May 27

Dear Diary,

If I have ever moaned about my life then I retract it.

Today is the first day of summer vacation and also my birthday. I have discovered that my life is wonderful, beautiful, magnificent – a hair away from perfect, even. I'm the luckiest girl in this whole freaking world.

Jared – I'm not going to spoil it.

I'm going to calmly explain. Calm. Calm. Calm.

I'm going to go get a big glass of water to cool myself down.

He surprised me this morning by telling me to grab my walking boots because he was taking me for a walk and a picnic. My heart melted and I couldn't contain my excitement. I was counting it as our first date.

Then a couple hours past and we were still walking, and I was starting to lose that excitement.

Jared, fitter than probably any human on this planet, was so patient. He probably could have climbed up and down there in about ten minutes, but this 'walk' had turned into a 'hike' – a hike that I am not nearly fit enough to accomplish. I wish I had stuck to the diet and got in shape.

He calmly held my hand and helped me up over fallen trees. I think he quite liked the fact that I was acting like a damsel in distress. My mother would be very disappointed. On the other hand, my grandmother would probably pat me on the back for a job well done. She always acts innocent and helpless to get my granddad to do what she wants, and then winks at me whenever he does it. She really is quite a minx, my Granny Anne. I never noticed until just recently.

Zain wasn't being anywhere near as patient though, and I did tell him to eff off once or twice when he barked at me to hurry up.

Jared laughed and kissed my hand. "It's not that much longer, I promise. It's literally just round there."

At that point I didn't trust him at all. I was looking forward to some nice, cute, quaint little picnic. Now I was covered in mud and a little bit clammy. Really sexy. My chances of 'wooing' Jared died long ago but I'd rather not look totally disgusting if I can help it.

"I thought you didn't want me to walk through the woods in case a vampire jumped out from behind the trees and tried to kill me?" I grumbled.

He rolled his eyes. "No, I didn't want you to walk through the woods alone."

"A vampire could still jump out from behind the trees," I pointed out, not really seeing the difference.

"Kim, trust me," he laughed. "A vampire is not getting anywhere near you when I'm around." I looked at him. "You're safe with me, I promise. You'll always be safe with me."

I smiled because he's just genuinely so caring. But then my legs nearly gave way and I groaned. Maybe he's not so caring if he's putting me through this. It's probably punishment for not sucking his face off yet. A punishment I agree that I deserve.

"Are you sure you don't want me to carry you the rest of the way?"

I shot him a look and he smiled. "No, I do not want you to carry me," I muttered.

He laughed. "We're very nearly there, I swear."

"Yeah, but then we have to walk all the way back! I can't believe you're putting me through this on my birthday!"

"It's not that bad."

I tripped over a log and he caught me before I could smash my face into a tree. His rumbling laugh for the first time annoyed me.

"Aww, I'm sorry, Kimmy."

"Don't call me Kimmy."

He caught my hand in his again. "I'm sorry, Kim."

I ignored him and kept my head down so I wouldn't trip again.

"You know, I've been walking up here since I was twelve," he said, still amused by my low levels of fitness.

"Oh well, whoopdy-do, Jared! Good for you!" I said sarcastically and span around to him, finally looking up from the boring mud. "Sorry we're not all freaking King Kong!" I hit his rock hard stomach for emphasis.

He smiled.

"Stop smiling!" I growled, exasperated.

He didn't.

"Turn around," he said calmly.

"What?"

He laughed and grabbed my shoulders, pushing me backwards a few steps. "Turn. Around," he whispered into my ear and then span me. The breath left my lungs and the agitation left my body instantly.

"Oh."

Jared chuckled as he tied Zain's lead around a tree. He then took my hand, tugging me the rest of the way to the edge of the cliff we were standing on top of.

"Do you understand now why I made you walk up here?" he asked tenderly, laughter in his voice. I nodded, speechless. "Although I had hoped you'd let me carry you…"

You never realise that your home is beautiful. Some people appreciate it but most people don't. It's not until you're pulled away from it or see somewhere different that you truly stop and think 'this place isn't so bad'.

That was never it for me. I'd always go to different places and bask in the beauty of it, wishing I didn't live in stupid old La Push. My cousins live in Canada and I absolutely adore it there. Whenever we visit I'm always overcome with jealousy at how wonderful it is. Some of my other family live in Connecticut and I love it there too. It's just so different.

It took me sixteen years to realise just how beautiful La Push is, and I probably wouldn't have ever realised if Jared hadn't taken me to the top of that cliff today.

It was breathtaking. The vast expanse of water on one side seemed never ending and to the other side all you could see for miles and miles were beautiful shades of green dancing in the wind under the rare sun.

Jared stood next to me. I turned into him and he stared back down at me.

"It's amazing," I whispered, awe-struck of the beauty that was hiding not so far away from where I've spent my whole life.

He brushed his fingers along my jaw and settled his hand on my neck as the other took hold of my waist and brought me against him.

"I used to come here with my dad… I've always loved it because noone ever came here. It felt like my special place, you know?"

I nodded, my heart pounding loudly in my ears.

"Thank you for bringing me here," I whispered. "Thank you for sharing it with me."

He smiled. "I couldn't imagine sharing it with anyone else."

My heart leapt to my throat at the sincerity in his voice and he bent his head down. I froze and it felt like the world around us slowed. My eyes went to his luscious lips and he slowly leant the rest of the way as I moved up onto my tiptoes.

His soft mouth brushed against mine in the sweetest, gentlest and most tender kiss. I pressed mine back against his, tasting him like I've wished to for weeks. His fingers threaded through my hair as my hands settled on his chest - his warm, hard, beautiful chest that I've been fantasizing over for weeks. I tugged at his t-shirt and pulled him closer, eager for his burning body pressed against mine.

And then it was gone. He pulled back far too quickly and moved a couple steps away, turning his back on me. My lips tingled and I could still feel his against them, but they were gone and suddenly I felt very cold without his warm touch.

I froze again but for a totally different reason than before.

Was I really bad? How do you know if you can kiss well? Was it obvious that that was my first proper kiss? I mean, I kissed Nico Walcott behind the bike shelters when I was like twelve but I don't think that really counted.

"I'm sorry," he blurted out, facing away from me.

"For what?"

I was surprised that I could even speak after that.

"You said you just wanted to be friends. I promised myself I wouldn't do this, I –" he huffed as his chest rose and fell heavily.

"I, umm," I bit my lip and mentally slapped myself to get myself to speak. "I think I've changed my mind…"

There. Done. Easy.

I was mentally dying inside. What if he turned round and was disgusted? What if he laughed in my face? What if he told me to get a grip, and said I was stupid to think I could ever deserve him?

He turned around and I couldn't meet his gaze. He walked back up to me but I kept staring at the dirt on the ground. Not at the massive fall over the edge of the cliff, although falling over that sounded more appealing than having to look up at Jared and face the repercussions of what I just said.

"Say it again," he whispered, tipping my face up with his fingers under my chin. My eyes met his wearily.

"I don't think I can."

He brushed his thumb over my lips. I tried to regulate my breathing but it was impossible. His eyes burned mine with their intensity before they lowered to watch his thumb pass over my mouth. I crumbled under the rather rough but teasing touch.

"Please say it again," he said as he pulled his hand away.

"I want to be more than friends, Jared," I blurted out, my body ablaze with the need to feel his soft but passionate kisses once more and he grinned as he ducked his head down and he pressed his mouth to mine.

I melted into him and his hands pulled me snugly against his body as my own wrapped around his neck. His tongue brushed against my lips and every cell in my body screamed in excitment. His hands moved from my back to waist and hips, tingling my skin and making me crave more of his touch. I ran my hands through his hair and pulled him closer, tugging on the short strands of hair. You know when I told Jared I loved his haircut? I wasn't lying. It's fucking great. He groaned and I moaned as our tongues danced.

He worked his wonderful, delicious magic on me for a while longer and officially turned my insides to jello and brain to goo, but unfortunately he pulled back and pressed his forehead against mine. I tried not to let him hear my heavy breathing, as it would probably be weird and a bit of a turn off but I don't think I achieved much. It was far too good of a kiss for me to breathe normally afterwards.

"That was nice," I said through my panting.

WHY DID I SAY THAT? What possessed me to think that that would be the right thing to say to someone after kissing them? Why would anybody say something like that? How is it that I have the power to ruin the most romantic moment of my life?

Jared laughed and covered my mouth with his again. I told him that he should keep doing that for the rest of my life to stop me from talking and he shook his head at me before kissing me again. Like everything to do with Jared, I quickly grew very accustomed to it. He seemed to just give me little titbits of loveliness and I just get greedy and can't give them up, wanting more and more. I happily kissed him back until he, to my great disappointment, pulled away again and took my hand, taking me back over to where he'd dumped his bag with Zain.

"We have to stop now or else I never will," he said as he pulled out a blanket from his bag and laid it down before sitting down on it, pulling me down too. I didn't understand why we had to stop at all.

Jared offered me a water bottle and I gulped most of it down in one go. I caught the grin on his face as he rooted through his bag.

"Sandwich?" he asked and I shook my head. My stomach was flipping too much for me to even think about food.

I grabbed his face and pulled him back down, kissing him somewhat impatiently.

He laughed and rubbed his nose against mine softly when I freed his lips.

"I love you," he whispered.

I froze.

He froze.

Zain wagged his tail.

Jared swallowed, seemingly nervous and embarrassed for the first time in his life. He turned back to his bag and grabbed a sandwich. I sat there for a moment, my brain reeling and my breath struggling to escape. It was too much.

I couldn't handle it. You should be with some for months before you say those three words. But this is him.

"Jared?" I whispered. He nodded as he unwrapped it but for once he was the one who couldn't meet my gaze. "I love you too."

He smiled at me, looking at me with his intense eyes, before he tucked into his sandwich.

"However," I went on with a sigh, "I have already came to terms with the fact that I will always come second best to food in your eyes. It's fine. I've dealt with it and I can live with that."

He laughed loudly and then chucked the half eaten sandwich to Zain, who happily gulped it down. He pushed me onto my back and hovered over me.

Jared kissed me softly, and pulled back to smile at me. "I love you so much."

"More than peanut butter and jelly sandwiches?" I asked.

He pretended to think about it but then smiled and dropped another tender kiss to my lips. "Yes, Kim, more than any type of sandwich."

"Oh wow. You do like sandwiches rather a lot…"

"You should be very happy then."

I smiled up at him.

"I am."

"So am I," he replied before dipping his head to kiss me again. "Happy birthday, Kim."

I smiled and tried not to cry from happiness as I pulled his face down to mine once more.

I think I love kissing him more than anyone has ever loved kissing anyone before in the history of kissing. I suppose I should probably worry about why he was such a good kisser, but when his lips were on mine I didn't have a care in the world. I didn't even care about breathing.

Unfortunately, because he was hovering over me, his intense heat was rolling off in waves, and the sun was blaring down on us, plus there was the general heat from making out, and it was all making me a bit dizzy. I gently pulled away and he moved to sit next to me, breathing as heavily as I was.

"Sorry… I'm sorry," he mumbled.

I shook my head at his apologies. "You're just very hot."

He looked up at me with cheeky eyes then realised that I was a bit too flushed. He passed me another bottle of water. I thanked him and downed it.

"Paul said when he was having sex with Nina that she passed out," Jared said, looking off gravely. He looked back up at me and smiled. "He thought he was just freaking wicked in bed but it turns out she just overheated from his high body temperature. To say he was disappointed is an understatement."

We both laughed and he brushed my hair over my shoulder.

He pecked my lips delicately and rather causiously. "Just shove me off if you get even a little bit too hot."

If he thinks I'm going to interrupt kissing him until it's absolutely necessary then he has another thing coming.

"While you're cooling down," he grinned, "You can open your presents."

I muffled my groan. I had my fingers crossed it wasn't a calculator. If it was then I'd either throw it over the edge of the cliff or attack him with it. With the way I was feeling after that kiss I kind of hoped it was condoms. Okay, I don't mean that.

I think.

"You didn't need to buy me anything," I said and he laughed as he pulled out a large, square, thin object.

"That's very neatly wrapped," I noted. "Your mom did it, didn't she?" I smiled, trying to calm myself down. My heart was still beating ferociously from the first kiss. Our first kiss. The stupid girly happy content sighs have not stopped all day.

He glared at me. "If you're going to be like that then you're not getting it."

I stared at him with raised eyebrows until he rolled his eyes. "Yes, she did. Shut up."

I kissed his cheek as he finally handed it over, thanking him.

It was one of those dog signs you get to hang on fences. On it read 'Beware, vicious dog inside' and a picture of a beagle snarling.

We both looked over at Zain, who was lying on his back, wiggling around as he tried to nibble at his back feet.

"Very funny," I said, and he grinned and kissed me again, his eyes lingering on my lips. I really was getting very used to that.

"That's not your real present."

I gulped as he passed me a small box.

He watched my face intensely as I opened it, becoming speechless for the second time today.

"It's sort of a Quileute heirloom," he replied, somewhat embarrassed now as I fingered the beautiful old tribal necklace. The thread was woven ever so delicately and intricately, the beads were intwined almost gracefully into it and the final feather hanging central was the finishing touch that made it more stunning than any of the silly tacky ones we were taught to make at school. "It's like my great-great-grandmothers or something. They passed it down each generation. It used to be when their oldest son got married but it soon just became whenever they knocked someone up," he grinned. "My family have a history of early pregnancies."

I looked up at him, finally broken from the trance of mesmerization from the necklace.

"Err, I'm pretty sure I'm not pregnant, Jared."

He laughed loudly. "I should hope not, Kim, or else I'm taking this back." He tenderly pulled the necklace out of the box. "No, I'm just changing the tradition again. I think finding The One is a valid enough reason."

He clasped it around my neck and then pulled my hair out from underneath it. I gently touched it as a lump formed in my throat. He just said it so matter-of-factly, you know? I suppose he is The One. That's a thought that really warms my heart.

I quickly moved forward and flung my arms around his shoulders.

"Thank you," I whispered. "Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. It's beautiful. I love it."

Jared held me as tightly as I did him.

"I love you," he said again.

I could definitely get used to that, too.

"Now, I made you a cake but it might have gotten squished..."

I did the sigh again.

Marry me.

There is no doubt about it, he is most definitely The One.

"I love you," I whispered and pulled him back to me, kissing him rather forcefully. It was worth the wait.

Kim Conweller

There we go, what you've all been waiting for! It's probaby about 18 chapters too late for your liking, but I hope it was worth it for you too because I'm a little bit scared that I've made you wait this long and built it up so much for them to finally get together and have a snog, and it was a dissapointment and you're all just going to gang up and come kill me out of frustration. So err, please don't hesitate to share your thoughts!

The neclace was something that I pretty much came up with as I wrote it because I wasn't sure until it came out what the hell he was going to give her. When I was reading more about the Quileutes for information I read that they have a lot of little arts and crafts things (like in the Twilight Saga when Jacob made Bella a dreamcatcher and carved a little wooden wolf for her bracelet and stuff like that) so I thought it would be something sweet and close to their hearts, as one of the things about this is Kim falling in love with her heritage as well as Jared.

Also, I read on the Twilight Wiki page that Jared's great-grandmother, Lorraine Huautah, was Ephraim Black's cousin, so I thought it would be nice to bring that in too. I also read on the Twilight Wiki page that Jared's last name is 'Cameron', but for some reason I don't think that suits him. Well, it doesn't suit the Jared that I'm writing him as so for that reason I'm not going to go back and change it. I know that 'Thail' is a very common last name for him on fanfiction but I really like it.

Oh, and I got an alert for a 'new chapter' regarding Ch. 16, did anyone else? I'm not sure why because it wasn't the one that didn't get an alert sent out about, and also I didn't change anything and re-upload it, so if you were wondering whether you should go back and read it incase I made some changes, you don't need to :) Sorry if it got your hopes up and you thought it was the new chapter!

Abby 24 - Haha there you go, I hope it was up to your liking! I'm glad you've liked it so far, thank you for reading and reviewing :)

Ashley C - The same goes to you, I hope you like it and I hope the kiss was worth the rather drawn out wait!

Thanks again everyone who's reading and reviewing :)