Don't own anything but Erin

I froze, looking at them one at a time. It scared me that Jake was on Sam's right, like he was a second-in-command or something. I glared at Sam, trying, and failing, to burn holes in his head. Sam met my gaze, unfazed. I think my blood actually boiled when Sam decided to look over my head, right at Seth. I now saw what Seth was always talking about. Sam looked at him like a doctor examining a patient for symptoms, like he was waiting for an infection to set in.

Seth's arm tightened around mine, "Come on, 'Rin. My Dad's waiting in the car."

I almost let Seth guide me all the way to the door before I pulled away, turning to Sam. "Stay away from him!" I snapped, eyes locked on Sam Uley, telling him, in one look, that if he went anywhere near my best friend, he'd pay. Then I clasped Seth's hand, dragging him out behind me, not even stopping to say goodbye to my cousin or Uncle.

Harry was, as Seth had said, sitting in his car, waiting for us. Spotting Seth and I, he popped the trunk. I climbed into the backseat while Seth put my stuff away. Harry looked at me in the mirror, smiling. Seth's father was like my crazy uncle; I gave him a very fake smile back. He opened his mouth like he was about to speak when Seth climbed in, choosing the backseat with me.

Looking over, Seth gave me his amazingly sweet smile, and this time when I responded, it was not fake. Seth has this magic in him; he always knew the best way of making me feel better. Maybe that was why I kept him around...

I spent the night in Seth's room which part of me hated, because Seth had to camp out on the couch, but the other part was way too tired to care. Being so angry was exhausting so I passed out the second my head hit the pillow.

In my dream, I was standing in the woods, giggling. I didn't even know what was funny, but I couldn't stop the bubbling laughter. I heard a rustle behind me and turn quickly, "I know you're there, dork!" I called, grinning.

A huge, horse-sized wolf leapt from the trees, starting to circle me, eyes never leaving mine. I laughed and rolled my eyes, "You can't scare me." I said in a singsong voice.

The wolf stopped, cocking its head to the side. I admired its glossy, sandy colored fur, stepping forward to run my fingers through it. The wolf watched me, our eyes meeting. His were warm and brown and loving and achingly familiar. Butterflies fluttered to life in my stomach and I shook my head, smiling.

There was a howl and another wolf ran into the clearing. This one didn't scare me either; it had red/brown fur and a determined gaze. My wolf met the gaze and nodded, glancing at me with pleading eyes before following the other wolf away.

My heart sunk and my heart seemed to tug in my chest. I knew my wolf was in mortal danger, very likely to never return to me. It wasn't a question, just something I instinctually knew beyond a doubt.

Panic coursed through my veins and I swallowed down a scream. Shaking, I felt tears leak out and tried to blink them away but it was too late. I'd never see him again, my wolf, and that pain was too great. It was like walking around without my heart, which had gone with him.

I gasped, sitting up. Cold sweat had formed on my forehead and down my back, my slippery hands twisted in the sheets I clutched. What was that? My heart was pounding in my ears as I looked over at Seth's alarm clock. 5:45am, might as well start getting ready for school.

The feeling of uneasiness in the pit of my stomach didn't go away, no matter how hard I tried to push the dream out of my mind. I got dressed shakily, and jumped when someone knocked on Seth's bedroom door. I shook my head, feeling silly. Sighing, I opened the door. Seth stood there, looking less than half awake.

"Morning, 'Rin." He gave me a groggy half smile and my palms felt weirdly sweaty again.

My body relaxed and my shaking stopped, relief flooding through me. The mere sight of my best friend made it easier to just breathe. I smiled in response, a mixture of relief and odd warmth spreading through me. The fluttery feeling I'd experienced in my dream burst to life in the pit of my stomach, "Morning, dork."

A jolt hit me, fast and hard. Dork, the nickname I'd given Seth when we were little. Dork and 'Rin, two peas in a pod, I'd never call anyone else the same thing, or at least not in the same way. But I'd called the wolf from my dream Seth's nickname. My smile had faded and I passed Seth, heading downstairs.

It doesn't mean anything, I told myself, dreams are just dreams.

Besides, what could it mean anyway? I named a random wolf after Seth? That didn't even make sense.

The kitchen-dining room combo was buzzing with life. Leah, Seth's older sister, was bickering with Sue, while Harry sat at the table, chomping on some bacon. Leah is crazy pretty, like I wished I looked like her. Her skin was flawless and a copper color, feathery eyelashes framed her dark eyes, and her black hair fell to her mid back straight and glossy. I mean my long, curly brown hair, olive skin, and blue eyes had nothing on her.

Leah was the first to notice me, glancing my way and nodding a hello. Sue followed her daughter's gaze and grinned at me. "Good morning, Erin. How did you sleep?" She asked, sitting me at the table with Harry and setting a plate in front of me.

"Good," I lied through my teeth.

Leah gave Sue a look that said, are we going to finish this or not?

Sue returned her look with a sigh and shake of the head. Leah didn't like that, "Ugh!" She yelled, running upstairs, "Out of the way, Loser."

A couple seconds later, Seth stumbled in, sitting next to me, causing an odd quickening in my pulse. He grabbed some breakfast, ungracefully inhaling it. "Hey mom, what's up with Leah today?"

Sue gave him a look, finally sitting to eating with us, "What's always wrong."

Seth rolled his eyes and continued eating. I glanced at him, before returning to shoving my eggs around the plate, on autopilot. What could one dumb dream mean? And why couldn't I stop obsessing over it? So what I named some giant horse/wolf after my best friend? People do that all the time, right? Totally normal.

I walked into school next to Seth, glancing around. I guess some small part of me still had hopes of seeing Jake, leaning against his locker, joking with his other best friend Quil, like always. A part of me was silently wishing that Jacob would just go back to the way he always was, not whatever had changed.

But Jacob Black so nowhere near this building, and I had figured as much. Quil Ateara, however, was still waiting by my cousin's locker, holding onto hope. I grabbed Seth's arm and crossed the hall, towards Quil. Jake's best childhood friends were Embry and Quil. With Embry running off with Sam and now Jake following suit, Quil was all alone.

When the boy spotted me, he grinned for a second then grimacing. I knew he'd noticed Jacob's absence. "Hey Quil!" I greeted him, warmly.

Seth smiled at him, "Hey, man. What's up?"

Quil faked a small smile and shrugged, "Nothing much, what's up with you?" He looked at me. I shrugged, faking a smile too. "Jake sick?" His words were posed carefully, the deeper question beneath abundantly clear to me. I let the plastic smile on my face slip and frowned, shaking my head, slowly.

Quil got the message, groaning and falling back against Jacob's locker. "First Embry, now Jacob." He shook his head in dismay, "Who's next?"

A chill went down my spine and I looked at Seth from the corner of my eyes, checking to make sure he was still there. Which was totally ridiculous because where could he have gone for the second my eyes were off of him? And there he was, resolutely by my side. However, easy-going Seth was gone, temporarily replaced with a tense, troubled looking one. I swallowed and crossed my arms, looking back at Quil. "No one's next. If Sam touches anyone else, he'll pay."

God, I had no clue how hopeless that statement was back then.