Author Note: Wow! Sorry guys for not updating in . . . forever . . . Sometimes life just gets in the way, you know? I've really had to put a lot of things on hold and it really drove me nuts not to write on this for so long, so hopefully its all alright - I had to go back and read what I had written just to refresh myself. No worries, I have no intentions of giving up on the story, so I hope you will bear with me and hopefully there will be no more delays like that one!

As usual, Twilight and all supporting characters are Stephenie Meyer's. And if they aren't her's, they're mine. =) Hope you enjoy it!

Eleven

Lost

I guess my finger slipped.

Chase's home number came on my screen and a crackling ring sounded as I continued to hold the phone in front of my face. What the heck was I going to say? Oops, wrong number? I was about to hang up when I heard his voice over the phone, breathless.

"Yeah?" he answered.

I hesitated and gnawed on my lip a bit before replying.

"Hey . . . Chase? It's Brie."

"Oh hey! What's up?"

Something crashed in the background and I heard Chase apologize. I gave a short laugh and felt the world calm down a little bit. I moved so I was out of sight of the diner window and leaned against the brick wall of the building.

"I . . . I was just wondering if you were busy."

Lame, lame, lame!

"Well, I was about to make dinner. Why? Did you have something in mind?"

I smiled at the hopeful tone in his voice and cast my eyes to the ground, glad that something was distracting me.

"Um . . . Well, I was just stuck in town and well, I don't really have much homework and I was . . . well, it was just a spur of the moment thought and if you don't mind I'd like to, uh . . . I don't know, hang out or – "

"My grandmother says that I insist you come for dinner."

I stopped and laughed. "How did she know it was me on the other end?"

"He blushes something awful when he talks about you." Came an older, fragile voice.

"She snuck onto the other phone." He explained, laughing curtly.

My voice squeaked. "Well, I'll . . . I'll have to call Alice. Or one of them and let them know . . ."

"Great! I can pick you up." Chase said. "Where are you at?"

"Um . . . the diner, I guess . . ."

"You guess?"

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, I'm at the diner."

"Alright, I'll be there in a few."

I smiled as I hung up the phone and shook my head, suddenly nervous all over again, but this time, I liked the reason. I scrolled through my contacts list one more time and this time my finger entered the right number.

With a sigh, I prepared myself for Alice's squeal of excitement.

* * *

"Your friends didn't seem too depressed to see you leave."

Chase's truck threw me against the window when we hit a pothole. I grunted and rubbed my head, glaring at the foul glass.

"Yeah," I said absently as I readjusted myself. "Alice was rather thrilled for me to skip a study session too."

I saw him smirk at me as I tried to regain my balance. His seats were lumpy and the passenger side didn't have a seat belt; personally, I think his truck didn't like me. We hit another bump and I jolted forward – without looking, he flung out his arm to catch me.

"Thanks," I said, awkwardly pushing myself back. He grinned and draped his arm behind me.

"Happens all the time," he said. "So . . . what do you think?"

He was pointing ahead of us and I braced my feet against the floor of the truck as we turned onto a gravel road. A small home sat off in the distance, stables extending out to the left. Corrals and a barbed wire fence lined the property and extending out behind it was the most gorgeous view of snowy hills and clumps of trees. Living in the forest with Cullen's was breathtaking to, but this just felt so much more . . . open.

"Wow . . . you live here?"

"It's not much," he said, pulling up to the house with a lurch. "But its home!"

He grinned broadly and jumped out of the truck. I did more of a somersault and glared at the rusty, blue clunker with disdain. I kicked the door closed with my foot and dusted my pants off. Looking up, I saw him grinning the famous crooked grin of his and felt my worries slip to the back of my mind. I took his hand as he helped me up.

"Okay so something you should know about my grandmother . . ."

"Oh God," I suddenly said. "Shouldn't we have gone through family secrets before we arrived?"

He gave me a playful glare. "Chill, Brie. She's a nice lady. It's just . . . she's blind . . ."

"Oh?"

"Well, mostly. She was born with bad eyes, or so she says. But she still manages to get around easily enough . . . What I'm trying to say is don't let her fool you. And don't try lying because trust me, she will know."

I gave a nervous laugh. "Wouldn't dream of it."

Inside, the house was oddly well kept up for housing an old, blind woman and a teenage boy. But Chase seemed like someone who took responsibility seriously, that or he feared the wrath of his Grandmother's tongue. I sniffed the air, already expecting that "old lady" smell but instead I was met by the pleasant scent of some strange incense, something with cheese and the vague hint of cat box.

"Home, Grams!" Chase called out.

The stairs to the right of me creaked. Slowly emerging, I caught my first sight of Grandma Sage.

She was bent woman but as stable as ever, slowly making her way down the narrow stairway. Her hair was a soft gray and hung loosely over her delicate shoulders. She was small and as she shuffled towards me, I caught the vacant, milky look in her eyes. I smiled timidly and to my surprise, she smiled right back, her pale lips crinkling. She held out her hands towards me and out of reflex, I drew back. I felt Chase's hand on my shoulder and sighed, biting my lip again. The old woman's face softened slightly and I felt guilty when she frowned. Her gnarled hands fell back to her sides.

"You're a timid one, aren't you, child?"

"I'm sorry . . . I . . ."

She shushed me and put a finger to my lips. "None of that now. Chase, the lasagna is still waiting for you, why don't tend to it? Come, dear, come sit on the couch. Just kick the cat out of the way there . . . hope you aren't allergic . . ."

I didn't really have much of a choice, as the old woman snatched onto my wrist and dragged me to the couch, leaving Chase smiling a little awkwardly as he backed into the kitchen. So I sat, letting Chase leave me alone, trying to calm myself in face of a new set of (blind) eyes.

"So, you're living with the Cullen's, are you? Tell you the truth; I never used to like that family . . . But times change I guess. Do they treat you well? Feed you right? Give you a place to sleep?"

I gave her an odd look, but it was lost to her milky gaze. "Yeah. So far, they've been great."

It's true. I can't help but feel some sort of attachment to them. They've put up with my strange antics and acted as though I'm another new member of the family. There was none of that awkward transition period where you feel more like a burden then a potential new family member. She nods approvingly.

"Good. Very good. And where do you come from dear?"

I turn my eyes to the ground. I hate that question, more than anyone knows. Why is it constantly asked? What is the fascination about my origins? I'm clutching the sides of the couch when a buzzer goes off in the kitchen and Chase walks in and saves me from another life story revealing session.

"Dinner's ready!"

* * *

I ate in silence as Chase and his grandmother talked. And every time Chase laughed or smiled, I felt a little bit better. His laugh was infectious and was well imprinted on my brain and I couldn't help but feel slightly giddy when he did so. The Sage home was warm and playful, different from the Cullen home in warmer way. I couldn't quite put my finger on it, but it was there.

So afterwards, Chase ushered me outside again, toward the stable. The evening had gotten colder, so much colder that as soon as I started shivering, Chase draped his coat around me. I was surprised to find that it was warm – like, fresh-out-of-the-dryer warm. And he was in a t-shirt. But he wouldn't take the coat back, and I was to cold to care.

"Guess I'm kind of a wimp . . ." I muttered as we stepped into the stable. When the familiar smell of horses met my nose, I smiled.

"I'd say," he laughed, shutting the door behind him. "For anyone that was born and bred here, this is shorts and flip-flop weather."

"Right . . ." I looked over as something nudged my shoulder and smiled at the sight of a white and gray paint.

"That's Letty." Chase said, reaching to scratch the mare behind her ear. "She's the matriarch here, oldest horse we have. And she's all mine."

I clicked my tongue, and Letty's ear flicked forward, soft hazel eyes regarding me curiously. She reached her nose out to sniff my hair and I couldn't help but laugh a little when she took some of my hair with her lips. I stroked her neck after she let go and she placed her nose into my palm, giving a soft, warm sigh.

"Looks like she approves." Chase said.

I turned when a nicker caught my attention I saw three more curious sets of brown eyes looking at me. Chase motioned me forward.

"And our three trouble makers; Blackjack's the solid black with the stripe on his nose. Ace is actually Letty's colt – he's the white one. And the black one with the star on his head is Domino. Dom's the gentlest of the three, but he's a bit nippy if he doesn't feel like he's getting enough attention."

"They're beautiful." I said, walking up to the closest one, which was Blackjack, and letting him sniff my hand. I cast a quick glance over my shoulder at Chase. "So, when do I get my first riding lesson?"

He smirked and walked up behind me, placing his hands on my shoulders. "When the wimp isn't afraid of a little cold weather."

I rolled my eyes and leaned back into him. I couldn't help it – he was so . . . warm. I guess he liked it too though, because his chin was soon resting on the top of my head and his arms wrapped around my waist. I smiled and closed my eyes.

I liked the safe, warm feeling I was starting to get around him. I wasn't scared-nervous anymore, it was more of a happy-nervous. Of course, I wasn't going to say anything . . . at least, not first. Something felt right about this; like when he was around, all my troubles were forgotten. My weird past, Dante, the dark shadows, Phill and Taro . . .

I sighed.

"What's wrong?" he asked, pulling away slightly and giving me an all knowing look. I searched his eyes for a moment and then looked away, gnawing on my lip again. "Did you hear anymore about . . . your family?"

"No. It's nothing."

"Yeah. Right. Can't lie to me, Brie. Something's up." He placed two fingers under my chin, making me look at him. "Why did you really call me?"

The way he said it sent chills down my spine and without thinking I pressed into him and clutched him to me. I relaxed, feeling his arms wrap strongly over my back and breathed in deeply. I didn't say anything for a while, knowing he wouldn't pressure me into anything. That's what it felt like with everyone else around . . . Will you be part of the family? Are you going to stay? Are you going to go with us? What are you?

"I'm just so . . . confused." I finally whispered, resting my head against his shoulder. "There's this guy at school that just really . . . just . . . I don't get and he kind of freaks me out. And then today, there were these people that . . ."

I stopped and rammed my head into his shoulder. What was I going to say? There were these people that randomly popped out of my dream?

"Yeah . . . Sorry, I'm not good with . . . guy problems but I'll take him on if he's causing you problems!" I looked up and smirked, shaking my head.

"It's just . . . some of things he says." I paused; reflecting on Dante's random comments and random acts of what he thought was protecting me. "And then . . . someone else said something about the Cullens, like they know about them. Is there something I don't know about them, Chase? Is there something . . . wrong with them?"

Chase pulled back slightly and turned his head, eyes glinting in the dim light. "There's nothing . . . wrong. It's just . . . they're different. I guess. What exactly did you hear?"

I looked over at the wall, clenching my fists together.

"It was stupid." I muttered. "I didn't know who these people were . . ."

But they knew me.

"Okay." He looked at me suspiciously and then crossed his arms over his chest. "And this guy at school. What's he been saying?"

I glanced up again but continued to fidget. "You heard about my bleach-in-the-closet incident?"

"Yep."

I grimaced. Of course he had. "Well, same guy that shoved me into the closet seems to think . . . I'm . . . different."

Actually Dante's exact words were "You aren't human" but I figured that that was a little over the top weirdness level, even for Chase who seemed to understand a lot of crazy things.

I smiled when he laughed, feeling calmer.

"Well, he's right. You are different . . . but in a good, clumsy, stubborn kind of way." He stepped forward. "Don't let anyone change your mind about the Cullen's, Brie, they're good people, and you've seen that yourself. And if that creepy-stalker-closet guy tries any more funny business . . .I'll get him for you."

I gave a half laugh, not bothering to mention that despite getting me into trouble, Dante had also saved my hide a couple times. Ah well, being this close to Chase made everything better anyway.

"What are you?" I whispered, wrapping my arms around my frozen sides. "My watch dog?"

He grinned and winked. "Something like that."

I watched him come closer, silently studying my face. I wasn't afraid to make eye contact with Chase, wasn't afraid when his fingers touched my cheek. He was warm, he was everything I needed right now. An escape from this crazy mess I had been thrown into, and I hadn't even known him that long. It was strange, but I liked it. I felt my cheeks go warm as his arm slipped around my waist, pulling me closer.

"I knew you brought the wimp out into the cold for a reason . . ." I whispered.

He chuckled and shook his head me, resting his forehead against mine. I swallowed, suddenly hearing my heart roaring in my chest and my eyes closed when his did. All I could do was try and keep my head, feeling his warm breath against my face and without knowing when I did it, I discovered my hands, though slightly trembling, were resting on his shoulders.

I definitely wasn't thinking of anything else now.

Pressing closer, I felt his head turn slightly and meekly stood still, not sure what I was doing or what I should be doing. And then something instinctive pushed through into my head, louder than the rushing heartbeat or various, random, jumbled thoughts that said he was asking for permission. With a small breath, I tilted my chin up and . . .

"Chase! Emergency! Jake needs . . . you . . .now . . ."

We leapt apart as if a bolt of lightening had just landed between us and I fell back against an empty grain bucket. Chase whipped around as I struggled to regain balance and . . . well, my senses. Seth was staring at us both a little wildly in the open doorway, and then abruptly looked off to the side.

"I totally just interrupted something, didn't I?" he muttered.

"What's Jake need?" Chase said evenly even though I'm sure I wouldn't be able to speak.

"It's . . ." Seth looked at me for a moment and then at Chase. "Complicated?"

Chase nodded. "Alright . . . alright, I just . . . do I have time to get Brie home?"

"Make it quick." Said a voice behind Seth, making him jump out of the way. "It's important that you come."

"Got it, Embry. I'll be quick."

Chase turned and grabbed my hand, giving it a gentle squeeze and mouthing the word, "sorry" and pulling me with him and past the two Quileute boys. Embry gave me a raised eyebrow and knowing grin as Seth smiled pleasantly at me. I blushed deeper and was soon leading Chase back to his own truck.

"I'll grab your bag." He said distractedly, sprinting into the house and out again. He thrust the book bag at me from the drivers door, his eyes bright with worry.

"What's up?" I said, half way down the road.

He shook his head. "I don't know, but if Jake's ordering us all together . . ."

"What? Are you guys like your own little tribe or something?" I smirked.

But he didn't even crack a smile. I cast my eyes to the ground and gave up talking, figuring something must be really wrong.

We didn't speak a word as he drove me back to the Cullen's and when we got there, we sat in silence for a moment or two before he unlocked my door.

"I'll take you horseback riding someday . . . promise." He said, attempting a light smile.

"Thanks." I replied. "For everything. You're a great cook . . . and a . . . really good listener."

"So . . . guess I'll be seeing you?"

"Yeah. You will." On impulse I leaned over and hugged him. "Hope everything's okay."

"It will be." He smiled reassuringly, touching my cheek again. "Good night."

"Night." I muttered back, slowly getting out.

After I got out, I stood in the drive way and watched him drive off, not even bothering to zip up my coat, not even caring about the wind . . . I sighed, so lost in my own little world, that every thought spun with every other thought, making it impossible to think.

I was so lost, I didn't even see the person who had crept up next to me.