realized there was only one person I could turn to in my time of need, who knew more about love, romance, and hot guys than anyone I’d known — someone who might have the answers for my obsessive romantic feelings and how to cure them.

I knocked on my sister’s bedroom door. When she didn’t respond, I opened it to find her putting the final touches on her makeup.

“Don’t you knock? I could have been undressed,” she argued.

“But I did knock, and you aren’t undressed.”

“Well, I could have been.”

Juliette was so pretty she didn’t need to wear makeup. But still she spent endless hours in front of the mirror painting her face with whatever colors were in that particular season.

Juliette’s room was in stark contrast to my own. Mine was filled with books, DVDs, and trinkets. Where other teens had band or movie posters hanging on their walls, my sister had framed pictures of herself with her friends and various boyfriends.

“Jules, I need to ask you something,” I said, sitting on her bed. “How do you know if you are in love?” I asked, fiddling with the frame on her nightstand.

“You’ll know.”

I sighed. I didn’t want a vague answer that I could get from anyone. I wanted someone to speak to me about specifics.

“Why, are you in love with Nash?” she asked. “He is really hot.” Juliette turned away from her mirror and toward me. “Is he trying to pressure you?”

Nash always wanted more from our relationship than I was prepared to give. But that wasn’t it.

“No — it’s not that,” I said.

“Because if he is, I know some guys in my dorm who will make him wish he hadn’t.”

“No—”

“Don’t you do anything you’re not ready to do. You understand? That is the most important thing. Only when you are ready and only when you’re much older.”

Now she was lecturing me. But I didn’t mind. Almost. It was sweet that she cared about my well-being.

“He knows where he stands with me,” I said. “Anyway, I’m talking about love.”

“With someone else?”

I nodded.

“Does Nash know?”

“No, of course not. Besides, we aren’t seeing each other right now.”

“Great. What did he do now?”

“It’s no biggie.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

“Good. Then let’s talk about the new guy! Have you gone out on a date?”

“No.”

“So, it’s a crush from afar?”

“Well…. not really…”

“Then what is it?” she asked impatiently.

“I met him at his house. We went ice-skating.”

“I’d call that a date.”

“You would?”

“Yes! Did he kiss you?” she asked.

“No. Not then…”

“You’ve kissed him?”

When I didn’t answer, she put down her makeup and hopped on the bed.

“You kissed him?”

“Accidentally,” I said. “I didn’t mean for it to happen.”

“That’s the best kind.”

“I mean I was waiting, like forever. But then it just happened!”

“I love it!” My sister high-fived me.

I couldn’t rein in my smile if I’d had Botox. I hadn’t told anyone, so it was good to finally girl-talk with someone. Even if it was my sister.

“What was it like?”

I was too embarrassed to talk about it.

“C’mon! Tell me.”

“It was heaven. Amazing. Like nothing I’ve ever felt in my life.”

She squealed with delight. Suddenly we were reduced to two giggling girls.

“So who is this dreamy guy who’s stolen my little sister’s heart?” she asked. “I want names and dates. What does he look like?”

I didn’t say anything.

“Describe!” she ordered, pointing her mascara brush at me.

“Brown wavy hair, royal blue eyes. His lips are full and dreamy. His stare can penetrate your soul.”

“Wow! Can you introduce him to me?”

“He’s in high school!”

“Does he have a brother?”

“I don’t know…”

“Does he have a name?” My sister was getting frustrated.

“I’m not giving you names.”

“Okay. Okay.”

“Uh, you wouldn’t know him. Besides, I’m not sure if it’s love or the flu,” I said.

“What are your symptoms?”

“Come on…”

“Symptoms!” she demanded.

“All right. I can’t eat. I can’t sleep. I can’t focus on school or even the most menial tasks. And I’m obsessed with thinking about him.”

“That’s love. Or at the very least lust. Something I prefer.”

I sighed. “Do you think these feelings could distort my view of him?”

“What do you mean?”

“Physically. Like the way he looks.”

“Of course. Some girls fall for the lamest guys but think they’re studs ’cause they are clouded by love.”

“But like… could these feelings make him look more muscular? Grow a goatee?”

“Guys can get stubble by the end of the day. That’s normal.”

I mean instantly, I wanted to say.

“And make his hair appear longer and his eyes change color?” I asked hesitantly.

“If you mean going from blue eyes to twinkling liquid blue eyes, then yes, that can be because you’re love- struck. But if you’re talking about blue eyes changing to brown, then no.”

My smile turned into a frown. I grew worried.

“What are you getting at?” she asked.

“Oh… nothing.”

“Love can distort your view of him,” she said, patting my leg. She obviously didn’t know that I was alluding to him becoming a lycan, but I appreciated my sister’s reassurance.

“When did you first fall in love?” I asked. “Was it with Brad or Jason?”

“Are you kidding?” she asked with a laugh. “No,” she said as if I must have already known. “I’ve never been in love.”

I was floored. My sister had had a guy on her arm since kindergarten. How could she not have fallen in love by now? I felt sad that I may have actually experienced the feelings of true love before she had. With all the guys