Jared drove Kim back to her place before going over to Sam`s. He was in a better mood than he had been for the past while. Kim was happy to see him this way. She had missed his easy smiles and jovial moods. She made a mental note to get over whatever was bothering her. She was eighteen, she was supposed to be happy. She need not feel like she had the weight of the world on her shoulders. Jared and Danny could handle themselves when it came to battle. She had to learn how to trust them. She repeated this mantra to herself, but she still felt something pull at her, like she was being stretched and was on the verge of snapping. It was the scariest feeling she had ever had. Worse than the vampire attack. The bitter taste of vile rose to her mouth and the stretchy feeling intensified. She made her face a mask of happiness as Jared kissed her goodbye and promised to call her later. She watched him pull out of her driveway with a horrible feeling of loss that made her feel extremely weak. With the greatest effort she went into her house and collapsed on her bed in exhaustion after she showered.
"Kim Kimi Kims wake up." Kim was vaguely aware of someone talking to her and tickling her foot. She rubbed her eyes and rolled over.
"Mmmm?" Why wouldn`t whoever it was let her sleep?
"Wakey wakey, we have been summoned." It was Joanna. Kim opened her eyes with difficulty and spied Joanna rummaging through her closet and taking out clothes.
"Summoned to what?" Kim asked with a yawn.
"To Sam and Emily`s place. The other shape-shifters are there and you are going to meet them. We have to get you ready." Joanna`s voice was falsely bright. Something was up.
"You have met them?" Kim eyed her was she got undressed. Joanna`s back stiffened momentarily.
"Yeah, I have." Her answer was short. Too short.
"What are they like?" Kim asked as she put on the dress Joanna chose. It was Jared`s favorite. Light green cotton with a broderie anglaise trimming on the skirt hem and neck. Joanna threw a pair of ballet flats in Kim`s direction.
"They`re okay I guess. I just don`t get why they have shown up all of a sudden." Joanna was trying to tell Kim more.
"Is there a reason why you are dressing me up?" Joanna looked a Kim with worry.
"There was this one, a girly one like Leah but definitely not as cool, who was eying up Jared the minute she saw him." Kim felt herself redden with rage.
"Really? Well, too bad for her, he`s taken. Nothing can come between the imprint bond." Her shaky voice gave away the fear she felt.
"Yeah yeah I know that. But it was like, and promise not to get mad! It was like Jared wasn`t really blowing her off." Kim repressed the urge to hit something.
"They were flirting?" Joanna nodded.
"That`s what it looked like to me, Embry agreed with me as well."
"I don`t understand." Kim wanted to strangle the stupid bitch as well as Jared. This wasn`t supposed to happen.
"Me neither. Just see for yourself. Jared said to let you sleep and come meet them tomorrow or some crap earlier today. That`s when the alarm bells started ringing for me."
"Thanks for telling me this Jojo." The two girls hugged. Kim felt like her mind was disconnected from her body. Jared would never do anything like this to her, would he?
"I had to. You`re my best friend and basically my sister. We always tell the truth, even if it hurts."
Joanna sped to Emily and Sam`s. They could hear laughter coming from inside the little house.
"How should I act?" Kim asked Joanna.
"Like nothing is up. Just go and claim Jared as yours. He is yours. Just act happy."
"I`ll try." Kim said as they exited the car. Embry raced out of the house and straight to Joanna.
"Jojo, finally. I missed you so much." He crushed her to his body and littered her face with kisses.
"Easy there, I was only gone for an hour and a half." Joanna said as she planted a wet kiss on Embry`s mouth. Kim snickered at them. Embry looked at her guiltily.
"Hey Kimi, the party was so boring, but now that you`re here.."
"Embry, cool it." Joanna warned.
"Sorry babe. Let`s go in." He said, wrapping a huge arm around her shoulders.
"Is Jared inside?" Kim asked. She knew he wasn`t. If he was he would have come out with Embry. Embry didn`t make eye contact with her and scratched the back of his neck guiltily.
"No actually, he went with some of the other shape-shifters into the woods with Paul to learn and teach or whatever.." He cringed at what he was saying.
"Is Danny inside?" Kim decided to spare him answering anymore.
"Yeah of course, pigging out as usual." Embry answered that one easily.
The house was stifling hot. Sam came up to her with a creepy smile plastered on his face and introduced her to the other shape-shifters. There was five of them in total. Two were off with Jared and Paul. The other three, John, Mike and Greg looked at Kim with interest as they were introduced. She didn`t get any nasty vibes off them, but they were guarded. Danny took Kim off Sam and led her to the corner of Emily`s kitchen.
"Joanna told you then." He stated. He was starting to sound a lot like their dad these days.
"Yeah. What the fuck is going on and tell me the truth." Danny took a deep breath and ignored a pointed warning look from Sam. He took out his mobile and started writing a message. He gave the phone to Kim.
"Not safe to talk. Super hearing remember! So the chick, Whitney or whatever, when she saw Jared, when they saw each other it was like they clicked. It`s not like that imprinting crap, they were just flirting."
Kim read the text and didn`t know she if appreciated the bluntness, but that was Danny for you. He told it like it was. She gave her brother a rare hug and gave him back his phone.
"Thanks Danny." She said in a flat voice. She forced a smile on her face and went over to Emily and Joanna.
"Hey sweetie, do you want something to eat." Emily said with a hug and pushed a muffin into Kim`s hand.
"Oh thanks Emily. So, where are these guys staying?" She feigned interest.
"Two are staying here and the rest over at Quil`s and Paul`s. They are going to be a big help."
"I`m sure they are." Kim responded, picking at the muffin. The bile taste had returned.
"You look really pretty tonight." Emily added, straightening the strap of Kim`s dress.
"Thanks, I.." Kim started before she was stopped by the commotion Paul had made bursting through the back door.
"I`m starved!" He stated, making a beeline for the food on the kitchen table. He was followed by a man Kim didn`t know so she assumed it was another one of the new gang and a laughing Jared followed by a beautiful laughing girl. They were playfully punching each other on the shoulder. Kim felt her insides clench at the look they gave one another. There was no mistaking the attraction between them. One could cut the sexual tension with a knife. Jared locked eyes with Kim and gave her a guilty look that he instantly tried to disguise with one of happy shock.
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