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Chapter 3

Her name was Josephine Brooks, Paul had learnt. It was his first question to her. She was open to answering his questions but Paul had thought that it wasn't the right place to talk and so they had decided to head over to his house. Paul had offered to take her home and talk there but she had refused saying she had a grandmother who would be asleep by now and she didn't want to disturb her. It was too cold to head out to the beach so that left Paul's house and she had agreed. Paul was happy to see she trusted him enough to hang out with him.

They had got dressed and were heading out when Paul heard Candice still out somewhere looking for him. He had dodged her with difficulty since he was the tallest guy around and had to crouch and duck to avoid being in her line of vision, all the while holding Josephine close to him. She had giggled and laughed at him and it made him feel good and playful too.

They had driven over to his house. Paul had renovated his old house and he now lived in it alone. His mother had remarried and moved to Chicago while his father had passed away a couple of years ago. Paul had his own furniture shop and he did extremely well. He customized his furniture and had a website which aided in online sales as well. He had been doing this for about seven years now and was proud of his achievements and work. He made good money and had wisely invested most of it.

Josie or Jo, as she insisted he call her, looked around his house as he let her in and he wondered what she thought of it. She turned and smiled.

"You have a beautiful house."

"Thanks." Paul said easily. "Where do you live?"

"Well, we bought a house in La Push but it's being renovated so Rosie and I live in a rented house in Forks for now."

"Rosie? Your grandmother?"

"Yeah, she's great, a little crazy but sweet." Josie grinned.

Paul grinned back. "Would you like something to drink?"

"Hmm..some hot chocolate would be nice"

Paul moved in to the kitchen to make two cups. "Make yourself at home." He called out

"Thanks!" Jo settled herself on the coach while looking at the pictures on the mantle above the fireplace.

"Here" Paul said as he handed her the drink and settled down beside her.

"Thanks." She said gratefully as she took a sip.

"So, what's your story? And don't tell me you don't have one because I won't believe it." Paul said

"Well, it's no story really but I don't mind telling you but before I do I want to ask you, why are you interested?" Josie asked tilting her head.

Paul looked at her as her hair fell over one side of her shoulder as she tilted her head. She had to be the definition of cute and sexy.

"I'm curious." Paul said shrugging his shoulders as if it was no big deal when in fact it was just that.

Josie raised her brow in disbelief but nodded and took a deep breath before beginning.

"I…it's really not that big a deal now that I think about it, in fact, it's a little silly, I don't even feel anything thinking about it anymore." She said as if she was confused.

Paul nodded because he truly understood. It had to do something with the imprint bond. He felt better than he ever had. He felt totally relaxed which was extremely rare. In fact, he couldn't recall the last time he felt that way. Maybe when both his parents were young and he was just a child.

"I'm pretty sure it's happened to plenty of people but I'm just…stupid or something. It hurt me more than it should have." She said shaking her head

"What happened" Paul asked in a gentle voice. Obviously she was upset about whatever had happened even if she felt better now.

"I had been going steady with this guy for like six months. We…we did things but never the whole thing, you know." She said glancing at Paul who had stiffened at the mention of another guy but managed to nod.

"So, he started hinting that he wanted to do it but for some reason, I didn't feel comfortable enough and turned him down. But things were strained between us after that. Some of my friends even warned me that he had been seeing other girls behind my back but I didn't listen but then this one time I walked in on him having sex with my friend. She wasn't my best friend or anything but it still hurt. I mean she was always like,' oh you guys look so sweet together' and ' aww.. you make a great couple' and here she was fucking my boyfriend!" Josie said looking more mad than sad.

Paul tried to hide his grin. Thank God the idiot messed up. It would have been messier if she had a boyfriend right now.

"What are you smiling at?" Josie caught the ghost of smile playing on his delicious lips. She had loved every second with him.

"Arrr…I'm just glad you are single." Paul said goofily wriggling his brows making her snort out a laugh. She covered her mouth in embarrassment but Paul just laughed. She was adorable!

"So did you really find me so irresistible that you couldn't keep your hands off me?" Paul said puffing his chest out.

Josie rolled her eyes," No. I'd heard about you and how you were…easy and good and didn't associate with girls after you were done. I thought it would be easy to get things moving quickly without any emotional baggage, is all." Josie finished awkwardly. For some reason she didn't want to hurt this guy in spite of his reputation. "But I feel kind of bad now..I mean it's like I used you or something." She said quietly looking at her mug.

"Well, yeah you kind of did, now that I think about it but why do you say so?" Paul didn't think she had used him at all but she needn't know that! He wanted to know more about her situation and guilt could work wonders. He felt a little guilty himself tricking her like that but he told himself it was only to get her full story to understand her better and by understanding her he would be able to help her.

"They were there….at the party. Michael and I broke up about two months ago but Nina and he got engaged three weeks later and I had decided to move here to La Push after I completed college to be with my grandma. I had told a couple of my friends my plans to move here because I had been thinking about it for over two years now. She had heard from somebody and now she has decided to come here to torture me some more!" Josie added feeling equal parts irritated and angered.

"So are they going to settle here or something?" Paul asked intrigued

"No. at least I don't think so. She's too much of a city girl to want to settle here but she won't leave any stone unturned to make sure Mike is totally over me and to rub it in my face." Josie scowled

"Does it bother you?" Paul asked worried

"What?" she looked at him confused

"That they are together?"

"No. I thought it would but frankly it was almost a relief. It was like I was dragging the relation on when it had nothing left. The way he pressured me for sex was just..not nice. I mean I get his point of view but if you truly care for somebody then you can wait for it no?" Josie asked

"Yeah, I guess" Paul answered knowing that he would have waited for her to be ready if that's what she had wanted even if his balls burst.

"Now, I'm just glad that it's over and that can't be a good thing right? I mean if I were as committed as I thought then I should have been more….hurt? but here I am drinking hot chocolate in a strange guy's house who I just.." She stopped when she felt his eyes on her and he raised his brow. "Well, you know…I mean I should definitely have been more upset but I kinda feel…free? Liberated." Josie said a little unsurely.

"That's good. You definitely weren't into him then." Paul said

"Yeah, I guess."

"So why were you at that kind of party?" Paul asked knowing she'd understand what he meant. It was the kind of party where people came to hook up. Plain and simple.

"I heard they were invited and so was I. I didn't want them to feel as if their presence could stop me from going to it as well. I don't really party but I had a point to prove tonight." Josie said nodding to herself.

"Did you?" Paul asked

"I think I did and while doing so I came to a conclusion. I don't really care about them. They can go ahead and live their lives the way they want to. I just…don't care anymore." Josie said while shrugging but her eyes were wide as if she was trying to understand what was happening.

Paul could understand. She really didn't care anymore but couldn't figure out why and he couldn't tell her. 'Hey, I'm a shapeshifter and we do this thing, imprinting, it's like finding our soul mate and because of it and our mating you don't feel anything for any other guy and won't any more just like I won't ever look at another girl.' Yup! Definitely couldn't say that. Not now anyways.

AN: Hey! I hope the chapter lived up to your expectations. Please review to let me know what you think. Was it predictable? Overused? Or maybe a little fun? Or maybe it's overused but you liked the way it played out? Let me know!

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