Chapter 2
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters, only the plot.
TIP: I distorted the timeline of all the events and added a little more or changed the characters around here and there. There's no true timeline in the book but this is post-NewMoon and pre-Eclipse. Like I said though I do change AGES and MINORLY WHAT HAPPENS just an FYI.
Loud, persistent voices filtered down into Raven's room. She'd been putting away her clothes when everyone began arriving and, knowing full well she should have been up there greeting them like a good adult, she did not go upstairs. Instead, she finished hanging up her clothes. Of course, she could only delay the inevitable for so long, especially with her scarce amount of clothes.
Heaving a sigh, she stood and brushed herself off, glancing at her clothes and deciding to change. Her shirt had been off for a full minute before she felt heat prickling her neck. Spinning around, she looked out the window and felt her stomach clench. There, walking straight out of the tree line, were two new giants, and they did not disappoint in the looks department. In fact, despite the distance, Raven had a feeling they were even hotter than the original three she'd met.
And the boys had both clearly noticed her. Their eyes grew wide, and Raven stared right back, though it took them a while to raise their eyes to hers. One had the common sense to act like he hadn't been staring at her shirtless form. He shifted his gaze to the sky and rubbed his neck, looking anywhere but at her.
The other was plain stupid, she decided. He just kept staring! In the back of her mind, she was aware that there was this lull of peace and ease drifting over her as she looked into those eyes with chocolate pools as deep as the ocean, but she wasn't going to get lost in his eyes, no matter how much they sparkled at her. She was rational, and this man was insane. Did he have no shame? Utterly insulted, Raven stormed to the door and threw it open. "What the hell are you two doing!?"
"Uhh...nothing?" said the mobile, functioning one.
Raven narrowed her eyes. "What's wrong with your friend? Does he want to get slapped today or something?"
The one speaking - who was slightly shorter than the dumbfounded one - looked at his friend and shrugged. Damn, why were all the hot one's whacko? "I mean...in his defense, he's staring at your face. Well - now he is."
Raven felt her vision go red. "Has he never seen a half-naked girl before? For fuck's sake...the door is at the front of the house! Don't make this mistake again."
She walked inside muttering, "Fucking giant creeps..."
Once inside, Raven pulled on a clean shirt and less torn up jeans. After that embarrassing incident, she really didn't want to go upstairs. But she knew if she stayed in her room much longer, Luke would probably have Kyle carry her up the stairs himself - he was strong enough to do that now, so it was no longer a mute threat.
She opened the door to find the living room filled with foreign people. A sense of fitting in filled her when she noticed that they all hard tanned skin and dark black hair. For the first time in a while, she was in a room where she looked like she belonged there, like this was her place. Everyone had the prominent Native American features like she did, even if they came in all kinds of different variations and mixes.
She herself was a prime example of a mix. Instead of russet skin, she had a soft, golden caramel shade, and her eyes were a sparkling purple. Even her hair was more of light chocolate brown rather than black. Of course, it made sense considering her mom had been full Quileute and her dad was white.
Even among the giants, who all looked even more like clones than the rest, there were distinctly different features ranging from their jaw structures, hair color, eye shapes, noses, and body types, though that was debatable. They all looked like they were bodybuilders.
There had to have been nearly thirty people in her living room. She just stood there in the kitchen, completely overwhelmed. There were also about twenty dishes over the counters, but it was dwindling fast. Had they somehow not brought enough food? One dish should have served ten people alone!
"Raven!" Her head snapped to the left, but she was unfamiliar to the face that had spoken. "Raven! It's so good to finally meet you! I'm Emily Young. Gosh, you've grown up so much! Your dad's forgotten to send me any Christmas cards over the last two years."
Emily came rushing at her, face full of scars. Her body was so thin it worried Raven, but she still managed to squish her in a hug. She had a beautiful smile. The scar made it unsymmetrical, but Raven kind of liked that.
"Um...hi. Yeah, I couldn't find your new address to send it," she explained. "It's nice to meet you, too. Thank you for decorating the place - it never would have been without your help."
She waved a hand like it was nothing when Raven, in fact, knew redecorating and renovating alike took days of planning and days of work. "Please, it was nothing. I had my help, of course. Where is she...oh! Sue! Sue, come meet Raven!" She was jumping up and down with energy that Raven simply lacked. An older woman in her forties came shuffling over, and Raven couldn't help but be shocked by her beauty. She was the perfect representation of a hard working Native American. "Sue Clearwater. Raven Dubois."
She, too, hugged Raven. "It's so nice meet you. Your brother, Kyle, and my son Seth seem to be fast friends, so I'm sure I'll be seeing a lot of you around." For some reason, she winked at Emily. "You're close in age with my daughter, Leah. I'll introduce you if she arrives."
Raven nodded briskly, not used to talking - or rather listening - to such talkative people. "I take it Seth is one of the giants as well."
Both women looked shocked at her sentence. She supposed she should have been politer about that statement considering one giant's mother was right there, but she figured the giants intruded in her life so much already that she was warranted a little ill will in their favor.
"I suppose they are quite like giants, aren't they?" Sue laughed whole heartily, as if that thought never crossed her mind before. Raven smiled tightly. Emily grinned.
"Here comes my giant right now. Sam! Come meet Raven," she said, emphasizing her name in a way that made it obvious they'd spoken about her. It wasn't uncommon. She was always known as 'The Engineer Girl.' She secretly took pride in it.
Sam shook her hand in a manner that her feel like he was trying to crush her bones. Without showing how absolutely painful that was, she stole her hand back, rubbing it gently. A low growl seemed to come from within the crowd of people that she was slowly being pulled toward by Emily. "We've heard a lot about you, Raven. Jacob and Paul are excited to start working for you."
"Especially Paul," Emily pointed out. Raven smiled tersely before focusing on Sam again.
"For me?" she smirked.
"For you. They know if they step one foot out of line, they'll have me to answer to," Sam grunted as he wrapped an arm around Emily in a way that made Raven feel like she was intervening on an intimate moment.
Raven glanced around and came to a sudden idea. "So. You're the boss around here, huh?" Sam didn't answer; he crossed his arms over his chest and waited for her to continue. "Every couple of minutes, one giant or the other glances at you. I can't tell if they're scared or what, but you're definitely in charge."
Sam didn't seem too amused. "We follow the law of our past and current elders here in La Push."
"I -,"
"Excuse me," Sam pushed past her and disappeared into the crowd. Raven felt like someone had just ruffled her feathers in the snottiest way ever.
"Well, I – I know that much!" Raven gloated loudly, standing on her toes in hopes that her voice would carry. Unfortunately, she'd already lost him, along with Emily or Sue. Only she could feel like such a stranger in her own home.
"It's not his job."
Raven spun around at the words spoken so close to her. A man – one of the giants – leaned casually on the back of the couch. Raven had seen a lot of new people and a lot of handsome men, but this one definitely took the boat. Her insides churned at the sight of his beautiful face and rock hard body.
"It's not his job, that's why he's so prissy about being called the boss."
His voice was deep and groggy, like he'd gone off to war and been dragged through jagged rocks. How that was sexy, she wasn't sure, but it was. Jet-black hair cropped short, it drew attention to his long and slightly unsymmetrical jawline, as if he'd broken one jaw before. His eyes were a dark brown that held a glimmer and went on for miles, but they did not reach a pure, dream-like soul. They reached a soul full of fire, of anger, of held-back rage ready to burst out at the second's notice. His soul was mysterious, incomplete, and utterly appealing. And Raven wanted to know more.
"Raven! I've heard so much about you already. I'm Jared, and this is the beautiful Kim," said a hulking giant with a meek, pretty girl peeking out from behind him. "I see you've met Paul, the player of the pack! Don't be alarmed if you hear Jessica, or Sally, or Veronica searching for him, but don't give them his location. He's in the process of cutting them off."
Raven raised her eyebrows at Jared's rambling form. Kim elbowed him harshly. "I'm sorry. Jared's a little drunk," she emphasized the last two words with distaste.
Unconcerned with the news that Paul was some player (as if his charmingly dazzling smile didn't give him away already), she continued watching Jared smirk mischievously at the man behind her. "Payback, bitch!" he cackled.
"Not cool, dude. Kim was already obsessed with you," said the man in a voice that made Raven's head swim. It was so deep and full of tired grit.
Jared walked off whistling a delighted tune, and Kim followed. Raven spun around, ready to question what he even meant when her dad suddenly clamped a hand on her shoulder hard enough to make her knees give out momentarily. She kept her balance with a dirty look sent his way. "Paul, we can't wait to get you in the shop."
And it was the smirk that made her recognize him finally. His lips lifted, reaching toward the dark, mystic twinkle in his eye, and she knew.
"Oh – oh my god! You!"
"Me?" Paul snorted, crossing his arms over his chest.
"You," she seethed threateningly, stepping closer to him with a glare fit to make armies whimper. Her hands clenched as she resisted the urge to punch him. "You're the peeping tom!"
"His name his Paul, Rave. Did you hit your head?" Luke scratched at his chin curiously. Raven turned her glare on him but not moving an inch away from Paul. Oh, she was ready to hit him. Right in the temple. She had no doubts that it wouldn't hurt her as much as it hurt him, but she didn't care.
"He was watching me change through the window!"
Paul's smirk fluttered momentarily. "It's a door actually. Put it in myself, I'd know."
"Doesn't matter!" Luke seemed to be holding back laughter, a fact that only made Raven's blood boil faster. "Dad!"
He let a high-pitched. girlish giggle escape without any shame. Meeting Paul's gaze, he continued laughing, and Paul joined in slowly. "Oh, well, apologize Raven. Look at the poor guy, his eyes are still red and in pain."
Paul's laughing stopped immediately.
"Can you take this seriously for a second please?" Raven growled.
"Well what do you want me to say? Paul Lahote, how dare you pull open my adult daughter's curtains…oh wait, he didn't, did he?" Raven opened her mouth, ready for another onslaught, but she had nothing to combat that. "Exactly." He looked pointedly to Paul. "Don't worry, she knows more about cars than she does about human interactions."
Paul frowned in response, seemingly torn between laughing and leaving the conversation altogether. "I'm sure she does, sir."
Luke 'hphm'ed happily at the word 'sir.' Raven rolled her eyes, glaring at the infuriatingly gorgeous man in front of her. Luke clapped his hands to grab their attention. "Actually, it's good you're both here. Paul, Sam said you have a big customer to start us out, right?"
Paul blinked a few times, as if he hadn't been paying attention. As he spoke, he spoke more towards Raven rather than Luke. It made her cheeks heat up. "1989 Ford F150. The engine needs cleaned up and fine-tuned. The entire electronic system is shot…and it could probably use a paintjob."
Luke nodded eagerly, his eyes lighting up with excitement. He'd never gotten to head such a large repair like this before. People in Seattle weren't really looking for old cars in need of repair. Most simply trashed it and bought new ones.
"Right. Up for it, Raven?"
Her stomach twisted. It was such a big job. 1989. She couldn't imagine the condition it was in. Her hands were clenching and unclenching already in anticipation. She could practically smell the oil on her jumpsuit…but then there was one thing draining away all happiness, and he wasn't exactly something you could glance over. All she wanted was to rebuild this car with her dad, not some smirking pervert.
"Hell yes. But if he hits on me, I hit on him. With a hammer."
Paul grew that ballsy smirk again as he leaned into Raven's ear and said, "Feisty. I like it." She stomped on his foot and was rewarded with nothing more than a low chuckles.
"Great. Well, unfortunately, Paul, I'm going to have to ask you for a favor." He glanced wearily into the kitchen, and they all followed his gaze to the table. Ryker was currently playing with a little girl a little bit bigger than him. Quil was expertly watching them run over the table, grabbing them by the back of their necks before they fell off as they reached the edge. "I have to drop Kyle off at school every morning. It's going to cost me an hour at least. I can be down one man, but two…"
"No. No, he's not going to pick me up! I'm an adult!"
"I don't remember ever offering, princess," Paul sniffed. "We know you're an adult, short as a high schooler or not. But even adults can't walk ten miles every morning."
Raven scowled. "Kyle can get a ride from one of the other giants, can't he?"
Luke stared blandly at her. "Well, Rave, considering I'm the owner and don't feel like coming in at the crack of dawn every day in my old, old age-," he was almost forty-five now, which was not old enough to complain in her book, "- you'll need a ride. Owners get these special privileges. At least this owner does."
Paul smiled, but he was very serious about it. Was there such a thing as a serious smile? "It's not problem. It's along my way."
Luke smiled without showing his teeth, looking between the two young adults with nervous pleasure. "This will be interesting, won't it?" Before either of them could protest, he was barreling between the two towards the table. "No! Ryker, stop pulling Quil's hair!"
"No, it-it's fine, Mr. Dubois. Doesn't – ah! – hurt much…"
Raven exhaled loudly, turning her body to face Paul. She ran her eyes up and down his body in as insulting of a manner as she could. At least, that was the obvious reason. Her real reason was to gauge just how much physical temptation she'd be forced to endure every day…for the rest of her life. Or until she broke and hobbled off into the woods to become a professional, sexless hag.
"I'm sorry."
Raven's pupils narrowed. "What?"
"I'm sorry…" he mumbled as if the words were painful to say, "for watching…you…change."
"No, you're not," Raven grunted swiftly.
"No, I'm not." Paul broke into a grin. "Had to try, though, right?" She was not amused. He nudged her with his elbow lightly, but it was enough contact to make her skin burn and heart leap. "Don't see why you're so embarrassed. Absolutely nothing to be ashamed of."
"You're an ass." She stepped closer, wanting him to feel the waves of disgust radiating from her skin.
"And you're an angry girl. I have a few theories for angry girls." He stepped forward as well, and her plan backfired because she could feel heat radiating off him. "Angry girls like you, Raven, are some of the kinkiest freaks in the bed…but you all never can find someone who can handle you. So, you are sex deprived, which only makes you angrier - and hotter. The cycle goes on, sweetheart. The only question is if you're ready to end it."
"And if I am?"
Paul smirked, a finger reaching under her chin and lifting it up so their eyes connected. "Then you'd never go a day without the sex you just crave."
Her hands on his skin made a loud smack, but she assumed it would have been muffled by the large crowd. It was not, however. Heads turned and gasps occurred. Raven ignored them. "Pick me up at eight-thirty."
She promptly walked to her door, down the stairs, past the curtains, back to them to close them, and finally, to her bed where she threw herself down and screamed into a pillow, "Stupid! Hot! Dirty! Idiot! Giant!"
A/N: OMG I LOVED THE REVIEWS AND FOLLOWS AND FAVORITES! I did not expect so much feedback! I hope you all enjoyed this chapter, too. Let me know your fav part by now. Mine is very much the him falling in love with her shirtless bc that so boys. Anyways, gimme some feedback and don't be afraid to criticize, though I prefer you not to mention any grammar mistakes bc those will always happen, lol. I'll update after about five or six reviews (bc reviews=mind-money) again? CAN WE DO THAT?
Enjoy :)