Chapter Five

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Sophia looked down at the scuffed table below her, and scrubbed at a particularly stubborn stain with her damp rag.

It was late. The Diner had just closed and locked its doors, and she felt for the first time that day like she could finally breath freely.

She probably should have just stayed home, but a part of her really didn't feel like hiding. It was Sunday after all, and tomorrow she was going to have to face school. So making the decision to put in extra time at the Diner, when one of the very few waitresses that worked there on the weekends was on maternity leave (imagine that) seemed like a logical one. It would help prepare her for the challenge of facing the Hill kids tomorrow.

It was also, in a way for her, hiding in plain sight. She had never before worked on a Sunday, so therefore it wouldn't occur to the more nosey members – young and old – of the Pack that she would be here.

It was also a way for her to regain some sense of normalcy before tomorrow. And she knew she was going to need every bit of courage and strength she could gather.

But not so she could deal with the rumors, for she was no stranger to controversy. But rather to deal with the Skinwalkers themselves. They would be effecting her in ways that they wouldn't even realize.

She had been feeling it all day. Every time that a member of the Clan had walked through those doors, she had found herself sensing them on a level that had never happened before.

Sometimes it came with brief momentary flashes that didn't hardly make any sense, but more times than not it was simply just this subtle yet electrifying wave that would roll over her. Raising the fine hairs at the nape of her neck, and causing a shudder to run down the length of her spine.

It was an overflow of the power within their auras, and it could never be mistaken for that of a human.

And each one was different. She may not have known their names, but she knew she would never forget the particular signature of their power. She would always be able to recognize them by that and that alone.

She had found herself hiding in the kitchen every chance she got when a member of the Clan was in there, and so far she had managed to evade the full brunt of their scrutiny, even though she could still feel eyes watching her from time to time.

And there was nothing that could be mistaken as human in those eyes either, as they had watched her movements so unblinkingly.

They all were wondering what was happening to the town's local half-breed, and whether or not the rumors were true.

She hadn't been encountered by one of them, at least not yet, but there had been one incident that she was desperately trying to forget.

She had been at the counter, checking out a young couple that was just passing through town on their way to Seattle, and in had walked Scott.

Judging be his expression, the shocked feeling of surprise she had experienced when her gaze encountered his was mutual. He hadn't been expecting to see her either.

But he never even gave her a chance to try and say anything. She had watched numbly as his features suddenly paled, and he then spun around and left even more quickly then he had entered. The door slamming shut behind him so hard that a few customers had turned to look at him curiously before returning their focus back to their meals.

Sophia had felt as if someone had just slammed a two by four into her stomach, even though she had fought not to show any outward physical response. And apparently she had succeeded, because the couple didn't even seem to notice that the hand that gave them back their change along with a copy of their receipt was trembling faintly, or how she seemed unable to thank them for stopping by and bid them a polite farewell, because she couldn't seem to speak around the strange, foreign lump that had suddenly swelled up in the back of her throat.

But then, to her relief, the Diner had closed earlier than its normal time due to the fact that it was a Sunday, and everything in this town closed early on Sunday, if it even bothered to open at all. The day was over, and she could now at least attempt to relax.

Everyone else except Kit and Rusty had already left, and she could hear them in the kitchen wrapping up on the typical end of the day clean up work, while she washed down the last remaining tables.

She wasn't in a particular hurry. It would still be a while before her father got off of work, and the idea of going back to an empty house when the moon had already begun to rise didn't sit very well with her. Before the darkness had never really bothered her. She loved the night, but after the last couple of days, and the dreams she had had… she was a little bit more nervous than maybe she was used to being in the past.

Finishing up with the last table, she let out a sigh and stretched the line of her back. She heard the swinging door that led from the kitchen open, and she turned to face Kit as she walked through.

"Dishes are done, Rusty is just taking a moment to sweep, and then he'll be heading home." She went back behind the counter and pulled out her coat and purse. "I'm heading on home as well. Mom's got some guests that are coming over for dinner, and she needs me to help her." she shrugged into her coat, pulling it around her torso snugly. "Aren't you leaving, too?"

Sophia nodded slowly. "Yeah, as soon as I pull all the chairs up for the night. It shouldn't take me too long, though."

Kit nodded and slung her purse over her shoulder as she headed towards the door. "Well, I noticed that you didn't have any lunch this afternoon, so Rusty has left you some hamburger patties in the fridge. You can help yourself to the buns, so at least you won't have to worry about cooking anything when you get home. He said you could take some for your father, too if you wanted."

Sophia smiled. "Thanks, Kit. I'll see you tomorrow at school."

Kit grunted, and waggled her fingers at Sophia as she slid out the front door. Locking it behind her with her copy of the main key.

Sophia watched her disappear into the night, and then turned back to her work. She called out a goodbye to Rusty as he exited out through the back door a few minutes later, and then she was finally by herself.

It was true she hadn't bothered to eat lunch during her break. In fact, her stomach had been so tied up in knots from her attempts to remain away from the members of the Pack as they had come and gone throughout the day, she hadn't thought she would have been able to stomach anything even if she had wanted to, so she hadn't even bothered. But now that the danger was over, and she had apparently managed to survive the bombardment of this day, she thought she just might actually be up for a cheeseburger before resigning herself to head back home.

Picking up the last chair to turn upside down and place up on its respective table, she brushed her hands over her thighs and turned to walk towards the kitchen.

A few feet away from the door, was the switch panel on the wall that controlled all of the lights within the restaurant. She flipped off most of them, leaving just a few on their lowest setting so tomorrow morning's early bird team would have enough light to see by. She then turned back around so she could slide through the swinging door into the kitchen…

And ran straight into Luke who had silently placed himself right in front of it.

~*~*~*~*~

(rubbing hands together wickedly) Now we're getting to the parts, which were the reason for my wanting to write this darn thing in the first place. Now, you may be a little confused about how could Sophia sense the presence of all the other shapeshifters, but not Luke's… well… I'll be explaining that eventually.

I know, I know. I'm evil. But I just love cliffhangers. It allows me to see whether or not people are really paying attention to my stories. If I ever produce a cliffhanger like this, and there's no outcry of protest, then I know its time to semi-permanently shelve that particular project.

So… that would mean that now would be the time for that outcry I just mentioned. (GRIN) Make sure you review!

Have a safe New Year's!