6th chapter. Edited 9/6/13.

Enjoy.

"Look, it's been planned for a few days already." Sam sounded tired as he rearranged the couches. "Try to be nice. They'll be here for lunch and then we're all going to something special this evening – you included."

"What?" I demanded, a little uneasy at how easily I had been 'slotted' into group activities. Sam ignored my outburst and impatiently shooed me out of the living room. "Go help Emily."

Scowling, I stalked into the kitchen – and felt like I walked into a restaurant. Steak, a chicken roast, piles of vegetables, pasta bakes, pies, chips, dips, endless amounts of fizzy juice….

"How many people are we having over?" I sat down on a nearby stool, subtly snatching a bit of broccoli while her back was turned. She was like a bee; moving constantly from one pot to another to taste; turn off the hob, take off the stove, take something out the oven, pour gravy into here, season something over there…it was kind of disorientating to watch.

"Twenty." Emily said, rather offhand.

"But there's enough food for…for a wedding! I know I'm starting to eat a lot, but…seriously? Who's coming over?"

"The boys – and a couple of other friends. They all eat a lot." She sighed contentedly, wiping her hands off her apron even as her experienced eyes turned to what was in the oven.

I grudgingly slid off the stool and went over to the oven, adopting a 'do what you want with me' stance. "Do you need help?"

Surprisingly, she giggled at me before gently hitting me with a nearby towel. "Go to your room and hide. You'll know when everyone arrives."

As I waltzed out of the kitchen the front door opened and Jacob strode across the threshold – naturally both shoeless and shirtless.

"The hell, Jake?" I glared at his excess display of tanned skin. "Why don't you ever wear shoes or shirts?"

He jumped before looking at me guiltily. "Um…"

"He's weird, that's what he is." Embry walked in, the same state as Jacob. Behind him was Quil (thankfully fully dressed) who was being pushed inside by a small pre-teen around 13.

"Hey!" She bounced up to me, all smiles and girly enthusiasm. "I'm Claire! I've heard so much about you!"

"Are you all right?" I eyed her warily, even edging back a few inches. "You're awfully…um, chipper."

"She ate too many Smarties." Quil rolled his eyes and this time, pushed her in a direction. "Let's go play Mario Kart."

"Okay!"

I watched him sit down and sort out a controller for her, giving into her high pitched demands of wanting to the Princess Peach. A twenty something year old man is a bit old to be interested with a 13-year-old girl. There must have been some troubled look on my face, because Embry suddenly spoke into the silence.

"Hey, why doncha take a seat?" He proffered the nearest armchair. Noting with some satisfaction it was the most comfy, I gladly accepted his offer, snuggling into the deep cushions.

"Who else is coming?"

"Brady, Jared and Kim, Paul, Seth, Collin…"

I tried not to stiffen at the sound of Paul's name. "Cool." My voice came out composed and unruffled.

Success!

The front door flew open and bounced off the stopper against the wall – announcing to the household that the rest of the guests had arrived. Jared appeared, and held the door open for a giggling Kim to walk through. He then attempted to slam it shut, but it was caught by a tanned hand. Seth and his two friends walked through – Collin and Brady? – who raced for the last armchair. Thwarted by eachother, Collin and Brady started viciously wrestling over the chair – something I would have enjoyed immensely if the display of manly strength hadn't been four years my junior.

"Everyone's here, are they?" Sam thundered down the stairs, newly dressed, nodding to the greetings called out to him.

"Leah and Paul aren't here." Collin snickered. "Toldcha they're having a raging affair."

Quil punched him in the shoulder – from my perspective – quite hard. "Shut up." He growled.

"What?" Collin didn't get it.

Neither did I, actually. I focused on the unfamiliar name. "Who's Leah?"

"My sister." Seth proclaimed cheerfully. Was that boy ever sad? "She's a little busy tonight, so she couldn't come."

"Ah."

I fell silent. A few catious glances were thrown my way – too many, in my opinion. "I…I'll just go help Em in the kitchen."

As I entered the kitchen, I heard the front door open and close followed by what sounded like wrestling. I heard Collin cry, "Ow!"

Amid the jeers and laughter I caught a low rumble of a chuckle, a noise I somehow heard over the noise of the others.

Paul.

"Louise?" Emily's voice cut into my thoughts, and I shook my head, realizing with a start I'd sat down in a chair.

"Is lunch ready?"

Kim answered by nodding her head. "It is. Quickly grab a plate and fill it up – there'll be nothing left after the boys finish."

I did as she asked, and sat myself in a seat near the backdoor. Kim and Emily helped themselves to food while I stared in disbelief at the sheer amount of food there was. I just couldn't get over it. Claire came through at the sound of plates clanking and started chattering away, fitting in with the group of women more easily than I had in the first place. I stared at her some more – what was an 8 year old doing with a bunch of adults?

"Lunch!"

The noise in the other room stopped instantly, and what happened next was far too fast for me to really process anything properly.

Next thing I knew, most of the men were in the kitchen and sitting down – some were standing – and inhaling the food. Jacob somehow ended up next to me with Seth on my other side. I watched in morbid fascination as the food on the table slowly disappeared into gaping mouths, and after a good ten minutes of eating…there was nothing left.

However, the hair on the back of my neck prickled as I felt someone stare at me all of that ten minutes. It was strange how I knew it was him, even without turning around. I ignored it – no need to ass fuel to the fire.

I looked down…and smacked Seth's hand away from my plate.

"Hey!" I snapped in indignation. "You just ate enough food that Africa could survive on for a year. Paws off my lunch!"

The table erupted in laughter, and I jumped as Seth poked me in the side.

"Yea, Seth, you sandy haired mutt." Jared grinned, and I caught the sudden glare Sam sent him.

"Jared." Sam warned.

Wait. Why was Sam warning him? And for what?

"What?" Jared defended himself. "It's not like she kno–"

"Jared!" This time it was Jacob. "I challenge you to an Xbox game. Right now."

The petulant look on Jared's face disappeared. "Awesome. You're going down."

Everyone got up and gravitated towards the living room, even the girls. With a shrug I followed, and managed to nab a chair.

I watched the boys egg each other on, smiling every now and then to Jared and Paul's lewd comments. It stayed like that before a foul odour filled the air, and most of the guys pretended to gag. Collin looked at Brady and winced.

"I'm gonna ask you a rather…personal question, Brady. Did you fart?"

Brady shifted before sticking his tongue out. "…Well, what if I did? What are you gonna do about it? Huh? Huh?"

Collin smirked. "Sit in your vapour and stew."

"Boys." Sam's voice was a warning. "Stop it. There are ladies present."

He pulled Emily close to him for a hug. She was content to stay there for a few minutes before struggling to get up.

"I need to do the dishes."

"Don't be stupid." Sam pressed a kiss to her temple. "We'll do them later."

"But-"

"Later." He insisted, chuckling into her hair. She stopped struggling and snuggled into his side, now content to relax.

I leant back and closed my eyes, slowly drifting off into a light doze.

"Where are we going?" I whined.

Jacob laughed. "A secret meeting place."

"Oh! Are we going to our secret cave, Batman?"

His voice dropped low. "That means you're my sidekick."

"No way!" I laughed and sped past him. We were walking along a pretty beach. The sun had set, and everyone else was already at this secret place. I had stayed behind to empty my bladder, and no one waited – except Jacob.

Suddenly Jacob lifted me over his shoulder fireman style, and I shrieked in surprise.

"What are you doing?" I pounded my small fists by comparison on his broad back, but he kept striding forward.

"I'm gonna carry you there, sidekick." He snickered to himself.

I sighed and gave up. "So…what's at this secret meeting?"

I could feel Jacob grin. "We tell the legends of our people." He explained.

"Your people?"

"The Quileutes."

"Ah. You're not gonna tell me anything else, are you?"

"No." He smirked.

I huffed and craned my head to peer up the path, hoping to see where the hell I was being carried to.

The flames licked at the air, climbing higher and higher as the boys added more wood. A sudden whoosh of sparks exploded over the ground as Jared threw in a particularly large log.

Fire.

Every muscle froze and clenched as I saw the long flames flickering in the distance. I cringed against Jacobs back, sucking in a quick breath.

"Jacob, put me down." My words were rushed together, and too panicked for him to understand.

"What?"

"Put me down!" I struggled, but Jacob, thinking it was a joke, tightened his grip.

"Nope." He popped the p at the end. "I said I'd carry you here–"

"Put me down!" I strained against his impossibly strong arms, small whimpers escaping my throat. I felt the warmth at my legs, and let out an agonized wail. "Let the fuck go!"

"Louise?"

I started screaming and thrashing about in his arms, my breathing frantic. I could feel the heat, smell the wood smoke and burning wood. I tried to breathe, but all I could do was claw furiously at Jacobs back as I drew in lungful after lungful of smoky air. It sounded like an animal I'd heard a coyote tear apart once – except the agonized screaming was coming from my own throat instead. Above the noise I heard a hoarse shout, and I was wrenched from Jacob's arms and into anothers.

I shoved them aside and lunged from the fire, backing away as fast as my stumbling feet allowed. I tripped over my own feet and fell with a thump onto the sand. But I didn't stop moving. Sand flew as I continued to scramble away from the fire, agonized gasps wrenching themselves from my throat.

"Louise!"

I ignored the shout as I hauled myself to my feet and started to run, my pathetic whimpering echoing as I sped up the path. A rustle behind me followed by a light thunder of footsteps made me push my legs faster, but with no avail. A pair of scorching arms picked me up regardless of my screaming, and stopped.

The person murmured to me as I cried in real, honest to god fear. The thought of being dragged back to that bonfire, to be close to the heat…I started hyperventilating, and the person cradled me to their wide chest. I leaned in willingly, seeking comfort in the warmth. They rubbed my back and held me close, whispering soft things into my ear I'd never remember later. When I finally stopped crying and lifted my head of the damp chest, Paul's eyes caught mine.

"I'll take you home." He said gently.

He refused to put me down all the way to Emily's house, and even when I protested he opened the door with one hand and carried me up to my room. He sat me on the bed and bent down, untying my trainers.

To be honest, I was too tired to stop him. Too tired to worry, too tired to care. He took off my shoes, then my socks, then my jacket and my trousers. Leaving me in my underwear and big t shirt, he tucked me into bed, his eyes soft but his mouth set in a thin line.

"Goodnight, Louise."

"Wait!" With my eyes shut, I grasped the nearest body part (his elbow) the heat not bothering me anymore. "Tell Em I'm sorry."

I heard him huff in laughter and he gently removed my weak hand. "Will do." He hesitated…and then I felt his hot lips press to my forehead.

"Night, Lou." He whispered, before I heard him leave the room and close the door.

I fell into a dreamless sleep, exhausted from my episode. But the feeling of Paul's hot lips remained, and I was strangely aware of it even when I was asleep.