Disclaimer: I'm not Stephenie Meyer, I don't own any of her books and characters. I do own my own characters and my story.
Thanks to my reviewers for the last chapter: snowyflake, XMyLonelyAngelx, ..existance, MRAJ, firaallamoon and musicbee.
So sorry about the slow update, I've been really busy and I had a case of writer's block. I tried writing this chapter, but it didn't work and I had to start again.
Anyway, here's the chapter.
Seth's POV
It felt so natural, running along with Katy on my back, like we'd been doing it all our lives.
I loved this part of being a werewolf. As a human, I'd never have gone anywhere near this speed.
I enjoyed the adrenalin rush, the wind blowing in my face and flattening my fur.
Almost no time seemed to have passed when I slowed to a halt very close to Bella's house.
Katy slipped off me. I could tell that she didn't want to leave me by the way her hand lingered in my fur, the way she stayed close to me far longer than she needed to.
"Thank you, Seth." Katy said quietly. "I'll come down to La Push tomorrow."
She ran off, out of the forest, turning once to wave back at me.
Why had she left so fast? I didn't even have a chance to phase back, or to say goodbye.
Slightly disheartened, I headed back to La Push.
Stop moping!
Paul had just phased, probably to go on patrol.
Why did it have to be Paul, of all people? Just because he hadn't imprinted yet!
Hey! Paul thought. At least I'm not as bad as Leah!
He had a point there. I sort of felt sorry for Leah, always having to see Sam with Emily.
Shut up, Seth, Leah's coming!
I quickly changed my thoughts to how hungry I was.
It wasn't long before the trees thinned. I phased back, and pulled my still damp clothes on.
That night, I dreamed of bloodsuckers, taking my Katy away.
Katy's POV
The week passed in a blur. I spent as much time with Seth as I could, before I left for Seattle with my family.
It was Friday, the last day of school. Throughout the day I daydreamed, my thought flicking ahead, to the time when I could see Seth again.
As usual, Bella dropped me off at the Clearwater house, on her way to Jacob's place.
Seth stood in front of the door, waiting for me.
In a few strides, he stood before me.
His eyes scanned my face, taking in my expression.
"What's the matter?" Seth asked gently.
I stared at the ground as I spoke. "Tomorrow I'm going to Seattle, with my family, for a week."
"Well, that's not so bad!" Seth said optimistically. "It's only a week. You'll be home in no time."
"But ... But it's a week without you." I lifted my face to meet his gaze. Tears formed in my eyes. I blinked furiously to hold them back, but one escaped and trickled down my cheek.
All of a sudden, Seth wrapped his pleasantly warm arms around me.
"You'll be fine." He comforted me.
I buried my face in his t-shirt.
All too soon, Seth pulled away, and examined me critically.
I wiped my eyes with the back of my hand.
"Can we go to the beach?" I mumbled.
Seth heard my request perfectly, and, taking my hand, led me down the street.
As we walked, a damp mist descended. It curled and twisted around us. I felt like we were the only people for miles, it was so silent.
Seth seemed to read my thoughts, and he squeezed my hand reassuringly.
I was surprised when the footpath turned to the grey rocks bordering the beach. The mist obscured everything more than a few metres away.
For a while, we wandered along the beach in a comfortable silence, hands still entwined.
"Hey, Seth!" someone shouted.
Two people emerged from the mist. One of them I recognised as Quil. The other person was a little girl, who didn't look older than two. I assumed she was Quil's sister, by the way he held her hand tightly.
"Hi, Quil, hi Claire," Seth said.
Claire ran at Seth and threw her arms around his legs. "Seff!" she shrieked.
Seth laughed, and bent down to hug her back.
"Who you?" Claire asked me suspiciously.
"I'm Katy." I said awkwardly. I wasn't very good with small children.
"She's my friend." Seth added hastily, before Claire could ask me what I was doing here at La Push.
Claire stared at me for a moment, then turned and vanished into the mist without a backward glance.
"Bye Seth and Katy, see you round!" Quil called over his shoulder as he took off after Claire.
I was alone with Seth again. We didn't keep ambling along the beach, but stayed where we were.
I broke the silence by asking Seth if Claire was Quil's sister. His answer surprised me.
"No, Claire is Emily's niece." Seth told me. He hesitated before continuing. "We werewolves have a strange thing, it's like... it's like seeing someone, and knowing that they're the person you're meant to be with."
"What's that got to with Quil and Claire?" I asked, still not fully comprehending what Seth had just said.
"This... love at first sight thing is called imprinting. The first time Quil met Claire after he'd become a werewolf, he imprinted on her. Basically, they belong together." Seth answered.
I pondered the 'imprinting' for a few minutes.
"Is Quil the only one to... imprint?" I inquired.
"No." Seth replied.
He seemed lost in thought, so I prompted him.
"Who else?"
"Sam, on Emily. That's quite an obvious one. Jared imprinted on Kim, a girl in his class at school. And one more person." Seth sounded reluctant, but I persisted.
"And who is the last person?" I asked, curious.
"Can't you guess?"Seth looked at me. His eyes were sad, but I couldn't tell why.
I shook my head in answer to his query, mystified.
"Me."
Seth looked away, over my head, his gaze penetrating the lingering mist.
He was standing right beside me, touching me, but he felt so distant.
It scared me.
"Seth?" I whispered.
With a start, Seth looked back at me, a shadowy smile on his face.
I changed what I was going to say. Instead I glanced at my watch, and gasped.
The precious last hours with Seth before I left for Seattle were all but gone. They'd flown past without me noticing.
As if on cue, I heard my name.
"Katy!" Bella's voice cut through the mist like a knife.
"Just wait a second!" I called back.
"So this is goodbye, for a week." Seth said almost inaudibly.
What had happened to my Seth, my bright, sunny Seth?
"I don't know to say goodbye." I murmured, looking down at the ground. The dull grey rocks began to blur as my eyes filled with tears.
"I do." Seth said.
I glanced up at him, and his eyes held mine.
Slowly, he moved his face closer and closer to mine. I closed my eyes.
I felt the heat of his body intensify. I sensed him moving closer to me. His hand released mine, and rested gently on my face.
Seth's burning lips brushed mine so lightly, I wondered if I'd imagined it.
Seth's arm snaked around my back, and pulled me into him.
I surrendered to him.
I didn't resist as his lips found mine once more.
Seth's kisses were so gentle, lighter than the brush of a butterfly's wing.
"Katy!" Bella's call interrupted us.
I came back to reality. I was on the beach, surrounded by mist. Seth held me.
"Goodbye, Katy."
I didn't trust myself to speak. My throat had suddenly clogged up.
I nodded, the tears flowing freely now.
Seth's arms dropped limply to his sides.
I knew I should leave. I stumbled away from him.
Seth stood rooted in place, where I'd left him.
There is the tenth chapter, finally! I won't update for at least six days because I'm going on camp down in the sounds. addictedbooklover