Chapter 6

Tim

Kim was funny, intelligent and didn't care about groups or popularity. She was my ideal girl in every way. I loved everything about her, the way her lips pouted whenever she was upset, the way she smiled whenever she thought about the summer and when she said my name. I didn't understand what she saw in Jared Morson. Right now though I was to busy trying to figure out why Jared was at my door.

"Seriously, Morson can't you just leave us alone for a day? You're like a stalker!" He chuckled and I twitched at the sound. Yah, Jared, so cool, I bet I could beat his GPA easy. "You think that's funny? You're just as likely to do what Neal did to Kim." His glare became deathly, a lethal weapon that stopped me in my tracks.

"You think that I would ever hurt her intentionally?" Jared's tone of voice was dangerous and harsh. I'd seen him angry but never this angry. Kim fretted by my side sensing the tense atmosphere.

"Come one guys, I'm pretty sure Jared wouldn't do anything to hurt me. Thanks for checking up on me Jared but I'm positive that I'll be okay." Ha! Bet that stung.

"I see," Jared said while keeping his eyes on me as if to say don't you dare try anything. "Well, bye then Kim." I hated the way his voice got softer every time her name passed his lips.

"Bye." She whispered. I slammed the door making her jump and trudged into the living room.

"Are you okay Tim?" She asked while picking up a piece of pizza from the box.

"No." I grumbled. Long strings of cheese stretched from my pizza as I attempted to eat it neatly.

"I don't know why you hate Jared so much." Gee Kim, I don't know maybe it is because he's trying to steal you? I don't know.

"Kim he's a player and totally not you're type." She recoiled as if I'd slapped her.

"What do you mean by that?"

"He's not the kind of guy that goes for girls like you."

"Girls like me?" She asked one eyebrow lifting.

"You know what I mean Kim. He likes girls with blonde hair and tan skin. Girls that don't care about school and the kind of job they'll get after they graduate."

"I didn't realize you took such an interest to the kind of girls Jared Morson was interested in." Her lips pouted out like they always did when she was angry, it made it impossible to stay mad at her.

"Come on Kim," I reached over and grabbed her. She froze on the spot barely breathing. My mind went blank as I extended my arms and hugged her. She was the best thing in my life, my only friend. "Kim," I breathed as I tightened my hold on her shoulders and inhaled her sweet scent. I hadn't noticed I'd pushed her down and was lying on top of her until she burst out into tears.

"Stop, please stop!" She cried out, tears flowing freely from her beautiful almond shaped eyes. "I don't want this…" I snapped back to reality in an instant. How could I be so stupid? Every time I saw Kim with Jared it was like a needle stabbing my heart. I'd been so angry and jealous of him I'd wanted Kim to belong only to me.

"Kim, I'm sorry I didn't mean to. It's just…well I don't know what came over me." She jumped off the couch wiping angry tears from her face.

"Really, are you sure you didn't mean to Tim? I see the way you act around me with Jared! You're just…just jealous." She grabbed her bag and slipped her coat on in one swift movement.

"Come one Kim!" I'd known Kim for several years and I knew I wouldn't be seeing her again tonight. She stormed out the door furiously wiping the wetness away from her eyes.

"Don't you ever try something like that again Tim Gully!"

Jared

"I'm completely fine," Her voice rang in my head. Was she really okay or was she just trying to get me out of there so a fight wouldn't start? She wasn't okay though; I could sense it. I just left her there with Gully! I needed to go back.

"Jared, we have at least another hour to go before the patrols over."

"Yeah lover boy, get your head in the game!" Why, oh why, did Paul always have to jump in with the words he knew would annoy me most?

"Shut up Paul! By the way I don't appreciate the High School Musical reference you just used there." I sighed. "I know Sam…it's just something wasn't right when I left. I can't help but to worry and I'm sorry that it's driving you two crazy."

"Don't worry Jared I'm sure she's alright."

"Yah man, what's the worst that could happen to her? She could stub her toe or get whacked in the face by a cabinet door, or…"

"Paul! You're not helping Jared."

"…Or get raped by that Tim kid."

That was it. Paul had just voiced all my inner fears. Even the slightest scratch or bruise on Kim was enough to make me go mental. But being raped by Gully? No. That was a huge step over bounds.

"I have to go back Sam, now!"

"No." Sam commanded in his alpha voice. My feet suddenly felt like rocks and I couldn't move. Inside me my heart splintered. I was programmed to listen to Sam but something inside me also screamed at me to make sure Kim was safe. A look of understanding flashed over Sam's face as he saw the pain I was in. "Sorry Jared, for a second I forgot that we are also sworn to protect our imprints." I'd never been in so much emotional trauma in my life. The feeling of not being able to go to Kim was like being crushed by a car, jumping in a fire and being bit by a blood-sucker all in one.

"Hey man," Paul said. "I don't think you'll have to go that far. It looks like she's coming to us."

Kim

I didn't know what I was doing. Nowhere to go I'd just walked into the forest. I was beginning to think I had some sort of death wish. I mean living in a house with a guy I hardly knew, going over to Tim's house and now walking into a dark secluded forest at night? This was crazy. But I couldn't leave because as much as I hated to admit it, I was lost. Great job Kim, you should've just answered truthfully when Jared asked if you were okay.

This was not good. I was so scared. Out off the corner of my eye I could see moving shadows and I was positive I'd just heard a twig snap. I started to quicken my pace walking no where in particular. My breathing started to become heavy and stressed.

"Kim," a voice right behind my ear whispered.

"Aaah!" I screamed at the top of my lungs.

"No, Kim. I'm sorry, please don't be scared." I knew the voice but I couldn't see his face.

"Jared?" I reached out and my hands found two overheating arms.

"Yes, Kim what are you doing out here? Don't you know that there are weird people hiding out in the woods late at night?" What are you doing in the woods?

"Um…I couldn't stay at Tim's house anymore." He missed nothing in the tone of my voice.

"What did he do?" He all but growled.

"It wasn't bad. He didn't hurt me. He just got a little bit too close. I couldn't stay there so I ran out of the house. Then I realized I couldn't go back to my house so I…just started walking."

"…Into the woods? Kim, you probably can't even find your way back. Why would you do that?" I suddenly got angry. Jared didn't understand a thing I'd gone through tonight. I'd been taken down by two guys tonight, not a statistic I'd hoped to achieve. I was lost, cold, frightened and couldn't find my way out of this freakin forest.

"I don't know Jared. Maybe it's because I can't go back to my house without worrying about Neal. Or maybe it's because my best friend tried to kiss me. No, that can't be it. Oh! I know maybe it's because my parents left me and my brother to fend for ourselves because they don't love us!" An eerie silence rocked the forest. I hadn't meant to spill all that.

"…Kim, I didn't know." I didn't want his sympathy. Who was I kidding of course I did.

"No, it's my fault for snapping at you. I'm just really overwhelmed."

"Look I know my ideas haven't been that great tonight but since it seems like all the guys your with can't keep their hands off," he grimaced, "you can stay at my sisters apartment."

"I couldn't possibly intrude."

"Nonsense, she already knows who you are. She's been dying to meet you." I looked up at the dark night sky. It was chilly and I'd only had enough sense to grab a thin sweater.

"Okay. But if you ever need a favor you have to ask me." His smile was one of a child, full of mischief.

"I'm holding you to that one."