"So are we finally going to meet the mysterious Jared?" Kim shook her head from across the bed, centering her attention on keeping a steady hand well painting her toe nails a bright red. We were sitting in my bedroom, the dogs lying on the floor, clearly unimpressed with someone else taking their spot but not making a fuss. An entire week had flown by without my knowledge and suddenly it was Friday and I had somehow convinced my parents to let Kim stay for the night.

"He isn't mysterious, he was just...sick...this...week." Her sentence sounded more like a question by the end. I raised a single, delicate eyebrow.

"Kimmy I've known you long enough to know when you're lying to me but I'll swallow it. So I get to meet him tonight at the bonfire right?" She nodded, her tongue sticking out of the side of her mouth in complete concentration. I giggled, she was always funny whenever she was focusing on something. Working on homework at her house had been hilarious. She finished up, making sure to screw the cap back onto the bottle properly before setting it on the desk.

"So do you know what you're wearing?" She asked. I shrugged, not really concerned about it.

"Something warm, I used to live by the lake so it got pretty cold. I have this cozy black turtle neck I was thinking about."

"Well hurry up and put it on, it'll take us 20 minutes to walk." I sighed dramatically, running into the closet and shutting the door.

"And why isn't it Saint Jared can't pick us up again?" I called through the door and I knew she was blushing at the name I had given her boyfriend without having yet met him. With the way she gushed constantly about how perfect he apparently was, I thought it was terribly appropriate.

"Because he's helping set up everything at the beach, you know that Sunny!" My head burst through the top of the sweater, laughing. I had never really had a nickname before, and I like it. Made me feel, almost apart of something. Pulling on a pair of brown, leather knee high boots I stepped out of the closet, doing a little spin.

"How do I look?" Kim got up from the bed, completely stone faced and began to circle me like a vulture. I could feel my shoulders sinking at her reaction, ready to go back and change when she jumped me from behind sending us both crashing on the bed.

"Perfect!" We laughed, ending up in a mess of tangled limbs and hair. We eventually separated ourselves and I linked my arm through hers.

"Shall we proceed my fair maiden?" Kim curtsied at my side, rather sloppily laughing the entire time.

"We shall good sir." I grabbed my keys off of the table before we were out, walking along the side of the road, trying to avoid stepping in the shadows which proved difficult since the sun had begun to set. We made it to the beach in record time, with the sun struggling to stay above the horizon. Kim was with me one second and then the next she was gone, her arms wrapped around the neck of a man half way across the beach. He was tall, wiry but still muscular and probably more the capable of holding his own in a fight. I couldn't deny he was gorgeous, but something about him just seemed to fit with Kim. They fit together perfectly, the absolute and unwavering love and adoration in his eyes was enough to almost bring me to tears, He had the look of a man taking his first glance of the sun for the first time in decades, like Kim was the most beautiful thing he had ever touched. I could see why she loved him so much. I walked over, grinning from ear to ear. What? I couldn't help it, they were just to infectious.

"You must be Saint Jared." He ripped his eyes reluctantly away from a giggling Kim to glance over at me.

"And you must be Sonya." We shook hands, one of his arms never leaving Kim's waist.

"I like the nick name."

"See Kimmy, told you he would!" Kim blushed and hid her face in Jared's side. He laughed, kissing the top of her head

"Come on Sonya, I'll introduce you to everyone." I was dragged to every end of the beach, meeting a new person what felt like every other second. I couldn't remember every name but I think there may have been a Billy and a Sue somewhere in there. I'm not really good with names.

"And this is Sam."

"Hi, nice to meet you." Sam shook my hand and I stood there completely dumb struck. I was shorter then Jared, but then again so was everyone so far, but he had quite a but more muscle and was clearly at least 24. I was more then a little intimidated.

"H-hi. I'm Sonya." He had a gentle smile, slowing my racing heart then his eyes flicked briefly over my shoulder before doing a double take and I recognized that look. It was the same look I had seen Jared giving Kim all night. I woman slipped into his side, her arms wrapping around his waist. I tried to hid my wince at the three, perfect scars running along the side of her face, but for some reason I couldn't find them to be a flaw.

"This is Emily."

"Hi there." Emily stuck her hand out and I gasped.

"Oh my god!" My voice rose in volume, and I spotted Sam tensing, ready to jump in front of her. Emily's smile switched directions and she winced.

"Emily! I adore your hair! How on earth did you ever get it to stay like that?" I heard a collective sigh of relief, and I was glad that I had clearly dodged a bullet and passed their test. Emily laughed, shaking her head.

"Would you believe that its naturally like this?"

"No." I laughed with her.

"Hey Sam, where's Paul?" Jared asked. Sam shrugged his shoulders, not showing to much concern. I then spotted a body shifting behind Jared and Kim, crouching down. I ripped Kim away from Jared, pulling her behind me and laughing at her and Jared's protests being cut off as a someone slammed in Jared, both of them tumbling to the ground. I could hear growling and laughter as the two wrestled on the ground, whoever having jump Jared quickly gaining the upper hand.

"Alright, alright! Uncle!" The bodies separated and Jared walked over defeated to Kim's waiting arms.

"Thanks for that." A low, ruff voice spoke from behind me. I turned my head, surprised when my view was blocked a perfectly sculpted chest.

"No problem Hulk. Anything to knock Saint Jared down a few notches." My eyes traveled up and away from his body, albeit reluctantly, and finally met his. The were the richest chocolate colour I had ever seen, so pure and clean. His faced crumpled and went from shocked to scared to dazed in a matter of seconds and I had the ungodly urge to run into his arms and never leave. A think quilt of safety and security surrounded us and I felt as if fear would never touch me again. I shook my head, taking a step back and trying to get sir back into my lungs. He countered me by taking an inch forward.

"Who are you?" He voice was deep and gravely, it reminded me of the forest floor. I could feel heat moving up my neck and cheeks, and I knew my pale skin was turning a deep shade of red at the intensity of his voice. No one had ever spoken to me like that.

"Sonya."

"Sonya." He repeated quietly to himself, tasting the name in his mouth.

"Uh oh, we've lost another one." Jared said from behind us and the spell was broken. I shook my head, jumping back and grabbing Kim's hand.

"Kimmy lets go, I'm not feeling to well."

"Are you sick?" The guy jumped, placing a burning hand on my shoulder, his face pained but it couldn't have been for my sake.

"No, but you are! We've got to get you to a hospital!" I placed the back of my hand on his forehead just to confirm my suspicions. He laughed, grabbing my hand and pulling it off of his face, but not letting go.

"I'm fine. Just run a little hotter then everyone else. It's a genetic thing."

"Oh." Was my idiotic reply. Then Jared and Sam were at both his side, grabbing his arms to pull him back and into the woods. The guy fought to get away but wasn't strong enough to take on both of them.

"I'm Paul!" His voice shook with his body which was moving at an alarming rate and then they were gone. Molding into the woods like ghosts. We were silent, starring at the entrance to the forest where they had all disappeared to. The Emily clapped her hands.

"Well, who's hungry then?" We ate and talked, sitting around the fire listening to the old legends the elders told but I had trouble paying attention. My mind kept rewinding back to the man I had met hours ago. Paul. They hadn't returned since then and no one expected them to. By the time the meal was done, most people had left and we were left to help clean up the mess. Not that I minded, cleaning helped me focus on something other then the stranger that had invaded my head.

"Sonya, you ready to go?"

"Huh?" Kim had Jared's jacket wrapped around her shoulder and I looked up to find everyone gone.

"Sure thing Kimmy." Arm in arm we walked back towards my house. I looked back over my shoulder once, staring into the woods. I could have sworn I saw a rush of silver fur fly through the trees but with a shake of my head it was gone.

New chapter! Not much to say. Thanks to those who've been reading and adding it to lists, I sure do appreciate it!

Hours to write. Minutes to read. Seconds to review.

© Twilight - S. Meyer

© Sonya, Abigail, Mr. & Mrs. Turner, Annie - Me!