Disclaimer: I do not own any part of Twilight. And the song credit goes to All Time Low.

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"Don't forget we've got unfinished business

Stories yet to unfold

Tales that must be retold

And I regret not knowing

When to put an end to all this madness

Keeps me wanting, keeps me wanting more"

Running From Lions

"Shouldn't you ask Kate to go with you?"

He had that pleading look in his eyes; the look I had a hard time resisting and I was pretty sure he knew that. Stupid best friends.

"Kate is not ready for my family." Derek stated. "Especially a wedding."

Derek's cousin was getting married next weekend back in his lovely home state of Maryland; clear across the freaking continent. I had heard stories about his family and frankly, I wasn't sure if I was ready to meet them either.

"So it's okay to throw me to the wolves?" I questioned, not realizing my pun until it was already out of my mouth. I held back a giggle and waited for Derek's answer.

"You're not a potential mate; therefore you are safe." Derek replied. "Besides you won't have to pay for anything; just please say you'll come with me?"

"Alright, but you owe me."

"I knew there was a reason I kept you around!"

"Thanks Derek, that really makes me feel special."

After he walked away, once again leaving me alone with the books and my thoughts, I realized that I'd be gone for a long weekend. Paul wouldn't like that, but he trusted Derek and he would have to get over it. I'd make him some of my famous cookies that he loved; that would shut him up.

When I got home Paul was in the kitchen making a huge pot of spaghetti. I was surprised at how much he was domesticated. He cooked decent meals, he kept things mostly clean, and he let me use him as a human heating pad.

"It smells yummy in here." I commented as I walked up behind him and placed a kiss on the bottom of his chin.

"How was work?"

"Well…Derek asked me to go with him to his cousin's wedding next weekend." I stated slowly.

"Doesn't he have a girlfriend for that?"

"He doesn't think she's ready for that, and I agreed to go with him."

He turned to face me and settled his hands on my hips, pulling me into him. He didn't look angry; instead he looked a little lusty. Well, I guess I wouldn't have to make cookies tonight.

"I'll miss you." He whispered huskily as he bent to kiss my pulse point.

I turned to catch his lips for a kiss, but he moved away to stir the sauce. Bastard.

***

The plane ride had been horrendous. First, Derek had insisted on having the window seat so he wouldn't get nauseous, thus resulting in my elbow being jabbed by the bitchy flight attendant's cart. After that fiasco I had tried to watch the in flight movie, but Derek kept jabbing away about the newest books he ordered.

I was exhausted by the time we landed in Maryland, and a bit cranky. Derek's younger brother was supposed to pick us up and according to Derek he probably would be late. Sure enough, after we grabbed our luggage we sat down to wait fifteen minutes before Derek stood up and greeted what I assumed was his brother.

Damien Thomas was at least three inches taller than his older brother with black hair and surprisingly bright eyes. He looked right past Derek and at me; a slow smirk appearing on his face. Oh, so that was what Derek had meant about him being a player. Great.

"So this is Hallie?" He questioned, his voice as smooth as silk.

Derek narrowed his eyes at him and took a protective step back towards me. Oh, how I loved Derek sometimes.

"Yes, it is. Did I tell you how big Hallie's boyfriend is?"

Way to be subtle, Derek.

With that said we gathered up our luggage and followed Damien out of the airport and to his little car. I spent most of the car ride looking out the window very aware that Damien was watching me in the rear view mirror. Didn't he take a hint? Obviously not; this was going to be one hell of a weekend.

***

I was getting out of the car when I noticed him; a man that looked very much like the really white guy outside the kitchen window all those months ago. He was standing at the end of the street by the stop sign, watching me. I glanced around to see if possibly he was looking at something else, but of course he wasn't.

Chills raced up and down my spine and I quickly followed after Derek into his parent's house. He sent me a strange look as I clung to his arm but didn't say anything. I breathed a sigh of relief once the door was closed behind us and forced a smile at his waiting parents.

"This is the girlfriend?" His Dad questioned a bit mischievously. "Ah, she's a good one. Nice-"

"Dad." Derek cut him off. "This is my friend, Hallie. Kate, my girlfriend, couldn't make it."

What a smooth liar! He didn't even miss a beat.

"Well that's too bad, but this one will do for the weekend." His Dad chuckled, his blue eyes crinkling around the corners.

"Shut up, Jim. Hello Hallie, I'm Tracy."

His mother seemed to be the only sane one in the house. Jim kept sending me looks that clearly stated that he liked what he saw, Damien was doing the same only more pervy and Derek was…well Derek. I already felt comfortable around Tracy, so I followed her into the kitchen, leaving Derek to take my luggage up to his old room that we would be sharing.

"Is Derek behaving himself over there?" She questioned as she pulled out a casserole dish from the oven.

"Yeah I guess he is. He's an okay boss and he even took me in." I replied easily.

"I guess I never really have been worried about Derek." She smiled. "It's Damien. Watch out for him honey, I saw the way he looked at you. Although he is my son and I love him, I still think he's an ass."

With Tracy's warning and my own instincts I spent the rest of the night close to either Derek or his mother. After a delicious dinner of his mother's secret recipe casserole, I headed up to Derek's room to make a private phone call.

"Hi Mom."

"The plane ride went okay?" She questioned.

"Yeah, and Derek's Mom is really nice."

"That's good; oh Jake wants to talk to you!"

I waited as Mom passed the phone off; the shuffling noise right in my ear. Once it ceased I waited to hear Jake's deep voice.

"I've got news." He stated.

"What?"

"I imprinted." He whispered.

"That's great! On who?"

He didn't sound too excited. Shouldn't he be happy to have found his special someone? Especially after that fiasco with that Swan girl turning into a vampire right before she got married?

"I imprinted on…Kate."

"What?!"

No! Not after all that perfect planning with Derek! I was happy for Jake, but Derek would hate me! I had been the one to 'nonchalantly' push her on him; just to find out that all along she had been meant for Jake; my stepbrother. Fate is such a cruel mistress.

"I can't help it; she's…everything."

"I thought you had met her before?"

"Before I turned into a wolf; years ago. When we were kids!"

"I'm really happy for you Jake, and don't worry about Derek okay? I'll figure something out."

We hung up shortly after that, leaving me wondering what the hell I was going to do. Derek really liked Kate and I knew that Kate really liked him. The poor girl probably had no clue what the hell to do. I'd have to talk to her and then talk to Derek. For now, I would give Derek the best weekend of his life…even if we were surrounded by his crazy family.

***

My plan backfired. Kate called right before we left for the wedding and told Derek everything…or at least everything she could tell him. He was not happy to say the least and thus abandoned me at the reception to indulge at the bar.

I was sitting at one of the tables all by myself staring down at the red material of my dress feeling like shit. I shouldn't have come with him and I shouldn't have ever pushed Kate on him. I should have learned that meddling in people's affairs caused nothing but trouble and heartbreak for someone in the end.

"Care to dance?"

It was Damien. I had to admit he was rather good looking in his shirt and tie and he did have a rather charming smile. But that didn't stop the warning signals from going off in my head. Tracy's voice echoed in my head as he pouted at my expressionless face.

"One dance?" He pleaded.

What could one little dance hurt? "Alright."

I put my hand in his hand and let him lead me to the dance floor. His touch wasn't anything like Paul's. Paul's left a fire, not only from his actual body temperature but from so much more. Damien's hands were kind of clammy and nasty.

It was a slow song so I had to let Damien's hands drop to my waist and wrap my own arms around his neck. Yet again I couldn't help but compare the feel of his hands on my hips to Paul. It wasn't right, none of it was. But I had to dance with the guy; I couldn't just walk off after I had agreed to dance with him.

He was behaving himself until I felt his hand slowly start to travel south towards my ass. I stepped on his foot and gave him a look before I turned my gaze back past his shoulder to where Derek sat at the bar. Damien's hand had retreated back to its original position just in time for the song to end. I pulled away from him and walked away before he even had a chance to utter a word.

I made my way towards the bar and took a seat on the stool next to Derek. He had three shot glasses in front of him and he looked at me with a funny expression of his face. Great, the guy couldn't hold his alcohol.

"Your stepbrother." He slurred.

"I'm sorry Derek, I really am. Look, there's a special lady out there for you have faith!"

"Hallie…just shut up." He sighed. "It's not your fault."

We sat there in silence for a while until something caught my attention. One of the waiters looked like that creepy guy! He was watching me! I immediately tensed up and grabbed Derek's hand from where it rested limply on his thigh.

"Derek, we have to leave."

"What?" He slurred as he pulled his hand from mine.

I grabbed his arm this time and stood up, pulling him up along with me. He swayed a bit but I steadied him and looked him straight in the eyes.

"We. Have. To. Leave. Now." I demanded. "So, give me your keys and let's get the hell out of here."

"Is this a come on? I can't do that to Paul! He'd kill me! And you are my best friend! I have pictured you naked before, but I-"

"Shut up!"

I plunged my hand in his pocket, which really didn't help his suspicion much, but I had to get out of here; I could feel the creepy white guy's gaze on me. I finally pulled out his keys, grasped his arm firmly, and dragged him to the parking lot.

After I successfully shoved him into his old beat up car, I ran around and hopped in the driver's side. I practically tore rubber out of the parking lot and didn't breathe easy until we were far away from the reception hall.

Derek was almost asleep by the time I pulled into the driveway. I slapped him awake and started to pull him from the car before he could close his eyes again.

"Come on Derek! I can't carry you!" I yelled as I supported his weight up the stairs to the front door.

Once we were in the house I dropped him on the couch and went back to lock the door. I made sure the dead bolt was turned and then headed to the back door to check that one. It wasn't until I was sitting next to Derek's passed out form on the couch that I finally admitted to myself what that man was.

He was a vampire, and he was following me.