I opened the passenger side door for Zara and she just stared at me, utterly stunned. Her surprise continued even when I shut her door and walked to the other side of the car to get behind the wheel.

There was silence as I drove off. Pure silence. Zara just sat fidgeting in the passenger seat as she stared out of the window, pretending to concentrate on the road when I could see that she was watching me out of the corner of her eye.

We were both trying to act like we didn't feel or notice the weird tension.

Man this is going to be way more awkward then I thought.

My mind was racing as I searched for something to say. After all this had been my idea. My eyes settled on Zara. She was perfectly put together…as usual. She suited the dark navy dress with gold detail that she wore. Is it new? It has to be. Come to think of it I don't think I ever seen her wearing the same thing twice. Her thick hair was tied up into a messy bun and I tried not to stare at her smooth skin or the way, the top of her dress formed a deep V shape down her front.

A compliment would be a good place to start…right?

My eyes became focused on the road ahead. No way. It's just not something I do. But I'm sure it's something you're supposed to do to be nice.

I held back a sigh. "…nice dress. Is it new?"

Zara jumped as she suddenly heard my voice. She struggled to speak for a moment. "Err... thanks. Yes it is."

Zara didn't say anything more so the ball landed back in my court.

{}{}{}

The afternoon was off to a painful start as I led Zara to the coffee shop that was beside the beach. We hadn't spoken again yet and the only thing that broke the silence was the bell on the coffee shop door.

I held it open for Zara and she muttered a thank you.

We both sat down at a table beside the window and thankfully a waitress arrived.

"Hi my name is Alicia. I'll be you're server," the tall, blond haired girl said with pure boredom, "Is there anything I can I get you?"

I tried to hold back the scoffs. The girl couldn't care less. She was continuously tapping her pen against her small notepad and I found her impatience annoying.

Zara turned to her. "Err...well would it be possible to get a menu?"

I felt my eyebrows lift. If i had said that then i would have seemed like the biggest sarcastic jerk in the entire coffee shop but Zara...her voice made everything sound polite.

As soon as the words left Zara's mouth Alicia immediately perked up.

"Oh my god you're British!" She stated, obviously and loudly.

Zara just barely managed to draw her lips into a smile. "Yeahh"

Alicia was beside herself. "What an earth are you doing in La Push?" Before Zara had a chance to answer though, Alicia cut in. "Oh my god so have you like met the queen?"

Even i was now staring at the waitress thinking "WTF"

Zara had a more tired look as if she had heard this all before "No. I haven't."

Alicia then leaned in closer. "You know what you actually have awesome teeth."

Zara stared at the waitress. "Excuse me."

Alicia began to mimic Zara's accent...very badly. "Right-eeo then i'll just get you guys a menu."

Zara just stared after her, in shock.

A few silent moments passed before Zara smacked a hand to her forehead. "Urghh will this ever end?"

Zara looked at me then.

I just pointed to the door.

She was relieved and nodded.

I mouthed 3,2 and on 1 we quickly got up and speed walked out of the shop before the waitress had time to come back to our table. The only thing that gave us away was and the bell above the door that chimed as we left.

We ran a little further down the street before stopping. I was surprised that Zara kept up with me in her heels.

"Does that happen a lot?" I asked.

She just sighed "Every single day!"

My forehead creased. "It's really rude."

Zara's shoulders slumped. "Yeah but what can you do?"

I looked around then and wondered what we could do. My eyes settled on an ice-cream shop a little further down the street. Plan B. "Do you want ice-cream instead?"

Zara shrugged. "Sure. Why not."

"What do you want?" I asked as we stood outside the shop," It's probably best if i order."

Zara looked thankful. "That would be great. Mint choc chip please. It's my favourite"

With a nod I left Zara outside and quickly walked through the open door. The shop was tiny and just about fit the ice-cream counter. I stared through the glass, hoping to see the ice-cream flavour that Zara wanted so I didn't have to ask her for another one. Luckily it was there and I also didn't have to wait long as a girl appeared behind the counter. She looked familiar...but I couldn't place her.

She leaned over the counter. "Hi Paulll"

Immediately my eyebrows lifted. How does she know me? "Do I know you?" I asked.

The girl just shook her head. "No but we go to school together. I'm on Andrea's cheer team. I'm Imogen."

I just about managed to stop by face from screwing up as Imogen stared at me all gooey eyed. The way she was looking at me was seriously creeping me out.

I took a step back as she continued to lean closer to me. "Err...right," I replied before quickly ordering two ice-creams.

Imogen just smiled as she grabbed two cones and started scooping up the ice-cream i asked for. "So...Do you know that the whole school thinks that you and that British girl are dating?"

I just shrugged as I tried to hide my raising anger. "Yeah."

Imogen looked at me expectantly. "Are you?"

Her digging around was annoying me. "No," I told her.

Imogen's eyes lit up then. "Oh…"

Without another word I quickly took the ice-creams that she held out. I wanted to get out of the store so fast that I didn't even bother to grab my change. "Thanks," I told her as I left. A sudden tension had settled inside of me. If Imogen saw Zara now then it would totally mess things up.

I didn't stop when I reached Zara. "Let's get out of here."

Zara just nodded and then reached for the ice-cream that I held out for her. "Thanks."

Eventually we cleared the row of stores and it was only when we reached a more secluded area of the beach did I slow down.

"What was that all about?" Zara asked suddenly.

This caused me to turn because there was something in her voice that made me. Zara sounded like she was annoyed.

I played dumb. "What do you mean?"

Zara faltered then. "Err."

I continued to watch her.

"Nothing. It's just...that girl in the store. She was," Zara stumbled. "Weird...asking all those questions."

Could Zara really be annoyed with Imogen? I found myself suppressing a smile. No way.

I just shrugged. "She's weird." By this point we had wandered onto the sand, "Want to sit here?" I asked, changing the subject.

Zara looked around then. She took in the sight of the bright blue sea and golden sand before nodding. I walked down the sandy embankment and onto the flat beach. A few seconds later i heard Zara follow me. I turned back around then but suddenly she wasn't in my eye line. I looked down then to see that she had shrunk. Zara now barely came up to my chest.

My surprise must have been obvious because Zara lifted up the heels she was holding.

I smirked as I towered over her. "So this is your real height."

Zara just rolled her eyes. "Leave it out."

I followed Zara as she walked towards the sea. "I'm just saying. I didn't realize that you were such a shorty because you are always wearing those stilt-"

Suddenly i felt something dig into my chest and I nearly dropped my ice-cream in response. I looked at Zara then.

She was pulling back her arm as she stared up at me innocently. "Sorry did you run into my elbow?

I smirked then. I was finding that there was a definite edge to Zara. Maybe she wasn't so sweet after all. The idea drew me in.

"Only because you put it in my way," I replied and with that we both sat down. The sun was setting so the sky was an orangey red but the sand was still hot. The sea was rolling in but stopped short of us.

I watched as Zara sat crossed legged. She was staring out towards the horizon before she closed her eyes and took in the smell of the beach.

I began eating my ice-cream. "So...I guess we are here to make a fresh start."

Zara opened her eyes then and turned to face me. She nodded but she was still skeptical about my seriousness.

I held out my hand. "I'll introduce myself first. I am Paul Lahote."

Slightly suspicion, she took my hand and shook it. "Zara Ali. Nice to meet you. "

There was that odd sensation again that rippled through my arm as Zara let go of my hand. It was ridiculous. How could a simple touch send the imprinting hay wire?

I had to fight myself to hold back my hands as they wanted to surge forward. My teeth gritted together as I reigned myself in.

Luckily Zara decided to speak then. "I'm British."

This caused me to laugh. "Really? I couldn't tell."

Zara smiled at me.

"So is it just you, your parents and Fabien?" I asked.

Zara's face fell then and I was surprised. I must have accidentally stumbled on a touchy subject.

There was a silence for a moment before Zara spoke. "No. I-I actually have an older sister as well."

My eyebrows raised "Really?"

Zara nodded. "Yeah but she stayed back in England because of her boyfriend."

I could detect the resentment in her voice.

"I mean if she stayed because of her job then I would have understood," Zara continued on. " But not coming with your family because of a relationsh-"

I found myself cutting in "Why?" I asked suddenly

Zara turned then to look at me. "Why? What?"

"Why is staying for a job okay?" I asked.

This caught Zara off guard. It was as if she had never been asked such a question before.

Did everyone buy what she said at face value?

Zara's eyebrows drew together.

I'll take that as a yes.

Zara struggled to answer. "Well...because furthering you're career. I mean it's your career but for some guy," she repeated.

I just shrugged at her words. "I take it then that you've never been in a relationship"

"No I haven't," She clarified, "But what's that got to do with anything?"

I didn't answer her question and instead decided to continue on. "Sounds to me like you are jealous that she is spending all her time with him, instead of you."

Zara froze for a second. I think she was stunned at being called out. It was only when she recovered did she try to protest. I gave her a look though.

She really is naïve about life. I shouldn't be surprised by the way she thinks.

Zara sighed before giving in to the truth. "How did you know that?"

"I guess," I started before shrugging my shoulders, "I can admit to having experienced similar feelings."

Luckily before Zara had a chance to question me about it her phone rang.

Her eyes grew." Oh sorry." Zara reached into her jacket pocket then and looked at the caller id.

"Sorry," Zara said again, "It's my dad."

"Er. It's fine," I told her before finishing off my ice-cream.

Zara just stood then, with her phone in one hand and her ice-cream in the other. "No. It's kind of rude. Sorry I'll be two minutes."

I couldn't help but smile now as I lost count of the times Zara had apologized. She walked further down the beach which was pointless really because I could still hear everything.

"Dad?"

I heard an equally posh voice but one that was much deeper. "Hi, Zara dear I'm sorry but I've just been called in so you're going to have to pick up Fabien."

Zara looked down at her watch. "But dad that means I will have to leave now and I'm kind of busy." Zara protested. "You promised that I could at least have this weekend to myself."

"Zara I am the only consultant neurologist in town at the moment. I have to go." I heard her dad say.

Zara sighed." Of course I know that but I'm with someone at the moment and this is going to be so embarrassing."

An apology is the last thing I overheard before Zara ended the call. I quickly turned away from her and looked in the opposite direction. There was no reason to make the moment anymore awkward than it had to be.

It took Zara a minute before she reached me.

I heard her clear her throat. Zara was looking surprisingly sheepish and not all as confident as I was used to seeing her.

It took me by surprise that she was this concerned.

"Hey," she started, "I'm so sorry but i have to go and pick up my brother."

I smiled. "Man you Brits really do love to apologize."

Zara just managed a smile. "Sorry."

I laughed. She was apologizing for apologizing.

A thought then raced through my mind as my eyes settled on my parked car. She would have to go all the way back home to get her car and then get Fabien.

I looked at Zara then. "I can take you to pick up Fabien. "

Zara was stunned into silence. Her eyebrows lifted then. "Oh no. It's okay. I wouldn't want to cause you any hassle."

I stood up then and dusted off the sand from my clothes. "It's no trouble."

Without another word I began to walk towards my car.

It was a few seconds before I heard Zara follow me. "Okay...thanks," she said when she reached me.

{}{}{}

I pulled up outside what looked like an activities club and kids were pouring out of the building. Fabien was standing outside and just staring at my car. He didn't recognize it. Maybe because it wasn't as fancy as he was probably use to. I was being stupid though because Fabien was too young to thinking like that.

I rolled down my windows then and called his name. Fabien smiled when he spotted me and he was all excited as he jumped in...that is until he saw his sister. "What are you doing here?" he asked all whiny.

Zara was mildly shocked. "Hey what's that supposed to mean?"

Fabien just shook his head vigorously. "No. No. No. You can't be Paul's friend."

Zara tried to act all hurt. "Why not?" she teased.

Fabien screwed up his nose. "Because he was mines first. I realised he was nice way before you did."

For a moment I just looked out of my driver's side window as I tried to hide my smile. It was only when I turned back did I see that Zara was looking at me, all thoughtful. I fell into her big brown eyes as she stared at me.

Zara finally spoke then. "He's… alright."

I don't know why I felt a shiver run down my spine at her comment. Is she teasing me?

Zara just bit back a smile as she turned to look away.

There was this weird heat and tingling in my chest at the gesture. Zara was catching me off guard again. Sexy and sweet at the same time...

Suddenly I heard someone clear their throat and it made me jump a little.

I turned to see that Fabien was in the back seat and looking at me, all confused.

It was only now that I realised that I had been staring at his sister.

"Right. Let's go." I quickly said before driving off.