AN: Hello fair readers! Here is an update for you all. Anna's POV chapter is three chapters away, I know you all are dying to see what she thinks of this whole mess. :P Almost 400 reviews! This is awesome! Thank you all for reading and enjoying! :)

Chapter Eighteen

Working At It

Everyone told me puberty would be more awkward than anything I would ever experience in my entire life. Sure, I spent most of my puberty morphing into a shape-shifter so I could protect my land and my people from sparkling-fucking-vampires but that was a cake walk compared to what my time with Anna had turned into.

Tuesday night wasn't so bad. My mom had gotten my homework for the week when she went to my school with a note from Dr. Cullen telling them I had fallen off the roof while trying to repair the gutter and needed the week to recuperate. She also convinced Anna to stay the week to make sure I didn't do anything stupid. I never loved my mother more than at that moment. I could deal with all of her crazy shit for the rest of my life after this.

Anna helped me with the work while she did hers and we all ate dinner in a calm and quiet manner. She helped Mom clean the kitchen and they both forced me back into bed after I finished half the homework I was given. I had the intention of pretending to sleep until Mom and Anna were asleep themselves, but I passed out. My lasagna was probably drugged.

The next day, I drove Anna school, just to get some time alone with her and she took her bike so she could ride it down to the diner because she was still going to work. I thought it would be easier since she knew everything but it was damn awkward. She hadn't looked so tense since I first imprinted on her and I was reduced to talking about the weather!

It was pathetic.

Embry would come to keep me company until it was time to get Anna from work, but he was probably there on orders from Sam to make sure I didn't run off. The bruises on my side were at their darkest and it was easier to get around, it helped that the pain wasn't so blinding. Embry left a few minutes before I'd leave to get Anna and when I picked her up at the diner, it wasn't any less awkward.

She still wouldn't look at me and she sat ramrod straight, looking like she was waiting for a war to break out in the space between us. All of my instincts were yelling at me, saying get her closer to you! But that little part of me that would never force her to do something wouldn't let me do anything but let her stew in the awkwardness.

Thursday was just as bad but Sam and Emily spent the day with me. They stayed when I left to get Anna and when I brought her back home, Emily had made a whole dinner. I guess her and Emily bonded when I was unconscious because Anna was much calmer with her. Not back to the way she was but I'd take anything over the averted glances and cold conversation.

Anna got up to go to the bathroom and I leaned over the table to Emily. "Do you know what's wrong with her?" I whispered, pointing over my shoulder at the bathroom.

"Smack him," Emily said bluntly to Sam.

Sam promptly knocked his hand upside my head.

"What the hell?!" I hissed, rubbing my head.

"You idiot, she just found out that werewolves and vampires exist, she's going to need some time to process that." She snapped harshly, keeping her voice low.

"Like a week?" I asked with a shrug.

"Hit him again," She snarled at Sam.

Sam's hand raised again but I grabbed it in mid air. "Wait!" I hissed under my breath. "What am I supposed to do then?" I asked Emily desperately.

"Keep your mouth shut and let her do what she needs to do." She answered bluntly. I made a face at that. "And if you start being difficult with her, you'll hurt for it." She threatened me seriously. Sam was positively beaming at his fiancée.

Anna walked out of the bathroom a second later and sat next to Emily with small smile. It killed me that she hadn't smiled for me in almost a week.

Anna and Emily cleaned up the kitchen while I sulked in the living room with Sam. I was going to offer to clean the kitchen with Anna but Sam jammed his heal into my foot when Emily scowled as my mouth opened.

They didn't stay long once everything was cleaned up and my mother wasn't going to be home for a while so I was alone with Anna. A week ago I would be bouncing at the opportunity, but if I had anymore awkward moments with her I'd probably shoot myself, just to see if it helped.

I stood from the couch and walked passed the dining room table where she did her homework. "I'm gonna go work on the car." I said gruffly as I walked passed her.

It hurt to leave her alone, knowing how much of her life she spent alone, but I didn't know what else to do. I told her the truth, I told her how much I cared about her, and I had nothing else to plead my case.

I was a little rougher with the car than I should have been, especially since the engine is almost entirely new now, but I did get a lot work done. I could probably try to start it now, but I didn't want too, it would be an empty victory since Anna wasn't here with me.

I tried to keep working on the car, but I literally ran out of new parts to switch out so to keep from admitting that the only legitimate reason I had to get Anna to spend any kind of time with me was null and void I started checking everything. I jacked up the car and got under it to make sure everything under there was in order, checked the tires and everything else I could without turning it on. I was halfway through checking the alternator when I heard the door from the house open.

I forced any flutters of hope away and continued checking the belts. I had almost convinced myself I hadn't heard anything in the first place when thin, pale hands were laid next to mine. Even though it was dark, there was no denying who was standing next to me. I slowly looked over my shoulder and saw Anna standing next to me nervously. "Do you need any help?" She asked biting her lip.

I could still see the awkwardness in her eyes and the hesitation in her body language, but she was trying. I wasn't denying my imprint an olive branch. "Sure," I said with a nod.

We started working together from there. When there was nothing left to check, I started showing her which fluids needed to go where and put a gallon of gas in the tank. When I was done I walked back to the front of the car and looked down at Anna as she looked at me expectantly.

I swallowed hard and nodded toward the front door. "Start it," I said quietly.

Her eyes went wide. "Its finished?" She asked surprised.

"Yeah," I said nodding.

She looked almost disappointed. "How?" She asked confused.

I shrugged. "I worked on it a lot when you weren't here. Its getting too cold for you to be riding a bike for miles." I said awkwardly, scratching my head.

She nodded and took the single key from her back pocket and walked around the car to the front door. She got in with ease and even though the car was on the small side, she still looked too tiny. She put the key in the ignition, turning on the electrical first, then turned it all the way. It ran smooth and purred like a happy, fat cat. I closed the hood with a smirk on my face and walked to the passenger side and folded myself in. "Sounds good," She told me happily, almost smiling.

I watched her study the car and remembered this was a manual car that some patsy's don't know how to drive. Not that my imprint would ever be a patsy… "Do you know how to drive a manual?" I asked

She nodded. "I learned when I was thirteen." She told me as she started turning the heat on.

I wasn't expecting that. "Really?" I asked confused.

She dropped her head so her hair blocked her face. "It's a long story." She said sadly.

Alright Paul, drop the subject and go back to getting her to smile again. "Well, then show me your skills, take her around the block." I said closing my door.

She looked up at me with suspicion. "Are you sure?" She asked cautiously.

I snorted a laugh. "I'm sure." I said knowingly.

"Okay," She said still sounding concerned and very slowly put the car in reverse and backed out of the driveway.

She drove down the street at twenty-miles-per-hour but I could feel the horsepower that was under the hood, waiting to be used. She did everything by the book, to a point where I was afraid. She was the most OCD driver I'd ever driven with.

"Do you have your license?" I asked with a raised brow.

"Yes," She said with nod, never looking away from the road.

"On you?" I asked hopefully. I didn't want her to get pulled over without it.

The corners of her lips turned up just a little as she took one hand away from the wheel and pulled the sun-shade down to reveal her license, insurance and registration all neatly held to it by three rubber bands.

"Smart," I said impressed. She grinned a little wider. "Alright, its driving good, take it to the gas station. We can fill up the tank." I said unclenching some. I didn't doubt my mechanic skills, I was just worried she might drive us into a ditch. Or a house.

Anna nodded and drove toward the closest gas station, which was one of only two in La Push.

After we finished filling up the car, and driving it around through harsher conditions it proved to be completely sound. Anna was definitely meant to be a driver instead of a passenger. She thrived in the driver's seat. I didn't mind being a passenger to her driver, any other person I would not be okay, but she's not just another person.

We got back to my house at around ten-thirty and we locked up the garage and her newly running vehicle. In the house I got some more food and sat at the dining room table with Anna as she started on her homework. I took mine out as well, because I knew if I just sat there and stared at her, I'd make her uncomfortable and I didn't want to start backtracking now.

I worked for an hour, finishing all the work I had gotten from my teachers, save an essay that I would bullshit over the weekend, and I was exhausted. I hated admitting how tired I was but I needed to sleep. If I wanted to have enough strength on the weekend to stake out Anna's shed, I'd have to get as much rest as I could.

"I'm gonna go to bed now." I told her as I stood, gathering all my papers and shoving them in my backpack.

She looked up at me concerned and nodded. "Okay," She said calmly.

"I'll see you in the morning." I said, waving like an idiot.

She nodded again and I walked away from her and down the hall to my room.

In my room I dropped my stuff and stripped down into my boxers and fell into my bed. It still hurt a little to do it, but I was too tired to care. I closed my eyes and a second later I was sleeping like a baby.

I think I had been sleeping for at least a few hours, I don't know, I didn't really pay attention to my clock but something had woken me up. Not something obvious, like the sun, but something I couldn't figure out at first.

I snapped up in bed, rubbing my eyes and looked around. There was nothing inside my room that was different. I got onto my feet, groaning from the soreness of my ribs and slunk out into the hallway to check on Anna. The only thing I could see on the couch was a lump with her hair, sobbing quietly.

"Anna?" I asked rushing over to the couch.

She quickly untangled herself and looked at me with shock. Her eyes were red, her cheeks were puffy and the tears she had been crying for God knows how long had soaked her pillow.

On automatic impulse I was on my knees in front of her, wiping the tears away. "What's wrong?" I asked, damn near close to frantic.

She tried to straighten up and stop crying but it didn't convince me something wasn't up. "You should be sleeping." She choked out, trying to wipe away all the tears.

I moved closer to her, burying my fingers deep into her hair while my other hand stroked the outside of her thigh. "You shouldn't be crying." I said quietly.

She sniffled and looked at me with defeated eyes. "I'm scared." She whispered.

I tensed up. "Why?" I asked lowly. I already had a few murder scenarios playing out in my head.

She started tracing the vein on the crease of my arm slowly, making my skin break out with goose bumps. "I don't know what my parents are going to do tomorrow." She answered shakily.

I had been thinking about that myself. I didn't know how her parents would take her week absence but it wouldn't be good. The only thing left from the vamp attack was some soreness, if I saw them hurt her they'd be dead before they could take another breath. "You can stay here." I said firmly.

"No, I can't." She muttered, shaking her head.

"Why not?" I asked frustrated. She seriously couldn't want to be there more than here.

She took in a deep breath and looked me square in the eye. "I'm not eighteen. They can call the police and press kidnapping charges if they were in spiteful enough moods." She answered solemnly.

Fuck, she had a point. Would Charlie really arrest me? Could I break out of a holding cell without anyone noticing?

"I don't want to get you into that kind of trouble." She told me sadly.

"I don't want you alone with them." I ground out.

Her hazel-blue eyes lost their sadness for a moment as she looked at me with shock. "You know?" She asked, frightened.

I could only nod. My jaw was tight enough to make my teeth crack.

She dropped her head, and this time, she wasn't trying to hide her tears. She was ashamed, I could tell and I didn't want her to be. None of what her parents did was her fault and I just wanted her to stop getting hurt by them.

I moved her hair back and kissed her before she could do anything. I felt her tears hit my skin and I wrapped my arms as tight around her as I could without breaking her. She gripped my biceps, hard enough for me to truly feel it. She still fit perfectly with me, there wasn't anything awkward between us at that moment. It would have been a great moment if she wasn't crying, or that I'd have to leave her with her parents that were the human equivalent of scum.

I pulled away from her lips and made myself eye to eye with her. "I'll come up with something." I told her, trying to soothe her fears.

She started to shake her head. "Paul-"

I cut her off before she could try to talk me out of it. "Anna, I'm not going to sit back and let anyone hurt you. Jail time or not, I'm going to get you out of there." I said firmly.

She looked at me for a long time, the emotions pooling from her eyes were stuck between frustration and appreciation. "I still have to go back tomorrow." She said sadly.

I sat next to her on the couch and rubbed her back, but I was really calming myself. I was actually going to have to let her go, until my dumbass came up with something better. "I'll be close by." I said lowly. I was feeling angrier by the second from everything. The only thing keeping me from hulking out into a wolf was Anna's fear.

"Define close?" She asked worryingly.

"If you need me, just say my name, I'll be right there." I answered surely.

She looked at me with knitted brows. "That's borderline stalking." She said with a

I snorted a laugh. "It's a fine line." I said casually.

She rested her head on my shoulder and wrapped her thin arms around me. I only had to put one of my arms around her to cover her. She sighed against my skin and moved closer to me. "I'm not hurting you am I?" She asked concerned, since she was leaning on the shoulder that had been hurt.

"You're too small to hurt anything, other than asshole teenagers." I snorted. She snuggled closer to me and my shoulder didn't even notice the extra weight. "How did you know what to do about my shoulder?" I asked curiously.

"Spent a summer as a vets assistant when I was fifteen." She answered simply. "I never thought I'd have to use that group of skills on a shape-shifter after a vampire attack." She added under her breath.

"Welcome to my world." I grumbled. She chuckled and folded herself onto my lap.

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