Hey guys, just forewarning you, this chapter isn't as long as I would have liked it to be. And yes, as always there is a cliffy.
Enjoy!

Ch.24: Confusion

I watched my mom storm out of the house as tears poured down my face.

"You…me…forest…now…" my mom said softly.

She was standing in front of Edward – her face seemed cold, distant, and I felt so much pain that I couldn't stand here any longer. I took off into the forest crying loudly in hopes that Edward might come in after me and comfort me; he never did. My mom was filled with so many suppressed emotions it was unbearable. How could someone as beautiful as Edward Cullen inflict this kind of pain?

I stumbled through the forest some more and almost fell on my face when two burning hands caught me. I inhaled sharply at the touch because I was so used to Edward's icy grip and I found myself looking into Kevin's admiring green eyes.

"Thanks Kevin," I whispered softly; tears still rolling down my cheeks.

He stood me upright but kept one arm gently around my waist, the other hand made its way up to my face in a loving gesture to wipe my tears.

"You know, crying only makes those chocolate eyes I love turn red," he said quietly. "You still look beautiful either way."

I stumbled backward awkwardly and almost fell again; Kevin catching me once more.

"I didn't even hear you come into the forest," I said casually; the way he was looking at me was different. "You were like a ninja or something…"

He laughed heartily and released me cautiously – his eyes still burning into mine, and he rubbed the back of his neck.

"Part of being a wolf, I guess I'm sneaky," He said; laughing still.

Seeing Kevin laugh lightened my mood a little. These last few days had been so strange with him and I missed the Kevin who always made me melt. Melt didn't seem like the right term, not with Edward in my life; why was I feeling like this?

"Why did you come after me?" I asked him, "You didn't have to."

I sat down on a moss covered boulder – the lovely jeans Alice had given me probably turning green, but I didn't care because I needed to sit down.

"I wanted to Aiyanna," He replied; kneeling down in front of me and cupping my hands in his. "I didn't want you to be out here alone, if something were to happen to you I wouldn't ever forgive myself."

His burning skin felt wonderful around my wet, clammy hands and I looked at him smiling. Kevin really was a protector of our people and he wanted to protect me in particular, but why? He was looking at me with so much love in his eyes it reminded me of how his father looked at his mother. I quickly pulled my hands out of his grasp and laughed.

"I would've been fine Kevin, I am a big girl," I said; laughing still. "I don't need my best friend to watch over me all the time."

I nudged him playfully with my shoulder and smiled.

"If I remember correctly you almost fell on your face when I caught you," He smirked. "Besides, I don't mind watching over you."

I felt so strange around Kevin; I wanted him to hold me for some unexplainable reason. I shook my head and fought with myself mentally; thinking off my night with Edward at Charlie's. These feelings that were coming over me were so different – or were they. I always did love Kevin as a best friend, but was I feeling more than just mutual friendship?

"I'm sorry our plans were kind of ruined," I said frowning. "I should've known my dad would have been able to smell the Cullen's on me."

Kevin smiled weakly and placed his arm around my shoulder warmly.

"I should have walked with you and forewarned you that you stunk," he said flatly.

I gasped – placing my hand over my chest, and looked at him in fake astonishment.

"How could you?" I gasped, "I stink?"

He laughed loudly and his face turned bright red.

"Well, kind of," he chuckled, "Like sewer water and death."

I looked down at my clothes and frowned, did I really smell that bad?

"That's not a very flattering scent, huh?" I asked frowning, "Should I run around naked then?"

He laughed again and cupped my face with one hand.

"You look gorgeous so I have to admit whoever gave you the clothes has nice taste, even if the stench is disgusting." He smiled, "But please don't run around naked, I think your dad would kill me for thinking those thoughts about you."

"How would he know?" I asked; raising an eyebrow. "It could be our little secret Kevin!"

He looked at me with a serious look of concentration like he might be really considering it, but he quickly shook his head laughing.

"Okay, stop messing around like that or you'll get me into some real trouble." He said. "Your dad would know because when we're in wolf form we can hear each others thoughts."

My jaw dropped and I looked at him in amazement.

"Really, that's so cool!" I exclaimed; I felt like a little kid. "No privacy though."

"Not at all, they can hear EVERYTHING!" He groaned. "The first time I phased your dad heard what I thought about your blue sweater!"

Kevin immediately turned a deep maroon color – like he didn't mean to say that, and I fell on the ground laughing.

"Real subtle Kevin," I laughed; gasping for air, "I love you."

I stopped abruptly and looked at Kevin whose face instantly lit up. I slowly began to realize that I had said three very special words meant only for Edward and had given them to Kevin carelessly; what was wrong with me? Kevin got down onto the damp underbrush and propped himself onto one elbow – staring at me extremely happy, and lightly caressed my face.

"I love you Aiyanna Black," he whispered; gently tracing my jaw line with his warm fingers. "I always have but now it's stronger."

Somewhere deep within me I knew Kevin had always had something along the lines of a silly crush, but love me; that was insane.

"Kevin..I…" I stammered.

I couldn't think of the right thing to say and my head was completely flustered. Edward was my dream guy, wasn't he? What if Kevin could be my dream guy too but I didn't give him the chance to be in the past? So many things were rushing through my head but Kevin's sudden movement pulled me from my thought process. I was laying on the flat of my back in an instant and he was on top of me – his warm breath in my face, and his shining eyes seemed to be entranced. He moved his hand slowly down the side of my body and finally rested his hand on my hip – the other hand on the ground beside my head, and his face slowly leaned in towards mine. I could feel my heart begin to race loudly in my chest and this began to feel wrong in my head; it wasn't fair to Edward.

"Please don't…" I whispered, "I love Edward."

Kevin stopped and a pained look spread across his face. He quickly got up off the ground and held his hand out towards me even though he seemed disgusted with me.

"You hate me, huh?" I asked; taking his hand in mine and getting up slowly.

"I could never hate you Aiyanna, can't you see that?" He asked sadly, "I love you so much it hurts, I hate you being with that monster."

I began to feel anger pulse through my veins and I balled my hands into fists.

"You take that back Kevin Uley, he is not a monster!" I shouted.

He stared down at the ground – a single tear rolling down his cheek, and he kicked some of the brush lightly.

"I can't because that's what he is," Kevin said flatly. "He kills, he smells of death, and he's a threat to our people; a monster."

I began to feel my face grow hot and tears well up in my eyes.

"Edward Cullen is one of the sweetest guys I know!" I cried. "He loves me more than anyone else does!"

"Do you really think that?" Kevin growled; his body trembling. "You're my soul mate Aiyanna, my love is stronger!"

I looked at him in disbelief and crossed my arms angrily; he couldn't be serious.

"Soul mates Kevin?" I asked harshly. "Since when, huh?"

He walked towards me slowly and placed his hands on my shoulders gently.

"Always," he whispered. "We've always been soul mates, I imprinted on you."

I cocked my head and let my arms fall down to my sides – my brows burrowed in confusion, and I remembered my dad saying something about imprinting.

"Aiyanna Renee Black I have loved you since the day we first met," he began; my confusion was apparently clear. "I've always wanted to be with you and now I know you were meant to be with me. I imprinted on you – something far stronger than what you have with your bloodsucker, and a werewolf only imprints on his soul mate; from what I understand."

I sat down on the rock again – shaking my head in utter shock, and I refused to believe what was being said to me. Everything made sense to me now, the way he looked at me, the way he always seemed angry when I was around Edward, it all became clear to me.

"Don't I have a choice Kevin?" I asked quietly. "I think I have a choice, right?"

"Yes," Kevin whispered reluctantly. "I believe that you do have a choice, I just wish that choice was to be with me. Aiyanna, I feel like there's this invisible cord that draws me to you, and if it were severed I think I would die."

I drew in a deep breath – reconciling myself and then looked at Kevin who was glancing at me questioningly.

"Kevin, this is just too much to take right now," I said.

I went to turn away from him and walk out of the forest but he grabbed my arm; his hand burning into my wrist.

"Ouch Kevin you're…" I started to speak; but his lips crashed into mine.

It was so sudden that I didn't really have time to pull away. His lips were soft, loving, and warm against mine and I began to feel lightheaded. The forest started spinning around me and I felt like my legs would give out on me. His hot tongue started playing at my bottom lip and his hand stayed firmly behind my head; he was so strong. I kind of began to enjoy the kiss, but Edward was all I could think about and I regretted this moment; sort of. I jerked away from Kevin as hard as I could and slapped him hard on the arm, only to hurt myself instead of him; he laughed.

"Kevin how could you!" I said shaking my hand in pain.

"Hey, you slapped me," He replied laughing, "Besides it kind of seemed like you enjoyed the kiss."

His eyes were beaming and his smile spread across his face from ear to ear but I frowned.

"I did not." I said flatly. "Now, I'm going back to my mom and Edward."

Kevin rolled his eyes, obviously not believing me, and kissed me again. This one was so much more different then the other one, it was almost as if I really did start to enjoy it. My hand moved through his hair and his hands ran down my back gently as he slowly backed me against a tree. He began to kiss my neck roughly yet lovingly and then moved back to my lips, almost having me beg for his lips. It was as if nothing else existed, just Kevin and I. He lightly trailed his tongue along my jaw line and played with my ear lobe a little until he whispered lightly in my ear.

"I love you," he whispered softly.

I snapped out of the trance I fell into suddenly as those words left his mouth and I pulled from his grip. I didn't just enjoy that kiss, did I? The kisses I had with Edward felt so much more special, but this one did too. I began to fight with myself mentally until I couldn't take it anymore; I ran.

"Aiyanna, come back!" Kevin shouted.

I didn't listen to him. I kept running as fast as I could through the trees, tears filling my eyes as I beat myself up in my mind. I began to be so consumed with my self hatred and tears that I didn't see the huge root jutting out of the forest floor. My shins smashed into the root and my arms flew out in front of me, but I didn't have time to think and catch myself; I fell flat on my face, smashing my head against another root.

I felt woozy at first, struggling to sit up, but then I felt the warmth running down my face and I could smell it; blood. I had never been good about blood and I touched my head softly, looking down at my now red covered hand, and let out a loud scream that filled the forest.

I heard some twigs snapping around me and Kevin's distant voice, but the mix of shock and the loss of blood caused me to slowly close my eyes; the darkness behind my lids being the only thing I could see.

So, did you like it?
What's gonna happen next? Who knows! Oh...I do! :D
I'm sorry that I'm doing this to you, but I love it!
PLEASE review, I love writing this and it only makes me want to write faster when I get reviews!
I love you all.

- Keely