Yes, it has been a month, or a million, or something like that.

Normally I would give you an excuse, but it's all the same, between school and what not. I hope to be updating more the second summer comes around, but until then...

Ugh, so complicated.

Anyways, this chapter is kind of long, so I hope it makes up for it. I wrote this like at 2 in the morning last night, and it may look to be that quality, too, but part of it that doesn't make sense was kind of supposed to be like that, 'cause that's how Paudrey Lockhot works...

Enjoy!

-EasyIsTheDescent

Disclaimer: I own nothing of Twilight except for a couple posters, if that helps.

I'd really rather own Paul, but bitch if I can't have him then no one can.

I was dead.

I had to be dead.

Because there was no way in hell that I could have been destined to put up with this while I was alive.

What was I dealing with?

The pack. The angry pack. Plus one.

Angry imprints. Very angry.

And a mind-blowing migraine.

"Don't do it, Audrey," I grumbled, glancing at the unknowing pedestrian that was walking outside my truck, "He doesn't need a ride that bad."

But it was raining. And it was almost dark. And I had only given the excuse of going to grocery store to Paul, which I had yet to do.

So I rolled down the window. Like the Good Samaritan I was.

"Hey Matt!" I yelled, the blonde boy's head popping up in surprise, "It's Audrey, remember? You need a ride?"

He seemed to be debating this for a second, but then he nodded eagerly, and I allowed him to hop into the passenger seat of my car, water diamonds settled in his hair.

"Thank you so much," He smiled gratefully, his blue eyes bright, "I don't want pneumonia, as difficult as that is to believe."

I laughed, silently praying I still had a bottle of pepper spray shoved down in my purse.

Not that I thought he was a rapist, but still.

"So where do you need to be?" I asked, glancing over at him as he tried to warm up, and he bit his lip.

"I was kind of planning on going to this party, but-"

"I'll get you there," I promised, and he shook his head.

"You don't need to do that. I know you live back in La Push, and I don't want to make you-"

"Don't worry about it," I cut him off, "I was down here to do some groceries, anyways. Where is it?"

He gave me an address, and I nodded, turning in that direction. "So you didn't have anyone to give you a ride?"

Matt shook his head. "I used to ride out to these places with Amanda," He sighed, "But then I caught her cheating on me."

"Ouch," I winced, "Sorry man. I know what that's like, trust me."

"It's fine," He assured me, his face surprisingly cheery, "We weren't really a good match anyways."

"You're too nice," I agreed, "And you deserve so much more, I promise. Any girl would be lucky to have you."

Matt smiled widely. "Thanks, Audrey. It means a lot."

I smiled back at him. "Call me Ree."

When I made it to the party he spoke of, the house all but vibrating with music and flashing lights, Mike's expression brightened.

"Thanks for the ride," He grinned, and I shrugged.

"Anytime."

He moved to shut the door, before he paused, as if he thought of something. "Hey, why don't you come with me? It should be fun, even if you don't drink."

I was about to object, about to tell him that I had a boyfriend to go home to and groceries to buy, but I had long since emptied all alcohol I could find, and I was eager for more.

"I'm wearing jeans and a t-shirt," I reminded him, glancing down at my sad grocery shopping outfit, and Matt shrugged with a large grin.

"No one will mind," He motioned for me to hop out, "Let's go have some fun!"

"I should be getting home," I giggled, swaying around both to the music and the dizzy intoxicated haze that had taken over my logic.

Multiple people around me, only one that I recognized, whined in protest.

"Come on, Ree," Matt pouted, taking a large swig from the red cup in his grasp, "Stay a little longer?"

And of course, how could I refuse?

Paul is waiting for you. The logical voice reminded me. And you are out in Forks drinking alongside a football jock.

I would have argued with the voice, but at that moment my phone rang, and I pulled it out of my back pocket, backing away from the loud noise.

"Hello?" I laughed, everything so undeniably funny, and I could hear a strange, muffled noise from the other end.

"Ree?" Someone sobbed rapidly, a voice that I recognized as Leah. "Ree I need your help."

"Aww, why so down Lee-Lee?" I giggled, though Leah didn't seem to notice, as she was breathing uncontrollably.

"Ree, it's Brady," She gasped, "He, he was so mad when I told him that Mom and Dad were working late again, and now he's shaking and he looks like Embry did, and I don't know-"

"Leah," I was slowly coming back to life, my brain refocusing as the logic inside screamed that something was wrong, "Y-you call Embry, okay? You call him and you stay away from Brady."

"But he's my brother-"

"And I think he's phasing into a goddamn werewolf!" I groaned as my head throbbed in pain, "Go call him now, Leah!"

I hung up, trying to regain my balance as I grabbed my keys from my back pocket, but I knew it was useless. There was no way I was driving now.

So I pressed my back against the wall, and I sat down on the ground, slowly blacking out in the process.

And now here I was.

Paul had found me eventually, after I had incoherently asked Matt to call him, and he wasn't a very happy werewolf. I believe he had thrown me over his shoulder, but that could have been the alcohol talking.

He yelled at me the whole drive to Emily's house, but I don't remember a word that was said, only that I had mumbled apology after useless apology and he had ignored every one of them.

Everyone was there, save Sam and Jared, who were trying to calm Brady down, most likely deep in the woods. Kim was standing beside Emily, and they were whispering soothing words to a sobbing Leah as Embry held her in a tight embrace.

And when we pulled up, hell broke loose.

"Where the hell have you been?" Quil yelled, though he didn't sound angry as much as he did concerned.

"You!" Embry accused, and I clutched at my throbbing head as he let go of a protesting Leah, marching over to me, "She could have been killed, Audrey! And you were out getting wasted? What the hell is wrong with you?"

"I'm sorry, I didn't know-"

"It doesn't matter!" Jake interrupted, and Seth moved to quiet him, but he didn't even listen to my little brother, "You are so damn ignorant, Audrey Lockwood, you think because you have the whole Rez wrapped around your finger you can do whatever the hell you want? Grow the f-"

Paul growled at him warningly.

He ignored him.

"Alright that's enough," Emily yelled, and our heads all snapped up at the sound of her voice, "While you all are acting like foolish children, we have a new pack member who is scared and needs help. I suggest you guys go do just that, hmm?"

Jake continued to glare at me, the hypocritical leech-loving bastard that he was, and I usually would have flipped him off, had guilt not been stabbing painfully at the pit of my stomach.

Quil motioned for Jake to leave, and he spared me one last accusing look before he stormed off towards the trees, his figure shimmering as he just barely disappeared before he burst into his wolf form.

Leah whispered something to Embry, and he moved as if to angrily protest, but she gave him a pleading look I knew he couldn't argue with. He didn't even look at me as he jogged off after Jacob, being a little more controlled as he phased.

Quil, Seth, Emily, Kim, Leah, Paul, and I all looked at one another for a moment, before Emily decided to speak up.

"Come on Ree," She murmured quietly, motioning for me to follow her inside, "I'll get you something for that migraine."

I nodded solemnly, feeling slightly like a wolf with its tail between its legs (the pun wasn't even that funny to me right now) as I followed her up the steps, the others following suit.

"No, Seth," I turned to the comforting little brother who had wrapped an inhumanly muscular arm around me in assurance that he was on my side, "I don't want Mom to worry about you. Go home."

Seth's face fell. "But-"

"Come on, bro," I forced a smile to my face, one that no doubt looked as pained as I felt, "Go take care of Mom, get something to eat. I'm fine."

Either the reassurance of my wellbeing or the thought of food did him in, because he nodded and caught me in a one-armed hug before he jogged away.

"Let me drive you, kid!" Kim called, and Seth nodded thankfully from the driveway before Kim turned back to us, digging her keys out of her purse. "Tell Jared I needed to get home. I love you, Lee-Lee, it'll be okay."

Kim gave me a small smile that I could barely manage to return, and she left drove away, Seth appearing to sing along with something on the radio.

When we got inside, Paul looked as if he was going to help Emily, but I really didn't want him to. I didn't want that pitiful look to be watching me.

"Go help with Brady," I whispered quietly, "Make sure that Jake doesn't scare the crap out of him."

The usual dose of defiance flared in his smoldering dark eyes. "Ree, I'm not going any-"

"I don't want you here." I raised my voice louder, before I went back to whispering as my head pounded. "Please, Paul. I don't want any criticism, or pity, or accusations. Not from you."

Paul seemed to understand somehow, as he always seemed to do from that unpredictable imprint bond, but this didn't stop him from acting like the smartass he was infamous for being.

"This may come as a shock to you," He muttered as he turned towards the front door, "But I genuinely was worried about you and want to take care of you. When you finally come to your goddamn senses and stop acting like your father, you know where to find me."

And the door slammed shut, leaving me to cringe in pain that wasn't just sparked by the headache.

Emily had disappeared into the kitchen, while Leah and Quil watched us with sad eyes, and I ignored them, Quil because he was my friend Quil and Leah because I felt so terribly guilty that I couldn't stand to look in her eyes like the coward I was.

"Here is some Advil," Emily announced when I took a seat in the kitchen that was far too bright, "And some water. Keep drinking that, it should help."

I nodded, and Quil walked in a second later as I downed the white pills obediently. He shared a glance with Emily, before the two sat down across from me, leaning against the counter with concerned eyes.

"Why'd you do it, Ree?" Emily asked with a sad voice, "You don't like the concept of drinking, I know you."

I looked up at her, and I was surprised she didn't flinch considering the wild-haired, smudged-eyeliner mess that I was, "I couldn't tell you, Em. I just thought that it must take problems away somehow, and that if my dad-"

My voice broke at the name, remembering what Paul had said, and Emily and Quil seemed to have put the rest together.

My life in Seattle was no new information to the pack. Kim was the only person I had told face to face, and the rest Paul had admitted guiltily had learned from the whole "pack mind" thing.

Quil moved as if to say something, but at that moment Leah walked in, her makeup removed and her hair pulled into a short ponytail at the back of her head.

I immediately looked away when she took a seat beside me, and I was surprised when I felt her hand touch my shoulder.

"I'm not mad at you, Ree," She sounded tired, "I understand. The only person I'm mad at right now is Taha Aki, but I really don't think yelling to him would bring me any peace of mind."

Quil chuckled.

"I don't want your pity, Leah," I replied in monotone, "I know that I majorly screwed up, and that I let you down, and I definitely don't deserve your help."

Leah watched me for a moment before responding. "We aren't here to pity you, or comfort you," She told me flatly, "We're here because you did screw up, and we are going to make sure you don't do it again."

I laughed humorlessly. "Is this an intervention? Am I an alcoholic now?"

"You went out with a Forks boy and got so wasted Paul needed to carry you out of there," Quil raised an eyebrow, "If that isn't considered a problem, I don't where the hell this world has gone."

"But I'm not-"

"You aren't an alcoholic," Leah confirmed, "But you did get a little crazy, and I only just now realized you were the reason my sorrowful drink disappeared, weren't you?"

Quil narrowed his eyes at me, and I nodded sheepishly. Leah huffed.

"You sly little devil."

"That's what my friends call me."

Emily and Quil chuckled, before I groaned, placing my pounding head in my hands. "I feel like I got mowed over by a truck. Or worse. Sam."

"That's how hangovers work, dear," Emily smacked me playfully at the mention of her fiancé, "So we have an agreement? No more drinking?"

God, I feel like I'm five years old.

…What five year olds have you been hanging out with?

"Absolutely," I promised in a muffled moan, and Leah looked towards the front door with a concerned, longing look.

"I just…" Leah looked down at her hands which were intertwined with one of my own and one of Quil's, "What's wrong with me? He's my little brother, I'm supposed to take care of him, and now-"

"We've all felt that way somehow," Emily interrupted her soothingly, her voice melodic despite the pink scars that turned the corner of her lips down, "But it isn't your fault, Lee. This is La Push's responsibility."

She nodded, before she looked back up at me. "That's why I called you, you know," Leah admitted, "I know that you were there when Seth… and I knew you would understand."

"God, I am so sorry Leah-"

"Oh quit the apologies," Quil huffed, marching over to the refrigerator, "This is why the men are all out in the woods, wallowing in their testosterone."

The three ladies in the room all gave him an odd look. "Quil, you sounded like such a woman just now," I snorted, and he flipped me off just as Emily slapped his hand away.

"Hey!" She scolded as Quil recoiled, "I have created a positive aura in this home and you are not going to mess it up now!"

Leah glanced around thoughtfully. "It all just feels like Emily," She said blankly, "Warm and cozy. If you were a location, you would be this quaint little cottage, all light and fuzzy."

"And you say I've been drinking."

Leah slapped me upside the head. "Too soon, Sleazebag."

"Goddamn," I growled, rubbing at the back of my sore head and probably ruining my already ghastly hair, "Now I know how Jared feels."

When I finally made it home, Paul was sitting on the front step in front of the turquoise house that we already had fond memories of, and I noticed that the shiny metal object he was twirling through his fingers was my house key.

"You know," I murmured, as there was no doubt Paul and his inhuman ears could hear me, "If you place that thing there into the lock and twist it around a few times, it may open the door."

Paul raised an eyebrow. "It's that simple?"

I shrugged. "Well, you'd probably have to tell it a few dirty secrets first."

Paul sighed, narrowing his dark eyes at me from underneath the dim porch light. "God knows we have enough of them to spare, now don't we Ree?"

This hurt, but I knew that he felt the same way. Beneath the asshole exterior he was putting up, he felt betrayed, and I couldn't blame him.

I glared at him. "Screw you, Lahote."

"Wouldn't you love to?"

"Jesus Christ," I laughed, though really there was nothing funny, "And here I thought I was going to be able to have a civil conversation with you. But of course not, because instead of hearing me out you have to go and be a dick, don't you Paul?"

"What is there to hear, Ree?" Paul was standing now, his posture no longer the bored stance it had been before, "You lied to me. You went behind my back-"

"I did not-"

"Yes you did, Ree!" Paul ran a hand through his hair in frustration, something that I still found myself longing to do, "Jesus, when are you going to realize that I am here for you, Audrey? I feel like I've explained to you a million times that I love you, and I'm still waiting for an answer."

I froze, my purse hitting the ground with a thud. What did this have to do with anything?

And more importantly, how in the hell did he think that was true?

Douchebag mother-

"You don't think that I love you?" I growled, and Paul shrank back slightly, creeping towards the trees, "Goddamn you, Paul Lahote! You stupid, arrogant, lowlife piece of-"

"I know you love me, Audrey!" Paul yelled, closing the distance between us until he was only a few feet away, "But I am sick of waiting for you! I love you, I will love you, and I don't understand why you can't see that! Because if you did, you would know that I was worried sick about you, and that I hate nothing more than to see you treat yourself like this, and that-"

"What do you want, Paul?" I threw my hands up, "What do you want?"

We stood there in silence for a moment.

"I don't know," Paul whispered quietly, not meeting my eyes, "But you are my imprint, and I want more for us than this."

I felt like I actually had been mowed over by a truck-sized Sam at that point, because there was no oxygen entering my lungs, and God only knew when it would start again.

He was leaving.

He was just up and leaving the goddamn conversation.

"Paul," I whispered as he began to walk down towards the trees, "Paul, would you just wait?"

I didn't know what I planned to say to him, as I wasn't very good in these emotional-imprint-soap-opera-situations, but all I knew was that he was mad, I was mad, my brain was fried, and we were having yet another argument that truly made no freaking sense.

…So I guess the kitchen table option is out?

Paul didn't listen to me, as he was still making his way towards the woods, so I decided to do what I do best.

I yell and rant.

"You once told me to list everything I hate about you!" I reminded him, and he slowed slightly, the desired reaction, "But you never let me finish!"

Paul stopped, turning to look at me.

"I also have a list of things I love about you," I blurted out, and his eyes narrowed skeptically, but he didn't say anything.

"Well, you're damn hot, first of all," I stammered, "But actually I really didn't like that at first, because it kind of made you a dick."

Because that is the way to a man's heart, Audrey.

By calling him a dick.

"I love your eyes," I continued, "They're brown, and yet they're not. It's confusing and makes it difficult to concentrate. I love your smile, something that I hadn't know existed in any form different than that infuriating smirk until I truly got to know you."

Paul shifted impatiently, so I quickened my pace.

"I love the way you laugh," I added, "It's kind of contagious, you know, seeing you so happy and so carefree, and God knows I didn't need any help with that. I love your personality, because while you are an infuriating dick, you have a heart of gold and you have a sense of humor that could actually challenge my own."

A corner of his mouth twitched upwards.

"I love how dedicated you are," I was twitching nervously, bouncing up and down on the balls of my feet, "Especially to those you love. I know it's a guy thing to like, never admit it, but you are dedicated, and chicks actually find that pretty hot. Jesus Paul, this list could honestly go on forever, because you know something?"

He didn't reply.

"I love everything about you, damn it," I laughed quietly, "I do, I honestly do. And that's why I freaking lied to you, and why I tried my damndest to keep us out of the positions we are in now, because I hate that goddamn look you get when I act like the Neanderthal bitch that I am."

Paul didn't say anything, so I took a deep breath. "Even when I'm not quite sure how we silently convey what we're mad at, we always end up thinking on this same wavelength that just makes everything random and confusing, and the strange part is I love that too, in a way, because I love you Paul-"

I was cut off his lips crashing against mine, all but literally knocking me off my feet and effectively ending my delirious rant.

"God Ree," He groaned as he pressed his forehead against mine, "Just shut the hell up."

So there it was!

I really don't like writing Audrey as a bitch or a sleaze or anything, but I felt like there needed to be some trouble in paradise, and Paul needs to be the person to call someone else on their bullshit every once in a while.

Like I've said before, I am so sorry about the whole updating thing, and I'm trying really hard, but until I can get to where I'm updating at least like once a week or something, I thank you all for supporting this story.

Love you all! Review, review, review!

(P.S. Who else is majorly in love with Panic! At The Disco? Because I have been going a little crazy, not going to lie.)

-EasyIsTheDescent