Paul's POV

I must have fallen asleep in the forest because I woke up in wolf form in a pile of leaves. I swear I could smell Nicky's scent -which smells like the ocean- all around me. I spent a couple more minutes running around like a crazed animal. I was so worried about her last night. She was acting differently and it sort of scared me, then she took off and I couldn't keep up and I'm a fricken were-wolf.

Her scent disappeared. I couldn't follow it any longer. And what sucks the most is that I know I have failed as an imprinter. I'm meant to be protecting her and keeping her away from the forest but as soon as I came over to check on her she makes a run for it.

And what happens if she's in danger? What happens if she fell off a cliff? What happens if she was eaten by a blood-sucker? What happens if she isn't safe anymore and no one is there to rescue her? The stress inside me was eaten me alive. I dropped to the floor on my stomach when I went through all those questions in me head. What if she's dead? No… no I can't think like that. But what if she's dying? No, no Paul I can't think like that either. Think positive.

I picked my sorry ass up and started to head to school- not caring what I looked like. I'm not actually going to do any work today, I'm just going to gather up the pack and make them all help me search for her. She could be in serious danger if that red-headed leech got her, especially since we found that vampire a few days ago. If something can kill a vampire and is still running loose out there I do not want Nicky to be there.

I ran to school to find it was probably lunchtime. I ran into the school barefoot and shirtless. I probably stunk and had dirt on my face but did I care? No!

I ran up the school gates and down the empty corridor and straight to the lunch room. It was busy as usual and no doubt I was centre of attention. I got to the back table were everyone was stuffing there faces and didn't notice my entrance.

"Paul?" Kim said, ok maybe somebody noticed me.

"Hi. Guys I need your help. It's urgent!" I rushed. The pack looked up at me and obviously weren't expecting me to look like this.

Except Leah who laughed.

"Where are your shoes? And shirt? Sam's gonna get so pissed." Jacob said. I could only roll my eyes. Who cares?

"Shut up and come and help me. Nicky's missing!" I said frantically. I did not care how stupid I looked and how everyone was listening in.

"Err… I'm right here." Said a beautiful voice behind me. I turned around to see Nicky (as normal as ever) holding her lunch tray. She raised her eyebrows at me before sitting next to Kim. I couldn't take my eyes off her. Where has she been? How did she get here? And what the hell happened last night?

I sat next to her quickly and took her hand between mine. She tried to pull her arm back but I held tight.

"Where were you?" I asked looking into her eyes.

"In the lunch line" she said as if it were obvious.

"Ok, let me rephrase that, where were you last night?" Everyone on the table leaned in to hear her answer.

A look of terror flashed on her face too fast that if I blinked I would have missed it. She composed herself quickly and looked bored.

"I was at home. Where were you?" she said as if it were that simple. She somehow snuck her hand out of mine.

"You're lying." I know I was being blunt but if you saw her last night you would be like this too.

"And you would know this because? Oh yeah, you were spying on me last night because I found your shirt on my bedroom floor this morning." She said angrily. She was home this morning?

"What exactly did you see?" she asked suddenly, turning her whole body towards me. She turned her head slightly and saw that the rest of the table were listening intently. I growled so lowly that only the pack members could hear. Nicky leaned away from me indicating she heard as well.

I grabbed her hand and stood up. She didn't struggle so I took that as a sign to get out of there. I lead her outside the cafeteria doors and near the lockers to give us some privacy.

"Well?" she asked breaking the silence.

"Well?" I asked lamely. We both had questions we wanted answers for.

"What exactly did you see last night? Tell me everything that happened." She demanded. I gulped loudly and tried to exactly think how to put it into words. I didn't want to lie to her so I said the first thing that came into my mind.

"You were hugging me." She looked taken back with my answer.

"I was hugging you?" She said in the cutest confused voice ever.

"Yes, and you wouldn't let go. And then you took off my shirt and threw it on the floor," I was hoping she didn't hear the obvious lie I just told. I wouldn't let go of her and I took off my shirt and threw it on the floor.

She looked down to the ground believing my lie. It hurt to lie to her, even though it was a little white lie, but I couldn't let her know that I was sneaking into her house late at night threw an opened window, if she hated on me before think about how much she would hate me after I tell her that.

"I wouldn't hug you again," she said finally. My face fell but I composed it quickly hoping to put my magic charm.

"Well sweetie, we don't have to hug if you don't want too. I can think of other things we could do instead." I winked at her.

She just glared at me and turned to walk away I heard her mumble, "Fucken moron," I caught up to her easily (way easier then last night) and put my hands on her waist, turning her around in my arms. She huffed and crossed her arms.

"Let me go." she demanded. I could only shake my head, even when she was angry she was the most stunning girl I have ever seen.

"I can't," I mumbled. She raised a perfect brow at me.

"Why me?" I could hear the tiredness in her voice.

"What?"

"Why me? Why can't you leave me alone? You have a million other girls who want you and girls like Allison who would actually …do things in the janitors closest in the middle of school. Why is it me?" Her eyes were so serious that I actually had to take a step back.

"I didn't do anything with Allison, I swear. I left her as soon as you walked away from me. I don't want anything to do with her… or anyone." I tried to defend myself. She probably thinks I'm a player. I'll admit it, I was but after seeing Nicky I will never even think about another girl.

"There's no point in trying. I'm asking my mum if we can move tonight. This place isn't for me." That was like a kick in the balls. My heart literally sunk into my chest.

"You want to move… because of me?" my heart was beating through my chest I wouldn't be surprised if she heard it too.

"Not because of you. Just I hate this place. I don't belong here."

Nicky's POV

I lied. I feel like I'm meant to be here. This place feels like home to me. But the rain… I can't do it. I'm asking mum tonight if we can move. I'd rather not risk it. I don't want to be used for experiments… again.

"But you don't understand. You belong here," I thought at first I was talking to myself because I so badly wanted to stay but then I realised Paul said that.

I could only shrug; I was afraid I would open my mouth and regret it straight away.

Paul clenched his fist and his face tightened up in anger. I wasn't expecting that type of reaction.

He started walking over to me and I automatically stepped backwards. My back hit the locker and I realised I was trapped.

He punched the lockers furiously. I was stunned to say the least.

"WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS TO ME?" He yelled at me. I actually was speechless. I couldn't get any words out of my mouth. I've never seen him like this before.

He caged me in with his hands by putting them either side of my head. His face calmed down a bit when he looked at me.

"Tell me right now that you don't have any remote feelings for me. Tell me you never want to see me again." He said through clenched teeth.

It was a couple of silent moments while I weighed my options. I could tell him I hate him and never want to see him again or I could tell him that even though his annoying I still want him around to annoy me.

"I don't have any feelings for you and I never want to see you again." I whispered not looking at him. I didn't want to see his reaction. It was a while before I realised he hadn't moved and I was still trapped in his arms.

I looked up his face to find him staring at me intently.

"You're lying." He whispered. How would he know?

"You love me." he said quietly, a smile twitching at his lips.

I shook my head vigorously.

"Err, no if you just listened to what I just said-"

"You love me," He said louder. I glared at him. How wrong he is.

I slid down the lockers and under his arms. He stood in front of me and grabbed my shoulders.

"You love me!" he shouted to the ceiling. I rolled my eyes he's such an idiot.

"I. Do. Not!" I said angrily.

He beamed to himself and walked around me slowly. I stood still glaring at him.

"You love me. You always have, from the moment you looked at me. You can't deny it because I know it's true." He said cockily. I snorted at him.

"You can pretend all you want but I can see through this little charade. You can't stop thinking about me, you have to be close to me, it hurts you to be away from me, you want to kiss me right now, and you're just hiding it. You love-"

I cut him off by pushing him to the lockers by his neck, he was heavy but I managed to lift him off the ground. He was shocked and it was clear he was not expecting this.

"I do not love you. Get it out of your tiny mind. Leave me alone!" I said in a scarishly-calm voice.

I let him go and stalked away pissed off. I better have gotten my point across.

Paul's POV

I slid down onto the floor. I think I peed myself. That had to be the most scariest/hottest thing I have ever experienced. I started to rub my neck. How the hell could she lift me? I way at least twice as much as her and how the fuck could is she that strong… she's just a human? Right?

It made no sense… last night and now. She's defiantly different.

I sighed to myself… I thought if I could get her to admit that she likes me a tiny bit I could at least see some hope.

I don't know what I did to make her hate me so much. I got up and hurried after her. I went straight to the cafeteria where I thought she would be but the principal stopped me in my tracks.

"Mr. Walker, please tell me a reasonable excuse as to why you are not wearing a shirt and not wearing shoes? This is a school of education, not a brothel." He said blocking the cafeteria doors. I looked over his head since he was a chubby little old man and could see Nicky talking to Kim. She waved good bye to the table and hugged Seth and left out the back doors to the school yard.

I started to shake for two reasons: She's leaving without saying anything to me, and she hugged Seth.

"Mr. Walker are you listening? Your appearance isn't acceptable here, I am kindly asking you to go home and change before you are put on a suspension. We don't want other students following your examples." The short fat man warned. I only heard: Go home.

I nodded to him before going back the way I came and sprinting at a fast human pace out the front gates.

I ran around the school to the back doors where I last saw Nicky. She must have taken the hiking trail that leads to the cliffs in the forest. I sprinted as fast as I could, following her scent. At any moment her scent could disappear so I was relying more on the trail then her scent. About thirty seconds later of full out bolting I saw a figure stand at the end of the cliffs.

They dropped a bag and put their hands out and their hair blew everywhere from the wind.

They bent their knees and sprung off the edge of the cliff.

"NOOOO!" I called out sliding to a stop at the edge. I looked down and saw the splash of Nicky when she landed. I waited a few moments scratching at the ground with my nails. It's been too long, she could have come up.

Without thinking I flung myself off the side of the cliff face and prepared myself for the nose dive into the rough water.

There was no way Nicky would chose to end her life… she's not like that, is she? But why hasn't she come up?

I stopped thinking negative about the situation and swam deeper into the dark water.

I could barely see the seabed. It was too rough for any sea-creatures to be swimming around.

I frantically swam around myself checking everywhere.

Where could she have gone? She couldn't have swam that far out. Even with my were-wolf vision I couldn't see Jack squat.

I was running out of breath fast and reluctantly swam to the surface. I couldn't stand the thought of me breathing air when beautiful Nicky isn't.

I looked around and started to panic, she couldn't have gone far.

After searching any where I could I started to get exhausted- a were-wolf needs a break too!

I reluctantly left the water with a tear stained face. I've lost her. And I didn't even get a chance to tell her how much I loved her.

I buried my face in the sand crying like the baby I am. I didn't care who sees. I was sobbing like Jacob over Bella! Even worse!

I started thinking over the things I should have done instead.

I could have said so many things to maybe change her mind about me. I could have gone to extreme lengths but I didn't! And that's what hurt the most.

"Paul?" I imagined her voice would say. I never liked my name but coming out of her mouth I'd like anything she says.

"Paul?" I started sobbing harder. It feels like she's so close. It sounds so real.

"Are you crying?" I swear I could hear the amusement her voice. I'm imagining this, I must be. I don't deserve to be anywhere near her the way I've been acting.

"Paul?" she asked to softly. I had to look up at her. I turned my head slightly and was hallucinating.

She was wearing a white dress that was flowing in the wind; her hair was blowing around her head like a halo. Though she dived into water not even twenty minutes ago she was dry.

I couldn't help it I got up quickly and hugged her with everything I had. Even though I was imagining her I could feel her under my arms. I hugged her with so much force she fell over in my arms. I fell with her onto the sand. I buried my face into the crook of her neck.

Nicky's POV

I thought I could understand the dynamics of Paul's mind. But once again he proved me wrong. I know nothing about him.

All I did was go for a swim. The tide was calling for me and I answered the call. I swam around the cliff as fast as I could, loving the way the water rushed around me. I was riding currents for a bit in the rough waters. Some people think rough, dark waters are dangerous. But I find them really mysterious and fun!

I got out near the rock pools and waited for myself to dry off. While waiting for myself to dry I dragged myself over to my back. Since I'm completely naked when I phase back (except the lucky times when I remember to bring a shirt) I keep spare clothes in my school bag.

I pulled out a simple white dress and waited to air dry. It was a few minutes later when I was putting on the dress when I heard someone crying. At first I thought it was the waves but it sounded so sad.

I walked over to where the sound is and saw, who else, but Paul lying face down in the sand crying his heart out.

"Paul?" I asked waiting for him to say some cocky remark. It only made him cry harder.

"Paul?" I asked once again. He seemed to have heard me but chose to lie down in the sand and cry. Whatever tickles him fancy.

"Are you crying?" I asked trying to hide my amusement. Imagine a 6foot+ guy with bulging muscles and a serious temper cry like a baby.

Ok, I felt bad. Maybe something horrible happened for him to be like this. Who am I too judge?

"Paul?" I asked softly, hoping to not annoy him. I stood on the spot to give him distance.

He moved his head and saw me. Before I could say "Avocado" I was squeezed into a tight hug. There was so much force behind it that I fell back wards bringing him with me.

He's obviously really upset and I didn't want to make it worse by pushing him away. I inwardly sighed as I awkwardly patted his back.

"There, there."

He looked up to me and I saw his tear stained cheeks. His eyes were puffy for crying and he looked like a mess. His hair was a little wet so I leaned away in case water dripped on me.

"Nicky?" he asked so innocently it made me want to cry.

"Yeah it's me." I whispered. He was still holding me and I realised we couldn't stay like this forever.

"Nicky…" he mumbled. I pushed him off and saw the hurt on his face. I rolled my eyes and stood up lending my hand out to him.

"Let's go get you cleaned up." I said as softly as I could. I felt like I should help him. He nodded with a blank look on his face and grabbed my hand. I grabbed my bag and slung it over my shoulder. He was quiet the whole way back and only held my hand tighter.

I was hoping to bring him back to my house and take care of him to find out why he was crying so bad. And not to mention to probably explain a few things to him.

I owe him that.