Jared was pleased with his transformation. It was jarring at first, obviously. Turning into a wolf and all. But after the initial shock wore off, he'd rather come to enjoy his newfound responsibility. He felt a part of something; his pack with Paul Lahote and Sam Uley.
Not to mention the physical improvements of his human form. He added a few extra inches to his height, breaking through to well over 6' tall — something he'd worried about since middle school. All guys worry about that. That they'll lose the genetic lottery and be short; doomed to date girls who complain about their lack of healed footwear options. Much to his delight, he was taller than most of the school… And built. In addition to his height, seemingly overnight, he gained at least 25lbs of muscle.
So when he stepped out of his white 2004 Jeep Wrangler, in the student parking lot, on that October morning he was not at all surprised by the amount of heads he turned.
Due to his absence, he didn't make it more than three steps into the school before Mrs. Jaybird grabbed him by the elbow and directed him into the office to inquire about his truancy. He'd missed more than three weeks of school and was 4 days away from being unregistered and forced to drop this fall semester's classes, resume in the spring and suffer through summer school.
However, just ask Mrs. Jaybird began to draw up the paperwork to suspend him for the remainder of the fall semester, Coach Bernard wandered in and accosted Jared — now 6'3" with biceps nearly bursting from the sleeves of his green plaid shirt — for why he hadn't tried out for the lacrosse team which the school always struggled to fill.
"I mean. Uh- I can't, Coach…" Jared grinned, cleverly, "I'm in the middle of getting suspended."
That was the end of that. Coach Bernard tore up the papers and escorted Jared to his home room. Class 212B; World History, where Bernard expected him to begin getting caught up and then report to the field bright and early tomorrow morning for practice.
Jared took his seat. It'd been a while since he had made it to homeroom but he still remembered where he sat. Students slowly began to file in. Jared was already bored. He just wanted to get this day over with. His big plans for the day included going home to nap and then patrolling the treaty land for vampires. Very little held him to his human form now that he'd changed. If he had it his way, he'd be a wolf all day and all night. If it weren't for Sam's longing for Emily, Jared's alpha might have the same disposition as himself and Paul who barely felt connected at all to their human form, anymore.
"Hey, you. Long time, no see," Delilah Phillips — one of the most popular girls in school — slinked into the desk adjacent to Jared.
Jared looked behind him, wondering for a moment if she was talking to someone else. When he glanced over his shoulder he caught his reflection staring back at him in the glass textbook cabinet and was reminded that he'd changed. He was taller, better built and arguably more attractive than before. Girls like Delilah were no longer untouchable. He was very much in her league. He turned back to the pretty girl with cute layered hair and flashed a grin at her.
"Hi, Delilah," Jared replied.
"Where have you been?" Delilah asked, twirled her hair around and around on her index finger.
"You know… around," Jared flirted, being strategically vague.
"Wow… around sure does agree with you," Delilah grinned, flirting back, shamelessly.
"Cameron," Mr. Kaisner addressed the newly returned student. He did a double take of Jared's new physique and shook his head, "welcome back," the teacher grumbled, making assumptions for why Jared has returned and what he's been up to these past few weeks. "Come collect your overdue assignments."
Jared smiled at Delilah and walked to the front of the class as instructed.
Seeing Jared standing in homeroom — looking… well, supernaturally hot somehow… at least hotter than ever — caused Kim to stop in her tracks which resulted in a small pileup at the door. Lucas Todd walked into Kim which caused Ginnie Kinney (unfortunate name) to walk into Lucas and so on and so forth. Kim quickly brought her soggy tissue up to her mouth to stop a small titlewave of saliva from flying out.
"Jeez, move your ass, Kim," Lucas grunted, shoving past her.
"S-s-sorry," Kim lowered her head, protecting her hot cheeks from exposure with her long black hair.
Not particularly watching where she was going — just desperate to make it to her seat — Kim stopped and looked confused to see Delilah Phillips occupying her desk.
"Um… hi?" Kim slurred, standing above Delilah who was looking past her to the attractive and newly returned student.
"What do you want?" Delilah asked without even sparing a glance in Kim's direction.
"My desk?" Kim replied.
"What?" Delilah finally looked up at Kim with an annoyed expression.
"You're in my desk," Kim repeated herself, swallowing the accumulation of saliva which was dangerously close to rolling down her chin again. Kim was feeling rather ill now. Not only was her head continuing to pound despite the double dose of Tylenol but her stomach was churning from the abundance of the extra spit she was forced to swallow all morning.
"So?" Delilah rolled her eyes, "sit somewhere else, Connweller" she flicked her wrist towards the back corner of the classroom where Deliah usually sat between Greg Martin and Joan Stevens.
Kim looked at the empty desk over her shoulder. It would be easier to hide from Jared if she stowed away to the back corner of the history class. However, something about Delilah claiming Kim's desk so casually without even a second thought about her pissed Kim off. She wasn't in the mood for this.
"Move," Kim demanded.
"S'cuse me?" Delilah raised her brows with an amused grin as though she couldn't believe that someone as beneath her as little ol' Kim Connweller was giving her an order.
"You're in my desk. Move," Kim replied, swinging her heavy backpack off her shoulder and dropping it on the desk in front of Delilah with a thud.
"Who the hell do you think you are?!" Delilah shouted and stood up to face Kim.
"Ladies, what's going on?" Mr. Kaisner's voice boomed over the classroom, silencing all the students and drawing attention to Kim; the very last thing she'd wanted.
Both girls stared at Mr. Kaisner in silence.
Delilah snorted, "little baby Kimmy Connweller is making a big deal over a desk," Delilah crossed her arms. "Seriously, Kim. It's just a desk. Sit somewhere else."
Kim's cheeks burned hot as some of the students snorted and laughed at Delilah's explanation of events. Her eyes focused down on her white keds for a good 15 seconds. When she dared look up her eyes snapped to an unimpressed Mr. Kaisner and then to Jared Cameron who was staring right at her; slack-jawed and dumbfounded, and as far as Kim was aware probably thought she was a huge loser.
How embarrassing.
"Work it out, ladies," Mr. Kaisner rolled his eyes, disinterested in settling a seating dispute. The teacher went back to explaining the assignments to Jared.
Delilah grinned, shoving Kim's backpack off the desk and onto the scuffed up floors. The popular girl sat back down and crossed her perfect silky legs in the direction of the desk to which Jared would soon return to.
Kim surrendered, hoisting the heavy bag onto her back and shuffled pathetically to the rear of the classroom. She lowered herself into Delilah's assigned seating, laid her head down on the desk, and closed her eyes, attempting to rid herself of the throbbing headache.
"Mr Cameron… Mr. Cameron," Mr. Kaisner handed more papers to Jared, "pay attention."
Jared was gobsmacked.
What just happened?
It was as if a bright light had burst out of nowhere and engulfed the girl with the moonface, long wispy hair, and enormous hoodie. At the same time, the mysterious light had cast darkness on everyone else around her. She was all that mattered in this room. Perhaps any room. Unbelievably beautiful. He needed to know her. Not just know her. He wanted her and had to have her. Nothing else mattered.
Jared struggled to pay attention to Mr. Kaisner as the assignments piled up in his hands. All he wanted to do was go to the back corner of the classroom and talk to her. Talk to that girl.
"Take a seat," Mr. Kaisner finally said and began his lesson.
Jared wandered through the rows of desks, unaware of those around him staring in wonder of his otherworldly transformation. He sat down next to Delilah who grinned adoringly at him. He just swallowed and looked behind them to that girl with her head down; long black hair cascading over the side of the desk.
Jared wondered why he had never noticed her before. Of course, he'd seen her around. La Push is only so big. Everyone knows everyone. That's Kim. He knew Kim but he didn't know her if that makes sense. Of course, it doesn't. None of it makes sense.
"Mr. Cameron," Mr. Kaisner scolded Jared.
Jared's attention snapped back to the front of the classroom.
"Eyes up here," Mr. Kaisner smacked his ruler against the chalkboard and continued on with his lesson.
Jared clenched his jaw tightly, every atom of his being ordered him to turn around and look at her. At Kim. Jared gripped the side of the desk perhaps a little too tightly because the wood whined and creaked in his fist. He released his grip before he could do any damage to school property and started imagining scenarios in which he could greet Kim. Kim? Did she like that nickname? Should he address her as Kimberly? He'd do that. He'd call her Kimberly and see if she protested. If not, he would call her Kimberly even if everyone else called her Kim. Kimberly would be only for him. His wolf swelled with pride over the imaginary special name only he'd get to call her by. He was getting way ahead of himself. For all he knew, this girl didn't even know he existed.
Mr. Kaisner paced the rows of desks droning on and on about the Roman Empire. Jared took every opportunity to turn his head and look in Kim's direction when Mr. Kaisner's back was turned.
Jared wished she'd lift her head so he could see her face again. All he could make out from this vantage point was the top of her forehead — a lovely forehead — and silky black hair hanging down over the desk.
" — so as you can imagine, the Roman Empire was one of the most influential civilizations," Mr. Kaisner said, drifting down the row, arriving at Kim's desk.
"Or one of the most boring civilizations," Delilah whispered to Jared.
"Hm?" Jared turned his head to Delilah. Did she say something?
"Approximately how long did the Roman Empire last?" Mr. Kaisner asked the class.
The room remained silent. Mr. Kaisner hated the first lesson of the week. Much of the class were either asleep or hungover from the weekend. He narrowed his eyes on one particular student with her head down on her desk; a disrespectful display of indifference to his lesson.
"Miss. Connweller!" Mr. Kaisner slapped his ruler against the leg of the desk.
Kim was startled immediately, sitting upright. The quick movement of her neck paired with the unexpected tugging of the rubber bands on her braces when she gasped caused shocks of pain to reverberate through her skull and jaw. Kim brought her hands to her face and groaned in agony.
"Oh god! Ow, ow, ow," Kim whimpered, her eyes filling up with tears.
"I didn't touch you!" Mr. Kaisner jumped back at the unexpected reaction.
Jared rose from his chair; concern for the girl he barely knew overpowering his physical autonomy. The class momentarily looked at Jared's swift reaction and then back to the whimpering girl in the back of the class. Jared's fists balled up, ready to defend the girl from whatever threat caused her this pain.
"I uh-" Kim swallowed back another rush of saliva and looked at Jared who was staring in her direction. Her face, ears, and neck bloomed with red splotches of fresh embarrassment. "Um," Kim's voice quivered and the tears rolled down her cheeks, "I'm sorry, Mr. Kaisner," Kim slurred, "it's just — I um — I got my braces adjusted on Friday and," she sniffed, her face crumpling, "I'm in a lot of pain. I can't really pay attention to your lesson."
Jared's heart ached for Kim. This beautiful angel was hurting and there was nothing he could do. His instincts screamed at him to go to her and wipe her tears but he remained still, afraid of scaring her with uninvited affection.
Mr. Kaisner looked relieved. The last thing he wanted was a student claiming he'd hit her with a ruler, "I understand. Did you want to have a parent come get you?"
"No one is available, sir," Kim shook her head, bringing the nearly disintegrated tissue to her lips to collect more saliva. Kim was certain if she swallowed any more spit this morning that she'd throw up. She desperately didn't want that to happen. She was already embarrassed enough to be crying in front of the class… and Jared who was still standing, observing her spazzing out over her recent orthodontic adjustments.
"Did you want to go put your head down in the library?" Mr. Kaisner asked.
Kim nodded, wiping away her tears with the heel of her hand.
"Okay," Mr. Kaisner replied sympathetically, "do you want someone to walk with you?"
"I don't really need anyone to-"
"I'll go!" Jared volunteered, the words flying out of his mouth faster than his good senses could quell his instincts to be near this girl. This beautiful, delicate, precious girl who he was already certain he'd lay down his life for. "Please," he swallowed, his eyes connecting with Kim whose face grew an even deeper shade than before. She blinked; confused and perhaps a little suspicious of his intentions.
Kim nodded, meekly, leaning down to collect her backpack from the floor. Before she could reach it, Jared closed the gap between them with a few large strides, pulling the bag over his shoulder and gathering her textbook from atop the desk in his arms.
Kim tucked her long hair behind her ears, painfully aware of how red her face must be. She kept her gaze down, avoiding the awkward stares from her classmates as she followed Jared through the rows of desks. It was fortunate that Kim's eyes were focused down because she was able to dodge Delilah Phillip's attempt at tripping her with her foot.
Kim carefully walked around the obstruction, glancing up at Delilah just in time to witness the look of contempt written across her features as her eyes darted between Jared and Kim. Jealousy? Was Delilah jealous of 'little baby Kimmy Connweller'?
"Shows over," Mr. Kaisner scolded the class who followed the pair with their eyes, "1000 years was approximately how long the Roman Empire lasted. It wasn't long after that…" Mr. Kaisner's voice faded from earshot as Jared and Kim exited the classroom.
Through the thick aura of embarrassment, Kim felt a momentary spark of satisfaction. Clearly, the assigned seating debacle earlier was Delilah's attempt to situate herself in the vicinity of Jared Cameron. Yet, despite Delilah's earlier victory of claiming Kim's chair, it was Kim who was leaving homeroom with Jared… And, like a gentleman, he was carrying her bag and books to boot.
Take that, Delilah Phillips.
"Sorry about your teeth," Jared said softly, walking as slowly as possible through the school hallways. It was an attempt to extend their time together.
Kim nodded, unsure of how to reply to that. She held the soggy issue to her mouth, afraid of sputtering in front of him. Kim glanced beside her to the tall and ruggedly handsome young man. He looked so different from how he'd looked just three weeks ago. She guessed that it was true. Teenage boys do grow like beanpoles. But like that? Like Jared? So quickly? And what about all the muscles? Her eyes wandered to his biceps.
Jared could sense her attraction to him and it made his day. Hell, it made his life! He was not unaware of her gaze wandering over his body, taking inventory of how much he'd changed just like everyone else had done earlier that morning. The only difference was that he actually cared a lot about what she thought of him. When her eyes wandered to his arms he discreetly flexed his bicep by adjusting his grip on her textbooks.
Say something else, idiot. Jared berated himself for doing a poor job at conversing.
"Kimberly?" he swallowed, recalling his plan to claim her full name for his own use.
"Hm?" Kim's gaze darted up from his bicep to his eyes.
Shit. Jared felt his ears become hot. He hadn't thought of what he was going to say to her beyond that. He called her by her full name but now what?
"Um," Jared swallowed, attempting to think fast, "what are um… are your plans for… the weekend?"
"It's Monday," Kim replied. The weekend was so far off. She had no idea.
Jared felt embarrassed for asking her that. Of course. What the hell was he expecting? Her to have her calendar figured out a full week in advance? As if that was how any normal teenager functioned.
"Oh… right," Jared tapped his fingers against her textbooks as they dragged on towards the library. "What about tonight?" he asked her, feeling daring.
"It's Monday," Kim replied again, slightly muffled by the tissue against her lips.
"People can have plans on Mondays," Jared flashed her a charming smile that made Kim's knees weak and stomach feel light. Why was he asking her about her night?
"I don't," Kim replied nervously, "I've got to get my kid sister from the daycare center, and then my Mom works late on Mondays so I have to make dinner and then I've got homework…" Kim rambled on what her night was going to look like.
"So it's just you and your kid sister? At home. All alone? No supervision?" Jared asked. The wolf in him didn't like that. Kim was so delicate. Anything could happen. A fire. A break-in. A flood. A tornado. A cold one could happen. A wretched vampire. The thought of a cold one cornering Kim filled Jared with rage that he immediately quelled before he did something stupid like phase at school.
"I guess…" Kim replied, suspiciously, "I'm too old for a babysitter."
Jared was almost certain she had a big brother, he recalled. And what about her dad?
"What about your um … brother?" Jared asked, unable to recall his name, "or uh… Mr. Connweller?"
"Troy's at college," Kim inhaled, "and Dad is deployed. Iraq," she exhaled. It was just her, Mrs. Connweller, and little Paige; the girls.
"Oh… Uh, thank him for his service," Jared replied to the news that Kim's father was deployed in Iraq. He felt like an idiot saying it. He'd heard other people say something to that effect before but usually, it was to the soldier, themselves. Not their family.
The corner of Kim's mouth lifted, finding the comment slightly amusing, "thanks?" she didn't know how to respond.
"What about Tuesday?" Jared pushed onwards.
"Same as Monday, except tacos," Kim replied.
Jared nodded, the doors to the library were now in view and they were getting closer. He needed to make his move.
"Okay. Well… what night are you available?" he swallowed and came to a stop as Kim quickly whipped around to look at him.
"I uh… um… what?" Kim asked, a river of saliva rolling over her chin. Kim quickly caught it with the tissue and hoped that Jared hadn't seen it.
He had but he didn't care. His older sister, Gail, had been fitted with braces years ago. He knew the drill; temporary drool, slurred speech, a little pain, and minor annoyances like getting food stuck between the wires. Though he was more sympathetic to Kim's plight. When his sister had gone through it all, he was proper little shit to her.
"I'm trying to ask you out, Kimberly," Jared replied, making use of her full name again which he adored the sound of.
"You are?" Kim was stunned. Was she dreaming? Jared Cameron was asking her out? Now? Like this? No makeup and drooling in a frumpy hoodie. "Is this a joke?" Kim fidgeted with the sleeves of her massive hoodie. She hoped it wasn't. If this was a joke she'd surely curl up and die.
"Of course not. Why would it be a joke?" Jared asked, offended that she'd think that. Honestly, his ego took a big hit from that comment. He'd been rather confident up until now. Delilah Phillips was all over him this morning. Maybe his physical transformation was not as impressive as he'd imagined. At least not as impressive to Kimberly Connweller.
"Oh, you know how it goes," Kim rolled her eyes, "your buddies dare you to ask out a girl that none of them want to date. She says yes. You laugh in her face… it's a good time for everyone," she muttered sarcastically.
Jared looked on, horrified, "I'd never do that… Wait! You think I'd do that?"
Kim shrugged. She knew how these things went. She'd been the unfortunate recipient of such a prank. It was freshman year and Lawrence Abbott asked her to prom. She should have known. Freshmen can't ask other freshmen to prom. One of them would have to be a senior to even have a ticket. But it was the first time a boy had ever asked her out and even though dating in high school is against the family rules, she was so awestruck that she accepted the invitation... only for him to laugh in her face seconds later. Hot-faced and humiliated, Kim tried to ignore the scene as he report back to his group of greasy-faced friends that dumb Kim Connweller had fallen for it and thought that someone was actually interested in her.
It wasn't just her. It happened to Lara twice and several other girls in her grade. Teenage boys can be such assholes sometimes.
Jared waited for her to respond. She didn't, "okay, well… that's not what I'm doing, Kimberly. I'd really like to ask you out. So… would you like to go out with me?" Jared asked.
Yes! Of course. Kim wanted to say yes. And she would… but she knew better. It would never fly with Mrs. Connweller. It was impossible. This wasn't just hidden makeup in her pencil case, either. If things worked out, Kim would be hiding an entire boyfriend. The consequences of which would be unimaginable… Unimaginable because Kim never, ever imagined that Jared Cameron would be the one tempting her to break her mother's most serious rule.
She'd never even pondered what her mother would do if she broke the rule. What consequences possibly awaited her? Grounding? Loss of her privileges to use the family car? Loss of the little bit of pocket money she received on a weekly basis? And then being forbidden to see Jared… That would be the worst one. To have something she wanted so badly for just a moment only for it to be taken away forever… or at least until she graduated… Of course, by then Jared would have probably moved on to Delilah Phillips or someone.
Jared waited for Kim to reply. The anticipation was killing him.
"I uh… I don't know," Kim said softly. She really didn't. She wanted to say yes. But she wasn't allowed to. But at the same time, she didn't want him to know that because then she couldn't date him. Because she wasn't allowed. And she so desperately wanted to.
Jared felt the blood drain from his face. She doesn't know? Is that just her polite way of kindly rejecting him? Jared swallowed his heartbreak. A deflated, "oh…" was all he could say.
"I like you," Kim said quickly when she witnessed the hurt look on his face, "it's just… this is… so sudden," she searched hard for the words that would protect her from the embarrassing truth that her mom would dictate her dating life until she graduated. Kim ran a hand over the back of her neck.
She likes me! Jared's heart felt like it was going to burst with joy. He grinned from ear-to-ear.
"No! I get it. I understand," Jared said, nodding, "I maybe came on a bit strong. Um… how about… Can I call you?" Jared asked, his heart was pounding in his chest.
"Yes!" Kim agreed, perhaps a little too eagerly. Her cheeks felt hot again. A loophole! That was allowed! There was nothing in her mom's rules that said that boys weren't allowed to call her on the phone.
"Great!" Jared smiled at her, "then I will. I'll call you," Jared said as they continued towards the library. "I'll call you tonight," he pledged.
So much for his plans of napping before patrol. Screw the nap! He was going to call Kimberly Connweller. This amazing, beautiful, wonderful, perfect, soon-to-be girlfriend and then fiance and then someday wife and mother of his childr — holy fuck he imprinted. It just dawned on Jared what all of this was. He imprinted on this girl. It was exactly how Sam had described it. And it wasn't terrifying like he'd suspected it'd be. It was wonderful.
Suddenly the thought of being a wolf all day and all night had lost its appeal. He was a part of the pack, of course, and that was important to him but Kim was so much more. While he was a part of the pack, she was a part of him. The lost piece he hadn't even known was missing.
Kim felt light as though she was floating down the hallway. Jared gazed at her adoringly; it made her feel so happy. All she'd ever wanted since 8th grade was for him to notice her. And now he did. Jared Cameron wanted to call her! Hell, not just call her. He wanted to date her. To hell with the rules. Kim was going to figure this out.
'Not being allowed to date is just a technicality,' Kim thought. What is dating anyways? The definition? Going to dinner? A movie? Kim was smart and determined to twist and bend the definition of dating. Semantics; that's all it is. And if that's not good enough for Mrs. Connweller… well… What Kim's mother doesn't know, can't hurt her… right?
"Here we are," Jared said, coming to a stop outside of the library.
"Here we are," Kim replied, smiling. She didn't even care that her braces were on full display. This was the happiest day of her life.
Jared handed over her backpack and books, "I guess I'll see you around," he said, overjoyed.
"I guess you will," Kim replied.
Jared started to walk back towards Mr. Kaisner's history class when it occurred to him that he didn't actually have Kim's number. Fuck!
"Wait! Kimberly, wait!" Jared turned around, running back down the hallway to the library before Kim could disappear within the green double doors.
Kim turned around quickly, startled by Jared calling after her.
"Your number. I need your number," Jared chuckled at his absentmindedness.
"Oh," Kim giggled, "yeah… that might actually help," she grinned and attempted to riffle through her backpack for a pen. Without a locker, Kim often lost her pencil case deep in her backpack amongst all the notebooks and texts. She grunted, fishing around for her collection of writing utensils. "Sorry," she rolled her eyes, putting her bag down on the floor, and sat down on her knees to look for a pen.
Jared smiled, accompanying her on the floor. The students sat together in the middle of the school hallway as one wrote her phone number on a scrap piece of paper for the other.
This was the beginning.