Well here it is the last chapter. I hope you enjoy it. Thanks again to everyone who read the story and most of all to those few of you who reviewed over and over again:

Twinsmom

My Best Friend. My Jacob

GwevinLoVeR

chantelleeenator

pinkshirt

I believe you five were responsible for pretty much all but a few reviews. So thanks guys! I really appreciate it!!

Chapter title taken from the song "Don't Take Your Love Away" by VAST

It had been two weeks. Fourteen days. Three hundred thirty six hours. Claire refused to see him. She wouldn't even talk to him on the phone. She used to always threaten him with silence. He would laugh it off because he knew she would never be able to stick to her threats. Except that she was sticking to them this time. And it was killing him. He went to work. He came home. He ate. He slept. He went through the motions of living without really doing it. Now today, fourteen days since Claire last spoke to him, he sat on the couch in his living room. The TV was on, but he couldn't say he was really watching. It was all one big blob of color and white noise.

Another noise began to creep in, something coming from down the hallway, something loud and somewhat annoying. He tried to block it out as it got louder. He focused all of his energy on the TV. Hmmm figure skating. When did that come on? Last thing he remembered watching was some stupid movie about some idiot guy losing the girl he loved. That had been good. It had been nice and depressing. Suddenly the annoyance was right in his face. He glared harder at the TV and soon was drifting in thought again as he watched the skaters swirl around the ice.

Julie stormed into the living room, Seth hot on her heels.

"SETH CLEARWATER YOU DON'T OWN ME!"

"I NEVER SAID THAT I DID!"

"WELL THEN STOP TRYING TO CONTROL EVERY ASPECT OF MY LIFE!"

"I'M NOT TRYING TO CONTOL EVERY ASPECT! I JUST WANT THIS ONE THING!"

"Come on guys, don't fight, okay?" Embry bounced around behind Seth, his voice low and pleading.

"WELL I SAID NO! IF I WANT TO SMOKE I'M GOING TO SMOKE AND NOTHING YOU SAY IS GOING TO STOP ME!"

"FINE!"

"FINE!"

"Okay, so now……. make up," Embry added.

Julie turned and glared at Embry. "Shut up! This doesn't even concern you!" She moved to go out the door, but Seth lunged forward and grabbed her arm. "Let go of me," Julie hissed.

"Just listen to me!" Seth dropped Julie's arm and ran a hand over his face. "I'm sorry, okay? It's none of my business. I won't bring it up again. I promise."

Julie crossed her arms over her chest. "Do you swear? Because I hate fighting with you like this."

"I swear. I just can't stand the thought of something happening to you. That's why I keep bringing it up. But I won't anymore. I'm sorry." Seth pulled Julie to him and wrapped his arms around her, kissing the top of her head.

"I'm sorry too. It's stupid I know. How about a compromise. I'll try to cut down. Then you know, maybe I can think about quitting."

"Whatever you want," Seth mumbled into her hair.

Julie took a deep breath. "Okay. Look, I have to go. I'm late as it is. Will you come see me tonight?"

"Of course. I'll call you later." Seth leaned down and gave her a kiss.

Julie pulled away from Seth and walked out the front door.

Seth sighed then turned to Embry. "What the hell man?"

"What?" Embry asked.

"What do you mean what? You following me and Julie around like a little rat terrier nipping at our ankles. Don't fight, make up." He mimicked Embry's pleading voice.

Embry leaned forward and said quietly. "I'm sorry, okay? But the position of household zombie is filled." He jerked his thumb at Quil who was still sitting on the couch, oblivious to any of the drama that had just taken place. "I mean look at him. He hasn't said but two words in nearly a week. It's creepy and depressing. If you and Julie break up, well…..I just can't take another catatonic imprinted person sitting around the house. I just can't."

Seth frowned. "Julie and I aren't going to break up. We had a fight. All couples have fights. If you actually stayed in a relationship longer than two weeks you would know that."

"I resent that," Embry replied indignantly. "I've been seeing Kate for over a month."

"No, you've been trying to get her to sleep with you for over a month," Seth corrected.

"So, what's the difference?" Embry said.

Seth rolled his eyes. "You know what, it's not even worth getting into this discussion with you," he said. He glanced at his watch. "I have to go too. I've got to run and see Jake really quick."

"You're leaving me alone? Here? With it?" Embry glanced quickly at Quil.

Seth shook his head. "You know what? You're an ass. He is your friend. He's in pain. Maybe if you thought about someone besides yourself for a minute you'd realize how much he's hurting right now."

Embry narrowed his eyes. "I know he's hurting. But I don't know what to do about it! What can we do about it? Nothing! There is nothing we can do. So don't get all uppity with me. If you're so worried about him why don't you try something?"

Seth held his hands up. "All right, all right. I'm sorry. I'm just saying…..I realize this is hard on us, but it's even harder on him. We just have to be understanding. That's what he needs right now. Look I really have to go. Just, don't bug him, okay?" Seth patted Embry on the shoulder and left.

"Don't bug him?" Embry muttered. "He doesn't even register my presence. I might as well be invisible."

With a sigh Embry flopped into a recliner. He looked over at Quil again and made a face. "Whatcha watching?"

Quil grunted but didn't respond.

Embry nodded. "Sounds good. I'll join you." He looked at the TV and groaned. "Figure skating? Are you kidding me? No one is that depressed." He went to grab the remote, but Quil's growl stopped him. Embry threw his hand into the air. "Sorry, sorry. We'll watch the figure skating. God." After a minute he spoke again. "You know I think I liked you better when you were bitching and moaning. It was at least more interesting than this. Now I'm stuck watching figure skating. I mean who the hell…...wow, did you see that move? How do they do that? I mean those blades are so skinny. I'd be falling on my ass. I wonder how long it takes to learn that. Maybe it's all an illusion, you know? Like maybe they-"

"Oh my God just stop talking," Quil pleaded.

"It speaks." Embry muttered. "Good, I was beginning to think your vocal chords had been severed."

Quil rolled his eyes.

"And facial expressions too. It is my lucky day. Maybe now you could go shower, cause seriously, you're disgusting."

"You could go away. Then you wouldn't have to look at me," Quil mumbled.

Embry scoffed. "I don't want to go anywhere. It's the stupid high school dance tonight. There are teenagers everywhere. I didn't even think that many kids lived in all of Washington, let alone the greater Forks and La Push areas. It's like a freaking madhouse out there."

"What did you say?" Quil was staring at Embry.

Embry's eyes widened. "I said madhouse out there. Out there. Not in here. Not you. I don't think you're you know…" he circled his temple with his finger. "….crazy or anything."

Quil frowned. "Not that. About the dance."

Embry took a relieved breath. "Oh, well it's the Forks Homecoming tonight, sooo…..it's really busy out there."

"Homecoming," Quil repeated slowly.

"Oh God, Quil I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bring it up. I know Claire wanted to go. I'm really sorry. It was stupid of me." Embry winced.

Quil shook his head. "No, no, it's not stupid. It's perfect. Homecoming. I'm taking Claire to Homecoming."

Embry glanced around quickly. "Umm, actually, you're not. Remember?"

Quil waved his hand in a negative gesture. "No I know, I remember. I meant I am going to take her to Homecoming."

"Quil, I know you've been kind of out of it but…..Claire's not speaking to you. She wouldn't even take the birthday present you left for her. What makes you think she's just going to go to this dance with you?"

"Because she really wants to go," Quil said firmly. "And I'm going to take her."

Embry pursed his lips. "Umm, okay?"

Quil jumped up. "Don't you see? This is it, this is my gesture."

"I am so lost right now, what the hell are you talking about?"

"My gesture, my grand apology gesture. I'll show up at her house, sweep her off her feet and take her to the dance." Quil nodded. "Yeah, it will totally work."

"What will work?" Seth asked from the doorway, a look of surprise on his face at seeing Quil up and talking.

"He thinks he's going to take Claire to Homecoming," Embry informed Seth.

"No I am going to take her. It's my gesture." Quil suddenly turned and frowned at Seth. "Where have you been? I just had an epiphany and you weren't here to witness it."

"Oh, umm, I just had to see Jake really quick." Seth said quietly.

"Why'd you have to see Jake?"

"Because we've been covering your ass on patrol the last two weeks while you, you know, sat around waiting to have your freaking epiphany." Embry said.

Quil dropped his head. "I'm sorry you guys, I'm really sorry. I know I've been a little….out of it the last couple of weeks."

Seth shook his head. "It's okay man, we know this has been hard on you. No apologies needed."

"I'll take an apology," Embry muttered.

"Well, I am sorry for what it's worth," Quil told him. "Okay, I have to get dressed. I'm taking Claire to Homecoming." He took off down the hallway towards his room.

"TAKE A SHOWER!" Embry yelled after him. He rolled his eyes and looked at Seth. "You think this is going to work?"

Seth shrugged and sighed. "I don't know. But at least it's something."

Quil took a deep breath. "Well…..how do I look?"

Embry and Seth were sitting on the couch, Quil standing in front of them wearing a faded white dress shirt, a brown tie and baggy khakis.

"Honestly?" Embry raised his eyebrows. "You kind of look like an alcoholic door to door salesman."

Quil groaned and ripped his tie off. "Great. That's just great. This is ridiculous. She's never going to agree to go anyway, so why am I even bothering."

"You don't look that bad," Seth said. He gave Quil an appraising stare. "Well, you might want to think about shaving. You do look a little….scruffy."

Quil huffed and flopped down into the recliner. "Forget it. Who's stupid idea was this anyway? I'm not doing this."

"First of all you have to do this," Embry said. "You're miserable. She's miserable. You owe it to each other to at least be miserable together. And secondly it was my stupid idea and ten minutes ago you said it was perfect."

"Yeah well ten minutes ago I was watching figure skating and enjoying it. Which shows you where my mind set is. Besides Claire won't even talk to me. I've been trying for two weeks. She wouldn't even take my birthday present. Why the hell would she suddenly agree to go to this stupid dance?"

"Because she's in high school. Girls love this crap. Getting all dressed up, dancing, drinking lousy punch. It's like a rite of passage." Embry got a far away look in his eyes. "I remember when I took Megan Goodheart to her senior prom. We got a hotel room in-"

"Could we focus here for a minute please?" Quil begged. "I don't need to hear all about Megan Goodheart and the Best Western breakfast bar again. Okay?"

Embry held up a finger. "They had an awesome breakfast bar. You wouldn't think a hotel like that-"

"Embry!" Seth gave him a dirty look. "Quil, go shave, I'll find one of my ties and Embry….you just sit here and keep quiet."

"Fantastic omelets. I mean they were so fluffy-"

"Can it with the breakfast bar. I have slightly more pressing matters to deal with here." Quil sighed and scrubbed his face with his hands. "For instance, what am I going to say? How am I even going to get her to listen?"

"Tell her 'you're so beautiful, it hurts to look at you'." Embry said.

"You've been watching My So-Called Life again haven't you?" Seth accused.

"Hey man, that was a great show. It's amazing how it stands up over time."

"Better than General Hospital?"

"Don't be ridiculous," Embry growled. "There is no better show than General Hospital."

"Too true," Seth agreed.

"GUYS!" Quil threw his arms in the air. "Please! I need some real help here, some real guidance, not a rundown of whatever fairy ass shows you two watch."

"Quil man, just say what's in your heart. We can't give you a script. Just look at Claire and say whatever it is you feel. Now go. Shave. Embry's right. No offense but you do kind of look like hell."

Quil stood up and glared at his two pack mates. "You guys suck as cheerleaders."

Embry made a face. "I'll have you know I would make a fabulous cheerleader. Besides if I told you that you looked good, well let's be realistic. That would make me a cheerliar."

"Oh my God I live with two utter morons," Quil moaned. He stormed down the hallway and slammed the bathroom door.

"Nice job," Seth said. "Now he thinks I'm a moron too."

"Well if the shoe fits." Embry smiled. "On a serious note. We have got to get that boy some clothes. Something that doesn't scream serial killer. I mean where in the hell did he get this tie?" Embry pinched Quil's discarded tie with his thumb and forefinger, holding it away from him. "You're on ties, I'm on shirts."

"Got it," Seth said, determination in his voice. "We'll make him look so good, Claire will forget why she's pissed at him in the first place."

Embry looked down and sighed. "Do you think she will? You know, forgive him?"

"Let's hope so. I don't know how much longer he's going to be able to take this."

Six shirts and several ties later, Quil stood on the back porch of the Ortecho home. His heart was pounding so hard he could almost see his shirt rising and falling. He took several deep breaths and tried to get himself under control. When he was sure he wasn't going to vomit, he knocked quietly on the door. It took all his will power not to bolt back to his car. He couldn't remember a time when he had been more nervous than this. He felt as though it might be his last chance, and if it was he didn't want to imagine what life would be like if he blew it.

"Quil," Sharon greeted him quietly. "How are you?"

He shook his head. "Not so good," he whispered.

"Oh honey. I know this has been hard." She held the door open. "Come on in."

Quil stepped inside wringing his hands nervously. "Is she home?" The sudden thought that she might have gone to the dance anyway, possibly gone with another guy even, made his stomach clench into a tight fist.

Sharon nodded. "She is."

Quil cleared his throat. "Do you think….can I see her?"

Sharon looked at him for a moment. "I think that would be a good idea." She said finally.

"Do you want to tell her I'm here?"

"No. I think you should just go up and see her." She grabbed one of Quil's fidgeting hands and squeezed it. "I know she misses you. She won't admit it, but she does. I'm glad you came by tonight."

Quil took a deep, shuddering breath. "Okay. Okay. Well here goes nothing," he tried to smile, but his lips couldn't seem to remember what a smile was supposed to look like. It had been so long since he'd had anything to smile about.

Sharon squeezed his hand one last time and then gestured to the kitchen door. "Good luck, honey," she said softly.

"Thanks." Quil took another breath and then headed through the kitchen to the living room. He paused for a moment at the bottom of the steps to collect himself, then slowly climbed up to the second floor.

Claire's bedroom door was closed, so he rapped on it lightly.

"Come in."

The sound of Claire's voice caused Quil's knees to buckle and he had to support himself on the wall for a moment. It felt like it had been years since he'd heard her voice. He knew he couldn't leave until she forgave him. No matter how long it took. He couldn't live this long without hearing her voice ever again.

He slowly opened her door and peeked in. Claire was sitting at her computer desk, her back to the door. Quil closed his eyes and inhaled deeply. Even from across the room he could smell her shampoo and perfume. Every hair on his body stood on end from the rush of actually being in her presence.

He stepped into the room and closed the door softly behind him. "Hey," he said quietly.

Claire spun around in her chair. "What are you doing here?" She snapped. "I can't believe my mom let you up here. Get out!"

Quil held up his hands. "Please, just talk to me, okay? Please?" He begged. "I need you to talk to me."

Claire crossed her arms over her chest. "Well I needed you to talk to me two weeks ago and you ran off like a scared little boy," she spat. "So whatever you have to say now, you can save it."

"Claire," he whispered. "Please. I am so sorry."

"I'm sorry too. I'm sorry I ever loved you." She spun her chair back around to face her desk.

Quil rubbed his eyes and took a tentative step towards her. "Look, you don't have to talk to me, okay? You don't have to talk. But just listen please?"

Claire turned her chair back around and glared at him. "You have two minutes to say what you have to say and then I want you to leave."

"Okay." He walked over and sat on the edge of her bed. He took a deep breath and tried to grab something from the jumble of words running through his brain.

"Clocks ticking," Claire snapped.

God say something, say anything he pleaded with himself. His tongue felt heavy and his entire body trembled.

"I love you," he finally managed to blurt out.

Claire raised an eyebrow. "That's all you've got? Quite frankly I'm disappointed."

Quil shook his head. "No that's not all. God, Claire, I don't even know if I can put into words how horrible these last two weeks without you have been. It has been absolute torture. I feel so dead inside. Without you I am nothing. Nothing. I mean nothing makes sense for me at all. I've been going through the motions of living but I'm not living. I am dying. I love you so much it hurts. My chest actually aches when I think about you. I know I hurt you and I didn't mean to."

"Well you did Quil, you did hurt me!" Claire's voice was choked with emotion and tears were leaking from the corners of her eyes. "You told me that you would always be there for me, that you would always protect me, that nothing would ever hurt me if you were there. But who's there to protect me from you? I have never felt more ashamed or betrayed in my life. If you loved me as much as you claim, you wouldn't have hurt me like that."

Quil felt his emotional threshold break. He slid off the bed onto his knees and crawled over to Claire, burying his head into her lap. "I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you. You mean everything to me, you have to believe me. I can't live without you, I don't want to live without you," he sobbed. "You have to forgive me, please, I just, I don't know what to do, just tell me what to do."

Claire put her hands on his face and pulled him up. "Look at me," she said. "I know you love me. I do. But you have got to make up your mind. You can't keep pushing me away like this. You can't tell me you love me one minute, then tell me that you can't be with me the next. It's not fair. I know you think it's wrong for us to be together, I know that you feel bad about yourself when you're with me…"

"That's not true," he exclaimed.

"It is true. I mean God Quil that day in my room, after what happened happened. You should have seen the look you gave me. You looked so sick and disgusted with me, with yourself, it was scary. I don't know why I make you feel that way. I know I'm younger than you, but we are supposed to be together. I've known that since I was a little girl, before I even knew about the imprinting. You are my soul mate and I'm yours. Nothing is going to change that. Not our ages, nothing. I am not a little girl anymore, I am fifteen. I need you to be here for me. I need to know that you aren't going to push me away when things get intense. I need you to be able to talk to me about these things. We are never going to work if you can't talk to me."

Quil nodded. "I know. I'm sorry I pushed you away. I just was so scared. I love you so much and I want to be with you, I do. And I know you don't believe me when I say I want you, but it's true. You have no idea how much I want you. But Claire….."

Claire put her finger on his lips. "Don't say it please, I can't hear you say it again. I can't." She leaned forward and pressed her lips against his. "Please don't say it."

She kissed him again and this time he responded, knotting his fingers in her hair. He kissed her back, his tongue searching for hers, his hands pulling her closer. She slid out of her chair, onto his lap, her arms wrapping around his neck. When he broke the kiss, he pressed his forehead against hers, his breathing ragged.

"Claire," he whispered.

Claire buried her face in his neck. "I know," she cried. "We can't be together now."

Quil held her closer, feeling her tears soak his shirt, his own tears dripping into her hair. "No, we can't," he said softly.

"I love you," she sobbed into his neck.

"I love you too," he said. "It's only a year. Just one more year."

"Okay," Claire took a shuddering breath and nodded. "One more year." She pulled away from his neck and looked into his eyes. "Promise that it's just one more. I don't think I can take much more of this."

Quil pushed her hair back from her face and gave her a small smile. "I promise."

Claire nodded again and then got shakily got to her feet. She wiped her face with the palm of her hand and then gave Quil a strange look. "Why are you wearing a tie?"

Quil looked down at himself. "Oh, I uhhh, I came to take you to Homecoming." He laughed weakly.

Claire smiled through her tears. "After all this you were still going to take me?" She asked softly.

Quil nodded. "I knew how important it was to you. I'll still take you, if you want to go."

Claire shook her head. "No, I mean I don't even have a dress and I think I ruined your shirt." She pointed to his tear stained shoulder.

Quil shrugged. "It's okay it's Embry's."

Claire laughed. "Well then I don't feel so bad."

Quil looked at her. "We don't need have to be at Homecoming to dance you know," he said. He walked over to Claire's stereo and turned it on. He flipped the dial until he found a station playing an old, slow song that he remembered from when he was in school. "Claire Ortecho, will you dance with me?" He held his hand out to her.

She smiled and took his hand, letting him pull her close. Quil wrapped his arms around her and they began to sway to the music. As they danced, he held her tight. He knew the next year would be hard for both of them. But no matter what obstacles they faced, he knew deep in his heart, that they would face them together.

Fin.

A/N: Well I hope you don't think the ending sucked. I kind of thought it might be a little weak, but there wasn't really anywhere else for the story to go. On a side note the song they dance to is "Don't Take Your Love Away" by VAST from the album Nude. Which is a little silly I know because they NEVER play VAST on the radio…..but they should. Either way here are the lyrics if you care!

I am looking for an inspiration
And I think I found it in your heart
It's the kind of thing you get when you're not looking
It's the kind of thing you had from the start

Put me on a ship that is sinking
On a voyage to an untamed land
Take away the freedoms I wanted
I understand

Please, don't take your love away from me
Don't take your love away from me
Please don't take your love away from me
Please don't take your love from me
Please don't take your love from me

Put me inside flesh that is dying
A ghost that wanders without rest
Buried by desires and weakness
I understand

Please, don't take your love away from me
Don't take your love away from me
Please don't take your love from me
Please don't take your love from me