A/N: Welcome back! I hope you enjoy this chapter. Please see end note for thank you's as well as a question regarding next chapter. As always, please please please review. I am so grateful you're still here and reading this story.

Enjoy!


HALLOWEEN WEEKEND, SENIOR YEAR

On Friday morning, she'd barely closed her car door when Jared was at her side.

"Good morning, Kim." He was studying her with the same intensity from yesterday, in the car.

"Hi Jared," she said, softly. He was so good looking that sometimes it pained her to look at him too long.

"I thought about you all night," he said quietly, gently. His body leaned close.

"I thought about you, too." Her voice was soft. She thought about his kisses all night, about his hands on her jaw, his fingers on her skin. Kim's eyes dropped to his lips.

"I was hoping you'd say that," he said, mischief coloring his voice.

"Why's that?"

"Just wanted to be sure you were thinking about me...and what I told you in the car. How I feel about you."

Oof. She straightened her glasses. "Well, I- I don't think I have an answer just yet, you know?"

"I didn't think you would, but I was hoping. Want me to get your bag?"

"Oh- no, that's okay. And Happy Halloween, by the way."

"Right!" he chuckled, gesturing that she should go ahead of him. They started toward the Main Doors. "No angel wings?"

"Nope, those will have to wait until tomorrow. I don't even know where to find them, to tell you the truth. So that'll be a hunt. Where's your costume?"

"I didn't get home from patrol until late, so I'm afraid you're stuck with plain ole me," he replied with a grin. "I was kind of hoping you'd let me borrow those angel wings, honestly."

You already look like an angel, she wanted to gush, but was too embarrassed to be so obvious. Instead, she said, "If you stop by my house before work, I'll find them and lend them to you. Sam and Paul will love that! You'll be a Guardian Angel for La Push."

"Oh, I'm sure they'd love that." He cleared his throat, then tilted his head toward hers, and said in soft, tempting voice, "But was that an invitation?"

Her heart thudded. "Hmm?"

"Can I come to your house before work?"

"Oh- uh…"

"I promise I won't take your wings," he said in good humor.

Wings. Ha. Kim was more worried about losing her mind with him. Or worse. And it wouldn't be him taking, either...it'd be her. She was the one who couldn't be trusted. If her recent mindless masturbation sessions indicated anything, it was that she was one hot-and-heavy-glance away from climbing him like a Jungle Gym.

Jared's reputation might be a bit risque, but she believed his gentleman's confession about not wanting this to be all about sex. She didn't know why, but she trusted that implicitly. Maybe because it was so weirdly unlikely that he'd pick her, of all people, for a quick sexcapade- especially when he had options like Mallory or Amanda. Or Autumn. Or any other girl in La Push, ages 15-30.

So, even more perplexing, was the reality that he seemed to not want sex from her but...commitment.

And the cherry on top of this unexplained, bizarre sundae was that she felt like he was being truthful about...all of it.

"Okay," she said, softly. "My mom will be home, but if you want to just come by- I can, like, make us a snack or something before you go to work?"

Jared looked thrilled. "Yes!" he exclaimed, like he'd been notified of winning some sweepstakes. "Thanks, Kim!"

"No prob," she said, cheeks turning red and her chest feeling full with excitement. She just had to make sure to play it cool. To be rational about all this.

So, of course, like any rational young woman who could play it cool effortlessly...Kim thought about Jared's impending visit for the entirety of the school day. Sarah- dressed as a candy-corn- had to snap her out of her distraction as they stood in line for lunch. But Kim couldn't help it. She kept wondering...what would she make for a snack? Would he want to see her room? Was that lame, to show him her room like some kind of elementary-schooler bringing a playdate over for the first time?

"Want to watch a movie tonight?" Sarah asked as they inched their way through the hot food line. Today was Bosco cheese-sticks, and Kim couldn't resist a Bosco stick day.

"I'd love to. My house?"

"Yeah, if your parents don't care. I was thinking Pet Semetary or The Exorcist."

"Or both."

"Or both."

"Hey, Kim."

Kim glanced up with surprise to see Paul LaHote slipping by. He, too, had gone through a substantial growth spurt the past few months. The change had done well by him- even when he wasn't hulking with svelte muscles, Paul still put up a better fight than anyone in their school. He'd been on the wrestling team for two years and suspended from it six times for "taking it too far." He was notoriously bad-tempered, and unforgiving in his mannerisms. Paul collected detention the same way other kids collected baseball cards. Now he was filled out with the same cut musculature that Jared modeled, with an added six or seven inches in height to further add to the terrifying enigma that made up Paul. His green gaze always had an edge to it- an angry sort of glint, that spoke of a life that Kim wasn't familiar with, and didn't really know how to comprehend.

So, she stayed out of Paul's way.

Furthermore- Paul had never spoken to Kim before. Not for a class project, not for an accidental bump in the hall….never.

"Hi," she croaked.

"How's it going?"

"Good," she managed to answer.

Jared was sitting with Paul during lunch the past couple of days, leaving Mallory and Amanda and his previous crowd to puzzle over his sudden shift. The two of them sat by themselves over near the north windows, only half a dozen tables away from Kim and Sarah's little nook at the counter. Sometimes she caught Jared looking at her, and would give him a little, shy wave.

Jared's stories of Paul had been entertaining (mostly) and had made her familiar with him the way that one was familiar with a Mother Goose character- an impersonal fondness that wasn't translating to real life for Kim. She laughed along with the stories, but had had no plans to approach Paul herself.

"Now's your turn to ask me how it's going for me," Paul goaded. Was that a smile? For once, Paul's gaze seemed to be fairly...nice.

"How's it going, Paul?" she asked mechanically, stunned and nervous.

"Super. Just wanted to say 'hi.' After all, you're a hot topic of conversation lately. You're all Jared can talk about. Or think about. 'Nough to give a guy a migraine, honestly."

Her mouth must've been hanging open. Behind her, she heard a few underclassmen giggle. "I am?"

"Oh sure. Won't shut up. So I felt like I should come over. That's all."

"Excuse me?" the woman serving lunch raised her voice to get Kim's attention. Hastily, she shoved her tray toward the woman, who shoveled Bosco sticks and some sticky-looking carrots onto the pink plastic and motioned for Kim to move along.

"Didn't mean to distract you," Paul said with a smirk. "Just wanted to stop by. I'll see you around, Kimmy."

And then he was gone, and the underclassmen girls behind her were whispering about how hot he was, and Sarah was gawking at Kim like she'd just swallowed a volleyball in one frog-like gulp.

"What was that?" Sarah hissed.

"I don't know," she replied.

"This is getting really weird. Don't you think so?" Sarah's fine brows were pinched at the center. She handed over her money to the cashier, as Kim fumbled for her own wad of change. Kim had filled her in on the latest- on Jared asking her out, of giving her a few days to think about it. She'd also confessed that they'd kissed.

"I'm not sure."

"At any rate- and don't look right now- but Mallory Peters is pissed." Kim carefully kept her eyes fixed on their usual counter spot against the wall as they walked. "Oh, geez, Kim- if there were a picture definition for 'jealousy,' Mallory's face right now would be it."

"Maybe she likes Paul now, too." They sat down, backs to the bustle of the cafeteria, and Kim tore into a Bosco stick like her life depended on it.

"I think she realizes that maybe she doesn't know Jared at all anymore. The guy who she could depend on wanting her, even if he was involved with her best friend or some girl out in Forks, isn't the same guy who has been talking to you all week and sitting with Paul LaHote." Sarah turned her attention toward their trays, and after an awkward pause, inquired, "Do you need to talk anything through?"

Kim debated telling her that he was coming over after school. She didn't want any judgment though- she didn't want to be told to be careful, to be good, to watch that she didn't compromise her dignity. She just wanted to enjoy the fact that Jared liked her, there were no rules between them at this moment because there was no definition to them- and therefore she could just take it as it came and save the overanalyzing for later.

So, she replied, "No, I'm good."

"Okay. Then let me make a good case as to why we should also give serious consideration to Halloween instead of Pet Semetary, okay?"

Whatever did she do in life to deserve a friend like Sarah?

English- her favorite class of the day at this point, a fact entirely due to Jared- was great. They wrapped up Conrad's Heart of Darkness and, in honor of Halloween, settled in on some short horror stories. Of course there was Poe, Sleepy Hollow, a couple of excerpts from Dracula, and a Joyce Carol Oates piece. At the end, Mr Banks passed out miniature baggies of Skittles and allowed everyone to talk quietly until the bell rang.

"I love that last one," Kim said to Jared, pointing to the Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been photocopy they'd just finished. "There's something so eerie about Arnold Friend...an old friend...just the idea of the devil living among us, waiting for a moment to take us by surprise."

"I think Dracula is the spookiest personally," Jared said, quietly. "Vampires are no joke."

"Worse than the devil?" Kim asked, skepticism painting her face.

"Just as bad," he said solemnly.

"What about the Tell Tale Heart? Maybe man is the worst of all."

"At least man has an expiration date. Vampires can just keep going, and going. Undying."

He was so intense about this. Kim touched his arm. "If it helps, Jared, we're a long way from Transylvania." She smiled at him. His response was not immediate, but eventually his eyes crinkled and his lips turned upward. She made note...Jared did not like vampire stuff. Good to know.

They continued to joke until the bell rang, and when they parted ways, Jared leaned close. Right beside her ear, he whispered, "See you after school. Let's meet at your house."

Kim practically danced all the way to her final class.

In Yearbook, she worked on the spread for PE and tried to look perfectly unaffected by Jared's face on her screen. It didn't matter much, though, because Archie studiously avoided her and asked the teacher if he could go to the Principal's Office to reshoot the secretaries' photos.

Good. Fine. You were way out of line. Back off, Archie.

She didn't know if she'd speak to him again for a long time.

Then it was the final bell, and Kim's skin was going hot with anticipation as her feet carried her swiftly to her car. She had to beat him home, to warn her mom not to embarrass her, and to figure out what food she could make. And make sure she didn't look totally frumpy.

She zipped right home, and was running through the front door in no time. "Mom! Moooom!"

"Yes?"

"Mom, in just a few- where are you going?"

"I have a 4 PM in Port Angeles; a new law office." Mrs Connweller was spritzing her hair with Pantene; her work messenger bag and drapes binder were leaning against the door frame. "What do you need honey?"

"Uh- well, Jared Cameron is on his...way over here…"

To say Mrs Connweller looked surprised would be the understatement of the year. Her finger froze on the spray nozzle, her eyebrows lifted skyward. "Why?"

"I thought he could stop by before work to…" she swallowed. "To eat a snack and talk about-about our English project."

She was a filthy liar now, in addition to being a desperately horny and confused overthinker. She didn't bat an eyelash though.

"Oh."

Please don't let me blush, God.

"I see."

She'll know I'm a dirty fucking liar. Please don't ask what projct it is we're working on.

"Well- I wish I'd known before making this appointment...I'm not sure I'm comfortable leaving you here alone with a boy, letalone the one you like and has been acting strangely this past month...what are your feelings on this, Kim?"

"Um." She swallowed. "I mean, he does have to go to work...and I am pretty responsible." The words threatened to stick in her throat because she was already wondering if he'd kiss her before he left. But that was it, right? Just a kiss. No making out. Definitely not.

"That's true." Mrs Connweller sucked on her lip for a second- the same habit that Kim herself had when she was mulling something over. "Can I trust you?"

Oof. To some extent…."Yes."

"Okay. Are you sure you're comfortable having him over?"

"Yeah, I am," she said, with more certainty in her voice than any previous answer.

"Okay then."

After her mom stared her down for another seven minutes, along with some soft, prodding questions, and once the garage closed behind her mom's car, Kim fumbled for a brush in the guest bathroom just off the kitchen. She raked it through her hair- which flattened it even more, damnit- then quickly pulled it into a high ponytail. A few tendrils were loose at her ears, which gave it a good dose of casual cute. Kim studied herself in the mirror. Her mascara had mostly flaked off at this point, but it was fine. She quickly dabbed her eyebrows with water, shaping them a bit, and straightened her rust-colored shirt until some of the day's creases smoothed. Should she try to put on some more makeup before Jared-

The doorbell rang.

Kim caught sight of herself in the mirror- looking breathless and a little freaked, to be terribly honest- and made sure to grab her lip balm just before she went to the door. A smear would go a long way to making her look fresh, right? And oh God, what was she even going to cook him?

Just open the door. Kim took a deep breath, and-

God, he just seemed to glow with this masculine appeal. There he was, looking perfect and tempting and even a little nervous.

"Hello," she said, voice going a little throaty.

"Hi Kim," he said warmly.

"Come on in." She stepped to the side and gestured for Jared to enter.

He seemed to catalogue everything as he entered the house. Maybe he was nervous too? He kept taking big, deep breaths- inhaling through his nose, and holding it. Funny, to imagine a universe where Jared was nervous because of her.

"Thanks for having me," he said sincerely. He looked around. "You have a really nice home."

"Thanks." It wasn't anything fancy. Their couch was a sale piece from Big Lots in the late 90s, and her mom had repainted their coffee table about fifty times in the past five years. But, still, it was a clean home and her mom tried to keep it trendy. "Want to sit down?"

"I thought I'd say 'hi' to your mom and thank her for letting me stop by," he said, but his eyes were shifting to the rooms behind her- the kitchen, the back hall leading to their rooms- and she somehow felt that...he knew they were alone in the house. That he was saying this just to air the fact, and to get it acknowledged in the open.

Kim went with it. "She had a work thing at the last minute and left. But she said she trusted me- and, well, I told her we're just going to hang out and talk about school...and have some food...before you go to work."

Caramel eyes shifted to her. He took a slow, small step toward her. "And she was cool with it?"

Kim bit her lip. "She trusts me," she reiterated, hedging.

Something wicked sparked in Jared's eyes. Another step. "Of course. That's good of her."

"And- and I mean, you know...there's…" Shit, her eyes dropped down to ogle his chest of their own accord. She dragged her attention back up. He was close now. And also, his lips were perfect. In another lifetime, he would've been modeling for Greek god statues. "There's no reason not to trust me. So. Yeah."

"Of course." Jared smiled, then, with an obvious change of energy, asked, "So, you mentioned snacks?"

"Right!" She scurried toward the kitchen. A little distance was good. "I have coconut shrimp, or I can make some frozen mozzarella sticks. And I have nectarines, too, if that sounds better."

"Let's do the mozz sticks. But a nectarine can be our appetizer, right?"

"For sure." With no pretense at ceremony, Kim began to dump frozen mozzarella sticks onto a baking tray. Jared glanced at the directions on the box, then moved to preheat the oven.

"Kim?"

"Hmm?"

"Any chance you've reached a decision?"

"About dating?"

"Mhmm. Where are the knives?"

"In that big side drawer near the phone- other side. Yeah that one." She rinsed her hands quickly from all the frozen crumbs. "Um, not quite yet, but...am definitely still thinking."

He nodded, face pleasant but disappointed. When he finished slicing, he brought her a small cup of the nectarine. They ate the sweet fruit in silence, studying each other, until the pre-heating beep sounded. Jared picked up the pan and had it in the oven before Kim could even react.

"How long?"

"Sixteen minutes." She watched as he punched that number into the timer pad. It chirped its acceptance, and then they were left in the quiet. Kim ventured, "Want to...go to sit in the living room?"

"Sure." He quirked an eyebrow. "I suppose...asking to see your room probably is a little bold?"

"Yeah- well, I mean, if y-you want to," her heart rate accelerated. It did seem a little presumptuous, and she was pretty sure it was a dangerous door to open...because already her blood felt thick as it pumped through her veins, and the only prayer she had for maintaining any level of decency was by playing hostess. What if she lost control of herself? She swallowed, staring hard at the nectarine slices in her hand as her feet tentatively led them past the living room. At the base of the stairs, she stopped, staring up apprehensively. The family photo on the wall next to her glared its condemnation. She wasn't comfortable with this at all, to be honest, but she didn't want Jared to-

"Hey, Kim?"

She turned to look at him, and was surprised to see him standing rooted next to the coffee table. "Yeah?"

"I don't think we should go upstairs, actually. I shouldn't have asked."

Some relief bloomed in her chest, but she didn't want to betray how ungodly nervous she'd been over the matter. "A-are you sure?"

Somehow, further determination settled over his features. "Positive. If your mom came home and found us- even though we'd just be talking- up there, it wouldn't be good."

"Okay," she said, shoulders relaxing. "Here, let me grab a blanket?" She immediately busied herself grabbing the "guest throw" that her mom kept draped (mostly for decoration) over her favorite chair. She offered it to Jared, who gave her that dazzling grin.

"Thanks Kim. But I don't get cold easily. You take it." He sat on the far end of the couch, and she took a seat in her mom's chair. She finished the last slice of nectarine while openly staring at him- his beautiful face, his shiny dark hair, his long fingers which held the fruit.

"Of course." His smile was so contagious. It somehow made her spirit feel ensnared- wanting to spin around his energy, to radiate in his joy and share in it and source it.

"Besides, if you answer the way I' m hoping you do, whenever you do...I want your parents to trust me, and to like me."

Trying to bite back a smile, she joked, "Oh? Get their blessing, huh?"

"Definitely." He popped the nectarine in his mouth. "What's your favorite fruit?"

"Probably kiwi. Or blackberries."

"I thought you'd say peaches."

"Why?"

"You taste like peaches."

Her heart did a funky little flutter. "Well, I like those too. But it's just the lip balm."

"Peaches have become my new favorite for that very reason." Jared wrinkled his nose at her, grinning. He made honesty seem so sudden, so refreshing.

"What kind of cologne do you wear?" she asked abruptly.

"Curve. Why?"

"It's...my favorite smell." She cupped her hands around her cheeks subconsciously, knowing they were hot, and then realized that she probably looked like an idiot. She quickly yanked them away. "Sorry."

"For what?"

"I don't know- how to flirt, really. So. Sorry if it's weird."

He gave her that slow burn grin that made her want to climb him like an oak tree. "It's not weird. It's cute. Everything you do is cute."

She raised a brow and said jokingly, "Everything?" She leaned forward slightly.

"Or sexy." His gaze drifted over her face, then he sat back and fiddled with one of the tassels on her mom's pillows. "I don't want to make you uncomfortable, so let's change the subject."

Surprised, but feeling that weird electric boldness in her spine again, she probed, "Why would you make me uncomfortable?"

"Because I'm trying to be respectful and show you that- that I'm not some kind of horny beast only interested in one thing." Was he sneaking a long glance at her chest? He quickly averted his gaze again.

"I know you're not." She would've guessed that two weeks ago, maybe, and if she were looking plainly at the evidence, she'd think that strictly from the exchange with Autumn. But it wasn't like that with her.

She didn't understand why she seemed to be an exception, though. That still bugged her.

Until then, Jared's whiskey-colored eyes were beginning to singe with their focus. "Well, if we don't talk about something else, I'm going to keep thinking about- like, you trying to flirt with me, and I'll get distracted-"

That same familiarity, of something weird and significant, was spinning itself around the two of them again- like a spider spinning the most wonderful, otherworldly web that cocooned them away from reality. Away from a world where she had to uphold her good girl status.

Besides, hadn't she done enough already to do that? She had enough good sense not to take him to her bedroom...so where was the harm in indulging a bit more?

"I'm distracted," she said, quietly, and stared blatantly at his chest before making eye contact again. On some level, like a distant observer, she couldn't believe she was actually able to maintain eye contact. But the locks around her psyche were clicking open and it felt so natural. Or somehow...beyond. It felt necessary. "Maybe you could...teach me how to flirt with you?"

Jared's eyes were the best in the world. Especially when the pupils dilated into huge pools, and his sharp jawline went slack. How was it that he made her feel so powerful, and so powerless, all at once?

"You don't need to be taught." His tone was low. When he stared at her like that, she felt like the most beautiful creature to ever exist.

The boldness in her blood intensified. Before this- this cheeky-ness- could dissipate, she said playfully, "But I'm a good student. I like to learn, Jared." Thankfully, he didn't laugh at the cheesiness. Instead, at the sound of his name, she swore a fine tremor ran over the line of his shoulders. "How would you teach me to flirt?" Kim leaned forward, knowing that her button-up was probably a bit tight against her chest, but no embarrassment rose. His eyes were on her chest. There was no room for second-guessing or insecurity when his attention was so tautly trained on her.

"Everything you do is...I mean, if you wanted to flirt more...you'd maybe wear your peach lipgloss...because I can smell it the minute you're in the room, and it gets me…" He closed his mouth, and was staring at her hungrily. Something hesitant saturated his face.

He was trying so hard to stay appropriate. Kim swallowed, wondering if she should stop, but the curiosity was just too much. She urged him, "Gets you…?"

"Hard," he rasped.

Her body responded immediately, going soft and hot. Fuck, this was addictive. Whatever attraction they shared truly had to be on another level, she was sure of it. It was immediate. Elemental. "I like that."

"You do?" he asked, surprise coloring his voice, but his eyes were now dancing with heat. He straightened, hands flexing against the fabric of the couch, and he now openly stared at her, eyes roving over her chest and face.

"I do."

"For not knowing how to flirt, you sure do a good job of it," he said back, smile both sweet and hot.

She shrugged, and color rose in her cheeks. "I don't know what it is, but I get a little carried away...when I'm with you."

"No complaints here, as long as...as long as you're sure and don't, you know, regret it. Or hate me."

"Never," she said, and there were no truer words ever spoken. She blushed hard. Even when she tried to hate Jared in the past, she was physically incapable of it. Now, knowing him as she did now...Kim was certain that it was an impossibility.

Regret was a whole different story, but she didn't want to think about that right now. In this moment, it felt warm and certain between them.

Jared was looking enthralled again, and shifted to sit forward. He reached for her hand. "Kim? Can I kiss you?"

She kissed him soundly in response. His mouth was hot and tasted of fruit.

What happened next, Kim could only confess was entirely her doing. If there was anything to feel sorry for, she had nowhere to point but in the mirror...but there was something galvanic threaded between them, and she chased it with abandon. She carded her hands through Jared's dark hair. Something heavy and deliberate began to unfurl under her skin. It didn't take long for her to feel like there was just too much space- damn cavernous space- between them.

In a move that would've shocked Kim if this had been a month before, and had previously only existed in her hammock-summertime-fantasies, Kim Connweller rose from the chair, and moved to straddle Jared Cameron's lap.

A growling sound purred through Jared's chest as she attacked his lips again, as he fitted two hands around her waist. She felt evidence of his arousal between them- hard through his denim, making their shared heat even more poignant. He kissed her lips with the same desperate rhythm as the day before, as if he couldn't get enough of her. His tongue was so soft, but so insistent, against hers. Goosebumps broke over her skin, even as her body turned more liquid-hot.

At one point, Jared's strong grip on her waist drifted to her hips, and he applied just the slightest pressure- and it was all the inspiration she needed to drop the full of her weight onto his lap, against the ridge of his cock. When she rolled her hips, it was by pure instinct, and it elicited gasps from both of them.

Jared looked dazed beneath her; they stared at each other as she moved above him, against him, and she couldn't help but feel that strange elemental intimacy anew.

"I should probably stop," she whispered, even as she moved languidly against him. Every inch of her burned. She wondered- again, in that far off place in the back of her brain- if she should be worried about her weight on him, but the insecurity was quickly chased away by the powerful knowledge that he was thrusting against her, and clearly loving every second.

Screw insecurity- at least for the next few minutes.

"Should you?" he asked breathlessly.

"We're just friends, and this isn't-"

"I want to be with you, Kim," he rasped out, fingers digging into her hips, dragging her against his lap faster. "I'll do whatever you want me to do to prove- to prove- fuck, Kim-"

"It's just complicated and going fast." Her panties had to be soaked.

The oven blared.

The spell came to a halt.

Jared was still hard under her. His eyes flickered over her face- which she knew was pink from making out- and he reached up to brush his thumb over her lips. She, meanwhile, was wondering if guilt was going to kick in.

It didn't. She knew it would, but in this moment, staring at his eyes...not even a drop of guilt.

The oven beeped again.

"What are you thinking about?" Jared asked.

Loaded question. She decided to be honest. "Wondering if I'm gonna feel embarrassed over all this, or if I'm just mad that the oven interrupted things."

A wicked grin curled at his mouth. "Damn oven."

"Really damn oven," she agreed.

"They're probably gonna burn, but I don't want you to move...so this is a problem."

She laughed. "I guess we could always...rain-check."

"Well, that may be acceptable," he said playfully, "but it would probably be better if you were my girlfriend before we resume this particular scenario."

Kim moved off of him carefully, laughing a bit. There was the guilt. Like an IV drip. She cleared her throat, straightening her shirt and trying not to look like she'd been one step away from ripping his shirt off. She inhaled a deep breath. Oh, shit. Guilt..guilty...drip, drip. "I, uh, don't know-"

"You can still think about it," he interjected swiftly. "I'm not pressuring you on that-"

"-no, I meant, I don't know why I did that...whole…" she gestured to her chest, thinking of her deliberate flirtations, and then gestured to his lap, and then realized that she looked like a moron, so she folded her arms tightly across her chest. "That whole flirty thing. That was out of line and confusing for both of us, I know, and I'm sorry-"

"Whoa." Jared stood up, and his full height was a dizzying juxtaposition to him languid and at her mercy, as he'd been minutes before. Concern painted his face. "It wasn't out of line. You're good. We're good. That was okay, Kim."

She laughed again, but it sounded weird, so she moved toward the kitchen. "Right, I know!" Sounding cavalier was her best bet. But then again, he knew she was a virgin, so maybe this made her sound fake or something…

"I should control myself better."

Jared's tone was so solemn that it caused her to turn and look at him. He stood still, near the couch, with determination written over every line of his posture. His mouth was tucked into a grim line. When he spoke, it was like a vow. "I don't want to confuse you. I will control myself better, Kim."

Her eyes widened and she gaped at him. "That was all me, Jared. Seriously. If anyone is confusing things here, it's me. I'm sorry."

He shook his head in one harsh movement. "Don't apologize. Kissing you is...I've got no words. I'm glad you want to kiss me. I just want you to kiss me and not feel sick with guilt afterward. So I have to control myself better until you've had time to think."

Perturbed, she said, "I'm- I'm not sick with guilt-"

Jared gave her a look like he knew she was lying. Was it so obvious? Or a good guess? Or was he just preternaturally good at reading her?

"Next time I come over," he said seriously, "we will only watch a movie."

"And if I decide to…" become a raving sex cat, she stopped herself from saying, "try and flirt with you again, you just push me away?"

"I won't push you away." Jared swallowed. "But...I'll try and keep it appropriate for both our sakes."

The oven beeped again, and this time, they couldn't ignore it. As she entered the kitchen- Jared a good seven or eight feet behind her- she muttered to herself, "What universe am I in?"

And Jared, from a good seven or eight feet behind her, repeated, "What universe? What do you mean?"

She narrowed her eyes at him as she opened the oven with a purple mitt on her left hand. "How do you do that?"

"What?"

"Hear so well."

He blinked rapidly. "Oh. Uh. Good genes."

Something felt...off. She couldn't describe it, but she felt that it was a lie. The certainty of his lie thrummed under her ribs somewhere. She focused on the mozzarella sticks.

"What do you mean though? The universe thing?"

"I mean...my brain says, 'be smart, go slow.' But obviously my- everything else...says 'damn girl, go for it.'" Kim laughed coarsely, to herself. She shoved the spatula under some mozzarella sticks and began depositing them on a plate. "I feel like I'm at war with myself and zap from one side to the other. Because right now- you're saying everything right, everything respectable and slow and just how I claim to want it. But then what do I do?"

He was looking at her with raised eyebrows but didn't answer.

She was blunt. "I basically throw myself in your lap. Because I want to be your girlfriend."

His face cracked into a mega-watt Hollywood smile. "You do?"

"Of course I do!" Her palms shook so she put down the spatula. "I r-really want to be your girlfriend. I can't stop thinking about you and j-just looking at you makes me want to throw all caution to the wind."

"Then do it! Because with me, there's no reason to be cautious, Kim. I'll never, ever hurt you." For once, Jared seemed to successfully ignore the food nearby. He reached for her hands, and there was such hope in his gaze that Kim already knew her stubborness was going to meet a swift death.

"I don't know what I'm doing," she warned softly. His hands locked around one of hers; vulnerability made her mouth feel tacky, dry.

"You'll never regret it if you say 'yes,'" he promised her.

"Then-" she felt like her heart was in her throat. Guts, Kim. Have guts. "Then I'd like to be your girlfriend."

Jared's mouth was on hers before she finished the sentence, hot and adoring. When he pulled away, he rested his forehead against hers. "Kim, this- is the happiest day of my life."

Please don't make me the fool, Kim begged God as Jared wound his fingers through hers, pressing small kisses to her hairline. So much for being too smart to fall for the charms of Jared Cameron; not even a saint could withstand the authentic adoration he radiated.

Still, Monica's face popped into her mind. Her words echoed around Kim's skull like a taunt.

The only way to quiet it was to be sensitive to the timing. "But before we go public," she asked, "can we wait a week or two?"

His face scrunched up as he pulled back, baffled. "Why?"

"Well...you just broke up with Autumn last week…."

"Kim, that really doesn't make a difference."

"It looks insensitive. Bad."

"Who cares?"

She almost started listing the names of his former friends and flings, but knew that would just make things tense. "This is a small community, Jared. Besides, what's a week?"

Jared tilted his head back for a minute; with a sigh, he said, "Okay. True. If that's what'll make my im- my girlfriend happy, then...I'll respect it."

She smiled, then, shyly, gave him a chaste, quick kiss on his chin. God, he was good. This shared energy was so familiar; all over again, she was infused with this preternatural sense of rightness."Thanks."

"But I'll insist on driving you to school after we go public. And I demand our movie night in the next five days."

She laughed lightly. "Ah, negotiations. I've always heard this part was critical in relationships, but didn't realize how quickly they begin."

He laughed, but was mostly focused on kissing her again.

When Jared's alarm went off at 4:30, he cast her an exaggerated mopey face, and snatched up five mozzarella sticks to eat on the way to work. She walked him to the door, where he kissed her again- almost so many times that she was growing breathless- and said, "I'll call you tomorrow."

Kim didn't stop smiling all night; even as the shrieking violins of Halloween announced Michael Myers, and even as trick-or-treaters assailed the front door and interrupted every scary scene...Kim couldn't remember a time where she felt happier.

And now, she could swear the rhythm of her heart pattered out a simpler word, for the first time: joy, joy, joy.

Her heartbeat struck its consistent, happy tune all evening and well into the next day. Even when she found out that her angel wings had been torn while in storage, and had to improvise a costume with less than an hour to get to her session at the Library, Kim couldn't stop thinking about Jared's wide, dimpled smile. The smell of his cologne. The feel of his hard chest under her palms.

"I like the costume, Kim" her supervisor greeted her. The Library was still decked out in Halloween theme- little plastic Jack-o-Lanterns on top of little hall bales, and paper ghosts cut out of glittery cardstock were strung across the Reference Desk with orange ribbon.

"Thanks," she said, a little embarrassed. She'd pinned her mother's bright red Christmas tablecloth across her shoulders and grabbed a fraying wicker picnic basket from the garage. Underneath, she wore a white sweater and black skinny jeans- nothing fancy. She also meticulously applied red lipstick that matched her tablecloth cape. "I'm modern Little Red Riding Hood."

"Very cute. Here are some of the books we'd talked about last week." She handed Kim a stack of Halloween picture books, and soon enough, Kim was reading aloud in the Children's Nook. But even then...the words, the illustrations...all of it was mechanical, as Kim's brain remained solely wrapped up in thoughts of Jared.

Jared Cameron.

Her boyfriend. Kind of her secret boyfriend, but...her boyfriend, nonetheless.

When her shift was finished a few hours later, and all of her book cart was checked and sorted, and after she'd helped the Senior Librarians fix the copy machine, and she had four successful Children's Nook Storytimes under her belt, Kim checked her phone. Of course- a text from 10:30 AM, three hours before.

Jared Cameron: Hey Kim. :) Just got up. Long night at work. Did you have a good night with Sarah?

She replied, heart feeling full and beating quickly. Outgoing Text: It was great. :) How are you? Did work go ok? Any Halloween pranksters out on the Rez?

His response was immediate. She'd wondered if she missed him in her delay, but he was quick to reply.

Jared Cameron: Nope, pretty quiet and no problems. Emily made Halloween caramel apples tho. You at work?

Outgoing Text: Walking out the door soon. Clifford and the Ghost Eye Tree were well-received! Mostly because the kids all got goody bags...I think they would've listened quietly to anything after those swag bags.

Jared Cameron: Did the kids like your angel costume?

Outgoing Text: Wings were broken. :( I had to improvise.

Jared Cameron: Oh?

Outgoing Text: I'm Little Red Riding Hood today. With a broken basket, but nobody's noticed so far lol

Kim waited for another lightning-fast response. A minute passed. Then two. Maybe he got busy suddenly. She was about to push her phone back into her purse when it buzzed again.

Jared Cameron: Wow

Jared Cameron: Can you send me a pic?

She rarely used the camera on her LG, but she didn't want to sound like a loser who didn't know how to use her own cell phone. She held it at arm's length, smiled big, and clicked. She turned the phone back around and inspected the photo on the screen. Yikes. Huge cheeks much? And her "cape" was barely visible. She adjusted it, and yanked it over her shoulder so it was very obvious. She tried another photo, but this time, kept her face fairly serious, tilting her chin at a flattering angle.

Much better. She stared hard at the photo onscreen. Her lipstick looked really dramatic and kind of perfect, actually. She supposed Jared would think this photo was pretty. And her boobs looked good in her sweater, which she suspected he'd like. Especially considering his attention to her chest yesterday in the living room. But it was appropriate- just a selfie, much like one she'd post on MySpace. Nothing obscene or anything that could be frowned upon if it made it into the wrong hands.

Yeah, that'll do. Don't over-analyze Kim.. She clicked "SEND."

Jared's response was immediate.

Jared Cameron: Holy shit, Kim.

Jared Cameron: You're STUNNING

Jared Cameron: I've never seen a sexier Red Riding Hood

Jared Cameron: I can't even tell you how you drive me CRAZY wow

Outgoing Text: Thank you :))

Jared Cameron: I mean it

Jared Cameron: It's a good thing I'm not with you right now. Holy shit

Jared Cameron: I wouldn't be able to keep my hands off you

Jared Cameron: Literally never seen a hotter sight my whole life

Jared Cameron: Is that ok for me to say?

Jared Cameron: jfc Kim, you're perfect

Her cheeks matched her cape. At least she was alone in the back office.

Outgoing Text: You're really sweet. Here I was nervous since it was so last minute lol

Jared Cameron: PERFECT

Outgoing Text: :) Thanks Jared

Outgoing Text: Are you working?

Jared Cameron: At 3:30...if you're out and have time to kill, wanna go for a drive?

Outgoing Text: Sure, if you have time?

He literally just said that he wouldn't be able to keep his hands off her; Kim knew- she knew- that she should be a goody-goody, and not seek out such potentially-charged scenarios with her new (almost-)boyfriend...but the other part of her- that bold, powerful and curious Kim- was practically foaming at the mouth to get out of the florescence of the Library and haul herself down to Jared immediately. She wanted to feel him underneath her again, to feel the hard denim underneath her core, to taste his lips as his hips thrust a shallow rhythm between her thighs.

Outgoing Text: If you have time- I'd love to hang out :)

Jared Cameron: :) Let's meet at Leyendecker Park in 30 min?

Outgoing Text: OK!

Kim said some quick goodbyes to the Librarians and was making her way to her car when she heard, "Hey, Kim!" across the parking lot.

She stopped. Her stomach balled up into an iron knot, and the bold electricity in her bloodstream quickly muted itself. Kim turned, hoping she was wrong in her mind's first recognition of that voice.

Unfortunately, her initial guess was right-on.

Mallory Peters was standing no less than ten feet away, her blue eyes narrowed and a strained smile on her pretty face.

"Hi, Mallory."


A/N: Thank you, friends, for reading. Special thanks to my reviewers deator11, FireJayGames, Senbernary, 10, KamAnDa, Mo and MoonFeeryes for taking time to share your thoughts with me! Several of you haven't missed a chapter yet by review, which gives me so much joy. I love that you take time out of your day to write to me! :) Also thank you Ashley for your Red Riding Hood idea...I used that for inspo! ;) What do you all think so far? Also, would anyone want a chapter from Jared's POV or do you prefer having Kim's POV only the whole way through? I'm sort of dying to write from Jared's perspective TBH but I don't want to throw off the flow if you guys prefer it this way. Please drop me a line and let me know. 3