Ali, Seth's imprint from "Unwritten", is fifteen here. A short one-shot about her and Seth.

My eyes widened. My heartrate increased. My blood pulsed faster through my veins and my whole body stiffened. I could feel the hairs on the back of my neck rise in horro

I couldn't move and I couldn't think straight. Every part of me wanted to stop this, to deny this was happening. Where was my strength?

I forced my hands up to his chest. A small push was enough; he leaned back immediately and started apologizing.

"I told you not to," I cut him off.

"I know, I know, and I didn't mean it, I swear. Just forget all about it, okay? Let's just pretend it didn't happen. How about that, huh?" He spoke fast. His words were unclear and his voice was coloured with desperation.

I shook my head quickly and bit my lip. I could still taste him. Feel his lips on mine. It felt entirely wrong. It was exactly what I didn't want.

His hands had slid from my cheek to my shoulders, and I shrugged them off. His expression grew even more desperate and he talked even faster, but I wasn't listening. I backed away from him and he lounged for my arm.

"Don't go!" he exclaimed. I tried to avoid his hand, but he grasped my wrist and pulled me back. "Please! I'm sorry, don't –"

I ripped at my hand and he let go, probably in fear of me hurting myself. I spun around and hurried away from him, only to hear him follow close behind me.

"Ali, don't go, listen to me!" he pleaded.

"Go away," I said icily.

"Don't shut me out, don't do this!"

I ignored him and kept hurrying through the mass of people, easily sneaking through the crowd. He came after, simply pushing everyone out of his way. He received many angry glances and annoyed curses, but he didn't notice.

"Stop following me," I hissed.

"Ali, stop running. You can't hide from your problems, especially not me, you know that!" He knew way too much about me. I let him in too close, he's too close, I chanted in my head.

"Go away," I repeated.

"Ali –"

I spun around and he stopped in front of me, shocked, and hope flashed over his face.

"Go away!" I shrieked, crushing his hope. "I hate you, go away!"

With that I turned to run again, and he didn't follow.

It was a long walk home. I'd been walking for hours already and I wished I'd had money to pay for a cab or even the bus. The bus would have been gross, though, at this time of night. Filled with ugly drunkies.

Your own fault, I kept telling myself.

No, it wasn't. It was Seth's fault. He knew better than to kiss me, he knew I didn't want… that. He knew me as good as I did, or so I'd thought.

My feet hurt and I was tired, hungry and cold. My dad would have picked me up. He usually did, before. Maybe it was because I was a little kid, but still. I liked to think he would have.

I was a classic "since-my-dad-left-everybody-I-love-will-leave-me"-kind of person. I knew it, I was completely aware of it, but that didn't mean I was capable of changing it. Until I managed to sort things out and get over the fact that my dad didn't love me enough to stay even though he couldn't stand the sight of my mother I would continue to be unapproachable when it came to love.

Either way, I was too young. I was, after all, only fifteen. None of my friends had "serious" boyfriends. Or, Trina did. And May, but she kind of wasn't my friend. Anyway, most of them just dated guys. Of course they insisted they were going to get married and stuff, but I knew they wouldn't.

It just felt different with me and Seth. Like, more real, somehow.

I knew it was only a matter of time before he would appear, but I thought he would try and be a little more subtle. But, then again, he was Seth, so what could I expect?

He came hurling out of the forest, stopping right in front of me and succeeding in scaring the living shit right out of me. His hands shot out and took my shoulders, either to prevent me from falling or to restrain me from running. Either way it sort of felt safe to have them there, I had to admit that.

He was panting, like he had just been running. He must have been running fast. Werewolves were remarkably fit and he could run with me on his shoulders without getting tired.

"Seth, you moron!" I exclaimed before I could think.

"I'm sorry, I was just…" he started before he trailed off. He seemed confused, like he wasn't sure what mood he was in. At last he chose to be angry. Angry! With me! "What are you doing walking home?" he asked furiously.

I rolled my eyes and stepped out of his grasp. I silently walked past him. It took him a few seconds to calm himself and then he ran up next to me.

"I'm serious," he said, a little softer. "It could be dangerous, Ali!"

"I know."

"You know." It was a question that didn't sound like a question. He always used those when he was mad at me.

When I thought about it like that I made it sound like he's mad at me all the time. He's more worried than mad, though. Dejected sometimes. Typical werewolf, I think. Overprotective.

"Yes. I usually don't do it," I said calmly.

"Yes. I mean, no, you're right, but…"

"And I knew you'd come eventually. What took you so long, anyway?" I asked. He didn't answer immediately. Of course not, he was mentally beating himself up for not being here sooner.

"I… was running. I didn't think you'd walk home, and I hurried here as soon as I found out." His voice was a little harsh, and it sounded like he was blaming me again. I couldn't care less.

An awkward silence followed. Awkward silences between me and Seth were rare. We always had something to talk about, and if we didn't, we'd enjoy each other's company in silence. This time it was different and I felt I needed to say something.

"I didn't mean what I said, you know. I don't hate you," I told him.

The atmosphere suddenly changed, and though he didn't answer right away, everything felt a lot better. I could sense his relief. Of course he already knew I didn't hate him. He wasn't stupid. But I knew he felt better when I said it.

"I'm sorry," he said a little while later.

"I know that."

"No, I really, really am sorry. I shouldn't have done that, I know you're not ready" He always said it like that. That I'm not ready. It's true, but it makes me sound like a kid. "I just… got caught up in the moment…" he explained stupidly. He saw how ridiculously weak his excuse was, but instead of correcting it he asked me: "Want me to carry you? You're hobbling a little bit."

He hoisted me up on his back (after my approval) and I snaked my arms around his neck to hold myself up. I rested my head on his shoulder and knew that he smiled.

"You'll stay the night, right?" I asked him.

"Sure," he replied.

She forgave him really quickly, but I just felt like she would. She's known him for five years and she knows about the wolves and everything. Seth is her best friend in the world (though he sort of wants more) and she isn't capable of being mad at him for long.

I don't have anything funny to say today. I'm tired. And sick. So instead of going to bed and get well I'll write some more. Because I am that smart.

Oh yeah.