Chapter 2

Rachel's POV

I walked home after the events that took place at the beach. My body felt numb and cold, like the sun at been taken out of my sky. I had an odd desire to see Paul. I was also scared. I was suddenly having weird feelings about a boy I had never even talked to. Talk about creepy.

I came to my house and walked in slowly. My dad was watching some sports game on the TV.

"How was your walk," he asked. I sat on the couch and tried too pretend that everything was okay.

"Fine, I went to the beach and ran into Quil and Embry. And I met Jared and Paul." Saying his name sent a feeling of joy through my body. Weird.

My dad looked shocked when I said that.

"You met them," he asked me carefully.

"Ya," I answered slowly.

"What did they tell you," he asked.

"Um, nothing really. We talked for a second then they-" I stopped when I remembered mine and Paul's encounter, how they had to practically drag Paul away me.

"They what," my dad pressed me on impatiently.

"Well, one of the boys, Paul, was looking at me kinda funny and they dragged him away. He was just starring at me with his mouth hanging open," I told him. I didn't tell him how I was starring at him too. That was personal.

"He looked at you funny," my dad, mumbled. I nodded. My dad rolled himself over to the phone and dialed a number. He sat there for awhile waiting for whoever it was to pick up.

"Hello, Sam. It's Billy. Did Paul…you-know-what." He waited for the reply and when it came he sighed and looked at me.

"I was afraid of that. Thanks, I'll talk to you later. Bye." My dad hung up and continued watching his game, but he didn't really seem to be into it.

Confused didn't even begin to describe what I was felling right now, but apparently it involved me and Paul.

"Dad, what's going on," I asked. I was pretty sure I wouldn't get a very good answer, but I had to try.

"Oh, its nothing, Rachel. Don't worry about it," he turned his attention back to the TV. Outside, there was a loud wolf howl that sounded like it was right next to the house. A second later Embry, Quil, Jared, and another boy, who looked older than the others, know came into the house.

"Hey, do you guys have a wolf problem here," I asked. I didn't really want to be in a place that had wolves running around.

"Wolves aren't the thing you should be worried about , Rach. You need to be worried leeches and bats," Jared said. Quil started laughing until the older looking boy shook his head at him.

What was wrong with teenage boys?

The other boy looked at me and smiled.

"You must be Rachel. I'm Sam Uley."

"Hi."

Sam turned to my dad and his face was suddenly grave, like he remembered some bad news.

"Billy, can I talk to you outside for a minute," he asked my dad. My dad nodded and went out on the front porch with Sam. I looked at Quil, Embry, and Jared wanting answers.

"What's going on,' I asked them. They all looked uncomfortable and didn't answer me. I could hear Sam's and my dad's muted voices from outside.

A few minutes later my dad came back in and the boys left. My dad's face showed that he was in pain, hurting.

"Daddy, what's wrong," I asked running over to him. He didn't answer right away

"Jacob's gone," he said. He said it real soft. I could barley hear him.

"Jacob's gone? What, did he just…run away?" This couldn't be happening. My dad had been through so much pain in his life. First he lost my mom, now this. If Jacob ever came back, I was going to kill him.

***

Paul's POV

I was lying on my bed, trying to decide what I should do. I wanted desperately to see Rachel, but I didn't want to come on too strong and her think I was some sort of freak.

"Paulie! A boy is here to see you!"

My little sister ran into my room and jumped onto me. I loved my little sister. She was probably the only family member I felt close too.

"Thanks, Jenna." I picked her up and walked into the living room where Sam was waiting for me.

"Paul, something's happened," he said. I put Jenna down and kissed her forehead before I walked outside, with Sam right behind me. I turned and faced him

"What happened, Sam?" I asked, praying it had nothing to do with Rachel.

"Jacob um…left about an hour ago. I just told Billy."

I was shocked. We all knew how much pain Jake was in, but we thought he would fight through it and now, he was gone.

"He's just…gone. Is he coming back," I asked.

Sam shrugged

"I'm not sure."

"How did Billy take it," I whispered. I felt bad for Billy. Jake had always been a good son, until now…

"He's pretty upset. I hear Rachel's more mad than sad, though. We're going to have a bonfire tonight. Try to lift their spirits," Sam said. He looked at me and grinned. "You should ask Rachel to go with you," he added quickly, before leaving into the forest.

I was glad I had a friend like Sam.

I went back inside. Jenna was waiting for me right inside the door.

"Paul, are going somewhere tonight," she asked clinging to my leg. She was too cute for her own good.

'No, Jenna, I'm going somewhere tonight. You are staying here with dad."

I felt bad about leaving here with our dad. My dad had never cared about us. He ignored Jenna most of the time and only talked to me when it was absolutely necessary, but I couldn't give up the opportunity to see Rachel.

"I gotta go kiddo. Bye," I mumbled. I gave her a hug before I left. I wasn't sure how I was going to do this. I mean, Rachel had just lost her brother so probably wasn't in a good mood.

I walked down the street. I didn't feel like phasing and listening to all the voices in my head. The rain had stopped and a few rays of sun were peaking through the clouds. Of course, it didn't matter to me to if it rained or not.

I wondered if Rachel liked the rain?

I had so many questions to ask her, so many things I wanted to say to her…

"Paul?"

There was no way I was this lucky. I looked up and in front of me as Rachel. Her brown eyes were looking up at me. She was bighting down on her lip as though she was trying not to smile.

"Oh, hi Rachel," I said, trying to act calm.

"So, what was that at the beach today," she asked, raising her eyebrows.

"Oh, um. I had to go somewhere…and, um." I sounded like an idiot. I had always been good with girls, until now.

"Its okay," she laughed, "you don't have to tell me, if you don't want to." She had o idea how much I wanted to tell her.

"So, where are you headed," I asked.

"Nowhere, I just had to get out of the house…again. I'm so mad, I didn't want to take it out on my dad."

"Ya, I heard about Jake,' I mumbled. At least she wasn't sad. If she had been crying I would have gone after Jake, killed him, and would make it look like an accident.

"How did you hear about that," she said, shocked. "He only left a while ago."

Crap.

"Oh, um…I'm one of his friends, so I new when he left,' I said. That sounded good, right? I hoped she would settle for that.

"Do you know where he went," she asked quietly.

I shook my head. It pained me to see her show any type of sadness.

"Oh, well I hope he comes back," she said, trying to smile, "I better be going. My dad is probably wondering where I am."

"Right, um Rachel, there's a bonfire tonight. Do you want to…uh, go with me," I asked.

Please say yes, please say yes…

A smile broke across her face. I had made her happy.

"Sure, I'd love to go with you."

I couldn't help but smile too.

"Okay, ill pick you up at seven."

She nodded and turned around, walking back towards her house.

I had talked to her, made her smile and had a date planned with her all in the same day.

Ya know, maybe this town wasn't so bad after all.

Okay, Paul finally talks to Rachel. The next chapter will be the bonfire. Please keep reviewing and if you have any suggestions I would love to hear them!!