Seth –Another Nightmare–

I jumped to my feet.

She wasn't serious. She couldn't be serious.

I walked pass my laughing buddies. Jake and Embry had both tears in their eyes and Quil had problems with breathing.

Chloe was standing in front of the stairs, her eyes opened wide in shock. Alice pulled at her arm, trying to force her upstairs, but Chloe stood frozen, refusing to move an inch.

"Alice," I hissed under my breath and rushed to Chloe's side.

But before I could reach her Bella was already standing at the stairs, blocking Alice's way.

"Alice," she said slowly, putting threat into each single word. "I'm not sure whether you know, but last time I checked forced marriage was forbidden in all fifty states."

"Then go and check again," Alice suggested, smiling innocently now.

Bella raised one eyebrow. "I think there's no need to."

"Chloe?" I asked anxiously, putting my hands on her shoulders again.

She freed her hand from Alice's grip and spun around to lock her arms around my waist. Her eyes were still torn open in shock, her breath came intermittently. I stroked her back to calm her. "Shh… Don't worry. I'll not allow Alice to torture you."

The tiny girl turned towards me, her little fists at her waist. She pouted. "I'm not monster," she repeated her words from this afternoon. The whole house laughed in response again.

Chloe relaxed in my arms. She giggled. Her cool breath my chest, tempting me to press my lips on hers so I could inhale her beautiful aroma again. But then I remembered the audience around us and forced the desire back.

Jasper stepped behind Alice, putting calmingly a hand on her small shoulder. I wondered whether he was using his special gift to make his love relax. If yes it wasn't very effective on Alice.

"Always teasing the small ones," she snorted.

Chloe stopped giggling and turned around to look at Alice apologetically. "I'm sorry Alice. Please don't be mad."

My bones felt like melting. She was such a beautiful person. How could she doubt in herself being an angel."

Alice sighed. "It's not your fault." She threw a meaningful glance at me.

I bit my lip. Oops. I had teased her too much today. "Sorry Alice," I said sheepishly. "But… see, it's too early to think 'bout something like wedding, isn't it?" –Chloe winced in my arms at the sound of the "w-word" and I hugged her instinctively closer– "Besides, I'm still a minor."

Alice shrugged, smiling again. "It's never too early to think about these things."

I grimaced. "Alice, I'm still sixteen. Don't you think you're overdoing it?"

"You're what?" Chloe replied instead of Alice and I looked down at her worried.

"Is anything wrong angel?"

She ignored my question. I doubted that she'd even heard it. "You're just sixteen?" She blinked in surprise.

I blinked back. "Er… yes… is this bad?"

"No," she said slowly. It sounded more like a question than like an answer. "It's just… well… you're so… huge."

I chuckled, relieved that she was back to her usual innocent being again. "It's a wer-… I mean, shape-shifter thing."

She nodded slowly, letting the information sink in her beautiful head. "Yeah… I've guessed that." She looked up at me again, watching my face concentrated. Then, after a few seconds, she smiled. She looked somehow pleased. "Yes, I can see the childish features in your face now. Why didn't I notice them immediately?"

I smiled and bended down to kiss her forehead. "You've also some childish features baby," I whispered in her ear. She gasped and I knew that her cheeks would have turned to a delicate red if they had been capable of.

"Well… technically… I'm still sixteen, too," she admitted shyly.

I leaned back to look into her beautiful dark-red eyes in astonishment. "Really?"

She nodded. "Yes. Why'd you ask?"

"Erm… well… I thought you'd be younger… 'cause you're so… small."

She laughed her bell-like laughter. "Height doesn't have to mean anything."

"I agree with that," Alice said in her usual cheerful tone.

'Certainly,' I thought. She was the best prove for this statement.

"Well, but being tall isn't bad, either," Jake objected, patting Nessie's head.

The little girl pouted. "I'm still growing," she interjected, her little fists at her small waist. "I'm going to be as tall as Jacob is one day. Watch me."

He laughed. "Sure you'll. Bet you'll even overtake me."

"And therefore," Bella said, clapping her hands. "You need to go to bed early sweetheart."

Her daughter blinked her big chocolate eyes innocently and bade a heartbreaking pout.

Bella smiled. "You know this doesn't work on me."

The pout disappeared from one moment to another, leaving a disappointed sigh back. "Okay Mommy," she obeyed reluctantly and gave Jake's cheek a good night kiss on her tiptoes.

"Have a nice dream, Ness," he said when she went to her mother's side.

"Alice," Bella called when she and Nessie were already at the kitchen's door, her voice low and threatening.

"I won't lay a hand on her," Alice guarantied with a suspicious grin on her face.

Bella raised one eyebrow. "Good. Rose will keep an eye on you."

Rosalie giggled. "Don't worry Bella. I'll not let her escape out of my sight," she promised, pointing with her forefinger and her middle finger on her eyes and then on Alice's.

Bella nodded pleased. "I'm counting on you, Rose."

Alice crossed her thin arms in front of her chest and snorted. Jasper put both hands on her shoulders to calm her.

"Sorry Alice," Chloe whispered.

Alice made an "Hmpf" in response.

"Oh well. I'm sure you'll have plenty of chances to play with Seth's angel, Shortie," Jake encouraged her. Then he turned to Chloe, grinning. "Chloe isn't going to leave us so quickly, is she?"

I looked down at her, holding my breath. She wouldn't leave, would she? She would stay here, at my side, forever… or not?

She bit her lip, frowning in concentration.

"This isn't her home," a nasty voice in me said. "She doesn't really belong to the Cullens. Haven't you noticed already? She's a free spirit; like a bird. She'll fly away and leave you behind."

"Don't go," I whispered hoarsely.

Her head snapped up to stare at me with her big dark-red eyes. "I… I think I'll stay a bit longer… if it doesn't bother you," she whispered, looking down at her feet.

"Of course not honey." Esme stepped behind her, stroking gently her head. A warm smile filled her face. "We'd love you staying."

"Our home is also your home," Carlisle agreed.

She smiled back shyly. "Thank you."

"Speaking 'bout home," Jake suddenly said, looking at me with a raised eyebrow.

"What? Is Billy missing you already?" I replied when I recognized that he wanted me to say something.

He chuckled. "I bet he's. Can't wait to have his insubordinate son back, I guess. But beside me there's someone else here who's awaited at home." He grinned meaningfully at me.

"Oh right. How could I forget?" I continued to act the unknowing one. "Quil should be home now. Sleep is very important for boys in his age."

"Look who's talking." Quil laughed.

Jake sighed; he'd enough of this game. "Seth. Are you just acting or are you actually so stupid?"

"What'd you mean?" I asked as innocent as I could. I felt Chloe's head spinning around, looking from me to Jacob and back.

"Today's –well was– Monday," he continued. "But you didn't go to school."

"Uh! Bad boy." Quil and Embry laughed.

I bit my lip. Why the hell did I feel guilty? "And why should you care?"

Jake grinned smugly. Damn. How I hated him doing that. Every time when he grinned like that I would obey him in the end.

"I'm your honourable Alpha," he joked. "It's my duty to make sure that you go to school in order to learn for your life."

I couldn't hold back a grin this time. "You know you just made my mom jobless?"

He shrugged. "I'll keep her as my secretary."

Something cold touched me suddenly, but I didn't move away. I knew it was Chloe stroking my cheek. "You should go," she said in her angel-voice. "School is important. And your friends there are missing you for sure."

"Yeah, especially Mrs. Goff," Quil roared.

I grimaced.

Jake went to the door. He opened it wide and waved towards the dark night. "After you Seth."

I sighed and kissed Chloe on her forehead. "I'll see you tomorrow angel."

"Sure." She smiled, but I swear I saw a hint of sadness in her eyes. "Good night."

I smiled back. "Thanks. You too." And then I bended down to touch her sweet lips with mine.

"This is entertainment." Quil laughed.

Jake joined him. "This's nothing compared to the show I saw this afternoon."

The other of our little audience chuckled discreetly. Someone coughed –probably Carlisle or Edward– and we broke apart.

"Good night," Chloe repeated shyly.

"See you tomorrow," I said, before Quil and Embry gripped my arms and dragged me outside, both shaking with silent laughter.

It was dark outside. The moon was becoming smaller again.

They had come with Jake's Rabbit. I was really surprised to see it; I couldn't remember the sound of an engine before. But I guess, I'd been busy with other things at that moment…

"So," Quil started when we were already sitting in the car and speeding down the highway to La Push. Embry pressed his lips together next to me, fighting a grin.

I ignored them.

"So, how is it Seth?" Quil went on gouging when I didn't react.

I kept staring out of the window stubbornly.

"Oh c'mon Seth," Quil begged between his snickers. "Don't be such a kill-joy. How is it? –Kissing a vampire girl?"

It was totally silent in the car; I had the feeling that even the engine was quieter now.

I swallowed. "Nice," I pressed out between my teeth.

The three of them exploded.

"Nice!" Quil roared. "It looked more than 'nice'!"

"Indeed," Embry agreed, shaking with laughter.

Jake had to force himself to keep his eyes on the road.

They continued teasing me for the rest of the drive so it felt like entering heaven when we passed La Push's place name sign. They dropped me in front of my house. The lights were on. The curtain of a living room's window swung when someone quickly hid himself –or in this case herself– when she saw me getting out of the car.

"Oh, and Seth," Jake called out of the window. "Leah's home."

The engine revved and the three of them sped away, leaving me behind, frozen.

He had said "Leah'shome". He hadn't said "Your sister's home". So, maybe, this "Leah" wasn't my sister Leah and…

I sighed. This was pathetic.

'Don't be a coward,' I told myself. 'She's your sister, and Mom's there, too. So what could happen?'

I swallowed. The word "everything" jumped to my mind.

'Okay Seth. Everything'll work out,' I assured myself. 'Leah'll be good for sure, otherwise Jake wouldn't just have dropped me here, right?' –I shock my head– 'No, he wouldn't! He's an absolute reliable friend; annoying, but a hundred percent reliable. So there's no need to worry… right?'

I sighed. I was pathetic.

I forced my feet to take me to the house. I inhaled deeply before I knocked.

Mom got the door for me. "You're late," she said reproachfully.

"Sorry Mom," I apologized sheepishly and came in. I looked around. Everything was still on its place; no broken tables or cupboards.

"You do know that you've to go to school tomorrow?" she continued in an angry tone.

I was surprised. She sounded pretty normal. I'd expected her being more… more melancholically. "Umm… yeah, Jake reminded me on that."

"As the first Quileute's' student on Forks High you ought to study hard," she went on sermonizing from the kitchen.

"Yes Mom." I managed to not role my eyes; she'd told me this again and again. Mothers!

"Remember. You've made it to Forks High because of your good grades. So you should know the importance of all this." She placed three plates on the table.

I swallowed. "Sure sure."

"Don't just say 'sure sure' to me, young man." She threw a meaningful glance at me.

"Sure sure." I wasn't listening to her anymore. My whole attention belonged to the three plates now.

She sighed like an elephant-mother and put a giant portion of lasagne on the table. The old wood protested under the weight with a loud creaking sound.

"Sit down, Seth," Mom told me. The she called "Leah!" and I jumped in my seat.

Steps came down the stairs and Leah appeared in the door.

I swallowed and clenched my hands to the chair. "H-hi sis," I greeted her carefully.

She narrowed her eyes in response.

"Enjoy your meal," Mom said when she shovelled a mountain of steaming lasagne on our plates; ignoring the tension in the room.

Leah sat down, her eyes not leaving mine once. She reminded me on a dangerous carnivore, waiting for the right moment to attack.

I bit my lip and stared down at my hands under the table.

"Seth, aren't you hungry?" Mom asked when I didn't touch my meal.

I saw an edge of Leah's mouth twitching slightly upwards.

"Umm… not really."

Leah made a sneering sound between two bites.

"I already ate something at the Cullens."

The chair made a loud scratching sound on the floor when Leah got up. She went to the sink, dropping a buckled fork in it. Without a word, she sat down again; continue eating with a new fork. Mom had ignored the whole scene.

Me and my damn big gap! I felt like punching myself for this. I finally decided to eat. That way my mouth would be too busy to say any trash again.

We finished dinner in silence. Mom didn't start to tidy up immediately like she always did. Instead, she made herself a cup of tea and sat quietly at the table with us. It felt like the days after Dad had died. But now tension had displaced the sadness in the room. It was as if you could cut the tension in the room with a knife. I wished Jasper'd be here.

Mom cleared her throat, cutting thee dead silence. Leah narrowed her eyes. "Fine," she hissed between her teeth.

I swallowed and clenched my hands the chair again. I bet there'd be marks of my fingers later.

Leah leaned back in her chair, staring at me with sparkling eyes. "I'm not doing this on my free will," she started in an annoyed tone. "They – that means our great Alphas and the elders– are forcing me to." She paused.

The tealeaves in Mom's cup circled in the hot water, counting the seconds together with the clock on the wall. I stopped breathing.

Then –after what seemed like an eternity– Leah spoke again. "I won't touch that new one."

I exhaled in relief. "Thank-"

"But," she cut me off sharply. "But if she ever crosses the border. And with 'border' I don't simply mean the border to our land. If she ever lays a tooth on a human; if she ever think 'bout it – I'llbe there to stop her. Remember that, little brother."

She got up, put her plate in the sink and vanished through the front door into the night.

Mom took her nervously a draft from her tea and burned her tongue. "It's late," she managed to say on her way to the sink. "You should go to bed."

I didn't respond. I just got up and went to the bathroom. I brushed my teeth and took a shower in a trance-like condition. Later I couldn't even remember whether I'd used any toothpaste or shampoo at all.

I fell asleep amazingly quickly. It had been an eventful day and I was probably exhausted.

I had yelled at my wolf-buddies including my sister; I had confessed my love to my angel; I had had my first kiss…

And with the last thought I drifted to a strange dream…

It was dark again. But this time a blood red full moon was shining above me.

"Ah!"

I recognized the bell-like voice immediately. "Chloe!" I started to run towards the direction where her voice came from.

A white point at the horizon grew bigger and bigger with each step I took. And then I could see what that white point was.

I froze.

A giant silvery wolf was standing in front of her. She was lying at his monstrous paws, her face. The wolf growled and then –like a silver bullet– its razor-sharp teeth shot to her small body.

"AH!" she screamed when it bit her.

"No! Chloe!"

My eyes flashed open.

'She's save. She's save. Leah promised. She's save! I reminded myself.

"Riiiiiing!" My alarm squeaked in order to wake me up.

"You're doing a very bad job," I muttered and turned it off. Then I sighed and got up.

Jake drove me to school like he always did since Leah refused to do this job because "the fetidness" was making her want to throw out last weeks lunch.

"Have fun!" he cheered and punched on the horn. His good mood was somehow suspicious. "Make us to be proud of you, kid!"

I grimaced. I headed to my first class. For a second I thought that I saw a pitch-black Mercedes leaving the parking-lot, but I must've imagined it. What would anyone of the Cullens do here anyway?

I entered the little classroom and sat at my usual seat in the back. I was sitting in the each class due to my height.

"Hello, Seth," Lily Beagle greeted me with a smile. She was sitting in the row in front of me.

"Hi, Lily," I said and took my books out with a sigh, spreading them across the entire table.

I always had a table for my own 'cause the other students didn't dare to sit next to me. Who knows why? Maybe their instinct of self preservation told them that I was kind of dangerous, or maybe it was just inhuman height that frightened them.

"Where were you yesterday?" Lily asked curiously.

"I… er… was sick," I answered. "Caught a cold on the weekend." I coughed as a proof.

"Oh." She seemed to believe me. Wow.

"¡acallar! ¡buenosdías, la clase," Mrs. Goff called and Lily turned to the front again, smiling at me a last time.

I yawned.

"Bien," she continued in fluent Spanish. I barely understood a word. With a sigh I lied my head on the table. "Please open your books at page- And who are you?"

"Perdón, señora, for interrupting your lesson."

My head snapped up and I was completely awake at once.

No matter in which language – I'd always recognize this angel-like voice.

omg... this chap. was LONG~~! I have written 7 full papers on BOTH sides! *hand hurts T.T* that's why it took so long to update it... besides I have to write so many other things... *dying* I hope you like this chap. that's written by a pathetic auther like me... ^^

please review!! ^o^

-Mulan-

ATTENTION!!!: I don't live in the US as you know ^^ so I don't know how a US-student's timetable looks like... could anyone of you tell me how many lessons you have a day??? thx!!! ^^