Disclaimer: I do not own anything except for things you do not recognize. Song credit to Relient K
You guys almost doubled the reviews, which makes me happy. Sorry this update was a little slower than I wanted, but some stuff came up that put me in a non writing mood. Keep the reviews coming!
"We should get jerseys 'cause we make a good team,
but yours would look better than mine 'cause you're out of my league."
Must Have Done Something Right
Third week back in La Push:
Monday: Go and meet Emily CHECK
Tuesday: Job interview at La Push elementary; grocery store afterward for Mom CHECK
Wednesday: Paul wants to hang out more like Paul wants to drown me, but CHECK
Thursday: Bonding time with Kim and Emily
Friday: Vegetate and find out about job
"So tell us honestly how you feel about all that has happened." Emily stated as we sat in one of the back booths in Dub's Pub in Port Angeles. It was pretty quiet in the Pub considering it was lunch time and since we were secluded we didn't have to worry about people over hearing.
"Well you know how Matt had to stay secluded for pretty much a week?" They nodded and I continued, "I pretty much stayed in my room that whole week. I never in a million years thought that the legends were true, and I certainly never thought that was why we were moving back!"
"What about imprinting?"
"I don't care what you guys say; Paul and I can just be friends."
"Natalie-" Kim sighed.
"No, listen; I'm not going to 'be' slash 'marry' slash 'whatever' with someone just because some weird wolfy thing makes it so." I stated and then with a shrug added: "You guys wanted honesty."
Kim and Emily exchanged glances before they turned back to me as a united front. Oh hell, couldn't we just enjoy a nice little outing together without wolf stuff getting in the way?
"We're just going to leave you with this one thought, Natalie." Emily smiled. "You can't fight the imprint; you can try, but you just can't."
"Now let's enjoy the rest of our day!" Kim said cheerily.
After that slightly uncomfortable conversation, we headed over to a little kid's clothing store that made me feel kind of left out. Emily and Kim dove right in, which didn't surprise me at all since they both had children to shop for.
"Guys, I have an announcement. I'm sure Sam is going to tell the guys on patrol tonight, but I'm pregnant." Emily gushed.
"Emily that's great!" Kim cried and threw her arms around Emily's neck.
I waited until Kim had released her before I pulled Emily into a hug of my own.
"So is Sam going to stop phasing to grow old with you?" Kim asked casually, like what we were talking about was an everyday topic; which it most certainly was not.
"He is; he called a pack meeting tonight and he's going to pass the alpha position to someone." Emily replied. "He won't tell me who though."
"What will he do now?" I asked curiously.
I couldn't help but wonder just how the guys could afford their lifestyles. Not that their lifestyles were exuberant, but they certainly did pack away a lot of food.
"He's going to start a construction company that he can run full time and the guys can work through the day no problem."
I finally noticed that Kim looked withdrawn. Her smile had faded from her face and she was just staring down at the little floral dress she held in her hands for Abby.
"Are you alright?" I asked her.
"You don't think he'll name Jared alpha do you?" She asked quietly. "I was hoping he'd give it up soon; for me and Abby…and well I think I might be pregnant too, but I'm not sure."
"Really?! We always end up having babies together." Emily laughed. "As for alpha, I honestly don't know; with the packs back together again my guess is that it'll be Jacob."
***
I still slept with a night light. Yeah, I know; I'm twenty one and I have a night light on when I sleep. So what? It's not like I'm afraid of the dark, I just like being able to see when I wake up in the middle of the night so I don't get disoriented. Most people didn't understand this logic though; especially Matt.
So when I woke up to a chuckle and my eyes snapped open I was thankful that I did have the night light otherwise I wouldn't have been able to see Paul coming in my window as if he owned the place.
"What are you doing?!" I hissed.
"You sleep with a night light on?"
"Not the point."
Once he had himself all the way into my room he walked over to my bed and sat down on the edge of it. Good thing I didn't sleep in the nude or anything.
"I repeat: what are you doing?"
"I need to talk to you."
"About?"
"Sam stepped down as our alpha."
"I know; Emily told us today. But who's the new alpha?" I asked as I sat up, careful to keep the covers from slipping below my waist where nothing but a very short pair of shorts covered my ass.
"Jake and since Jared announced that he would be giving up phasing soon, Jake decided I should be his alpha since I'll be the oldest wolf with them gone." He explained with a note of anxiety in his voice.
He definitely didn't sound like his normal cocky self. Something was off.
"You don't sound thrilled, what's wrong?"
"I just…well…I don't want to take it if I'm going to be giving phasing up soon."
"As in…us being 'together.'" I sighed. "Listen, we are friends. Go ahead and be beta okay? Cause even if something does happen in the future, it won't be for a while."
He looked…hurt?
"Does that make you happy?" He asked hesitantly.
"Yeah," I breathed, "it does."
***
Today was the day; the day I would find out if I got the job at La Push elementary. I really wanted it; to the point that I was already planning out how I would decorate it for the kid's when they got back after summer vacation ended. I already had a nifty banner that read: 'Ms. Hanner' that I had gotten as a graduation present from my parents.
When I got downstairs the house was deserted. I knew Dad was at work, and I assumed Matt was over at Kim and Jared's so that just left Mom MIA. How often did that happen though? Not nearly enough. With a big smile on my face I grabbed my iPod, an apron and started pulling out ingredients for my famous white chocolate chip cookies.
Even though my Mom usually ruled the kitchen with her baking, I occasionally took over. I even had a special baking playlist on my faithful red iPod, Old Red. The first song to come on as I started dropping stuff into the mixing bowl was Fall Out Boy's version of 'Beat It', which I preferred to Michael Jackson's any day.
The song was still going as I actually started to beat the mixture and I found myself singing out loud and shaking my hips as the ingredients stirred round and round in the mixing bowl. I was attempting to hit the high note when a pair of hands settled on my hips, causing me to jump, shriek and drop the mixer on the counter.
I turned off the mixer before I turned to my attacker, only to see Paul grinning down at me.
"Great performance." He smirked.
"Never, ever do that again. Hell, you almost got this mixer in your eyes!"
"What are you making? It looks good."
"Cookies; now if you'll excuse me I need to get back to it."
I guess I had thought that he would go sit in the living room or something, but instead he leaned back against the counter, out of my way and watched me work. To say it was disconcerting was an understatement; I was lucky I didn't I didn't spray dough everywhere.
"Okay, if you're just gonna stand there than you can help me." I finally said as I went to the drawer and pulled out another apron. "Put this on and start scooping dough onto the cookie sheet."
I watched in amusement as he tied my Mom's floral apron around his waist the best he could before he picked up a spoon and started to do as I asked him.
"Not that big! We'll hardly get any that way." I gently scolded as I fixed his massive dough ball into just the right size.
With Paul around to help I ended up making another entire batch, after he insisted that I needed to do so. He then proceeded to eat three cookies right out of the oven. With him and Matt around these cookies would never live to see tomorrow.
"Give me one before you eat them all." I smiled as he used the spatula to slide them off the baking sheet.
"What's the magic word?"
"Please?"
"Nope." He grinned and moved my cookie closer to his mouth.
"Paul is awesome?"
"Uh…no." The cookie was almost there.
"Paul is sexy?"
"That works! Here's your reward."
I scowled up at him, but took my cookie without protest. The first bite was like an orgasm in my mouth and I was sure the second would only be better, but the ringing phone stopped me.
"Hello?"
"Is this Natalie Hanner?" The male voice on the other end asked.
"Yes, it is."
"Well Ms. Hanner, I just wanted to inform you that you got the job. You need to report to the school this Monday for meetings and the rest of the week you can set up your room and make your lesson plans."
I knew I had an idiotic grin on my face at this point, but I didn't care. "Okay, great. Thanks so much."
"Not a problem, have a nice day."
"You too."
I hung up the phone and took another bite of cookie before I finally turned back around towards Paul with an idiotic grin on my face. His grin grew to match mine and before I could say 'Holy hell' he had me in his arms and was swinging me around and around while our cookies continued to bake in the oven.
"What grade are you teaching Ms. Hanner?" He asked as he sat me down.
"Third, Mr. Mire." I replied with a smile and another bite of my cookie.
"So that means you'll be staying in La Push for a while, right?"
"It looks that way."
It was a semi serious moment which was effectively ruined by the flash of a camera, held by none other than Matt. Both Paul and I stood there a moment before we both reacted. I started laughing hysterically; Paul had just been caught in Mom's girly apron. However, Paul did not find the humor in the situation.
"Give that here you little bastard!" He roared as Matt ran from the kitchen.
I watched as Paul threw off the apron and chased after him, a determined yet angry look on his face. I understood his anger; the guys would never let him live that one down any time soon. Oh well, his problem not mine. For right now I had all the cookies to myself and that was just the way I liked it.