Chapter Eleven – Truth Ringing Through Every Syllable

There was a weird buzzing in my ears as I stirred awake, like I had a major headache. And, I realized with chagrin, I did. "Ugh…" I groaned softly, reaching up to rub my forehead. Suddenly, a very warm hand started to rub my arm, almost soothingly, and I jerked, surprised.

"Gwen, are you okay?" Asked a deep, sexy voice… Wait, who the hell is that, hmm, better open my eyes. But shit, they're really heavy. Damn it, why did he wake me up? I thought, my mind jumbled. "Oh, come on Gwilla, you gotta wake up!" the sexy voice pleaded, and suddenly I recognized it as Seth's.

With a blush I opened my eyes slowly, embarrassed that I thought his voice was sexy. Relief flooded his features as my eyes trailed across his face to meet his own eyes… I was lost in the two deep, dark seas within seconds, and it was only the slight panic in those seas that brought me back to reality.

"Gwen are you okay? Crap, I shouldn't have told you… I shouldn't have said anything yet." He whispered softly, almost as if he was in pain. For a moment, I was confused as to what he was referring to but with brutal force the memory of what he had recently told me hit me like a cement block.

My lungs seemed to light on fire, collapsing and closing in… I struggled to breathe, pressing myself against the couch to get as far away from… him as possible. As my struggle to stay calm continued, I could hardly bring myself to think it of the fact that Seth, my savior, the man who was helping me so much through my struggles… is a werewolf. A monster.

"Gwen… are you alright?" he asked after a moment, shocked I think, of my reaction. I found this absolutely absurd! Who wouldn't react this way? Some people may think that Seth was crazy, that he was lying.

But when he said those words, our eyes met and he spoke each word with such sincerity… truth ringing through every syllable. I swallowed hard as he repeated the question, and then moved his hand towards me, as if to rub my shoulder soothingly.

With a high-pitched yelp, I jumped off of the couch, tripping backwards over my feet as I fought a strange pull, moving away from him… from my Seth. "You… you don't touch!" I warned, my voice coming out as much of a warning as I could make it. Unfortunately I could hear its quiver as well as its silent strength.

Seth's face exploded into pain as he took another hesitant step towards me, his arm outstretched as if he was merely just reaching to brush a loose strand of hair out of my eyes. But I was too far away, putting too much difference between us.

My heart was pounding out of my chest, and I could feel the sweat on my hands. Fear boiled into me, and I shook all over as I snatched my jacket, tugging it on me in a second. My mind seemed to be frozen… How could Seth be a monster? How?

Why would a guy as gentle as him want to kill people, want to kill anything? Did he want to hurt me? Was that his plan all along, to allure me into him and his fake love, and then attack, as if I was some game to him?

I backed away, out of the door, and then turned, and started to run.

With each pounded step on the pavement, I felt relief, and yet, and oncoming sense of dread in me. Relief, because I was putting as much space between him, a man who possibly wanted to hurt me, and me. I closed my eyes briefly as I ran, whishing away all that was wrong in my life.

For one second, Drew had never entered my life, which meant that Breno had never walked in on me, and also meant that we had never fought. I hadn't been introduced to any form of drug, never once snuck in drunk, never done half the things Drew had pressured me so persistently to do… I wished my mother's breezy, selfish attitude away… and I didn't have to move away. I even wished Seth away, so he couldn't add to my pain. I took a deep breath as I stopped in front of the beach, leaning against a tree.

By listening hard, I could already hear all the dopers and stoners hard at work. Quite suddenly, I found myself walking to a slightly familiar place. Usually, Drew had taken me to Jittery and Jaws, but sometimes he'd take me to these other people… They didn't seem to be too concerned with their names, and they were Mallory, Carson, and Deanna. They mostly stuck together, and dealt the drugs, but there were more than ten people who came and hung out with them, buying stuff until their pockets were empty.

And as I stepped into the clearing, there were a few that glanced up at me, but I ignored them, choosing to step straight toward Mallory. I saw a white joint stuck between her fingers, and she smirked as she saw me.

"You look familiar… Hey, weren't you one of Drew's hook-ups? Whatcha doin' here? Don't ya have a regular dealer? Or did he get busted?" she asked, squinting at me. I swallowed, throwing her a small glare.

"No, I just don't wanna go to the people I normally go to. And I haven't talked with Drew in ages. Just gimme a joint and freaking hurry." I said through my teeth. Her eyes widened slightly, and she smirked, shaking her head.

"Fine. Whaddya want?" she hissed.

"I don't care. Just give me something to get me mellow."

"Fine, whatever. But cha better be nicer to me if ya want more. I'll give you this first one cheap, since we like our customers to come back." Mallory gestured to her and her friends before reaching into her pocket, drawing out an already prepared joint. She sniffed it, as though breathing in oxygen.

As I watched her prepare it, I couldn't help but let my eyes focus in on it. It had been a while since I'd smoked one, and also a while since I'd craved one… But right now, it seemed like it was all I could do. All I wanted.

"Here, now give me my money." Mallory hissed as she let me take it, holding out her hand expectantly. I stuffed my hand inside my pocket, counting every dollar before handing it to her with chagrin. I was running seriously low on cash…

I plopped next to a Quileute girl with long, black hair before holding it into my mouth, taking a long drag. I could feel the uncomfortable sensation, as though wanting me to cough, but quickly inhaled and then exhaled, breathing out the sweet drug in a fast motion. The taste was still on my tongue, dancing around my taste buds and making me feel tingly.

I took a few more drags, my mind getting lighter and fuzzier with each one. Finally, when I felt good enough, I took a deep breath, closing my eyes, and then opening them.

I squinted, trying to make out the people around me… but couldn't. It was like someone had slipped wax paper over my eyelids. "Ooh, ah…" the girl next to me suddenly smiled, letting her head fall back onto a tree with a thump.

I slowly turned to look at her, suddenly very interested in who she was. My brain seemed to be stuck on why she would come here, but finally it registered that she probably wanted some stuff too. And, I noticed, she had a joint stuck between her fingers as well.

"What're you staring at?" she whispered, arching an eyebrow. Her voice was scratchy, and I could make out dark, dark rings under her eyes.

"I was staring at you, actually." I said back, folding my arms across my chest. She snorted, shaking her head as if all this was comical.

"Jesus, kid. You seem like my kind of friend. What's your name?" the girl asked, trying to settle straighter, craning her neck as though trying to get a better look at me.

"Gwen." I said after a moment, coughing once after taking another hit. She thought this over for a second, nodding slightly.

"Well, my name's Brooke." She breathed, before closing her eyes, and leaning against the tree. "Just so you know yur kind of pretty. You could be fucking like hell right now…" she trailed off, as if expecting an explanation. After she nudged me very hard with her foot, I sighed.

"Just broke up with someone… kind of." I whispered.

"Ya wanna tell me what 'kind of' is s'possed to mean?" she asked.

"I don't know if I was exactly with him or not in the first place. It's complicated." I mumbled. "Plus, my parents are going to move to freaking India, and leave me alone with my controlling brothers." I groaned.

"How will you manage that?" came her quiet response.

"They're probly' gonna send us checks, considering they wouldn't leave us with nothin'." I said.

"Ah, okay. So why're yur brothers so controlling? Both my younger and older don't give a damn about any of the stuff I do." She slurred, her voice getting real low and angry. I swallowed, about to say something, when my mind slowly registered something else.

"Ah, shit… They're gonna be worried 'bout where I am now! Frick, I gotta go." I moaned, but still didn't move from my spot on the ground. She gradually turned her head, as if moving too fast would hassle her too greatly.

"You comin back tomorra?" she croaked, opening her eyes real wide and cocking her head to the side.

"Yep, definitely." I nodded to her, and then attempted to stand smoothly, but stumbled a bit. Mumbling curses under my breath, I glided out of the area and then left the forest.

For the first time, I noticed how pretty the lights were and how they had such a glow around them. The serene feeling in me seemed to melt away the cold weather, and I didn't hurry coming home. Everything around me seemed to blur as I came to the house, staring at the front door for the longest time.

My breaths seemed to pound inside my ears, my heart thumping wildly. I was expecting… something. My mind was stuck as to what it was, and my mind was spinning. And then, like a bullet, someone jumped on me, sending me tumbling to the ground.

My head slammed against a step, and my back hit the edge of the banister as I made contact with the pavement. Pain erupted in my side as I groaned loudly, rubbing my back. "Ow." I whispered.

"Gwen? What the fuck, girlfriend? Whenever I jump you, you usually stay straight-upright!" I heard Mica scream into my year, grinning ear to ear.

Oh. Duh, I had forgotten… Mica was coming down for the weekend. She got off me eventually, cocking her head to the side as if to inspect me. "Oh, sweet thing, I think your hair got silkier! But wait… oh scrap… You're totally done in!" she giggled after a second, using one of her stupid names for being high.

"Shut it, please." I said after a second. She rolled her eyes, pulling forward to peck me on the lips. For once, I didn't squirm under her kiss. I was a little surprised at myself… usually I snapped away, mega uncomfortable.

"Wow, Hun. Those drugs really made you mellow. Usually you freak when my attraction for you comes too strong." She smirked, raising an eyebrow. I sighed, stepping around her. Mica being bi-sexual was something everybody had always known, everybody. (Well, apparently everybody except for Marvin) She was eccentric, and if she got happy for someone, she'd kiss them…

It scared a lot of people away, but I found it quite amusing when it wasn't I. Not that I have any problems with it, it's just that I don't like girls.

"Gwilla, you realize that I've been waiting here for like, an hour? What gives?" she demanded, popping the door open and stepping in. "Doesn't your mother make your curfew like, eleven?" she frowned.

"Well what time is it?" I asked her skeptically. She scoffed, rolling her eyes at me.

"It's almost midnight."

"Oh, well that's too bad. I guess I maybe should have come in earlier." I shrugged it off, the drugs still hard at work to make me stop caring.

"O-kay, Anyway, wanna go bashing? You said Seth Clearwater, correct?" she asked me. I shut the door behind us and flicked the porch light on, and was slightly startled. Mica was… unique. To some, hair may seem like something to pride over, getting it cut but never changing its natural color.

But things were the opposite with Mica, she liked to stand out. She'd died hair black with red, orange, green, bubble-gum blond, red, and much more since she was thirteen, the time she moved here.

No one really knows what her true hair color is. Even before I really became friends with her, I knew who she was from her hair. And now, she was standing before me with the whitest hair you could imagine, with light purple highlights stroked through it.

"First of all, wow. Your hair… looks amazing," you also had to be careful about what you said on it, she was ultra sensitive, "Second of all, no. I changed my mind on bashing." I blinked slowly as I stumbled my way up the stairs, ignoring Jaja's questioning look in the hallway.

"Aw… you suck. I was looking forward to it. But fine. We won't." she pouted, sticking her lower lip out.

"Sorry, Mic. I'm in a horrible mood, and honestly don't think bashing will help me. In fact, I think it will help me feel worse." I sighed, again tripping over my feet. Her eyes widened slightly, and she shook her head.

"Oh, babe. I'm really sorry. I'll stay overnight tonight, make you feel better." She smiled gently, squeezing my arm. I grinned at her gratefully, and she led me to my room, guiding me with my elbow. Rissa was no where in sight as we stepped in, and for that I was grateful.

"Lay down, I'll be with ya in a second," she mumbled distractedly, blushing as she stepped into the hall.

I didn't even wonder what she was doing as I settled into the covers, letting the exhaustion from today overcome me and lull me into a fitful sleep.


Hey everyone! Really sorry about not updating, things have been hectic at my house with twelve family members, and now, TWO on the way! I don't know if you already know (you do if you look at my profile or read any of my other stories) but it's been on my mind ever since I found out!

Anyway, I really want to thank my outstanding beta, Swimming cutie xoxo! This girl is one of the most amazing writers on this whole damn websites, reviews like crazy, and despite both of our tendancies to get caught up in something else, we've managed to become good friends! So go check her out, she's on my favorites list!

So people, review review review! I want to thank the few that did review, though! You all rock!

As always, TwilightHeart21