Chapter Six

Dinner

It was safe to say I was freaking out about dinner. Should I cook this, or that? Is he allergic to anything? Would he like it? Would he hate it? Ugh!

"Hey, uh dad?" I called out into the living room, again.

"Yes, Rachel?" he asked exasperated.

"Can you taste it again?" I asked.

Yes, I was making chili. It was taking me all day thank you very much.

Dad sighed, rolling into the kitchen.

"Go get dressed," he gestured toward my dirty apron, "I'll finish off the chili."

"Really? Thanks dad." I rushed into my room and dug through my closet.

After about a thirty-minuet debate, I picked the white flowing shirt and light blue jeans and quickly took a shower.

After lightly towel drying my hair and applying some light mascara and blush I was ready. Since was at home I stayed barefoot.

"Hey Rachel." Paul smiled, greeting me as I entered the living room.

"Hey! Sorry I didn't realize I was taking so long." I smiled coming to sit across from him on the little armchair.

"No, I'm kind of early." He smiled shyly. And despite is russet skin his blush was evident.

"Aww Pauly, are you nervous?" Jacob asked, coming into the living room.

Paul started to shake, which I find kind of weird. I looked at Jacob and was really about to smack him on the head.

"Jake would you like some chili for dinner?" I asked sweetly, standing up.

"Sure, sounds really good Rach." He smiled, almost smugly. Did he think I was being serious? Ha!

"Well then I suggest you learn some manners, or else you might be eating out of a bowl similar to Frodo's." I smiled putting a hand on my hip.

I heard dads booming laughter come from the kitchen, and visibly saw Paul's shaking halt. And he laughed, a beautiful husky sound.

Jacob's glare toward Paul and me was obvious as we went into the kitchen and served ourselves. I fought the urge to laugh as Jacob pointedly sat next to me.

"So Paul, how is your dad doing?" dad asked him curiously.

"He's good I guess. Works been really busy lately." He shrugged taking a spoon full of chili.

"This is great Rachel!" he smiled, taking another spoonful.

"Thanks, took me all day to make so it better be." I laughed. I might not seem like I cared what he thought of the chili, but on the inside? I was basically jumping up and down with giddiness.

"So uh Paul whens your birthday again?" Jacob asked.

"November… why?" Paul asked suspiciously.

"Oh nothing just wondering when you would finally be a legal adult." He smirked.

I almost chocked on my soda. He was seventeen?

"Are you alright Rachel?" Paul asked concerned.

"Yeah I'm fine." I squeaked, coughing.

"Rachel you'll be twenty-two next May, right?" Jacob continued.

"Y-yeah. You would think you would know that don't you?" I asked glaring at him. It was now clear that Jacob only brought that up because he knew that once I knew of our age difference it would bother me.

'I thought you said you weren't even looking at him like that?'

... Shut-up.

"Yeah, sorry. I was just checking." He smirked. I would have kicked him if I didn't know it would probably hurt.

The diner seemed to go by really slow after that and everything seemed awkward.

"So, I uh talked to my grandma about the library. She said that she has been looking for someone to replace Bethany. " Paul said trying to make conversation to fill the awkwardness.

"Really? I was thinking of heading down there tomorrow." I smiled.

"I'm sure she will love you." He grinned.

"I hope so." I replied.

After dinner I cleaned the dishes and Paul dried. We were silent the entire time, though it wasn't awkward, it wasn't pleasant either. I could tell he knew something was bothering me, thank god he didn't ask what it was though, because that would have been awkward.

'Oh its just that I kind of had this stupid little crush on you, and it was kind of shattered when I found out its kind of illegal for us to date.'

'What!'

Yeah I'm not putting myself through that.

I was a bit relieved when it finally came time for Paul to leave. All I wanted to do was go to my room and collapse on my bed. So when the front door shut behind him, that's exactly what I did.

I sighed as I changed into my navy blue P.J.'s and slipped into my white covers on my flimsy air mattress. Hiding beneath their cozy comfort I let my mind wander.

He was seventeen! He wasn't even an adult. He was barley allowed to drive! What was I thinking!

But he was so sweet, and charming. His smile was to die for. Literally. And god, those muscles! How could I not think of him like that?

Burrowing deeper into the covers I suppressed the urge to scream. What had I gotten myself into? Questions bubbled through my mind. One in particular repeated itself.

Am I a cougar?

… … …

That night I dreamt of course of my mother again. The dream was like any other I seamed to have nowadays. I had managed to hold back my screams tonight, so Jacob didn't come in. Thank god or else I would have smacked him. Something that is way over due.

For some reason this morning I was in a relevantly bad mood. Maybe it was the fact that sometime during the night I had decided that yes, I was defiantly a cougar.

What were you even thinking liking him? You could never stay here; it would be much too painful.

"So, uh are you going to apply for the job at the library today?" dad asked, for once not paying any attention to the newspaper.

"Yeah, I am." I said. Also during the night I had decided that even though I was determined to get over this little boy crush, I wasn't going to alter my plans just because of him.

"Well the early bird gets the worm." Dad said smiling and raising the newspaper to cover his face again.

I rolled my eyes, and even though I knew there probably weren't much people in La Push applying for that job, I got up and went to get ready.

After throwing on my dark jeans and navy blue long sleeved shirt, I quickly applied some touchy ups to my face and was headed out the door and to my car.

The ride toward the library was about five minuets. When I arrived at the tiny shop, which I realized was named 'Julia's Bookshelf', I saw an old lady just flipping the 'OPEN' sign to 'CLOSED'.

What? But it is only eleven thirty!

"Wait!" I yelled running up to the closing door. I got to it right before it closed.

"Ma'am, I would like to apply for a job?" I asked politely to the woman, who had yet to turn to look at me.

"Sorry, were closed." She said plainly.

"But its so early?" I said confused.

"Business was slow and I have better things to do. Any more questions? Id like to get back to what I was doing." She said grumpily turning to look at me. Looks like I'm not the only one who woke up on the wrong side of the bed. Too bad she choose this day to act like that because any other day I would have easily let it slide. But not today.

"Excuse me ma'am, but maybe I'll take my fully college educated behind some where else. You know I thought small town old ladies' were nicer than this? I exceeded in all my years of college and I cant even get a job at a library? Fine, fine! Your lose lady!" I sighed frustrated. Yes that was my wrath. Scary huh? Yeah, I'm pretty pathetic.

"Wait!" the lady called right as I was about to enter my car.

"You got the job kid." She smirked.

"Really? When do I start?" I asked eagerly, already forgetting my anger.

"Right now." She said, already heading back to the store.

"What if I had plans?" I asked following her inside.

She turned and raised her left eyebrow at me in disbelief.

"Um, right. Gottcha." I said looking down.

"I have to go to the store and run a couple errands but I should be back before closing time." She said already getting her jacket and purse.

"Well when is closing time?" I asked hurriedly.

"Seven." She said leaving out the back door.

I stood there not really comprehending what had just happened. I sighed, running a hand through my thick hair. Taking a seat in a rolling chair behind the cash register I pulled out one of the books on the shelf and started reading.

'As Kelly crept up the stairs she made a terrible discovery. She wasn't the only one in the house. As she turned in the corner to her room she saw-'

'DING-DING-DING'

I jumped as the door opened.

"Paul you almost gave me a heart attack!" I scream-whispered.

"Hey! What are you doing here?" he asked, seemingly surprised to see me.

"I told you yesterday that I was going to come down here." I smiled. Yesterday's awkwardness seemed to have dissipated.

"I uh didn't know if you still would." He said looking down as he walked over to the counter.

Oh god Rachel… he noticed yesterday. Here comes the awkwardness.

Did you really think he wouldn't notice?

Shut up.

"Um your grandma isn't here. She went to run errands." I said changing the subject.

"That what she told you?" he chuckled.

"Yes?" I said confused.

"That's extremely unlikely." He said shaking his head and grinning.

"Are you calling me a liar?" I asked shocked.

"No! I mean it's very unlikely that she is running errands!" he said quickly correcting what he had said.

"Really? Why do you think that?" I laughed.

"She might be a shopaholic, but if she has errands she wouldn't hesitate to call me and make me do it." He shrugged.

"I will be sure to ask her what possessed her to give you a day off of your duties." I said rolling my eyes and smiling. It seemed so easy for us to just sit there and talk, even with everything that happened yesterday.

"Oh yes please remind her that, or else I don't know what I have to live for!" he said faking a horrified look. It wasn't really what he said but more the look on his face that made me combust in a fit of laughter. I laughed so loud that I didn't notice the back door open.

"Is this what I pay you for?" came a voice form behind me, making me jump.

… … …

Hey guys! Don't kill me! I know it has literally been forever since I updated. What can I say? I'm a horrible updater! I just kind of lost some of my inspiration for a while I guess…. But you know what helps? Reviews! Yip! That's my poison!

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