A/N: Hey guys! Hope you enjoy the next chapter!

Kim seriously considers not going to school the next morning, but she likes to think of herself as someone who wouldn't let a boy hinder her academic success. Even if the boy is the love of her life.

She can't believe her life right now. Just when everything felt perfect, fate deemed it time to rip the rug out from under her feet. Jared only loves her because of some weird mystical bond. He can turn into a giant wolf. Vampires exist outside of cheesy, B-list horror movies.

Kim sits in her car early the next morning, working on some homework when she hears a knocking on her window. She jumps to find Laura, waving far too animatedly for seven AM in the morning. Kim unlocks her door; they have thirty minutes before first period. The only reason she's here this early was because Eric had some meeting with a teacher and needed a ride.

"Hey girly! What're you up to this weekend?" She asks, pulling down a mirror to fix her makeup.

"Um, not much, I guess." Kim stows her homework, knowing she wasn't going to get it done if Laura had her attention.

"No plans with Jare-bear?" Laura's the only one who calls him that, much to his mortification.

"I guess not," Kim says, thinking back to their last meeting.

"You guess? Or you know?" Laura asks, raising an eyebrow. Kim relents, telling her about the not-fight as vaguely as possible.

"So, wait," Laura says finally. "You think he doesn't actually want to go out with you?"

"I mean, I guess? This whole situation is so weird. It feels like a lot for a high school relationship," Kim confesses. She doesn't like to complain, not really, because it's a damn miracle she has a boyfriend in the first place. Still, she's feels so overwhelmed with it all. How can she be someone's "the one"?

"Girl, the way you guys look at each other. It's not just a high school relationship," Laura assures her. "Come on, I still have some homework left over, let's go do it in homeroom."

With that, the girls are off. Homeroom is quick, as always, but Kim manages to get her homework done. She takes a few breaths to ready herself to face Jared.

"You got this, just be honest," Laura advises her. She fantastic at last-minute pep talks, Kim loves having her as a best friend.

In calculus, Kim takes her normal seat, waiting for Jared to show. Just as she begins to worry, he rushes in the door, offering quick apologies for his near tardiness. He looks at her and smiles ruefully.

Unfortunately, he came in too late to talk before class, but Kim thinks she could get him for lunch or something. As per usual, he waits for to finish packing up.

"Can I talk to you—"

"Kim, I need to talk to you—"

The two break off laughing, feeling lighter.

"We need to talk, huh?" she teases. Jared chuckles, dipping his head.

"Let's meet for lunch," he says. "Come to the library, there won't be anyone there."

"Sounds good," Kim agrees. In a moment of bravery, she rocks up on her tiptoes and presses a quick peck to his cheek before hurrying off to class.

The rest of her classes pass pretty easily, now that she knows things as generally good with her and Jared. She tells Laura the plan during their shared chemistry class, and Laura loans her a lip gloss, "just in case."

When lunch rolls around, Kim has a pretty good idea of what she's going to say. If things work out, they'll slow down to a reasonable pace, where Kim isn't drowning in cosmically aligned love. If not, they can always be friends.

She arrives at the library, bagged lunch in hand (pre-traded with Laura) and the lightest sheen of lip gloss. Jared waits for her, tray heavy with pretty much everything the cafeteria was offering that day.

"Hey," he says, grinning at her. Even though his hands are full, he hurries to get the door for her. Kim swallows, surprisingly touched at such a small gesture. They find a table near the back of the library. Technically, they're not allowed to eat in the library, but Mrs. Keeney, the librarian, doesn't mind so long as everything's cleaned up after.

They don't talk for the first few minutes, while Jared inhales his food. Kim picks at her, mulling over the words in her head.

"So," Jared starts, pushing aside his demolished tray. "I didn't explain the whole imprinting thing right."

"Oh?" Kim asks, gesturing for him to continue.

"It's not some crazy force that makes me do anything," Jared says. "I'm still me. My thoughts, the way I feel, that's all me."

"So, why the imprint?" Kim asks, popping a carrot stick in her mouth.

"Sam says it's for genetic insurance," he says. "But that's bullshit. I don't know what it's for, really, but it's a lot more than just ensuring the line."

Kim is silent for a minute, taking a few more bites. That's not exactly the abstract answer she was after, but it's something. Jared looks earnest, like he desperately needs her to understand. She wants to, god, does she want to.

"So, why me?" Kim asks, unable to help her insecurity slipping out. "I mean, why us?"

"I don't know," Jared says truthfully. "All I know is that you make me a better person. I care about real stuff, not just dumb shit, you know? And I make you a better person, too. You're more outspoken now, more relaxed."

He's right, Kim realizes with a start. She hadn't noticed the way she'd changed, but she has. Of course, just being with Jared didn't magically give her more confidence, but the way he listened to her, the way he respected her did.

"Now what?" Kim asks. "Do we just ignore the imprint thing? Go back to the way things were? I don't know if I can do that, Jared. I love you, but this feels like a lot."

"I get that," Jared assures her quickly. "Seriously, if you just want to be friends again that's cool, but I just need you to know that I love you, for real. No wolf stuff involved, just me."

A lump lodges itself in her throat and her eyes start to burn, but she's happy, so relieved that her entire body feels lighter. She clears her throat carefully, swallowing hard.

"I don't want to stop being together," she admits, voice soft. Jared leans in closer, heat rolling off him in waves. Kim takes comfort in it. "Maybe we can go slower?"

"Slow is cool," Jared says, a genuine smile spreading across his face.

"Yeah," Kim echoes. "Slow is cool." For a moment, all they can do is stare at each other, drinking in the image of the person they love so deeply. Jared is one of the most important people in her life, and it would wrench her to pieces if she lost him. She's so grateful he loves her enough to respect her wishes.

"So, uh," Jared starts, breaking the moment. "What exactly does slow mean?"

A/N: And now we move on to the next phase in their relationship! And, if anyone is keeping track of the timeline, we're headed into the end of the year and summer. See you next time!