Jake's POV:

I woke to hear a lot of laughing. Sam came in and saw me with my eyes open.

"Guys, he's awake!" he yelled. "So, Jake," he said, looking back at me and grinning. I could tell this wouldn't be good. "You got beat up by a girl. How does it feel?"

"Like hell," I replied, wincing as I got to my feet.

"Hah. Well, anyway," he continued, "it was kinda funny."

Quill popped up by the door. "And by 'kinda,' he means 'very.'"

"Well," I snarled. "Forgive me for not laughing. After all, she did almost beat my brains out."

"What brains?" Sam persisted, causing them to go into another uproarious laughing fit.

"Hilarious," I growled.

"What's going on?"

I turned as Brandi appeared in the doorway, wiping her hands on a dishtowel. For a second, I just stared at her. How was it possible that, after everything she had put me through, I could still love her?

"Well, Randi," Sam said, too serious for the laughing fit that had plagued him earlier, "We were teasing Jake."

I looked at him in terror. Not because he was ribbing me, but cause of her nickname. I mean, really. Randi? How much stupider can you get?

Judging by the dark look on Brandi's face, she didn't like it much either. "Well, Samantha," she replied with deliberate calmness. "I think you two should stop teasing him and go eat before I hurt you. I mean, Jake could probably take you, but two on one isn't exactly my idea of fair. What about you?"

They slunk away.

***

Jake's POV:

Later, Paul and I were laughing over how stupid they had looked running away from Brandi. Sam and Quill were hiding out in the kitchen.

I slapped Paul on the back and put my arm around him.

"Is that some kind of hug?" Emily asked. She'd been watching from the doorway, amusement and bewilderment clouding her face.

"It's a man thing," I answered. After all, hugs were for sissies. Or girls.

"Are you saying girls are sissies?" Brandi asked. She had appeared in the doorway behind Emily.

"Err… No. I'm not." Hurriedly realizing I had said that last part out loud, I tried to backtrack.

"Good. Cause, y'know…" she stepped closer, a smile lighting her serious face. For a second, I was dazzled by the brightness, a fog clouding my brain. I shook my head and listened to hat she was saying.

"Ninety-nine percent of gay marriages start with a touch on the shoulder." She looked pointedly at our arms, which were still around each other's shoulders.

Paul was first to pull away, almost hitting me in the face with his arm in his haste to get away from me. I wasn't far behind.

"Ewww!!!!!" we both yelled at once. "No way- I would never- I'm not- That's just disgusting!!!!"

Brandi and Emily were laughing too much to say anything. Once everyone else came in to see what the fuss was about, they started howling with laughter, too.

"Okay, everyone, SHUT UP!!" We (Paul and I) were yelling when Billy came in. He took one look around and said, "You know what? I'm not going to even ask."

That sent the rest of them into yet another laughing fit. Frankly, Paul and I didn't see what was so funny.

***

Brandi's POV:

Jacob walked through the living room. In reality, it was more like stomping. He looked really pissed. Emily and Kim, Jared's girlfriend, sent me looks; obviously implying I should talk to him.

Well, I'm sorry. Actually, I'm really not. I just couldn't help teasing him. It was fun.

Oh god. I sat up in terror. Did that mean… I like him?

No. Not possible, I thought, shaking my head violently even as each word echoed through my brain. Then another horrible thought entered. Did… he love me?

No way! He only knew about half of me anyway. Werewolf or not, I couldn't live with someone, hiding half my life from them. I wouldn't be happy, and he wouldn't be either, once he found out.

'Specially not Jake. I shuddered to think 'bout what he would say. Ugh. I'd probably go deaf with all the yelling.

"Brandi?" Kim asked. "Is anything wrong?"

Wrong? Why would she think that? Oh. I realized I had been shaking my head so hard my entire body was shaking, like I was having a seizure.

"Oh," I said, faintly embarrassed. "No, nothing's wrong." And, believe me, it was the truth.

Kinda.