exposing every w e a k n e s s``OPEN

[jeremy roger hills]

outfit

Jeremy's hands looked as if they could have been permanantly stuck to the insides of his short pockets, they were forced down so much. He watched his feet with each step he took into the field, the tall, dead-looking grass and barley scratching and tickling the lower parts of his legs. The breeze blew them about and he couldn't help but lean down and scratch them every once in a while, only detaching his hands from his pockets then.

At last, he looked up and gazed around while he continued his slow and steady pace. The sun was going to be setting soon, and he knew for a fact it would be a full moon within a matter of hours. He was already beginning to feel that sort of mood shift he had between his fun and loving self to his animal, instinctual side. He could feel the tenseness and sarcasm beginning to form in his mind and thoughts; the wanting and need to be left alone, but in charge. Sighing heavily, Jeremy kicked up a bit of dirt and it carried shortly in the wind before settling back onto the ground.

Jeremy winced as he finally stopped and turned around to look at the sun, low on the horizon, though not near setting, yet. He stood, sniffing at the breeze for intruding smells of prescence of another soul, but gladly there was none. After staring into the west for what seemed like an eternity, Jeremy removed his hands from his pockets to steady him as he sat down on the dirt and straw, cross-legged. Resting his wrists loosely on his knees, he sighed again.

He would not be looking forward to tonight.

[monique bailey quentin]

outfit

Mona hated what she was feeling right now and the fact that she was itching badly to change did nothing to improve her at all. She had roamed aimlessly for what felt like hours, chewing down on her bottom lip before she let out a deep sigh and dashes off into the fields, far away enough from any humans or others. Once Mona found a spot, she sighed again, shaking her head as she stripped from her clothing and took in a deep breath and ran before taking a leap, closing her eyes as she did so.

A few seconds later, Mona opened her black eyes and continued running on all fours, pounding them hard against the fields ground beneath her. It had been a late afternoon, so about the time she was starting to feel restless and making her way back towards where her clothes lay, Mona glanced up towards the sky, seeing the sun starting to get close to setting and mentally sighed, knowing in a few hours, she'd be back in this form and more aggressive than usual. That didn't make her any more happier about having to change against her will tonight.

The wolf form of Mona started slowing down, as a scent came to her nose. She stopped, raising her nose in the air and taking a few sniffs before realizing who was nearby. A low growl formed in her chest, as she moved along, hopefully as silent and quiet as she hoped, wanting to reach her clothes, change back into human and into her clothes and get home to sleep for a few hours.

[jeremy roger hills]

Jeremy relaxed and stared at the sun for a few more moments before closing his eyes. The sun shone through his glasses and turned his eyelids red from his point of view. Slowly, he steadied his breathing, in through his nose, out through his mouth. He began meditating, calming his mind like an unditurbed still water. The only sound he heard was the breeze, and it helped him relax his tense muscles. He forgot about everything that worried him: the coming full moon, Sam and his attitude, Monique...

A light thudded padding awoke Jeremy from his trance and his eyes snapped open immediatly, ruining his plans of meditation for the day. Now he was on guard. Rapidly, his body rose from the ground, automatically going to a guarded crouching position and facing the direction of the predator. His teeth bared and he snarled menacingly.

But he only took a moment to look at his enemy and realize it really wasn't one. His mouth released it's position and dropped in a short moment of confusion. His eyebrows furrowed, but his position was stable. It was another lycan, not of his pack, but all too familiar. Standing up straight, Jeremy's face was free of emotions except for slight embarassment. Clearing his throat, he removed his glasses and folded them to put in his pocket, speaking to the fellow creature of the night.

"Monique."

[monique bailey quentin]

Mona stopped immediately in her tracks, hearing him say her name. She turned her wolf head towards him before shaking it slightly and moving along, picking up speed as she went to her clothes damn that fool! she thought, as she fought the urge to go back and attack him. But, she knew all to well that he could do her more harm than she could to him. Maybe he'd eventually take the hint one day and finally never come after her, to give up and realize that she'll never love him or want to be with him. She wants to be normal, to be human. Marrying Jeremy would not help her with that.

The thought of being human, made her think of Ryan, she knew it was foolish to think that she could possibly be in love with him, or even that he felt the same way. But, she felt that way and hated herself for it. Maybe she could be right..maybe she is wrong. Mona wasn't for sure. As she reached her spot where her clothes lay, she came to a halt and changed back into human form, running a hand through her hair and quickly putting her jeans on and the sweater and slipping her feet into the shoes.

Her dark eyes glanced around her quickly, crossing her arms over her chest and starts walking. If anyone was to see her now, she hoped they she didn't look as if she was trying to get away from something "And I really am. Only he never gives up." she muttered to herself.

[jeremy roger hills]

Jeremy couldn't help but notice then that Monique was turning around the other way - away from him. He caught her in mid-stride and she only turned to shake her head at her. Jeremy blinked, taken aback that she had clearly ignored him and was now trying to run away from him. Sighing, Jeremy rolled his eyes and began jogging after her wolfen form. Mona ran at full speed, though, and he had to push himself a little harder. Eventually he slost her, but just decided to follow her scent.

Finally, he came into view of her, Jeremy saw Monique's human dressed form walking toward the edge of the forest and out of the field. Sighing again, he refrained from thinking of any previous bad arguments they had gotten into with each other. It was really never Jeremy's doing. He wasn't the one who hated his fiancée. Slowing his speed, he only walked towards her as she walked in the same direction. Thanks to his enourmous stride, he was catching up easily.

Not able to think of anything but their engagement now, Jeremy's temper began to rise at the fact that after all he had done for her, Mona hadn't shown any bit of respect to Jeremy and he tried to lower his quickly changing bad mood. There was nothing they could do about the situation; couldn't she understand that? As soon as he was close enough, Jeremy spoke her name as many times as it took to get her to turn around. Even if she didn't make the effort, he still spoke, hoping she would at least respond to them positively.

"I'm not your enemy, Monique."

[monique bailey quentin]

Monique mentally cursed the man, as she heard him following behind her. Her day was horrible as it was, why did he have to make it worse by coming after her. Why couldn't he just let her be. Of all people, she figured he'd be the one to know how much she hates being what she is and how much she wants to take herself out of that world.

Hearing him speak to her a few times, she didn't budge to turn her head, it wasn't until he really spoke to her that she stopped walking and turned to face him, shaking her head "Of course you're not." she said, giving off a slightly sweet smile "Why would the man I don't like or even want to marry be my enemy?" she asked him, tilting her head a bit off to the side before turning back around and heading in the same direction.

These were times she hated with Jeremy; the arguments. As much as they were suppose to be married, Mona knew she would never be happy with him. She wished that her parents and his own would realize that and call it all off. But, seeing as one day he will become alpha, her parents just adored that and felt it'd make Monique see being a werewolf all the more promising. Their idea of trying to get her to love something she hates "I don't know why you waste your time, Jeremy. There are plenty other female wolves out there just dying to be Mrs. Jeremy Hills." she told him.

[jeremy roger hills]

Jeremy was growing more and more frustrated by the second, but each second he attempted to tone it down as well. He stared at her until she finally turned around at his words. Listening to her as she spoke, he was almost confused by her words and smile, but figured out before she spoke again that it was just plain sarcasm. But truly, enemies and disliked people were still two different things in his book. His temper to new levels still, though, and he found himself still going after her as she left him again. He kept up right beside Monique as he spoke, without looking in her direction.

"I still don't understand why you can't even try to like me," he muttered. Jeremy had never judged a person solely on association then actually getting to know them and deciding if they were in his taste or not. It didn't make sense that she hadn't even given him a chance, even under the circumstances. He even considered it immature. She spoke again and he stopped, angered by her words even more and forcing her to look at him this time by grabbing ahold of her arm and spinning her to face him shortly, releasing his grip before she had the chance to swat his hand away.

"Don't forget that I'm not the one forcing you into this! It's your parents!" Disgusted, he was the one to walk away from her first in the direction she had been heading, not bothering to see if she was going to continue the charade or not. A floating and unimportant thought struck him as he realized how true it was. he muttered it to himself, but hopefully loud enough to where Monique could hear him, too.

"Jesus, it's like we're already having matrimonial fights."

[monique bailey quentin]

She rolled her eyes at his words, as if she hadn't tried to like him. Apparently he didn't realize that she had tried liking him once before "Oh yeah, like I really haven't done that one." she told him, rolling her eyes again "Maybe when I had actually been interested in you years ago, you'd of noticed and we wouldn't be in this situation right now." she told him, almost through clenched teeth.

Mona kept on walking, of course, until he grabbed her arm and made her stop and turn to look at him. She was going to smack his hand off of her, but saw him remove his hand before she had the chance. Monique stared up at him, glaring slightly, before giving off a fake laugh "Oh, so it's my parents fault? Really? How oblivious can you be. As soon as my parents suggested it to yours, they were just as obsessed about this whole damn thing as my are." she retorted back at him.

There was no way she was going to allow him to put the whole blame on her parents. And yes, she may hate them to a point because of them doing this, but Mona knew it wasn't just her own doing the holding them together. She stood there, watching him walk away from her. It was one thing for her to walk away from him, but to see him do it to her, that just didn't go very well. Monique went off after him, hearing his words as she caught up with him "Well, if I wasn't the only one here disagreeing with this arrangement, then we wouldn't be having any kind of arguments." she said sternly.

[jeremy roger hills]

Jeremy's breathing had began escalating, and for the short time he had before Monique spoke again, he attempted to steady it and even it. But her words just brought more anger and temper rising. Something she said he knew he should have caught right away before pushing it aside, but he did it anyways. The second thing she mentioned were that his parents were just as interested in it, if not more, as hers were and he couldn't deny that.

After he had spoken after walking away from her, he heard her catch up to him to hurl another blame at him. Disagreeing? Jeremy stopped and spun to her again, expecting her to do the same and not inflicting anything physical, this time. "Who said I was disagreeing? You're the only one who's not happy with this; I'm completely dandy with it!" As he said his last words, he continued walking and expected her to do the same. But as he did so, something struck him, something she had said before, and he didn't notice it until now.

Screeching to a halt, again, he verbally halted her as well. "Wait..." he said calmly, thinking and focusing on her previous words to make sure he heard right. Did she say she used to be interested in him? Well, this was definitely news to Jeremy. He had never even noticed she ever liked him; was that the reason behind her wrath? She was scorned? He was calmed by now, her words making his anger release into thin air. He spoke with softness he hadn't used for a little while.

"You used to like me?"

[monique bailey quentin]

Monique stopped as he did, staring up towards him, with the glare still to her face "I don't see how you can so dandy about any of this!" she said back at him. And really, she couldn't. They always argued, Mona usually always made sure the two of them were never alone and she always made sure she was busy with something else or definitely make sure she wasn't alone when he is around. But, times like these, she hated.

She noticed him stopping, but had gotten a few inches ahead of him before he spoke and it stopped her. She let out a sigh, mentally cursing herself, as she turned around to face him, keeping those few inches between them. Mona heard the softness in his voice as he spoke and she mentally winced at what he said and how he said it. She ran a hand through her hair and looked away from him "Keyword there. Used." she told him. Monique closed her eyes for a moment, as she shook her head and turned her back on him, as she opened her eyes "It doesn't matter anymore. I'll never marry you, Jeremy." she said softly, as she started to walk back in the same direction once more.

[jeremy roger hills]

Jeremy's face had become twisted with confusion and wanting the knowledge of the previous years. How had he never noticed her before? Why couldn't he? Had she not obviously shown him interest or had she completely flaunted it? The questions began to eat at him, but he knew he wouldn't ask them. He waited almost impatiently for a response as she almost seemed to beat around the bush, at first. The words hit him and he knew he had already lost her then; he could never go back and change the past to his liking.

Monique's next words him harder and he winced at them, cringing in emotional pain and now a wanting for her. Jeremy's mouth had fallen open with hurt and anguish, knowing now what a heartbreak must feel like. He swallowed, his throat dry, as he watched her starting to walk away from him again. His heart automatically reached out and controlled his body to do the same. Jeremy's hand reached out and his hand latched to her wrist. He couldn't let her go, now. Withdrawing his hand immediately, he stood closely over her, leaving inches between their faces. Closing his eyes, he cringed again, swallowing so that his voice showed every emotion he felt in only a murmur.

"I love you. Isn't that enough?"

[monique bailey quentin]

Monique hated that those words had ever left her mouth. She was going to regret it, of course. She had never really openly told him before that she had really liked him before. She always thought that he knew, just by the little things or a simple smile or the a simple way that she would look at him. Apparently, she had been wrong. Years, she wasted on trying to make him look her way, but he always looked right through her. To another girl instead.

Shaking the thoughts away, she continued walking. And she felt the hand at her wrist, causing her to stop and face him. Mona blinked a few times, staring up into his face, seeing there was only about a few inches between their faces. She took in his words, and stayed quiet before taking a small step back away from him "You're a few years to late." she said quietly, before swallowing the small lump in her throat "I thought I loved you once. But I was wrong." she fought the urge to tell him that she is in love with someone else. Monique knew if she told him that, then he'd do everything he could to somehow make that guy not feel the same or even make him disappear. That image made her shudder, just a little bit.

[jeremy roger hills]

Jeremy's heart wrenched at the thought that he had completely passed up the chance at ever being with Monique. The thoughts ate and ate at him as he consistently internally kicked himself for his adolescent stupidity. She spoke, then, mentioning he had been a few years too late. Opening his eyes to look into hers pleadingly, he saw that she had moved away now. He swallowed again, his arm outstretched lowly towards her, as if to try to draw her back in again, but he made no further moves; it hung limply in the air.

Then, the worst arrow went straight to his heart, and a sharp, almost loud breath escaped him as if he had truly been punctured. He peered up at her through his lashes, breathing a bit hoarsely, his eyes now showing every emotion he felt: sadness, anger, hurt, pain, alone. Jeremy wanted to tell her not to do it, but it was too late. The damage was done and she was lost forever. His arms now hung limply at his sides, his hands balled into fists and his eyes shut again. What was he going to do?

A thought struck him though, and he grabbed onto it hopelessly. There was only one reason he could think of for why she would be so demanding to not give in and just marry him. The thought raged inside of him, forming a new emotion towards the unknown person he would soon found out was real or not. Looking up, his eyes had now opened, but so many thoughts rushed through his mind that he didn't know whether she still faced him or not.

"There's someone else, isn't there?"

[monique bailey quentin]

Oh how she hated confrontations such as these. They were just horrible and nothing good usually came from them either. A small sigh left her lips, as she looked away from his face to stare down at her shoes. Monique chewed lightly at her bottom lip; did she lie to him, to protect a human? Of course, if her parents knew of this, they'd call her silly. Protecting humans or even being in love with one what do I do? she thought, as she swallowed a lump in her throat and closed her eyes for a moment.

Monique wasn't ready for this. She wished Jeremy would of just left it all be. She wished he'd take her side and talk to their parents and get this whole arrangement called off. But she had a good feeling that wasn't ever going to happen. After a few silent moments, she opened her eyes and looked back up at Jeremy, searching his face before she spoke "No, there isn't." a lie. One she hoped he would believe and just leave it at that "And even if there was, it wouldn't be any of your business."

[jeremy roger hills]

Jeremy looked in her eyes pleadingly, begging for her to reveal either answer, for he could find a way around both. His lips were a tight line, his breathing calm through his nostrils. He waited patiently, but he felt as if he would die of curiosity. Monique bit her lip and closed her eyes for a few moments, and Jeremy felt he knew what the answer was already. But when she spoke, she denied there being another man in her life; Jeremy wasn't buying it. Looking away from her he listened as she spoke again, surprised but deciding that she was, in fact, lying to him. Fine, he thought. Let's do it her way.

He looked back at her and a small smile appeared on his lips. Jeremy was going to put on a whole new approach, and he didn't care that she wouldn't be happy with it. "You're right," he answered solemnly. "That was stupid to think there was someone else." He had, by this point, began pacing around her, circling her and mainly watching his feet. Looking up, he even breathed a short laugh to himself and glanced down again before looking up at her. He walked up to her and peered down, still smiling mysteriously.

"So it's settled. I'll tell my parents November 15th is a fine day for a wedding."