Hi Guys! This chapter was fun for me to write, but at the same time pretty tough because I had so many ideas however I didn't know how to organize and put it all together. I do take time to carefully plan out every chapter because I want this story to actually have meaning, make sense, and keep all of you interested. Thank you for your support so far! (: Read, review, and enjoy.

Also please check out my Photobucket page for this story where you can find character banners and all that fun stuff! (: http : / s1123 .photobucket . com/albums/l543/ImLikeMonica/

"God damn it, Karaline! Open the fucking door!" I screamed as I banged on it with my fists. Suddenly I was reminded of yesterday when she had yet again been in the bathroom for over an hour. Did she think that werewolves don't take showers? This was the only bathroom in the house… that worked.

"Wait, I'm almost ready," I heard her muffled voice on the other side along with some shuffling. I felt the fire grow inside of me as a growl rumbled in my throat.

"If your ass isn't in the car in the next two minutes, then you're going to be stuck wearing the same clothes with no toothbrush for the rest of the week!" I threatened.

"Okay!" she called back in her high pitched voice. "I'm done," the girl said just as she finally opened the door. I rolled my eyes as I turned to head downstairs to the car. I could sense that today was going to be a tough one.

• •

"You have one hour," I remembered saying in the car… three hours ago. After constant aggravation from her complaints about not having any clean clothes or toiletries, I had agreed to take Karaline shopping at Madison Street where there were small stores and clothing boutiques. I made sure that we arrived early in the morning when no one except employees were around so I could keep a close eye on her. Of course I had strongly refused to take the girl out in public at first, but after realizing that her complaining would only worsen with every passing hour for the next five days, I made an exception.

I sat there staring at the shopping bags on the floor in front of me as I leaned against a mannequin. I had lost track of how many stores we had been to since Karaline always had an excuse to tag me along to the store next door. The girl never stopped.

"Karaline," I groaned, "Let's go," I declared for the fourth time. I heard shuffling come from the dressing room across from me.

"Okay, hold on," she called out in her little voice. My head snapped up as a growl grew in my throat. I only ask a question politely once.

"Get your ass out here now," I warned, carefully controlling the volume of my voice so that I wouldn't scare the sales lady at the front of the store.

"Alright! Calm down," Karaline replied. A few seconds later she emerged from the dressing room with a pile of clothes in her arm. "I'm done," she smiled, satisfied. I glared at her.

"Are you trying to take advantage of me?" I asked eyeing the pile. "This is not a shopping spree. You do not need all of those clothes."

"Do you know how cold it gets in your house?" she asked, placing a hand on her hip. "It's winter!" I took in a deep breath, trying to calm myself as my blood began to boil.

I stood up stiffly and took out my wallet. I was in no mood to argue. I don't think I even had anymore argument left in me. She was fucking unbelievable. "Hurry," I growled, as I handed her the credit card, painfully. She stared up at me with her innocent eyes and an apologetic smile.

"Thank you," she squeaked. I turned on my heels and grabbed all the shopping bags on the floor before heading to the car outside. I was sure this girl's mission was to clear my bank account.

• •

Karaline's Point of View

"Thank you!" I said as I took the card from Derek. I turned towards the cashier with the stack of clothes in my arms as he headed to the car. After going through a couple stores, I had finally found a place that had decent clothes that actually fit me. Though I was extremely happy to be out of the house, I felt pretty guilty. It was bad enough that Derek had to take me shopping and pay for it since I didn't have my wallet with me, but I could also see that he was very uncomfortable with me being out in public just in case something happened. Though there were no customers around since it was so early, Derek was on high alert while watching me.

With Derek's exit, the bell on the entrance door rung just as I reached the cashier. She was a tall, slim woman with long blond hair and gorgeous features. She was probably only a couple years older than me. It didn't look right for her to be standing behind a register since she looked like she belonged on a runway. Intimidated, I was.

"Did you find everything okay?" she smiled at me with her perfect teeth as she began to scan my items.

"Yes, thank you," I smiled back. I could feel my self-confidence dwindling down as I continued to gawk at her flawlessness. We were silent for a moment as she continued to scan.

"Is he your boyfriend?" she asked suddenly. I looked up at her with wide eyes unsure of who she was speaking to, even though I was well aware that I was the only one in the store.

"I'm sorry?" I asked.

"Is that guy that was just in here your boyfriend?" she questioned again as she nodded towards the front of the store. I looked out the windows of the storefront to where she was staring, to find Derek getting into the car parked directly outside. I unintentionally let out a sigh. The man looked like a model with his leather jacket and black Camaro. Though he had some temper issues and wasn't exactly the nicest person, Derek definitely got an A-plus in the looks department – the man was gorgeous.

"Um, no,"I mumbled, shaking my head. The woman looked up at me with bright eyes.

"Oh?" she said with a smile playing at her lips. "Is he your friend?"

I hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to answer. "He's my bodyguard," I lied, however, to some extent it was true. I ignored the woman's reaction. I swiped Derek's card as the woman began typing on the register and bagging all the items before turning away from the desk for a moment. When she turned back, she handed me my bags along with a piece of paper in her other hand.

"If you don't mind giving this to him?" she requested with a smile. I stared at the piece of paper in her hand for a moment as I grabbed my bags from the other. Was she really doing what I think she was doing? Slowly I reached up, took the paper from her and unfolded it. Suddenly my jaw hardened as I felt my blood boil inside.

I looked up at the girl with a smirk. "Ofcourse I will, Cassidy," I said as I refolded the piece of paper with her name and number on it. She stared at me with excitement in her eyes.

"Yay!" she replied, looking as if she was going to start jumping up and down. What a bitch, I thought asI smiled as her slyly before turning to head out the door. I could feel Derek's eyes on me as I stepped outside and tossed the crumpled paper into the trash can by the entrance. My head began to gently throb in what seemed like anger and suddenly my heart started to quicken – to my surprise, a moment later, Derek was at my side with panic in his eyes.

"Calm down, Karaline," he said trying to hide the alertness in his voice. I looked up at him in with my eyebrows pulled together.

"What are you talking about? I'm fine, Derek," I lied. A scowl started to form on his face.

"I heard your heart beat increase," he stated. I looked away from him. I had completely forgotten about his extra hearing abilities. "What happened in there? What did she say to you?" he asked.

"Nothi-"

"Karaline?" I heard someone call out my name abruptly. I turned around to see who had interrupted me. Suddenly my mouth fell open as I stared in disbelief at the person standing in front of me.

"Scott?"