Sarah snarled, "Just stay away from my sister, bear-boy. I don't trust you at all, and neither should she. So just back off and keep your hands off of her."

______

Josh glanced at her for only a moment, then shifted his serious gaze back to the hospital doors. His hair floated in front of his eyes, disrupting his veiw. "No problem," he said, flushing only slightly. "After all, I think I owed you that much." He swallowed, and ran one hand throguh his hair.

(( Rawr. Brain-dead. ))

Josh's eyes darkened, and a frown tugged delicately at the edge of his lips. "Back to your brother?" he said quietly, almost to himself. "Well, good luck with that." He blinked, tearing his eyes away from hers to peer down the nearly-empty street. The town crier was handing out newspapers. He could already see the headlines.

Mutant wolf kills 6, injures 3. City of Windsong continues to look into the situation.

He sighed, glancing back at Erin. Josh said gently, "You should be angry, Erin." Saying her name made his stomach twist in a funny way it never had before. "I could have killed you. Only too easily I could have just killed you..." He shut his eyes for a moment, another flare of pain shooting up his back where Derek had bitten down.

He winced, gritting his teeth, but opened his eyes and looked back at Erin again with an even, insecure gaze. 

"I don't think you should come near me anymore."

____________

Jace blinked a couple times, taken by surprise. "...Runaway from what?" he added quietly. "Oh. Well.. You could always stay with me; I have an extra room." He flushed a light pink. "I mean, if you want."

Jace, avoiding being strangled by the big strong man, dived at Angel and scooped her up in his arms. He started to run faster. This was one of those Prince Charming moments he had.

________

Josh glanced down at her, the stubborn look she was giving him was like a kick between the legs. Why can't she just let me go in peace? he asked himself sourly. "But I do care," he said, narrowing his indigo eyes in turn. "And I don't want you, or anyone else to get hurt anymore because of what I am."

He looked back at the horizon. "So I'll avoid everyone. And I'll leave a week before the full moon every month, until my little..." he struggled for the right word. "Phase, pas ses." He let his eyes drift back to her for only a moment, because it made his heart squeeze painfully. 

His voice was gentle, but sorrow was evident in his words. "I know you're scared of me, Erin. And you have full reason to be."

Erin's eyes widened for an instant, and she glanced down, blushing. "I-I'm sorry." She whispered through the curtain of black hair that shadowed her face. "I don't want to be afraid. I try not to be." She squeezed her right arm- the one that had been slashed.

"And I don't want you to go, but I know you should. Just come back every time, okay?" She straightened up, and stared him square in the eyes. Her chest seemed to tighten when she looked at him- though it certainly wasn't from the injuries. She raised her pale hand and gave a small wave before hurrying in the other direction. She didn't want him to see how odd she felt when she saw him...

That gave her pause. What was that exactly? Fear? No... She shook her head and continued walking towards her street, suppressing the urge to glance back, and see if Josh was still there.
I'll see him again, no matter what he says. She thought firmly.
Her clothes were dark enough that the dried blood caked on them wasn't too visible, unless one looked closely. Hence, she pa.ssed through town without receiving any odd looks.

Josh stared after her for a minute, fingers still crossed behind his back. "I'll come back every time," he said softly, knowing his promise was false and that he was lying to her, even if she couldn't hear. He shook out his hair, which covered his odd eyes.

He jogged down the street, ignoring the awkward looks he was getting from his blood, torn-up clothing and battered looks. One boy, about nine, asked him what happened. He said as he jogged by, "You should have seen the other guy." 

He trotted up to his doorstep, and knocked on the door lightly, waiting for his drunk father to come stumbling up and start yelling at him. His father opened the door in silence, and faced his son with clean, sober eyes.

His dark hair was combed neatly, and he was dressed as if he were going to a funeral. Josh couldn't smell any alcohol on the man, and he seemed almost upset, like he'd been worrying about something.

"I thought the wolf got you!" his father said in a husky voice, pulling Josh into a hug. He caught a light scent of alcohol. Okay, so he had had something to drink. But this was a start.

"I'm fine Dad," he said soflty,  fighting back the surge of emotions he was getting. It wasn't evey day his dad got all dressed up, worried about him and semi-sober. "I'm okay." But Erin's not...

He let go of his father as his thoughts sunk in miserably. "Can I go to my room now?" he asked, biting on the inside of his cheek. His father looked hurt. 

"O-okay then." he said softly as Josh brushed past him and stalked up to his room. He could feel his father's gaze on his battered back as he slammed the door shut.

He fell face-first onto his bed, and then turned over onto his back and stared at his shattered window.

______________

Jace blinked down at Angel, eyes locked onto hers  as he skidded to a halt. He was panting, but he couldn't help but smile.

Jace finally caught his breath, and looked over at Angel. Then, unexpectingly, he leaned over, and pressed his lips against hers. Warmth spread through him, making his stomach feel light and fluttery.

He wound his fingers through her hair, and hoped she wouldn't push him off, and that she'd kiss him back.

Jace laid back on the gras s, back pressed against the ground in slight discomfort. He deepened the kiss, and his left hand travelled down her back to her waist. His mind was fuzzy and out of focus; any thoughts of Erin were far away. Erin...

He pushed Angel off of him lightly, and sat up, silver hair ruffled and messy. Guilt flooded through him, along with shame.