Chapter Two: Persistent is my middle name.

I was sure I was being followed.

Since my strange encounter with Jared, it felt like someone was watching me, assessing my steps. A couple of times I had to turn to check I was actually alone. It felt like there was someone always hiding behind a wall behind me. The howling wolves had also seemed to climb closer to my house at night.

I carried on with my usual daily routines, convincing myself that it was all in my head and I was imagining everything. On the weekends, I worked at the only store on the Res which didn't sell much, but enough if you needed some salt or a bottle of water.

I worked with Mrs Cameron, Jared's mom. She gave me the job as shelf stacker in my freshman year as I expressed to her my desire to be able to purchase my very own car. I had eventually was chosen to be trusted with more important jobs and I was now acting as an almost assistant manager and I could be now trusted to handle the shop on my own. The title wasn't official and it was silly to label it as so for such a tiny shop which only really needed one to two people manning it.

I sat at the counter with my feet placed on the top with a magazine balanced on my knees. It was a Saturday afternoon and the place shut at around six, and as per usual it was quiet. I hummed under my breath to the song that was playing on the radio as the door opened.

I lifted my head to glance at the over-grown silhouette that had formed in front the counter. I winced mentally as my eyes beheld Jared.

"Hey," He almost whispered, his eyes burning into mine. A strange feeling of relief swept over my body as I glanced up at his gigantic stature. I was taken aback by how my body suddenly jumped out the chair, leaving the magazine forgotten on the floor.

I questioned my own reaction and tried regaining my own senses. "What are you doing here?"

He chuckled and scratched his head. "Well, my mother sent me to check how you were."

I could smell his lie and it lingered around like an uncomfortable fog. Mrs Cameron trusted me and she never once questioned my capability to handle the shop on my own.

"Umm… Well, I'm fine. It's quiet, like it always is." I narrowed my eyes at his unbreakable gaze. "Why are you really here Jared?"

"Well, I-," He bit his lip, and his forehead creased, "I wanted to ask you out again."

I was shocked by his answer, and I started to flit around the shop, pretending I was busy. "You're persistent."

"Persistent is my middle name."

I snorted loudly, re-arranging the cans. "Wow, that's a lame middle name." Suddenly overwhelming heat swallowed me up, and Jared was leaning on the shelf next to me, raising a single bushy eyebrow.

"So, is that a yes?"

"No," I laughed. "That's a hell no you creepy freak." I jumped back from the shelf as he started to violently shiver. I tried to remember my first aid training and what I was meant to do in case of an epileptic fit. I don't know what made me do what I did, but I placed my hand on his scorching arm and told him to breath.

He shut his eyes tight, and re-opened them, the shaking completely subsided. I frowned at him, and thought to the side effects of steroids. Jared must have been popping steroid pills on a regular basis.

"Are you okay? Do you need a glass of water?" I whispered as he took a looming stature over me, leaning his arms over my head and grinning down at me.

"You know what I would really like?" His eyes lit up and he licked his lips. "I would love you to go out with me."

I threw my arms up in the air in frustration. "Didn't your mother teach you that no meant no?"

He smiled. "Yes, but she also told me to fight for what I want."

I felt like I was going to throw up in my mouth. On a level from one to cheese that statement was cheese-tastic!

"Please!" I laughed, making fake vomiting noises. "Please, just… Stop. You're just making me want to spray you with pepper-spray." I walked away from the aisle to pick up the broom from behind the counter.

"Okay, so how about a deal?" He yelled after me.

I turned around, and narrowed my eyes at him. "What kind of deal?"

He put his hands up to make it seem as if he was completely innocent and he had no weapon. "I'll pick you up, today, after work, and you can come with me to my friend Emily's house. Get to know me and my friends."

"What would I get in return?"

He placed over his heart in shock. "Well the great pleasure of spending the evening with me of course."

I scrunched up my nose, shaking my head and started to sweep in front of the counter. "That doesn't sound like a good deal," I disagreed as a warm hand wrapped around mine and the broom handle.

"Fine," Jared breathed, his smell lingering in the air and invading my senses, "You come tonight and if you don't like it or me, I will leave you completely alone."

"I don't like you now, does that count?"

He shook his head at me, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "You liked me once." I opened my mouth to completely deny it, but he laughed and continued. "In middle school you put a note in my locker. Don't think I don't remember." He winked.

My skin flushed, suddenly embarrassed. "You couldn't remember my name a week ago," I pointed out. Our bodies had become closer together, and I startled myself with this discovery. But before I had a chance to pull myself away, Jared managed to lean down and whisper in my ear.

"I've done my homework."

I quickly went to prop the door open to allow the cool air be able to calm down my red hot skin. I stared out at the wet pavement, watching it glisten. "Fine," I sighed.

"Well, I'll come and pick you up at six then." He suddenly rushed past me and kissed me on the cheek.

I rolled my eyes as I watched his jump into his truck.

I was not interested in Jared Cameron! When I was in Middle School I had no taste in men, I was just a child. Now, I had had boyfriends. None of them were right; none of them got who I was. I was an independent woman; I wasn't a trophy or a possession. I was Kim. I wasn't the girl to fall in love at the silly age of seventeen, get married, have kids and stay at home. I was sensible, business minded. I wasn't the mother Theresa or anything. I was a modern woman.

What did Jared expect from me? Did he expect to trip over my feet for him? Sure, I had noticed that strange string like feeling pulling me to him, and when he left I felt like underneath my skin was itchy, but I thought that was just because I was worried about his addiction.

I had no idea what Jared wanted from me. With his new stature, he could have had any girl of his choice, so why he was picking me was completely strange and questionable. I didn't have killer long model legs, beautiful thick hair or even a pretty face. Everything about me screamed normal. I wasn't being modest, I was being honest.

I had long lashes, and a sense of humour. As you could probably guess, that didn't get me many places.

So why on this Earth would Jared want to get to know me? Did he plan becoming a pimp and I was his chosen first whore so he could crack the business? I shook my head at my own thoughts, glancing begrudgingly at the slow ticking clock. Five minutes too.

I got out of my seat, and turned the sign on the door over to indicate it was closed, took off my apron and awaited my doom.

There was no doubt in my mind that I would hate every bit of this evening, and I'm sure Jared 'persistent' Cameron would do everything in his power to make my life hell from this point on.

Cassie was right, this year couldn't come around any faster.