Chapter 13:

I jinxed myself. The day did get worse, in fact, the entire weekend got worse. Mum and dad basically banned me from seeing James, banned me from his room like I'd done something wrong. They wouldn't tell my anything either.

They fed me the mono lie, just like the Blacks had. Naturally it turned out Jake didn't have mono and got better within three days. So I had till Tuesday afternoon for James to stop talking to me.

It didn't amaze me that all the boys seemed to be changing like this. Paul, Embry, Jacob now James. But I couldn't blame Sam for it, it wasn't his fault they came down with a fever, it just seemed that afterwards the boys went to Sam, as if for help. And then of course, they stopped talking to their friends and basically started new lives of walking around in the forest.

Sick of my parents lies I started locking myself in my room just so that I didn't have to see them. I cooked dinner before they got home so that I didn't have to eat with them, I never saw them in the mornings but I got up earlier on Monday and Tuesday just incase.

In order to keep my mind occupied and off of James, I thought about Bella and my hike on Saturday, still trying to make sense of it all.

Bella was giving me anxious looks, I hadn't spoken to her yet and I think because of that she thought I was avoiding her. She kept sending me looks across the cafeteria and in biology she turned around to look at me. I was all willing to ask her about it, but for some reason it was like I didn't want answers. I wouldn't talk to her about it.

To get her off of my back though I started smiling at her in corridors on Tuesday. That seemed to ease her mind a little.

When I woke up Wednesday morning, I didn't want to go to school. I wanted to stay with James. Seeing as I hadn't seen him since Saturday I decided my parents wouldn't notice if I went and said hello this morning. They were asleep and couldn't do anything about it anyway. I very quietly turned the door handle and opened the to see James asleep in his bed. I smiled, he didn't seem to be suffering anymore. I'd heard a few groans and hisses of pain over the last three days.

It wasn't until I got closer that I noticed the difference about him. James was suddenly much taller than before, which was saying something. He hardly fit on his bed anymore. And the muscles that he had apparently grown while being sick… I hesitated in feeling his temperature before I lightly touched his forehead, he stirred but didn't move.

He was bloody hot! It was like he still had a fever but he was fine. Like Embry.

"Please don't cut me out," I muttered before kissing his forehead. I left the room as silently as I'd entered, closing the door behind me.

How could his physic change that much from him lying in bed with a fever, sick?

The day passed and I was rather silent at school. So much that Hailey started asking if I was alright.

"Just family stuff," I sighed with a shrug. She looked at me before accepting that. It was the the truth, just there was some hidden reason behind it.

When I got home I noticed both my parents cars were missing. I guess they decided they couldn't have more than two days off. Which meant they weren't home.

I walked up the stairs and to James' door before I walked in. I was about to ask him how he was when I looked around surprised. The room was empty.

I almost panicked and texted my mother to ask if James had gone to school if I was meant to pick him up, but then I remembered that that would give away the fact that I ignored their sudden solid rule. So I didn't. I stood at James room door for a while before sighing and shutting the door.

"And the suspicion begins." I muttered. I walked downstairs and baked about two dozen cookies before taking one and going upstairs to do some homework. My door shut just as it had been the last few days. Though my window I left open so that it wouldn't get stuffy in the room.

I didn't miss when I heard my parents walk upstairs and open my brother's door. I paused to listen, but the second the saw that the room was empty they just walked away again. I'd been half expecting them to ask me where he was, but I also didn't expect anything less.

I ate dinner with my parents that night, though I didn't say a word to them, even when they started talking to me, I just ignored them. Unless it was the truth, I didn't care.

I finished all my homework, even getting ahead of it before I had a shower and climbed into bed. I'd forgotten to close my window, but after I heard a noise, I was grateful. I got up and peered outside my window, just in time to see someone disappear into the forest and leave my brother standing in our garden alone. He was just like them, shirtless, only wearing shorts. And short cropped hair. He'd cut it all off. I frowned. He was just the same. I felt a tear escape but only one fell before I became curious. It was hard not to miss the tattoo my brother suddenly had on his right shoulder.

It was a beautiful tattoo, but I'd never depicted my brother as the type… I wonder if it had something to do with Sam, like a symbol that you were in his group.

I watched as James turned around and headed towards the house. The look on his face wasn't one I'd seen him with before. I wasn't sure what it was, what emotion it corresponded with but I didn't have much time to decide before James walked through the back door and into the house.

I sat down on my bed and listened as James walked up the stairs and into his room. I heard his bed squeak before there was silence.

Right there and then I knew I wouldn't be able to take much more of this. What ever was going on, I had to know. I needed to know.

Thursday, James was there, he was at home, he was awake when I got up. When I walked downstairs he was sitting at the kitchen bench, eating my cookies. I stopped when I saw they were all gone.

"Dude! You ate all me cookies?!" I asked in disbelief "I'd only made them yesterday," I sighed. I stood there, waiting for a grin to spread on his face and for him to say something along the lines of;

"You shouldn't have left them there unprotected" but he didn't. James didn't even look up when I spoke. He just continued to stare out the window. Why didn't that surprise me?

I made us both some breakfast and watched James as he wolfed the whole thing down in seconds. I stared at him surprised

"You want some more there?" I questioned, he didn't answer and I rolled my eyes.

I finished my breakfast and walked back to my room to collect my school work and my bag. I walked to the door and pulled my shoes on before heading out to the car. Just as I was putting the key in the ignition the passenger door opened and James got in. I glared at him before I turned the key and turned the music up, trying to drown out his presence.

I was sort of annoyed at myself to; my brother was ignoring me, and I was still being nice.

Stupid big sister thing. I blamed it on that, I couldn't help but look after my little brother.

When we reached James' school he climbed out and I drove off the second the door shut, not even bothering to say goodbye as he didn't even bother to. I looked in my rearview mirror to see him watching after me with a frown.

It hurt to see him upset but if he was going to ignore me and not tell me what was going on then he could deal with me being pissed about it. He'd broken his promise after all.

Jacob had too, and not just to me, but to Bella too. Guess Quileutes aren't all that good after all.

Bella walked up to me when I got out of my car at school.

"Lexi," she said, I looked at her, this was the first time we'd spoken since our hiking trip. "About Saturday…" she began

"It's alright, are you okay?" I wondered. She nodded before shaking her head

"That's not what I mean…" she began again "About what you heard…"

"If you're worried I'm going to tell someone, then don't worry, I'm too confused about that." I assured her "I would like some answers about that by the way…" she frowned but didn't speak. I sighed

"Alright. I can take a hint." I was good at knowing when people had something to hide. I think it was why I was so pissed at my family, especially seeing as they all knew what was going on but me.

"I'm sorry Lex," Bella apologised

"Yeah, everyone is." I muttered

"Have you heard from Jake?" she asked changing the subject

"No." I sighed "You?" Bella shook her head

"I don't get it, he's all better but he wont talk to me. My dad came home on Saturday and said he'd seen Jake arguing with some of his friends in front of the store. Billy had said he was going to Port Angeles…" she sounded hurt and worried

"A lie, wow, there's something new." I said, my voice dripping with sarcasm

"Do you know something?"

"Only that my brother's ignoring me."

"What?"

"He had a fever Bella, when I got home from our hike. He spent three days in bed and hasn't spoken to me since. This morning was the first time I've seen him awake since Saturday. My parents basically banned me from his room. He's done the same thing Jake has." I explained

"He's ignoring you?" Bella asked, I nodded

"My own brother, it's sort of difficult when we live in the same house. But he's doing it."

"Oh, Lex, I'm sorry," she felt guilty for pushing her problems and worries to me when I had my own. I shook my head

"It's not your fault Bells," I assured her

"Still," Bella muttered "Are you alright?"

"Just annoyed." I shrugged

"What are you going to do?"

"Shout, scream, get angry." I listed "Anything to make him talk to me." I admitted. The bell rang and I waved to Bella before running off to my first class. I didn't really want to talk about this anymore.

I went home before I went to work the evening, the house was empty which wasn't a surprise.

Work passed rather quickly and I asked my manager if I could have Saturday off.

"Why?"

"I have some family issues that popped up," I admitted, my manager stared at me for a second before he agreed, obviously happy I'd given him a few days notice this time.

"Thanks." I said. The rest of the shift flew by and I was driving home again before I knew it.

I walked in to find James sitting on the couch watching TV. I ignored him as he did me before I began to cook dinner. I made some for James too and put it in a bowl, James came and sat at the bench and was about to take his bowl before I pulled it away, glaring at him. He looked at me.

"What?" he said harshly

"Why should I be kind to someone who wont even talk to me?" I said, angrily. He drew his hand back

"You made me some?"

"Well seeing as your appetite's increased I thought it would make great leverage." I confessed. That reminded me of when the red head had said the same thing.

"What?" he questioned, clenching his teeth

"Why aren't you talking to me? I can understand if you withhold shit but not talking to me at all is just rude." I explained

"I didn't need you accusing me of lying," he said harshly

"Then don't lie." I said simply. He just glared at me

"It's not that easy…"

"Oh?" I nodded "Right, I forgot, you've never been good at being honest with me," this wasn't true, James used to tell me everything. Just like Jacob and Embry had. I could see both sadness and anger filling James' eyes.

"If it's that difficult you don't need to tell me straight away, but I don't need my own brother not talking to me at all." I confessed "I'm not unreasonable James," I said harshly "But I don't need my best friends cutting me out and my brother," I admitted. He didn't reply. I just glared at him and clenched my teeth before basically dropping the bowls on the bench and leaving the room. Obviously I couldn't even get a hi in the morning. Was that too much to ask?

I didn't eat dinner that night and I didn't leave my room till the next morning, early, so that I didn't see anyone.

I left to early for school so I went to the gym. I hadn't been in about a week, it was about time I let loose a little.

Time flew and before I knew it I was late for class. Luckily I managed to get there before it was classified as late.

Today passed slowly as all I thought about was the conversation I had with James. Bella asked me how I was doing, if James had spoke to me, I just said no, I was not up for explanations right now.

I wasn't sure if I was upset anymore. I was just filled with anger, and no one to direct it at. I couldn't direct it at James cause it was for Jake and Embry too. I thought of aiming it at Sam, but I didn't know if this was actually his doing or not. Sure he was involved but I didn't know if he was behind it all.

Then there was my parents. But if I was going to be angry at my parents I might as well be angry with the entire council as they seemed to know what was going on and weren't stopping it. The opposite in fact, they were encouraging it.

The day ended and I again didn't go home. Instead I went to First Beach. I walked along it for a while, ignoring the cold and the slight wind that blew my hair in front of my face. I eventually stopped and ended up just sitting on the sand, staring out at the ocean as the sun slowly set. Though you could hardly tell thanks to the usual cloud cover.

I had my knees brought up to my chest and my arms around them. I wasn't shivering so that was a good thing, as I had no intention on moving. It was quiet here, everyone had gone home as the afternoon passed and the weather got colder. I didn't really notice as the sky got darker.

It wasn't difficult to hear the trudging of footsteps towards me as it was dark, you could hardly see much, but my eyes were adjusted fine enough.

"What are you doing?" he asked harshly

"None of you business." I spat without looking at my brother. I didn't even care about how he found me, I wanted him to go away.

"You'll catch a cold,"

"I'm fine." I hissed angrily

"Mum and dad will worry,"

"They should of thought about that earlier." I growled. I just wanted him to leave me alone. I wanted everyone to leave me alone with my thoughts for a while. James sighed and leaned down his hand outstretched as he went to grab my hand

"Don't touch me!" I demanded turning slightly towards him, my voice, angry, harsh and threatening. James paused, froze actually before he very slowly stood back up straight, as though he was being cautious. He should be cautious, I was in no mood to feel sisterly.

"Lex,"

"Don't!" I interrupted strongly. I didn't want him calling me that just now, it sounded like he was trying to sooth me. "Unless you're going to tell me the truth."

"I can't,"

"I don't see why that's got to make you stop talking to me," I said immediately

"I'm talking to you now…"

"Because mum and dad are worried I'm not home yet. You have to talk to me now. There's a difference." I said harshly.

"Will you just come home and stop freaking mum and dad out?" he sounded like he was begging but trying to keep that fact hidden from his voice

"If I'm punishing them, then no." I decided "It's not like I'm lost,"

"You'll get sick."

"Not like anyone will care, or notice. They're not talking to me anymore." I was trying to hurt him, but not just him, all of them. Make them realise how much it hurt to be cut out by everyone

"You're being stupid."

"No, I'm being a pain in the ass. I'm making you all feel guilty because this is all your fault." I corrected

"Well it's working now will you come home?" he questioned, I could hear that he was annoyed now. I stood up and turned to walk away from him

"Where are you going? Home's the other way?" he said a little louder, he didn't need to, I could hear him perfectly.

I didn't answer him, I just kept walking. Guess he didn't remember I'd driven here.

It didn't take me long to reach the car and I got in before driving home. He was right, I was being stupid, but could you blame me?

"Where have you been?" my mother demanded to know when I walked in through the door

"Away from you." I snapped as I walked past her and to the stairs

"This attitude has got to stop…" she began to scold me

"So has all the lying!" I shouted at her "That's when it'll stop. When I'm sure my entire family isn't lying to me!" she looked at me surprised

"Are you…"

"Accusing you? Yes I am." I finished her sentence "And don't you dare try to deny it." I said, my voice more like a harsh whisper now. I turned to see my dad standing down the hallway before walking back up the stairs. Damn I was being a bitch. I'd never yelled at my mother like that but I couldn't help it. I was filled to the brim with anger, annoyance and sadness. It was like everyone was just excluding me from their lives all of a sudden. Throwing me away.

I wonder if this is how Bella felt when Edward left her. No. She was much worse, I can't compare this to her pain. I was just being a selfish little girl. But no one wants to have their friends and family ignoring and lying to them.

Why could I tell when someone was lying? If I couldn't tell I wouldn't be so upset… right?

I woke up Saturday morning with my face dried and cracked again. Had I fallen asleep crying?

I walked into the bathroom and washed my face. I guess after snapping at James so much and yelling some of my anger out at my parents, I felt a little better. If only I could go somewhere and scream all my problems out. To bad there was that girl out there… maybe, and those giant wolves. It probably wasn't safe.

I took my time getting ready and in that time I realised James wasn't home. He'd probably gotten up at some absurd hour and snuck out again. Though it wasn't really sneaking when he just walked out the back door, not caring if mum or dad caught him. Which they didn't. They didn't even seem to care.

No one did. And that was one of the things that annoyed me. I didn't understand how cutting everyone out made them saints in the eyes of the council. It made no sense.

I made myself breakfast before sitting on the couch and watching TV. I wasn't really watching it though, I wasn't even paying attention.

I looked outside. I really felt like another walk, but no one would be happy about it… I got up and decided to do it anyway. Screw everyone else. I pulled a good pair of walking shoes on and walked.

I walked slowly, trudging easily through the surrounding nature. Every now and then I did a summersault over something in my way, just to make things more interesting.

I guess I shouldn't have been surprised by where I ended up. I stood at the tree line and frowned. Of all the places, I had to end up at Jake's place. I'd walked the path so many times that my legs obviously knew the route by themselves. They just carried me there. I leaned against the tree next to me and glanced at the house a few times. I wasn't going in, that was a final thought, but looking at it made me frown some more. I missed this place. I missed the happy that surrounded it. I missed that aura or whatever that Jacob gave off. Like James's, and Embry joking along with me.

It's amazing how we take those things to granted and don't realise how important they are till it's too late. It's the one thing that always happens and yet, it's still the same outcome.

I sighed and pushed myself away from the tree about to leave when I heard the door open. I looked back to see Jacob walking out. I guess I shouldn't have been surprised that he'd cut all his hair off too and was only wearing shorts.

I was surprised however when James walked out behind him. They looked like they were arguing. I spent about a second debating whether I should confront them both about it, whether I should shout at both of them instead of just James.

What the heck, it couldn't hurt to try and get information out of them. I'd only regret it later if I didn't… might regret it if I do too but I might also get an answer.

I slowly trudged towards them. I shouldn't have been surprised that as I did it began to rain. Stupid weather, making me feel worse.

"You didn't see her! You haven't seen how she's acting!" James shouted at Jacob

"There's nothing we can do about that! It's not our fault!" Jacob said

"That's not point! It's driving her insane!" James thought "Why can't you just ask your dad?"

"Why don't you?"

"I'm going to! But it'd be easier if there was more than one council member who agreed!" James explained

"I can't have that!"

"And why not?!" James spat "You don't want you friend back?"

"Oh course I do! I hate this! I hate that rule! I'm being ordered around! But there's nothing I can do about it!" Jacob was both complaining and raging.

It didn't take me more than a minute to realise they were arguing about keeping a secret. I also wondered who they were talking about, but seeing as it was Jacob and James, it couldn't be Bella, and the only other 'she' was me. And I was acting badly, it was driving me insane, what ever it was.

It took me about five minutes to reach them and their shouting obviously drowned out the sound of my footsteps, that and the rain for they never turned to me, even when I got close.

"If you want her back, why not just ask?" I said, a lot softer than my voice had been lately. They both turned to look at me, my jacket half damp and my hair slowly being soaked through.

Jacob glared at James before he turned and was about to leave.

"Hold up," I said before he could, the anger back in my voice again. He actually stopped

"What?" he asked

"Do I really need to answer that question Jacob?" I asked, the seriousness in my face. James looked at Jake expectingly. I guess he was expecting Jake to finally see what he's been going through with me. Well if I didn't get answers then they were both about to see how angry I really was.

Jacob just stared at me.

"What's wrong?" I ground my teeth "Cat got your tongue?" Jacob looked at me annoyed "It's not a difficult question to answer Jake," I admitted

"You don't know that." he said harshly

"Because you wont tell me," I said "Either of you. Any of you." I snapped at them both this time. There was silence and I clenched my fists and ground my teeth before Jacob looked at James and they both turned to walk away, ignoring me again!

"Really?! You're just going to leave!? Here you are talking about me and yet…" I ground my teeth as I hollered over the rain. It was like all of my anger suddenly hit it's peak as my voice echoed through the trees. The boys stopped and turned to look at me.

I couldn't help it and I began to release all my frustration.

"I'm sick of being lied to! I'm sick of being ignored! I want my friends back! First Embry stops talking to me, then my best friend, but now even my own brother is ignoring me!" I continued "I'm pretty sure you've known me longer than Sam! Why is he suddenly so important that you can't talk to me?! It's bad enough that you're all running around in the forest while people are being killed. Let alone in nothing but cut offs in this stupid weather. Plus you're always running fevers and James is always sneaking out of the house! My parents don't seem to care or worry and even Billy wont let me visit anymore! Mono my fucking ass!" I shrieked. I think James was surprised by my language, in fact I think they both were, I wasn't one to swear often.

"I'm sick of being the only one that's being kept in the bloody dark!" I confessed, I wondered if my face was purple from all the anger inside of me "You even stopped talking to Bella and crushed her, after she got better!" I accused Jacob "And you stopped talking to your friends. Including Quil!" I burst. Their faces stayed almost plain during my entire outburst.

"I don't care what the bloody council says. I don't care what bloody Sam says. I want to know what happened!" I demanded, the threatening sound in my voice again "I want to know why I'm loosing all the people I care about!"

Right there and then I felt like something snapped inside of me, releasing something that had been kept away all this time, something that had been trying to break free. My breath hitched in my throat as what ever it was occupied every part of my body, filling me to the brim, replacing the anger. I felt my legs give way from beneath me and the last thing I saw were Jacob and James's worried faces as they suddenly ran towards me. Then everything went dark.