Don't own anything except OC's.

Chapter 21: Slow

Claire's POV.

It took a while, but Quil and I eventually made-up…we always did. I suppose it was the imprint, how, in the end, we came together again.

My summer holiday had started a week before I went to La Push, and I spent most of the holiday with Quil. Unlike before, my parents did not complain. When we had gotten into a fight about the wolf secret, I hadn't told my parents, persuading myself that I could handle it on my own. For the most part, I had done okay. However, this time, with that thought that Quil and I were really never going to be the same again, I had went crying to my mom, because, let's be honest, every girl needs her mom when she's upset. I hadn't told her anything about the imprint of the wolves, I had just said Quil and I had gotten into a fight and that was all she had needed to hear. She had hugged me and rocked me, made me a cup of chocolate and brought me a large tub of ice-cream. My parents finally saw how much Quil really meant to me so when we made-up, they did not say a word as I ran down the stairs announcing I was going to La Push for the day or for the weekend. I think they were just glad I was back to myself again.

Quil and I didn't do anything particularly exciting, we watched movies and ate our body weight in popcorn, but the point was we were together and we were best friends again, that was all that mattered, because the month after Quil told me about the imprint made it crystal clear to me that I needed my Quil. It wasn't like my life stopped when we weren't together—I still went to school, still did homework, still hung out with friends, ate, slept, watched movies, complained about teachers. But it was hard. My subconscious, no matter how much I tried to convince myself otherwise, knew that he was missing. Without him, my life seemed slow and mundane. No matter how much I laughed with my friends or was enjoying a day out with my sister, Quil was the only thing I really wanted. I was always excited to see/hear him, knowing I would speak to him or visit him at the end of the day was what got me through it, and without that certainty, without him, I found it difficult.

Maybe it was because of the imprint, maybe it was fate, I didn't know and, really, I didn't care. All I knew was that I missed Quil.

My routine of school, homework, sleep was my lifeline for a while. It distracted me from thinking about everything, because when I did think about what had happened, I got sad, frustrated, pissed off and then cried for hours. Having this set routine really helped me cope. Then school was over and I had no idea what to do with myself. I stayed in my bed, looking at my wall and just thought. I thought about my childhood and pre-teen years, how Quil had always been there for me. Then I thought of the lies and how he had promised that he wasn't going to keep anything else from me, but he had kept the imprint from me. The single most important thing that Quil could have hid from me and he had kept it to himself, for seventeen damn years.

I was furious at him. More so than when I found out about the wolf thing, more so than when he had ruffled my hair at my sixteenth birthday, more so than when he had interrogated Peter. I had understood all of them to a certain degree, even the wolf one when I really thought about it. It wasn't just his secret, it was the tribes and he had wanted to make sure that I was old enough to know that I had to keep it a secret from the rest of the world, including my family. I couldn't honestly say that if he had told me when I was a child that I wouldn't have blurted it out to someone, especially in school when people bragged about their new X-box or laptop, I would have not been able to stop myself from bragging about my best friend being a wolf.

But the imprint thing was different…it was much bigger than wolves and vampires. Though I had thought about us being together more times than I could count over the years, knowing it was real made the whole thing overwhelming. I hadn't thought something like that could exist, never mind that I was a part of something like that.

It also didn't help that Quil couldn't explain things to save his damn life. He had made imprinting sound like a curse rather than a gift. Aunt Emily made a lot more sense, her ability to speak frankly but effectively put everything into perspective. Especially when she told me about Uncle Sam. To know that they had went through all of that together and were still the sickeningly sweet in love Aunt and Uncle I knew today showed me just how much imprinting was really down to fate. Aunt Emily and Uncle Sam were made for each other and were so happy, it had to be destiny.

Still, even though we were literally made for each other, Quil and I weren't together. We were best friends, nothing more. At first I had wanted it like that, for us to be comfortable around each other again before we started anything. I wasn't ready to be with him for a while, to totally forgive him. Now, however, I wanted things to progress. But nothing was happening and towards the end of my summer holidays I was beginning to lose hope.

When was he going to make a move already?

Opportunities were always there when we were alone together. I threw hints and tried to cuddle up to him as much as possible, however, he seemed completely oblivious. It annoyed me, but also made me giggle. We were both so oblivious to the things around us. We really were made for each other, though I had always known that.

As always when I came to La Push, I was staying at Aunt Emily and Uncle Sam's. A week before I was due to go back to school, I awoke to loud chattering and went downstairs. The Uley kitchen was cramped with people, lunch time was in full swing and people seemed to gravitate to the Uley house at that time. I remembered it being like that when I was a little girl, and even though most of the people were married, had kids and were at work, they still made time to come over and socialize. Then again, who wouldn't when Aunt Emily's cooking was five star worthy?

"Claire-bear!" Brady shouted out. I crinkled my nose at the nickname, no one had called me Claire-bear for years. "Want a sandwich?" he lifted the plate up it me. I took two ham ones and quickly ate them as Evelyn tugged on my dress to be lifted up.

"How's school, Claire?" Audrey asked me politely.

"It's good, boring, but I'm getting good grades," I replied proudly. I worked hard for my school grades, I hadn't quite decided what I wanted to do in the future yet, but I was leaning towards nursing, and I needed to be sharpish about my work and studying to become a nurse.

Audrey and I talked for a little longer, she had her daughter, Delaney, on her lap, feeding her some banana in small pieces. Aiden, the broody wolf that was ridiculously good-looking, had Daniel, Delaney's twin. They were nearly two, and a few months after they were born Audrey and Ethan had found out their youngest son was deaf. Daniel was a gorgeous kid, quieter than his twin who had just learned to talk and kept spouting off random works such as 'wolf' and 'lollipop', and communicated with sign language and gurgling. The whole pack was making an effort to learn sign language for him, even I had been taught a few sentences by Quil, so we could talk to him as he got older.

"Good morning," Quil greeted me as he came to my side. "What do you want to do today?"

"Umm, go to the beach? It's a nice day."

"Beach it is."

I ate a few more sandwiches and then went to pack a beach bag. After saying goodbye to everyone, Quil and I walked to the beach and found a secluded place near the cliffs and rocks. I laid out our towels and sat, turning my body towards the sun. For La Push, it was a sunny day, but there was still a breeze. Taking a deep breath to appreciate the fresh smell of the sea and lavender from the forest, I took off my floral summer dress and I was left in my black and white striped bikini. It wasn't hot enough for the suntan lotion I had in my bag so I laid down.

My sun was blocked suddenly and I popped open my eyes to see Quil sat beside me on the blue towel I had put out for him, staring at me. I bit my bottom lip and smiled. "What's up?" I asked.

"Nothing," he breathed, looking to the sea. "Want to go in the sea?"

I nodded and got up, only to see Quil was already in the water. Shaking my head, I joined him, shivering from the cold as it hit my skin. I walked until the water was at my hips and stared at Quil as he splashed around. He turned to me and smirked before he threw some water my way.

"Quil!" I yelled, jumping away from him. "It's freezing!"

"You're just whining."

"You're a freaky wolf person! You're constantly warm!" I cried and he smiled. "It's unfair."

"Has anyone ever told you life is unfair?" he asked jokingly.

"Yes, Nora every time a boy breaks up with her," I answered, laughing, though it was true. I had spent many nights with my sister crying and stuffing her face with ice-cream, whining about how boys were stupid and that life didn't like her.

I shivered again and Quil chuckled. "Come here," he requested, opening out his arms.

Cautiously, I made my way over, afraid he would splash me again. I fell into his open arms, savouring the warmth and comfort. I felt safe in Quil's arms. I cocked my head up to look at him and he grinned goofily at me. My heart sped up, like it always did when he smiled, and the close proximity of our bodies wasn't helping. His eyes flickered to my lips and I licked them unconsciously. He leaned down, then quickly backed up when we got an inch from each other.

"Kiss me," I pleaded. "Please, just once."

He frowned slightly and looked into my eyes, I nodded. As if on slow motion, he inched down to me. Impatient, I got on my tiptoes and that was it, our lips connected. Everything I had wanted since I was ten came true. I reached to put my hand behind his neck and push him forcefully into my lips. He soon responded, his arms dropping to my waist, and my other arm wrapped around his neck.

Wanting more, I poked my tongue out to swipe along his bottom lip. My body was on fire already, but when his tongue joined my, I was surprised I didn't combust. Fireworks exploded inside my head, my senses became ten times stronger. I clung to his neck and battled my tongue against his, moaning when his teeth scraped along my top lip.

It was everything I dreamed of and more. I was kissing Quil, my Quil. Finally, God, I had waited so long.

All too soon he pulled away, leaving me breathless and panting like a dog. I still had my arms wrapped tightly around his neck and his waist was almost supporting me as my feet were a centimetre from me being air bound.

"We have to take it slow," he said quietly.

I nodded, I would have agreed to anything he said after that kiss.

"We're both not ready for more yet," he added.

I licked my lips and nodded again. Still reeling from the feel of it all, I put my head forward and caught my lips with his. He responded and dragged one of his hands up my back to bury in my hair. I groaned, digging my nails into his back.

He pulled away and let his hands fall lose to his side. "Slow, Claire," he reminded me sternly.

"Right, slllooooww," I replied, dragging the word 'slow' forcefully.

He laughed. "No need for the mocking."

"I would never mock you," I smiled happily.

He pried my hands from his neck and led me back to the towels, our hands intertwined. I pretty much skipped behind him, I couldn't stop smiling or giggling. Quil and I were dating, sort of. We were finally together, after all the ups and downs, we had come through and I was getting what I had always wanted: Quil Ateara.

We chatted idly while we 'sunbathed', I was too busy daydreaming about our kiss to make a real conversation. When the sun began to dim, Quil packed up the bag while I put on my dress and sandals. When we started to walk back I took his hand, to my irritation he swung our arms between us like we did when I was a girl. However, I was too giddy to point it out or argue over it.

"Claire," he stopped us halfway back to his truck. "I know you want us to be together, and so do I, but...but you'll have to be patient with me. I've known you since you were two, it's hard for me to adjust. You're beautiful and amazing, but can we take it slow?"

"Of course," I promised. If slow was what it took to be with Quil, I would do it. "We'll go at tortoise pace."

"Thank you," he sighed, kissing my forehead.

Kiss me on the lips!

Slow, Claire. Slow.

We got to his truck and drove home in silence, listening to the soft hum of the radio. Everyone was gone, leaving only the Uley family in the house, so we could easily slip into the spare room. He dropped my bag near the door and I flicked off my sandals. When I looked at the bed I got an image of throwing Quil down on it and ravishing him until dawn broke. Blushing, I turned to him.

"Claire, I've got patrol," he looked at the clock in the spare room. "I'm sorry, I'll see you soon, alright?" he kissed my forehead and he was gone.

Scowling, I sat on the bed and sighed. Quil would be gone until tomorrow, meaning I wouldn't be able to kiss him for more than twelve hours. But, I had kissed him only hours ago. We had agreed to be more than best friends. Giggling ecstatically, I laid down on my bed and flicked the T.V. on.

I would see Quil tomorrow, I could kiss him tomorrow.

We could be together tomorrow.

Thoughts?

Thanks for the reviews, favourites and alerts!

Sorry it's late. Fanfiction wouldn't work for whatever reason and then, finally, it fixed and I was able to post this!

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-Layla