A/N: Summer time for me! Which means plenty of time to write! So as a celebration, here's a new chapter. Practically a record for me ;)

"I love the feeling of sand between my toes." I say suddenly as I squish my bare feet into the wet sand at the edge of the water. My back is towards him and I can feel him watching me like he has been since I first saw him. "What are you thinking about?" I finally ask after moments of silence.

"Nothing that I can say that wouldn't break our truce." Jared tells me honestly. I just shake my head with a little smile and keep walking as he trails behind me. "What about you?"

I shrug. "Just wondering how much I've missed. I mean when Paul said everyone was having dinner at Emily's… When I think everyone, I think of everyone. But there was no Jake, Leah, Seth or Embry."

"We don't see a lot of them since the packs split. Quil has been around a lot more since Claire is here. Jake spends a lot of time over in Cullen territory and if he's not there, he's with Leah. And even since the first big battle when Seth teamed up with the mind reader, he's become number one in the Cullen fan club alongside Jake." He's counting off people on his fingers as he talks. "And Embry is just Embry. Sometimes we see him, sometimes we don't. He's not a Cullen fan, but you know how he likes his space."

There's something I'm curious about. "Wait, so when you say Jake and Leah spend a lot of time together, do you mean…?" I ask, and when he nods in confirmation, I can't help but gasp. "No way…"

"Yep." He says. "We were all shocked too, especially because of his imprint and Leah's past. But hey, he says he'll never hurt her like that and Leah clearly trusts him. Besides, according to them, his little half-breed imprint supports them one hundred percent."

I smile slightly. "Well good. He deserves to be happy. They both do."

"And so do you." He says softly. I stare at him. "Are you happy, Kim?"

I swallow. "You don't get to ask me that. You're breaking the truce."

"I'm breaking the truce asking if you're happy? Since when was that included in it?"

"Since I just said so now. It's my truce, I can make as many amendments to it as I want and that's final." My voice is firm. He looks like he's going to say something, but I glance up at the sky. "Wow, we've been out here for hours. When did it get so dark?" I pull out my cell phone and notice that it's already nine. "I should get back to Paul's. He's probably worried."

I start to walk away and he follows me and grabs my hand to stop me. "There is no way in hell I'm letting you walk home in the dark alone. I'll walk you."

I know he's not going to take no for an answer, so I just keep walking. And we walk and he talks and by the time we reach Paul's house I realize that he's been holding my hand the entire way. I blink, wondering how I didn't notice, and then casually pull my hand out of his and pretend to fiddle with my sweater before I zip it up. I see the flash of disappointment in his eyes, but it goes away as quick as it appeared. I give him a rare smile. "Thanks for walking me home." I tell him sincerely.

"Thanks for agreeing to spend the evening with me." He says gratefully.

I shrug. "I told you I was going to be civil. I mean, it would be a really long and awkward week if we couldn't be around each other, don't you think?" I don't let him answer. "Anyway, I'm going to go inside now. Have a good night, Jared." I say his name softly.

"Goodnight, Kim." He says just as soft. I can tell there's so much he wants to say, but I just close the door. After I slide off my shoes, I head into the kitchen to grab a glass of water.

Paul is sitting at the kitchen table in the dark and I almost jump straight out of my skin when I turn on the lights. "Jesus Christ!" I exclaim, my breath coming out in a giant whoosh. My eyes narrow and I smack him on the arm. "What the hell are you doing sitting here in the dark? Trying to kill me?"

"I was just making sure you got home safe." He says innocently. "Did you have a good time?"

I raise my eyebrows. "It was fine…" I turn back around and put my glass under the tap. He doesn't move, he just keeps staring at me. "Okay, what do you really want?"

"Kim, I love you and Jared is one of my best friends, and I know you guys are soul mates and all that but I just want to make sure you know what you're doing."

I sigh. "Paul, it wasn't like that, I promise. We're being neutral and civil together in honor of Emily and Sam, that's all."

He stands up and smiles. "If that's your story. Have a good night Kimmy."

"Ugh don't call me Kimmy!" I yell after him as he heads up the stairs. "Stupid werewolves." I mutter to myself. I finish my water and head upstairs to brush my teeth, wash my face and get into my pajamas. It's hitting ten and I can feel the weight of my sleepless night and my long day on my body and I'm asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow.

You never really realize how obnoxious your phone ringer is until it wakes you up from a deep sleep. My head is buried under my pillow and it flies off when I throw my head up, hair a tangled mess all around me, and reach blindly for my phone. "Hello?" I mumble.

"Don't actually tell me you are still asleep at one in the afternoon." Ellie teases me. "Aren't you there to help Emily with her wedding stuff?"

Did she just say it's one? "Shit!" I cry, flying out of bed. "Yeah, I gotta go. I'll call you later, love you!" And then I hang up on her, flying across the room to pull on a pair of khaki capris and a blue shirt. My hair is beyond repair, so I throw it up in a bun and try to slide on my Keds at the same time that I'm brushing my teeth. I run down to where Paul is watching TV in the living room and I smack him on the shoulder like I did last night. "You dumbass! Why didn't you wake me when I was supposed to be at Emily's like three hours ago!?"

He held his hands up in surrender. "I tried! You sleep like a rock. And you snore, too."

"Jerk." I mutter, grabbing an apple from the fridge and running out the door. Of course, I'm thankful Emily's house isn't a far walk from Paul's at all, so I don't mind walking. The air has a nice, warm breeze to it.

Sam opens the door for me when I knock. I smile sheepishly as he lets me in, knowing that it was okay for me to just walk right in without knocking. It's been such a long time; I've forgotten how to be comfortable here. However, I shake the feeling and cruise into the kitchen where Emily, her sister Anna and her kids, Rachel and Leah are sitting. I'm initially shocked when everyone, Leah included, smiles genuinely and greets me, but then I remember things aren't the same as when I left them.

Rachel, pushy as ever, grabs my arm and pulls me into the seat next to her. "Morning, Rip Van Winkle." She teases. "Late night?"

I just roll my eyes and ignore her. "Sorry I'm late, Em. What did I miss?"

She smiles gently. "Not too much. I mean, pretty much everything is set, I just have to call and confirm deliveries, caterers and the reception venue and we're all good to go. But Leah has decided that she is going to throw me a bachelorette party… Tomorrow."

I raise my eyebrows. "A bachelorette party? Don't those usually include strippers?" I ask fearfully.

Everyone laughs and Leah shakes her head. "No strippers. I was thinking of throwing it here. Just a simple get together with karaoke, food, fun games and of course, alcohol. Just women of course, no boys or children allowed." She looks at Danni and Claire as she says that, as both kids immediately break out into a whine and a string of pleas. "You in, runaway girl?"

I don't realize she means me until I lift up my head and notice that she's staring directly at me. "Oh, yeah. I'm in." I say. "It'll be fun."

"That's what I like to hear!" Leah exclaims and they all break into excited chatter. I keep quiet, staring out the window until I hear the door open and a bunch of booming voices coming from behind me.

I turn my head to look through the archway as a gaggle of guys spill through the door, laughing and joking around. Inside the group I spot Jared, of course. But I also spot another familiar face that I haven't seen since my eighteenth birthday. I can tell he's searching for Leah but when his eyes meet mine, he breaks into a full on Jacob grin. "I must be dreaming." He says, heading towards me.

I'm smiling back at him as I stand up to meet him. "Oh, so you're still dreaming about me, eh?" I tease, arms outstretched towards him. I brace myself, but I still get the wind knocked out of me as he lifts me off the ground in a bear hug and spins me around. But I'm laughing breathlessly anyway. "It's so good to see you."

He plants a distantly familiar kiss on my cheek and my cheeks heat up out of my control. "Am I looking at the same Kim? You look so different. In a good way." And he winks.

I just laugh. "Well thanks. And you look… Exactly the same."

"Why fix what isn't broken?" Jake says, puffing out his chest and striding into the kitchen.

I shake my head after him. "Idiot." I say to myself good-naturedly. And then I spot Jared sitting on the loveseat staring off into the kitchen with a sour look on his face. I walk over to sit on the arm of the chair and give him a stern look. "Stop that."

He raises his eyebrows in surprise. "What?"

"That look. I know that look. Stop it." I chide him.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Don't play dumb with me Jared. That's your jealousy look. There's no reason for it, so stop it." I tell him. "You know Jake and I are just friends." Why am I reassuring him?

The look on his face relaxes and he gives me a megawatt smile. I get an uneasy feeling in my stomach. Oh yeah, that's why. "So you know my looks eh?" He says, and he has a teasing tone in his voice. What is he up to? "Well, I know yours too. There's one I recognize quite well actually."

"Oh yeah?" I say, trying to keep my voice indifferent. "What's that?"

"The one where you realize you're about to be tickled." I feel my eyes widen and his grin miraculously gets bigger. "There it is." He says, and his hands start to reach towards me.

I start to lean off the arm of the chair, getting ready to bolt. "Don't you dare…" I warn him, but of course he doesn't listen and I'm not fast enough to escape his grasp as he pulls me off of the arm and onto the couch, tickling me with his big hands. "Jared!" I half cry, half laugh. "J-Jared please!"

He's laughing too, out of joy. "Say Uncle, Kim."

I try, but my stomach hurts from laughing and I can't breathe. "U-u-" I try, tears falling off of my cheeks. "Uncle!" I laugh.

He stops tickling me and I realize that I'm sitting in his lap with his arms around me. My tickle-induced smile starts to fade off my face as he stares into my eyes, face inches from mine. "Kim…"

"I should go back to the kitchen and see if Emily needs anymore help." I announce, sliding off his lap and pulling down the hem of my shirt that had ridden up to my belly button. I walk past Paul, who's looking at me in a way that I know exactly what he's thinking, but I pretend not to. I'm walking but I realize quickly that Jared is following me. His hand touches my shoulder and I jerk away. "What?"

He lets out a long sigh. "Can we please talk?"

"Not right now."

He looks ready to get on his knees and beg. "I really think we need to."

"I can't! Okay?" I cry, a little louder than I wanted to. My voice gets softer. "I can't. Please leave me alone." I walk again, and he doesn't follow me. I can tell Emily has been listening, because I sit down next to her and her smile is rushed. "Anything I can help you with?" She's quick to grab something for me to do.

I'm grateful for the distraction. I don't leave my seat until it's time for dinner. Everyone is staying, of course, but I decline. "Kim, are you sure?" Emily's voice is disapproving. "I made enough for you, too."

"I'm sure you wont have any trouble getting rid of it." I force a laugh. "I'm just tired and I want to go back to Paul's. I can feed myself, Em. Don't worry." Finally, she agrees and gives me a hug.

As I'm walking out the door, Leah calls out to me from where she's pre-eating a piece of bread that Emily had baked. "See you tomorrow night, Kim! Don't forget."

Right. The bachelorette party was tomorrow. "Yeah, yeah." I say, and pause with my handle on the door. "Seriously though, no strippers."

Leah laughs loudly. "I'll think about it, you virgin. Have a good night." I shut the door without saying anything and I walk home in silence.

The feeling of burning heat from Jared's fingers is still burnt into my skin.