Paul POV

I couldn't tell if being a werewolf was a curse like Sam said or just fucking awesome.

Yes, it was tiring. Patrols were a pain in the ass. The alpha orders sucked.

But there were benefits. Namely the speed and the strength. In two weeks, I'd developed muscle in places I didn't know I could have. When I got back to school, the girls would be falling over me even more than before. No one would reject me, especially not with how I looked now.

Except maybe Aria.

I bristled slightly at the name.

Aria was Jared's sister and I've liked her for a long, long time. I actually liked her. I don't just think she's hot, but rather pretty and cute and beautiful instead… you know, all the words that guys don't use to describe girls because their friends will give them shit if they hear.

I've had a crush since I was 5 years old, way back in elementary.

But she was Aria. All the boys had liked her and offered her their candy. All the girls wanted to be her friend and sit next to her during story time. Part of it was just the novelty of her being a twin, but for the most part, it was because she was nice and kind and fun and sweet. Everyone adored her, and she didn't even know it.

Although she was mutual friends with everyone, she didn't need or seem to want many close friends; she was content with just having her twin brother by her side. They pooled their candy together and shared their snacks, partnering up in all our lessons and reading books together in story time.

Whilst she was friendly and polite, she didn't look twice at anyone. She didn't look twice at me, even when I left heart-shaped candies in her bag on Valentine's Day in second grade - in fact, she gave them to Jared, which just about broke my seven-year-old heart, considering I had saved up forever to buy them for her.

So I tried to impress her. I picked on the other kids, especially when she was near. I wanted her to think I was the strongest, that I was better than all the other boys. That I was better than everyone else... maybe she would like me then.

But that tactic didn't work. She wasn't impressed. She didn't act like she saw anything out of the ordinary when I would push a classmate over or brag about one of my pathetic victories. She still didn't look twice. Not at me, not at anyone.

She didn't need anyone if she had her twin.

By the time we reached high school, bullying kids had become a habit. What I was doing was pathetic, but I just couldn't stop. I already had a reputation that couldn't be changed, so I figured I might as well continue with it, right?

I became friends with Jared at the beginning of freshmen year, in high school.

Maybe if we were friends, I could go over there house and see Aria. Maybe if Jared and I were friends, she'd sit with us because she wanted to be with her brother. But she didn't. Not even when I asked Jared to sit with us, or invited him over my house and 'gave permission' for him to extend the invitation to his sister 'if he wanted to'.

Then the incident happened, a week later when I was waiting with my friends in the school hallway.

The late bell had gone, but we were still discussing the baseball game on TV the night before. I spotted Aria rummaging at her locker. I decided maybe I should go back to my old tactic; see if she would notice now that I had her brother behind me. I saw a short, scrawny girl with braces and glasses at her locker.

I couldn't have asked for a more perfect target.

It was easy. The girl didn't defend herself or say a word. I saw Aria watching me from her locker and I was just so happy. She had noticed me. Now I just had to impress her. Show her I was the top dog in the school. Then she'd want to be with me, right? Every girl wanted the tough, bad boy, at least that's what the movies said.

So I shoved the girl.

I was smiling when I saw Aria march over to me.

What I didn't expect was for her to punch me in the face, breaking my nose and heart in the process.

After that, I was angry. I was pissed off. I was embarrassed. But I was mostly feeling betrayed. Heart-broken that the girl I wanted so badly had done this to me.

I wanted her to pay. To feel what I felt when she had thrown that one punch.

Embarrassed. Angry. Heart-broken.

Like me.

...

"Remind me why we're here again?" I asked Jared, as we stood in the dark living room of his house.

"Sam is going to kill me if I keep wrecking his clothes, so I have to get some of my own while they're not here." Jared said, looking around the room impatiently.

Jared and I had been staying at Sam's and Emily's house since we both phased. Sam claimed that this way we wouldn't hurt our families while we were still learning to control ourselves. He already went to our parents after we phased to tell them about the legends and how they weren't just stories anymore.

Considering the circumstances, they took it pretty well, although I heard that Jared's mom had almost beat Sam with a sofa cushion after thinking he was trying to make a joke of Jared's disappearance.

Unlike Jared, I actually visited my mom some days. Not for long, just enough for me to tell her I loved her and for her to remind me to shower.

Jared was more cautious because whilst I only had my mom, he had his whole family to think about; a mother, a father, two sisters, another baby sibling on the way, and a bat-shit crazy aunt who seemed to have incorporated herself into their family… there were so many different people he could get unintentionally angry with, so many extra witnesses who weren't in the know that may see something if he got too mad.

He didn't want there to be even a small risk of danger for them, which is why he only came home when they were out.

I was here because Sam went alpha on my ass and ordered me to come here with Jared. I suspected it was because with me and Jared crashing on his couch, he didn't get very much alone time with Emily anymore. The thought of what they may be doing right now made me want to throw up. I needed to distract myself. Fast.

"I don't think you should worry. Emily can always buy him more and we all know Sam loves it when Emily shops for him..." I laughed, remembering all the times Emily went shopping and returned with printed shorts for Sam to wear whilst out in the woods. Notable mentions included camouflage, floral, and Hawaiian print. Needless to say, Sam had been quick to 'accidently' phase whilst wearing them.

Jared also remembered the short incidents. "True that." He laughed loudly, his laughter echoing in booms off the walls of the empty house.

"But at least Sam isn't such a kiss-up to Emily in hope of getting more food."

I frowned and punched his arm, before grabbing him in a headlock. It wasn't my fault Emily's cooking was so good.

Jared had just turned the tables and was about to shove me in a wall when we hear a voice.

"Jared?" The voice was soft, sounding weary and afraid. I frowned, wondering who it could be as Jared had said everyone was out.

I didn't have time to think about it any longer, as I heard a quiet click followed by the room flooding with light. I turned around to see a girl looking at Jared, her mouth turned down slightly. Then she looked at me.

Everything blurred away when her grey eyes met mine. The best I could describe it was like the whole world was in blurry black and white, and now she was the only thing in clear focus technicolour. Long, black hair fell over her shoulders and, despite it being one of the worst cases of bed head that I had ever seen, looked perfect to me.

Her eyes studied me and I stared right back. They were pure grey, no hint of green or blue hidden in them, and just completely out of this world. They were so fascinating... I never wanted to look away...

Wait.

I remember those eyes. I've dreamt about them a million times.

These were the same eyes that belong to Aria Cameron.

Holy shit.

I watched wide eyed as she looked at me wearily. "Uh, why are you looking at me like that?" She asked, and I'm so taken aback at the fear and caution in her voice when she talked to me. But she wasn't just scared; I could feel her hatred towards me. I saw it in her eyes and it made me feel so pathetic.

"And why are you both shirtless?" She continued, looking bewildered, her eyes darting from me to Jared. I immediately wanted to do something, anything, to grab her attention so she would look back at me. "I don't need to see that and it's not like you don't own any. You have plenty of shirts, Jared! I've seen them!"

I didn't pay attention to her questions because I was still trying to figure out why she had been looking at me like that… why did she hate me so much?

Every single little memory came flooding back. Every mean and vile word I'd said, every time I'd pushed and shoved her, every time I intentionally hurt her.

I felt my mouth go dry with the realisation.

I could feel a painful pressure build up in my chest, which seemed to wrap around my heart and squeeze over and over again. I'd hurther.

And then I felt myself begin to shake. And shake. And shake. And shake.

Get out of here! You'll hurt her even more!

The thought of hurting her like Emily made me shake harder. I could see the scars across her face...

I turned suddenly and ran for the door, slamming it open so hard it banged against the wall and the hinges groaned in protest. Only when I reached the trees and feel the familiar phase come over me, do I really register what had just happened.

I had imprinted on Aria.

Aria.

Jared's twin sister.

Thegirlwho broke my nose.

ThegirlI tormented for years.

Thegirlwho hated me.

Aria.

I was so fucked.

...

Aria POV

"Uh, why are you looking at me like that?" I questioned Paul warily, who was looking at me, wide-eyed. He ignored my question and continued to stare.

Okay, then. Rude.

"And why are you both shirtless?" I demanded, after realising that Jared and Paul were only wearing cut-off shorts, despite the cool temperature.

"And why are you both shirtless?" I asked, sending Jared a look of disapproval. "I don't need to see that and it's not like you don't own any. You have plenty of shirts, Jared! I've seen them!"

Great. Now you sound like your mother on laundry day.

Jared opened his mouth to reply but I was distracted by Paul again. To my shock, he was violently shaking, so fast that he was a blur. It reminded me of the day in the cafeteria, but this seemed a lot worse.

Crap. He's having a seizure! If he dies here, think of all the paperwork we'll have to go through!

As I was trying to convince myself that he was finally feeling the temperature and was only shivering from the cold, Paul suddenly turned around and ran from the room. I watched as he flung the front door open, and winced when it made a deafening bang as it connected with the wall.

I stood there, completely shocked, before turning back to Jared, who looked as confused as I felt. For a few moments we stared silently at each other, trying to understand what had just happened.

"That boy has some serious issues." I stated, not being able to stand the tension in the room much longer.

Jared just frowned and ignored my statement. "Why are you here, Aria?"

I frowned as well, annoyed at his rude tone. What did he mean by that? "Well, uh, I live here." I replied stupidly.

Obviously...

Jared shook his head. "I mean, why aren't you are Marissa's?"

I rolled my eyes at him. "You of all people should know I'm not welcome there, Jared. Don't you remember the whole 'disowning-Aria-cause-she's-a-selfish-brat' thing? Or were you too busy being all high and mighty with your too-cool-for-school friends?"

That was the single most cringe worthy sentence I've ever heard. Please never speak again.

Jared winced slightly, but didn't reply. I shifted uncomfortably beneath his gaze. What was with these boys and staring? Call me old-fashioned, but I was still under the impression that staring was rude.

"Anyway," Jared said, abruptly changing the subject. "What are you doing awake at this hour?"

I almost scoffed at his question. "Why am I awake at this hour? First of all, who says this hour anymore? Are you my father? I think not. That would be disturbing..." I trailed off before clearing my throat. "If you must know, I thought you were a burglar. Or murderer. Or some twisted combination of both."

Jared raised an eyebrow. "You thought I was a burglar, or murderer, or some twisted combination of both, yet you decide to come downstairs without calling the police or anything?"

"Hey! I had a baseball bat. I was fully prepared to go karate kid at any moment." I objected weakly. "And what are you doing here, anyway? You've been missing for almost two weeks."

"I was on a history field trip." Jared said quickly.

Oh, I love when history field trips last two weeks. Where was our invite?

"I'm in your history class, stupid." I glared. "Well, listen here. I don't think you should even be here. Avoiding your family for a whole freaking week, and you think you can show up in the middle of the night when they're out? That's just- just- Ugh! I really hate you sometimes, you know! Just go back to your being on your stupid history field trip and leave." My voice had gotten louder and louder until I was almost screaming. I jabbed an accusing finger against Jared's chest but refused to wince when it felt like poking a brick wall.

Jared's frame started to shake in a similar way that Paul's had. "You don't understand." His voice was low, dangerous.

Um... Maybe you should leave it for now, Aria...

I didn't.

"But I think I do. I understand that you'd pick your friends over your family. I understand that you'd pick Paul over me. I understand your one hell of an asshole!"

Jared's shaking increased. He bent his face down to mine. "You're wrong, don't act like you understand what's happening, you don't!" He roared, grabbing my wrist and squeezing it so tight that I knew it would leave a bruise.

I felt my eyes grow wide and made a noise that sounded suspiciously like a whimper. Jared's shaking slowed and he looked at me.

"I- I- I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Aria." He whispered before running from the room like Paul had. Seconds later, the door banged against the wall.

I let out a shaky breath before I felt my legs tremble and collapse beneath me.

. . .

"Well, you look like crap." That was the first thing Lexi said to me when I plopped down at her table in the small café we had chosen to meet at for lunch.

I looked up and shot Lexi the best glare I could manage as I tossed my purse on the seat next to me. She wasn't the one that had a sleepless night after almost being scared to death by her brother that looked like he was injecting himself with steroids.

"Hey, it's just an observation," she defended herself, holding her hands up in an 'I surrender' gesture.

I looked at the window of the cafe and studied my reflection. Lexi was right. I had bags under my eyes that stood out against my unusually pale skin. My hair was gathered into a loose bun and, like I had predicted, my wrist was covered in a hand-shaped bruise.

Thanks Jared. You shouldn't have...

I groaned and rolled my head back to stare at the ceiling. "I am so tired," is all I offered as an excuse for my appearance. I yawned for emphasis whilst Lexi's phone chimed, indicating she had received a text.

"Well, you better drink a lot of coffee before tonight then." Lexi informed me, nudging her cup of coffee toward me and pulling her mobile from her pocket.

My response was to raise an eyebrow as I reached for the cup. "Why?" I questioned, taking a sip.

"Kylie's house party is tonight. Duh." Lexi checked her messages and began texting her on-again-off again boyfriend, most likely.

I spat my coffee out on the table, earning a glare from one of the waitresses who was probably in charge of cleaning the tables.

"Kylie? As in Kylie James? As in the soul crusher, destroyer of all things good Kylie James?" I tried to clarify.

Lexi just grinned, looking up from her phone. "Nice wording. Gotta remember that description for next time when I'm trying to win my next bitch fight with the she-devil."

"But you hate her," I frowned, furrowing my forehead in confusion.

Lexi nodded slowly, her smile widening. "But you know I can't resist a good party."

"She won't let you in," I warned, taking another gulp of Lexi's coffee. "She isn't going to let the one girl she has a vendetta against into her house."

Kylie James had a habit of holding frequent parties, and Lexi, whom could be described as a hybrid of party animal and social butterfly, had a habit of gatecrashing every party she was uninvited to. Pride had kept Lexi from ever gatecrashing one of Kylie's parties in the past, but it was now obvious that Lexi had decided the highly talked about event was too good to be missed.

"Everyone is going to be there, and I mean everyone. Like, the whole teenage population of La Push and Forks. Maybe even some college kids. It's gonna be the biggest party yet. She won't notice a thing, trust me." Lexi reassured.

"That's nice, but I guess not everyone is going to be there because I, for one, am not going. Sorry, Lex," I stated unapologetically. I had seen my fair of parties, most of them being at my house due to Jared, and was not interested in going to any others for a while.

Lexi's easy going smile turned into a scowl. She narrowed her eyes and leaned forward across the table. "Listen Aria. You can do this the easy way or the hard way."

This time I rolled my eyes. "I'm not going to do it in any way. You know why? Because I am not going."

Lexi frowned. "Aria!" She wailed "Think of all the things I've done for you. I even punched Paul for you! Remember? And I wrecked my hand doing it!"

Not our fault she didn't check herself before she wrecked herself.

"No, Alexis." I told her as I threw a couple of notes on the table and started to walk out of the cafe. Lexi predictably followed, but not after huffing out a few choice curse words and scraping her chair loudly against the floor.

You always had a flair for dramatic exits.

"Please? Please, please, please, please, Aria?" Lexi continued to beg as we made our way out the door.

"No. No, no, no, and, uh, no."

"But you have to come! I can't go without you, I can't do this without you. Don't you remember what I'm attempting to do here? I'm attempting to gatecrash a party held by Kylie James. There is a high chance I will be murdered by her and her clones. Who will protect me from their acrylic nails if you don't come with me, Aria? It will be like being scratched to death by a herd of cats."

My lips quirked at Lexi's rant, and I was too amused to correct her mistake of thinking cats came in herds.

"I can't do this without you." Lexi repeated nervously when she saw I wasn't going to reply.

"Okay, okay! I'll go." I finally agreed, after seeing just how anxious she was getting.

Lexi just gave an uncharacteristic squeal and hugged me, causing me to almost regret my decision.

All through the car trip home, she rattled on. "Have I told you recently that you are my bestest friend? And that you're hands down the prettiest person I've ever seen? Like, move over Victoria Secret models, my best friend is making you look like E.T. right now."

I pursed my lips at her attempts to kiss-up, knowing this was her sarcastic way of showing her thankfulness. But hey, at least it's an improvement from her saying I look like crap.

"You won't regret this!" She reassured me when we arrived at my house. I just slammed the door shut and gave a small wave before she drove away.

"And yet I feel like I already am." I muttered, turning around.

My eyes widened when I saw a flash of silver streak through the trees at the fringe of the forest that was next to our house.

But when I blinked, it was gone. Playing it off as a trick of the light, I made my way toward my house.

You really are going crazy, Aria.

"What was your first clue?" I muttered back.

. . .

Good, bad, alright? Ugh, I need to know. I am utterly curious.

Question: Should Jared imprint on Kim soon in the story? Or should I wait until later? I need your input, because at the moment for this story I'm sort of winging it. And how are you guys liking the Lexi and Aria relationship so far?

Thanks for all the reviews, I love reading about what you're liking so far about the story. Keep telling me what you think because I love hearing about it!