'Ello everyone! Howdy doody? I hope you enjoy this chapter, because I really liked how the dialogue turned out! (I hate dialogue, so so so much)

School. The one thing I both loathe and care about. Honestly, I'm not a straight A student, I'm not super smart or nerdy enough to worry about getting a 4.0 G.P.A., but I'm also not average. I'm not the best, but I'm pretty far up there. Not to toot my own horn or anything, but I like to think I have a nice balance of book smarts and common sense. It is not the school work or grades that really bother me, though, its the people. Honestly, who wants to spend eight hours a day with people they either don't know or don't like well enough to talk to. Its not that I don't know how to talk to people, because I don't, but its also that I really don't want to. Kids are mean and high school is known for being a cesspit of hormonal, angry teenagers that need some type of scapegoat to throw all of their confused and negative feelings at. And so, I avoid everyone and thus avoid all drama.

That whole bullying thing? Never happened to me, but that might also be because I'm practically wallpaper. And changing the location of my misery won't change that, and all thanks to Big Bad, I know that for sure. On the bright side, I'd rather be invisible than a target.

A lot of the guys in the 'pack' offered me a ride to school, but I declined. It was a sweet offer, but I also would rather not have the attention of arriving with those bumbling and drool-worthy buffoons. And when I say buff, I mean there was one time they all walked in with their shirt off and I almost stumbled and killed myself on a sharp corner when I couldn't take my eyes off of their sculpted abs. Thankfully no one but Emily noticed, and we shared a laugh about it later. If they ever found out, I may die of embarrassment.

And so, with their gracious offer denied, I was stuck walking to school my first day. La Push doesn't have any sidewalks, which I found odd, and so I was stuck walking on the side of the road. Sometimes I'd balance on the curb for fun, but I don't do balance. Or coordination. It was one of those rare days that we didn't get rain too, and while it was cloudy, it was warm enough to wear long shorts and a baggy sweatshirt.

My tennis shoes scraped along the loose gravel as I trudged along, almost regretting not taking the ride, but I shrugged it off. It was better this way. The surrounding trees and foliage smelt damp and earthy, and the almost endless walk calmed me, at least until the school came into view.

It was a small building, a lot smaller than my old school, and the red bricks stood out against the surrounding forest like a flare in the night. It was a single-story rectangle with only one raised portion, where I assumed the gym would be. There was a wall of windows where inside an office area could be seen. There were several people inside, all looking busy, and the glass door to that area had giant letters above it that spelled: Office. I took it as a sign (appreciate my puns) and walked over towards it, having to pass through a newly paved parking lot. Students had already begun filtering in, although some stayed by their vehicles to talk to their friends.

No heads turned as I passed, no one whispered behind their hands while looking at me, and I considered all of that a success. As a native in a school of natives, I didn't stand out. I kept my head down as I entered the building, avoiding touching people with a skill I had developed many years ago. My day was already going great when I entered the office and I smiled at the receptionist at the front desk.

"May I help you?" she asked, her bright red lipstick distracting me for a moment. She was pretty, if not a little over the top, and she was young, maybe in her early thirties. Her clothes were fancy and respectable, with a lacy tanktop under a low-cut blouse. She watched me like a hawk though, with bright blue eyes that practically pierced you with their intensity.

"Yeah, I'm new?" Why does everything I say come out as a question!

"Oh," she exclaimed, looking excited. "Its a pleasure to meet you, I'm Nancy, welcome to La Push! You are one of the transfer students, right?"

"That's me."

She beamed at me, "Then here is your locker number and combination, you received your class schedule and map in the mail correct?"

"Yeah, I have it with me."

"Off you go then, enjoy your stay!" She waved as I walked off and I wondered if she is always that chipper or if its just today. Maybe the staff was told to be extra nice to the transfer students. I looked over my schedule and paused, it wasn't quite right.

"Excuse me," I called to Nancy, and she turned back to me with a confused look. "There must be some mistake, I didn't sign up for any gym classes."

She laughed, "No one signs up for gym classes! They're mandatory."

"But I took my gym credits at my old school, I don't need any more," I protested.

"Here it is required for all four years."

I wanted to ask why and beg that I drop the class, but she didn't look like she would buy my argument. "Alright." She smiled and looked back down at her desk and began to riffle through some files. I took that as my signal to leave and quietly exited the office area. I studied my map for a moment before I stepped into the hallway, blending in with the throng of students. The school didn't seem big enough to get lost in, but I must have missed my locker somewhere, and I paused on the side of the hallway to check over my map.

"Lily?" I looked up, noticing a girl about my age standing in front of me. She was pretty, if not a little plain, but when she smiled it lit up her face. I struggled to figure out how she knew me, but then I remembered.

"Kim!" I smiled, folding up my map. I had met her once before, she came to Emily's looking for Jared and he immediately whisked her away. We were barely introduced before he practically dragged her from the house. She seemed nice enough, though almost as shy as me. "What's up?" I asked, wondering why she sought me out.

"I was wondering if I could compare schedules with you," she told me, her voice soft and hard to hear in the loud hallway.

"Of course!" I dug through my pockets until I found it, handing it to her. She compared the two papers, smiling as she handed mine back. "Do we have anything together?"

"Yes! First hour and then two classes right after lunch."

"Great!" I shuffled my feet for a moment, feeling a little awkward asking for help. "Um, could you help me find my locker?"

"Yeah, what's the number?"

I glanced at my locker combination sheet and answered her, "Three hundred and eighty-four."

"This way then." She led me back down the hallway I came from and to the right. As we walked, she began to talk to me. "You always have someone in the pack in your class," she told me.

"Really?"

"Yeah, every class."

"Wow, that's weird," I wondered aloud. "I was afraid I wouldn't know anyone, but I guess that wouldn't have been too bad."

"But who would you sit by?"

"I would sit by myself, its just partner things and group projects I'd worry about."

We finally got to my locker and I spun the dial, popping the old thing open on the first try. Kim nodded along with what I was saying, "I can see that." I deposited the books I wouldn't need until lunch in the puke green locker and closed it, adjusting my backpack so it was more comfortable. Kim was quiet, glancing around and fidgeting. "Can I ask you something?"

I frowned, confused by the sudden question. "Yeah, sure."

"Do you hate Paul?"

My eyebrows rose as surprise showed on my face. "Paul?"

"Yeah," she trailed off, twiddling her thumbs as she glanced between me and anything else. When I didn't say anything, she continued. "Its just, you don't talk to him, and you kinda seem to be avoiding him."

"Why wouldn't I?"

"What?"

"Avoid him, I mean. Why wouldn't I?" I stared at her, incredulous. She blushed a bit and I wondered what she was trying to get at.

"Well, you talk to everyone else in the pack," she mumbled.

"Everyone else in the pack is nice!"

"Paul's nice!" she defended and I quirked a brow at her. "Sorta," she added after a bit.

I shook my head at her. "Did Emily put you up to this?"

"No-"

"Because she knows that Paul's been a bit of a dick to me, and I avoid him so I don't have to deal with that."

"That's it?" she asked with a sigh of relief.

I grew confused, "Well, yeah."

"And if he were to be nicer to you, you wouldn't avoid him?"

"Hypothetically speaking, yes.."

"Cool! Class is this way," she bounded off, obviously excited about something. I trailed behind her, not wanting to lose her and my way. She led me to a small classroom and sat down in an empty chair near the front. I sat behind her and she turned to talk to me, "You're not mad at me are you?"

"No, why would I be?" I put my backpack on the ground next to me and pulled out my math book. Math first thing in the morning is going to bite me later.

"Well, I was asking all those personal questions," she sighed, her eyes lowered. I waved her off and she smiled. "Just please, give him a chance?"

My nose scrunched up, "I guess I could."

"Guess you could what?" a voice interrupted us. I whipped to the source of it and my eyes widened. Paul just has to be in my class, doesn't he? All the eyes in the room turned to us and I fought back a blush.

"N-nothing," I stuttered, glancing at all the people staring at me. I startled when Paul dropped his bag near me and slumped into the seat across from me. "What are you doing?" I hissed, forgetting that I just told Kim I would 'give him another chance'.

"What does it look like, Little Red?" he snorted at me. "I'm sitting in a desk."

I almost growled at him, but I held myself in check. By this point I lost all sense of place, and I forgot the people around us. "Yes, but why there?"

"Aw, don't get all shy on me now," he practically cooed. I felt my hackles raise and I wanted to lean over and scratch his eyes out.

"What? You don't have other people to bother?"

"Nope, just you." I glared as he raised his arms above his head before folding them behind his neck. His large frame barely fit in the tiny desk, and his leg reached across the walkway between us and into my space.

I crossed my arms over my chest, and cleared my throat. "Um, well, I left a few books in your truck," I trailed off at the look he gave me. He seemed amused, as if he were about to laugh. I continued in a much quieter tone, a blush staining my cheeks and my gaze lowered. "And I was wondering if I could have them back."

"What's in it for me?"

My head shot up and I glared at him, "What?"

"I asked what's in it for me? I give you the books, then what?" He grinned at me, though it was more of an evil smirk. I heard Kim giggle in front of me and I spared a second to glare at her.

"Are you black mailing me?" I asked, my voice low and deadly.

He winked at me, "No, of course not."

"Fine Paul, what do you want?" I had to fight the urge to groan in despair. I paid for those books, who was he to hold them against me? I heard people whispering around us and I could hear Paul's name every so often. He ignored everything, of course, but I felt awful. I've never been the center of attention before, and I honestly hate it.

"Another date."

"That was not a date!" I practically shouted, silencing those around us before they began muttering again. "Just give me my damn books back!"

"C'mon Lily, I couldn't have been the only one having fun!" he laughed.

"I was having fun," I informed him, and I watched his face transform into a happy smile. I narrowed my eyes at him, "Then I got dragged out of an arcade by a brute of a man, and at that point I wasn't having fun anymore."

He was silent and I turned away from him, focusing on the board in front of me and waited for class to start. I could practically feel Paul's eyes on me, boring holes into the side of my face with his intense gaze. I heard him sigh and then a quiet, "I'm sorry." In fact, it was so quiet I wasn't sure that it was what I heard at all. I glanced over at him, but he wasn't looking at me. I lowered my gaze and felt a little bit bad.

Class was boring and dull, the teacher, Mr. Deluse, called roll then proceeded to talk about himself for the next forty-five minutes, claiming it was an introduction for us to get to know him. He's been a teacher for over ten years now, he has three kids and two dogs, his wife has let herself go, and he always talks in a loud monotone. He doesn't make eye contact with the class, instead he stares at the back wall, and he has no clue as to how technology works. I ;earned his favorite color is blue and that he can bore anyone to death with his monologues. To be honest, I wasn't listening.

I could hear the whispers around me, and the rumors were circling already. Apparently most believed that I am, or am soon going to be, a conquest of Paul's. From what I was hearing, no one in the pact is very well liked, unless their body is the topic, then they are golden. Anyone who had anything to do with the pack was basically blacklisted, and poor Kim practically had a sign on her back that read, "Steer clear!" If it wasn't so painfully easy to hear the gossip around me, I would pat myself on the back for all of the recon I just did, but I wasn't sure if they were even trying to be discreet. I could see Kim flinch at some of the nastier remarks, but Paul didn't even bat an eyelash.

I honestly wasn't expecting any of the pack members to be treated as if they had the plague, even Paul. When I imagined them at school, they were always the elite, the most popular. Jared was obviously the star child, and Paul the bad boy, Jacob the heartthrob and Seth the sweetheart. Embry and Quil were double trouble, and even Leah was the wild beauty, in my mind they were the center of everyone's world. I expected they would have to beat of suitors with a stick, but this was no where near what I thought. Oh they had the attention alright, but it was almost all negative. The weren't famous, they were infamous.

When the class bell rang I barely heard it, I was so lost in my thoughts. Only Kim packing up knocked me from my ponderings. I packed away my books and walked with Kim to the door. "That wasn't too bad," she tried, her usual cheery voice a little sad.

"Yeah," I cracked a smile for her and waved as she walked down the opposite hallway. I felt more than saw the presence behind me, and I refused to turn. "What, Big Bad?"

He cleared his throat awkwardly, "I'll give you the books back."

I spun around. "Really?" I asked, trying to keep the hopefulness out of my voice, but failing miserably.

He smiled a bit sadly at me, "Yeah, you don't have to go on another date with me."

"That wasn't a date," I told him, but smiled. "That's actually really nice of you Big Bad."

"So, what's your next class?"

Please, please, please review! PLEASE! Also, I apologize if some of my puns are awful, I just can't help myself sometimes and I often fall into pun temptation. PLEASE REVIEW!