OK, so I know you all want to kill me for not updating for over a month…I had some problems lol. Writer's block, then work overload, then non-Writer's block a.k.a getting off on a tangent that will not happen for another 10 chapters! The Good News: 10 chapters down the road we are set! EEeek… I'm sorry! Hopefully you guys can live with this until my next update—which will hopefully be sooner rather than later.
Alex: Oooo…pretty shiny F-150.
HV: *sigh* why am I not surprised? You and shiny things…
Alex: *drools* shiny…
HV: You know, your character actually learns something in this chapter.
Alex: Shiny…
HV: I tried.
DISCLAIMER: I own nothing. All the lovely characters belong to Stephenie Meyer—unfortunately. The OC's however, I do own *muahahahaha* .
Right now I feel like I'm
Losing control
Losing control
Hey, hey, hey, hey
My head is spinning cause of you
Hey, hey, hey, hey
You've no clue what you do
Your the storm, and the rain
You've got eyes like a hurricane
Hey, hey, hey, hey
You've no clue what you do to me
You've no clue what you do to me
-What You Do To Me—We The Kings
ALEX POV
Tree.
Tree.
Tre—
"No way Leah! It's not possible!"
Tree.
Tre—
"How the hell do you know it's not possible if you've never tried it?"
I sighed finally giving up. Even counting trees couldn't drown out the two obnoxious werewolves in the front seat. I glanced to my right to find Seth in a similar state of annoyed resignment. He had his head back against the seat and eyes tightly shut as if he could just ignore them and me. I shook my head and thunked it against the window for good measure. Good lord…
After my death-defying stunt, Jacob had oh-so-subtly suggested that he, Seth and Leah should "take me home." Which I assumed was just another supernatural code for "dark lair of the abyss." Though in observing the three werewolves I was currently driving down the highway with, it wouldn't surprise me if that dark lair was actually more like a college party house.
The instant the Cullen mansion was out of sight, the tension released, and my current acquaintances turned into three average, rowdy, as-close-to-normal-as-possible-under-the-circumstances werewolves. They had remained that way for the first twenty minutes of the drive—that is until the great debate had started. Apparently, the serious act was for vampire eyes only…or it could just be that the whole mortal-enemies thing still struck a chord. Sure vampires and werewolves could be friends…but best friends was pushing it.
It was just a tad bit disturbing.
And here I was—human/awkward fourth person—stuck in the backseat of a Ford F-150, while Jacob and Leah were in a heated, and very loud, debate over which was better: Mayonnaise or Miracle Whip. Oh yes people, we went from trying to undermine an evil vampire threat to debating over condiments. How in the world did I get myself into this?
"You OK?" My body acted on its own accord and turned towards Seth's voice. But my eyes actually obeyed my brain this time and stayed stubbornly glued to the passing scenery. Little known fact about wolf-boy? Don't look into his eyes. Ever. If there was ever one to master the puppy-dog look, it's Seth. Hands down. I went back to ignoring him for my own safety.
It had started out innocent enough. I had put my foot down…again, when Jacob had mentioned leaving for Pack territory. My heels dug in for what I had hoped would be the last time. I was honestly sick of the constant change in residence. I was quite happy in the woods thank you very much. Seth was forced to mediate once again—Jake and Leah were smart enough to give me space. Seth, on the other hand, strode toward me. Just as I was bracing for him to physically throw me in the truck, he grabbed my arm, face inches from mine and gave me the most sincere, honest, crazy-innocent look I had ever seen and asked in a very polite manner for me to, "Please get in the car."
I was so dazed that I just nodded and hopped in the backseat. It took me five miles to snap out of it and to come to the realization of what had transpired. Needless to say I was pissed. I had tried to retaliate by throwing myself out of the cruising 75 mph truck, but seeing as Seth was a foot from me and easily restrained me before I could get even my hand out the door… creating my other reason for blatantly ignoring Seth the rest of the ride. A shame the plan failed, though it did scare the crap out of Jacob when the truck door suddenly shot open. A small victory I suppose, yet it was dampened by the irritating fact that all the doors and windows were now child-locked.
I had learned my lesson. No more eye-contact with Fido… the boy could get me to jump off a cliff with that look. But that doesn't mean revenge plans weren't simmering in my mind.
"Alex," Seth's second try at conversation brought me back to the present.
I sighed and decided to humor him. "Mayonnaise. That's my vote."
This was met with three simultaneous replies: A low mutter from Seth, a "No way!" from Leah, and a screeching "Yes!" from Jacob. Well at least that mind-numbing debate was over with.
"Come on Alex, at least look at me," I could tell Seth was trying to tolerate me, but from the edge in his voice, I'd say he was failing.
"Wow," Leah finally turned to look at me. "What did you do to him? Normally he's all happy and care-free in that creepily innocent way of his. I've seen him more riled up in the last thirty minutes than I have his entire life." She ended in a chuckle, which only enhanced Seth's glare in her direction.
I turned towards her and smiled mischievously. "I don't know Leah. He has been irritable lately." I made sure to keep my gaze on her and continued to ignore her brother.
Jake laughed. "My money's on a certain tension that has been going on for one too many years now."
Seth's growl in response only had us laughing harder.
"OK, OK," I figured it was my turn to mediate the situation. "No, actually Leah I'm pretty damned sure it was my attempt to throw myself out the door that's made him cranky."
"You could have gotten hurt," Seth replied and I let his glare meet mine this time. So much for mediating.
"I was trying to make a point," I said it like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
Seth's eyes flashed. "By killing yourself?"
"How the hell is throwing myself out of a vehicle killing myself?" I rolled my eyes and caught Jacob's smirk in the rearview mirror.
"And just what were you expecting if you were to hit the ground at 80 mph?" Seth was fuming now, but I pushed anyway.
"For your information," We were inches from each other now and I forced my voice back to an acceptable volume, "Jacob was going 75, not –
"Dammit Alex!" Seth banged his head against the seat and let out a threatening growl.
I shut up then. Seth was taking this far more seriously than intended and I watched as the muscles in his arms bunched up and he started to shake. I mentally berated myself for pushing him.
"Seth," Jake warned from the front seat, the truck slowing a notch.
My eyes never left Seth as I watched him take deep breaths, clenching and unclenching his fists, trying to get his body under control. I had to remember I was dealing with werewolves. Sure vampires you don't want to tick off, but werewolves can quite literally explode.
"I'm sorry," I whispered. And for once I actually meant it as I scooted across the seat and took Seth's arm. The vibrations of the Change shook him and me as I ran my hands up and down the length of his arm in an attempt at calm.
"Alex," Leah was serious now. "Be careful," she warned and I saw her give Jacob a slightly panicked look. The truck slowed even more.
"Jacob don't stop!" I called to the front seat, eyes still on Seth. Each time the truck slowed, the spasms grew. His body was anticipating running for the forest the instant the truck came to a halt.
"Alex you have no idea…" Jacob trailed off and I could tell he was debating whether to let Seth escape or to try and give him more time to calm down. "When he phases, he'll tear this truck a part. I need to stop and let him go."
"No," I insisted, "you need to keep going. Every time you slow it gets worse. His body is anticipating the stop. Just get to wherever the hell we are going and I'll try to calm him down!"
Jacob growled. "I'm not risking him or yo—"
"Just drive Jacob!" I was surprised to find Leah on my side. "It's her ass that's on the line."
Or maybe not.
"Get us to La Push and we'll handle this," Leah finished as she turned to me in the back. "He won't hurt you," her eyes flickered to her brother and back to me, her expression slightly annoyed now. "He won't hurt anyone, but he'd die if he hurt you…talk to him and get him to relax."
I met her order with a nod and turned back to Seth, whom had remained oblivious to us throughout the entire argument. The shaking had lessened slightly but his eyes were still screwed shut and his muscles were bulging. Time for plan B.
The moment I released my hold on Seth's arm, the shaking intensified. I moved myself quickly so I was straddling him, my knees beside his hips and pressed against the seat leather. If it weren't for the blinding instinct to calm him down I may have listened to the part of me going, "What the fuck are you doing?" I grabbed his face between my hands and moved so I was pressed against him. His body shook mine with such force that my teeth slammed together.
"Seth," I whispered his name, knowing he could hear me.
I saw his eyes flicker behind the eyelids and I took that as recognition.
"Seth," I repeated. "You need to calm down. I'm right here." I leaned my forehead up against his and continued. "I'm not going anywhere. I need you to take control and stop. We're both going to be seriously hurt if you don't. Please Seth." The last part was so soft that I didn't think he had heard, but the instant the shaking slowed I knew I was getting somewhere.
I ran my hands down his arms until I reached his hands. My thumbs rubbed circles into his skin until he finally let me pry his fists apart. The threat of phasing was lessening now. The shaking had stopped and all that was left of the ordeal was Seth's ragged breathing. I place his hands at my waist and rested my arms around his neck, our foreheads still touching. He reacted faster than I could comprehend, and his arms were around me completely and crushing me to him. With our bodies pressed so tightly together I could feel his quick, jagged breaths. I made an effort to slow mine and took a deep breath.
"Calm." I repeated quietly and let out a sigh of relief when I felt his breathing steady to match mine.
I sagged against him, my forehead coming to rest on his shoulder, as the full comprehension of what just took place hit me. It was accompanied by the forceful realization of the connection I shared with this boy. My body tensed ever so slightly in fear of what I had buried so long ago. Seth tightened his hold and I relaxed again. Our reaction to one another was unnerving…the near-phase being proof of something unnatural. I had only known him for a number of days and he was already causing long-dead emotions to resurface.
"Shit." Jacob's soft curse brought me back to the rest of my surroundings and I noticed that the truck had stopped.
"Well," Leah returned, "that was interesting."
The sound of Jacob's head thumping against the seat echoed through the cab, "That," he stated, "was too close." Alpha authority seeped into his words.
"At least we made it here," Leah commented.
"Seth," Jake paused and despite my eyes being closed I knew Seth had opened his to acknowledge him. "You need to control yourself. Now that you have an—" I felt both boys focus on me for a moment then Jacob finished. "Well, it's going to be a lot harder. You can't let every little thing get to you. Before, this wouldn't have been a problem. Now, it gets dangerous." Jacob's tone had hardened and I gave a slight shiver in response.
"I'm sorry Jake," I felt Seth's voice vibrate through his chest. "I overreacted."
Leah scoffed in response.
"And I promise," I lifted my head and looked at each of my three companions. "That I will never attempt to throw myself out of a moving vehicle ever again…" I considered what I was promising and amended, "Well, at least in Seth's presence."
Leah laughed as Jacob rolled his eyes and Seth tightened his hold again.
"I can live with that," Leah smirked and got out of the truck.
*Sigh* I tried fluff and I have no idea if I am good or bad at it so I need some help from you guys.
Yes, it's a filler, but not really a filler cuz Alex has to come to realize her feelings for Seth sooner or later—hopefully sooner.
This came to me after I had some reviews asking why Seth is so angry all the time…so I had some fun with it. Just remember that this is 5 yrs after BD, the kid has had some experience and won't be all innocent all the time.
Reviews would help me a lot guys especially criticism and opinions-do you guys like fluff? or are you more action and adventure people?
Thanks for reading-HV
