AN: I guess one more short chapter won't hurt. ;)

"What the hell was that about?" Jared asked once he and Paul were out on the school parking lot.

"I'll meet you at Emily's," was all Paul said. He shoved his backpack onto Jared. He took off his shirt and flung it on Jared before taking off towards the forest. Once in the forest, Paul easily phased into a wolf. \

'What's going on, Paul?' Paul replayed his entire conversation with Kourtney. Paul could hear Sam sigh.

'Maybe you should stay home for the rest of the week.'

'I'm not missing anymore classes, Sam!'

'You mean school is the only time you get to see Kourtney.' Paul didn't reply. Sam was right. Paul didn't care so much for school anymore. All he wanted was to see Kourtney and be near her.

'I need to tell her Sam,' Paul pleaded.

'No! You will not tell her!' Paul felt the alpha command stick in his mind.

'Damn it!'

'Paul, you need to control your phasing. Obviously whatever is going on with you and Kourtney is affecting your emotions. You can't be near here.'

'Sam you know I need to be!'

'Then prove to me that you can be around her and other people and still be able to keep your phasing in check! I can't keep sending Jared to your school to check on you! I need help with patrolling the treaty line especially with Charlie Swan's daughter hanging around the Cullens!'

Paul got even more angry with the mentioning of the Cullens. It was their fault he was what he was. Sure it was in his genes, but it wouldn't have been triggered if the leeches hadn't been around. Paul heard Sam sigh again.

'Take over for me. Obviously you're too worked up to phased back.' With that Paul was left to his own thoughts again.

.-~*~-..-~*~-..-~*~-.

It was Friday, the last day of homecoming week and the day of the homecoming game. Paul obeyed Sam's orders of staying home from school, but he practically bugged Sam and Jared about being able to be in school just for that day. Classes were all shortened and crammed into the beginning half of the day. The students would then be treated to a special lunch provided by River's Edge Restaurant before filing into the gym for the pep rally.

'He just wants to see Kourtney in those short cheerleading skirts,' Jared teased.

'Does Kim know you've been looking at the cheerleaders in their short skirts?' Paul asked.

'Alright, that's enough. Fine Paul, you can go. Jared and I will stop by during the pep rally.'

Paul took extra time to get ready for school. He even styled his now shorter hair. Gone was the Mohawk. Instead, his hair was cut a little short, yet he was still able to style it into some spikes. He pulled a black T-shirt one paired with jeans. He debated on wearing his Letterman jacket, but decided against it. He wasn't on the team anymore. He did decide to wear a red and white long sleeve polo on top. At least he was showing some type of school spirit. After putting on his shoes, he got into his truck and drove off to school.

Paul took the first space he saw, which was the one farthest from the school. He grabbed his backpack and made his way towards the school.

"Hi, Paul!" Kayla greeted. Paul only nodded at her. He groaned as she ran to catch up with him. "I'm surprised you're here."

"Why wouldn't I be?" he asked.

"Because you're never at school." Paul remained quiet. "So, I see you didn't forget your school spirit at home!"

Paul laughed. "What do you want, Kayla?"

"What makes you think I want something?"

"Because you're talking to me. And because you're being nice to me."

"I just wanted to see if you were okay. I don't know what happened, but it must be hard breaking up with someone you've been together with for two years."

Paul glared at Kayla. He started breathing deeply and counting in his head.

"Are you okay?" Kayla asked. Her eyes widened as she realized what Paul was doing.

"Just leave me alone Kayla."

"You really are an ass," Kayla told him as she pushed past him. Paul clenched his jaw. He never really cared for Kayla, but her comment stung. He knew what people were saying about him. It frustrated him that he couldn't say why he was distancing himself. Paul sighed. Maybe going to school on the day of his favorite school even was a bad idea.

As if to prove his point, Paul saw Brian up ahead, clad in his letterman jacket. Paul could make out the QB pin. It should've been his. It was just another reminder of how much his life had changed a month ago. He saw all the football players grouped on the benches in front of the school. It was known as the usual hang out spot for the football players and the cheerleaders. He scanned for Kourtney's familiar face and realized that she wasn't there yet. He took a second to scan the parking lot for her car. "Oh my God!" he heard Kayla scream. Paul didn't care to look, but once he heard the football players yelling, too, he turned his head.

What he saw was enough to make his blood boil. There in the middle of the group he used to be in, stood none other than Alex Skye. He felt himself start to shake. He should've left right then and there, but he didn't want to prove Sam wrong. He could control his anger. He could control his emotions. He could control his phasing. Paul started breathing in and out. He counted in his head again. He kept telling himself not to phase. Fortunately for Paul, the group made their way into the school. He waited a couple minutes more before walking in himself.

"Lahote!" Paul froze. He gritted his teeth. "How you doing, bro?"

Paul turned around to see Alex walking up to him. He saw everyone staring.

"Alex," Paul said, giving a nod. Due to his growth spurt, he now stood a good six inches taller than Alex. It was enough to make Paul feel better. "Didn't know you were coming home."

"Yeah, I thought I'd make it a surprise," Alex said. "Surprised? Caught off guard?"

Paul narrowed his eyes at him. Alex did the same. He took a step closer to Paul then stopped. He attention quickly moved to something behind Paul. His eyes lit up. Turning back to Paul, he smiled. "See you around, Lahote," Alex said, patting him on the shoulder. Paul gave a growl. He walked over to his locker, the other football players seemed to disperse around him as he passed. He was in the middle of opening his locker when he heard Alex.

"Surprise, babe!" Alex called. Paul looked up just in time to see Kourtney was stop in her tracks. She had just walked through the front doors. Her mouth hung open in surprise and her eyes were wide. Paul watched as Alex made his way to Kourtney and hugged her. Paul found little comfort in seeing that Kourtney didn't hug him back. He clenched his fists. He hated how the cheating asshole even dared to touch Kourtney after hurting her.

Alex continued to embrace Kourtney. Paul felt his stomach turn as he saw Alex whispering in Kourtney's ear. He felt like he was going to throw up. Paul felt himself start to shake, real violent real quick. He slammed his locker shut and ran out the doors, briefly making eye contact with Kourtney.

He sprinted across the road and towards the forest. He flung his backpack to the side and started to take off his polo then his shirt. He quickly stripped off his shoes then his pants. He phased, his boxers ripping in the process.

'Not even eight o'clock,' came Jared's voice. 'Told you!'

'Paul!' Sam's voice boomed. Paul quickly shared what happened.

'Oh shit! That fucking asshole is back?'

'Jared!'

'Sorry! But…damn! I don't blame you for phasing, Paul!'

'Use all that energy and go patrol the border,' Sam ordered Paul.

'Can I take off then?' Jared asked.

'Yeah, I'll see you at the pep rally later.'

'You guys are still going?' Paul asked angrily.

'Yes. Cody's back and we were both asked to show up to represent our class.'

'And I told Kim I'd be there already.'

Paul cursed.

'If you calm down enough, maybe you can go to the game later on tonight,' Sam offered.

'See ya!' Jared said before phasing out. Paul saw Sam's thought about his situation with Kourtney. Paul could see that he felt bad for him. Soon, Sam phased out too.

.-~*~-..-~*~-..-~*~.

Paul spent the rest of the day patrolling. Jared phased in after the pep rally. Paul took some time to phase back. He ran into his house to put some clothes on. Sam was able to drive Paul's truck back home. Now, Paul needed to get back to the school to retrieve the backpack and clothes he tossed in the forest. He was walking towards his car when a yellow SUV pulled up behind his truck.

"Lahote," Alex called as he stepped out.

"What do you want?" Paul asked, holding his ground and crossing his arms.

"I didn't get a chance to really talk to you earlier," Alex explained. He made his way to Paul. He stopped when he was a good distance. "I see you've been hitting the gym. Is that where you were instead of being at school or practice with the guys?"

"What do you want, Skye?" Paul asked again.

"Can't say hi to my best friend?" Alex said with a shrug.

"I don't see any of your best friends around here."

"You're really going to throw away our friendship because of your little crush on Kourtney?" Paul narrowed his eyes at him. Alex laughed. "Alright then. Well, Lahote, I just wanted to let you know, I'm gonna win her back."

Paul smirked. "You fucked another girl, Alex. Kourtney doesn't want anything to do with you."

"You don't think I can change that?" Paul's tough demeanor wavered. "We were together two years, Paul. I was her first love. That's something you can't just forget."

Alex's words worried Paul.

"She doesn't want you," was all Paul could say.

"And you think she wants you?" Alex asked. He scoffed. "You broke up with Marianne, her best friend. You broke her best friend's heart, man. You think she'll just turn her back on her best friend? She's not like you. She's loyal like that."

With that, Alex turned and got back in his truck. He gave a wave before driving away. Needless to say, Paul was back in the forest.

'Damn it, Paul. What now?'

'I guess I'm passing on the homecoming game tonight,' he told his alpha.