Author's note- This chapter was written with the help of which basically forces you to write a certain number of words in a certain amount of time, it's really cool. Obviously, it is highly unlikely I will "win" NaNoWriMo, being about 30k behind, but it's been fun. More chapters coming soon, I promise!

Chapter Nine:

I sat and listened more raptly than I ever had before. As some character in one of Ben's favorite action movies had said, "things just got real."

I knew that this was heavy stuff now. Blood sucking vampires, people turning into wolves...

Kim explained all to me. But I was still sort of confused.

"Then why did the Cullens leave a couple years ago?It nearly crushed Bella, we all saw her. "

"Bella told Jacob Black about Edward's reasons. He was afraid to endanger her life by staying with her. I only met him once or twice, but he seems like the matyr-type."

I nodded. From what I had observed of Edward, he seemed exactly like that type.

"So, she knew he was a vampire?" I asked, wonderingly. There were so many little things that could be explained by this! The car, the way he could be so focused on Bella, as if she were breakable. And, it appeared, she was.

"I think the best idea to help you get used to being a 'wolf girl' is for you to meet the Cullens," Kim said. "I told you about the pack splitting, right?"

I nodded again. "Well, the Cullens are actually good friends with Jacob's pack- they work together, protecting the Washington area. Seth especially likes them, even though it goes against the fundamental principles of being a werewolf." She laughed. "But that's Seth for you."

"But..." I couldn't bring myself to finish the sentence...it made me seem so weak.

Kim, perceptive as ever, picked up on my thoughts. "Oh, are you worried that they might...attack?"

I flushed, embarrassed by my weakness, and managed a quick nod.

"Well, the Cullens have worked for almost a century to perfect their self control, they attend high school. Remember, Dr. Cullen is even a surgeon! And even though Bella... well, you'll see when you meet them. But trust me, you're in no danger from them. They're the nice kind of vampire. And," she added, grinning wickedly, "Seth will save you."

I flushed deeper at the mention of Seth.

I fished around for a subject change.

"So," I began, and pointed at her ring. "Jared's a werewolf?"

"Didn't I tell you?" she inquired, astonished. "There's so much to tell you, I guess I just forgot!" She smacked herself on the forehead and rolled your eyes.

"Let me go out on a limb here," I said teasingly, "He's a werewolf, and you're his imprint, right?"

"However did you find out?" She asked in mock disbelief. Then she grew serious, and her face seemed to take on almost a kind of glow as she started talking about Jared.

"You see, he's Sam's beta...made me this ring...married after I'm done with school...love..."

I smiled at her cheerfulness.

I could live with imprinting, especially if it meant I could get to know Kim even better.

Seth came back after about thirty minutes of Kim's rhapsodizing about Jared.

"Oh," he groaned. "You set her off, Angela! Now she'll never stop!" He shouted dramatically.

"Shut up," Kim said affectionately to Seth, and aimed a kick at him. He dodged it neatly, and gloated, "Too slow! Too slow!"

I watched this in laid-back amusement. Seth's contemplative mood seemed to have completely shifted to a more light-hearted one. I liked this side of him, and wondered how the issue earlier had been resolved.

Kim and Seth bickered for a minute or so, and Kim grew sober, and asked, "So...what happened with the vampire you scented?"

"Oh," Seth said casually. "We got him."

"So, he was a red-eye?"

"Oh, yeah," Seth said eagerly, "Real nasty one. We chased him through the greater part of Washington before Jacob and I took him down. Leah was our scout."

"Good job," Kim cheered, and gave Seth a high five- or at least, tried to- for he pulled his hand away right before she hit it and pretended to smooth his hair. "Oh!" he laughed as Kim put her hand down, glaring at him.

"You are so immature!" Kim complained loudly.

Seth looked at me and grinned. "You wouldn't want me any other way."

He looked back at Kim. "All right, truce." he declared, and held his fist out for a fist bump. Kim hesitantly reached her fist out to meet his, but at the last second Seth opened his hand and slapped her fist as if in a high-five, saying "Paper beats rock! Paper beats rock!"

I couldn't help myself. I burst out laughing at Kim's expression. She snarled under her breath, and Seth smiled sweetly at her. He turned his head and winked at me. I winked back.

"Come on," Kim said, patting the couch cousin between her and me. "Let's sit down and chat."

Seth looked from side to side, and sat down slowly, as if he were expecting a trick. After a minute of nothing happening, his shoulders relaxed, and he leaned back into the cushion.

Kim smiled at me and mouthed, "I'll get him. Play along."

I smiled back.

Then, she reached over to Seth's shoulder on my side, and tapped it. Seth turned towards me and asked, "Yes?" sounding eager to talk to me. I felt my heart melt a little, but kept my face resolutely blank.

Seth's face gained a look of dawning comprehension. He turned back towards Kim, who was doubled up in silent laughter. "Got you!" she crowed.

Seth turned back towards me. "Isn't she so immature?" He asked in a snotty voice, rolling his eyes. Kim smacked him with a pillow.

"Want to hear the fantastic tale of the heroic werewolf who saved our butts in an epic battle with a vampire?" he asked me, grinning yet again- (I quite liked his grin.)

"What werewolf?" Kim asked innocently, and looked around.

"Shut up," Seth told her. "I'm talking about a certain dashing, charming, handsome young werewolf named Seth Clearwater-"

"You forgot humble," I muttered teasingly.

Seth smiled even bigger at me- "I like you," he said, and nodded sagely.

"Now, where was I? Oh, yes, the young werewolf, clever, dashing, charming Seth Clearwater who helped bring down one of the biggest, baddest monsters that walk the yes, ladies," he intoned, "A vampire!" He widened his eyes in fright.

"Wake me up when he's done," Kim stage-whispered to me, as Seth continued.

"It was a dark and stormy night-"

"It's still morning," I interrupted, smiling innocently.

Seth glared at me as Kim giggled. "I'm embellishing," he said clearly, as though we were slow.

"Old Quil," Kim called.

After a few seconds, Old Quil poked his head back inside the room.

"Yes?" he asked.

"What happened this morning?" Kim asked sweetly. Seth made a noise of protest.

"Well, there was a vampire lurking about these parts, and Jacob's pack hunted it and got rid of it, because it was a threat to humans and young Renesmee."

Seth sighed, and slumped down in the sofa. "She always ruins my stories," he grumbled.

"Thanks, Old Quil!" Kim called. "Thanks a lot, Old Quil," Seth muttered.

Old Quil walked into the room and whacked Seth on the shin with his cane. Seth yelped and rubbed his shin. "Don't sass me, Seth Clearwater!" Old Quil barked. He glowered at Seth for a minute, and Seth stared back before they both started laughing.

I laughed too- Seth had that kind of infectious laugh and easygoing manner that made everyone want to be his friend.

"Kim, you're hogging me," Seth said suddenly. "I've barely talked to Angela at all! I hardly know the girl! Stranger danger, you know."

I stuck my tongue out at him- all my earlier nervousness seemed to have vanished after Seth came back. I felt that I could handle meeting a coven of vampires, anything, as long as I was with Seth. I liked the secure feeling I had around him.

Seth stuck out his hand towards me.

"Pleased to meet you," he said politely. "I'm Seth Clearwater."

"Pleased to meet you as well," I responded in the same tone. "I'm Angela Weber."

We shook hands, and the feeling of an electrical shock had not disappeared after that first touch- it was still there, making my heart flutter. I was sure that Seth, with his enhanced hearing, could hear my heart pumping so quickly. I flushed, and I heard a sudden intake of breath from him. Bringing my eyes up to meet his, I saw that he was gazing at me, and the rapt adoration he was looking at me with was so strong that I felt tempted to look over my shoulder for the person standing behind me. Surely he couldn't feel that strongly about me already! Surely I couldn't feel that strongly about him already! But then again, I guessed that that was how imprinting worked.

Seth and Kim and I spent all day talking. I learned so much about Seth, and he so much about me, that I felt I could write a book about him, about us. But I felt comforted, picturing the life we had ahead of us. And I knew that there were many more volumes of that book to write, and that together we would. And...and tomorrow, we agreed, it was time for me to meet the Cullens. I was nervous, but also excited at the prospect of seeing Bella again. I wondered how much she had changed in a year...