Jake's eyes never leave mine as he steps closer to Paul and roughly grabs him by his neck.

"Don't. Touch. Her." He says while applying more pressure. Paul, who doesn't even make a face, starts laughing. His eyes water and his face turns bright red from the force of his laughter, but I don't understand how being man-handled would be funny.

"Dude, Jake. Chill. I'm not about to hurt her. Don't get your boxers in a knot." Paul snides while running his finger along my "tattoos" again. But, this time, it's not a light touch. It has more pressure and the hiss that came through my teeth was unbeknownst to me. Jakes eyes flash with anger and Paul quickly takes eight steps away from me. With his hands up in the "I'm so freaking sorry! I didn't mean to!" position, he bolts out the room.

I sigh.

And then BAM! Jake's at my side, cautiously lifting my arms and rotating my waist. My eyes widen with shock and I'm about ten seconds away from punching him when he lets loose a huge breath and hugs me close to him. This boy..guy..no, man, has me so confused right now, I can't even think. Well, if I did, it was along the lines of :

"He's so warm."

"His chest is so nice."

"He'd make a good pillow."

"He's going to be a good husband someday."

He lays his head on top of mine, and I hear a big intake of air….then a groan. I quickly come to my senses and push Jake off.

"Did you just SNIFF me?" I say cautiously, because homeboy is kind of unstable in my opinion.

He looks like his hand has been caught stealing cookies from the cookie jar.

"I'm sorry…It's just..You..I…Oh shit. I'm so fucking stupid." He stumbles out before rushing out the room and leaving me all alone.

It didn't bother me much. I mean, I've dealt with weirder things than a guy sniffing me. Victoria, James, and Laurent used to have these 'parties' once a month….They'd bring five people , males and females, and do things. I know. I saw. It's a part of the reason I had to get away. I didn't want to be next. I even voiced my thoughts on what they did too, and it got me a swift hit to the throat, neck, back, chest, and a couple burn marks. All. Over. My. Body.

"Tattoo, my butt." I mutter as I pick up a pair of basketball shorts off the floor and slip them over my hips. Granted, they won't stay for long, but it'd be better than nothing.

I walk out the room and walk down the stairs, turning towards the hushed voices coming from my left. I walk on the tips of my toes, slowly, so I won't be heard.

"Wisatsu'upat!" Someone says harshly.

"Jacob Black! Do not argue with us!" Another voice says, but by the authority in their tone, I know its Sam.

"Sam! They're making her out to be a child! A child couldn't survive burns like those! I've seen them!"

"Jake, so have I, and I'm telling you bro, those are tats." Paul says with a defensive tone.

"No. The. Fuck. They. Aren't." Jake says harshly while a slamming sound occurs.

"Will, do you think Elle would've gotten tattoos like that? I mean, does she seem like that?" Gabe asks Will slowly, as if unsure.

'Is he serious?'

'Does he really think I'd do this to myself, willingly?'

I thought to myself as I let his doubt towards me into my heart. I thought he KNEW how much I hated tattoos. After him and Will got one, the exact same too, and LEFT ME. How could he not know? How!

If I thought my heart was broken when they originally left, I was completely wrong. I should've never came here.

"This was a mistake. I should've just stayed, it'd be easier for them to forget about me." I said , but cover my mouth immediately. That was supposed to stay in my head! Oh lord. I start to tiptoe my way back to the stairs, but not before I hear Will speak.

"Ellis would never get that. I noticed the burnt smell on her when she came to the door….but I would've never thought…that…. She's Ellis! This shit just don't make no sense!" He says with annoyance lancing his tone.

With that, I take myself up the stairs and back into Gabe's room. I start looking for my clothes and shoes. It's obvious by now that I can't stay here .

Hoping that things would be the same was a stupid, naïve and ignorant thing to do. So, as I make my way down the narrow dirt road out of La Push, I vow that I will never hope again. That I will let the cards deal themselves and just play them as best as I can to survive.