SPOV

I felt strangely happy the next morning when I woke up. I couldn't stop smiling. And as I made my way downstairs, there was a strange bounce in my step. Two things that I had never experienced before.

"Morning Skylar...?" Brent frowned at me, taking a step back.

I grinned at him.

"Morning!" Huh, even my voice sounded...chipper.

"What's with you?" I shrugged, stepping around him.

"Don't know what you're talking about," I said, skipping into the kitchen. "Where's mum?" Brent was still watching me skeptically.

"She went to Sue's; they're going to Port Angeles or something."

"Cool." Brent still hadn't stopped watching me. "What?"

"Was Brady here yesterday?" I froze. What would make him think Brady had been here?

"Why?" I put the waffles back in the freezer, suddenly in no mood for breakfast.

Brent shrugged. "Just a crazy idea I guess." He shrugged again, sitting on the counter. That's when I noticed he was still in his PJ's.

I frowned. "Aren't you taking me to school?" Brent shook his head, picking up an apple. "Why not?" Brent shrugged again, biting into the apple. My eyes narrowed. "How am I supposed to get to school?" No answer. "Brent?"

"Don't worry, someone offered to take you." Brent went back to his apple.

Someone else offered to take me to school? Who the heck would do that?

The doorbell rang; Brent didn't move to answer it.

Sighing, I reluctantly went to the door.

"Hurry up Skylar! We're going to be late!" I grinned, picking up my bag.

"Bye Brent!" I ran out the door and into Kole's waiting car. He was already in, starting the engine.

"You take forever," he muttered as he pulled onto the street.

I laughed. "Sorry, next time I'll try and be faster." Kole rolled his eyes.

"Whatever." I smiled. "So, I heard you were back in the hospital yesterday." I scowled. Gossip spread like wild fire in this town.

"Yeah, had to re-do my stitches..." Kole frowned.

"Why?" I sighed, deliberating on whether or not I should tell him.

"Long story," I muttered, staring at my scarred palm. Kole shook his head.

"Dude, just tell me." I sighed again.

"Brady ripped them open." Kole winced.

"Brady?" I nodded. "What an idiot, you tell him to make things better, and he makes them worse." I raised an eyebrow at him, but Kole wasn't looking at me. I looked out the window, suddenly noticing that we had been driving for a while now, we should have been at school.

"Where exactly are you taking me?" Kole smiled evilly.

"Not school." I groaned.

"Kole, what do you mean 'not school'?" Kole didn't answer for a while.

"We are going to keep going in circles, until you finish telling me this long story of yours." I sighed.

"Fine." Kole smiled, pulling off the road. "Hey, I thought you said we were going to keep driving?" I frowned as we came to a stop.

Kole shrugged. "Driving is distracting."

"Really?"

"Yes, now tell me." Kole turned in his seat to look at me, his expression expectant.

"Brady came to my house yesterday; he said he wanted to check on me." My eyes narrowed, suddenly remembering something. "Because somehow, he knew about my arm." Kole smiled apologetically.

"I thought he might want to know..." Kole shrugged again.

I sniffed. "Fine, anyway, I was talking to my brother at the time and he tried to come to me, and I panicked, naturally." Now Kole was frowning at me.

"What did you say to him?" Kole accused. I frowned, why was I getting in trouble?

"I told him to go away," I whispered, suddenly scared of Kole's reaction. He was the one trying to set us up after all.

Kole groaned. "Again?" I frowned. What did he mean by 'again'? When had I told Kole about that? I hadn't told him, I know I hadn't. So how did he know?

I let it slide though, I had told him pretty much everything else anyway...

"Yes, what did you expect me to do? Just let him into my room?"

Kole sighed. "I guess not, continue."

I frowned. "Brent got all protective, and Brady went all I have to say sorry. Brent lost focus and Brady grabbed my arm, pulled and out came the stitches." I shrugged. It was no big deal. At least now it wasn't. The stitches had already begun to scab over and the scar was already beginning to appear.

It was a pale pink, but since I already had my natural light tan thing, it stood out on my arm.

I had already pulled out every long sleeve shirt I owned. My t-shirts were on vacation.

"What happened after that?"

"Why do you assume something happened after that?" I glared at him. Kole smiled.

"You seem different, happier in a way. And I know it's not because you went to the hospital, or because of my awesomeness." I rolled my eyes.

"Nothing happened; Brent took me to some guys' house to tell him we went to the hospital." I shook my head, remembering the incident.

"Which guy?" Kole asked, suddenly wary.

I shrugged. "Sam, I think, why?" Kole shook his head, starting the car.

"No reason, you went to Forks, didn't you." I nodded. He sighed, pulling onto the street.

"Of course. So, what happened after Sam's?" I shrugged, looking at the passing trees. "Oh come on, just tell me." I sighed.

"Brady took me home."

"Brady? Where did Brady come from?" I scoffed.

"I'd like to know that myself. He came out of no where..." I looked out the window, avoiding Kole's curious gaze.

He made a U-turn before speaking again.

"What did you talk about?" I shrugged.

"Legends," I muttered, watching for Kole's reaction. Sometime last night, while I was thinking about what Brady said, I realized something. Kole hadn't reacted like me because he had known the whole time. And him suddenly clutching the steering wheel confirmed my assumptions.

"Like, Quileute legends?" I nodded.

"He," I paused, frowning. "He told me he was a werewolf," I whispered. The car went dead silent, the only sound coming from the car itself.

"Do you believe him?" Kole asked, breaking the silence.

"I have to. There's no other explanation, unless you want to tell me I'm crazy." Kole smiled.

"You're not, I saw it too." Oh, now he saw it.

"You believe him then?" Kole nodded. I smiled to myself.

"Did he talk about anything else? Anything else about werewolves I mean?" I frowned, shaking my head.

"No, I kind of froze up, and he took me home." I couldn't stop myself from smiling again at the memory. It made no sense for me to be so happy that a bloody werewolf kissed me. He is a werewolf. I should have run away from him, screaming. But no, the biggest thing I remember from when he told me was how he looked shirtless.

How vain of me.

"What else did he say?" I couldn't help it, I had to tell someone.

"He got me a blanket after I crashed on the couch, and he told me he liked me..." I stopped. Kole was grinning like an idiot; I couldn't understand why he was so happy.

"He kissed you, didn't he? That's why you're so happy." I blushed, for the first time in ever.

"On the forehead!" I protested, only succeeding in making Kole laugh.

"I told you! You do like him, a lot." Kole laughed again.

"I do not," I muttered, distracted by the feeling of blushing. It was weird, why in the world did talking about Brady make me blush?

"Yeah, you do. You're blushing like no tomorrow." I didn't answer. He was right; I couldn't stop the blood from rushing to my cheeks. "Don't worry, I won't tell anyone. Well, maybe Leah..." I sighed.

"Of course... This isn't the way to school Kole." He laughed.

"Silly Skylar, there's no school today." I stared at him blankly before realization dawned on me. No school today. You have got to be kidding me.

"Of course not," I muttered, slouching in my seat. Kole laughed again, playfully ruffling my hair.

"You Australians and your different holidays." I huffed, sliding further down in my seat.

"Where are we going now?"

"Leah's place." I perked up instantly. I had made a really bad first impression with Leah.

"She doesn't hate me, does she? I was kind of rude when I met her." I frowned, but Kole shook his head.

"Nah, she knows it was her fault you acted that way. She's paranoid that you don't like her." I sighed in relief.

"I do like her, she seems...different, perfect for you." Kole grinned.

"I know." He pulled up in front of a small house, near the edge of La Push. I don't know why, but I was nervous to get out of the car.

Kole on the other hand, couldn't wait to get out.

"Come on Skylar." He jumped out of the car and ran to my door. Opening it, he grabbed my scarred hand. "Let's go," he urged when I didn't move.

I sighed, allowing him to pull me out of the car.

Kole didn't ring the doorbell, he just walked in.

"Leah!" He called up the stairs, leaving me by the door.

"Skylar!" I almost groaned when I heard that voice. Seth came bounding towards me, his arms open. I let him hug me and swing me around the room too, before I started pounding his back, begging to be let go.

He laughed, putting me down.

"I haven't seen you in forever!" He grinned at me, before frowning slightly. "How's your arm?" I sighed. Skip school for a few days and suddenly everyone wants to know why.

"Its fine Seth, thanks for asking." He grinned again.

"Can I see?" I sighed again. I couldn't say no to those eyes.

I nodded, pulling up my sleeve.

"Cool," Seth murmured, transfixed with my arm. I hadn't noticed Kole behind me until he touched the scar.

He recoiled almost instantly.

"It feels really warm," he muttered wrinkling his nose. Seth frowned, touching the scar himself.

"No it doesn't, it feels norma-" Seth cut himself off, his eyes widening. "Oh, cool!" I frowned at him. Did I miss something?

"Never mind Skylar, he's weird." Seth was oblivious to Kole's insult; he was too busy telling me what I had missed in class.

"It was weird, after you left, Brady left too, and he didn't come back! And the next class, the teacher told us Brady wouldn't be coming back, strange, huh?" I nodded absently. Seth was a horrible liar. The second he came running up to me, I realized he had all the same characteristics as Brady. The muscular body, strange body temperature, the quiet walking. He was a werewolf too.

"Seth?" He looked down at me.

"Yeah?"

"You realize I know what you are, right?" That seemed to throw him for a second before his familiar grin reappeared.

"Awesome! So did Brady tell you?"

"About you guys being werewolves? Yes." Seth's grin seemed to get wider, if possible.

"Awesome!" He picked me up in another hug.

"Oh my. Seth. Can't. Breathe." I huffed out. He let go, chuckling to himself.

"He didn't tell you about impr-"

"Skylar!" Leah ran down the stairs, and for a second I thought she would greet me the same way as Seth. But she stopped beside Kole, taking his hand.

"I didn't think Kole would be able to convince you to come out here." She smiled apologetically. "I'm really sorry, about, you know." She looked down at her hand intertwined with Kole's.

I smiled, they were so cute!

"It's okay Leah; it's not your fault. You couldn't have known." She grimaced.

"Yeah, thanks." She smiled. "Seth! Where's the food mom left? You didn't eat it, did you?" Her eyes narrowed at her brother.

Seth shook his head violently.

"No, I swear, I didn't. It's in the kitchen." He ran to what I was assuming was the kitchen, returning a few second later. His arms were piled high with tray after tray covered with tin foil.

Leah smiled. "Good, we can go now." Leah looked up at Kole with big eyes. Kole smiled at her.

"Sky, you mind helping Seth?" I nodded, taking two trays from Seth's over loaded arms.

He smiled at me once he could see.

"Thank you Miss Bronson." I laughed and followed Kole and Leah out the door.

"No problem."

"So, did Kole tell you where we're going?" Leah asked once we were all piled into the car. I had ended up in the backseat with Seth and the trays. Seth seemed to be intoxicated by the smell of the food; he hadn't said a word the whole car ride.

I shook my head, frowning

"No, Kole, where are we going?" Kole glanced back at me hesitantly.

"A bonfire," he answered slowly, glancing warily at Leah.

"Yeah, the town elders and the pack get together and we listen to the legends and eat food, and pretty much have a good time." I stared at Leah. What did she mean by 'the pack'?

"The wolves, we have a pack. You'll see when you get there," Seth whispered to me. He had started paying attention when Leah mentioned eating food.

I nodded at him. A pack of wolves... How many were there exactly?

Kole pulled into one of the last parking spots at the beach. From the looks of it, we were late.

In my peripheral vision, I could see a bonfire and a group of people around it. But I was focused on scanning the parking lot for Brady's car. Was he here? Should I care if he was here?

Once we were all out of the car, Seth led me to what could only be described as a buffet table.

I had never seen so much food in one place, for such a small group of people before in my life. And to think we had five more trays to add to this. I turned to find Seth ogling the food, obviously. I sighed, where in the world was I supposed to put these trays?

"Here, I can take those from you." I turned and found myself face to face with probably one of the prettiest people I had ever met. Or she would have been if not for the three scars that ran down one side of her face.

I quickly averted my eyes to the trays I was holding.

"Thanks." I muttered, handing them to her.

"I'm Emily." She smiled, or part of her smiled. The scarred side of her face stayed in the same position. How in the world did she get those scars?

"Skylar." I took her outstretched hand.

"Nice to meet you Skylar." She let go of my hand, frowning. "My scars, they kind of look like yours, don't they?" She winked and walked away. I frowned, pulling up my sleeve. They did kind of look like my scar. But my scar came from a werewolf...

I stared after Emily, shocked. What was going on here?

"Skylar!" I whirled around, tugging down my sleeve. I smiled.

"Hi, uhm, Danie, right?" She nodded, bouncing up and down.

"Yes! Where have you been? We were all so worried!" She frowned at me. "Anyway, enough of that sappy stuff, come sit with me and Collin!" I shrugged. Might as well, seeing as Seth had disappeared...

Danie led me to Collin; he was sitting by himself, staring at the fire.

"Collin! Look who I found all by her lonesome!" Collin grinned once he heard Danie's voice. He pulled her in for a hug.

"Never leave like that again." He growled, kissing the top of her head. I looked away awkwardly.

Danie giggled. "I was gone for like two seconds, calm down." I looked back again, deciding it was safe.

"Hi Skylar, didn't think you would make it." Collin smiled at me, still holding on to Danie.

"Yeah, I was kind of tricked into it by Kole..." My voice trailed off.

Collin frowned. "Brady didn't ask you to come?" I shook my head.

"I-is he here?" Collin nodded, but he wasn't really paying attention to me. Danie saw that as her chance to slip away from his grasp.

"Come on, I'll help you look for him," she whispered, starting to pull me away.

I shook my head. "Oh, no, that's okay." I tried to stop her, but Danie was strong.

"I know you want to find him. Let's go." She started pulling me around the fire, her eyes searching every nook and cranny. A lot of people smiled at me as we passed, some waved. But most of the guys seemed to avoid my gaze, almost seeming afraid to look at me.

"Skylar?" The relief and sense of safety that washed over me when he said my name, was overwhelming. "What are you doing here?" I glared at him as he came closer.

"Kole made me come," I answered honestly.

"Oh." I nodded, looking down, away from his eyes.

"Are you okay?" I sighed.

"I'm fine," I muttered, glancing up. He was watching me, concerned.

"I'm really sorry Skylar about your arm, I didn't mean to..." He looked away, frustrated. "I get it, if you don't want to be near me, or if you're scared of me or something." I scoffed, making him look up.

"Scared of you? Why would I be scared of you?" He frowned at me.

"Skylar, I'm a werewolf, I already scarred you. You have every right to be afraid of me." I shook my head.

"I am not afraid of you." He smirked.

"So why is your heart running a thousand miles a minute?" I looked down. Dang, I thought only I could hear it.

"It's not," I muttered defensively. Brady smirked again.

"You like me, don't you." I sighed. And the cocky Brady returns.

"No."

"You do." I shook my head. "Skylar, you're blushing." I groaned, not again!

"I'm not," I murmured, but I knew it was pointless, the evidence was right in front of him.

"Uh huh, so since you like me." I groaned again. "And I like you." The blush returned, but only ten times stronger. "Will you sit with me during the stories?" Brady's voice softened, throwing me off guard.

I blinked.

"O-okay." Brady grinned.

"Cool." He slung his arm over my shoulder, leading me to a place beside Collin and Danie.

"Aww!" Danie exclaimed once we sat down. I looked down and Brady removed his arm from my shoulders.

I frowned, I hadn't wanted that. I liked his arm there.

"That's Billy," Brady whispered, leaning down towards me. "He's our chief of sorts, he's telling the stories." I nodded mutely, already transfixed with Billy.

As Billy began speaking, as subtly as I could, I leaned on Brady's chest. He looked down at me, surprised, before his arm slowly rested on my shoulders again, pulling me closer.

I must have fallen asleep at some point during the stories; because Brady had to wake me up once they were done.

"Skylar?" My eyes fluttered open, looking for Brady's. He smiled. "It's over, you need to get home." I yawned, still half asleep.

"Carry me," I muttered, already dozing off again.

"Skylar..." Brady's voice was hesitant.

"Please?" I pouted. Brady sighed.

"Fine, but you'd better not punch me, you asked for this." Brady swept me up into his arms as if I weighed five pounds.

As he walked me to his car, my eyes kept fluttering open and shut. And at one point, I could have sworn I saw Brent, speaking with Billy...

That wasn't right; Leah said the bonfire was for elders, the pack and probably the pack girlfriends. So why was Brent here?

I was probably just imagining things.

I yawned again, curling up in Brady's arms.

"Go to sleep now Skylar, I'll explain everything tomorrow."