AN: OMG OMG OMG guys!!!! I can't wait to post the next couple of chapters. I've already written them, and I'm so happy with them. So please review this one, and I'll post ASAP. I want to get them up really soon. Because I love them. So lets try and get the reviews up to 30? At least. I'd really appreciate it. Give me feedback, ideas, advice, constructive criticism. It's all good!! So please review, and ENJOY!!!

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Chapter Four

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Paul's POV

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Party games at high school parties are never a good idea. So why was I sitting in a massive circle playing truth or dare? I don't know. And I don't know what idiot dared Jared to kiss Kim, but I swear, I'll kill them. Our friendship had already been fragile since he had been away from school, but now there was no hope. It was like their mouths were glued together. I could see that the game was over for them. This was all real now.

*

"Paul! Truth or dare?" A guy from my English class asked me from across the circle.

"Dare." I said, rolling my eyes boredly. Maybe if I was lucky I'd get some action too.

"Alright..." He said, the whole circle quietened, "I think you need a girlfriend."

"Right. And...?"

"You ask out the first girl you see at school tomorrow." He said.

"Done." I scoffed. I was never one to back down from a dare. I just hoped it wasn't someone I hated.

*

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Lucia's POV

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I know I was meant to be doing the whole moody girl thing at school, and I still was, but lately it'd been hard to escape the temptation of having friends. Anna was really nice, and Kim was... just Kim. Sweet and funny in her quiet way. I had to admit, I liked being around them.

*

I drive Kim to school now. She doesn't have a car, and she only lives just down the street from me. This morning when I picked her up, she was really excited.

"Lucy," She said, using the name that she had chosen for me, "I have the best news!"

"What happened?" I asked expectantly.

"Jared got dared to kiss me at a party last night, and he did, but then after that he took me out into the garden and we had like this full on make out session." She said, hardly stopping for breath.

My jaw dropped, and I turned my head to look at her as I pulled out of her driveway.

"No way." I said.

Kim had been crushing on Jared for over a year, or so she tells me. I had only known her since I met her at that party a few weeks ago, and in that time, she had pretty much told me everything. I knew she was crazy about him. And now, it seemed he was too.

"The only thing is, I'm worried it'll just be one of those party hook ups, you know? Like what if he just ignores me completely today?" She said.

"Kim, come on. Jared's a nice guy, isn't he? And if this was so special last night, then he's gotta be into you. I bet he asks you out today."

Kim sighed, and looked out the window at the passing greenery.

"I hope so." She said quietly.

*

We arrived at school a little late. Kim, being the good girl that she is, rushed off to class. I, being not so good, took my time. I mean, it was only math. I wasn't too fussed if I missed the beginning of the lesson. In fact, I might not go at all. I might just go round to the back of the art block.

*

I locked the doors of my car, and then set off across the car park. But about halfway across, I heard a loud screeching noise. I flung my head around to see where the noise was coming from and found a car coming towards me fast. I dropped my books, and took a few steps back. But luckily, the car stopped just short of me.

"Way to go, asshole!" I yelled, and then bent to pick up my books.

I heard a car door slam, and a shaken looking guy came hurrying over. I recognised him instantly. He was the guy who followed me outside at the party, who climbed in my car when I had been crying, and who hit me in the head with the football. He was named Paul. I groaned inwardly. I guess this meant I had to deal with him again.

"I'm really sorry!" He said, bending down to help me, "Are you okay?"

I raised my eyebrows, straightening back up, and then replied to him.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Except you scared the crap out of me."

"Look, I'm really sorry, okay? Can I walk you to class? What do you have?"

"Well, I have math, but I wasn't really planning on going. So..."

"Where you gonna go?"

"Just this place I hang out..." I said evasively.

"Mind if I tag along?"

"Uh... why?" I said, sort of rudely.

"Hate math."

*

That was all it took for me to let him come along with me. I don't know why I let him, but as I walked towards the back of the art block, I found that I didn't mind him being there. We sat down, and leaned against the cool walls of the building.

*

We talked. I slowly found myself opening up to him, which wasn't good. I didn't want to break the veneer that I had created to stop people from getting too close. But for some stupid reason, I began to let him in. And I had to admit, he had me charmed. He was just a really cool guy. Albeit a little rough.

*

We ended up talking about the jerk who kept giving me a hard time.

"What's his name?" Paul asked.

"I dunno. I went to school with him when I was a kid."

"Same. I recognise him, but I don't remember his name... Wait, that means..."

"Yeah, well I guess we went to the same school too."

"But how come I didn't recognise you?"

"I moved away." I said, deciding it would be best to just avoid the whole cancer topic. He didn't need to know that much about me.

"Oh. Well you tell me if he keeps picking on you."

"I can deal with him. It's just, you know, a touchy subject."

"If you're so good at 'dealing with him', then how come he keeps making you cry?"

"Look, I can take care of it, okay? Next time he tries to have a go at me, I'll just swear my fucking head off at him." I said, getting a little frustrated.

"Watch your fucking language."

"Shut the fuck up."

He laughed, and I smiled at him. Then we were both quiet for a moment.

"Hey, I'm really sorry about what happened this morning." Paul said.

"Nah, it's cool. I mean usually I'd get a little more fired up when something happens, but I dunno. I guess I'm getting a little too used to you doing stupid stuff to me."

"Aw, come on. I don't do it on purpose."

"Really? I thought you were just trying to get my attention or something."

"I wouldn't try to run over someone to get their attention." He laughed.

"Ah, so you were trying to run over me?"

"Well, maybe. Nah. But I dunno, I still feel bad. You wanna come out someplace tonight?"

"Uh... I dunno. I don't really do that kind of thing. I mean, I haven't..."

"You haven't dated before?"

"Well... no, not really."

"It doesn't have to be a date. And besides, there's a first time for everything, right?" He raised his eyebrows suggestively.

I smiled, but hesitated, before answering him.

"I'd have to ask my parents." I said, giving into him for some unknown reason. I guess it was his persistence, and his weird ability to make me feel at ease. When he wasn't trying to run me over.

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When the bell went for the next class, we left. Kim ran up to me before I could get to the door of the classroom, though, full of excitement.

"Where were you? You missed it!" She said.

"Missed what?" I said, avoiding her first question.

"Jared asked me." She whispered loudly.

"Oh my god, Kim! That's great!"

"I know. We're going out tonight."

"Cool. Well, call me when you get home then, so you can tell me about it."

*

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By the time I got home that afternoon, I had made up my mind. I didn't want to go out with Paul tonight. I didn't know him, let alone like him, if you know what I mean. So my plan was to call him and tell him that my parents had said no. I didn't even ask them, of course. Because I knew if I did then they would try and talk me into going. Also, I didn't want them to find out about our almost accident.

*

I was lying on my bed upstairs, phone in hand, just about to dial Paul's number to tell him I couldn't make it, when there was a knock at the door downstairs. I heard my mum answer it.

"Can I help you?" She asked.

"Uh, yeah, I'm just after Lucia? Is she around?" A male voice answered.

"She sure is," She replied, and then called up to me, "Lucia!"

*

I knew who it was of course. Paul. My mum had just ruined my plans, but why did Paul think he could just turn up at my house, without even knowing if I was allowed to come out or not and just expect me to go with him? I was very quickly tiring of being the subject of Paul's attention. But I knew I couldn't just hide up here in my room.

"Coming!" I called.

Looking down at my body, I knew I wasn't dressed appropriately for going out. I pulled of my shorts and t-shirt and pulled on a pair of jeans, a t-shirt, jacket and shoes. As I rounded the corner of the hall that lead down to the stairs, Paul came into view, standing at the door, talking to my mother.

"... Just thought I'd take her out, you know? I just wanted to make up for something that happened at school today." I heard Paul finish.

"Well, that's very nice of you, Paul. It's the first I've heard about this, but I suppose that's fine. What time do you think you'll have her back by?"

"Around ten?" Paul said. And then he looked up and saw me standing at the top of the stairs.

*

I had to admit, he looked good. But that didn't change the fact that I was uncomfortable about this whole situation. In fact, it made me even more uncomfortable and uneasy. I felt like I would look out of place if I went out with him. It wasn't like I had serious body image issues. Or really any for that matter. I knew I was reasonably attractive, but I also knew that I wasn't turn-your-head-as-you-go-past type gorgeous. Paul's facial expression seemed to contradict this idea though. But he probably looked like that at every girl he saw. Just another piece of meat. It seemed to me like he was quite the ladies man.

*

Anyway, after Paul had dragged his eyes off me, my mum told me to be polite and say hello. It made me feel like I was about eight years old. I would have said hello... maybe. I was in a bit of a pissy mood.

"Well I'll be expecting you home around ten, then Lucia." My mum said.

"Yeah. Thanks." I said, slightly acidly. She didn't seem to notice.

Paul picked up though, and smirked.

"You don't want to come out with me." Paul stated, as we walked down to his car, which was parked on the curb.

"I had lots of homework to do." I said, avoiding his actual question, and instead making up an excuse to explain my mood.

"Since when do you do homework?"

"Since when do you know everything about me?" I retorted.

"You don't strike me as the homework-doing type of girl." He explained.

"Right."

"But I am right. You don't want to come out with me."

"I don't usually go out places with strangers."

"I'm not a stranger. We talked for ages this morning."

"That doesn't mean I like you." I said.

That shut him up for a while.

*

***

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We didn't go anywhere even remotely romantic, which I was intensely happy about. He ended up taking me to a burger bar in Forks. He was mostly quiet on the way there, after my comments earlier, but when we got there he started talking again. I had been hoping I had put him off completely, but obviously I hadn't. He was still giving me his attention, which I was not happy about. I didn't know why. I mean, this outing was only meant to be to make up for the car park incident, but it seemed to me that it meant more to Paul. I didn't think much of it though. He didn't strike me as the type of guy who could focus himself on one girl for very long. This was probably just a bit of fun for him.

*

I didn't eat much while we were out. He polished off a burger and a large fries, but all I ate was a small bowl of wedges.

"You don't eat much." He pointed out.

"I'm not hungry." I said.

"You're not anorexic are you?" He blurted.

I stared at him, and then blinked a couple of times. I wasn't used to people being so upfront about things like that.

"Do I look anorexic?" I finally managed.

"No, I was just wondering."

"Well, you shouldn't ask those kinds of things. They're personal. But no, I'm not anorexic, bulimic or whatever. I'm not that thin."

"Girl's should eat more. Being too skinny isn't good." He said, with a mouthful of food.

"Whatever, Paul." I said, and looked away.

"No, no. I'm not saying you look bad or anything. You're... a good size..." He said awkwardly, "I mean, I think you look good. I was just saying." He swallowed, and then took another bite.

"What are you trying to crack onto me now?" I said, eyebrows raised.

"Nah. I was just saying."

*

The rest of the night was filled with idle chat, and a lot of silences. They weren't necessarily awkward, more just that I had to change the subject often. Somehow we kept on getting back to the topic of the guy at school who kept picking on me, or my childhood.

*

Other than that, it wasn't as bad a night as I expected it to be. I mean, it wasn't like I had a really great night, but... it wasn't bad. Paul got me home fifteen minutes earlier than he had told my mother he would, and he walked me to the front door. Just before I said goodbye though, he leaned in towards me just the tiniest bit. It was almost unnoticeable, but I knew what he was doing.

"I thought they always said you shouldn't kiss on first dates." I said, taking a step towards the door, and away from him.

"I thought this wasn't a date," He said, raising his eyebrows in amusement, "And it's just a kiss on the cheek."

"It's not a date." I said quickly, and then was shocked to feel his warm lips brush gently against the skin of my cheek.

"Consider that an apology for almost killing you." He said, smiling his superior smile.

"I thought that was what you were taking me out for."

"Well, then that's just a bonus." He grinned.

"You need a serious slap in the face, you know. One day there's gonna be a girl who doesn't actually like you as much as you think they do, and she is gonna seriously damage your over inflated ego."

He scrunched up his nose and laughed.

"Well, until that happens, I think I'll keep on enjoying the benefits of being me." He said.

"You better watch yourself, Paul," I said, opening the door, "I'll see you around."

I closed the door, and left him standing on the front porch. I smiled to myself, and then went up to bed.

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AN: Thanks for reading guys, now please REVIEW!!! Also, go to my profile to get links to my other stories. I've got some new stuff up Cheers, *H*