Warning: Graphic scenes

Episode 17: Smashing Hopes

Previously on Wolf Lake:

"Tonight we also have 1 more pressing matter." Vivian continued, as Ruby held onto Sophia's hand. "Since they have not mated and only bare wedding rings our white wolf Ruby Cates asks to have her marriage annulled and the process accepted in the eyes of the pack. All in favor" howls of recognition boomed through the air, acknowledging her separation from Tyler.

"So it shall be." Vivian proclaimed, turning toward Ruby &Sophia. Meeting Ruby's eyes she "You are free" shooting her step daughter a small smile. "Sophia, do you wish to flip for your pack?" Vivian asked the girl beside her, the response earning a few chuckles, particularly from the teens in the clearing.

"Not really, but guess I've gotta do it sometime" With a light nudge from Sarah and a nod from Presley, she turned to look at dad. Ruby held her hand and presented her to the pack. "Sophia Donner" releasing Ruby's hand, she unfastened her robe and shifted. The pack gasped

"The new white wolf" Ruby shifted, standing proudly beside Sophia, allowing them all to see the resemblance. The only differences were their eyes; one set of golden brown, the other, an icy blue.

"We have been blessed" Sherman said stepping out from behind the trees, stopping between the 2 white wolves, nodding at Vivian. He gently placed his hands on the two of them and announced "Sisters in all but blood", allowing the pack to repeat it, he stepped aside for the 2 to go running in the woods.

"Sophia's first run" he murmured turning around only to come face to face with an awed Lucas Cates.

"White?" he mumbled unsure. Sherman nodded; he turned to his mother who smiled, her father who watched her frolic with his sister and then lastly, he turned towards the 2 teens that protected her most. Sarah smirked in his direction and Presley winked gesturing for him to close his mouth.

"She's white." He repeated in awe, attempting to come to terms with the revelation

On with the story…

A lone figure stood from a distance watching the scene unfold, with rippling skin and fierce eyes the figure looked on as a male approached the group. He watched the scene unfold, watched his prize, his eyes ranking over the girl with a predatory grin. When it was all said and done the figure decided to follow the young woman. Stepping out of the light he watched as his companion made herself known.

Standing beside the bristling male she watched the young woman, unafraid, as she entered the wooded area surrounded by wolves. 'Ah the skin walkers, she must be one' she thought to herself making sure to memorize every detail. With a brief nod to her companion she slanted herself closer to the ground, knowing he did the same, moving forward slowly they followed, being sure to keep a safe distance. Moving soundlessly through the surrounding trees, the unidentified male and female glided across the wooded area, slinking, rushing and blending.

With unyielding eyes, they watched in awe as the girl shifted into wolf form, an exquisite white wolf with gold eyes. They knew then, there was no mistaking it, she was the one. Turning to each other, they smiled, then with a bounding leap they took to the skies.

XXX

'Men! Such fickle creatures, deserving to be labeled as species of their own, a name of which we can call them.

How they dangle us along making us wait until they choose the perfect woman, mate, lover. And Oh! How weak we must all be be to allow it.

To allow that hideous parasite that many call love tunnel into our hearts. Hope etching its way into our lives, glittering in our love-struck eyes. I was once that weak and insecure in myself to allow them to play these petty games with my heart, my life!

No more am I weak and unneeded.

I will no longer allow them to manipulate me or others like me. The men, the animals of this town had not changed. The alpha teen reeked of sex, multiple partners, weak women and yet he stared at the girl as if she were his next meal.

He would pay, as would the others.

My beautiful love, how you must despise the woman I've become.

Does it pain you to know how much I've changed, how much you have changed me?

My giving heart has turned cold, I feel no pity for them, and they are the weaker species these men, indecisiveness clouding their judgment, their hormones stifling their senses; their hearts causing them pain and distracting them.

I would make them pay, suffer! And I will start with that young Alpha and his friends."

XXX

Automatically the whispers started and the pack link boomed.

"Sophia Donner, a white wolf? Impossible." Tyler was the first to voice his protest. "How can Donner's half breed daughter be white? Her wolf blood is tainted by human blood. Don't make me laugh, our pack already has one!" His eyes connected with Vivian's "My Ruby is the white wolf, our pack -no pack- has the need for 2. We have never had more than one in any given cycle." He snarled out, his eyes held doubt but his words never wavered.

"Tyler, late as usual." The look on Vivian's face was impassive at best. "Had you been on time, had you been here during the beginning of this pack meeting you would know; our pack has voted and since you have failed to tame our white wolf and consummate your marriage, Ruby is being granted her request for divorce. She doesn't carry your mark so it goes against no pack law." She smiled turning towards her pack "As for Sophia, your eyes have not deceived you, none of you. Sophia Donner is a white wolf."

Waiting for the murmurs of disbelief to settle she motioned towards Molly, signaling that the trial would begin. "Now!" her voice boomed demanding silence "The trial of Ryan Hooks & Michelle Bennett." The eyes of the pack settling on the whimpering boy and the smirking female "Step forward." Vivian demanded when the duo faltered in their steps "Who stood as a witness to Ryan and Cassandra Hooks during their mating ceremony?" The question going on answered as Sophia and Ruby made their way back into the clearing. When a reverent hush fell over the pack, Buddy Hooks, Ryan's older brother and Lyssette Stone, Cassandra's mother, stepped forward, stopping to stand next to Cassandra. The girl's eyes though red and puffy, and with streaked mascara down her cheeks no longer shed any tears. Instead, they held a fierceness that would have frightened many, cold and angry as she glared in the direction of her chosen mate.

XXX

It seemed that lately, the headaches were worse and the dreams, nightmares were more vivid; the white wolf and her blue eyes haunted him. She was no longer alone but accompanied by others, their eyes taunting him. Sometimes another white wolf with familiar gold eyes would run besides her, and other times a gray wolf would frolic with her to play. But her most common companion was a black wolf, but the worst was when they all showed up together, their howls deafening him and tugging at some unknown part of him. Finish his 5th cup of coffee, he began to type furiously. "What is Wolf Lake hiding?" he mumbled out loud, thinking back to the deformed Lenore who warned him of Skinwalkers and Wolf Lake's secrets.

'It doesn't matter' he thought 'all I care about is finding Ruby' but still he couldn't bury the thought, somehow he felt Wolf Lake's secret and Ruby's disappearance coincided.

XXX

"Michelle Bennett is on trial for sleeping today with 3 counts against her. She slept with another's mate and is now with child. She is also on trial for pack exposure." Vivian turned cold eyes toward Ryan "Ryan Hooks is on trial for breaking The Bond of Mates, a sacred oath he swore to the pack, and impregnating another female. Tonight we decide their punishment. As tradition has it, we will hear what happened, for all parties involved.

First we will hear from Cassandra Stone Hooks, Ryan's chosen mate." Vivian turned towards the girl who was holding her mother's hand. "Start from the beginning please" Cassandra held her head high as she stepped forward to tell her story using the pack link to send images of what transpired along with her verbal account, creating a perfect image, the affect almost like a movie.

XXX

FLASHBACK CASSANDRA'S POV

It had started like any other day, and ended with Ryan asking her out. The week they started to date was perfect but her friendship with her best friend Michelle had started to suffer. Michelle was always the jealous type, this time was no different. Michelle wanted Ryan for herself. That next week Cassandra lost her virginity to Ryan and flipped for the first time. Cassandra thought Michelle would be happy for her but she wasn't, they proceeded to fight on the day that should have been one the happiest. A few weeks later, the strain became too much, she and Ryan deciding to breakup.

It was the very next day that she caught them, him and Michelle together. It was a day she would never be able to forget. He had invited her over for dinner, claiming they needed to talk. Upon opening the door to his room, she saw them going at it, the image was forever embedded in her head. The pain in her heart was worse "I'm sorry" she said stumbling out the door, her chest constricting. Ryan didn't try to follow, Michelle did.

Michelle had apologized and explained how it had happened.

"Things got out of control Cassie. We were just hanging out, waiting for you. He wanted us to make up; he said it was killing you." Michelle said, tears streaming down her face. "one second we're laughing about something stupid, the next we were kissing and his hand was up my shirt roaming, then down my pants. I couldn't control my own hands either Cassie, I've always liked him. I just got carried away. Cassie, believe me, I never meant to hurt you, you're like my sister" The tears fell freely after that.

"Shelly how could you? You knew how much he meant to me, do my feelings mean so little to you." She choked "You've always stomped all over me to get your way. Why would you do this to me?"

"I'm sorry," Michelle echoed back "I'm sorry, please you have to forgive me"

It was days later that she mustered enough courage to look at Michelle. They had been best friends since they were in diapers. Forgiveness came easily to her when Michelle was involved. But the cycle was always the same, Michelle would hurt her, Cassandra would forgive her and then it would start all over.

This time it was no different.

(I suggest you play Come Home by One Republic, I listened to the one with Sara Bareilles when I wrote this, and it helps to set the mood :D)

Ryan tried for weeks to get her to forgive him, he tried to apologize and get her alone but it was all useless. It was the interference between her mother and his brother that got them back together. Tired of seeing her baby girl so distraught Lyssette had called a weary Buddy and asked for his help.

When he had her alone, Ryan begged for her to listen, begged that she would forgive him.

"We were broken up Cassie, please, please you can't be mad please" he got down on his knees, arms wrapping around her waist, his face hiding against her stomach, his tears soaking through her shirt. "Please" he chocked again "I love you" he said breaking down weakly

She fought him, tried to push him away. It was useless, she could physically push him away but she couldn't deny her heart "How do I know that you love me? That it was just a onetime thing? That you aren't going to hurt me again?" she had asked him, her eyes begging him to answer.

"Because I do love you, because I'm willing to fight" he said burrowing his face deeper into her stomach. "For us."

Lifting his tearful eyes to her he sobbed openly "Because I want you to be my mate. I want you to bear my pups." His hands bunching into the back of her blouse as she hugged him closer. "Please say that you'll be my mate. Stay with me, forever" he whispered brokenly. "Come home Cassandra."

Her heart and wolf yearned for him, begging her to hold him closer "Yes" she heard herself whisper. Her skin tingled when he looked up at her, tears trekking down his handsome face, his smile lighting up his eyes. Within seconds he was standing sweeping her into his arms, his mouth mashing against hers; his need blasting through her mind, his kiss setting her on fire, making her toes curl. Reverently, they grasped each other as if afraid they would slip away. He placed his forehead against hers, cupping her face with one hand and wiping the tears from her eyes with his other. "I love you" he whispered his eyes twinkling as he pulled her in for another searing kiss.

(End Song)

Michelle and Cassandra were slowly mending their friendship and she seemed to be genuinely happy for her when she told her about the mating ceremony.

"When you guys get married I want to be the maid of honor. I'm so happy for you." She laughed and hugged her.

But the peace was short lived because on the day of the ceremony Michelle and Cassandra had a huge public falling out.

"How could you not ask me to bear witness, am I not good enough" Michelle had asked her best friend "I thought we were past the drama or did you lie when you said you had forgiven me?" She screeched

"Of course I forgave you" Cassandra said, hoping to make her friend she reason. "We are past all of this. Why do you keep bringing it up every chance you get Michelle?" She was confused "I thought you were happy for me! It has nothing to do with the past; she's my mother, my mother. Of course she's my witness; you're my maid of honor for Christ's sake. It's not always about you, this is my day, not yours." Cassandra finished unable to stop the tears.

"YOU BITCH!" Michelle screeched "You knew how I felt about him, so don't come to me when her breaks your heart again. I'm done being your friend, you selfish whore!"

The gasps that filled the air made Cassandra's cheeks flair. Holding her head high, she growled "You've always wanted what I've had. It's time you woke up and accepted the way things are, you have never cared about anyone but yourself, it's not possible for you to feel, you're a cold hearted bitch. I pity you Michelle; you will never find happiness or love if you keep going the way you are. I hope one day you'll grow up. He chose me, and I'm sorry that hurts but he was never yours to have. It will always be me and him." She turned into her mother's arms weeping; she had just turned her back on her oldest friend.

That night Ryan and her began trying to conceive pups. They were happy.

The first pregnancy was a shock and a happy occasion. He took a job with Mr. Bennett, Michelle's father, 2 days later; working alongside his mate's father and brother. The close proximity to Michelle bothering her only slightly, but he was her mate. The happiness was short lived, one day while at the diner she suddenly started to feel sick, really sick. The pain on her neck where Ryan had marked her as his began to burn, she felt as if she was rejecting his mark all signs pointed to it. But she knew that since she loved him dearly and it had been weeks since their initial mating it was impossible. Something else had to be happening.

Her stomach cramped and clenched, the vomiting started, she glanced down and nearly fainted when she noticed the blood. Rusty tried in vain to contact Ryan. When Sherman arrived, it was too late, she had lost the baby.

He came home late that night whistling, a huge smile plastered on his face. When he saw her, the smile slipped from his face, he looked around waiting for someone to appear.

"I had a miscarriage." He deadpanned "Where were you?" she asked him

"Work" he replied quickly making his way to her. "Are you okay?" he questioned

"A part of me is gone" she said looking him in the eyes "my husband, my mate couldn't be reached, how would you feel?" she pulled away from him then, taking a deep breath "I can smell her" she cringed, he moved closer "she's in heat" she gasped in pain, taking a step back, the tears flooding her eye. She toke one last look at him before running out of the house. She stayed at her mother's house that night, hoping she would have seen it sooner.

That was the first of many incidents.

Now she was finally pregnant again. She held off telling anyone for fear she would lose the pup and would disappoint them. She had just reached the 2nd trimester; it was the longest she had ever carried, when Michelle told her she was pregnant with Ryan's child.

The world started spinning, caving in on her. The vicious sneer on her old friend's face told her all she needed to know. She had known, every time she lost the child it was his fault her body was rejecting the child, his fault she felt so barren, his fault she felt inadequate. They had done this to her, the fight started so quickly she couldn't even remember when they flipped, let alone when Sophia had interfered,

She could only remember Michelle's taunting words. How he, her mate, had fucked her old friend. How every time she got pregnant he would try to end it, only to end up buried deeply with her.

She remembered trying to deny it choking on the words when the wind changed and she could smell the change in her scent. Ryan was her mate! Her vision had blurred when she noticed how his scent clung to Michelle, the added spice of him and the musk that could only mean she was pregnant. It was a scent she knew well.

End Flashback and Cassandra's POV

When she finished she gave Vivian a slight head bow, turning to Luke she did the same. Her watery eyes stopping on Sophia, grasping her hand she sent her a mental 'Thank you' before walking towards her mother's outstretched arms. Buddy walked over, hugging the women close to him. She tried not to notice her mate's broken gaze on her.

XXX

The pack was reeling when Vivian spoke again "Ryan" she called him forward. He flinched when he took in the sight of his broken mate. His heart breaking along with her, his wolf pacing angrily below the surface, his wolf wanted to hold and comfort but Ryan the man was weak, the cause of his mate's distress. With his head low, neck bared and eyes downcast he told them that while he did indeed love Cassandra, he was a weak full unable to control his urges around a female in heat. With a heavy heart, knowing the words spoken from his mouth would further break his mate, he shamefully admitted to his affair with Michelle.

He pled guilty, accepting his punishment in stride.

Michelle was next, her account similar to Cassandra's. But where Ryan showed guilt, she showed triumph. Her last words making all those surround her snarl "Guess it's not really 'You and Him' is it?" she taunted before a strong arm landed on her shoulder, forcing her down on her knees, a snarl dying on her lips.

"We ask for a brief description of the fight. Sophia, Luke; please step forward with your witnesses." Vivian said turning to look at the teens.

One by one they briefly explained the fight. When they had finished Vivian raised her arms silencing the crowd.

"Elders we asked for your judgment. When you are ready, I have made my decision." Forty graying wolves stepped forward and told Vivian their decision. With the quickest of nods, Vivian stepped away turning to face the accused.

"The elders and I have come to an agreement." She stepped up to the kneeling she wolf, lacing her hand over her head "Michelle who is not his mate is with child, she must shed her pelt completely. The child will stay with a relative, but you are exiled. As Alpha of the Wolf Lake Pack, we abjure you Michelle Bennett." Turning to Ryan, she placed her hand on his shoulder. "Look at your mate Ryan, do you see her pain. The elders have spoken and demand you feel more, tonight they call for blood, the blood of you and your kin." Turning to look at him she continued ignoring his tears. "You will abandon your pelt until both your children have completed the change. Pray Ryan, pray that they survive. Buddy step forward, Lyssette"

With a nod, the two took their places at an altar. Sherman handed Lyssette a large stone.

"Choose" she said quietly looking at Buddy, meeting her eyes he laid out his almost fully healed hand. Breaking eye contact he looked to his brother, his posture and fire promising pain. Turning back to face Lyssette, he nodded slightly. Letting her know he accepted the punishment.

She raised the stone above her head, he watched her wince, tears filled his eyes as she brought it down with all her strength.

"I'm sorry" she mumbled softly, sniffling.

"It had to be done; your daughter has been wronged. Please do not feel sorry, think of the irony Mrs. Stone" he choked out, hoping to ease the tension.

The stone was passed to Cassandra who stood patiently where her mother stood. When she looked up Buddy had swapped places with her mate. She trembled, looking directly into her mates eyes, both his hands held out in front of him palms down.

Taking a steading breath, she brought the stone down, her eyes never betraying her pain or anger. She brought the stone down once more still unflinching as tears ran down Ryan's face, his eyes pleading for her forgiveness. She saw the emotion in his eyes flitter to love, she brought it down again no longer hearing the sick crunch of shattered bone.

With a final gasp of breath she brought it down a fourth and final time, ignoring the burning of her mate mark, the tremors wrecking her body, all signs alerting her of the pain he felt.

"Four blows, 3 for our dead children and 1 for our unborn pup." She rasped her voice the barest of whispers.

He howled in agony as Lyssette took her daughter's place again striking his hands with all the strength she could muster "For my daughter" another "for your children" another "for your brother and the shame you've brought us all."

Allowing the pain to subside, his brother stepped forward. "For your children" he said unflinching as the skin ripped, his brother's hands looking more like mush than appendages. He brought the stone down accompanied by another howl of agony at the mention of his children "For your wife, your mate, my sister in pack" again he brought the stone down crying with his brother "and for our name, may your tears and blood wash away our shame" Buddy brought down the bloodied stone a final time and stepped away from his brother.

Turning his back on his brother he handed the stone to Cassandra, who as tradition would have bury the stone with her dead children as penance for their father's sin, and said "I ask the pack forgiveness on behalf of my family, may you still respect us and see us as pack and family as I do you." He kissed her forehead "I'm sorry sister"

XXX

"There will be no celebration; today is a day of mourning. Go home and cherish your family. Let this be the last time I have to bear witness and judge" Vivian said watching her pack flip and take off running.

"Luke" she turned to face her son.

"Yes" he replied, barely meet his mother's eyes.

"Can you – oh, just walk Sophia home already" the comment got the desired reaction, he glanced back at his mother, eyes wide, mouth agape, heat rising in his cheeks. "I can see you staring at her, a monkey with a blindfold could see it." Her eyes twinkling with mirth

"Hey Luke!" she called across the clearing, he looked her way. "Just tell your mom you'll walk me home already." Sophia said laughing, "But remember I like you better as a wolf" she said with a wink causing his cheeks to flush again and those surrounding him to laugh at the emotions flashing over his face.

XXX

He didn't know what to do with himself. He seemed to have an uncanning ability to make dumb choices and fuck up his chances with the one he seemed to want the most. For a while he toyed with the idea that it was just lust, there was the possessiveness he couldn't explain. And now it seemed he had made the one mistake that would cost he so much more. 'Okay' he thought to himself 'Maybe it wasn't exactly one mistake, but more like a serious of mistake.' But he'd be damned if he let anyone hear him say it out loud.

Honestly he'd been in such a shock over finding out Sophia was a white wolf, he didn't remember much of the trial. He only knew that it had been the worst he ever had to witness. He couldn't help a but say a small pray of thanks that his mother and father weren't mated in that sense of the word and only carried the title of mates, he knew how lucky he was that his father had loved and mated Ruby and Amanda's mother before she had passed away.

His thoughts drifted again, to Sophia. 'A white wolf' he thought to himself, attempting to wrap his head around it. 'it makes sense' he continued 'how else could she have thrown me clear across a room, or into the hood of my car' his eyes moved to the brunette talking to Sarah'Is it just me or is she just always mad at me.' He smirked, getting flashes, memories of her in the midst of a fight with him. There was always this dim fire in her eyes before she changes, but now they had the power to contain an inferno, setting his blood ablaze. He couldn't help but admire the way her mouth tightened up and the defiance in her voice, the tilt of her chin, her body language screaming independence. Yes it infuriated him that she refused to submit to him, but now he knew, she was a white wolf. It explained a lot and he couldn't help but notice it soothed his bruised ego, making his wolf growl possessively. He felt like such an idiot.

What he couldn't understand, was Presley. She protected Sophia as much as Sarah. At first he thought it might have been some hair brained scheme to keep him, so he ended things, and yet she still stood by Sophia. So he toyed with the idea that maybe she was trying to win him back, but she had looked at him with anything other than contempt. He features morphing it her famous pass-me-a-bucket-I'm-about-to-puke look. He mused over the idea that maybe he hadn't known the blonde as well as he thought he did, it was really unnerving since it was now apparent that he no longer knew the people around him.

He felt like an ass, and he knew he had been acting like a type-a dumb ass. There was no other way to describe what he was doing, but the world seemed to be spinning out from under him, and he had to cling to something he understood, something he knew wouldn't change.

Presley had changed, Sean had distanced himself as well and Randy had always been a loose cannon, unpredictable. Then there was Sophia. She was the center of that change in all them, since she herself was changing. He'd always known she was strong, beautiful and could hold her own. But her change demanded that you change with it, and for some unknown reason he was scared to let go of the control, to change.

He liked, took pride even, in knowing his pack. He liked being the one that knew the small and big things that happened to them, he prided himself with that and here she was the one girl he wanted more than anything pulling that damn rug out from under him. He was grasping at straws, he knew, but it didn't matter.

He'd fix it somehow, he'd apologize for hurting her, and he'd beg if it came down to it. He knew he'd have to prove to her how he felt, how much she meant to him. 'But' he thought with a sigh 'that had to wait.' At least until he could figure things out, he would fix it, he was sure.

'Damn it, I'm an idiot, a fucking idiot!' he thought to himself again, catching her weary gaze he tried to shake himself from his thoughts.

She continued her subdued conversation with Sarah with Presley walking off to the side nodding occasionally.

'She my fucking mate, not theirs' his wolf snarled making him pause, eyes widening. A frustrated growl ripped from his throat, 'What the hell am I thinking? We aren't even dating.' He panicked 'If she heard that, she'd rip me to shreds.' Reaching the group he shook off the last of his thoughts, catching the tail end of the conversation. Quirking his eyebrow at her "You hid because of me." It was a statement, not a question, his tall tale smirk making its way onto his face. "I'm the reason you didn't tell people you were a white wolf."

XXX

She couldn't believe the audacity he had to assume that she hid her wolf form from anyone, let alone because of him.

'That smug little asshole.' She thought bitterly Why I outta knock some common sense into him!' she couldn't hold back the growl that rose from deep within her chest or the snarl that made its way onto her face.

"As if." Presley bit out, before Sophia had a chance to launch at him. "The world doesn't revolve around you."

"Luke, If the sun rose and set on your ass, it wouldn't be so pale" Sophia continued "I would know, I've had a good enough view"

She turned away from him suddenly muttering about idiot males and retarded wolves. Somewhere towards the end he could have sworn he heard he muttering about almost forgiving the damn prick.

"Hey let's hurry up, I'm starving" Sean piped up before Luke had a chance to question Sophia more.

"We can go to the diner," Sarah suggested not noticing Sophia's grimace.

"I can't, I called in. You guys go ahead without me." Sophia told them.

Presley fake gasped holding a hand to her heart in mock terror "The goody two shoes zoo-bait actually did something daring and bad? I'm shocked" she smiled at Sophia

"What of it?" she shot a wink at Presley. "I can be daring." The girls gathered together laughing at some inside joke the guys seemed to know nothing about.

Luke wasn't sure, but some reason that thought irked him.

"We can go to my house, but I can't cook" Sean told the group receiving nods of approval and a grimace from Sarah and Sophia. "My mom banned me from the kitchen when I killed the microwave. She said something about me scaring the food back to life."

"So who's cooking?" Luke asked Sean, sending a smirk to Sophia as everyone simultaneously pointed at her. "Looks like we all agree." He said still staring at her.

He didn't expect laughter. "Whatever, I'll cook but it's your funerals. Make sure to write out your wills before you eat; just because I work at a Diner doesn't mean I know how to cook." She said hoping to come off as clueless in the kitchen.

"Yeah whatever Soph, we all know you can cook." Sarah said hooking her arm with Sophia's.

"Luke my man, promise not to flip out?" Sean said turning pleading eyes to his alpha.

"Yea?" he replied skeptically skeptical reply.

"Randy's stopping by, we have that project due" he told him. They all stopped walking, waiting for an outburst that never came.

"So? I'm hungry let's go" Sean released a breath he had been holding.

"Alright! So Sophia, what cha gonna cook for us?" he asked moving towards the girl wiggling his eyebrows.

"Food" she replied cryptically, squinting her eyes.

'This is soooo not weird' she thought to herself sarcastically as they continued to walk, she could feel the anxiousness radiating off Luke. She could also feel a sense of longing and whispers of hope. She turned to him noticing his shifty eyes. She nudged him playfully; his green eyes clashing with hers, seconds later his flashed gold, she smiled at him and whispered "Hey."

XXX

'Maybe things are looking up' he thought to himself before nudging her back giving her an equally if not more dazzling smile.

"It's been a long time since we've 'talked' to each other." he asked her receiving a somber nod. "Up for a run sometime?" he asked, making no attempt to hide the hope shinning in his eyes.

She couldn't resist teasing him; she laughed "Hmmm, a run? I'm not sure that's a good idea…." She said trailing off, after seeing his crestfallen face she snorted in mirth "Sure." She said nudging again a bright smile on her face.

'Well that went better than I thought' Luke thought to himself as he blocked out the bickering between Presley and Sarah and turned towards Sean. "Up for a game while we wait for food?" he asked.

"Dude when am I not?" Sean answered rubbing his hands together in anticipation

"Don't you dare distract him Luke, he has to finish his project" Sophia scolded playfully.

"Homework first, games later" Presley mocked with a laugh of her own, noticing his pouty face in Sophia's direction. "Lighten up Luke, Sarah can kick your ass, if not I'll do the honors."

So attuned with the brunette walking next to him, he almost slammed into a tree as they reached Sean's house causing an obnoxious amount of laughter from all the girls and the blonde male sitting on the hood of his car waiting for the group of teens.