Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight or any recognizable characters.

A/N: I am so damn tired. So... fucking... damn... tired. I went to be at 5 A.M. yesterday, woke up at 8 A.M. and went to bed at 2:30 A.M. last night. But still. Here's chapter three, please drop some reviews, so that I can happily drop the bags round my eyes.

Rawr.

Average Risk Taker:

Chapter 3.

"Lets play Truth or Dare. Now."

The second I said it, I wished I hadn't. I was just going to embarrass myself, Quil would think I was ridiculous, and then he'd never even want to come anywhere close to imprinting on me. But still, the guys had composed themselves, and were now ready to play. Oh, Hell...

"OK. Who wants to go first?" Collin asked, dusting off the back of his basketball shorts.

I looked at them all, trying not to let my eyes linger on my best friend. I wanted to rewind time so that I'd never even thought about the whole imprinting business. I wanted to rewind time so that I could have declined Quil and Em's offer to come out here to the woods. I wanted to be back at Aunt Emily's house, where I knew she wouldn't let me do anything stupid like this. She'd calm me down, subtly tell me that I was being silly, and then she'd make everything better. However, Emily rarely came out to the woods now she had kids of her own to look after. She wasn't going to save my ass now.

"C-c-can I?" I stammered eventually, and the boys shrugged in unison. I took a deep breath, trying to work out exactly what I would say. Then I mentally smacked myself, because I was really stupid, wasn't I? I could've asked to play the game, realized what a big mistake I was making, and then shut my big mouth. But staying quiet has never been a good skill of mine, and now it and my own stupidity will be my downfall.

"Well..." Quil raised an eyebrow at me, and it suddenly registered in my mind that I had been quiet for nearly three minutes. "Claire, are you OK?" He got up from the ground slowly, and then came and sat next to me on the upturned tree. He rested his large hands on my shoulders and gave me a reassuring smile. "Do you want to go home?"

And I idiotically said, "No. I want to play."

I mentally punched myself this time, with all the force my imagination could manage.

"I pick Embry," I picked him because he never lies. He just nodded slightly, and sat up straight to face me. "Truth or Dare, Em?" I half-hoped he would pick dare, so that I could make myself dare him to do something possibly dangerous to his health, not so that I could dare him to say something dangerous to my friendship with Quil. All I could do now was take a deep breath, and hope.

"Truth," I've got to admit I wasn't that surprised by his answer, considering the last time we played dares he had to climb up onto the roof of the Tribal Council hut, grab onto their TV antennae, and scream about how the Mother-ships were coming back for him. So, Embry picked dare, and it was suddenly up to me whether I wanted to ruin my own life. Then I heard a small voice in the back of my mind, what if it doesn't ruin your life? What if Quil Ateara has imprinted on you?

I thought about that possibility for a moment. I'd known Quil all my life. He'd been able to sprout fur during the entirety of that time. That would mean he would have had to imprint on me when I was like, a toddler, which is sick. But what if it's true?I told the voice to shut up, and I finally concluded that it was impossible that I was Quil's imprintee.

"Tell me everyone's who has imprinted. And tell me the truth," And please don't hate me.

They were all silent. Embry had closed his eyes, and was leaning backwards so that his head was titled to the sky. This was the same action people do when they pray to God for help, but since I knew Embry wasn't in the least bit religious, he was probably trying to stop himself from laughing. Collin and Owen were exchanging some sort of silent conversation with each other. And Quil. Quil had taken his hands off of my shoulders, and was just staring at me - his eyes practically bugging out.

Stupid, stupid, stupid Claire.

"Sam and Emily. Jared and Kim. Paul and Rachel. Jacob and Nessie. And -" Embry's statement was cut off by Leah's entrance into the clearing. She took in our expressions of unease and anxiousness, and then she let out a low whistle.

"Jesus Christ, you guys look like you found out that McDonalds have gone out of business," She commented, and gave me a tight-lipped smile which I tried to return.

"Nah." Quil mumbled, never looking away from me. "We were just playing Truth or Dare. And it's Claire's turn now." I was shocked at how flat his voice was as he spoke. I think everyone else was as well, but they didn't say anything, and nor did I. It was then that I noticed Quil had moved further down the log, as if I was repelling him.

"So, Truth or Dare, Clairy-Fairy?" Leah asked, sitting down.

"Whatever..." I mumbled, feeling completely withdrawn from the game now.

"Fine. Dare." Owen smirked at me, and I just rolled my eyes. I felt like a big enough idiot already, but whatever they were about to make me do would ruin my day even further - and of that I was sure.

"I dare you to go up to a group of tourists, start crying and when they ask what's wrong, say you only just found out you were a boy, beca-"

I interrupted Collin off by getting up off of the tree, and walking away out of the clearing. I was only just past the first round of evergreens when I felt a rain drop on my cheek. All I could do was keep walking, my limbs shaking uncontrollably with every step I took.

I went to Aunt Rachel's after Truth or Dare, not wanting to go home or to Emily's.

After she put her kid, a six year old called Jack, to bed, we went and sat in her kitchen. Well, the whole house actually belonged to her and her husband, my Uncle Paul, but in the pack we tend to refer to the properties being owned by the females. The males did have the woods from here till Canada after all.

Aunt Rachel was Jacob Black's sister, and one of my best friends. She was a very maternal person at times, just like Emily and Kim, but she was also courageous, too. She'd given up her place at college when she found out Paul had imprinted on her one summer nearly twelve years ago. He was adamant that she finished, but she didn't want to be away from him in the end. Their relationship was odd considering they'd actually hated each other as kids, and now they were inseparable.

"Are you hungry, Kiddo?" She asked, giving me a worried look.

I just shrugged in response.

Rachel was leaning over her stove, trying half-heartedly not to burn the mac and cheese she'd put on for Paul. Compared to any of my other 'Aunts', Rach had to be the worst cook, and she admitted it freely half the time. But I guess tonight she was just trying to do something nice for her werewolf.

"Shit," She mumbled under her breath as she accidently burned her index finger. She winced and dropped the wooden spoon she'd been stirring the food with, and I automatically got off of my seat, went over to the tap and turned the faucet.

"Put it under," I told her, feeling a little more grown-up then I'd felt in weeks. She complied, and I felt slightly proud of myself.

"You'd be good as a Pack-Mother," She told me quietly, and I frowned.

The Pack-Mothers were the women who looked after the werewolves and future werewolves, like Sue Clearwater, my Mom and Emily. They cooked food, collected the scraps of clothes that were occasionally left around the Peninsula, and they well... they just helped keep the tribe safe, they kept the secret safe, and they altogether kept the packs safe. But the thing is, Pack-Mothers were only imprints, or mature women that cared for the guys. I was obviously not an imprint, nor mature.

So, I couldn't help but frown, and say, "As if,"

She just stared at me for a second as the cold water ran over her brown fingers. Then she just shook her head. "I think Sam and Jake need to hold another tribe meeting - for your benefit, Kiddo,"

"But there's already been a meeting this month," Rachel just sighed, turned the water off and dried her hands. I tucked my loose bangs behind my ears, and returned to my seat. We didn't talk again until Paul came through the door twenty minutes later. He was wearing stained jeans and an old, rugged wife-beater. He grinned widely at me, then closed the gap between him and his wife. They embraced each other tenderly, and I looked away.

Just more reminders of what I'll probably never have.

"Claire, I heard you bailed on a dare," He said to me once he was done playing tonsil tennis.

"News travels fast," I muttered under my breath, and then rested my head in my hands. I wanted nothing more than to just rewind to Friday, when I was completely at peace with Quil and the pups. I wanted to be a Pack-Mother, I truly did. However, I knew it was more likely that I'd be bitten by The Cullens.

Monday.

I'm sitting in Jacob Black's lounge, playing XBox with him, Seth and Quil. I decided that instead of asking about imprinting, I'd ask a little more about The Cullens. One of them was technically part of the pack, so they were techincally family, right?

"What do you mean, 'what's the deal with Nessie'?" Jake had raised an eyebrow at me, and had momentarily paused in stuffing his face with Doritos.

And I said, "Well, I mean... I've met her once, and I know vampires don't age, but she's technically younger than me, so like... doesn't she go to school or don't they have to move around, or something?" Jake nodded in understanding, popped another chip into his mouth and then shrugged.

"Well, Doctor Cullen left Forks Hospital, like a decade ago, and the main family just sorta went away to a new town. Bella and Edward, Nessie's parents, still live in their house, but mainly because Bella doesn't want to leave her Dad, and Nessie doesn't want to leave me," He explained as if it was rocket science. At that moment Seth thrashed Quil on Gears of War 2, and they both let out wails - one of triumph, one of defiance.

"You cheated!" Quil immediately stated, his eyes narrowing at his so-called brother. Seth just laughed and ruffled what little hair Mr. Ateara had. This was the normal though, so I wasn't surprised when Quil decked him. I just shook my head and got up from the couch, ready to get some ice from the freezer in Jake's kitchen.

"What the fuck?!" The arguments that always followed the violence was unfortunately normal, too. "It's not my fault that you're a soar fucking loser!"

I groaned inwardly, opening the door to the freezer compartment. There were some bags of peas, old TV dinners, and a fish-stick or two, but no ice packs. OK, so it obviously wouldn't be much use giving a guy who consistently runs an insanely high temperature an ice pack, but still. I just grabbed a bag of peas and a popsicle for myself. I waited in the kitchen to pause in listening to the chorus of profanities, and I just had to lean against the wall next the Black's old refrigerator for a moment.

I'd been deeply thinking through what had happened in the past 24 hours. What I'd asked, Embry's unfinished reply, and then the line that Aunt Rach had dropped last night about Pack-Mothers. Getting ice packs, I sorta did feel like a PM. But I also felt too much like myself. I felt too much like the girl who had decided - perhaps only in a dream - that she'd stay on the Rez' for the rest of her life.

"Shit! You actually knocked him out!" I heard Jacob scream at either Quil or Seth, and I instantly dodged back into the lounge, just to find Quil rubbing his fist, whilst Seth was lying flat on the carpet next to the coffee table. Jake was still sitting down, still inhaling his Doritos, and I began to laugh.

"Idiots." I simply chuckled, handing Quil the frozen peas. He grinned goofily at me, and rested the the bag on his knuckles for a moment, then dropped it onto Seth's back. "When do ya think he'll come to?" I asked them, and Quil shrugged.

"Depends on how hard I hit him, which judging from the swelling was quite hard,"

I sat back down on the couch and unwrapped the popsicle.

"Orange or berry?" I heard Jake ask, and I glanced at him, perplexed. He rolled his eyes impatiently, then rephrased his question into one that someone as small-minded as me could understand. "You have a popsicle. And I'm not asking the obvious question as to why you didn't get me one, too, but I'm actually asking what flavor it is? Comprendo?"

I just glowered at him as Quilly collapsed on the couch next to me.

"Neither. It's lemon," I told him, and he shrugged, then finally went back to munching on Doritos.

Quil swung his arm lazily on the neck of the couch, right behind me, and let out a yawn. I'd almost forgotten that Sam and Jake had had the guys running double shifts last night, all because of some weird scent near Neah Beah. It turned out that it was only a raccoon corpse. Predictable, I know.

"You didn't get much sleep, did you," I stated as Quil rested his chin on my head. The close proximity between us was very noticeable to me, as was his heat. Don't get me wrong, it's great to have walking-talking-radiators in your family when you live in Washington, but sometimes, and I know this might sound... beyond wrong, but sometimes those boys can really make a girl sweat.

And come on, eww. They're my uncles. They're family. They're not, like, eye candy or something. However, they run a temperature of 105 degrees, and you can understand that it can be... inconvenient when in cramped quarters. With that said, it still didn't apply when it came down to Quil.

"Nope," He chuckled, popping the 'P'. He looked down at me for second, and blinked drowsily.

That was the moment when my cell began to vibrate, scaring the Hell outta the entire population of Jacob's lounge. Even Seth, who had been out for a good five minutes, stirred.

"Sorry..." I mumbled half-heartedly, forcing myself the retrieve the little plastic phone that was the source of the vibrations out of my jacket pocket. I checked the caller I.D., then answered. "Hello, Mom,"

"Hey, Claire, I was wondering if you could do me a massive favor?" I let her continue, and met Quil's curious gaze. He smiled at me, showing his freakishly white teeth, and I gave a small smile in response. "It's just... I got the job in Port Angeles from last week, and we're having my boss, Mr. Ath, over for dinner tonight. So, I was kinda hoping that you could clean up the kitchen and front room for me. Please, Kiddo?"

I took a moment to mentally have a laughing fit about his name. Mr. Ath? Was she serious? Who was called 'Ath'? Apparantly my Mother's new boss, that's who. "Sure, Mom. But I'm not cooking," I told her eventually.

"Thanks, I'll be home around 5:00, Honey," And with that she hung up. I slowly put my phone down on the couch cushion, then burst out laughing. Mr. Ath.

"You're so fucking weird..." Jacob just stared at me as I doubled over in pointless laughter. I knew I was weird, but Mom's new boss had a weird name. I had a right to laugh. Then I remembered what she had actually asked me to do, and I stopped laughing. Me? Clean? Oh, Hell.

After Seth eventually woke up, seemingly unharmed, I demanded that Quil drive me as fast as he could back to my house. I only had an hour, but we had more than enough shit for me to clear up downstairs. Even with my verbal urgency, Quil never went over the speed limit - much to my annoyance - and we arrived at my little wooden house just over ten minutes after we left Jake's.

"Calm down," He told me as I attempted to open the passenger door of his old Toyota truck before he'd even slowed by the curb. I really wasn't usually one to rush, but I wanted to help Mom make a damn good impression, I really did. So, when Quil finally parked up, I literally hopped out of my seat and sprinted to the front door. We never lock the doors at our house, there's no point because if anyone tried to steal from us, then we have a whole two packs of werewolves ready to serve justice.

So, without having to fish for a key in my pocket, I pushed the door open and skidded into the front room - which was probably the messiest. Old magazines were strewn across the floor around the coffee table, and the dust on the mantlepiece above our fireplaces was visible even from where I stood. I knew that there were several wrappers shoved down the couch, and I knew this because I'd been the one to put them down there. I dived for my old beige couch first, digging in between the cushions till I'd retrieved at least twenty wrappers. Then as I backed away from the couch, on the verge of victorious, I heard Quil laugh.

"Want me to start in the kitchen?" He asked as I lowered a glare onto him. In response to his offer, I just nodded and went back to work in the front room.

Nearly an hour and a half later (thank God) I heard the front door open. I was sitting on the couch with my cleaning buddy, watching reruns of Scrubs in my reasonably clean front room. I was proud, and sorta hungry.

"Claire? Baby, I'm sorry we're so late, but the traffic on the 101! It took me twenty more minutes than usual just to get off at the off-ramp to Forks!" Mom shouted from where she was bustling in through the hallway. I looked at Quil, then readyed myself, and stood. I made my way to the doorway, aware that Quil had followed. And then I saw Mr. Ath.

The first words that came to mind were, 'OhMyGodHe'sSo... White'. Mr. Ath had a receding hairline, big green eyes and a tight lipped smile. He wasn't altogether bad-looking, but he really wasn't the person you'd try and score at a bar. He was... well, plain. And very white. I could tell from his khaki trousers and pink sweater that he was dorky, too. I didn't like him, not at all. But then his eyes fell upon me, he smiled a not very convincing smile, and then he spoke.

"It's nice to meet Marie's children," Quil snorted behind me, and I repressed the urge to elbow him.

"No, Claire's my daughter, Quil is... a very good family friend," Mom explained quickly, brushing her dark hair behind her ear for a moment. She gave us a reassuring smile, then continued with the introductions. "Claire, Quil, this is Gilbert Ath - my boss. And Gil, this is my family."

I stood there, completely frozen, trying desperately to contain the ferocious laughed that was filled to burst inside of me. Gilbert Ath? GILBERT? ATH? GILBERT FUCKING ATH???

Mentally: Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!

Audibly: "Oh, it's erm... nice to meet you, too, Gilbert,"

And I swear that I could feel Quil shaking with silent laughter behind me as well. At least I had some self control. But seriously. GILBERT. ATH.

This was going to be a long, long evening...