Rachel.

Something was wrong.

I had stayed up all night, the conversation with my Dad running through my head on a loop.

Every time I tried to ask about Jake; he'd just avoid my eyes and change the subject telling me to trust him. How could I though, when he wasn't being honest with me?

I wanted to believe him, when he said Jake would be back; but I still couldn't shake that there was more that no one was telling me.

Like Sam Uley, for example. How does one change that much in such a short period of space. Were they on drugs? Is that what caused my little brother to just run away? He didn't even pack everything that you would need like his bike, his toothbrush, his clothes .. All of them were still spread out around his room - which looked like a hurricane had hit.

My dad had informed me that Sam's new girl - Emily. Wanted to arrange a little get together tonight to welcome me home. I really didn't want that. I hated that everyone was making this into such a big deal. It wasn't as if I was planning on staying anyway. I couldn't live here again; it was still too hard. Though I'd have to start visiting more often. I could see how much my Dad needed me home, even if he wouldn't actually say it out loud.

Charlie had taken my Dad fishing for the day - You'd think with Jacob missing and me just getting home, he'd want to be here. But no; despite it all he still had to be hanging out with his best friend. I get it though, he also needed something to keep him distracted.

Letting my fingers lightly trail along the dusty frames that hung on the wall, The house seemed so quiet this morning with just me here and once again; I found my thoughts drifting to Jake and wishing I had been a better big sister to him. I pushed the door to his room open and began to step over the clothes that were just thrown all over the floor; until I reached his bed. I collapsed down on it and rolled over to lay on my back; looking up at the ceiling, I began to talk to him like he was still there and could miraculously hear me.

Where are you, Jacob? Please come home. I miss you – We miss you.

Also, if you don't get home soon, you're going to have both of your sisters waiting here to kick your ass.

The thought has me smiling a little and I wonder if this is my Mom's plan to get both Becca and I back here. It wouldn't surprise me if somehow she and Jake worked this plan together. She always used to help Jake to prank us.

I brushed the tears away and started to stand up. Charlie had left a bunch of fliers with me this morning before he and my Dad headed out and I promised I'd get them out and around La Push today.

XxXx

I would have searched out Embry and Quil to help put these up; but neither of them were home when I stopped by. It was so confusing why no one seemed to be worried about Jake. I mean, he's only 16 and sure he ran away, but he could be injured in a ditch somewhere and everyone was acting like it wasn't a big deal. I figured I'd try one more place. Everyone used to hang out at either Second or Third Beach and if you were visiting from Forks or Port Angeles it was usually First Beach. Though no one from the Reservation spent much time down at First Beach. We left that to the tourists.

The weather was pretty cool today, Something that you came to expect when you lived in Washington. Which made me even more annoyed for leaving my thick jacket at home. I should have remembered it before I left the house.

The wind blew like crazy around me, as I walked along the sand, the one thing that never changes though is the way the Ocean can calm me. I stopped to watch the waves crash angrily against the rocks; sending the water splattering for miles around the waves. Somehow though, the angrier the waves got, the calmer I felt.

Everything in this moment just felt – different.

My eyes were so focused on the waves that I hadn't realized my grip on the papers loosened enough until all the fliers blew from my hands spreading out across the Beach.

Dammit.

That's when I first saw him.

There was a guy running towards me, gathering Jake's fliers; he looked familiar; but I couldn't place his face.

There was something though about the way he looked at me, it had been a really long time since I felt a connection – and it had /never/ felt quite like this.

Usually, I would have just walked off but something held me back.

He looked cold, his hands trembled with the papers that had Jake's picture all over them. I started to pull off my jacket despite being cold. I knew it wouldn't help him much; but it was the only thing I could think to do.

I dropped to my knees in front of him to help gather the paper.

The way he repeated my name sent shivers down my spine; but not in a creepy way; in more of a I-needed-to-hear-him-say-my-name-multiple-times-a-day kind of way.

I swear my face flushed a dozen different shades of red when he called me "Beautiful" He reminded me of a Quileute God, the way his shorts hugged his hips and those arms .. What I would give to have those arms wrapped around me. The russet tone to his skin made him all the more gorgeous. But I think it was his eyes that got to me the most, or the way he was looking at me, like I was the only person in the world.

Get a grip .. Rachel.

What the heck was wrong with me, I wasn't the kind of girl who would fawn all over a guy simply because he was hot and paid a little bit of attention to me.

Especially now that I realized who this was ..

Fuck

Paul Lahote ..

The resident bad boy of La Push, there was a list a mile long of reasons why this was a bad fucking idea.

I offered him a soft smile after he said he'd help me distribute these fliers. I appreciated it, but there was no way I was spending an entire day with him on my own.

I reached out to take the paper out of his hand, pausing briefly as my fingers brushed against his and a bolt of electricity shot between us. I could tell by his shocked expression that he felt it too.

"Thanks for the offer, Paul. But I .. uh, got it covered. I need to head back home, it was good seeing you again."

Turning around to walk away was probably one of the hardest things I've done. It was like he cast a spell on me, or maybe the Gods had tied us together with an invisible rope because the pull I felt towards him was something I had never experienced before and honestly, it scared me a little.

I tried not to take notice of the way his face fell; like declining his offer had been a kick to his gut.

I expected him to follow me home and beg me to change my mind, throwing one more quick look over my shoulder; I frowned.

He was gone.

Where .. or how could he disappear so quickly?

La Push was getting stranger by the day.