Chapter 1: Critical

Well this is unexpected.

I have like 5 other stories that I KNOW I need to work on, but this just kind of...happened. And don't worry, Sleeping in a Fox Trap WILL be updated soon! I've begun the next chapter but I've been swamped this summer.

Okay, FIRSTLY: I do not like Twilight. Like at all. Couldn't even get through the first book without falling asleep or tossing it across the room. HOWEVER, I've done my research and am fascinated with the idea of imprinting, wolves and the wolf pack.

(I've learned all of my knowledge through other stories or Wikipedia and no I don't own Twilight or Jacob Black, but I DO own Ally, Aunt Alicia and Jason.)

Enjoy!

"Alright class, good job today!" Jason's voice rang out over Flo Rida's "Whistle" that gradually faded out beneath the echo of claps and hollers by the dancers.

"For those of you whom I haven't killed with either my devilish good looks or dancing skills, be back here at five sharp tomorrow evening!" Jason chuckled as the class groaned before walking off of the dance floor.

The young man's gray eyes swept over the floor before they landed on his favorite instructor. A grin broke his features and he jogged over to the young woman packing her bag. Her long, glossy raven black hair was hiked up into a high bun and her sun tanned skin that nearly all Los Angeles residence had shone with sweat.

"Nice job today, Alicia." Jason said loudly, causing the woman to jump up and whirl around, shock in her jade green eyes. She quickly relaxed and chuckled.

"Jay, please, stop scaring me. It was funny the first three times. Now you're just trying to give me a heart attack. And I thought I told you to call me Ally." she said sternly, placing on hand on her hip, adjusting her messenger bag on her shoulder with the other hand.

Jason chuckled and threw an arm over her shoulder, casually strolling with her towards the door.

"I'm just coming to see if you're still up for my little proposition..." Jay trailed off.

Ally sighed and let her hair down, running a hand through it.

"Jay, you know I'm not ready to tour with the company yet. I told you that the last five times you asked me this week." Ally shot him a pointed look.

Jason sighed in defeat. Ally was one of his best dancers at the downtown Los Angeles Step Out! Dance company. She could master anything; hip hop, jazz, even ballet (but after her mother's death she avoided ballet like the plague) the list went on. Her personal favorite, as he knew, was hip hop. He could never see why she didn't want to tour Pro with him during the summer months across the country.

"Fine, fine. Hey isn't your Aunt supposed to call you about now?" And with that, Jason had completely moved on. She knew he would keep asking her until he got tired of it or she submitted. Yeah right.

Her Aunt Alicia, the woman whom she was named for, was her last living relative in her immediate family. She was positive that she had other relatives somewhere in the world, but were never in touch with them. She and her Aunt were very close, and even though she lived all the way in Washington on a small Native American Reservation, she always called her at seven o' clock sharp when she got out of dance class.

"I'm expecting a call any minute." Ally smiled but winced as they stepped out into the sunlight. She and Jason lived a block away from each other, both in tiny, cramped apartments that had a great view of the city.

"She's still living with the Indians?" Jason chuckled at his little joke but stopped when he saw Ally shoot him a glare.

"Must I remind you that I am three fourths Native American?" Ally snapped, huffing. She was very proud of her heritage and even though she hadn't stepped foot on on the reservation since she was six, Ally had a lot of pride in who she was.

Her mother was Native American, coming from the Quileute tribe. Her father was from Texas and they had met when he was traveling to see family in Canada. They fell in love, got married and had Ally. The family then moved to Los Angeles where Ally's father, Michael, owned an auto-repair shop and her mother, Thalia, taught dance lessons at the local studio.

All was well and happy, with her dear Aunt Alicia, her mother's sister, visiting every few weeks to see her god daughter and niece.

Then things took a turn for the worse when her parents were hit by a drunk driver when she was seventeen.

Thinking about it made Ally wince. She had finished out her last year of high school then found she was a no-go for collage because she had spent nearly all of her tuition money on funeral costs and debt paying. Luckily, she turned eighteen a few months after so she wasn't put in foster care but was in desperate need of a steady income.

Working about five jobs including instructing at Step Out!, Ally had a very full schedule. Touring with the company would have been a lot of fun, but she had bills to pay and a landlord whom nearly had a fit if she was an hour late on payment.

A sudden tri-tone from Ally's phone snapped her out of her thoughts and she pulled out her phone, her brow furrowing as she looked at the unknown number.

"Is that your aunt?" Jason asked. Ally shrugged.

"Its not her usual number, but she doesn't have a cellphone and could possibly be at a friend's house or something. Might as well take it; it is her area code." Ally said before tapping the ACCEPT CALL option.

"Hello?"

"Alicia Crowe?" an unfamiliar male voice said.

"Uh...yes. That's me. But you might be asking for my aunt, she's also Alicia-"

"No, you are definitely the Alicia Crowe I was looking for. Allow me to introduce myself, I'm Charlie Swan, the Chief of Police in Forks, Washington. I also respond to calls in La Push." the male voice confirmed.

"Well, that's great and all but why are you calling me?" Ally asked, hoping that wasn't too rude.

Charlie sighed. "Well you see, its about your Aunt."

Ally's heart stammered in her chest and she stepped out of Jason's arm.

"Has something happened?" Ally's voice rose an octave with her panic.

"There's been an accident, yes. Your aunt is currently in critical condition at Forks General hospital. Since you are her only next of kin I thought it best to notify you-"

"I'll be on the next flight out to Seattle. Can someone be there to drive me down? I haven't been to Forks or La Push in years." Ally's voice wavered and she felt heat collecting in her eyes. Not her Aunt Alicia.

"Of course. I'll have someone from La Push drive up to Seattle. They'll have a sign so you should be able to recognize them."

Ally and Charlie talked for a few more minutes before hanging up. She turned back to Jason, feeling his eyes burning holes in the back of her head.

"What's going on?" Jason wasted no time with his question. Ally took a breath and suddenly burst into tears.

"I-It's my Aunt. Sh-She's hurt and I need t-to get to S-Seattle and- oh god I have to pack. I don't know how long I'll be there and-" Jason put a hand on Ally's shoulder and looked her in the eye.

"Ally breathe." he soothed. Ally sucked in a large breath and exhaled through her nose, trying desperately to stop the flow of tears that cascaded down her cheeks.

"I'll pay for the ticket and help you pack. Take as much time as you need off - full pay." Jason said briskly and led her up the stairs of her apartment. She hadn't even realized they had reached her complex.

"No, Jay. You can't-"

"I can and I will. You need to go and see your aunt. I'll make calls to all of your other crazy ass jobs and make sure they know its a family emergency." Jason said firmly before pulling out Ally's only suitcase she owned from under her bed and began pulling out her clothes, setting them in the suitcase.

They packed in silence then, Ally grimacing as she noticed that her entire closet could fit in her moderately-sized suitcase. Even her dance shoes and thick winter coat which she knew she needed since it felt like winter in La Push even in the late summer.

Once practically her entire closet had been packed up, Ally told Jason she needed a shower since she didn't want to get on a plane smelling like sweat and whatever the hell they cleaned the floors with.

She grabbed a clean pair of sweats, new underwear and a bra along with a new sweatshirt and set them on the sink as she stripped down and stepped into the scalding hot shower.

The shower gave her time to think.

What had happened to her Aunt? Was Forks General a good enough hospital to trust her Aunt in? What if she never woke up from her coma? What if she was left alone for the second time, with no one to guide and be there for her in her life? She had Jason and a few other close friends, but they couldn't care for her and give her undying love like her Aunt did. Sure, Jason was great and one of her closer friends but she couldn't ask that much of him.

All too soon her crappy water heater ran out and the water turned ice cold. She turned off the water and wrapped a towel around her body before pulling her hair up, deciding against drying it.

Ally dressed quickly and exited the bathroom with all of her toiletries.

Jay closed her computer and unplugged it, stuffing it into her dance bag which he had emptied out.

"Okay, so I booked you a flight and yes, I paid for it. Don't give me that look, Alicia. Anyway, I put your sweaty dance clothes in a plastic bag in your luggage because you need your dance bag and decided to pack up an extra change of clothes along with your wallet and other crap you'll need." Jason rambled, stuffing her laptop charger into her dance bag along with her cell charger, then taking her toiletries in their 311 bag in as well.

Jason may have been a twenty year old guy, but he was sure as hell efficient and knew exactly what she needed so she decided not to argue and let him do his thing.

"Your flight is at eight thirty and I'm driving you there because we all know you don't have a car and I don't trust public transportation."

All Ally could do was nod numbly as Jason went on, barely listening to him.

It was as if she was trapped in a strange dream. Ally could hear, see and feel everything that was going on around her but it was like her body and mind were separated. Her body moved but her mind lingered. Time sped up but slowed down and the world seemed to be too happy, too cheerful for her liking at the moment.

Obnoxious teenage girls with bleach-blonde hair and shorts barely long enough to cover their ass laughed in high, shrill voices as they passed them on the street. She wanted to slap them; her beloved Aunt was in critical condition and struggling to live - nobody should be allowed to laugh. The world should have been burning instead of the clear blue sky and warm suns shining down on the city of Los Angeles.

They reached Jay's car within five blocks and arrived at LAX in a matter of minutes.

It was seven o' five by the time Ally had been checked in and had to say her goodbyes to Jason.

She struggled with tears, attempting a smile that probably came out in more of a grimace.

"Take care of yourself up there, Ally." Jason sighed as they pulled away from their hug.

"I always do." she affirmed, smiling sadly.

Jason ran a hand through his light hair and returned her dreary smile with one of his own.

"Call me when you land and tell me how you're aunt's doing, okay?"

Ally nodded and with one last lingering hug and a glance over her shoulder - she disappeared into the huge airport.

Hold on, Auntie. I'm on my way.

Review please!