A/N: I'll start out by greeting everyone out there. Hey guys! I'm am so, so, so, so sorry that I haven't written in such a long time! I just started high school, and hockey season is underway, so between the two I've had no time to write. On my very first day of high school I was given a project that's due on my birthday which is very soon. I should have been doing that all afternoon, but lucky for you guys I decided to finish this chapter which I had starting typing a while ago. It's in Jared's POV...just thought I'd inform you.

Alrighty, well this chapter is a big part in the character's development. By the end of this chapter they will have pretty much reached the "climax" of their development, but they're are still going to go through some changes before the story is over, so the "drama" *rolls eyes* isn't over yet...don't worry. Yes this is the big "imprinting" chapter guys, so hold onto your hats! Okay...I will inform you that I know exactly how many chapters are left in this story. I know, that's weird considering I'm the author, right? Anyway, I didn't want to put it in here incase there are some people out there who for some reason don't want to know *shrugs shoulders*, but if you do want to know just leave it in a review (yes, that was intended to promote it) or PM me. ENJOY!

Oh, P.S. This chapter has not been checked by my unofficial beta (shout out to my homie: you know who you are...hopefully) so point is it was only checked by me...never a good thing, but I hope it's not too bad. Feel free to send me corrections on anything you spot.

Disclaimer #1-I don't own any of the original characters, plots, scenes, etc. from the Twilight series. They belong to Stephenie Meyer.

Disclaimer #2-I also do not own the song Step Right Up. It belongs to The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus.

Chapter Twelve- Step Right Up (Jared's POV)

Please aim slow
I know it's not like you
To take a fall
For anyone but yourself
Let me show you a world
That you've never seen
Let me help you unveil
There is no time to waste
When you find love you can't hesitate

Five days. Four. Three. Two. One. Tomorrow I had to tell her. There was no putting it off. The bonfire was Saturday. Old Quil and Billy would be telling the legends. That included the one about Taha Aki and the third wife. I knew Kim would ask questions, and it hurt too much to lie to her anymore. But I knew this was another big secret for her to take in. This secret could send her running, never looking back.

"Stupid…insufferable…metal thing won't open…like a dumb rock."

I heard Kim mumbling innocent curses under her breath as she tried to retrieve her afternoon books from her locker.

Smiling softly, I leaned over to help her. Before I could gently pry it open, the locker suddenly swung open as Kim gave it one last fierce tug, sending the metallic door right into her cheek. I quickly dropped my own books to the floor and stood in front of Kim so that my back was to the kids walking the halls and hers to the lockers.

"Oh God…dammit, Kim, are you okay?" I asked frantically, removing her hand from her cheek and replacing it with my own to inspect the damage.

Her cheek was turning red, and I knew it would be a purplish color by tomorrow. I felt my heart clench tightly, and my stomach turn at the thought of the offending bruise marring her skin. To even think of it—it made me want to throw up.

I squeezed my eyes shut and focused on the feel of Kim's tiny frame against mine, the feel of her warm skin against my burning hot palm. Deep breaths, Jared. Deep breaths.

"Kim," I whispered, hating the sound of my own voice breaking roughly over the word.

"Jared, I'm okay."

My eyes snapped open. I took one look at the damp streaks that tears had left on her cheeks and said, "No you're not…you're crying." I was almost about to break down myself.

"Well, it's going to hurt at first when you whack yourself in the face with a metal door,"—I flinched—"but we can't all be as thickheaded as you." She smiled.

"How am I of any use as your protector if I can't even save you from an inanimate object?" I mumbled sullenly. When I saw Kim about to argue, I interrupted not wanting her to make excuses for me. "Let's go to the nurse to get you some ice."

"It's not even that bad, and I'm going to be late for class," she said worriedly.

"I'll take care of it," I murmured, smiling sadly.

Carefully, I leaned down to place a feather-light kiss on her injured cheek. It was more of brushing my lips against the angry red of the forming bruise so as not to hurt her. I love you, I added in my head.

Step right up
Shoot an arrow at the target
My heart is an easy thing for you to hit
Don't worry
If you miss I'll let you shoot again
My heart is an easy thing for you to win

Kim's hand unconsciously lifted to touch the bruise on her cheek. She flinched, and I had to quickly avert my eyes back to the road before I started shaking.

"You won't see it in the firelight," I managed to force out through my clenched jaw. Despite my desperate attempts to stay in control, my hands shook hysterically against the steering wheel.

"Jared, it really doesn't hurt, I prom—"

"Don't lie," I growled, cutting her off. I softened my voice when I saw the slightly hurt look in her eyes she tried to hide. "Just…don't lie."

It was silent for the rest of the drive.

I stood with Sam on the outskirts of the circle around the bonfire, watching Kim laugh and talk with Emily and Sue Clearwater. The purplish bruise was almost invisible in the dim light like I had said, but with my enhanced eyesight I could see every line and curve of the painful mark.

"At least it will go away," I heard Sam murmur from beside me.

Turning my eyes toward his I could see that his own were gazing at Emily intently. He followed her every move, watching over her.

"Emily's…scars are permanent," he whispered, choking on his own words. "They're going to be there forever, and it's entirely my fault." His eyes watered, but he quickly recovered. "It's going to hurt. Every time they accidentally bang their knee against the kitchen table, whenever they slip and fall…you'll feel it to. When they cry, you'll feel torn apart." He finally pulled his gaze away from his imprint and turned to me. "But when she is happy," he said, smiling, "there is no better feeling in the world."

"Thank you."

He just nodded.

"You tired?" I asked Kim, my chin resting against the junction between her neck and shoulder.

"A little," she answered softly.

I pulled her tiny body closer to mine. She sat comfortably between my knees, which were bent on either side of her. Her back was to my chest, and I reveled in the feeling of holding her in my arms.

Smiling, I turned and placed a warm kiss against the column of her throat. "Just close your eyes. If you fall asleep I'll wake you up when Billy and Old Quil start telling the legends," I reassured her even though I wanted to do anything but that.

"Alright," she complied, yawning.

I felt her breathing slow and her heartbeat level out into a steady rhythm. I let the corner of my mouth turn up slightly in a smile as I watched her sleeping. Reaching my hand up slowly, I gently caressed her cheek. She recoiled slightly, and I yanked my hand back as if it had been burned.

"Dammit," I swore under my breath.

I tried to look at anything but Kim and met Sam's eyes across the fire. He smiled despondently and nodded much like he had done earlier.

"It's only temporary," I whispered to myself so quietly that even the werewolves surrounding me would not have heard.

Whoa you know you did it again
And every time I hear your voice
Well you know, I had no choice but to let you in
Life's short, don't pretend

Kim sat between my legs, staring intently at the elders as they shared the legends of the Quileute Tribe. I didn't even try to pretend to pay attention to what Billy and Old Quil were saying; I had heard all of the legends before, and I was waiting for the story of the third wife. I kept looking between Kim and the elders waiting for her to put the pieces together.

"That was the story of the spirit warriors. This," Old Quil began, turning his eyes toward me, " is the story of the third wife's sacrifice."

She knew. She wasn't stupid; she had figured it out. I tried to read her expression as we walked to my truck, but it was simply calculating. Her brows were pulled together, and I supposed that she was still absorbing everything from tonight.

"Am I right to think that there's something else you haven't been telling me?" she blurted out suddenly. Her cheeks turned crimson as soon as the words left her mouth.

I chuckled, but it was forced. "Yeah, you're right."

There was a long, tense pause before she spoke again. "Will you tell me?" she murmured shyly while watching her own hands as they fiddled with the hem of her shirt.

Oh God. I couldn't say no to her. I couldn't deny her anything…I didn't want to.

"Sure," I whispered hoarsely, "sure I'll tell you. I-I can tell you." I think.

Kim stepped closer to me as we approached my car and wrapped her arms around my middle in a very calming gesture. She buried her face in my chest, and I pulled her closer to me, threading my fingers through her hair.

"It's called imprinting." I felt her tense, but she stayed pressed against me, hiding her face. "When we first phase we are…blessed with the ability to imprint." Unconsciously, my hand rubbed up and down Kim's arm while the other lightly squeezed her waist. "You see her for the first time, and then that's all there is…her. She becomes everything. She's your life."

Kim still hadn't moved, but I could feel her unease as if it were my own. It pulled at my chest and made my stomach twist uncomfortably.

"You're built to make her happy, to protect her. It's all you want to do anyway. It's supposed to be rare, but a few of us have already imprinted."

"Us?" she questioned, her voice muffled through my t-shirt.

"Mhmm…I-I, uh, imprinted."

Feeling wetness on my shirt, I pushed Kim slightly away from me so that I could hold her at arms length. She was crying. Oh God, she was crying.

"No, no, Kim…I imprinted on you, sweetheart," I said almost hysterically as I wiped the tears from her cheeks. "A-And you're my other half. Fate chose you for me, and I-I couldn't be happier. It was always in my blood to become a spirit warrior, and you were always meant for me. There are no doubts or exceptions," I whispered in her ear. "I-I love you, Kim"

She sobbed slightly, but only squeezed me tighter while concealing her face in my shirt again. I didn't know what she was thinking, and it was slowly killing me. But she wasn't running away, and that alone soothed my fears to some extent.

Let me show you a world
That you've never seen
Let me help you unveil
What you meant to say
There is no time to waste
When you find love you can't hesitate

Step right up
Shoot an arrow at the target
My heart is an easy thing for you to hit
Don't worry
If you miss I'll let you shoot again
My heart is an easy thing for you to win

I held Kim's hand firmly while we walked toward my house. I kept glancing over at her out of the corner of my eye. She hadn't said much since the bonfire last night…after I told her everything. She was quiet, thoughtful. I just hoped that she wasn't thinking about leaving me.

"Um, I don't think Rayen and my mom are home yet, but we could just, uh, hang out until they get here," I offered awkwardly.

Kim murmured an almost silent agreement and shuffled closer to me, making me smile slightly. Maybe we would be okay.

My hand reflexively tightened around Kim's, and I pulled her closer when I found the front door unlocked. Pushing her behind me slightly, I stepped through the threshold. I took in the disheveled rug and messed up living room before turning around to face Kim.

Wrapping my hands gently around her upper arms, I made sure she was looking me in the eye. "I want you to run. Run to Sam's house and just tell him to come here."

"But Jared—"

"Just listen to me," I said harshly. I closed my eyes and breathed in deeply. "I-I need you to be safe, okay? Please?" I pleaded. My voice came out softer, but still firm enough to let her know that I was serious.

"I don't want to leave you here," she whispered.

"I know, but you'll always matter more." I kissed her bruised cheek lightly, smiling against her skin.

"You matter to me," she said, frowning. "You matter a lot…I—"

"Shh," I interrupted her when I heard footsteps coming up the hall.

I whirled around quickly, and my eyes narrowed.

Seeing my dad in front of me almost made me lose it and phase right there. I reached behind me, pressing my palm against Kim's back and pulling her against me. Getting her out of here was my first priority.

"What are you doing here?" I asked him coldly, hoping to distract him as I backed up toward the front door.

"I left some stuff when your mom kicked me out," he replied gruffly, "didn't get to pick it up."

"So you thought it was better to break in and steal it back?"

"I didn't break in," he sneered. "I have a key. I used to live here, you know."

"Well, you don't anymore." I turned my head a little toward Kim. "Remember…run." In one fluid motion I pushed her gently out the door, made sure she was okay, and slammed it shut.

"Pretty, little thing. You knock her around, too?" he said emotionlessly, gesturing to his cheek.

I didn't even think as my body started shaking. I didn't care that I was about to lose the carefully constructed restraint I had built. It didn't matter that I had just phased in front of my dad and threw him against the wall, knocking him unconscious.

"As pack leader I'm required to lecture you about the importance of control," Sam said as we sat on the front steps of his house, "but as a fellow wolf that's imprinted I want to tell you that I would have done the exact same thing."

I smiled.

"I don't know what's going to happen to your dad. We can't really involve the police without suspicions surrounding us as well."

My grin vanished as I grasped the seriousness of the situation. I wanted to forget that this afternoon ever happened. I wanted to forget what my dad had said, but it kept floating around in my head. You knock her around, too?

"I've been in your head enough to know what you're thinking, and you won't end up like him…I promise," Sam assured me as he rested a comforting hand on my shoulder. "You're your mother's son."

I didn't move or say anything. I wanted to believe him…I really did, but I was scared to death that he was wrong. My hands shook in my lap, and I could feel my eyes water. The thought of ever hurting Kim had my entire body vibrating, but the thought of doing it on purpose made me want to puke.

"Come on. Emily and Kim are waiting for us inside."

Step right up
Shoot an arrow at the target
My heart is an easy thing for you to hit
Don't worry
If you miss I'll let you shoot again
My heart is an easy thing for you to win

Please aim slow
Please aim slow
(Please aim slow)

"Jared!" Kim cried when I stepped into the living room.

I smiled, closing my eyes and letting out a relieved sigh as she wrapped her arms around my torso. I pulled her impossibly closer and buried my nose in the crook of her neck. Ahh….

"Don't ever make me do that again," she whispered in my ear.

"I can't promise that," I replied reluctantly. As much as I wanted do whatever she asked, if it came down to that and her safety the latter would always be more important.

"We're going to let you guys alone to talk and stuff," Emily interrupted sweetly form the doorway, smiling.

I nodded. "Thanks."

I knew that Sam would still be able to hear us anywhere in the house, but at least he'd try to give us privacy. I don't think I'd be able to say the same thing if it was anyone else from the pack.

"Jared," Kim started once Sam and Emily were out of sight, "I, um—I wanted to tell you something…important." Her eyes were on the tiny space of couch between us, and she wrung her hands together like she usually did when she was nervous.

I placed my hand over hers, and it practically engulfed them. I leaned in toward her ear, her eyes still on the couch cushions. Whispering in her ear I said, "Calm down…don't be nervous. Not around me, you can tell me anything."

Her eyes slowly rose to meet mine. She still looked hesitant, like she had when we first became friends. Her agitated hands slowly relaxed under mine. Stretching her fingers out, she turned her hand palm-up and twined her fingers through mine.

I grinned widely.

"I love you," she blurted, but I knew she meant it because she grabbed my face with her tiny hands and pressed her lips to mine before I could even react.

I didn't waste any time as I wound my arms around her back and into her hair. This was probably the first time she had taken the initiative and been so...bold. I knew that it had taken a lot of courage for her to kiss me like that; she was just naturally cautious and shy.

I nearly fell off the couch in surprise when her hands slid from my cheeks, past my neck, and to the hem of my shirt. They slid under, feeling their way across my stomach and chest. Then her mouth opened and exhaled into my own. Oh God, there was no way this could end well.

One of my hands fell from its place twisted in her ebony tresses and pressed against the small of her back, pushing her entire body against my own and probably squishing her hands against me.

I pulled away slightly and untangled myself so that I could yank my t-shirt over my head. "I never wear one anyway," I explained breathlessly before leaning in to pick up where we left off.

She continued to explore the muscles on my chest and stomach as we kissed, and I twitched in response. She started to pull away, thinking she had done something wrong, but I quickly pulled her back to me. I ended up falling backwards on the couch so that I was on my back with her on top of me, both of us lying down.

My little imprint had no clue what she did to me, honestly she didn't. I avoided touching the places where her shirt had ridden up showing her creamy skin, knowing that if I did…I would totally lose it.

"Nayeli," I murmured and pulled away to drop a kiss on her forehead, "so much. Que Quowle."

Oh, what could I say to you?
To let you know every day
I am grateful
I wish I could turn back time
Or maybe rewind
I would find you when we were younger
So we could spend our time on earth together longer

Step right up
Shoot an arrow at the target
My heart is an easy thing for you to hit
Don't worry
If you miss I'll let you shoot again
My heart is an easy thing for you to win

"I think I didn't want to say it because then I was finally admitting that there was another person out there that could disappointment me…and more than my parents ever could," Kim said quietly as she explained her reluctance to say, "I love you."

We were still at Sam and Emily's, and she was tucked into my side, half resting on me, half resting on the couch. My arm was wrapped around her back, keeping her close while my hand played with her hair.

"But I'm glad you imprinted on me. It means that you'll be here forever…it was always supposed to be like that. I needed—I need you," she mumbled shyly, hiding her face against my neck.

"I'm yours…forever. My heart's yours." I kissed the side of her neck, and well fell asleep together.

Whoa, step right up again
When you find love you can't hesitate
Whoa, step right up again
My heart is aching I can barely wait
Whoa, step right up again
When you find love you can't hesitate
Whoa, step right up again
My heart is aching I can barely wait

"Jared are you sure we should be doing this?" Kim asked uneasily as we made our way through the forest.

"Don't worry. Sam talked to the elders, so you won't get into trouble. We'll pick up the work we missed after school," I said reassuringly. "Would you rather be in history with Mr. Hodges?"

"Well…alright," she conceded with a small grin.

She still seemed a little unsure, so I scooped her up on my back, giving her a piggyback ride. She laughed lightly. Better.

The trees blocked out most of the light here, but I could see perfectly fine. I briefly wondered how Kim had managed to navigate her way through here by herself, and it made me shudder. I was only comforted by the fact that I knew she wouldn't be doing that anymore.

I was running faster than average for a human, and that was a speedy human. Kim seemed to notice and reached down to tap my cheek, getting my attention.

"At this rate we'll never make it there, old man," she teased, smiling.

I chuckled, kissing her cheek. "You better hang on tight. You brought this on yourself," I said and then took off at werewolf speed through the forests of La Push. I could feel Kim's laughter vibrating though my entire body.

"That one looks like you as a wolf," Kim pointed out.

We were lying in our wheat field, the one where we had first "met" you could say. Kim was curled next to me, her head resting on my chest under my chin while we picked out shapes in the clouds. Normally you'd lie with your heads next to each other, bodies going opposite ways, but that just wasn't close enough for me.

"No it doesn't." I scoffed incredulously. "That one's so fat."

"Exactly," she said, muffling her laughter.

I flipped us over suddenly so that she was pinned beneath me. I smiled at the mischievous look in her eyes. I could tell that she was anticipating what I was going to do.

"You're the only one that can get away with calling me fat," I grumbled finally, pecking her on the nose. "Just don't tell Paul." I grinned.

"It'll be our secret," she replied, giggling. "Hey, can I sketch you…as a human?" she questioned after a short pause.

"Sure." Like I'd deny her anything.

"We can go back to my house. My parents aren't there. But right now...let's just enjoy this." She smiled for probably the hundredth time that day, leaning back as I rolled to the side and stretched out next to her.

"Yeah," I murmured, reaching over to hold her hand. I smiled. "Yeah, that sounds good—great actually."

Ending A/N: So...how'd I do? Characters didn't contradict themselves or their personalities from earlier in the story? Reactions were in character and believable? I know...my questions are requiring more thought now. Well, lets turn those cogs in your brains and leave me a review with your thoughts. Just a reminder from the beginning A/N if you didn't read it: If you'd like to know exactly how many chapter are left (don't know why it really matters but...) just PM me or leave it in your review.

I used some words and phrases from the Quileute language in this chapter. I looked it up online, so I'm very sorry if the translations and such are wrong. It was actually very interesting to read about. Apparently only about three or four remaining people can speak Quileute fluently. Anyways, here are the translations and pronunciations:

Que Quowle (k-we k-WOW-le)— stay with me forever (yes...it is from the movie)

Nayeli (Nay-ellii)— I love you (or the closest thing in the Quileute language)