Hey family! I really hope that you all enjoyed the first chapter. I'm going to try to keep my notes to you all brief and get on to the good stuff, Kim and Jared. I just wanted to make a note that the story will definitely end up being more focused on Kim and Jared, and their relationship, but I really want this to be a story about Kim and her journey through life as a young Native woman and the struggles she may face on and off the rez, outside of being an imprint to Jared. I would love any feedback you all have to offer regarding my writing, the story, etc. Hope you enjoy this next chapter. I hope you enjoy the song choices for each chapter as well! Wopida!

Twilight and characters are owned by S. Meyer.

laósilo (fearless)

Song: Back To The Old House, The Smiths

After getting Aka home from the beach, I started to work on dinner as he curled up on our dad's lap and they started watching football in his recliner. Boys and their sports. I turned on the little radio above the sink, The Smiths flowing smoothly from the speaker as I got started on frying up the meat and onions for the spaghetti. As the radio played, I got lost in my own thoughts thinking about the group of boys from Second Beach. One boy in particular.

Jared Brings Fire Cameron. Jared was a year ahead of me in school, but was in some of my classes since I skipped up into 12th grade math and history. Regardless of being in a few classes together, I knew Jared since I was young, practically just out of diapers. Although we were strangers to each other now, we once spent many afternoons together, playing in the woods by my house and running through the sprinkler while my mother did his mothers hair and nails in her home salon. I pretty much knew every kid on the rez at that time since all of the aunties and grandmas came to my mom for their hair, and spa treatments. She was the best, and she would only charge a fraction of the price that the salon in Forks or Port Angeles would. Jared's mother spent the most time over our house though because she was apprenticing with my mother, who she eventually wanted to open a bigger beauty shop with. I haven't talked to Jared or his mother since my mothers funeral, something that hurt me at the time, but eventually faded along with the worried and sad stares of those on the rez going about their lives. Jared Cameron was pretty well known in school, one of the best basketball players the school had, and also dating Suzanne Buck who was from one of the more wealthy families on the rez. I had nothing against Suzanne, who everyone called Suze, but I thought Jared could do better considering she never really stayed with one boy too long. Jared was the longest friendship with a boy I had, besides my cousin Red. He was also the only boy from the rez I ever had…feelings for, although I hated to admit it. What was so surprising to me as I thought about him now is that I haven't seen him in our classes for several weeks, something about him being sick was going around the rez gossip circle. You know how aunties can be with their stories. Now that I think about it, some of the other boys at the beach were also missing from school for a while…Paul Lahote, Quil Ateara, and Embry Call - all of whom ran in different social circles. Weird rez boys.

I shake myself out of my thoughts as I finish up the noodles, and add in the sauce and meat. I yell into the living room, "Ólo! You and Aka want some bread with the spaghetti? There's enough for us all to have two." I pull out the pan and turn on the gas oven, laying a few garlic bread pieces out for each of us, "Sounds great kiddo! We'll get washed up" "You better! Don't be bringing your dirty hands to the table." I pull three bowls down and add scoops of spaghetti for each of us, and set them around the dining room table along with a fork and paper towel. I cut off the radio and tv, grabbed the bread out of the oven and put it all on a plate in the middle of the table. As I was pouring glasses of water for us, I felt Aka run into the back of my legs squeezing them and laughing. "Ready to eat álitatsa?" I picked him up and settled him down into his chair, kissing his head as he started digging into his dinner. "Hey my girl, dinner is looking great", my dad takes a seat and smiles as he grabs a piece of bread and puts it in Aka's bowl. I dig in with them smiling as Aka tells us about his wild day in kindergarten with his other five year old partners in crime.

After dinner, I clean everything up as my dad takes Aka to take a bath and get him ready for bed. My dad can't do a lot of things at the moment, due to his body being so weak from being sick but the one thing we agreed he would always do is get Aka ready for bed. He was a great dad, even if he couldn't do as much as he used to. I hummed to myself as I washed up the dishes and wiped everything down before making my way upstairs and heading to my room. I sat on my bed and breathed in a deep breath. In. Out. I loved caring for my father - he needed me, Aka needed me. It was always really hard for me to take him to his hospital check up days, they always reminded me of my mom and her inability to leave after having my brother. I kicked off my socks, threw them into my hamper, and picked out a pair of shorts and a shirt for bed and made my way into the small bathroom down the hall. I paid extra care to combing through my waist long hair, scrubbing my body and face, and brushing my teeth after getting my night clothes on. As I walked to Aka's room I heard my dad humming softly, and as I peeked in I saw him rubbing my brothers back, soothing him to sleep. I smiled before giving him a kiss on the cheek and saying goodnight. When I got into my room I pulled myself under my covers, shut off my lamp, and put in my headphones drifting off into the void.

I woke up at 7am, silenced my alarm and put my phone on the charger, but not before texting my friend Jaz and making sure she needed a ride for school. Jaz wasn't from LaPush, something not hard to figure when you saw her hair, in long colorful and intricate braids (they were currently purple) and her pretty chocolate skin. Although Jaz (short for Jazelle) didn't initially grow up here, she had ties here through her father who was Quileute. He had left the rez for college and work and had met a nice lady, Pam, from Oakland and ended up staying. Jaz moved to the rez with her mom when we were freshman in high school, and her mother had a small beauty shop in Port Angeles where she braided hair and sold beauty products. Her mother had moved them after her fathers death to get closer to his family, and make sure Jaz knew where all her people came from, from both sides of her heritage. In a way, Jaz and I found each other from being the kids with two parents who died. Despite our grief from our lost parents, our friendship grew and in time we couldn't be seen without one another around the rez. She was truly my best friend, and I considered her my talópat (sister). After testing Jaz, I got up and stretched, sent up a prayer to my mother and the creator and got to work on getting ready for the day. I parted my hair down the middle and gave myself two long braids, not really caring that they were tied with different rubber bands. Next, I pulled on my favorite black jeans and an oversized sweater with a tank top under it. Most of the teachers didn't run their air conditioning and it was still warm out, but I knew that living in LaPush, the rain and cold could happen at the drop of a hat. I pulled on some long socks and my favorite cowboy boots making sure to tuck my jeans right. After brushing my teeth in the bathroom and putting on my go to beaded earrings, I hustled across the hall to get Aka up and dressed. I grabbed my phone, and as we both came down the stairs, I checked we each had our bags packed - for me, homework and books and for Aka, his lunch bag and favorite car toy. My dad was having a cup of coffee at the table, packing his díka in his favorite pipe. I kissed his head and let Aka hug him, before yelling goodbye and heading out to the truck.

After buckling Aka in safely and turning on our favorite station, full of 80s hits, we made our way to get Jaz and head to school. Jaz lived closer to the edge of the rez towards Forks, living with her mom in her grandmother's house. It was out of the way from our house and the tribal school, but I knew that it made things a lot easier for Jaz and her mom so I always offered to pick her up. She also happened to be one of my brother's favorite people, and loved getting a hug from us both as we dropped him off for school. We pulled up to Jaz's driveway and saw her grandmother sitting on the porch in her favorite rocking chair smoking a cigarette. I rolled down the window and waved "Hach chíi, abá (good morning, grandparent) hope your day is going good", her grandmother nodded her head at us and smiled, tapping her cigarette out as Jaz came out the door. I watched as they hugged and Jaz kissed her grandma's cheek before coming to the truck and hopping in. "Hey little man!" Jaz smiled back at Aka and he blushed smiling back and started humming to the radio. I honked as we drove away and headed the opposite direction to the tribal school. Luckily Aka went to the elementary school on the rez, so his school was next door to ours, making it easier to just park the truck and get us all out. As we made our way to the front of the lot, Aka held both of hands as he talked away about going on the swings and playing with his best friend Charlie, and Jaz and I smiled at each other as he kept talking all the way to the front doors. I kissed Aka on his cheek "Have a good day álitatsa, be good for your teacher and have fun with Charlie, I'll be here to get you after school", he hugged my legs and ran towards the other kids.

Jaz and I made our way into our own school, heading to our lockers to put up our bags and get what we needed for the first period. Luckily the junior classes I did have were with Jaz, so we always made sure that one of us was prepared with the right books and assignments. It also helped when it came time for class group projects. As I was pulling my books out, Jaz came to stand by me, twirling one of her braids around her finger as she waited "So what's up for this weekend, any hot dates?". I rolled my eyes and laughed at her question, and closed my locker before heading to our first class. "Yeah, a real big hot date with my couch, some ice cream, and my favorite face mask." She laughed, and held the door open and as I went into class, she mused "Well, I heard there may be a party at Justine's tomorrow and if invited, would you want to go with me." We took our seats in the second to last row and started taking our books out, along with our other materials before turning to one another "Sounds fun, but Justine's a senior" 'So? I heard it's going to be a big one to close out the summer, and pretty much everyone would just be showing up since her house is one of the biggest on the rez" as she said this, I twirled the thought over in my head.

Justine Grey was the best friend of Suzanne, and also a cheerleader, meaning she ran in the more popular circle at the school. She was also known for throwing massive ragers at her house, a pretty big place in terms of a rez house, that led right down to the beach where there would be huge bonfires and lots of teen drinking. I shrugged and nodded to Jaz "Yeah why not? IF, we get invited I mean, but this time don't think I'm going to be chasing you all over while you get fucked up on beers and cheap wine, last time I couldn't find you for a hour." She rolled her eyes, but couldn't help smiling. "Look, I said sorry for that so many times…and it wasn't my fault you suck at finding people in the most obvious places." I looked back at her, with a look of shock on my face "Girl! The most obvious of places? You were passed out in the back of Justine's parents car in the garage", as I said this our teacher Mr. Burr walked in and cleared his throat signaling the beginning of class. Jaz stuck her tongue out at me, and began scribbling a note I knew she would pass my way. As Mr. Burr began the lesson, in his most monotone voice I might add, I felt Jaz poke the note into my arm while still pretending to take notes for the class. I pulled open the note and read the words 'R U IN OR NOT?'.

I scribbled my response, 'YES :)', a response I would highly regret during the next night at the party.

What do you all think of this chapter? It's a little slow, but some filler that is needed and an opportunity to introduce Kim's best friend Jazelle. I'm looking forward to adding more background to her, and her relationship to Kim. Maybe even adding her more into the mix of the wolf boys. This next chapter is going to get more heated, and introduce Jared in his first interactions with Kim after phasing.

Let me know your thoughts family, will update with a new chapter soon!