Disclaimer: What's mine is mine and what's not is Stephanie Meyers. Well, with this story at least. ;)

CHAPTER TWO

So it's easy to say that Paul and I didn't exactly get off on the right foot, but realistically it shouldn't have been that surprising. He was an arrogant, loud-mouthed, short tempered teenage guy who liked to work on cars, ride his motorcycle and play girls (this was pretty easy to figure out after the 3 different girls over the course of 3 weeks that were coming over constantly to "hang out" when his mom was out.) I was engrossed in studying (despite the fact it was summer vacation) and keeping my nose buried in a book with a hot drink by my side, rather than going to out to make friends or getting involved in the latest scandal.

We ran in different circles, and were very different individuals. Throwing us together in a small room and trying to force us to "make friends" was just a problem waiting to happen. After our little mishap neither Wendy or my sister tried to put us in that situation, preferring to act as we hadn't practically been at each others throats during that first supper.

Despite it, those two actually grew closer and I found that I had grown to like Wendy as well. My sister was ten years older than I was, and taking on the roll of a guardian since our mom had passed whereas Wendy was a single mother (and a fairly young one at that) with nobody other than her son (who I gathered was enough trouble on his own) and her husband... well nobody spoke of him so I figured it was best to leave it at that. They had a few things in common in that way, and I was just happy that Nat accumulated so quickly while me, well, I wasn't complaining either. A change of scenery hadn't been a horrible idea.

We coped, and I even started to like rainy little La Push. Our house was small and quant, and missing my mom was a lot harder when those everyday reminders of her that were scattered in our old house just weren't there in this one. Slowly, very slowly, we were moving on.

And then there was still Paul. Obviously we weren't each others biggest fans, so we just avoided each other for the most part, which wasn't too difficult despite living next door to each other. He went his own way and I went mine and neither of us made any attempts to start any fights, though little jabs and aggravations were open game for both of us whenever we passed by but overall, I found out that he wasn't an completely terrible person. He was just kind of a jerk, and speaking of Paul...

I glanced up from my book when I heard a commotion coming from the lawn to my right. Because Of course, who else would it be but Paul Lahote and his latest girlfriend? Cue an eye roll on my part here.

"You are such a lying, two-timing bastard!" I blinked at the choice of words, watching Paul get out of the passenger side of a mini coop while the girl driving had the window rolled down and was practically hanging out of it screaming profanities at him. He let her spit out every choice word she had in her vocabulary (not a lot, by the way) before he finally rolled his eyes and replied. "I didn't freaking cheat on you."

"YOU FUCKING LIAR!" She shot back. "NOBODY WOULD BREAK UP WITH ME UNLESS THERE WAS A REASON!" By the looks of things, including her angry, vivid red face and phenomenal conversation skills I would have to personally disagree with her.

"Don't be such a bitch!" Paul shouted back.

"Me? Are you fucking kidding me. Well, here's something for you to think about Lahote. I AM BREAKING UP WITH YOU!"

I snorted loudly, book forgotten. Slapping a hand over my mouth I tried to hold another one back in but it was too late at that point. I was close enough that they heard me, and of course the she-devil sitting in the car zoned in on me, unfortunately. "Is that her!? It is, isn't it! You would breaking up with me for THAT?!"

My mouth fell open, and did Paul's as his head went back and forth looking from me to her. "Are you fucking kidding me?" He finally sputtered out. Silently, I echoed that sentiment, but before either of us could work up a rebuttal to deny the accusation the girl hurled a large McDonald's cup out the window at Paul and with his distracted stare at me he didn't notice it coming until it hit him straight on the side of his head and he was completely soaked in soda. The girl screamed a final "FUCK YOU" before spinning away.

My jaw had yet to close at this point, and he turned to look at me with a glare just as the first laugh burst out of my mouth. "Seriously?!" He shouted angrily. I giggled, managing to work out "Maybe if you didn't sleep with half of La Push that wouldn't be an issue." between snorting laughs. "She was from Forks." He grumbled, heading for the door. "See! You've already worked your way through the rez. Careful, if you keep it up you'll have to start going another town over for a date."

"Har, har" He jingled the knob to the front door of his house and I realized his problem before he did. "Um, do you have a key on you?"

"No." He looked at me. "Why?"

"Your mom and my sister went to Port Angeles to go shopping."

His hand fell off the doorknob as he stared at me. "Seriously." He repeated for the second time in five minutes. Finally managing to get my laughter until control I nodded grimly. "Seriously." Then I promptly burst out laughing again. He was grumbling something under his breath, lightly kicking his door as I placed my bookmark at the page I had been on since him and his girlfri-ex girlfriend showed up with their little soap opera. While he didn't look crushed that one of his many week long relationships had come to a end, his entire t-shirt was soaked through with sticky liquid and he was stuck outside for at least another couple hours until his mom got home and I almost kind of felt bad for him.

Almost. Then I reminded myself he had brought it upon himself.

Contemplating my next move silently, I finally relented. "Would you like a towel?"

"Are you trying to be nice or something."

I raised my eyebrows. "Well I was, but I can always take back the offer if you don't want it."

"No, uh a towel is good. I guess."

Rolling my eyes at his tone I threw my book onto the blanket and went in the house and grabbed a towel, running it under the tap to soak it through, then I grabbed another dry one as well to take out with me. He was waiting where he had been when I went inside, and I threw the towel at him and sat back onto the blanket, going back to my book without much more care regarding his wellbeing. What I didn't expect was him to take off his shirt and promptly sit down next to me on the blanket as he ran the towel through his hair and over his shoulders.

Tossing my book down in exasperation I willed my eyes to stay on his face when acknowledging him. I wasn't used to shirtless guys but regardless, I most certainly was not going to let Paul Lahote get to me because he was sitting next to me half naked. "What are you doing?"

He gave me an 'are you stupid' look. "Sitting here until my mom gets home."

"That could be hours."

He just looked at me blandly.

"Don't you have friends or something?" I asked.

"I do but you don't so I figure that I'm doing you a favor since you did me one."

I sputtered "Oh don't do me any favors for my sake. Please."

"Too late now." He grinned, and I was surprised to admit that it actually wasn't a sarcastic or mocking one for once. If anything, the genuineness was almost... sweet, with a youthful boyish charm to it that I had yet to have seen from him since moving next door. I bit my lips as my stomach twisted into a knot. Paul was not sweet by any means, and those were thoughts that needed to be pushed far out of my mind, like, now.

"Whatever, just don't bug me while I'm trying to read." Ignoring the incredulous snort he let out at the statement, I promptly went back to my novel, managing to read a few chapters during the moments of peace when he was quiet, which were few and far between as we spent the next couple of hours lounging on my front yard bickering. Despite the jibes back and forth, it wasn't a completely horrible time, and we might have even joked around a bit before Wendy and my sister rolled in, each getting out of the car with matching looks of curiosity and interest. Perhaps that was even worry floating around in Wendy's expression for a minute there.

My sister cleared her throat when they were close enough. "Do I want to know what's happening here?"

I didn't glance up from my book, nor give Paul a chance at input. "Paul pissed off his girlfriend, she dumped her soda all over him. He looked gross and was locked out of his house so I offered him a towel, and we've been sitting here since."

"Ex-girlfriend." Paul clarified. "And I dumped her, which is why she was pissed off. And I'd like to say we've been bonding." And the sarcasm was back, full force as ever. I snorted.

"Hey, call it what you will but I know the truth in my heart." I shut my book and looked at him. "We weren't bonding, and now that you have access to your house, and shower for the matter, I think we can call this little meeting to an end." With a bright, completely over exaggerated smile I got up and trotted up the walkway to our front door. I ignored the looks Wendy and Nat exchanged, ignored the trickle of laughter that was dying to bubble out of my mouth at the whole situation, and tried (though failed) to ignore Paul calling out "It was a fun date!"

"Wasn't a date." I called behind me.

"You're right. I'd never go out with you."

"The feeling's mutual." I turned, gave him a two finger salute and grin, and walked inside to the cool AC'd air in the house. Natalie followed close behind, trailing me into the kitchen while I leaned over to grab a bottled water out of the fridge. Her eyes twinkled. "What was that?"

"Nothing."

"Deniability will get you no where." She told me jokingly.

"I'm not denying anything."

"Okay, fine." But she stood there staring at me expectantly. I raised my eyebrows, waiting for her to continue knowing by the look on her face that she had tons more to say. "Okay, so I really think you should get out, past "hanging out" with Paul." I protested, loudly. "Okay, so this was a one time thing. Still maybe apply some places, get a job... it might help you get to know some people and make friends, maybe even make some money for the summer. You know, get you acquainted to the area."

The idea of getting a job gave me more anxiety than I would like to admit, but I couldn't disagree that it was a good one. Sitting at home doing homework wasn't making me money, and back in Quincy I had always had a constant job as the babysitter for our neighbors two young children, who I watched before and after school (on top of walking them there and back every day), as well as practically living over at their house on the weekdays during summertime. Because of it I had always had money saved (I still did actually, as I was a watchful spender) and the idea of not sitting at home, especially with Paul, was appealing. It even helped override my nerves. "Okay, I'll look around sometime."

"Good. And oh, about Paul. If anything happens..."

"I'll be the first to tell you. But just as I'm telling you now Nat, nothing will."

She only sent me a knowing look (no doubt to annoy the crap out of me) and pranced out of the room, her purposeful smirk practically lingering behind her.