^Gif is of Rachael De Jong. Does anyone hate her as much as I do? Rachael, not Romee. Romee's so down-to-earth. 

Kristy wouldn't leave. We needed to discuss the road trip yet she wouldn't leave our sides. We were sitting on the almost-empty bleachers as she babbled about something to do with a Kardashian. 

Liv popped in a reply here and there because I think she knew what Kristy was talking about. Kristy cut herself off suddenly and muttered, "Shoot."

"What?" Jeremy's eyes flashed to hers immediately.

Kristy sighed and stood up, frantically throwing things into her handbag, "I forgot that my cousin was coming around for dinner. Got to go, I'm already late. See y'all tomorrow!"

She took off running and we were silent for a moment before Jeremy whistled, "Mm... that girl has one fine ass."

Kaycee hit him and gasped, "Admire girls for their inner selves, not their asses and busts."

"Oh, yeah?" Jeremy cocked an eyebrow, "So if I told you that you had pretty hair, you'd scold me?"

Kaycee frowned slightly and looked away. 

"You admit defeat," Jeremy grinned triumphantly. 

"Violet," Ezra interrupted their moment, "You said that someone on the inside could get us a ride?"

"Me," Kaycee gestured to herself, "Mum's car is for my use all weekend."

"Good," Ezra clapped his hands together, "Whilst that's happening... we need to convince Mrs Smith of this road trip."

"How do we do that?" Liv scoffed, "Convincing Mum to let us go off for a few days with girls and guys she's never met is like convincing Satan to be a Christian."

Jeremy, Aaron and Kaycee chuckled slightly at her analogy but Ezra kept a straight face. He seemed to be thinking it over but I knew no one would be able to come up with an idea.

I found myself watching Ezra but I couldn't look away. He was sitting on the bleachers beside me, hands behind us. He shifted forward and his leg pressed up against mine as he rested his elbows on his knees. A few locks of his brown hair fell into his face and I felt the urge to brush them away but I couldn't. 

He tensed as he looked up across the field where a few parents were hanging around, congratulating their kid on the game. My eyes trailed to his arms that had tensed with the movement, showing off his muscles.

I couldn't believe how wrong I had first been when I'd seen him. I knew he was tall but even sitting he seemed to tower over me now. His muscles were more prominent against his skin, his biceps bulging slightly with his tensed body. I could only imagine what was going on beneath his shirt... 

That was the thought that snapped me back to reality.

"Violet!" someone shouted and I jumped on the bleacher.

"What?" I asked, startled.

Jeremy narrowed his eyes with a slight grin, looking between me and his best friend before saying, "I've been calling your name for a while..."

"Y-you have?" I gulped. Way to be subtle, Vi...

"Ezra?" Kaycee snapped a finger in front of her cousin's face. 

Ezra straightened up and stretched his back muscles, zoning in.

"I got an idea," Kaycee grinned, "And it should work."

"What is it? Liv asked, an eyebrow cocked.

***

Kaycee's crazy. Actually, scratch that; she's mental. 

I knew that because we were sitting in the kitchen of my new house with Liv, Ezra and my mum. When the four of us had strolled in, Mum had merely cocked an eyebrow before flushing, "Sorry... I would've made an effort to hide the moving boxes if I knew we were having guests. You two are?"

Kaycee extended a hand with a bright smile, "Kaycee James. Violet's best friend. I'm pleased to meet you, Mrs Smith."

Mum shook her hand with a head nod, "Call me Marie, dear. And you, sir?"

It took me a moment to realise she'd called Ezra sir. Oh god...

Ezra looked to me with what seemed to be fear in his eyes. It could have been comical, really. 

I answered for him, "He's a little shy... Mum, this is Ezra James. Kaycee's brother."

Along with Kaycee's mental plan there was another line that had to be said along with it but I didn't want to say it in embarrassment. 

Kaycee nudged me with a slight narrow in her eyes but a blown-out grin.

Mum noticed, "And...?"

Stupid Mum powers noticing the cliffhanger.

"And... my boyfriend," I managed somehow to keep my voice steady and my face straight.

Ezra offered my mum a small smile. Mum's narrowed eyes were flicking between Ezra and I before shaking her head, "No, he's not."

My jaw dropped before I regained composure, "What?"

Kaycee hissed, "I thought this was fool-proof."

"Come into the kitchen all and tell me what you really want. Ezra, Kaycee, would you like some tea and biscuits?"

"P-please," Ezra murmured as he followed Liv into our kitchen. 

A moment after that we were here... sitting in an awkward silence at the kitchen table with hot mugs of tea and a large plate of biscuits. 

Mum began, "Nice try, kids, for whatever you're planning - I'm not sure I even want to know what it is - but I'm a psychiatrist and I know when people are either lying to me or to themselves. And I'm pretty sure Ezra isn't your boyfriend."

"How would you know?" I muttered, crossing my arms.

Mum glanced to the red-face boy who was shifting uncomfortably in his seat. Mum let out a soft sigh, "Ezra, sweetie?"

He looked up worriedly.

Mum continued, "You're cute and all, don't get me wrong, but my daughter has always liked the athletic, loud, bad boys. There was Jacob, Dylan, Mark, Will... do I need to continue?"

Now I was the red-faced one. 

Kaycee cut in, "My brother is athletic. He's the reason we won the game tonight, actually."

"Okay," Mum shrugged, "but Ezra... you seem so quiet. Do you need someone to talk to?"

Ezra's eyes met her's again but his were slightly narrowed this time. 

She looked away first, "I mean, I do have a doctorate in psychiatry... I'm pretty sure I could help you with whatever emotional-"

"Stop, Mum," Liv interrupted, "He's just going through a hard time, okay? Give the kid a break."

I didn't miss the small smile Ezra sent my sister. 

"Right," Mum sucked in a deep breath before taking a sip of her tea, "Sorry if it seems like I'm grilling you. But what is it you had planned?"

Kaycee and I exchanged a glance and I then started explaining, "Well... you remember how Liv said Ezra's going through a tough time? He had a road trip planned with Kayc, our friend Jeremy and his younger brother... we want permission to go as well."

"A road trip?" Mum frowned, putting down her mug.

'Yes," Liv confirmed, "Tomorrow through to... what day again?"

Ezra answered, surprising me, "Monday night. But Monday's a teachers' strike..."

I knew for certain that Monday wasn't a teachers' strike because I had a Japanese pop test that day. But I went along with his lie.

"... so it wouldn't be like we're missing school or anything," I finished for him. 

Mum took a biscuit and finished it before saying, "Convince me."

Ezra looked at me in alarm. I narrowed my eyes at him, 'What was I supposed to do?' But he didn't read the message like Liv usually did. 

I cocked an eyebrow at my sister and she shook her head. I sent her a look of pleading and she frowned before slowly nodding. She took a deep breath and then said, "We'd be taking Kaycee's car down all the way to Walla Walla - it's sort of country-ish, near some place called Albury - and then we travel back up all the way to another place called... what was it?"

"Crowdy Head," Kaycee filled in.

"Yeah, that place," Liv nodded, "Before coming back. Ezra's mum grew up in Walla Walla and his dad in Crowdy Head so that's where we're going."

"Crowdy Head, huh?" Mum took in a deep breath, "Well... that's... fantastic..."

"What's Crowdy Head?" I dared to ask.

"It's up north from here," Ezra said, looking directly at me with those intense brown eyes, "Right along the coast. Your mum would be worried about it because that's where the teenagers in NSW are most reckless, they say, in that area."

"Pin-point," Mum mumbled. 

She narrowed her eyes at Ezra and then asked, "What time do they leave tomorrow?"

I grinned at Liv. Was that a 'yes'?

"Five o'clock, ma'am."

"Perfect," Mum nodded slightly, "Now you two best be off or your mother will start worrying."

Kaycee took her cousin by the hand and tugged on him gently to stand up. They smiled at the three of us before I got up, "I'll walk you out."

I followed the two of them outside and Kaycee ran to where Jeremy and Aaron were arguing on the sidewalk. I leant against the doorway and watched as Ezra froze on the porch. He glanced over his shoulder and whispered, "Thank your sister for me."

"For what?" I raised an eyebrow, "Stepping in for you?"

"Yeah," Ezra turned so he was fully facing me. 

I was immediately aware by our isolation from everyone and the quiet surrounding us. I blushed faintly but replied, "No problem, Ez. No awkwardness between us, right?"

"Right," he murmured, nodding slowly. 

I bit down on my lip from the quiet again and looked out across the garden. I stopped and asked quietly, "Do you think... you could have so many people around you... caring for you... and yet feel so alone?"

"What makes you say that?" Ezra's eyebrows raised.

I felt like this would be a long explanation so I sat on the porch and patted the spot next to me. Ezra moved and sat right where I'd patted, his leg pressed against my own. 

I sighed and began explaining, "In London... everything was so fast paced, y'know? Everything happened so quickly that I never needed to worry about grades, friends or even relationships. Everything just breezed by..."

"And everything happens so slowly here, right?"

I nodded, "I found out that you're a werewolf," I glanced to him, turning my head to the side, "And I barely freaked out. I just rolled with it..."

Ezra nodded, understanding it.

"Here, I realise how lonely I am. I mean, I have Mum and Liv but Mum's going to be back at working long hours soon and Liv gets more distant the older we get. And then the first real friend I made here doesn't even know who she is without Mark Thompson."

There was a long pause, another question looming over our heads.

Ezra turned his head so we were almost nose-to-nose, "And me?"

I found myself staring into his gorgeous yet intense brown eyes and I sent him a small smile, "We'll see."

"We'll see," he repeated before standing up. He offered me a hand and I took it as he pulled me up from the porch. Ezra stared down at me silently before shaking his head, almost at himself. He then informed me, "The closer it gets to the full moon the more things I want to do that I shouldn't."

I furrowed my eyebrows at his cryptic reply but sent him a small smile, "Maybe it's a sign that you should be doing those things."

Ezra let out a small chuckle and soon it turned it a full-out laugh. It was infectious and I started to giggle at his sudden change of attitude. 

It died down quickly but a grin remained on his face as he replied, "There are things I know for a fact I certainly must not be doing."

With that, he mock-saluted me and ran up the driveway where the others were getting impatient. 

I sighed and mumbled, "I guess there goes my short-lived fantasy of him ripping my clothes off."

***

Song: On My Own - Ross Lynch *fangirls*

The sexual tension is high. Ezra's personality is so hard-to-swallow though, lol. 

(Yes, sadly I have a habit of saying lol non-ironically - anyone know how to break that habit?) 

xx Sharky.