A/N: Special thanks to brightglo and RANDOM COOKIE NINJA for their reviews. ^.^ Here's chapter 4, enjoy!

Chapter 4: Truce

Seth was a very good student. He was a quick learner and took in everything I told him with complete seriousness. Which pretty much had him getting things right the first time around. That was probably a good thing since I wasn't the most patient person.

His was quite happy to sit in the car and let me explain things to him all day. He even skipped lunch in favour of having the engine explained to him in full detail. Of course, I'd left out some of the 'improvements' that had been done to it, but he was very keen on meeting Tyler. Master of all things car-upgrading related in Seth's eyes. Ty would be thrilled.

Our lessons stopped, though, when Sam had appeared and waved us over, my pupil had then had to go help Paul with something. I'd found it rather strange, why can't Paul handle his own damn problems? Seth was my adoptive brother, goddamit.

I'd let it go though, knowing how the res worked, and promised him we'd pick up where we left off. I think he was worried I'd go while he was away and that hurt more then I'd expected it to.

When I got back to Sam's Jacob was sitting on the front step and he watched every step I took towards him, seemingly enthralled by the way I walked. I raised an eyebrow cautiously when he stood and smiled shyly at me.

"Hey, Evie," His voice was deep and husky and I searched his face for a bruise but found none. I frowned. 'Why wasn't there a bruise?'

"How did it go?" He asked.

'There should have been a bruise, a big one. I got him good.' My pride complained greatly at this, didn't the boy bruise?

He waved a hand in front of my face. "Eva?"

I blinked. "What?"

"I asked how it went…with Seth." He added, lowly and a small scowl appeared on his face.

I stepped around him. "Great, he's doing really well." I heard him growl behind me then his heavy footsteps as he followed me inside. The place was deserted, oddly enough. It felt weird for it to be so quiet and still.

"What's so great about Seth?" He snapped

'Alright, that does it!' Whirling around, I was a little startled that he was only about a foot in front of me, but got over it quickly and glared at him. "What is your problem? Really, tell me, I want to know! Your behaviour is not acceptable, Black! I won't put up with you talking to him, or about him, like that, ever. Seth is the closest thing I have to a brother and I've neglected him for a long time. Not that it's any business of yours who I spend my time with, so just back off!"

He blinked and looked at me guiltily, his shaking subsiding slowly. 'What is it with the shaking?' "I'm sorry, Evie." He reached out to me but I slapped his hand away and stepped back further.

"I want an explanation, now." I folded my arms. "Since you obviously don't take any notice when I tell you to leave me alone-since your still here. So, I want to know why."

"Why?" He repeated slowly, rubbing the back of his neck nervously.

"Yes, that's what I said. So there isn't anything wrong with your hearing after all."

He gave me another of his unreadable looks. "I just want to spend some time with you. I missed you."

"Right, that's why Embry and Quil are harassing me to."

"They're what?"

"See? That's what I'm talking about. What is that reaction? It's not normal, Black, and I refuse to be apart of your stupid game." I spun on my heel and started towards the stairs.

"Wait! Please, just give me a chance. We were friends before weren't we? Can't we at least try and get that back?" He sounded desperate, like his life depended on me granting what he wanted.

No one survives long when their lives depend on me. "If I hear of you giving my little brother shit again, you'll regret it."

"Evie please!"

"Goodbye, Black." 'You crack brained, steroid taking, loopy, hot, idiot.' Urgh. Just shut up brain, okay? Just be quiet.

Gah, this place is just so strange. Thank god I don't actually live here anymore. Maybe I could just take Leah and Sue and Seth back to New York for a holiday? That could work. I made a mental note to ask them later, but right now I need a shower.

The rest of the day was slow and uneventful. I didn't see anyone apart from Sam, Emily and Tash again, so dinner that night was a much calmer affair.

"How long do you think you'll be able to stay?" Tasha asked as we helped clean up.

I shrugged unknowingly. "Who knows, I only said I'd be out of town for three days. I could just put myself on call, but I'm so far away I'd need lots of warning. What about you?" She had her own florist business at home.

"I've got a week off, but Reece is graduating from Uni so I have to be back in time for that." She replied. Reece was her boyfriend of nineteen months and was just about to finish his major in Phycology. I don't particularly like him, mostly because every time I see him he tries to get inside my head and 'figure me out'.

"Uh huh, isn't it wonderful dating a guy who works with nutcases?"

She rolled her eyes and gave me a look. "There's nothing wrong with Reece, he's a great guy."

"He's a pain in the arse and a nosy git."

"He does sound a little sketchy…" Sam imputed, as he dropped the dishes in the sink.

"How is it the only thing you two will agree on is that you don't like my boyfriend?" Tash asked.

Sam and I traded a look- we traded a look! –and shrugged. "Must mean we're right then," I said cheekily. "If he tries to guinea pig me again I'll see to it that he never reproduces."

Sam chuckled and Tasha groaned. "What if I marry him? Then what, will you never come see me again?"

"I shall pray that you don't marry him and if you do, I'll only be seeing you when he isn't there." She scowled at me and handed me a towel to wipe up as Sam washed. I nearly groaned out loud.

"I think I'll have to meet him," The massive man next to me said.

I snorted. "You don't want to, unless you plan on scaring him off." I didn't hate Sam that much to submit him to Reece's torture. I leaned closer to him so Tasha didn't hear. "His full name is Reece Albert Mental, no joke."

Sam's eyebrows shot to the top of his head. "And he's going to be a psychiatrist?"

I nodded. "What would the slogan be? 'See Dr. Mental and get your mental problems fixed?" We were silent for a moment before dissolving into laughter, affectively gaining Emily and Tash's attentions.

"Not that I'm not thrilled that you pair seem to be getting along," Tasha said, fixing us both with stern looks. "But couldn't you have bonded over something else then laughing at Reece's expense?"

I grinned. "Probably not, you've got to admit though; having a psychiatrist named Reece Mental, is pretty funny."

She tried and failed to fight off the smile. "Maybe…"

Sam and I laughed again.

"Listen, Evie," Sam started nervously as the laughter died down and the other two ventured into the living room. "Do you think we could start over? Or make a truce?"

I raised my eyebrows. "A truce, between us?"

"I know I'm not your favourite person, and we were never that close to start with, but I'd really like us to be friends." Now, why did that speech sound familiar?

"I still think you're an arse for what you did to Leah." I said bluntly.

He grimaced. "I think I'm an arse for what I did to Leah, it wasn't intentional and I really didn't mean to hurt her…"

"Sam, you dumped her for her cousin, how does that not mean to hurt her?"

"I know I know, but I didn't plan it. I just…loved Emily more. I didn't think it was fair to be with her when I didn't have those feelings for her anymore." He did look genuinely sorry, but forgiving him felt like betraying Leah.

I sighed. "She's my best friend. I don't know if I can forgive you for breaking her heart, even if you are my cousin. However," I chewed on my bottom lip thoughtfully. It was blatantly obvious that he loved Emily with every inch of his being, and he was trying to make an effort here. Maybe it was time to lighten up on him. "However, I think I could agree to a truce at least, and not murder you in your sleep or something."

He grinned. "I'd like that. I'm really glad you're here, Evie."

I offered him a smile. "It hasn't killed me…yet. And I think I kinda like you guys, some of you, anyways." Bloody Jacob Black…stop thinking about him then!

He let the plug go in the sink and wiped his hands on another towel. "Can I ask you something?"

I glanced at him wearily as I put the last of the dishes away. "I suppose?"

"When you punched Jacob…didn't it hurt?"

Ah. I'd been half wondering when someone would be game and bring that up again. "Firstly, he was out of line and I won't be apologising to him. And honestly, it stung a bit, nothing drastic," I then gestured to my leg. "I've felt worse."

He nodded thoughtfully.

"Why?"

"Nothing, it's just…odd, is all."

I chuckled. "Odd? Haven't you even seen anyone get punched before?"

"Of course I have, just no one's come out as good as you did after hitting him. You don't…hate the kid, do you?"

I scoffed. "Why is everyone sticking up for him? As far as I'm concerned he got what was coming to him, and he still won't leave me alone! What's his problem?"

"It's complicated," Sam said a bit too quickly, if you ask me. "Maybe you could just give him a chance? He isn't as bad as you think."

I rolled my eyes. "If I didn't know any better I'd say you were trying to set me up with him. Aren't you supposed to be all protective and stuff?"

"I'm not telling you to date him, I'm suggesting you just…spend some time with him, clear the air a bit. I don't want your time here shadowed by hating him. I'd like it if you came back." He smiled. "He's not doing anything tomorrow, why don't you let him show you around?"

"Or I could just avoid him and you could tell him to stay away from me." I suggested brightly.

He sighed. "Jake and the boys spend a lot of time here, we're a pretty close group, I want you to be apart of it. I can't have you fighting and possibly breaking things all the time." He put a warm, large hand on my shoulder and squeezed lightly. "Please, Evie?"

I groaned and tilted my head to the side, looking at him pleadingly. He held firm. Great. "Fine," I rolled my eyes. "He can show me around, but one foot out of line and I hit him again and he has to stay away, deal?"

Sam gave me another of the bright grins that they all seemed to have and pulled me into a hug. "Deal, I'll tell him to come round at nine?"

Unsurely I wrapped my arms around his waist and hugged him back. He was unbelievably hot, like seriously, his skin was just about scalding me. Clearing my throat and gently detaching myself, I nodded. "Make it ten. I'm going over to Sue's early." I'd agreed to a truce, not love him unconditionally.

He grinned again. "Great, he'll be thrilled."

"Uh huh," Que rolling of the eyes. "That's nice, I'm gonna go to bed, so…see you in the morning."

He nodded and smiled. "Night, Evie."

"G'night, Sam. Night ladies!" I yelled as I ventured towards my room.

"Sleep well, honey!" Tasha called back and Emily wished me the same. God I hated being the youngest some times. "And, Evie?"

I sighed and poked my head around the corner and blinked at my sister at the bottom of the stairs.

"Thank you." She smiled.

I nodded, knowing that she meant about Sam, and smiled back-a real one. "Yeah, night sis."

"Good night, Evie."

I fell into my bed and closed my eyes as the relaxing coolness of the sheets washed over me. Well, this will either turn out really well or really badly, but maybe…maybe this isn't quite so bad after all.

A/N: And end of chapter 4. I'm actually staying on track with updating O.o. 'Tis so strange for me…Anywho, this one's a little shorter and I'm not sure how I feel about it….What'd you think?

So she doesn't hate Sam with the fire of a thousand suns anymore! :D But, something tells me it's going to take a while for her to warm up to Jake. She's a strange girl, Evie. Lol.

Pretty please review! Pretty, pretty, pretty please? ^_^

~Meg xx