Disclaimer: I.D.N.O.T.

A/N: Alrighty. Here is the next bit. I think this is faster than my last update? Maybe? I don't know for sure. Thanks to everyone who reviewed, followed or favorited! It means a lot! Without further ado...

Chapter 12

"Seth! I don't wanna talk about it!" I shouted, yet again, as I picked up my pace to try to stay ahead of him.

"Leah…. Come on!" He urged, now jogging to keep up with me. "It'll help to talk about it. I know it will!"

I whirled around and stared him down as he nearly ran into me. "Drop. It." I ground out between my teeth, trying not to completely lose it. Seth, of all people, ought to know when to quit.

"No." He crossed his arms firmly in front of his chest and set his mouth into a hard, determined line. The look did not sit well on his usually cheerful face.

"Look! Just 'cus you're my brother, does not mean that I am going to tell you everything! It was just a dream! I do not want to talk about it. And I do not need to talk about it. Jesus, Seth! Just get lost! I don't want you around! Get it? So just back the hell off!" I tried to control myself, I really did, but I lost it at the end. I shoved him away from me and took off towards the woods, leaving him standing hurt and alone on the beach.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa…." Quil stopped me in the makeshift parking lot. "Everything ok?"

"Oh yeah! Everything is just peachy keen. Oooh! But you know what would make it better?" I started, dripping with sarcasm, " If you would learn to mind your own damn business! God!" I jerked away from him and set off at a run.

I hadn't even made it a mile up the trail before I collapsed on the ground and broke into tears. This is why I had no friends. I pushed people away. I knew they meant well, only wanted to help. But still. I just couldn't take it. My walls always came up when I was hurt or scared. And right now I was terrified.

The dream was just so vivid. It had been four days now and if I wasn't careful I could still see it play out in my mind when I closed my eyes. It was unavoidable when I drifted off to sleep. I woke up every night, sometimes two or three times, with my throat burning from the screaming.

"Hey…Everything, ok?" I heard a timid voice ask just before I felt a hand come to rest on my shoulder.

"Yeah. Uh…Yeah." I sniffed and wiped my eyes as I pulled myself up off the forest floor.

"You sure? Anything I can do?" She knelt down and braced my elbows, helping me up.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine." I brushed myself off. "Tha-" And looked up to thank the woman, but was cut off when I saw her face. "Megan?"

"Leah?" She stepped back astounded.

"Uhh…wow…I'm sorry." I mumbled quickly, averting my eyes, as I went back to brushing off my already clean clothes. "Thanks for the help. Sorry to scare you." I said quickly, making my words sound like a dismissal.

"No problem. Everything ok?" She asked, dropping her bag next to log a couple feet away before coming over and dusting off the back of my shirt.

"Yeah. Everything's fine," I lied, my voice flat.

"That's the worst lie I ever heard," she cackled. "Come on. Sit down a minute." She pulled me over the log and sat down.

"Look, I really don't wanna talk about it. It's a long story and we don't really know each other all that well. It's nice that you –"

"Well let's just fix that then." She piped up, cutting me off. " You're Leah. I'm Megan. You already know I like to paint and that I'm new to the area."

I nodded.

"Look. You don't have to tell me what's going on here, but…well, we can talk to one another. I'm sorry that last time we met I made it seem like…I was just having a really bad day that day. I snapped. I'm sorry."

I laughed. "It's ok. I know what that's like." She laughed with me. "Don't tell me. You have an impossibly annoying little brother too?" I asked.

"No. No. I just have a ridiculously over-protective mother," she said snidely. We both laughed then.

"Sorry," I offered, to which she broke into fresh peals of laughter.

"Me too. For your brother," she managed to choke out between laughing.

"So, can we start over?" She asked, not meeting my eyes, after we got hold of ourselves again.

"I'm sorry," I started. Her face fell. "I don't think we've met. I'm Leah. Leah Clearwater." I smiled.

"Megan Masterson." Her smile was so huge it rounded her face and made her eyes sparkle. I felt like I had just swallowed a swarm of butterflies.

A/N: Ok. That's it for now. The next chapter is in the works. As always - I am interested in hearing what you think! Please leave me a review! I love reading them. 'Til next time!