Chapter 2: Deadman

ZoeyPOV

I don't like lying, it makes my stomach knot and do these weird acrobatic stunts. Am I a hypocrite if I hate liars, but I've made most of my high school career lying? I probably was. It wasn't just that I was lying, it was that I was lying to Paul. Paul had taken care of me my whole life, he was there, always, especially when my parents weren't, he did everything he could for my sister and me. He worked two jobs, took care of us when we were sick, and looked out for us. Sure, Mia and I did things to make Paul mad, but it was our job. But knowing that we were lying to him, daily, would always make me think twice about doing things.

"We're going to die!" I moaned. We were in my room, blasting music so Paul and his friends downstairs couldn't hear us.

"No we aren't!" Mia snapped at me for what seemed like the tenth time. She was busy pulling out clothes for us to wear tonight, "If he see's us, oh well. You said it yourself, you don't care."

"Alright then, then Cole and Drew are going to die!" I snapped sitting up.

Mia bit her lip, seeing my point, "Well, if it comes down to Paul getting mad at us being with them, then we'll just have to intervene I really don't want to be dealing with a corpse, especially a yummy one like Drew."

I blanked as she said that, "Back up for a sec, I thought you were only using Drew to make Paul mad."

Wearing a guilty look Mia sat in my desk chair, "That was before he kissed me."

"What? When?" I jumped up, eager to hear this news.

"When we skipped today," Mia answered, "we were sitting in the softball field and he just kissed me. I swear, that boy has the most amazing lips ever," fanning herself with a paper Mia winked, "and those hands!"

"Hands? Mia no," I shook my head.

"Not that way you perv!" She snapped, throwing the paper fan at me, "I mean, they were so warm, and not in that way. You know I wouldn't."

I nodded, "I know, you just freaked me there for a second. But back to man candy, what else happened?"

"Nothing," my sister shrugged, turning the station on the radio, "we just kissed and then had to get back. He held my hand though and halfway walked me to Jared's truck."

"Ah," I batted my eyes at her, "You're such a ho."

Mia burst out laughing, "You are the only person who could get away with saying that. But no, I wasn't. And you're one to talk. I heard you all but made out with Cole at lunch."

"Making out and a kiss on the cheek are two different things!" I crossed my arms as Mia laughed.

"Ok then!" she rolled her eyes and went back to finding a decent station.

"Plus the kiss on the cheek was me saying good bye," I said, "it didn't take much to get him to ask me out."

"Sure it did," Mia gave up on the radio and turned back to me, "Seth Clearwater has your number."

I smiled, "I know, I've been texting him all day. He's bummed that he's going to that party tonight. I told him that we could hang out tomorrow at the beach if he wanted."

"You're head over heels for that boy," Mia smiled at me, "this is the last boy we date for fun. The next one will be for real."

"I couldn't have said it better twin!" I shook hands with my other half and stretched. The clock read seven, meaning the party would start in two hours, "So, what are we wearing?"

"Well it's Cole's party, so nothing to dramatic," Mia contemplated, "Shorts?"

I paused and went to look in my closet. Taking a second to think, I pulled out a pair of dark short jean shorts, a baby pink cotton camisole, and a red and pink long sleeve plaid shirt, "This?"

"Perfect! I'll be right back!" Mia skipped out of my room, closing the door I changed out of my school clothes and put these new ones on. The camisoles was extremely tight, freaking Paul needed to learn how to wash clothes. After I put the plaid shirt on I looked a little less…slutty.

Sliding back into the room, Mia struck a pose with me in the mirror. She was wearing identical shorts to me, a navy tight cotton camisole, and a turquoise long sleeve plaid shirt. We usually didn't dress in the same clothes, but if we did, at least we made sure our shirts were different colors. We were twins, fraternal twins at that, just because we were born at the same time, didn't mean we dressed an did everything the same.

"I do believe we have the perfect outfit," I winked and grabbed the camera from my bed, snapping a quick picture of us in the mirror, "I'm wearing converse."

Mia smiled sheepishly as she had already begun pulling hers on. For the next hour we redid our hair and make up, making sure everything was in perfect order. Just before we left my room I sprayed myself with my sugar cookie spray. It was one of those cheap junky sprays, but the smell was to die for. Mia had a vanilla bean spray. Let's just say, when we smelled them, we had to go home and make cookies.

"Ok, the trick is to get past you know who," I whispered as we quietly walked down the hall. We made it to the back door just when Paul caught us.

"And where do you think you two are going?" Paul smirked at us, he was standing with his back pressed against the frame of the kitchen. His friends were all crowded in our sitting room.

"Wow, someone's dressed up!" I tried, pointing out his clean (and not ripped) jeans, and black V-neck (not stained or ripped) shirt.

"Again, where are you two going?" Paul asked again, the others by now stood to come and see the show.

"We're going running," Mia easily found an excuse. It wasn't a bad excuse, we went out running all the time.

"In those clothes?" Jared snorted and we threw him a glare.

"Ok," I held my hands up, "You caught us," Paul smirked Mia pouted, "We're going to the mall."

Obviously that hadn't been the answer he was expecting, because Paul blanked for a second before answering, "The mall?," Mia and I nodded, "With what money?"

"We're actually just going to walk around, just wanted to get out," Mia added to our lie.

"Yeah, ok then," Paul rolled his eyes, "I'm going out, don't wait up."

"Wouldn't dream of it!" My sister and I chorused. With that we walked out the back door, taking the old trail we used to go to the mall.

"He still watching us?" I muttered.

Mia looked behind her, pretending to have seen something on the ground, "No."

"Good, run!" I laughed as my sister ran after me. Tonight would be fun, even if I would die.

~Party~

By the time Mia and I had gotten to Cole's the party had already started, so it wasn't that hard to slip in and get lost quickly in the big crowd. Music was blasting from the speakers, people grinding up on each other. My eyes skimmed them though, looking for Cole. Mia's arm was laced through mine as I dragged her through everyone.

"Z!" my head jerked up as I heard Cole's voice. Standing at the counter was Cole, dressed in jeans and a snug fitting t-shirt We walked over to him, surprised to find Drew Cane and Luke there with them. Wrapping an arm around my waist Cole pulled me into his side, Drew copying him but with Mia, "I was wondering when you guys would get here."

"Yeah, we got distracted," I said lamely, my sister and I shared a look and smirked.

"Whatever," Cole smirked at me, his hand tightening on my side. I bit my tongue, as he sipped out of his red cup.

Drew was whispering something to Mia, Cane and Luke looking torn about where to go. I looked at everyone else, the usual people were here, with the exception of Seth and the gang. Ally was dan- the gang? My heart pounded as Paul and the others made their way into the room. I turned to warn Mia, only find her glued to Drew, their lips locked in a battle.

"What's with you?" Cole looked down at me, "Chill, have fun."

"Uh," I watched my brother talk to another girl, "M!"

Mia pulled herself away at the sound of my panic. She followed my gaze and her eyes got big. Clearing her throat she gave Drew her best 'come and get it' look, "Let's go somewhere quiet."

Looking like he was the luckiest guy alive, Drew laced his hand with Mia's and lead them out of the room. Damn.

"Cole," I batted my eyes up at him, placing my hands on his chest, "I think my sister has an excellent idea. Let's go somewhere else. Just for me and you."

Smirking Cole placed his drink down, "Sure."

I could have screamed as we walked out of the room, Cole leading me somewhere, I didn't care as long as it was far away from my brother. It wasn't until I had been led into a dark room, and Cole began kissing me did I realize what my words probably had meant to him. Double damn.

CollinPOV

I didn't like parties, no particular reason, but for some reason they annoyed me. Maybe it was all the people, or the too loud music, either way, the moment we got into Cole's my head began a dull throb. Jared and Paul had been the ones to convince the rest of us to go, saying we needed to get out and do something. A night of no patrolling was rare, but usually that would mean we would be crashed out on the couch asleep. No, instead I was here, my skin crawling and dying to leave.

Paul and Jared seemed to be having a good time, talking to people they knew and laughing. Seth and Brady were saying something, but the music was too loud, drowning their voices out. The air smelled faintly of vanilla, I had smelled that before, but where?

"Yeah Drew has Mia in the back," whoever said that had about five seconds to live. Paul froze and turned around, pushing Jared to ask.

"Mia Walker?" Jared asked casually and the girl with curled hair nodded.

"Yeah, freaking slut," the girl rolled her eyes before turning back to her friends.

"Paul calm down," Jared turned around, just as Paul stormed down the hall. People were oblivious to any upcoming danger as we followed Paul down the empty hallway. Turning a corner, Paul stopped.

"Fuck you Drew!" I knew that voice. We crowded around Paul, just in time to see Mia knee Drew in the groin. He fell to his knees gasping for air.

"Fucking bitch, you get one shot and that's it!" Drew snapped.

Mia rolled her eyes, "I'm crushed!"

Drew opened his mouth to say something but Mia turned to walk away. And froze when she saw us. She cleared her throat, "Hey Paul."

"Talk, now," He growled. Mia ran a hand through her messed up hair.

"Uh," was all she said.

"What are you doing here?" Paul breathed deeply when Jacob put a hand on his shoulder.

"Acting like a slut!" Drew growled.

"Shut the fuck up," Mia snapped at him, "Go home Drew."

Drew said nothing as he made his way around us, cringing at the look Paul gave him. Paul turned back to Mia, "What. Are. You. Doing. Here?"

"Hanging out?" Mia shrugged her shoulders, trying for innocence.

"Calm down Paul," Jared said, "One party, that's it. One party."

"More like twenty!" Drew yelled from behind us.

"I'm going to hurt you Drew if you don't leave now!" Mia yelled, glaring at him over our shoulders.

Paul held his hands up, "Nope, not even going to argue about any of this. Go home Mia," pausing, Paul added, "where's Zoey?'

Mia shrugged, "She was with Cole."

Paul looked ready to explode, "Collin, take her home. Now."

I didn't need to be told twice, Grabbing Mia's wrist I pulled her away, walking quickly so she almost had to run to keep up with me. I didn't slow down until we were away from the party, away from Paul and the explosion.

"Ok, let go," Mia muttered, pulling at my grasp lamely.

I slowed to a walk, dropping her wrist like it burned me, "Paul's pissed."

"Could have fooled me," Mia sighed.

"Why were you even there with Drew?" I asked, our walk barely counted as one, it was so slow I knew we wouldn't be getting to the Walker house for awhile.

Mia shrugged, "He would piss my brother off the most. But, ugh, he's gross."

"What did he do?" I muttered as she kicked a rock.

"What every teenage guy wants any girl to do," Mia rolled her eyes, "I told him no and he got pissed."

I shrugged, "It's your own fault."

"Thanks for the support," Mia snapped, "Ugh! I hate boys."

"Thanks," I gave Mia a look and she smiled.

"Well the ones I choose anyways," she smirked at me before looking down.

"That's because you pick the bad ones," I pointed out, I put my arm around her shoulders, "you just have bad taste."

"Yeah well fake bad taste at least," Mia corrected.

"Your own fault," I repeated and she laughed.

"Well if you had told me you were going tonight, I would have reconsidered who I went with," Mia muttered, still looking down.

I paused, "Really now?"

She looked up at me, her blue eyes locking into mine, "Really."

I couldn't tear my eyes off of her. Everything about Mia, every inch of her, from those gorgeous eyes, to all those curves, everything. Her lips were red in the moonlight, and I had no control over my hand as I brushed my thumb across her lips. Her scent hit me like a brick wall, vanilla and cinnamon. Swallowing I tried to tear my eyes away from hers, realizing that my head had inched dangerously close to hers.

I started to stand up straight, only to have Mia protest, "Wait, I just…want to see something," she cleared her throat and looked back up at me, "Collin, I want you to do something."

"What?" I muttered in the same hushed whisper.

"Kiss me," Mia whispered.

I didn't need to be told twice. Pressing my lips against Mia's I felt my body ignite, I pulled her to me, holding her as close as possible. Mia groaned as she pulled my head down to hers, standing on tip toe to kiss me better. I pulled away a second later, staring into those eyes.

I had just done something completely out of line. I, Collin Maine, had just imprinted on Mia Walker, Paul's little sister.

I was a deadman.

ZoeyPOV

"Cole, I said no," I muttered for the eighth time. We were laying on his bed I guessed, him hovering over me as he kissed at my neck. His hands kept moving towards my shorts, and I kept pulling them back up.

"Come on Z," Cole pleaded into my neck before placing his lips back against mine. This was my own fault, even I could see that. At first I was just going to kiss Cole, then sneak out the bathroom window, and run the hell out of here. But one kiss turned into five. And five turned into a make out. Don't get me started on even thinking about how stupid I was being right now. I knew Cole would piss Paul off, mostly because everyone knew that Cole was the number one player at school, he used girls and then dropped them. But none of that had come into my head, when I had all but given him the idea of us having sex.

"Come on," Cole whispered again, running a hand up my shirt.

I sat up suddenly, pushing his hand away, "You know what, I think I'll go now."

"Zoey," Cole sighed, "you wanted to do this and now you're freaking out? What about all those rumors, hmmm?"

I resisted the urge to smack him. Paul and Mia were the violent ones, not me, "You shouldn't believe everything you hear."

"Zoey baby," Cole grabbed my hips from where I stood in front of him, "Why not make them true."

Before I could protest, Cole pulled me back down on the bed, covering my body with his. I was tempted to bite his tongue as it entered my mouth. He'll give up in a few seconds, they always do. Unfortunately for me Cole was persistent. When I had moved in an attempt to get out form under him, Cole took that the wrong way and attacked my neck. I felt a sting of pain and bit my lip.

"You have a second to get off her before I make you," oh thank the lord! I could have cried when I heard Paul's voice.

Cole jumped off of me like someone had thrown him. He looked at my older brother with wide eyes. Paul clenched his jaw, "Zoey, you're leaving."

"I'm leaving!" I agreed and stood, "And Paul, you can kill him."

"I plan to," Paul pushed me out the door and slammed it in my face.

"You guys are in a lot of trouble," Jared grabbed my shoulder and steered me out of the party, the others falling right behind us, "What were you and Mia thinking?"

"Mia? Where is she?" I asked, trying to distract him as I buttoned my shirt.

"Collin took her home," Jared snapped, "seriously though Zo, what were you guys thinking?"

"Uh, that it was a party?" I guessed and Jacob hid his laugh, "Jared, did you honestly not know?"

Jared's jaw clenched before he answered, "That's not what I asked Zoey."

"I don't know what I was thinking, happy?" I snapped and Jared said nothing.

"I'm going to go get Paul before her kills that guy," Jacob looked at Jared.

"Yeah, I'll go too," with one last look, Jared left, leaving me with Seth and Brady.

"They might need more help," Brady muttered before running to catch up with the two.

"Big brother is going to kill me," I told Seth as he started walking me home.

"Well," he shut up, shaking his head instead, "I didn't think you liked Cole."

"I didn't," I answered, looking up at him. In the last year Seth had gotten taller, muscle strained his t-shirt. His once shaggy hair was now cropped short.

"Could have fooled me," Seth muttered, he took a moment and stared at me. Saying nothing.

"Hello, Seth!" I waved a hand in front of his face.

He blinked and shook his head, "You look pretty tonight."

What. The. Hell?….I shook my head, "Thanks?"

"I still don't know why you went with Cole," Seth went back to our previous subject.

"It was to make Paul mad. That's why Mia was with Drew," I explained to him, "It was nothing. Plus, I like someone else," I gave Seth a wink.

He smiled for a second before taking my hand in his. It was so warm, "Yeah, well I like someone too, a lot more then she realizes."

I couldn't help the stupid smile on my face, "Well I bet she's happy about that."

Seth's hand fell from mine, "You would think," he didn't look at me as he spoke next, "but she has a problem of going after guys and then playing with them."

"Seth," I reached out for him but he pulled away from me.

"Zoey, I really do like you, and I thought I've made that obvious. I like you, a lot, more then you can understand right now. But I know how you feel about people, and I know that you're not serious," Seth's words cut into me like knives. I couldn't think of what to say to him as he shook his head, "I want to be with you all the time Zoey, but I think you need to sort out yourself first."

"Myself?" I muttered, blinking back the tears that caused the hard rock in my throat, "Seth Clearwater, you have no right to talk to me like that! If anyone needs to take a good hard look at themselves, then it's you! Stop being a hypocrite! What I do, is my business!"

Seth said nothing as he shook his head, "You don't understand."

"I understand just fine!" I snapped, I said nothing else as I ran away from him, ignoring the tears that fell down my face. As I slammed the door to the house closed, I felt my chest tighten and I crumpled to the ground. I knew Seth was right, I knew that if I ever wanted to be with someone, I would have to change. He wasn't the hypocrite, I was. I preached others that they had to be honest and faithful in a relationship, but in the end, I did the opposite of what I said. Knowing that Seth had said he wanted me, but was scared because of my past, hurt me. I finally find someone, who I truly want be with, and once again, I let myself get in my way.