I was helping Emily with dishes, much like any other night, and I couldn't help but feel awkward in the silence between the two of us. "Haley you don't have to leave here." She broke the silence much to soon. I winced at her words, she sounded like she was going to begin pleading, maybe she knew I wouldn't return. Seth had called his mom, after Leah too offered for me to stay with them. Paul understood, I didn't want to be someone who kept him away from his friends. Leo, still had no clue that he was surrounded by wolves, and Sam had Embry away somewhere... And this whole time my mind was on the past, the first time we had been away from each other, how much that hurt, but Emily explained it was cause it was the first time. Now, it was minor, in comparison, but I knew as the night went on and faded into tomorrow it would grow worse. "No... I shouldn't, this was his place first. Besides I'll still call you everyday, promise." I tried smiling, but it faltered as I seen her well up. "It's not right though." Sam stepped in hugging her. "It doesn't matter Em, Haley is right..." He wiped her tears, and kissed her forehead. "Haley I need to talk to you when you're finished." He spoke to me now, and I just nodded, moving along with the dishes.

I slipped outside once I had finished, following Sam into the woods, with thoughts that he'd try to get me lost. He stopped suddenly looking around, then to me. "No one can hear us out here." I wanted to scream. Only killers in movies say that. "Calm yourself, I'm not going to do anything. We're just going to talk, and it'd be better if no one heard." Oh yeah that helps... "Okay so talk." I told him shoving my hands I into my hoodie pockets. "Something like this has never happened, but Jacob told me it's because Embry has a girlfriend. Why I didn't see this before I don't know... But we all know his wolf isn't happy, he's tried finding you already-" I had to cut him off right there. "You talk like the wolf is someone totally different. Aren't they one in the same?" I asked. "Well... If we don't fight it yes, but Embry has fought his wolf the whole time." Another new fact... Great. I just nodded. "Like I was saying the wolf already tried finding you, but we thought it'd be better to leave you alone for awhile... But his wolf looks like hell... He knows you're hurt." Damn right I'm hurt. Sam just sighed when I had nothing to say. "You're going to have to see him Haley. Every three days at least." He's kidding right? I looked at him to see serious Sam looking back. "No... No! Not only no, hell no! I want nothing to do with-" "Don't finish that Haley." Sam put up his hand to stop me. "You don't have to see the Embry you're use to, just the wolf." "Why should I?" I snapped at him. "If you don't you'll both die!" He yelled me, and it sunk in. That's why I couldn't finish the sentence, and why Paul jumped on Embry earlier today. "Fine... But I want Paul with me when I have to see him." "No. It won't sit well with the wolf... Jared can go with you." "Fine. Are we done here?" "No... You can't move into Sues house." "You don't get a say in that Sam." I wanted to kick something..."Emily likes having you there Haley." "I can't stay there Sam." With that I started walking back to the house.

I went up to the guest room and glanced around. I had only spent four nights here, but yet it seemed like months, and in all honesty a months worth of things have happened, I met vampires, I said goodbye to an old friend, and realized a relationship was pretty much fake, not to mention whatever happened with my brother. Groaning I flopped onto the bed, rubbing my temples. My life is now a god damn soap opera, and I seriously wasn't use to this. I was able to shut myself in my room and read with music on, and ignore the outside world with the exception of kirshana, I haven't even had the time to try that here. "Haley?" Leo's head popped in, I can't believe I forgot him. I quickly sat up. "Yeah, come in." He came in looking around. "I saw you come up and thought you'd like some company." He was to nice for his own good. "Oh?" "Okay actually I was feeling rather... Intimated with all the body builders, and decided to come bug you." I couldn't help but laugh at his honesty, in truth, around Leah I felt more out of place and intimidated then I did around anyone else. "I know how you feel." Was all I could say. "Really? I couldn't tell... You seem to fit in with all of them." "Ha! Yeah right, I'm all kinds of white, have no measurable muscle in comparison, not to mention they all know each other better. How do I fit in with all of them? If anything, you fit in better then I do Leo, at least you're not as pale as I am." He just looked stunned. I just shrugged dismissing my outburst. Jumping slightly when my phone started to ring I seen it was kirshana and glanced at Leo hoping he'd get my little hint, and he did. "Hi sissy." I answered trying to sound normal. "Hiiiii." "Whatcha up to?" "Just thought I'd call you since you weren't answering my texts. Is everything okay? Oh you're not hurt are you!?" I couldn't but laugh a little bit at her. "I fine sis." She picked up on the only girl code I knew. "Go outside sis, away from who ever is listening, and talk to me." I sighed and complied to her, I trudged downstairs and started for the door when Paul got in my way. Shaking his head at me. "Paul I have to go outside." "Haley you shouldn't-" I just side stepped him and squeezed past, going for the usual spot. "Okay I'm alone..." "Good. Now spill it." And I did, everything from the reason I left Arizona, to the fake relationship, to Leo. Leaving out, the vampires, and wolves for the most part. "Sissy... Maybe you should just come back. I know how you feel about drama, and that's all that's happened to you while there." She was right but it wasn't that easy. "I'm going to sleep on it sis, then I'll rethink the whole thing in the new light." It was the best I could do with the truth at the moment. "Okay just keep me posted, but sis? You should definitely get Leo's number, an outsider, like yourself to that group might be helpful." I swear she's probably the smartest seventeen year old I know. "Yeah you're probably right about that sis." "You know I am!" We both laughed for a bit then I could hear her mom in the background requesting help. "Sis I gotta go but text me! Love you." "Love you too sis. Bye." And she was gone. I didn't know what to do exactly, but going to back to Arizona wasn't an option. I wouldn't run away after being kicked down. Time to brush off whatever ego I have and move along. "Why is it when you run off, more times then not you come to the beach?" Someone I could only identify as Paul, came up behind me. I just shrugged smiling at the comment. He sat beside me and didn't say anything for a while, then. "Leo told me, you enjoy silent company..." I sighed inwardly. "It's not that exactly... I just... Why waste a perfectly fine silence, when you don't know what to say? And what happens if what you say makes the situation worse? Sometimes... In a moment of silence, you can say more then you can with words." Yeah I'm probably nuts... "I guess I get it. I mean... Actually no I don't. How can silence say anything?" I shook my head at him. "I guess I mean I would rather sit with someone not saying anything, then having them say things they don't mean, or vise versa." "Oh! So if you were crying, you'd rather them sit there, and say nothing, even though what they might say could help, cause what they might say could be just to get you to stop?" He asked as I nodded. "Yes. I'd rather be told nothing then a bunch of lies." I knew he was more then just brawny. "I can just sit here with you..." I looked at him confused. "Paul I know you, you can't just sit, and not talk... That was Embrys thing. Well with me it was." "Yeah... You're right." He sighed, shoulders drooping. "That's okay, when I want to talk I know who to go to." He smiled without realizing where I was going. "And that would be Seth of course." I tried not to laugh at his facial expression. "Oh come on Paul, we both know you're not one to talk about feelings." "Yeah, but I would for you." I just sighed. "Thanks Paul."

"I hope they were nice to Leo... I just keep forgetting him." I mumbled to myself following Paul through the front door but froze as soon as I saw Embry. No. Remember haley this is nothing. He's no one. I glanced around and all eyes were on me. I can do this. I can be strong for myself. I smiled at every one and sat between Seth and Collin. "What's up?" I asked the room growing irritated when they wouldn't stop staring. "We were just talking." Seth spoke up putting a arm around my shoulder. "Yeah about how stupid one man can be." Collin said. "Collin..." Seth groaned. "Come on Haley, let's load up your truck, you can stay in the guest room at mine and Leah's house." He stood up pulling me to my feet. "Certain guys shouldn't even be aloud in your presence." He scowled at Embry, as we left the living room and went upstairs. "Leo left before the jack off got here, but gave me this." It was a slip of paper with his number. "I think you have a new friend Hals." I smiled at the new nickname. "He's a good guy." I nodded to myself. As I finished taking my stuff out to the truck Emily came out. "Promise you'll visit every day." "I promise Em." I gave her a sad smile and climbed into my truck with Seth and Leah, and we left. Pulling into the driveway Leah pushed me out and pulled me into the house, giving me the grand tour, ending in the spare room. "It's right by my room, and across from Seth's." She was almost giddy. "I know we're not best friends or anything like that... But it's great to have another girl, besides Emily." She sat down on the bed smiling. "You know Collin loves you right? I patrol with him most of the time, and he goes on and on. He wanted to pound on Embry when he heard what happened." I sat across from her hiding my being surprised. "Oh you didn't know did you? I'm sorry Haley I didn't mean to-" "You're okay Leah. I promise." I smiled at her. "Here Hals, I hope this is the bag you need for tonight. I'll bring the rest in tomorrow." Seth said dropping my bag on the floor. "Thank you Seth, but I'll bring the rest in myself though." "I'd argue with you but I know it won't end well... So how about we go play some video games." Now that's something we can agree upon. I followed him into the living room and the three of us, much to Leah's dismay, started playing a classic racing game. An hour in Leah went to bed, and Seth was no where close to giving up. "Hals! That's not fair! You keep winning!" He put the Xbox controller down and began to pout. "Then pick out another game." I mocked him ever so slightly. "Well maybe I will!" He got up and put in a final fantasy game. "When you die, pass the controller." "Alright, you go first."

"Noooo! Pane you can't die! I need- NOOOO! Rikku not you too!" Seth was mad. "Okay Yuna! It's just you and me! We can kill this broad!" I couldn't contain my giggles as he died for the second time. "Oh come on!" He turned to me with pleading eyes. "One more time Hals please." "Alright one more time." I chuckled at him as he started over again. Suddenly he paused, and stood up looking around. "What is it?" I whispered trying to listen as he so clearly smelled the air, then looked down at me almost sad. "It's his wolf... He's here." "Okay?" "Haley it's your wolf..." "Oh him." I don't want to go out there... "Do I have to?" I asked him pleading for a no. "Hals you should, it'll help." "Fine..." I grumbled standing up and headed out the back door. No sooner then I was off the porch I was knocked on my ass, and having my face washed again. "Okay okay I get it you missed me." I couldn't help but laugh as the wolf sat down. "You don't look so great" I muttered looking him over, he coward lowering his head. "Hey it's not your- okay well technically it is, but I'm okay..." My half a speech didn't help, cause he was whining at me. "Well you knew about the girlfriend. So why not just imprint on her? I'm a nobody." I sat down in front of the wolf. "Yes I'm going there. Embry clearly doesn't... Well yeah you were there, and just because... Jesus this is confusing. Just cause you obviously like me, doesn't mean human Embry does, did, or will." He laid down putting his ears back. "Oh no you don't. Don't be putting your ears back at me. We are going to have this very one sided conversation." He was ignoring me. "Hey! Don't ignore me, wolf. Look at me when I'm talking to you." He swung his head around looking very unimpressed. "Now then. You and I both know I have to see you twice a week, and I'll do it one condition. No more cleaning my face. Got it?" I ask the wolf and got no response. "I'll take that as a yes." I started petting him much like that first day. "You know... I said goodbye to my first crush while you were gone." That got a response. He began to snarl at me. "Geez you act like I said I kissed him. I didn't by the way... But he was my best friend. Oh! I talked to my sister today... Yeah you're gonna like her. She told me to go back to Arizona cause of all the drama." He reacted the way I thought he would, started crying at me. "Yeah yeah, I know. I won't do it. I'm just talking..." I sighed looking around. "Alright, your new name is... Scotty. Yeah. Scotty. I don't like calling you by your real name, or calling you wolf, so you're stuck with Scotty." I told him standing up. "I'm going to go to bed though so goodnight." I told him patting his back. I trudged inside, and seen Seth had left a kitchen light on for me. Turning it off I went to the guest room and crawled into bed, taking out Leo's number I programmed it into my phone and texted him thank you. Minutes later I fell asleep.