Alright so here's another chapter. You guys finally get to meet Marcus! Personally, I'm already thinking he's going to be a whole lot of fun, but let me know what you all think. And keep those reviews coming!

Disclaimer: Same as before. The franchise isn't mine!

I woke up cold. Granted, I was cold by nature, always opting to add another layer of blankets or another sweater onto the pile. Falling asleep on the couch without any kind of coverage wasn't exactly my ideal. The only part of me that wasn't covered in goose bumps was the small part of my stomach that Jared's massive hand managed to reach from where he was sprawled out on the floor. At this realization, my mind rewound to the night before. We had been up late, watching movies and talking about...everything. Every topic that anyone could possibly imagine had been crossed in the hours that we had spent working our way through the supply of frozen foods my mother had left for me and Marcus. Shit. Where was Marcus? Either he hadn't come home last night or he had, seen us, and then just went about minding his own business. He really was lousy at the whole protective brother thing, but in this particular circumstance, I didn't really mind much.

Jared was passed out, despite the fact that I had actively twisted around to get an idea of my surroundings. There were plates scattered on the floor and the television was still on, with a DVD menu playing on repeat. His hand was heavy on my body and, now that I focused on it, ridiculously hot. Tentatively I reached down and lifted it off me, settling his arm beside him on the ground. I stepped over his body and made my way into the kitchen. The house was starting to flood with grey light, as sign that we hadn't slept late enough to miss school. It was just after seven, nothing to worry about. I set the kettle on the stove and cranked it up to high, so the water could boil. As I did so, I heard an audible groan coming from the living room. There was a short pause and some shuffling.

"Kim?" he almost sounded...alarmed. Before I could answer, he wandered into the kitchen, letting out a breath when his eyes fell on mine. He grinned broadly and rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly.

"Morning." I greeted, with a nod.

"Morning." he replied, "Sorry about last night. I guess we must have just fallen asleep."

"It's fine. I like the company." That was the truth. I never liked falling asleep in an empty house and Marcus hadn't come home until late, I was sure. Jared stretched his massive arms over his head and yawned.

"God, I haven't slept so well in..." he paused, thinking for a moment, "Well, a while, anyway."

I nodded. I wasn't sure if that was the best sleep of my life, but I had definitely slept well for someone curled up on a lumpy old sofa. There was a pause.

"Shouldn't you like, call your parents or something?"

"Nah." he shrugged, waving off the suggestion, "They probably didn't even notice I was gone."

I rolled my eyes.

"Wouldn't that be nice." I muttered, fixing myself a mug of tea and taking a long sip from it. He laughed, his genuine, barking laugh that I was already starting to become accustomed to.

"So listen." he started, leaning on his palms against the counter, "I was going to drive home and grab a new shirt, but do you want me to come back and give you a ride to school?"

"I couldn't ask you to do that." I said, shaking my head. He grinned.

"You didn't. I offered."

I considered this for a moment. I felt guilty that he had fallen asleep on the floor and didn't want him going out of his way to pick me up and take me to school. Still, I enjoyed his company and whatever twist of fate that had him paying attention to me probably wouldn't last forever. And who knew, maybe spending time with him would end the crush I'd had on him for so long.

"As long as you don't mind..." I trailed off.

"I don't. I'll be back in ten." he promised as he made his way to the door. He paused and checked that the stove was off, grinned at me sheepishly and then was gone. When the door clicked shut I bolted up the stairs. I had several messages on my phone, one from Ian, asking why I hadn't called, but I ignored it. In a frenzy, I shimmed out of my clothes from the night before and tossed them into the hamper in my closet. I found a new pair of leggings and one of my favorite oversized sweaters and pulled them on. Satisfied, I sat down at my vanity and began to fix my hair. I was on to my eye liner when I noticed another figure in the mirror behind me. I jumped and spun around, with my hand clapped over my frantic heart.

"Jesus Marcus!" I exclaimed, "You scared the shit out of me. I didn't even know you were home."

My brother grinned broadly at me and leaned against the doorframe.

"Obviously." he replied, "So we're making overnight guests okay for when mom and dad are gone? Because I am more than fine with that idea."

I narrowed my eyes at him.

"I swear to God, Marc, if you wake me up with crazy sex noises in the middle of the night, I'll tell Mom about the time you gave me weed when I was fourteen." I warned. He held up his hands, palms towards me, defensively.

"You asked me to give that to you. And anyway, you're a better person for it." he said, "But threat noted. As long as I don't have to hear you and your newest victim either."

I rolled my eyes. Marcus had always believed me to be something of a man eater. Not that my actions did much to dispute this, but of all people to believe the worst of me, it was disappointing that one of them was my own brother.

"It's not like that." I muttered, spinning around in my chair and returning to my makeup. Marcus rolled his eyes.

"Here we go again. Another boy in love with you." he sighed, "Another boy you'll get bored with eventually." I glared at him through the mirror.

"Get out Marcus. And don't let any of the girls you bring home touch my stuff."

"Fine. Your boytoy is waiting downstairs, by the way." he said, heading back down the hall to his room, "Have fun."

Annoyed, I grabbed my purse from my bed and took the steps two at a time downstairs. Sure enough, Jared was sitting at the kitchen counter, a backpack slung over one shoulder and a fresh t-shirt on his back. I smiled.

"Did Marcus let you in?" Lord only knows what my brother could have said to him and I almost didn't even want to know. Jared glanced back at the door.

"It was unlocked." he said, pointing his thumb in the direction of the door, "You really shouldn't do that, it's dangerous."

I nodded. Jared swung his keys around his index finger and began to make his way outside of the house. I followed after him. We climbed into his car and he handed me his iPod without a word. I began searching through his list of artists as he turned the key in the ignition. However he didn't move the car. There was a pause and I looked up to find him staring at me. Before I could ask what he was looking at, he leaned over and grabbed my seatbelt. His unusually warm hand brushed against my arm and I swear to God I felt a spark. He clicked the seatbelt, smiled in satisfaction and then put the car in reverse, pulling out of the driveway.

"So your parents didn't say anything about you being out all night?" I asked him, as we made our way down the road.

"Nah. They're used to it." he replied lightly. I looked at him and he met my eyes, realizing the implication, "I mean I've been working late nights for Sam Uley."

"Doing what?" I asked and Jared hesitated.

"Odd jobs. Helping him out and stuff like that." He answered after a moment. I vaguely knew who Sam Uley was, from various things that people around the Rez had said. I was a little surprised that Jared was doing work for him. He seemed to have plenty going on, with his friends and his enviable spot on the La Push track team. Still, I didn't press him on it, since it seemed he wasn't interested in going into details about it.

It only took a few minutes to get to school. Again, Jared took my books from me as we were walking across the senior parking lot. I frowned at him.

"You don't have to carry those." I told him. He looked a bit surprised, but tucked them under his arm regardless.

"I want to." he said back. I stopped.

"Why?"

"I don't know." he said, stopping too and shrugging.

"Yes you do, otherwise you'd just give them back." I said, crossing my arms over my chest. I didn't know why I was making such a big deal over it, but it was just such an odd thing for him to be so stubborn about. He ran his hand over the top of his head in frustration.

"Because it's chivalrous or something."

"And you carry every girl's books for her then?" I asked skeptically and he rolled his eyes.

"No, just the ones that matter." he said and I could tell that the words had gotten out before his brain had processed them. His eyes got a little wide and I was sure mine had too. There was a strange sort of silence that hung between us for a minute or two. Finally, I broke it.

"I matter to you?" I asked. This was just too weird and as much as I wanted to laugh in his face and leave, there was that part of me that had loved him for so long. The part of me that wasn't allowing me to walk away from him. He got a little shy then, realizing he probably shouldn't have said something so forward and he started walking towards the school again. I fell in step next to him, watching him with questioning eyes.

"Obviously you do." he muttered, finally unable to avoid my stare. I blinked.

"No, not obvious." I stated, "Not to me, at least."

We were close to my homeroom now, a few feet from the door, and he stopped again.

"Kim." he said, looking in my eyes and holding out my books, "You matter to me, okay?"

"Okay."

"I'll...uh. I'll see you in first period?" he asked, glancing down the hall. I nodded, processing his words as I ducked into my homeroom class just in time for the bell. I fell into the seat next to Jackie, feeling relieved to be around my best friend.

"Shit, Kim. You look like you've seen an alien or something?" she said, glancing at me with concern, "What's up?"

"I'm swearing you to best friend secrecy." I warned her, holding up a finger. Jackie had a big mouth and I knew it. I knew it was unlikely that she would keep my secret, but I really didn't care, I had to tell someone.

"Ooh, sounds like this will be good. You get back together with Ian last night?" she asked, sitting up a little straighter and leaning forward. I gave her a look.

"No. Not at all." I said, "But Jared Cameron spent the night on my floor."

"Since when are you friends with Jared?" she asked, looking confused. I shrugged.

"Since I lent him my government notes and he drove me home." I replied, "Apparently. I'm not crazy, it's super weird, right?"

"Fucking weird." she agreed with a nod, "What do you even talk to him about?"

"I don't know. Normal stuff." I said, "Movies, music. School."

"Huh."

"He just told me I 'matter to him'. Has a guy ever told you that?" I asked her. I almost hadn't mentioned it, but I couldn't help myself. Jackie raised an eyebrow.

"Didn't Ian tell you he loved you?" she asked. I rolled my eyes.

"This was different. Jared meant it."

"So did Ian." she pointed out. She really wasn't going to back off Team Ian and Kim anytime soon. The bell rang and I made my way to Government in a daze. Jared perked up when I entered the classroom. I slid into my seat, unsure of what to say to him.

"Hey Kim." he whispered, just as the teacher began to lecture.

"You can't just do that." I muttered back after a moment. I had been trying to decide if I was going to pretend he hadn't said anything, but had decided against keeping my mouth shut.

"Do what?"

"Make statements like that." I whispered back fiercely, "Tell me I matter when you started talking to me yesterday."

"What I have to talk to you for weeks to know I like talking to you?" he demanded in a hushed tone.

"No but you should keep it to yourself if it's less than twenty four hours."

"Wasn't aware that was a rule."

"It's common sense!" I snapped, louder than I had intended, glaring at him as I said it.

"Miss. Connweller and Mr. Cameron." Our teacher had stopped talking and the entire class was now turned around in their seats, staring at us. "Why don't you take this conversation down to the main office? I'm sure the principal can help you sort out your issues."

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