My bag just bounced against my back, going down the small dirt pathway that descended into different areas around the lake, leading up to all different cottages that were on the cliff side, and down below near the lake. The sun was already burning brightly, and seeing orange butterflies dancing in the breeze gave me enough of a smile. I was already feeling peaceful, and managed my way towards to huge wooden cottage, that looked identical to a Shinto Shrine. Her cottage was pure oak, and had small little waterfalls and beautiful arrays of flower beds surrounding it. It was like walking into paradise.

They were already sitting on the outside steps waiting patiently for me, giggling and laughing that made me raise an eyebrow when they looked at me, and then went back to the conversation. I just kept a smile on my face, and sat down beside them as they smiled brightly finishing a few snacks.

" Kagome your finally here!"

Yumi and Ayami screamed with delight throwing their arms around me, until I felt glued to the ground. I just laughed, knowing they were the oddest friends, but the greatest girlfriends I had. The rest of the girls were just stuck up, and it was hard enough to find some that weren't like that. They were all loving and supportive girls and that's what I adored about them.

" Yumi's mom isn't here so it's even better! Were going play some ' wild' games and eat a lot of food until were sick!"

Ayami screamed out, while we couldn't help but laugh. They all turned to each other when silence hit, and looked at me almost like an unsuspecting victim.

" Kagome want to see the surprise we have for you?"

I nervously bit on my nails but shrugged my shoulders and with a dull expression on my face.

" Sure why not?"

They smiled while they slid the doors back while my face was already red, knowing exactly what they planned that made me feel a lot smaller and quieter than ever. I knew exactly what planned, and what they still thought. All I knew, this wasn't good!

They slid the doors back revealing someone whom I'd remember I met up here that I was crazy about, Hojo. Wavy blonde hair, perfect smile and piercing green eyes that I had once fallen in love with. I had met him at the lake with a few of his friends with the rest of mine, as he sat on the dock with me as we chatted staying away from the water fights and getting wet. I could tell by glancing at him, he had changed dramatically. He had ripped jeans, messier hair and a piercing in his right ear. Even though he changed abit I could tell his personality was plainly the same. But this caused a bigger problem than realized.

" Kagome! Too busy for us since Inuyasha came up?"

He chuckled patting me on the shoulder with an eyebrow raised, as my friends giggled having the night all planed out from here on out. I realized when she said her mother wasn't home, she'd likely break her mother's number one rule; ' no boys in the house.'

I recognized his old beaten gym bag in the corner near the door seeing my friends hoping a magical connection would happen, but it wasn't the same anymore. I was in love with somebody else, and that someone else happened to be one of my friends, Inuyasha basically happened by accident. I just smiled delightfully as he edged closer while I had my mind somewhere else.

" Well this was his first time up here, so yes!"

Yumi laughed walking into the kitchen for a moment wiping out a lighter from her front pocket and placing a cigarette between her fingers and liting up as smoke wavered through the air. She placed her hand out in front of me, offering me the half lit cigarette as I waved it off.

" Aw come on Kagome. You don't drink, don't smoke. Nothing! Oh that reminds me later on tonight…Were heading down to a party down the street with Gavin and them. You willing to come Kagome?"

She asked puffing the last of the cigarette digging into the ground at the side of the porch where her mother hated her placing cigarettes. She had been chain smoking forever it seemed, and I remember her trying to make me believe and herself she had stopped the addiction.

" Well I umm haven't really been to a damn house party…"

All the girls lit up with delight as she passed around the cigarettes, and supringly Hojo took one with a smile which blew me away, since he had always been against things like that. Even over alittle bit of time I could tell they had changed. Me, I felt the same and looked the same but alittle bit older.

They all stood watching me in shock, like it was a sin that I had never been to a house party in my life. Eri placed her hand on my shoulder with a keen smile, patting my back that left my stomach to turn.

" You haven't? Damn Kagome where the hell have you been? You'd think by now you would have I mean geese your freaking 17!"

I shook her hand feeling the cigarette smoke go into my lungs, while I glared at her.

" 16"

" Ya, Ya same dif! You should come I mean there's a lot of people there, guys, drinkings, everything! It's so great I live for that stuff!"

She screamed running around and dancing at the edge of the porch, as Hojo flickered the cigarette ashes becoming quiet as Yumi rambled on about this party that seemed to be the party of all time.

" I mean Gavin knows how to throw a party! I told him about you before and he said he wouldn't mind another girl coming along. He use work in a dance party place as a security guard until he got injured on the job, and got fired for a gay reason because a girl claimed sexual harassment on him. That stupid bitch! Anyways he usually holds a blow out party every summer, and it's grand. Everybody around this lake goes there! I mean damn it's great! Your coming with us!"

I looked at them with a half smile, uneasy at the thought of a million different faces completely new all thrown in a tight space looking at people and staring each other down, with cigarettes in their mouths and drinks in their hands. I felt nervous. Inuyasha I had remember promised when October hit he would take me to the first house party of a girl he use to know. I felt safer with the idea of going with him, then the rest of them. But still I wasn't the one to turn down something big like that, especially if my friends were in it.

I glanced at Hojo who bit his lip and winced each time he heard Yumi cry out about this Gavin guy's party, seeming extremely pissed when he heard her speak of it. I looked at him softly, placing my hand on his leg and trying to calm him down and figure out what rattled him.

" Hojo? What's amatter?"

" Me, nothing… Just that one of Gavin's girlfriends were around me tempting me, and then Gavin pinned on me that I had touched them and a brawl started and I was kicked out from the party from there on out.

I just looked at him seeing how tense he was, grabbing another cigarette from the package that was right beside him and was half empty. It shocked me alittle, because when I had met him he was a nice simple guy, who looked like he had everything in lined and always passed down on drinks or cigarettes when they were offered by Yumi or any of them. To be honest I was nervous about this whole party thing, even though I'd be with my friends just something made my stomach turn about the whole thing.

" So what are you going to do when we leave for the party?"

He just scoffed and lit another cigarette as the rest of us stood quietly, and Yumi darted in the house real quick and grabbed a handful of candies that sat on the table.

" Obviously I'm not going to be here, or at that party. I mean to be honest Kagome he knows how to throw a party. I got into smoking and that when I went there. I mean, I'm not saying you will anyways but he knows how to set up a good party I'll admit! I'll likely go call on my friends that aren't going to that damned party. Practically everyone goes there!"

I just smiled grimly already missing Inuyasha. It wasn't really the same. I knew we'd be seeing each other Sango, and Miroku at the going away party but to me that almost seemed too far away. I felt as though I was breaking a promise to him if I went to the party because I could tell he truly wanted to flaunt and brag about it and take me to it with a smile across his face. I stretched out with a semi-sad smile, and being away from him for almost the whole summer seemed too long for me to bare. I mean I did it many times before but why was it so important now to me?

' No wonder why I care so much this time. I just don't wanna like him that way because our friendship. I doubt he feels the same way then again, I don't know that!'

My thoughts were slowly interrupted of looking back to Inuyasha and I saying our good-byes in the oddest ways possible. It was almost like I never expected it, and I don't think neither of us did and that was the problem. All I could remember clearly was hugging him and desperately wanting to stay and feeling our lip locks that made me feel so scared, yet so secure. It was almost like I secretly wanted it, even though I had kept in mind we were friends it was almost like that rule didn't apply anymore. That's what I was worried about. I was almost scared to face him now, scared that our friendship would be more and would fail like so many other relationships. Then again I was dying to see him, and I knew that Sango's going away party wasn't that far away.

Hojo just lifted himself from the porch as I finally came back to reality, seeing him grunting and I had basically missed the whole conversation with the others about him being banded from the party. The sun was already slowly setting, while Eri calmly tried giving him a hug to feel better, but the stiff shove proved he wasn't in the mood at all. She stood in 'awe' watching him walk down the pathway and off near the edge of the lake.

" Gee, he looked so happy…."

" Well just let it go. He's mad about the party."

Eri thought leaning against the side of the door with her arms crossed narrowing her eyes, also feeling hurt that he had taken it out on her and shoved her was bad enough.

Yumi just glanced at her watch, as though time hadn't went fast enough. I could tell she was impatiently trying to wait for time to fly. Ayumi looked pretty much bummed out, until she lightened up and nudged me.

" Damn this day could go any slower! Hey Kagome, how come your not talkive as usual? I mean before we could never shut ya up which isn't a bad think, but I mean aren't ya excited about the party?"

My hand held my chin up high, with my mind completely somewhere else. I was still thinking about Inuyasha and I and I couldn't get it out of my mind. I mean how could I? The minute I thought we were friends then the next it just went on from there. I had feelings for him which was bad enough, but the fact I didn't know if I was the only one. I played with the necklace more and more between my fingertips with a slight sign, as they all sat lined up against the porch well she just nudged me again.

" Hey, what's amatter with you?"

I laughed for a moment, and took a look at the red and black bead necklace which you could tell had un went torture. It was beaten up, and the paint was slowly coming off of the beads revealing the wood underneath it.

" Ano…Just nothing. I just have a lot on my mind that's all…"

The girls moved in closer with a smile, as Yumi passed around her stash of bag candy she always blew at the end of the summer. She'd gather a whole wade of money and blow it on simply candy and it wasn't surprising she was still doing that. I just took one and placed in my mouth that fried my taste buds, as I spat it out and looked up at them realizing we'd go to the party soon.

" Like what you can tell us right?"

I just smiled with delight knowing I could to tell them anything, but for some reason I couldn't tell them this. If I wasn't ok with it, then I wouldn't be able to. It almost felt wrong in some many ways, knowing this was one of my best friends I grew up with and now both of us were confused. I just laughed it off, and thought about the party and tried to get my mind off other things and worry about the Inuyasha stuff when I'd go to Sango's going away party.

" Of course I can! Just alittle nervous about the party that's all…"

I lied, while all of them laughed and Eri just patted me on the back and glanced at her watch realizing the party was slowly coming up, and here I was with my stomach twisted and turned with knots.

" Don't worry about it! We need to break you in! Hey, we should get going now Kagome. So get what you need, and we'll be waiting in the car."

I took a quick look in the mirror, and managed to fix my hair as though I had been ripped it out from stress. I couldn't help but play with the necklace he gave me, and think about him, and I just glanced at the phone that was sitting right near her bed.

" I don't even know if it's worth calling him. After all, he sounded like he didn't want to talk to me. I guess I can give it a shot, I mean if not then I'll just spend my time at the party and relax… But why is this eating away at me so much?"

I screamed to myself, grabbing the black cordless phone trying to hurry up when I heard Ayumi honking the horn furiously and hearing the screams, and the music blasted up while it was dialing, and was continuously ringing.

" Come on please answer, Inuyasha…."

Anixously, I sat on the bed getting my legs back and forth and no answer. I just grabbed my stuff and quickly headed out in disappoint, seeing all the girls ranting and raving as I placed myself comfortably in the back, and walking into a cloud full of smoke from the lit cigarettes.

" Took you long enough, Kagome! I can't wait to show you this place! Gavin is really nice, and you can of have to wait and see for yourself!"

The girls mumbled on seeing them hyped up to go to this summer party, and here I was slumped in the car seat wanting to be anywhere but here…..

Ayumi had the music blasted, feeling the car shaking as it treaded the dirt road and we went past the places I went with Sota directly near the trail where I wanted to punch his lights out so badly, and where I went before in the morning to relax by myself. I vaguely remembered Inuyasha staring out from the bridge, and both of us were so quiet it was nerve racking but then again I loved it. I just shook my head, and came back to reality when I felt us hit a huge bump that sent Eri flying.

" Damn…Hopefully we don't have to park here. This place is so damn crowded. Wait, there's Gavin and his brother right there. Aww they reserved a spot for us how sweet!"

She laughed, parking right in front of the garage, as crowds of different people were all over the house, smoking outside, and inside already with beer and drinks glued in their hands. The cottage house they had were huge, and it was blasting with music from the windows enough for people to hear the lyrics word, for word. Quietly, I stepped out as Yuki grabbed me by the hand towards these two tall guys that both were catching up with.

" I'm so glad you guys came back! Of course I'm not gonna charge you guys for beer. I'm just gonna let ya drink it, besides I know Ayumi how you love it a lot."

She nodded with a jack ass type smile painted on her face, as she hit the dark brown haired guy, that was like three feet taller compared to her, which I had assumed was Gavin.

Gavin held his beer in his hands tightly, and looked over at me who had too much on her mind to even speak a word. If anyone was in my spot they'd go nuts over him, or be dashing into the party. He just drifted away from the conversation and caught me by surprise.

" So this must be the girl you told me about…Kagome right?"

I softly nodded, feeling him hold my out flatly feeling right then I just wanted to run the other direction.

" Yes."

I smiled, seeing Gavin place his finger out for a second drifting out of the conversation and his attention towards the seventeen guy with wavish brown hair, and piercing blue eyes who sat on the porch laughing it up with all the girls that swooned and surrounded him.

" Kouga! Stop flirting with the ladies and get me a beer for these ladies! Make another one for me also!"

He just looked at the girls knowing by the expression on his face he didn't want to leave their side for an instant. He stormed into the kitchen pushing through bodies, and went out the side door managing to carry all these beers that were basically going to slip out from underneath his arms.

" Next time, go get it yourself.."

He said rudely, as Gavin laughed and smugly put him underneath his arms and messing his hair with ease, basically embarrassing him as he threw a cold beer to me.

" This was my annoying brother, I told you lives far and near the mountains."

Ayumi laughing seeing the resemble between the two, and she knew Gavin tried to act like they weren't even blood related. She opened her beer and chugged it down, and shook her head smacking him on the side for a laugh.

" So this is him…He looks exactly like you, and don't say he doesn't either!"

She screamed out, as I was feeling left out more then ever. You'd think this would excite me meeting new people and getting along well and drinking with a whole bunch of people but it didn't. It felt so out of place, and so did I. I knew my mind was drifting, and I eagerly wanted Sango's Going Away party to come sooner so I could see them again, and see Inuyasha's face again. Kouga stood there quietly, and looked at me with a spark in his eye that made me blush a lot harder than expected.

" I've never seen a girl that hasn't drank beer before. You sure you don't want any?"

We both stood to the side, as all those three were too busy talking to this guy Gavin, who they acted like a famous tv star they all had to shower and adore, that made me feel more left out until his younger brother Kouga came to talk to me. He made me laugh with his facial expression with his eyebrow raised, and his crystal blue eyes that caught my attention right away. He seemed so use to being around girls who loved to party, and obviously I stuck out like a sore thumb.

" I'm sure believe me. You can have it if you want."

I joked, and slowly warming up. He just smiled warmly, and placed his arm over my shoulder that didn't seem so sleazy if other guys were to do it. He had something about him, that made me laugh and made me feel happy, and basically forget I was missing when I became caught up with the whole Inuyasha scenario.

Outside was already becoming cold, seeing the stars were all lit up, and the moon was full. He held me closely, while I just sat back and enjoyed the attention feeling actually loved, and he smiled graciously and threw his leather jacket over my shoulders.

" Well hopefully this will be my last one. I'm not big on drinking either. I mean I've seen a lot of drunk girls believe me. Just glad you aren't one of them. How about we sit on the porch and we'll talk there? Sound good….."

I forgot he didn't know my name, I just gushed while I went different shades of pink and forgotten how heavy a leather jacket was.

" Kagome."

I smiled realizing now I was warming up to this party idea, and the fact this Kouga guy made me laugh and I just felt so good with him. I had only known him maybe five minutes, but he seemed so different and of course my friends were paying no attention to me, accept Gavin. Kouga made me feel secure, as before we walked off he told off his brother, while I only saw Gavin place him in a friendly head lock.

" Hey you be nice to her. You do that one again, and believe me your going to be hung, and those three girls would beat you up, personally got it?"

Kouga nodded, and next thing I knew here I was… Before sad about Inuyasha, and now here with this guy named Kouga I just met, and now it felt like I had almost forgotten all about him….

Author's Notes: Don't jump to conclusions with this just yet. You'll see how this is planned out. Please Read and Review