[A/N: Happy Monday! Hope you enjoy this chapter!]

I pushed Kail slightly out of the way when Derek started making his way to me. Kail grunted but walked a few feet to his locker and started putting his bag in it.

'Good morning, how are you?' Derek signed to me.

I smiled. 'I'm good. And yourself?' I signed with extra grace.

"Just fine now that I've ran into you," he flashed me a toothy smile, then leaned forward. "I was actually wanting to ask you something of mild importance."

I raised my eyebrows in interest.

He placed his hand around my waist, despite the killer glare he received from Kail. My stomach lurched forward in excitement and fear. "Walk with me, won't you?" He pulled me along with him anyways. As we moved, we got a good amount of people staring at us. Probably wondering what this attractive guy was doing with a silent, mousy girl like me. "So, I'm sure you're aware of the 'Last Chance' dance tomorrow night."

I nodded. The butterflies that had been fluttering were now bursting around with tenacity. I was really hoping I wouldn't ruin this moment and barf all over Derek's shoes.

"Good. You should come with me."

Oh. My. God. I had to glance around a few times to make sure that it was me he was talking to.

"Claire?"

My head bobbed up and down with enthusiasm.

"Great! Me and a group of people are renting out a limo, so we'll swing by to pick you up, okay?" The five minute bell sounded at that moment. He muttered something about getting to class early then quickly pecked me on the cheek.

I was left standing in the hall, a look of shock splattered across my face. As I reached up to touch my cheek, I suddenly had a flashback of Quil kissing me earlier that day. I sighed.

Though my relationship with Derek was flourishing, Quil and I were still only friends. And I knew it should be that way. Quil was supposedly too old for me, while Derek was my age. But somewhere in the back of my head I couldn't see myself ever making love to Derek, or marrying Derek, or sitting on the porch swing with Derek. Only Quil.

"What a douche bag," Kail managed to say through his teeth. "I can't believe you agreed to that, Claire."

I rolled my eyes and walked down the hall to my own locker, away from my overly observant brother. In front of my locker stood one of my good friend's Kenzie. Kenzie was nice, a little too hyper for my taste, but we made a good pair. She was also my brother Gene's wolf-y 'soul mate'. The official term was imprint. It's this whole love at first sight thing that only wolves experience. And it still creeped me out.

"Can you believe this!" She grabbed my hands and started jumping up and down. "Derek's taking you and Connor's taking me! Oh, Claire, how perfect is this!" She exhaled like she woke up from an amazing dream and leaned on to the locker adjacent to mine.

I gave her a questioning look.

She rolled her eyes. "I heard from Mandy, who heard from Josh, who heard from Steven, who heard from Ashley that Derek asked you!"

I frowned. How did gossip manage to spread itself so quickly?

"Anyways," she went on while I rummaged through my locker, "I think we should take group pictures at your house. Will Gene be there, you think?" Her eyes widened in excitement, though she tried her hardest to look nonchalant.

Kenzie had the hugest crush on Gene, and vice versa. But they were both so oblivious. No doubt Kenzie wanted to bring Connor over to my house to make Gene jealous. She had this fantasy that she'd be some sort of damsel in distress and along would come Gene to save her from her harmful fate. It was too confusing for my mind to process, anyways.

"Is Gene going to the dance?" She sucked in a breath, and I knew her breath was to remain hitched until I answered.

I shook my head even though I knew of Gene's plans to ask Kenzie about the dance later that day. I felt pain when I realized that he was only going to be shot down.

Kenzie then proceeded to gush about her dress and all the matching accessories that she was going to wear. I took her ramble as a time to think about what I was to wear. I only had three dresses in my wardrobe and I knew I didn't have the money to go out and buy a new one.

First I had my funeral dress. It wasn't the one I wore to my mother's funeral for I had outgrown it by far in the last four years due to puberty. This dress was just below the knees, had wrist length sleeves with a coat of lace atop the spandex fabric. It worked perfectly with my hips but I didn't want to look matronly at a school dance. Then I had my short lime green dress that did wonders with my breasts. It had a quarter sleeve that were made of some sheer, sparkly material. Kenzie conned me in to buying it a year ago when another dance was on its way. I ended up chickening out and staying home 'sick' so the ensemble still hung in the back of my closet. My third dress was a thin cotton thing with all Makah symbols sewn in to it. It was made by my grandmother for my mother's wedding dress. It was a light tan color, but popped with some blue and hot pink patterns mixed with green and yellow. It was rather short for a wedding dress, but came just above the knees. It was more conservative in the chest area, which I would normally like. But the need to impress Derek was too great. I knew I'd end up choosing the-

The two minute bell erupted and Kenzie frantically said good-bye and tried to arrange some papers she had tucked under her arm.

The day went by uneventful like any other, but slower than ever. I figured it was because I was dreading on what I'd tell Gene. I replayed scenarios in my head, wondering what I'd say in the texting conversation we would have during lunch time.

By the time it came around the corner, I rushed to the lunch room. It took me a few minutes to scope out Gene. He was sitting with Kail and Tona (another member of the wolf pack). I wiped the sweat off my forehead, glad Kenzie was nowhere to be seen.

I sat gingerly, immediately whipping out my old-styled Nokia flip phone and texting away furiously.

Connor asked Kenzie to the dance.

I know, was how he responded. And I've got a plan. His arrogant smile illuminated its away across the table.

I raised an eyebrow. Well, I heard through the grape vine that you're going with Derek, correct?

Yes...

When you're there, just keep an eye on Kenzie. Make sure that scum doesn't look at her... or touch her... I saw my brother begin to shake.

Gene, stop. Besides, they are going together. Most likely they'll be dancing and touching each other. Maybe you should just come along.

I don't have anyone to take, Claire.

I rolled my eyes. I'm sure every girl in the school's willing to go with you Gene.

I don't want to use some one like that.

Then drag Kail or Tyson with you, to make it look that it's just a 'boy's night' type of thing.

That's lame, Claire.

You have a better idea? Besides, I'm sure there will be enough room in the limo for you. And you can be included in the group pictures... you know, to make sure he keeps his hands to himself... I added that last part in to sink the line.

I saw him finally smile and dig in to his lunch that I had arranged that morning. I then realized that, like almost every other day, I had forgotten my lunch. I could only hope that Kenzie would be willing to share.

Within the next couple minutes our small lunch table had been taken up. Tyson came to sit on my left, and Kenzie on my right. Along with her came Connor.

"I am just so excited for tomorrow night!" She exclaimed to me. She then asked her boy toy if he was excited. He looked up from shoving his face with food and nodded in response.

"Claire, what dress are you going to wear?" Kenzie asked. She was always the one who wanted to fill the silence.

I signed her 'Green'. I had taught Kenzie a few words in sign language, and she remembered most of them.

"The one we bought at-"

"Claire, you're going to the dance?" Tyson turned his head and eyed me suspiciously.

I nodded.

"Duh, haven't you heard? Derek asked her and she said yes!" Kenzie said with a flip of her hair.

Tyson grunted and rolled his eyes. "That douche bag? Why would you agree to that?"

"That's exactly what I said!" Kail added pounding one of his fists on the table.

Though I felt like punching Tyson in the shoulder and then flipping the bird to Kail, I remained motionless.

"Anyways," Kenzie began, as if that had not just happened. "Are you wearing the one I picked out for you last year?"

Regretfully I nodded. Moments after Derek had asked me out I felt as though that was the only one I would want to wear with him.

She clapped and jumped in her seat a little. "Yay! That one makes your boobs look great!"

I blushed furiously after she said that. Sometimes I wondered if Kenzie had a death wish.

"I'm going to wear this little blue number, Claire. It's about mid thigh and strapless!" She nonchalantly looked at Gene quickly, then back at me.

I felt like smacking my forehead. Correction: I felt like smacking her forehead.

Gene got up and left automatically. Kenzie just shrugged, "What's his problem?" And she very well knew.

The rest of the day dragged on.

When it was finally time to go home, I found Gene by his locker. He was continuously hitting his head against his locker. I sighed and walked fast paced to him. When I got within inches he put up his hand to hold me back. "I don't know what I'm doing. I don't know what I'm doing." After a few more hits he stopped and just stared into the locker expressionless. "This isn't supposed to happen. When a man imprints, his imprint should love him back, Claire. I don't get why she's messing with me like this! I can't stand it!"

Before he could slam his fist into his locker I grabbed a hold and held it steadily. He looked up at me in desperation and before I knew it he was in my arms. He laid his head on my shoulders and I rubbed his back and head. It was moments like that where I wish I could have consoled him with my words.

We stood there in the vacant hallway just a few more minutes. Then I began walking him down the hall towards the parking lot. I kept one arm wrapped around his neck and the other carrying his back pack. He managed to straighten up by the time we were outside; no doubt wanting to hide his emotion from our apathetic brothers.

The second we stepped in to the chill March air, Gene took off in a jog towards the tree line across the parking lot. Kail and Tyson, who were waiting by the van, didn't speak to him as he crossed in front of them. They both looked solemn.

"I hope your friend understands what this is doing to him," Tyson growled, not so much at me. He seemed to be staring at something entirely behind me. I turned to find it was Connor and Kenzie. Connor had given her his sweater and they were walking to his car. Her eyes quickly flicked to my family, but she looked away quick when she didn't see Gene.

"She would probably stop doing shit like that if Gene grew a pair and told her," Kail retorted then slid into the back compartment of Ty's van.

Tyson and I took our rightful positions in front. The big boxy vehicle came to life after three times of him pushing forward the key in the ignition. We slowly made our way through the small traffic in the parking lot, then zoomed off to the elementary school.

Holli jumped in the back immediately and ran right into Kail's arms. Though those two fought the most, Kail had the hugest soft spot for children. "Kaila!" She exclaimed and giggled at the nickname she had given him.

Our van then took off to the next destination.

I watched in the rear view mirror as Kail started tickling her, threatening not to stop until she stopped calling him Kaila. "Say you won't!" He tickled the sides of her stomachs, her most ticklish spot.

"Never!" She laughed maniacally.

He stopped suddenly, turning his eyes to her left hand she had been using to restrain him. "Where did you get the ring pop?" He inquired.

I hadn't noticed until he said that that she had a blue candy in shape of a diamond placed on top of a green plastic plate that held it to her pointer finger.

She smiled. "Bobby Fuller gave it to me."

He wore a confused face and caught my eyes. "Bobby Fuller? Isn't that Brady's kid?"

I nodded. Holli was always talking about Bobby before she went to bed. She had the biggest crush on him since her year of kindergarten started. Her obsession was cute.

Kail smirked and pulled Holli into his lap. He grabbed her hand and observed the candy ring more. "Why haven't you started licking it yet?"

"It was a present! I'm going keep it forever."

Kail smiled his evil smile and ever-so-cleverly placed the ring into his mouth. Holli pulled herself out of his lap immediately. "Kail! No! You ruined it Kail!" She squealed in dismay. Then quickly she climbed over the front seat and curled up in my lap. I rubbed her back and shot a look of disappointment at Kail.

He shrugged. "It's just a stupid piece of candy, geez."

Next we arrived at Eric's middle school. He climbed in fast. Tyson asked him how his day was and Eric revealed a bruise on his shoulder. Like everyone else, he remained silent the entire ride home. It was a gloomy ride home. The only noise was Eric asking multiple questions about where Gene was. Kail told him that Gene was out for a jog and might not be home until tomorrow. I hoped this wasn't true. My house never felt like a home unless everyone was there.

[What's to come:

When we arrived home, everyone dispersed. Holli into our room, Kail into the living area, Eric into his room, and Tyson went off into the woods. Most likely to find Gene. I decided to not disturb Holli and headed for a spot on the sofa with Kail. I pulled out my homework, hoping to finish before I had to go to work.

After about twenty minutes of Kail watching some singing game show, he sighed heavily. This got my attention and I looked up from my math book. He stood up and walked to the TV. Reaching into his pocket he pulled out tons of loose change. He carefully counted it out and put most of it into the swearing jar. I smiled and returned to my homework.

Only five minutes after Kail had made this move, we heard a quick knocking on the door. "Come in!" Kail boomed, most likely already knowing who it was due to his extreme senses that came hand in hand with being a werewolf.

I looked over my shoulder to see Quil entering. He smiled and jumped over the couch to sit in between Kail and I. "Oh, gross. Homework." He shuddered and joined in with Kail on a debate about something on the game show they were watching. ]