Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight.

Chapter 7-. It takes someone to come around.


Bella's legs didn't respond despite how much she wanted to stand up and run away. She couldn't bring herself to do anything – the news of Alice's return crept over her like a heavy shadow, impending her to move or even take in some air. Her mind was a mess as multiple questions fought for the forefront of her attention. Was she alone? Did she want to meet her? Why hadn't she said goodbye to begin with? Everything she had rebuilt seemed to be falling apart. It couldn't be true that she would see a Cullen so soon after they departed forever. "As if I never existed." Edward's voice resonated in her mind, now sounding like a cheap lie.

"Are you sure it was Alice?" Bella's raspy voice broke the silence. "Is it just her?"

"I saw her talking to Charlie with my own eyes, Bells." Jacob moved a few feet back, too afraid to approach Bella again. "She seems to be alone, yes."

Bella's mind tried to compute the whole thing. She tried to look for excuses and reasons why the elvish-looking girl would appear again after her brother, her, and her family had taken such extreme measures to keep her away. She also had spoken to Charlie, which meant that she knew Bella would find about it eventually. Alice being Alice could've come and gone without being noticed, having planned her steps meticulously. It just didn't make sense at all. She looked at Jacob confused and looking for answers, but the guy looked as conflicted as she was. And a thought hit her like truck.

"Why did you kiss me, Jacob?" Bella hissed, suddenly upset and her eyes furiously looking for his. Jacob didn't know what to say, so he fixed his eyes on the ground and remained quiet. "Was it because of Alice?" She was fired up enough to bring herself to stand up. Jacob didn't move. "Tell me, was it because Alice is back?"

"No." Jacob finally looked at her, trying to contain himself.

"Then?" She slowly approached him while her face became red all the way to her ears. "If it wasn't because of her, then why?"

"It just wasn't." Jacob said, although it didn't sound sincere. He didn't want to talk about Paul, not now. "I just… I needed to do it. It was a chance that I had to take, before…" He couldn't bring himself to make something up, nor to tell her the truth.

"Before I went running back into Alice's arms?" Bella looked hurt and disheartened. "You did this because you don't trust me."

"No! Bells c'mon…" Jacob gave her a painful look. "It's not that I don't trust you, I just don't want you to go away, and lately everything's so crazy. I need to know that there's some hope out there…"

"What if there weren't?" Bella's eyes were tearing up. "Would you leave me to them then?"

"You know that's not what I meant." Jacob was getting frustrated. "I'm sorry, okay? I was scared."

"I'm not flaky like that, Jacob." Bella choked up. "You don't trust me, and it shows." She looked up, letting a few tears run down her bright-red cheeks. "I won't run to their side the moment they show up… and I wish that at least you'd know that much." She started walking towards the house, with Jacob following behind.

"Bella! Where are you going?" Jacob grabbed her in an attempt to stop her. "I'm sorry."

"I'm going to the funeral, if you don't mind." She turned and glared at him. "I don't feel like seeing you right now either." She broke free from Jacob and ran towards the house.

"Fuck." Jacob mumbled through his teeth. "You outdid yourself, Jake."

"You certainly did." Quil's voice surprised him, as the teen was coming out of the nearby woods. "Well done, Jake. What a charm."

"How much did you see?" The taller one asked and, frustrated, he held the bridge of his nose between his fingers.

"Enough." Quil answered with a shrug. "I never thought you would do something so cowardly."

"What do you mean?" Jake felt his friend pushing his buttons.

"You know what I mean. You could've told her about Paul." Quil said nonchalantly.

"What is it with you today?" The other teen's anger slowly built up. "What does it matter that I tell her or not? Aren't you supposed to be on my side?"

"Don't you get it, Jake? There are no sides anymore! You know what you would be doing to Paul if you keep going after her." Quil spat. "I get that you love her, but this isn't their fault – not Bella's, not Paul's. All you're doing here is throwing a tantrum hoping that she will choose you, and since you are too scared of her choosing Paul, you're playing him dirty."

"And what if I am?" Jacob frowned and clenched his fists. "Imprint my ass! I've loved her this whole time!"

"We both know this isn't about love." Quil said before passing by Jacob, following the path to Emily's house. "Do you think love had anything to do with Emily's accident? Love's got nothing on imprinting." He said without even looking back.

Jacob grunted before phasing and running into the woods, fading out of view rather quickly. His wound was almost healed, but he still couldn't get rid of the heavy feeling in his chest.


Bella arrived at Harry's wake with her black dress and black shoes making her look paler and more tired than what she already was. Her eyes looked slightly red and puffy, like those of many attending the service. She gave her condolences to Sue and her kids before looking for Charlie. Both Leah and Seth sat apart from all the attendants and wore a grim look on their faces, but they weren't crying; perhaps to spare their grieving mother from worrying over them too. While Billy and other Quileute natives had done everything in their hands to help out with the last rites, it was Charlie who was running everything behind the scenes most of the time. He approached his daughter once he had settled things with some worker from the funerary home, after Sue had been unable to hold in the tears for more than a brief moment.

"Everything okay, kiddo?" He asked as soon as he noticed Bella's puffy eyes, pulling her aside to have a more private conversation.

"I'm okay, I just argued with Jacob over something stupid." She sighed and gathered all her courage to look at her father in the eyes. "He told me about Alice."

Charlie's face gave everything away. He reached into his pocket to take out Alice's number, now crumpled into a little ball. "She wants to see you, Bells." He put the paper out, but Bella didn't take it. "I think you should."

"Don't be ridiculous… there's the funeral and all these things left to do." Bella said, trying to keep her tears back. "I have to be around."

"No, kid. You don't." Charlie looked sad as he took his daughter's hand and forced her to take the number. "I am going to be fine; hell, I am busy enough I haven't seen you all day. I think nobody will mind that you're away a few hours."

"I don't know what I would say to her." Bella confessed. "I don't think I can see her."

"Just give it a thought, alright?" Charlie embraced his daughter while a few lonely tears rushed down her face.


From outside, Paul had heard most of the conversation between Bella and her father. He wasn't on patrol duty but guessed it wouldn't hurt to watch out for his imprentee in the meantime. He decided not to show his face around Bella until it fully healed. At that moment it was in the last stages of scarring, but you could still tell very well where Jake's paw had crossed the middle of his face. It didn't hurt and, honestly, it didn't bother him as much as not being sure about what went on with whatever fight Jake and Bella had. With Alice's return, the events of that day wore his patience out quite a bit, and he had time restraining himself from barging into the funeral to comfort Bella. It took all his will not to do so.

Before, imprinting was something that made Paul sick of his stomach – how could someone drop everything for one person? Paul didn't understand it a single bit until he experienced it himself. Another thing he came to understand was Emily's accident. It amazed him how much Sam endured Emily's rejection for so long, being that he had just phased that is. It scared him a bit that the same thing could happen to Bella. Being away from her for a long time was painful and almost unbearable, and his urge to phase increased as he got more restless. It was getting harder to control himself around her, and he knew that he had to break the news to her soon… before he exploded like Sam did, at least.

Paul patiently waited for Bella to leave the wake, and after a couple hours she did. He stood up and followed her as discreetly as possible, wondering if she was done for the night. He was burning to talk to her at least once more that day, despite not wanting to come too strong onto her. Paul caught up with her as she approached her truck and whistled softly to call her attention as to no startle her with his sudden appearance. Bella looked at Paul's direction with her reddened eyes and felt a little embarrassed about her looks. She wiped any tear left behind in her face and gave the guy a sad smile while fixing her hair behind her ear.

"Patrolling?" Bella asked in a quiet and raspy voice.

"You can say that." Paul said with a nervous smile. "Going home, Swan?"

"I think so." She yawned while opening the driver's seat door. It was late, and she looked tired. Paul wondered if she had gotten any sleep aside from the couple hours she had the night before. "I am craving my bed, to be honest."

"Can you drive? Want me to come with?" Maybe it was because the exhaustion that Paul's kind voice soothed Bella a little. "You seem like you'll fall asleep any second."

"I actually would appreciate if you could drive for me." Bella was a little surprised she let anyone other than Jacob drive her precious truck. "I like how you drive." She said with another yawn.

"Is that it, Swan?" Paul smiled and walked towards her. "I'll be your personal driver, then." Bella felt a little hot at having Paul near her, but guessed it was the wolf's body heat and scratched it as nothing. She went in and scooched to the side so that Paul could take the wheel, and before she could say anything he looked at her dead serious. "I won't go over 80 mph and will also take it easy on the turns, don't worry." That made Bella laugh, making her forget the roller-coaster that day had been for a second.

"Thanks, Paul." Bella said while leaning back and closing her eyes. "For everything."

Bella heard the soft rumble of the engine going on, and then Paul going on reverse over the asphalt. She opened her eyes once they hit the uneven terrains to take the highway back to Forks. Paul's driving skills mesmerized Bella once more. She thought that she had never seen the guy as stoic as when he was driving. It was always Grumpy Paul or Cocky Paul, but never nothing this calm and held together. It made her think for the first time that he was a teen. The faint lights also softened his features, finally making him look his age – just 17-year-old Paul driving a girl home at night, and not a massive silver wolf protecting her from a revenge-seeking vampire. She felt bad to be relying so much on him, on Jake, and on the pack. They were barely as grown as she was, after all.

"A picture will last longer." Paul chuckled, forcing Bella out of her thoughts and making her blush. "Do I have something on my face?" He half-joked, worried about the scar, although it was way too faint at the point for Bella to notice.

"I was thinking how much I rely on you guys and how well you're taking this." Bella sighed. "I cannot see myself in your shoes."

"Well, you're taking this whole 'I'm-being-hunted-by-a-crazy-bloodsucker' thing like a champ, Swan. Give yourself some credit." Paul gave Bella a quick empathetic smile. "Anyway, what's with you suddenly?"

"I heard Alice Cullen is back in town." Bella didn't know why she blurted it out. Paul didn't really react and kept his hands on the wheel, but she could tell that he was containing his frustration. "Jake was worried about me going and running back to her, and it got to me. I trust you guys and I'm certainly not about to go and beg her to take me with her…"

"But?" Paul raised an eyebrow as he got out of the highway and into the town. Bella took in a deep breath while looking outside the window, remaining quiet. The guy grew anxious in the silent truck cabin, so her parked and turned to face the brunette. "Bella?"

"I want to meet with her." Bella said bluntly. Paul growled in frustration while burying his face between his hands, not happy with whatever she had on mind.

"Are you sure it's the best idea?" Paul said between his teeth. "After all they did to you? We can't even protect you in her territory."

"She's not going to do anything." Bella refuted.

"We can't help if things go awry with other bloodsuckers, thought." Paul explained.

Bella looked conflicted. "What about a middle ground? There must be one." She looked desperately at him. Paul looked away, not being able to be mad at her request.

"We can be around if you're in Forks, but she seemed willing to fight Jake when they first faced each other. I'm not sure how it will turn out if any of us meets with her again." Paul sighed. "And let's not talk about what Sam would do to any of us if we met her on purpose without backup."

"So… I either met her alone or I don't meet her at all?" None of the ideas made Bella happy. She wasn't about to face Alice on her own, but she was also not going to ask the guys to put themselves in the line anymore.

It was obvious to Paul that Bella wanted really bad to meet the Cullen bloodsucker. He wanted to indulge on her request and let her do as he pleased, but he also wasn't about to make Sam angry by breaking the treaty or getting near a vampire without a plan. He struggled a lot trying to ponder all the possibilities and outcomes and, to his disadvantage, he gave in to Bella's request in most of them.

"Do you really want to meet her?" Paul asked quietly as he glanced at a confused Bella, awaiting an answer. The stern look she gave him back said it all. He grunted. "If that bloodsucker jumps me I will not restrain myself, okay? And it has to be tomorrow before I phase again or this whole thing won't happen."

Bella was surprised that Paul implied that he would accompany her. She was expecting him to want to talk to Sam or Jake first. She felt relieved to hear that at least he wouldn't involve the whole pack.

"Okay." She said, trying to contain a smile.

Paul exhaled loudly before turning on the engine of the truck once more and driving towards Bella's home. He thought of the thousand apologies he would have to give Sam later on. He was dead meat, that was for sure. Although next to him, Bella seemed more relaxed and that made him feel better about getting his ass kicked. The rest of the trip was quick and soon enough they were parking in Bella's drive way.

"I guess I'll get going." Paul said, extending the keys to Bella before they left the truck.

"Do you have to go home?" Bella asked, not wanting for him to leave. Everything seemed to be calmer when Paul was around.

"I don't until tomorrow night." He admitted.

"Why don't you stay then?" Bella said, noticing she was on a streak about being blunt to Paul Lahote. He raised an eyebrow.

"Aren't you tired?"

"Charlie's staying at Sue's tonight too, and I don't feel like being alone, that's all." Bella mumbled. "I'm beat, but I don't feel like I can sleep much tonight either."

Paul chuckled softly at her answer, knowing that he was going to stay from the moment she asked him to. "Alright, Swan. I'll stay." He smiled, and she returned it happily.

Both of them got out of the truck, but only Paul closed the door and went towards the house. Bella remained next to the open door, looking at nothing.

"Everything okay?"

"Uh-huh, I just need to get my things together." She said, urging Paul to go inside first. "I'll be right there."

She waited until both the screen and the door had closed to exhale nervously and duck down next to the truck. She took her cellphone from the co-pilot's seat and pulled Alice's number out of her back, quickly typing a text for the vampire, before taking everything and rushing inside to Paul.


Alice's phone vibrated in the co-pilot's seat. She was driving across the highway but still managed to gracefully reach for the phone and open the text she had just gotten.

"Let's meet tomorrow at my house. Come at a decently human time." It read.


Hello everyone!

I know the last two chapters were very PaulxBella free, so I decided to give you a little something something with this long chapter. I know right now everything seems so slow, but remember that within the story it has been only a couple days and that things will get more exciting as get going! Especially when we get more characters to be around. I also tried my best to revise this one for grammar and editing mistakes but then again, it's never 100% accurate. I've decided to put out the first 10 chapters first and then give it a go at correcting all of them once we're there.

Again, thanks so much for reading and giving this story a follow/fav, as well as leaving your kind reviews! It really makes my day! Read y'all soon xx

- Xavier

PD. I will post an especial BellaxPaul oneshot for this story the 5th of August if y'all can guess the song that inspired the tittle for this chapter! ;)