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CHAPTER 11

The next morning Paul met Zoey at 5:15 so they could run together.

"Morning," he said.

"Morning Paul," she smiled.

"You ready?" he asked and she nodded and jumped down from the porch and took off running, Paul ran and soon caught up with her as they matched their pace so they could stay side by side.

"So what did you do after I left last night?" he asked.

"Cleaned up the kitchen, got ready for bed and I talked to Leah on the phone," she answered.

"She call you?" he asked curiously.

"Yeah she heard about what happened with Embry and she called and we talked," she answered. "What did you do after you left last night?" she asked. "Do I even want to know?"

"No," he smiled and they fell silent.

"So," he said as they were running back to her house. "What's your middle name?" Paul asked

"Grace," she answered and he nodded.

"You're really going to go out with Ethan Reed next week?"

"Yeah."

"Why not this weekend?"

"Well he asked and I told him I wasn't unpacked yet."

"Are you unpacked?"

"No," Zoey answered and Paul stopped running. Zoey stopped as well and looked over at him.

"Zoey." he said.

"Fine I am done unpacking," she sighed frustrated. "I just wanted to find out more about him."

"Nothing wrong with that." Paul told her. "Plus I'm sure he knows if he tried anything or hurts you Jake will kick his ass."

"Jake promised to stay out of it, that he wouldn't threaten him."

"Stubbornness, Black family trait," Paul reminded her as he started running again and Zoey sped up and caught up with him.

"Don't remind me," she sighed.

"So favorite food?" he asked.

"Pizza, pepperoni and sausage and maybe French fries." she told him. "You?"

"Anything," he said and she smiled and shook her head as they got closer to her house.

"So what's it like, shifting into a wolf?"

"It was strange at first you know, sprouting fur and paws," he told her. "And while I still hate it, because I'll never be able to leave La Push as long as there are vampires around, I probably wouldn't be friends with you if I wasn't a wolf," he told her and she smiled. "There's also the whole mind sharing thing."

"What?" she asked him.

"We can hear each other's thoughts in wolf form," he told her. "Anything I think about as a wolf any one of the other guys who is phased at the time will hear." he told her and she stopped running. Paul did to and glanced over at her.

"Please tell me you're careful with your thoughts," she said quietly and looked down at the ground.

"Hey," he whispered. "Z," he added and placed his had under her chin, she looked up at him. "I'm really good at blocking my thoughts from the other guys, you don't have to worry, no one is going to know anything you tell me." he assured her and she nodded.

"Good," she sighed relieved.

"Most of the time when I share my thoughts its because I want to be an asshole about something," he admitted.

"Well at least you can admit you're an asshole," she smiled and he shrugged. "Well I should get back home, so I'll see you at school Paul."

"See you at school Z," he said and turned around and ran back to his house.

When Zoey got to school she went to her locker to get her books out. She was about to close her locker when she heard the clang of a body hitting the locker next to hers. She looked over and saw Paul smirking as he looked down at her but his eyes never met hers. She saw his eyes travel over her body. She was wearing a pair of ripped jeans and form fitting green top today.

"Morning beautiful," he said as he breathed in her scent, orchids and vanilla, she smelled wonderful.

"Morning Paul," she replied and closed her locker.

"So are you going to tell Ethan you can go out with him this weekend?" he asked curiously.

"Why are you so anxious for me to go out with Ethan?" she asked curiously.

"Well if you were dating someone maybe everyone would believe we're just friends." Paul stated.

"And you care what everyone thinks?" she asked.

"I don't but you do," he sighed. "I know you're still upset because Embry won't talk to you and you're not sure that anyone believes you when you tell them we're just friends."

"Jake said he believes me and trusts me. Everyone says they believe me." she said quietly and nervously tucked her hair behind her ear.

"But you're not sure they do believe you."

"How do you know that?" she asked and he shrugged.

"Go out with Ethan this weekend," he told her and she nodded

"I should get to class," she told him and turned to walk off but Ethan stepped in front of her.

"Hey Zoey," he smiled and Zoey looked up at him and smiled. He really was cute.

"Hey Ethan."

"So how are you settling in with Jacob and his dad?" he asked.

"I'm settling in good," she said and she felt someone lightly kick her heel and she turned and saw Paul still behind her looking very interested in opening his locker all of a sudden.

"Actually Ethan I'm all unpacked now."

"Oh, that's good," he smiled and Zoey noticed he had dimples. "So you'll be free this weekend?"

"Yeah," she nodded.

"Good, I'll pick you up at 7:00 Friday," he told her.

"I'm looking forward to it Ethan."

"Me to Zoey," he smiled. "See you later," he added and Zoey leaned against her locker and watched him walk away.

"He's so cute," Zoey sighed. "And he has dimples." she added and looked over at Paul and just rolled his eyes.

"Lets get to class Z," Paul told her.

When Zoey walked in class with Paul most everyone else was already there. Zoey took her seat in front of Kim and turned around to talk to her.

"Hey Kim," Zoey said.

"Zoey, are you ok, I heard about what happened with Embry," she said and looked over at Paul.

"Oh," she said. "I'm fine,"

"He asked you out."

"Yep," she sighed.

"You turned him down," Kim stated.

"Yep," she answered. "I can't make myself feel something that isn't there."

"I get it," Kim told her.

"And Embry will barely talk to me now, he's so upset with me," she told her. "He hates me," she whispered.

"No he doesn't hate you Zoey, he'll get over it," Kim assured her.

"That's what everyone else says," she sighed. "But I don't know." she added and Paul leaned over to them.

"She's right Z," Paul told her. "Have you told her who asked you out this weekend?"

"Paul," Zoey said shooting him a glare.

"Fine, I'll but out," he said holding his hands up.

"Who Zoey?" Kim asked curiously.

"Ethan Reed," she told her.

"He's so cute!" Kim exclaimed. "That's great." Zoey smiled. "I hope it works out."

"Yeah me to," she sighed.

"Jake's not going to beat him up or threaten him is he?" Kim asked.

"He said he wouldn't," Zoey sighed.

"Stubbornness is a Black family trait," Paul said and Kim looked over at him and smiled.

"It is isn't it," she agreed.

"Ok you two," Zoey said. "Enough."

In her next class Zoey knew she would see Embry so maybe she would get to talk to him a little. Paul walked her to her next class and they were both quiet as they walked down the hallway.

"What are you thinking about?"

"Embry is in our next class," she told him. "Maybe I can get him to talk to me," she said hopefully.

"I hope so Z, but don't get your hopes up," he told her and she sighed and shook her head. "Why does it matter so much anyway?"

"Well Jake is my cousin and Embry has always been one of his best friends and I don't want things to be weird for Jake."

"Jake will be fine," he assured her. "And this is the last time I'm saying this to you, Embry will get over it."

Paul and Zoey took their seats in class, Embry walked in a few seconds later and took his seat in front of Zoey but didn't acknowledge her at all.

"Embry," she said quietly and he turned and looked at her.

"You need something?" he asked rudely and Zoey flinched at his tone.

"How long are you going to be upset with me?" she asked.

"As long as I want to be," he snapped.

"Embry I'm sorry I hurt you," she said quietly. "I never meant to and if I gave you any indication I wanted to be more than friends with you I'm sorry for that to." she apologized.

"Well you obviously got what you wanted, Paul," he said. "I'm just surprised he's still talking to you and hasn't ditched you yet."

"Embry what is the big deal, Paul and I are friends." she explained.

"Believe that if you want Zoey, but I know better and deep down you know better."

"Embry."

"Just don't expect any sympathy from me when he hurts you and breaks your heart," he said meanly. "Because I want be giving any," he spat.

"Well don't worry Embry because you're the last person I would turn to for sympathy," she told him getting upset. "And if you're so….I'm done apologizing to you for not feeling the same way because," she told him. "Its not my fault," she added angrily and leaned back in her chair.

"Good because I don't want your apologies," he told her and turned around. Zoey shook her head to try and stop her tears. She should have known better than to try to talk to him again. He was going to be mad at her for as long as he wanted to and no amount of apologies would change his mind. She wasn't even that close with Embry or knew him that well but she did like what she knew and she hated that she hurt him but she was also done letting him hurt her when she tried to apologize, she would just leave him alone until he decided to talk to her. She looked down at her desk but felt a finger tracing her tattoo on her shoulder.

"You ok Z?" Paul asked and she nodded.

"Yeah," she answered not bothering to turn around because she knew he could hear her.

On her way to lunch Zoey passed Paul in the hallway talking to some girl she had never seen. The girl had short dark hair and light tanned skin. She was a few inches shorter than Paul. He was obviously flirting with her, most likely trying to talk her into his bed but she seemed to want nothing to do with Paul. Zoey saw her push away from Paul and walk the opposite way. Paul ran his hands through his hair and turned and watched her walk away.

When Zoey got to the cafeteria for lunch she took the empty seat beside Jacob.

"Hey Jake."

"Hey Zo," he smiled. "How's everything going?"

"Embry is still mad at me but its ok," she told him.

"Zoey," he began but was interrupted when Kim and Jared sat across from them.

"So you've told Jake who you're going out with?" Kim asked.

"Ethan Reed next weekend right?" he asked.

"Yeah but there's been a change in plans, I'm going out with him this Friday night," she told him.

"Ethan Reed," Jared said, "He seems like an ok guy."

"Yeah and he's soooo cute and has dimples," Zoey sighed.

"Talking about Ethan Reed again," Paul said as he slid into the empty seat beside Zoey.

"Yep," she smiled. "And you're still going to be nice?" she asked Jacob.

"I said I would," he told her. "Now I'm going to get something to eat," he added.

"Me to," Jared said. "You want anything?" he asked Kim.

"No I'm good," she told him and he leaned over and kissed her before joining Jacob.

"You coming?" Jared asked Paul.

"Yeah I'm right behind you, you two go ahead," Paul told them. Jared just shrugged and went to get in line for lunch. Paul turned to look at Zoey.

"What?" she asked.

"You going to eat?" he asked.

"I'm ok," she answered.

"You don't want anything?" he asked.

"No Paul, I'm ok, go get yourself some lunch." she told him and he nodded and went to get in line with Jared and Jacob.

When he was gone Kim looked across the table at her.

"You sure he didn't imprint on you?" she asked.

"Yeah Kim, I'm sure," she sighed as Amanda, Quill's imprint, took a seat beside Kim.

"I'm going to get lunch," Quill told them. "I'll bring you back some French fries." he said to Amanda.

"Thanks," Amanda smiled and Quill went to join everyone else in line.

"So have you told Amanda who you have a date with this weekend," Kim said.

"Who?" Amanda asked anxiously.

"Ethan Reed," Zoey answered.

"Really! He's like really hot and I can name ten girls that want to go out with him." she said and Zoey smiled.

"Yeah well we have a date this weekend, Friday night," Zoey told her.

"You will have to tell us everything about the date when you get home, as soon as you get home." Amanda told her.

"Ok," Zoey smiled.

"Quill told me about what happened with you, Embry and Paul."

"He's still not talking to me and I've apologized and done everything I know to do." Zoey sighed. "He's going to be mad at me for as long as he wants to and I'm done apologizing to him for not feeling the same way about him that he does about me," she sighed and ran her fingers through her hair. "I mean if I gave him any signs I wanted to be more than friends with him I didn't mean to."

"I don't think you did Zoey," Kim told her and she nodded.

"Did he really leave a bruise on your arm?" Amanda asked her.

"Yeah," she whispered as she nodded her head.. "He didn't mean to, he was just upset."

"Don't make excuses Zoey because he knew better no matter how angry he was with you." Kim told her.

"Yeah he knows how much stronger he is, how much stronger all the guys are than everyone else, I don't know how many times Sam has drilled that into their heads. Trying to keep control and not doing something in anger." Amanda told her. "He doesn't want any one else to get hurt like Emily did."

"You mean her face? What happened?" Amanda and Kim looked at each other.

"Sam is the one who scarred Emily's face," Kim told her. "From what I understand Sam was the first one to phase and he was dealing with this all by himself. Plus he was dating Leah at the time and the two of them loved each other. They were going to get married," Kim sighed.

"Well Emily is Leah's cousin and Sam meets her one day when he's with Leah and he imprints on her. I heard he tried so hard to fight it, him and Emily both so they wouldn't hurt Leah. They couldn't obviously because the imprint is basically impossible to fight."

"Him and Emily got into an argument about it Sam lost control and attacked Emily," Kim sighed. "Emily's forgiven him of course but I still don't think he's completely forgiven himself."

"Oh wow," Zoey whispered as Embry walked over to the table. Zoey looked up at him.

"So where is everyone?" he asked.

"All the guys are in line getting lunch," Zoey told him.

"I don't believe I was asking you," he said meanly and turned around and stormed off to the lunch line. Zoey looked down at the table and shook her head.

"So what's the deal with you and Paul anyway?" Amanda asked. "Did he imprint on you?"

"No, he says he didn't anyway," Zoey sighed. "I wouldn't be going out with Ethan if he did." she told them. "Besides he's to busy fucking most of the girls in this school to imprint on anyone."

"Yet he still finds time to stop by your house for dinner and to spend time with you alone." Kim smiled.

"We're friends."

"You know Zoey I was getting ready for school this morning and I happened to glance out the window this morning and I saw the strangest thing." Amanda told her.

"Oh," Zoey said.

"It was you and you were running with Paul."

"Oh, I run every morning, Paul volunteered to run with me."

"How did he know you run every morning?" Kim asked curiously.

"He saw me once, I guess when him and Jared got back from wherever they were."

"Oh," Amanda and Kim said together smiling.

"Hey Zoey has Paul told you what color his wolf is?"

"No, but I know he's silver, I saw him when he phased after the argument with Embry."

"Oh," Kim said as the guys joined them with their trays piled full of food. Quill handed Amanda the fries she asked for as the rest of the guys started to eat.

"Zoey," Paul said and she looked over at him. "I know you said you didn't want anything but they had pizza and well…" he said and put a piece on a napkin and slid it over to her. "You said it was your favorite." Zoey looked and saw a piece of pepperoni and sausage pizza and smiled.

"Oh, thanks," she whispered as Paul set a small carton of fries next to it.

"Both your favorites," he said and she smiled.

"Thanks," she said and started to eat. Everyone at the table had stopped what they were doing and was looking at them.

"You sure about not imprinting?" Jared asked.

"Positive," the two of them said.

A few minutes later Embry walked over with his tray of food and looked over at Zoey who was seated between Paul and Jacob and scowled and sat down a few seats away from them. Embry glanced over at them occasionally scowling at Zoey and Paul.

"You know you can join us down here Embry," Jared told him.

"I'm fine here," he responded and Zoey let out a sigh.

"I'm done eating so I'm going to get some air before class," Zoey told everyone and stood up and grabbed her bag.

"Zo, you don't have to leave," Jacob told her.

"Its fine Jake, I'll see you later," she told him and started to walk away.

"Maybe I'll go with you," Paul said and she looked down at him.

"Why so the two of you can have time for a quick fuck in the janitor's closet before class," Embry snapped and everyone at the table turned to look at him. Zoey let out a frustrated sigh and threw her bag down on the floor and stormed over to Embry. She stopped when she was standing in front of him the lunch table separating them. She slammed her hands down on table hard and looked over at him.

"I don't know what its going to take for you to get it through your thick skull that I am not fucking Paul," she told him. "No matter what you want to believe." she said. "I am so done explaining myself and apologizing and trying to make you see it when you refuse to see it," she said getting upset. "Get over yourself Embry Call and stop being such an inconsiderate, selfish, think you know everything when you don't jackass," she fumed and turned walked back and grabbed her bag and stormed out of the cafeteria, she heard Embry call her a slutty bitch as she walked out of the cafeteria.