AN: Here we go with Chapter Three! As for my other story (Let the River In), it will be updating within the next day or so! Also, I did want to clear something up – Jared has not imprinted on Kim just yet! If you have any questions, please let me know! Thank you for your patience and enjoy!

The thought of going to school Monday threw me into a panic attack. Don't get me wrong, what happened over the weekend…the parts involving talking to Jared at least…were like a dream and I was unbelievably happy that I was able to function in front of him properly enough to have a conversation. However, I was in no way prepared to see him in school again. At least when he ignored me I knew what to expect but now anything was possible. Though Jared isn't the type, a part of me wondered if he would ignore me. After all, he was the most popular kid in school and I was the loner – it would damage his reputation if he cared about having one.

Monday morning consisted of me waking up an hour early, picking through some of my best clothes to attempt to put together something fashionable and yes, I even tried to do my makeup. Nothing had prepared me, though, to discover that Jared didn't even show up Monday…or Tuesday…or for the next two weeks.

At first, everyone freaked out and thought that his illness lead to his death but that was quickly shut down by another rumor claiming that he was recovering at home. Apparently Paul Lahote, or the bad boy of La Push high, had been taking homework to Jared for the past couple weeks. Once everyone heard that he was okay, things moved along normally – I didn't do my makeup, went back to my casual wear and tried to assure myself that seeing Jared again was an unreasonable thing to "prepare" for.

And then, all of a sudden, one day he was back.

As Anika and I were approaching our homeroom, the crowded hallway parted like the damn red sea to reveal Jared himself walking, laughing and talking like any other person except…he looked different. Jared had always been handsome and it could just be that I hadn't seen him in two weeks but he looked even more handsome. His normally cropped hair was now a bit shaggy, his build seemed bigger – even his clothes were clinging to his body in different ways. He was taller as well, maybe even over six feet – was it possible to grow that much in two weeks? I ducked behind Anika who huffed and stepped behind me, leaving me up front and vulnerable. Jared passed Anika and I, still laughing at some comment Paul made when he suddenly stopped, his nose upturned and eyes closed as though he had caught a scent of something wonderful. He went to turn around and my heart leapt into my throat but Paul patted his back, urging him forward. I sighed in relief and Anika and I continued walking.

"Kim, you can't hide from him. You have to have some faith in yourself, girl! You know that he's just a boy in the same way that you're just a girl – he's not some magical creature!" Anika stated, pulling open the door to our homeroom.

"I know, Anika. For some reason my brain just thinks about him differently and my body just reacts – like a knee-jerk reaction. With anyone else, I don't have a problem! Put any other boy in front of me and I'll be fine. There's just something about him!" I said, sitting down and resting my face in my hand.

Anika nodded and shrugged.

"Maybe it really is destiny!" She said dramatically, eyes wide and mouth agape.

"Oh please!" I said, playfully shoving her.

"In all honesty though, you just have a huge crush! Everyone has those! In fact, there's someone out there who is almost certainly going through the same thing you are! Hell, they write books about it." She said with a smile. "You just have to be you! That's how all the girl's get the guys anyways, right?"

I smiled and nodded. She was right, after all. I couldn't hide from Jared forever and allowing myself to react like a crazy person around him wasn't acceptable either. I took a deep breath and made a promise to myself to remain grounded the next time I saw Jared…which was lunch…a couple hours away. Okay, yeah, I can do this.

Hours passed by quickly and so did my classes. Before I knew it, it was lunch time. Again, I wasn't expecting for Jared to just waltz up and sit with Anika and I but anything was possible. I met up with Anika in the crowded cafeteria; we grabbed our lunch and sat at an available table. My eyes were drawn to the cafeteria entrance as though I subconsciously knew that Jared was entering. I scanned him, again taken back by how different he looked. I glanced down, embarrassed by my own blatant googling, and took a bite out of my sandwich. Dammit Kim! Get ahold of yourself!

"Oh wow! It looks like Jared might sit by us! That's new!" Anika said, causing me to look up.

Jared had a curious look on his face and he, again, had his nose turned up as though he smelt something. His eyes scanned the cafeteria, sniffing every so often. Maybe he was still sick? Anika and I both watched as he got closer and closer to our table. The closer he got the more wild his eyes looked. Paul then approached him, pulling his arm as if to take Jared to his table. For a moment, Jared's face looked beyond angry and Paul's grasp dropped quickly. Anika and I both looked at each other while the rest of the cafeteria fell quiet. I guess we weren't the only one's observing Jared's odd behavior. Jared glanced around, shook his head and jogged out of the cafeteria.

"Maybe he isn't over being sick?" I said, watching as his form disappeared out of sight. Anika shrugged and took a sip of water, the cafeteria getting louder by the second.

Lunch eventually ended and the day moved along until it was finally the last period of the day, English…with Jared. I got there early as usual and sat down, taking out my trusty spare novel. I began to read and things were going okay, well, until Jared entered the room. I could hear his boots in the front of the room and then, all of a sudden, a bang. I snapped my head up to see Jared standing with his eyes closed and his hands forming fists at his side. Someone stood up and began to pick up Jared's things which snapped him back to reality. He chuckled awkwardly and thanked the person helping him, starting at her with intensity before a sad look flickered across his face. He made his way to his seat diagonal from me and I looked back down at my book, trying to seem unbothered.

What was going on with him today? He looked different and had been acting strange – maybe the rumors about Sam were true? I internally scolded myself. No, Sam had helped Anika and I in a potentially very dangerous situation. Surely that meant that both Sam and Jared were good people…right?

I went to peak at Jared's seat but my eyes instead met a thin, white t-shirt that was wrapped around an obvious six pack. I gulped and looked up slowly to find a serene looking Jared, eyes closed and if he wasn't standing up, I would have assumed he was sleeping…that is, until he moaned.

"Cinnamon…" He murmured a slight smile on his face. "I've finally found you."

"P-pardon?" I said, my voice slightly trembling.

Suddenly his eyes snapped open and his fierce gaze met mine, fiery and wild. My whole body erupted goosebumps and it felt as though every piece of me caught fire in the most delicious way. His eyes scanned my form, lingering on my eyes several times causing me to blush embarrassingly.

"Mine." He said strongly as though it was a fact.

His? What the hell was he talking about?

"Jared, are you okay? Are you feeling better?" I asked nervously, my heart racing recklessly in my chest.

Jared smiled brightly and squatted, dropping down to my eye-level.

"Kim, I'm better than I ever have been, you have no idea." He said, his smile widening.

"Oh that's...good." I grumbled, trying to will my heart to slow.

Jared smirked and his eyes ran over my face as though he was studying me like a textbook.

"Wow, listen to that." He murmured. I could hear the smile hiding in his voice but his eyes were so serious as he looked at me.

"Excuse me?" I said again. What was with all of these weird comments? I immediately felt insecure. Of course I knew it wasn't possible that he could hear my heart racing but...that comment sure made it seem like he could.

"Kim, do you like me?" he asked bluntly.

I felt my mouth drop open, earning a smirk from him.

"Uh, yeah I mean you're a nice guy Jared!" I exclaimed quickly. Was this a dream? This had to be a dream.

"Ah, it's settled then!"

"What's settled?" I asked, not believing the weird exchange between us.

"I'd like to walk you home today, is that okay?" He asked, breaking out a stunning grin.

I looked at him shocked. Okay, this was most definitely a dream! I'd been so wrapped up and anxious about his return that now I'm dreaming about it.

"I won't take no for an answer, Kim." he said jokingly.

"O-okay. Yeah, that's fine!" I said. "Are you sure you want to walk home though...with me?" I asked incredulously.

"More than you know."

What the hell was going on in here on this day.

AN: And that's a wrap for chapter three! I hope you all enjoyed! Thank you very much!