Disclaimer- The fabulous characters of my story, with the exclusion of a few,belong to the wonderful Stephenie Meyer and come from her Twilight series.

A/N: Ok, so it hasn't been that long since I updated, right? I KNOW, I KNOW, it's been forever! Life gets all busy and your kids take up all your mental energy and one day you wake up and say, oh, look, I have an unfinished fanfiction I haven't updated in ten years. So here it is, finally, an update. Thanks to all of you who read this, I know it's been long coming! I really did always plan on finishing the story, just had to find the time and energy! I hope you enjoy, and I'd love reviews, I haven't had a lot in a long time!

The next day, Sunday, the others were heading back to La Push. I had taken the day off to go back with them and retrieve my car. I couldn't keep borrowing Embry's. If I was going to be there for any significant amount of time, I would need my own transportation.

The ride was quiet. The baby slept the whole way, while I think Billy, Sam and Emily recognized that I was lost in thought. I was trying to put together what little I knew about Calli and force it to make some sense. But there were just too many things I didn't understand.

I figured it was pretty safe to say things with her parents were a little messed up. But why? What had her so angry that she refused to even speak to a mother who was apparently sick? Was it this thing with her parents that caused her to be so stand offish? The conversation I'd overheard with her dad from the night before played itself over and over in my mind. But it just confused me further. There were so many things there I couldn't even begin to try and understand.

But I didn't need to understand it for it to scare the hell out of me. Her father had mentioned her dying. Or going insane, at the least. What was wrong with her? Was she sick too? She was so thin and pale, it was easy to worry she might be.

I needed to start making some headway with her, and fast. It was obvious she had some trust issues. So I had to start with getting her to trust me. I just wasn't sure how to do that.

The drive went pretty quickly, and before I knew it, we were pulling up to Billy's house. Sam and I got out and helped him into his chair.

"Come by and see us before you take off," Sam said, clapping a hand on my shoulder.

I nodded as he walked to the driver side, then waved to Emily as they pulled away. My dad and I went into the house. He moved around the kitchen while I sat down on the couch, my head still swimming with a million thoughts.

"How are you Jake?" He sat across from me, eying me carefully.

"Ok," I shrugged. "Better than I've been in awhile, I guess."

He nodded thoughtfully. "Yes, there is a noticeable change now that you've found her. And how is she responding?"

I sighed. "I don't really know. Her friend seems to think she's responding to me more than she does anyone else. But the response definitely isn't…great. She's defensive and angry…and I have no idea why. I want to know…but I'm afraid she'll never trust me enough to let me in. I don't think she really trusts anyone. Even her best friend barely knows anything about her past."

"Trust can sometimes be a difficult thing to give. Especially if it's been broken in the past. You'll need to be patient with her, but I believe it will pay off in the end." Billy smiled at me. I smiled back. I couldn't remember the last time we'd actually sat down and really talked to each other.

I stayed for awhile longer before heading back to my place on foot. The air was just beginning to get a little cold. It was drizzling, the dark clouds threatening heavier rain later on.

I walked in the front door and looked around. The place was fairly neat. A few things were strewn over the couch and tossed on the coffee table. I'd made sure to clean the kitchen well before I'd left. Now I went to the fridge, taking items out I was sure would go bad while I was gone and feeding them down the disposal. Then I headed back to my bedroom, reaching under the bed to grab a duffel bag. I loaded some more clothes into it and grabbed a couple things from the bathroom.

Then I walked into the living room and sat down on the couch, looking around. I liked my house. It was small and cozy, and it suited me just fine. It was almost always quiet, save for the constant rain against the roof. I would miss it while I was gone. But a little thrill shot through me at the idea that I might not be coming back to it alone.

I sighed, knowing I was getting a little ahead of myself. I needed to get through to Calli first, and even then, I couldn't be sure she'd even want to come to this place. I was sure now that she felt something for me. There was a connection between us that I could see on her side, even if she didn't want to acknowledge it yet.

I ran my hands over my face, stood up and stretched, then grabbed my bag and headed out the front door, locking it behind me. I didn't usually lock it day to day, but I wasn't sure how long I would be gone. I hopped into my car and drove the short distance to Sam and Emily's. When I got there I found Seth and Quil there too. Emily was feeding the baby while the guys sat around the table talking. I pulled up a chair and joined them.

"We'll miss you around here man," Quil spoke up.

"Yeah, I'm gonna miss it too. I'm not sure how long I can stand working in that place." I sighed. I'd never been away from the reservation for too long. As much as I wanted to be near Calli, I knew I would really miss it.

Quil wrinkled his nose. "Working in that place would definitely suck. Hopefully you won't have to be there for too long."

I shook my head. "I hope so too. I'm not even too sure why Calli's there. I guess the money's probably good. But you can tell she doesn't like it."

"Well, maybe after all that big city excitement she'll enjoy coming to a small town," Emily said, smiling.

"Yeah…maybe."

We all talked a little longer before I decided it was time to start making my way back. They each said their goodbyes, wishing me luck, the guys telling me they'd take care of the garage, no problem. As I got in the car I could already feel the anxiousness to be back in my own home, with my friends, doing the job I loved. But the need I had to see Calli far surpassed those feelings. I thought of that, as well as the million questions I had, the whole drive back to Seattle.

My chest ached as I lay in bed that night. I was happy to finally be back in a bed, after spending the last three nights on a couch, and stretched out comfortably. While I was more comfortable, the ache in my chest wouldn't subside. I suspected it was because I'd gone the entire day without seeing Calli. When I'd gotten into town I'd almost gone straight to the club just to get a look at her. But I figured that wouldn't be a good idea, considering I'd taken the night off, and just headed back to the house.

And now I wished I'd just gotten one glimpse of her today. I'd gone so long already without seeing her that I didn't want to miss any chances. I decided I'd go into the studio tomorrow and see her. I didn't want to wait until night. I figured it might make her a little upset, but I had to see her. She'd just have to deal with it.

I finally fell asleep, and when I did, the dreams began.

My first dream pretty much just replayed the scene in the hallway from the night before. Calli's hand resting against my forehead. The look of concern in her eyes. Then the scene changed. All of a sudden we were out in the middle of the club. Calli stood a few yards away from me, looking over at a table where some guys were sitting. She was frowning, studying them carefully. I watched them, but they just seemed to be in deep conversation. I wondered if maybe she knew them.

It only took a second for their conversation to change to shouts, and suddenly one of them jumped up and punched another one. For some reason I made no move toward them, and the fight continued.

I looked over at Calli, who was still watching them, shaking her head. Then she looked over at me. "Told you so," she said, then turned and walked off.

The scene changed again. Calli and I were standing on a sidewalk, still a few yards apart, as people rushed by us. Most of them were silent. I watched Calli, who watched each of them carefully, shaking her head, smiling to herself, chuckling or frowning once in awhile. I watched her studying them, watched as the expressions flitted across her face, the look of concentration always remaining in place. She looked like she and each person were sharing some kind of secret. Like she knew what was going on in their heads.

That one ended, and Calli and I were walking along the beach again. This time she wore the black shorts and sweater she had danced in the night before. We walked along First Beach like we had in the dream before, with the shore extending on forever. I looked down to see I was wearing my cut off sweats again. We walked in silence for a few minutes before speaking.

"You think we're getting anywhere yet?" Calli asked, shielding her eyes and looking down the never ending shore.

I smiled. "I hope so. But we've probably still got a long way to go."

I looked over to see her nodding. Then she looked past me, down the sand, and I turned and looked too. Her dad was walking parallel to us, quite a few yards away, staring intently at Calli.

"He's watching you."

She shrugged, looking ahead again. "It's ok…he doesn't really see me."

"I don't really understand everything. Or anything," I sighed. I reached out, hesitantly, and took her hand, lacing my fingers through hers.

She held on lightly and smiled. "Maybe you don't want to understand." She looked forward.

I stopped walking and turned toward her. "I do want to understand. I need to understand." She stopped walking but continued to face and look forward. "If you tell me your secrets, I'll tell you mine," I said lightly, smiling.

She looked over at me, giving me a small, tight smile. "I should already know your secrets…but I don't."

I rubbed the back of her hand with my thumb. "You will. I promise. But you'll have to let me in."

She stared at me for a minute, carefully assessing me. Then she finally shook her head. "I don't know how to," she said, almost whispering.

I pulled her a little closer. "I'll show you."

I woke up very suddenly, then groaned, closing my eyes again. I wanted to go back to sleep, to where I could talk to Calli and hold her hand and pretend that it didn't feel like it was going to take me a hundred years to get somewhere with her. But I was awake now. I sat up, looking around the room coated in dull gray light. My eyes fell on the alarm next to the bed.

Ten am! I jumped out of bed, throwing on a pair of jeans that were draped across a chair next to the bed. I never, ever slept this late. I figured it had to be because it was my first night back in a regular bed. I grabbed a t shirt, threw it on, then went across the hall to the bathroom and splashed some cold water on my face. Then I headed downstairs.

It didn't surprise me that the house was empty. Rachel had already told me that both she and Embry would be gone at work today. I went to the fridge and opened it, surveying the contents. Finally I just grabbed a bowl, poured some cereal and milk, and downed it fast.

I was more nervous than the previous times I'd gone to the studio. Probably because I'd never gone alone. And I didn't have a legitimate excuse this time, though I was sure she knew they were just that. I had no idea if there was a class or anything today, or if she'd even be there. Maybe Monday was her day off. If she even ever took a day off. I had no idea if Shelby would be there. She couldn't spend all her time at the dance studio, could she?

I paused for a moment just outside the door, trying to come up with a legitimate excuse quickly, but I couldn't think of anything. So I just took a deep breath and walked in.

John and Adam were on the floor, along with a few other people. I thought a couple of them were some of the dancers from the club Saturday, but I couldn't be sure. They all stopped talking when I walked in, and I became immensely uncomfortable until Adam grinned, breaking a little of the tension.

"Hey Jacob, how's it going?" he remarked casually, like I was supposed to be there. It made me feel guilty for how angry I'd been at him.

"Pretty good, you?"

"Good, just waiting for…there you are!" Adam was looking back at the hallway, where Calli emerged. She wasn't looking at him though, she was looking at me.

Maybe it was just my imagination, but she seemed to look relieved somehow. We stared for another moment before she spoke.

"I was starting to worry, I hadn't seen you in, what, twenty four hours?" Her voice was cool, but she wasn't scowling, which was progress.

"I guess it's a good thing I came then…wouldn't want you to worry." I grineed at her, and she turned her gaze to Adam.

"We got it today Calli," he said, holding up an envelope and waving it, smiling. "Want to open it?"

"Uh uh, you open it," she walked over and stood a few feet away from him.

Adam looked at me again. "Calli and I are doing a competition, our first one in years. They pick the styles for you, and we got our style assignment today."

"Oh," I remarked, nodding. I knew a little about dance now, thanks to them, and nothing about competitions. This seemed to be a big deal though. The other people in the room looked excited.

"So what are you doing here Jacob, are you our new mailman?" Calli asked, her signature scowl returning slightly.

"No," I smiled, crossing my arms. "Just walking by, thought I'd stop in and say hi."

"Oh really, where were you headed?" she inquired with mock innocence.

"Hey, so let's get this thing opened, huh?" John cut in, before I had a chance to respond. He winked at me behind Calli's back, and I had to hold back a chuckle.

"Sure you don't want to open it?" Adam wiggled the envelope in the air again.

"Definitely, you do it." Calli clasped her hands and putting them under her chin, looking a little nervous. It made her look vulnerable, maybe for the first time that I'd ever seen.

Adam was smiling and shaking his head while he tore at the paper. He pulled out a few sheets of folded paper, looking at the front of each of them. Then he opened one.

His smile widened. "Well, our first style is hip hop."

Calli let out a loud breath, looking relieved.

"Lucky you," one of the girls I didn't know spoke up, a tall lanky blonde. "Our first one is lyrical jazz."

Adam cleared his throat. "Our second is…wow, Argentinean tango."

"What, are you serious?" Calli said. "I didn't even know that was a style this year."

Adam nodded. "Shouldn't be too hard. We've done similar stuff." He studied the paper, then looked up at Calli, smiling almost sadly. "Our advancing style is contemporary."

Calli closed her eyes, shaking her head. She brought her hand up, rubbing them hard, then looked up at the ceiling. "Of course it is," she muttered.

John had stood and walked my way while this exchange was happening. "Calli's kinda terrified of contemporary," he said quietly to me.

"Oh. Yeah, I don't really know what that means," I admitted.

He grinned. "It's my style."

"What does 'advancing style mean?" I asked him.

"It's what they have to perform if they advance past the first stage."

"Ahhh," I said, nodding, and turned my attention back to the floor.

Adam had just handed Calli a piece of paper. "I'm not doing your solo, you read it."

Calli scowled at him, looking down at the paper in her hand. She looked up, inclining her head toward him. "You first."

Adam took a deep breath, then opened another piece of paper. He looked a bit surprised, then smiled. "Broadway. It's Broadway."

"I got Broadway for my solo too," another girl said.

"They each have to perform a solo in the competition too," John explained again.

I watched Calli look down at her paper then finally she opened it. She smiled wryly, shaking her head. "Contemporary. Of course it's contemporary."

"You do better than you think, Calli. You're not bad," John said.

"Yeah," Calli said quietly, and shook her head again. "Well, I guess we better get to work." She sighed. "Frieking contemporary," I heard her mutter, too quietly for the others to hear.

I smiled. She seemed to notice. "So I'm gonna take a wild stab in the dark and guess I'll see you tonight," she said dryly, frowning.

I smiled coyly. "Well, I wouldn't want you to worry." I stared for another second. "Good luck practicing Calli."

"Uh huh, see you later Jacob." It definitely wasn't my imagination this time, the smile I caught a fleeting glimpse of just as she was turning away from me.