Hey! I knew I said that I wouldn't update before I got back from my trip but I wrote this so here you go! Sorry for the errors: I wrote this jetlagged, on a plane, and typed it later on a different keyboard than I'm used to. That's my excuse :0

Warning: Cursing (Tori's got a potty mouth :)

Enjoy!

-Meggem

Derek barely made it to a tiny park clearing, surrounded by trees, the size of the motel bathroom. His large body stumbled onto the grass and I had to dodge aside when his legs shot out behind him. He did not vomit, but heaved and sweat ran in rivulets down his forearms.

I held him gently, trying not to get whacked by a branch that constantly swung back and forth with the breeze. Derek's body was aflame and I rubbed his shoulders, feeling the tension in them. Hair sprouted beneath my fingers...and then it receded.

I frowned: this was NOT normal.

"What is wrong with me?"

Damn, Derek knew something was wacky too. I didn't know how to respond so I didn't and I think he appreciated that. He did not want to hear me sprout crap that would just make him feel worse.

Derek groaned again and I tried talking him through it: "You've got this, just keep going. Almost there; focus."

I didn't like this. He kept getting a good start, but something was holding him back, he just couldn't seem to finish the Change.

After a lot of determination on his part and a lot useless vocal encouragement on mine, I closed my eyes and continued making little circles with my forefinger on his shoulder. Eventually, fur sprouted on his skin...and stayed that way. I breathed a sign of relief as Derek's moans turned into growls (animal ones, not his normal disappointed sounds).

I opened my eyes to find a snout only inches from my face. Green eyes studied mine and I stared, running a hand between his ears.

Derek seemed...softer as an animal (this was only somewhat true: I'd seen him rip apart a guy with his teeth,but please listen to the rambling anyway).

His eyes were open, wide, and for anyone to look in and see..him. As a human, Derek was constricted by so many factors: thinking, emotions, even acting human.

He had too many feelings that couldn't be contained: anger, sadness. He couldn't be rash and forward without being a jerk. He didn't understand him and they didn't understand him.

But I did.

As a wolf, Derek was free. He could be stupid and impulsive and wild without acting like an asshole. He didn't have to be reasonable: everything was instinct. Nothing had to make sense.

But that is just my pyschological, PHD certified, analysis.

Derek nudged closer and his tongue lolled out of his mouth. My hand in his fur moved to his nose and he shuddered. My hand slid further and his tongue met my fingers. It was rough and now I shivered.

His eyes glinted. I blinked. My chest felt funny.

"Chloe?"

My head jerked to the side. The heat disappeared my ribcage as Derek leapt in front of me and growled in the direction of the voice.

Tori's spiky hair was the first thing that I saw emerging from the shadows. I sighed out my nervousness than just about died when I realized that Tori would come up and see: a) me, all flushed and b) Derek's clothes splayed around. She knew about the Change and everything, but she would still make jokes and innuendos that I would have to pretend to understand.

Oh God, please some force strike me down now.

Tori raised her eyebrows are the scene and I flashed her a sour grin.

"Your aunt was wondering where you were. She went kind of batshit crazy and Kit," she rolled her eyes at the forced-upon-us informality, "was trying to reassure her, but he's freaking out too. Just come back in and keep them both from going into cardiac arrest."

A grunt from Derek told me to go. I hesitated and he hit the back of my knees, with a low growl. I'll be fine.

"Stay safe and don't do anything stupid. I'll be back soon," I whispered so Tori couldn't hear, "and don't Change without me"

He rolled his eyes again. Like I have a choice. I took off with Tori, trying not to trip in the dark.

"You think that it's a good idea to go yelling my wanted name through the forest?" I hissed, knowing that Tori's silence was only forshadowing the torture and she was grinning into the darkness.

"Sorry," she grumbled. "Would you be pissed if I said he was a cute wolf?"

"Yes."

"Good thing I asked. Listen, I was wondering..."

And so it began. Turns out that my boyfriend being half-animal is a gold mine for perverted teen witches.

A few minutes later, I was shifting uncomfortably and for once thankful to see the neon lights of the motel. Aunt Lauren and Kit were standing within the shadows, but were still obviously on the edge of their own personal panic attacks, peering out every few minutes from the door frame. I bowed my head, knowing I'd be able to tell them the truth and be okay, but the condesending questions were going to be annoying.

"You shouldn't have left without telling us!"

"What if something had happened to you out there?"

"Or if someone saw you?"

"Is Derek alright?"

"It's a perfect oppurtunity for them, if you are out there defenseless."

"But Derek-"

"I can't believe that you would let yourself-"

"Um, can I go inside, because Jersey Shore is coming on and I don't really need to be here while you browbeat Chloe."

"You NEED to be more careful."

"He's dangerous."

"I don't like the way things are."

"Seriously, I heard that Snookie is going to bitch-slap somebody."

In the midst of the angry voices, I stared my aunt in the eye and swallowed, trying not to scream, "Why do you hate him so much?"

Everyone turned to me and Aunt Lauren blinked, confused. "I-I don't."

Kit bit his lip. "Maybe we should discuss this further inside."

I turned on him. "It doesn't bother you that she treats your son like a beast that needs to be in chains?"

"She doesn't-"

"Chloe, I don't-"

"Just stop acting like you are the adult!"

"I am!"

"No," I growled, feeling my skin burn like fire. "I am."

No one said anything, but I heard a soft clapping coming from Tori's silhouette. Angry and tired, I turned to go back to Derek's aid, but a howl stopped me in my tracks. That sound could only come from something in extreme pain. My heart flopped.

I spun towards Aunt Lauren. "That's why I risk everything. That's why I act 'stupid'. Because if I don't, than someone's going to get killed."

With a somewhat dramatic flair, I spun on my heels. Tears pricked at my eyes as I started running.

When I reached the clearing, the first think I stepped in was blood.

Sorry for the cliffhanger!

Hopefully this chapter was okay. The exerpt that I gave you before is actually in a later chapter. I know, I'm a tease.

Please: I'd like to know what you thought of how the characters are portrayed. Does Tori seem like a cariacture or is it just me? I'd really like to know.

Here's a preview for the next chapter:

She had to have answers. Everything had to be connected. Didn't it?

I strode toward her room, but what I saw made me freeze in the doorway.

Simon stood up from where he sat, across from Rae. She watched him. His lips were moving but I couldn't hear anything. This was getting weird.

He stepped forward, pulling a little paper from his back pocket and placing it in her hand. His fingers lingered there for a moment and he spoke louder now. I heard it and my legs pulled me back from the doorframe. My thoughts echoed Simon's words: I need to know what's happening because I can't understand what I see.

I trotted at first, than ran to Simon's room. His art supplies were everywhere and out of the corner of my eye, I saw Derek's messy bed. That was it for me. That did it.

I started to cry. I felt like I was in a screenplay being written, where the playwright was extremely sadistic and sick. Maybe he'd leave me alone and go write another damn movie. Or maybe he would have a stroke of mercy and help me find Derek before I went crazy.

Again, done on the spot :)

-MEGGEM