It's been forever, and I know every time I say the same thing. I'm so sorry. Really sorry. Anyway, here is the new chapter and the next it's half written! Hop e you enjoy it, this time from Kim POV. Also wanted to thank everyone who read, put on alert, fave and/or reviewed! Thanks for waiting patiently- or not (littlefrog) lol.
Thanks to my awesome beta Lucy aka I left my heart in tokyo! Thanks to her efficiency and good ideas.
Also I would like to warn, I mean it will sound stupid but well bear with me lol, in this chapter Kim and her friends go crazy and I remind for those underage- I myself was one when started reading fanfics- readers, it might sound funny in a story but in real life things are way too different and things can go wrong. Plus consuming alcohol or escape from home at a young age is not what we want for our little brothers, sisters, daughters or sons. This being said I will stop pretending I'm everyone's mom LoL. Still I felt I had to say it.
Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight.
STUCK WITH EACH OTHER Chapter 9: Puppy dog eyes.
Michaela Wright –Never gonna give in.
~º~º~º~La Push High, Monday morning ~º~º~º~
"Hello,"
"Good morning." I replied frostily. He wasn't going to take the hint, was he? All week with the same song, this pursuit was driving me crazy!
"How was your weekend?"
And I don't wanna waste my time on you
After all the things you put me through.
Jared fully turned to me showing his boyish grin. Before, I would have swooned, melted or stupidly smiled back, but not now. After our last encounter I had avoided-yet again- all conversation with him. God knew I couldn't look at him without blushing. So I did.
It showed to be a bad moment to blush because my brilliant companion thought his smile had affected me in some way. It had irked me.
"Short."
"Mine was way too long."
Who had asked you? I was tempted to say so, but polite Kim wouldn't have any of it. He wasn't going to get a rise out of me that day. I sighed and began doing my essay. As if that wasn't proof enough I wanted to stop our little chit chat, he neglected his notebook pushing it away. No surprise there, it wasn't as if he cared about grades. That wasn't any of my business anyway.
"How about we have lunch together, huh?" Surprise was written all over my face as I stopped writing. This approach was new. "Yes, Me and you." He finished with a 'seductive smile'.
Something must have affected him, maybe poisoned food. "What did you have for breakfast today?"
"If I tell you would you come with me?" I wanted to laugh at his goofiness, but I knew if I did he wouldn't stop his advances.
"No."
His face fell at my rejection. I thought he would have been used to it by then. He had been grilling me about spending time with him in any innocent friendly way, as he had put it.
When he wasn't following me across the school hallway's he was waiting next to the bathroom door saying he was causally passing by. He wasn't even faced when I called on his bullshit one day when I purposely entered the room and waited for like twenty minutes and he was still there. Jared had been relentless at the 'let's follow Kim everywhere' game.
"Come on, I'm begging you." He pleaded with his best puppy dog eyes. He was so darn cute! But I was relentless too and declined his offer again.
"No, Jared."
He grumbled under his breath like an old grandpa. It was funny to see but after a couple of minutes mumbling he decided he wasn't giving up.
"I would pester you until you give in."
Not looking at me but at the front of the class where our teacher was agitatedly giving his lesson, Jared's smile didn't falter although he was pretending to be paying attention.
"Is that a threat?" I wanted to be mad and show it in my voice. Alas, I failed and he chuckled while thinking an adequate answer.
"If it gets you to come with me," he answered on a low husky voice. "You can count on that."
Looking at me from the corner of his eye he waited for my rejection, but raised his eyebrows when a small smile broke into my face. Biting the inside of my cheek I suppressed the urge to smile wider and nodded, writing my paper again as if we had not talked at all.
I couldn't believe we were on such good terms already. I wasn't going to surrender to his charm any time soon, but at least escaping him was no longer the first thing that popped into my mind at the sight of Jared.
Doubt wasn't in my mind when we were together because finally I had receded on the idea that he was playing me. He had left his old friends for good- not that I wanted him to, but it was slightly endearing given they were such idiots- and stopped all interactions with Tanya.
Although, as far as I knew, he could have being seeing her outside and I wouldn't have any way to know. I did not trust him completely. In fact not even a little, but I thought if I let him explain himself and show me this whole "new Jared" thing then he would stop constantly pestering me. Deep inside, I was hoping that he might be genuine on his intentions. If not, I had plan B.
And now there's nothing that you can do
Cause I don't love you (Yes you do, yes you do)
No, I don't love you
If he showed to be the same old jackass, I was going to hurt him even more. No one knew revengeful Kim yet, but there would be hell to pay. Lily voted to beat the crap out of Jared the very next day, and was seconded by Angela and Kayla. Fortunately my love life wasn't a democracy.
*FLASHBACK*
"Are you really going to let that- that boy," Lily struggled with a decent description for Jared- curse free- glaring angrily at me. "Waltz his way back onto your life?"
We were lounging in my bedroom, lying on the floor doing our homework when I brought up the subject. Angela was reading a magazine saying that indeed there was culture, but whatever.
"He doesn't have free pass," I bit the tip of my pen nervously. "He just will think he does."
"I don't see much difference." Ang added mind absently from the corner of the room. "You are setting yourself for disappointment." Glancing at me over the magazine, she pitied me with her eyes.
She knew how much I hated it. Huffing out a long sigh, I sat crossed legged and forgot all about calculus and biology. I felt this time was different. I could feel it in my bones; I could see it in his eyes. But how I was going to tell that to my friends without looking like I had gone to crazy land with a first class ticket?
Magnetic pulls and mystic intuitions were words which did not work well with them. I had tried to close myself to him, not letting his sweet smile get to me, and for a while I believed Jared was pursuing me for mere fun.
On the other hand a twisted nagging voice inside my head told he might be trustworthy material this time. Why when I was doing so great without him, had Jared to come back and turn my world upside down? I couldn't tell them why I felt like giving him one last chance- it couldn't hurt so much, could it?- now that I knew not to give my all to him.
He should better take baby steps if he wants any sort of relationship with me.
"I'm not even agreeing to be friends, he will just show me whatever he wants to and then I will decide if I should be more open or kill him directly." That was the best explanation I could give them.
"You cannot ask us to like him though," Kayla surprised me standing against me on this one. No one thought people deserved a second chance? "It might take us a lot of time and effort to see him as a decent suitor."
"Who says suitor nowadays?" Lily scoffed.
Kayla threw her pencil case at Lily in the face and they began quarreling in the floor playfully. Before any of them could get seriously hurt I got Angela to cut her cheering and stopped their momentum.
They all agreed to let me be, promising they wouldn't intervene between Jared and me whenever we together as they had being doing for the past month. They wouldn't stop their fulminate glares though.
We were on the middle of a tickle fight when a knock on the door stopped us. It opened and revealed a horrified Jordan with a try full of cookies and food for us.
"Hey short stuff," Letting go of Kayla and Lily's legs I grabbed the food from his still hands. "You brought this?" Eyeing the food suspiciously I sniffed it a couple of times before I thought it was edible.
"Isn't he cute?" Angela jumped to her feet and dragged a blushing Jordan to my room.
I complained about having my baby brother listening to my conversations but she waved me off pecking Jordan's beat red cheeks.
We all sat and ate watching how Angela made Jo-Jo even more embarrassed. I thought he would have flown the room at the very first moment, but realized he was quite enjoying himself being pampered by Ang.
After all the food was gone mom came fuming upstairs.
"Jordan!" We heard an angry Jasmine yell from the end of the stairs. "I told you to come back right away!"
My brother went pale- hard to do so since he was the darkest from the family- and hid under my bed. We laughed and decided to play along.
"Hey girls." Mom said opening, the door not caring to knock. I glared at her but it had no effect.
"Jas!" The girls greeted her.
"I see he brought you the food. Where's that kid?" With her hands on her hips and the pink apron, she was quite funny to look at.
Holding back our laughs we shrugged but did not convince anyone. She scanned the room as if she had X-ray vision- which she probably had- and smiled when her stare stopped at the end of the bed.
"Jordan Lucas Connweller, get out from under that bed this instant!"
She was using his full name. He was in trouble. I turned to see how she had found out and saw a couple of tennis shoes sticking out under the bed. His little legs wiggled a bit and then he was out looking through his long lashes like a kicked puppy. What was with boys and puppy dog eyes?
"I know you don't like doing your homework, but when I told you to bring these into the girls, it wasn't for you to stay here chatting all day."
"Mom-"
"Don't mom me, down now."
I felt bad for my brother, but mom was right, he bailed whenever he could from doing his homework. Such a piece of work Jordan was. Looking embarrassed, he stole a glance at Angela and his eyes got full of unshed tears. My heart broke for him and I wanted to hug him but Angela beat me to it.
"I'm sorry Jasmine, I made him stay." She said while Jordan's lower lip quivered.
"Okay, that's fine. Jordan come on now, leave the girls to it. Time to do some math." Mom said in a more gently voice grabbing Jordan's hand, dragging his sad figure to the kitchen.
When they were gone Angela said remorsefully: "Oh my god, I feel so bad, it was my fault."
"Angela, like you didn't know how Jordan was already without your help." Lily said comforting her, while mouthing a sorry to me.
"She is right, plus he enjoyed being kidnapped and forced against his will by you."
We laughed at that but then Angela asked confused: "What did you mean?"
Rolling my eyes I decided to explain what everyone could see but her.
"My brother has a crush on you, that's what I mean."
*END FLASHBACK*
Being the good sister I am, I didn't annoy my baby brother with his crush, but someday I was going to blackmail him with that information.
I smiled to myself knowing I looked like a psycho. Who laughs looking at a pencil? Shaking my head I looked at my partner just to find he was already watching me rather curious. I noticed his piercing eyes getting darker and then smirked and looked away.
And you said: "I need you to trust me,
I really need you in the vein".
So basically I was going to give Jared a second chance. Sort of. I would set my fears aside and let him in once more before shut him down completely if things did turn for the worst. I hoped I wouldn't have to really do it, because sincerely I had never imagined a life without him since the day he hit me with a volley ball. Damn his puppy dog eyes!
"Are you just going to eat that?" Jared asked with a worried tone.
"Are you going to eat all of that?" I retorted back. It was bad enough that I was intimidated by him and all the teenagers watching to have to eat the double of my weight in food.
Making our way to an empty table I passed next to my friends' full one. I couldn't hold the flinch when they murdered Jared with their looks. It was like Lily was throwing grenades at him just by staring. Jared did not seem the least bit fazed and nodded to them putting a hand on the small of my back leading me away.
I had grabbed a sandwich and a bottle of lemonade, but I had no idea how I was supposed to gulp them down since I had my throat closed from anxiety.
I told myself to relax and just pretend he wasn't there, after all I wasn't hanging out with him to have fun or be friends. Munching on my meal, I watched as Jared wolfed down his food. I had never seen a human being eating so much and enjoying it the way he did. No way he could of even of tasted the food, how fast he was shoving it down his throat!
I cleared my throat. I wanted him stop eating- or to finally gulp my own food- and talk to me. With his mouth full of food and a bit of it trailing down his chin, he looked up at me with startled eyes, possibly thinking I would be the one to start a conversation.
"Sorry, I got a bit carried away," He swallowed and smiled sheepishly.
Call me helpless romantic or cliché teenager but seeing food on his face did not make me think he was gross but so cute! What the hell was wrong with me? This sort of stuff usually would repulse me, but Jared pulled it off. He made it seem… sexy?
"I didn't know you were enjoying your food that much." I said pointing to my chin to show him he had food over there. He wasn't so bright to take the hint.
"I'm glad you accepted, finally," his voice took a relieved tone. "My offer. One of them anyway."
"Jared-"
"Spending time with you means a lot to me."
"Thanks, but-"
"I was a jerk before, but I swear I've broke up with my past. This might be sudden to you, but believe me when I say that this," he said pointing to the space between us. "It's what I want. I needed to grow up and stand for what I thought was right and you are right for me."
"Yes, Ja-"
He cut me off again by raising a hand. "I reacted poorly last time we talk privately," he halted as if thinking of something rather amusing and the twinkle on his eyes revealed what about. "I mean, after our kiss things got heated, he-heated because then we argued, n-not because we were, well hu-hum… not that I wasn't! The kiss was fine, really fine, God it was… Say something please; I don't know what I'm saying anymore." He pleaded biting his lip.
"Jared," I understood what he meant by 'reacting poorly' but watching him stammer was too funny to miss. "You have sauce all over your chin." Holding back my laugh I handed him a napkin which he took quickly from my hand. I snickered and watched as he rolled his eyes.
"Okay, now tell me what you think about what I said while I look for a place to hide my face…"
I decided not to let his mortification go on and sighed ready to tell him as far as I could without giving out my intentions before he did his.
I couldn't understand my voluble attitude when it came to him and to some degree I hated I was giving him a chance to explain himself, but that nagging voice wouldn't shut up so there I was ready to fall on the same trap. God knew I deserved being laughed at for this.
And I said: "Yeah right. No way,
You're gonna play me again".
"I'm trying to work things out as I go." I stated not looking at him. "I'm not going to lie to you and say I'm going to fully trust you, 'cause I can't. You must understand that."
He nodded and picked at his food which now held no interest for him. Taking a sip of my lemonade, I went on.
"But you swear now and again that you've changed, and you want to show me." Jared nodded again but I wasn't able to decipher which emotion passed through his eyes. That scared me and knowing I had to take the risk to at least believe him at some point did not make it easier. "So do it."
"It's going to be-"
"On the other hand," I cut him off. One thing was playing along and deposit a little bit of my trust in him and other completely different was to give him green light to do with me as he wished. "We are not friends."
His face hardened and he stared gloomily at his food but nodded.
"And you can't go on kissing me whenever you feel like it." I added blushing from head to toe. Was I really forbidding Jared Thail to show me any kind of affection? Oh mad world. What was I doing to myself?
"I'm really sorry about that." I didn't know how to feel about him apologizing for kissing me. "I got carried away."
"You tend to do so, yeah." He shot me a winning smile despite having just told him I didn't rely on him and wanted him nowhere near me. "I don't think this is the best place to talk about…" I forced myself to say it. "…your feelings for me." I finished in a whisper. Jared heard it and nodded again.
"No need to feel embarrassed about it." Shrugging, he grabbed my hand which had been picking at the sandwich, which was now destroyed. "I was the one running my mouth out there."
Pulling my hand away from his grasp, I watched as his eyes dropped to the floor. It was as hard for him as it was for me it seemed. All I wanted to do at that moment was jump from my seat and snuggle with him in his chair. But that might never happen, and I had to remind myself of that.
Looking at my phone I saw we had five minutes left and sighed in dismay. Time flew by when I was with Jared.
"Your friends are coming to your aid,"
There in front of us where Lily, Angela and Kayla waiting for me impatiently. It was really annoying being stared at by your own friends, while you're trying to tell your crush that you don't trust him and telling yourself that things sometimes will never happen.
"I better go." I told Jared, although that was the last thing I wanted to do.
I couldn't show much affection towards him in front of my girls for what they would have my ass later. He looked like he was going to follow me but refrained himself to do so. Maybe I wanted to believe he didn't want me to go.
Waving at me from his seat he resumed eating his now cold food while my steps dragged me away and out of sight.
~º~º~º~ Connweller's house, much later ~º~º~º~
The fact that your friends hate the guts of your crush really sucks. It's way worse when they have a reason to do it. Stupid Jared.
"He apologized and thanked you for the chance." Lily's bored voice came from the phone.
"Yeah."
"And promised he wasn't going to take advantage of you anymore."
He did agree he wouldn't kiss me at wish, but he never promised not to take advantage. When had he done so anyway?
"Kayla, he never tried anything with me!" I couldn't believe she, out of all people, held the strongest dislike for Jared.
"Anything she wasn't ready for anyway."
"Oh yeah, so funny Ang." Rolling my eyes, I was tempted to hang up on them. Sometimes this four sided connection was a shitty thing. "You all promised to behave, so none of that parenting Kim crap now. You all hear me?" I was referring to their sudden desire to come for me before the bell went out. Five minutes could be decisive.
"Yes Capitan." Came the reply from the threesome.
"I'm going to bed, see you tomorrow." I wanted the day to finish so I could see Jared again and see what he was planning to show me. I couldn't tell them that. They would feel rejected and by none other than Jared. My friends were going to despise him even more if that was possible.
And you said: "Now this time is different.
I know you're gonna give in".
"Aw Kim, what a buzz kill, stay for another hour."
"An hour? Ang, I need my beauty sleep and its twenty past eleven already." I whined, pleading them to let me sleep.
"You're so boring," Ang said stretching the 'o' from boring for almost a minute. "See you tomorrow then!"
"Night Kimmy!"
"Good night!"
"Night girls."
I got on my PJ's and watched my reflection in the mirror. It had more life than a couple of weeks ago. Maybe accepting Jared was for a bigger purpose.
He said he was going to show me, and I was intrigued about what he had in store for me. I hoped it all were good things. I wished my lucky stars Jared wouldn't let me down.
In the darkness of my room, out in the chilly night I heard the howl of a wolf.
Guess that could be sign.
~º~º~º~ La Push High, next day ~º~º~º~
Next day was pretty uneventful but for the little incident in my bedroom when Emma came jumping over me, waking me up in the worst way possible. To top it off she wanted the last gossip firsthand since she heard about my meeting with Jared. Even if she disliked him- the whole chicks before dicks and the fact that I was her sister- Em surprised me supporting me, feebly, on giving him a sort of second chance. After that she confided me she was going to castrate him if he pulled other stunt like the first. A chill run down my spine knowing she would do it.
After the rough awakening, I found myself depressed over the fact that Jared was nowhere in sight. He wasn't by my side in Art class and wasn't present when lunch time came. I had to hide my profound disappointment each time someone entered the cafeteria and they weren't tall, dark and handsome.
It might be a wasted day, I thought sourly.
To make matters worse, Jared decided not to show up the following day either which made me more depressed. I open my heart to him and he disappears? Again? The atmosphere around me was depressing, but who could blame me? It was hard enough to trust him when I was actually watching over him and even then my imagination got the best of me. What's more, Paul did come to class- even if he was not paying attention- at least was there.
No no no no, never gonna give in
(yes you are, yes you are)
It was unnerving to have Paul looking at me 24/7. He did not know it, but being sneaky was not his best quality. Somehow I doubted he wanted to be, given that he would wink at me or wave as we were long term friends. Fortunately Angela wasn't by my side when he decided to act all weird, I wasn't sure I would have handled it correctly.
"Really? You're not going to ask me where is he?"
Leaning against his locker- which miserably was in front of mine- Paul stared, knowing something I obviously didn't.
"You want me to ask you?" I'm fed up with your mind games, leave me alone!
He laughed but went on with the charade. "You want to ask?"
"Should I want to?"
"Are you going to stop answering with questions?"
"Are you going to?"
He stared for a couple of minutes, daring me to look away. "You're cool enough Connweller."
He left laughing to himself while I wondered if I had been under some initiation ritual. God those boys were weird.
Dragging my feet to the next class I got lost in my thoughts. Where could he be? Was he with some girl while I was grumpy and irritable here in school? My head hurt at the thought. He could be sick too. But he had already been, or so he said. His disappearance is what worried me the most. Not just he turns back physically matured, but with new acquaintances, not caring about the lost ones. The Jared I knew would have never given his back on 'his people', but who was the Jared that had came back?
What was he doing with Sam and Paul roaming the woods? Why he never seemed cold? What had happened to him out there for him to change? Had Sam anything to do with it?
With a horrible headache I entered history class and sat alone at the back. Luckily there was Tanya looking boringly at her manicured hand- and I said luckily 'cause that meant Jared wasn't hooking up with her. Sighing with relief at least one question flew out of my mind. He was not with Tanya.
Not now.
How long could I go on like this? Doubting everything I knew about him? If I wanted this to work- and I tell you I wanted to with all my soul- I had to find answers on my own. There was no point at sitting back and wait for everyone to do the dirty work. If Jared was lying to me I wanted know ASAP. It was a small town, secrets couldn't go on forever. I decided to do a little investigation on my own.
Some people would call it stalking, but I call it an intense research of an individual. Plus it was for my own good.
Hours couldn't go any slower and I found myself doodling on my notebook. I would have to ask for these later, I thought bitterly. I hated to ask for someone's notes.
"Thought you'd never get out!"
Jordan was pacing in front of the car with his jacket wide open and his backpack on the floor. He looked like he had been quarreling- he probably had- and even if he was freezing he preferred to wear his scarf in total Jordan fashion: anywhere but around his neck.
"How was your day?" I asked in a sweeter voice than usual. He surely knew how to be a charmer. Rolling his eyes he got in the car and closed the door with a loud thump. Siblings in a bad mood were a pain in the ass.
After a couple of minutes, Em was goodbying her friends and running towards the car which I had previously ignited.
"How can you be so tardy?"
"Get the dwarf home quickly or he is going to piss his pants."
"I'm not dwarf!"
"Stop it!" Yelling was the only thing which got them under control. "Don't edge him on Em," She huffed and stared pointedly at the rear view mirror. "You're not prince charming today either Jordan, what has you in a fuss?"
"Nothing," He muttered grumpily.
"Jordan…"
We arrived at home safely and everyone bolted from the car going to their own bedrooms.
"And thanks to you too, have a good day!"
Talking alone in the driveway I held the keys on my hands while contemplating the idea of beginning my research that same day. I wrote a note saying I was going to Kayla's- I couldn't tell I was going to hunt Jared down- and left without saying goodbye since they were all Mr. Pissy pants.
~º~º~º~ La Push reservation, much much later ~º~º~º~
Driving across the reservation for an hour hadn't showed me anything interesting nor had I discovered Jared in any compromising situation. Passing his two story blue house I thought about paying him a visit. He had said he wanted to spend time with me, but I wasn't going to show interest. However, I couldn't shake the feeling something fishy was going on, and while before I would have relayed on the people I thought my friends, now I was going to take matter in my own hands.
I noticed Jared's car was in the driveway so he probably was at home. Other car was stationed behind his truck. What if he was with some girl inside his house?
I cannot just remind you what you put me through.
I believed everything you said you'd do.
Jealousy mixed with rage ate me away and without thinking it twice I got out of the car and knocked on the Thail's door furiously. I saw red while I thought he wasn't going to delude me into his games anymore. As was to be expected, after I had called so rudely at their door, the rational part of my brain-which had shut down previously- awoke and told me to make a run for it. But it was too late since a petite woman with a sweet face and happy smile was standing in front of me.
It could be his parent's car, you know?
"Hello dear,"
"Oh, hum, Hi Mrs. Thail." I said, my cheeks coloring. I stood there not knowing that to say or do. What do I do? What do I DO!
"You know me." The women stated curiously. She was ten times shorter than Jared, but his eyes and smile were definitely hers. "Sorry I don't know you hun."
"I'm…" A friend? No I'm not. Mental note: do not act on an impulse ever again!
The woman smiled and stretched her arm to shake my hand which I awkwardly did. While trying not to hyperventilate I thought about some excuse to get out of this mess. Unfortunately I found none. I looked like a gaping idiot.
"Good to meet you, ah-"
"Kimberly, Kim Connweller." I said embarrassed. I didn't want anyone to call me by my full name.
Her eyes widened in recognition, I didn't know of what kind and her smile grew even wider. Her breaths came in short gasps and I feared she was going to pass out. Just what I needed, to kill the mother of my… whatever Jared was.
"Are you Kim?"
The elation in her voice was scared me. Had Jared talked to her about me already? To his mom? What the…
"Ye-yes, from La Push Hi-"
"You are as beautiful as Jared described!" Now it was my time to pass out. "Oh darling, I've been waiting to meet you for weeks on end! You should give my son a break, I know a mother-in-law is used to be feared but I needed to meet you." She went on explaining how glad she was I finally made it and how she was going to give his son a good lashing for not telling her sooner so she could tidy up the house.
I saw myself being dragged inside a well decorated kitchen and was unable to form a coherent thought. What the hell had been Jared telling his mother? Mother-in-law what?
"Mrs. Thail I don't-" A little boy was munching some cookies looking at me expectantly. "Hello,"
He looked at his mom then at me and said shyly: "Hi, I'm Danni."
"Kim."
"Are you Jared's girlfriend?" Mini Jared asked me innocently. What do I say?
"Ah-"
"Oh, I'm sorry, sure you feel uncomfortable without Jared being here. I don't know where that kid has his mind." I'm I being punked?
The little boy with chestnut hair and hazel dark eyes stood up, kissed her mom's cheek and shook my hand politely. If his brother was as lovely..."He is on pat-"
"Baby-" His mother cut him off nervously. Her voice was an octave higher. "Go play in your room, okay?"
"Fine, nice to meet you Jared's girlfriend."
Before I could clarify I was not even his brother's friend the kid took off, his petite body bowing up and down while he trotted happily. Seeing the apprehension in my face, Mrs. Thail tried to placate my fear.
"He might be here in a few."
My blood ran cold. Then I need to get out in less than a few.
"I'm home!"
Too late. Wait, did I just hear the greeting coming from upstairs?
My suspicions were confirmed when I saw his approaching figure coming from upstairs. Why didn't he come in from the front door?
"Mom what-KIM!" He looked like a deer caught in the headlights. Probably I was the same. We stared at each other for like seemed like ages. "Go-good to see you." He smiled nervously looking from me to her mother who was suspiciously looking at the both of us.
"Hi." Awesome comeback, really as in brilliant.
"No need to be all awkward around me." Mrs. Thail laughed grabbing teabags from the cabinet. "When were you going to tell me I was going to meet famous Kim?" Scolding her son like a two year old must have been funny if not for the embarrassing situation I was in.
"Famous?"
"Um… mom,"
"Yeah honey, you would think he would control himself on talking about you, but being in a relationship makes it harder." She laughed.
"Jared, what relationship?" Asking out loud made Jared's mothers realize she had made a big mistake.
The three of us stared at each other in deafening silence comprehending the situation we were in. Mrs. Thail covered her mouth with her hand and widened her eyes at her son.
After all the cheating and the lies
Now I see you right through your disguise.
"You didn't know you were…" she trailed off unsure.
"Now she does." Jared mumbled dejected. Was I in some parallel world and I hadn't realized it? "Mom could you give us some, um, time to talk." He sat down on the farthest chair from me avoiding all eye contact.
"Sure," Mrs. Thail grabbed me by the shoulders and gave me a gentle squeeze. "I'm sorry I spilled the beans, sure there would be other time to meet under better circumstances."
"Of course Mrs. Thail, it was nice to meet you." She was such a cheerful woman with high spirits that I couldn't deny anything to her. Oh man, I am screwed.
She left and went upstairs shaking her head all the way. Fearful to turn around I stood there pondering if I could just run away now and get into the car before you can say 'mother-in-law'.
"I'm sorry about..." I felt Jared's presence behind me. "She tends to get carried away."
Despite the situation I laughed and faced him. His hands were trembling a little and I didn't know if it was because he was anxious or it had to do with his abnormal sickness.
"It must be genetic." Awkward. "Famous Kim? Care to explain that?"
He sighed and put his head in his big hands before giving me his answer.
"I have a tight relationship with my mom," he admitted blushing lightly. "I tell her a lot of things and you have been the only thing in my mind since-"he stopped short and looked panicky.
"Since?" Pressuring him never seemed to give me the answers I wanted but I tried nonetheless.
"Since I was such a jerk to you." It did not seem what he was going to say, but it was all I was going to get. "I told her how much I like you and…"
Jared couldn't bring himself to finish the explanation but I wasn't going to leave before he told me why her mom was ready to make wedding plans when I first arrived.
"Jared," I said gently. Just saying his name seemed to soothe him strangely. "It's okay, but when I came in she was talking as if I was your girlfriend and I quote 'I know a mother-in-law is used to be feared', in law?"
He groaned and laughed humorlessly. "I told her…"
"Some huge lie."
Putting his hand in his pockets he swayed his long form unsure how to say the next thing.
"I told her about you long ago," I nodded my head, blushing lightly. "And I might have implicated…" It wasn't looking good. "That… ." He finished in a humble.
"What?" Jared looked mortified enough to plead me to let it go but I wouldn't. Not now that I had went through so much.
"I told her first time you came here, you would…" he flinched. "…would already be my girlfriend?"
The way he ended it like a question made me laugh. He looked hurt I had laughed at him and I apologized quickly.
Then it dawned on me, he had already told his family we would date? If there was something I hated, was the feeling that someone could have complete control over me or take my decisions and choices away. I felt my blood boil at the mere thought that he could even think that just by his charming attitude he could have me dancing like a damn puppet. I was not a thing to own and much less to have for granted. I hated he had not considered that there might be the chance I wanted nothing to do with him when I was telling him so. Even if he looked abashed like he understood why I didn't want to see him he knew I was going to fall for him again. The nerve!
Do You think, just maybe, that I won't take you back again?
"So despite of my rejections to your advances, you told your mom we were going to get freaking married!" I hissed pocking at his chest.
"More or less." I gasped at his bluntness and felt the need to smack him. Hard. Jared was faster than me and grabbed my wrist. "Sorry, but you wouldn't want to do that."
"Oh yes, I want to." I stared daringly as his handsome face now inches away from mine.
"Kim don't you see?"
"See what? And your puppy dog eyes are not working on me this time!" Pulling away my hand I grabbed my bag and headed for the door but was stopped by Jared who was already there. How did he get here that fast?
"I told my mom, MOM," he repeated for good measure. "About you and how I feel about you, I wouldn't have done it if what I felt for you wasn't true."
He had a point. I also didn't want to give in. He needed to prove himself changed and a better man if he wanted to talk to me ever again. His stare was so intense I could hardly disagree with him.
"That's really sweet of you," Looking at him my voice dripped with sarcasm. "But you thought you already had me under your thumb didn't you?"
"It's not that,"
"You can't go assuming people feelings or reactions!" I was infuriated.
"I don't, but you are at least interested in me." Stating it as a matter of fact made me even angrier.
"Maybe I'm not after all."
Staring defiantly at each other in front of his front door he stepped closer to me. "You're not?" He asked amused much to my dismay. I wasn't able to fool anyone, was I?
Shaking my head from left to right I put on my cooler mask and for a moment it seemed to do the trick but a petty smile appeared in his face. My confidence wavered with each tickling second.
"If you don't care, as you say you don't," He was being fully sarcastic now and I hated it. "What were you doing here?"
He had another point. Damn him!
"Our teacher asked me to bring your homework." Oh my God, why was I lying again? "Since you didn't even make an appearance for two days." I said cheekily.
"So it's this what is all about?" This time was good as any to leave so I took steps back trying to find the knob with my back at the door. "You wanted to see what I was doing? You wanted to see if I was cheating?"
Score.
"I said homework."
Opening the door I left Jared on his front porch smiling snidely at me and asked me when I was getting into my car. "Where are my notebooks?"
I found a used notepad full of drawings baby Hally did while bored on long trips. I grabbed it and threw it at him and took off pissed off like I had never been.
Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.
But I wasn't going to give him that pleasure.
~º~º~º~La Push high, Friday ~º~º~º~
"Certainly, don't know what to say."
Those were the only words Kayla could muster after my rant about what had happened hours earlier. Not one detail escaped me, not even the suspicious way Jared arrived. Mrs. Thail wasn't even faced at the fact that her son hadn't used the front door. My friend nodded and gasped in all the right places while I ran out of air. I was really pissed at him and his laid-back behavior. My twisted life got even more confusing when I realized his feelings for me were no joke. That or his mom was on the prank.
"He has the balls," I yell whispered given that I didn't want anyone in her house to hear my foul vocabulary. "…to smirk like a damn know it all." If Lily had been there she would cheering me for cussing Jared, but alas she had to babysit her siblings. Angela couldn't make it either because she was with some aunt in Seattle. At least Kayla was there to hear me out.
"Relax, Kim, breathe through your nose." Her bedroom smell like baked goods which made it pretty disorientating.
"I can't! How can someone irk me so much and yet get to me so bad like he does?"
Almost tearing up I grabbed a pillow and punched like it was Jared's face. Kayla smiled ruefully at me shaking her head. I knew what she was thinking: I was doing such a big deal from nothing and giving Jared way to much importance in my life. She was right, there was no denying it, but I was way too gone to turn back now. Damn hormones.
You Loser, you're crazy to think that I would let you in.
What you try to do to me?
"Maybe you should let things flow, let them be the way they are supposed to." She was so wise. I nodded my head but I wasn't getting the whole picture. "You didn't understand what I said."
"At all."
Kayla's laugh was funny- really funny- the ones which were way funnier than the joke. After hearing her striking laugh, ended with an involuntary snort, she told me I had to stop controlling Jared. I'm going to say this one final time: I did not stalk Jared Thail. She apologized- not really meaning it- explaining I was way too obsessed with the idea of having a fairy tale like relationship with him. I had the right to have my guard up but even then things should come naturally. If they didn't, then we weren't mean to be.
"Maybe you are right there." I was still grumpy from her earlier assumption, Jared wasn't that important.
"Stop grumbling like an old lady," she giggled. Grabbing the phone she sent me a mischievous look. "I know exactly what you need."
"Hey, runaway daughter-in-law."
"It's not funny!"
"Yes it was." I gaped at Leah who was behind us shaking her head. She sat down and acted like she had said nothing.
Of course it was, but I wasn't going to admit it. Angela laughed openly grabbing her belly while Lily whipped the tears from her eyes. How Leah had found out, I didn't want to know. I glared at them for not being understanding. I had a hard time at the Thail's, and they just laughed at me. They were lucky I loved them enough not to run them over with my truck.
Yesterday when I told Kayla about my escapade she had insisted on the idea that I had to chill and casually she had a cousin of sorts who was giving a party far from home. He had invited her last weekend although her mom had refused to let her go. She had called Lily and Angela to know if they were up to it, which they definitely were.
We were in chemistry- I was, the rest just wanted to make fun of me- and I couldn't look at Jared's eyes when he came in looking frantic. His eyes settled on me and he calmed down and smiled. I heard more giggling around me and hushed my oh so supportive friends.
"Anyway," Lily cut off our staring fest. "Friday night it's going to be awesome!"
"How are we going to get out?"
"Oh, my little sweet innocent Angela, we have our ways."
Lily thought we were Charlie's Angels or something like that and she just winked and said that we will see. We talked a little bit more about our plans- mostly where Kayla's cousin lived- while I watched Jared sift uneasy on his seat.
Next to me sat Nick Parker, you would call him a nerd, but he was a really sweet guy, unfortunately he wasn't blessed with good looks. Jared approached our table and spoke quietly to my partner. I decided to ignore him, but snapped my head at him when I saw Jared sat next to me and poor Nick moving to the front of the class.
"Hey,"
"We are going to go, now." I seriously doubted my friends had any sort of kind feelings towards me.
"No, girls wait!"
They could have stayed till the teacher arrived, but they seemed to hate me and left singing: Call me, beep me if ya wanna reach me. I mumbled a curse to them, which only Jared heard and turned my back to him. I will not put up with this idiot today. I could hear his deep laugh behind me and my face flushed crimson. I really liked Kim Possible TV show, but that song was going to be the death of me.
I'm never, I'm never, I'm never going back to
the place where we started.
"Come on, I'm in the dog house again?"
Jared laughed at his own joke which I found rather sad and poked my sides with his long fingers. I wanted to stay mad, but I was way too ticklish and squirmed till I swatted his hands away. He pouted and gave me his best puppy dog eyes and I had to put all my will on ignoring him.
"You can look at it, but you cannot touch it." With that I hoped he would pay attention to class at least for the first time in his life.
"We will see."
I felt the need to break my pencil in two, thinking it was his neck. Where this frustration and aggressiveness does comes from? I was regretting opening myself to Jared, all I got in reprieve was a headache and letting me feel edgy. I felt I was getting the short end of the stick. Prick.
Rolling my eyes I proposed not to let it affect me, at least not until tomorrow. I've been avoiding him for week I could do it till next day.
It was easier than I expected since Jared controlled himself and held back all the touchy shit with me. Every time he talked to me I kept my answers short and thought about getting out of the reservation at night. I hoped fresh air would clear my mind.
~º~º~º~ Outside the reservation, that night~º~º~º~
"Okay, this is not what I had in mind when you said I had to relax."
"This is the best way to do so! Drinks, music, friends and boys to take your mind off of things."
Maybe Lily wasn't getting that BOYS had dragged me into this never ending headache. I ignored that because she was right about the drinks, music and friends. It had been too long since I had danced in a party. Last time with Paul's odd behavior, Jared's odd flirting abilities and Tanya's odd cheating- scratch that, she was a skank- the whole event was pretty…Odd.
But today was different, I willed myself to believe. For starters we were at some Kayla's cousin birthday party and there were no acquaintances from school. We weren't even in the reservation. I thought we passed the 'Welcome to the Makah reservation sign'. People here were "old", as in twenty or so years old, but hey I wasn't going to complain, they looked fine.
Not as fine as Jared though.
Rolling my eyes at my stupid inner self we got in behind Kayla who was in her element given it was a relative of hers we were visiting. After greeting birthday boy and his girlfriend, Oliver- birthday boy- led us to his enormous backyard where the part was being held. He got us a non alcoholic drink then winked and grabbed a bottle with a black drink on it.
"Don't tell your mom," He whispered to my friend then waved at us. "This is your house."
Bowing he disappeared with his giggling girlfriend by his side. Oliver was cute and I guessed fun to be around.
"What's him yours again?" I asked Kayla.
She seemed thoughtful for a moment then said: "He is my ex-political aunt's stepson."
"As in, nothing yours."
"At all." Giggling she remind me when I told her the same line.
"If my mom ever calls Jasmine, we are all in for lots and lots of pain."
"Ang, don't call bad weather." Lily slapped Angela's back while grabbing my hand. "Ems got our back right?"
"I hope so." My older sister had done it a couple of times and owed me, but we couldn't be sure. You should have your friends near and your enemies even nearer.
Our parents were permissive when it came to our outings, but they would have never let us out of the reservation to party in some far relative house of ours. I was sure mom and dad let me go to Tia's party because Em knew her, they knew her and I was going to be supervised, or so they thought. So we figured up a way to not to let them know where we were. My friends said they were staying in my house, while I told Jasmine we were at Lily's, where her brother would cover us up. We called for trouble, but then again we wanted to have fun.
Mingling with the guests we sipped on our drinks while hearing the beat coming out through the speakers. We even heard Oliver's best friend was friends with Michael Ridens- hot famous supermodel- and maybe he was going to pass by. My spirits lifted seeing all the bodies pumping at the rhythm of 'Rude Boy'. That day I didn't want to think about all the confusion waiting for me back at school. Teenage drama could take a toll on you.
You're never gonna break through.
It was like being in a club, with lots of unknown people to dance with but we didn't spend one dollar on drinks. I had to remember Kayla to get Oliver an awesome big present. Twirling and swaying our hips we were enjoying our time with a bunch of girls wanting to call the attention of a group of guys staring back at them. Or us, I didn't know and I didn't care.
Halfway into "Fire burning in the dance floor" Angela pleaded for a break. We were dehydrated and complete worn out.
"Hey,"
Pouring ourselves another drink- I had lost count on how many we had had- we heard a deep voice came from behind. I turned to see a tall lanky boy with blonde long hair introducing his friends to mines. We weren't sure how much older they were but if they didn't try something fishy with us then, all cool. Peter-Pete as he like to call himself- insisted on having me drinking from his glass, which I politely refused. It was kind of a turn off that he was staring at me with such intensity.
"We are going to take a break."
"Another?" Lily replied looking directly at Thomas- Pete's friend.
"Yes, another, come on Lil."
Grabbing her arm I told the group of guys we would be back in a while. They nodded their heads and watched us leave and I could swear I saw "Pete" checking my ass all the way. Disturbing. We lounged in the living room drinking some more, without morons trying to look at our cleavage. In the middle of a discussion of which guy would be the hottest catch we heard a commotion in the backyard. A couple of girls passed by gushing out about Mr. Hotness & co. Guys here were all right, but not further than that.
"Well, if some hot guy is in there, what are we doing here?"
Laughing at Angela's comment we went to find out what the ruckus was about. Once there, blinking stupidly trying to focus my eyes I thought maybe in my drunken state I was hallucinating. Vodka could do that to you.
"Tell me I'm way too drunk and that's not..."
No no no no, never gonna give in
(yes you are, yes you are)
My whining made it more real as they turned around and looked directly at us. Suddenly all the alcohol rushed out of my system as I watched him making his way toward me. There was no point at running mostly because I was too far from home and probably if I tried I would have tripped or puked, or both.
Kayla with eyes as big as saucepans holds a hand in front of her mouth stopping her guffaws but failing. "You are way too drunk, but THAT," she said pointing directly at the boy coming our way. "It's definitely Jared."
No no no no, never gonna give in
Show me some love! :D I always forget things I want to say, so yeah, in the next update I would be like: oh and this and that. Whatever. XOXO!
