Sorry for the wait, again all I can do is apologise and hope you all understand how hectic life gets. I just forget how much time passes between updates. Please stick with the story and please please chuck ideas at me!

Time went quickly here, I wasn't sure whether it was because my days were kept so busy or simply because I wasn't so time conscious as I had been back home. In Chicago I was always watching the clock, catching buses to different dance practices most days or simply trying to get from school home, or in the last few months before and after my mom died, to work. Times had got harder, we were behind on rent this time last year and so I picked up a couple shifts a week at the diner my mom worked morning shifts at. You would think that being busy with school, dance and work would make the days fly by but it hadn't, the tick tock of the clock had gone painfully slow during those long days, but here they went as if it were nothing. Maybe it was because I found myself laughing, I didn't sit and dwell on the people I missed but I began enjoying the ones I had. I spent more time with Kim and Emily, then there was Seth. He was the sweetest kid I had ever met, at only fourteen he was a gentleman and he had me laughing until my stomach hurt some days.

I had been here nearly two weeks now, and although it was going quickly and easily, there was still one thing slowing my mind down, still one thing I lingered on for too long each day. Paul, no matter how hard I tried to ignore his ever growing presence on my mind he just kept appearing. He had been here only once since his fight with Sam, it seemed a little tense. Sam wasn't keen on talking about him and Paul didn't seem keen on his ten minute visit to be around Sam. It was almost like they were a pair of teenage girls in a fight, they went out of their way to ignore each other and it had got so awkward in the house that Emily kicked them both out. Paul left, Sam however sulked up to his bedroom mumbling about something strange happening. The ten minute visit had come with the same silent treatment toward me, Paul looked at me but he wasn't friendly, he didn't even say hi.

It was four days until Christmas, the 22nd of December and there was a tribal gathering at first beach, I wasn't sure whether that meant the entire Quileute tribe or just the guys who hung around here but Emily was baking like crazy while Kim and I were sat eating the cookies that had gone wrong, I was now on my tenth gingerbread elf, it was most definitely the best job.

"Girls, you are supposed to be decorating those ones, these are the bad batch" Emily screeched as Kim reached for another Santa hat shaped cookie.

"I knew they didn't taste burnt" I giggled as I finished off my good cookie and reached for the icing bag ready to decorate.

"You two have eaten nearly all of them" Emily groaned and Kim rolled her eyes at how dramatic the woman got over cookies.

"The guys will never notice they are burnt, can't we just give them those?" I pointed to what she called the bad batch and I was met with a look of disgust.

"The tribal elders will be there, Quil Senior will not eat burnt cookies"

"Yeah his teeth will fall out" Kim giggled as she squirted icing onto her gingerbread elf.

"Kimberly, stop that" Emily was smiling slightly but she tried sounding serious. She couldn't be mad at us for long.

"Hey you've given that one a penis" I pointed to the elf she just decorated and she giggled all over again.

"You better not be giving those elves penis's, so help me god I will kick you out of the kitchen" Emily scolded us from her place by the stove where she was making some sort of Christmas pie.

"Uhh do I want to know what you are doing in here?" A low voice came through the open front door and my body prickled in a heat I hadn't felt before, the tiny hairs all over my body stood on end and I thought back a tingling shiver.

"The girls are drawing icing penis's on the gingerbread" Emily huffed and I chuckled again.

"Actually it was Kim" I stopped as my eyes looked up and saw the owner of the low voice, Paul. His eyes found mine and the smile he had dancing in them faded to a blank stare that I still didn't seem prepared for. I dropped my head back down to the table and piped more icing on, trying desperately not to notice him in the room.

"Uhh well Sam said you needed me so" His low voice growled a little as he spoke, he sounded almost angry and although it was an intimidating sound my body shivered again.

"Oh yes, if you don't mind I need those chairs to be taken up for Quil and Sue, and also those two boxes of food. I will bring the rest up later with Kim and Jared" Paul moved and walked past me, there were quite a few chairs there and I half expected Emily to help but she didn't move. "If you take Savannah with you she can sort the food out, she knows what to do with it all and that way she can stop eating all the cookies"

"No" Paul was quick to respond, I hadn't even managed to look up before he said no. Granted, I was going to protest her idea but the harshness of his no made me flinch and my heart deflated within me. He really hated me. "I umm, she'll be squashed in the truck I have things in there" He pointed to the front door and I nodded with him trying to find my composure again.

"I can go with Jared"

"She can go with Jared" He copied me, his voice still angry and quick. Emily looked somewhat surprised by his reaction but simply shook her head.

"No she can't, Jared's car is full already, she can go with you" She repeated and my chest deflated again. I couldn't be alone with him, he might kill me. He physically shakes when he's around me.

"I'll take Kim, she can do it"

"You'll take Savannah, now hurry up please. Savannah those food boxes, you just need to cut some salad things there's a knife and a board in there and some cooked chicken, should be cooled by the time you get there" Emily listed off her instructions while I sat in place, Paul was rooted to his spot too. Neither of us was happy with this plan, him more so than me. "Guys, go on" She snapped as we both stared at her and Paul hurried out carrying the chairs while I grabbed the two boxes. "Honestly" She muttered to herself as she piled the boxes into my arms and I turned to leave.

I could barely see the front door let alone the steps, I nearly tripped twice and as I made my way toward the truck I could see Paul just stood there watching me. Such a gentleman, I didn't know why I expected him to help but obviously he wasn't going to. I loaded the boxes in and jumped in the front seat, my phone gripped in my hand, I was half praying someone would phone me but as he started the truck and pulled away my phone stayed silent.

After five minutes of nothing it got too awkward and started scrolling lazily through pictures on my phone and old messages, anything to take my attention away from him. The car stopped suddenly and my phone went flying from the grip and to the drivers side floor. Great, just great. He had slammed his breaks on harshly as we pulled up at the beach, such an ass. I leaned down to get it, my hand enclosing on it sooner than I thought it would and I flew back up, only for my head to crack against another and pain seared across the back of my scalp.

"Shit" I cursed as I sat back upright; Paul rubbed his forehead and blinked a little. Asshole, he had seen I was getting it.

"Oh sorry, maybe you should hold your phone tighter, wouldn't want it to smash now" He spoke sarcastically and bitterly as he hopped from his seat.

"Maybe you should learn to drive properly" I opened my door and slid out, he was still staring at me from his. "Asshole" I mumbled it but he slammed his door angrily, two could play that game. I threw my door shut equally as hard and simply smiled kindly at him as I walked around to the end of the truck to retrieve the food boxes. He was such an ass; no one ever got me angry enough that I answered back. I never got into arguments, I never as much as looked at someone wrong yet here he was making me turn into a bitch. I hated him; I hated Emily for making me come with him. Kim would have been better; she would have just ignored him happily.

I walked down toward the beach, I didn't have a clue where I was going but I just walked as fast I could to get away from him. I made it to the pebbled sand before he called for me; I was walking in the wrong direction. At least he told me, it probably would be his style to let me keep going. I followed him to a small area sheltered somewhat by a bundle of rocks and fallen trees, the wind wasn't as harsh here but it was still cold. I was in black skinny jeans and a hoody but it was still freezing.

"Here" The gruff voice I would be happy not to hear again interrupted me as I sorted out the food Emily had told me too, I glanced up at him and he held his jacket out, a thick waterproof fleece lined jacket that looked warm as hell. He had been wearing it minutes before.

"You'll get cold" I mumbled but he shrugged.

"I'm warm skinned, take the jacket before I change my mind and let you freeze" I wouldn't put it past him, he would definitely get some enjoyment at watching me shiver and so I took it. I was right, it was still warm from him and his scent lingered on it, a cologne like smell that didn't seem too fake or strong. I slipped it on and watched him as he sulked back to where he was building a few small fires.

"Why do you guys always have your bonfires outside?" I immediately realised what I said and shook my head at myself. "I mean, its cold out so why not do it indoors? The food and things, not the bonfire" I corrected myself and looked up at Paul, he was finished off the chairs and circles around the bonfires and shrugged at me.

"Old tradition I guess, telling stories around a fire. Besides, not all of us have houses big enough to fit entire parties of people in. This isn't some rich suburb" He sounded bitter the more he spoke and I frowned at his last statement, rich suburb? Did he think I came from one? My old house was smaller than Sam and Emily's, it had been a one bed rented house, kitchen, living room, bedroom and bathroom was all we had. I didn't correct him; it was none of his business anyway. "Need some help?" He walked toward where I was sat on the bench that was usually in Sam's yard and sat down before I could answer. I rolled an onion toward him and a knife, I hated cutting onions. Seeing him cry would be fun for me.

He didn't moan he just set about cutting it and I watched for a while; he got the whole way through without sweating a single tear. "How did you do that?" I pointed at the neatly cut onion and he frowned at me.

"With a knife" He spoke to me slowly as if I was dumb and I rolled my eyes.

"I mean without crying, I blubber like a baby if I'm in the same room as a cut onion" That wasn't an exaggeration. My mom often had to clear me out of the house before cutting onions. I watched as Paul reached for another onion and put it in front of me, he moved around the bench so that he was stood beside me and he bent over.

"Here, I'll show you, it's a trick my mom taught me" He huffed a little as he leant closer to me, his hand hovered over mine and after a few seconds of hovering it cupped mine, guiding me toward the onion. "You cut down here" He shadowed the knife over an area and moved it so I was scoring another part. "Then there, you miss the bit that makes you cry, just don't cut straight through the middle" He slowed as he spoke, his head was pressed against mine and I could smell him, there was subtle cologne but mostly he just smelled natural, like sea air. His body was somewhat stiff against mine and his hand slowly crawled from my hand to my arm, his fingertips tracing the skin of his jacket leaving fiery trails of shivers in its wake. For a guy who annoyed me so much, his touch was comforting. He stayed where he was, his body simply cupping itself around me causing a fire of warmth to engulf me, it was nice. His smell and his warmth, they were comforting. I wanted the moment to last but a shrill ring erupted from my pocket and I jumped dropping the knife to the table in front of me I ducked from Paul's hovering embrace.

I pulled my phone from my pocket, Kyle. I hadn't spoken to him much recently. I flicked the call on and held it to my ear.

"Hello" My voice shook and my body was still on fire from the touch that had seared through it seconds before.

"Hey, you haven't ...ok?" The phone broke up here and there and I ducked down to the flood to hide from the wind that was interfering.

"What?"

"I said, you haven't called...you...yeh?" It still crackled but I heard most of it.

"Hey Kyle, I have really bad signal I'm at the beach. I keep forgetting to ring you but I'm ok" I spoke as clearly as I could but I was still quiet, still not able to fully get over him being so close.

"The beach? It's December, are you crazy?" I heard him better as the wind died down and I smiled to myself.

"It's some sort of tradition apparently, I don't know. How's everything back home?" I glanced around at Paul, he was chopping the onion I had failed to do, his eyes flickered from the board to me.

"It's boring as hell without you, none of the other girls will come do anything fun with me like paintballing or go karting, I've had to take Sacha out the past two weekends and you know how much of a shit head I think he is" I laughed as I heard my best friend complain, Sacha was another boy we were friends with, he didn't do dance, he was from school but Kyle hated him secretly, always had.

"I'm sorry, I'll come back soon to visit I promise"

"You better had. I went to your mom's grave today and put flowers and a Christmas card there, it looks nice" My heart hammered and my throat went dry, I simply nodded as I blinked back harsh stings from my eyes. It should be me doing that.

"Thank you, you didn't need to do that"

"I wanted to, you're my girl and you can't be here to do it so it's my pleasure. Hey want to hear something funny? It will cheer you up?" His voice smiled down the phone to me and my mood picked up.

"Sure"

"Stacey Kitt was busted giving head to Mr Walkins the other day, you always said she was a slut" He laughed and I snorted with him. That was not what I was expecting. My eyes flashed over to Paul, his eyebrows were raised and his mouth pursed but I wasn't sure why, he couldn't hear Kyle.

"Shut up, that is funny. You guys never listen to me, I told you all she was doing that to get higher grades" I laughed a little, I hated that girl.

"You always said it was a good idea, should we warn your new teachers?" He laughed a little and I shook my head.

"You are so vile"

"Mmm, well I have to go, my grandma's here"

"Eww watch out for the moustache" I joked and he cried out in laughter, his grandma always had a moustache and more often than not it had dried food in it.

"Will do babe, I miss you and I love you, see you soon"

"I love you too, see ya" I lowered the phone, a smile still playing my lips as I slipped it into the pocket of Paul's coat. He was still chopping the salad things and I hopped up and over to the bench. "Sorry, you didn't have to do that" I grabbed my knife and a cucumber; he had done nearly all of it.

"Its fine, phone call was obviously important" He stood up and sulked off toward the bonfires he had set out, we were obviously back to him hating me.

Paul hadn't said another word after that, he simply kept himself away from me and occasionally gave me a glare the following hour had gone painfully slow. People began arriving but I still felt him staring horribly at me, Kim had come and quickly noticed it so had sent Jared to sort him out. Not that it did much; Jared seemingly got annoyed and stormed back over to his girlfriend.

"Hey Savannah" Seth's happy voice hit me as I sorted the cookies out with Emily, his huge smile greeted me and I fell into my own smile back at him.

"Hey Seth, you ok?" He nodded excitedly at me and grabbed at a gingerbread. "Bet your glad schools finished" I looked back up at him and he nodded again.

"Hell yeah, and even better, you'll be there when we go back" I grimaced as he beamed, I didn't want to go, I didn't like being new. I had never been new before and it was a record I wanted to keep. "It's not that bad, it's a tiny school, no one really cares about new people and beside you have us guys watching over you" He puffed his chest out proudly and I chuckled at him, he was cute.

"Very true, not sure I could manage without you there Seth" He shook his head at me and shrugged a little, as if it were common knowledge that he was the best person to have around. I looked around until I saw Sam; he was already watching me, his eyes narrowed as he scanned me. Mainly the jacket that swamped me, he took it in and glanced behind, and following his gaze I landed on Paul. It didn't surprise me much that he was glaring at Seth and I, his body hunched in small shakes as he glared. He was such an angry person.

"Savannah look, look" A little voice chirped beside me and I glanced down to see Claire running for me, Quil following. "I have a new pet, it's called leggy" She held a little box up for me to see and I squealed as she threw it toward my face, a spider. It couldn't come out of the box but I hated tose things. "It's not scary"

I hated children, I actually hated children.

"Claire I told you some people don't like spiders" Quil yelled from behind and grabbed the box from her. "Sorry" He glanced at me, I was still wide eyed at my near escape from the spider.

"You don't like spiders?" The little girl asked me and I shook my head. "But why?"

"They just creep me out" I shuddered at the thought and Quil laughed from beside her.

"What about worms?" She asked me innocently and I shrugged.

"Worms are ok"

"And snails?"

"Yep they are ok, just spiders and dogs, I don't like dogs" I frowned at her and she frowned back.

"Me neither, they smell" Her little hand waved in front of her nose and I nodded with her. Maybe this kid wasn't so bad after all. She just needed to lose the spider.

"Dogs? As in just dogs or all types of canines?" A new voice entered the mix and Quil and Seth rolled their eyes at who was behind me, it was Paul. I knew that low tone he had now, it still sent a shiver through me. I turned to look up at him, he had his cocky look about him.

"What?"

He smirked again and licked his lips before speaking. "Well, wolves for example, are you scared of wolves too?" He had a really cocky look about him and I wanted to make a witty response but I had nothing.

"I'll let you know if ever I meet one" Was all I could come up with and his smile grew wider.

"Paul" A harsh bark erupted from behind me and I turned to see Sam glaring at the guy beside me. "Come here" As if being ordered Paul turned and walked to his side, neither of them spoke to each other Paul just stood there like a little guard dog as Sam whispered something to Jacob.

"Ignore him, he's"

"Grumpy" I finished Seth's sentence and he smiled wide again.

"Something like that"

Paul was glued to Sam the rest of the night, it was like he was being told off and punished by having to stay directly beside him. A few guys made comments but I didn't understand any of them. Billy had taken to watching me carefully, I didn't know him well but I knew of him. He told stories to those who wanted to listen but I mainly talked with Kim, as he told a story about the third wife I found him staying at me. Billy, not Paul, it was strange. I had had enough of being stared at yet he wasn't doing it in an annoying way but more of a curious way, as if he were trying to find an answer in me.

"Savannah, Paul's going to take a few things back, there's no room in the other trucks so you need to go with him. Here is the house key, what's wrong?" Emily bombarded me and rushed a set of keys into my hand while I felt myself pale and my mouth drop open. I didn't want to go with him. "Not this again, he said the same thing. You two are like children, just go with him. He is not that bad." She rolled her eyes and walked away toward Kim, both of them turning to look at me as if they knew something I didn't. If they were trying to make Paul and I friends they were not going to succeed, the guy was an ass.

"You coming?" A gruff bark greeted me and I sighed as I turned to him, I had no choice obviously. I sulked up the beach after him as he carried a few things, I carried nothing, nor was I going to offer to help as he didn't help me earlier.

I didn't understand him, he was nice to me one minute then I took a phone call and he turned into an ass again. I didn't understand his moods. I climbed into the truck and sat in silence, staring out of the window as he pulled away. I stayed silent until we pulled into the yard, but by then tiredness was kicking it and he was irritating me. as I opened my door I turned to him, he simply looked ahead.

"I'm not entirely sure what I've done, but if I've done something to piss you off then I'm sorry" There was a sarcastic tone to my voice but I hadn't meant it sarcastically. Paul turned to look at me, a frown creasing his forehead.

"You haven't"

And with that he turned back to his straight ahead stance. Eurgh.

"Great, so you're just an asshole to everyone. Good to know, thanks for the lift" I climbed out half expecting him to yell at me but he simply said 'jacket'. Even that infuriated me. I unzipped it and chucked it back into the car before slamming the door shut. He was smirking; he was actually smirking as he pulled away.

I watched in stunned silence as he drove back out of the yard, then it hit me. The keys and my phone were in the jacket pocket. I was locked out and had no phone; even worse Paul had my phone. I hate him, I really hate him.