Halloween.

The time of year where as a child you would dress up as something scary—or just plain cute—and tell people that if they don't smell your feet, you'll pull down they're underwear.

As you get older, from child to teenager, the idea changes to pranks and trying to scare the crap out of your friends the best.

Here in Forks, you didn't do any of those things.

They held a town wide dance in the streets, doing games and things; just giving out candy. Pretty much like a street fair, tricked out in Halloween things.

I thought I'd take part in the small comings of the town, but, Jake had other plans.

"A camp-out, in the end of October?"

Jake rolled his eyes, pushing his food around on his plate.

We were eating dinner at my house, because Terry was working the night shift at the bar, and Alex was also conveniently working the night shift in the next town over; that was forty minutes away.

"It's not just that Laurel," he stated walking over to the sink, "we make a giant bon fire, eat some camp-fire food, tell scary stories, and reside in our tents for...alone time."

I spit out my Coke and Pepsi mix; 'alone time'?

"You're shittin' me right? You mean you guys bring chicks to get it on with in the tents?"

He looked away, red in the face. "Well we always said we could if we wanted to. No one has really had a girlfriend before to take. It has always been Embry, Paul, Quil, and me. Sometimes we'd bring some other reservation kids, but the most we've had was ten people a few years ago. And now... it'll only be you, me, Bella, Alex, and maybe Embry."

I looked at my finished plate, listening to his statement. Over the past month, Embry didn't hang out with us as much. We only just found out a week ago that he started to hang out with Sam, Quil, and Paul with Sam's other goons. Unlike Quil and Paul, Embry came from time to time again to see us. Mostly he'd be really tired, and didn't want to do much but eat and try to sleep; but he was still there.

"Alex can't make it," I said finally looking up trying to meet Jake's gaze. He looked to the side of my head—something he had been doing since my birthday—and smiled, "Yeah? That sucks. Looks like I'll get to beat Embry's ass eh?"

I laughed softly, letting the comment sink in. Without Alex, Embry would surely try something; which was true most of the time. "He has to help out with the Forks town thing, his mom is making him."

"So tomorrow," he said heading towards the front door with his keys in hand, "come by at dusk and we can head out to the beach from my place eh?"

I stomped as hard as I could on the stupid thing, succeeding thankfully, and snapped Molly into first gear.

Molly is the four-wheeler that Jake made for me. I don't really know why I call her Molly, but it might have something to do with the word 'Molly' written on the inside of the helmet that Jake got for me to use and ride with.

I flipped the switch that would turn on the headlights, because it was already getting dark; and I could barely see but twenty feet in front of me. I had gotten used to riding Molly after much practice with Jake almost daily. He was like the Secretary of State and I was the Driver's Ed student. I couldn't go to Chief Swan and get the necessities until Jake talked to him.

It was only a week ago I could start going places like an actual car, and I'm already loving it. Sadly I can only ride it in Forks and the La Push. It doesn't matter though, because I only really have used it for school, to go to Alex's, go to Jake's, and to the meadow where we went on my birthday.

Anyways—I'm bundled up in a sweater, a hat, mittens, a scarf, bootlegged jeans, and boots; with my tent, extra clothes, numerous blankets, and the other random things I'd need to survive the night.

In only a few moments I pulled up in front of Jake's house to see that he, Bella, Embry, and a few other reservation kids I'd never seen before in front of his house.

I killed Molly, and pulled off my helmet, smiling broadly. "We ready?"

Jake made his way over to his truck, Bella and the reservation kids following him and hopping in the back. Embry made his way over to me. I laughed eloping him in a hug. "Hey bud," I said when he yawned.

"I'm going to ride with you, that's okay right," he hopped on behind me. I motioned him to take the helmet, but he instead placed it over my head. "If Jake found out that you didn't wear a helmet and my pervy ass did; he'd kill me."

"It's okay, who are the other kids," I asked. I noticed two boys, one younger than us, and the other about our age. And a girl.

"The kid is Seth, he's the girl's brother. She's Leah. The older kid is Jared. They both live on the res'."

I watched the reservation kids pile into the flatbed. If they were going to get in the back, why couldn't Embry and I get into it too, and save me the hassle of driving the both of us? Just as I was about to voice my question, it seemed that he read my mind or something; because he was already answering it. "Bella and Jake got into a fight or something I guess. I have to admit it's my fault, and—well Bella isn't really happy with any of us at the moment."

We got to the beach in a few minutes, with Embry giving me directions with way and that; and rubbing my hips like there was no tomorrow. I'd elbow him every chance I got, but he'd complain about how it was the only way of him not falling off because I was a terrible driver. In which that statement is rubbish.

"Let's get our tent pitched and meet them at the pit before we go off and find firewood," Embry muttered when he got off the back after a hard elbow to the ribs. I was about to follow him before I re-digested his statement. 'Our tent'? Hell. No.

"I'm not sharing a tent with you Mr. Perv Machine," I poked his chest, turning to get my gear off the end of Molly. Embry didn't retaliate much, but smile and shake his head in disagreement.

"That's what you think," he muttered, as if I couldn't hear him.

Not exactly; but that's what he thinks.

We walked a ways, trying to find a flat enough surface with less dips and hills to start and put up my tent.

Thankfully it was close to everyone else's but not close enough to where as I would hear unwanted things. Just the thought sent me into shivers and disgust, not to mention slight jealousy. Jealousy? Why would I be jealous? Jealous of what exactly? Jake and Bella getting it on?

Defiantly not. Just of Alex not being here...right?

I did most of the work, Embry only helping every once in a while.

Correction; Embry did most of the work and I helped every once in a while.

I couldn't keep my eyes off of Jake and Bella. I don't know why, but seeing her ignore him gave me some fluttering feeling in my chest.

It wasn't until I inside the tent and putting things were I wanted them that Jake came over and inside.

And it wasn't until I was about to pull off my pull-over that he cleared his throat and about scared the shit out of me.

"Jake," I almost yelled, "what the hell. You got to knock or something! Don't just unzip someone's tent and—"

With his eyes covered with his hand he turned red, "I said your name at least twenty times before I came in, and it wasn't even zipped up Laurel." Immediately I felt bad, yelling at him when I was at fault. I grabbed his hand, pulling it away from his eyes. "Sorry. And it's okay, I got something on underneath this anyway. You're fine," I said finally meeting his eyes for the first time in almost a month.

Some relief flushed through me, and it seemed through him too.

I couldn't take the starring at each other much longer, so I turned and took off my pull-over anyways. I opted for a thicker sweater anyways. As I was riffling through my bag, I came across almost none. It seemed the only thing I really packed was blankets, blankets, and more blankets. "Did you need something Jake," I asked, turning back to him. He was standing awkwardly in the middle of my tent, looking everywhere but at me mainly. I didn't find his new behavior weird or anything, just not Jake. It didn't bother me either, and it kind of upset me because I wasn't bothered by it.

"Yeah, I just came to tell you that everyone else already left to look for firewood, and I was going to ask you what you wanted to eat."

"What do we have?"

"Hotdogs..."

"And...?"

"Hotdogs..."

I laughed, "I guess hotdogs it is then."

Jake laughed too, softly, and only for a moment. Another shiver went down my spine, because it was cold still. "Hey, do you have a sweater," I asked heading towards the way he came in. He got out before I did, so I followed him to his tent; that was in the woods on the edge of the beach.

I wasn't surprised to see that Bella's stuff was also inside, but Jake directed me which way and that as if to hide it without me knowing. Just as he tossed a sweater at my face, he started to hustle me out. "Jake," I sighed, "it's not like I don't know Bella's staying in here tonight. So you don't have to try and hide it you know."

None the less I pulled the sweater over my face. We walked in silence back to the pit, where Embry and the Jared kid were putting practically logs into it. I laughed, because Embry was shirtless and trying to show off his muscles when he caught me in his line of sight. But the moment he turned, my laughter died in my throat.

On Embry's right arm, at the beginning of his shoulder; was a tattoo. I mean, he was my age. And I just turned seventeen. It was circular and looked Celtic. "When did you get a tat," I asked eyeing Jake out of the corner of my eye. He rolled his eyes, taking off without a word.

"This? Just a couple weeks back," he mummbled turning around so I couldn't see it again. I glaced at Jared, so see the same tattoo on the same arm. A couple weeks back, he started hanging out with Sam and his 'gang'.

I walked lazily towards him, "So to hang out with Sam and his goonies, you need to get tattoos? What else you do? Get shitfaced and run around naked?"

Jared laughed harshly behind me; "You don't know jack shit—so shut your damn mouth."

I turned on him just as quickly. Who the hell did this kid think he is? I stalked towards him, head cocked and ready to go. "Yeah? I don't know jack shit? Obviously you're the one that gets shitfaced and runs around naked like an idoit."

"You fucking bitch," he yelling dropping the wood and walking swiftly towards me. I pulled the sleeves of Jake's sweater up more, smirking. "Let's go."

He lunged at me, and all the while I could hear Embry yelling at Jared to knock it off and stop. It was only the three of us at the moment, but I'm sure with the commotion they were making someone else would come by in seconds.

I got out of the way before his arm came around like a sludge hammer. It was like I was a damn mexican jumping bean, the way I was jumping which way and that away from him. With his back turned towards me, I jumped onto it and tackled him to the ground. We rolled around a bit like Jake and I would used to. This time it was more rough and violent.

"Jared, back down damn it! You're going to seriously hurt her," Embry was screaming at the guy underneath me. I drew my fist back and slammed it back down across his nose. I was happy to see blood seep out and onto his tan skin. He almost growled and flipped us over.

He sneered in my face, a look of rage taken over. His blood started to drip onto my own, down my throat. "Shut the fuck up Embry. If she wants to play with the big dogs, this pup's got to learn her place," Jared yelled in rage. I laughed, loud and hard in his face before I spit in it.

A yell of rage filled my ears before he brought his fist back.

It wasn't until now that I realized that Jared was almost the size of a man. And he could really do damage to me. Where was Jake when I needed him?

Jared was flung off of me, more yells and screams echoing through my ears. Seems like my prayers were answered. Off to my left was Jake and Jared, fists flying words flinging back and forth, and it looked like Jared was about to be pumbled. "Don't you dare lay your fifthly hands on her you damn bastard," Jake screamed in Jared's face. I had to watch in horror as my best friend litterally beat the shit out of this stranger.

Jake's face scared me more than Jared's. The anger in his eyes, just pure hatred.

Now that I looked at Jared, he had two black eyes, his lip busted in three places, and even his nose had several bumps in it. I finally decided that I needed to stop this. It was going to get bad; quick. Jared was already coughing up something that looked a lot like blood. "Jake! Stop, it was my fault," I started yelling. Jake just continued to punch Jared in the stomach over and over.

Bella finally came running up hands in looking horrified. "What the hell happened?"

Screw it.

I jumped on his back and started to beat on his shoulders. "Jake! Listen to me damn it!"

Instead of listening to me—like I just said—he threw me off of him with an elbow to my gut. It also knocked the wind out of me, leaving me breathless. I gasped for breath, ignoring the rest of the shouts around me. Tears were already streaming down my face against my will. Next thing I knew, Bella was in my face; lips moving and nothing reaching my ears. Against my will I sat up, pain shooting through my stomach to see Embry pulling Jake off of Jared. Once he was completely off of the beaten teen; Jared got up and gathered Leah and Seth; leaving the beach all together.

Jake was trying to break free of Embry's hold; but it seemed to be useless. He broke out within seconds, face scrunching up into a grimace within seconds and stalking towards Bella and me. I couldn't help but just lay back down.

"Laurel," he whispered, right next to me the next second. I closed my eyes and let out a shaky breath. "Laurel, are you okay."

His hand grabbed mine, holding it in both of his own. I screamed.

"Hot! Jake your hand in burning me, let go," I yelled again.

He let go immediately, looking at his hands and then gripping his hair and face just like Bella did just moments before. She was whispereing something, looking back and forth between Jake and I. I rolled my head to the side to see Jake and Embry walking away, Embry talking into his ear as if it would help.

What the hell did I start?

Not one hotdog would stay down in my stomach. I threw up the first one, and the only one I had tried. After Jake and Embry got back, I had been able to get to my feet. We started cooking, no one really talking; about Jared and I, or Jake and I—or just plain anything.

Embry sat with me on one side of the pit, while Jake and Bella sat on the other.

Now wasn't the time to be thinking this, but I hated the way she looked at him. The look she was giving him was one of how she wanted to rip off his clothes and ravish him.

I don't know why; but I wanted to punch her in the face.

"So," Embry busted through my thoughts, "let's tell a story Jake." He looked up at us, still with a blank expression that he has had since Jared left with Leah and Seth. "Yeah," he said casually, "what should we tell?"

"How about," Embry smirked, "the Quileute Legend?"

At the words that were spoken right next to me, I shivered, and looked to the tattoo branded on Embry's arm. It was like instinct.

Jake laughed, getting up and helping Bella up in the process. They made their way over to us, sitting next to me. Well, Jake sat next to me, and Bella to his left. A slight shiver went through my spine, and against my will, I cringed. Everything was happening and I didn't want it to. So weird and yet so odd. None the less I shook my head clear of the thoughts, waiting for Jake to start his story.

"Well, this story has been passed down for many generations. The earliest I've heard it was when I was four. Embry's parents practically live by the crap," Jake laughed.

"It's not crap," Embry butted in, "Maybe I should tell it, the right way."

"There was a hero named Qwati, or Transformer. He was like a teacher. He told the people how they should be and taught them how to build houses and how to survive. Without the words Transformer, the Quileute tribe wouldn't have survived or prospered. The Transformer did not only influence the creation of people, he influenced the creation of animals as well.

"One day, he came upon Beaver sharpening his knife and asked him what he was sharpening the knife for. Beaver told him that he was planning on killing Transformer. In response, Transformer stuck the knife Beaver was sharpening into his tail and told Beaver that he will always have the knife stuck in his tail, could only slap the water with his tail, and had to dive whenever anyone came near.

"Later, Transformer came across Deer. Deer also admits that he is planning on killing Transformer. So, Transformer takes the shell Deer is sharpening and plunges it into the ear of Deer. He tells Deer that from now on, he will be afraid of people, run away from then, then stop and look back.

"Next Transformer came to the Qwayitasoxka river, but finds no people. He spits on his hand and rubs them together, removing the dead skin. As the dead skin falls into the water, people appear. He tells the people that the name of the tribe is Qwayitsox and that they should live there.

"Soon after, Transformer comes across the Hob people. These people walked on their hands, instead of their feet. Transformer goes up to them and tells them that they will now walk on their feet and will catch lots of smelt in the water.

"Transformer reaches the Quileute land. He doesn't see any people, but he sees two wolves. Transformer transforms the wolves into people. He tells the people that they shall be brave and strong and only have one wife, unless they are chief. A chief will be the only member of the tribe that is allowed to have four or eight wives.

"Going through the early ages of puberty, young men would venture out into the wilderness looking for the supernatural. Once found, he would return as a man.

"Later this was turned into something to scare everyone away. They say the Cullen's were hunters hunting on our ancestors' lands, which is La Push. Jake's great-great-grandfather, the chief, found them hunting deer. Some say that it was right here on this very beach that they made the treaty. But the Cullen's are forbidden from coming to La Push, and by our own choice, we refuse to go to Forks much."

"Are you saying that the Quileute tribes are descended from wolves," Bella blurted out laughing nervously. I rolled my eyes, I mean the story wasn't scary, but just plain weird.

I nudged Embry, pointing to Jake. "I think I agree with Jake; load of crap." The two of us laughed while Embry rolled his eyes.

He nudged me back. "I wouldn't be laughing if I were you Laurel. From what Billy has told me, your dad was Quileute, so that makes you a wee half-ling."

My dad was Quileute? I cocked an eyebrow at Jake, because even I myself didn't know this. Did Jake know this? His hand and fingers slithered through my hair, and did a quick sweep of his own spikey hair, "You got the black trade-mark hair girly."

I rolled my own eyes to him, and I almost regretted it, because his Jake smile was wide and toothy, and his brown eyes were shining, and his hand was tangled in my hair—and I wanted to just lean a bit closer towards him and run my hands all over his chest.

Suddenly I snapped myself out of it. What was I thinking? Jake was my best friend. I was with Alex, and I really liked him, and possibly love him...right?

I cleared my throat, standing up and letting Jake's hand fall from my hair. "I'm going to take a walk." Just as I was about to walk away, I saw Jake start to stand, so I sped up my pace. I couldn't have him come with me, when I was leaving to get away from him and get my mind off of him.

Even though it was dark, and I couldn't see anything, I got the inkling feeling that something was following me. I pushed the thought in the back of my head, continuing to walk out into the shoreline. The ice cold water nipped on my toes, in which I jumped back; but into something warm right behind me.

I almost screamed, but stopped myself at Embry's smirk. "You ass," I said as I smacked him on the chest. We laughed for a bit before I started to settle down and sit just out of the reach of the water. Embry sat next to me, carelessly slinging an arm over my shoulders. I tried to shrug it off, but he wasn't having any of it.

"You're upset with Jake, right," he asked. I stole a glance at him, to see him starring straight out at the water.

"No...Maybe...Yes..."

"It's the kiss, right," he asked, finally turning to look at me.

Everything tingled all over; Jake's face met my mind's vision. Embry was right, I was upset about our accidental kiss; I couldn't get him off my mind.

"He told you eh?"

"Yeah, and I let the dog out of the bag, and now Bella's mad at both of you."

"What? It was an accident. We're just friends."

Embry laughed, squeezing my shoulder, "There's some things, that not even you could understand Laurel. And it's going to be hilarious when everyone starts to understand; including yourself."

"I don't know what other crap you're spouting out now, but I've got to talk to Bella and clear this up. It was my fault and the last thing I need is for Jake to resent me because his girlfriend is pissed off at him."

Embry didn't stand with me, but instead opted to stay and sit a while longer. Leaving me with a message to send Jake over to him, that they needed to talk.

I was huffing and puffing do to all the walking I did when I finally got to Jake's tent. I was mainly huffing and puffing because of my stomach where Jake elbowed me. It still hurt, but I bet it would hurt more tomorrow in the morning. Just as I was about to speak out, and let the two know I was there, I heard my name.

"Where did Laurel go?" It was Jake.

"To take a walk, like she said, relax Jake." Bella.

"And Embry?"

"To make sure she's okay."

"More like to creep on her!"

"Jake! Embry wouldn't do something like that. He only does those things to annoy you and you know it."

"Bella I know it's just—"

"No Jake, you don't know. It's starting to ride on my nerves. I like you, a lot, and you know that. And I know how you feel, but I can't do this much more. It's always about—"

"Don't say it. Please don't."

"Jake... why didn't you tell me you kissed her?"

I could hear Jake sigh, mutter something, and reply. "I didn't. It was an accident."

"That's not what it sounded like from Embry."

"Embry doesn't know anything! He's just an ass okay?"

"You know, Edward likes me. A lot more than it seems you do."

"You know that's not true—"

"Yes it is! He takes me places, talks to me about myself, and doesn't dwell on some other—"

"You're breaking up with me, for Cullen?"

It was silent for a while, and I decided that if I needed to tell Bella what happened, it had to be now. I couldn't stand to set and hear them fight much longer.

"Yeah Jacob... I want to break up. I can't do this anymore."

"Please Bella, don't do this."

"I'm sorry Jake... I just... can't..."

The tent door started to unzip. Crap, I can't let her know I was eavesdropping! I quickly jumped out of the way, only to fall into the bushes and a rather large rock into my stomach where my soon to be bruise was forming. I bit back my groan as I watched Bella stalk away. Only after she was out of site did I roll over and finally moan in pain. The tent door opened, to a teary eyed Jake. The moment that he saw me, he was kneeling down next to me and helping me to my knees.

"Laurel, what are you doing," Jake sniffed out in between a hard breath or two. I touched my stomach lightly, "I didn't mean to eavesdrop, it was an accident. I came to talk to... well Bella and Embry wanted you to talk to him; and... God, I'm sorry. We should have told her and Alex."

Jake's oversized hands rubbed palms into his eyes, then ran his fingers down his face. He shook his head, as if trying to erase the thought and everything else from his mind. After his hands pulled away, they rested on his knees, just crouching next to me. Eyes red and heaving breathing; just the sight was tearing me at the seems.

"J-jake," I whispered, "come here."

Hesitantly, he fell to his knees before wrapping his arms around me.

With his face in my neck, tears flowing down my throat and socking my shirt; and all the other shit going through my mind—I didn't want to be anywhere but here. With my best friend, as he bawled his eyes out.

And me right behind him.