{{Charlotte's POV.}}
I finally found the right curtains. They were a brilliant shade of deep red and made of velvet. They were quiet heavy, but I liked them all the same. Seth stilled seemed quiet. Why is that? Was it because I told him I had a boyfriend? But why would he act so strange? I knew I didn't have the answers to these questions. I was still wondering about the other day when everyone was acting strange. Why were they keeping a secret from me?
I sighed. Seth looked at me with raised eyebrows. I shook my head at him. Even though I had only been in Forks for a few days, it already seemed that I had stress to deal with. We were headed back to my car when someone called my name.
"Charlotte?"
I glanced around. Seth's head was turned and was staring at someone that was coming towards us. I followed his gaze.
"Drake?"
It couldn't be him could it? He was still is San Diego. But as the blond haired boy came closer, I found that it was him. He stopped a few steps away from me.
"Charlotte. I knew it was you." He gave me a hug and a kiss on the cheek.
I blushed. If Seth was acting weird before I wondered what his reaction to this would be now. He had a strange look on his face and was trembling.
I pulled back from Drake. "Wh-what are you doing here?" I stuttered. "Or better yet, why are you here? Shouldn't you be in San Diego?"
"Oh well, my parents were coming here for a few hours on a business trip and I came along."
"Oh."
"I've been seeing girls everywhere that have looked like you. I thought you were another hallucination. I'm glad I stopped you." He grinned broadly.
"Uh, yeah, I─" I detangled myself from him and took a small step back. He looked at me with a hurt expression.
"Charlotte?" He was waiting for me to say something. I really didn't know what to say. I was caught off guard.
I averted my eyes from him. It was strange how he just turned up here. But then again he came with his parents. He was just here by coincidence, I told myself. I looked back at him. I couldn't keep him waiting.
Seth cleared his throat and we both looked at him. Oh!
"Drake, this is Seth. He's a friend. Seth this is Drake, my boyfriend." I didn't know if I imagined it or not, but it looked like Seth flinched and was beginning to tremble even more. They both nodded at each other. A few seconds passed.
"Charlotte? I'm going to go put these in your car." Seth seemed uncomfortable.
"Okay."
I handed him the keys and the bags I carried and watched him walk away. He obviously was giving us some privacy. Not that I wanted it.
"So…" Drake nodded in Seth's direction.
I narrowed my eyes. "He's a friend."
"And he just happens to be here with you?"
"Yes. I wasn't going to live him at my house alone."
"Your house? Why was he at your house? Didn't you just meet him? You haven't been here very long to have trust in anybody."
I raised an eyebrow at him. "Excuse me?"
"Well it's just that I find you with another guy that you've just met and…" He shrugged.
"And?"
"I find it…strange."
"He's a friend."
"Alright, if you say so." He held up his hands defensively. I crossed my arms over my chest. "Oh, Charlotte don't be mad. I─I didn't mean it like that."
"Okay." I wasn't going to hold anything against him, but still...
"Charlotte."
I sighed. "I have to go. I'll talk to you later." I turned and walked quickly towards my car before he could react. Seth was waiting inside.
"Hey. Sorry to keep you waiting."
"It's okay."
"So home now?"
"I guess."
•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•
I rushed upstairs to finish my room while Seth hung out downstairs. I placed different sized circles along the walls and started to paint. I was on the last wall when Seth peeked his head around the corner. "Hey Charlotte?"
I glanced over my shoulder. "Yeah?"
"Need help?"
All I had left was to paint the little room above mine. "Uh, there's a little room up there if you take the stairs." I pointed to the doorway. "Can you start painting up there? All the supplies are there."
"Okay."
An hour later, everything was painted and finished. I had to move my belongings into the other room sense it would take a few hours for the paint to completely dry. I didn't want to risk the wet paint ruining my furniture. It was nearly five in the afternoon. We hadn't eaten lunch yet so I settled for a bag of Cheetos. I offered some to Seth, but he declined.
"I haven't seen you eat anything today." He shrugged. I briefly wondered if he was still upset. I didn't see why he would be. There was nothing for him to be upset over. "Hey, what's wrong with you?" I asked. "You've been pretty quiet since this morning."
He shook his head. "Nothing. I'm just thinking." He stared at me. "I have to go." He quickly headed for the door.
"Wait." I grabbed his arm. "Something is bothering you. Why won't you tell me? I know it has something to do with this morning and Drake showing up." I felt him stiffen, but I ignored it and continued. "You were fine until I told you I had a boyfriend," I whispered.
Then it dawned on me.
He liked me.
I released his arm and stepped back. He looked at me confused. We stood there staring at each other for a few seconds. He leaned forward slowly until he was only inches away from my face. I could see into his eyes clearly. They seemed sad and slightly hesitate and hoping all at the same time. I knew before he did it what he was going to do, yet I didn't want to pull away. He leaned forward, closing the rest of the distance between us. His lips pressed gently to mine. They were warm and soft and sent tingles down my spine. It lasted for a good three seconds before I felt his hand on my back pulling me closer.
I squealed and jumped back quickly. I couldn't believe he kissed me. I couldn't believe I kissed him back. I couldn't believe I enjoyed it...
"Charlotte, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that. I─"
"No, you shouldn't have," I interrupted. I looked down at my hands.
The sound of a door being shut caught our attention. My dad entered a moment later. He registered the awkward silence between us. Seth and I were standing only a few feet apart. I was looking everywhere but at Seth, and Seth was staring at me; I could feel it.
"Uh, hello." Neither one of us moved. "Okay then…"
"I think I better go." My head jerked up to see Seth closing the door behind him. I sank into the couch.
"What was that about?" he asked.
"Nothing."
He stood in front of me. "Charlotte."
I shook my head. "I don't want to talk about it." I quickly headed for the stairs only to remember that my room was freshly painted. I reversed and headed for the kitchen. I placed my bag of Cheetos back on the shelf.
"Did he hurt you?" My dad stood in the doorway blocking the way out.
"No."
"Did he threaten you?"
"No."
"Did he─"
"No, no, it's nothing like that. He just…just…" I trailed off. "I don't want to talk about this Dad." I looked away from him. "Not now."
"Okay," he said as he held up his hands. "I won't bother you about this."
"I'm going to watch TV until I fall asleep." I quickly pushed passed him and sat on the couch again until I fell asleep.
•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•_•
Fog swirled around me. I knew this was a dream. I was standing in the middle of a clearing. It was the same clearing that was in the forest. I was standing near to edge of the water looking in. The water seemed to freeze over as I touched it. I gasped.
A low whine came from behind me. I turned to see a wolf laying a few feet from me. I slowly approached it. It was sandy colored. It stood up when it saw me. It towered well above me. I didn't feel scared; I felt happy that it was there beside me.
A name whispered in my head. Seth.
The oversized wolf titled its head, as if it could hear me.
I can hear you.
I stared at it in surprise. Did it just talk to me? And why does its voice sound like Seth's?
It let out a bark that sounded like laughter. I can hear your thoughts, Charlotte.
Was I losing my mind? Was I really communicating with this wolf?
You're not crazy. Don't you remember? We've done this before.
Remember what? How was this even possible? Wolves didn't get this big did they? And they certainly don't talk to people through their minds…
Well, no, not normally like how we are talking. Usually you have to be part of the pack.
I was getting very confused. Pack? What pack? Nothing made sense. There were a billion questions forming in my head. Why is this wolf talking to me? Why did the water freeze when I touched it? Why am I out here? Where is everybody? Why does the wolf sound like Seth? Where is Seth? More thoughts came to me as I looked around… Who are these people? Why are they here? Why are they in black cloaks? Why are their eyes red? Why are they coming closer? Why do I feel the sudden need to stand and fight? Are they deadly? What's going on? What's happening?
The figures were stalking closer and closer.
I didn't have time to have these questions answered. The people in black cloaks suddenly pounced. The wolf beside me growled and lunged itself in a protective crouch in front of me.
One of the figures was suddenly between the wolf and me. It punched the wolf hard where it landed with a sickening crack against a few trees.
No…No…
The figure turned to me. It was a girl maybe a little younger than I was. Her smile became a wide, wicked smirk. I stepped back in fear.
No! Don't! Leave her alone! It seemed like the wolf was yelling at her.
I saw the wolf struggle getting to its feet. It looked badly hurt. I took a step towards it. I didn't get far before I cried out in pain and fell to the ground.
NO! NO! PLEASE STOP!
Everything was getting fuzzy. I screamed again. It felt like someone was shocking me. I couldn't move. My senses were fading…my eyes slipped closed. The last thing I heard was a very angry, very loud growl, and then everything was silent….