Chapter 4 - Confessions & Confrontations

Paul continued watching from the tree line. His imprint was so beautiful. Why did she have to be beautiful? Why couldn't she be a cross-eyed nag sprouting horns from the top of her head with a wart in between her eyes? Paul closed his eyes tightly as he tried to keep that image in his head, but it wasn't happening. Her laughter filled his ears as he watched her brothers ask her tons of questions. His eyes re-opened and he watched as the laughter danced across her face.

Suddenly another thought crossed Paul's mind. If she was the twins sister that meant Leah and Seth were her cousin's as well. Damn it; like he needed anyone else to come after him. Leah was going to shred his ass verbally and then let the twins do it physically.

Paul was thinking right now it wasn't such a good idea to have smart mouthed her at school earlier in the week. He really hadn't meant to offend her he just couldn't stand that asshole Jason Merker. That guy was completely asking for Paul to kick his ass. But he'd been good about controlling his temper as of late; which shocked the rest of the guys in the pack, because he did have a bit of a reputation for being the volatile one. Maybe imprinting would help curve his temper more.

Calvin smiled he couldn't believe how much Nyla had changed in only a year.

Collin had looked through the other faces in the crowd that was at the beach and his eyes landed back on Nyla. "Where's that little punk Brady at?"

Nyla laughed as she pushed Collin. "He's been so weird lately. I don't know if it's from the divorce or the move; but he's been a complete raging bull lately. He can usually take my teasing but not so much nowadays."

Collin and Calvin shared a look as if they knew what was going on and Nyla crossed her arms over her chest. "Okay. What's going on you two?"

Calvin flashed one of his pretty boy grins. "Nothing he's probably just suffering from too much estrogen intake being the only dude in a house full of women. His testosterone has to work over time so he doesn't grow boobs. Leave him alone for a while; maybe his attitude problem will clear up."

Nyla shook her head as she laughed. "Maybe he needs a girlfriend instead of spending all his time in his room; I'm sure his hand has to be getting tired by now."

"OH!" The same word was moaned by both twins at the same time once they figured out what Nyla was hinting around too. They couldn't stop the laughter that poured from their mouths as they practically leaned on each other for support.

Calvin threw his arm around Nyla's shoulder as he pulled her to him and kissed the top of his head. "That was wrong on so many levels, but I'm gonna let it go because he isn't here to defend himself."

Nyla scoffed as she rolled her eyes. "How can he defend carpal tunnel?"

Collin laughed as hard as Calvin as they tried to get control over themselves. Calvin took the initiative to introduce Nyla to the rest of the shirtless guys he and Collin had been standing with. They were all just around the same height, which was a good foot and a half taller than her. Their muscles were insanely buff and defined.

Nyla tried to make sure to keep all their names correct. Sam, Jake, Embry, Quil, Jared of course she already met. And of course Seth stepped out of the circle as he squeezed her in a nearly bone crushing hug, until Leah smacked him in the back of the head and told him to take it easy on her. Seth deposited Nyla back on her feet in the sand. "Sorry Ny."

Nyla giggled as she reached up and ruffled his shaggy black hair. "That's quite alright. I'm just trying to figure out how you're supposed to be Brady's age and yet both of you are out growing me."

Seth shrugged as he chuckled. "It's a Quileute thing."

"It must be you're the second person to tell me that tonight."

"Hey guys what's up? Any of the partiers puke and pass out yet?" A familiar deep voice said as the body that owned the voice broke through the large group of shirtless wonders.

Nyla looked over and saw the guy who ran into her and then trash talked her and Jason earlier in the week. She couldn't stop the glare that formed on her face. "Oh my God, what are YOU doing here?"

Calvin and Collin both perked up. Calvin cleared his throat. "Nyla you know Paul?"

Nyla rolled her eyes as she scoffed completely annoyed. "No! The only reason I know him is because he plowed over me and my friend Jason earlier in the week."

Calvin, more than Collin saw RED! "WHAT!" He growled out. Collin grabbed Calvin's arm as he leaned over and whispered a few words to him. Calvin calmed noticeably.

Paul straightened up as he crossed his arms over his chest. "I wasn't aiming for you I was aiming for that asshole Jason Merker. He's a punk and I want to shut him up by ramming my fist down his throat. In all honesty, you shouldn't even be around him. He treats the girls at school like a piece of meat to chew on. He's only showing interest in you because he wants a piece of ass. And you're the newest toy at La Push High."

Nyla scowled. "Well when you become my father than you can tell me who the hell I should and shouldn't hang around with."

Paul sighed heavily. "Look I'm...I'm sorry for running into you at school. If I hurt you in any way I didn't mean to. Merker has been trying to pick a fight with me since the beginning of the school year. Sooner or later it's all going to come to head. I'm not trying to tell you who to hang around with, I'm just suggesting. Ask around he's got a bad rep for screwing girls for grades and then never talking to them again."

Nyla wasn't sure what he meant but was surprised and shocked he's apologized for running into her. "What do you mean screwing girls for grades?"

Paul's scowl on his face slowly melted off as he made a face. "He gets girls to think he loves them, they start having sex with him and he gets them to 'help' do his homework so he can keep his grades up to secure his position as Captain on the football team. Once he gets the grades he needs he dumps the girl and moves on to other girls in the all the classes he has."

"How do I know you're not lying to me?" Nyla questioned skeptically.

Paul frowned. "Because he used to be mine and Jared's best friend before we both quit the team. He used to brag to us all the time. He probably still would if Jared and I hadn't threatened to kick his ass when he set his eyes on Kim and was going to try that shit with her."

Calvin watched as Paul exchanged looks with Nyla and suddenly noticed something was different about the way Paul was 'apologetic' with Nyla's confrontation of him. Calvin nudged Collin and quirked his head towards the only to people who were speaking. "You're shitting me...Right?"

Calvin shook his head negatively. "Nope."

"I think it's time we have a little older brother convo with Paul." Collin suggested. He watched as his twin nodded in agreement.

Nyla frowned as she looked at Kim and Jared and they both nodded to let her know Paul was telling the truth. Nyla looked at Leah. "Can you take me home? I don't feel like being here."

Leah walked over and put her arm around Nyla's shoulders. "Sure c'mon cuz."

Calvin and Collin promised to come over the following day and see her, Brady and mom. Nyla nodded to them as they both kissed the top of her head and let her go with Leah. If anyone could cheer up their sister it was Leah. They watched as Leah left the beach with Nyla. Their eyes turned towards Paul.

Paul's whole body stiffened. "What?" He questioned with caution.

Calvin and Collin both had their arms crossed over their chests. They were only a few years older than the rest of the guys in the pack, but they were all brothers. Calvin gave Paul a pointed look. "Wanna tell us why you was so 'nice' to our sister?"

Collin scoffed. "And why you look like your completely in love with her."

Paul's shoulders slumped. "I didn't know she was your sister until tonight. And I know you're not going to ask so I will say it. Yes I imprinted on her."

Calvin walked over and grabbed Paul's right arm. "It's time for the big brother talk Paul."

Collin grabbed Paul's left arm as they began walking him towards the tree line. "And you're going to pay close attention to everything we say."

Paul couldn't object as he let them pull him away from everyone else on the beach.

Nyla slipped into the house quietly. She stopped as she looked over and noticed her mother was passed out on the couch with the TV on but muted. The two empty wine bottles laying on their sides on the coffee table and the empty wine glass still in her mother's hand was pretty much an inclination of what her mom had been doing all night.

Nyla sighed heavily as she turned the TV off and covered her mom up, making sure to throw the empty bottle away and put the wine glass in the dishwasher. She walked upstairs quietly and noticed Brady's bedroom door was open and he wasn't in it. He probably went to a friend's house. When their mom would drink he always left and Nyla was always there to clean up the mess.

Nyla fell into bed and soon fell into a restless sleep. All she could do was hope tomorrow was better.