Chapter One

Kennedy

"This can't be life right now. How are we supposed to function in the middle of nowhere for a week? I mean we don't even know if they have cell service! I just thought about something; what if we have to go outside?" Naomi didn't even attempt to hide her scream of frustration. I looked at her and shook my head. She had always been such a drama queen. Ever since the first time I met her, back in second grade. We were walking to the lunch table when she was pushed down by some rude ass fourth grader. Her tray dropped and the chocolate milk spilled all over her black tights. You couldn't even see it but she was screaming bloody murder, like she was going to die. Today was no different.

I rolled my eyes as I dropped my favorite yoga pants into the small suitcase that I was taking with me. Naomi was going to be spending a week at the La Push reservation with her cousin Jake and his family. Naomi's mother was a member of the Quintelle tribe who couldn't wait to get off the reservation. She left when she turned 18 and had never been back. This week there was a wedding and Lena decided that Naomi needed to go back and meet her family.

"When my mom said we were going on a trip, I didn't think she meant going back to her hometown. You aren't even a little upset about this?" she asked me. I shook my head no.

"I'm excited. You know I haven't been anywhere ever. And I get to fly on a plane for the first time," I told her as I walked into my small closet. I read that Washington was known for being windy and wet at times. I grabbed two hoodie's out and threw them on the bed. Looking further in the closet, I found my three year old black parka. I walked out and found Naomi flat on my bed. She took a deep breath before sitting up.

"You know it's not too late to back out. I mean its Spring Break. I don't want you to be bored all because of me. We're supposed to be in Cancun, drinking dancing on the beach and making out with total hot strangers."

"Well your mom did say there was a beach there. I'm bringing my iPod speaker. As far as the drinks go, how hard will it be to find a liquor store?"

Naomi stood up and smiled at me. "What would I do without my best friend?" she asked me.

"Be utterly bored with life of course," I replied before laughing as loud as I could.

The flight to Washington was grueling to say the least. First our plane into Seattle was late. Then I was stuck sitting in front of a kid who kept kicking my seat, behind a crying baby, and next to a man who didn't know that one arm rest was mine. So imagine my displeasure when I realized we had to get on another much smaller plan to get to Port Angles. And then drive to La Push.

"I asked did you want to back out," Naomi whispered to me as the small plane made its way across the water. She could tell that I was beyond bored. Twenty minutes later we were landing. I breathed a sigh of relief at that. I just wanted to be on solid ground, even if it was only for a few minutes before sitting in a car. We grabbed our bags and I followed behind Naomi.

"Naomi over here!" a deep voice yelled out to her. Naomi looked around and smiled before grabbing my hand and leading me over to a handsome man. When we finally stopped in front of him, my mouth dropped at how big he was. He looked like he was going break Naomi as he leaned down to hug her.

"How was the flight?" he asked her after he stepped back. Naomi smiled at him.

"The best," she said sarcastically before pulling me closer to her "This is my best friend Kennedy. Kennedy this is my older cousin Jake."

I smiled and took his hand. I frowned at how hot it was. If I hadn't seen him standing and smiling in front of me, I would swear he was sick. Jake reached out and took Naomi's duffle bag and my suitcase.

"Let's go my dad and Rachel can't wait to see you." Jake said as he led us out to his truck. I climbed in the back seat and listened to the two of them go back and forth. Jake told her about everybody who had changed. Naomi told him about her life in college. I was fighting to stay awake but quickly lost that battle. Thirty minutes later, I felt a warm hand on my shoulder shaking me a little. It took me a while before I remembered where I was. We were stopped in front of a small but beautiful house. An older guy came out the front door in his wheelchair and behind him a woman. Naomi grabbed my hand and walked onto the porch.

"You look just like your mother Naomi," the man said. Naomi smiled and bent down to kiss him on the cheek. "Who is this?" he asked her looking at me.

"She told me you would say that. She also told me to tell you that she'll be up the day before the wedding. This is my best friend Kennedy. I know I should have asked if she could come but you have room right?" she asked hesitantly. I looked at her and back at her uncle. I didn't know Naomi didn't get the ok before I got here. Billy stared at me for a while. He opened his mouth to say something when the young woman stepped around Billy and smiled at me.

"Of course it is! I'm Rachel, Jake's sister. It's nice to meet you," she said shaking my hand, "Naomi you look so amazing! Give me a hug!" Rachel hugged Naomi and stepped back. "I hope you're hungry. I just finished making dinner. Come on and get a plate before the guys get here." Rachel turned around and went back in the house. Jake stepped around us, holding our suitcases and went in the house. We all followed him inside. Jake showed us to the small room that we would be calling home for the next week. He told us we could come out whenever we wanted to before shutting the door, leaving us alone. Naomi sat on the bed and started rummaging through her purse

"What was up with that?" I asked her. She looked up from her large purse; confusion all on her face.

"You asked him if it was ok that I was here. Like if he said no I was going to have to leave."

"Well my uncle is kind of the Chief. What he says goes," she pulled her cell phone out "And they are very particular about outsiders coming onto the land."

"Outsiders? As in people who aren't Quintelle?"

Naomi paused as she booted her phone up. "Yes I have service!" she sung before running out the room. I stood confused. I rolled my eyes as she left me alone. If me being black really was a problem why would Naomi invite me in the first place? Maybe I should have taken Naomi's advice and backed out of this trip.

Naomi

I walked out the room and straight to the front door. I was so glad to have cell service that I didn't pay attention to my Uncle Billy sitting on the porch until he called my name. He scared me so I dropped my phone. "Uncle Billy, you scared me," I said bending down to pick up my phone. I walked over and leaned onto the porch railing. Uncle Billy was staring at me. "So what's up?" I asked him. It was obvious he wasn't going to start the conversation.

"Your friend shouldn't be here Naomi."

"It's no big deal Uncle Billy. I didn't want to be lonely. My mom said it was fine for me to bring a friend." Not that I had to ask. We were twenty one years old, adults. One semester away from graduation. We planned on going to New York and take over the town. Billy took a deep breath and shook his head.

"That wasn't your mother's decision to make Naomi. There are things going on and she-"

"She isn't one of us? I always thought my mom was lying when she would be talking to Dad about living here. He always asked her why she never came back and she swore that you guys wouldn't accept him. I always thought she was lying but it's obvious she was right. What part of our history says it's ok to shun people? To just shut them out because their different! Don't worry about Kennedy or even me for that matter. We're leaving tonight," I told him. I didn't wait to hear what he had to say before I turned around and stomped off the porch.

I had no idea where I was going but I knew I didn't want to be anywhere around him. I looked down at my phone and started to google hotels near the airport. I didn't have many to choose from but they were better than here. The first two I called were book solid for the week. I was dialing the third one on the list when I heard what sounded like a tree breaking. I looked up and around but didn't see anything.

I groaned out in disappointment. I tapped my phone when I heard another twig snapping. This time it was closer. I looked back and my phone and started dialing Jake's number. I didn't know what was going on but it was freaking me out. I was sure it was all in my head but I didn't want to take a chance. I had just put the phone up to my ear when I felt a tap on my shoulder. I screamed and tried to turn around but ended up falling flat on the ground.

"Sorry but you look lost. Are you alright?" a soft voice asked. I stood up and wiped my pants off. I looked at her as she smiled and held my phone out to me. I looked behind her and quickly around. She literally came out of nowhere.

"Yea I'm fine. I just got a little turned around not paying attention to where I was walking. Do you live around here?" I asked her hesitantly. She had pale white skin, almost like porcelain, and thick wavy dirty blonde hair. She stepped closer to me with a smile on her face. Even though she was smiling it didn't look genuine. I stepped back to put some distance between us. I smiled at her in an attempt to be nice. My heart started pounding. And I could feel my palms getting sweaty. I took another step backwards but she stepped closer still. Her hand reached out and she grabbed my wrist. As soon as she did this I reached up and slapped her face. My hand met unbearable pain. Her face was hard as stone. She took a deep breath.

Suddenly I heard a loud howl. I tried pulling my hand away but she pulled me closer to her. Another howl came and she pushed me down on the ground. I sat up, heart still pounding. When I looked around she was nowhere to be seen. I saw Jake running towards me, followed by two other guys.

"Naomi, are you ok?" he asked. I was still looking around for her. I knew I didn't imagine seeing that lady. Jake stood in front of me, his mouth moving but I wasn't hearing a word. He turned around and followed my gaze before turning back to me. He pointed to one of the guys and then picked me up. My heart was still pounding and I was starting to feel dizzy. I had no idea what was going on but this was crazy. Jake was yelling for Rachel and Uncle Billy. He laid me down on the couch and Rachel pushed him to the side. She was running her hands all over me, her eyes roaming side to side. She was looking for something but I had no idea what. She grabbed my left hand and I instantly started screaming. I tried to yank it out of her grasp, which only made it hurt worse.

"You're hurting her!" I heard Kennedy yelling at Rachel. I opened my mouth to tell her I was ok but she pressed down on my wrist. I tried to hold my scream in but I couldn't do it. My eyelids fluttered open and closed. The last thing I saw was one of Jake's friends carrying Kennedy out of the house.