Telling the Truth
Disclaimer: all characters and copyright belong to Stephanie Meyer.
A/N-Thank you very much for all the encouraging reviews that you all left on the last chapter, it really means a lot. I am still struggling with this story and I am not sure that Paul is really coming across that well but I have really tried!
Here is the next instalment :(
Part Four
Bella felt frozen as she stared over at Jacob's hurt expression. Guilt weighed heavily on her as she recalled every incident where she had let him down, the last time being the nail in the coffin for their friendship. Her small attempts to try and apologise for abandoning him that day had fallen on deaf ears. He had ignored her phone calls and returned her letters unopened. Bella had finally accepted the fact that Jacob Black no longer wanted her in his life. But now here he was...
Paul glanced down at Bella and watched the myriad of emotions crossing her delicate features as she gazed over at Jacob. A jealous feeling shot through him as he saw her love for the boy shining from her chocolate brown eyes. No girl had ever looked at him in that way, they would just use him for what they wanted then move on to the next thrill. He instinctively tightened his hold on Bella and raised his head and gave Jacob a sarcastic smirk. He saw Jacob's eyes narrow in anger as he started to stalk toward them both.
"What the hell are you doing LaHote, she is absolutely soaked. Let go of her..." Jacob demanded, he held out his arms waiting for Paul to pass her to him.
Paul stepped back. "I haven't done anything. We just went cliff diving that's all. Back off little boy..."
The edges of Jacob's outline started to blur as his wolfish instincts kicked in. He tried to calm himself down as the urge to phase and teach Paul a lesson ran through his veins. However Bella was here and he didn't want to risk her getting hurt. Bella could see how riled up Jake was getting, she pushed against Paul's chest and demanded that he put her down.
Paul refused to put her down, he seemed to be getting a kick out of upsetting Jake. Bella struggled in his hold. "Why do you do this Paul? Just let me go"
Bella saw a fleeting glimpse of hurt cross Paul's face before he covered it up with a sneer. He dropped her roughly onto the ground and turned his gaze back onto Jacob. "She's all yours boy, she was getting on my nerves anyway...I've had my amusement for the day. See ya around darlin' "
Jacob immediately bent down and helped Bella to stand. He pulled her into his usual bear hug and held her close. "I'm sorry about him Bells...are you alright?"
Bella nodded her head against Jake's shoulder. She glanced to the side and saw Paul striding off into the distance, his shoulders held stiffly and his head down. Her eyes followed him until he disappeared from view.
XXXXXX
Bella spent the rest of the afternoon with Jake, catching up on all that she had missed during their enforced separation. They had taken a walk along the beach, Jake catching hold of her hand as they strolled along the shoreline. Bella wondered briefly if she should put a stop to the handholding, but this was her best friend, things had always been this way between them. Jake had questioned Bella about what happened in Italy, she had divulged bits and pieces to him, but not as much as she had revealed to Paul. Awkwardness and resentment built up between them at one point as they confronted the issue of Bella running off to Italy. It had taken a lot of apologising for Jake to calm down and let it go.
Eventually they had retreated to their sanctuary, the garage, or as Jake now called it their little 'Taj Mahal.' Bella sat down on an old upturned crate and watched in comfortable silence as Jake tinkered with the Rabbit's engine. It felt like they had never been separated. As the evening drew nearer, Bella told Jake that she really needed to leave. She knew that Edward would now be in her house as the sun faded from the sky and she wanted to get that particular confrontation over and done with.
Jacob reluctantly agreed on the basis that she come back in a couple of days to visit. "I've missed you Bells..." He finally admitted.
"I've missed you too Jake..." Bella smiled as she watched the familiar sunny grin spread across his face.
XXXXXX
Bella parked the truck in the drive way of her house and killed the loud rumbling engine. Silence reigned in the air. Her dad was on a late shift so he would not be back to act as a buffer between her and Edward. She closed her eyes briefly, trying to work up the courage to enter the house before Edward came out seeking her. The door to the truck was suddenly wrenched open and Bella let out a scream.
"Shut up or the leech will be out here..." Paul's deep voice made her eyes shoot open. "Move over..."
"What are you doing? Why...have you seen Edward?" Bella fired one question after another at him.
Paul laughed bitterly. "Yeah I've seen the creepy dude crawl up into your window, the potent stink gave him away...ugh how do you stand it? Anyway we need to leave..."
"Leave? I just got here...I don't know what you're playing at Paul but I need to go inside now..." Bella slid over to the passenger side door and tried to open it. Paul caught hold of her arm and yanked her back.
"No way sweetheart, I know that's not what you really want." Paul switched the engine back on and it rumbled to life.
Bella slumped back against the bench seat of the truck and said no more. She knew he was right.
Edward Cullen heard the loud roaring of the engine being switched back on and he peered out of Bella's window to see the truck reversing quickly out of the driveway and back down the road. His outline blurred as he jumped out of the window and ran beside the road, keeping hidden in the tree line. He kept pace with the truck easily until it reached the La Push borders and he had to stop. He watched the tail lights disappear into the night and he cursed the treaty and all the wolf pack.
XXXXXX
"Where are we doing?" Bella asked Paul curiously.
"It's something I sometimes do to pass the time...I don't always sleep that well." Paul admitted his tone harsh.
"Why are you always so damn defensive whenever I ask you anything?" Bella snapped in irritation.
Paul pulled up toward Second Beach and turned off the engine. The lights died and all that illuminated the darkness was the moon. He opened the driver's door and jumped out, waiting for Bella to follow him. She paused for a moment and after giving out a heavy sigh, she eventually climbed out. Paul reached out his hand for her to take, but Bella shook her head no.
"Look the beach is very stony, you could trip and fall on your ass. I doubt you want a twisted ankle to add to your other list of injuries. But it is up to you..." Paul waited out her reaction. He gave her a smirk when he saw her tentatively clasp his hand.
They walked side by side in silence for a good ten minutes. The sea breeze blew Bella's hair behind her and she shivered. Paul watched her momentarily before he slipped a warm arm over her shoulders and pulled her gently into his side. Bella did not protest as she felt his heat seep into her chilled bones.
"Thanks," She mumbled. Paul just grunted in reply.
A few moments later they reached the end of the beach. Bella screwed up her eyes to try and bring the dark outline into focus. It seemed like some sort of opening in the cliff face. Was it a cave? She turned and looked up at Paul, he just gave her another smug smile and helped her over the last few big stones as they entered into the dark cavern.
"Wait here a moment?" Paul whispered as he disappeared into the back of the cave.
Bella suddenly became blinded as a bright torch beam hit her eyes. She heard Paul chuckle at her obvious discomfort and she scowled. "Very funny..."
"It certainly is..." Paul said as he watched her blink rapidly as she got used to the light.
Once her eyes had adjusted it gave Bella a chance to look around the cave. She saw a backpack and a few clothes slung along the floor as well as a sleeping bag. She frowned as she pondered why these things were here. Meanwhile Paul was gathering some hidden food together and he sat down on some cushions he had flung randomly around. He gestured for Bella to sit. She complied at once and gazed at him in mute sympathy. She finally realised that Paul had invited her into his home. He lived in this cave...
XXXXXX
They ate the food, not speaking. Occasionally Bella would glance up and find Paul watching her, but when their eyes met he would look away and vice versa. He eventually offered her a drink of water and she took the flask from him gratefully, their fingers touched briefly and Bella felt Paul's warm touch send tingles down her skin. She took a long swig from the flask and finally found the courage to ask him what she desperately wanted to know.
"Why do you live here?"
Paul's eyes seared right through her as she saw him clam up. His shoulders stiffened in that defensive way he had about him and he snatched the flask back from her and took a long gulp of water. "I don't LIVE here. It's just somewhere I go when I need some privacy."
Bella glanced around the cave again, taking in the all the personal belongings that he had stored there. "I am not judging you Paul. I am just asking that's all. I can see that you must stay here a lot more than just occasionally..."
"You have no idea what my life is like..." Paul shouted at her. He watched her flinch away from his loud tone and he tried to reign in his quick temper."I'm sorry...I didn't mean to raise my voice, you just touched a raw nerve. I don't like pity."
Bella nodded her head in acknowledgment of his apology. "I don't pity you Paul...I just feel for you having to live like this...why can't you stay at home? Your parents, they must be worried."
Paul laughed bitterly and looked her straight in the eyes. "My mother left years ago, couldn't take any more of my dad's beatings, so she just took off and let me become his new punch bag."
Bella's eyes widened in shock, she made a move to touch Paul on the arm but he suddenly rose to his feet and stormed out of the cave. Easy tears welled out of Bella's eyes as she saw the hurt in every one of his movements. Paul Lahote was a complex young man, but she had never imagined anything like this. She sat there and contemplated all of the stupid things she had done when Edward had first left her, culminating in her stupid cliff dive. She had two parents who cared about her, Renee maybe flighty but she had never totally abandoned her and Charlie was proving to be a caring father now that she had become closer to him. Bella hung her head in shame, she had so much to live for and she had very nearly thrown it all away. It was only because of Paul that she was still alive and breathing now. Bella got up from the floor and followed him outside.
She saw his tall figure illuminated by the moon's weak rays. He was standing staring out into the foamy sea, letting the waves wash over his feet. Bella took her sneakers off and let the sand sink through her toes as she walked over to him. He did not turn at her approach, although he could clearly hear her. Bella stood right behind him and wound her arms right around his waist and rested her head on his back.
"I'm sorry, "She whispered. "I'm sorry for being so selfish and clueless, for risking my life over such a pathetic reason. I want to thank you Paul Lahote for saving my life that day and for still trying to get me to see the truth..."
Paul heard her sincere words and he relaxed his stance. He wiped away the tears running down his face and turned in her embrace. He looked down into her eyes and saw not pity but just concern. He slowly let down his guard and pulled her against him into a tight hug, resting his head on top of hers.
They stood together like that for a long time, listening to the soothing sound of the sea...
A/N-I am still not happy with this chapter :( , but thanks for reading! Nikki...