Shorter than previous chapters, but I just wanted to get something out there.

As usual, I own nothing.

Chapter 10

When my mom finally left for work, I was as ready as one could be for a homework session with the guy she had been crushing for the better half of her teenage years. I decided to wait on the front porch even though I ran the risk of looking like the loneliest loser when he finally did show up. I didn't need to worry though, because after waiting almost 2 hours, it became clear even to me that he wasn't going to show up. Swallowing my pride, I went back into my house defeated and made a start on my calculus.

I couldn't believe him. Just when I start to believe his bullshit story about wanting to be 'friends', he goes and pulls a stunt like this. David came over later that night. That's when I figured it out. The Gods had it in for me. As long as I lived, there would be obstacle after obstacle.

"Kimmy! I trust last night was fun?" He waltzed into the kitchen where I was helping my mum prepare dinner. The douche really had a death wish.

"You should know. A curfew at 10 doesn't really spell fun does it?" I cocked an eyebrow at him, and saw my mom smirk from the corner of my vision. She knew to stay out of it. He shrugged it off nonchalantly. Snakes like David knew how to get out of tough situations.

"Just looking out for ya kid" he adopted a hurt look, which instantly made my mom switch sides. Touché Dave, touché

We ate dinner without bloodshed, which is saying something for us, and I escaped to my room. I had to mentally prepare myself for school the next morning. And Jared.

School wasn't anything special. Esther was still her usual charming self, and my morning classes passed by in a blur. Time slowed down a whole bunch when it came to lunch though. I had just started in on my pasta salad, when I felt someone plop themselves down next to me. I immediately knew who it was, and for that reason I refused to lift my head.

"Can I help?" all the humiliation from yesterday manifested itself into my harsh tone and I heard his sharp intake of breath. I knew he would disappoint me sooner or later, but was it bad that I had hoped for later?

"I just wanted to apologise for yesterday" he spoke quickly and quietly as if afraid of my reaction.

"Yeah, well, apology not accepted" I was sticking to my guns about this one. I wasn't something to be played around with. I had feelings too; whether he believed it or not.

"Kim, something really important came up I swear" part of me wanted to believe him just for the sheer emotion behind his voice, but the rational side of my mind reared its ugly head and reminded me of the disappointment I'd felt yesterday.

"What was so important that you couldn't have called" good Kim, my mental voice praised me.

"I can't tell you that right now, but please believe me when I say that I would have been there under any other circumstance" He couldn't tell me? If I hadn't said it before, something was off about Jared. Had been since he came back to school all buff and stuff.

"Yeah, well. I'm too busy to have you in my social circle anyway" I sniffed sarcastically. I wasn't usually this snarky, but I had decided enough with the bullshitting. Either people started treating me with respect like they did any other human, or they could hit the road.

"Kim, please understand when I say you're one of the most important people in my life" and now this? What gives? He'd never even acknowledged my existence until very recently. My stalkerish side would have been jumping for joy, if rational Kim wasn't running things right now.

"You barely even spoke to me last year, or all the other years we've been going to school together. That doesn't really spell important in my books. Anyway,I have to go" and with that, I hightailed it out of the cafeteria. I ended up walking around for a while, since I was way too early for class. I did pass a brooding Jacob in the halls, but the look on his face put me off approaching him for any chitchat.

The rest of the afternoon passed by quickly enough. Whilst waiting for my bus, I spied Jared standing near his car, and looking my way every few seconds. He looked like he was debating something with himself, but thankfully the bus came before he could come over and try to feed me half assed answers again.

What I wasn't expecting however was Jared to beat me to my house and be lying in wait, ready for an ambush.

"And now you're following me home? I got to say, you're not really earning yourself points for forgiveness" I was exasperated, and tired of being fooled. On top of that, David and his creepy self would undoubtedly be making an appearance tonight, so could you really blame me for losing my cool like that? Right now, I just wanted to dive under my covers and never resurface.

"Kim, please. I can't take you being angry with me. It's gonna drive me crazy." He looked as about close to tears as I've ever seen Jared Thail. Could I really be affecting him that much? A weird tugging in my chest was persuading me to just forgive and forget. I'm not usually an angry person and it must have been taking a toll on me physically.

"If I say I'll think about it, will you leave me in peace?" emotions of relief and shock chased each other across his face, before he composed his features.

"Sure, but does that mean I can at least drive you to school tomorrow?" he asked earnestly.

"I'll think about it" I warned again before making for my front door. Only when a good 5 minutes had passed did I hear his truck start up and pull away from my house.

My mom got home late that night with David in tow. They probably thought I was asleep which would explain the make-out noises I could hear from her room. Graduation needed to get its ass here quickly. I couldn't wait to break free from this place and the shackles it had on me. In a year's time, I would be getting ready to leave La Push once and for all.

Sleep was quite difficult that night due to the constant howling of wolves. Being a native of La Push, I was used to the wolves that resided here, but they had never sounded so close to my house before. I felt as if this particular one would be sitting outside my window if I was to open the drapes.

Due to said howling, I was especially cranky the next morning. Not so good for a bumbling Jared who had shown up to 'escort' me to school. I was so used to seeing Jared as the smooth talking ladies' man he had been before leaving school for that period of time, that seeing him like this sometimes freaked me out. I was supposed to be the nervous one in this friendship. When I wasn't angry that is.

"Before you say anything, I know that this might not be ok with you yet, but it's raining like crazy today and I'm not gonna let you walk all the way to school." he rushed out. Probably after seeing my sour expression.

"It rains everyday here" was all I said before moving towards the truck. Hey, I wasn't going to outright deny an easy ride to school. The journey seemed to pass by relatively quickly, with Jared trying and failing to make small talk. Sometimes a girl just wasn't in the mood.

And there ya go. David is gonna start getting very creepy soon...and Jared will continue being Jared XD

Thanks to all reviewers. Your words are much appreciated :)

Hope you enjoyed x