sorry, sorry, sorry. Crazy chapter ahead! ENJOY


Eighteen: Imposter

Seth's POV

I woke up the next morning later than I usually did. Something about sleeping with Jane, it was just the most comfortable, warm place in the world. I could have slept forever. Only, when I opened my eyes, Jane wasn't in the bed next to me.

I picked my head up to peer over at the alarm clock next to the bed. 9:12 stared back at me. It was Sunday; why was she up so early?

"Hey!" I suddenly heard called from across the room. I looked over, and there she was, standing in the doorframe leading into the bathroom. I laid back and just admired her for a moment. The sunlight from the window was streaming through, illuminating her beautiful, tanned legs and shining brightly against her perfect face. Jane was in a white, silk robe. How I loved Jane in white. It was slightly transparent, thin enough for me to be able to see her nipples though the fabric.

"Hi," I pushed a pillow beneath my head to lift myself up. "What're you doing up?"

"Just getting ready for church," Jane grinned, cocking her head to the side.

"Church?" I pushed.

Jane bit the corner of her lip as she smiled slyly at me. She held a makeup brush in one of her hands as the other slowly found its way to the bottom hem of her robe. Her fingers played with the fabric there, her eyes watching me mischievously, as she slowly slid it up her thigh.

"Is that surprising?" She just barely whispered.

I gritted my teeth, need for her overwhelming me. "Come here, Jane."

She giggled. "I can't. I'm getting ready."

"Just for a second," I assured her.

Jane sighed and then walked over to me. "What?" She giggled, closer now. With this little space between us, I was able to see straight through her robe now. I had never been so turned on.

"What?" Jane whispered, trying to appear annoyed but coming off as still, somehow sweet.

I pulled gently on the fabric tie. The robe fell open, and the sides of her breast were visible to me, now. Jane's smooth, flat stomach was staring at me, so close to her center and her tight, beautiful thighs.

I couldn't help myself.

I pressed my lips into the skin of her stomach, smooth and persuasive, for the both of us. I kissed down to where her belly button was, and then below.

Jane's head was back and arched, her breaths quick and shallow.

I lowered my mouth to my favorite part of her.

"Stop!" She suddenly giggled, moving back, away from me. "I have to go!"

"Right now?" I asked, my mouth dropping.

"Yes!" Jane giggled. "God doesn't wait for your unholy mouth!"

"Is that unholy mouth not righteous enough to accompany you to church this morning?"

Jane's lips parted. "You want to come with me to church?" She asked, her voice a mere whisper.

"Sure," I finally pulled myself up in bed, sitting up on the side it.

She bit the corner of her lip. "Really?"

"Yes," I laughed. "Anything that I can do to spend more time with you, I'm up for. No, excited even." I stood up. "Are you sure you want to go, though?" I looked her up and down appreciatively.

Jane concealed herself with her robe and then scurried to the bathroom, a laugh floating in the air behind her. "Yes! Now get in the shower! We can't be late!"

About a half an hour later, I was holding Jane's hand as she led me through the front doors of a small, brick church. Granted, I wasn't a regular at church, but I was sure that what I was experiencing was abnormal as suddenly, every single person in the church turned in our direction, and then, completely silence followed.

Jane slowed, and her hand tightened around mine. I wanted to make her feel better, but I was just as dumbfounded as her. Had we forgotten to put clothes back on?

"Jane!" A chorus of voices suddenly erupted, all saying her name in excitement.

"Oh Jane!" An older woman in a floral dress grabbed her and crushed her to her chest. "Oh dear!" She pulled away. "How are you?"

"Jane!" A sea of other woman and men who looked the same surrounded us, and suddenly their surprise wasn't confusing to me, anymore. From what they were saying, and from how Jane was responding, I realized that Jane hadn't been to church in a very long time.

I wondered if this was the first time she had come back after her parent's died.

"-is my boyfriend. Seth." I caught the trail end of what she was saying, and instantaneously I was being hugged by, one after the other, by dozens of women, all my mother's age.

"Oh, it is so wonderful to meet you!" One told me.

"Who's that?" I heard one-woman murmur.

"That's Jane's boyfriend!" A few answered.

It was so overwhelming and at the same time surprising, that I almost burst out laughing. Jane had so many parts to her that I was still uncovering. I fell harder and harder in love with her with each passing second.

"Ladies, ladies!" I suddenly heard a loud, male voice. "Give her some room!" He laughed. He parted the sea, no pun intended, and then once he saw Jane his hands covered his mouth. He shook his head and then opened up his arms for her. Jane blushed and then hugged him. He patted her back in a fatherly gesture.

"We are so happy you're home," He said to her. "We missed you. All of us did."

"Me too," Jane pulled away with a shy smile. "Pastor Dean, this is my boyfriend, Seth."

Oh, I thought to myself. Pastor.

"Ah," He appraised me accordingly. "It is nice to meet you, young man."

I straightened up. I'd never met a girlfriend's Pastor, but since I never got the chance to meet Jane's father, it seemed like the most important handshake I would make. I shook it firmly and smiled politely.

"It's nice to meet you, sir," I told him, honestly, because it really was nice seeing all the people that obviously cared so much for Jane.

"He's polite," I heard one of the ladies murmur.

I stifled a laugh. I felt like I was in a Hallmark movie.

"We're happy to have you with us," The pastor smiled. "If you could get our Jane back to church, than you are welcome here any time! Jane," He peered back down at her. "Will you be playing, today?"

Playing?

Jane blushed. "I haven't prepared anything."

"Oh! No! No need!" The entire crowd argued with her all at one. "Play anything, dear!" One of them told her. "You're marvelous!"

Now, I actually did giggle. Immediately, Jane's face turned to mine. She had a flushed, yet bright expression covering her features. Jane was so naturally beautiful, pink cheeks and bright eyes and straight teeth.

"But," Jane began nervously. "I wouldn't want to leave Seth..."

"Don't worry about me!" I quickly eased her worries. Jane never played for me, and I absolutely loved watching it. If church was the place that I got to see that, I didn't want her to stop on my account.

"We'll take care of your man, Jane!" One of the ladies laughed. "He's cute!"

Her eyes widened. "Oh dear," She murmured. "Well, maybe one song," She finally conceded.

"What a treat!" The pastor clapped his hands together. "You can go up there now, Jane. I'm about to start. Seth, come with me. You'll sit in the front!"

"Sounds good!"

Jane's eyes widened at me. "Are you sure?" She mouthed to me.

I shook my head at her worries. "Go."

Jane offered me one last look of apology before heading straight through the aisleway to the antique, white grand piano in the front of the church. The pastor led me to the very first row of aisles in the church, and then motioned for me to take a seat next to a kid that looked about Jane's age, with dirty blonde hair and a suit that was perfectly fitted to him.

I offered him a brief hello as he eyed me confusedly, though that was all the time that we had before the service began. The pastor walked up to the front of the church to begin the service.

"Good morning, everyone!" He began, a wide smile on his face. Immediately, the church quieted. "Today, we have a special surprise! Our Jane, our Jane Macalister is back!" Surprised gasps filled the area surrounding us. I guessed that anyone who had not noticed her earlier was noticing her now. "And she is going to perform for us today to begin our worship!"

Applause erupted from the entire parish. I noticed Jane blushing ruthlessly at the piano. Then, she shook her head, shot a nervous glance in my direction, took a deep breath, and then began to play.

I took a deep breath right after the first note. Jane's fingers made beautiful music, which made sense, because she was beautiful in every other way; of course, her music would be just as stunning. I had only caught her playing once before, and then it had been dramatic and sad, heartbreaking, even. Now, she played something beautiful and gentle. It flowed through my ears easily. It was so exquisite; it reminded me so much of Jane. It was innocent and beautiful.

What I wasn't expecting, though, was when her voice suddenly echoed off of the high wooden beams of the old church. I was so stunned, for a moment my mouth dropped open. Jane had a beautiful voice. A voice that was high enough but sexy and smooth at the same time. I had no idea that Jane could sing like this. I had no idea that she sang at all.

Jane played a beautiful song, something that I had never heard before, but something that I was sure I was going to beg her to play for me again, and damn did I want it to last forever. I could tell that I was not the only one who thought that way, too; all around me, everyone was watching in silent admiration. There were so many other reasons, but I could see why everyone loved her so much.

To my dismay, the song ended, and blissful sighs filled the silence. Jane's eyes stayed closed for a moment longer, before she sighed just a little bit, opening her eyes and letting her hands drop from the keys.

Applause erupted from the small church, and immediately everyone was cheering and hollering for her. Jane blushed as she stood, and then bit the corner of her lip as she gave a quick curtsey before rushing back to me in the pews. Jane took a seat on the end next to me, and then peered over with a nervous grin on her face.

"Don't judge me," Jane whispered in my ear as the pastor came to the front of the church and began the sermon.

"Judge you?" I whispered back. "That was incredible. You are incredible."

Jane shrugged. "It's church," She whispered back. "I can't necessarily say no to God, even if I hate playing in front of people."

"Did you write that song?" I asked after the pastor passed us.

Jane looked at me oddly out of the corner of her eye, her lips barely moving. "Seth Clearwater," She murmured. "That is a common, traditional hem. Have you ever gone to church?"

I kissed her cheek chastely, and then left my lips close to her skin so that I could whisper in her ear. "No, but I'm in the process of being saved by a beautiful brunette named Jane."

Jane stifled a giggle, biting the corner of her lip and then shaking her head. Her pastor caught the corner of her eye, and I noticed Jane's cheeks heat up. I immediately but a little more distance between us, so that I couldn't feel her leg against mine anymore. I had to remind myself that even though I really loved touching Jane, her pastor probably didn't.

After church, the entire parish spent their time emptying outside, though once out, no one actually left. It seemed to be the status-quo to now take this time to converse, and that, we did a lot of. Jane personally introduced me to about every single member of the church. They were all extremely nice people, the stereotypical small-church goers, but what I was most surprised with, was their genuine love for Jane. From what I could understand from listening to the conversations, I had been right in my assumptions that Jane had not been to church in a very long time.

My phone vibrated in my pocket. I pulled it out, and saw Jacob's name flash across the screen.

"Hey, babe," I waited until there was a break in the conversation to interrupt. "I've got to take this. I'll be right back, okay?"

"Okay!" She nodded enthusiastically.

Thinking that this may have had something to do with the vampire on the loose, I quickly walked to the back of the parking lot where there weren't any people around. I took cover behind my Jeep before answering the phone.

"Jake?"

"Hey Seth," He answered. His voice sounded tired. "Are you with Jane."

"At church," I told him.

"Church?" He immediately mocked me.

"Save it. What's up?"

He sighed. "We caught his scent again," Jake hesitated a moment before he continued. "By Jane's."

"What?" I yelled, forgetting where I was. I peeked over the Jeep to be able to see Jane; just a visual made me immediately feel so much better, like I could keep her safe as long as I could see her.

"That's not all," He began tensely.

"There's more?"

"The scent. It wasn't just around her house... it was in it."


Jane's POV

"Hi Jane." Matt Collins suddenly stood in front of me, blocking my view of the parking lot where I was peering out for Seth.

"Oh, hey Matt!" I smiled. Matt might have been annoying and presumptuous, but I blamed that mostly on the fact that he was the preacher's son. He had been really nice to me when my parents died, and so I genuinely knew that he was a nice person.

"You played really well today," He smiled at me.

"Thanks," I shrugged, my cheeks heating up immediately. Any time anyone complemented me, it was nearly impossible for me not to blush.

"Really. Your voice is amazing. Really relaxing. It didn't do much to help from falling asleep during the service, but it was nice."

I couldn't help but laugh. "I'm sorry. I'll have to let you know before next time. I wouldn't want you getting in trouble. You could feign illness or something."

"Then I'd definitely go to hell," He joked.

I chuckled. "I don't think it works quite like that."

"No, no, you're right," Matt laughed, and then kicked a rock with his shoe. "Hey, so, ugh, that guy you brought, are you two, like, a thing?"

A smile pulled at the corners of my lips. "If you're asking if he's my boyfriend, than yes. Any other thing, no."

Matt's eyes widened. "Oh," He nodded. For a second, I swear there was disappointment that flashed on his face. "Yeah. That's what I meant. Everyone was curious."

"Who's everyone?" I blushed.

"You know," He motioned around with his hands. "Everyone. It's a small church, and you're our Jane."

I smiled to the ground and then placed a piece of hair behind my ear. "His name's Seth. You'd really like him."

Matt nodded slowly. "You mean I'd actually really like him? Or I'd like him as much as the last one. What was his name again?"

I cringed. "You mean Zach? Yeah, not one of my finest moments."

"Was that his name? I was going to say trash-bag."

I burst out laughing. "Did everyone really hate him that much?"

"I thought your dad was going to kill him once at dinner."

I laughed, remembering, no, rather, reminiscing on our monthly Sunday dinner with the pastor, Matt's father, and him. Zach had come, and he had made an extremely inappropriate sexual innuendo about someone other than me. I swallowed down my embarrassment and chalked it up to "guy-talk." My father, on the other hand, looked like he wanted to strangle him.

"Seth is not like him at all. He's probably the opposite of him, actually."

Matt nodded. He was being almost, bashful. It wasn't like him at all. "So, he treats you well?"

I let out a short breath. "Yes. Very well."

Matt smiled a little and then nodded his head. "Good. Maybe we could meet him at dinner this weekend."

My eyebrows shot up. "Dinner?"

Matt smiled innocently, looking guilty, like a little boy that got caught with his hand in the cookie jar. "My dad made me come over here. You haven't been to church in a few months. He's not taking no for an answer, especially after your performance, and your new boyfriend."

I shook my head and laughed to myself. So that was the reason for his odd mood; he was sent to me on a mission.

"I thought these stopped after," My voice trailed off.

Matt's eyes softened. "It probably should have been the other way around, you know. I'm sorry. We just thought we'd give you space."

"You called a lot more than anyone else," I murmured to him. "You have nothing to apologize for, Matt."

"Yeah," He placed his hands in his back pockets and rolled slightly on his heels. "So is that a yes? Please say yes. I can't strike out here after already falling asleep during his sermon. The man will never let me live it down."

I giggled. "Fine, but I can't promise that Seth'll be there. I don't know if I can subject him to my pastor this early in our relationship. That seems a little like cruel and unusual punishment."

"He has to come," Matt told me seriously. "He's intern father, and I'm practicing for future father as well. I'll put the fear of God in him."

I turned to look for Seth; it had been a while since he went to take a phone call, and he said he was going to come right back. I noticed the Jeep, but no Seth. It worried me a little bit. A frown filled my face, but I quickly wiped it from my features and covered it instead with a smile.

"I'll invite him, but chill with the 'fear of God' business, deal? This one's a nice one."

"We'll see, Jane," Matt rolled his eyes. I leaned in, signaling that I was about to leave. Matt got the hint, and hugged me quickly, innocently, before pulling away.

I turned to go, but he called after me.

"Hey!"

I turned.

"It was good seeing you around again. Don't wait another two months this time."

I smiled. "I'll see you next Sunday, Matt." Though, my mind was elsewhere. I was worried about Seth. He hadn't been back. I half wondered if my popularity among the sixty-year-old ladies at church scared him off.

I walked back to where the car was, still not seeing him, and only stopped once I heard his voice. Ridiculous relief flew through me, and I went to take a step forward, in front of the car, and out from where I was hiding around the corner.

"-I need to tell her. I can't keep lying to her."

Immediately, I stopped. It was instantaneous. My veins filled with ice. Lying to me about what? Was it bad that I immediately figured he was cheating on me? Was it stupid that I knew that he wasn't? Was it true that every man actually did? A thousand questions flew through my brain at warped speed. I couldn't believe it. Not Seth. Only, I knew what I heard. I hid back behind the back of the car and listened.

"Jane deserves to know. I can't hurt her, and we can't deal with this without her knowing, especially after this."

My mouth dropped. How was this even real? I swore I was dreaming.

"It's the biggest secret, though. I can't keep keeping it from her. She'll never trust me again." A pause ensued. "I'm telling her tonight." Another one, then a long breath of air. "Thank you. I know it's your secret, too, and I can promise you that I won't take it lightly. Jane trusts me, I know that it'll be okay."

My heart fell into my stomach. He was cheating on me, there was no doubt about it. Or was that just letting my prior insecurities take over? But I knew what I heard. I knew it! My brain was spinning at this point, swirling with any possibility that could have been different than what I thought was going on. I felt like I couldn't breathe, like my lungs were constricting. Oh my God, I couldn't breathe. It was happening, again; the same damn thing that had happened the last time, only worse, now- worse because it was Seth.

"Okay. Thanks," He said. "I've got to get back. I'll call you later."

Oh my God. I pressed my back against the trunk and closed my eyes. I knew exactly who he was talking to, even if I couldn't believe it. I didn't believe in coincidences, and I knew that this would probably be explained away like all the times my ex had before, but that didn't change what I knew. That didn't change that in one stupid, terrible, gut-wrenching second my heart shattered into a million pieces and I felt a pain like I had only felt one time ever before in my entire life. I pressed my lips tightly together and took a deep, silent breath. I wanted to cry, but I couldn't. I just felt... numb.

"Oh! Hey!" Seth rounded the corner, and I immediately stood up straighter. The hard part about what I just heard, was that it was when I couldn't see him. Now, looking at Seth with his gentle smile and warm features, I couldn't believe it. I couldn't, but I had to. But I couldn't. But I did.

"Hey," Seth frowned and reached out. He rubbed my arms. I let him. "What's wrong?"

His voice was so gentle and so Seth-like, that for a moment I was hypnotized. There was no way. Maybe I should have just asked him, but if I asked him, didn't that give him a chance to come up with a lie? He had said that he was going to tell me later. Did I make him come clean, now? Or did I pray that it wasn't what I thought, and wait it out. Could I do that? Did I even want to? I had promised myself that I wouldn't be a doormat to anyone, anymore, but this was Seth. It was so much easier said than done.

"Jane?" Seth whispered, leaning his body closer to mine.

I took a sharp intake of breath and then bit the corner of my cheek. "Ugh," I pressed some hair behind my ear and then stared down at my feet as I spoke. "Yeah. I'm fine. It was just hard seeing everyone again. I didn't think it was going to be this hard."

I hated myself immediately for lying; I felt like an idiot, a phony, but even more than that, I felt like a complete coward. I tried to convince myself that I wasn't confronting him on what I heard because I should wait for his explanation in case it was something other than what I thought, but really, I was terrified to hear the truth. I felt so nauseous.

"Awe," He brushed his thumbs against my face and then cupped my chin in his hands. "I'm sorry, Jane. Are you okay?"

I nodded. Now, I actually did think I might cry. "Could you just take me home?"

"Sure," He whispered, and then he leaned in, and brushed his lips against my cheek, giving me a soft kiss against the skin there. I bit the corner of my lip to keep from crying. Seth's lips were so warm, and it felt so good. I wanted so badly to pretend like I never heard anything. Maybe ignorance really was the only way to be happy, only, I couldn't unhear what I know I heard.

Seth drove me back to my house, which was thankfully only a five-minute drive. It was silent the entire time, and though he tried to make conversation a few times and ask if I was okay, I never spoke. I couldn't. I feared that if I did I would have started crying. He was probably more confused than ever. Seth was used to me crying when I was upset in any way, but now, I was shocking even myself with how dry my cheeks were. I think maybe I was just used to this kind of pain. Maybe I was impermeable to it, now.

Seth stopped in my driveway, and I surprised myself by not immediately reaching for the door handle. I wanted to get as far away from him as I could, but my body wanted something completely different. I just couldn't believe it. Leaving the car was like I was admitting to myself that this was the end. Not looking at him anymore, I surely would be able to think more clearly, and then, I would realize that we needed to be over for good. That scared me to death. Even more scary, was that I didn't want that, not even after I knew the truth.

"So," Seth began gently. "I was going to invite you over to dinner with my mom and step-dad. She's been asking about you. Are you not up for it today?"

I bit the corner of my lip.

"Stupid question," Seth quickly shook his head. "You feel terrible. You should just take a personal day."

I took a deep breath and then stared down at my hands, playing with my fingers.

"D-do you want me to come in?" He asked more quietly now.

I stared out the window.

"Or be alone?" He just barely whispered.

I bit the center of my lip. I wouldn't wait for him to tell me in person, but I couldn't say what I needed to say in person, either. I had already been humiliated one before; I would like to keep some of my pride this time around.

"I'll call you later," I finally said, opening up the passenger door, and then stepping outside. I walked inside, not looking back, and hated myself for actually feeling bad about how I spoke to Seth. I hated hurting him. He was Seth after all, the kindest, most caring and gentle person I had ever met. I hated the way that his voice fell, but he was the one who had hurt me. I shouldn't feel bad for him. But I knew that I should feel something, and as hard as I tried, I just couldn't.

I sat on the piano stool, staring down at the keys, and for the first time in my entire life, I didn't want to play.


Later that night, I was sitting at home, drowning in a bottle of Jack Daniels, stuffing my face with chocolates and trying to figure out how to cry, when Lena Lahote pounded on my back door.

At first, I was terrified. It hadn't been that long ago when that terrifying man with the red eyes had tried to scare the shit out of me on my back porch. Only, I was a little bit too drunk to care. I hit on the porch light, and once I saw that it was her, I opened the door.

"Welcome to hell!" I threw out my hands. Her eyes widened. "Where everyone dies and Jane Macalister spends her life being shitted on by bull-shit assholes who can't keep it in their pants!"

Lena's mouth dropped. "What happened to you?" She breathed, stepping inside and then shutting the door behind her.

I took a long, deep breath. "I can't say," I moaned.

"Bitch," Lena scoffed. "Spill. You look like a fucking wreck."

"Gee, thanks," I rolled my eyes.

"Well you do! What's wrong with you? Seth sent me over here because he was afraid of you being alone. Then, he told me not to tell you that. Woops."

"Okay," I tapped my finger against the whiskey glass and then began pacing the floor. "I have to tell you something."

"Obviously," She widened her eyes like I was some sort of idiot.

"It's very... I just- I, I have to tell you something." I placed the bottle down and grabbed my head.

"Jane! What is wrong with you? Just spill!"

"It's hard!" I exclaimed.

"Just say it!"

"I just- it's really a lot and I'm kind of freaking out and I don't think I can keep it in any longer and I haven't cried so I think I've lost my mind or my soul has finally exited my body and-,"

"Did you go off your meds?"

"I think Seth's cheating on me."

Lena's eyes widened. Her mouth dropped. I let out a long breath and closed me mind. There. It was out. Like ripping off a Band-Aid.

Suddenly, Lena burst out laughing. I actually had to do a double-take. Wait, was this all just some sort of terrible dream? Maybe this wasn't real life. Surely, my best friend wouldn't respond after hearing that my boyfriend was cheating on me by laughing. Only, she was actually on the ground now, laughing so hard that her stomach hurt and she wasn't able to hold herself up any longer.

At this point, I was convinced that I had slipped into some sort of ulterior universe.

"I- Jane- I," Lena regained her footing but kept her hands on her knees as she continued laughing. "I am so sorry!" She gasped, finally standing up straight. "I am so sorry!" She repeated, laughing between words. "That is just- that's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard."

My mouth dropped. "I heard him, Lena!" I demanded, and then, of course, tears immediately erupted in the corners of my eyes. Great, now I was able to cry. I couldn't cry over the agony of my boyfriend cheating on me, but my best friend being mean, bring on the rain.

"What do you mean you heard him?" She continued laughing.

"On the phone!" I moaned. "He was talking to someone. He said that he couldn't keep lying to me, and that he had to tell me the truth. That he didn't want to hurt me but he was keeping this huge secret from me."

"Oh my God," Lena suddenly moaned. "Those guys. They're all idiots. I thought Embry was an idiot, but this is a whole other level.

"What are you talking about?" I finally exploded, tears exploding out of my eyes.

"Seth is not cheating on you, Jane," Lena sighed. "I promise. It's a different secret."

"Wait," My tears suddenly evaporated. "You know what secret it is?"

"Of course, I know the secret," She rolled her eyes. "It's not crazy. It's just about their family. Their tribe or whatever, they descend from something. Personally, I didn't think it was ever really a big deal, but they act like it's the most serious thing, ever."

I gasped. "What?"

"Jane," Lena sighed. "Seth would never cheat on you. Really."

"Oh my God!" I pressed my palms to the sides of my head and shook my head. "Oh my God. Seriously? Oh my God. Oh my God! I was awful to him. Crap! Lena, what do I do?"

"Probably chill with the liquor," She laughed, though a second later she grabbed the bottle off of the counter and took a swig for herself. "And call your boyfriend. Oh, and stop being an idiot. Seth would cut his dick off before ever cheating on you."

"Lena!" I suddenly burst out laughing. "Oh my God! I thought he was cheating, Lena! I really, really did! Oh my God, I have to call him! I have to explain!"

I ran for my phone, though, almost as soon as I did, there was another knock on the back door. The light was already on, and Seth was standing at the back door.

"Seth!" I ran for the door and opened it. "I'm so sorry!" I jumped into his arms.

Seth froze. Wow, he wasn't as warm as he usually was. Actually, he was quite cold. A shiver went down my spine, though in an instant he relaxed into me, and he felt more Seth-like in an instant.

"I am so, so, so, so, so, so sorry!" I explained into his shirt. "I am so sorry! Seth! I thought you were cheating on me!" I picked my head up and grabbed my head in my hands, shaking it dramatically. "I heard you talking on the phone and I thought you were talking to a girl and there was this secret and, oh Seth! I am the worst girlfriend ever!" I dropped my forehead back down to his shoulder and hugged him tightly.

Seth wrapped his arms tighter around me. He didn't say anything, but almost instantaneously he walked us over to the couch, and then threw me down on it.

"And, that's my cue to leave!" Lena stood up. "So what, you decided to put your big-boy panties on and come over here yourself. You've got a lot of explaining to do my friend."

Seth ignored her, instead, lying me down and then kissing me quickly. Seth's lips were harder than usual, colder, too. It bothered me a little bit, but I fell into him easily. He was probably mad at me for being so cold to him earlier. Regardless, Seth wasn't cheating on me. My life couldn't have gotten any better.

"Ew! You could at least give me a minute to leave! Jeesh! Bye!" Lena practically sprinted out my back door.

"Bye!" I laughed, turning my face towards her, only for Seth to now focus his attention on my neck.


Seth's POV

I was sitting at Jacob's kitchen counter, getting served endless amounts of hot chocolate as I continued to self-loathe. I had sent Lena over to check on Jane because I knew that she didn't want to see me. Something was wrong with her. I mean, something was really, really wrong with her. It was like I had just kicked her, that's how she was acting. I knew that she got sad about church, but before I left her, she seemed fine, happy, even. What happened in the amount of time between me leaving to talk to Jake and her coming to find me at the car. Something wasn't adding up.

After hearing about that vampire being inside of Jane's house, it physically hurt me to sit here right now. In fact, the only reason why I was okay not being with her, was because the scent left, and because there were five of us phased right now, stationed outside her house. Still, I felt on edge, like I had that first night I had met her.

"Hey, hey!" I heard a slam and then sat up in my chair. Lena was back so soon, but she didn't seem upset; I wondered if he had any information. "You guys will not believe what Jane told me tonight. I almost-,"

Lena came to an abrupt halt mid-sentence. She looked at me, and then looked again, doing an immediate double-take.

"What-," Her voice grew quiet. She pointed to the door and then back at me, twice, before her mouth dropped.

"How-,"

"Hey," Embry suddenly stood up. "You okay, Lennie? You look like you just saw a ghost."

"I- I think- but-" She was stammering even more know. "Seth," She finally stated clearly. "How did you get here so fast? You were just over at Jane's."

I frowned. "I wasn't over at Jane's."

"Yes you were," She pushed. "You knocked on her back-door. You- you were there. You kissed her."

Every joint in my entire body froze. "That wasn't me," I whispered.

Realization hit me all at once, like a baseball bat to the stomach, even though I didn't want to believe it. So I asked a very simple question, even though I already knew the answer: "But if I'm here, who's with Jane?"


COMMENT WHO EVERYONE THINKS IS WITH JANE! Will update ASAP!