Heyy guys! It's been a while. I sincerely apologize for taking so long to update but I'm not going to make excuses for myself. I wasted too much time staring at my computer screen instead of trying to get back into the role of things so I'm really sorry that I didn't get this up sooner. But not to worry cause I spent a whole day writing this chapter and also the next one in order to make up for my lack of updating. I'm sorry to also have to tell you that the date between Jacob and Grace doesn't feature in this chapter but thats because it's in the next one. I had to split it in two because I wrote so much, haha! But nevertheless, Chapter Eleven is ready and waiting so you can expect to see it up pretty soon.

Also I've been thinking that I should probably put song credits at the beginning of my chapters because alot of my ideas get inspired from music. The only thing is, I can't think of one for this chapter. Well, I'll keep thinking and add it in here when I come up with one. You can come back and check if you're realy that interested but its no big deal XD Anyhow, many thanks to all the people who have read and reviewed up to now. I hope you like this chapter :)

Unusual Sighting

I'm alone, I thought, it's just me. Think of something happy. Jacob. Jacob, Jacob, Jacob.

Fear consumed me, crawling over my back and throbbing in my bones. My whole body was shaking. I was alone in the forest. It was completely and utterly dark with nothing but the dim light of the moon seeping through the treetops. On one side of me was a narrow hedge way that my subconscious mind was telling me I came from. On the other side was a wide break in the trees that exposed the face of a mountain. A deep cavern that looked like it stretched for miles formed a large crevice in the rock that widened as it reached the ground. It was pitch black inside.

I was stood in the middle of the opening, barely a few feet from the cave. Branches were outstretched towards the centre like they were bracing themselves ready to grab me. My mind was telling me to run but I was frozen on the spot, unable to move as I contemplated how I got here. I squeezed my eyes shut trying to block out the awful whining that echoed through the tress.

It's just me, I told myself again, it's just me.

The growls were coming from all different directions, making me feel like I was whirling in a motion of sound. I kept spinning and spinning until I couldn't feel the steady stance my body was actually in. I opened my eyes to make myself see that I was still okay – that it was all in my head and that I was really just imagining it all. But everything else was spinning too. The moon cast shadows over the trees causing my eyes to see strange shapes; everything blurred and spun until my head felt like it was going to explode and I fell to my hands and knees with a helpless cry.

"Make it stop!" I cried, "Make it stop!"

No sooner had I said the words, the whining stopped and all that was left was the quiet, blustering wind forcing its way through the trees. My breath came in short, exasperated gasps as tears ran down my cheeks and soaked the ground beneath me. I wanted to be home again, back in the surroundings I was used to. More importantly I wished Jake were here. As uncomprehending as it was, Jake's presence brought me comfort, safety, something I hadn't felt in a while. It shocked me to say it but there was something unusual about him. I mean most guys are into you until they realise you aren't going to give them what they want. Then, like the flick of a switch, they move on to the next girl and forget all about you. But not with Jake. He seemed to understand that there was something wrong, even though he didnt know what that problem was, and he gave me some piece of mind to know that he wouldn't pressure me into anything I didn't want. Granted, there was nothing like that between us anyway but even if there was, I knew I wouldn't have to worry. That's what I liked about him; he was so easy to be around.

My body tensed when I was dragged back to the present by a low, menacing growl. It sounded closer this time, threatening. I lifted my head slowly to meet the impending eyes of a large, territorial creature that concealed itself at the mouth of the cave. It's alarmingly bright gaze glowed amber in the darkness, boring into me with an unintelligible expression. It was foreshadowed by the protective hold the creature had over its territory but the strange sense of recognition I felt over this creature was reflected back in its eyes. These were the same eyes of the one I had seen last night with Jacob. But by the way it was staring at me I knew it recognized me too. My head swam at the possibilities of this. How could a creature of my imagination – or what I thought to be my imagination – recognize me if it wasn't real? And how could it be standing right here in front of me now?

I could only think of one explanation. I hadn't imagined anything. The creature was well and truly real and it was here in La Push!

I sucked in a sharp breath as it lifted one huge, black paw and took a step into the light. Though I still couldn't see the whole of it, the left side of its face shone a dark grey as it came into the moonlight and I saw the distinct muscles of its left leg contracting. It was so big! And then I saw what I feared the most: the first glimpse of a glistening white fang creeping out of the darkness. Without thinking, I gasped and foolishly scrambled onto my feet. The creature stopped. It froze for a fraction of a second and then, as if it could sense my next move, it drew back on its heels and lunged at me.

I just managed to muffle a startled cry with my hand as my eyes flew open and I bolted upright in bed. My heart pounded in my chest and my hands shook as I lifted them to my head. I was used to the nightmares since they were routine for me but this was something else. Amber eyes, narrowed into dangerously threatening slits, glowed ghostly as they charged at me. I felt dizzy and confused and completely freaked out all at the same time. What the hell was that dream all about? I brought a shaking hand up to my neck and tried to rub the stiff feeling away. I tried to think of something else; anything to distract me from that awful dream. Then I remembered my plans for today. I was going shopping with April and watching a movie later tonight with Jacob. My stomach fluttered at the thought of being with him again.

I smiled to myself and tiptoed across the cold, wooden floor to my wardrobe. It was getting harder and harder everyday trying to make it look like I didn't wear the same things all the time, but I was running out of options. I'd already worn most of the clothes I had stuffed in the wardrobe and I'd already mixed and matched them with as many different things as I possibly could. But now I was reaching the beginning again. That's why you're going shopping with April, I told myself. I sighed scrutinizing each item of clothing for a minute before deciding on a plain white t-shirt and the jeans I wore yesterday. So much for wearing different things.

I took a shower quickly and galloped down the stairs just in time to see Tony walking through to the living room in his bed robe and slippers, mug in hand and a newspaper folded under his arm.

"Morning," he muttered but it was less intentional. Maybe he'd finally realised that I wasn't up for conversation lately.

"Morning."

"What time's that Jacob kid picking you up today?" he called from the other room. Ah, so he hasn't forgotten. I fixed myself a glass of orange juice and went to join him in front of the TV even though I wasn't really interested in the latest news.

"Six. And what makes you assume he's picking me up?" I asked, taking a sip of juice.

Tony frowned from behind his mug. "Isn't that what boys are supposed to do when they take a girl out? And why so late? You have all day."

I sighed. "Alright, he's picking me up at six because it works better for the both of us. He said he had some errands to do for a friend today and I'm going shopping with April and, y'know, I don't see how this is even any of your business. Can't a girl go out without being bombarded with a million questions anymore? Sheesh, Uncle Tony."

Tony looked at me and ran a hand through his messy hair. "Im sorry, Grace. I just worry about you. This is the first time I've seen you make plans since you've been here."

"I know. I'm sorry; I'm just a little cranky. I didn't sleep well last night. Bad dream, y'know?" I took another sip of my orange juice and glanced over at the clock on the mantelpiece. 10:30a.m. April should be picking me up in a few hours.

"Yeah, I know," Tony said emphasising the fact that he was probably already aware of the dramatic awakenings I seemed to create. He frowned and sipped his coffee. "You still get those nightmares? It's not healthy, y'know? Maybe you should go see someone."

"And tell them what? That I keep dreaming of the accident? Tony, anyone would think that was normal if they'd witnessed it. And besides," I hugged the glass to my chest and pressed my lips against the rim, "I've gotten over those now."

"Really?" He arched one big, bushy brow.

"Yes really. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a shopping trip to prepare for."

"Well? What do you think?"

April was standing in the middle of the fitting room in a dull white frilly dress that had green and blue floral patterns covering it and a line of clear buttons down the front. In truth it was...repulsive.

April slumped her shoulders at my awkward expression. "It's horrible isn't it?"

Suddenly I felt awful. We'd already been to three other stores where she'd watched me buy skinny jeans and band teas, and yet she'd still pull me over to the most vile, old-fashioned things the store could offer.

"Um...no, of course it-"

"Oh, be honest, Grace. You hate it."

"I don't. It's just-"

April glared threateningly at me.

"Okay, I hate it."

She sighed exasperatedly. "I knew you did. Everything you buy is always really cool and whatever I pick..."

"Hey," I dropped my bags by the chairs and lay a hand gently on her shoulder. "Don't talk like that."

"But it's true," she whined. "I mean look at you in your-" she took a step back to examine my outfit "-cute little jeans and t-shirt and then look at me in this stinkin' granny outfit."

I couldn't help but laugh as she flapped her arms up and down in frustrated movements.

"It's not funny!" she yelled, but she was laughing too. "I feel like a major dumbass."

That caused me to laugh even more.

"I'm sorry," I wheezed, clutching at my stomach. "You just look so..." Unable to finish my sentence, I doubled over in another wave of hysterics.

"Oh, that's right," April said, sounding irritated now. "Laugh at me why don't you. Everybody laugh at April Mason in a granny dress. Anyone else want to make fun of my humiliation?"

"April please...stop," I begged from a crouched position on the floor. I was on the verge of tears and my stomach hurt from laughing so much. "I can't take anymore." I almost started laughing again but had to remind myself that April was already mad.

"Yeah sorry. I guess I do look pretty funny." She smiled reluctantly but it vanished just as quickly as it had appeared. She slumped into one of the chairs lined against the wall and fiddled with one of the buttons on the dress. "It just sucks that I can't look good the way you do."

"The way I do? Please. You're talking to someone who wears the same clothes everyday 'cause the rest of her stuff got burned in-"

April looked up from her sullen position. "What?"

Dammit Grace, you idiot!

"Uh, nothing. Just...are you gonna change out of that dress or what?" I asked, trying to change the subject.

April looked down at the hideous dress again. "Yeah," she said, heaving herself up. She trudged over to the fitting room she had occupied and stopped by the door to look back at me. "What did you mean by 'your stuff got burned'?" She asked.

I froze, not sure how to answer. A part of me wanted to tell April everything. I wanted to tell her about the pain, the nightmares and the emotional stress of losing both parents. I wanted to get everything off of my chest and not have to carry this burden alone. But another part of me wanted to keep it all locked away and I feared that that was the right thing to do. I mean why should anyone else have to deal with my problems? Why should they even care? It was selfish of me to even think about dragging anyone else in, and that's what I needed to keep telling myself to prevent things from getting out of hand.

I swallowed hard. "It was just...something that happened a while ago. It's nothing to worry about anymore," I told her.

"Are you sure? Cause from what I can see, it seems like it bothers you a whole lot."

"Yes, I'm sure," I snapped and then mentally slapped myself when I saw the look of hurt flash across April's face. "I'm sorry," I sighed. "Things have just been a little tough lately." I smiled and pointed to her dress. "And I'm getting sick of seeing that damn thing!"

"Okay, okay! I'm taking it off!" She grumbled, "But you have to promise me something."

"What?" I asked, picking my bags up off the floor.

"Promise me that you'll tell me what's bothering you."

"April, I told you it's nothing to-"

"Promise me," she persisted.

"Fine," I sighed, "But you have to wait till I'm ready. It's not something I can just...tell somebody just like that. It's hard."

"I'll wait as long as you want," she agreed. "I just think it's better for you to tell someone, at least when you're ready, anyway. Don't keep stuff locked up."

"I'll remember that," I said, wishing that I realy hadn't brought it up. "Now will you please take that awful thing off so we can find you some real clothes to wear?"

"Yeah, with any look we might just find a nice woolly cardigan to go with it," she said and disappeared into the fitting room.

"No. Absolutely not. No woolly cardigans."

"Well, what do you expect to find that's cool and suits me?" she called sounding like she'd gotten herself twisted up in that dress.

"Hey! I might not be a fashion designer but I can certainly find something better than that thing."

After April changed and put the dress back, I had taken her to another part of the store to look for something less...granny-fied. . I was browsing through the t-shirt racks whilst she pretended she wasn't completely out of her comfort zone when I picked out a silver sparkly tank top and held it up for her to see. It cut low at the front and had an extra fold of material that draped over the busts. April's eyes got big.

"My mom would never let me wear that," she said, taking a step back like she thought it would suddenly jump out and attack her.

"Who said it had anything to do with your mom?" I smirked and folded the top over my arm.

"G-grace," she stammered, "My mom is so strict you don't understand. If she saw me in that thing she'd lock me up for weeks and tell me I was turning into some brainwashed idiot. Just like all the other kids around here," she added.

"Hey, we're not all brainwashed." I turned my sharp gaze on her. "You're forgetting that I don't do make-up and hopping into other guys pants."

April cringed like what I'd said was the most vile thing she'd ever heard. Okay, having that kind of behaviour with a guy was pretty low – if you're desperate and you're not emotionally committed at least – but really, was her mom that bad? Anyone would think she was brainwashed.

"Sheesh, it's not that bad, April. Is your mom really that anti-anything-to-do-with-being-a-teenager?"

She nodded weakly. I looked down at the top resting on my arm and ran my fingers lightly over the pretty sequins. April realy would look great in this. I started to think about how much of a shame it was that April wouldn't be able to look, well, 'like me' when a thought struck me.

"Do you really enjoy living like this – by your moms rules?" I blurted out.

She grimaced and shook her head. "Of course not. I hate it. I hate always having to be the perfect daughter, always having to live up to my mom's expectations. I want to be like everyone else – a real teenager."

"Well then why don't you do something about it? Start living now." Yeah, because you're doing a much better job at it than April, I thought and pushed that argument to the back of my head.

She looked down at her feet and shrugged her shoulders. "My mom would never let me."

I frowned. "There see, that is exactly why you look like this," – I motioned to the blue, knitted sweater and the black school shoes she was wearing – "You need to start breaking the rules and stop doing everything your mom tells you too. Be a rebel." I grinned and tapped my fist into her shoulder gently. "Now, are we going to do some real shopping and turn you into a real teenager or what?"

I watched as a huge smile slowly spread across the length of her face and she grinned excitedly. "Yes!"

"That's more like it," I agreed. "Now we need to find you a good pair of jeans and a leather jacket and your good to go," I said pulling her over to the jeans section. She bit her lip and looked blankly at all of the racks but I'd already found the perfect pair hanging at the far end of the store. I pranced over to them and held them up in the air. They were dark grey, almost black, with that stonewash effect that made them look like they were faded, and they had several rips down the legs. Perfect. Maybe I should grab some for myself.

April looked worried at first. She eyed the ripped legs and I could tell she was contemplating what her mother would say when she saw her in them. But then her face hardened like she wanted to show her just how much she cared about her mom's stupid rules, so she stuck her thumbs up and smiled.

Next up was the leather jacket. I found a black one like the ones female motorists wear and showed it to her. It curved at the sides to make you look slimmer with pockets on either side of the chest, and it reached up to cover your neck like a sweater. She didn't like it but I did so I kept it for myself. Instead she chose a similar one of my approval that had a belt across the middle and didn't quite zip up to the top so that the collar could fold out and the chest could be exposed. Just a little bit.

On the way around the store I picked up some other glamorous tops and a miniskirt that was sure to drive April's mom insane. When I had pile of clothes draped over my arm I ordered April into the fitting rooms to try them on.

"You look great!" I said feeling pleased with myself. April checked herself out in the mirror. The jeans hugged her hips perfectly and the low-cut top draped dangerously low over her cleavage. The jacket was a bonus when she zipped it half way up her torso and adjusted herself so that she wasn't hanging out.

"Are you sure? I feel like one of those orange kids that hang with Mercedes."

"You're not. You look awesome. Embry will love it."

April shot me a look and put her hands on her hips. That move went well with her outfit.

"This wasn't all some game to get Embry's attention was it?" She frowned in disapproval.

"No, of course not." I feigned innocence. "But it will work."

She turned back to the mirror again and unzipped the jacket. The silver top beneath it narrowed into a point – sort of like the edge of a tie – to expose part of her stomach. In all honesty I wouldn't wear something like that but this was April, and this was April trying to get back at her mom.

"Hmm, maybe you're right. But since when has Embry liked orange Mercedes wannabes?"

I groaned and walked over to the fitting room she was in. "Will you quit it with the whole Mercedes thing? You don't look like any of those fake lowlifes. You look hot." April rolled her eyes but I ignored it and ran my hands through the length of her hair. "The only thing left is a trip to the salon."

April froze and looked at my reflection in the mirror. "You think I should get my hair done? Whats wrong with the way it is?"

"Well nothing of course. But whats wrong with styling it up a little? You should dye it red."

"Red?!" She exclaimed. "My mom will kill me!"

"Why not? Your breaking the rules remember. C'mon, April, it would look so cool."

She stared at herself in the mirror for a long time before she answered. "Alright, but your responsible for my funeral."

So after she tried on all of the clothes I picked out and took them to the cash register, we went to the hair salon over the road. April was nervous at first. She wrung her wrists in anticipation as a tall woman with heavy make-up and maroon coloured hair lead her over to a seat. She looked over at me helplessly.

"It'll be fine," I mouthed. She scowled at me and then shrank into the chair as the woman asked her what she was having done. She told her she wanted it red with whatever style the woman thought suited her. As the woman got to work on April's hair I found myself a seat by the shop window. Just as I sat down my phone vibrated. It was a text from Jacob.

Looking forward 2 tonite.

Hope u are too.

Be ready to EAT! :)

I smiled and sent back:

Sure I am.

But I better not come home looking like a hippo =|

I slid my phone shut and sighed to myself. Jacob always knew how to make me smile, even when he wasn't near. It was funny how I felt sort of lost without him. Whenever he was around me I felt happy and content; his smile was infectious and it made me forget about all of the bad things in life. But when he left I felt empty, like the gloominess was creeping over me again and I'd have to curl up into a helpless ball until he came back. Maybe I was getting too attached. Maybe I ought to let go and listen to Paul.

Don't be stupid, my brain yelled at me, Paul is a selfish pig. You shouldn't listen to him. Jacob is a great guy.

Of course he was, but that didn't make things any easier. In fact it only made things worse. Jacob deserved someone who was whole, who could be true to him. I can't even do that.

I considered texting him back and telling him I couldn't make it tonight. But Tony was so happy to see me making plans and even Jacob himself was looking forward to the event. I couldn't let either of them down. I'd have to go. I sighed again and picked my phone up for the second time.

Please, like that could ever happen.

Ure gonna need a big appetite if ure hangin' with me XD

I'd just started to text him back when a strange feeling consumed me. It felt like somebody was watching me and I automatically turned my head to the direction of the window. A car drove past, blocking my view of the other side of the road for a brief second. When it disappeared I looked across the street and blinked in surprise. A man was standing on the pavement staring daggers straight at me. He was fairly tall, maybe in his mid thirties, with shoulder length black hair and he was wearing a long, black leather coat and gloves. He reminded me of somebody from Underworld. His lip twitched and I flinched under his threatening gaze. That was when I noticed the unusual tinge to his eyes. Although he was too far away to identify their colour, it was still possible to notice the distinct glow that seemed to emanate from them and reach out to me from across the street. They felt vaguely familiar yet so foreign at the same time. Another vehicle drove past, cutting him from my sight. When the car disappeared I expected him to be standing closer to the window – you know like in a horror movie when the scary person makes you jump? – but when my eyes landed on the spot he'd been just seconds ago, he was gone. I squinted out into the street in confusion but there were no traces of him anywhere. Maybe I was seeing things.

I shook my head and looked back at my phone. The screen had disappeared but when I pressed the centre button my message was still there.

Don't count on it Mr Greedy-Is-My-Name.

Hehe.

See u soon :)

I read it through once more and pressed send.

By the time April was done, she looked like a new person. Her hair was a dark shade of red and it had been cut shorter to reach just over her shoulders. Her full fringe had been straightened whilst the rest of it had been curled to give it that rounded effect. Man, she looked ace!

"Wow, April, you look..."

"Different?"

"Yeah."

"I know. It's weird isn't it?" She laced her finger through a stray curl. "I used to think I looked like a squirrel," she laughed.

"Yeah, well now you should think of yourself more like lion." I made a claw motion with my hand and winked.

"Sure," she said, laughing again. "You ready?"

"Yeah." I grabbed my bags and we made our way back to April's car.

Third Person

He was sure he had found the right girl. She had made eye contact with him through the shop window and without a doubt he knew it was her. The strange sense of recognition he had seen in her eyes when she looked at him told him that she knew. She had seen his eyes before in his animalistic form, although she did not know it. But she would – soon.

Now Angelo watched from within the bushes as the girl and her red-headed friend approached their car. They were laughing over something the red one had said. The red one put her bags in the back of the car first and walked round to the driver's side. He watched cautiously as the other girl loaded her things into the car. She was smaller than most of them but that would be a handy trait, he thought. She was already showing signs of joining them. Her hair was longer, not that that was a major result of the change but it affected most of them that transformed. Her body was strong too, considering the circumstances. She should be weak for she was not eating appropriate meals due to the effects of that night, but she was not. Angelo was surprised that she had not yet noticed this. She was aware of what her ill behaviour does to the average human who does not conceive sufficient amounts of food, but she failed to see the difference in her reaction. Of course, Angelo knew of this contingency because he knew what happened that night. He had seen everything. He was there.

He watched as she walked around to the passenger side of the vehicle and joined her friend. A few seconds past before the back lights illuminated and the engine started up. Then the car slowly backed out of its parking space and drove towards the exit of the lot. Angelo never took his gaze away from the car until it disappeared around the corner. Then he took it upon himself to deliver the news to his mistress.

The girl would soon be one of them.

Well, was it worth the wait? I certainly hope so. Oh, and I just wanted to mention that I chose a song called Perfect by Jon Mclaughlin to represent the way Jacob feels about Grace in this story. It's a little late, I know. I should have said this in a previous chapter but it's better late than never, right? The song is amazing and really, really sweet. I demand that you go check it out XD

Anyway, reviews would be nice since I spent A WHOLE DAY writing this chapter for you. A WHOLE DAY I say XD (Including Chapter Eleven, too) but it's also nice to just know that people actualy take time out to read my work. So thanks guys! Oh and one other thing: if your wondering what the whole Third Person thing was about with Angelo, you should check out my Prologue cause that might make things clearer :)