DISLCAIMER: I do not own the Twilight Saga. Only my imagination.

.Chapter Four

Kim and I slowly walked downstairs the next morning, grumbling about the lack of sleep that we had after a constant howling from the woods. The fact that there were wolves near by freaked the hell out of me. Dogs and I did not get on, so a wolf probably wouldn't like me either.

The sight that greeted us in the kitchen was astonishing whilst also heart warming. Mum was sat at the table and all the guys were cooking breakfast, mum sat their smiling happily; sipping her tea and reading her paper.

"Oh Amanda sweet heart, Kim, come sit down. The boys are cooking breakfast." Mum fluffed her hair, loving the fact she was being doted on.

"Where is dad?" I asked, taking my seat.

"He had to go down to Seattle, his mother isn't well. I told him to go, things obviously are covered here." Just as she said this, what seemed to be a massive stack of pancakes was set in the centre of the table along with fruit and cream.

"What the hell? Who eats this much in the morning?" I demanded.

"Us," Embry said with a grin. "Dig in Amanda before we eat all of it."

I picked up an apple from the kitchen bench, "I don't eat in the morning." I juggled it in my hands to keep myself occupied as I watched Jared and Kim feeding each other. Mum made an 'aww' face at them before returning to her paper.

"You should," Jake started, "its not healthy for a girl your age to skip breakfast."

"She's been on a strict diet for years," Brady supplied. "She doesn't eat breakfast she has morning tea, followed by a big lunch, afternoon tea and dinner. Apparently eating in the morning makes her feel sick."

"See I don't starve myself," I muttered. I caught Paul's eye and I quickly turned my head, staring back at the stack of pancakes and watched as it slowly diminished into nothing.

"I'm going for a walk." I grazed my chair back and got up, storming out of the house, forgetting about my guest and just letting my feet guide me to the beach. It was actually sunny today, and the water was blue.

I sat down on the warm sand, just staring out to nothing, endless ocean, endless currents and waves. If only I could be as free as the sea.

I rested my chin on my knees, wrapping my arms around my legs as I hummed whatever tune came to my head. Halfway through 'Bridge Over Troubled Water' someone else sat next to me.

I didn't have to be a genius to know who it was.

"What do you want Paul?" I asked, I could hear the small tone in my voice and I frowned at it.

"A second chance Amanda. Please." I was probably just imaging the desperate plea in his voice. I shook my head and held myself tighter. "Amanda I was such a tool before, but I've changed people can change."

"Yeah and sometimes they need more money." I scowled at him, "do you really think I can trust you now? Like after everything you have done to me?" I stood up to walk but my wrist was gripped and I was pulled back around to face Mr Tormentor.

"Please Amanda. Please."

"No." I struggled but he didn't budge, "Paul let me go."

"Not until you promise me a second chance." I stared at him incredulously. "Amanda please, just let me take you out. To a movie or something."

"And force you to 'fake' enjoying it? Paul get out of my face. This all just some waste of time for both of us because you aren't going to be winning another bet anytime soon and i-."

I was cut off when scorching hot lips paralyzed me, I stood shell shocked as both his arms pinned my arms to my side as they wrapped around me, pulling me halfway up his body for better access before one of his hands came behind my neck to deepen the kiss.

By now I had come back to full awareness and I became aware of the situation. I had two choices, I could give into the weird feeling that was tugging at me and pash the lights out of him, or I could be the girl in my situation and smack the crap out of him.

And I realized whilst pondering on this that I was kissing him back with equal enthusiasm, my hands knotting up in his short hair, opening my mouth and gasping at his frantic exploration.

We both battled it out for dominance. I tried to put as much of my hurt and anger into the steamiest kiss of my life while he responded, what he was feeling I would never know.

And then finally, as a splash of water hit us and I gasped coming back to reality. I roughly shoved at his chest, and after a few shoves he let me go completely, his lips swollen and red so I could just imagine what the hell I looked like.

"What the hell are you doing Paul," I hissed. "Stop doing this to me! You did this not me, so I'm not going to give you a chance!"

He grabbed the hand that was about to hit him and he pulled me up to him, "then I will earn it back. Give me a month."

"Why should I give you anything?" I demanded.

"Because you're my -" He was cut off as his phone rang loudly and he scowled at it. Pulling it out. "What?" he hissed. His face paled and he scowled. "I'll be there soon." He snapped it shut. "I will earn it back Amanda." He pressed a chaste kiss to my forehead and ran off to the woods.

And I stood there on the beach looking like an idiot.

Hell I was an idiot.

:.:

I was staring at another Monday morning and thankfully I had had no more run ins with Paul. Brady kept talking about him until I told him to shut up, frankly I didn't care how 'cool' and 'swell' Paul was. When I aired these views out loud he winced and I heard the tail of end of; "thoughts. Close. Forget. Ah shit I'm so gay at this."

I passed it off as a random little brother moment and dumped my bowl in the sink, grabbing my umbrella from the table and making my ay outside. Thankfully it was just drizzling. That didn't mean there weren't puddles from last night there.

And of course a rusty old red truck with the loudest engine soaked me in water. I let out a scream, losing my footing and falling into a pile of mud. The truck pulled over and a girl about my age got out, her face paler then anyone's I had ever seen.

"I'm so sorry!" She said frantically. "My mind was elsewhere, oh my god." She looked at my brown stained pants. "I can pay for that?" I stared at the troubled expression on her face and I couldn't help it, I burst out laughing. She gave me a weird look before chuckling awkwardly. "Bella."

"Amanda," we shook and I smiled, "are you knew or…?"

"Oh no! I'm from Forks, I'm here to see Jacob actually." The way her face lit up when she said his name made me smile slightly.

"It's a school day," I pointed out.

She laughed, "I know. He took the day off so we could hang out. Look I need to go, I'm really sorry about-" She never got time to finish when another truck pulled up behind hers.

Paul got out of it, glaring at Bella as he stood in front of me. "What are you doing here leech lover?" he spat.

I glared, "Paul that's rude." He turned an angry glare on me and I stood my ground scowling.

"What the hell is your problem?" I threw my now mangled umbrella to the ground, "screw this. I'm not going to school looking like this. I'm going home. It was nice meeting you Bella," I waved and she waved half heartedly before running to her truck and driving off down the road.

Smart girl.

I marched off towards home and of course the same sweltering hand I was becoming very, very familiar with stopped my advance. "Amanda at least let me give you a ride home."

I stared at him like he had four heads. "You just glared at me like I was trash and now your offering me a ride home? How many times do I have to say it Paul! Get out of my face!" I shook his arm off and stomped my way home. Of course the idiot followed me at a slow pace in his truck and when I made it to the front door his truck sped off.

I first rang mum and dad about the incident, they were fine with me skipping a day, but one of them would have to ring the school. I took a long hot shower, washing the cold from my body and rugging up in a blanket, sitting in front of the fireplace with a book.

Of course I didn't concentrate much on that.

No my mind kept flickering to Paul and his strange behavior, along with that heated kiss on the beach. Was he trying to torture me even more? And why was Brady singing his praises? He knew how messed up I had become.

I slammed the book shut and flopped down on the couch, staring out the window sighing. What was I supposed to do? Whilst in my thoughts I saw a flicker of silver and I sat upright as a large wolf entered the front yard, staring at me through the window.

My breath caught in my throat and my heart hammered as I clutched a cushion to my chest. It just sat there, observing my movements with intelligent eyes, ears pricked. The thing was massive. It looked like a bloody horse!

I slowly edged off the sofa, creeping closer to the window to get a closer look. The wolf had the most beautiful fur I had ever seemed, silver and white but darker shades of grey in other areas. I jolted when a howl entered the air, the wolfs ears pricked as his head turned to face the forest before he looked back at me.

He lifted his head and howled before turning to run back into the woods. I let out the breath I had been holding, feeling slightly light headed.

I went and collapsed back down onto the couch in an attempt to save whatever energy I had from the shock staring contest. Neither of us had blinked until that howl, and I had felt like I was being pulled into a whirlpool, just by staring into those familiar deep brown depths.

Shut up Amanda, I told myself rolling my eyes. I shook my head and went into the kitchen, "your over analyzing again," I said to myself loudly. "Grow up."

The day went by quickly and before I knew it mum and dad were home but Brady wasn't. "Brady isn't home," I told mum feeling half worried for my brother.

She shrugged, "he's working with Sam."

"What exactly do those guys do for the council?" I asked.

She cleared her throat uncomfortably, "security for La Push. You know."

I frowned, "what? Mom security is like… a real adults job. Brady is not yet even sixteen."

"Hmm." She said absentmindedly as she poked around the fridge. "Well I call for takeout. Lets head to the diner." She called for dad so much to my reluctance half an hour later I was seated in a booth at Sue's, poking at a plate of steak and chips.

"So Amanda," Sure said sitting with us. "Are you coming up to the bonfire this weekend?"

"Bonfire?" I asked.

"Yes, we hold one at the beginning of every two months. All the tribal elders get together and tell the legends." She smiled, "so are you coming?"

I shrugged, "well I guess…"

"Good!" She rubbed her hands together. "Emily, Kim and myself could use an extra set of female hands."

I felt dread creep into my expression, "Sue whose going to be there?" She began listing names and as soon as she hit Paul I sighed. "I have a lot of homework this week end Sue. Maybe another time."

"Nonsense Amanda!" Mom said. Oh god shut up. "You told me you had it all finished. Go, have some fun. Don't stay on your fathers and my account, we need the alone time."

I frowned at the mental image that entered my head before I sighed, "fine." I said it stiffly and reluctantly. "I'll go."

"Go where?" Brady fell into the table flanked by Seth.

"The bonfire this week end," Sue told him. "The usual boys?" The both nodded eagerly and Sue walked off, humming a tune while I stared moodily out the window. It was like déjà vu.

"You're gonna love the bonfire Amanda," Seth said excitedly, "the legends are pretty amazing once you learn about them."

"I've already read about the legends," I muttered.

"Pardon?"

"Nothing. Mom I'm tired, can I just go home?" from what I'd guessed it was a ten minute walk.

Mom frowned, "well what if it rains…"

"Then I'll get wet. Please just let me go home."

She sighed, "fine but I want you to ring me as soon as you get home."

"Deal." I got up, grabbed my bag and practically ran out the door, happily taking the short trek to the house. And then that stupid truck pulled up next to me. Just as the rain began pouring down.

"Get in," Paul ordered. "You'll get sick."

"I'd rather get sick," I shouted over the rain. I continued walking and the engine stopped. Suddenly I was being picked up and dropped into the car like a sack of potatoes. Before I could jump out again Paul had already started the car and was driving. "You are so annoying."

"And you are irritating."

"Good then we have mutual feelings for each other so you should just follow my advice and leave me alone."

"I'm not going to leave you alone Amanda." I stared into his intense gaze and was almost instantly transfixed. "Never."

A/N

Hey guys. Sorry it took so long. Was writing this while sick with the worst flu on record, so ignore the errors as I was tired but I couldn't sleep. Give me the reviews, you know how much I love them.