'Safe' Is Not A Word In My Vocabulary

I collapsed back on the sand after a few games. The guys continued playing, all aside from Quil who quit earlier, and Jacob, who had been trying to quit since minute one. When I stopped, Quil jumped in again; it was easy to see why.

“Sore loser.” I muttered, watching them play. Jacob chuckled and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I smiled slightly before falling backwards onto my towel.

I closed my eyes slightly and my phone rang in my jeans. I pulled it out and saw that Edward got my earlier message. I sent a quick reply and put it away.

Jacob rose an eyebrow “Customized ring tones?” he asked and I shrugged. “It helps me know who calling before I look.” I explained and he eyed it with an amused expression. I knew what he was thinking and tossed him the phone. “Go ahead; I don’t care if you look.”

The silver phone looked really small in his hand and it was a mystery to me how he managed. I knew the ring tones he’s see when he checked it but I couldn’t bring myself to be embarrassed about any of them.

Quil: Like a G6-Far East Movement

Leah: She Wolf-Shakira

Jacob: Shut Up and Drive-Rihanna

Embry: Ridin Solo-Jason Derulo

Kim: Beautiful Monster-Ne Yo

Edward: Boy like You-Ke$ha

Seth: Dynamite-Taio Cruz

Bella: Clumsy-Fergie

Alice: Evacuate the Dance Floor-Cascada

Paul: Sexy Chick-David Guetta ft. Akon

Emmett: Club Can’t Handle Me-Flo Rider

K-9: Last Friday Night-Katy Perry

Crusher: Bottoms Up-Trey Songz ft. Niki Minaj

Ammo: Freeze-T Pain ft. Chris Brown

Bones: Good Girls Go Bad-Cobra Starship

He looked confused. “How did you get, Embry’s number? Or Seth’s or Leah’s?” I shrugged innocently and he continued flipping through. “Hmm I guess I know how you got Paul’s.” he muttered, causing me to smirk and shrug again.

He snapped the top shut and chucked it at me. “Interesting.” He muttered and I laughed. He was thoughtful though. “Do you realize that the only numbers in your phone belong to vampires, werewolves, and gang members?” I rolled my eyes. “You say that like a bad thing, and besides, Bella’s in there too.” His eyes darkened a bit and he glared out at the ocean. “I count her with the vampires.” He said quietly. My face fell too.

“She told you about that?” I asked and he nodded.

“It was why we were fighting before. I said I’d rather see her dead.” His voice broke on the last word and I couldn’t think of anything to say.

Jacob’s POV

Great. Way to go Jacob, you’ve killed the mood once again.

We both stared out at the water, not speaking. I wracked my brain for something to say that would cover up my brief snap, and I was coming up blank.

“I guess I say stupid things out of anger sometimes.” I muttered bleakly, my grin was a bit forced and I was sure she could tell. She smiled faintly too and rolled her eyes. “I thought that was Paul.” She joked and I smiled with some actual emotion.

“I wonder what happen if we locked Crusher and Paul in a room together.” I muttered randomly. She laughed, and the tension seemed to evaporate from the air at the sound. “It’d have to be a very sturdy room.” She said, smiling while I laughed. Just then Quil came over a collapsed down next to us.

I didn’t let myself get angry, I just let it slide and I was pretty grateful when I did. Quil started talking to Cent and I tuned it out. Instead my mind ran over the night in the forest where I’d kissed her. And that day in the kitchen with Bella when Cent was talking about how werewolves don’t wear a lot of clothes…

I realized I’d been zoning out for about five minutes and blinked to escape my thoughts. Quil and Centhua seemed to have not noticed and they ended their conversation when Centhua said she wanted to swim.

“Coming?” she asked both of us and I shrugged while Quil looked back to where the guys had been. I didn’t notice they left.

“I should probably get home, I’ve got patrol tonight and I need to sleep.” He said standing up.

Before he left though, he winked at me. I rolled my eyes, knowing he’d be interrogating me on patrol tonight.

Centhua’s POV

I took off my shirt and folded it before removing my jeans. I folded them to and walked towards the water while Jacob followed.

The sea rushed out to meet my legs and it was freezing. Before I could think it through I dove in head first. It was like that ice in my stomach again, only this time it was everywhere.

I was shivering before I resurfaced.

“God that’s cold.” I muttered while Jacob waded in. I eyed him with pursed shivering lips. He grinned and I rolled my eyes, folding my arms over my chest.

I dove under again after muttering something along the lines of ‘stupid werewolf heat.’

It was easier this time, and I made sure to keep my shoulders under when I surfaced. The sun turned the water a dark blue shade and everyone was in the water.

Jacob back stroked towards me and I grinned, diving under him and coming up by his head. I repeated the process until the water temperature was no longer a problem. Eventually he stood up, his height made the water up to the top of his stomach, while it was up close to my chest and neck. “Shorty” he muttered ruffling my soaked hair. I shoved him.

“Freak of nature.” I muttered back; he laughed.

XxX

We got out and lay in the same spot again. I looked over at Jacob to see him looking back, with an intensity that should’ve made me feel uncomfortable. Instead it made me feel some strange intensity of my own. It was unfamiliar, and I wouldn’t have been capable of it once.

I had to leave soon, but I really didn’t want to. I sighed and Jacob gave a small smile. “Leaving?” he asked and I sighed again. “Soon.” I grumbled and he laughed.

“Well…something to…keep me on your mind…” he started leaning in some, I raised an eyebrow.

Before I could even stop to think about the consequences though, I met him half way and kissed him.

XxX

That night after work, I lied in bed and thought about everything that happened.

The vampire’s found me, and the others; twice.

They didn’t make sure to kill Claire before moving on to Kim, so that either means they think she’s dead or there not coming for her again. Or it means that their going back for her.

They came for Kim, with three times as many vamps. Whether that was the start of a pattern, or if it was coincidence I wasn’t sure.

Emily would be the next target, no doubt, but I didn’t know what to do about it.

I thought about how Jacob and I were getting closer and closer but I couldn’t do anything about it. I should have though; it was dangerous for me to become attached.

I pushed those thoughts aside and instead thought about my fall the other night, or about the kick from Mr. Man. His foot went right through me, just like I went through the floor. It wasn’t a coincidence; if it was, then I’d have been able to remove my blanket and such from the floor boards. But I couldn’t.

Ok, Im definitely thinking too much tonight.

My phone rang and I picked it up, recognizing Crusher’s ‘Bottoms up’ ringtone. “Hey Crush.” I said grinning.

“C-cent.” He mumbled and I sat up immediately “Oh my god Crusher what happened.” I was at my door, my sneakers shoved onto my feet. Crusher seriously sounded like he was about to cry.

“K-9, g-g-got shot, he really b-bad.” I was running before he finished.

“Why didn’t you take him to a hospital!?!” I accused as the wind blew past my face. My car wasn’t fast enough, and I was running.

“He wouldn’t l-let us. He s-said he’d rather d-d-die than go b-back to j-jail again.” Crusher’s voice choked on a sob and I pushed myself faster.

“Where did he get shot?” I asked and he muttered out the word back before he started crying again.

This was bad. This was very bad.

“You’re at home then?” I asked and I heard Ammo get on the phone. “We’re here, he’s fading fast Cent, I don’t know if you’ll be able to-” his voice cut off and I heard someone muttering in the back ground. Ammo came back on and he sounded like Crusher did.

“He wants to talk to you.” He whispered hoarsely. I was running so fast, trying to outrace time, it felt like I was moving in slow motion.

“Cent,” It was K-9’s voice, weak and strained. I felt tears of my own forming. “K-9 hang in there.” K-9 ignored me like he usually did.

“I love you baby girl, you’re the best little sister I ever had.” No! No! No! He’s giving up! He can’t give up!

“I’m not sorry we tried to kill you that day.” He continued, the tears where coming down freely now.

“I am sorry you got involved in all this though, you’re a good kid, try to get out of this life before it messes you up; I don’t want you to end up like me.”

I talked through a thick throat.

“Stop. Right now, your saying goodbye, you’re not allowed to say goodbye you hear me?” He laughed through the pain.

“I’m gonna remember that sass; wherever I go.” It sounded like a sigh.

I was in Port Angeles now; it had taken only two minutes. “You’re not going anywhere K-9 do you hear me? Anywhere! You can’t leave me!” At that second I burst through the door. Several heads snapped up and the agony in the guy’s eyes was unbearable. Even though it was nothing compared to the agony I K-9’s.

I fell down beside where he was bleeding on the couch, lying on his stomach. I picked up his hand and his pulse was slow; but not gone. It was enough. He smiled bleakly at me. “Hey baby girl,” he whispered and my throat closed. I refused to have this be my last image of him; blood soaked and dreary eyed.

I lost too many family members already. I refused to lose another one.

Bones walked up to me; he put a hand on my shoulder and I tore my gaze away from K-9.

“Help him.” He whispered, a voice; so familiar that I recognized it despite the years greeted me.

“Damien.” I whispered and he shook my shoulder lightly. “Centhua, you’re the only one who can do it, you have to help him.”

“D-dead.” I stuttered and he shook his head. “Centhua, look at me, Im not dead, but he will be soon if you don’t help him.” Crusher and Ammo watched in shock and then stared determinedly at me.

“Tell us what to do.” Crusher said hoarsely.

At that second, a million changing ceremonies ran through my mind. When a werewolf imprinted on a human, they’d be changed to a wolf as well.

K-9 wasn’t my imprint; but I loved him enough to change him.

“Get him in the car.” I whispered and Crusher and Ammo didn’t hesitate.

The wrapped him like a burrito and gingerly carried him.

I looked at Bones/Damien. “When this is over, your gonna have a lot to explain.” I whispered.

He smiled and nodded.

XxX

We were in the forest. The moon, still as full as yesterday shone on the clearing we were in. I prayed in would reach the high point soon; otherwise this might not work.

Bones held my hand and Crusher looked at me. “What’re we doing out here?” he asked nervously. I shook my head lightly.

“There’s too much to explain right now, just know that we’re going to save him, but he’ll be a little different.” Crusher rocked back on his heels and Ammo frowned. They trusted me though, which was good.

Suddenly, my muscles tensed; I had the urge to run and I recognized it.

It was the same thing that had woken me up last night; the moon reaching its highest point in the sky.

“It’s time.” I whispered and Damien carefully laid K-9 down on the ground. He removed his shirt and I stared at the wound it exposed. The bullet was still inside.

I kneeled down beside him.

“K-9, can you hear me?” I asked. He mumbled a yes and I held out my hand. “Knife.” My voice was directed to my brother and I felt the metal handle fit into my hand.

“Whoa; hold up!” Crusher shouted when he saw me holding the knife at an angle to the bullet.

Bones/Damien held him back and I heard him urgently whispering for them to trust me and let me be.

I ignored the tears that had started again and whispered “I’m sorry.”

I dug the knife into his flesh.

His eyes flew open and he clenched his teeth like he determined not to scream, although he was doing it anyway.

I just kept cutting; digging the bullet out and whispering “Im sorry” every time he yelled.

Whatever it takes…

I repeated these thoughts over and over as the bullet fell onto the ground. The blood started gushing out now and I knew I only had minutes; if that.

“Turn around!” I hissed at Crusher and Ammo. They stared with wide eyes before turning abruptly after Bones did.

I stripped quickly and phased. Ammo suddenly turned and his jaw dropped Crusher did the same and Bones/Damien held them back again.

I ignored them, completely focused on K-9.

My mind reached out and found him, his life. I felt along its edges and grabbed it with my own. My head was bowed and my eyes had changed the strangest shade of blue. I howled.

'Im sorry K-9,' I thought.

Then I swiped my claw along his back, where the bullet had been.

Crusher darted forward while Bones and Ammo held him back. I was sure Ammo wanted to let go though, I doubted he trusted me anymore.

K-9 screamed again.

And the greatest magic happened.

His scar changed bubbling oddly before it glowed, to match the color of my eyes before it healed itself.

Ammo and Crusher stared in shock while K-9 started to twitch and writhe on the ground.

I took a step back, knowing that more pain would come but also happier than you would ever believe. The only thoughts in my head were loud and clear.

It worked!