A/N: You can blame driver's ed and camping, and school. In better news, I passed my driver's test. YAY!!!! I promise, only one more chapter.

Jacob was incessantly curious at the breakfast table. It was as if he had known I had needed calm and quiet yesterday, and had held all his questions in. Though he had acted reserved (and taken naps) around the vampires, he was now bursting at the seams with questions. It was so adorable that I just wanted to kiss him. Which I did: after breakfast. I ended up doing a lot of explaining in the car. I was about to open the car door at school when his large hand was suddenly on my upper thigh. In a low voice, he whispered. "Allyson, would you please . . ." For a moment, it seemed as if he'd gotten lost in figuring out what words to use. "Please be careful, my freaky little stalker babe."

I smiled, remembering just a few weeks ago when I would doodle Jacob in my notebook. My hand went over his. "I will be." Deep in my heart, I knew I had to be, especially since the spell bead this morning. Again, I whispered. "I will be. I vow that to you." A spell of protection held within my mind, I brushed my lips across Jacob's. "You be safe, too." I smiled as the shield I'd been thinking of settled invisibly into place around my beloved. His other hand went to my chin, holding my head close enough for a sounder kiss before we entered the world.

I didn't see Kathy at the table, and felt a little sad that I'd alienated her this morning, but I easily shook that feeling. It was Kathy's fault for getting upset with me when I was sleep deprived. She should know by now how I reacted to things like that. As it turned out, I had been wrong about the reason for her abruptness. Kathy showed up a little late, and felt a little funky. I realized why when she sat down. She had done magic today. Being a hedge witch, she almost never did magic. I tried not to let my jaw drop too far. "Kathy?"

Kathy gingerly lowered herself into her seat, looking very tired. "I activated my shields at home, honey. That's all."

I frowned. "I'm pretty sure that's not necessary, Kathy. They're after me, not you."

Kathy smiled. "Shields are good for more than just mystical creatures, darling." I frowned. The last time she had been like this, she had been evading a real stalker.

I turned, making sure Jake was gone. "Kathy, I need to confront the crows. They're wrong, and they're interfering."

Kathy sighed and shook her head. "I knew you would have to do something about them. Do you remember that reading I gave you a few weeks ago?" Kathy barely waited for my nod. "You and Jacob are going to get married, a blind person could see that. I was wrong about summer, but it'll be sooner than you think. Keep that. Cherish that. And for goodness sake, don't let a pathetic shape-shifting bird ruin that for you."

I straightened up, confused. "Kathy, you know I can tell when you speak from experience."

"Yeah, well, a vampire ruined my first marriage. It's not the kind of thing I like to talk about."

From there until Math, my day was a blur. I didn't pay much attention to English or Biology, instead focusing on my Math homework that hadn't gotten done that weekend. Math seemed to click in a way that it hadn't since I learned how to multiply decimals, but it was still torture. When I finally got to Math class, Claire refused to even look at me. I felt miserable.

Sitting next to a frightened werecrow girl for an hour, knowing that she faced horrid punishment for any association with me brought a realization to my mind. I was the Guardian. Though I had already decided to confront the werecrows, I now remembered that I had more than enough authority to do so. I was no longer just an attacked neighbor. On our way out of class, I grasped Claire's arm and whispered in her ear. "If I glower at you, it doesn't mean anything." Claire nodded at me, seriousness stamped across her delicate features.

We walked out of the classroom, and my stride slipped into what could easily be considered a strut. As I had come to expect, Claire's father was waiting for her down the hall. I quickened my walk and reached him in a matter of moments. "You are going to tell your chieftain that this harassment stops now!"

The man cracked an infuriating smile. Once Claire had reached him, her gaze upon her shoes, he whispered just loud enough for the three of us to hear. "The likes of you can't stop us."

My mouth dropped open. I had just spent my Sunday assisting in the termination of an entire vampire coven, and a mere shape-shifter was telling me that I couldn't stop him. A primal, beast-like anger woke within me. Who did this man think he was? "We'll see." I spat out, consumed by my fury. "Either way, know now that there is no way, dark or light, that will convince me to join your people."

I was storming to the cafeteria when my phone buzzed. It was a text from Jacob, saying he was out doing man stuff.I smiled. I had more homework time then, which was great if I was going to be kicking some werecrow ass tomorrow. I happily returned home, ready to do some serious math. Jacob came home while I was struggling to write a conclusion to and English paper. I hate English classes because they're so subjective. If the professor did not like my premise, they could automatically assign me a failing grade for no better reason.

Jacob came over and rested his hands on my shoulders. "How is the homework going?"

I swiveled around and pulled Jacobs head down for a proper kiss before I replied. "Wonderfully. What about your 'man stuff''?"

That same smile that still made my insides melt came to his face. "It went well."

"Mmm. Tell me more." I expected Jake to tell me about his afternoon, maybe talk about his friends from class or maybe even a manly shopping trip. I nearly had a heart attack when he knelt on one knee and pulled out a jewelry box. I had told my mother that I would marry him if he asked, but I hadn't expected that day to come so soon. I had spoken the truth, though, and I would stick to it.

Then Jacob opened the box and I really did stop breathing for a few seconds. My design . . . I'd never truly been able to hope that I would get it. I thought maybe for an anniversary. I was so caught up, I barely heard Jacob say the words. I looked up at him, my eyes wide. "Yes. Yes, I will."