Hey readers, it's Sparkel who isn't so vamptastic for making you guys wait a really, really long time for this chapter. I had a total writer's-block, and schools killing me. This may be my last update for a while, because finals are for the next week and a half. But after graduation is summer, and I can work more and more on my fics once that happens. Okay? Thanks fr understanding, ~Sparkel

Chapter Eight

Surprise

How long had it been going on? This unbearable silence that was letting my mind yell and yell? How long till we were in Port Angeles? Leah had the radio on, but she messed with it constantly, never settling for a station. It was soft, though. Merely background noise so it wasn't too quiet.

But in my head, there was a debate going on. One side was arguing that I should be with my mother for

her dinner with Charlie. It said that Leah was being selfish, and the only reason she offered to drive me out to Port Angeles was because she wanted to avoid the dinner's topic.

The other side of me was extremely excited to see Myra again. To see her smile, hear her laugh, take in her scent, hold her close…

I was only half aware that I was in the passenger seat of Leah's old Mustang. The cool air blowing through the windows and into my wavy hair didn't exist. Life kept moving around me, but I was too infatuated on my scattered thoughts about one girl to notice it.

I adjusted my position in the old leather seat, and fumbled with the gift box in my lap. It wasn't much, really. Just something I got down at the one lonely store we had at La Push. My mom had been working there during the Calls' vacation. It was a simple journal, with a silhouette of a baying wolf with a forest behind it. I had to tell her eventually.

Eventually, I promised myself.

"Seth? Are you talking to yourself?" Leah asked, breaking the long silence.

I was talking out loud? "Uh, no." I replied,. "Just thinking out loud."

"Same thing," Leah muttered. She switched lanes. We were going to exit, meaning we were almost there. A jolt of joy shot through me. I was going to see Myra again really soon. And I was early, too.

"Thanks for the ride, Leah," I said. "I know I gave you a lot of crap for it. And it is wrong that we're ditching Mom's dinner, no matter what was going to happen. And even though we really should have--"

"Seth!" Leah chuckled. "I get it! Jeez!" She was laughing at me. I was glad my sister found me amusing. "Gosh, you are so…strange sometimes. It's like…I have no idea what to do with you." She smiled one of those genuine Leah smiles that made an appearance as often as the sun shone.

"Thanks, Leah," I said again. "Really."

She sighed. "You know it's not that bad." She said, unwillingly, "Missing Mom's dinner. Maybe it's better that they don't get married. I mean, he's the father of a bloodsucker, Seth. So you can thank me by not thanking me. I'm doing both of us a favor." That was when I realized we were in front of an Italian restaurant. Bella Italia. I threw her an annoyed look. I was far from tired about hearing about how it was better this way. Mom was happy with Charlie. We should be happy she's happy

"I'll thank you if you can come here not drunk or anything close to it." I replied. "Seriously Leah. If I'm the one driving home, Mom's going to be royally pissed. And no, that's not a good thing."

She smiled and winked. "I told Mom I was going shopping. If I drink a little, I won't be drunk enough to kill anybody or myself. Don't worry about me, kiddo. I'm fine. Have fun at your party."

"Lee, I'm serious," I insisted.

"You're not supposed to be the one worrying about drinking, you know?" She replied, "You better not drink. You hear me?"

"Yes, Mom," I shrugged before getting out of the car. The smell of the beach invited me, but I continued up the sidewalk.

Up the front steps that led to La Bella Italia were two girls waiting for me. Their faces were somewhat familiar. They probably have been down to First Beach. They didn't seem to be the same Goth-type

Myra's boyfriend was yesterday. But they were in style, no doubt about it.

The taller one smiled when she saw me. "Hi, Seth. I'm Tina, and this is Trisha. We're friends of Myra. She's not here yet, but Naomi's been waiting for you."

"Yeah, okay," I said, dumbfounded. "You two from Forks? I have probably seen you around before at La Push."

"Yeah," Trisha replied. "We go down there whenever the sun comes out."

I nodded. Tina pushed through the door, Trisha following her in. I trailed in after them, anxious. The restaurant was empty, and it was dimly lit. Yellow twinkle lights hung on the walls, with a matching chandelier. A curtain hung to the left of the restaurant, probably leading to the kitchen. There was only one girl there, bussing a table. She looked up to face me. She had blond hair and blue eyes, looking more Los Angeles than Port Angeles. She smiled, and I was distracted for a moment. But I didn't see her. I couldn't call her pretty, or beautiful. I couldn't see anything worth liking in her. I could only see Myra…who wasn't here yet.

"Hey," she said. She walked to me, eyes fluttering. "I'm Gwen."

I said nothing. I wasn't able to--I was cut off. "Leave this one alone, Gwyneth. He's for someone else. You can go home now, thank you," a small girl said, suddenly popping up in front of me. Her black framed glasses were on the edge of her nose, her hair was short and layered, and her bangs were blond.

"Sorry about her, Seth. She's loony. Not in the fun-Luna-Lovegood-way, but a creepy way. I'm Naomi, by the way. And I've been told I'm scarier in person."

"No worries, Naomi-by-the-way," I replied. "You are just as scary as you sound on the phone."

"Hm," she mused. She looked at me from head to toe, having to tilt her head back to see my tall frame. "Myra should like you. But she's still with him, isn't she?" She sighed. "Listen, Seth, none of us like Chase. Me especially. He doesn't treat her right. Well, he does, but he's not a good guy. He's rude and pushy and obnoxious to everyone but her. And we think you're going to help us change that. So if you don't want to do that, let me know, and I'll stop pushing you."

"Umm." What was I supposed to say to them? I imprinted on her, so if she doesn't fall for me eventually, I'm screwed? Yeah right.

"Naomi," Trisha said in a sing-song voice. "You're overwhelming him. Give him some time to sink it all in." She made motions with her hands, wiggling her fingers up and down. Tina laughed and shook her

head.

"Come on, I'll have you meet the rest of the guys," Naomi said. She took me by my wrist and led me to the room in the back of the restaurant. Music I couldn't identify was playing at a background level.

And it's obvious that you're dying, dying. Just living proof that the camera's lying.

There were three people sitting on a table off to the side of the room. Two guys and one girl. Each of them had one of those pointy party hats on their head, and stared up at me expectantly. It was another awkward moment in the life of Seth Clearwater.

"That's Justin and Mitchell." She gestured to both guys, and I couldn't tell which was which. They kind of looked the same, too. "And that's Sam." A girl with black hair and medium skin smiled and wiggled her fingers. The guys waved for only a second before going back to chatting. Naomi scurried out of the room, and I couldn't help but be reminded of Alice Cullen.

Both guys were wearing baggy jeans and loose fitting tee shirts. Sam was wearing a tight tee shirt and jeans. I couldn't help but feel overdressed in my dark pants and button up shirt. I fumbled with the gift in my hands. I placed it on one of the booths, not saying anything to Mitchell, Sam, or Justin, but moving around the room, before taking a seat in another booth and letting my eyes wander.

The next room was brighter than the main part of the restaurant. It was mainly booths lining the walls, with a gap for the large window that let in some moonlight. There were no clouds out here. The sky was a clear black.

"So," Sam said, sliding into the seat across from me. "You're from La Push?"

"Yeah," I said, my voice cracking. "Lived there all my life."

"Myra grew up there," Sam said. "But she moved here when she was young. Lives with her dad now."

"Oh." My eyes wandered the nearly empty room, and out the door to the larger one The whole restaurant was empty. "Did you guys rent out the whole place? Or is it really this dead?"

She laughed. "Myra's dad owns the place. Let us use it for Myra."

"She's coming!" Tina hissed, running in. She grabbed the wrists of the two guys, and cocked her head for Sam and me to follow. My heart thundered, as if it knew Myra was close by. Lights started flipping off and Naomi waited by the door. Tina and Trisha and Sam ducked down between booths and tables, and Justin and Mitchell crouched down. I followed their lead, hiding behind a chair. I could tell I was still too tall to hide properly.

The door opened as the bells chimed. "Hey, Nomes. What are you--" The lights flipped on.

"SURPRISE!" Everyone yelled. A moment late, I stood up. My heart stopped when I took in her face. Her fair skin, dark hair with the purple streak, and inviting face.…

"W-o-w." She stressed the word into three syllables. She smiled, her white teeth perfect, "Thanks guys…" she smiled at each of her friends' faces. When her eyes met mine, she smiled wider. "Seth! You came, too."

"Yup," Naomi said proudly. "I got his number off your phone. That's why I jacked it."

"Thanks, Nomes." She threw her arms around her friend. I was jealous, though I would never admit it.

"And all of you. Thanks, really. I wasn't expecting this. Wow, I don't know what to say."

"What about," Tina said, "Let's get some food? 'Cause we're hungry."

Myra chuckled, "Sure, let's eat."

Naomi started out of the room and into the back kitchen. The rest of them followed. I walked there slowly. Myra was still here.

"So Naomi invited you?" She asked, matching my slow stride.

"Yeah," I replied. "I asked my sister to bring me here."

"Lucky you have a sister. I always wanted one." Myra replied. I looked down at her. She only came up to my shoulder and I felt so tall. My sister was nearly my height, and most of the people I knew in La Push were wolves, making them my height or taller. "But instead I only have a half brother. He's pretty cool, though."

"In La Push," I said, "It's like everyone is family. All of my friends are like my brothers." Wolf Brothers, I corrected mentally, "It gets kind of insane sometimes. And Leah isn't that great of a sister, really. She's awesome, of course, but she's more rebellious and the suffer-in-silence type."

"I see," Myra laughed. "I'm pretty rebellious, myself." She winked.

"Sure," I laughed. She joined in my chuckling. "Are you hungry?"

"Not really," she replied. She took a deep breath. "But I can smell the lasagna. Let's go eat!"

She took my hand, making my heart leap. She didn't seem to react to the heat. She led me to the table, sitting me next to her. I lived for this moment, and this moment alone.

Happy Memorial Day,
Review my pretties.