*Monday At School*

Sophia went to her locker to grab her books for her first class. Kit was waiting for her.

"You never called, so spill it girlfriend. How'd your date go?" She asked right away, moving so Sophia could get to her books.

"I don't really want to talk about it…" Sophia said.

"Why? What happened?" Kit asked, worried.

"It was fine, until…"

"Until what? What happened?!"

"Until Luke showed up!" Sophia said angrily.

"What?! He has got a lotta nerve!!" Kit snapped, growing angry. Sophia had to smile at that. Kit was such a good friend.

"I don't think Scott will be asking for another date after that." Sophia said softly. A chance to be normal for once in her weird messed up life, and he had to ruin it.

"Are you so sure?" Kit asked, smiling slightly, looking past Sophia.

"Huh?" She turned to see what Kit was looking at. Scott was walking towards them, and when he saw Sophia turn around he gave a small shy smile.

"Hey Scott!"

"Hey Sophia, Kit. Look, I'm really sorry about the other night, I-"

"Why are you apologising, Scott? If anyone should be apologising it should be me. I was the one who-"

"Sophia." Kit interrupted and jerked her head behind the two. Sophia didn't have to turn around to see who it was. She could sense him coming before Kit had said anything.

"I don't want to talk to you, Luke." She said, turning back to her locker before he could say anything.

"We need to talk, Sophia." Luke said. It was between a plea and a demand. She whipped around to face him, eyes full of anger.

"I have nothing to say to you." She told him coldly. It almost made him shiver.

"Then just listen then, ok?" The look in his eyes was sincere, pleading. She softened her frown.

"You've got some nerve, Cates." Kit spat, seeing Sophia's hesitation. When it came to Luke Cates, Sophia could never stay mad for long.

"I know. That's why I have to talk to Sophia. Alone." Luke said. Kit scowled and Scott looked at Sophia. She stood straighter.

"The bells going to ring."

Knowing that she wouldn't skip first block, he had to respect and accommodate her morals.

"Fine. Meet me out in the parking lot at lunch then. Ok?" He asked. He really didn't want her mad at him. He hated it when she was mad at him. He watched her closely as she was deciding what she was going to do.

"Fine." She said, looking defeated. He nodded and walked away, but not before giving Scott a dirty look.

"Sophia, why do you put up with him? How do you-"

"Kit, please don't. He's always been relatively nice to me."

"But what he did…"

"What he did is unacceptable. But I have to know why first."

"You're too good to him." Scott said suddenly. Sophia almost forgot he was there. Hell, she had almost forgotten Kit was there. Luke sometimes had that affect on her.

"He's going through a tough time right now."

"See? You're always making excuses for h-"

~RIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIING!~

"See you third period. C'mon Scott, your class is this way, right?" Sophia said, pulling on Scott's arm.

"She's right though." Scott said after a few seconds of silence.

"About…"

"You always making excuses for him. It's kinda true."

"I don't want to talk about him. I'll talk to you at break." She said as she slipped into her class.

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The hours seemed to crawl by, or at least that's how it felt to Luke. Finally it was lunch and he practically ran to the parking lot. Then it felt like an eternity until he saw her walking towards him.

She was about to say something, but he stopped her.

"Not here. Come on." He said as he got into his car. She complied, but didn't look happy about it. He peeled out of the parking lot and drove out to the woods. There they got out and started walking to "their" spot.

"You wanted to talk, so talk."

"You have every right to be pissed at me-"

"Pissed? PISSED!? I'm more then pissed at you, Luke. And you're damned right I have every right to be angry with you! What you did was so-"

"What I did was wrong. Wait," He held up his hand to quiet her before she exploded again, "But I was only trying to protect you."

"By throwing my date on the road?" She snapped. He looked down.

"Why are you so afraid to flip?"

Sophia was a little surprised at the change of subject. "I told you why."

"No, you said you weren't ready to be a creature. You never said that scared you."

"Maybe I'm afraid to lose control. I mean, I'm only a half-breed right? What if my control isn't as good as yours?"

"No one's control is great when they first flip. It's not gone completely, but the wolf's instincts kinda take over at first." He told her. She looked a little uncomfortable. "It's ok to be scared, Sophia."

"Stop trying to change the subject, Luke." She told him.

"What do I have to do, Sophia?"

"Nothing. Just take me back to school."

"Sophia-"

"Fine. Then I'll walk back." She snapped and got up. He reached up and held her hand, lightly, tentatively. She looked down at him.

"Sophia, I'm sorry. If I knew how pissed you'd get I'd never've done it." He told her. She ripped her hand from his and took a couple of steps back.

"You shouldn't have done it in the first place, Luke. You had no right to do that! Hell, you had no right to be there!" She snapped. He stood up, standing a few steps away from her.

"I had every right to be there Sophia." He said in a low voice, as if to control his anger. She took a step closer to him.

"What gives you the right to follow me on a date and throw my date across the road?" She asked, voice even.

"Being the pack leaders son, it is my duty to make sure that everyone is safe."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"I was making sure that ungulate didn't try anything."

"He wouldn't." She told him.

"How are you so sure?" He asked, not liking that she had defended him so quickly.

"Are you saying that if I had gone out with Sean or Randy you wouldn't have followed?" She asked with interest. He was sort of taken aback by it.

"You…you wouldn't really go out with either of them, would you?" He asked.

"Well, if I can't go out with guys like Scott without getting them hurt, then I should be able to go out with Sean and Randy, right?"

"Uh, well…You do know what they'd want from you, right?" He asked.

"Yeah."

"So how can you be ok with that?"

"You keep encouraging me to do it, Luke. So I don't see what the problem is."

"Do you really want your first time to be with one of them?"

She gave a half shrug. "I trust them."

He took a step closer so that if he reached out he could pull her to him.

"I don't trust them to keep you safe."

"You don't trust your friends to be safe?"

"I don't trust them with you. I don't trust anyone with you but me."

"That's funny. You're the last person I trust myself with."

"You're here now, aren't you?"

"I need to know why you did it Luke. That's all."

"Why? I just told you why. I don't trust him."

"Luke, he's human. Plus he's a good guy. He would never hurt me."

"And I would?"

"What? Luke," She sounded exasperated, "I'm not going out with you. I am going out with Scott. In fact, he and I have a date on Friday. And if you follow us this time, or hurt him in anyway, I will hate you." She said with such intensity that he took a step back.

"You would give up years of friendship for a guy? I thought you put friends before…potential boyfriends." He said the last part like it was something bitter in his mouth.

"If you really are my friend, you won't do anything to ruin my 'potential' relationship with him then, will you?" She said, her eyes a little threatening.

"You know it won't last, right? I mean, once you flip, you'll be Lukoi and you'll be with us. No more Ungulates." He told her, taking a step forward.

"If I flip."

"When you flip. You can't keep denying it. You will change." And you'll be with me. He added silently. She didn't hear it because he didn't want her to. The way he said it sent shivers down Sophia's spine, in a good way.

Ok, so I admit it. He's good looking. Ok, that's an understatement. He's incredibly yummy. So I'm attracted to him. It's no big deal. I'm attracted to Scott too. Sophia told herself. But not in the same way…Dammit, Luke, why do you have to do this to me?

"Do what to you?" Luke asked, confused.

"What?" Sophia asked, startled.

"Don't tease. I heard you. You said 'Dammit Luke, why do you have to do this to me' so I'm asking what do I do to you?" He asked, getting that look on his face. The one that says he's got something wicked in mind.

"Nothing, forget it. Take me back to school."

"Look who's changing the subject now."

"I am not. I don't want to be late for school…"

"We won't. What do I do to you that makes you so mad at me?"

"Nothing. Let's go now. I understand why you did what you did, so lets go."

"No, cuz your still gonna be mad at me."

"You threw him onto the road. Of course I'm going to be mad at you."

"Well, we're not leaving until you stop being mad at me." Luke said, a little smirk on his face. Sophia scowled at him. "Sophia, I'm sorry for throwing him on the road. I let my emotions get the better of me and I lost control. It'll never happen again." He apologised, looking sincere. She softened her look.

"You're damned right it won't happen again." She told him, but not harshly. He pulled her close to him and hugged her. With his eyes closed he inhaled her sweet scent, letting it take over his senses. She always smelled so good. Her shampoo was organic and flowery, her perfume was sweet, and just underneath that, it was the smell of her. That was the most tantalising scent yet. When he held her, she relaxed in his arms. His arms felt so good around her body. For some reason, she felt safe in his arms. It wasn't like that with Scott…

Scott! She thought. She pushed out of his arms and took a few steps back. Damn damn damn!! Why does this always happen!? She asked herself.

"What? What's wrong?" Luke asked, a little startled when he was pushed away from her.

"I have to back to school now, Luke. Please." She asked. The look in her eyes was enough. He nodded, took her hand and led the way to the car.

Well, that's a start. He thought.

The ride back to school was quiet. When they got there, she nearly ran out of the car before he could do anything. Sean, Randy and Presley saw her flee from the car and started walking toward Luke.

"What was that about?" Sean asked.

"None of you're business." Luke told him, giving him a 'back off' look. He hadn't much liked the fact that Sophia picked Sean and Randy over him.

Sophia practically flew to where she usually ate lunch with her friends. She sat down beside Kit and took a deep, shaky breath. Luke always managed to take her breath away, and she hated him for it. She thought for a second, knowing she had to tell Kit something important.

"OH!" She exclaimed. The members at the table jumped. She looked sheepishly at them and dug her hand in her pocket. "Kit! I got them!" She almost squealed. Kit's eyes lit up.

"Are you serious?" She asked her friend. Sophia nodded. She hugged Sophia.

"What's going on guys?" Lucy asked, her curiosity getting the better of her.

"I got tickets to CATS, and we're going next month, on a Friday, so we're going to be staying the night at a hotel, which I've already booked, then coming home the next day." Sophia explained. Kit semi-squealed in delight. The two girls could hardly wait to see it.