Good day.

Outside, the sounds of the party were duller, and the fresh air and thinking through the panic only an imprint could know was easier. I walked around, my feet silent. Paul was also moving stealthily behind me. I saw Gwen and Adrian standing closely together on the side of the house. They were talking in hushed, frightened voices. I made my steps a little louder as I approached so I wouldn't make them jump.

"Hey," I said. They still jumped.

"Hey," Adrian said, looking at me with her brown eyes wide with a fear she was trying to hide with her neutral tone. Gwen stared over my shoulder at Paul with a clearer fright.

"Sup," I said. I didn't know what to say or how to approach this.

"Nothing," Adrian said shakily.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"Nothing," she repeated in the same way.

"You look like you've seen a ghost."

Adrian swallowed. "Is there a secret the two of you are keeping from us?"

"Yes," I said, barely more than a whisper.

"Well? You won't tell us?" she said. She stood up tall and raised her head to look me in the eye, challenging me not to.

"We will, but this isn't the place," I said. There were partygoers everywhere, and girls who would love to overhear a Cullen talking about monsters like a crazy person.

"Where is?" she demanded.

I looked at Paul. He shrugged. "Woods?"

"It's pretty dark out," I said. I could see, but the forest at night was going to make telling them about werewolves and vampires any easier.

"Beach?" Paul suggested, "The moon's out." He was right. If there weren't so many trees, the night would be pretty bright.

"Good idea," I said. I turned to Adrian, "Is that okay with you?"

"Whatever," Adrian said coldly. This was killing me. The sooner she knows the better.

"Let me just tell my mom," I said, "We can take one of the cars."

I slipped back into the house, leaving Paul with the girls. I pushed through the closely pressed bodies and up the stairs. Their door was open, and they were lying on the bed. Dad was glued to a baseball game, and Mom was flipping through a magazine.

"Hey. Paul and I are taking Gwen and Adrian to the beach," I said.

"Okay," Mom said. She paused, "Stay safe." Then she gave me a look, and I knew she wasn't talking about anything to do with vampires and werewolves.

"Ma!" I yelled, heat rising in my face.

"Just saying," she said, smirking to herself as she went back to her magazine.

Dad guffawed, and I glared at him. He put on a serious face, "Hey, really. No puppies."

I groaned. I think everyone in my family saw my love life as an opportunity for jokes. I left before another one could be made.

"Hey," I said when I came back outside. It didn't look like anything had improved.

"Um, the garage is down here," I said. I led them down the porch to where the garage was. It originally only held three cars, but that wasn't cutting it so we expanded it. It was easily my favorite part of the house. I typed in a code on a keypad, and one of the doors opened. Despite our situation, Paul took in an appreciative breath.

"Wow," he gasped, taking in our fine collection of cars. Even the girls looked somewhat impressed.

"Pick a car," I said, turning to Adrian. Because Paul was eyeing the Ashton Martin, and if I touched that, I was screwed.

"Well this one does match my dress," she said, eyeing Mom's red BMW M3 convertible. Then she remembered what she was mad and crossed her arms. Adrian opened the passenger door and got in. She was trying to be tough, but it was coming off extremely adorable. Good thing she picked that car. That was one I had the green light to use. When I learned how to drive, I learned who in my family was most generous with their rides.

"Excellent," I said, climbing in the driver's seat after grabbing the key off its hook. It was kind of a girl car, but it was fast enough to make me forget that.

Paul opened the door for Gwen, and she went around the other side. He frowned and got in.

I listened to the car roar when I turned the key and couldn't resist a small grin as I sped down the driveway. The top was down, and the cool night air rushed past my ears. The lights strung around the trees illuminated the normally dark way. If the love of my existence wasn't supremely pissed at me, it would have been kind of perfect- the speed of a great car, the clear night, the drive having an almost magical light.

Adrian was impatient though. When we were on the highway, she began her interrogation, shouting over the roar of the wind. "I think you figured it out by now that we heard you two talking."

"What'd you hear?" I yelled back.

"Are you going to be in a fight?"

"Yes."

"Are you in a gang or something?"

"Some call it a cult," Paul yelled. Gwen gasped, and she turned to look at him with wide eyes.

"Paul, not helping!" I yelled, irritated, "It's not a cult."

"What is it then?" Gwen said loudly, "Put the top up so we can talk like human beings!"

Paul laughed at the last words. I complied with her orders. The car became eerily quiet.

Gwen broke the silence, "We heard the word vampire."

"They're real," I started, "Vampires are very, very real. Not like the movies, but the basics are there."

"Why do you think vampires are real?" Adrian asked.

"Because I live with them," I answered.

"Your family is made of vampires?"

"Yes. That's why their cold, pale, and pretty."

"They are pretty," Gwen acknowledged, "And the other two things. But that's not what makes a person a vampire. Do they eat people?"

"They're not like most of their kind. They drink animal blood instead of human."

"Do you believe us?" Paul asked.

"I…think I might," Gwen said.

"No," Adrian said, "I think you're crazy."

"Ask me any question you want," I sighed.

"When did they get turned into vampires?"

"The oldest? Carlisle, 17th century. The youngest is Emmett, around the Great Depression."

"So if they're vampires, what does that make you?" she asked.

"We're at the beach," I answered. No one moved to get out.

"Paul?" Gwen asked.

"Well, we're werewolves," Paul answered casually.

"What?" Gwen asked. Both she and Adrian looked out the window. It was a full moon.

"Not that kind," I said, "We change into wolves at free will unless we're really mad."

Then Adrian started laughing, and I worried I had broken her psyche.

"This is a joke right?" she asked, "Some hazing thing? You do this for a good time or something?"

Gwen was less disbelieving. She vocally worked out a story, "Okay, so your family leaves without a trace last September. Then you came back alone, two feet taller, and suddenly a card-carrying member of the La Push gang with secrets you and Paul won't tell me or Devon. You disappear at random times. Are all of your friends wolves?"

"Yep!" Paul said cheerily.

"And you came back alone because you turned into one, right?" she asked me.

"Precisely," I said.

"Come on," Adrian said, "This can't be real, right?"

"I'll show you," Paul offered.

"Paul, don't," I threatened in snarls.

"No, let him," Adrian said, "I'd love to see this for myself."

"Cool," Paul said. He turned to Gwen and kissed her cheek, "Babe, you're going to love this." Then he headed out the door and ran onto the beach.

"Paul, do not!" I yelled as I got out and ran after him. Gwen and Adrian struggled to keep up with us as I chased him down the beach. I was fast, but he was slippery and had a head start.

"Hey, it's the surefire way she'll believe us, right?" he yelled as he continued to where the tide pools began.

"How about I throw you off a cliff instead? Or break every bone in your body?"

"Nah, this way is good!"

"They're going to throw up or pass out or something. Paul, just don't be an idiot, for once."

But telling Paul not to be an idiot is like telling a fish not to swim. He finally stops running and starts unbuttoning his shirt.

"Paul, like hell are you going to strip down in front of her," I yelled with fury. The girls were starting to catch up. I could hear their panting.

"Fine, fine," he said, and I thought he was going to forget this idiotic idea. Instead he ran away and scaled the nearest low cliff, disappearing into the trees above.

"Where's he going?" Gwen asked. A few seconds later we heard a wolf howl. Adrian and Gwen didn't scream. They looked paralyzed with fear.

"Dammit, Paul," I swore.

"Okay, believing it and seeing it are two different things. I really don't need to do the latter," Gwen said, her voice trembling.

"Crap, crap, I believe!" Adrian said. I put my arm around her, and she buried her face in my side.

"It's alright. He doesn't bite," I said. My joke was not welcomed.

From the woods, Paul appeared as a wolf. He had a grin on his face, with his tongue hanging out. He trotted over to Gwen.

"I'm in love with a giant dog," she said without emotion. He leaned down and poked her cheek with his nose. She froze for a moment then laughed, shakily but genuinely. He echoed it with a barky one. She raised a hand and rested it on his leg, curiously petting his fur.

"This is so weird," she admitted in a whisper. Adrian took her head out of my side and watched them with wonder.

"You do that too?" she asked, looking up at me, "You turn into a wolf?"

"Yep."

"As big as he is?"

"Bigger."

"Wow," she breathed, "How did I get into this mess?"

"My charm won you over."

She rolled her eyes, "Of all boys…a werewolf."

Gwen laughed, "I'll take it good luck." She stood on the tips of her toes to scratch Paul behind the ears. He barked another laugh and gave her a slobbery lick.

Adrian's laughing turned hysterical and she moved from my side to bend over and hold her sides. Gwen joined in and soon the both of them had tears running down their faces, cackles filling the silent night.

"You okay, babe?" I asked.

"It's just…funny," she managed out. Paul and I looked at each other, shrugged and joined in their laughing. I wrapped my arms around Adrian from behind. Our bodies shook together. When you just start laughing, even if you don't know why, it's hard to stop.

This night could have been a disaster, but now I can't remember being happier than on this beach, with good friends and my imprint, laughing over nothing. I started a trail of kisses from Adrian's shoulder, slowly making my way up her neck. I pulled away a piece of straight hair and planted my last one behind her ear.

She turned around, grinning goofily. Goofy Adrian has to be my current favorite. It's pretty close though. When I met her, I knew I loved her already, but every day, I learn my reasons why.

"You missed a spot," she said, and she jumped up and kissed me on the mouth, knowing my arms are there to catch her.

Every time you review, an angel gets its wings.