Hello everyone! It pleased me to get so many positive responses to the last chapter. I am having lots of fun writing this. I have to admit that I don't remember the real names of Sophia's friends from the show. I wish they would put the shows on DVD! Hope you enjoy this chapter!

Chapter 5 - Friends

Sophia woke early the next morning. She was apprehensive about starting school again and especially about facing Lucas after last night. She fussed and fretted about what to wear and she combed her hair in about five different ways before deciding on what style she would present.

She did not want to dress like the old Sophia, because she no longer looked or felt like that girl. She decided she liked her new shapely body very much, and did not want to hide it under baggy clothes. She chose jeans and a form-fitting top, which she had bought in Italy and decided she looked pretty good.

When she came downstairs, Matt could tell how nervous she was. "You don't have to start today Sophia. After all, they don't even know you are home yet."

"I need to get this day over with Dad. If I put it off, it will just give me one more day of fearing it."

"O.k. sweetie. Come on, I'll drive you. It's still pretty early though and I need to stop by Vivian's to return some notes of Willard's that I borrowed."

"The Cates house Dad?" Sophia said apprehensively.

"Do you know any other Vivians?" he smiled. He knew she feared running into Luke, but he also knew that she had to face him sooner or later. Better now when Vivian and I will be there, he reasoned.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lucas was dressing for school when he heard the Sheriff drive up to the house. He also sensed Sophia was with him.

"Great", he thought, "they are going to complain to mom about last night."

He watched them get out of the truck from a crack in the draperies. Damn, Sophia looked so hot. This was the first time he had seen her in the light of day since she had arrived home and he growled his approval. Life is getting much more interesting, he smiled.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Vivian sensed their arrival as well and walked out of the house to meet them. She smiled at Sophia and hugged her. "Welcome to the pack Sophia. I'm so glad you are back. Matt did not say you were coming back yet."

Matt spoke first, "It was a surprise."

"Well it's a good surprise." she smiled. She looked at Sophia's shoulder and said, "I'm so proud of Luke for performing the Rilot to you."

"The what?" asked Sophia.

She lifted her eyebrows at Matt, surprised he did not tell Sophia himself. "The Rilot is the ritual of accepting a new pack member."

"Oh... you mean the bite." Sophia looked miffed.

"Yes! Did you feel how much power he put into it? I felt it all the way from here." she said excitedly. "He is getting more and more powerful. I think he will make an excellent Alpha once he is old enough. I think he will be even more powerful than Willard."

Before they could respond Lucas stepped out of the house. He was wearing jeans and a button down shirt, except he had not fastened any of the buttons and his chest gleamed in the morning sun. He wore a wicked grin as he said, "Good morning Sophia, Sheriff.

Sophia glared at him; Matt only nodded a small stiff nod without hardly looking at him.

"Lucas, you had better eat, it's almost time for school." Vivian reminded him.

Lucas took one more look at Sophia and grinned. He turned to walk slowly back into the house.

Sophia felt angry. How could he be so easy going after last night? She stomped off after him. "I'll be right back Dad."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lucas heard her angry steps as she entered the kitchen behind him.

"I thought we were friends Lucas." she declared angrily.

"I did it because we are friends Sophia. I don't want you having a hard time with the others." he explained as he bent his head into the refrigerator, looking for breakfast.

"I am not just talking about the bite!" she continued.

Lucas could easily read her thoughts. She had no idea how to shield them from him. She was standing behind him while he looked into the refrigerator. He knew she was staring at his ass and he also saw that she had thoughts of licking something off his chest. He smiled at her thoughts and grabbed a jar of red jelly.

Lucas turned to face her after sticking his finger in the jelly. He slowly smeared a line of jelly over his nipple and down to his muscular belly. "I only want to please you Sophia." He teased. "My only request is that you let me lick my breakfast off your body when you're done."

Sophia's eyes flashed for a moment but then she realized he had read her thoughts and she felt horrified. She backed away from him, crossed her arms over her chest, and stared out the window with tears in her eyes.

Lucas did not like to see her like this. She is not used to being a skinwalker yet, he reasoned, she still thinks sex is wrong. He turned to the sink and grabbed a cloth to wipe the jelly off. He glanced back at her. She looks like a baby bird that fell out of her nest and is exposed to danger. He started to feel sympathy for her when it dawned on him that it was more than just being uncomfortable with sex. She was uncomfortable about not having control!

After he was clean, he turned around to face her. He wanted to put his arms around her to reassure her, but he knew she would think it was a come on. He leaned his back against the sink and started buttoning his shirt.

"Sophia, I never have told you this before," he said in a serious voice, "but your friendship has always been important to me."

She looked at him now, still quietly weeping.

"I never want to lose that with you." he continued. "That's why I'm going to help you."

She gave him a confused look.

"I want to help you learn how to block your thoughts. I can also help you with sending thoughts to others, and sensing other people's thoughts and feelings. Most of us your age have had more time to practice this stuff and I know it will be hard at first for you, especially shielding."

He looks sincere, she thought.

"We can start practicing today, after school." he suggested.

Sophia immediately became suspicious. He could see her thoughts. She thought he was just finding an excuse to get down her pants.

"Sophia, I promise I won't try to mess around with you. Honest. Unless you want me too." he smiled.

"You expect me to believe that after last night and this morning?" she demanded.

"I won't apologize for being a male attracted to a hot female," he stated. "But I will promise you that I'll be good, during our lessons. I can't guarantee that with you any other time." he grinned.

She heard her Dad honk the horn on the truck. "I've got to go."

"We'll meet after school?" he asked once more.

"O.K." she conceded. She knew she was taking a chance and part of her knew she may regret it, but there was that part of her that really wanted the friendship that they shared before to be back in her life.

He stopped her with his words, "Oh and Sophia... don't tell anyone we are just friends spending time together. It is better to tell them we are having hot sex. I have a reputation to uphold." He grinned his wicked grin.

She huffed and rolled her eyes as she slammed the kitchen door shut. Lucas Cates was impossible, she thought.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sophia spent the first two periods of school in the counselor's office, trying to work out a class schedule. The school did not know she was returning today so there was a bit of paperwork as well.

When she finally was set with a schedule, she hurried to third period math class. Her old human friend, Jennifer, was there and squealed with delight when she saw that Sophia was back. She motioned Sophia to come sit next to her and marveled over how pretty Sophia looked now with her Italian tan and clothes. The teacher soon silenced them and the class began.

"Welcome back Sophia,"Mr. Raymonds exclaimed. "We hope you were able to keep up with your math in Italy?"

"Yeah. I did." she said shyly. She did not like to be the center of attention. There were only two other skinwalkers in this class. They sat at the back of the class, looking at Sophia and whispering. Sophia heard them clearly. "She looks so different." said one. "She looks so good, you mean." said the other. "You know she's going to have the guys falling all over her." There was envy in their voices.

Sophia had never been the envy of anyone before. She was surprised, but it felt kind of good too.

Jennifer had passed her a note, it said Meet me at lunch today. We'll catch up on everything!

Sophia had planned on eating with Sarah and asking her how to control her musk. She didn't want to be at a disadvantage in case Lucas tried something after school. She still didn't quite trust him.

She passed a note back saying How about tomorrow? I already have plans for today.

Jennifer looked disappointed but she nodded anyway. Sophia felt bad. She really didn't have anything much in common with Jennifer anymore. She needed to learn skinwalker ways, and the only way to do that was to be around other skinwalkers.

Little did Sophia know, but the two skinwalker girls in the back of class were broadcasting mentally to the others at school about Sophia being back, and her appearance. The only one they shielded from these thoughts was Sophia.

Sophia was unprepared for what met her when the bell rang after class.

-------------------------------------------------------

Little cliff hanger here! he he he Let me know how I'm doing. Thanks!