Cat & Mouse OR Wolf & Spouse

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Chapter 4

Jared's POV

"Didn't your parents ever tell you staring is rude?" I growl softly as Paul nudges me with his shoulder as we walk down the hallway. During the English class, I watched Kimberly write notes and pretending not to know I'm watching her. I want to see her eyes again. Those fire amber irises.

"Did I ever tell you to shove it?"

"Nope."

"My mistake then."

"What'd you do now?" Embry joins us in the cafeteria, ignoring the many flirtatious glances sent his way by the female population and two guys.

Paul answers with a mouthful of fries. "Jerry here went all moony eyed on a certain little lady in English today." He grins

Embry wiggles his eyebrows at me. "This certain little lady have a name?"

I nod. "Kimberly Connweller. She's been in my class since kiddie school." I can't help but scan the cafeteria, looking for my little brunette. "Haven't really talked to her much. Dad and I fixed her kitchen faucet last month." I scratch my head. "Never noticed her before."

Embry's brow puckers. "You never noticed her before?"

"Not really."

"Lasagne today my fellow fat boys!" Quil carried two trays, each loaded with mouth- watering plates of meat, noodles, and lots of cheeeeeeeeeese.

"And then he wouldn't stop staring at me. I don't know what his problem is. Maybe he's still got… whatever illness he's had for the past couple of weeks."

"And then sh-"

"Shh!" I elbow Paul in the ribs, turning my head discreetly to the right. I recognize that soft voice. Soft begrudging voice.

"Ahh, his lady love's back in town."

I ignore the sniggers at the table, frowning as I watch Kimberly from my preverbal vision. She's sitting with two girls and two guys.

"You don't think he's imprinted, do you?"

"Why wouldn't he? The rest of us have."

"Hey! I haven't!"

"Of course not, who'd want to be with someone as ugly as you, Embry?"

"Maybe he's checking out your equipment. It's not like you do anything to hide em."

"Hey I resent that! I am a sexy beast!"

"Luke, that's disgusting!" My knuckles crack as I hear Kimberly's angry voice. He made my girl upset AND he's checking out her chest!

"You're practically calling her a hussy!" Screeches… I think the girl's name is Linda.

"You can't exactly flip at him for pointing out the obvious, Lindsay." Ah, Lindsay. I was close. "Technically, Luke is complimenting Kimmy here about her bust." He'd better not be staring at her chest.

"Can we stop talking about my attachments, please?" Kim asks desperately. My poor girl's embarrassed! I'll kill him! I'll butcher him with a steak knife! I'll pop his eyes out one by one!

"Some of us are trying to eat." Penny pops up.

"All I was saying-" The boy Luke raises his hands in the air.

"Stop talking about Kim's twins! It's upsetting her!" Lindsay snaps, cutting Luke off.

"Jared. Sit down." Quil's hand is pressing against my shoulder. I glance down to find myself on my feet and facing Kimberly's table.

"I need to teach those boys a lesson on how to treat a lady." I growl. My arms begin to shake.

"Let's get him outta here guys." Paul mutters.

Jacob slouches into a chair. "Hey guys, what's going on?"

Kim's POV

My head whips up as there are sudden banging sounds coming from the other side of the cafeteria. My mouth drops as Jared is sandwiched between two larger guys and being dragged out from the room. His dark eyes meet mine and send a sharp shiver down my spine. I huddle over my plate, poking at my chicken.

"Told you they were on drugs." Penny says, carefully twirling dressing on her chef's salad.

"Don't know why any guy would take steroids." Nathan shakes his head. "Makes the goods smaller."

"Seems the topic of the day will be the anatomy." Lindsay sighs.

"Hold still! Kimerly's trying to pin your duress!"

I bite the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing at Lisa's outraged antics. Above me, Emily chuckles softly.

"You're absolutely right Lisa dear. My ass wiggling too much Kim?"

I talk around some pins. "Jus a bit. And it's your butt."

Emily flushes. "Sorry Lisa. I didn't mean to use a bad word."

Lisa shrugs nonchalantly. "That's otay. We've got ca-ble."

"Don't let Mom hear you saying such words." I set the rest of the pins back in my basket, smoothing out the thin lace. "Whadda think Emily?" As per her request, I died the transparent outer lace a minty green. The strapless silk clung to Emily like a glove and the skirt ended just above her knees. The lace had been Mom's idea. The mint green lace rested on Emily's top and trailed to the floor, a light layer over the dress. Her veil would be the same colour and the length would end at her shoulder blades, her dark brown curls pinned underneath. The lace brought out the dark green in her eyes. You couldn't notice her scars underneath the veil, an added bonus for pictures.

Emily smiled warmly at me from the mirror. "It looks perfect Kim. You think Sam'll like it?"

I rest a tape measurer around my neck, gripping both ends. "He'd better. Most dresses are long and have way too many buttons on the back. This one has a short zipper." I laugh as Emily's cheeks heat. "You'll make a lovely New Year's bride. Now get outta that dress so I can fix the back and Sam doesn't see you when he comes in to pick you up."

Emily obediently bowed her head so I could slip the veil off before handing it to Lisa. "You'll be the envy of all the ladies in town."

"Leah still won't agree to come to the wedding." Emily bit her lower lip. "She can barely stand to look at me and when I'm with Sam… she draws herself in and won't look anyone in the eye."

I rest a hand on Emily's shoulder, noticing her watery eyes. "Leah will eventually end her pity party Emily. Didn't you say she's been hanging out with Jacob a lot since Bella went back to what's- his- face?"

"Edward Cullen?" Emily sniffed. "Yeah, she and Jacob have been together but I'm not sure that's helping."

I offer her a smile. "She's interacting with someone. Jacob's her confidante. You two might never be close again but the least she can do is look you in the eye and not be holding on to her affection for Sam." I help Emily undress and lead her to the change rooms. I just manage to put her dress aside when Sam walked through the door.

Sam Uley's a handsome man. Close to 7 feet tall, trim shoulders, dark eyes, and a calm demeanour. And absolutely in love with Emily. He always looks tired though, never seems to get enough sleep. For some reason, Sam and his gang make me nervous.

"Emily still here?" Sam asks, leaning against the counter. I nod.

"She's in the back."

Sam's eyes travel down my body and up again. I straighten, confused. Why the hell is he scanning me?

"You're not wearing your uniform."

"My what?" I ask softly.

Sam nods, humour glinting in his eyes. "No wedding dress on today."

I lower my head, feeling my cheeks heat. Luckily I'm dark so no one can tell. "No. Jared told you?"

He nods. "Described the scene in great detail to us."

Us?

"Sam." Emily's breathless voice had Sam's head snapping in her direction before his body followed. Lifting her up, Sam nuzzles her neck, murmuring in her ear. I turn away to allow them privacy. Watching the two together makes me feel I'm intruding and I'm on my own territory!

"No kissing!" Lisa screeches, her small face set in an angry pout. Her hands are planted on her non-existent hips, her pout set to dare them to defy her.

"Lisa." I whisper harshly. Why does she have such a big mouth?

Sam gives Emily a weary smile before tucking her firmly against his body. "You seem to be here more than your mother Kimberly."

I shrug my shoulders, glancing down as my fingers fiddled with the tape measurer around the back of my neck. "She's in the back, rearranging materials, studying the latest styles and designs…" I shrug again. "She's here and everywhere." I turn to Emily, able to look her in the eye rather than continue talking to Sam. "I'll need to do some final measurements a week before New Years, let me know when a time works for you."

"No problem. I'll see you two later." She wiggles her fingers at Lisa. "Bye- bye pretty girl."

"Come back sthoon and I'll sthee you nexth time!" Lisa waves cheerfully and returns to stroking a manikin's veil in awe, pretending to study it for any blemish. I raise a finger to the both of them, more to Emily than Sam, and return back to my needlework and History textbook. Gotta learn about those Russian Czars who are all dead!!

Sam's POV

"You saw her today?! When! Where!" Jared leaps to his feet, his eyes wide and his stance shaking. I hold up two hands.

"Calm down Jared. Now." I really don't need a wolf exploding in my living room, especially with Emily so near. I spare a glance at Quil to confirm his suspicions. "Sit down Jared." He did so reluctantly, his fists clenching and unclenching at his sides. "Miss Connweller works at her mother's bridal gown boutique in Port Angeles. She's doing Emily's dress."

Jared breathes in deeply. "How is she?"

"She's good. She's playing babysitter to… Lisa I believe her name is, their mother busy running around."

Jacob walks in a large sandwich in his hand, half already in his mouth, moodily falling into a chair. He's still in a funk since Isabella Swan went back to her bloodsucker. Don't know how she can stand the stinky creatures. Leah walks in behind him, plopping down on the couch and crossing her legs Indian style. She munches moodily on a fibre bar, her eyes piercing at me before returning to the floor. I pretend nothing's happened.

"You do realize you've imprinted Jared?" Quil asks, leaning backward with his arms crossed.

Jared's head whips in his direction. "Imprinted? How the hell do I know if I've imprinted or not?" He rakes his fingers through his hair. "I've barely spoken to her."

"What does that matter Jerry boy?" Paul strolls into the living room with an arm draped around Rachel's shoulders. He bends down and rests a cheek against her crown. "I took one look at Rachel and was swept off my feet."

"If I remember correctly, you carted me over your shoulder and took me out to dinner." Rachel mutters, pinching his side.

Leah chuckles darkly. "Wouldn't let us near her for a good two weeks, 'cept me and Jake."

Paul glowers at us, his colour rising. "I didn't need any of you sniffing around my girl." I raise an eyebrow.

"No need to take offence Paul." I warn softly.

Rachel links her fingers with Paul's over her shoulder, drawing him to the love seat closest to the fire. She turns a bright smile to Jared. "I've heard you're in love. Tell me who the lucky girl is."

I tune out Jared's reply as Emily silently makes her way from the kitchen into he living room. I smile, pulling her down into my lap and holding her against my chest, my fingers linked loosely at the base of her back. She sighs softly, her forehead pressing against my neck. I close my eyes as I hear Jacob and Leah bicker with Paul about some such matter that nobody really cares about but will fight anyways for something to do. I'll make them do longer patrols tonight.

Jared's POV

"I've flipped."

Quil laughs loudly beside me, stuffing his hands into his pockets. "Join the club, we've got jackets." He shakes his head. "Imprinting will do that to your mind Jared. You'll think of her often, want to be with her, protect her, love her." He shrugs. "No sense in fighting it, you'll make yourself miserable."

I glance over at Quil. "Did you feel this pull when you first met Claire?"

He scoffs. "Did? I still do! Every day, everywhere. I see Claire at least a couple hours a day, just to hear her giggle and see her smiling face. I may not love her romantically, but she's my baby."

It's been busy the last few days. Sorry this chapter isn't very funny, gotta get the serious stuff outta the way. I'll try to have the next chapter up by next week but I make no promises.