Chapter Four

"A lovely thing about Christmas is that it's compulsory, like a thunderstorm, and we all go through it together"
- Garrison Keillor


The next few months went a litttle like this: Want to go out with me? No. Please? No. Want to hangout with me? No. Please? No. Can I walk you to class? No. Please? No. It was December now, I survived a whole three and a half months with Paul as an imprint. Everyone was running around the house trying to get ready, Sam and Emily were throwing a christmas party and the entire pack was invited. Sadly that meant Paul was invited and because of my lovely brothers, I was also forced to go. Sophia ran past me her new christmas outfit, carrying a bell in her hand and waving it around. "Jingle bells Batman smell Robin layed an egg bat mobile lost it's wheel and the joker ran away!" She giggled as she ran into the bathroom.

I rolled my eyes, christmas and halloween were hectic in my house. They meant candy, which only lead to hyper children. Soph skipped out of the bathroom, mom's red lipstick all over her lips. See what I mean? I scooped her up. "What are you doin' silly?" I laughed dragging her to the toilet seat. I took a wet rag and wiped her face. "You know mom's gonna kill you when she finds out you've been in her make up" She shook her head, making it hard to clean her.

"No she won't" She giggled as I finished.

"Oh? Why is that?" I took her hand and lead her downstairs to meet the rest of the family. The sooner we got there the sooner we could leave.

"Because I'm cute so I don't get yelled at"

"And where'd you hear that?"

"Elliot." Figures.

"Does everyone have there secret santa gift?" My dad yelled upstairs. I could hear a few responces through there doors. Everyone came out, gift and all, ready to party. I rolled my eyes, normally I'm happy around this time of year. It was jolly, it was fun, it gave you that warm feeling in your tummy. This year the only feeling in my stomach was nausea.

"Come on scrooge" Aaron laughed, throwing his arm around me. "Try and have fun, Paul won't bother you so don't worry about that" He had been looking out for me the past few months which I was grateful for. That didn't completely stop Paul though, he was determind. "Who'd you get?" He asked looking at my bag, Emily decided to do a secret santa this year.

"Is the point of a secret santa to keep it a secret?" I laughed.

"Come on just tell me" He gave me his puppy dog pout. Damn him.

"I got Emily"

"I got your lover boy" He laughed, opening the bag to let me peak inside. There was a video game and a pair of shorts. Those would come in handy with the way the boys like to rip there clothes.

"I bought her a cook book, and something for the baby" I smiled, I really liked what I picked. It suited her well.


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Everyone was rockin' around the christmas tree and having themselves a merry little christmas but me. I sat in the living room, surrounded by family and friends- and of course Paul. The little ones were singing songs, most of the adults were talking and here I am, picking at a piece of pie like a loser. Milo walked over to me, a goofy grin on his face. "Hi Layla" He said, taking a seat next to me. I glared at him, Milo never did nice things, he only brought trouble- and lots of it.

"What do you want Milo?" He frowned, I felt a little guilty. It was christmas time and I was being the scrooge of all scrooges. "I'm sorry" I said picking him up and putting him on my lap, which isn't as easy as it sounds. "Whats up?" I smiled kissing his cheek.

"I made you something for Christmas"

"Aw, you didn't have to do that" I laughed.

"Well I did, do you wanna see it?" I nodded as he handed me a blind fold.

"I want it to be a surprise" I looked around, there wasn't anything better for me to do. I shrugged, and let him put it on me. "Okay, I'll lead you there."


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Paul's POV

Laylas little sister had tricked me into letting her blind fold me. I stood there, her tiny hand in mind waiting for whatever this 'big' suprise was. She squeezed my hand, "Okay" She giggled. I was about to take off my blind fold when I heard hear.

"Sophia?" Laylas voice was close. I ripped the blind fold only to find her standing just a foot away from me in a matching one. She took hers off just a moment later, looking shocked. Her shock turned to anger. "Paul's my christmas gift?" She said through her teeth, sending a glare to her little brother. He wagged his eye brows at both of us with a smile.

"Nope" He pointed above us. "That is" Mistle toe was hanging. Oh no. She's going to think I got them to do this. "Now you have to kiss" Layla glared at me, crossing her arms over her chest. Her little brother pushed her, as her sister pushed me. Everyones eyes were on us, the party had stopped just to watch. I could see Sam and the rest of the pack laughing, Emily stood there with a smile on her face. Her mom looked happy.

"Go on Layla" Her twin brothers chanted from the corner of the room. She spun on her heel and stomped outside. Quil walked by, waving his hands.

"Nothin' to see here people, get back to the party, nothin' to see here" He laughed and went to play with Claire.


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Layla's POV

It was freezing outside, I could see my breath as I started to rant to myself. He wouldn't know when, he wouldn't know where, and he wouldn't know how but I would get Milo back if it killed me. I heard someone come outside, the screen door slammed shut. Paul stood next to me, I was on the porch swing trying to calm down then he goes and ruins it. "Can I sit down?" He mummbled, pointing to the spot next to me. I shrugged.

"It's a free country, I don't care" I scooted further away from him as he sat down.

"I didn't know they were gonna do that back there" He said without making eye contact which I was grateful for. "I'm sorry if you were embarassed"

"Whatever, doesn't matter"

"I'm just trying to make you feel better" He looked defeated, throwing his hands in the air. "I've been trying to be friends with you for months and you won't give me a chance!" He wasn't shaking but he did look upset. "When are you going to try and be my friend?"

"Ha!" Try and be his friend? Was he serious? "Look, I tried to be your friend years ago, you were a jerk. That's not my fault. I know that was then but you don't seriously care about me Paul, it's the imprint it's not how you feel-"

"Imprinting is a way to show me who really is my soul mate! That's you!"

"Okay, fine. I'm your soul mate?" It was a question that I needed a simple yes or no answer from him and only him.

"Yes?" He said cautiously."Okay, soul mates know things about each other. Whats my favorite color?" No answer. "What's my favorite song? Book? Flower? Hobby" I stood up, my hands on my hips. "Nothing? Not gonna tell me?"

"I don't know.." He mummbled, looking at his hands.

"Then how can you claim to love me. You know my name, that's all you know about me!"

"I know that you don't like storms" He looked at me.

"Yeah, and how do you know that Paul?" He looked defeated again. Nice try bub. "You don't love me, and I don't love you"

"So your never going to give me a chance?"

"I wouldn't hold my breath if I were you" I said, slamming the door shut as I made my way inside. Everyone was standing close to the window, clearly listening in on the conversation we just had.

"Nothin' to see here people, nothin' to see" Quil laughed, moving his hands around like a police officer directing traffic. "That never gets old" I heard him chuckle to himself. Emily clapped her hands, looking happy again.

"Time for gifts!" She lead the party into the living room, a huge stack of presents were under the tree. "Everyone get in a circle, Sam! You can be santa!" He rolled his eyes but slapped a smile on his face anyway. You could tell how much he loved her. Sam took a seat closest to the tree and picked up the first gift, before he could read the name Emily leaned over his shoulder and beat him to it. "Jacob!" She said and looked down at her husband. "Oh, oops, sorry honny" She laughed, taking a seat next to him. "Carry on"


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The gifts were all given out; I got a purse, shirt, and a large button that said 'Quil is my hero'. Yeah, real hard to figure out who my secret santa was. I looked up and saw Claire cupping Quils ear with her small hand. He laughed then tapped her shoulder and pointed to me. "Very funny" I laughed holding up the pin. All eyes were on me, they started to laugh hysterically. Jacob high fived Quil. I pinned it to my dress.

"It bwings out your eyes!" Claire laughed, I could see my secret santa whispering what to say into her ear.


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Paul tapped me on the shoulder later that night, "Could you come with me?" He asked quietly, looking around to make sure no one heard. I rolled my eyes, he was really getting on my nerves tonight. I nodded anyway, knowing him he'd continue asking until we were ready to leave. He took my hand, I glared at him and he dropped it immediately. "Sorry"

He brought me outside and shoved a present in my hand. I looked at him like he had eight heads. "I already got my secret santa though?" I said in a whisper, I didn't want to find the snoops listening in again. Paul shrugged and took a seat on the steps, I sat next to him and started to peel away the paper. I looked at him once more before opening the box. There was some sort of vase? I think it was a vase, inside and a pottery making book. I could see him watching me from the corner of my eye, his cheeks turned a light pink.

"You like pottery making," I raised an eyebrow. "You asked me earlier what you like, you like pottery" He gave me a half smile, my heart melted. "I asked your brother a few weeks ago when I was trying to pick out a gift" I picked up the piece of pottery still in the box. I couldn't believe he did this for me. "I tried to make something for you, but I'm not too good" He chuckled. "So I got you the book too"

This was the most thoughtful gift I've ever been given. My heart was beating fast, I smiled at him. "Thank you" He nodded with a half smile and looked up at the moon, he looked cute just sitting there thinking. I froze, did I just say Paul Woods was cute? My mind was racing, oh no. I think I'm falling for my worst enemy.


Authors Note:


If anyones wondering I decided to skip to Christmas time because she isn't your average imprint. She can't stand Paul and if I went month by month or week by week it would be the same thing. She hates him, he loves her, he fails miserably, she's constantly got a headache from him haha. So I thought why not explain what happened during those months and skip to where I can start to form some sort of relationship. Anyway I hope you guys like it!

Thanks so much to:

S K B C: You rock! Best beta and reviewer ever :)
Lady of Sign: :) thank you for sticking with my story and leaving me good reviews!
Ocean 5: Thanks so much for that awesome review! I haven't gotten one that long before!

Remember to review and thanks for reading!