I whimpered loudly in a high pitch before his mouth crashed down on mine and he gathered me in his arms and settled his hips flush against mine fully sheathed within me, electricity sparkling in my vagina and I was knocked into euphoria.

I felt my sheets under me moisten, tears brimming in my tears.

He grinded his hips to mine, his hands coming up to my throat, his lips brushing against mine as he whispered to me, his eyes locking with mine, "I love you."

"I love you," I choked, my nails digging into his back, "Please don't leave me."

He kissed me hard, adjusting his position to start thrusting into me again, his shoulders pushing my legs to my chest, "I'm not going anywhere." He said between kisses.

"I love you." I murmured in his ear with every emotion thickening and lowering my voice.

"I love you too," He silenced me with another kiss.

I was smacked into a black abyss. My eyes opening immediately to the sensation of being thrown with absolute confusion, I was launching forward spinning and twisting in a tunnel at sonic speed through a dark grey and black galaxy with bright stars, my head spun with its intensity. Black.

I felt myself fall hard. The floor was there but the texture and temperature were unknown along with whether or not I opened my eyes. My heart began to race. I felt absolutely weak and helpless, this was embarrassing for me out of people to be insecure and vulnerable, a creeping chill like slow motion fog but heavy weighted with sinister intent surrounding me. Suffocating me and stealing my breath and my voice, rendering me paralyzed full bodily.

"Did you really think it would be that easy? Did you really think that was real?" She asked in that town of voice she first greeted me with. "You really have gone crazy."

I felt two things next; one was the prickling across every inch of my body with chills running up and down my spine, and the second was the utter sheer fear as I fell at a breakneck speed into my bedroom on my twin bed screaming bloody murder and jumping off my bed.

…

mid-march, 2006

…

I jumped off my bed screaming bloody murder checking myself for injuries, gazing outside the windows and around my room as I calmed myself down to gasping for breath and still looking around wigging the fuck out. I stared at the calendar on my wall when I noticed it, February of 2006, the Friday I first phased. It was that very morning I have the strangest all day long, like I was fighting myself from crawling out of me with so much rage.

I grabbed at my chest with both hands and falling to my knees with so many images flashing in my eyes, sobbing at the fear I felt after the complete center solidity within myself, everything I wanted in life. Working on cars, having my family even if they had their own lives, they were home. Everything was how I had adjusted to, and the moment I imprinted everything fed from me. Like my life and my mind was taken over and I no longer felt like myself, I was so focused on some else and his happiness with my presence. My confidence, my solidity, my self-control, I sobbed at nail piercing into my skin, my bones, tearing into my face, my eye. My throat.

The blood filling in my throat, and I was absolutely terrified. I huddled onto the floor in front of my dresser, allowing my heart to slow down as my mind began to fire back at the paranoid thoughts. Yelling at me for being scared, allowing myself to be scared.

"Naomi? Naomi?! Are you okay?" My door swings open and Dad swings Ren's lightsaber around the space in front of him.

I stood up, "Whoa, whoa there, Yoda."

"What happened?!" Dad looked around my room, frantically.

"Nightmare. Just a nightmare," I said, sitting down on my bed and outing a hand over my racing heart.

"What happened?" Dad lowers his weapon, scrutinizing me.

I shrugged, "It was… strange. So much happening at one time…" I looked up at him from the floor, his dark eyes worried and concerned, "… Am I… an alpha female?"

Dad blinks, hie eyes widening as he blinks, he hesitated and then sighed and nodded, "Yes."

"Okay," I looked over at my calendar. I sighed as I read the date, February 17th, 2006, "Okay."

"Naomi?"

I glanced at my clock on the wall, I had thirty minutes to get ready for school, I looked back over at my Dad, "I think I was visited by the spirits and they showed me some things."

"They gave you nightmares?"

"Well… I think before I woke up… I had this feeling like, … I was going to die?" I did die but I didn't know how much I should tell him to not freak him out, I didn't really want to tell the full truth yet. If I could tell him the truth. My head hurts now, and my mind shut off but it's subconsciously spiraling, for one I really don't know what to do. "I don't know. Maybe it was just a nightmare all together…" I hated feeling weak, it's not me. It's especially not me to be scared of someone, scared of something. I have to be strong; I have to be brave; I have to be a leader. "I'm gonna get ready for school."

"Are you sure you're okay, butterfly?"

Butterfly. A butterfly. I have to be a butterfly.

"I'm sure, I promise. You know I have an overactive mind." I shrugged it off and opened drawers in my dresser.

"Alright," He says gravely and I know he was studying me as he backed out of the doorway, holding his weapon sadly as he left. "I was anticipating on whacking somebody with this."

I chuckled belly deep. I closed my door, I took a quick shower ten minute shower and changed into the essentials, a pair of light blue jeans, and a light grey sweater with a V-neck line of buttons. The thin fabric was perfect and it didn't irritate my skin or increase my temperature, the breeze blowing in through my window didn't effect me when it broke through the fabric of my clothes. I closed the window inhaling the air full of rain and rich Earth, my back and shoulders relaxed breathing in the fresh air. I pulled on a pair of thick socks because of my choice of shoes today, my boots, I grabbed my car keys from my desk. I ran my fingers through my wet hair as I hoisted my schoolbag onto my left shoulder, Dad handed me a package of pop tarts and a red apple I tossed into the air repeatedly as I walked over to my Camaro hidden under the trees.

"Hey baby," I smiled as I walked up to him, pulling my keys from my pocket, "I missed you."

I dropped my backpack and the package of pop tarts in my passenger seat and pulled my legs into the car, I closed the door behind me and put the keys into the ignition. I ate the apple on the way to school, it was a much shorter trip than I thought it would be as I swung by to pick up Quil, I gave him my pop tarts.

He didn't say too much but he looked horrible, he glanced over at me as he crumbles up the pop tart wrapper and tossed it out the open window. He looked better with the air blowing on him, he physically relaxed. He was going to phase soon and it was hitting him hard. He took my scrutinizing the wrong way with his raging hormones for sex.

"What, Black?" Quil asked, his eyes narrowed but his smile was impish.

"Nothing. I was just going to ask if you were okay." I looked back out the windshield as the light turned green.

"I'm okay," He smiled wider.

"Stop looking at me like that," I turned his head away from me.

"Just a kiss?"

"Ew. We grew up together."

"And?"

"We're like siblings that's weird."

"Actually we're nowhere near related on either ends whatever way you want to look at it."

"It's not happening, Quil. You coming tonight? Maybe Bells will want a kiss."

He groaned in disappointment, "Damn man. I can't. Gramps found out about my fight."

I snickered, "I told you, dumbass. You should've just taken it to the woods."

…

Bella

…

I know Naomi's part is confusing but it'll even out I promise.

…

However, that same night Charlie came home and looked at the three us sprawled out over the living room, finishing homework with homemade pizzas in the oven. Individual pies that the three of us made up and I made up Charlie's, a salad was already prepared in the refrigerator.

"Hey, Nao," Charlie says from the armchair.

She looked up at him from her essay. She blinked twice with a fast expression I couldn't read; she looked up at Charlie from her essay.

"You know that three-bedroom house around the corner for your house?"

She looked back down at her essay, "Uhh…" She blinked rapidly and continued, "the one that was recently rented out … last week? The blue house?"

"That's the one," Charlie answered, smiling with mirth.

Naomi looked up at him again, "Uh oh… what'd you do?"

Seth glanced over at me from looking at Naomi, his eyebrows pulling together.

"Nothing, nothing… I was the one that rented it out."

Seth and I jaws dropped as we shared a look and stared at Charlie, "Come again?"

"Pardon?" I stared at him blankly in astonishment.

We're leaving Forks? Why are we leaving Forks?

Charlie looked down at us with a short sigh, "How would you two feel about moving to La Push?... Naomi's right down the street and the Reservation schooling system offers more benefits to college education."

"You're lying," Seth accused, he didn't look so happy about it.

That meant he had to struggle with more time with Christine.

Charlie shook his head no.

Seth stood up from the floor gathering up his books, Charlie's face changed as Seth walked away with saying a word.

"How about you, Bells?" He asks gently, his eyes were cautious.

I pondered it. We were still in the peninsula… but… I refused to think about him and focused on the pros of this situation. Naomi, my personal sun, was going to be right down the road, which meant new school and new friends. But I was graduating this year.

"I'm graduating this year," I said worriedly.

"You're a smart girl, Bells. I'm sure the curriculum is somewhat the same if not easier," Naomi adds.

"She's right. You can still see your friends, you still have Newton's," Charlie adds with an encouraging smile, pleased by my facial expression.

I smiled, "Yeah, you're right."

"When did you plan on starting the move?" Naomi asks focusing back on her essay.

"Around Tuesday next week. I wanted to say something earlier but you kids have been running around quite a lot lately. So… I hope you guys aren't too mad about this."

I shook my head, I was surprised with myself for feeling… relieved about this, I smiled over at Naomi, "I can't be mad from being down the road from my best friend."

"That means I can officially harass you guys whenever I like?" Naomi grinned, she glanced over at Charlie with mischievous mirth.

Charlie narrowed his eyes at me, "Stay out of my room."

"I'm not twelve. I'll go through Seth's. Make him squirm." Naomi gazes at me as I laughed.

Even though they've rocky in their friendship lately, she still wants to tease him, she wasn't taking their fight as heavy as before.

"Oh!" Naomi gasped sitting up and reaching for her backup while bending her legs to her chest, "Before I forget Bells, I got something for you." Naomi pulled something out of the front pocket of her dark grey backpack and then she held up a dreamcatcher.

It was so pretty. It had blue ribbons intertwined with the leather and little carved pieces of wood, "Aw! I love it, thank you, Nao."

"You're welcome, Belle," she says with a smile. "It'll catch all the spirits inducing your nightmares. I don't think they'll come back unless they want to deal with me and Dad."

I never told her about my nightmares, how does she know about them? Even though I doubted that'll work but I trusted her. And she was certainly confident about this.

I laughed and reached out to the dreamcatcher, "Thank you."

Just as much as I surprised myself with throwing my arms around her again, but nowhere near as the same comfort I got from the contact. I was her best friend. I realized that she was mine, I loved her so much and care for her but that love would always be friendship. This heavy weight of the clarification of the bond healed a portioned of the hole in my chest, a relief to an excruciating feeling that was surely healing me in ways I wasn't sure I wanted to admit.

"You're welcome," She hummed, she was definitely the sun.

…

The next day in English, I broached the subject with Mike. But I didn't forget about Dad's warning that Friday night would be the last night to hang out with our Forks friends, unless we stayed connected. Seth was taking Christine and invited some of his track friends. It was going to be an eventful night, all of socializing that I was still preparing myself for. Plus, this was literally our last two days of school in Forks, what was the worst that could happen, I had Naomi at the end of the day even with Seth pulling away.

"Hey, Mike," I said when class was over, "Are you free Friday night?"

He looked up, hopefully. I was afraid of this, I really don't see Mike more than a friend, I don't think I ever could, "Yeah, I am. You want to hang out?"

I worded my reply cautiously, really hoping he would get over this infatuation soon, maybe my absence would help it, "I was thinking of getting a group together to go see that new Transformers spinoff, Crosshairs." I've done my homework this time, I even read some of the movie spoilers so I wouldn't be caught off guard. Plus, Naomi was excited about this, "Does that sound like fun?"

"Sure," he agreed, visibly less eager.

"Awesome." Naomi was rubbing off on me.

After a split second, he perked back up to his near former excitement level, "how about we get Angela and Ben? Or Eric and Katie?"

He was eager for a double date. I sighed internally.

"How about both?" I suggested, "Seth is bringing Christine, my friend in La Push is bringing one of her friends. And Jessica, too, of course. And Tyler and Connor, and maybe Lauren." I tacked on grudgingly. I had promised Quil a variety.

"Okay," Mike muttered, foiled.

Here comes the final blows, "And," I continued, "it sounds like we'll need your Suburban if everyone comes, is that okay?"

Christine's eyes narrowed in suspicion.

Mike asks, "These are the friends you spend all your time studying with now?"

"Yep, the very ones," I answered, glancing over at Seth who went sour. "Though you could call it tutoring – she's only a sophomore."

"More like your girlfriend than a 'friend'," Christine mumbles with a flick of her hair off her shoulder. "From what I hear."

"Oh?"

"You're into girls now?"

"Naomi is just a friend. Sister actually," I corrected, even though saying that felt weird.

"Oh," Jessica and Lauren said in surprise, after a second thought they both smiled.

Eric and Katie already had plans – it was their three-week anniversary or something. Lauren got to Tyler and Connor before Mike could, so those two were also busy. Even Quil and Katelynn were out – Quil was grounded for fighting at school, and Naomi didn't go into details about Katelynn.

So, in the end, it was Angela and Ben, Jessica and Lauren, Christine, and Seth, and, of course, Naomi was able to go. The lowered numbers didn't dampen Mike's anticipation, though, he was more excited about the movie night than anyone else. It was all he could talk about Friday.

"Are you sure you don't want to see Tomorrow and Forever instead?" Mike asked at lunch, naming the current romantic comedy that was ruined in the box office. "Rotten Tomatoes give it a better review."

"I want to see Crosshairs," I insisted, "I'm in the mood for ashen. Bring on the blood and guts!"

"Okay," Mike turned away with a she's-crazy expression.

Before lunch was over, I had to make the announcement that I was moving, I wasn't looking forward to some of the reactions of the table. But I mean… I only expected Angela to be truly crushed by the news, and most likely Mike from his previous behaviors around me. And of course, Seth wasn't here.

"Hey, guys," I called out to the table, Lauren and Jessica ignored me, "I have an announcement to make."

"You're pregnant?" Jessica asked after a giggle with Lauren and Katie, I blinked at that confusion.

"You're moving back with your mom?" Lauren asked hopefully, Christine, Jessica and Lauren whispering giggling amongst themselves.

"What's going on, Bella?" Angela asked after casting a look at trio of snarky bitches.

Oh, Naomi is rubbing off on me.

"Well…" I started after looking at the clock and gathering my backpack together, "Charlie rented a house in La Push. It's Seth and I's last day today at Forks High."

"Oh!" Angela gasped, she grabbed my hands, "You remember my number, right?"

"Of course, Ang," I replied giving her a reassuring smile.

The bell rang.

"Thank God for no more Bella," Lauren says pushing her hair over her shoulder as if she needed too.

"And no more Seth either," Jessica adds and then the trio was gone along with Mike and the others, my eyebrows pulled together.

Angela was the only one who stuck by, she sighs, "I'm going to miss you Bella."

I glanced at her, "I'm going to miss you too, Ang… hey,… come with us for the movie night. I really want you to meet Naomi."

"Oh, and I honestly I would love to come, but I'm honestly not feeling too good."

"Oh-." I went to offer to walk her to the nurse but she hurried away down the hallway before I could finish.

…

When I got home from school, a remarkably familiar car was parked in front of my house. Naomi was leaning against the hood with her arms crossed and a huge grin brightening her face.

"No way!" I shouted jumping out of the truck, "You're done! I can't believe it! You finished the Camaro!"

Naomi beamed, "Just last night actually. This is the second voyage."

"Awesome," I held up my hand for a high five.

She smacked her hand against mine, she bounced excitedly on the balls of her feet, "Can I drive tonight? I have my permit."

"Definitely," I replied and then sighed.

"What's up?" Her dark eyes flickered over my face.

"I'm giving up – I can't top this one. So, you win. You're the oldest."

She leaned back against the hood and shrugging, "Of course I am." She smirked.

Mike's Suburban chugged around the corner.

"This is the guy who thinks you're his girlfriend. Is he still confused?" Naomi smirked at me.

I sighed, "Some people are hard to discourage."

"Persistence pays off… sometimes." Naomi says thoughtfully.

"Most of the time it's just annoying."

"Amen, sister." Her head had nodded in agreement.

"Pretend to be my girlfriend tonight?" I asked her and she looked at me stunned, "Save me from him, please."

"Really?" She blinks at me.

Mike, Seth, Christine, Lauren, and Jessica got out of the van and crossed the road.

"Yes." I murmured and hooked my arm with hers.

"Hey, Bella," Mike greeted me and then he looked at Naomi, his eyes widened and his pale cheeks tinted with blush.

"Hey." Jessica waves once, she shared a look with Lauren.

I briefly glanced at Naomi, too, trying to observe. But I see the gears turning in Mike's head. I didn't want Mike's oily hands going anywhere Naomi. I always had an unfamiliar surge of instincts to protect Naomi, especially after our conversation about Sam, the fact that she was creeped out by him always made me on high alert when we were out of the house. Mike was no different, this was no different. I hooked my arm with Naomi's and fixing hair on her shoulder, casually blocking view of the low cut of her grey sweater from Mike's eyes.

"Hey, guys. Do you remember Naomi Black?"

Lauren and Jessica both shook their heads and stared murmuring amongst themselves. Christine wrapped her arm around Seth's waist with a sour puss expression, Seth didn't spare a glance.

"Not really," Mike smirked holding out his hand to Naomi.

"Old family friend," Naomi introduced herself, she cracked a bright grin. They locked hands with more force than necessary, when their grip broke, Mike flexed his fingers and Naomi continues to grin at him.

I think I seen him physically shiver as his eyes widened, Seth looked over at us as Lauren and Jessica started murmuring amongst themselves again. I heard the phone ringing from the kitchen.

"I'll get that – it might be Charlie," I told them and went to dash inside but then I turned to Naomi, she winked at me and I dashed inside.

It was Ben. Angela was sick with the stomach flu, and he didn't want to come without her. He apologized for bailing but I reassured him it was okay, that's why Ang hurried off after lunch today. I walked back out to the group waiting outside quickly, I really hoped Angela would feel better soon. It didn't seem any progress towards friendships in the group in my absence. Lauren and Jessica disappeared during my absence.

"Ang is sick," I reported glumly. "She and Ben aren't coming."

"I guess the flu is making another round. Austin and Conner were out today, too. Maybe we should do this another time," Christine suggested.

Before I could agree, Naomi spoke as if she proposing a challenge, Mike stared at her smirk.

"I'm still up for it. But if you'd rather stay behind, Christ—"

"No, I'm coming," She interrupted sharply, "I was just thinking of Angela and Ben. Let's go." She started towards Mike's Suburban.

"Who pissed in her cheerios?" Naomi whispered to me and I giggled softly. "So, I guess my Camaro is unneeded."

"Not necessarily," I replied, my fingers intertwining my fingers with hers as we walked across the street. "We can go for a drive later." I smiled up at her that made her study my face.

Naomi kept up the act during the trip to the theater, her simple wrap of her arm around my waist was enough to deter Mike and he talked with Jessica. Lauren joined in on the conversation after I caught a glimpse of Christine and Seth in the back row eating each other's faces off. I looked over at Naomi and she leaned to my ear, Mike turned up the volume on the stereo and I really didn't need to fake being in pain. Or faking not to be in pain, Naomi's presence was my safe haven.

"I'm not doing that." She whispers.

I adjusted my leg to shift closer to her, my heartbeat skipping a beat in my chest at the brush of her boob on my upper chest, "Why not?" I was surprised when I asked it.

Naomi stared into my eyes, her eyebrows pulling together, "You want to?"

I shrugged, feeling blood rush to my cheeks, "Maybe."

"Interesting." Naomi kissed my cheek and her eyes flickered over my face as I blushed harder.

When we got to the theater, Naomi handed me a ten-dollar bill.

"What's this?" I objected.

"I'm not old enough to get into this one," she reminded me.

I laughed aloud, "So much for relatives ages." Naomi snorted a laugh squeezing my fingers lightly, "Is Billy going to kill me if I sneak you in?"

"No," Naomi shook her head, "I told him you were planning to corrupt my youthful innocence."

I snickered, and the others went off ahead of us..

I almost wished the Mike had decided to bow out. He was still sullen—not much is an addition to the party. The movie was exactly what it professed to be. In just the opening credits of the movie of gigantic alien robots landing on Earth during the early fifties. Four people were blown up and one got beheaded. The girl in front of me put her hands over her eyes and turned her face into her dates chest. He patted her shoulder, and winced occasionally, too. Mike didn't look like he was watching, his face stiff as he glared at the fringe above the screen. I glanced over at Naomi grinning like Cheshire cat and entranced in the film, I thought about how I easily just… asked her to pretend to be my girlfriend and I couldn't believe in this moment that I was wishing she were.

The movie light against her russet brown skin made her eyes glisten and the shapes and objects reflecting, her smile was big and made her youthful eyes even more even wider with enthusiasm. She was really enjoying this movie, she's so young but there's something to her. She is so beautiful, she wasn't sort of beautiful, she was beautiful and I honestly knew there why calling her my friend or sister didn't make sense. She was someone I can truly spend my life with, and I know if I ever told her my feelings to her it would be a shock, she pushed me to be my best self and she never pushed her feelings on me. Her eyes shifted swiftly to me looking at her, my heart stammered in my chest, I felt blood rushing to my cheeks. I looked over to Jssica next to me, I stopped turning my head when I met Jessica's eyes as she smiled at me with a loaded expression, she was giving me that look and I blushed harder.

Jessica turned to Lauren who was asking questions and Jess whispered to her, Mike was sitting on Lauren's other side and Seth and Christine were in a different room making out again. I never thought I'd witness Seth sucking someone's face off, I didn't like it, but I didn't like Christine either. I settled in to endure the two hours, watching the colors and the movement on the screen rather than actually seeing the shapes of people and events. I glanced over to movement to my left; Naomi was shifting in her seat with anticipation. I looked back at the screen, watching the colors again until Naomi started sniggering.

"What?" I whispered.

"The blood squirted twenty feet out of that guy," She whispered, "I know this is supposed to be CGI, but this ridiculous."

Naomi chuckled as a flagpole speared a man into a concrete wall. After that, I started watching, Naomi's hands were in her lap. I shifted closer to Naomi inconspicuously, and I wrapped my free arm over my stomach hoping his hand fell asleep. I reached my hand out to hers; she glanced down swiftly before taking my hand, her hand was slim and feminine and for her to be covered in car grime most of the time, there was no trace and she smelt so good. She smelt so pretty, I didn't know what it was but it was undeniably feminine and I wish I could bottle it up.

Naomi glanced at me and kissed my cheek, "Are you going to watch me watch the movie or are you going to watch?"

"I'm not watching you."

Naomi grinned at me with her eyebrows shooting up, "Oh really?" Her eyes went over my head, and found mine again, "I think your friends are planning our wedding."

I glanced over at Jessica and Lauren turning their heads away and to the movie screen, I glanced at Naomi smiling sheepishly but holding her hand tighter. About more than halfway through the movie, Jessica and Laurens's attention went to Mike leaning forward to drop his head in his hands. At first, I thought the movie was getting to him, if he was a pussy but then he moaned in pain.

"Mike, are you okay?" Jess whispered.

The couple in front of us turned to look at him as he groaned again.

"No," he gasped, "I think I'm sick."

I seen the sheen of sweat covering his face in the light from the movie screen. Mike groaned again, and bolted for the door, Naomi and I let go of each other's hands. I went to follow Jessica and Lauren after Mike immediately, and she followed instantly.

"No, stay," I whispered, "We'll make sure he's okay." She followed me anyway. "You don't have to come. Get your $8 worth of carnage," I insisted as we walked up the aisle.

"It's okay. I'm actually kind of disappointed in this movie. It sucks," Naomi's voice rose from a whisper to its normal volume as we walked out of the theater.

"I honestly had no clue what was going on," Jessica adds with a sheepish smile over her shoulder.

There was no sign of Mike in the hallway, anywhere.

Lauren looks up and down the hallway, she shrugged and shifted her weight from one leg to the other with a huff. I looked up at Naomi stepping into my right flank, I smiled at her softly and took her hand again.

"What happened?" We all turned to Seth and Christine emerging from the theater, Christine looked a little flush.

"Mike got sick," Lauren informs, sighing in impatience.

"I think he has that stomach flu." Naomi sighs, she leads me over to a velvet bench against the wall, she sits down and I sat down next to her, "He might be in there for a while."

"What a party pooper," Jessica chimes sitting down on Naomi's other side. Her attention quickly went to us and began interrogating, "So, what's up with you two? Are you girlfriends? Who asked out who first? What grade are you in? Do you have any siblings? Crazy ex-girlfriends? Boyfriends? Are those your natural eyelashes?"

Naomi looked at me for help, I laughed at her expression, "Jess, relax."

"Breathe," Lauren pressed standing near Jessica with her arms crossed.

Jess inhaled through her nose, "I'm sorry, I just get excited. Are you two dating?"

Naomi looked at me, she didn't have the answer from the expression in her eyes. I smiled at her, and looked over at the girls, "I want to but haven't said anything until now."

Did I just say that?

"Whoa!" Naomi almost exclaimed in blank astonishment, "What? Wait." She leaned close to my ear, "If I didn't know any better you're saying that you like me, Bells."

"I do."

"I should've known this when you asked why not to kissing you." She whispered.

I smiled at Jessica leaning forward and her eyes shifting between us as she tried to hear the conversation, "Is it a bad surprise."

Naomi searched my eyes for a brief moment, she smiled softly, "No."

My heart started to race in my chest, I pushed hair behind my ear shyly, Jessica cut me off.

"So, what are you two? Girlfriends?" Jessica asked hopefully, startling Naomi.

Naomi glanced at me with her eyes, "What do you say, Nao?"

Naomi shrugged, "I guess I can work something work out." She smiled at me crookedly and kissed the crown of my head.

Barely a heartbeat later before Mike stumbled out of the bathroom. His face ashen and covered in sweat, he looked horrible.

"Oh, Mike," Jess gasped.

"Do you mind leaving early?" he whispered.

"No, of course not," I answered as Naomi and I stood up from the bench.

"Come on, Mike. Let's get you home," Naomi instructed before walking away dragging me right along with her.

Everyone followed without a second of discussion, Naomi stopped at the concession stand.

"Can I have an empty popcorn bucket please?" She askes the sales clerk took one glance at Mike before shoving a bucket in her direction.

"Get him outside please," She pleaded.

Jess towed Mike out into the cool night air of Port Angeles, walking and staggering a bit here and there back the Suburban. Lauren, Christine and Seth right with her to get him to the van, Jessica demanded to be with Mike so they took the back row after Christine complained about being behind him if he pukes, so Her and Seth took the middle row and Lauren was right with them.

Naomi sighs and looks over at Mike, "Keys, Mike?"

Mike shifted and pulled keys out of his pocket that he handed them to Jessica, "Here."

Jessica tossed them over and Naomi caught them one handed swiftly, "Alright kids, buckle up. We're going on a field trip." She closed the door and turned to me, "I'm not letting you drive this hunk of death."

I snickered, "My two left feet would lead us into a ditch."

"Precisely," She grinned and turned around the walk around the front end, "Get in the van, Bella."

"Yes, ma'am," I replied, smiling and watching her walk away as I walked over to the front passenger door.

She glanced at me walking around the hood, "Get in the van." She laughed covering her face with her hand holding Mike's keys.

She looked really good in light grey.

The road felt longer on the way back. Naomi turned up the stereo, Naomi dropped off the ones that couldn't stand being in the van any longer, Lauren was home first then Christine with Seth, forgot he had finally gotten to stay over at her place. I really don't like her. Jessica wanted to stay until Mike was home, Naomi drove back to my house to follow Jessica and K in her Camaro to take Mike home. Jessica turned down the stereo and glanced at me with a smile, I was surprised to see her so attentive with me tonight. Especially happy about everything unfolding, Jessica pushed it in the first place and I wondered if it would've happened if she didn't butt in.

"So," Jessica started with a knowing smile, "Sorry, Mike, girl talk."

Mike groaned, waving.

"Yes, Jess?" I asked, glancing at her sideways.

"You really like her," Jess says.

I played with strains of my wavy curls, blushing, "I guess I do."

"Tell me everything." Jessica didn't take no for an answer either.

Mike puked on the side of the railing in his mother's 'garden' when we finally got to his house after Jessica made me talk the entire time. I got back in the backseat of Naomi's Camaro as Jessica took the passenger seat since she was getting out next. I wondered over the events of the night. I wondered how the difference between the experience of listening to music again with Jessica and now with the others and Naomi. I wasn't slowly growing irritated, a lot of the songs were uplifting, encouraging in moving forward, but it didn't go deep. I wondered the differences of my reactions in certain people's presence's, and as if it was years ago I remembered how I felt in alone day two of waking up.

I wondered how long the pain would last, how so easily I believed I would never feel it in these moments. I had to force myself to not think about the nightmares that would await me when the night was fully over. I didn't want to go home. Not yet. I didn't want Naomi to go home just yet, I wasn't sure if I was ever going to be willing for distance with her anymore. I mean, if I really think about it now, she's my girlfriend now.

"I would invite myself in, since we're early," She says pulling up next to my truck, breaking me out of my current train of thought, "I'm feeling a little… strange."

"Oh no, not you, too!" I moaned in worry. "Do you want me to drive you home?" I asked.

Naomi shook her head, "No, I don't feel sick… just… strange. I'll pull over if I have to."

"No, let me drive you home," I insisted.

She gave me a kiss that silenced my worries, and stunned me at the tingling of my lips from hers, she pulled away leaving me dazed.

"Will you call me as soon as you get in?" I asked, dazed.

Naomi nodded with a frown, chewing on her bottom lip. I opened my door and got out. As soon as I was out, Naomi stopped the door from closing leaning over the middle and passenger seat.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"There's just something I wanted to tell you, Belle… but it's going to sound so lame."

"What's up?" I asked.

"I know that you are unhappy sometimes. A lot. Maybe it doesn't help anything but I wanted to you to know that I'm always here. I won't ever let you down – I promise that you can count on me. Wow, that's lame. But you know that, right? That I would never hurt you?"

"Yeah, Nao, I know that," I answered, smiling softly at her, "I already count on you, probably more than you know."

The smile that broke across her face that set the clouds on fire with its potency, and not a single word I said was a lie. She was my girlfriend and I wasn't taking it back.

A strange look crossed her face, "I think I should get home now."

I stepped away from the car, and she reserved out of the driveway.

"Call me!" I yelled as she drove away.

"Movie over already?" Charlie asked in surprise when I came back inside the house, he was on the floor a foot away from the TV.

Must have been an exciting game on.

"Mike got sick," I explained, "Some kind of stomach going around in school."

"You guys okay?"

"I feel fine now," I said doubtfully, definitely exposed to it already. "I don't know about Seth."

I waited in the kitchen for Naomi's call, trying to wait patiently as I got lost in my thoughts. I should've insisted on driving her home as I thought about the strange look on Naomi's face. My fingers started drumming against the countertop, I watched the minutes tick by.

Ten.

Fifteen.

Even when I was driving, it only took fifteen minutes, and Naomi drove faster than I did. Eighteen minutes, I picked up the phone and dialed the number. It rang and rang. Maybe Billy was sleeping, maybe I dialed wrong. I dialed the number again. On the eighth ring, just as I was about to hang up, Billy answered.

"Hello?" Billy asked, his tone wary.

"Billy, it's me, Bella – did Naomi make it home yet? She left here about twenty minutes ago."

"She's here," He answered tonelessly.

"She was supposed to call," My voice leaked with the little anxiety running through my chest. "She was getting sick when she left, and I was worried."

"She was… too sick to call. She's not feeling well right now." Billy sounded distant.

"Is there anything I can do-?" Billy cut me off.

"No. No. Just stay at your place."

"Okay," I stared at the backwash of the counter.

"Bye, Bella." He hung up the phone.

"Bye, Billy," I murmured and hung up the phone, I went upstairs fretting over this.

I didn't feel any less worried, more in fact. I made a plan to go down to La Push tomorrow and bring some soup for Naomi.

But when I woke up the next morning before 5 am, I sprinted to the bathroom. Charlie found me there thirty minutes later, lying on the floor my cheek was pressed against the cold bathtub with my eyes closed.

Charlie looked at me for a long moment.

"Stomach flu," he finally said.

"Yes," I moaned.

"You need anything?"

"Call the Newton's for me, please?" I asked hoarsely, "Tell them I have what Mike has, and that I can't make it in today. Tell them I'm sorry."

Charlie retreated with that. I spent the rest of the day on the bathroom floor, sleeping for a few hours with my head on a crumpled-up towel.

A glass of water woke up when Charlie came back home from work. I could see that it was dark in my room—after nightfall. Charlie clumped up the stairs to check on us.

"Still alive?"

"Sort of," I replied.

"Do you want anything?"

"No, thanks."

Charlie hesitated, clearly out of his element. "Okay then."

…

Naomi

…

I grabbed the phone from the receiver on Sunday morning with my body shaking from the excruciating pain raking through my body, every single inch of my fucking being. The memories of Friday running through my brain like an endless slideshow, the voices that greeted me when I first entered. Memories of one girl running through my brain as I was informed of my current predicament.

It was the first time in my life that I felt anger towards Bella Swan, for like an hour. That whole time all I thought was: How was I supposed to accept this? How was I supposed to accept the fact that everything was different and would never be the same again?

Nowhere fucking near the same ever again. And the worst part… I had to avoid all contact with the human world, I couldn't get close, I couldn't love a normal human life again. I wasn't human anymore.

Not fully human anymore at least.

Worst part was I had to break her heart over it.

"Hello?" I asked into the phone, the pain in my voice clear to my own ears.

"Oh, Nao. You sound horrible."

You don't even fucking know, Bells. Even though her voice stirred the animal within me, my anger began to fade away into mist. I couldn't be mad at her, even if I wanted to convince myself to be. I couldn't.

"I feel horrible," I whispered, resting my forehead against the wall above the phone receiver.

"I'm so sorry I made you go out, Nao. This sucks."

I wasn't sorry though. I got to spend time with her, and the most shocking thing of all she was my girlfriend technically, the weight of her title in my life made tears brim in my eyes. Tears fell as Sam's voice echoed in my mind about no visitors, no one that didn't know the secret already or my future imprint… if that was likely to happen. I was genuinely happy that I got to go. I glanced over at my front door opening and Embry walked in.

"I'm glad I went," I whispered unable to get my voice to go higher in volume. "Don't blame yourself. This isn't your fault."

And it truly wasn't. It was the bloodsuckers existence that caused this… could I really be mad at her for falling in love with one?... Could I really be mad at something she had no control over? That was selfish and if I had to be quiet honest, I really can't believe I'm reliving this…

And Jacob doesn't actually exist…

"You'll get better soon." Bella promised, "I woke up this morning and I was fine."

I glanced over at Embry sitting at my kitchen table.

This confused me for a second until I remembered Mike had gotten sick two nights ago at the movies.

"You were sick?" I asked, my tone was so dull.

"Yes, I got it too. But I'm fine now."

"That's good," I said deadly.

"So you'll probably be better in a few hours." She encouraged.

"I doubt that Bells. I don't think I have the same thing you did."

"Don't you have the stomach flu?" she asked, confused.

Shit. I cursed to myself, "No. This is something else."

Embry whispered Sam's name.

Fuck Sam. I gritted my teeth and looked away from them.

"What can I do, baby?" Bella asks her voice thick with anxiety, my heart skipped a beat. "What can I bring you?"

She couldn't come here. She couldn't come here and witness this. I wasn't even supposed to be talking to her. Rage started to fill my body starting at my feet, I hated this. I hate this so much. I just wish I didn't have to fight Sam again for him wanting to deny me my rightful fucking place. Only because I wanted to change how things go with this, and everyone on the council expect my father supported me. Even Harry Clearwater refused for me to claim my title.

I was currently on house arrest until it was my turn for patrol I knew was coming soon because of the twins presence. I glanced at the front door and Sam standing in the doorway, I clenched my free fist turning away from him to keep my cool.

"Nothing…" I inhaled to deliver the final blow, "Nothing. You can't come here."

"I've already been exposed to what you have." Bella pointed out.

"I'll call you when I can. I'll let you know when you can come back over, I promise."

Sam gave me a signal to wrap it up, I cut my eyes at him and turned away again.

"Naomi—"

"I've got to go," I said more urgently feeling the shivers beginning to vibrate down to my nerves.

"Call when you feel better."

"I will," I said, glowering at Sam who gave me a stern, calm glare.

"Okay. Bye, Nao."

"…Bella." I whispered before I hung up the phone.

"Let's go." Sam ordered and my body instinctively listened, unwillingly.

I growled and shoulder checked him as I passed him, he growled in response but remained cool. Paul reached out of nowhere and locked me in headlock giving me a nudgie.

"What can I do, baby?" Paul made a poor imitation of Bella's voice, he was tormenting me either way.

I managed to wiggle out of his grasp before I threw my right arm back and threw it forward with the rolling tremble of heat down my spine. I exploded into my reddish caramel colored wolf form.

Naomi. Jared greeted while running the perimeter of the cliffs.

All I seen was red as I launched after Paul's silver wolf, Naomi! Paul called through my rage haze.

Paul let me crash into him and defended himself as I tore into him without reason, he just so happened to be the closest one and dared to fuck with me right now.

Naomi! Enough! Sam voice intercepted, his tone dropped an octave laced with authority and the weight of the alpha order weighed down me, stopping me in my tracks.

I snarled at him.

Patrol. Now. Sam ordered and I was obeying the gag order against my own will.

One of these days… one of the damn days I was going to claim my title. I don't give a damn of the council disapproves. I was the rightful heir and the descendant of the last Alpha.

Ephraim Black.

And I was meant to be the first female alpha of the Quileute pack to ever be recorded. You really believe I'm going to back down from that challenge. I was going to see my best girlfriend again, and… you couldn't stop me even if you prayed for it. He made me break up with my boyfriend and my best friend.

He made me break my promise. For all I cared, he could rot in hell.

…

I pulled my clothes back on from the leather cord wrapped around my right ankle, a pair of cut off jeans into shorts and today it was a sports bra. It's only been two days, two long extremely irritatingly days of being denied my fucking title. I inhaled deeply and ever so sharply through my nose to hold back the shivers of heat rolling down my spine to initiate my phasing, again, I went through half my wardrobe along with my brother's clothes to stay clothed and not running around naked.

Paul would be pleased with that. Typical hothead Paul Lahote for a weakness of pussy. Girls. Naked girls, more than anything. I wanted to cut his whole junk off and he could pee into a colostomy bag for all I gave a shit. Bry – Embry hates that name – was awesome, as per usual, expect for when I was phased, typical but it has become weird since we figured out we were second cousins. Jared and I don't really talk, but Jared is cool, he's not like the others.

I walked back to my house on human feet, not paws.

"Are you hungry?"

I glanced down at Dad who was sitting at my side as I stared into the refrigerator. Okay, for one thing I didn't even realize I got into the house, I sighed and grabbed a red apple from the drawer. I turned it over in my hands a couple times after I closed the fridge door and leaned against the counter with a sigh.

"No, not really actually…" I looked at the apple in my hands, the red skin protecting the soft fruit flesh inside.

"What's wrong, butterfly?"

"Butterfly," I scoffed at the name.

"Well, you're still my butterfly, to me, always. Naomi… what's wrong?"

I washed my hands and the apple, I turned the faucet off with the same temperature water no matter what temperature it was at. Water felt the same, hot against my skin as soon as it came into contact.

I sighed, I would give my period a few more days to arrive, if it isn't by Thursday then I'll say something.

I shook my head, "Nothing… I'm okay, only tired."

"Charlie is beginning to move this week." Dad says taking the apple from my grasp, I watched my toes so he didn't run them over, "It's going to harder to keep Bella and Seth out of the secret."

I sighed, "If they wouldn't have to clueless if Sam would allow me to claim the title."

"Fight him for it. Don't give up, butterfly." He cut up the apple into slices the way I liked it.

"Fight him for it?" I scoffed, leaning my arms on the counter, "He alpha ordered me not to even think about it, I can't fight him even if I wanted too."

Dad heaved a sigh after my words sunk in, it was an aggravated sigh. He was pissed.