The next morning I found myself alone in the apartment with a note on the counter. Paul told me he worked today and to make myself at home. I looked outside to see it pouring down rain like the night I left Texas. After an hour of trying to wait out the storm so I could go check on my car I decided it wasn't going to let up any. I was walking towards my room when I saw canvases and paint. There was about fifteen blank canvases so I decided me using one wouldn't be an issue. I changed into some old ratty sweats and a blank white shirt. I grabbed my Ipod and speakers from one of my draws and played it as I started my work.
Five minutes in I had to pull my hair up because it keep threating to get into the paint and that would have been no good. I was so focused on my work I didn't reliaze when Paul walked through the door. He said nothing just sat down by the wall and watched me. By the time I was done it was seven at night and my hands were crying in pain. But as I looked at the work I had done it was all worth it. The painting was mostly black, red, and white but in my eyes that was all it needed. The girl had her heart exposed with her hair whipping around her like it would be if she was outside in this storm right now. I got up to strech and when I did Paul picked my art up and hung it on the living room wall.
"I knew my living room was missing something," he whispered as he looked at me covered in paint and exhausted. I laughed at him and nodded in thanks while I stared at my feet.
"You wanna get some dinner?" He asked rubbing his arm and still looking at the painting. I nodded and asked what he had in mind.
"Well Emily is having this family dinner thing and I wanted to know if you wanted to come," he shrugged and went to the window and watched it pour done. "But with all this rain I don't think we can get out right now," he added with a smirk in his voice. He turned back around and smiled at me.
"So how about spaghetti?" He asked as he switched on the lights and led me to the kitchen. I told him that was fine as I sat back on the bar stool I was on the night before. I watched him cook as we talked about our lives. Of course he made me go first.
"Well I grew up in Austin, Texas with a single mom and a younger brother. I have no clue who my real dad is but I have five step-fathers. My mom was a drug addict stripper who left when I was fourteen only comes back when she needs money for Blake or me. My grandparents took us in but died when I was seventeen so I raised Blake until he was old enough to do what he wanted. My old life was difficult but I wouldn't change anything because I wouldn't be who I am today," I told him shrugging and praying he wouldn't push on. Talking about everything that happened to me wasn't exactly my favorite thing to do. He nodded as he put my plate down in front of me and started his own story.
"Well I grew right here with my dad and mom. My dad died when I was nine and thats when my anger started hitting me hard. I use to get in fights all the time but over the years I learned to control it. I met Emily, Sam, and the rest of the pack when I was fifteen and they have been like family ever since," he told me as he shovled food into his mouth. I laughed at how normal his childhood was but didn't say a thing. Once we were done we said nothing but looked outside to see the rain letting up just a little bit. I put my plate and his in the dishwasher and was about to do the rest of the dishes when Paul stopped me.
"You don't have to do hat," he told me with a small smile and a sparkle in his eye. I shrugged and told him I wanted to do. He nodded and sat on the counter drinking the rest of his coke and talking about his day at work. I was listening for a little bit until a thought popped up into my head.
Is this what it feels like to live with someone? When my mom had all her boyfriends and what not at the house it was never like this. They were always yelling or fucking so I never really learned what love or anything was like. I knew what a real hit and rape felt like but never love. That was never given to me except by Blake and my grandparents. Paul snapped me out of my thoughts when he told me my phone was ringing. I ran to catch it and did just in enough time.
"Hey," I told Blake as I walked back in the kitchen to see Paul finishing what I started.
"Hey long time no talk," he chuckled at the old expression and went right into bragging. "I'm in Las Vegas right now and man all these lights is what people dream about. I mean the food and shows are great to but damn these lights. I'll take pictures and send them later. Anyways how is everything in Austin?" He asked thinking I was still home. I forgot to call him and tell him about my plan.
"I'm not in Austin I'm in La Push, Washington," I told him waiting for his reaction but he waited for me to go on. "I decided to go on a roadtrip to Seattle but I broke down here," thats when I heard his laughter loud and clear. After five minutes he calmed down and told me to keep going for Seattle.
"Sure thing anyways I got to get to bed love ya," I told him and hung up quietly. Paul was standing there staring at me with intense eyes.
"You haven't seen him in awhile huh?" He asked already knowing the answer.
"Not since he was eighteen. Anyways thanks for the dinner, night," I laid in my bed that night thinking about how open I felt telling Paul things I never told anyone else.