They got there just as the party was getting into full swing. The girls hopped out of the buggy themselves, and Eli climbed down after them to secure the horses to a post. As they walked through the door with a couple of other people, Sarah could hear loud, pounding music playing in the background, and see teenage couples dancing in the middle of the living room. She frowned in distaste.

Jenna and Rebekah didn't seem to notice.

"Isn't this so cool?" Jen squealed ecstatically. "Look at all these people! I can't wait to meet some of my old friends. And make new ones, too. C'mon, Sarah, I'll introduce you!" She grinned happily, and took Sarah by the arm. Rebekah followed behind. Eli had disappeared into the crowd.

Sarah allowed herself to be led like a puppy around the crowded room, and was introduced to several friendly-looking people. They seemed to like her alright, and she them, but somehow, she just didn't feel too comfortable in this setting.

"Whew! Um…Jenna? I think I need to take a little break. If I get introduced to any more people, I'll have a major brain overload from all the new names and go into spasms." Sarah smiled at Jen, and gently unhooked her arm.

"What, already? You haven't even met half the people I know yet!"

"Jenna. Let's face it. You have too many friends for me to meet all in one evening. Let's take it slowly, 'k?"

"Ok…" Jenna said reluctantly. "Then what are you going to do?"

"Me? Nothing. Wander around and observe things, I suppose. That doesn't mean you have to follow me around. You can still catch up on the latest with all your old buddies. I'd hate for you to miss their charming repartee." Sarah winked at Jenna, who looked at her dubiously.

"Are you sure? I don't want to leave you alone. After all, I swore on my pet parakeet's grave that nothing would happen to you at this party…"

"Did you?" Sarah asked, amused.

"Well, I did now."

Sarah waved away her concern. "Don't worry about me. I'll be fine. Now go with Rebekah and have a good time." She gave her friend a little push towards Rebekah, and watched her go off. Sarah laughed a little to herself. Jenna was a sweet character.

"Hey," a deep male voice interrupted her reverie. Sarah spun around. The tall teenager had sandy-colored hair, deep green eyes, and a lazy smile. The way he leaned casually against the wall next to her reminded Sarah immediately of Jake Millar when he had last accosted her at the lockers.

"Hello…" Sarah said cautiously. The stranger laughed.

"Hey, relax, babe. I promise I won't bite."

Sarah was mortally offended. Babe?! What a revolting person!

"Excuse me, but do I know you?" she asked coldly.

"Whoa! Attitude. I like that. Of course you don't know me. I'm Levi. Levi Dewberry." He leaned closer and Sarah could smell something strange on his breath. "And who might you be, pretty lady?" He stuck out his hand for her to shake.

Sarah turned her head away. She did not like this boy at all. Glancing quickly out of the corner of her eye, she found that there was no escape. To her left was a bookcase full of dusty encyclopedias. And to her right, Levi Dewberry, smiling a decidedly risqué smile. With a sigh, Sarah turned back.

"Sarah Logan." She said bluntly, shaking his hand as quickly as possible.

"So, Sarah. What brings you here to our quaint little town?"

"My friend invited me here. She happens to know a family who lives here. Do you know the Longacres?" Sarah tried not to look at the boy as she spoke, hoping he would leave. To her surprise, at the mention of Rebekah's family name, the lanky teen stiffened and drew back.

"The…Longacres. I know them, all right. And if I were you, I'd stop knowing them as soon as possible." With a sneer, Levi stuck his hands in the pocket of his jeans and stalked away.

Sarah stared at his retreating back. There was something really…weird…about that kid. Levi Dewberry has got a major problem, Sarah thought to herself. She shook her head, to clear it. Suddenly she didn't feel quite so safe anymore. She wished she hadn't sent Jenna away.

A shadow fell across her path. Sarah braced herself before looking up. Suppose Levi had come back? To her surprise, it was not Levi, but Elijah who was looking concernedly down at her.

"Hi," she said, a bit bewildered, "What are you doing here?"

"Are you okay?"

Huh? Sarah blinked in confusion. "Wh-what do you mean?"

"I saw my cousin come over here, and I was afraid he—"

"Your cousin?!" Sarah was too shocked to hide her amazement. Eli looked bemused.

"Yes. Levi's father was—is my mother's brother."

"Whoa." Sarah rubbed her temples with one hand. "You mean you and Levi are related? That's…kind of hard to believe." Sarah bit her lip in dismay. Did I really just say that?

To her surprise, Eli chuckled. "Yes, Levi is my cousin. He is younger than me by a little more than a year, but he acts much older than his age. I apologize for him if he did anything to offend you."

"Oh, don't worry. Levi didn't do anything offensive." Seeing the disbelieving look on Elijah's face, Sarah conceded with a grin, "Okay, so maybe he did use some vocabulary that was not too…dignified."

Eli smiled back. "I thought so."

Then there was an awkward pause while both tried to think up something to say. At last, Sarah asked, "So, do you come to these…parties often?"

"Me? No, I do not go to parties when I can help it. It is only because Rebekah wants to experience the outside world that I come. I like to keep an eye on her in case…"

"…someone tries to accost her in some back alley?"

Elijah was not smiling anymore. "Yes. Something like that. To tell the truth, these types of gatherings do not make me feel very comfortable."

"Me too." Sarah confided. "I only came because Jenna dragged me here. I don't know how to socialize, and I have no idea how to dance…not that I'd want to…so there really is no point for my presence here."

The grin reappeared on Eli's face. "You can always do what I do under these circumstances."

"And that would be…?"

"Eat."