This chapter is severely overdue and I'm sorry for that. Work and real life obligations have had me running like a chicken with my head cut off and today I had a chance to finally breathe and finish writing this chapter. I hope you all like it. Please let me know what you think. I try not to put a lot of weight in reviews, but they are a good motivation when life drives me crazy and help me focus. Anyway, thank you all for reading.

Disclaimer: I own nothing associated with Twilight.

Chapter Five

Johanna's heart was racing and her hands were grasping JJ's t-shirt tightly but she was smiling as JJ brought his bike to a stop in front of her house. She quietly laughed as she lifted her chin from where she had rested it on JJ's shoulders shortly after their ride had started. Johanna slowly removed her arms from around JJ's waist and climbed off the back of the bike before she ran her fingers through her windblown hair, gathering the long locks together and twisting them to rest over her left shoulder. JJ remained on his bike and looked at her, a small smile on his lips as he watched her fuss with her hair before she turned her eyes to him. Her cheeks were rose colored and the smile on her face was beautiful, revealing those dimples of hers yet again, and he felt his heart skip in his chest as her eyes met his and she shuffled her feet so she was standing a little closer to him.

"See, that wasn't so bad was it?" he asked her quietly and she shook her head.

"No," she said lightly. "It was a lot of fun actually."

"We'll have to do it again sometime, and maybe we could take a ride along the coast. It's a beautiful ride, especially in the fall," he said.

"I'd like that," she found herself saying and JJ's smile grew. "Thank you for the ride home, JJ."

"You're welcome, Johanna," he said and she bit her lip, a look coming across her face that told him she wanted to say something but didn't know how to say it. "Something wrong?" he asked as he tilted his head and she quickly released her lip before she shook her head negatively.

"No," she said. "It's just . . . earlier you called me Jo."

"I did? I didn't even realize that, I'm sorry," he said and Johanna laughed softly as she shook her head again and without thinking she raised her right hand and rested it on JJ's right forearm. JJ felt his muscles twitch as her soft hand came to rest on his arm and it was odd to admit but he loved the tingling sensation that radiated from it.

"I liked it, so, feel free to call me that anytime," she said quietly and JJ's smile slowly returned. JJ figured that that was what she had wanted to say to him, but didn't know how and JJ would be more than happy to oblige her request.

"Gladly, Jo," he said and Johanna laughed softly as she lowered her hand from his arm, her still flushed cheeks turning a little darker pink and the color made its way down her neck. Movement behind Johanna caught his sharp eyes and JJ looked over Johanna's shoulder to see a woman JJ assumed was Johanna's mother standing in one of the large windows on the first floor with her arms crossed in front of her chest with a surprised look on her face. JJ mentally cursed and quickly turned his eyes to Johanna's to see her furrow her brow slightly before she looked over her right shoulder.

"Crap," Johanna whispered upon seeing her mother standing in one of the windows and watching them before Johanna quickly returned her attention to JJ. "I have a feeling I'm in for a long inquisition tonight."

"Why?" JJ asked even though he had an idea why and Johanna laughed softly.

"Because earlier today I left with three girls in a car and tonight I come back home on the back of a motorcycle with a ho-," she stopped herself short, her blush darkening, "with a guy," she finished lamely, and JJ smiled at her. JJ knew exactly what she had been about to say and his heart skipped in his chest once again; it was good to know that she found him attractive and it sort of stroked his ego a bit that she did even though Sarah would say he didn't need it.

"You'll be fine," he assured her and she smiled softly at him.

"I should go inside," she said and he nodded.

"See you soon, Jo," he said and Johanna nodded before she took a step back and onto the walkway that led to her house.

"Bye, JJ," she said before she turned on the balls of her feet and quickly walked up the walkway.

JJ watched her walk away, mentally willing her to look back at him as she walked; but as she walked up the stairs and to the door he didn't think she would. However, as she opened the screen door her left hand paused on the bright red front door's handle before she turned and looked over her right shoulder at him. His heart raced when he saw the smile that was on her face as she raised her right hand and gave him a small wave that he quickly returned with his own right hand. She disappeared inside the house and JJ started his bike once again. He had a bright smile on his face as he headed home.

He'd hit a few bumps that afternoon with Johanna, but he was sure he had also made a bit of progress. Right now she needed a friend more than anything else and he would be that for her. However, someday he hoped that she would want more with him because after spending the afternoon with her and talking and getting to know her his feelings for her grew. The whole imprint thing didn't play a huge role in that, sure it amplified his feelings for her, but he genuinely liked her, a lot, and it was because she was so sweet, kind, and smart. He was lucky because she was beautiful in a million different ways, but sadly he knew that he needed to help her see that and without a doubt he would.

"Johanna Marie, who was that man on that motorcycle?" Elise asked after Johanna had closed the front door and walked further into the house. Johanna adjusted the strap of her purse across her body and took a deep breath as she looked at her mother who had raised a questioning eyebrow as she looked at her daughter.

"That was JJ," Johanna said, "Sarah's older brother. He gave me a ride home after Sarah and Meredith had to take Lacy home early. We'd run into him while we were shopping and I hadn't wanted to leave yet when Lacy got the call from her mom, so, JJ offered to give me a ride home." Technically she wasn't lying, but Johanna knew she couldn't tell her mother the full truth. Her mother was a little overprotective of her, so, Johanna was usually careful when telling her mother about her day.

"Oh," Elise said. "Well, if he's related to Sarah, he must be a nice young man and that was very kind of him to stay with you and give you a ride home. I'd like to meet him someday soon if you're going to spending time with him. You're father too." Johanna nodded her head and Elise smiled then as she walked a little closer to Johanna. "Did you have a nice time today with your new friends?" Elise asked and Johanna's smile was easy to come as she nodded her head. She had enjoyed her time with the girls before they'd gone into the boutique and her afternoon with JJ, despite the slight speed bump they'd hit along the shore, had been wonderful.

"I did," Johanna said and Elise's smile grew. "I had a great time today."

"Good," Elise said. "Are you hungry? I made that chicken casserole you like for dinner tonight and there is some in the fridge."

"I'm good, Mom," Johanna said as she shook her head negatively. "JJ and I ate at a café in Port Angeles a little while ago."

"Oh?" Elise asked with a raised eyebrow and a grin on her lips. Now that she knew the young man was related to Sarah, who was a lovely young lady, he was in her good graces; and Johanna blushed.

"It wasn't anything like that, Mom," Johanna said. "We were both hungry, so, we got something to eat."

"Are you sure about that?" Elise asked and Johanna's face felt like it was on fire because truthfully she wasn't so sure after what had happened along the shore. However, she'd drawn the line in the sand when it came to that and she knew that JJ wouldn't cross it. Besides, she was convinced that the almost kiss had been a heat in the moment kind of thing and she highly doubted that it would ever happen again. They would be friends and nothing more because there was no way in hell that JJ was seriously interested in being anything more than that with her.

"I'm sure, Mom," she said, thankful that her voice didn't crack or break at the small white lie.

"Where've you been all day?" Harry asked from where he sat lounging on the sofa with the TV remote in hand as JJ walked in the front door of the house. JJ laughed quietly as he closed the door behind him. Two empty pizza boxes rested on the coffee table in front of Harry, and it was no surprise to JJ that the man likely ate them all himself.

"I had a few things to pick up in Port Angeles, and I ran into the girls," JJ said before he sat down on the leather arm chair that rested next to the sofa. Harry raised his eyebrows as he looked at his friend/cousin/pack brother.

"You mean you purposefully went to Port Angeles and intentionally ran into the girls," Harry said, a grin settling on his lips.

"Maybe," JJ said back with a smile and Harry rolled his eyes.

"I bet Meri and Sarah loved that," Harry said and JJ laughed once more.

"I actually didn't see them," he said and Harry raised an eyebrow. "Johanna and the girls were at some boutique and something happened inside with one of the sales ladies and Johanna while the other girls were trying on clothes. Johanna went outside and she was crying," JJ said, his voice tight at the memory because he already hated to see her cry.

"What happened?" Harry asked, concern filling him, and JJ shook his head as a soft sigh escaped his lips and he looked at Harry.

"I don't know for sure," JJ said. "She wouldn't say, but I know the woman said something to her that upset her."

"What'd you do?" Harry asked.

"Talked to her," he said as he returned. "I got her to go to the café with me. We had dinner, talked, and spent the rest of the afternoon together."

"She's a great girl, isn't she?" Harry asked knowing full well that while the girl was reserved she was very sweet and JJ smiled as he looked at his friend.

"Yeah, and she has no fucking clue that she is," JJ said, his tone a bit sad at the thought. The two young men sat in silence for a few beats before Harry sighed quietly, sat the remote down, and sat forward in his seat, resting his elbows on his knees as he looked at his best friend.

"You know, when you tell her everything you're going to be facing an uphill battle, JJ," Harry said and JJ nodded, knowing that Harry was right. "She's going to think that the only reason you care about her at all is because of the imprint and you telling her that imprinting only opens your eyes and points you in the right direction isn't going to sway her."

"I know," JJ said before he ran a rough hand across his face. "I'm not looking forward to that moment at all."

"I don't blame you," Harry said in return and JJ sighed yet again.

"I almost kissed her today," JJ found himself admitting and Harry's eyebrows rose in surprise. "We were sitting along the shore, talking, and she kissed my cheek to thank me and the next thing I know I'm leaning in to her. Our lips brushed and she moved away so fast I knew that I'd screwed up."

"No shit," Harry said with a furrowed brow and JJ gave him an exasperated look. "What were you thinking?"

"I wasn't thinking about anything other than how bad I wanted to kiss her and I swore by the way she was looking at me that she wanted me to kiss her too," JJ said and Harry shook his head.

"Maybe she did, but you don't know that. Plus, you don't act on it yet, man. It's too soon," Harry said and JJ nodded.

"I know and I apologized and we've moved past it," JJ said. "We left things on a good note, and they'll stay that way." At least JJ hoped they would.

The remainder of Johanna's week went by in relatively normal fashion aside from the fact that Johanna had been texting with Sarah, Meredith, Lacy, and even JJ, who oddly texted her more than the girls combined. Johanna had made the executive decision that it was probably a good idea to not mention the fact that she had almost kissed JJ along the shore in Port Angeles to the girls given that Sarah was his sister and Meredith his cousin. It would have been a little awkward for her since they were still technically getting to know each other. Besides, she'd come to realize that it was highly unlikely that it would ever happen again and she had accepted that.

It was finally Saturday and in a few short hours Johanna would be heading over to Sarah's for the Fourth of July cookout her friends had invited her to. She was nervous, anxious really, because she wasn't really sure what to expect. However, Johanna was somewhat at ease knowing that the girls, Harry, and JJ were going to be there, so, she wouldn't feel too out of place so long as one of them were nearby.

Elise had given Johanna the keys to her car seeing as Jon was going out with Piper that night and her parents were already at her aunt's once again for the annual family barbeque, which Johanna usually attended with her parents. It was odd not going but Johanna was looking forward to going to Sarah's and meeting her parents, and if Johanna was being honest she was also excited to see JJ again. Despite texting him all week she had still missed him and while she wasn't exactly sure why she was excited to see him she was pretty sure that that was why it had taken her a better part of the last hour to decide what to wear.

Normally, Johanna didn't really put much thought into what she wore so long as she was covered, presentable, and comfortable. It was a different story that afternoon though as she sorted through her closet because she wanted to look her best even though she knew her best paled in comparison to Sarah, Meredith, and Lacy's 'average.' However, she did her best to ignore that thought and focused on what would be appropriate for the cookout. It wasn't really warm outside but it wasn't terribly cold and surprisingly the sun was out once again, which was a definite plus. So, in trying to figure out her outfit for the day Johanna had tried on just about everything she owned before she finally settled on a pair of dark jeans and a lose fitting lavender top that had a v-neck and three-quarter length sleeves. The bruises on her arm were still present but fading and since she wouldn't be anywhere near her parents she felt comfortable in not covering them up.

Once she was dressed Johanna sat down at her white vanity and looked at her reflection in the mirror. Johanna didn't do that often, she hated looking at herself, but if she was going to put on makeup like she planned it was something she needed to do. She signed as she looked at herself and ran her fingers through her loose hair. She debated braiding her hair like she usually did, but she decided to leave it down since she could hide behind it if needed. However, she did temporarily clip it back as she applied foundation to smooth out her complexion, eyeliner, mascara, and then a soft nude matte lip gloss on her lips, which she then tucked into her purse. She let her hair fall when she was finished and took one more look at her reflection. She would never win a beauty contest, at least that was what she thought, but she looked nice and even managed a smile before she stood from her vanity and picked up her purse along with the book Sarah had loaned her. She'd already finished it on Wednesday and she needed to return it to her friend.

After slipping her feet into a pair of black flats Johanna left her bedroom, her sanctuary, and made her way downstairs. Thankfully, Jon was in the kitchen as Johanna grabbed her mother's keys from the small bowl that rested on a table by the front door and quickly left the house. She'd barely seen Jon all week, only having to be around him at dinner time a couple of times, and she hadn't spoken to him. Their parents didn't notice and Johanna was thankful for that. They usually didn't talk much, but they still acknowledged each other and would chat while at home.

Johanna always forgave Jon for whatever he said while with his friends or didn't say really when he failed to defend her. However, after the events of last Saturday Johanna made the decision that it would be best if she put some distance between herself and her brother. He'd been trying to push her away for years but in private she still tried to maintain a relationship with her twin. She'd give him what he wanted now though because if he could just stand by while Boyd had made to shove her off the cliff, he obviously didn't care about her at all.

She glanced at the clock that rested on the table and new she needed to get going. It was quarter after two and she had to be at Sarah's by three. With the directions Sarah had given her Johanna knew she would be able to find her way just fine, but it would take her a little over a half an hour to get there and she wanted to make sure she had plenty of time. Johanna unlocked the front door and opened it only to freeze when Jon's voice came from behind her.

"Where are you going?" he asked and Johanna sighed quietly as she looked over her right shoulder. Jon was walking out of the kitchen doorway and down the small hall along the stairs that led to the foyer with a sandwich and bottle of water in hand.

"My friends invited me to a cookout and Mom let me borrow her car," Johanna said and Jon raised an eyebrow.

"Since when do you have friends?" Jon asked and Johanna felt her cheeks warm but anger flared in her, which was completely unexpected for the normally reserved young woman.

"Since you decided to let a complete stranger stop your friend from throwing me off a cliff and then left me behind once again like an ass," she said and Jon glared at her.

"You get yourself a couple of friends and all of a sudden you get a backbone," Jon said and before Johanna could retort he cut her off. 'They'll realize what a loser you are sooner rather than later," he said, his glare fierce as he took a few more steps towards her, "and they'll ditch you. The anger that had flared left her as Jon vocalized the small fear that Johanna had. She'd only known the others for a week and while things were going well, she knew that that could always change. However, she knew that it was more likely that Jon was wrong but she still feared that that would happen all over again.

"You don't know anything about them," she said as she shook her head and swallowed hard.

"Doesn't matter," he said a smirk that Johanna knew his next words would hurt. "I know you and I can't imagine why anyone would want to be friends with you. You're a joke, Johanna, and you're disgusting. Harry took pity on you last week and was nice to you, but do you seriously think that they give a shit about you? They've invited you along because they feel bad for you, but it won't last. I give it another week before they toss you aside."

"You're wrong," she willed herself to say and Jon scoffed.

"You know I'm not," he said, his smirk still in place, "and you'll see." He took a bite of his sandwich as he turned away and trudged upstairs while Johanna blinked away the tears that burned at her eyes before she quickly rushed out of the front door and locked it behind her. Her hands were shaking as she walked to her mother's car and once she was inside the vehicle she put the key in the ignition and took a deep breath as she sat there for a moment.

Jon was wrong. She knew that he had said those things just to hurt her and that Sarah, Meredith, and Lacy really were her friends; even JJ was and she hoped that Harry would consider himself a friend too. However, Jon had watered that little seed of doubt that Johanna had planted when she had realized that she was becoming friends with the others and she was finding it hard to control.

JJ was on edge as he stood with Harry, Camden, and a few other of his pack brothers/friends. He wasn't paying attention to the conversation going on around him, his eyes were too busy scanning around his family's large backyard and deck area for Johanna, but she was still nowhere to be seen. A knot had settled in his stomach as he had been helping his dad get the grill going, but he didn't know why. However, he figured he was worried, worried that Johanna wasn't going to show even though she had texted him that morning and once again assured him that she would be there. He'd been unfairly busy that week between working at his dad's garage and his pack duties because his father was finally ready to pass along the alpha reigns to him. He hadn't been able to see Johanna at all that week and while texting with her soothed him slightly it wasn't the same and he missed her.

"JJ, man, relax," Camden said as he put a hand on JJ's shoulder and JJ looked at his friend. "She'll be here soon," Camden assured him as he lowered his hand and JJ sighed as he ran his right hand through his hair.

"I know, I'm just anxious to see her," he said and the group of boys laughed.

"Tell us something we don't already know," Max said with a grin. "She's all you thought about all week when running patrol. You're worse than Adam was when he first imprinted on Sarah." The group laughed again while JJ narrowed his eyes at the sixteen year old who just continued to grin at him.

JJ knew Max was just 'poking the bear' as his mother would say, but he didn't like being compared to Adam since it involved his sister. JJ opened his mouth to retort when Harry nudged him hard with his elbow. JJ looked at Harry with a raised eyebrow when Harry grinned and glanced away as he nodded his head to the right. JJ quickly followed his gaze to see Johanna round the side of the house, her steps slow and hesitant, and JJ couldn't help but smile. Even though she looked nervous she looked beautiful and he was happy to see she came as promised.

"Don't just stand there smiling like an idiot, JJ," Harry said and JJ looked at him. "Go get your girl," Harry said with a smile. JJ shoved him playfully before he walked away from his friends, who were laughing at him once again, and headed straight for Johanna.

Johanna had done her best not to cry during her drive to Sarah's, but a few tears had made their way down her cheeks. For the last few years Johanna knew that Jon didn't like her all that much, but after what he had said that afternoon Johanna was sure that he hated her and the saddest thing of all was that she didn't know why he did. However, she knew that he was wrong about her new friends and she would do her best to remember that. So, after parking her car amongst the others that were in front of the large and impressive looking house, Johanna got herself together and cleaned up her face as best she could with the napkins she found in the glove box of her mother's car.

Her heart was once again racing as she headed around the side of the house where she could hear kids laughing, music, and people talking. She gripped the book in her hands tightly as she walked slowly thanks to her nerves and as she rounded the corner she hesitated when she saw the number of people that were there. She guessed there were close to fifty people gathered in Sarah's backyard, including the adults and all the kids Johanna could see running around and playing together. Most of the people there were Native American, but Johanna recognized the retired Forks police chief, Charlie Swan, amongst the crowd and Johanna found herself wondering how Chief Swan knew Sarah's family.

"You made it," came a voice that made the knot in her stomach tighten and she looked to her left to see JJ closing in. Jon's words, no matter how much she tried to push them away, lingered and she had to force a smile as she looked at JJ, which made him frown as he stopped two feet away from her. His dark eyes scanned her face before he reached out and put his right hand on her upper arm as he shuffled his feet so he was standing closer to her, his eyes holding hers as she tilted her head back to look up at him. She'd been crying; she covered it up well but he could tell and concern flooded him as he looked down at her. "What's wrong?" he asked her quietly and Johanna took a deep breath as she shook her head.

"It's nothing, JJ," she said. She didn't want to talk about it, at least not at that moment. JJ wanted her to tell him what was wrong so he could fix it, but he thought it best to let it go for now and nodded as he raised his hand from her arm and tucked her hair behind her left ear.

"You can talk to me, you know," he said softly while lowering his hand and a genuine smile was his reward as she looked up at him.

"I know, and I will but not now," she said.

"Fair enough," JJ said with a smile before he was taken by surprise as Johanna hugged him, her arms wrapping around his waist tightly, the book in her right hand digging into his back slightly. However, JJ didn't think twice before JJ wrapped his arms around her and hugged her back. "Jo," he breathed softly before he bowed his head and pressed his nose into the crown of her head. Honeysuckles and oranges assaulted his senses, her scent washing over him, and JJ could happily drown it once more. After a few seconds, Johanna slowly pulled away and looked up at him with a blush warming her cheeks just like his heated skin had done when she pressed her face into his black t-shirt covered chest.

"Sorry," she said before she sniffed quietly. "I just . . . I sort of needed that."

"Well, if you ever need another hug or anything else, you know where to find me," JJ said with a light chuckle and Johanna laughed quietly. "And don't say you're sorry. I don't mind whatsoever."

"Good to know," she said without thinking and JJ smiled while Johanna blushed yet again.

"Johanna!" Sarah called before Johanna was practically tackled in a tight embrace. The girls shared a laugh before Sarah pulled away, her hands remaining on Johanna's shoulders. "I thought you'd never get here."

"Am I late?" Johanna asked as she glanced at JJ while Sarah lowered her hands.

"No, Sarah's just got ADD," JJ joked earning a gentle back hand on his chest from his sister, who knew better than to really hit him. She broke a finger two years ago when she had smacked him out of frustration.

"Funny," Sarah said dryly and Johanna decided to change the subject.

"I brought your book back," she said quickly.

"You finished it already?" Sarah asked, surprised as she took the thick book from Johanna's hands.

"I read fast," she said with a small shrug and Sarah smiled.

"Come on," JJ said as he reached out and took hold of Johanna's left hand, drawing her eyes back up to his face. "Our parents wanted to meet you when you got here."

"Now?" Johanna asked, her voice cracking a bit from her nerves and JJ and Sarah laughed quietly before JJ started walking, pulling Johanna along with Sara falling in line.

"Don't worry, Johanna," Sarah said with a small grin, a teasing glint in her eyes, that made Johanna's cheeks warm in yet another blush because she knew what was coming. "Our parents won't ask you a million and one questions."

"I'm still sorry about that, you know," Johanna said and Sarah laughed before she threw her left arm around Johanna's shoulders.

"Oh I know, but I'm still going to tease you about it," Sarah said and Johanna smiled. "It's not a big deal though, so, stop feeling bad about it. Your parents didn't know much about us, so, it was expected; however, we've told our folks quite a bit about you. They're excited to meet you."

"Hopefully I don't disappoint," Johanna said.

"Impossible," JJ said with a slight pause as he looked down at her and Johanna looked away from Sarah and up to JJ whose grip tightened slightly on her hand. He was looking at her with a warm smile and something in his eyes she couldn't quite read, but it made her stomach twist and knot in that pleasant but uncomfortable way yet again. "They'll love you."