DISCLAIMER: I don't own Twilight.

If you like this story, please go read Shooting Star! It is in the same universe, and I promise you, you won't get disappointed! :)

Thank you to my lovely beta and friend, Kallmecrazy! Her stories are amazing, you should go check them out !

Thank you for your patience! I'm not completely satisfied with this chapter, so tell me if you like it.

Enjoy!


11. Beautiful People

Evelyn's POV

Our hands were clasped, as we approached the crowd. I wasn't scared, I wasn't reluctant to be here. It was the first time in a very long time, where I was comfortable around a bunch of strangers. It was the first time since we arrived to Hawaii that I wasn't worried about what Jason would do to me once I got home. All in all, I felt good... as long as I didn't have to talk to Embry about my bruises. I knew I had to at some point, just not now.

"Evelyn! You made it!" I heard a recognizable female voice.

Nikoline came into my sight, and she was wearing a pretty floral dress in violet shades, along with a knitted sandy cardigan and brown flats. Her hair was straighter than straight, and falling down her back. She looked just as beautiful as earlier, if not more.

She hugged me, as I had sort of expected she would. "Yeah, we wouldn't miss it," I said and smiled.

"And Embry!" She hugged him as well. "Where have you been? We haven't seen you since last summer!" It sounded like they were more than just acquaintances.

I watched her noticing our hands held together. If I thought her smile couldn't go wider, I was wrong. "So you're together, huh?"

"Sorta," Embry shrugged. I opened my mouth to protest, but he squeezed my hand to stop me.

"Well, that's wonderful!" Her smile seemed to fade. She almost looked worried. "Em, could I talk to you for a minute?"

"Sure," He released his hand. "Just stay here, babe. I'll be right back,"

"Okay," I mumbled. He kissed my cheek with his warm lips and followed Niko to a bench out of eavesdropping range.

I gazed at the crowd. I couldn't see Lucas anywhere – luckily. I didn't know any of the people there, who were drinking, talking, laughing or even some were dancing. They were dancing to the sounds of someone playing ukulele. I didn't recognize the melody, but it was a sweet and romantic one. I noticed a big crowd of girls around the man playing the instrument. Other people were scattered around, and some had even headed for a swim in the darkening water. The sun was setting, and the sky was a swirl of mesmerizing warm colors. It looked heavenly. The calming music of the ukulele ended, and all the girls were eagerly applauding and whistling. The man rose, but I couldn't see his face, because of a shadow. Then he said my name, and I knew exactly who he was.

"Evelyn!"

"No, that's not me," I muttered.

"C'mon, since when did I get on your bad side?" Lucas chuckled.

"Since the day you first started off mocking me, and then after that, started trying too hard to get on my good side,"

"Evelyn, this is a party. Don't be such a grouch." His teeth were gleaming. I could sense his handsome face even in this bad light. He wasn't taller than me, which wasn't weird, since I'm very tall to be a model. But he wasn't much shorter either. It bothered me. He kept staring right into my eyes.

"Lucas," I said, sneering at his name. "You're talking to me like we've been friends for years."

"But we would have, if we had met years ago. Why not act like it, now that we finally did meet?" He casually laid his arm around my shoulders. He loved playing little games apparently, where he was the superior one. I wasn't having any of that.

I snorted. "I wouldn't be so sure about that,"

"Oh, why not?"

I sighed. "Look, I don't know what you're up to, but you might as well cut it out. I'm not that kind of girl,"

"I know," He grinned. "You're not stupid like all the other pretty girls. But what exactly do you think I'm up to?" Was that supposed to be a compliment? Oh, Jesus, he was so confusing.

He looked directly into my eyes; saying I felt uncomfortable was an understatement. His cologne had an exciting scent, kind of special, but it made you want more of it. "I just said I don't know!" I whined.

"But I think you do," He smiled smugly.

I sighed. When would Embry and Niko be back? I was getting impatient, but I didn't want to disturb them. It was a dilemma for me. "When are you gonna leave me alone?"

He finally took his arm back and took a few steps back, "Chill, Evelyn. I came here because I wanted to introduce you to my other roomie," He was so laid back, making me seem like a fool. He just wanted to introduce me to the third friend. "And of course because I enjoy talking to you." I wasn't sure that was true, but the way he said it – so relaxed and carefree – made him sound trustful.

"Alright," I groaned.

He held his arm out for me to take it like a real gentlemen. I shook my head, and chuckled a little to myself, when I took it.

He led me through the crowd. A lot of girls were watching me intensely, as I passed them with Lucas by my side. I knew who the third roomie was, when I saw the back of her. She was talking to a tall black man, and she was wearing a striped sleeve dress along with black sandals with a braided t-strop. I couldn't help but notice the clothes of everyone. I always did – it was an annoying habit of mine.

"Babe," Lucas called. He'd interrupted my evaluation of her back. She turned around, making her long, long curly hair sway and dance admirably. She was a lot shorter than Lucas and Nikoline – I estimated it to be about six inches. But that didn't mean she was less beautiful. Her skin tone was darker than her two roomies, and if I hadn't looked closer, I'd think she was native. But I could see that her skin had an olive tone, so she was definitely not from anywhere close to Hawaii. Her curly, long hair – that I'd kill for – was a gorgeous dark brown color. I could almost smell coffee, just by looking at it.

"Yea?" She thrilled, and I was stunned by her voice. I have to admit, she looked like one of those girls you can't get near, with a bitchy tone, but her voice was surprisingly gentle. I imagined her having the most wonderful laugh.

"Randa, this is Evelyn, our new neighbor," He introduced while looking at her. Then he turned to me. "And Evelyn, this is Randa, a very good friend of mine and my second roomie."

"Hey, Evelyn," Randa smiled. Her smile reminded me of Embry's – so perfect and flawless.

"Hi,"

"Welcome to Hawaii! Like it so far?"

"Thank you," I grinned shyly. "Yes, everything is very beautiful." Including the people there. I wasn't sure how to act around my dazzling neighbors.

"So you live with Embry, right?"

"Yes." I couldn't bring myself to admit, how much I loved saying yes to just that.

"Well, enjoy your time with him as long as it lasts," She muttered.

I blinked twice. "What do you mean?"

"Nothing," Lucas interrupted and smiled at me. I sensed him giving Randa a stern glance.

I looked at Randa. Her face was heart-shaped, and her bottom lip – her lips being a soft pink – was lightly pouting. It made her look cuter. Her eyes were entirely different – they were deep and hazel brown, and they were reflecting the light from the bonfire, making tiny stars appear in the depth of them. When she drove her hand through her hair, I suddenly noticed that she had a tattoo. A very authentic set of small angel wings were tattooed, right there on her wrist. Maybe she had lost someone very dear.

All in all – not that it was any surprise to me – she was very, very beautiful. I felt like trash beside the two of them. I mentally sighed.

Lucas kissed her cheek, and whispered something to her I couldn't hear. She nodded and looked at him in a very private way. Then she turned to smile at me, saying "Nice meeting you."

"You too, Randa," Apparently, this was it with talking to her. She turned around to continue her conversation with the black man who was waiting patiently behind her.

Lucas unexpectedly took my hand, and dragged me with him. "Where are we going?" I asked, my voice high-pitched.

The sky was darker now. This sea wasn't turquoise – it was more a navy blue. The air was very moist, but I wasn't sweating. Sand was in my sandals, but the sand was warm and golden, so it didn't bother me. All of it made me feel strangely blissful.

"Shh," Lucas hushed. Well, partly blissful – Lucas managed to annoy me unbelievably much.

He'd taken me to my spot on the beach, where I would see him run by every morning. What did he want?

"Sit down," He ordered. I didn't say anything, but simply obeyed, which was a first. He even looked a little surprised that I didn't object.

He sat down next to me, and stretched his long legs out. I folded my knees to wrap my arms around myself. I felt small.

"What is it you're trying to accomplish here?" I asked him quietly. I didn't want him to hush me again, it made me feel lame.

"No, no, Evelyn. This is not about what I want to achieve. I just want to talk to you – about you."

"About me?"

"Yes,"

I glanced at him, searching for any trace of sarcasm in his expression. But after a few seconds, I realized he was being completely serious. I felt lame, even though he hadn't hushed me. "Alright," I mumbled, after I'd pondered that for a minute. "What do you want to know?"

"Hmm. I'm not sure you can put it like that. Let me explain something for you first." He gave me a small smile. "Embry is not like every other guy. He isn't the kind of guy who falls in love, settles down, gets married and has a bunch of kids. He's more... well, sorry, there really isn't a nice way to say it, but he uses women. And that's what Randa was alluding to. He doesn't contain the feeling love, for other people than his friends and family. Are you aware of that?"

I didn't say anything, I simply stayed still. I wanted him to finish this painful speech.

"Alright..." He trailed off. "I don't usually warn the girls he brings, because they're usually just pretty, stupid girls with fake boobs. And I know they're not after a life with him – they just want his money, and that's his own problem. But you Evelyn! There's something entirely different about you! You have a personality, and I can see from the look in your eyes, that you are in pain. I don't want Embry to make it worse. Why are you in pain? Why are you so different?" He was being sincerely concerned and curious. And I was in utter shock, I had no idea he could even seem so compassionate.

I looked at him. Did my eyes really reveal that much? It seemed like that to Embry as well. Oh, how I hated my eyes. They are so easy to read. "Lucas, I barely know you. What makes you think I'm gonna tell you anything, let alone my whole life story, just because you're worried?"

"I don't wanna hear your whole life story. The only thing I want to know, is, what pains you so much, and why you're with Embry."

I sighed. "You sure you really want to know?"

He nodded.

So I told him everything. How it had all started out in my sister and brother's disappearance. How it had made me easily depressed, shy and introverted. And that it didn't make it any better, that Jason beat me and practically raped me. I even told him about the pressure in the model world, and how I kept myself thin. He was gaping when I was finished.

"Evelyn, you need serious help," He said. I regretted telling him everything, the moment he said that.

"No, I can take care of it,"

"Trust me, you can't."

"You don't know me! I'm getting better every second I spend with Embry, so shut up!"

"Suuure," He chuckled, trying to lighten the mood. "But you actually forgot to tell me about why you're here with Embry...?"

Another sigh escaped my mouth. "Alright, alright!" And then I babbled off with that as well. When I was finished, with telling him that, we were interrupted, and I was distracted from seeing Lucas' reaction to the whole thing.

Embry was calling my name.

"Over here!" I shouted back.

His large body showed up five seconds later. He was fast – he'd sounded like he was far away. "What are you doing here?" He sounded anxious when he noticed Lucas beside me.

"I was just talking to Lucas," I muttered, but rose up to cradle myself up in his arms. I had missed Embry like crazy, every second I was away from him. Even though, it was just a few feet.

"Mhm," Embry hummed, and to put it mildly, his voice was loaded with jealousy.

Lucas got up too, and grinned at Embry. Wrong move. "Chill, Em, we were just talking."

Embry didn't listen to Lucas, but simply just turned on his heel, and took me with him. Not that I didn't want to go with him. We walked in silence for a while along the beach. I was afraid he was mad, although he shouldn't be. But suddenly, he stopped our calm pace and turned to me.

"Can I kiss you?" He whispered. His voice was raw, and I couldn't stop looking at him. The defined chest, his brown eyes and soft lips. I couldn't resist.

"Yea," My voice was weak.

And so he did.

Embry's POV

I woke up the night after the party by my buzzing phone. I didn't bother to check the caller ID when I reached for it on my night table. I could hear Evelyn's breathing all the way from her room. Her heartbeat too.

"It's Embry," I muttered.

"Em, the werewolves have come back," It was Seth's voice on the other end.

About four years ago real werewolves, the ones who change at midnight, passed through La Push. Everyone had been very alarmed, because no one knew what it was until Carlisle could identify them. We had planned a big meeting including every person it involved, if the scent appeared again the next Full Moon. Luckily, it didn't. We all swore we wouldn't ever talk about the werewolves again. Carlisle had said it was dangerous to talk about it, since it could easily start a rumor. Rumors about werewolves could be extremely dangerous, but Carlisle wouldn't tell us why, and we'd never been anxious enough to know. It was a frightening incident we all wanted to forget.

"The what?" I said, shocked. Carlisle had said those kinds normally just passed through places to look for a place to live, and if they spend more than one Full Moon at the same place, they will stay. When they had come to La Push they had only stayed one Full Moon. Had they come back? Were they gonna stay there for good? I couldn't help myself from being a little freaked out.

"The Children of the Moon!"

"Explain," I demanded.

Seth hesitated. "Well, we didn't see 'em, but Paul and I came across their trail last night," I hadn't even noticed it was Full Moon last night. "Jacob didn't want us to track them down – Carlisle said it was too dangerous."

"Hm," I said and got out of my bed to pull on some shorts. "When are we gonna do something about it?"

"Carlisle said we should wait till next Full Moon to see if they're still here. They aren't that big of a threat to anyone when they're in human form, because we'll be able to smell them if they're near us. But we can't track their scent when they're in their human form, so we probably won't find out where they're hiding until next Full Moon."

"Why don't you just track their trail from last night now? It would lead you to their hideout, and you'd catch them off guard in their human form?"

"The rain has already washed their trail away, Jacob already thought of that," Seth muttered.

If they'd just told me sooner, we would have had them by now. Dammit. I snuck out of my room, trying not to wake Evelyn. I was going to change and go for a run. "So you want me to come home?"

"Jacob just ordered me to call all the wolves who didn't know, so we would know what to do, if we caught their scent." Seth didn't sound scared. He sounded intrigued about it, but most of all desperate to end this call. I bet Elody, his girlfriend, was waiting for him or something like that. He would have stayed and babbled on if he was by himself. "Carlisle says we should just be on guard, until next Full Moon. I'll call you later, when I know more."

"Not necessary," I interrupted. "I'm going for a run right now to talk to Jake."

"'Kay. Watch out, bro."

"You, too," I murmured. And then we hung up, and I had gone out the door.

The sun hit me immediately when I stepped outside. I took a few breaths and I was feeling so peaceful, despite the troubles back home. Evelyn was still vast asleep, but she ought to. It had gotten pretty late last night. Not at the party in particular, but when we'd gone home we'd been talking in several hours before we even took notice. I could still hear the sound of her when she giggles, and I would keep it memorized for a very long time.

I orientated myself, and noticed Nikoline reading a heavy book in a lawn chair on their front porch. She'd taken me aside at the party last night to talk to me. She was worried about me. But mostly about Evelyn. Niko was certain that Evelyn was unhappy and that I should find out why. Niko was also desperately worried that I'd dump her like I had dumped so many other girls – she didn't want that for Evelyn although she didn't really know her. When I asked her about it, she explained to me that she could just feel that Evelyn wasn't like any other girl. She had a personality and a heart, which could easily break – more easily than any other girls could. I felt like shit for a good while. I felt like shit for behaving the way I had before with all the other girls. But mostly I felt like shit for not realizing Evelyn was hurting. I had simply been too blinded by her beauty and the infinite love I felt for her.

I had then realized that she needed a friend who cares for her and notices everything about her, way more than she needs a lover.

I had been very selfish when I saw her with Lucas. I was jealous, and when I'd made her walk with me, I kissed her. Despite that I knew she didn't need it. But I couldn't help myself, and I promised it would be the last time for a while. When she was ready, she just had to tell me. Of course, I was going to have to speak to Evelyn about all of this, I didn't want her to be oblivious, and assume I didn't want her anymore. If you don't communicate, signals can be very confusing. I had experienced that too much.

Nikoline must have heard me somehow, because she turned her head to meet my eyes. She gave me a small smile, but no further. It was quite unlike her. I waved and turned to walk into the depths of the forest our houses were surrounded by. Tension rolled through my body and changed me into a wolf. The fears and the excitement about the Children of the Moon streamed straight to my brain from the very moment I had paws.

Could there be another possibilty as to why Lucas is so worried about Evelyn? Why have the Children of the Moon come back to La Push? And where the hell is Evelyn's brother and twin sister?