"The Way I Am" – Ingrid Michaelson

If you are chilly / Here take my sweater / Your head is aching / I'll make it better / 'Cause I love the way you call me baby / And you take me the way I am

"Seth!" I whined. "How long does it take you to make ramen? Seriously! Paul made it within two minutes!"

The sound of pots clanging and water boiling rang out from the kitchen where Seth tried his best to make me some ramen, but for some reason, he was taking forever. My stomach was growling, and I wish I could use the whole "I'm eating for two" excuse, but I'm just a pig. Therefore, I begged Seth to make me some food, and apparently all he knows how to make is ramen.

"The water's not hot enough yet!" Seth called back.

I huffed in annoyance. "You do know that you can just put it in the cold water as soon as it's on the stove. Then the water's boiling, it's done. Right? Or are you seriously a Chef Boyardee wannabe?" This was taking too long, so I grabbed the cordless phone that was on the coffee table next to the couch I laid on and dial a local Chinese place.

"Hwang-Hu's Chinese Palace. How may I help you?" the employee answered, not even remotely sounding Chinese.

"I need to place an order for delivery. And do you do that thing where if it's thirty minutes late, then I get it for free?" I replied.

"Uhh, that's Dominoes."

I rolled my eyes. "Does that mean I can't count on you to make it here within thirty minutes? 'Cause I'm pregnant and want my food ASAP," I hissed, pissed beyond belief that I had to wait forever to get some food around here. Seriously, if Paul was here, he would have already ran down to the Chinese restaurant and bought me something of everything just to ensure I was satisfied. And Seth kept telling me to go to Sam's because apparently Emily was the best cook on the whole reservation.

Yea right. Knowing my luck with them, I'd get the one plate that "accidentally" had poison spilt in it.

"Ma'am, I assure you, we'll deliver your food in a timely manner," the employee said, sounding rather ticked that he had to put up with me.

Whatever. With Paul, I could do and say anything that was on my mind and he would go along with me. Like three days ago he took me to the beach and this girl walked by wearing too much eye-liner. I shouted that she looked like a skanky raccoon and Paul burst out laughing.

I growled at myself. I left Paul, he's gone. I just need some food so that I can stop thinking about him.

"Could I get an order of chow mein, and then some teriyaki chicken, and I want some kung-pao chicken but pick out all the peanuts from it because I frickin' hate nuts, and then I'll have a spring roll unless it has onions in it. On second thought, I still want the spring roll, just make a new one so that there's no onion at all."

The employee muttered in anger at my long order, but whatever. If he doesn't like people being picky with their food, then he should work at McDonald's, where you don't know what's in the food at all.

"That will be $42.50 and our delivery boy will be there in a timely fashion. What's your address?"

"8763 Sheppard Avenue," I answered, hanging up shortly after. "Hey Seth!"

"What?" he called from the kitchen, finally putting the ramen packet into the boiling water.

"Stop makin' your shitty food and give me $50. I ordered Chinese."

Seth ran into the living room, looking flustered. I could tell that he desperately wanted me to leave, but because he has such a big heart, wouldn't kick me out. Plus I told him I'd tell Paul he hurt me if he did. He opened his mouth to say something, but instead closed it to go put $50 dollars together.

In thirty minutes exactly (those Chinese Palace assholes), the doorbell rang. I turned to look at Seth expectantly, but he was in the bathroom doing Lord knows what. I assume he's jerkin his gherkin, but at least he least the fifty dollars (all in ones) on the coffee table. I grabbed the cash and walked to the door.

As soon as I opened it, my jaw dropped in surprise and I almost dropped the money.

"D-Danni?" Joseph squeaked out in terror. He looked so much thinner than the last time I saw him. His hair had grown back a little bit, but it was still pretty short. His face had sunken in a little bit and when he spoke, his voice was considerably higher.

I guess Paul really did bite off his testicles. I fought a smirk. Paul put another guy's junk in his mouth for me. Now that's real love…so why'd I leave? Oh yea, because he only loves me because of some stupid werewolf magic.

"Uh, hey Joseph," I murmured, awkwardly handing him the fifty dollars as he handed me the bag of food. "Keep the change."

"Thanks," he said in his soprano voice. "Oh, and uh, don't eat the spring roll. The guy on the phone really hates you and asked me to tell you never to call again." He turned to go walk down the path to his car.

"Wait!" I called out.

Joseph slowly turned around, looking a little hopeful. "Yes?"

"How's Henry?" I asked. Maybe since I couldn't get with Paul due to mental reasons, I could make it with Henry, my first crush here.

Joseph frowned. "Oh. Well he's fine. He's actually in the back of the car with his new girlfriend."

Girlfriend? "Who's his girlfriend?" I asked, trying not to seem angry.

Joseph saw my change in attitude and a smile creeped onto his face. Ugh, please don't tell me he still thinks he has a chance with me.

"That's cool. Seth!" I yelled. I turned back to Joseph. "I wanted to introduce you to my new boyfriend Seth. And he works out and is really buff too."

Seth came walking to the front door, his mouth full of the ramen that was originally meant to be mine. "Hmm?" he muttered.

Joseph frowned as he took in Seth's appearance. Seth, thankfully, decided against wearing a shirt, thus showing off his defined chest. He even towered over Joseph by at least a foot and a half. Paul was bigger and taller though. And much hotter than the two.

I grabbed Seth by the hand and pulled him outside and over to Joseph's car which was parked in the drive way. I knocked on the back window and it rolled down, revealing a very stoned Henry. His eyes were bloodshot and he reeked of marijuana.

"Hey Henry," I said, "this is Seth-"

"Whoa!" Henry laughed. "Danni! Haven't seen you in forever! Why you still walk with a cast?"

I cocked my eyebrow. "Uh, we go to the same school. But anyway, this is Seth-"

"Danni? Danni Chapman?" a familiar girl's voice rang from the car. There was a little shuffling and Lauren popped her head out the window, leaning over Henry, both of them high as a kite.

"Lauren?" I cried. "You're dating Henry?" That backstabber! I told her a million times about how much I longer to be Henry Tudor's sweetheart. And she was the one who told me all the bad stuff about Paul! About how I should ditch community service to hang with her instead of my mate- whoa! Paul is gone! Stop thinking about him!

Lauren nodded her head, her blond hair flying in front of her face, making Henry laugh. "Isn't she so hot?" he mused.

I cleared my throat, getting their attention again. "Anyway, this is Seth, my-"

"You're Leah's brother!" Lauren interrupted me. "She was such a bitch!" She burst out into hysterics, which Henry soon copied. The both of them laughed at something that wasn't even funny to begin with. It was just a stupid fact! This is why I hate pot-heads.

They're so fucking retarded!

"Yeah, we can all agree that we hate Leah," I huffed. "Anyways, back to me. This is Seth-"

"Hey remember when she used to date that Uley guy?" Henry slurred. "I really liked him, but now he's with Two-Face. Man's gotta lot of heart to stay with an ugly."

I clenched my fists. Normally, I'm all for making fun of Sam and Emily, but now I needed to show that I'm in a good place. I made loud coughing noises, making Henry, Lauren, and Joseph look at me. "Now that I've got your attention," I snorted, "I'd like to introduce you to Seth, my boyfriend…"

I trailed off when I realized that Seth was staring at Lauren, his eyes wide like he had seen the sun for the first time. A goofy grin formed on his face and immediately I knew he had imprinted on her. He walked up to the car and tried to casually lean on it and flex his chest muscles at the same time.

"Hey, I'm Seth," he said, making his voice deeper than normal.

"Hey!" Lauren enthusiastically smiled back. "I'm outta your league." She then rolled up the window and I saw the inside of the car get smokier as Henry lit another joint.

Seth's shoulders slumped and his face fell. A whimper escaped from him and he looked up at me with the most desperate eyes I've ever seen…well, the second most desperate. After Paul.

Paul.

I clenched my fists again and ground my teeth together stomping closer to the car. I set my food on the hood before I yanked the door open.

"Wha?" Henry laughed. "Danni! What are you doin' here?"

"Shut up Cheech!" I yelled. I reached inside the car and snatched Lauren by the hair and yanked. She screamed with shock, making Seth growl at me, but I ignored both of them. I pulled Lauren out of the car and pushed her in Seth's direction, where she stumbled and fell into his embrace.

She tried to push him away, but was too baked to stand on her own and eventually gave in, relaxing in Seth's arms. Seth happily smiled and nuzzled her neck, making purring sounds. In fact, I've never seen him look so happy before and he was the happiest person in the world.

Did that mean that imprinting really is love?

I jerked back with my revelation. Paul loves me, and I love him.

I love Paul Meraz. I laughed. "Hey Henry!" I said, turning to him in glee.

He glanced up at me with his glazed over eyes. "Huh?"

"I don't like you anymore," I said, putting my hand on his shoulder. "I've come to realize that you're a fucking loser and that I'm in love with someone else."

I grabbed my food off the food and reached inside the bag, turning to Joseph.

"Joseph," I scowled, effectively erasing his idiotic smile. "You sick creep. You tried to rape me and you got what you deserved. And guess what, I used you. And guess what else? I hate your poor, bitch ass house and I never loved you. I love Paul Meraz!" I turned to Lauren. "Lauren. Treat Seth right because you'll soon understand that you're his world and even though we may not deserve love, we need it. And our mates need us."

I began to walk down the drive way as I pulled out my spring roll. I smirked and then walked back over to Joseph.

"Here ya go," I smiled at him. "Use this to compensate for something you may have recently lost, bitch!" I threw the spring roll at him and burst out laughing as I ran down the street to go home to Paul, where I belong.

I ran all the way there, not stopping once, and even carrying the Chinese food with me in case he was hungry. Plus, I figure food would be the perfect apology seeing as how he's always hungry. And I'll leave out the part that Seth paid for it.

Paul's house, I mean, my home came into sight and I dashed up the driveway.

"Paul!" I yelled out, waiting for him to run outside and take me into his arms. He didn't come, but I assume that's just because he's on the toilet or something.

I ran inside and as soon as I closed the door, something hit my head making me black out.

And the part that pissed me off the most was that I still didn't get to eat!