luckless

- v -

Jared didn't come back that night. I tossed and turned for hours, waiting for the sound of the front door or the wooden floorboards of the hallway creaking. Not a noise. I finally drifted off sometime around three. By the time my alarm sounded for school, I had forgotten all about Paul's little hissy fit. In fact, I was just annoyed that I had to wake up so early. School was at eight, a little bit better than Fork's with a seven-twenty start. At least there was that much to be grateful about.

By the time I remembered Jared's absence, it was almost time to leave. I cursed when I looked out the living room window. Where was the car? Jared hadn't taken it last night, so where was it? I was about to call his cell when I spotted the device charging next to mine. Great. There was no way I could walk to school today. From our house to the tribal school, walking would take at least two hours. I could skip, but if Jared came home, I didn't want to deal with him. He would berate me for not 'taking the incitative' or 'being lazy.' I could, of course, blame him for not being here. He was my ride to school every day after all. When he had gone through his weird contagious sick phase and missed weeks of school in October, I had just driven his car myself. Now, I didn't have either option. I could try to wake up Tatum and guilt her into driving me. Or at least letting me borrow her car. Times like these would have been real convenient for her to attend the same school I did. But she didn't. Her parents were adamant non-believers of mass education. Instead, she was home-schooled. Which meant she took one test a month and would graduate this year. And didn't have to wake up at dawn's ass crack. Lucky her.

And that left me without a ride. I decided not to call her. She wouldn't pick up, anyway. Jacob was too young to drive, so he wouldn't be able to take me. I doubted Paul would answer if I called him. But it wouldn't hurt, right? Then maybe I'd know where Jared was. I retrieved my phone from its charging port on the counter. I scrolled through my contacts until I found his name. I pressed the green call button. The phone rang three times before he picked up.

"What, Kat?" His words were stone. It made me want to retaliate with just as much ice.

"Where's Jared? I need the car or I need him to take me to school."

"He's busy with something, and he needs the car. I'll come pick you up." His tone had softened. Now he just sounded tired. As if on cue, loud voices rose from the background. I was able to make out Jared's voice, but the other I couldn't place. Paul hung up before I could figure it out. It was probably Sam. Of course all three were together this early. I shouldn't have been surprised.

I only had to wait a couple of minutes before Paul's sporty little Subaru Impreza rolled up. He'd tricked out the black car the majority of this past summer, adding hood scoops, a wing, had lowered it, and added custom hubcaps. Jared had raged how stupid the whole car looked, but that was before him and Paul grew closer. At least it was loud enough that he didn't need to honk a horn. Like before, thoughts of pre-chihuahua mode Paul made my cheeks flush. If I had gotten to know him with that car and his previous party habits, then damn, I might've fallen for him. But now he was Jared and Sam's little bitch. Not so attractive when he wasn't living his own life.

Paul was scowling darkly when I exited the front door. However, when he saw me, his entire demeanor changed. I didn't like the look in his eye. I suddenly regretted my decision to call him. I'd never actually been alone with him. Jared was always there. What was he going to say? Could I trust him?

Paul obviously wasn't going to school. As usual, he wore the thinnest muscle tank and cargo shorts. It was November for crying out loud. How he could stand the dropping temperatures in clothes like that on a daily basis was beyond me. I slid into the front seat, throwing my bag between my feet. I crossed my arms and frowned at my chauffeur.