Chapter 4: Surprise

Driving home that night, I felt exhilarated. Paul had told me that he had imprinted on me, and it made me feel so amazing. He had been nervous about telling me, I could tell, but at least he had told me, and that was all that counted.

I smiled to myself, remembering how his lips had felt against mine. I had never, ever felt this way when I was with Edward. Never. I had always felt like with him I would be judged, or he would make fun of me for something, but with Paul I felt like I could just be myself. I had always felt this way with him, even when I had first met him. From the minute I met him we immediately clicked, and I knew that I could goof off with him as much as I wanted.

My face heated thinking about him, and I got butterflies in my stomach just thinking about him. How could just a few words change so much between us? Before when I thought about him, I never used to get nervous or anything. Now, I got nervous and excited merely thinking about him.

I pulled into my driveway and went into my house. My mom was sitting on the couch, reading a book. I tried to sneak past her, because I knew that she would just keep asking me where I had been all day, and I really didn't want to go into detail with her, especially after she had constantly made it clear that she didn't like the boys in La Push.

Unfortunately, my ninja abilities were lacking today.

"You're home late." She noted. I swear this woman had some sort of super powers. She hadn't even looked up from her book.

Now, I could tell the truth or lie to her. But knowing her she'd learn that I had been lying, or wouldn't believe me from the start even if I did lie to her. So, I decided on bending the truth just slightly.

"Yeah, sorry, I had to stay late at work, and then after work I went to the hospital with Paul to visit Jared's mom. She had a heart attack a few days ago."

"Is she okay?" my mom asked.

"Yeah, she should be going home soon, it was just a minor heart attack. Nothing too major."

"Your dad called." She said.

I tensed. "Oh…and?"

"He wants you to call him." She said.

"Did he say why?" I asked, voice tight. I didn't want to talk to him. At all.

"Nope, he just said that he wants talk to you."

I sighed. "Do I have to call him?"

"You don't have to do anything that you don't want to do." She said. "But if I were you, I'd call him."

"Did I do something wrong that I don't know about?" I asked.

"Nothing that I know of." She said. "Just call him, you'll regret not knowing if you don't."

"He didn't say anything to you about what he wanted?" I asked.

"Nothing, just said that he wanted to talk to you."

I sighed again. "I'll call him upstairs."

I trudged up the stairs to my room and pulled my phone out of my pocket. I scrolled through my contacts and found my dad's name. I took a deep breath before calling him. It rang three times before he picked up.

"Hello?" his familiar voice came over the other end of the phone.

"Hey." I said. "You called me?"

"Oh, hey Katherine." I cringed slightly. He never, ever called me Katie. It was always Katherine. "Yeah, I did call. You're off school now, aren't you?"

"Yup. Until September." I said.

"Well, I was wondering if you wanted to stay with me for a few nights." He said.

I froze. Stay with my dad for a few nights? Why would he want me to? He rarely talked to me, rarely came to visit, rarely even acknowledged my existence. I wasn't even sure where he lived. I mean these past few Christmases and birthdays I had had, he had merely called me or sent a card with some money in it. That was it.

"Katherine?" he asked, clearing his throat.

"Um…I have work." I said.

"Surely you could schedule some time off." He said I could hear in his voice that he really wanted me to come.

I took a deep breath. "Okay. I'll come…when do you…when do you want me there?" And where is 'there'? And how am I getting 'there'?

"I'll book a plane ticket for you for Sunday. How's that?" he said.

Today was Friday. One full day to pack and get ready to go…and say bye to Paul.

"That sounds great." I said, feigning excitement.

"I'll email you the flight information." He said. "I just…I need your email address."

I gave it to him, trying my hardest not to sound awkward.

"Alright. It's sent." He said. "I'll pick you up from the airport on Sunday okay?"

"Okay." I said.

"I'll see you Sunday, then." He said.

"Yup, Sunday." I said.

"Bye Katherine." He said.

"Bye." I said, before ending the call.

I went downstairs to see my mom still reading her book.

"He wants me to stay with him for a few nights." I said.

She looked up, looking surprised. Just as surprised as I had been when he invited me. "Are you going?"

I nodded. "Yeah…I would've felt bad if I didn't…it sounded like he really wanted me to go."

"Well, I hope you have fun." She said.

"It seems kind of weird that he asked me though, isn't it?" I asked, biting my lip. "I mean he barely talks to me anymore, what changed?"

She shrugged. "Who knows with him? It could be anything, Katie. Just be prepared for whatever he has planned."

I sighed. "I'm leaving Sunday…he didn't say how long I'm staying for."

"He's probably going to want to know if you want to live with him, to get you back or something." She shrugged.

I rolled my eyes. As if that would happen. I mean yeah, I loved my dad, but only because I kinda had to, he was my dad of course. But would I ever want to live with him? No. I was perfectly happy living here with my mom. Sure, at times I hated Forks, what with the constant rain and a certain vampire who lived here, but other than that, I didn't have a problem with it.

And, now that I was with Paul, of course I would want to stay here.

I went into the kitchen and made myself a peanut butter sandwich. I took it upstairs with me and fired up my laptop. Time to find out where I'd be going.

I opened up my email and signed in. I found the email from him and opened it.

Katherine, here's all the flight information. Your ticket will be waiting for you at the desk at the airport, you just have to give them your flight information and name.

It's flight 404 to Las Vegas, leaving Sunday at 6:30 a.m.

I didn't book you a return ticket; I'm not sure when you'll want to be going home. See you soon.

-Dad

I wrote down the flight info. I was mildly surprised at the destination. I hadn't had any idea where he was living now…but Vegas? I had been expecting somewhere a bit closer to Forks.

Whatever. I didn't really want to go, because I knew how awkward it would be, and to be honest I didn't want to see my dad, but I could hear that he wanted me to go in his voice. I called into work and told my boss that I wouldn't be in for a week. I decided to be safe, and say that I wouldn't be in for a week…hopefully I wouldn't be there for more than three days. That was all I was hoping for.

I started to pack up my things…and packed a week's worth of clothing. It was hot in Vegas, right? I packed the lightest clothes I had…which to be honest wasn't much as it was rarely warm in Forks, but I tried my best.

When I was done packing everything-excluding the things I would need between now and Sunday.

I sighed, I would have to call Paul and tell him that I was going.

I glance at the clock…it was pretty late, and I didn't want to bother him, especially if he was sleeping. If he was running he wouldn't answer his phone, but if he was sleeping I would leave him alone. He didn't need anyone bothering him during one of the few nights that he could actually have his own.

I changed into my pyjamas, and climbed into bed. I pulled the covers up to my nose, and fell asleep right away. The sound of the rain hitting the roof soothed me, and lulled me to sleep.

The next day I went to La Push to see Paul. I probably should've called before I went but I didn't think Paul would care very much. He always seemed happy to see me. I pulled into that parking lot of his building, and went into the lobby and buzzed him.

"Hello?" he asked. He sounded tired. I sighed.

"It's me!" I said.

"Come on up." He said, immediately sounding more awake. I opened the door and went inside. I went into the elevator, and went up to Paul's floor. I sighed quietly. Of course the day after Paul and I got together, I was saying goodbye to him and leaving for…how long was I even going for?

I rolled my eyes. Thanks dad.

I knocked on Paul's door.

"It's open." He called. I opened the door and went inside. I grinned at him. "Hey."

He smiled. "Hey."

"So…wanna know what happened to me last night?" I asked, trying to sound light, and sitting on his couch.

He sat down beside me, and looked at me, expression serious.

"What happened?"

"When I got home last night my mom told me that my dad called and wanted me to call him. So I did…and he wants me to go visit him for a few days." I said.

"Are you going?" he asked.

I nodded. "I was going to say no…but I could hear how much he wanted me to go."

"When are you going?" he asked.

"Leaving tomorrow morning." I said.

He looked surprised. "Tomorrow?"

I nodded. "Yup. I would've rathered it have been a bit later, but there's nothing I can really do about it. He already booked the ticket."

"How long are you staying?" he asked.

I shrugged. "He didn't say."

"Do you want me to take you to the airport tomorrow?" he asked.

"No, I think my mom is taking me." I said. "Besides, you can't come into Forks; I wouldn't want you to get in trouble."

He snorted. "Do you think I'm scared of some bloodsuckers hunting me down? You know me better than that, Katie."

I rolled my eyes. Of course Paul wouldn't care about waging war with the Cullens. Why should he?

For the rest of the day we just chilled together, and it was nice. It was the best way that I could imagine spending my last day in Forks before I visited my dad.