AN: Hello, my darling readers. I am here with another chapter and- guess what! I've got a beta! And she's fabulous, her name is alicecullenisrealinmyworld and she's just awesome. Thanks so much, girl! 3 Anyways, I hope you guys like this chapter- I really like the way I'm going with this story, and I'm actually in the process of writing chapter eleven as we speak...so hopefully I'll have regular updates soon! Just trying to get school settled and everything else that comes with 'being an adult' (it's really not all that great, let me tell ya.). So, please tell me what you think in a review! xoxo

I was actually on time for school the next morning.

I'd paused outside my classroom, taking a deep breath and trying to calm my nerves. What if yesterday was just a one-time deal and Jared didn't talk to me ever again? My heart hurt just thinking about it, so I peeked inside the classroom to see if he was already there.

"Looking for someone?" a voice said. It was so close that my hair fluttered from the breath. It was hot and I shivered as I spun around.

And my heart relaxed when I saw that it was Jared.

"Who were you looking for?" he asked, that small smile playing around his lips. I flushed and shivered again. His hair was wet, like he had just gotten out of the shower. My thoughts totally needed to stay out of that direction, or school would be very interesting indeed.

"The- the teacher," I stammered. "I was just seeing…if the…teacher-"

Jared's smile grew. He held out his arm and beckoned me into the class. "After you."

Still red in the face, I sat down at my seat and kept my head low but eyes up as he sat down in the desk beside me. He looked at me expectantly.

"Do you have your books and writing utensils today?" he asked smugly. This time I rolled my eyes and pulled out my notebook and pen. He grinned at me and my heart went into overdrive.

How could a single person make my body react this way? It was completely involuntary, I couldn't help any of this- so why did it happen?

"So I heard you met Emily last night," he said, leaning back in his desk. "I didn't know you worked there."

"There's a lot of things you don't know about me," I reminded him, and as soon as I said it, I regretted it. Jared frowned, then leaned forward so his mouth was by my ear again.

"I'd like to change that," he said sincerely, then pulled away just a bit to look me straight in the eye.

I couldn't breathe.

"So how long have you worked there?" he asked casually, as if he hadn't just messed up my equilibrium, or make my senses go haywire. I cleared my throat.

"Almost a year."

He looked impressed. "Do you like it?"

I shrugged and picked up my pencil to scratch out a small doodle on the cover of my notebook. "Yeah, it's all right."

"But not your dream job," he pushed. I shrugged again.

"Who's dream job is to be a sales associate in a department store?" I laughed humorlessly, because at this point- I just wanted to keep my job so I had something to contribute to the house. My family. My face turned red.

Jared nodded, but stayed quiet as the teacher walked into the room. I forced myself to pay very close attention for the whole period, trying hard not to glance at Jared who's entire focus seemed to be on me. For reasons unknown.

When the bell rang, Jared stood and waited while I put my notebook and things away. He smiled at me when I looked up and I smiled hesitantly back.

"Ready?" he asked as we walked out of the classroom.

"For what?" I asked. My heart jumped a bit.

"For your next class, silly," he said, rolling his eyes.

"You're going to walk me to my next class?" I deadpanned. He laughed and put his arm around me again. "Why not?"

I shrugged, but all I wanted to do was curl into his side and absorb his warmth and just breathe in his scent. His hand rubbed my arm.

"Jeez, Kim," he said, rubbing faster as to create friction. "You're freezing! Just like a-" He stopped short and I felt his body tremble. I looked up at him.

"Just like a what?"

"An ice cube," he said quietly and looked back down at me. "You're like an ice cube. Are you sick?"

"I-" This was difficult. I didn't want to tell him that I didn't feel so cold when I was around him, but when he left, it overtook my whole body, leaving me colder than ever before. I wanted to tell him about my anemia, but I was hesitant; I didn't think he'd care. He nudged me and I made a decision.

"Yes," I said quietly. "I am. But I'm going to be-"

Jared stopped us, right in the middle of the hallway and the people behind us swore, and went around, giving us dirty looks. Jared looked stricken.

"You're sick?" he asked, grabbing my shoulders. "How sick? Is it life threatening? Is it just a cold or-"

"Jared," I said, stepping back. "You're freaking me out a little."

"I'm-" He ran a hand through his hair and sighed, letting me go and stepping back. "Sorry. I'm just-" He stopped again.

"You're just what?"

"Worried about you," he admitted. My heart could have flown down the hall way at his words.

"Why?"

"I don't know," he said. He looked pained. "Tell me what's wrong. Why are you sick?"

"I have anemia," I told him and I started walking down the hallway again, wishing he'd put his arm around me again to make me feel less cold. "I don't have enough red blood cells in my body, so not enough oxygen is sent to my brain. It makes me cold."

"Are you always cold?" he asked me quietly and I nodded.

"Pretty much. All day, every day. Summer, winter- it doesn't matter." I gave another humorless laugh. "I'm always cold."

Except when you touch me.

I didn't speak the words out loud, but I may as well have because Jared suddenly tugged on my arm and pulled me into a tight hug; a hug that I'd been waiting for practically my whole life because wrapped in his arms, I wasn't cold.

I was warm.

It was like someone had doused me with hot, scalding hot water, and I shivered from it. I buried my nose in his shirt and inhaled deeply, intoxicated by his scent.

"It's a good thing I run at a high temperature then," he murmured into my hair.

The bell rang and I pulled myself away. His face was flushed a little, and my stomach tightened. Did I make him blush? How? Why? I tried not to smile, but I couldn't help it. I grinned at him. He grinned back.

He put his arm back around me and walked me to my next class.

In which I paid no attention, other than the fact that Paul was smirking at me the entire time.

I didn't care.

"Avenue," I yelled, my voice on the edge of a squeak. "You're never going to believe me when I tell you what has happened!"

She smiled a little impatiently at me as she closed her locker. "Go ahead."

"Jared," I exploded. "He-he- I don't even know what's going on, but he's talking to me, he put his arm around me and hugged me- I don't- I don't get it, I don't understand it but-"

The way she was looking at me made the smile drip off my face like water and I stopped. "What? You- you still think he's playing a pr-prank on me?"

And the fear was back full force.

Was I seriously so stupid to think that maybe Jared Cameron could like someone like me, or was that just low self-esteem talking?

"Oh my God," I whispered. Tears pricked at my eyes. "What-what if he really is, Avenue?"

She shrugged, in a smug sort of way. "I don't know, Kim. I tried telling you before-"

"I think I'm going to throw up," I admitted and I walked away from her. A friend was supposed to tell you it was going to be okay, even if it wasn't exactly true. I'd never had a friend to do that with, but I'd seen it in the movies, and I wished Avenue was like that for me.

I power walked to the lobby where I waited for Dean and tried to get my stomach under control. My hands were aching from the cold and I shoved them in my sweater pockets.

I didn't think I could handle it if Jared and Paul were pranking me.

"Kim."

I spun around and came face to face- or face to chest, if you wanted to get technical- with Paul.

I swallowed heavily. "Hey."

"How's it going?" he asked me, with that smirk. He always seemed to have it on when he looked at me, he could never just smile.

I took a shuddering breath and shrugged. "I don't know."

He frowned. "What's wrong?"

"Lots of things," I admitted to him. I took a deep breath. "If I ask you a question, could you answer me honestly?"

It was worth a shot. Paul crossed his arms and narrowed his eyes.

"Ask your question and I can tell you."

"Why is Jared talking to me?"

Paul's arms dropped to his sides and he raised a hand to wipe at his face, suddenly looking tired. He hesitated. "I can't answer that."

My heart clenched and my stomach rolled.

"Can I ask another question?"

He nodded.

"Is this all a joke?" I whispered.

He gave me a funny look. "A joke?"

I nodded and he shook his head.

"I'm confused."

"A joke," I repeated. "Someone- someone must have said something-"

"Said what, Kim?" he asked.

I swallowed again and the tears were back and I tried really hard not to let them fall because that'd be just pathetic, to cry in front of Paul of all people.

"That I like Jared," I whispered. "And- and now he's talking to me because you guys- you think it's funny-"

But Paul was shaking his head, looking outraged.

"Did someone tell you that?" he asked angrily, grabbing me by my shoulders. "Did someone tell you that Jared was doing this to hurt you?"

He looked seriously pissed off. I shook my head.

"No- no, but it just doesn't make sense, Paul, why he's talking to me now when- I mean, I've sat next to him all year and now-"

Paul shook his head again and then he did the strangest thing, something that I would never expected him to do.

He hugged me.

And he was just as hot as Jared, and it engulfed me although it just didn't quite give me the same feeling as when Jared hugged me.

"Holy shit, Kim, you're freezing," he complained and pulled back, eyeing me warily. I rolled my eyes.

"Tell me something I don't know."

He raised an eyebrow.

"Do you really want me to answer that question?"

I shrugged. He leaned forward so his breath was like a ghost across the skin of my ear and I shivered.

"Jared is not messing with you, Kim. He's serious. Believe me, I would know- better than anyone. Don't- don't think he's just joking around with you, he's not. I promise."

"I just-" It was still difficult to speak so I just shook my head.

"Kim," he said quietly, pulling away and looking me in the eye. They were a light hazel. "Tell Jared."

"Tell him what?" I asked.

He smiled this time, really smiled and you know? Paul was really handsome. Remember how I said that Jared was beautiful? Paul was handsome. It warmed my insides.

"Tell him you like him. I guarantee you that you will not be upset by his response."

He smirked again, kissed my cheek and then left, the door shutting behind him.

Shit was just getting weirder and weirder with each passing day.

It hit me then.

Paul's answer left me breathless. Literally breathless and I gasped trying to force some oxygen to my brain. My heart was pounding. Hyperventilating. I was hyperventilating.

I was still breathing hard when Dean came around the corner. When he saw me standing there, he rushed to my side.

"Kim," he said and touched my forehead with his palm, feeling for a temperature. This had happened often enough that he knew exactly what he was doing. "What's wrong? Have you eaten today?"

"Yes," I gasped and I grabbed his shirt. "Dean, I can't breathe-"

"Kim?"

And there was that melodic voice that wafted through the air, settling in my eardrums and instantly my heart stopped pounding like I'd just finished a marathon. I still felt light headed, but I stopped breathing so hard.

Jared.

"What's wrong?" he asked worriedly. "Are- are you okay?"

"I'm okay," I said, nodding to Dean. He still looked worried and he placed both hands on my face, gently pulling the skin beneath my eyes to look into my tear ducts, but I pushed him away.

"You're pale," he told me. "Paler than usual. Have you been-"

"Dean," I hissed and now I was embarrassed. "I'm okay."

"You look like you're about to pass out," he told me. Jared was wringing his hands behind him, looking more worried than my brother. "Are you taking your medication?"

"Yes," I groaned, pushing his hands away. "Drop it, I'm okay."

"Why were you hyperventilating?" he asked me suspiciously. My face grew red and I avoided Jared's stare.

"I don't know."

Dean's eyes shot to Jared who still looked worried.

"Is it your anemia?" he asked, stepping forward. I could already feel his heat and if he continued to come any closer, I couldn't be held responsible if I threw myself at him and tried to suck his heat away.

Dean glared at him, turning to face him.

"What's it to you, Cameron?"

I knew that voice. That was the I'm the man of the house voice; the voice he used when bill collectors came knocking at our door, or when our mother and her ex-boyfriend got into a fight.

That was the don't fuck with me voice.

Shit.

Jared's face was one of surprise when I stepped in front of him and face my twin. He was still glaring at Jared.

"I'm okay," I told him. "See? Just- just got a little light headed, is all. It's been a long day. C'mon, let's go home, the girls will be getting off the bus soon and-"

"I'm driving," Dean said sternly, his eyes shooting back to me. I nodded and handed over the keys, glancing at Jared over my shoulder. He shrugged.

"Are you okay?"

I nodded but Dean pushed me away.

"Why do you wanna know, man?"

Jared put his hands up. "Hey, man, I'm not trying to start shit-"

"You better not be trying to start shit," Dean said indignantly. "Because I'll be the one to end it!" He took a step closer; I pushed him back, though, because- let's be honest.

Jared could squash Dean like a bug if he wanted to.

"Dean," I snapped. "Let's go!"

Dean shrugged his jacket back on his shoulders and marched out of the building. I turned to say something to Jared- something, anything, an apology, something, but Dean grabbed me by the arm.

"Let's go, Kim!"

We walked quickly out of the school and into the parking lot, dodging moving and parked cars.

"Dean," I started to say but he interrupted me.

"Why is Jared Cameron suddenly so interested in you, Kim?"

I blinked. Dean wasn't exactly the over-protective brother type. At all. He was just normally defensive, but not over-protective.

"I don't know, but he was just asking how I was-"

We'd reached the car and Dean suddenly slammed his fists on the roof, making a slight dent and scaring the shit out of me.

"Dean!"

"He's not a good guy, Kim," he said angrily. "D'you see the effin size of him?"

Did I ever.

"What does that have to do with anything-"

"He's been hanging around Sam Uley," he said, unlocking the car. I threw my bag in the backseat and clambered in beside him.

"Sam Uley?" I repeated. He nodded and started the car.

"Yeah. You know, the new guy on the council? He's getting married to the Emily girl from the Makah reservation? She was all over the news last year for getting attacked by that bear-"

Emily. Jill's sister. Things were starting to make a little sense.

Only a little.

"What's so bad about him?"

"The council practically worships the ground the guy walks on, but I wouldn't trust him as far as I could throw him. All the guys he's been starting to hang around- they were all normal kids, Kim," he said, pulling quickly out of the parking lot. "And then boom- instant muscles and they all look alike." He gave me a pointed look. "It's not normal."

"So what are you saying?" I felt so lost.

"I think it's a- a cult or something," Dean said. "With drugs or steroids or some shit-"

"No way," I protested. "That's- that's-"

I was going to say ridiculous…but was it really?

I didn't want to believe that, not even for a second.

"Think about it," Dean said. "Paul and Jared were both gone for, what, like two weeks? Jared used to be tiny compared to how he is now. Two weeks, Kim. Face it," he added, glancing at me. "He's a weird guy. All of them are. Paul and Embry, too."

Suddenly, we were home and parked behind our mother's car in the driveway. My mind was still reeling.

"Paul's a good guy," I whispered. Dean snorted.

"Good guy? He's got to be about the angriest person I've ever seen. He's dangerous." He turned to look at me. Confined in the car, it was quiet and his words were very loud, though I don't think he was trying to make them so. "I'm serious. You should stay away from him."

I didn't say anything. I stared at my hands. Cold, as always.

"Kim?"

I looked up to see him raising an eyebrow at me.

"You are going to stop talking to them, right?"

My chest hurt.

"I like him," I whispered. Dean groaned, letting his head drop down to the steering wheel. "Jared. I really like him and- and I think- I think that…maybe he likes me too." It was such a shot in the dark, but what else could Paul possibly be talking about?

I guarantee you that you will not be upset by his response.

"But you don't know him," he said, stressing his words.

"Well…neither do you."

He sighed and our conversation ended as Maqahla and Raven's bus pulled up behind us.

"Oh yeah," he asked as we got out of the car. "Why is it that the girls have black eyes and busted lips?"

They ran off the bus, their bruises more vibrant in the natural light.

"They got into a fight on the bus yesterday," I said, smiling down at Raven, who grinned up at me. "But they're tough. They fought back."