Hey all. Thank you so SO much for all of your reviews/ favorites/ follows. I promise to try and post regularly though my school schedule can sometimes be crazy. This story might move a bit slower than some of the imprint stories you are used to and that is intentional. Rachel is a big girl with big things going on in her life and Paul is only one of those. Her relationship with her father, brother, Leah, and even Embry (don't worry not in any romantic way) will come into play as the story continues.

I hope you all enjoy this chapter and once again would love your feedback/reviews!

Chapter 2

As I stare, the handsome stranger turns his scowl toward me. I don't know why but when his heated gaze sweeps over me I hold my breath. He is glorious. Tall, tan, and not unlike many of the guys here on the Rez. He is not like them though. He is shirtless, sweatpants clinging low to his hips, and the sun is setting behind his shoulder and the orange and pink hues of it are reflecting off the water. I almost catch my breath. I can't help but think that I've never seen anything so beautiful. A gentle breeze tugs at his shortly cropped dark hair.

I look at him for a moment, noting that from this distance his eyes look so dark they could almost be black. Maybe they are. I have a weird desire to take a few steps closer and check. He freezes, dark eyes growing wide in what could be terror.

The beach, which was filled with the murmur of pleasant conversation only moments ago, grows eerily quiet. Or maybe I just don't notice them anymore.

The man just stands there rigidly, mouth falling slightly ajar.

"You have got to be kidding me." I hear Seth grumble from my elbow but I don't respond.

I take a step forward, trying to give off an air of confidence I certainly do not feel. "Um… sorry. That would be my fault." I try to grin. Men have never made me nervous and I'm not about to let them start to now. Certainly not one from La Push who's probably pals with my brother. "I've got a bad sweatshirt stealing habit. It's really becoming a problem. Couldn't resist this one. It's the perfect fit."

I smile again, trying to break the intensity with some sort of levity. My dad always told Becca and I that we could get away with murder by blinking our big brown eyes and smiling. Up until this moment of my life that statement had been fairly true. Turning a paper in late? Apologetic smile to the professor and an unexplained extension! Long line at a club? Flirtatious wink and a grin to an unsuspecting bouncer and instant entry!

Apparently this guy is not affected by me. He clearly doesn't think I'm funny. Or charming. His face is still completely blank, only his eyes move to rake up and down my body at a torturous pace. Goose bumps erupt across my skin. I hear someone scoffing in the distance. I don't know why but I take a step closer. His nostrils flare. I realize I probably reek of cheap beer and look like some sort of vagrant in his too large sweatshirt. He probably can't even tell if I'm wearing pants. What a first impression.

I run my fingers through my hair nervously wishing Seth or Embry or anyone would come to my rescue. No one on the beach moves, and I can feel their eyes on us.

I pry the sweatshirt off, slipping it over my head and balling it into my arms. He still says nothing. This dude must be pissed about his freaking sweatshirt.

"Here." I say walking over to him and shoving it into his arms. So much for chivalry not being dead. I try not to look at his naked chest. "Thanks anyway."

He takes the hoodie in his arms silently. Now that I am closer to him I can truly feel the heat of his gaze. He towers over me, taking up the whole sky. His bare chest rises and falls rapidly, like he's trying to catch his breath.

I narrow my eyes into something of a glare and turn on my heels to walk away from him. I think I hear something that might be a whimper but I know I must have imagined it. "Asshole." I mutter under my breath, trying to save some of my dignity. "Let's go Seth!" I call over my shoulder fishing my keys out of my back pocket.

Seth hesitates and looks between the stranger and I before shrugging and jogging to my side. The rest of the party, and the stranger, remain frozen. I notice that the only person smiling is Emily.

I wave at her before getting into the safety of my car and revving the engine. Lesson learned. I'm never coming to one of these things again no matter how much Sue Clearwater tries to guilt me into it.

Seth slips into the passenger seat beside me, the previous shock on his face replaced with an infuriating grin.

I turn on the radio and whip out of our parking spot, anxious to return home. Seth is practically bouncing in his seat. What a weird kid.

"You need a ride home or want to come back to our place?"

His grin grows wider, if that is even humanly possible. "Oh," he says, an unmistakable note of mischief in his voice, "I definitely want to come home with you. Billy and mom are gonna freak."

I shoot him an icy glare before turning my attention back to the road. "Why would they freak out?" I wrack my brain for any possible reason. "Oh Jesus. Was there not supposed to be beer there? So help me God Seth if you are underage drinking…"

He raises his hands in surrender amusement still dancing on his features. "No, no not that kind of freak out. It's just with…" He looks like he is about to continue before stopping himself short and reconsidering what to say. "It's nothing. Honestly forget I said anything."

"Whatever." I bite out immaturely returning my full attention to the road. I feel like an idiot. Not only did I embarrass myself for being a magnet for trouble and clumsiness, I also had to suffer the fairly public dismissal of the hottest guy I've ever encountered. What the hell? As far as social interaction goes I'm no fool. I was homecoming queen and vice president of my senior class, not to mention a member of one of the most exclusive sororities on campus in college. I'm certainly not the one who's socially backwards. Why do these people make me feel that way?

When I pull into the driveway and hop out of the car I am still feeling annoyed. The way my shirt has formed to my body in a sticky mess of dirt and beer isn't exactly helping. Still, Seth bounds through the front door as if we've just had the time of our life. I wonder if he is immune to sour moods after spending so much time with Leah.

"We're back!" Seth practically sings. My dad and Sue are sitting watching some sort of baseball game and I am reminded of what a saint she is. I wonder how many hours she's spent in front of our television watching sports she doesn't care about just to keep my father company. "We had a very….interesting time didn't we Ray?"

I snort, and Sue and my father turn their attention our way. "Yeah. Seth's friends are interesting to say the least." I say the word "interesting" like it's the most derogatory term in the human language. My dad tilts his head to the side at this. Being negative isn't generally my thing.

"What happened?" My father's tone is somewhat cautious, looking between Seth and I with a mixture of concern and curiosity.

When it becomes apparent that I will not respond Seth is more than willing to launch into the tale with wide hand gestures and pauses to catch his breath from laughing too much.

"And then Paul showed up" He continued, his eyes twinkling "and Rachel was…."

"Not at all impressed." I finish for him. "Seriously Seth you need to get some new friends. I don't like you hanging out with guys like that."

At this Seth howls with laughter so loudly I almost cover my ears. Sue and my father look just as perplexed as to why this would be so funny. Seth is still laughing and clutching his sides when he asks me, "You really don't like him then?"

I furrow my eyebrows and cross my arms. "Obviously not." This sends Seth into an even larger fit of laughter to everyone else's confusion. "I'm going to take a bath." I say flatly before turning to go up the stairs. Seth's chuckles follow me.

By the time my bath is filled with fragrant bubbles and I have eased myself in from the side I hear murmured conversations coming from downstairs. Though I can't catch what anyone is saying I can tell my father's tone firm. Another, louder male voice rings above the rest and I jump in surprise. Someone must have come while I was running the bath. Seth's usually gleeful voice certainly doesn't sound like that. I don't catch much of what he says other than, "Of course I would never lose control!" and then someone promptly shushes him. I can tell whoever is down there is pacing back and forth in the livingroom. I hear yet another unfamiliar male voice begin to murmur and I roll my eyes. It's all probably La Push nonsense no one will tell me about.

I effectively tune them out after that. Obviously they think it's no business of mine and far be it from me to push myself somewhere I'm not wanted. In that instant, soaking among my lavender scented bubbles, I make up my mind to let it all go. Tomorrow, I'm going to get back into some sort of routine. I'm not going to waste time here frittering away precious moments just because my plans have temporarily changed. I am certainly not going to spend more time thinking about that stupid La Push guy who hurt my pride. I'm certainly not going to think about his stupid naked chest either.

I wrap a towel around myself and go to my room. Instead of poking my head downstairs to see who might be there I turn up a Stevie Wonder record to drown them out and finally unpack my things.

The next morning I stick to my resolutions. I wake up early, earlier than my father who was up late into the night discussing things with whoever it was downstairs, and go for a run. The morning air is crisp but the sunrise over the water is so beautiful that it almost makes me happy to be home. I don't go far, but I'm sweaty and out of breath by the time I return. I shower quickly, drying and curling my hair before throwing on makeup one of my sundresses. No more old t-shirts and cutoffs for me thank you.

By the time I'm back downstairs my father is up and clanging around the kitchen.

"Morning daddy." I say, sweeping in to kiss his cheek and snatch the orange juice out of his grasp so I can pour him a glass.

"Mornin' darlin'." He responds, "You were up early. Big plans for today?"

I take my seat next to him at our kitchen table and pour myself a bowl of granola. "I guess," I shrug, "I was going to run to Port Angeles and pick up some things for the house."

With Jake and my father being the only occupants in this home for the past four years the interior design is lacking to say the least. My childhood home looks more like a bachelor pad than a space that is actually suitable for living.

There is a twinkle of humor in my father's eye. "Stuff for the house?" He asks, "What stuff for the house?"

I scoff at this, taking a large bite of my cereal. "New curtains for one." I say, pointing over his shoulder with my spoon indicating some ratty brown curtains barely hanging by frayed threads. "Those didn't look good a decade ago and they certainly don't look good now. And you need some throw pillows too, maybe even a house plant and some scented candles."

My father's chuckle is deep and affectionate, "It's good to have you home Rach."

We chat for the next hour, simply enjoying being in one another's presence. It's been so long since I had more that a fifteen minute conversation on the phone with my father and I can't remember the last time we sat around the table together when it wasn't a holiday. I hadn't realized I missed him so much until this moment.

That's when I realise despite all the secrets and all my annoyance at Jake I'm actually glad to be here getting to know my father once again. I had been so busy growing up into someone who would make him proud I forgot to have a relationship with him. I'm an idiot. No matter how long this opportunity lasts I am determined to catch hold of it.

When the sun is high in the sky and it is well past morning I finally rise from my seat to gather my purse. "Look I'm gonna head out now so I can be back to cook dinner."

My father nods in understanding and I rush upstairs to dawn some white mary-jane heels I bought for my now non existent internship.

I go to kiss my father goodbye and he freezes for a moment, taking in the sight of me. "You look different today Rach." He says this with a tone of suspicion, narrowing his eyes toward my heels and curled hair. "Any particular reason? Hoping to run into anyone?"

I scoff at this. "No daddy, this is the way normal girl's dress in the rest of the world. I promise." Leave it to my father to think that putting on a real outfit means I'm up to something. I forget that the only reason people dress up in La Push is for funerals and weddings. "The only person I was hoping to see today was Leah and I don't think I'm really her type."

He still looks slightly suspicious but seems pleased when I mention Leah. It came as no surprise to me today when he explained that she could use a friend.

I kiss him on the cheek and turn to leave but before I make it to the door my father's tentative voice stops me. "Rach do you feel alright today? I mean, do you feel….any different than yesterday?" His brow is furrowed and he is examining me closely again, as if he is looking for something.

I raise my eyebrows at him. "No dad, I don't feel any different than yesterday." I answer. Which is true other than the fact that my new resolutions have put a spring in my step, "Why?"

"No reason, no reason at all." He says before flicking on the TV and turning his attention to it.

I dig my keys out from the bottom of my purse. "Okay weirdo. I'll see you around dinner time."

When I jump in my car and start the engine I figure I should make good on my promise to reach out to Leah. Not like it's much of a hardship for me. I could use a friend too. I pull up her number on my phone, still saved from almost five years ago when we were actually close. I hope she hasn't changed it.

It rings twice before she picks up with a flat "Yeah?"

There is commotion in the background. There are dishes clattering and the incoherent conversation of many male voices talking over one another.

"Hey Leah it's Rachel. Is this a bad time?"

"Oh, hey Rachel Black." She replies loudly. Her tone is not unfriendly but I can tell she is certainly not smiling. The background noise cuts out to nothing and I assume she stepped out of the busy room. "No it's not a bad time…." There is a long pause where I hear a rustle on the other side of the phone and a whispered "Goddamnit" from Leah. I remain silent. "What's up?" She prompts finally. Her voice sounds a bit farther away now. Did she just put me on speaker phone?

"I was just wondering if you want to come to Port Angeles with me? I'm heading up there now if you're free? We could grab coffee? Do some shopping?" Now I feel like an idiot. I should have asked her yesterday, or even this morning, and if her reaction is any indication she is not incredibly thrilled to hear from me. I am remarkably unsure of myself. "I mean I totally get that it's last minute and everything. If you're not free we can just plan for later this week?"

There is more rustling and whispering before an exasperated sigh from Leah. "Sure Rachel, I'll come with you."

I'm confused but pleased. "Great! That's great! Do you want to meet somewhere or I can swing by your place and pick you up?"

Rustling, Leah cursing, and a slapping noise, "I actually just got off work but you can come pick me up here at Sam's place. I'll send you the address."

"Okay…" I say still confused and quite frankly a little concerned, but not ready to turn down the chance at having some company. Leah's clearly drank whatever weird Koolaid the rest of the reservation is on. "I'll see you in ten?"

"Sure." Leah says simply before hanging up the phone. I stare at my phone blankly for a moment. What had just happened? What the hell was wrong with people here? Why would Leah be anywhere near Sam Uley's house?

After only a few seconds Leah texts me the address and I have pulled out of our driveway. It doesn't take me long to get to Sam's despite the fact that it is on the other side of town. Considering that La Push has all of two stoplights getting around really isn't that difficult. I find myself a little shocked as pull into the long dirt driveway that my phone indicates leads to his house. Most of La Push is fairly remote but his house is even more so, surrounded by no neighbors at all and nothing but trees. The little red house is surprisingly well kept, looking cozy nestled in the shadows of the trees. It's so different from anything I had become used to in the city, but certainly not it a bad way.

As I pull closer to the house a group of boys pour through the front door to spill out on the porch. None of them are wearing shirts or shoes. What is with this town and its parade of shirtless youths?

One of the boys, who I just now realize is Seth, knocks on the driver side window while giving me a lopsided grin. I hadn't realized how much he looked like the rest of them until now. I roll down the window and leave the engine running.

"Where's Leah?" I ask, not wanting to attract any more attention. I had enough of that last night thank you very much.

"Inside, finishing up her lunch." Seth explains, that mischievous glint in his eye, "You should come in, it might be a while."

The rest of the boys, who I now realize are Embry, Quil, and another kid I think was named Jared, wait on the porch expectantly.

I want to say no and that I'll wait in the car but what good would that do? I don't want to risk the possibility of looking stuck up just because I am trying to avoid them. How was I to know that Leah was apparently spending time with this particular group of people? I had hoped she wouldn't be.

"Alright." I say, cutting the engine and letting Seth help me out of the car. No matter what can be said for the kid he's certainly grown to be a little gentleman. I feel a swell of sisterly affection before my heels sink into the earth beneath me. Ah yes, this is why girls don't wear heels in La Push. I remember so clearly now. Seth takes in my appearance and his eyebrows raise in surprise.

"Dressing up for anyone in particular Rachel Black?"

I huff. What is it with the men in my life caring about why I am wearing a dress?

"Not all of us want to walk around looking like a shirtless barbarian everyday Seth." I bite back. A few of the boys on the porch chuckle.

"Come on, Leah's this way." Seth explains. The boys greet me with sheepish waves and a chorus of hellos before we walk through the swinging screen doors. Embry keeps his distance without so much of a greeting which makes me furrow my brow.

The house itself is small but homey. The furniture is worn but looks incredibly comfortable and is

arranged in a large circle on the perimeter of the room like it's setup to accommodate a large group. The decorations are sparse but tasteful making the house just charming enough to be at ease in.

Seth leads me to the kitchen where Leah is sitting slouched in her chair munching on a sandwich. She hardly looks up at me and simply nods in greeting. Sitting across from her is none other than Paul from the beach. He is staring again.