so sure he was about to phase passed with nothing.

"Go home." I said stiffly.

"I should talk to Tani." He said looking guilty

"Go home." I repeated. "You can talk to her later, once you've cooled off."

I didn't care if it looked like he'd stopped the phasing for now. I didn't want him anywhere near her until we could be sure.

"You can't tell me what to do." He said but his voice was uncertain, as if he wasn't quite sure he believed it.

"Watch me." I said darkly.

"She's my best friend." He muttered resentfully.

"I don't care."

He gave me a shrewd look.

"I see what this is about." He said quietly in a tone that surprised me into letting him go.

"You don't understand." I started angrily.

"No I think I do." He said annoyed and I willed myself to keep calm.

"You're around her all the time and if you lose your temper-"

"What? I'll turn into you?" he asked raising an eyebrow.

"Yes." I said flatly.

"I'm not you." He said stiffly.

"You're more like me than you think." I snapped and he looked at me his expression hard to read, but his eyes were narrowed. I didn't like the way he was looking at me.

"You're still obsessed with her." He said quietly, realization dawning on his features.

"I don't know what you're talking about." I said looking away from him.

"You are, aren't you?" he asked and I couldn't tell if he was angry or not. "It's just like how it was before she left the reservation. I wasn't sure if you were in love with her or you hated her, but what I did know was that you had to have her all to yourself." He hesitated, still looking at me before continuing. "You can't stand the thought that you have to share her with anyone else, can you?"

I looked at him helplessly, knowing there was nothing I could say to deny it that he would believe. How could I when he was right?

"I don't understand you two." He said shaking his head. "Why can't you just get over what happened and be friends again? You both obviously miss each other."

"Tani misses me?" I asked quietly, unable to keep a small hope from rising within me.

"She'd never admit it to anyone but I know she does."

"I thought she hated me."

"Has she ever hated you Jason?" he asked annoyed. "I mean she's been mad, but how long as that ever lasted?"

I avoided the question.

"It doesn't matter. It's probably better if I wasn't around her anyways."

"God you both are so dramatic." He said sounding irritated again. "Fine. I'll go home if it really means that much to you, but you know it wouldn't kill you to try and talk things out."

"I thought you of all people would want me to stay away from her." I said confused.

"Why?"

"You're her best friend."

"Yeah. Which means I know Tani." He said shrewdly. "And she's happiest when she's around you."

He shook his head and made his way down the hall towards his locker where he no doubt was going to grab his things before driving home. I watched him go feeling conflicted, and the bell rang.

Students flooded the hall and I made my way to my locker. I was just wondering if I could convince the pack to ditch the girls and go cliff diving when a voice drove all thought from my mind.

"Hey."

I turned and looked down to see Tani, her glasses pushed to the top of her head, was looking up at me holding a bundle of fabric in her arms.

"Hey." I said in complete surprise and she looked away apparently afraid to make eye contact.

"This is yours." She said holding out what I recognized to be my jacket.

"Oh, thanks." I said taking it and she hesitated kicking the back of her heel with her toe and biting her lip in the way that I knew meant she was nervous about something. "What's wrong?" I asked and she looked up at me.

"What's wrong with Alex?"

"What?" I asked completely floored.

"You know something's wrong with him, I know you do." She insisted her eyes meeting mine. "I could see it when you forced him out of the gym. You and his friends are always staring at him. And he never acts like he did today. We both know something is wrong."

"Why are you asking me this?" I asked quietly.

"Because unlike everyone else, you're the only other person who seems worried. Do you know what it is?"

I hesitated. I wanted to lie and tell her everything was ok, but I just couldn't bring myself to do it. I couldn't lie to her.

"I can't tell you." I said and she looked away bitterly.

"Of course you can't."

"Tani, wait." I started but she shook her head.

"I'll see you around Jason." She said dejectedly and walked away.