Enjoy!

The guys had gone from their state of shock after Kerry's rambling about her daddies boat and actually talked to the two new people, it didn't take long for them to launch into another game of football though. Paul said nothing else to me, he didn't play football either he stayed sat by Emily and Kim occasionally adding in to their conversation but every time I looked up he seemed to be watching us, or me. I meant to ask him what he was saying to me earlier but every time I plucked up the confidence to just walk over to him and ask Kyle launched into a new story and I was side tracked and then when I finally wriggled free of my friends I found that Paul had left. Nobody said where or when, he was just gone.

We had come home and been left alone, Sam had taken a tired and pregnant Emily straight up to bed allowing us to use the TV downstairs.

"Hey you haven't opened your presents" Kerry piped up and I glanced at the kitchen table where my presents from the guys all lay. I had forgotten after their arrival. They were the only presents I cared about right now.

"I'll do it in a second, I can't believe Sam organised you guys coming" I smiled again as I poured out soda's for each of us and headed for the table.

"Sam?" Kyle offered up as he joined me, Kerry was already rooting through the bags of presents seeing if there was anything she liked.

"Here have this one" Kerry slid a cream present bag toward me and I glanced at the card hanging from it.

No song, but hopefully this makes up for it.

The message made me frown, I had no idea what that meant. There was no name or anything. I reached in and my hand fell amongst a pile of packets.

"What is this?" I grumbled and peered in, there was one wrapped present buried amongst a load of peanut buttercups, the bag was full of them. My favourite candy.

"Candy, that's sweet. Get it, sweet, candy" Kyle started laughing at his own joke as he watched me root around the candy and grab the wrapped present. I ignored him while Kerry reached for a buttercup and unwrapped it, her diet had gone out of the window. I unwrapped the present and a smile spread over my lips, Dirty Dancing, I had left my version in Chicago. It was my favourite movie. I don't think anyone here knew that though, except one person, Paul knew it. He also knew I loved Reese's peanut buttercups.

I flicked the un-named card over in my hands again, no song. I had asked him to sing for my birthday, to write a song. It had to be Paul, a DVD and candy, I told him that's what I liked. Hopefully this makes up for it.

"Paul" I whispered out while my fingers ran over the writing on the little pink card.

"Paul LaHottie" Kerry piped up as she shoved another candy piece into her mouth and my heart stopped.

"LaHote" I corrected her and she shrugged.

"But he's hot so the name fits"

My heart began thudding again, my stomach clenched tightly and I looked between Kyle and Kerry, how had they got here? Sam had been home all morning.

"How did you get here?"

"A plane" Kerry remarked sarcastically and Kyle rolled his eyes at her.

"The guy who was making eyes at you all night picked us up" Kyle winked at me and I felt myself flush in heat. What guy? No one was making eyes at me.

"Who?"

"LaHottie, he was staring at you all evening. Definitely undressing you with his eyes, he wants to see what is all up under them clothes girl" Kerry winked now, a smirk playing her pretty face while my stomach twisted and churned. Paul.

"He's my brother's friend; he doesn't like me like that. Did he get you from the airport?"

"Oh he does like you like that, he was all smooth and licking his lips whenever he looked over at you. He is so freaking hot, how old is he anyway?" Kerry kept on and I felt myself growing hotter.

"Twenty one, wait I am so confused. Sam didn't get you?"

I looked at my friends and both of them shook their heads at me.

"No, Paul and Jared came for us. Who the hell is Sam again?" Kyle looked at me like I was crazy. I wasn't crazy.

"My brother, he rang you to come here?" He must have and then he sent Paul and Jared to pick them up.

"Nope, LaHottie rang us" Kerry spoke, her words made my insides jolt to a painful stop and I could hear the thudding of my heart in my ears. Paul rang them. Paul organised them coming here?

I looked down at the presents, DVD, candy and my friends. It's what I told him I always had for my birthday. Why would he do that? Why would he bring them here?

"You've gone pale, what's wrong?"

"Nothing I just don't get why Paul would do that" My voice was a whisper, I could barely speak.

"Because he is into you, Jesus you are so blind" Kerry hit my arm and I shook my head. He hated me when I first got here, he wasn't into me. He didn't like me. I mean we were sort of friends now and we kissed but he wasn't into me. "You kissed?"

I glanced up from the bag as Kerry shrieked; I had said that out loud. Shit. I hadn't meant to say that out loud.

"You kissed your brothers friend? That is so Gossip Girl" She squealed again and jumped in her seat while Kyle stared at me as if he was slowly figuring something out.

"You like him" He blurted out and I shook my head. No I didn't, we were friends. "You like him; I have never seen you react like this. You like him. You were both watching each other all evening"

"I was talking to you"

"Yes but your eyes were on him and he was watching you back, he did this, your favourite candy, your favourite film and your two favourite friends? He did all this. He likes you and you like him, it is so obvious" Kyle sounded just as excited as Kerry, if I didn't know him better I would say he actually sounded like a girl.

"No, he's my friend. He helped me with my homework and we go see his dad sometimes but we aren't, I mean we don't" I couldn't explain myself, nothing sounded right.

"He helps you with your homework and you've met his dad, that's sweet but honey he also wants to rip your clothes from you" Kerry said with a smirk and my insides jerked. He did not want to do that. I was a kid to him.

"He sees me as a kid, his friends kid sister"

"The kid sister he wants to get inside of"

"Shut up that is so disgusting don't say that" I slapped my hand over Kyle's mouth and he started laughing.

"I don't think he would do this just to get in your pants, I think he likes you. It's so romantic, him organising all this for you and he was watching you not just with want tonight but with care, he looked worried every time I went to hit you and when Kyle mentioned Julliard he looked ready to knock his way through that group of guys to get to you. I knew there was something, I knew it"

My stomach did another jolt as she mentioned Julliard but my mind stayed on her words. He didn't like me, he just didn't. It was Paul, he didn't know what he liked but it wasn't me. I was nothing special. I was a child compared to him, we kissed but it was a mistake, he didn't mean to.

"Maybe you should go thank him and while you're there you can" Kyle stopped and started making jerking movements with his hips while making kissy faces at me. Asshole.

"I can't just go to his house, it's late and it's a twenty minute walk from here. Sam would go insane if he found out"

"Text him then, I'm guessing you have his number?" Kerry looked at me and I shook my head. I didn't. I had to say thank you though, I mean I was seeing him tomorrow but Kerry and Kyle were here, I couldn't abandon them to go see his dad. They were here until tomorrow night. I glanced at the stairs, Sam was either asleep or doing something with Emily that I didn't want to know about, it wasn't that late it was 10pm and I know Paul patrols from 12 so he would still be up. Maybe we could all go, make out we are just out for a walk.

"It's true love, it would be so romantic. He so likes you, I'm jealous" Kerry leaned into me in persuasion and I nodded not at her words but at agreeing to go. It wasn't love, it was friendship. My two friends started beaming at me as I grabbed my shoes and headed for the door, they followed and we ran out into the dark yard. I kind of knew the way but I was shit with directions.

"You do know where he lives right?"

I nodded at Kyle as we hit the main road, one of the wolves would be out and see us but as long as it wasn't Sam, Jared or Paul it was fine. The others didn't really care what I did.

"He is so hot, I can't believe you haven't told us about him before now" Kerry went on, her words of love for Paul not stopping until we hit the road to his house. I had only been here twice but I knew the way by heart, I was a freak. I did care too much for Paul but maybe he cared back, he wouldn't do what he did if he hated me. "This is going to be so cute, you can just kiss and tell each other you love each other all night"

"She is saying thank you not I love you" Kyle argued back.

"Yeah but what's the difference when it's this late at night"

I stopped dead in my tracks, in the middle of the road I stopped as my eyes fell on his house. Not his house but the car outside his house. The confidence within me crumbled and all the determination that he liked me left. Her car was sitting outside of his house, Rachel Black. She was here.

"What?" Kerry hissed as they ran into my back.

I couldn't speak, there was a lump in my throat and my insides were wrenching in dislike. I did not like Rachel, she was always around. I could have stayed stood there all night but the front door of his house opened and a flash of artificial light shone out against his front lawn illuminating the street directly opposite where we were stood.

"Oh shit" Kyle reacted before I did and my body began being pushed toward the dense tree line. I stopped his pushing as we hit a huge tree trunk and I fell against it, my chest hurting as I lay there. She was at his house, if he was still seeing her why had he kissed me? Why did he spend so much time with me and why had he done this for my birthday? It made no sense.

"Who is she?" Kyle whisper yelled and I pulled on his arm, we were close enough that Paul would hear us if they spoke too loudly.

"Probably his sister" Kerry whispered back and I shook my head, she was definitely not his sister.

"His girlfriend" I shot back and both of my friends dropped their mouths open at me.

"His girlfriend? But but he so obviously likes you" Kerry spoke louder now and I pulled her back from view. She had such a loud mouth.

"Shhh, I told you he doesn't. We need to go" I tried pulling them toward the heavier tree line so we definitely wouldn't be seen but they stayed rooted to the spot.

"Wait, they aren't even kissing, he's just talking to her. Look she's probably a friend" Kyle pulled me back and I glanced out from behind the tree just as Rachel leaned up and gave him a hug, he hugged her back. It was a simple two second hug but my already aching chest ached harder and my feet had the urge to run. I didn't want to be here, I shouldn't be here. It was late and I was obviously reading too much into the whole birthday thing. He was a friend; I had to get over my crush.

"Wait, Sav come back" Kerry whisper yelled after me as I took off into the trees. I could hear them both shouting for me the further we went but I only stopped when the roaring of Rachel's car passed us and I glanced at the road. She was smiling and singing to herself, I bet she was, she was back to being Pauls girl. I was such a jealous child, I had no reason to be jealous but I was.

"Wait, it doesn't mean they are dating. They are friends" Kyle tried but I shook my head and hopped out onto the main road and back toward Sam and Emily's.

"No, she is his booty call"

"His what?" Kerry jerked backwards not understanding my words.

"The girl he calls when he wants a bit of naked fun Kerry, they don't date they sleep together. That's what Kim and Emily told me, she's one of the guys sisters"

"So he has a thing for his friend's sisters" Kyle butted in and my body deflated. I was such an ass. Maybe he did, maybe he was only talking to me to get in my pants. He wanted all the sisters of the group. What an asshole.

"We probably have this all wrong, he seemed nice enough earlier and I am never wrong about my instincts" Kerry piped up now and both Kyle and I groaned, she was always wrong.

"You told us that Tyler Collins was a nice guy who just wanted to go on a date with Sav and then he tried humping her against a wall behind the restaurant, you have the shittest instincts about guys" Kyle argued with her and we continued down the road. This was stupid, I shouldn't have come out here or gone to his house. It was ridiculous, I was ridiculous.

"We really need to get home before my brother finds us gone" I turned on them as they continued bickering about her taste in guys.

"That is probably the best idea you have had tonight" A low voice spoke out from behind me and Kerry let out a little squeak while my insides dropped. Jared. I knew one of them would see us. I slowly turned to find him walking from the tree line topless and with his shorts hanging off his hips. Any of the other guys wouldn't give a crap but Jared was Sam's pack, he had to give a crap. He was under orders from Sam about making sure I stopped running off at night time.

"Uhh hi" I fluttered my eyelids hoping he would find me cute and innocent but he just raised an eyebrow at me almost daring me to make an excuse. "Sorry" I gave up and he stormed further toward us.

"Sam will go insane if he finds you not at home, why the hell are you out here? It's half eleven Savannah, it's not safe out here" He began ranting as my two friends slowly walked toward me. Kerry said nothing, she looked scared while Kyle looked flummoxed as to why Jared was semi naked.

"Then why are you out here?" Kyle suddenly spoke and Jared's unimpressed frown went from me to Kyle and back to me again.

"Working. You need to get home right now" He pointed one of his thick fingers at me before clicking and pointing in the direction of Sam's house. If he told Sam then I was screwed.

"It wasn't her fault, we wanted to go for a walk" Kerry found her voice and spoke out but it didn't help. Jared just looked at me as if to say 'oh that makes it all ok then' sarcastically.

"Well Savannah knows well enough not to leave the house alone after dark, this isn't the city, there aren't street lights and people around. It's not safe out here alone at night"

"Probably safer than the city to be fair" I whispered more to me than anyone else but Jared heard and let out an agitated huff. My two friends nodded in agreement which again didn't help.

"Just get home and maybe I won't tell Sam I found you out here"

He rubbed his forehead as if we were giving him a headache before stepping aside to let us pass. I was pretty sure he hadn't heard us talking about Paul; he probably heard the comment about Tyler Collins and me against a wall though. If Sam heard that then I was in trouble either way. The other two began walking straight away whilst I lingered for a moment half expecting Jared to say something else but he didn't, he just pointed toward home before turning and running back to the trees. This walk was a bad idea.

"Why is he going into the trees?" Kerry stopped and watched the area Jared had just ran into, I stuttered over my words, how do I get past that?

"He's a uhh a uhh lumberjack" That was shit. A lumberjack? Who the hell was a lumberjack in the middle of the night? "They prefer working at night when the umm roads are clear" That made it worse. Both Kerry and Kyle were looking at me like I was insane but neither pressed it any further and instead started pointing out things I had never noticed before like how there were bats flying above us, how the moon and stars looked brighter than in the city and how the birds were singing to one another against the silent night. I guess I didn't pay much attention to the scenery as I thought I did. It really was a beautiful place, definitely nicer than Chicago, I loved Chicago and it would always be my home but this place was something else, it was beautiful and peaceful, it was serene.

"Are they all lumberjacks then?" Kyle asked from ahead as we finally reached the front yard to my house, I glanced up ready to ask what the hell he meant but then I saw him sat on the front steps watching us walk toward the house. Paul. I had no idea why he was here but he was and he was shirtless like Jared, he had just phased.

"Uhh yeah mostly" I whispered to Kyle and my walk slowed, I didn't want to see Paul.

"We are going to go inside, I'll get the DVD ready and set up the beds" Kerry turned to smile at me although it was a little forced, we were all staying downstairs tonight, if Sam hadn't found us gone that is. If he knew then I was probably going to be forced to sleep on his bedroom floor for a month like he threatened the last time I was late home. I watched as my two safety nets walked into the sleeping house and left me stood awkwardly in front of Paul who still lingered on the front steps.

"Lumberjacks?" He questioned with slight amusement in his eyes and I shrugged. At least I hadn't told them the truth. The amusement playing his face faded and he finally settled on a frown as he watched me hovering. "So why were you out this late?"

"How do you know I was out?" I didn't mean for it to be snappy but it was and Paul seemed surprised by my tone, I wanted to apologise but then I didn't.

"I went on patrol early and saw Jared telling you off, Sam is still asleep so your safe from being grounded again" He looked up at the house, all of the upstairs lights were off and I let out a sigh of relief. I hated when Sam got angry, he went all silent and disappointed. I hated disappointment. It would be so much better if he shouted at me but he would rant for a minute then go silent, I hated it. "What were you doing walking around La Push in the middle of the night? I thought the vampire stories scared you enough to keep you in"

I shrugged again and his face fell into confusion, I was being off with him and he didn't know why. Maybe now he knew how I felt every time his mood changed with me. But I wasn't a mean person, I didn't like hurting people and so I let out a sigh and leant against the wooden banister of the porch steps.

"They wanted to go for a walk" I lied trying to make sure I didn't show I was lying and he nodded.

"At least you didn't get lost this time, I suppose that's something"

"I knew my way to where we went" I sounded sad, I felt sad. I wish I had never gone out. I hated thinking of him and Rachel because I found her so unbearably fake and sweet.

"Where did you go?" He was assessing me, my insides jerked in worry that he had heard us but he couldn't have, we were quiet.

"Not far, why?"

"I just thought I" He stopped and rubbed his hand over his tired face before shaking his head. Thought what? Maybe he had heard us.

"It's nothing, did you have a good day?" He offered another smile and I nodded not returning it. I was being a bitch but I couldn't bring myself not to be. I didn't want to get into why he had given me the present he had or why he had brought my friends here, I couldn't be bothered to get even more involved with his mind screwing ways. "Get anything special?"

"I haven't really opened anything yet, I opened yours though. Thanks" I cringed as I spoke, I sounded so ungrateful which I wasn't. I did actually like my present. I was being a cow.

He just stared at me, it was almost like he was trying not to get angry or maybe he was hurt by my tone of voice. He didn't look right though. "It's ok, I know you asked for a song but it wasn't good enough" Now he looked worried, he dropped my eye contact and fiddled with his fingers. I bet it was a fine song, he was hard on himself.

"Well, thank you" I repeated, I was being such a cow. I hadn't even a reason to be one, he wasn't mine, he could date whoever he wanted to but I was so confused. I didn't get what he was doing, he was always around, he was always involved in my life and I don't get why.

"So I should probably go before Jared gets pissed, should I pick you up tomorrow at the normal time?" He stood and looked at me, a small smile playing his face again and I wanted to nod but instead I shook my head.

"I'm going to go for lunch with Kyle and Kerry"

What was I doing? What was I saying? Yes my friends were here but I had told him I would go, I always go with him. My walls were shooting up and I was being a bitch to him because of some crush I had. I watched as his face fell, he looked hurt. I hated that. I hated this, why couldn't we just be friends with no extra feelings? Extra feelings sucked and I was growing them, then Kerry planted an idea in my head that was never going to be true. It was stupid.

"Savannah, the DVD is ready and I made hot chocolate" Kyle's voice came whispering from the door of the house and Paul looked at him and then back to me.

"I should go; I have logs to chop" He tried smiling but it failed, he sounded like a child who had just saw their dog get run over. "I'll see you around?"

"Yeah, around" I stated simply and he gave one last hurt look before he backed off toward the trees, his sad and confused eyes not leaving mine until he hit the darkness and turned to run. I shouldn't have done that, I hated when he was like it with me and here I was doing it back to him.

"Sav, are you ok?" Kyle edged his way out and I nodded biting back the lump in my throat, I was fine, I was fine except I had no idea what the hell was going on.