Haha! For the first time there's no insane length between updates...I'm improving! Yay go me! Enjoy!
Disclaimer: All rights belong to Stephenie Meyer
Chapter Four
By Mcvities22
Paul's POV:
"Say it." My head shoots up in surprise, how the heck did he know I was thinking? "Whatever it is you're thinking about...say it."
"Oh...um...it doesn't matter." Okay, maybe this thing's stronger than I thought. If he can tell when I'm spacing out then...oh god I'm getting paranoid!
"If it didn't matter you wouldn't be thinking about it." I sigh heavily before sitting on a nearby beach, after a moments hesitation he joins me. Staring out at the ocean calms me down before I explain.
"I'm just thinking about you...and Bella. I know she hurt you and I know you're still in love with her, that's not going to change anytime soon. I just don't want...I'm just worried I guess." He seems surprised at my words...heck even I'm surprised, that wasn't quite how I was going to put it...and now he'll probably flip...
"You're right." He smiles at me as I tilt my head in confusion, what the heck? "She did hurt me and I am still in love with her, that's not going to change anytime soon. But you left something out. I'm also angry at her. When she was depressed and hurt after he left I was there for her, I was her friend. She knew I was falling in love with her and instead of telling me that she would never really feel the same way she let me think that there was something there. She let me believe the feeling was mutual. Then she takes off without a moment's notice to save him, then when she comes back she just expects me to be happy for them both. Throughout all of this she only ever thought of what it was doing to her, of what me being angry and hating him was doing to her. She never once thought of how hard it was for me to see them together; she never thought of how difficult it was..."
His words surprise me. Maybe he's already starting to move past her. He's been in love with her for the whole time that I've known him – never really met him before the whole wolf thing. I guess it just seems natural to me to have him gushing over how great she is...but now...he's actually a lot wiser than I thought. Maybe he could handle this...
He's looking out over the ocean, a small smile crossing his face...it's an expression I haven't been seeing much of late. Ever since she came along he's been so focused on her...I think I'm finally starting to understand why...I'm understanding how he feels. I sling an arm across his shoulders before gazing out across the ocean. We sit in silence for a few minutes before I glance down at my watch...damn.
"Come on pup. Your dad will getting worried if we don't get back soon." I pull him up quickly...a little too quickly judging by the swaying. "You okay?"
His words come out in a small whisper before he pitches forward.
"Jake!" Thankfully he falls into me and I manage to lower him to the ground, my brain seems to switch onto auto pilot and my body acts all on its own. "Jake, you're going to be okay!"
Carlise POV:
"He's going to be fine, I think he just pushed himself a little too hard...I've taken a blood sample just to be on the safe side but he just needs some rest." I stand, sighing as weariness begins to take its hold. It's been a long day and it's only going to get longer. With Charlie away Esme thought it a good idea for Bella to stay with us...meaning I'm going to be facing a rather extensive barrage of questions when I get back.
"What about phasing...how long would you say is safe?" Sam voice penetrates through my thoughts and brings me back to the present.
"I would give it a few weeks...three maybe four just to be safe. His body is taking a little longer to heal than I thought, it seems I underestimated his recovery rate...it was a mistake on my part. An error in judgement for which I can only apologise." Sam merely nods before turning to the rest of the pack.
"Okay, so he's going to be fine and like the doctor said he needs to rest. Embry, Quil you guys meet up with Leah and patrol towards the north, Jared meet up with Seth and start patrolling to the south I'll meet you there in a minute. Paul...a word." It always amazes me at the control he has over the pack, it's incredible really.
Turning to Billy I say my goodbyes and make my way home to the torrent of questions I'm sure to receive.
Sam's POV:
"Okay, so he's going to be fine and like the doctor said he needs to rest. Embry, Quil you guys meet up with Leah and patrol towards the north, Jared meet up with Seth and start patrolling to the south I'll meet you there in a minute. Paul a word." Both Embry and Quil hesitate, unwilling to leave Jake, it's only after a reassurance from Billy that they can come back once their patrol is finished that they leave. Paul follows me outside, away from the house, before I finally say my piece.
"So do you want to tell me what's going on? You've been acting different for days...there's something wrong and I need to know what." I already know what it is but I need to hear it from him, just as much as he needs to say it. "Paul...you can try to act all tough and big all you want but there's something you need to tell me."
"When Jake got hurt...something happened..." He trails off and turns away from me. "I think...I think I imprinted on him..."
"I know." I'll be surprised if he doesn't get whiplash with the speed he turns back towards me. "I recognise the look, and before you ask no one else has a clue. Quil's too wrapped up in Claire, Leahs too busy being...well...Leah and Embry's too much of an air head to notice."
"What do I do? I can't tell him, he's got enough to deal with without me dumping this on him. But keeping it inside is killing me." I can't help but give him a smile as I rest my hand on his shoulder.
"I can't tell you what to do...but I can tell you that you can't fight an imprint. Imprinting isn't like having a crush on someone; it's finding the other half of your soul...the other half of you. Everything you're feeling, I guarantee Jake will feel too if you give him time. Like you said, he's got a lot on his mind right now." He sighs before heading back inside to see Jake...yep...you can't fight an imprint.
Emmett's POV:
Bella's going walk a hole in the freaking carpet if she paces any more...girl needs to calm down. The door opening breaks me from my thoughts as a weary Carlisle wanders back into the house. He's barely through the door before Bella barrages him with an incredible amount of questions. Geez Bella can't you at least let him sit down first...
"Is he okay? He's going to be okay right?" Edward places a protective hand on her shoulder, clearly telling her to calm down. "He's okay?"
"He'll be fine...he just needs to rest." Bella lets out an explosive breath as she visibly relaxes, honestly I can't blame her...I've been pretty worried myself. Much as I don't like the wolf I'm glad he'll be okay, don't know what I'd feel if he got hurt helping us. Edwards's eyes snap towards me as my mind wanders...oh crap!
"You're happy?" Edward seems almost angry...but that's me being weird right?
"Relieved...not happy." Thank you Jasper...
"You're happy about this?" Jaspers muttered relieved went unnoticed by Edward who seems intent on taking on his anger on me.
"I'm glad he's okay yeah,I mean after all he did get hurt in a fight that really had nothing to do with him...or any of the wolves if you think about it..." I've been thinking a lot about it recently...ever since I overheard that argument between Edward and Carlisle the other night it's really been on my mind.
"Look Edward I know you and Jake don't like each other but that doesn't mean..." Unfortunately Rosalie doesn't get any further before Edwards storming off upstairs, like a three year old being told no.
What the heck's going on with you Edward...
Somewhere across La Push...
Those people think they're so amazing...well we'll show them...we'll be the top ones around here. God I can't wait to see their faces when we come face to face...It'll happen eventually, just not yet. We wait until the boss says it's time to move before anything happens...Urgh! God this is so frustrating...I just want to sink my teeth into something...Man I wish Gil hadn't have been the one to get the girl...I can't wait for my turn...
Jake's POV:
Oh my head...what the hell happened? The room spins back into focus with a real vengeance that makes my stomach churn, thankfully I manage not to throw up...although I've no idea how I stop myself. Only after rather a lot of deep breaths do I realise that I'm not alone.
"Glad you finally joined the land of the living!" Okay I'd know that pissed off voice...Paul. All too suddenly the evenings events come swimming back to me, making my head spin. Now I get why he's here...despite the bravado I know he cares about the pack, but why's he so mad.
"Um...okay what happened?" Paul growls slightly before another voice, his fathers, enters the conversation.
"You did exactly what I warned you not to do – pushed yourself too far, too fast!" Okay so that's two pissed off people in the room...wonderful! "You'll be fine but it's going to be another month or so before you'll be back with the pack, and you've only got yourself to blame."
"I know...I just..." At a sharp look from Paul I trail off, he doesn't want to hear excuses right now...boy he's angry.
"You have any idea how scared you had me...just passing out on me...why the hell didn't you say you felt ill?" His voice is calm but there's a fire in his eyes I haven't seen before. "Well?"
"I felt fine...it was only when I stood up that the world went sideways...up till then I'd felt okay. Paul..." Dad leaves us at this point with a small smile, what the heck's he smiling about?
"You scared the hell out of me! I really thought something was wrong!" He huffs slightly as he moves to stand near the window, gazing out up the night sky. "I should never have let you leave the house." And there it is, he feels guilty. I ignore the voice in my head that's practically screaming at me that someone's taken over Paul and force myself to sit up...which takes a surprising amount of effort.
"Paul...Paul look at me." After a moments hesitation he turns his gaze towards me. "I'm sorry I scared you, but this isn't your fault. I knew I needed to take it easy but I just..."
"No. I should have stopped you...but I just..." He sighs before perching on the end of the bed, facing away from me. "It was just nice to see you happy...I haven't seen you happy since Bella came along."
"And that's my fault...Ever since she and I...I've been neglecting my friends and I shouldn't have. Are you mad at me?" I can't explain why but the thought of having Paul mad at me fills my heart with dread. Please don't be mad at me...
"No...I'm not mad." He turns to face me at last, and I can see he's telling the truth. "I was worried, you just passed out...for all I knew you could have been dying! From now on you are taking it easy and you're not doing anything unless Carlisle says its okay."
Ordinarily I'd hate being told what to do but with Paul it seems okay. For some reason just knowing the fact that he's not mad at me placates every little feeling Bella left behind...what the heck is happening to me?
So Jakes okay...or is he? Paul's imprinted on Jake but will he tell him? And what's going on with Edward?
Coming up: More Jake and Paul bonding time plus Embry and Quil get some screen er...page time...review and maybe the chapter will come up faster!
