Claire woke up to the sun shining through the window and into her eyes. She groaned when she heard her mom's voice.

"Claire lets go your gonna be late"! Her mom yelled down the hall. Claire slowly got up out of her bed and stumbled down the hall. The smell of apples and cinnamon oatmeal and toast hit her nose. Her favorite, she smiled and got a pep in her step as she walked into the small kitchen and plopped down at the breakfast bar, and her mom gave her the food.

"Mom you don't have to get up with me anymore, I'm a big girl I can get myself up and ready". Claire said before she dug into her food. Her mom smiled as she had one hand on the counter and one on her hip.

"You know I like getting up with you, I want me make sure you make it off to school ok". She said as she made herself a plate and sat with Claire. Her mom cleared her throat before she began to speak. "So have you put any thought into what we talked about last weekend"?

Claire sighed. She knew this was coming. Her mom knew all about her reservations about Quil. She told her mom everything; she was her best friend. One night in particular Claire had a breakdown. She and Quil had a fight about how he didn't like her friends and how they were bad influences on her. The usual. But this time was different, she was frustrated with his words, she got it, he told her this a thousand times. She was sick of hearing it. She broke down and told Quil it was over and that she wanted him to leave her alone. After coming home and crying to her mom about how she had enough, her mom encouraged her to stay strong and distance herself from Quil for a while. And she did; she went a whole two days without seeing him or speaking to him. But it wasn't long before Emily came calling, she came all the way to her and her mom's house in forks to talk to her and her mom. It wasn't the most peaceful house call Emily ever made.

Flashback:

"Claire honey you just need to understand that Quil just wants what's best for you and is looking out for your best interests". Emily said and looked into Claire's eyes with that look that makes you feel like she could see into your soul. Claire sighed she would argue with Emily, but in the end she knew she wouldn't win. Her mom wasn't one to leave her voice unheard. But she hadn't seen her mom this upset with Emily, well ever.

"You know Emily if Quil really had Claire's best interest at heart her would let her have a life outside the rez and the pack. He is trying to close her off and keep him all to himself. Is that really having her best interest at heart Emily? Depriving her of a normal teenage experience? Because it doesn't sound like he does to me". Claire's mom practically growled at Emily. Emily started to fire back with a response.

"Caroline I know but with the pack and she really isn't a normal teenager…" This sent my mom into a fit of rage; it took me back a little, and I had never seen her like this. "That's my point Emily! She didn't have a choice Quil made that choice for her! I have been…" She held up a shaky finger to stop herself. "Claire honey, please go to your room I will come get you when we are done". I nodded slowly and got up, looking over at Emily as I left. She had her lips pursed, and that's when I knew kicking me out of the room wouldn't help I was going to hear this whole conversation. Lucky for me.

The conversation started out quiet; I had to open my door a little to hear I could tell my mom was desperately trying to keep herself calm. "Emily you know I have been every patient and understanding about this whole situation, my only condition was that this is Claire's choice. It's only fair".

There was a moment of silence, 'maybe Emily decided mom was right'. But then she heard Emily sigh. Oh of course not Emily was never one to back down from a fight. "I understand, but Claire has made her choice they are dating know" Emily argued. "Well did you ever think that maybe she changed her mind? That she is getting older and maybe she wants to experience different things? I mean she's not 15 anymore. She's almost 17 things are changing she's changing". My mom finished I could tell by the tone in her voice that she done arguing. That she just wanted for Emily to see the point and move on. "I understand" Emily said and she heard her get up from the dining room table. She then heard them exchange goodbyes, and her mom closed the door.

End Flashback.

She and Quil made up later that day. Claire felt like she let her mom down by not standing her ground. But her mom never told her that.

"I can't just talk to Quil about something about that. What do you want me to say? 'Hey, Quil I think I don't I have feelings for you anymore but let's stay friends' like how awkward". Her mom gave her that knowing look like she knew that's what she wanted to tell Quil, but that she was too scared to say it. "You don't have to say it that way, but you need to say something I can see that you aren't happy with him, and it's not fair to him either". Claire knew that. She needed to make this right not just for herself, but for Quil too. He was a good guy and deserved a girl who wanted him just as much as he wanted her. "I know I know your right" Claire sighed as she put her dishes in the sink and went to go get ready she thanked her mom for breakfast and started to get ready, Quil still heavily on her mind. Once she was finished getting ready, she went to the living room where she mom was sitting on the couch watching TV. Claire bent over her and gave her a kiss on the cheek and said goodbye. "Have a good day at school sweetie I love you". Her mom said as she walked out the door. Claire looked back and smiled at her mom and said "I love you too"! She blew her a kiss and walked out to her old beat up red jeep Rubicon. Pealing out of the driveway and towards school. With still way too much on her mind.

Claire pulled up to school and parked in her normal spot. Her friends were waiting for her. Her best friend Katie waved at her excitedly. Claire waved back at her before getting out of the car. Katie was one of the friends that Quil strongly disagreed about Claire having. Claire could understand; Katie was kinda a party girl. But they had been best friends since they were little, and Katie was a great friend to her, so Quil is just going to have to deal. As she came closer to Katie, she approached her and looped her arm with Claire's. They exchanged smiles and made their way to the front doors of the school.

"So Sean Greyson is having a party this weekend, think the warden will let you go?" Katie said as she had her eyebrow raised; they had just made it to Claire's locker. She rolled her eyes as she opened her locker. "He doesn't own me Katie I do what I want". Katie snorted and rolled her eyes ate Claire. "Ok, whatever you say, just let me know, so I don't have to go alone." Katie and Claire made their way to first period Claire looked over at Katie and said "Are you kidding me? This is Sean Greyson's huge end of the year party! Anyone who is anyone will be there". Katie smiled over and Claire and said "That's my girl; you and I are going to have one hell of a time".

At lunch, Claire and Katie made their way to the usual table that they sat at. They weren't the most popular kids in school; they were kinda different, alternative, but that's the way Claire liked it. They were all different but meshed really well. It was so much different from the rez where everyone thought and did the same as everyone else. It was refreshing.

Sitting at their table, there friends Jordan and Joe were having a heated discussion about who was better, stones or acdc. Claire's personal favorite was acdc. But she wasn't going to jump in, she didn't want to get her head bit off by Joe.

Katie went on and on about all her outfit choices for Sean's party. Claire was excited, but she didn't know how she was going to get it passed Quil. The pack bonfires were usually on Fridays, and that was the night of Sean's party. If she made special plans to hang out with him alone, he might be a little more lenient about her going to Katie's on Friday. There was no way she could even mention the party to him, she would have to lie and tell that she was just spending the night. The thought of lying to him with some elaborate story always made her heart race a little. It was hard to lie to Quil. She didn't like it, but she had to. His unnecessary over protectiveness made it hard for her to have a normal life.

"Hello earth to Claire"! Claire's head snapped up at the sound of Katie's voice. "Oh yeah, um sorry, what were you saying"? Katie rolled her eyes and shook her head. "Doesn't matter anyway what's got you stuck in space"? Claire looked over at her with that all knowing look. Katie nodded her head in understanding. She lend in so Joe and Jordan couldn't hear them. "Claire don't stress out about telling Quil, if you want we can just stay honest and hang at my house". Claire sighed feeling guilty, about it all. Lying to Quil, making Katie feel bad, all of it. She really wanted to go. Why did this have to be so hard? "No no, I want to go don't worry about the situation, I'm sure it will work out". She said as she smiled at Katie. Katie smiled back and squeezed she hand. It would all work out. Wouldn't it?