Well, after a long break, here's the next chapter. I've finally finished high school forever and am on my way to becoming an adult. Joy.

~ Miley ~

She was so close. I could feel her warm breath ghosting over my lips. Her eyes, once frantically darting from side to side, were now fixated on me. They were wide, observant, wild. She looked about ready to pounce on me.

I slid my hand from her cheek to the back of her head, fisting her silky hair. She gasped and the animalistic stare faded into a timid glance as she lowered her vision to my mouth, as I had done to her several times. Not ever in my seventeen years had I wanted to kiss someone so much that it pained me to restrain myself. It didn't make sense. I wanted it, so badly did I want to kiss Lilly, but I knew I shouldn't. This would put our friendship in jeopardy and there was nothing I valued more than what I shared with Lilly.

What little sense I had left kept me from kissing her, but as I watched Lilly's eyes flutter shut, it was too late. Her arms circled my waist and she began to advance. Protests sounded in my head, but none were loud enough to make me stop what was about to happen. I was now stuck in Lilly's gentle grasp and I clenched my eyes shut, preparing to face what I had started.

A car door slammed.

My hopes rose and sunk simultaneously.

The faintest of touches met my lips.

The front door creaked open and Lilly and I flung apart.

Laughter sounded as I turned to find Daddy and Jackson entering the house, both grinning ecstatically.

"Hey girls, did you enjoy your night?" Daddy asked when he spotted Lilly and I on opposite ends of the couch.

"Yeah... It was...fun. How was the rodeo?" I replied, not daring to look in Lilly's direction.

"Great!" Jackson exclaimed, obviously still riding the buzz induced by watching men get bucked off untamed horses. He made his way to the left over roast and Daddy switched on the lights.

"It definitely was somethin'. Why, don't you two look pretty?"

I peered at Lilly then as she muttered her thanks and I realised what a mistake I'd made. Her hands laid limply at her sides and she watched the TV with a troubled expression. She looked as bothered as I felt and I shifted closer when Daddy joined Jackson in the kitchen. She tensed when she noticed my proximity. I touched her shoulder and she grimaced.

"Lilly, I'm sorry," I murmured.

"I-you -what happened?"

"Nothing happened."

"But it did happen." She stood up, escaping my hand.

"It was an accident. I'm sorry. I don't know what I was think-"

"I have to go."

I panicked. "You can't!"

"I need to think. I don't... I don't know how to feel about this."

"About what? Nothing happened!" Yeah right.

Lilly started to move towards the door and I didn't know what to do. There was no way of properly explaining what was going through my head when we were about to ruin the friendship we'd worked so hard to build. I didn't even know how we ended up that close in the first place.

I shot up from the sofa and hurried to the now open front door. Lilly had stepped into the cold night, but wasn't retreating. She was standing on the lawn, in front of the porch railing, waiting. I crossed the porch.

"I don't want you to go," I whispered, reaching for her hand. I realised what a bad idea that was though and clasped my hands behind my back to stop them from wandering.

"I have to. I'm not going to just go to bed and pretend that we didn't... kiss."Even in the darkness, I could make out her blush.

"I said it was an accident."

"Maybe I didn't want it to be."

"What?" Did I hear that correctly?

In response, Lilly merely leant in, pressed a chaste kiss to my cheek, said, "Thank you for a wonderful night", and walked away. I watched hopelessly until her black attired form blended into the silhouettes of the trees.

Dang it, what was I supposed to do?

I thought I would maybe see Lilly at school, but not seeing her would be better. I needed time to absorb everything that had happened, then I needed to work out why I felt such compulsions, why kissing Lilly was even a thought for a fraction of a second. Well, more like a few seconds, or a minute. I don't know! Time escaped me last night.

I hardly slept. I felt like Lilly had slipped away with no intention of returning. When she disappeared into the darkness, she may have decided to disappear from my life as well.

No, she wouldn't. One mistake, even a really big one, wouldn't cause Lilly to resort to leaving me, especially when we were both still in danger. She wouldn't leave me in such a vulnerable state. I had no real way of protecting myself and I felt guilty for Lilly feeling obligated to do so. I didn't want her to think I was weak, but I guess anyone would seem weak compared to a werewolf.

I trailed along the dirt road by myself, feeling a small twinge of misery when I noticed Lilly's paw prints still visible in the dust. We walked this road almost every day and even though Lilly was in a different form, the tracks, both human and wolf, made me miss her company already. It would be very awkward if Lilly were with me, of course, but it was too strange not seeing her warm smile and lively features. I wanted to admit that I regretted my actions, but I'd only be saying that because they scared her off. I wouldn't mean it. If I was so lost in the moment, so entranced that it brought me to do something utterly unexpected, then how could I say it wasn't something I wanted?

And it was because of this question that I couldn't sleep last night. Lilly occupied my thoughts. She didn't feel safe around me anymore, I was sure of it. She'd rather risk her chances sleeping in the heartless woods. Anything could have happened out there. Oliver might have attacked her and there was nothing I could've done about it.

But, back to the original dilemma. I wanted to kiss Lilly, I understood that, but what baffled me was how sudden the feelings seemed. Were they sudden? It could be likely that there was a feeling, slowly building up to the moment that would drive me to end a friendship and start something beyond it. But that was me acting on impulse. Right here, right now, I didn't know what I wanted, I didn't know where Lilly stood. Would she only watch out for me from afar? Would I even see her again? Did I want to see her again?

That was a stupid question.

Lilly, above all else, was my best friend. Yes, I tried to kiss her, and maybe it caused her to take a step back, but friendship is a powerful thing. It's not easily broken and it can be mended. I was positive our bond would be reconstructed; it'd just be a delicate process. The odd feeling in my chest would leave eventually and things would go back to how they were before I thought cooking Lilly dinner in what could be mistaken for a romantic gesture was a good idea. Everything up until that point was fine between us.

When I walked into school, Travis seemed surprised, and maybe a little happy, that I was by myself. He didn't bother asking where Lilly was since her attendance was so sporadic that I could no longer come up with excuses and everyone just accepted that she was careless. It was the easiest explanation. She didn't need any unwanted attention and the school was lenient because they sympathised with her position as the child of a "bedridden mother".

Travis sat next to me in English and I realised I'd been so busy last night that I hadn't read the allocated pages of the novel we were studying. To be honest, I didn't even know what it was we were reading. The book was given to me, but I didn't read the title, merely shoved it in my bag. It's probably still there. Now, before Lilly arrived, I was always diligent. I read every book assigned and completed all my homework. A lot changed since meeting her. My grades dropped, but that would be expected from someone who was the target of a homicidal werewolf, right?

I tried to look busy by doodling, hoping Mrs. Kunkle would bypass me if she decided to ask a sudden question about the book. Sadly, each student was picked off one by one and I found many were unable to answer the questions she asked. Great, a whole class detention.

"Miss Stewart," she said firmly and I froze. Crap.

"...Yes?"

"Could you please share with the class why indexing was ridiculed by Hazel Crosby on the plane in the Cat's Cradle? As it seems no one else knows why." She glared at the few kids she questioned, and it was almost unfortunate that the class might suffer because she asked the students who were the least likely to have read the book. But I found that I was in luck. She might've thought that due to my deteriorating grades, I wouldn't have the answer because I disregarded the book, which I did, but I'd read Cat's Cradle before. Actually, I was pretty sure I read some of it to Lilly once.

"Because she believed indexing was only something an amateur author did. She opposed writing the index to your own book because it revealed too much about your character, which might come off as egotistical," I answered.

"Well, at least someone in the class has read the book," she snapped and then the questions stopped and minor analysis began.

When she turned to write something on the board, Travis glanced at me and whispered, "Nice save."

~ Lilly ~

Last night was horrible. The grass was damp and the ground was hard beneath my back. I couldn't find a single position that was less uncomfortable than the last. I'd slept on the ground for months when I ran away from home and had no problem falling asleep. My mother haunted my thoughts, yes, but I managed to suppress the memories of her screams of horror enough to allow myself some sleep. Miley dominated my thoughts much more aggressively. Not with harsh rejection in regards to my feelings, but with... acceptance. I pictured her in my arms and we were kissing and it was perfect. I nearly tricked myself into thinking having a relationship with Miley was possible. I was sure she shared my feelings. Why else would she try to kiss me? She leant in, too.

I rolled onto my side for the fifth time, my eyes clenched shut. The things swimming through my head were painful. They tempted me, tried to persuade me into thinking going to Miley and confessing my love to her would fix everything. No, her sweet lips wouldn't remove Oliver from the picture, nor would they change the fact that I was a werewolf. My resolve was weakening, I could sense it. My desire to Change was growing and I was scared that one day I would become pure wolf. Oliver had only been a werewolf a month or so longer than me and he's already given in. I had no way of knowing if resisting my monstrous urges would end with the loss of my humanity.

I don't believe that any amount of kisses, or hugs, or kind utterings from Miley could help me. I was doomed. So, with little faith in myself, I eventually allowed all the imaginary moments I shared with Miley to overwhelm me. I realised that it didn't matter if I escaped from reality a little bit, what with my fast approaching demise.

Then the fox and her warning suddenly entered my mind. She had been right, but she was too late. Everything was much harder now because of my connection to Miley. The need to protect her from danger was incredible and I felt almost murderous when faced with the idea of her being in harm's way.

A small rustle sounded behind me and I sat up, expecting Oliver to leap from the bushes and rip out my throat. But what emerged surprised me.

It was the fox.

Her gold eyes glowed in the dim morning light as she steadily approached me.

How are you, Lilly? She questioned softly, her voice soothing in my head as it overpowered my previous daydreams.

"Shit,"I replied, lying back down. I was still wearing my dress and was unwilling to Change. It meant I was vulnerable, but I didn't care. I just wanted to pretend I was human with human problems for once.

I'm sorry to hear that, but I have something to show you. It may improve or worsen your mood.

I bit back a groan as I tiredly climbed to my feet and followed the fox in the direction she came from. It was harder weaving through all the trees and plants in this form, as branches caught in my hair and clothes and scratched my skin.

"What is it?"I asked, testing the air, wondering if the surrounding scents would offer any clues.

The fox didn't answer and only when I followed her deeper into the forest did I smell something. It was blood. Fresh blood from three different creatures. Two were unfamiliar, but the third was a fist to my nose.

"Oliver," I snarled as I charged past the fox, chasing after the smell of his blood, wanted to shed even more of it. This was my chance.

I raced around another bush and spotted a bloody body curled beneath a large oak tree. There was no movement aside from the slow rise and fall of Oliver's chest. I closed in and found that my rage was settling. What was before me was not a killer, nor a wild animal, but my old best friend. His unconsciousness had caused him to morph back into a human. Healing was quicker in wolf form, but only if there was enough energy available. If not, you'd shrink back to your original body and you'd either have to stay that way until you were completely healed, or force yourself to Change before your wounds began to scab over.

Oliver looked pathetic. He looked like an easy target. I could murder him right now and a huge obstacle in my life would be removed and I'd be one step closer to having a chance at becoming Miley's girlfriend. The word itself caused my stomach to flip and if I weren't staring at the boy who destroyed my life, I would have smiled.

"What happened?" The fox is now sitting by Oliver, watching him with an almost sad expression.

He was attacked by bears. He was planning to ambush you last night, I believe, but before he did, he decided to eat and his first find was a bear cub. Revenge exists even among animals.

"If you knew Oliver was coming for me, why didn't you find me and tell me?" I asked peevishly.

Because it was too late. He'd already been hurt.

"How'd you know he wanted to attack me, then?"

Why else would he be so close by?

This fox was so frustrating. I wasn't sure if she was on my side or not. Why did she even care about what happened to me? She was a strange little thing and I wish I could figure out where she came from and how she knew me. I joined her next to Oliver and she tilted her head up to meet my eyes.

"Who are you?"

You can call me Vixen.

"I'm asking for more than just your name," I said.

Will you kill him? she questioned, ignoring me and looking back at Oliver. He seemed so... frail.

"I want to," I replied, glaring at the bloodied face of my ex friend. He would probably die if I left him here, if not of blood loss then of predation. From the moment he was turned, he had wreaked havoc everywhere he went. He ate household pets, disappeared and let everyone believe he was kidnapped and then turned up one day in his human form, spouting nonsense about how wonderful it was being a werewolf. He insisted that I join him and at that point I thought he was insane and tried to close my front door, only for him to Change and become the very animal that the news had been warning everyone about. That's when he bit me. I told him I never wanted to see him again and he left and I experienced a week of agony before I too became a werewolf. Mom was there throughout it all.

She was there when I tore the refrigerator door off by accident. She was there when I ate three times as much as I usually did (which was already a lot), and she was there when I was so angry about my throbbing bite wound that I growled and I sounded just like a dog. The small fang marks were still evident on my hand, but I'd lost count of all the scars Oliver had given me. He tore my family apart. Dad didn't care about my existence, my cousins never kept in contact, I had no siblings and now I didn't even have a mother.

There was no denying my hatred for Oliver.

Yet, no matter how much I hated him, I couldn't bring myself to kill him. Vixen appeared almost pleased when I crouched down and shoved one hand under his knees and the other beneath his back, lifting him with little effort. I started to carry him back to the clearing that I half lived in, trying to ignore his nakedness.