Chapter 2

Seth's POV~

IT was eight years later after I met Sky. To our mother's delight we had become best friends. I guess the play dates paid off. But I think it really started about a month after Sky moved to La Push. She had developed a crush on nine year old Jacob Black.

It wasn't a big one, just kid stuff. But my father and his father were the "elders" and often had friends over for bonfires.

My mom would invite Caroline, but as time went on, she became more distant. She always made sure to send Sky, though. My mother didn't mind. She claimed to my father, Harry, in hushed tones that Sky was, "Sweater and less of a handful when she was away from her mother."
It was true. Anyways, Jacob Black, Embry Call, and Quil Ateara had always been a pack. And Sky loved to hang out with them. Jacob realized her crush on him on day when he over heard the gossiping parents discussing it.

Nine year old Jacob walked up to five year old Sky and asked, "Do you like me?" in front of Embry, Quil, Leah, and me.

Sky's devious, liquid blue eyes sparkled as she grinned. "Yep! You're cute." She told him, without any trace of shame. I remember all our jaws dropping, a stab of jealously on my part. Jacob had just laughed. "You're cute too." And after that they were known as "a cute little couple" for about a year.

That's how she began to hang out with me. I was at Jacob's often, along with my parents, and so was she. After a little while my crush on her wore off and I never saw her as anything but Sky, my best friend, after that.

It was those eight years later we began to feel left out. Sam Uley and his "gang" –including Paul and Jared- had "captured" Embry. Jacob had begun to spend all his time with an old friend, Bella Swan, so it was just Quil, Sky and me. Quil didn't feel the same for a while. Jacob had joined the crew also and Sky and I couldn't fill the void of Embry and Jake.

The Quil got the flu. Just like Jake and Embry. And before we knew it, he was in the La Push gang with everyone else.

Now it was just me and Sky. We swore to each other we would never join the gang.

I was the one to break the promise.

I was in my ninth grade English class and I had to give a speech. I was always a confident kid, so this should've been a piece of cake. I began to speak when all of a sudden the room began to sway. Or was that just me?

I leaned back on the chalk board for support and saw my teachers lips moving, but I couldn't make out what he was saying. Then I was dashing down the hall, mouth covered. My high school was combined with Junior High, and I passed Sky's seventh grade class. Sky was coincidentally walking out of the room. I saw her worried expression.

Her hair, which had shaded from light brown to a light aburn. Her big, crystal, liquid blue eyes –covered by her dark long eyelashes- were pushed down by her light brown eye brows furrowing in worry. Her pink lips were slightly parted and her nose crinkled a bit.

I took all this in, in less then half a second as I rushed to the bathroom. I was sent home with the flu. I lay in my bed and in walked Sam Uley and the elders. I felt an angry growl build up in my chest, which surprised me. Sam pulled up a chair and sat by my bed.

He began to speak as I glared. He talked about growing and my body changing; I thought he was giving me a puberty speech. Next he talked about mythological creatures –vampires and werewolves. "Vampires are unnatural beings, and a danger to humans. Which is why I exist. Why we exist. To protect humans from them. Why you exist." He said the last part carefully. I literally thought he was off his nut.

"What the heck are you talking about?" I asked him, slightly annoyed. Sam stared at me. "The La Push gang… And you… We're werewolves." My eyes widened. He was crazy! I looked to my dad, waiting for him to grin and say, "Gotcha!" His face was dead serious.

"Crap…" I muttered, then after thinking about it for a moment, I grinned. "That's… So awesome! Wait 'till I tell Sky!" Sam shook his head. "No. No one is suppose to know. No one that doesn't need to know. Sky doesn't need to know." I stared at him, wide eyed. He didn't want me to tell my best friend?! My mouth was dropped open in annoyance. "Let me explain." Sam insisted.

"Werewolves, though we're protectors… At a young age they're very unpredictable. And bring a lot of danger. Anyone who knows can be a target as bait, or if we get angry… We morph… Anyone near will get hurt." His face was pained as he talked. I thought of Emily and gasped. He nodded.

"It's better, for now, to stay away from her." He told me. I thought of the once very pretty Emily, and half of her body covered in scars. I didn't want that to happen to Sky. I couldn't let that happen. I wouldn't. I tried to think of how to break it to Sky, that we couldn't be friends.

I had to do it harshly, that was my only choice. She was too perceptive. She would know right away something was wrong if I gave her time to think it over. And she had a way of being able to pull things out of me.

To my great dismay, my phone rang, breaking my thoughts. And as luck would have it, it was Sky herself. "Seth?" She asked, her tone worried. I sighed. "Sky…" I muttered. Sam watched me carefully. My voice came out raspy. "Sky, I'm really sick. Sorry, but I can't talk." I was quiet a moment, as was Sky.

"Look Sky, I don't know how to say this, so I'm just going to say it." I said, my tone harsh. "Seth… What's wrong?" She asked. Damn, she could already sense something was wrong. "Look Sky, I'm sorry, but I'm done being your friend." I winced as I imagined her full, pink lips spreading apart to make an "o" and her big eyes widening.

"It's just… Nothing to me." I felt my eyes burn. "Seth, what's going on?" I heard her voice trembling. Crap, I was going to make my best friend, the strongest girl I knew, the one who always laughed, cry. "I just told you."
And I slammed down the phone. Sky called many times after that day, even tried to come over a few times. I avoided her, though. I wouldn't even look out the window to see her face. I even started home-schooling. It was about 3 weeks after that when I got the news from Jake.

"Sky's mother is making her move to Port Angilis with her and her boyfriend." I felt a sad lump in my throat. But maybe it was for the best. I didn't go to the goodbye party. That day on the phone was the last time I talked to Sky Niigato.