New chapter for y'all. Happy reading.

"There's a raven and a lizard mating in the fridge."

My head shot up. "Huh?"

"So you are conscious."

Shit, add 'day dreaming about how far things could have gotten with Paul' to the 'not to do at the dinner table' list. In case you were wondering, I think 'commenting on the rancid smell of the bathroom' is on there too.

"Sorry." I replied quickly, offering an apologetic smile.

Rolling her eyes Dakota stabbed a piece of pasta with her fork. "As I was saying, I was thinking of broaching the idea of a house party for my birthday and I need your help."

"You really think Eva will go for that? I mean I know she's pretty laid back but this house is her baby. And do we even know enough people for a house party?"

I know I don't. Apart from the Quileute's…should I call them werewolves now? What about shape shifters? I think they'd hate me if I called them puppies…could be fun though.

"Pfft, you don't need to know people, just know their friends. Plus ones…or two's…always fill a party." She reasoned, shoving food into her mouth and nodding knowledgeably.

I raised my eyebrows.

"Don't you think Mum would have warned her about the one you threw last year?" Her chewing slowed and realisation dawned on her face. "I mean, she might have left out the part about Zac throwing up in the hallway but I doubt she left out the part where his mate pissed on the TV."

She took a moment and swallowed, her eyes narrowing and a sly grin stretching across her face.

"You can ask…you didn't throw the last one…you can back me up."

I scoffed. "And why would I do that?"

"Your little night visitor reckons he's some kind of ninja doesn't he."

I froze, my cheeks quickly reddening under her triumphant smile. Shit. Up until last night, Paul had never made so much as a floor board creak when he crept into my room, but then the dope had to run into the closed balcony doors on his way in last night. I had laughed so hard I cried behind Paul's hand as he tried to sssh me, listening out for signs of anyone else hearing him, but after a few moments he collapsed beside me after seeing my tear stained face, both of us trying to smother our snorts into my pillows. It was the most hilarious things I'd seen in a while, his face scrunched up against the glass and the smear left on it after, but now…now she's got ammunition. And now I've got to help her host a probably disaster ridden house party.

I let out a breath. "You won't tell Eva right? Or mum?"

"I dunno." She shrugged. That shit-eating grin still on her face "Depends if you'll help me or not…"

"Kota…I'd love to help you." I replied sarcastically, smiling a forced smile back at her.

The tension was severed as she clapped excitedly, squealing so loudly that Eva looked over her shoulder from her lounger on the patio. Her squeals permeate brick and glass…she could be used as a fucking weapon.

Mum and Josh left two days ago and I know it would have felt so much worse if Paul hadn't been waiting in my room like a six foot seven hot water bottle. He spends all his free time here too and there's no way Eva would be so welcoming to his day time visits if she found out about his night time ones. Life's just so much easier with a few little secrets.

We still hadn't gone further than a few hot as hell make-out sessions, Sam had been working him hard on their patrols of La Push and as soon as his eyes close, sleep has a hold of him. The lucky bitch. In some ways I'm grateful though. I'm still not sure how I feel about taking it to the next level.

I had definitely felt sure that night before Eva, Mum Josh and Kota came home (not that we would have 'done it' on the sofa or anything…that's just gross) I'd been left tingling for hours after he'd quickly excused himself and dodged Kota's curious eyes, but making plans and naturally stepping into it are two completely different things. I think I'd blush myself into an oblivion if he whacked out rose petals and tea lights.

I quickly scoffed down my meal and rolled my eyes at Kota's wink as I made my way upstairs.

She's not as smart as she thinks she is…I mean he doesn't come round every night as much as I wish he did.

Sinking into my soft duvet, I stared at my clock. 9:31pm.

Paul's not here so there's not much to stay awake for.

Fuck that sounds so clinging.

I didn't see Paul until lunch the next day. And he looked awful. As soon as he sat down I put my hand on his thigh and the other on his cheek. "Are you okay?" I murmured, frowning at the bags under his eyes.

Avoiding my eyes, he cleared his throat before replying. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just tired."

"Paul."

His eyes finally flickered over to meet mine and it looked as if he was about to make another excuse but instead he sighed and managed a small smile.

"I don't want to make you worry." He said simply, his hand coming up to brush a strand of hair away from my face.

Seth and Kota were arguing over who Hermione should have ended up with, Jacob's head was in his biology book, desperately trying to revise before his test next period and Jared and Kim were cosied up at the other end of the table. All the boys looked tired, slightly withdrawn. Kim seemed calm though, it can't be too bad.

"I'm already worried." I stated. I leaned in and pressed my lips against his gently.

His shoulders relaxed and when I drew back he nodded. "Let's go some place quiet." Standing up he walked toward the double doors leading outside.

"I'll see you later guys." I called behind me as I grabbed my bag, catching up with him and softly taking his large hand – it's always so warm.

We slowly walked over to the shade of an oak tree toward the bottom of the field. A few students were wandering around but too wrapped up in themselves, they didn't notice Paul and I sit down on the spongy grass, our sides touching, our knees up.

"You're not dying are you?" I chuckled, trying to lighten the mood. "Because that would really suck."

"Nope, I'm not dying." He snorted, leaning back on the tree behind him and stretching his legs out.

I nodded. "Okay, so I can tick that off the list."

I didn't want to rush him but he looked so freakin stressed. His face was marred by worry and it must be something bad to cause such a change. He was fine yesterday… a little tired but fine.

"There's a clan of vampires…they're trying to recruit…us. Shape shifters."

His voice was hushed and he stopped as a boy passed by our spot. My eyes widened when I realised what he was saying. He looked over, gauging my reaction and then placed a hand around my thigh, squeezing it gently.

"It's okay. It's just…we've only ever allied ourselves with the Cullen's and that sucked balls. These guys…we don't trust them as far as we could throw them and the shifters they've already got apparently don't seem too happy about it."

"What do you mean?" I ask, shifting a little to face him rather than the woods. He licked his lips and sighed again.

"I don't like worrying you." He replied, his eyes pleading with me to just give up.

I scoffed half-heartedly and lay a hand over his. "Like I said, you already are…if you don't tell me now I'll just worry myself into a little hole and then…ask Seth." I finished, pretty happy with my attempt at black mail.

"Alright fine." He relented. "The shifters…their packs refused to join so the clan said they'd kill them all if they didn't give them one. Most packs are only normally eight at the most. The clan are fifty strong. They had no choice. The ones they have volunteered but even then there's no guarantee that they won't come back for more."

He keeps his head down, eyes fixed on the earth beside him which he is slowly churning up with his fingernails. His words come out in a rush and he doesn't notice my breathing quicken and my hand clench on his, and if he does he ignores it. Perhaps he'd rather get it all out. Comfort me after, once he's told me all of it. There's more, it's in his tense shoulders, and I'm terrified it could get worse. Can it get worse?

"They want to take over the Volturi - and I fucking hate those bloodsuckers more than anything – but these dudes sound just as bad you know." He sucks in a breath and looks up at the tree line. "The Cullen's said they've got our backs but…I dunno, it's all pretty fucked up."

I took a moment.

Last year one of my biggest worries was whether the bitch in my class was going to pinch me that day, now my shape shifter boyfriend and my friends might be obliterated by a bunch of vampires…that fucking sparkle.

I open my mouth to speak but stop, open it again and then pop it closed, wondering what to say first. Then I try again. "How…how do you know they're coming over here? I mean they haven't, have they? You just think they might? Have you seen them? Do the Cullen's know them and th-."

I'm stopped by Paul's hand covering my mouth and I frown at him, glad though that he's finally acknowledged me and stopped staring pensively into the distance. His eyes twinkle as I try to lick his hand to get him to move it.

"You really think I'm scared of your tongue?" He chuckled, his face slightly brighter than a few moments ago.

I shrugged and then sat patiently, my eyebrows raised, waiting for him to answer at least one of my hurried questions. He leans over and kisses my forehead slowly. His smell washes over me; pine, musk and sweetness all wrapped into one delicious Paul package almost makes me forget what I'm waiting for. He doesn't sit back but stays mere inches from me, our noses touching as he takes away his hand.

"Sam said it looks like they're heading our way guessing by the packs they've gone through, but we're only guessing." He whispered, his breath fanning over me. "Overly precautious is what Seth says…We're fine. And if anything changes, you'll be the first to know. I promise." He seemed so sincere, those brown eyes boring into mine that I found my forehead smoothing out, my breath slowing.

I don't know if his effect on me will ever wear thin.

I shivered as his left hand rested back on my thigh.

"You promise?"

"I promise." He repeated; his voice deep and humming through his chest underneath my fingertips. He angled his head a fraction, looking at me, waiting for me to do something.

Slowly I leaned in until our lips brushed against each other so slightly I might have imagined it.

I brought my hand up around his neck and pulled him closer and felt his smile as he kissed me again, slowly, purposefully, his hand tightening on my thigh. My stomach fluttered and the little me in my head skipped around singing to itself.

As his hand twisted into my hair and mine traced down his arm I tried to forget we were on the school field and that no matter how far away we were, there's an 80% chance one of the teachers can see us.

I drew back and Paul chuckled as I huffed slightly.

"You're beautiful."

I started a little. It wasn't his words but the way he said them. So honestly and so simply, we wasn't reacting to a fish for compliments or hoping for brownie points and I don't think I've smiled harder in my life.

If I'm not careful I'll break my face in two.

"Come on." He murmured, pecking me on the lips once more. "I'll walk you to Math."

Snapping out of it, I stood, taking his offered hand and held it tightly, realising just how fucking lucky I am to have him as I walked back into the squeaking school hallways.

I should really be ashamed about how easily Paul could distract me. It took me thirty minutes into Math to realise just how serious this whole vampire thing is. Damn him and his irresistibility. For the rest of the period, all I could think about were fangs and blood, and my friends following some dead leeches on a suicide mission against the Volturi. Paul didn't tell me much about those guys, but he didn't have to, a vampire that can inflict pain with her mind? Whenever that popped into my head it left me shivering intermittently for days.

Seth and Paul were already coming round that evening, neither of them were scheduled for patrol and we wanted to blast through another few episodes of Breaking Bad, but I wanted to schedule a proper serious sit down with the two of them, but Kota wasn't having any of it.

"But why do I need to go and get the popcorn? Can't one of the guys get it on the way here?"

She moaned, pouted and stomped her feet. A toddler at heart my sister.

Maybe it's for the best? I mean, Paul did promise to tell me if anything changed and I do trust him.

I rolled my eyes and relented. "Fine, I'll give Paul a ring."

"Thank you." She chirped before settling into the sofa with her phone.

Ten minutes later and all four of us settled into to watch. Kota who was once so eager to be reunited with her beloved TV show, was happily chatting away to Seth as they shared the love seat. Both turned to each other; Seth's legs stretched out and Kota's crossed. I'd never really thought about it before but maybe…

"Sam rang earlier: he's been speaking to a pack leader in California." Paul whispered. I perked up, quickly diverting my attention to him.

"And?" I prompted, anxious for any news.

"He said that they 'politely request' a meeting before any shit does down. Usually send a shifter in, or a new vamp to appear unthreatening."

"So, no surprise attacks?"

He nodded, his arm coming around me and pressing me to his side. "Exactly" He breathed.

I smiled and leaned up to kiss his neck.

"Well, thank fuck for that."

Settling into his side I curled my feet under my body.

Seth frowned at the TV, momentarily tearing his attention away from Dakoata. "Wait…I thought this dude was dying? Why's he in his tighty whities?"

It only took a good twenty five minutes before Dakota, Seth and Paul were all slumped in their seats, snores emanating at different volumes from all three. Kota didn't even have an excuse; she slept like a baby last night. Then again, her eye lids fluttered and I noticed her fingers shift. Ahhh sneaky, sidling up to the Seth under the pretence of a nap…good work Sis.

If that works I'll be fucking ecstatic. That meaning Dakota and Seth…I can see it…kinda.

Slowly extracting myself from Paul, I made my way upstairs in search of snacks.

"Your mum rang today."

I jumped at Eva's voice coming from the window seat around the corner.

"Hey" I called "I almost screamed."

"Baby." She laughed. "They bought a crib today. Said she'd ring back tomorrow for you."

I walked over to her, smiling at the grown woman snuggled up under the fluffy pink throw that was ridiculously soft. Her hand grasping a well-worn copy of North and South.

"I still can't get over it." I grinned, shaking my head at the thought of a little brother or sister. "Have they found a house up here yet?"

I moved to the kitchen to start making a cup of tea.

"They've found one near the beach but it's a bit out of their price range…made an offer but the sellers haven't got back to them. It is lovely though, amazing view."

That would be awesome. I hadn't thought about moving yet though. I mean I knew it was going to happen but I didn't like the idea of Eva in this big house on her own; it must seem so empty.

"Anyway, I'm off to bed. Don't stay up to late it's a school night." She winked on her way out, still swaddled in her big blanket.

"We won't, love you."

"Love you too." She called over her shoulder, her padding feet disappearing up the stairs.

Pouring the water into my mug I looked up and out of the window into the garden. It was dark and I couldn't make out much but something moved near the tree down the end. Putting the kettle back down I leaned forward slightly, my eyes narrowed to try and make out what it was.

It moved again. Maybe it was an animal? Maybe one of the shifters patrol had come close to my house tonight and they were giving it a quick once over?

"What are you?" I whispered, my breath fogging up the cool glass slightly.

A figure stepped away from its cover into the open and I moved back, my eyes widening and forehead furrowed in confusion at the recognisable figure slowly making its way toward the house.

"Alice?"

Thought this story needed a bit of good old action to spice it up. A few more reviews wold be brilliant, just to let me know if I'm on the right track or not. It also makes me more motivated to write…hint hint ;)