I reached the shop. My fingers shook as I used my key to open the door. Once inside I collapsed on the floor in my room. Now that the adrenaline rush was gone, I felt drained. I wanted to sleep. Without bothering to change, I crawled into bed and shut my eyes.

I was awoken by the sound of tapping. I groaned and rolled over. It was probably just the rain... but it didn't sound like rain. It wasn't the gentle pitter-patter I had grown used to, nor the rush of a heavy downpour. It was a sharp tapping noise, the sound of knuckles on glass. Someone was knocking on my door.

I crept down the stairs nervously. A part of me thought it might be Andy. I had no idea what time it was, but it mightn't be that late, and he used to come and visit me at night occasionally. But a glance out the window showed me that it was early morning- the sky was lightening in the distance. I was suddenly full of fear that it was the blue sprites, come to threaten me again.

I hovered in the doorway between the shop and the kitchen. There was only one person outside. I could see their dark outline through the glass, but I couldn't tell who it was. They raised their hand and knocked again. The knock had a sense of urgency. As I passed through the door, I grabbed a fry pan off one of the shelves. Gripping the handle tightly, I crept to the door and opened it a fraction.

Light spilled from the shop into the street, illuminating a dark face and a pair of bright blue eyes. My eyes widened in fear. I raised the frying pan to strike but they caught my wrist. I tried to pull away put their grip was strong. I went to scream but their other hand clamped over my mouth.

"Juniper, it's just me. Sol."

Sol took a step forward into the shop and I recognized him. His bare torso was glistening with drops of water from the rain. He slowly let go of my wrist and took his hand off my mouth. I glared at him.

"Juniper, you have to listen to me," he said.

"Why should I?" I asked angrily. "You sold me out to those crazy purists. Thanks to you I either have to leave here or be responsible for Andy- and who knows who else- being hurt."

Sol hung his head.

"I know. I'm sorry. I didn't want to but... Sirius is very demanding."

I scoffed.

"You don't understand!" Sol said quickly. "He has very strong beliefs, and anyone that does not agree with him gets punished. He's outlawed sprites from our family because they've disagreed with him. He doesn't listen to anyone else, no one can contradict him."

"Then why is he your leader?" I asked.

"Where I come from, you're born into positions of power. That's how it's always been." Sol said, "Leaders gather followers, and their followers must be completely loyal to them. Otherwise they are outlawed from their family and become outcasts amoung all sprites. They can never join another family. They must live alone for the rest of their lives. It is a terrible punishment."

I understood this. Sprites were naturally social creatures- they liked being in groups, or families as they called them. A sprites family was their life. To be an outcast would be a fate worse than death for them.

"But Sol, I can't join your family. I've always lived like a human. I enjoy it. And I like living here, in Forks. I have friends and a shop and school. But if I don't leave, he's going to hurt Andy..."

Sol hung his head. "I'm sorry I told them about Andy. I know he means a lot to you."

I felt tears welling up in my eyes. I turned away from Sol.

"Just leave Sol." I said.

Sol took a step towards me, resting his hand on my shoulder.

"Because I'm sick of doing what Sirius tells me!" he said. "The only one of my family who has ever cared for me was an elderly female sprite, and she passed away some years ago. My family means nothing to me now."

I turned. I wanted to trust him. But how could I?

"You're still one of them Sol. You can't help me." I said.

Sol dropped his eyes.

"You're right. I have no power over what Sirius does."

"Then what are you doing here?" I asked.

He looked up, and his bright blue eyes were pleading.

"I need your help Juniper. I have left my family. I told Sirius that I didn't think we should force you to join our family. He got angry. And he said... he said I had to choose. The family, or you."

I stared at him.

"You chose me over your family! But Sol- you're a blue sprite! You're not like me! You can't stay here."

"I won't. Not forever. Just until I know you're safe from them."

"But where will you go? What will you do?"

Sol shrugged. "I don't know. I know of outcasts living together in Europe. I may join them. I may do as you do, and live as a human."

I smiled at his optimism. "Stay here as long as you want. I can get food and everything for us. But don't go out during the day- you'll stand out too much here."

Sol nodded. He took his hand off my shoulder slowly.

"What are you going to do? About Sirius, and Andy?" he asked softly.

I sighed. "I don't know." I admitted. "I have to protect Andy. If that means joining them, just for a while, then I'll do it."

Sol looked at me. "You must really love him." he said.

"Yes," I said. "I do."

Sol nodded solemnly.

"Oh, sorry, come inside," I said, realizing he had been standing in the doorway all this time. It was definitely morning now- all the darkness had gone out of the sky. I was very tired.

He walked further into the shop. Droplets of water slid of his body and on to the floor.

"You're soaking wet. Aren't you cold?" I asked him.

"No, not really." he replied.

"Well let me give you a towel at least," I said. I went to the bathroom to get one, when a thought occurred to me. "Do you want a hot shower?"

"A what?" he asked, following me in.

"A shower," I said, and explained. He looked confused, but upon feeling the warm water I turned on he was convinced. I showed him how to work the taps and went to get changed. I pulled on leggings and a woolen dress. A glance in the mirror showed me how terrible and messy my hair looked. While I searched for my hairbrush, I heard knocking. For one moment I thought it was Sol, but I could still hear the shower going downstairs. Who would be visiting me this early on a Sunday morning? It wasn't even eight o'clock yet.

I went downstairs and through the shop. In the light of day, it was easy to see who was on the other side of the door. I froze on the way to the door. It was Andy.

Suddenly I couldn't wait to see him, to tell him everything that had been happening. I was so used to sharing everything with him. Everything that had happened with Blake and Steph was nothing now.

I opened the door.

"Juniper," Andy said.

"Andy, why are you here so early?" I asked.

"I had to see you," he replied. "I'm sorry about all that stuff that happened. I wanted to see you yesterday, but my mum had an accident on Friday night. She was cooking on the stove and she..." he trailed off and waved his hand. "It doesn't matter. The point is- I know you wouldn't do anything with Blake, or anyone else. It was stupid of me to even think anything had happened. I'm sorry."

I smiled. "It's okay. I'm sorry too."

I reached up to kiss him.

"Juniper?"

I spun around. Sol was standing in the doorway between the kitchen and the shop. He was wearing nothing but one of my navy blue towels wrapped around his waist.

Andy stared at me, at Sol, and at me again. His expression was horrified. His eyes bored into mine, full of hurt and betrayal.

"You," he said. "Who... why... him... how could you do this to me Juniper?" he stammered out. He was almost too angry to get the words out.

"Andy, it's not how it looks," I said.

"No. It never is with you is it?" he said. He pulled away from me and ran down the steps and to his car.

"Andy! No! You don't understand!" I screamed as I chased him out on to the street.

He didn't look at me, just got in his car, slamming the door. My screams were drowned out as he revved the engine and sped away.

I collapsed onto the pavement, tears streaming down my face.

"Andy," I screamed out, even though his car was out of sight. "Come back. Please, come back. Please. Please. Please."