April 12

Dear Diary,

I heard so many rumours about it but I never would have believed it. I mean, my imagination couldn't even begin to come up with something like that. It was insane. Unbelievable.

But yet I saw it with my own eyes.

Jared has the best six-pack I have ever seen.

Not that I stare at a lot of six-packs but… fucking hell. I thought he was hot – I knew he was hot. You could tell that beneath his tight t-shirt he had a little summit-summit going on. I did not, however, expect him to have the body of a freaking god. I didn't even think normal people could have torsos that were so defined.

Jared is stunning and so mind-blowingly sexy that I can't fathom why the hell he is even wasting his time with me. Surely he should be off in some big city, working as an underwear model? Dating other sexy underwear models?

I'd heard that everyone was saying he, Paul and Sam ran around half naked but when he turned up on my doorstep, topless, as if it was the most natural thing, I nearly passed out.

He is gorgeous.

His stomach is gorgeous. I didn't know you could get a gorgeous stomach, but he has one. His chest, arms and shoulders are gorgeous.

I'd gotten much better since Jared's little surprise visit, as well as his second surprise visit on Saturday, and again on Sunday, by which time he let me go out for a walk with him, although he turned up holding a thick pair of gloves. Isn't he just the kindest person ever?

Admittedly, it was a lot nicer weather than it was on Thursday, but still. It was sweet. Althought it was a bit weird because he was topless and it was still quite cold.

Not that I was complaining.

He noticed my staring and a grin broke out on his face. At least I think it did, I wasn't looking at his face. I was looking at the thick muscles that wrapped around his body. He has the nicest shoulders I have ever seen.

"Sorry, I forgot a shirt," he said. He didn't sound sorry.

He rubbed his hand down his stomach and I was overcome with jealousy. His skin looked so soft.

I tried to say 'never mind' at the same time as 'it doesn't matter' and I ended up saying 'never matter'.

Some people might say that but I think it was quite obvious that I just made a royal fuck up. I let Zain pull me off down the road. I ducked my head so my hair would fall and cover my scarlet cheeks. He just laughed and followed after me.

It wasn't a cruel laugh, though. More of just a happy one. He's never ever cruel. He makes fun of me all the time but you know he's not doing it to upset you. He makes fun of himself too, he just likes having a bit of banter.

"Oh right. I forgot. What was it you said? Oh yeah, 'you couldn't think straight if I was topless'. Do you want me to go home and get a shirt?"

I glared at him and he let Zain off the lead. He's good enough that he'll just walk beside us until we get to the beach or into the trees.

Jared wrapped his arms around me from behind, managing to keep walking straight.

"Aww, I'm sorry for teasing you, Kimmy," he said softly, his voice filled with happiness and I couldn't exactly be mad at him, could I? Especially when his warm arms were wrapped around me and his naked chest was pressed against my back. "I didn't do it on purpose – the forgetting the shirt thing. I did the teasing thing on purpose just because I love your blush."

Because he mentioned the blush, my cheeks heated up even more. Obviously I knew he'd notice, but it was nice to hope he didn't.

"Yes you did," I replied. "You planned it all because you get off on my discomfort. You're a horrible, horrible person, Jared Thail," I told him.

He pressed a tantalizingly soft kiss just behind my ear and a shiver tickled down my spine, even though his body heat was warming me up.

"Please forgive me? I can't help myself," he said and I shook my head at him in despair as I pulled his arms off and pushed him away.

How was I supposed to act cool and calm if he was holding me and kissing me like that whilst being topless? I am only a woman, after all. No, worse than that, I'm a teenager. And we tend to do really stupid stuff because of hormones. I do not have as much self control as he seems to think I do.

"No," I replied. "You're far too mean and I don't want to be your friend anymore."

"Oh, please!" he said dramatically as he grabbed my hands and span me around so I was walking backwards. I continued to glare at him as he pressed a delicate kiss to the palm of each hand.

Does he do this on purpose? Does he know what he does to me?

"I was having so much fun with you. Please don't ditch me," he said, smiling down at me as he held onto my hands, our fingers entwined as he pushed me backwards.

"Sorry, it's gotta happen. There's really not that much in this friendship for me."

He grinned. "Apart from great abs you can drool over, my amazing cooking abilities and my all round perfect personality with a hilarious sense of humour, to boot. You couldn't ask for someone better if you tried."

"'Hilarious sense of humour'? Is that what you call it?"

He raised his eyebrow in a delicious smirk.

"That's the only thing you disagree with? So you admit you were drooling over my body? And that I have a perfect personality?"

"No!"

He continued to smirk at me. I rolled my eyes.

Yes. Yes he really did have all of that and so much more.

"You're good at making soup. I'll give you that much."

"You're breaking my heart," he said, grinning. He has the most beautiful eyes. They're just so pure.

He stopped walking, bringing me to a halt also. His head turned the tree line next to the path.

"Jared? What is it?" I asked. He didn't say anything and then Paul and Sam (I'm pretty sure it's him, even if I'd never met him before) emerged from the trees, walking over to us.

Zain bounded up to them and laid on his back next to Sam.

"You need to come with us," he said, staring at Jared intensely. My hands slipped from his. "Now," Sam pressed.

"I just told you, I –" Jared started angrily but Paul cut him off.

"There's been a… bear sighting. Nearby."

Sam shot him a look but said nothing. He really was quite intimidating. No wonder Zain was still lying on his back.

My hands slipped around Jared's forearm.

"Was anyone hurt?" I asked. Sam eyed me carefully as Paul shook his head.

I don't know how I managed to speak under Sam's petrifying gaze but somehow I did.

"We need to leave," Sam said, turning his eyes back to Jared. His lips pursed into a tight line. "Come with us now," he said sternly and Jared all but snarled.

"I have to walk Kim home first."

"Fine. Be quick," and with that the two guys disappeared back into the trees.

Did I mention they were both shoeless? And they didn't have tops on either. What the hell was that about? Who didn't wear shoes in the woods?

"Come on," Jared said, his hand finding mine as he pulled me along. I quickly clipped Zain's lead back on and the both of us had to hurry to keep up with Jared.

"What – what was that about?" I asked between breaths.

"I'll explain later." He wouldn't look at me.

"You – you're not going after it, are you?"

He said nothing.

"Jared, that's insane!"

"It's what we do," he replied tightly. "It's fine, Kim."

"What do you mean, 'it's what we do'? You can't go running after bears!"

He breathed heavily. "I know what I'm doing."

We hadn't gotten that far on the walk and with the speed Jared was walking at we reached my house in no time.

"I'm sorry, I have to go." His eyes bore into mine for half a second before he looked away again. "Please stay inside."

I nodded and he stared at the woods.

"I'll explain it later," he repeated and I threw my arms around his neck. I couldn't hold it back any longer.

"Please be careful," I whispered.

He nodded and pulled out of my arms, running into the trees.

I've been panicking ever since. I try to stop worrying by thinking about happy things (his naked upper body) but it doesn't work. My mind goes back to him and my stomach churns.

I've already sent him a dozen texts and he has even more missed calls.

What the hell was he playing at?

What if he gets hurt?

Oh, god. I don't know what I'd do if he was hurt.

There's this girl called Emily Young (apparently she's the girl who Sam ditched her cousin for) and she was mauled by a bear. Was this why? Where they all in some kind of bear-hunting group? This is insane! What if he gets hurt like her – or worse! No, I can't think like that. He'll be fine. He said he knows what he's doing and I'm going to trust that.

I just sent him another text telling him to call me the minute he gets in, just so I know he's okay. I also put about a gazillion kisses on the end of it.

I knew I looked needy but I didn't care. It felt like there was this steel weight pressing down on my chest and I'm scared.

I'm so scared.

I don't know what I'd do if something happened to Jared.

Kim Conweller

Later

It's now about midnight. I've still heard nothing.

He probably got in, exhausted, and went straight to bed. I doubt he'd think to check his cell. He probably forgot all about me, which is understandable. His mind was on more important things.

Right?

Of course. That's the only logical explanation.

Nothing has happened to Jared because I'd know. I'd be able to feel it, I'm sure. It seems stupid to say that because I'm not a physchic or anything remotely like that – I don't even believe in that – but there just feels like a... a conection between us that makes me feel like I'd know. It's like I can almost feel it when he's happy, so I reckon I'd feel it when he's sad or in pain too. And if he... died then I'd know. I could tell. It sounds bonkers and I'd never tell anyone this, but I knew that I'd be able to feel it.

He has to be okay. I need him to be okay.

I'm really surprising myself with how frequent these updates are! Thanks to everyone whose reading and especially to those taking the time to write a review, I really appreciate it!

Rushforlife - I couldn't send you a private message so, thank you so much for reading and reviewing :)