Hi guys! Yeah, yeah, yeah, it's been a forever since I updated. But I have reasons! I swear! I did not drop off the face of the planet, but I might as well have, huh? So sorry, but this chapter is exciting. I know you'll like it.

Chapter Nine

Fight

"Favorite color?"

"Grey, most definitely. What's yours?"

"Burgundy."

"Burgundy?"

"Yeah. Like, a dark red. You know?"

"Yeah, I do."

"What about…" Seth paused a moment, looking up to the sky, like a question was

waiting there. I stirred my coffee with my pinky finger. It was far from hot after hardly being touched for the last half hour. "Favorite music artist?"

"Ugh," I said, leaning my head back smiling. "That has to be the hardest question ever."

"How?" Seth said, pure surprise taking his face. "It's just music."

"No, it's not," I retorted. "Seth, I work at Music Mania. Music means something to me; I can't just choose an artist and be done with it."

"Yes you can," he replied. "Why not?"

"Favorite, Seth," I said. "If you want my absolute favorite you gotta give me a moment."

I brought my eyes to face him again, and he stared back with obsidian eyes. He never stopped looking at me. It was like he could see right into my soul. I thought hard, staring past him to the curtains of the kitchen.

We were alone in the back room; Trisha and Tina had retired for the night, and Justin and Mitchell were washing dishes in the kitchen to make some cash. Naomi could be anywhere. I was able to settle on a few of my favorites, though it was hard.

"Well…" I said first. His eyebrows raised, waiting for an answer. "All-American Rejects is definitely up there."

"But not number one?" he asked.

I was surprised he cared. I could never have a random conversation with questions back and forth with Chase. He would get bored and think of something better to do. Or at least better to him.

"No," I replied. "Oh, Paramore and Hey Monday are there, too."

"Who?" he asked. He had put down his mug, and was looking me in the eyes with genuine interest. "I mean, AAR, I know. But the last two?"

"Paramore and Hey Monday?" I said, shocked. "You've never heard of them?"

"Nope," he popped his p. "Music isn't so big for me. Not really part of the entertainment."

"Really?" I said. "Then I'll have to take you to a concert one time. Or just make you listen to the greatest stuff around."

"I'm going to hold you to it," he replied. "We prefer bonfires and cliff diving at La Push."

"Oh, god, not cliff diving," I groaned. "That's terrible. It's idiotic and dangerous. I can't believe people actually throw themselves off cliffs into the ocean. We live in the Olympic Peninsula for crying out loud." I remember the last visit to the rez, where Em had introduced me to some his friends. I think their names were Jack and Quinn…? No, that didn't sound right. Had to be something else.

They had brought me up to the cliffs, when They suggested we test the waters. Quinn (I think) leaped down eagerly. I could remember my scream and panic. Embry had laughed at my hysterics. He said it was fun. I had slapped his chest, saying that it was stupid.

"Have you ever done it?" Seth asked, truly enjoying this conversation.

"No!" I squealed. "I would never do that."

"Then I'll have to take you sometime," he promised, "if you're going to take me to a concert."

I pouted, making him laugh. We had been asking basic questions back and forth for about an hour. We'd gone back and forth through our favorites from actors, to colors, to hobbies, and now music.

"Is it my turn?" I asked. He shook his head. Is this a no or a yes? I can't tell. "Okay…who do you admire? Your favorite person?"

"Do I have to know this person?" Seth asked. Another thing I learned about Seth, he always clarified so he knew exactly what to say. He wouldn't answer a question without asking one of his own.

"Sure, I guess," I shrugged. "I really don't care."

"My sister," he said after a moment's pause. "She's been through a lot. "

"Oh?" I replied. I had learned that Seth had a sister a few questions ago. I told him I had a half brother and we laughed at how annoying older siblings could be. "How so?"

"It's…complicated," Seth replied, running a hand though his wavy hair. I eyed him elusively, trying to put together the puzzle that was Seth. He gave me a lopsided grin. "I'll explain it to you sometime. I promise."

"Good," I nodded. I looked him with as much seriousness he did me. "Your turn?"

"Yes," he replied. "What's…."

Seth was interrupted by a crash in the kitchen. Both of us turned to face the two doors and heard the voices of my friends.

"It was Tin!" Mitchell's voice called the same moment Justin's said, "It was Mitch!"

I could hear Naomi's loud groan, "Well then both of you are going to have to pay for that plate!"

I felt myself blush before I looked at Seth. Still his eyes were locked on mine. "Sorry about them. They're crazy, I know. But I love them all to death." I chuckled nervously.

The corner of his mouth twitched as he broke into a smile.

"All friends are like that, huh?" he said, nodding and raising his eyebrows. I chuckled and nodded with him.

There was one of those awkward silences after that. Both of our heads still nodding like bobble heads. Seth sat across from me, a smile still on his face. He laughed at himself for nodding so long and ducked his head. It was the first time he took his eyes off mine.

There was a different emotion in me then. I felt betrayed. I was so used to Seth's stare that it hurt for him to not be looking in my eyes. Like something tied me to him…

There was another crash in the kitchen. Seth looked up. I rolled my eyes, waiting for Naomi to yell at the guys, and for them to blame each other. But that wasn't what happened.

"What. Are. You. Doing. Here?!" Naomi's voice screeched.

I stopped breathing and my smile fell instantly. I stared at Seth. I didn't have to guess twice to know who had come to my party.

I slid out of the booth and Seth followed, staying close behind me. Hesitantly, he placed his large, warm hand on the small of my back. I leaned into it, unafraid. I was prepared for anything now.

But…what would he say? What would he think? I could hear his accusations in my head. I could also hear all of my excuses. Everyone of them. But…what if I didn't feel like using them? I felt safe with Seth, something I couldn't explain. What if I was happier?

I pushed open the doors to the kitchen, ready to face him. Chase. Justin and Mitchell were hiding in the corner, brightly colored dish-washing gloves on their hands. Chase stood in front of the back door, his ears a fiery red, and his hands balled into tight fists. Naomi stood across from him, her mouth open wide from yelling at my boyfriend. But she had stopped when I walked into the room with Seth, his hand still on my back.

Chase turned to face me furiously. I could feel him eyeing Seth's hand.

"What is this?!" he yelled, turning from Naomi to me and back, "What do you think you are doing, you bitch!?"

"It's Myra's birthday party," Naomi yelled. "And you were not invited! So LEAVE!"

"But she's my girlfriend!" Chase yelled. He held his hand out to point at Seth, "But you invited him!"

"Better him than you!" Naomi yelled, throwing her arms out behind her in anger.

He started walking towards Naomi, raising his arm to strike her. Naomi's eyes widened in fear, and she was unable to move. Her father was once abusive, and it would hurt her more that anyone would think. I wouldn't let him touch her.

"Don't you dare!" I shouted, but I had moved at the wrong time. His hand came down, but it wasn't Naomi he slapped across the cheek. It was me. My hand went to my cheek, and I crumpled down to the ground. Naomi was immediately by my side, her eyes holding both fear from her almost contact with Chase, and anger that he hit me.

"My…" Chase said, realizing what he had done. He ran a hand though his hair, "Myra, let me…" He reached out to help me. To pick me up.

"You leave her alone," Seth growled fiercely through his teeth at Chase, "You do not touch her. Or Naomi either." His whole body was shaking, especially his hand that held Chase up by the collar of his shirt, as he pushed Chase's back against the wall.

"Why don't you leave her alone?" Chase yelled. "She's my girlfriend!"

"Not anymore!" I yelled, holding my left cheek in my hand. I stood up. "Get out of here, Chase. And do me a favor and don't come back. Ever!"

He craned his neck around Seth. "Babe, you know that was an accident. C'mon My. What do you think you're doing?"

"Something I should have done a long time ago!" I yelled. I walked to the back door and held it open. "Goodbye, Chase."

Seth dropped him on his two feet, and shoved for him to leave.

"What?" Chase said. "You're leaving me because you have this guy now? That's really shallow Myra. I gave you the best--"

"It has nothing to do with Seth, you jerk!" I yelled. "Just get out of here. I can't believe you. You don't touch my friends and you don't touch me. Get out!"

With one more shove, Seth had him out of the building.

"See ya," Naomi said smugly, slamming the door in his face. Seth had stopped convulsing and smiled down at Nomes. She held up a tiny hand, which Seth high-fived eagerly. Naomi smiled and walked to me, folding me into her arms. "Finally. You have seen the light."

"Yeah, I guess I have," I agreed. Over her shoulder I saw Seth, not celebrating the moment, but looking ashamed. He turned around, and pushed through the kitchen doors.

Well, my dear readers, here are my reasons: Finals. We all hate them. They're HORRIBLE. But they had to be studied for. Then last weekend I graduated from eighth grade. Yay! High school here I come! And then there was the dance and a bunch of parties. Later today I'm actually supposed to sleep over at my friend Trisha's house.

And there's something else. I'm cheating on FanFiction. With an original story which I want to put on my FictionPress but I am scared that no one will read it. It's kind of different, since there's no Twilight at all, but you may like it. I wanna see how many of you would be interested in reading it. It's called "Making Wishes." Tell me in a review, okay?

So if you read all this babbly put the word "wish" in your review, and tell me what you thought of the chapter and whether or not you'd want to read the story. Okay, bye!

~Sparkel