16. Returned

I lay there in his arms. He held me close as he rubbed my back, whispering my name over and over.

"So you mean to tell me you have been planning this ever since before we left for France?"

"Yep." His smile was wide in the black night. I shook my head trying to fit everything together.

"Everyone acting so weird at your dad's house, you kept it from Angel until you were sure she wouldn't tell me, the mall, the box in your pocket, the dress, the flowers, the dinner, it was all of that too wasn't it?"

He nodded. I laughed at it all. I couldn't believe that I didn't think of this. Am I blonde or what?

I heard soft footsteps in the night followed by some faster ones. First Summer showed up, who must have been the fastest out of all of them? Good, I need some new competition. Then Cody who then stood by Summer's side. Skylar was third, then Angel, and lastly, Nick. Inside of Nick's hand was a football.

"So what'd you say?" Summer asked, bouncing on the ground. God! Even Summer knew about this and she had only been here for what? A day?

Skylar leaped to my side and held up my left hand for all to see. Once everyone saw he grabbed my shoulders and gave me one of his big hugs and then he punched Jason-my fiancée-in the arm. It felt weird to say that word. Even in my mind.

"Football game!" Cody yelled after throwing Jason up in the air about 50 feet and catching him again. Once he was on the ground again I think he was as pale as I was.

I wasn't worried about him not being able to see in the dark. The full moon made everything so clear like it was already day. The only thing black out here was the icy water.

Since we had some new players we made new teams. It wouldn't be fair to have Skylar and me on the same team. We would dominate. So we were both captains.

"Cody." I picked.

"Damn. Ok then I get Nick."

"Angel." I countered. He grunted and picked Summer.

And then the game began. We had the ball first and I was QB. They threw it to us and Cody had the ball. He curved left and then ran straight. He used his gift to make Skylar miss him.

"Oh if that's how were gonna play it." Skylar said. Then he was gone. We didn't know where he was. So Angel quickly used her gift to take him to the goal line just as Skylar appeared to tackle him. He fell to the ground as we made the touch down.

He growled and then smiled. I knew that smile. This game wasn't over yet.

In the end summer made two touchdowns, Skylar made 5, and Nick made 3. They had the lead until Angel and Cody decided to give it everything they had. Cody, made 6, Angel made 3, and I made my new outstanding record of 9. We were gonna win anyway and Skylar knew it. He just doesn't like to give up. And that was a good motto for the kid, but otherwise, he's screwed.

"Cheaters." Jason yelled. We all laughed and went over to him. Cody found some dry wood. Leave it to Skylar to be the one that carries matches in his back pocket. He worries me sometimes.

Soon we had a fire going to keep Jason warm. The flames danced in the air. Jason seemed to notice how we scooted away as soon as the fire was high enough. We all didn't like the fire. It was one of the only things that can kill us. And none of us wanted to die yet. Especially me. Not now at least.

Jason took my hand, leaned into me and closed his eyes. I could tell when he was asleep by the snores that came out of his open mouth. All of us laughed silently, afraid that even the slightest noise would wake him up.

"He sure is something Claire." Summer said scooting closer to me. She put her pale hand on his face and caressed his face. I could see her eyes looking at him and the way she loved him like a mother or something.

"Yah he sure is. I was surprised when I first saw him. The smell was the strangest thing about him. It made me curious about him so I guess that's what drew me to him." I shrugged, not leaving my eyes from his still body. He was mine. If I didn't want to say it our loud, but I was kind of jealous of her words, but no way I was ever going to admit it.

She smiled.

"That's not what I meant." She whispered. "He's very handsome. Athletic, he has muscles and the most beautiful eyes that I've ever seen." Her voice was close to a coo. Did she loose a baby or something? She chuckled at me expression.

"I lost a son. I'm actually 20 years old." Cody's eyes widened. "I was changed after I knew what he was. Then I lost him because my body could no longer change to keep him alive." She sighed. "I wish I would have been able to see him smiling at least once. Before I had to leave him because his mother was a monster." She shook her head.

"I'm so sorry." I told her. I put my arm around her shoulders. She looked at me.

"Of course I have heard your story many times. So I know what you have been through. I can't believe I stayed with Cody, even though I knew what he had done to you. I feel ashamed of that and I regret every day I spent with him."

"I don't regret my time with him." Jason was no longer sleeping, but I couldn't stop now. "I thought I loved him. I don't regret being with him, I regret letting him suck too far into his world. I regret letting him lie to me. As Jason told me once before. I can't really hate him. He kept me alive so I could live to meet Jason." Jason smiled and curled closer into my arms.

"I have learned one thing from Cody for all of the years I have spent with him. He really loves him. Never stops talking about you, if Ashley said something bad about you he'd put her in some serious pain. She learned after a while not to do that." she smiled at her thoughts. "He has told us many times how he wished he had never changed you until you knew what he was, but as I'm sure you know, it was an accident."

"Cody should have never laid one hand on her!" Skylar screamed. Jason sat up, still in my arms.

"Skylar he was sleeping." I hissed. Jason shook his head. Skylar didn't even look at me, like I wasn't even there.

"It's ok Claire. I want to hear this. It's very…interesting to me." Skylar waited for Jason to finish and when he did he exploded again.

"I can't believe I left her alone with Jason and I didn't even know he was near! How could I be so stupid! I should have stayed with her and let Nick go with Angel, just so I knew she was safe!" he growled loudly again and sat down.

"It's not your fault, Skylar." I told him. "Cody can do things that are beyond any of us. I would know. He can do what you can do and not exist for a short amount of time. He can use Summer's gift and so much more than he has never used before. He knows he can do everything. I know he can do anything and I'm the only thing that stand in his way." I took another breath. "My gift is the only thing that can stop him from dominating this planet and any other planet for that matter. He's so dangerous that the rest of you have no idea. He's the strongest vampire out there, and there is one thing that he is not willing to down for without a fight. Me. He sees Jason as an easy target and he will kill him if he gets the chance."

Jason put his arms around me, saying he wasn't going to let me go without a fight either. I didn't like that. I didn't like the idea of Jason and Cody going at each other. Jason knew if it came down to it he would lose, but he wouldn't be a coward and run away. I sighed. What a mess I have created.

"Well Cody won't touch him. I see how much you love him and I won't let Jason go unless I die as well." Summer confirmed. She would fight for him. I smiled at my new sister.

Then I thought of how I'm going to get her into school with the rest of us. Her red hair was similar to Sam's and they did look the same, a little bit at least. They could pose as cousins. That would work.

"Remember Sam? The werewolf?" I asked Summer. She nodded. She also noticed how it took some work to get her name out. It hurt to know she left me, left us. "Well when we go back to Oregon you need to come back with us. You look like her a bit so we need you to be her "Cousin" for a while. At least till we move on again. That way we blend in." she nodded and I looked at Cody.

"You need to go back too, Cody. You can return to school. You'll need to wear some blue contacts so that your eyes aren't so red. You'll live with us and I know that people will react to you looking more like us, but I need you to finish high school before we leave." He looked at me shocked. "I know it will be very difficult, but if your parents come to you, you have to say you can't come home to them again, but do it gently.

"I know that the others will talk about your resemblance to us now, but you need to control your thirst and just ignore them. Act like they are not even there. You have classes with Nick, Skylar, and then I'm hoping you can even have some with Summer." I winked at her. "You ever have some with me, remember my first day?" we both laughed at the comments of Trevor. "Were not going to let you be alone on this, trust me."

"Oh and Summer?" Angel called. Summer looked at her. "You can hunt with Claire when you need to, but we ask for you to refrain your thirst and go out south from here so that you don't kill or change anyone that we know." Angel said with an accusation, then she looked at me. Even Cody laughed.

"I don't get it." Summer huffed. Cody put his arms around her and kissed her forehead.

"Claire changed me on accident."

Summer gasped in shock, glared at me, and then mouthed "Thank-you" to me. I laughed again and closed my eyes. I felt Jason shiver.

"Did anyone think to bring a blanket for the human?" I asked casually. Like it was a topic anyone would say. And for us it was normal.

"I'll get one!" Angel said. She disappeared and she was only gone for about a minute before she popped back up. "Sorry it took so long. I went to Jason's house and picked up one of his blankets." Summer's eyes made us laugh even more. She had a lot to get used to.

"That's my girl." Nick announced. Angel giggled and kissed Nick with passion.

"Get a room." Skylar howled. My family was so weird. I wrapped the blanket around Jason and made sure his teeth stopped chattering. Once again Jason fell asleep and we all just sat there watching him again.

Basically Jason went every where with me now. We did just about everything we could do in Paris. We sky dived. I dropped like a rock while Jason floated in the air like a bird. We climbed up the Eiffel Tower my way. Of course so we didn't attract attention we did this at night. Then we jumped off. We went scuba diving while I just held my breath. I didn't go too deep, that way Jason could see all the fish without me scaring them off. I kept and eye on him though, just in case.

Too soon two weeks were up and we had to go home for school. I knew Jake would want to see how things went out for Jason and I, well it went well let me tell you.

We got on the plane, all seven of us. We were so huge. It was a good thing our house had a lot of rooms that needed to be filled. Summer sat with Cody, Skylar was alone, Angel with Nick, and of course me with my human boy. We took up like the whole first-class section. Good thing we had booked all of it so that no one would have to sit near us. Jason sat in my arms curled up into a small ball. He slept the whole way there. He must have been really tired or something.

When we got off Jason was so far into his sleep he wouldn't wake up. I could have carried him, but that would have seemed weird. So I carried Skylar's things while he lifted Jason. He had to look like it took some effort to hold him, but really carrying Jason was like holding a very small book to us.

We took him to a taxi while the rest of us drove separately. Skylar rode with Jason while the rest of us too off like we were in Indiana 500 race, trying to win the gold. To bad if I were trying, the rest of them would be eating my dust. My Viper was undefeatable. Angel was still mad about her car so she refused to ride with me, even though it wasn't my fault. But of well she would have to get over it soon enough. For at home I had ordered a brand new convertible for her. She would love me even more for this. This car had some turbo power so she had even more of a chance to beat me. It was the least I could do even though it still wasn't, fault. But when Angel sets her mind to something, you can't shake her.

It would only take me a good hour to get home with the speeds I was at, but I went slowly just so I could follow that yellow cab every where it went. I didn't understand how humans could go this slowly, but I guess it was safer for them to go at their own speeds. I just have better reactions to different situations.

My phone rang and I picked it up. Skylar's name was on the ID and his ring tone of 'Bad to the bone' was hard to miss.

"Claire?" Jason's voice asked. Why would Jason be calling me? I thought he was asleep. Why would Skylar wake him up to talk to me?

"Yeah. I thought you were asleep?"

"Well then I woke up. And Skylar's boring to talk to, you can multitask, and I just wanted to hear your voice. Where are you?" his head popped out of the open window.

"Look behind you."

His head turned back and he smiled and laughed as Skylar pulled him in.

"You're going to fall out if you stare at her too long. She might mesmerize you to your death." I heard Skylar tease through the phone. I growled again, but it was playful.

"God! calm down."

"Oh I'll show you calm!" I yelled into the phone. I even saw the cab driver turn his head to look to see who was yelling so much. I laughed again.

Jason laughed and then I heard his breathing on the phone. It was hard, but more of just out of breath. Skylar was such an animal.

"Jason I need to talk to you about something." his breathing stopped. He gulped.

"Jason it's about the rings. When we go back people will know and get the idea that we are engaged, which we are, but still. I don't want them to think were just some teenagers who are moving too fast and we don't know what we're thinking. I think it would be safer if we just took them off and then when we all leave no one will know our background or us so then we can do what ever we want. Like get married or become monsters." I laughed to make the last part a joke.

"Oh." He sighed in relief. "That's ok, I was thinking the same thing. Here I'll give mine to Skylar and you can just leave yours in your car. But we can still be dating right?"

"Well Yah! Like I could ever let you break up with me." I snorted. He laughed on the other end of the phone and I could almost hear his skin rise as his smile got wider.

"So you're my fiancée now huh?" he joked. I shook my head, and rolled my eyes at the same time. That takes some real talent. I laughed.

"Yeah I guess so."

"Your stupid for wanting me to marry you, you know?"

"Your moms stupid!" Jason said with a poor impression of a 'your mom' joke.

"My mom is dead."

"Hey! So is mine!" he laughed again, but this sound was tense and nervous.

"Jason…" I tried to start.

"Nope were not going to talk about. I've heard your side of the story and I've heard hers. She doesn't want me with you, but it's too bad. I love the girl that killed my own mother. Talk about ironic right? Well nothing can change the way I feel about you. The ring says forever doesn't it? Well it does and I'm gonna stand by it." he sounded so sure. Does he really want to marry me? I couldn't argue with him right now. I wondered what the cabby thought of us right now. I completely forgot about him until now.

"You're a stupid boy. You know that right?"

"Yeah but I guess I'm your stupid boy."

"You got that right."

He laughed and hung up the phone. I watched the car carefully and just followed it Back to Jason's house. I wasn't surprised when I saw Jake sitting on the porch, almost bouncing with anticipation. He looked so much like a child the way he smiled and it was easy to see how Jason's mother fell in love with this man. He was quite handsome, so I could also see where Jason got most of his looks.

The cab pulled over and Jason got out of the car. Skylar grabbed most of the bags and dragged them to the house. Jason ran to his dad and gave him a big hug.

"Welcome home son." Jake smiled as he kissed his forehead. He rolled his eyes and wiped off the kiss. I laughed in my car as Skylar winked at me. Skylar also gave him Jake a hug and then went to stand beside Jason.

"So how did it go?"

"You'll see." Skylar's voice was light and wispy like feathers. He smiled and held his hand out, an invitation for me to come join them.

I stepped out of the car and I walked quickly over to Jason. His father's eyes looked down at my almost at the same split second I fell into Jason grasp of a hug.

"Well welcome to the family, Claire."

"Not yet." I reminded him.

"Close enough. Now come here and give your future father in law a hug." He reached out his hand and I took and fell into his embrace.

The smell was the first thing I thought of. I had not hunted since I went to Paris and I was sure I needed to right when we got back. Not I realized why Jason smelled so delicious. Jake's scent was even better than Jason's was and it was just begging me to take a bite. I could hear the vein popping and I heard his heart beat faster. I gasped, trying to control myself.

"Claire, don't do it. Think about Jason." Skylar whispered to low for any human around us to hear. He was begging me to not listen to any of it. How could I not listen to him? How could I betray Jason once again and take away the only other parent he had left.

I let go of him and backed away, my face was strained and I knew Jason knew was had just happened. He looked at me with a worried face and I smiled at him, reassuring him.

"Well I have to go, just a few things to finish and then I have to make sure Angel hasn't killed Nick for the detour he made on the way home." I lied smoothly. "I'll see you soon. And Jason I'll pick you up for school, just make sure you're ready this time." I winked at him, took Skylar's hand and towed him to my car.

"Can you control your thirst for one minute around Jason and his family?" Skylar yelled at me. Wait he was yelling at me! For something that I can't control!

"Why are you yelling at me? I didn't do anything did I?" I pulled away from his house and this scene strangely reminded me of Sam and the way she yelled at me after the game. Was I losing Skylar too?

"Do you want to kill Jason?" he ignored me like I never talked. What was wrong with him? I looked at him and his stare was as cold as ice. Scratch that, his stare was worse than that because it was like Skylar wasn't even there. It was the same look Ben had when he came and it was the same look Taylor gave me as well as Syd before they left.

"No I don't want to kill Jason, but I want to know why you're acting like this!"

Again he ignored me. "It seems like you don't care about him after all." Skylar said before he opened his door and jumped out of the car in one fluid motion.

I growled and hit the gas as soon as he was out of sight. I was trying to get away from him as fast as possible. Why did this have to happen now? It was as if all the bad luck in the world was taking from me one of the last things that made my world a better place. Now that I had found Jason it was different, but with Skylar in my life he made other things just plain easier to bear.

I hit the break at soon as the house was in my sight and I jumped out of the car. I opened the front door and slammed it hard, only to find curious eyes all on my face.

"Skylar?" Summer's voice was small as she shrunk into the couch, afraid of the way my face looked. "Where is he?"

"Gone. He left after screaming at me. And for all I care he can stay gone!" I yelled as I thought about him being near enough to hear my lie. I needed Skylar in my life and it hurt too much to lose him.

I parked in Jason's driveway just after his dad left for work. He peaked out the window and then rushed out the door in eager anticipation. My face made the smile slip from his face.

"What? Did something happen?"

"No." I lied.

"Okay, I'll admit it. You're a good liar, but even I can tell when there is something wrong. Now tell me what it is damn it!" Jason rarely shouted at me, but he was over the edge today. I stared at him blankly.

"Sorry." He apologized. "I just don't like to see you in any pain and it hurts me when you don't tell me that you are in pain."

"Oh." I looked at him. "My pain shouldn't be like that to you. It's mine and I have to deal with it myself. I should do better to put on a good cover." I muttered to myself at the last part.

"So what is it?"

"It's Skylar. He was mad at me for last night. About how close it got from me almost," I cut off the end. "So we got a big fight and he jumped out of the car last night and he never came back."

"Oh." He said. Then he went back in thought. I made it to the school and I got out of the car and walked into school with my boyfriend or fiancée I guess you should call it now, but no one at this school will ever know that.

Classes went by in a blur and soon Jason and I were in line for food. That's when he walked up to me, eyes red and everything. I couldn't ignore the whispers either.

"His eyes are red now. He looks mad. Where has he been?" the same questions fluttered around the room over and over again as Skylar made his approach to me.

"What have you done?" I hissed.

"Like you can talk." He glowered over me, clearly showing me his height. His voice was tight and it sent anger through me. This was not my Skylar.

"You know I try!" I screamed. Heads were looking at us but we ignored them. He brought up his hand and punched me in my face. The force should have knocked me through the wall but I used my strength to stop me after about eight feet. I looked at him in shock. There were gasps and one human shouting.

"Don't you dare hurt her!" Jason yelled. He pushed Skylar but he didn't move an inch.

Cody was growling and got in Skylar's face. "What do you think you're doing? You're going to hurt Claire. Look at her! Do you not see her face and how much she loves you? You have been her brother for a long time and now you're going to treat her like this?" Cody shook his arm, his strength of a newborn showing. He came out of no where so he must have been close by. I wanted him to stay away for another day so that no one would freak. So much for that plan.

Skylar looked at me and ran to me. He picked me up by my arm and threw me another 10 feet. I cried in pain like a normal human would.

Nick threw the first punch. "Stop hurting her!" he hissed. He side kicked him and he collapsed the ground.

"Claire?" Jason came to me franticly. "Are you ok?"

"Skylar." I said in a monotone voice. "Angel get Jason out of here."

Angel grabbed Jason and ran for the hills with him.

"Is that Cody?" one girl screamed. They were all talking at once and I knew if it was hurting my ears that it would give a normal human a headache.

While Skylar was on the ground I saw something flash in his eyes. It was like his "soul" was there again. It was like his mind had repossessed the body it owned.

His eyes found mine and they were full of regret and pain. He stood up and shook his head. "I'm so sorry, Claire." He said. Everyone in the room was quite. Even the teachers who were coming to stop this paused. His eyes were blazing with the pain he was suffering.

He went to take a step toward me, but Nick and Cody blocked his way. He stepped back and shook his head again, mumbling something even I couldn't hear. He threw one last pleading look and then he ran out of the room.

Whispers consumed the entire room. They were mostly about how Skylar had hit me and how Cody has returned.

"He looks like them now. What are they? Where was he this whole time?" it was pretty much the same thing through the entire lunch period.

"Cody!" Trevor was running to us. His face was confused, but other than that it was happy that his friend was found. Accusation was written all over his face as he grimaced at the way he sat so close to me and the way he looked so much like us now. I noticed as he compared Cody's new features to Nick's and then went back over Jason noticing that he looked the same. I knew what was going through his mind right now: What the hell is going on here?

"Trevor. Long time no see." Cody responded. His voice was trying to sound like the human he used to be, but even Trevor noticed on how much he sounded like us now. Cody was one of us now.

"Where have you been?" He paused looking at his eyes from mine. He saw the resemblance there with in our irises. Trevor was no idiot. "Do you know how much we've been looking for you? Your parents are worried sick. They are on their way right now. I called them." He sounded proud of himself.

Cody sighed.

"You have to face them sooner or later about this." I reminded him. Just then Summer cam into the room with a sigh of relief as she eyes Cody and knew he was fine. I guess she knew about the fight we had gotten in to.

Trevor eyes me, his eyes wide with suspicion. He didn't know what we were talking about, but I knew most of his attention was on Summer. But then what guy in this room wasn't looking at Summer? She was something to look at. Well every guy except Jason that is.

She walked over to Cody and planted a kiss on him and then she waved at Trevor, who stood there, opened mouth. Looking like an idiot once again.

Cody's mom and dad walked into with angry yet happy faces. They came right up to their son and they gasped at his looks. Just like Trevor they went over the similarities between Cody and I. Not just the eyes, but the stillness, paleness, and just down right beauty. They were shocked.

"Cody," the mom said breathless, "What happened to you?" her voice was bewildered as his dad shot me a glare, knowing I was behind this somehow. I hated that he just assumed. He was right, but still.

"Nothing of consequence." He smiled at me and winked. He didn't hate me, for which I was glad, but he had good reason to. The parents glared at our exchange.

"Tell the truth." The father demanded.

"You want the truth, you can have It." he snapped. "I'm not coming home and when schools out you will never see me again. It will be like I was never born and like you don't have a second child. Vicky can keep you enough company once she gets out of college." He chuckled at the thought of that. "I'll miss you, but I can't change who I am. I'm going to stay with my real family now." He smiled at Summer this time and she beamed in return.

"Listen Claire." Skylar said walking back in.

"Out." Cody growled.

Skylar laughed a bit, being back to normal, and walked back out of the school. It wasn't long till I heard his Mercedes roaring down the road. I snickered.

His father grabbed my by the collar and shook me. "What have you done to our boy? You little witch!" I knew he wanted to call me something else but he was in a school full of kids and he wasn't allowed to. I smiled widely at him.

"Don't know what your talking about." I teased. His eyes bulged and his face turned purple. Even Cody was laughing with me.

"Put her down, Mr. Walls."

Our principle walked up and he was angry also. He was quite fond of my family, and me knowing how well we were and how much money our "parents" gave to the school. Fake parents were the best to have. Even if they are always on some kind of trip.

"She kidnapped my son and she turned him into something he won't tell us." He accused. His veins were sticking out in his neck and his blood was pumping, but it was amazingly easy to ignore it. I guess this is the self-control I should have had years ago.

"I doubt that, Jerry. Now put Claire down. Or do I have to call the cops for assault on a minor?" he pulled the minor card on him. I chuckled and he set me down. I felt the sudden urge to stick my tongue out at him, but I controlled it, thinking it wouldn't help it I did.

"Dad, Claire did nothing to me, but show me what I was missing in my life. And thanks to her I found Summer and I could never love someone else more than her." He lifted his chin and stood over his father. His face was set hard and I knew doing this would hurt him, but Cody had made his decision and I also knew he would not go back on it.

"Mom," Cody looked at her. "I know this is gonna hurt, but I have to do this. You'll miss me and I will miss you as well, but this is something that I can't turn my back to. It's not something I got to choose, but I wouldn't have it any other way either. I might drop in sometimes, but don't be surprised and I wish I could trust you with the secret that has been placed on my shoulders, but I owe it to Claire and her safety that I keep it to me. So I wish you could just accept my choice and roll with me. I love you." Cody smiled at her.

"I love you too, Cody. Just don't forget about us." She reached for her husband's hand but he jerked away from her.

"You're just going to let him go like that? He says that this girl," he pointed his finger at me, "Hasn't done anything to him that caused him pain and that he wants to keep her safe! Don't you see anything wrong with it Jenna?"

"Cody has made his choice." Jenna snapped. "I'm gonna trust that he made a good one, now lets go Jerry." She flipped her hair, grabbed her bag and car keys, and walked out of the cafeteria with dignity.

It that very moment I felt a sudden chill and I could feel weak and helpless. If my hair could it would stand up on the back on my neck. I could finger was on my neck.

"So what did I miss, love?" a voice asked. I looked around only to find nothing. That was until I looked outside the window and there he was. Standing pale and still and a statue. He was smiling and he waved at me. Cody smiled at waved at me and he called me "love". I wasn't in love with him anymore.

Then he was gone and I felt the wind blow even though there wasn't one gust. I blinked and walked out of the school with all eyes on me. Some were worried, others were angry, and some were confused. I saw Cody follow me out, out from the corner of my eye. He was just going to protect me from Skylar I'm guessing. He put his arm around my shoulders and walked me home even though we could have driven, but I liked this way. It felt nice.

"Thank-you." he whispered in my ear. It surprised me that two people said that. One in my head which was Cody Anderson, and then the other was my favorite: Cody Walls.

"You're welcome, Cody Walls." I made the distinction. Which it made no sense to Cody now, but I just wanted to make sure that the other Cody didn't get the wrong idea. But how could he still like me? Why can't guys ever grasp the concept of hell no?

"Because were stubborn and I love you, Claire." I growled as he talked to me again. I hated this. Cody looked at me, but I ignored him. I walked home with him by my side and I think I even heard a howl of a wolf in the woods we passed.