Chapter 1

My life isn't perfect. It hasn't been since I was nine. I had loving parents, a brilliant older brother, and the most adorable baby brother. The saying you don't know what you got till it's gone applies to me in so many ways. I didn't know how lucky I was until it was all ripped away from me. It was an average Tuesday, I was at school. I had forgotten my lunch, so I called my mom to bring it to school for me. Her and my baby brother where in the car and they got in an accident with a drunk driver. My brother was killed instantly, but my mother was in the hospital for two days, writhing in pain before she finally died. I wasn't allowed to see her, and I never even got to say goodbye. My older brother was fourteen. The death of my mother changed him inside, in more ways than my father and me. He no longer lives with us. My father tries to go on, for me mostly. But our old house holds too many memories. It was a mutual decision to move across the country. Away from Alabama. Away from the past. Away from the pain. I haven't been the same since, but I've moved on somewhat.

Why we picked La Push, I don't know. Maybe it was because my dad's best friend from high school, Charlie, lived close to there. Maybe it's because he could easily get a job as a cop. But this morning was the first time I woke up and the sun wasn't shining. I looked at my clock. It was already 10:30. I never slept this late; I was a really early riser. The lack of sun was going to mess up my schedule. I rolled out of bed and threw on some clothes. I ran a brush through my hair and brushed my teeth.

"Morning Michelle," greeted my dad.

"Hey daddy," I said happily.

My dad and I had a great relationship. He was my hero. I wished I looked like him because I knew that every time he saw me, he was reminded of mom and I felt terrible about it. My mom wasn't ugly; in fact she was a model before she had kids. I had acquired her golden hair and green eyes. Her pale skin and delicate features. But I wanted my dad's black hair and tan skin. Because I looked like my mom, I had a lot to live up to. She was a model for crying out loud and I'm just… me.

"I have to make some phone calls and then I have work. There are groceries in the car. Can you please run out and grab them?" he asked.

"Sure daddy," I chimed.

I put on a pair of flats and skipped outside. There were twenty bags of groceries in the trunk. I sighed. I was not a very strong person. The only thing I hadn't gained from my mom was my height. I wasn't tall. I was hardly average. At fourteen, I was exactly five foot. Across the street, I saw three boys. I couldn't make them out at first because of the fog, but as they came into view, I noticed none of them were wearing shirts. Classy. I grabbed a grocery bag, but I needed to use both hands to hold it. I walked into the house and set it on the counter. When I came back outside, the boys were on my lawn.

"Do you need help?" one of them asked.

"Um, it's fine," I said.

"It really wouldn't be a problem," he said kindly.

It wasn't creepy that they were offering to help. It was pretty sweet.

"Alright, thanks," I smiled.

They each grabbed a handful of bags and my jaw dropped when I noticed that there were none left in the trunk. They followed me inside.

"Where do you want these?"

"You can put them on the counter."

"Okay," he said, "I'm Sam by the way. And this is Quil and Jacob."

He gestured to the two older boys.

"I'm Michelle Adams."

"Well Michelle Adams, welcome to the neighborhood," said Sam nicely.

"Thank you," I said.

"Hey, I know you! Your Charlie's friend's daughter," said the one called Jacob.

"Yeah, how did you know that?" I asked.

"Charlie is my dad's friend," he explained.

"Oh," I said, smiling.

"It was nice meeting you Michelle. Maybe we'll see you around?" asked Sam.

"Sure! Nice meeting you guys, too."

They waved and left, I was surprised at how polite they were. They seemed like the kind of guys that would be obnoxious. I watched them outside the window walking back across the street. They looked like they were joking around and having a good time, when another tall buff shirtless guy came up to them. He looked mad… furious. They started arguing about something and I felt myself gasp when he punched Jacob in the face. I decided that I would stay away from him. While I was putting the groceries away, the doorbell rang.

"I'll get it!" I called to my dad, who was still on the phone.

And when I opened the door, who was standing before me but the angry guy himself. He was breathing heavily and clutching something in his hand.

"Um, hi," I muttered.

His breathing slowed and I watched his fists unclench.

"Is this yours? My uh… friend found it on your driveway," he asked sarcastically.

"Yeah, it is. Thanks," it was my mother's bracelet that she had given to me when I was six. I wore it every day; it must have fallen off when I was outside.

He dropped the bracelet in my hand. I looked up at him for the first time, "Thanks again."

I waited for him to respond, but he was just staring at me, smiling. I raised my eyebrows, but he still didn't say anything.

"Uh, see you… I guess," I mumbled. He still hadn't moved or said anything, so I shut the door in front of him.

"Bye honey, I'm going to work," my dad kissed me on the head and grabbed his keys.

"Bye dad, love you," I always said that I loved him before he left.

"Love you, too… Oh and did you eat?"

"Uh, yeah dad," I muttered, looking down.

I peeked behind him as he went out the door, curious to see if that guy was still there. He wasn't, but I couldn't figure out how he had gotten off my porch so fast. He had looked like he didn't plan on moving ever. I brushed the thought off and went back to putting the groceries away.

PAUL'S POV

Shit I just imprinted. One second I was punching Jacob in the face for eating the last muffin at Emily's, and the next I was staring into the eyes of the most beautiful girl in the world. They were a deep green color that I loved so much. And then she closed the door in my face. I couldn't remember what we had been talking about to begin with. I heard her sweet sounding voice talking to a man, I guessed it was her father. I ran across the street, shaking my head.

"What's wrong Paul?" Sam asked me, but I was too dazed to answer.

"Uh… I… uh-" I stammered.

"Spit it out Paul," groaned Jacob.

"I think I imprinted," I breathed.

Jacob groaned. I knew his thoughts on imprinting. I used to agree, but now not so much. I felt alive for the first time ever. Alive because I finally knew the source of my life. That girl.

"On Michelle?" pushed Quil.

"Michelle," I sighed, the name sounded amazing on my lips.

"Well, good for you man," said Sam, patting me on the back, "How did it happen?"

"Uh, I handed her a bracelet and then she shut the door in my face," I was still lost in thought about Michelle.

Jake snorted and I suddenly felt the urge to punch him. I shot him daggers and he just smirked at me. I rolled my eyes.

"Paul, you have to go talk to her," urged Sam.

"I don't know, I…"

"You have to Paul," Sam pushed again, "You can't fight this."

"Why the hell do you assume that I'm going to freaking fight this?" I growled, "I don't want to fight this. Why would I keep myself away from the only thing that'll make me happy? I'm not an idiot!"

I was shaking now, but I thought of Michelle's eyes and calmed down.

"Oh, going soft now Paul?"Challenged Jake.

I punched him in the face and stormed out of the house. When Jared first imprinted on Kim, I thought it was weird that he stood outside her house to make sure she was okay, but I had a strong urge to do it. I didn't want to risk getting caught, though because I didn't want her to think I was a creep. I decided to just slowly walk by her house. I heard some coughing coming from the inside and panicked. What if she was sick? I sprinted up to her porch and knocked on the door. Thirty four seconds later, she answered. She was chewing on a mint.

"Hi," I said as soon as she opened the door.

She was startled. I could feel it.

"Hey," she said slowly.

"Are you okay?"

"Uh… yeah… why?"

Crap. She probably thought I was a creep now.

"Just-just wondering."

She nodded and looked at me expectantly.

"I'm Paul," I said.

"Hey Paul I'm Michelle," she held out her hand.

I shook it and wasn't surprised that I felt a shock run up my arm. She felt confused, but she did feel it, too.

"Well it was nice meeting you," she said, starting to close the door.

"Bye!"I called.

I took off running down the street. What a great first impression.