A/N: If there's any mistakes, I apologize, I wanted to get this out for you guys.

I woke up to the shrill sound of someone screaming. My heart was thrumming in a panic, I couldn't tell if it was my brother or maybe Callie, but I felt tears on my cheeks and I realized that it was me.

I clamped both hands over my mouth to stop myself and I realized that the reason why my heart was beating so fast is because of the nightmare I had. This was the third night in a row, since Saturday, that I had woken up in a panic with no memories of what I had dreamed about.

Jesus Christ, I was covered in sweat. What was I dreaming about?

The window slid open and I screamed, jumping out of bed and running towards the door. "Holy shit Kim, it's just me."

What in the world? "Paul? What are you doing in my room?" I mumbled, shutting the door quietly and hoping my shouting hadn't woken anyone up.

"I heard you screaming…" He trailed off sheepishly. "I was worried, are you alright?"

I blushed deeply. Was I that loud? "I'm fine, just a bad dream. You didn't have to come all the way over here."

"I was patrolling near your house anyway…" Now he looked really embarrassed. "I'm just keeping an eye out for you, for Jared."

Ah, I got it now. "Yeah, for Jared." I teased. "I'm sure it was all for Jared."

I threw him a wry smile and he mumbled, "What?" under his breath. Giggling like an idiot, and probably because I was way overtired and drowsy, I threw my arms across his waist and hugged him. His warm arms embraced me naturally for a quick second, and then he quickly shoved me out of his arms. "God Kim, stop making me look so mushy." He muttered.

"You like me." I giggled, elated.

"I see you all the time in Jared's head, Kim. It's kind of hard not to like you."

"Oh shut up Paul, stop making excuses. You like me 'cause I'm awesome." I was laughing again. Jeez, I needed to shut up.

"Yeah, yeah, don't go telling people about it." He muttered. "Now why were you screaming? What did you dream about?"

"I don't remember." I said tiredly. "This is the third night in a row and everytime I wake up, it's like my memories were sucked out of my brain."

He sighed. "Go back to sleep, Kim. No more bad dreams okay? Want me to call Jared?"

"No it's okay, I'm fine. Did you want to stay for a little bit? We probably have food downstairs."

Paul's face morphed into a scowl. "I'm starving, but I have to get back on patrol. I'm sure Embry's wondering where the hell I went. See yah Kimmie." He squeezed my hand briefly and jumped out the window. I watched him land perfectly on his feet and take off into the forest without hesitation. At the edge of the forest he stopped, turned back and winked at me.

I shook my head and laughed to myself before crawling into bed. It was five in the morning and I vaguely wondered how the hell Paul and Embry managed to stay out all night and then stay awake during school.

Despite my exhaustion, I could not fall back asleep. I fought fitfully for half an hour and then my cell phone rang. I expected it to be Jared, but the caller id said Jake.

My heart stopped and I scrambled to pick it up. "Hello?" I said breathlessly.

"Kim… Did I wake you?" His voice was gruff.

Normally he would have, but I was awake. "No."

"I…" He trailed off. What! You what! "Can you meet me somewhere? I mean, if you want."

Yes! I needed somewhere away from the forest, where Paul wouldn't be able to jump out and scare him away. I needed somewhere that I had time to talk before they sniffed me out. "Do you know where the abandoned mechanic shop is? The one my dad…"

"Yeah, I'll meet you there in five." And he hung up.

Damn it, why was I so damn happy that I was going to see him? Curse this smile that was spreading across my face. I hadn't talked to Jake in forever. I threw on a giant sweater, some fuzzy socks and boots and pair of sweatpants. It was snowing and freezing cold, so I put my hood up over my head and sniffled my way to the rundown building.

It wasn't much warmer inside the wreckage, but it was a shield from the snow. "Jake?" I muttered.

"Yeah, it's me." He said, shaking the remaining snow out of his hair. "I'm sorry I made you meet me here in the cold… I just can't talk to you anywhere else. And I didn't want to talk over the phone."

I didn't blame him one bit, Jared and Paul were scary and overprotective. "It's okay. What's up?"

Suddenly I found myself engulfed in his arms. "I've missed you." He whispered. "I miss being around you, I want to be your friend."

"Jake…" I muttered, muffled in his chest.

"Why is Embry avoiding me?" He asked. "Why is he like them? You have to know why, Kim. You're hanging out with them too."

I shrugged when he released me. "It's complicated Jake."

"Oh don't give me that crap. I've seen Embry's eyes, they're terrified. What are they doing to him? Why is a nice girl like you hanging out with those creeps? Does your mother know you're involved with Jared?"

"Jeez Jake, relax. They're not bad people okay? Stop judging them when you don't even know what's going on." My voice came out clipped and defensive.

"Oh yeah, you're just on cloud nine aren't you? Finally, the boy you've been pathetically in love with forever is ready to play house. Isn't that great for you?" Ouch… "I'm sorry." He ran a big hand over his face. "I've just been really angry lately. I just want my friends back."

My heart ached for him… "I want to tell you." I whispered. "If I could tell you, I would."

"Don't you trust me? I would never tell that you told."

"Yes you would." I whispered. "You would tell. You wouldn't mean to, but it would happen. I'm sorry. I want my friends back too."

"Kim, please…" His hands touched my face. They felt oddly cold to me. "What do I have to do to make you trust me?"

My mouth opened to speak, but the words that came out did not belong to me. They were not mine. "Get your hands off of her."

Paul sniffed me out. Paul told Jared. Jared was here. It looked like I was about to kiss Jake. Jared was an angry wolf. What the fuck do I do?

I wasn't even scared, I was annoyed. I rolled my eyes. "Don't be so dramatic, Jared. We were just talking." I said simply and I stepped away from Jake's grasp and walked over to him. "Come on, we're done talking anyway. See you around Jake." I tugged on Jared's arm but he easily side stepped me and walked over to Jake.

"What did you say to her?" He asked.

"It's none of your business!" I cried, grabbing on his arm from behind. He shook me off again. "I'm serious. Jake, don't tell him, he doesn't have the right to know." Yep, I was annoyed.

"Jesus Christ, Kim!" Jared roared when I held his arm again. "Let go of me now!" And all of a sudden, I was knocked to the ground in shock and parts of my body were throbbing.

Jared had just elbowed me and knocked me to the ground. He did not know his own strength. Embarrassingly, I felt tears spring to my eyes. I was hurt and mortified. It was Jake who rushed to my side first, checking me for injuries. "Are you alright!" He asked. "What hurts?"

"My ribs." I moaned. Jared was still standing there, gaping at me in shock like a fish.

Jake helped me to my feet and suddenly Jared snapped alive. "Get away from her." He said lowly, it was almost a growl. I could see his hands shaking.

"Are you crazy? I'm not leaving her here with you after what you just did!" Jake cried and Jared literally ripped a snarl from his mouth. I saw Jake's expression shift to horror.

"Jake, go." I mumbled. I did not need this escalating. I did not need Jared shifting and killing Jake. He looked at me incredulously. "I'll be fine. I'll see you at school."

"Kim…"

"Please go." I whispered. "Before you get hurt."

His expression was pained, but he did what I said. I couldn't even blame him, Jared looked fucking scary. I tried to take in calming breaths, but my ribs hurt and I winced. That knocked the anger out of him and he looked absolutely heartbroken. Yeah, you did this to me you jerk.

"What hurts, baby?" He whispered, coming over to me. I flinched at his touch, and if he noticed, he said nothing. "I'm so sorry. I'm so, so sorry."

"My ribs." I mumbled. "It hurts right there."

"I'm going to drive you to the hospital okay sweetheart?"

I wanted to protest, and ask for Paul or Embry but even though I was so pissed at him, I didn't want to upset him. So I just nodded and followed him quietly. I didn't talk in the car, even as he continuously apologized and asked me if I was okay. I didn't talk in the hospital when I got my ribs taped up after I found out that I had broken two of them and I didn't talk on the way back until I realized we had driven right past the school.

"You passed the school, Jared." I whispered.

"You're going home to rest."

"I have a math test today." I mumbled. "Turn around."

He glanced at me and shook his head. "Sorry, you need to go home and lay down. You can retake the test tomorrow."

My blood boiled. "Damn it Jared, turn the fuck around and take me back to school right now!" Yelling hurt my ribs, and afterwards I wanted to crawl in a hole and die but it had worked. Silently, he turned the car around and pulled into the parking lot.

I was only five minutes late for class. I jumped out of the car and speed walked to the doors. I turned around because I didn't hear Jared following me, and I saw his car speed away.

I felt oddly relieved and I made my way into class, grabbing a test and sitting next to Paul. He gave me a disapproving glance just as I took too big of a breath and flinched. He became concerned. "What happened?"

"It's nothing." I mumbled, unconsciously rubbing the sore spot. Without warning, Paul jerked my shirt up. "Jesus, Paul!" I cried, tugging it down. There was no mistaking the white bandages though. I'm pretty sure Forks was the only hospital that didn't know taping ribs really didn't help heal them.

"What the fuck, Kim?" He growled. The teacher was glaring at him and I blushed and tried to concentrate on my test. "How did that happen? Did Jake phase and hurt you? Tell me!"

I shrugged. "It was an accident, okay?"

"Jared did it, didn't he?"

I was silent for a minute. "I don't want to talk about this right now." I finally said. And that was the end of our conversation for the class.

I finished the test, confident that I had done well and bustled out of the classroom as fast as I could without bumping into anyone and hurting myself. I watched from my locker as Paul walked out of the school and I knew he was going to find Jared and they were going to phase and he was going to find out.

I managed to last through my morning classes and at lunch time, I rushed off to the cafeteria to buy a salad and large bottle of water and I gulped down the pain medication that the hospital had given me while I was waiting at my empty table for Embry.

As I was picking at my food, someone hesitantly approached my table. "Jared and Paul aren't here." I said wryly to Jacob.

"Are you okay? How are your ribs?"

I sighed. "Broken, and they hurt like hell."

He frowned at me. "Has Jared been hurting you often? Is that why you're staying with him? Is that why you're so afraid to talk to me and tell me things? Because I can help you…" He trailed off.

I shook my head. "I promise that's the first time it's ever happened. Sometimes Jared doesn't know his own strength…" Everything I was saying sounded like words from an abused girlfriend. Shit. "I mean it when I say don't worry about me. I'm dealing with it."

He looked like he wanted to say more, but he caught a glimpse of Embry. "I gotta go." He muttered and walked off before Embry had even looked our way. Poor kid… It was only a matter of time before he understood.

I sat silently until Embry took a seat. "Hey Embry." I greeted.

"Hey Kim, what's up? It's weird seeing you alone. Where are Paul and Jared?"

I grimaced. "They are probably fighting each other in the woods."

He wrinkled his brows together. "What happened? Did they have a fight?" He noticed my discomfort. "You're in pain. Did Paul hurt you?"

"You werewolves just can't leave anything alone." I muttered. "Jared underestimated his own strength and may have broken a couple of my ribs. I'm completely fine though so let's just drop it."

He stared at me for a long minute and then he shrugged. "Okay." I grinned in spite of myself. This is why I loved Embry, he was always so agreeable and chill. "So do you feel okay? Because I could take you home if you need me to."

"Embry!"

He chuckled. "Okay, sorry, sorry." I shook my head but smiled at him.

Neither Paul nor Jared showed up during the afternoon, so in art I was free to talk to Summer all I wanted. I showed up and immediately set up next to her and she gave me her commercial smile. My heart tightened in my chest. I missed her so much.

I listened to her talk for a bit, about her mother, who was tiny and Japanese and adorable. "She misses you." Summer chuckled. "She wants you to come over for dinner and she said she'll make you that chicken stir fry you like so much."

"If your mom is cooking, you know that I'm down for anything." And we both giggled to ourselves. "Summer, I really need to talk to you about something important and this is the best time to do it."

"What's wrong?"

I didn't even know how to put my thoughts into words. "I miss you. You were my best friend through everything and I want that back but things are different now. Everything has changed so much and I know that you don't understand but the thing is, I can't tell you. It's not just some boy that has changed me; it's something so much bigger than that. And I will never be able to tell you what that is."

"You're not being threatened are you?" She whispered and I had to smile a bit.

"No. But I made a promise and it's unbreakable. We will never be able to be the same anymore, because there will be so many secrets between us. It's going to be so hard for us to be friends."

Both of us were silent, huddled in the corner of the art room. "I made a promise once too." She said. "To a little mousy girl back in the third grade. I promised her that we would always be friends, through anything and everything."

"She remembers."

"I understand what a promise means, and I want to keep mine as much as you want to keep yours. So I'm willing to try if you are."

My heart thrummed happily. "Deal." And we pinky promised that we would try.

"So what are you and Jared doing for Valentine's Day?" She tried to ask in a casual way, but the way she said his name sounded like she tasted something awful.

"Valentine's Day… When is that?" I mumbled.

"It's on Thursday… That's in two days." She laughed and shook her head. "Wow, you're really out of it aren't you?" And then she went on about what her and Quil were doing and I semi zoned myself out.

After last period, as I was getting ready to walk myself home, I wondered if Jared would take me out if I asked. It would make up for the injury and it would fill his 'awkward' first date quota.

I was brought out of my thoughts by the honking of a giant black truck. It wasn't anyone that I expected. It was Sam. He motioned for me to get in the truck and I hesitated, but did so anyway. It was cold out and I was definitely not fast enough to outrun a truck.

The interior of his truck was warm. "Hello, Kim." He greeted.

"Hi." I said meekly. "Um, are we going to your place?"

He nodded. "Are you alright with that? How are you feeling?"

Of course, he already knew about my incident. It felt like no one was ever going to stop bringing it up. "I'm a little sore." I mumbled. "I'll be better once I take my meds again."

"I want to apologize for what happened…" He trailed off when I turned and glared at him.

"This was not your fault Sam. Just because Jared is a part of your pack, doesn't mean you have to take responsibility for everything. I understand you're all connected as one but this is getting annoying."

"You know, you've been hanging around Paul too much." He commented lightly and I giggled a bit. I'd never really had a conversation with Sam that didn't involve anything serious. "He really roughed Jared up you know? He thinks of you as a little sister."

I was definitely not used to knowing the softer side of Paul. It was sort of unnerving, yet it was really, really sweet. I wanted to hug him again but I knew he wouldn't like it. We pulled into the driveway and Sam, the gentleman he is, helped me down from his monster of a truck so that I wouldn't hurt myself and warned me that Jared was ready to get on his knees and grovel.

True enough, the minute I got in the door he was apologizing and pleading. The first thing I noticed was a puckering red line right down the side of his face. I touched it. "What happened?"

"Oh it's nothing, Paul got me good that's all. But how are you feeling? How are your ribs? How can I ever make this up to you?"

I shook my head and rolled my eyes. "Accidents happen, Jared. But if you're really looking for a way to make it up to me, I have something in mind."

"Anything you want."

"Dinner on Thursday? It's Valentine's Day; I figured it could be our cheesy first date."

He frowned a little bit, but perked up. "I have patrol until seven. How about we take a late dinner in Port Angeles around nine? I'll make reservations and everything."

He kissed me gently on the lips and went off to steal a muffin from Emily, who was baking in the kitchen. Paul glanced over at me and a smile spread across my face.

Hah, Paul liked me.