Vanessa laughed when she saw Ralphie fly but the moment she saw Xaven and Drake break trough the surface and having both a headache she stopped and swam to them. ''Are you guys alright?'' she asked but was kinda interrupted by Ralphie whelping about how it was unfair and it should be as always boys against the girl. She stuck out her tongue at him and then giggled, suddenly she felt hands around her waist, spreading over her stomach and she looked her seeing Xaven, she smiled.

''Ehm, this evening is the summer camp start bonfire.. Which I might not gonna be coming too but I don't know yet to be honest'' she said and looked down. Ralphie swam to her and a little awkward placed his hand on her head. ''If you don't go, we are gonna watch stars'' he said. ''Thank you'' she said and then looked at Drake, seeing his irritation about how Xaven and she were standing. ''Xav, your not gonna feel anything kicking'' she said and then turned around and gave him a kiss on his cheek. When he looked in her eyes, she moved her eyes to the right as a mention towards Drake. She always felt a little like making sure that everyone had a great time, some senior camp supervisors even said that she was like a mother to the five, and now three guys. Since she never wanted to see any of them hurt.

Xaven nodded when she asked if he was alright. "yea, just a headache" Drake would nod, rubbing his temple. "im fine too, its faded.. been having them all day, me and Ralph both, and apparently Xaven" Ralph would swim over and smiling at the tongue stick he shook his head. "your such a girly girl" saying that just to get her, cause he knew she hated being called that.

Xaven would hold her in his arms, his hands rubbing along her stomach as she told the guys about the bonfine, an Ralphie giving her a pep talk, he was pretty good listener, so was Drake when he wanted to act somewhat decent. Xaven would hear her words about not feeling anything kicking and he smirked. "i know that" as she turned in his arms and looked at him, before she motioned with her eyes and he looked, seeing Drake pissed and not looking. Xaven looked back at her, with a look of his own that she'd know spoke "so what" but he didn't say it out loud, instead he accepted the kiss to his cheek before he dropped his arms from her and swam back some, putting a little distance on them. "right" Xaven said, back stroking. "im heading for the rope swing, keep an eye out" the Rope swing was just that, it was a long, sturdy rope that was secured to a thick tree branch. it was changed out every year to make sure it didn't snap or anything on someone. soon Xaven was on the woodsy side of the lake, and was out of the water and sprinting up the dirt trail that lead to the swing.

Once he was gone into the woods, Ralph swam back to the dock, and pulled himself up, and sat waiting. Drake however didn't, he moved closer toward Vanessa. "there are other guys out there, and just cause Xaven has known you longer and you grew up together" he began, before sighing, another headache was coming as he rubbed his forehead "never mind, your right" he smirked at her. "we are more like annoying siblings then anything else, though i demand, any friends you get at that fancy college you better send me details" winking just before a whooping sound came as Xaven came swinging out of the trees, moving quick as he sore over the lake just as he let go and he did two quick back flips, landing in the water in a cannonball style, sending water everywhere.

Vanessa knew that Xaven didn't totally mind that Drake was pissed at the fact they where a couple now, everyone even had seen it coming, but she just didn't want two of her best friends, one of them even being her boyfriend, fighting over her. When he moved back she couldn't help but feel a little sad but she couldn't wine about it, she asked for it. She looked at Ralphie and smiled, giving him a hug. ''Thank you Ralphie'' she said and then let go of him. She then looked at Drake and gave him a smile.

When Xaven told them he would go for a swing of the long robe she smiled. ''Good luck!'' she said and the moment she saw him stand on the dirt ground again, she also felt someone coming closer. Hearing Drake do his say but stop in the middle. She turned around, laying her hands on his head. ''Drake.. please'' she whispered but when he started about fancy friends at college and sending him details she giggled. ''I'll promise you that'' she said with a smile. She lowered her hands and splashed some water at him with a giggle. She then saw Xaven on the robe, in the air and then splash into the water. He created some nice little waves and she giggled. The moment she saw him at the surface again she yelled: ''Show off!!'' but laughed.

as soon as he hit the water, Xaven waited, before he broke the surface and laughing as he ran his hand over his face. "hey now, i was just swinging, wasnt trying to show off at all" though really he was just doing as she asked him to do with her eyes, and now that he did Drake had edged closer to her. Xaven narrowed his eyes for a moment. "ugh" Ralphie said, shaking his head. "come on, lets go see if they got the food going, im starving and feel like i could eat a horse" standing on the Dock, his stomach growling and rumbling. Xaven nodded "i could eat" and he swam toward the dock.

Drake looked at Vanessa "they had the pulled pork grill set up, and the Coleslaw looked fresh, thats what im going for" smiling as he swam toward the Dock too. "come on Ness" Ralphie said, already drying off, just as Xaven pulled himself up and grabbed his towel, then Drake doing the same.

Vanessa saw Xaven narrow his eyes and saw how Drake had come even a little closer. She then decided to take her hands of it, if they wanted to fight, they could do so. But if they did fight, she wouldn't be the one treating their wounds and helping them up, not even for Xaven since he could know very well that she didn't like fighting. She swam to the docks, climbed up and then grabbed her towel and wrapped it around herself. ''Fruit salad is mine'' she said and giggled, it had taken some time before she could really answer on the food thing as it kinda did bother her that she saw two very good friends having trouble.. over a girl! And that that girl was her, made it hard for her to be close to both of them during this week, she knew that for sure. ''I am gonna change in my tent.. Will see you at the Fire place'' she said and walked of, she wanted to get rid of her bikini.. She really liked it but with those looks from both Drake and Xaven, she didn't like wearing it.

She walked back to tent, climbed inside and then zipped it up. She changed her clothes, it was warm so she choose for her denim short and the t-shirt that Xaven had thrown into her tent. She put on her Sandals and checked on her camera just when she heard Ralphie outside her tent. ''Ness? Your still here?'' he asked. ''Yeah, I am inside.. you can open it, I am fully dressed'' she said. Ralphie opened the tent and at the moment the opened would flap open, and Ralphie could see her, Vanessa took a photo. ''Oh you!'' he said but they both laughed. Ralphie made way and Vanessa climbed out of her tent and got up. ''First camp picture'' she said and then hung the Nikon D600 around her neck. ''Let's go'' she said and together they walked to the fire place.

''I noticed how Drake and Xaven are doing their 'invisible cock fight' again'' Ralphie said. Vanessa was taking a picture of the lake and when he said that she lowered her camera and just looked over it. ''Yep..'' she said. ''It bothers you right?'' he asked. ''Well.. Duuh.... I mean, if it was just some girl I didn't care and would laugh about it.. But they fight about me.. And Xaven and I just got into the stage of boyfriend/girlfriend.. Drake is like a brother but he says he understands but still tries to be better than Xaven.. I know.. They will always do their little competitions..'' she said but then shook her head. ''Never mind it Ralphie.. This is my last summer here as I will be too busy with school and work for the upcoming years..'' she said and then made another picture of him. She smiled and then took the photo of the lake she wanted to take, after that, she walked with Ralphie to the others and smiled. She wondered on how Xaven would react seeing her wearing his shirt.

Drake and Xaven stood there, watching when Vanessa climbed out of the water and walked off. "what the hell was that?" Drake asked. Xaven sighed. "that, my clueless, cant take a hint she's not interested in you friend is her "im washing my hands of you look" Xaven said. "one i've seen many times before and one that means im in the doghouse" shaking his head. "im going to have to make it up to her now before she'll talk to me now" walking off to go change. Drake stood there, confused. "wait, she's not going to talk to me? how do i make it up to her?" Xaven shrugged. "how the hell am i to know that? all i know is what i have to do for me" and together they walked off, first to where their tents were to be set up and their luggage was, they both didn't have anything set up, so they just changed quickly back to back before they headed to where the fire was.

Once they arrived, they said hi to those they'd known as they made their way to the food cook out table.. dogs, burgers, chips, baked beans, the table was loaded for bare. Xaven made himself and Nessie a plate, knowing she wanted the fresh fruit salad, before finding a spot far far away from the fire pit, he sat and waited for her to arrive. and when she did he held up her fruit salad to show he'd made it for her, and that he'd found them to far back spots. Drake took the ground, sitting cross legged and eating off his own plate.

Vanessa gave Ralphie a hug. ''Thanks for listening'' she said and ruffled trough his hair. She saw Xaven sitting far away from the fire, with a plate with the fresh fruit salad on it and some bread. She smiled and looked around to see where Drake was. She saw him near the fire, his face grumpy. She took her camera, pointed it at him and without him seeing it, she took a photo. Then she walked up at Xaven, first taking a photo from him. ''Aaah, Our personal camp photographer has arrived'' a senior counselor said and Vanessa smiled. ''Yes Jack, I am here again'' she said and then took a photo of him. ''Good to see you again Vanessa'' he said and she bowed. ''Good to be here again.. I just might stay far away from the fire'' she said. ''That's okay girl'' he said and then Vanessa walked over at Xaven.

''Peace offering?'' she asked with a little smile but also a eyebrow raised and she took another photo from him with the two plates. She then sat down next to him and looked at him. ''Then I am wondering.. Do you know why I am not amused?" she asked and looked at him. She placed her camera on the table and took a piece of the bread and chew on it while waiting for his answer. She kept looking at him and hoped he knew that she just didn't want to see him and his best friend fight.. Not over her.. Any girl would be fine, but over her? No.

Ralphie smirked. "always" he nudged her, before he made a beeline right for the table of food, while the other counselor would greet and say hello to Vanessa. Xaven nodded. "yes ma'am, peace offering" he said, smiling when she took the picture and then she sat and he sat her plate down for her. "yes" he sighed, eating himself. "i know why you are not amused Nessie" looking back at her. "we are best friends and fighting over you is not what you care for, us fighting over you"

looking to his plate he took a few more bites. "i wont fight over you anymore, i promise.. but you know how we are, we butt heads about everything, but" sitting his plate down, just as Ralphie headed that way, and Drake stood and came over, rubbing one leg while holding his plate, clearly a leg went to sleep. "i'll try to keep my manliness under control" leaning closer. "and you look sexy wearing my shirt, and later tonight im going to slowly peel you out of it" he whispered, before he leaned back as Ralph sat down in front of them. Drake sat down. "my leg's asleep" he said "thats what you get from sitting on the ground" Ralph said

The moment Drake and Ralph sat down, Vanessa took a photo of them. ''Ha, gotcha!'' she said with a grin as Drake never liked pictures and because of the sleeping leg his face looks funny on it too. ''And don't you dare to touch my camera, or you will have to watch your back this whole week'' she said and then laid her camera back on the corner of the table. She took a piece of bread and then gave it to Xaven. ''I want you to break that in halve... and share it with Drake, so you both know that you are special to me... And also for you Drake, Stop the fighting over me.. Or your gonna wish you never had fallen for me'' she said and looked at him.

Drake nodded and once Xaven had broken the bread, he took his half and ate it. ''I'll promise it.. But I can't shut of my feelings'' he said. ''I am not asking you too.. Just accept that I choose Xaven.. And that has nothing to do with the fact that we have been friends for almost our whole life'' she said and when Drake nodded again she relaxed and started to eat from her fruit, a sign for them that it was settled and she was done talking about it.

Drake was the one that mainly hated the picture thing, everyone else just got use to it. "delete that one" Drake said, i was making a face on it cause of my leg being asleep" he said, staring at the camera and she knew what he had planned cause she said not to touch it. "i wasnt going to" he said, holding up his hands. Xaven took the piece of bread, arching a brow, as he ripped it in half, before sighing and he handed a piece of Drake. "ha" Ralph said. "bread breaking, thats funny" as he ate. Xaven smirked when she told Drake to stop fighting over her, or he was going to wish he'd never fallen for her. popping the piece of bread into his mouth, Drake nodded.

Xaven had his hand under the table, rubbing on her leg, giving a squeeze as the night pretty much went on, following the routine that it usually went, but this time they didnt have to turn in and retire early, they went kids anymore. though, throughout the time together, Ralph, Drake and Xaven started feeling worse. Ralph grew sore all over, Drake got a mind splitting migrane that wasnt going away this time, and Xaven, he was burning up. watching from the treeline, Xaven's uncle. pulling up the dog whistle, he blew into it. "ahh!!" Ralph covered his ears, as Drake did the same thing. "shut it off, geez!" he yelled. Xaven covered his ears fast, but he didnt yell out this time, he looked around. stopping, his uncle shook his head. "three" he whispered to himself. "not good" he wasnt expecting three awakenings, this changed things.

The moment the evening had went on, Vanessa had changed back to the black/pink dress she had been wearing that morning too and walked around with her camera, taking pictures of everything and everyone. Even of the fire, though it was from a distance. Yet, the moment Xaven, Drake and Ralphie had started to feel worse, she had stopped the photo taking and was taking care of them as much as she could.

''Stay put you three..'' she said and then got a bucket with water, it wasn't hot or cold but a nice in between and she had gotten some small towels and soaked them, laying them on Xaven's, Drake's and Ralphies head. She kept changing them and re-soaking them when ever it was needed and she didn't had time for pictures anymore.

The moment she saw them cover their ears, she started to look around just like Xaven did. ''What is happening with the three of you?'' she asked. When it stopped, or so she thought since they could normally sit again, she checked their heads. ''Okay.. You three, follow me...'' she said and with the three of them she walked to the lake. ''Walk in it till you feel the water on your calf and then sit down'' she said. ''My mother did that with me and my sister too and it works.. believe me'' she said.

Ralphie walked in and sat down. ''Okay, this does feel nice'' he said. Drake followed and was next to sit in the water. ''Xaven, come on.. You need to cool of.. Literally'' Vanessa said, pretty worried. She laid her hand on his arm. ''Your way to hot...'' she whispered.

everything pretty much blurred together once the pain came back, Xaven wasnt really focusing and really that loud whistle was beyond annoying, like someone was drilling into his ears, piercing his brain with that sound. what he did notice was that Ralph and Drake were the same way, they could hear it too. when it stopped, at least the piercing sound anyway, they all followed after Nessie, she lead them to the lake. Xaven's heart was pounding his chest, his skin was on fire it felt like it was going to melt off. watching still, Xaven's uncle could tell.. Xaven was going to be the first.

Xaven stood there, groaning. "no" he said, when she touched him he flinched back. "dont" he hissed, it hurt, everything was hurting again. he backed away from her. "something.. "groaning as the sound of something snapping or breaking pierced the air and Xaven doubled over, howling in pain. "oh god" when he found his voice again, it was strained, in so much pain as he turned and bolted for the trees, just as she'd hear another breaking sound. his vision was blurred, he moaned as another bout of impossible pain went through him, causing him to trip, falling to the ground as he yelled in pain as he felt his leg snap, he looked back and through the blur he saw his leg twisted in an odd angle, twisted, looking deformed or badly broken. pushing himself back up, hobbling now he kept going but it wasnt for long as he dropped onto his stomach, screaming now as he flipped over onto his back, arching as he screamed in maddening pain as his body, awakened the "gift" for the first time. his arms and legs being the first, bones snapping, breaking while his hands and fingers, toes and feet, then the rest of his body.

Marcus, had to act fast, he could feel it in his own blood, the boiling, the call of the moon, and it was strong. hearing the howls and screams of pain coming from the woods, he rushed forward, his white shirt open, no buttons buttoned on it, he was barefooted. "Vanessa!" he ran toward her. "dont" knowing she would want to go after him, as he pulled from his pocket something that would help the other two, he only had two though, he wasnt expecting three. he rushed into the water. "do not take these off" placing an Indian like pouch around Ralphie's neck, then another around Drake's both of them. Once on, Ralph groaned, turning his head from it. "what.. what is it, it smells horrible" Drake went to touch it, to pull it off, it felt horrible around his neck, he didnt want it there. Marcus grabbed him up, growling low. "do not remove it!" he said, and his eyes took on an eerie like glow. Drake, trembling nodded and was sat back in the water. the pouches were full of Wolfsbane, it weakened but didnt stop the change, nothing could stop the first one. hopefully he could get to his nephew in enough time, and get him under control.

Vanessa was already running to get to Xaven but he was too fast. She lost him out of sight and only knew that he needed her. She didn't know where he went or what was going on but she needed to help him! He wasn't just her best friend, he was her lover. ''Xaven!'' she called, she had followed the path untill, in the last light of the sun, she had seen some broken twigs and leaved that where walked on. She followed the new path and looked around. ''Xaven where are you! Xaven!!'' she yelled. She started to feel a little cold but still kept on searching. ''Xaven!!'' she called his name again.

In the mean while in the lake, Ralphie and Drake started to feel bad again. ''What is this thing and.. where is Xaven?'' Ralphie asked. He got up. ''We need to find him.. Or.. At least try to get away from here..'' he said to Drake. ''What ever is happeneing with us, is also happening with him..'' Drake said. He also got up, he again wanted to pull off the pouch on his neck but when he grabbed it, a burning feeling directly followed on his hand and he let go of it. ''So.. This is something we can't take off'' he said. ''Just.. try to ignore it... We must find Xaven ánd Vanessa'' Ralphie said. ''Good idea'' Drake said. The two boys ran off but suddenly were grabbed by their arms. ''Where are you guys going?'' Marcus asked. ''We are gonna try to find Xaven and Vanessa'' Drake said. ''Try to stop us'' Ralphie said. ''I won't.. But.. You two must find a place to turn'' Marcus said. ''To what now?'' Drake asked. ''You will see'' Marcus said. ''Get your asses into the woods, I'll find Vanessa and Xaven'' he said. The boys felt like they couldn't say no and so they ran for the woods, on their way there, Ralphie felt something snap in his body and it hurt like hell. ''Drake!'' Ralphie called out. Drake turned around quickly but with that, a few of his own bones snapped. ''Aaaahhh!!!'' Drake screamed out. Marcus sighed and turned into a wolf quickly. He dragged the two boys to the woods and once they where there, he looked at them.

Ralphie and Drake nodded, as if they could talk without words and Marcus then ran off. He smelled Xaven ánd Vanessa was close to the boy. He would not be himself and Vanessa was in danger.. Her being Xaven's girlfriend now, would probably mean that once he is turned, she can still feel and hear him like he is a human but most likely Xaven will not know what to do or what happened. Marcus hurried trough the woods, he needed to find his nephew.. His new Alpha...

the pain was intense, going to levels he never thought possible as he thrashed on the ground, hearing something, a calling out but it was garbled, sounds were all wrong, and his head, was just on fire as he brought his hands up, looking at them though his eyes were bloodshot, ever vessel in them having burst, he barely could see, like his vision swimming in and out, but they were different, and they itched, he began scratching, the itching was intense enough that he didn't even notice was he scratching so deep it was drawing blood, that poured down his hand, that now was more paw like, coating it in blood, while the other had its claws covered.

it felt like days, laying there as what happened to him, continued, but really minutes til laying there, where Xaven had been was now a full size, adult wolf.. though larger, much larger in size. in the glow of the moon now over head. his fur was a light, russet brown along the top, with white fur along his chest and legs. he laid there, dirt blowing up from his heavy breathing, his senses honed, his ears twitched and turned as he caught the sound of someone, someone closing yelling out for something. he pushed up onto his legs, shaking himself off, though still in pain, he'd be in that first change pain the whole night, which is what kept him on guard, kept him more wild at the moment as he growled, turning toward the closing sound, lowering his head, he snarled, teeth fully exposed as Vanessa came through the woods, and stood there before him. he saw her, but again didn't see her, he couldn't think, he even smelled himself on her, but the pain, it hurt so much that he went right for her, his blood coated claws coming up and swiping at her, even in the deepest part of his mind he was screaming no, hurting her was the last thing in the world he'd do.

Vanessa felt that she was tired, the climbing in the forest had hurt her and her legs where a little open here and there with small scratched from the bushes with thorns and such. She looked around, kept searching and kept calling Xaven's name. When she, after a while of walking around, heard something breathing close by she ran up the hill. ''Xaven!'' she said but when she had reached the place, she saw a wolf. Yet, this wasn't a ordinary one as not any wolf was ever detected close to the camp before. She froze and tried not to scare the big animal, and big it was as it sure wasn't a normal sized one. He had a pair of longer fangs that reminded her of a saber tooth tiger, yet.. This was a wolf. She looked at him and saw that he had a wound on his paw.. So it might have been attacked.

As he started to growl more, and lowered himself to jump, Vanessa turned around and tried to run away. But she was too slow, the wolf tackled her from behind and his paw, the one that was bleeding, scratched over her shoulder blade. Vanessa screamed from pain, fear and together they rolled down the hill. Right after they had gotten down and she had stopped against a three, and before everything went black, she saw how a big black wolf. Same size but without longer fangs, tackled the brown/white one and made it move to a different place. Vanessa lost consciousness right after seeing them leave.

-One hour and a half / 2 days later -

Vanessa was found a hour and a half later by the senior camp leaders and be urgently brought to the hospital. There, after she had gotten some scans and her aunt and uncle were called as also the parents of Xaven, the doctors could only tell them that Vanessa had a big wound on her shoulder and the middle part of her back was bruised.

Two days later, Vanessa woke up with a huge pain in her back and shoulder. ''Oh Vanessa'' her aunt said. ''Where am I?'' she asked. ''Later honey, let me find a nurse first'' she said. A nurse walked by and when seeing Vanessa was awake, she started to do the standard procedure where she asked if she knew where she was, who she was, what day it was, if she knew what had happened. Vanessa's mind was blurry and her head was hurting. ''Where... Where is Xaven?'' she asked. ''I followed my boyfriend to the woods because something... something was wrong with him.. I never found him... a Wolf.. attacked me'' Vanessa said. Both Xaven's parents and Vanessa's uncle where now also in the room. ''Honey.. Xaven went on a trip with his uncle.. There is nothing wrong with him'' Robert said. ''But.. but'' Vanessa said. ''Miss von strong, please rest some now.. You need it'' the nurse said and Vanessa nodded, even though she didn't like it.

Xaven, Drake and Ralphie felt like they'd been chewed up, spit out and everything in between. they rode in the back of a van, a rental, his uncle was driving, and trying to explain what had happened, about what they now where, what it meant. Xaven simple didn't want to listen, he didn't care what type of gift it was, he only knew he'd hurt the woman he loved, the flash he saw every time he closed the eyes, the feeling, that animal like instinct, and the pain.. Marcus, in the font seat "the Pain happens the first time, during the Awakening, its your body's first time going through something like that, the other times, its not going to be so hard, but we are heading far enough away where you can learn some control, with age comes more control. you can change whenever, but the full moons will force a change" going on and on. Xaven held his phone in his hand, having sent a text, or a series of Text. "Nessie, you know that i love you, and I'm sorry, beyond sorry that i cannot be there for you, while your recovering, please believe me its not that i don't want to be, i want to be with you more then anything, and when i can, i will be. but there is something that i need to do, something that i wasn't prepared for, and now i have to deal with that first." that was the first one, the next part. "your beautiful, smart, amazing and before you became my first, you were my best friend.. i don't expect you to remain faithful or celibate, I'd never ask that, i want you happy above anything else, and one day, i hope i can come back and make you that.. love in this life and the next.. Xaven"
that was the worst way to break up with someone, but he couldn't risk being near her, something about her carrying his smell, would make his emotions rise, and that brought on a premature change, he half listened to his uncle. "Xaven" Marcus said. "trust me, right now i know this is the last thing you wanted, but she's safer away from you, then near you"

---------------Five Years Later------------

Xaven stood in the kitchen of the house he and the three had taken to living in, their town, and the woods surrounding it was their Territory, it was home. unfortunately the house wasnt technically there's, but as long as the bills were paid on time, no one cared they were squatting. it had been five years, and in that time he, Drake and Ralph had learned what they needed from Marcus, the basics of control, that their bodies were not normal anymore, they were more.. they needed to eat more to maintain their strength, they had to learn to control their senses in and out of their wolf form. it had taken a year, and then Marcus had just left, claiming he was not a pack type werewolf, he preferred to roam the world, but he did caution them that there were others of their kind, to always be on guard.

Making a killer breakfast sandwich, or in this instance four of them, he had four bagel bottoms, two fried eggs on each one, melted cheese laid on top, then he added the sausage patties, followed by two more eggs, then the tops, which held Light mayo. his breakfast done, he moved to the table, sat down to eat when he looked up, watching as another one.. one of Drake's "conquests" leaving. this one wearing a short skirt and leather top. Xaven shook his head, before he focused on eating. Drake came down, a smirk on his face. "brought home another one i see" Xaven said. "cant help it" Drake said, taking out the gallon of orange juice and opening it, he turned it up and guzzled it. Xaven heard it all before, along with all the other things, to females they had a scent, a primal type scent that reached a woman on their more primal urges, it told them that these were strong, desired males. Ralph called it Animalistic Attraction, and Drake used it whenever her could, there was no love with the women he brought back with him, it was just sex, nothing more. "well, Mr. cant help it, fix yourself something to eat, we got work to get to if we want to keep staying indoors, we got to pay the bills"

Vanessa had readed the texts over and over and when in the five years that had passed she changed from phone, she had first printed them and they still were something she read a lot of times. Like, right now. She was laying in bed and reading the papers again with Xaven's break up texts, it were pretty standard break up texts or.. the first one was, the second was more personal. The moment she switched papers, someone barged into her bedroom. ''Wake up you! It is time to eat cake and get dressed'' Lesly, her best friend and housemate, said. ''What but.. Les! I don't wanna celebrate it'' Vanessa said. ''I do not care!'' Lesly said. ''You didn't celebrate your 21th birthday because you didn't feel like it so the 22th we are gonna celebrate with looking hot, doing a awesome photo shoot in those woods you are talking about ánd later on, we are going to a club'' Lesly said. Vanessa looked at her, now red haired friend, and knew she couldn't escape. ''You need to stop feeling bad over that guy of those texts.. I know it hurted but hey! Break ups happen'' she said. ''But..'' Vanessa starts saying but gets smacked in her face by a pillow. ''Enough!'' Lesley said. ''Get up, Get dressed, we are first going to your aunt and uncle'' she said. Vanessa nodded and got out of bed.

An hour later Vanessa and Lesly walked over to the big apartment of Vanessa's aunt and uncle. They rang the bell once they where let inside the building by someone just exiting and when Cleo, Vanessa's aunt, opened the door she hugged her niece instantly. ''Happy birthday Vanessa'' she said. ''Thanks aunt Cleo'' Vanessa said and they were dragged back inside. ''Please tell me you do not have a present'' vanessa said. ''Yes, it is the present from last year'' Her uncle, George, said. On that moment her aunt walked up and showed her a set of keys. ''Front door.. Garage.. Pool house'' her aunt said and showed the three different keys. ''From?'' Vanessa asked. ''Your house sweetie'' George said. ''I know I was forbidden to do it by your uncle.. But I got some workers to restore your old house.. I know that the city isn't yours to live in, you belong their.. But I did add a extra room.. specially for you'' Cleo said. Vanessa swallowed and then took the keys. ''It is time right..'' she said. ''Yes honey'' George said. ''I will go with you.. And if you want to, we move together'' Lesley said. ''I first wanna go there.. And visit Xaven's parents too'' she said.

Another hour later, Vanessa drove into the woods with Lesley next to her. ''Okay, normally I hate this jeep but now.. This is really the perfect car for in the woods'' she said. ''I know right'' Vanessa said. All those five years she had hold on to a few little gifts she still had from Xaven or had bought herself for him. The jeep was one of them and the necklace around her neck was the second one. The third one, had scared her for a long time, that was probably why she had hung it in the jeep as they mostly used Lesley's car for their trips in the city. It was the wolf necklace that she had gotten from Xaven's uncle. She drove to her house and a mile away she stopped. ''Do we need to walk the rest?'' Lesley asked. ''No.. But... I need to take a rest... You can drive, just follow this road, I am gonna walk'' Vanessa said and got out. Lesley climbed to the other spot and nodded. ''Be safe!'' she said. ''I'll'' Vanessa spoke and started on her little 'hike'.

Half an hour later, Lesley had already parked in front of the house, Vanessa came walking. ''Vaness? I think your house have intruders'' Lesley said. ''What do you mean?'' Vanessa said. ''I saw a few guys leave the moment I parked.. They seemed a bit rushing'' she said. Vanessa nodded and walked to the front door, when she tried it, it opened. ''Okay.. I am gonna check up, if I call your name, you call the cops..'' Vanessa said. ''But if it's nothing and you call my name?'' Lesley asked. ''Then I'll first say Its Safe'' Vanessa said and walked inside. She sure could smell something that wasn't very clean. ''Hello?'' she asked. She heard something in the living room and ran towards it, she just saw someone leave to the garden and when she followed him she directly recognized the boy. ''Ralphie?!'' she called and stopped the following. Ralphie stopped and turned around. ''Vanessa?!'' he said, surprised and exactly loud enough for the other two to hear him. ''Ehm, yeah.. The one and only..'' she said. ''How are you?!'' he asked. ''I could ask you the same.. What are you doing here?'' She asked. ''I.. ehm... I live here...'' Ralphie said. ''You live in my house?'' she asked. ''Oh shit..'' Ralphie said. Suddenly Drake walked into the garden. ''We had to know that it could only be your house so close to his parents'' he said. ''Wait.. His parents? Xaven is here?'' she asked. ''Drake, you moron!'' Ralphie said and pushed Drake. Drake was caught off guard and actually was pushed into the lake a meter away from where they stood.

Vanessa didn't notice, it went a little black before her eyes. She turned around and saw suddenly that Xaven stood in the living room. ''You..'' she said and walked inside. ''How dare you to appear here?! After five freaking years of not letting me know anything about you... You come back and start to live in My house! The house of My family!'' she said and pushed against his chest. ''You are my best friend.. Or do I have to say were'' she said.

At that time Lesley ran inside, seeing Vanessa so close to a break down of tears, she grabbed her friend and hugged her. ''Vaness.. Calm down..'' she said. ''Calm.. Down...'' she repeated. Vanessa looked at Lesley. ''No.. Not before I have an explanation.. Oh btw.. That guy behind you is the one from the texts...'' Vanessa said. Lesley looked behind her. ''Nice meeting you.. Jerk'' she said and then focused back on Vanessa. ''Remember now how to stay calm?'' she asked. ''Maybe I don't wanna be calm..'' Vanessa said. ''I know, I wouldn't want that either but it's better for you remember..'' she said. ''Yes.. I know..'' Vanessa said and sat down on the couch. Lesley went to the kitchen to get something to drink for her best friend. Lesley came back and gave Vanessa a glass with orange juice. ''Thanks Les'' she said. Drake and Ralphie had walked in now too and looked at their best friend and Alpha.

Xaven washed the plate he'd ate off of. "Drake, your cleaning.. your clothes all over the place is starting to burn my nose.. so your doing laundry" Xaven said, leaving him in the kitchen before moving upstairs, back to his room, getting dressed, which he was right in the middle of doing, when he heard Ralphie say the one name he never expected to hear, not around this place. he froze before quickly pulling his shirt on, fastening his jeans as he ran down the stairs and stood in the living room, and there she was. Xaven inhaled deeply, standing stock still as he looked at her. "me.." he said.. his hair was longer, more wild looking. "Nessie" he said, wanting to try and explain, as she pushed him, or tried she'd find he didn't move easily, like pushing on a brick wall.

"Vanessa, i know there is nothing i can say that would make the five years acceptable, you.. you just gotta trust me, please" before he stared at the girl that just called him a jerk. "don't" he said. "you've no idea" breathing calmly. "i left to protect you, i.. i had something i had to deal with, something that i couldn't do around here, something that's take five years just to barely scratch the surface on and.. when we came back here, you were still in college and we helped rebuild the place, the workers didn't even ask questions, im sorry.. i wish i could say more, but.. im sorry i hurt you, that.. hurting you is and was the last thing i ever wanted to do" just standing there, seeing her, he was remembering that night, and it was breaking his heart.

Drake, having shaking off most of the water outside walked in with Ralphie and they stood there. "clean up now Drake" Xaven said. "Ralphie, run a vacuum around, and spray some spray, this place smells like three men" before Xaven moved closer. "whats going on?" he sounded worried, cause he was. "why does she need to calm down, and she has ever right not to be, but why are you telling her to calm, and who are you exactly?"

Lesley listened and before Vanessa could say anything she took the word. ''I might not know you, or your past together but ever since the first day of college Vanessa and I are best friends'' Lesley said. ''For as much you care about it, My name is Lesley and if I wanna say that you are a jerk, then I can.. We live in a free country'' she said. ''Why I tell her to calm down? You really don't know anything about her do you? She was attacked five years ago and has a huge scar on her shoulder and a part of her back.. Plus, thanks to tumbling down a rocky hill that same night and ending against a three, she had a bruised back and with a lot of training it healed.. But one thing never did, and that are her lungs.. And if she hyperventilates, she will only be in a lot of pain and she has had enough of that '' Lesley said. ''So You might think it is not such a big deal but she needed her best friend, her boy friend'' Lesley said and now walked over to Xaven and put a finger on his chest. ''Doctors and everyone never believed her because they thought she had imaged the big off-brown with white wolf, which had some kind of saber tooths'' she said. ''And you have NO right to talk to me like you own this place, this house ánd the property around it it hers'' Lesley said, she now was poking Xaven in his chest.

''Enough..'' Vanessa said. She got up from the couch. ''Guys, stop that cleaning.. it doesn't suit the two of you...'' she said. ''Drake.. Ralph.. Could you take Lesley outside? I might faint when I get too stressed out.. But you Lesley are a hot head at this moment and that is not what we need here.. I love you girl but you must calm or I'll tell those boys to push you into that pool'' Vanessa said. Lesley nodded. ''You are on my wrong side pal, don't think you will get on the good side easily, I'll be watching you'' she said and then walked away. Vanessa shook her head. ''Sorry for her temper.. Or... Maybe not.. I mean, you deserved to know what happened to me...'' she said. Vanessa stood there, looking around. ''I can see that my aunt wrote down everything I said during the 'dream house' fantasy's.'' she said. Vanessa sighed and looked at Xaven again. ''It is so weird to see you again.. Your hair is so wild... like..'' she said and shook her head laughing some. ''Almost a little like after that moment of us in the jeep.. It's only longer, and it suits you'' she said and tucked away a brown string of hair. She had dyed it a few times, always keeping the black of her own hair but added a second color into it because she liked it better.

Xaven stood his ground, but this little firecracker was something, this Lesley obviously cared about Vanessa, cared deeply if what he was seeing was anything. hearing about the attack, he swallowed, hearing there was a scar was bad enough, hearing the rest that her lungs never healed, Xaven went pale. "i didn't know" he whispered, only Drake and Ralph able to hear him, and both of them had the respect enough to not look up, as Drake went about picking up his clothes while Ralph vacuumed. Xaven tensed, feeling Lesley poking his chest, he looked at her, his eyes narrowing as he opened his mouth to let her have it back, but Vanessa beat him too it, and it was her friend and her house, so.. he closed his mouth.

Drake held his clothes, Ralph was half done himself when she said to stop, that it didn't suit them. "okay" Drake said, moving to the laundry room and throwing his clothes there, before they nodded. "sure we can do that" Ralph said, glad to be out of the line of fire, though being around Lesley wasn't much better Ralph thought, she was highly opinionated. walking outside, Drake moved up beside Lesley. "so, college friend?" Drake asked, breaking the tension. Ralph rolled his eyes. "geez, keep it in your pants captain Kirk" Drake nickname, cause in the TV show Star Trek, Kirk hit on all the women they encountered. "it was just a question Baby Boy, relax"

Xaven swallowed, now alone with her he shook his head. "no, don't apologize i deserve much more then that, i know it, i accept it" he said. "im sorry for taking the house, i couldn't stay with my parents, they don't even know im here actually" he rubbed his hands together when she said it was weird to see him again. "yea, after that pathetic text or texts i can see how you'd say that, I'd hate me too. Marcus, he wouldn't let me come to the room, i wanted to, believe me" before he turned and stared at her as she talked about his hair, he nodded. "it does look like it did that time, one of the reasons i keep it" as she tucked a string of it back. he ran his hand through his hair, pushing it all back. "Vanessa, i.. i wish i could tell you, if you knew maybe you wouldn't hate me.. then again, with what happened to you, what i did.. i don't blame you if you hated me" he wasn't make any sense now, at least not to her at the moment. he'd held that guilt of hurting her of attacking her for five years, and now it was right back, front and center.