Chapter 2-- The Red

I waved to Jared and Embry as I headed down the small, crumbly sidewalk to the store. I felt like a stalker in a way. I went to the store sometimes after school, but not usually. I usually went to Sam's or went for a run to blow off some steam.

I walked slowly, waving to the familiar faces I passed. A few of them didn't wave back and only glared at me. I didn't even let it bother me; I just let it roll off. I knew what people thought of me. They thought I was bad news. Rumors were flying everywhere that I was in some sort of "gang" and doing drugs, that's why I was so big. Hard-core steroids or something. I smiled wryly to myself. I wished that was it.

Drugs had no effect on me now, or alcohol, much to my disappointment. Well, technically it did, I just had to use larger quantities. Still though, no matter how much pot I smoked, I never got a high so I kind of just stopped doing it. It was completely pointless. The alcohol thing, it could have a point if I drank enough. I hadn't tested that theory yet, though. I kicked up at the grass as I trudged down the main street through town, looking down. It didn't bother me to be the "bad boy" at all. Chicks dug it, and I was definitely okay with that.

Even though I'd quit most of the partying I did once I phased the first time, there was no stopping me in the girl department. I always had someone I was hooking up with. The pack just learned to overlook any thoughts I had about it- kind of like I had to learn to do with Sam's thoughts on Emily. Emily was pretty enough, but I didn't like seeing her through Sam's mind. He saw her in a more sexed-up, seductive way that seriously clouded over my motherly image of her.

I spent a lot of time over at their house; it felt more like home than my parents' house did to me. We technically were a family and it seemed Sam and Emily were stuck with the job of den parents. Sam's only problem with it was that he wasn't really much older than us- only twenty, four years older than I was. Sam was actually cool once I got to know him, not like I'd always pictured to him to be. He was laid back most of the time, the rest of the time it was hard to stomach him around his imprint. It was disgusting the way they slobbered over each other. It was even worse when Sam was away from her, then we had visuals to go along with everything.

Emily was almost the opposite of Sam. She was quiet, soft-spoken and seemed to honestly like fussing over each of us. It was even more like an obsession after she'd had her accident and lost the baby, like in some crazy way, we were the replacement children. I had a small soft spot for her; I wouldn't dare admit it, though. I'm Paul and I don't like anybody.

The rest of the pack was pretty cool too. I got along with them okay, unless I was itching for a fight. Jacob was the easiest to be around when we were in wolf form; his thoughts were always happy-go- lucky. Embry's were everywhere. Jared's were calmer, but still not quite stuff that I'd like to see.

I looked up as I neared the store; my dad's Sedan was still in the parking lot. I pushed open the door, making it ding as I went in. I nodded to Mrs. Gordon who was behind the counter, waiting to get off, no doubt. I walked straight to the back room where I knew my dad would be. I knocked quickly before opening up the door and walking in. He was sitting at his desk in the corner. He looked up, looking surprised to see me.

"How was school?"

I shrugged and sat down in the uncomfortable desk chair across from him and grabbed the Rubik's Cubeoff of the desk and started toying with it. "It was okay. Not really exciting."

"Did you come to help unload all of the new winter supplies we got in?" He asked- no, not asked, but hinted to me.

I sighed and tossed the cube back down onto the desk and got back up from the chair. "I guess so. Not like I have anything better to do right now, anyway. My truck wouldn't start."

"I'll look at it when I get home, probably just something small," he replied, scribbling in a book with tons of numbers.

I paced around the office, looking at odds and ends he had lying around. I'd never noticed how cramped it was in here. And stuffy. The leather smell was overpowering. There were crates stacked up everywhere with ceramics, stick candy, wool, and tons of other junk. I kicked at a wooden box, wondering how much longer it'd be 'til she got here.

"Paul, what's wrong with you? You're acting like a caged animal," my dad said looking at me as I walked around the small room again.

"I don't know. I'm bored. Everyone else has stuff to do and I'm here," I complained. The other three guys had gone to go cliff diving even though it was cold out now. I'd opted to come here to start working my game plan with Sarah. I just had a feeling about this one. It was different.

"You don't have to be here. However, I would appreciate your help with unpacking all of the boxes on the side of the store where the cloth is," he said sternly.

I sighed and headed out of his office, I was driving him crazy, I knew. I went back out and walked around, looking at everything. I hadn't really paid much attention to the merchandise. I had no clue we sold camping supplies now. Or fishing poles. I wouldn't mind fishing now that I thought about it. I hadn't been in a month or two. I fingered a pole, thinking about asking if I could use it. I took it down and flipped it over, not bad at all.

I placed it back on the shelf and headed toward what I called "the woman side of the store". It had the bolts of material and wool and other stuff you used to decorate. We pretty much sold a little of everything in here. I nudged the first box with my toe and listened to it as it rattled. Something iron was in there. I leaned down and ripped the top off; I didn't even need a hammer to dig the nails out of the wood.

I heard the door ding and my head shot up. Sarah was coming in. She had changed from her skirt and cute top into a pair of faded jeans and a Polo with the tavern logo on it. I stood there, knowing she couldn't see me and watched as she gave Mrs. Gordon a happy smile as she left. I watched the bright pink nails count the till, her hands moved gracefully. They were so small compared to mine, and soft. I shifted around, still staring as she pulled the stool up to the counter and took out her geometry book.

So she was a book person. Good at school. She reached up and brushed a piece of her hair off of her face, making my heart flutter. What the hell was happening to me? I didn't like girls like this, they were nothing but a piece of ass to me. I leaned against the shelf, staring at her.

"Paul!" My dad's voice boomed out behind me. I jumped.

"What the hell are you staring at, son?" He said with a warning in his tone.

I shrugged and looked away from his eyes. "Nothing."

Dad looked at me, his eyes burning into me. "You're damn right you're staring at nothing."

I nodded, not saying anything to him; he stood there beside me for a moment before walking back into the back room and shutting the door. I let out a sigh of relief and made my way to the front of the store where she was sitting behind the register.

"Hey, Sarah," I said, letting her name drip on my tongue.

Sarah looked up at me, looking surprised. "Oh. Hi, Paul. I wasn't expecting to see you here." She said my name. I loved hearing it come from her perfect pink lips. They were shaped like two perfect cupid bows. Sarah had an amazing affect of me just by saying my name.

I smiled at her, showing my teeth. "I came to help my dad out for a little bit, put up some winter stuff for him." I leaned against the counter, looking at her still smiling; I could hear her heart picking up quickly as she laid her book down looking shy.

"That's nice of you, its less I have to do," she said with a laugh.

I leaned a bit closer to her, loving her scent. "So what do you do when you're not at work or school?" I asked, taking in a deep breath. God she was so intoxicating. I could just reach over and grab her and… I moved the thought from my head, waiting for her reply.

"Umm… not much, actually. I don't really go out or anything," Sarah said slowly, looking kind of peeved now.

I didn't really think she had much of a life anyway. Sarah didn't seem like she was the type to go out and party. "There's a party this Friday at the beach if you want to go." I invited her, knowing it would be the perfect place to get things started.

Sarah looked down at her nails, like she was inspecting them or something. "I don't know. I'll have to ask first."

This might be a bit harder than I thought if she had strict parents. But there were ways around everything. "You don't have to ask, you know. You could just come because you want to. I want you to, anyway," I told giving her "the look".

Sarah couldn't help but smile back at me. "Okay, then. What time?"

Ha. I'd won. I'd have her in my bed soon if she would give into something this easily. "Seven or whenever, really. I'll walk you over if you have to work that day."

She nodded and fidgeted around with her apron smock. "Okay. I'll meet you here, then." She still sounded shaky about it.

I had no intention of taking her to the bonfire. I was taking her to the park. The park was a place we could talk, get to know each other… make out.

I stood up from the counter. "Guess I better get back to work," I told her, heading back to the crates when the back room's door opened up. I hurriedly unloaded each box, rushing now. I felt like going and seeing Holly. I didn't like her anymore but I'd like some alone time tonight to help lighten my mood.

An hour later I told my dad bye, promising to be home for dinner. I gave Sarah a bright grin as I walked by her, waving. "See ya later," I told her, winking.

I pushed the door open and headed down the street hurriedly. I only had until six to make it there and out of her house before her mom got home. I jogged part of the way before I made it there and knocked on the door loudly. Seconds later Holly opened it, grinning at me.

"I knew you'd come," she said sweetly as he grabbed my hand and pulled me inside. I didn't speak to her; I just leaned down and kissed her hard on the mouth.

"We gotta hurry," she said as she shoved me down on the couch. I nodded and closed my eyes as she pushed me into another world. Every touch and every movement, I pictured Sarah instead of Holly.

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I ran through the woods, the wind running through my dark silver fur. I loved this, this feeling of power I had when I was in my wolf. I sprinted over the small stream, not even skimming the surface as I hopped over it. Apparently I was the only one phased; I couldn't hear anyone else's thoughts. I neared Sam and Emily's house, smelling the lasagna she must have just made. I paused a few feet away, trying to will myself to phase back.

I didn't have a problem phasing into wolf form, but sometimes it took a while to phase back. I stood there, taking deep breaths. I thought of Sarah- the way she'd looked, smelled, her heartbeat. I reached down and grabbed my pants from around my ankle and slid them on and started toward the house now. Sam had a thing about wearing clothes in front of Emily. I doubted if she would even be able to tell, anyway. She usually just stared at him all night.

I pushed open the back door, letting myself in.

"Hungry?" Emily asked, smiling at me as she got the plates down. I nodded and flopped down into a chair at the kitchen table. Sam, Jake, and Jared were already there.

"Hey guys," I greeted them.

Sam nodded to me, watching Emily as she moved around. Jared gave me a sly grin. "Where you been, lover boy?"

I popped him one. "Don't call me that. You know it's not like that." I gave him a look as Emily put a plate in front of me. "Thanks."

Sam glanced at me. "Love?" He asked quizzically.

I rolled my eyes as I stabbed the pasta and rolled it around on my plate. "Its not love. It's nothing. Jared's just jealous that I saw her first is all."

Jacob laughed loudly. "Earlier you didn't even know her name, man." He bit down into a piece of garlic bread, tearing off half of it.

"I know who she is. She works at the store," I said snidely as I shoveled more food into my mouth. "I don't care, though. I don't need to know anything but the basics."

Sam smirked at me, making sure Emily was out of normal ear shot before saying lowly, "If you want some pointers, just give me a call." I groaned inwardly. I did not want to know any sex tips from Sam. It was just wrong.

"No thanks. I think I'm good in that area. Better than good. Great, actually. Or according to Holly, I'm God." I snickered remembering her earlier.

Jacob looked at me in amazement. "I thought you said you weren't seeing her anymore."

I smirked at him; the boy was clueless on how this worked. "I didn't say that. I said the sex wasn't as good as it used to be. Not that I wasn't still going to actually go over there and …" I stopped when Emily came into the kitchen.

Sam's eyes immediately fell on her. I followed his gaze; he was staring at her ass. Ugh. "You guys need to get out by eight," Sam said bluntly as she walked off again, going upstairs.

I nudged Jake. "I think I'll stay and hang out, actually. Its good for us to bond as a pack, remember?"

Jake grinned at Sam knowing we were making him mad. "Yeah, I could go for playing the Xbox, myself."

"Then stay. You can hear everything while it's happening. You're not fucking up my damn sex life," Sam told us, looking like he meant it.

I shook my head as I got up and put my plate in the sink. "Don't worry. I've got plans."

Jake followed my lead. "I gotta go home and check on Billy, anyway."

Jared yawned and pushed his chair in. "I'm passing out tonight."

One by one we left the house; each of us had plans of our own. I walked along the beach alone, skipping rocks over the water as I went toward my house. My dad was probably wondering where I was at by now. I'd told him I'd be home for supper. I sighed as I neared the house, bracing myself for whatever was fixing to happen as I opened up the door.

"Where have you been at?" My mom asked as soon as I stepped in. I looked over to where she was sitting on the familiar beige couch with my dad and sister watching some stupid reality show.

"I got busy with Sam, sorry," I told her as I went to the kitchen. I opened up the fridge and grabbed a bag of grapes and took off to my room with them. I turned the Tv on and sank down onto the bed popping four of them into my mouth.

I grabbed the remote and flipped through the channels, settling on an action flick. I moved the pillows around, getting comfortable when my door opened. I sighed when my dad came in. Not again. One time was enough.

"I wanted to talk to you," he started.

I waved him off. "I know, I know, I was late and missed dinner and mom got mad, I'm sorry," I told him quickly, wishing he'd get out of the way of the Tv.

Instead he sat down at the foot of my bed. "I saw you staring at the girl that runs the register today," he started.

I groaned. "Dad, I wasn't staring at her. I was just staring at nothing really. Just space." God, I hoped he wasn't going to turn this into some kind of sex talk.

"I still want you to be aware that I don't want you dating her, or being too good of friends with her either, Paul. In fact, I don't really want you dating anyone who isn't Quileute." He looked at me for my reaction before he continued. "Besides that, she works for me and I'd like to keep it that way. You should just find a nice Quileute girl and see how that works out instead."

I looked at him, holding my temper back. I shook a little bit as I spoke carefully. "Sure, sure, whatever dad. She's a dork, anyway."

He seemed satisfied with my response as he got up from the end of the bed and put his hand on the doorknob, turning it slowly. "Oh, and Paul? Just remember… I'm not stupid." He opened the door up and shut it lightly.

I glared after him once he was gone. I felt my body vibrate violently. Find a nice Quileute girl? What the hell was that? He'd never cared before about who I dated. Why should he start now?