Chapter Three: I'm so NOT happy to meet you.

Jared's car pulled up exactly at the stroke of six.

I guess he could add disturbingly punctual to his long title that was forming. Instead of feeling a repulsive motion inside my stomach, butterflies fluttered by my rib cage. My body had begun to revolt against me and my perfectly sane mind, reacting in strange ways towards Jared.

I tugged my jacket closer to my body to act as almost a barrier, even though I felt perfectly safe. I then proceeded to convince myself that it was one tiny date; it wasn't like I was going to get married to him. The moron honked the horn loudly, making me jump out of my inner monologue. I rolled my eyes, stepped out my safety haven of the store and locked the door.

It was now or never, I told myself. I hoped the never would come before the now. Sucking in a large intake of air, I turned and ran through the rain to Jared's truck.

The seats were warm in the cab of his truck, and music softly whispered from the radio. I looked over at Jared to receive a cheese-worthy smile.

"So…" He stretched out the word, still grinning. "Are you hungry?"

I crossed my arms straight across my chest, looking out of the window. "Not really."

"Well, I'm starving! I could eat a Walrus or a massive Whale." Out of the corner of my eye, I caught him rubbing his stomach. I turned to him, disgusted.

"You, sir, are gross! Walrus' are amazing creatures and some Whales are extremely rare."

He laughed. "That makes them even tastier." He licked his lips, suggestively. I slapped his chest, and shook my head.

"You're such a freak, you know." Despite my own brain telling me I shouldn't, I started to laugh too. Not the fake kind of laughter, but the sort that warms your insides, and even after the noise of the laughter has subsided, a stupid smile takes over your face.

There was something about Jared's presence that made me feel as if I was safe and home. That even the worse of hurricanes could breeze past and not even a slight wind would blow our direction. I felt like this and I didn't like it. How could I feel secure with someone I wasn't sure I really knew?

The smile had disappeared from my face completely by the time we had arrived at Emily's house. Jared pulled up, turned off the engine and glanced in my direction.

"What's wrong?"

I frowned, turned to look in his face. "I just don't get you. I don't understand why you have started looking at me like that. I don't understand why you have gone really weird. I don't get why I feel like I can't breathe when you're not near me, and why when you're here I feel untouchable and safe. What has changed?"

Jared closed his eyes, mumbled underneath his breath, and then reopened his eyes to focus his gaze on my face. "A lot has changed Kim. I'm one of those things."

"Why? You were a normal kid. We all were."

He gritted his teeth, and shook his head. "I'm not allowed to tell you yet. Even if I was, you wouldn't believe me." I knew his words spoke sense, but I knew a part of me word believe him if he told me he was secretly a cat, and he liked nothing better than his belly to be tickled and a saucer of milk.

"There's a reason for everything that's been going on?"

He nodded. "A good one, but don't keep asking me. I'll tell you eventually." He opened his truck door. "Come on, they're gonna be waiting for us."

"Jared?"

"Yeah?"

"This is not a date, okay?"

He smiled widely at me. "Sure it's not. Now, come on or I'm gonna get my ass bit by Sam."

I got out the truck, raising my eyebrows at him. "As normal as that sounds, I'll think I'll pass." The heavens opened at large raindrops dropped with speed from the sky and we sprinted to the tiny wood cabin house.

We stepped straight into the kitchen, which had an amazing smell and a homely-house wife feel to it. It was completely different to the daunting, cold feel of my kitchen at home. My mother and I stuck to take-outs and toast. We never really cooked meals unless they were frozen TV meals which had to be put in the microwave. I could never imagine a kitchen like this for myself… ever.

Three overgrown males, stood up upon our rushed race to get inside. It was curious that I had grown up with nearly all of them, but yet it felt like they were completely different people that I had never met before. It was even more curious that they had bare feet, bare chest and a just wore a baggy pair of shorts. It wasn't California here. With dressing like that, you were sure to catch a cold.

"Kim, this is Sam Uley," Jared indicated to the tallest of the three and I shook his overly warm hand even though I knew a fair bit about him already. "That's Paul," The air out of my lungs was squeezed out as I was entrapped in an iron hug. Jared growled and I was swiftly placed on my feet.

"Embry Call!" I smiled before Jared could tell me. I hugged him tight. "How you been?"

He blushed bright red and scratched his newly shaven hair. "I've been better. I haven't seen you around this summer. Where did you go?"

"We stayed travelling longer this summer. It seems that my family hasn't heard of contraception." I laughed, genuinely glad that I knew someone properly. "How's your mother?"

He shrugged a frown appearing furrowed in his forehead. "She's mad at me. I haven't been home in a while."

"Why would-," Jared cleared his throat interrupting me, he glared at Embry and looked down at me.

"I haven't introduced you to Emily Young yet." A young woman separated the boys upon hearing these words. She would have had a pretty face if it wasn't for her marred scar. I know it sounded mean, but my head told me it was karma. You don't steal your cousin's man, even if he does stop you getting attacked by a bear.

She folded me in a gentle hug, pulled back and smiled. "We've heard so much about you!"

"I wish I could say the same, but I only got told I was coming here today after Jared blackmailed me." I smiled back.

Emily slapped his arm. "I told you not to force the girl!"

Jared pouted. "I didn't mean to."

"Whatever." Embry whispered. At least I had someone here who was on common ground with me. I didn't want to be here anyway, but if I had an ally, I wouldn't have felt so alone and out of place.

"Doesn't matter, it's time to eat." Emily said in a sing-song voice that made me think of Mary Poppins and kittens.

I looked at Jared, frowning. "I wasn't aware that I was coming for dinner."

Everyone had sat down except Jared. He faced his body towards mine, smiled lopsided and shrugged. "I guess it must have slipped my mind."

"I'm not hungry." I gritted my teeth.

"Oh," Emily looked down at her many pots on the stove and sighed. "I've been cooking all day and I wouldn't want it to go to waste."

She managed to make me feel awful for not being physically hungry. I felt like I had just kicked a puppy, so I internally sighed, apologised to my stomach, and said: "I'm sure I could still eat though. It smells delicious."

Emily clapped and squealed before ordering us to sit down. I was sat with my side almost pressed up against Jared's completely and tried to secretly scoot my chair over without being noticed. I locked eyes with Embry who was sat opposite me and he laughed under his breath.

Emily served out dinner, in monster portions and then promised us that there was plenty left as well as dessert. I mentally groaned and began poking my spaghetti with my fork, pretending to eat it.

"So," Sam disrupted the sounds of scrapping of plates and slurping of pasta, "Jared tells us that you go to school with him." It was obviously just a statement, but he looked at me like he expected me to answer an unanswered question.

"Err… Yeah," I nodded, wishing that a hole in the floor would form and swallow me up whole.

"So, what are your plans after graduation then?" Sam's question sparked interest in everyone in the room, as all their eyes suddenly burnt on my skin.

"Well," I swallowed, "the main plan is to finally escape here and go to college, maybe even travel the world."

All eyes suddenly swung to Jared as all humour was lost from his eyes, and pure sadness took its place. "You don't like it here?"

"Don't like it?" I scoffed. "I hate it here."

The rest of dinner finished is uncomfortable silence, and eyes kept flicking from my face to Jared's. When everyone had finished, I had hardly touched my food and asked to be excused from dessert, blaming phantom illness.

Me and Jared left, after saying our goodbyes, but unlike Jared I made fake promises to return. Instead of driving me home, I suggested we could walk. Jared was unsure, but I walked on at that point not caring if he didn't follow. I needed fresh air. I needed to get away from what felt like the Twilight hour where nothing makes sense, and I felt like I was staring a horror story in the face.

After five minutes of quietly walking, Jared tucked on my hand and we stopped. "Why are you running away from me?"

I snorted. "I'm stood right here." I pointed to myself.

He shook his head. "No, that's not what I mean. I'm trying to do everything I can and you seem to be putting up these barriers. You won't let me in."

"You're right." I agreed. "I'm pushing away, because I have no idea why you're all of a sudden all up in my grill and wanting to know what my favourite colour is and my biggest fears."

"I told you… I want to get to know you!"

I nodded. "But you haven't said why."

He bit his lip. "I can't tell you!"

"You can, but you don't want to!"

He threw his arms up in the air in frustration. "Why are you angry?"

"You wanna know why?"

"Yes, why do you think I am still here?" He rolled his eyes at me.

"I'm angry because either since you spoke to me Monday, I feel physically ill when I'm not near you. I hardly know you, yet, I can't sleep, I can't eat, and all I think about it kissing you!" I was panting with anger, and Jared took a step closer to me, lifting my face to his.

He stroked my cheek with his thumb. "You feel it too?"

I nodded, suddenly unable to trust my speech with the close proximity. His eyes honey brown eyes were swimming in mine.

"So why don't you do it then?" He whispered against my cheek. "Kiss me."

I looked from his eyes to his lips, feeling myself leaning forward without the sensible part of my brain's permission. My lips neared his, slowly inching forward. It felt as if time had frozen, until my lips had touched his and fire rushed through all my veins and I was suddenly fighting to get closer to Jared.

It felt like bliss, but wrong. It felt stupid; it was the wrong thing to do. I pulled myself away from Jared, making sure to stand way back from him.

"I'm sorry." I whispered. "I shouldn't have done that. It was a mistake."

"No," Jared begged, "You told me you felt it too."

"I do!" I cried. "That's the problem. I don't think that you're good for me Jared. I think it's best if you stay away from me."

"Kim-,"

"I'll walk myself home. I know the way." I grimaced. "See you around." I then walked away, feeling the tugging sensation tug with more ferocity than ever before. It hurt to be away from him, but I fought against the temptation to run back.

He's no good for you, Kim. The sensible part of my brain whispered. We need to escape here, remember? He'll keep you here.

With that, I pushed me unexplainable feelings for Jared deep down and focused on my freedom.