Chapter Six
Jared was of the firm belief that Kim was the most beautiful person in the entire world and that was never going to change. But after spending the past hour with her, he had quickly realized that that was the least of the things that made Kim so delightfully…well, Kim.
She was quiet in school, yes, if his and Paul's ashamedly little recollections of her were anything to go by, but he could see that she was completely comfortable here in her own home as she warmed up to him. They talked about a wide variety of things, although it was mostly superficial stuff as neither really knew the other very well yet. But what he did know now was that she was beyond funny and so slyly sarcastic. And she cared so much about her little sister. And good grief could that girl make a mean burger.
Basically, Kim was perfect and Jared was going to do whatever it took to never let her go. And that was going to have to mean taking things slow. Kim's adorable blush had never really gone away while they were talking, and Jared didn't want to scare her away by moving too quickly. He was going to have to work hard to have a relationship with her, but it was pretty safe to say that he was going to enjoy every moment of it, no matter how long it took.
"I was thinking…" Jared began slowly during a pause in their conversation, more than two hours after he had first shown up at her house. They were sitting at the kitchen table, the remains of their meal in front of them. "So I brought you that homework and I have your notes to return, too, but I really missed a lot all those days I was absent."
Jared hesitated slightly and Kim merely sat there looking at him patiently. He really couldn't read her expression, so he just decided to plow on in the hope that she wasn't going to completely shoot down what he was about to suggest.
"I was thinking maybe you could help me catch up," He continued swiftly. "I mean, it's only if you want to. It's just that you took really good notes and I can use all the help I can get at this point."
"Are you suggesting we become…study buddies?" Kim asked, and Jared could see her lips threatening to curl up into a smile. God, he wanted to kiss those lips so badly.
"Is that a bad suggestion?" Jared questioned nervously. "I mean, there's only like less than a month left of school before summer, but it's better late than never…right?"
"That's actually a pretty good idea," Kim told him.
Relaxing slightly now that she had essentially—hopefully—just agreed to study with him, Jared couldn't help teasing her, "No need to sound so surprised; I've been known to have a good idea every so often, you know."
Kim's cheeks darkened adorably as she responded, "I was actually referring to the fact that we have finals coming up soon, so it will help me study as well."
"Ah," Jared intoned with a brief nod, "I see how it is. You're not helping me out of the goodness of your heart; you're just out to help yourself."
Kim's face remained a deep red as she shook her head, looking away from him. "You're impossible," She informed him.
"But you'll do it?" Jared pressed, just to make sure. "You'll help me catch up—or at least pretend to, while you study for yourself?"
Kim rolled her eyes, but there was a small smile on her face as she looked back to Jared. "Yes, I'll study with you. Did you want to get started right now?"
Jared desperately hoped that he wasn't imaging things and that Kim actually looked rather hopeful as she asked him that. Unfortunately, though, he had just caught sight of the time and realized that he was supposed to be meeting Sam and Paul for patrol approximately ten minutes ago.
"I do, but I can't right now," Jared said with a sigh. And now he knew that he wasn't imagining Kim deflating slightly as he spoke. Even though it was upsetting for him that he had clearly just upset her, he still took it as a good sign that apparently his imprint was actually enjoying his company. Now that he was actually experiencing the phenomena firsthand, he could empathize better with Sam over the fact that Emily currently wanted absolutely nothing to do with him; after just spending this little amount of time with Kim, he didn't know how he'd cope if she changed her mind about them spending time together. "I haven't been paying attention to the time and I should really be heading to work now."
Kim nodded in understanding, "Tomorrow, then?"
Jared nodded eagerly as he stood up—hopefully Sam wouldn't be too angry with him for being late. Less than two minutes later, after finally handing over all of Kim's homework and promising that he'd see her the next day in school and barely restraining himself from kissing her goodbye, Jared was out the door and making his way into the woods.
No sooner had he phased than both Sam and Paul's voices were running through his head.
You're late, was all Sam said, but Jared could feel his irritation.
How was Mission: Stalk the Imprint, Jared and Kim Edition? Paul demanded before Jared could apologize to Sam for losing track of the time. Immediately, Jared's thoughts turned to everything that had happened since he had left Paul in the school parking lot.
And to think, just a few days ago you were complaining about having to go back to school and now you have your very own study buddy, Sam thought in a teasing tone after the onslaught of Jared's thoughts and memories had died down.
Shut up, Jared responded immediately.
Sam just mentally rolled his eyes in response. It's been pretty quiet out here. As long as nothing comes up, you two can both head home at eleven.
Okay. Now get lost, Paul told him, I don't think I can handle the combination of you mooning over Emily and Jared thinking about all of the 'studying' he and Kim are going to do tomorrow.
Sam didn't deign Paul with a response, merely phasing at once he reached his backyard, but Jared was pretty sure that, if it hadn't been for his distinct lack of fingers while in wolf form, Paul would have been on the receiving end of a rather rude hand gesture, mostly because Jared himself would have done the same. There was nothing at all wrong about thinking about spending time with Kim, his beyond amazing imprint, thank you very much.
Gag, Paul mentally coughed. As if the past three hours in Sam's head weren't enough, don't make me suffer through your fascination with your imprint, too.
Had he really just spent three whole hours with Kim? Huh, time had really seemed to fly. Is Emily still refusing to talk to him, then?
Jared felt rather than saw—mostly because they were currently running on opposite ends of the reservation—Paul nod in affirmation. Since she's started ignoring his phone calls, he's thinking about running up to the Makah rez this weekend while we're both patrolling to see if he can get her to talk to him in person.
You mean ignore him in person? Jared couldn't help but ask and Paul snorted in laughter.
I am glad that Kim doesn't seem to mind your stalker-ish-ness, Paul said slowly, after a brief moment of hesitation before ultimately deciding that he wasn't going to be able to hide the thought from Jared. It sucks for Sam that he's got this uncontrollable bond with a chick who doesn't want anything to do with him because he dumped her best friend for her. Plus, Kim seems kind of nice, from what I saw before.
She is nice, Jared agreed, contemplating, not for the first time in the past two days but appreciating it more now that he'd actually gotten the chance to talk to her, how lucky he was that the spirits had determined that someone as perfect as Kim was his soul mate and deemed fit to enlighten him as to that fact.
No need to get so sentimental, dude, Paul said immediately, and Jared couldn't miss his internal grimace. I was trying to avoid that, actually.
Now it was Jared's turn to roll his eyes. Fine then, how do you think the Mariners are going to do tomorrow?
The next morning, Jared found himself at school earlier than he had been all year. Indeed, it was even earlier than the previous day, when he had been overly-anxious to catch another glimpse of Kim but had still managed to sleep through his alarm. Today, however, was a different story. Jared was determined to be on time for school—or early, as it was—because he had promised Kim that he would see her there and he wasn't about to let her down.
"Have I mentioned lately that imprinting is going to be the death of me?" Paul moaned from where he was sprawled across the bed of Jared's truck, exhausted from a combination of his eight-hour patrol the day before and his dad's insistence that he pass high school the first time around, which had resulted in a few hours' worth of homework after patrol.
"Probably," Jared replied from his seat near Paul's feet, busily scanning the faces of students as they descended on the schools. He had strategically parked in the direct path Kim would have to take to get to the high school from the elementary school, knowing that she dropped her sister off there every morning. But so far she hadn't shown up.
"Seriously though, you do realize we could still be sleeping now, right?" Paul questioned.
"You could have walked, you know," Jared shot back.
"And missed my official introduction? I don't think so."
Jared's response was cut off, however, by the sight of Kim rounding the corner of the Elementary School. A wide grin stretched across his face. This morning when he got in his truck to head to school he had kicked himself for not even bothering to think of offering to give Kim a ride to school, and had almost driven to her house anyway just to make up for the oversight. But he didn't want to seem too presumptuous, plus there was always the off-chance that Kylie wasn't quite well enough to come back to school and that Kim would have to stay home again to look after her. Those fears were immediately put to rest when he saw her, though.
"Is that her, then?" Jared glanced over at Paul to see that the other boy was now sitting up and also following Kim's progress across the parking lot between the elementary and middle schools.
"Yes," Jared sighed happily, turning back to look at her. Then he stiffened and rounded on Paul suddenly, "This is serious, Paul. I'm still not convinced I won't scare her away, so make sure you're nice to her and stuff…don't be rude or anything."
"Chill, man," Paul replied with a roll of his eyes, too tired from his lack of sleep to work up any energy to even think about being angry at Jared's words. "I might think the past forty-eight hours have turned you into the sappiest person ever, but I'm not stupid. I would never mess with Kim. She's not like everyone else. She's pack."
Jared couldn't help but smile at that. And his smile only widened when Kim happened to glance up and catch sight of him waiting in her path. He immediately waved and, after only the briefest moment of hesitation, she gave him a small wave in return and continued walking in his direction.
The imprint might still be new, and he and Kim were definitely still getting to know each other. But, if nothing else, Paul was definitely right: Kim was pack.