4.
Jared and I had now gotten into a new routine where he would drive me home from school everyday. Sometimes this also lead to him coming in and us lounging about on my sofa for a couple of hours.
It first happened one day when it had been pouring it down and as I headed out he school exit and had been mentally preparing myself for the walk in the rain, Jared ran up next to me and offered me a lift.
"Come on Kim, I'll give you a lift" he had smiled at me, and who was I to say no to that?
So that was why today, Jared was lounging about in my living room watching quiz shows with me. To be totally honest with you, Jared seemed to spend a lot of this time just watching me, which I actually didn't mind. Never did I ever think that Jared Cameron and I would be hanging out after school!
"Kim, honey?" My mum shouted as she walked through the front door, "Did you speak with Dr Taylor? He called me at work today to discuss your medication- oh!" she stopped what she was saying as she walked into the room and saw Jared sat on the sofa. "Hello" she said.
"Hi Mrs Conweller".
"Mum, this is Jared".
Jared and I both said at the same time.
"Hi Jared", my mum replied looking between us as if a) she couldn't believe I had a boy around and b) she couldn't believe I had anyone around.
"Please call me Jenna. Will you be staying for dinner?" She smiled, "I'll be making mac and cheese?"
"Oh, thank you. I would really love to but I told my Mum I'd be back for dinner tonight and I know she's gone out to buy extra food" he frowned, as if wishing it wasn't the case.
"No problem hon, maybe next time", my mum then winked at me when she thought Jared wasn't looking and I honestly just wanted to sink into a hole with embarrassment. I hope he hadn't seen.
"That would be great." Jared said, and it sounded like he really hoped it would happen.
"I should actually probably go…" he looked at me apologetically.
We both got up to walk to the front door, my chest actually felt sad at the prospect of him leaving. Spending time with Jared was just so comfortable. Forgetting my crush and how flipping good looking this boy was, he was also just lovely to spend time with - and that's coming from someone who often chooses to be alone.
"So Kim… um" Jared seemed a little nervous and rushed out his words, "there's a bonfire this Saturday on the beach. My friends will be going, and we'll have food at Sam's afterwards. His fiancé Emily is an amazing cook. I… er… I wondered if you would want to come?" He asked, finally looking up at me expectantly.
This was flipping huge - was Jared asking me out? - at the very least he was asking me to meet his friends and hang out. Oh my god.
"That sounds great" I smiled. Jared started beaming before my eyes and it warmed my heart.
When Saturday came around I actually really wasn't feeling like going to the bonfire. I was feeling the complete opposite.
The rational part of my brain knew that this was just because I was feeling anxious about meeting all of Jared friend's at once. Obviously I already knew Paul, but I'd never properly met Sam or his fiancé - although I'd heard the stories about him and Leah, and of course that awful bear attack with Emily, and I had no idea who or how many other friends Jared had.
I rolled over in my bed where I had spent the entire morning and the best part of the afternoon, and I pulled the covers up to my chin. The day was feeling difficult and I hadn't even gotten out of bed yet.
Jared was due to arrive in 10 minutes and I knew if I didn't get up soon I would be late getting ready and he would find out what a mess I truly am - or at least felt like - when he came to pick me up, so I rolled out of bed and walked over to my wardrobe. I pulled on a pair of dark skinny jeans, a stripy t-shirt and then put my trainers on. I looked at myself in the mirror and I just looked really plain.
I brushed my hair, then tied it half up half down. Then I took that out and tied it all up in a pony tail. Then took that out and put it in a messy bun. I was clearly super indecisive today.
For once the sun was actually shining in La Push today, but I still grabbed a jumper before I walked downstairs as it can get cold at the beach.
I heard a truck pulling up outside as I got to the bottom of the stairs - no extra time to over think this I thought.
"Bye Mum!" I shouted.
"Okay honey, have fun!" she called back, popping her head around the kitchen door to smile at me.
I opened the door to Jared with his hand raised ready to knock on it making me laugh.
"Hey!" Jared said, a big smile forming across his face. "You ready to go?"
I nodded as I stepped out of the house and closed the door behind me. Seeing Jared I was instantly calmer, this was going to be okay.
When we got to the beach I saw that actually there really wasn't anything to be worried about. There must've been about 10 people there at most.
I saw Paul immediately, he was stood next to what looked like Sam Uley, who's arm was around a woman I presumed was Emily. There was another guy stood with them but with his back to me so I couldn't tell who that was.
Billy Black was there along with some of the other council members, including Harry and Sue Clearwater. They were all talking together seemingly waiting for everyone to sit around as space had been made around a bonfire that was already burning.
Even though it was late afternoon the bonfire wasn't really out of place. Jared had said on the way over hear that Billy will tell different stories of the tribe which will probably last a couple of hours, so by the time we would head over to Sam's it would likely be darker.
Sam looked up and waved us over. I walked close to Jared's side as we got closer, butterflies beginning to appear in my stomach.
"Hey guys!" Jared said as we got closer.
"Kimmy!" Paul boomed when he saw me.
"Hello" I said, my voice feeling a bit quieter than usual.
The other guy turned around at my voice and I saw that it was Embry Call. Wow.
He looked completely buff just like Jared, Sam and Paul, and he too had also cut his hair short. "Hey Kim" he smiled at me. I never knew he was friends with Jared. I'd also thought he was off school with some kind of virus at the moment - but he certainly looked healthy here.
"Hi Embry" I said smiling back at him.
"Oh my gosh!" The woman who must have been Emily squealed in front of me, moving from side to side in excitement. "You must be Kim! I've heard so much about you! It's so nice to finally meet you!" She stepped forward and pulled me into a hug which I politely returned. What had Jared been saying to her?!
As she pulled back she continued to hold the tops of my arms, "Honestly, it's going to be so lovely having another girl around. I mean these boys are great but I've been desperate to have another woman to hang out with too!"
Sam laughed next to her, "Okay Emily! Leave the poor girl alone!" he said, before looking at me, "It's nice to see you again Kim". Making me think back to the last time I saw him, on my driveway with a panicked Jared. "Right," he then said, "I think Billy will start soon, lets go sit down".
Jared put his arm around me then, "See? Not too bad was it?" he whispered in my ear before winking at me. He was right, my butterflies were completely gone.
"Let's go sit down. This is also Embry's first time hearing the stories so it'll be good!" he said before pulling me over to sit next to him on a bit of driftwood in the circle. I had Jared on my left and Emily on my right.
Billy told the most amazing stories about our tribe and I listened in fascination. Stories about the warriors of our tribe and the shapeshifters, as well as stories about the tribe's enemies - the cold ones (aka vampires by the sounds of things). Billy was such a good storyteller, he was truly captivating. I probably only glanced around the circle twice during the whole thing and everyone seemed to be intently listening the same way.
I could feel Jared looking at me a couple of times throughout it to see my reaction, and we met eyes once and I mouthed "omg!" - which of course made me feel super embarrassed at myself afterwards.
After the stories Jared and I climbed into his truck to make our way from the beach over to Sam and Emily's house for some food.
"What did you think?" Jared said, looking at me eagerly as if he wished he could read my mind.
"Yeah, it was good!" I replied, "Billy was an amazing storyteller, made you feel as if it was all coming to life".
"I'm glad you liked it" Jared smiled at me, "I remember my first time going, I found it so powerful".
I nodded my head in agreement. It was pretty powerful.
