Chapter 10

My eyes opened and I instantly regretted it as my head was pounding. I looked around, realizing I wasn't in my own room. The familiar blue walls and checkered bed spread told me I was in Seth's bed. I rolled over, hoping to find Seth, and realized I was in a baggy tee-shirt with no pants or undergarments- just one of Seth's old baggy tee-shirts.

I froze, trying to think back to what happened last night. Seth wasn't in bed with me so I'm sure nothing happened. But I was really drunk… and Seth is really hot… and I'm really stupid… no, Seth wouldn't take advantage of me like that. I'm probably just in his room because he didn't want to bother my parents last night. I threw the covers off of me and went to stand up but a hand grabbed my ankle to stop me. I almost shrieked but saw it was Brady.

"I don't feel like having my head crushed by a hungover idiot, sorry." He muttered, rolling over and sitting up. Seth was next to him and must've woke up when he heard Brady moving.

"What's going on?" he asked, rubbing his eyes and yawing. He was shirtless with just a pair of gym shorts. His body was amazing, becoming a wolf gave him new muscles that looked amazing on him. I looked away before he could catch me staring.

"I almost crushed Brady." I mumbled, stepping around them and walking to the bathroom down the hall. I heard footsteps and turned to find Seth right behind me.

"Are you okay? Do you feel sick still?" he asked, his hands rubbing my shoulders and feeling my forehead. I giggled and pushed him away.

"I'm fine, I just gotta pee and wash up, I feel so gross."

"I'll leave a clean set of clothes for you on the sink, just leave the door unlocked." I smiled and thanked him before going to take a shower.

I enjoyed the much-needed shower. I let the hot water relax my body and wash away the alcohol and drunken stupidity from the night before. I took my time and eventually made my way downstairs where the two boys were standing at the counter picking at a muffin.

"Feelin better?" Brady asked, taking another bite of his muffin. I nodded and pulled out the chair at the kitchen table. Seth laughed and came to sit next to me.

"Want a muffin?" he asked, handing me his. I nodded and took it, eating it right away. I was starving but also not really in the mood to eat. It was a weird feeling.

"YO YO YO, LET'S GET THIS SHOW ON THE ROAD!" Collin burst through the Clearwater's front door with Kat trailing in behind him.

"Not so loud." I mumbled, laying my head on the table. My head was pounding and his voice was cutting right through me.

"Awww is Stevie a little hungover? Can Stevie not handle all that alcohol? Can Stevie not play with the big kids?" Collin ruffled my hair and I turned and threw my muffin right at his face, catching him off guard.

"Not in the mood." I muttered as they all laughed at Collin covered in muffin crumbs.

"Come on we gotta get to Emily's." he said, hoping up to sit on the counter and pulling Kat between his legs.

"Yea weren't you guys supposed to be there an hour ago?" she asked the guys.

"We had to wait for drunky over here to finish showering." Seth laughed, poking my arm. I just glared at them. I was not I the mood for jokes. My head was pounding and my stomach was upset. I probably just need some food and water to make my body feel better speaking that I threw up most of what I ate yesterday. Seth must've sensed my thoughts because he got up and brought me a bottle of water and some bread.

"Just eat slowly, you'll feel better." He rubbed my back as I sat up and leaned into his side, taking a bite of the bread.

"Do you guys wanna just meet us there? We can tell Sam you're taking care of her, Seth." Collin said, hoping down and grabbing another muffin from the counter. Poor Mrs. Clearwater probably just made those this morning and they're already gone.

"We should actually go now anyway. My dad is gonna be home soon and he doesn't need to see a hungover Stevie." He laughed, pulling me up but wrapping an arm around me and directing me out of the house.

We all piled into Seth's pick-up truck and drove down to Emily's house. I kept my head leaning outside of the passenger seat window, letting the cool air make me feel better. Once at Emily's, the guys all filed in but I claimed the couch before they could even get there.

"Nope, I need to lay down." I said kicking off my shoes and falling onto Emily's couch. Seth and Brady looked at each other and then both proceeded to pick me up and make it so that I was laying on top of them while they sat on the couch. My head rested on Seth's lap and he absentmindedly played with my hair, making my head actually feel better.

"Someone still hungover I see?" Paul asked, walking into the room with Jared and Quil.

"Kid can't handle her liquor." Collin laughed and high fived Quil. I just rolled my eyes and stayed quiet.

I must've dozed off a bit while the guys all talked and had their little pow-wow meeting thing. I woke up to my head still on Seth's lap and him leaning his head back with his eyes closed but his hand still playing with my hair. Brady was no longer at my feet. Seth's eyes opened when he felt me moving around.

"How long was I asleep? Where is everyone?" I asked, sitting up and looking around. The room was empty and I couldn't hear anyone in the kitchen either, just the humming of Emily while she cooked and possibly Sam as well, I wasn't positive though.

"You've been out for a little over an hour. Brady, Collin, Quil, and Embry are out on patrol and Paul and Jared went home to nap since they're on patrol later. Jake, I think is in Forks with that girl he likes, Bella Swan."

"How come you didn't leave? You could've woke me up, we didn't have to stay here." I felt bad he spent the past hour with my sleeping body holding him down.

"I didn't wanna wake up. You needed more sleep and I didn't mind waiting for you." He smiled at me and I couldn't help but smile back. Seth really was an amazing guy, so sweet and caring for everyone. "Come on, I can take you home now if you want." He said, standing up and pulling me up with him.

"I'm actually feeling much better. Would you wanna take a trip to the beach instead? We could probably catch the sunset." I looked out the window and saw the sky turning orange as the sun was preparing to set behind the horizon. Seth's smile grew even bigger.

"Yea! I'd love that!" We said goodbye to Emily and Sam and hopped into Seth's truck. He drove us to First Beach and parked backwards so we could lay in the back.

The sky was beautiful, the orange and yellow colors from the sun painted an amazing picture. I was sitting on one side of the truck with my feet out next to Seth while he mirrored me on the other side.

"So, I have a question for you." I started.

"Shoot."

"What's imprinting?" Seth froze for a second and he looked at me carefully.

"Where'd you here that word?" he asked.

"You guys had mentioned it briefly I think on Friday but no one elaborated on it. And then last night Brady and Collin had mentioned it but again, no one really elaborated on it. I'm just curious." He seemed to think about it before he asked his next question.

"Did Collin or Brady tell you anything about it?"

"Brady had gotten up to get beer but Collin said it's kinda like love at first sight, only stronger." He smiled at me.

"It's so much stronger than that."

"So, what exactly is imprinting?" I asked, folding my legs into a pretzel and leaning my elbows on them so I could get closer to Seth. He sighed and rubbed his eyes.

"Imprinting is like…when you see her. Everything changes. She's like your soulmate, the one you're meant to spend the rest of your life with. In the blink of an eye, your whole world changes. Suddenly it's not gravity holding you down, it's her. You would do anything for her to protect her and make her happy. You'd be whatever she needed whenever she needed it. The love you have for her is insane and everything about you two just click. You'd be a brother, a protector, a best friend…" he trailed off at that last part, his eyes peeking at me from under his shaggy hair.

A best friend? We were best friends. Was that his way of hinting at something? No, that's impossible- there's no wolfy connection between Seth and me. He's just my silly, goofy, happy-go-lucky best friend. Although, Collin had brought up the word when I had asked Seth to go get me something. Him and Brady joked that we were more than friends. But they couldn't have been hinting that Seth imprinted on me, could they? I had to ask.

"Did you imprint on anyone?" I asked quietly, looking up at him. He was looking out at the water but his mind seemed to be somewhere else.

"Yeah, I did." He turned his gaze onto me, giving me a small smile. "On you."

My breath caught in my throat and my heart probably stopped beating. Seth imprinted on me? That's insane, there's no way we can be forced to be together, can we?

"Does that mean you're forced to like me…." I asked, playing with my thumbs. He leaned over and lifted my chin with his finger.

"Not at all," he answered with a smile. "It's just the world's way of showing me who is the most perfect person for me. But if you ask me, I already knew that before the imprint." He said that last part quietly.

I loved that Seth loved me and I loved him too, but did I want a relationship right now? With all this crazy wolf stuff and school starting and him being my best friend, it's a lot and I don't want to risk us not working and me losing one of the best things in my life.

"Seth I…" I didn't know what to say or how to say it.

"Shhh, you don't have to say anything about it right now." He said, pinching my lips close. "I know you've had a lot thrown at you this weekend and trust me, none of it was the way I had wanted you to find out." He chuckled. "I'm here for you always Stevie and nothing is going to change that. Take your time and just relax, I'm always here." I smiled at him, relieved that I had more time to think about all of this.

It was too much, first I watch my best friend become a werewolf, then I learn vampires are real, then my brother is a wolf, and now Seth has some magical connection telling him I'm the perfect person for him. It's crazy!

He must've seen my mind was running a mile a minute because he laughed and pulled me in for a hug. I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him tight, loving the warmth from his body.

"C'mon, we should get back, we have school tomorrow." I rolled my eyes but got up and made my way to the passenger seat of his truck.

"SELENA LET'S GO!" I shouted up the stairs for the third time this morning. We were running late for school and Seth was in our driveway waiting to drive us. I held my finger up to him from the front door to tell him one more minute and he just smiled. I knew he didn't care about being late, he had Math in the morning. I, on the other hand, had music and I hated missing any amount of time in that class.

"I'm coming, I'm coming." She mumbled, walking down the stairs. I rolled my eyes and bolted out the door to Seth's truck.

"Well don't you two look bright and happy on this lovely Monday morning." He laughed, handing me a coffee. I thanked him but didn't comment on his jab at us. The drive to school was quiet. Selena was fighting with her boy thing so I knew that's why she was in a mood and I was just tired and annoyed at her so that's why I was in a mood. Seth was fine but he knew that when he's in a car with two moody girls it's best to just stay quiet.

He parked and we all got out, quickly walking into the school since the bell had already rung.

"Hey." Seth called to me as I walked through the front door towards music. I turned around and he pulled me into a tight hug. I hugged him back, letting the anger from this morning leave my body. "Don't let Selena kill your mood. Cheer up babe." I tensed when he said babe. "I mean bub." He corrected himself as soon as he heard his mistake. I felt his body fall in defeat. "I'm sorry…" he said, stepping back from the hug and rubbing the back of his neck. I just laughed at him.

"Don't be sorry, maybe I like being called babe." I said with a seductive smile. His mouth fell open slightly in shock. I giggled, "I'll see ya at lunch Seth." I gave him a wink and turned to walk to class, swaying my hips as I knew he was watching me.

Hey, he's my best friend- I'm totally allowed to fuck with him like this.

I walked into the music room just before the late bell rang. I walked to the table where I saw Brady sitting. He looked up and gave me a mischievous smile but didn't say anything.

"What?" I asked him as I sat down, pulling out my music journal. He just laughed and shook his head, turning to his notebook and drumming his pen on the table. "What!" I said louder, shoving his shoulder.

"I hear you rejected the imprint." He whispered with a smile. "I just find it funny is all."

"I didn't reject anything? How do you-" I didn't even finish asking how he knew because I remember he can read Seth's mind in wolf form.

"Seth was a bit upset after he dropped you off last night so he went for a run and I was on patrol so we just talked for a bit." My face fell when he said Seth was upset. I never wanted to hurt him, I was just confused and didn't want to risk our friendship.

"Why was he upset?"

"The girl of his dreams basically told him she didn't wanna be with him, why wouldn't he be upset?" He said matter-of-factly.

"I didn't say I didn't want to be with him! I just said I needed some time! And he was actually the one who said to just think about it!" I was getting nervous. Did I really hurt Seth by not immediately saying I wanted to date him? "I didn't mean to hurt him…" I whispered.

"Hey hey hey. Relax idiot he's fine now." Brady laughed, "It was just the initial shock of it. He thought you liked him more than friends and he was positive you were gonna wanna date him right away. He's bummed he was wrong."

"You didn't tell him I-"

"I did my damn hardest not to! Do you know how difficult it is to have him say something that I know is true and force myself to NOT think about it? Lucky for you I'm amazing and was in fact, able to control my thoughts." I sighed in relief, "So the kid knows nothing."

"Thanks Brady." I knew he wasn't happy lying to his friend, especially over something like this. "If he knew I did actually like him he would want to date right now and I just, I don't know, I don't want to just yet." He just nodded his head.

"Anyway, I got a new song I wanna show you." I smiled at the change in topics and followed him to the back by the guitars. He strummed a few chords and then began singing.

"I've got the gift of one liners

And you've got the curse of curves.

And with this gift I compose words

And the question that comes forward:

Are you perspiring from the irony?

Or sweating to these lyrics?

And this just in

You're a dead fit.

But my wit won't allow it.

Her bone structure screams

'Touch her! Touch her!'

And she's got the curse of curves.

So with the combination of my gift with one liners,

And my way,

My way with words."

He stopped playing and rested the guitar on his lap. "I know it needs something between those two parts but I'm still working on it."

"I like it! Who's it about though?" I knew Brady doesn't just write songs like that about no one.

"No one you need to worry about." He replied with a smirk. I was about to ask again when he grabbed my journal and opened to a page. "I wanna hear this one."

I picked up the acoustic guitar and tuned it before beginning to strum.

"Stop me on the corner.
I swear you hit me like a vision.
I, I, I wasn't expecting
But who am I to tell fate where it's supposed to go with it?
Don't you blink you might miss it
See we got a right to just love it or leave it
You find it and keep it
'Cause it ain't every day you get the chance to say

Oh, this is how it starts, lightning strikes the heart
It goes off like a gun, brighter than the sun
Oh, we could be the stars, falling from the sky
Shining how we want, brighter than the sun."

Brady just stared at me.

"What?"

"Yet you won't date the damn kid." He shook his head.

"This wasn't… dude I don't know." I was about to lie and say this wasn't about Seth but Brady could see right through me. He knew this was just written and was completely about Seth.

"Take your time to think, but don't leave the kid hanging too long. We both know you're gonna end up together so there's not much of a point in waiting." I was about to protest but the bell rang and Brady got up to leave.

The day went by fairly quick. Tuesday and Wednesday came and went with no problems and my little groups of pals and I were having a great time fooling around and being our normal selves again. Who would've thought that Thursday would be the day where all of that changed.