Hey guys,

So I know I promised a chapter after two/three days so here it is.

Just so you know it was meant to drag more but the boys bugged me.

Imma let you read this and have the long note at the end for once.

Pictures on my profile. Typo apologies.

The Awesome List: Marshmellow007 (who topped the awesome list by telling me I could be the next SM!), Miss. Ebbie Paige, Heather, TheOneToParanoidToTellHerName

I get people subscribe to my story and to me. And they favorite but they never review. Those people make me sad. Those people make me not want to update.

Disclaimer: Some of the note wasn't mine. And if I was SM I would be old.

Much Love,

Arianna Talla Cole

AKA The author

And you smell like,

How angels oughtta smell,

And you look like,

You're ready to go,

So come on and hold my hand,

I'll take you everywhere,

Anywhere,

You wanna go.

- New Found Glory

- Hold My Hand

After a rather entertaining barbeque that included a giant food fight which I did not start no matter what Joe says, Aj, Matt, James, Joe and I found ourselves back at Sam and Emily's while everyone else went to their bonfire. I'm pretty sure there's something we were still missing because otherwise I don't see why we couldn't go. At the moment, this was the topic of conversation.

"Patience young grasshopper. Your time will come." Joe said grinning at me.

I rolled my eyes. "So what are we going to do?" I asked.

Everyone's eyes went from side to side. I really thought we were going to sit around bored for the short time we had left. We'd already watched a film, Saw, gory horror movies are cool. Judge away people.

"Why don't we have upsie-downsie races?" Matt suggested.

"Oh man super cool I am SO in." I said punching the air before hi-fiving Matt.

"Okay well I'll start and finish the races okay?" Asked James. We nodded.

All of us, James included, stripped off our tops. You see, upsie-downsie races are REALLY hard to do with tops on. I had change into short shorts and a tank top because the boys heat always suffocates me during movies. James took his top off per rule 127. We made up a rule and named it rule 127 when we were on the 127 bus once coming back from Seattle. It was that if one of us took off our top the rest of us had to so no one felt awkward. Mostly it was because at that point Matt was obsessed with seeing me in my bra but since we'd slept together a couple of times now the novelty had worn off and no one was uncomfortable if we had our tops off, but we just followed the rule to make it interesting. Anyway James would probably use his top for the flag.

"So the course is, round the house once, including up and down the stairs starting with going through to the kitchen okay?" Said Matt.

I nodded shoving my interlocked hands outwards to click my fingers. I knew what he was trying to do. He was trying to make it so that the boys werewolf strength would last, obviously it would, but I would run out of strength. Ha! I know him too well. I practiced in the middle of the night once, I can make that.

We all flipped up onto our hands in a line.

"Ready…steady….GO!" Shouted James.

All four of us surged forwards. It's quite disorientating because you have to look up while walking on your hands so it's a weird position.

I made it out the door second closely following Matt. He stayed in the lead most of the race but as we ran round the dining room table I managed to pass him. I was up the stairs fast, yet trying to take it slow as possible because it really made your arms burn. I ran the landing and was on my way back down as Aj and Joe were coming up. I knew they were mostly watching me and Matt, who was still close behind me, because we got super competitive over these things.

I went down the stairs, which, when you have a large werewolf guy trying to push past you, is exceedingly hard and scary. I had just passed the front door when it opened and people poured in blocking Matt. I made it through the living room door and James waved his shirt.

"We have a winner."

I flipped off of my hands and onto my feet.

"Ha. And you guys call yourself werewolves. Pathetic. Whew!" I fell backwards onto the sofa with my arms stretched out.

Matt stormed into the room. "I DEMAND A REMATCH!"

"Pah. You lost, deal with it." I said, mocking him a little.

"No. No I didn't. I bet you cheated."

"What?!"

"You KNOW you lost. You just suck. So deal with it."

Matt jumped on me and landed on my stomach. I groaned as the air left my mouth.

"Matt…can't…breathe!" I managed to choke out.

He smiled down at me. I glared, getting dizzy.

"Matt…dizzy now."

He rolled off of me. I took a deep breath and let my head hit the couch.

"Fucking gay." I mumbled.

He stuck his tongue out at me and pulled me off the sofa by my legs. I ended up half laying across him. I flipped myself over because I was quite uncomfortable so I was straddling him.

He rested his hands on my hips. "You know this is a VERY provocative position for me." He said staring at my boobs.

I placed my hands on his chest and raised my eyebrows.

"Seriously though, I can think of some very naughty things that start from this position." He said winking at me.

I heard a rumbling growl from behind me. Paul. How I knew that I do not know. I bent down towards him so my lips were near his ear. "In your dreams Matt." I whispered.

I climbed off of him. His hands trailed down my legs as they slid off of my hips towards him when I stood leaving a line of heat. "Every night baby." He said mocking me.

"Don't mock me." I said looking down at him. "Especially when I turn you on."

"You do not…" He looked down at himself where I was pointedly staring. "Bitch."

I laughed at him and shook my head. "Anyway, now I'm sure we've made everyone sufficiently awkward I'm going to put some more presentable clothes on."

I turned and walked past all the boys to get out of the room. I had to slip past Paul. I couldn't look at him. I knew he was looking at me. At my scar. I kept my eyes pointed at the ground. As I walked upstairs I began to blush. Fucking hell I've just sat in a room in short shorts and my lacy polka dot bra in front of everyone with my scar on show so their bound to fucking know one of the guys lost it with me once. Fuck in front of Paul. No wait, why the hell does it make any difference if it was in front of Paul? He's just like everyone else. It doesn't make any difference to me if Paul was there. I don't care if he was there because Paul doesn't mean anything more than anyone else to me.

I slipped out of my short shorts and put on some loose faded blue jeans and a green chequered shirt which I finished doing up as I bounded down the stairs.

I jumped on Matt's lap and laid across him.

"Alright darlin'?" I drawled.

"Why yes I think so my lovely." He said smiling.

"Good." I sighed. "Fuck. My arms are dead."

He let out a bark of laughter. "Gutted. I'm fine."

"Well, I'm sorry I don't have some amazing werewolf strength." I said sticking my tongue out at him.

"Really? You don't? Fuck off then!" He said shoving me off his lap so I fell to the floor with a hard thump.

"Uh!" I looked up at him. He was messing about I knew this but he had shoved me really hard and my butt ached. Damn him! I saw Paul clench his jaw and his fists. "You suck do you know that?" I said.

"I do not suck. You suck." He replied.

"You're being mean!" I said giving him a puppy dog look.

He crossed his arms and looked at me, raising his eyebrows.

"So? You won't give me a rematch."

"Do you realize how childish you're being?"

"I am not being childish you are."

"How am I?"

"You won't give me a rematch!"

"Do you really need to win that much?"

"Yes!"

"God!"

I turned away from him with my arms crossed. All the others looked between us. Aj, James and Joe shook their heads.

"It was like this ALL the time when they were dating." Joe said.

"Never any peace." Added Aj.

"But it's okay because it's only if one of them looses to the other at something. It'll blow over soon." James finished.

"They dated?" Jacob asked.

"Yeah, on off for about two years." James said.

"He was her first shag weren't he." Said Joe.

I glared at him, going red. "Did you need to add that."

"Well it's the truth isn't it."

I shook my head and looked at the floor. "That's not the point."

Matt kicked me. "OWW!" That really fucking hurt. He seriously might have cracked one of my ribs. Paul's body started to shake a little.

"Give. Me. A . Rematch."

"Do you understand the meaning of the word no?"

"You are so unfair."

"Well I don't have the fucking strength to give you a rematch."

"Then you automatically lose."

"It doesn't work like that."

"Well it should."

"Ugh! That's it! I'm going to bed."

I stormed up the stairs to my room. Why the hell couldn't he just get it into his skull. I didn't want to give him a rematch. I shook my head and laid down to go to sleep.

I woke up the next morning in a car. My car. With Matt.

"Matt what the hell?"

"I wanted to get you your present before everyone woke up."

I frowned and yawned. "So where are we?"

"Going to get your present…in fact, we're here." I looked out of my window.

"A tattoo studio? You do realize I'm only seventeen right?"

"Yes, but that's not what this fake I.D says." He said flashing a small card at me. I kissed his cheek.

"Thank you. Thank you. Thank you."

We got out of the car and walked into the tattoo studio. The artist started to set up for me. About ten minutes later I walked out of there with my new tattoo.

I'm a chicken so I didn't get anything big. Just a small one. And it still hurt like hell. I got the word 'risk' written in a simple font on the inside of my right wrist. Before my mother died, which she did giving birth to me, she wrote me a letter. By this point she knew I was a girl and the doctor had told her there was a good chance she wouldn't make it. The letter said:

To my darling baby girl,

If you are reading this I am no longer with you. Do not be unhappy at my passing. I understood this would come. There is but one thing I want you to remember in your life, Risk! Risk anything! Care no more for the opinions of others, for those voices. Do the hardest thing on earth for you. Act for yourself. Face the truth. Remember the biggest risk in life is to risk nothing at all.

I love you darling,

With all my heart,

Mum. x

I decided to get the word risk. Because that was what I'd been living my life by. I'd been risking everything. We pulled back into the drive just as everyone else came out.

"Where the hell have you been?" Asked Emily.

"Getting a tattoo." I said while slamming the car door.

"Please tell me you're joking." She said putting her head in her hands.

"Nope."

"Let me see it then."

I walked over to my sister. Who towered above me and peeled back the protective covering so she could see it. When she did she smiled.

"Mum?"

I nodded. Placing the covering back down.

"I still don't approve."

I rolled my eyes. We made our way into the house.

"Did you get it?" I realized all of the boys must've pitched in, but wanted to be able to stop the others stopping me. I smiled and nodded.

"Thanks guys." I said hugging them.

I realized there was absolutely no space to sit. Everyone was here, somehow flopped around. Matt had taken up residence on the floor. Kim was in Jared's lap. I frowned. I knew there was no way anyone would move for me. I plonked myself in Paul's lap.

"Hey find your own seat."

"Nope."

"Why the hell not?"

"Your comfortable."

"So? I don't want you all cuddled up to me."

"Funny you weren't complaining the other day."

"Shit!"

"Works both ways." I said laying my head on his shoulder. "What're we doing today?"

"Moving our stuff down." Aj said.

"So you are moving then?" I replied.

"No it's just our stuff." Joe said sarcastically.

"Okay smarty pants I was just checking."

It didn't take long to get the stuff down because we just had to wolf up there, get the moving van, Joe's Volvo, James's Harley and Matt's tuck.

I don't think the guys could believe it when all of my guys went and wolfed out and I walked round and picked up there clothes before Matt ran through my legs so I was sitting on him.

"See you in a bit." I shouted as they started running.

It was kind of weird ending up back in my old town, looking at the empty house that, despite all our best efforts and brain storming, Hannah, Emily and I still had no idea what to do with.

We literally got there jumped in the cars and headed back down. Matt diverted off towards the river though and we sat in his truck for a while, parked by the side, just looking at it.

"Do you remember the last time we came here?" He asked.

Idiot. How could I forget. This is where I lost it. This truck. This river. This boy. I played with my tongue bar as I looked at him. He hadn't really changed…much. He was a little more rough around the edges, but that was it.

He turned and saw me looking. Leaning towards me he placed a soft kiss on my lips. I responded. There was so much chemistry and history there it was hard not to. Although I wasn't enjoying it. I didn't want to. I didn't know what I wanted. That's a lie. I knew exactly what I wanted. I wanted Paul. I still wasn't ready to admit that to myself though, so when Matt's tongue slid across my bottom lip asking for entrance to my mouth I granted it.

He tangled his hands in my hair after pulling me, somehow, into the back seat. He was straddling me and I was underneath him. He began to kiss down my neck, but even when he kissed my soft spot my body didn't respond. I did not want this. But then again, I'm a stubborn girl.

He took my top off. I took his top off. We were pressed up against each other, kissing passionately. I wasn't feeling anything. I had to stop this. I pulled away.

"Matt…"

"Not feeling anything huh?" He asked knowingly.

I looked down and bit the left side of my bottom lip, the way I do when I'm nervous.

"Sorry…"

"It's Paul isn't it?"

"How did you…"

"Oh please," He cut me off. "We knew since we first saw him staring at you. We didn't like it, but we knew."

"How did you know?"

"He looked at you like a blind man seeing the sun for the first time. It wasn't hard. The real question is how did you miss it?"

"I just…didn't want to believe it."

"That's your problem Tally." He said placing his warm hands on either side of my face. "You don't want to believe you need anyone. Because you think that makes you weak. It doesn't. You're only human."

I shook my head. "That's not it Matt." He made a sound of protest but I put my hand up to stop him. "I don't want to believe I need anyone but you guys. You guys are the only ones that have never left me. Emily and Hannah moved away, not really keeping contact. What if the person I fall in love with leaves me too. I don't think I could deal with that. I need to….to feel secure. I need you guys."

"Risk Tally."

My eyes flicked to my wrist where the word that was still covered seemed to be burning. I nodded.

"I need to see Paul."

Matt climbed back in the front and threw my top at me. "Well you better buckle up then."

I have never been so scared in my life. I knew Matt's tuck could be used off road if he switched the tiers, which he did, but seriously. We made the four hour journey in an hour and a half cutting through the forest. He swerved back onto the road and let me climb in the front before we got to Sam and Emily's. It would already be fun trying to explain why we were three hours late. I was actually thankful we didn't take the road. We could blame this on my abominable map reading skills. But any longer would even be suspicious for me.

We pulled into the drive. Aj, James and Joe were the first out of the door as we climbed out of the truck into the pouring rain. Typical La Push. "Tally map reading again?" They asked. Guessing.

I would be quite offended if we didn't want them to believe this. I nodded sheepishly as I made my way past them into the kitchen where I knew I'd find Emily. I had noticed Paul wasn't outside but there was no way I was asking the guys where he was.

'Where's Paul?' I wrote on a scrap of paper.

'Patrol.' She wrote back. 'Why?'

'I need to speak to him.' I wrote. 'Do you know when he'll be back?'

'No I-' Her writing was cut off mid sentence as the kitchen door that linked to the garden banged open.

We looked up to see a dripping wet Paul. The water was running off of him and steam was floating off his body he was so hot. Emily looked pointedly at me and then at the paper before moving around me and out of the kitchen. I didn't really notice, I was too busy staring at Paul. He just kind of stood their. I suppose he was waiting for me to do something.

I wasn't so sure now if I could. I was scared. What if he didn't like me? What if he thought it was a joke? I'd be so embarrassed. Or what if it didn't work out? Then I wouldn't be able to hang around with everyone anymore.

I don't know if I could face that. I flicked my eyes to the paper and noticed there was something extra written on it. I looked back at Paul who had cocked his head and was still looking at me. I looked back at the paper.

"Risk…" I whispered the word as I read it.

I looked at my wrist. I thought about my mother. I thought about Matt. I thought about Emily. I thought about my father. I thought about Aj. I thought about Sam. I thought about Leah. I thought about James. I thought about Jared. I thought about Joe. I thought about Kim. I thought about Embry. I thought about Quil. I thought about Jacob. I thought about Seth. I thought about Paul. And finally I thought about me.

I realized all of those people took risks. I realized I took risks but yet I couldn't bring myself to make the one that would have probably the best affect on my life if it worked out. I thought of the fucking army. All the things they risked every day. All the things they're wives risked in loosing them. I thought of Emily getting married next week and the risk she was taking.

And that was it. In my head I realized I didn't see Emily and Sam. I saw Paul and I. I saw the life we could have, with the small children running around a house, getting angry all the bloody time and wreaking havoc. I saw their children doing the same. And I was sitting their all wrinkled smiling at the thought of this moment and what could be different if I hadn't taken the risk. Then I realized I wanted to take this risk, because if I didn't none of that would be possible.

I moved round the table and towards Paul. Slowly as I was moving, it seemed to be much faster to me. I reached up and placed my hands on his hot chest, marvelling as I did at how warm he was, despite the freezing rain. The droplets were still running down his body. I looked up into his eyes.

The warmth and care that radiated out of them made me appreciate that if I had thrown away this opportunity. If I wasn't taking this risk, it wouldn't just be me I hurt. I ran my hands up his chest and slid them around his neck. I was still looking up at him.

He leant down towards me and the closer he was the harder my heart beat. As the cheeky little smirk I was becoming so attached to rested upon his face I realized he could probably hear it. I blushed and looked at the floor for a second, admiring how beautiful the patio was when it had just rained and the light was shimmering on it. Then I looked up back into Paul's eyes and as I felt his warm breath waft across my face my eyes fluttered closed.

And then he kissed me.

His warm lips touched mine and I felt so much all at once. His woodsy smell completely intoxicated me. Butterflies released in my stomach, but I smiled because it made the risk worth it. My heart rate increased ten fold, and he smirked into the kiss. Ass. Fireworks seemed to go off in my head and I couldn't concentrate on any sounds. Not even the sound of what seemed to be both packs taking the piss and 'awwing'. Throwing in the odd wolf whistle I was sure was Joe. None of that stuff that would usually bother me did. Because all I could focus on was Paul. His arms around me, and I was sure, supporting my whole body weight, because I was sure as hell to dizzy to do it myself. And anyway I think my feet were dangling above the floor. His full lips pressed against mine. My arms around him. Just a second. But a second that was so perfect I was sure in that moment I'd remember it for the rest of my life. And then it was over.

My feet touched the floor. The heat left my lips and my eyes fluttered open. I looked at Paul and bit the left side of my bottom lip smiling. He smiled back at me.

"Finally. Now Paul I know you called dibs but can I kiss her now?" Came Jacobs teasing voice from somewhere behind me.

A growl ripped out of Paul's chest and he pulled me closer to him. So he was holding me tightly against his warm body. I lent my head on his chest.

"Maybe not." Jacob reasoned. "We'll just wait 'til he goes out later Tally." Jacob winked at me.

Paul growled again shaking slightly. I giggled and I felt him stop shaking and look down at me confused. I directed my eyes up to him. He looked so cute I couldn't help but giggle again.

"What makes you think I'D want to kiss HIM even if he wanted to kiss me? Which I'm sure he doesn't." I asked.

"Well…I…um…" I smiled at him and pecked his chest.

Mostly because I couldn't reach his lips. At this moment, being short sucked. I hugged him.

"I wouldn't want to kiss Jacob." I said matter-of-factly.

Jacob crossed his arms and pouted.

"Well what about me?" Asked Embry joking around.

I threw the spatula Emily had been using at him. He caught it. Stupid werewolf reflexes.

"Don't wind Paul up."

"Why what're you gonna do? Throw a spatula at me?"

Aj, Matt, James and Joe looked at me.

"Dude you so shouldn't have said that!" Joe said catching the malicious glint in my eye.

"Joe is Bob still in my car?" I asked.

He nodded fearfully.

"Like we'd touch Bob." Matt muttered.

Aj grinned, "More than our life's worth."

James threw me the keys, "Well this should be fun."

I ran out to my dodge and got a metal baseball bat with 'BOB' written on it in big black letters out.

I skipped back into the house and stood behind Embry, clicking my heels together in anticipation.

He turned round with raised eyebrows and I revealed Bob. His eyes went wide and he took a step back.

"Embry meet Bob. Bob, Embry. Now Embry I learned that I might not be able to damage a werewolf but Bob here sure can. And he is more than happy to help." I said in a cheerful voice.

"Now I suggest you run." He didn't need telling twice, he turned and legged it up the stairs.

"Why is it always the stairs?" I asked Aj.

"It seems the safest option until you realize you have to come back down." He said just as Embry appeared at the top.

I started walking up. "Works for me." I said before chasing Embry with Bob.

Bob hadn't been needed for a while. Tonight was going to be fun.

And when I heard Matt say, "Just so you know...if you hurt her we will take you to the vets and have you put down.", I knew I'd be fine for a while yet. The next step for me, School. After that, Emily's wedding.

PICTURES ON PROFILE!

OH MY GOD! I went to see new moon and the tickets were all sold out so I didn't get to see it yet :(. And I don't think I'll have the money again before it comes out on DVD because the boys dragged me bowling instead.

I hope you all liked this... It was a bit full on so I got light hearted again towards the end. Just so you know people THE DRAMA IS NOT OVER! I have so much drama set up for the rest of this fic I don't know how to fit it all in.

REVIEW OR ELSE AJ, MATT, JAMES AND JOE WILL EAT YOU!

Much Love,

....