A/N: Okay. So at this point you guys know it takes me forever to update. For that I am sorry, but I only got 1 review for the last 3 chapters combined so I'm not too sorry. I'm gonna finish this story with or without reviews, but I'll write faster with support. It's just the way it works. Okay, no more guilt tripping…here we go!

Dad was home when we got home, which wasn't too surprising. When I was home for the summer, he used to check on me a few times a day and come home for lunch. Bella huffed as she slammed her car door shut and drudged up to the front door. She'd been quiet the entire drive home and apparently she hadn't had a good time in P.E. I'd never known my sister to be so grumpy, but I didn't really know my sister as well as I should have.

"Hey Dad," I smiled at him as I entered the kitchen to grab a snack.

"Hey sweetie! What's up with your sister? She seems a bit anti-social today," he asked as he gave me a one armed hug. He was leaning against the counter with a bag of chips, the little crumbs getting stuck in his mustache. I shrugged in response.

"I think she had a bad first day, but I'm not totally sure. We only have a few classes together. Hey I'm heading to the Rez now. I'll be home by 10," I informed him as I grabbed a Tupperware container of sliced fruit, opting for the healthy snack option instead of a repeat of my father's choices.

"It's a school night. Be home by 9 and take your sister."

"Dad. I haven't seen Paul in almost 48 hours. I've been with Bella non-stop since she got here. She literally slept in my bed Saturday night. I need time alone and I need to start working on my Academy homework," I pleaded. "I have been doing everything I can for Bella. Please, Dad, let me have this afternoon," I pushed out my lower lip just slightly. My dad's eyes narrowed, but he rolled his eyes and nodded.

"Fine, but be back by 8:30 and make sure your Muggle homework is done too, Bianca," I gave him a quick hug before dashing out of the kitchen and calling Noah in from the backyard where he was exploring the flower beds. I grabbed a tight hold on him and Apparated quickly to a hidden cove on First Beach. The Pack knew what I was and what I could do, but none of the other Quileutes did so I always had to be careful about apparation. Paul only lived a 10 minute walk away, in a small 2 bedroom home with his mother. Since Paul's mother, Brenda, wasn't an Elder she wasn't allowed to know about the truth behind the legends. She didn't know about Paul being a wolf, about us being bound by an imprint, or about me being a witch so I couldn't apparate directly into his house either. Noah trotted along beside me as I strolled down the path leading to Paul's.

"Long time, no see Pixie Dust," I heard a voice shout teasingly. I turned my head with a grin.

"Same to you, Lost Boy," Jared fell into step beside me, shaking his head at the nickname. We walked a few paces in comfortable silence before Jared exhaled loudly.

"Yes?" I raised an eyebrow.

"Aren't you gonna ask how everything is? You haven't been around for like 2 weeks," he whined.

"Well to be honest, I don't really care what's going on in your life. You're not my imprint," I told him matter-of-factly.

"That's harsh."

"But true."

"Sam and Emily are finally officially engaged. Leah still isn't talking to either of them. And Embry Call is close to phasing. No one can figure out why there are so many phasing when we haven't seen any new vampires. It's probably because-

"Jared, when I said I didn't care about the latest gossip, I meant it. Every time we have this kind of conversation, you end up insulting the Cullens and I end up mad at you and someone gets hurt…and it's never me. So you better shut your mouth," I narrowed my eyes at him, seeing where he was leading to.

"Someone's grumpy. When was the last time you and Paul hung out?"

"I don't know. 47 hours?" I muttered as we kept walking.

"That's not that long. Is it because you haven't… ya know…been together in a while?" he raised an eyebrow suggestively. My jaw stiffened. He'd hit a sore spot. I chose to be the bigger person and ignore his crude comment.

"You have no idea what it feels like to have an imprint bond. It's not a regular relationship. It's not all unicorns and rainbows. Especially when you have to hide half your life from that person," I snapped without thinking. Jared's brow furrowed.

"What are you talking about?"

"Nothing. Just forget it," I kept walking. Paul's house was in sight now. Jared placed a gentle, but firm hand on my shoulder.

"Whoa, whoa, Bianca. What's going on?" his voice had softened. Paul and Jared had grown up together and been best friends long before the whole phasing nonsense. So when Paul imprinted on me, Jared came as part of the package (at least, more than the rest of the pack). I knew Jared genuinely cared and we had become good friends, but I also knew he could not keep anything secret from Paul.

"Please. Leave it alone," I whispered pleadingly. He stared at me for a few moments before raising his hands in defeat. We walked up Paul's short walkway and Jared simply opened the door and waltzed in.

"Is that you Jared?" I heard Paul's mom Brenda call.

"Yep, plus 1 Mrs. L!" Jared called back as we entered the dining room where Mrs. Lahote sat at the table, typing away on her laptop. She was working her way through online school so that she could go from being a Veterinary Assistant to a certified Veterinary Technician at the Forks Veterinary Hospital. La Push was a small reservation and while it had a small grocery store and small K-12 school for the kids, it didn't have much else. Most people traveled into Forks for basic necessities and into Port Angeles when they needed anything more. She looked up from her computer with a smile.

"Hello Bianca! I feel like you haven't been around here lately. Paul told me you'd be staying in town this year to be with your sister. How is she settling in?" she asked kindly while standing up and closing her laptop.

"As good as one can I suppose when you're going from Phoenix to Forks," I told her with a sad smile, accepting her offered hug. Jared pulled her into a giant hug next and she chuckled.

"Paul is supposed to be finishing his application for Washington State, but I suspect he's probably passed out cold in his room. I swear that boy sleeps more than I thought a person could," Mrs. Lahote gave me a somewhat pointed glance, though it was ever so subtle. Something was clearly bothering her.

"I didn't know Paul was planning on attending Washington State. He never mentioned it," I commented as non-chalantly as I possibly could.

"Well I'm not sure if it's his top choice or not, but it's the only school that will consider letting him in this late and with his school records. Since he seems to have no ambitions outside of hanging out with you guys and sleeping a lot and eating all the food we have in the house, I have to be a mother and push him," his mother tucked her short hair behind her ear and tried to remain as polite as possible as she basically blamed both of us for making sure her son stayed a small-town bum. I thought it was odd considering she didn't have a college degree and was just now working on getting a certification to make a little more money.

"Well me and Sam are planning to open up an auto body shop in that old abandoned barn that's right on the edge of his property. He's just gotta work on remodeling the house for after he and Emily are married first. Actually it was Paul's idea. He and Sam were going to be co-owners and I was going to manage it," Jared informed her, smiling. He didn't let it show on the outside, but I know it hurt him that he had to keep Mrs. Lahote in the dark about everything. In truth, the boys had been talking about opening a business to be a sort of cover for their real jobs. Being a wolf was a full time job. Protecting the people of La Push was not something the Council and the Pack took lightly.

"As nice as that is, none of you have any experience running a business. Maybe Paul can major in business at school. Then you'll have an actual chance of opening a small business," she said curtly before walking into the kitchen, successfully ending the conversation. As we traveled down the hallway to Paul's room Jared gave me a concerned look.

"I don't think I've ever had such an uncomfortable conversation," he whispered. I nodded in silent agreement as we let ourselves into Paul's room. Sure enough he was splayed across his bed, limbs dangling off the sides of the bed as he snored loudly. I shut the door to his room as Jared made a silent countdown. After he reached one we both pounced on Paul and he woke with a start.

"What the hell man?" he shoved Jared off him and then turned to flash me a bright smile. "Hey babe!"

"Hey yourself," I giggled, getting off him so that he could sit up on his bed and place a quick kiss on my cheek.

"So has you're mom totally lost it or is she just mad at me for something?" Jared asked as he sat in Paul's spinning desk chair. Paul groaned.

"Did she give you the Washington State speech? She's been going on about that since the semester started over there. I kept telling her I have a job, but since I won't tell her what I actually do, she doesn't believe me. Plus she said she wants me to 'aim higher' or whatever. It's so stupid that I can't just tell her. Stupid gag order," he muttered. Jared nodded solemnly as I sighed. Sam had given both he and Jared a gag order that they could not disobey even if they tried. Only elders and imprints were allowed to know the truth about the Pack's existence. Well and my dad, since he had figured it out on his own and helped to protect the Pack from any Muggle intervention.

"I know man, if I didn't have younger siblings for my parents to focus on I'd be in the same situation. I just keep telling them I need a year to focus," Jared rolled his eyes.

We chatted for a while before Jared had to leave for patrol. I worked on my Academy homework while Paul absentmindedly played with my hair, pausing every once in a while to distract me with a kiss. My stomach was flipping itself inside out the whole time. I knew I would have to talk to him about what I said to Jared. He would see the encounter in Jared's mind the next time he phased. I didn't even know what I was planning on saying. I wasn't ready to come clean about my true relationship with the Cullens. I had hidden the truth for so long that I had no idea how to be honest with him. So I kept my mouth shut as I worked on homework and tried desperately not to think about the conversation we would need to have before the night was over. All because I couldn't keep my big mouth shut. Around 6 Mrs. Lahote opened the door to ask us to help finish up dinner.

"So how was your first day of school, Bianca? Must be different being in public school after all those years in boarding school," Mrs. Lahote asked after we had finished serving ourselves.

"Not too bad. My classes seem pretty lined up to what I was taking at the Academy," I lied easily.

"That's nice. It's really very thoughtful of you to want to help your sister settle in here instead of returning to your school for Senior year," she said genuinely. Despite being upset about Paul's lack of future plans, Mrs. Lahote was a very kind woman and she had grown to really care for me. I could always tell that our relationship scared her due to it's intensity, but she tried her best to ignore that and support us.

"I know it was hard for me when I was alone at a new school so I'm just trying to make it easier on her," I said lamely. In all honesty going to school with my sister was the last thing in the entire world I wanted to be doing.

"I can imagine. What about your plans after school, Bianca? Do you plan on following your father into public service?" she pushed a little further as she tossed Noah a piece of chicken that she had boiled specifically for him. One of the advantages of having a boyfriend who's mother loved animals was being able to always bring my dog over.

"Public service isn't really my calling, but I haven't really figured out what I want to do yet," I shrugged. I didn't have any intentions of going into any Muggle career, but I couldn't very well tell her that. "I sort of want to be a writer," I pursed my lips in fake thought.

"So any dream schools?"

"I wasn't really planning on going to college, actually."

"Oh."

…

…

…

"So Paul, how's that application going?" she redirected her attention to Paul who sent her a hard glare. The conversation never really bounced back after that and I was thrilled when we were finally cleaning up the table. After saying a quick goodbye to Mrs. Lahote we headed out and started walking toward the beach, Noah once again at my heels.

"I'm really sorry about my mom back there. She's just trying to do her best. She doesn't want me to end up a screw up like my dad. Honestly Jared and I are looking for a place for ourselves, but it's not like there's much real estate in La Push," he started ranting on nervously.

"Hey, don't stress. Parents are just like that sometimes," I cut him off, but kept my eyes trained on the ground as we walked. There was a long pause.

"Is something else bothering you, B?" he asked softly. Another long pause.

"Bianca?"

"You're gonna hate me," I whispered, as tears built up at the edges of my eyes.

"What are you talking about? I could never hate you," he stopped, turning me to face him and lifting my chin so that our eyes met.

"That's what you think now, but you haven't heard what I'm about to say," I whispered fiercely, my breath shaky as I pictured the hurt look in his eyes.

"What'd you do, fall in love with someone else?" he teased, placing a hand on my cheek and rubbing his thumb under my eye softly, wiping away a single tear. "Hey, Bianca, shhhhh," he soothed, pulling my close to him. "Whatever it is, I promise it's not that bad. I'm always going to be here, no matter what."

"I wasn't worried about going to Forks High with the Cullens because I already know them," I whispered. He pulled away slightly, giving my a quizzical look.

"Yeah we all do."

"No, I don't just know about them. I know them. When they first moved here 2 years ago, before I met you, my dad and I went over to their house to welcome them to the town. Of course we knew right away what they were, and so we talked to them about it and ended up arranging to keep their secret and let them stay as long as agreed to keep wandering nomads away from Forks," I explained slowly. Paul tensed a little, but didn't start to tremble.

"Okay so you met with them once a long time ago," he confirmed, but I shook my head slowly.

"What else?" he gritted his teeth.

"Please you have to calm down," I murmured into his chest as I felt his tremors begin. They subsided after a moment so I continued.

"I didn't stop visiting. They're like a second family to me. Every time I tell you I'm at Angela's house, I'm really with them. In their home. Esme is like the mother I never had and Edward is my best friend and nothing can change that," I whispered. He started to shake violently this time.

"Are you kidding me? Is this some kind of sick joke? You've been playing house with a bunch of leeches and you have never told me?!" he shouted, taking a few steps back.

"I'm not yours to control! They were their for me a year before I even met you. I wasn't about to break it off just because you guys can't get over an old feud!" I shouted back, though the guilt was eating away at me. I knew he didn't have a right to be angry at me for my friendship, but he had every right to hate me for having lied to him.

"Some old FEUD? They're vampires! They kill people to survive-

"They don't kill people. They only drink from animals and even if they did, how is that any different than you killing vampires? It's what they are made to do and they can't change what they are! They didn't ask for this life any more than you did!"

"Don't you dare compare me to those monsters," he snarled, pacing angrily back and forth. I took a deep breath, trying not to aggravate him more. A giant wolf exploding in the middle of plain sight wasn't exactly something we needed.

"Paul, please. You can't be upset with me about needing someone to be friends with. I can't just change the way I feel about them," I pleaded, taking a step towards him. He moved away immediately, the tremors only getting worse.

"You LIED to me. Am I not enough? Are we not enough? The pack is your family! Not those unnatural leeches you've been parading with!" he ran his hands through his hair roughly, flaring his nostrils out.

"I DIDN'T ASK FOR THIS!" I shouted back in frustration. That was the snapping point for him. I had just enough time to back up a few feet before shreds of clothing went flying in the air and he ran from me in a burst of fur and claws. As he disappeared into the trees a mournful howl echoed through the air. Noah whined at my feet and pressed himself into my legs. My breath shook and my vision blurred with the tears that were threatening to spill as I pulled out my phone and dialed the only number I had memorized by heart. It rang three times before the person I needed answered.

"Hello?"

"Daddy, I need you. Can you come pick me up at first beach?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady. There was a pause.

"Sure baby, I'll be right there."

The line went dead and I sank to the ground in the parking lot of the beach, pulling my knees into my chest as the tears finally began to fall freely. My heart was ripping itself into pieces again and again as the invisible thread that connected me to Paul was yanked again and again. It made my chest feel hollow. I sat like that, with Noah doing his bets to crawl into my lap for comfort, for 32 minutes exactly before my father's cruiser pulled into the lot and came to a stop in the parking spot beside where I sat. He exited the car and immediately came toward me, pulling me off the ground gently.

"Do I need to find that boy and teach him a lesson?" he asked firmly. I shook my head, unable to look my father in the eye.

"No this is my fault. I think I broke both our hearts," I whispered, allowing myself to be pulled into my dad's arms and firmly hugged. He didn't say anything, but guided me into the front seat as Noah hopped in the back. We drove home with nothing but my occasional sniffle to break the silence.