AN: No I do not own Twilight, da da da da da. We get it. I don't wanna be sued. Anyways. I know it's been a long time. I had a disgusting case of writers block and have recently found my inspiration. Note that this chapter is dramatic and confusing. It's supposed to be. Summer and Paul are both very dramatic and temperamental, even if Summer does come off innocent and sweet sometimes, she has a bad temper and likes to jump to conclusions, much like most teenage girls. Anyways, on with the show everyone.

Should have another chapter out sometime tomorrow!

Sincerely, Stephanie.

Vexation

Chapter 9

SummerPOV

I needed to stop passing out. It was becoming a bit of a habit, one that I seriously needed to break. I never used to faint, not ever. Okay, maybe not 'not ever' but since moving to La Push, me passing out has been a taxingly reoccurring event.

Surround yourself with mythical beasts and I guess that's just the way it goes, unfortunately for those of us who were human and easily overwhelmed. I wondered idly to myself, in my half-awake-half-asleep, foggy brain, about my reason for unconsciousness this time. I remembered vaguely seeing Paul's face, and hell of a lot of Emily. I remember not being able to breathe, but what caused the panic attack was lost on me.

Figures.

My body felt like jello and when I tried to open my eyes it seemed like they were glued shut. Aggravated, I began to twitch around, trying in vain to work away the pins and needles that'd developed in my limbs. God I hated that. All my rustling about must have been louder than I thought because no longer than a minute had passed before there were voices surrounding me on all sides. I felt an odd sense of déjà vu.

"Ugh. Shut the hell up!" I groaned loudly, surprised by the actual volume and the completely satisfactory result. The room was silent for barely a heart beat before a boisterous voice had me cringing into what I only assumed was a pillow.

"I think you're a bad influence on her, Paul." Collin laughed loudly, completely ignoring me and causing a ringing to go off in my ears. Ugh. His voice. At that moment it reminded me of nails on chalkboard and I wanted to gouge his eyes out.

"Yeah, Sweet little Summer, never used to swear before you got your teeth in her." Brady agreed and before anyone could respond the pillow was gone from behind my head and soaring hazardously in the direction of his voice.

My eyes finally opened just in time to see my unexpected aerial attack make perfect impact with his smiling face. When the pillow fell, so did his smile and I'd relished the silence in which my action caused, actually relished it.

"I told you to shut the hell up, Brady." I snapped, sitting up on my elbows and raising one demanding eyebrow at his startled face. He glanced around at everyone else in the room, not meeting my eye, and I took the chance to take in my surroundings. I was in Emily and Sam's living room. Of course, and it looked like the entire pack was there, cramped up in the small space.

I hadn't even noticed, which was odd considering how usually in tune we are to each other, that Paul was kneeling at my side, looking down on me with concern, while everyone else hung back, positioning themselves in anywhere they could in the small room.

I met his troubled honey eyes with interest. I felt a little bit off, a little bit too sarcastic to be normal, but I chalked it up to the whole unconscious thing and pushed past it.

Paying closer attention to My Paul, I noticed the worry lines etched into his beautiful face. Reaching out a careful hand, I rain the length of them and his face relaxed under my touch, forcing the lines away. I traced his features quietly, stopping when I got to his impressive jaw line, curling around his chin and pulling his face up more towards mine.

Never moving my eyes from his, I leaned slowly towards him and pressed my lips deliberately against his own. Heat erupted all throughout my body, my eyes snapped shut and I pressed my mouth harder to his. Loving the feelings just that simple touch gave me. He let my stay there for a few seconds before he began to retreat, and my instincts kicked in. My hand stayed firmly on his chin while the other snaked up and into his thick black hair, holding him securely to me, moving my mouth against his soundly.

I didn't know what was with me. I'd never been so forward with him, well, not while kissing anyway, and especially not with all our friends in the same room. I just couldn't rein in my body. It craved his in a way that was confusing to me and I pressed on with everything I had, opening my lips just enough so my tongue could slip out and run along his burning bottom lip. I traced it slowly, wanting access but not knowing how to get it.

I felt his hot hands trace from my hips to my shoulders and I cherished the victory of him finally responding to the kiss. That was, until his obviously stronger hands pushed me gently but most definitely insistently away from him. And when our lips parted with a soft popping sound my eyes shot open to meet his. The yellow of them didn't startle me, if anything it was urging me on, and if he wasn't holding me away I'd probably be kissing him again. He always wanted me when his eyes were glowing that yellow. Even if he ever denied it, his wolf wouldn't and his wolf wanted me. Desperately.

A slow smile curled my lips at the sight.

It was quiet in the room around us, save for Paul's slow, heavy breaths and my soft pants. I could only see him. At the moment I didn't care about what anyone else thought, I'd most definitely be embarrassed soon enough, I didn't want to ruin the intense moment quicker than needed.

"That was kind of hot. . ." Quil murmured quietly, but with the silence of the room it echoed around as if he'd shouted. Everyone's eyes snapped to him, including Paul and I. Quil was blushing slightly, but otherwise standing by his initial statement.

It was silent for a beat and then I couldn't help myself. A giggled erupted from me, practically bouncing around the room with its volume. Quil's returning smile was blinding and he too began to laugh. Jared was next, though his seemed a bit more forced than that of mine or Quil's. Everyone else either seemed to smile, or didn't know how to react. Some were just looking at Paul and me in confusion. It was a known fact that Paul and I had been pretty platonic, up until a couple seconds ago.

Speaking of my wolf, he was just looking at me; not exactly curious, but openly confused and slightly cautious, as though I was going to lash out at him. Given my previously uncharacteristic behavior I didn't exactly blame him. It still kind of hurt that he looked at me that way, as though I was an unstable animal.

I tried to make the connection between then and earlier that day when he'd seemed to love kissing me. He appeared like a completely different person, as though we'd never kissed before then and he didn't know how to respond, like he was trying not to hurt my feelings by saying he wasn't interested.

Paul's hands fell from my shoulders, barely tugging on the long blonde strands hanging around me.

I cleared my throat noisily, ghosting my eyes away from Paul's. Now that my weird bout of confidence had faded I felt seriously meek, and I hated the way he was watching me.

"So," I coughed, "what happened?" I asked no one in particular, but my eyes sought out Sam, given his Alpha status. He met my look head on from where he was situated near the entrance to the kitchen with Em in his lap.

"Before or after you played sleeping beauty?" he teased, cocking an eyebrow just like I had earlier. I realized with exasperation that these wolves had indeed rubbed off on in me. Damn, Collin for being right.

"Both."I shrugged, ignoring his baiting. Without bringing my eyes to Paul's I slowly moved into a sitting position, thankful that my body was responding now. I crossed my arms over my chest and pulled my legs up under me into a crisscross position, trying to make myself as small as possible.

Paul got up off of the floor and sat next to me on the couch. Much farther away than I would have ever wanted him to be, but I said nothing, letting my eyes drop to the floor where they stayed. I hadn't realized how much kissing me would disgust him, how much he obviously hated it. And in that instant I hated myself for practically forcing myself on him.

I thought back on my earlier statement, how it didn't matter if he didn't want me, that his wolf always would. I understood then that it did matter, of course it mattered. It mattered so much that my stomach rolled anxiously and a distinct tightening in my chest began again.

"Well," Sam started, and I tried hard to ignore the distance between me and my wolf and listen to him. "We were having a pack meeting, and Paul was getting sort of worked up, which I'm sure is what caused your anxiousness at the house earlier. Though, I'm not sure why you fainted from that."

Sam looked off, thinking about it his own words for a moment. The pack was quiet, watching on for their Alpha's next words. It was bothering me how quiet Paul was. He was never quiet, especially not when it concerned me. My chest tightened more, my pulse racing as I began to panic.

"We were hoping you could answer that for us. As for after you passed out, we were close by and heard Emily yelling. We came straight here. You were already almost gone when we came in. Paul moved you to the couch and we've been here since. This was roughly about twenty minutes ago. So you haven't really missed much." Sam continued, turning his gaze on me. His eyes narrowed when he took in my panicked expression.

"What happened at the meeting?"

"Nothing to concern you, Summer." He didn't say it harshly, but I knew the subject wasn't up for discussion. I wanted to argue, but I figured if it was really bad, they'd tell me, or at least Emily, so she could reassure me. Pressing on, I answered his semi-unasked question.

"I- I don't really remember what happened," I stuttered out, wrapping my arms more firmly around myself. My eyes snapped from his to the ground again. "I just remember thinking something was wrong with Paul and then everything got fuzzy from there. . ." I trailed off softly. I know the only reason any of them heard me was because of their sensitive hearing, seeing as my voice was barely a whisper now.

"Alright, Summer." He sighed, and I could tell from his voice that he was disappointed, in my lack of detail or my meek appearance, maybe both. I wasn't sure.

"How about we give her some space, huh?" Emily asked from her perch on Sam. I didn't need to look up to know they'd all leave. And they did. Every one of them filed out of the room and into the kitchen quietly, only beginning to chat when they entered it. What I wasn't prepared for was the shifting on the couch next to me, or the sight of Paul's large tan feet as he passed me to leave the room. As he left me.

The tightening in my chest stopped. But in its place was a gaping hole that I didn't know how to fix. Is this how it would be now? He'd ignore me? Had I pushed him too far? I didn't think it was possible to push Paul too far. He was usually the one pushing people, being vulgar, being rude…

I felt like I had those weeks when we were apart, when he'd said he didn't want me. But it was worse now, because at least then he'd yelled, he'd shouted at me, he'd told me he hated me. He didn't even bother to say anything to me now. Obviously I wasn't worth the effort.

So I did the only thing I could do, I sat on the couch and starred, at nothing in particular and waited for someone to take me home. Because no matter where I went in this house at the moment, I'd feel unwelcome. I wanted to leave. So I waited, silently, patiently, numbly.

I could tell the difference between the guys easily now. So as I stared blankly at the floor and let the tears finally flow I knew it was Jared who kneeled in front of me, even before his face came into view.

"Are you alright, Sweet Stuff?" he asked softly, reaching up to brush the tears away. They fell even more heavily with his actions, knowing that he wasn't the one I needed to be chasing away the sadness. But that person obviously wasn't up for the job, so I felt grateful to Jared, even if it was just sympathy, it was more than anyone else seemed to want to give me.

"He's mad. He's so mad." I breathed, casting my gaze up at the ceiling and attempting to blink away the liquid from my eyes.

"He's not mad at you, Sweetheart," Jared denied, and even though there was conviction in his voice I knew it was a lie. I knew Paul was mad. He was always mad at me.

"If he wasn't," I laughed roughly, the sound not at all happy, "If he wasn't mad, then he'd be here drying my tears instead of you. If he wasn't completely disgusted by me then he wouldn't have fucking bolted as soon as he was able to!" I snarled at Jared, standing up abruptly in a fit of rage, nearly knocking him to the floor with the motion. He stood too, concern on his face. But I didn't want it.

"Trust me, Summer. He isn't anywhere near disgusted by you. . ." he started, holding his hands up, as though I was holding him by gunpoint, which it might have felt like to him considering my sporadically angry behavior.

I knew this wasn't his fault. I wasn't so far gone that I'd start blaming people, especially not Jared, but I was angry and hurt and my self-esteem had taken a nose dive, so I wasn't exactly thinking when I reacted next.

"I threw myself at him!" I shouted, my hands flying into the air, and I barely registered the once loud kitchen was now silent. "Not even just a couple of minutes ago. Earlier today too, right before you told him about the meeting, but at least then it was him too. Or that's what I thought. I guess not. Maybe this is just all in my head." I was crying even harder now, sobbing almost and all I wanted to do was leave, to curl up under a rock and never come out.

"And I thought he wanted me!" I continued, though Jared tried to cut in, but I didn't let him, I laughed harshly again, pacing quickly towards the front door. "What a joke. How could he? Not when he looks at me the way he does. Not when he's so obviously stuck with me against his will. This fucking imprint. His wolf wants me Jared, that's true, but Paul doesn't. And I don't think he ever will."

I'd made up my mind. I wouldn't inconvienince them anymore. I'd walk my happy ass home before I'd ask one of them to take me. Coming here was a terrible idea. Moving to this Godforsaken town would be the death of me. I wasn't going to wait long enough to find out.

I swung the door open, pausing to look back once more at Jared's distraught face. I knew this wasn't his fault, nor was it good of me to push all my drama on him, but I couldn't stop myself. And I had one more thing to say to him.

"I know he can hear me. I know they all can. I don't care. I'm saying this to you, Jared, because you say you're my friend. But, you're his too. Just," I paused, taking a deep breath and calming myself, "tell him that he doesn't have to do this anymore. Tell him I'm letting him go. And that I'm sorry, about making a scene at his friends' house, about putting his best friend on the spot like I am. I'm just really sorry."

Jared just watched me, slack jawed, his eyes devastated, but he didn't speak. And that was enough for me.

"I'll see you later, Jared." I breathed sadly. Pushing through the still open door, I walked down the old wooden steps, and down the road to my Aunt's house, only pausing in my course when I was far enough away that they couldn't hear me. When I was far enough away that they wouldn't listen to me break down farther, where they couldn't see the way my heart was practically ripping itself out of my chest.

Resting against an old tree on the side of the run down road, I let out all my emotions, slumping far down with my head in my hands, I sobbed. I must have sat there longer than I thought because in the next second I was startled into awareness by a hulking figure in front of me.

It was large and bulky, like one of the wolves and I was instantly on the defense hoping to god I wouldn't need to explain this to one of them. The shape was far enough away that I couldn't see who it was in the dim light from the moon, but I could see how the shape changed, became thinner and more human looking, until if I didn't know better, I'd think the person was Paul or Jared. But they didn't feel the same to me. This person seemed familiar but completely new at the same time.

And then I knew why.

"Funny seeing you here, Beautiful." The man's voice was rich and smooth, and soothingly deep for my aching head. He stepped into the dim light streaming in through the heavy trees that lined the road, and before I even caught sight of his face I was thanking heaven for the fact that he had the decency to put on some pants after he shifted.

My gaze moved up long, muscled legs under dark blue jeans to washboard abs that reminded me of Paul so much that it sent my mind reeling, skin the same shade of all Quileute's, impressive Pecs and toned arms, with wide shoulders packed with muscle. My eyes raked up his neck to his jaw, which looked more and more like Paul than I was comfortable with. Then my gaze caught on the light tone of the man's hair, the barely brown color not usual for the tribe.

I snapped my eyes to his face and was met with mischievous emerald eyes, the color so bright and vibrant that it astounded me. And I realized suddenly that I knew him. I knew him. There was no way I could have forgotten someone as exotic as him.

"Cal?"

Review Review Review. I know I always say this, but seriously, it does give me initiative to write faster.