This story is so dang hard to write and I have no idea why. Seriously, any ideas are welcome.

Okay, finally posting the next chapter. Sorry for the wait, hope you enjoy.

Chapter 9

BPOV

Sam looked at me warily and wolfy Paul tensed under my hand. Still cautious I took a step back, only to have him whine and push his head under my hand again.

"I think" Emily stepped closer to me and wrapped an arm around my shoulders as if we were best buds, "that's a question for another day." She gave me a gentle squeeze and started walking away, taking my hand and making me follow. "Now, I don't know about you bet I hate wet clothes. Let's all go home, get nice and warm, and I'll cook us a big dinner. How's that sound?"

The guys responded eagerly, varying from polite 'yes please's to 'hell ya's. Emily rolled her eyes. The proposition had obviously been directed mostly towards me. Emily dropped my hand in return for Sam's and turned to face me.

"We'll get your room all set up too. You can barrow some of my clothes until we get a chance to go shopping for you." Without looking at him she commanded, "Go phase Paul. Everyone get dry and meet at my place."

Well all walked back to the hospital parking lot, Paul staying close to me, much to my ever continuing confusion, and Jacob kept up an endless easy string of chatter. Asking me random classic questions, like my favorites.

Emily and Sam were walking behind our group, as if they were parents keeping a close eye on their children. I turned around to ask Emily if she wanted my help making dinner after I showered and changed. It was the least I could do, although these people were confusing, strange, and actually turned into giant dogs, they were kind and offering me a place to stay for an indifferent amount of time.

As I turned Paul followed my movement, turning with me mindlessly as if it were natural to be so in tune with me, staying as close as possible without actually touching me. I paused and turned to look at him instead of Emily, raising an eyebrow. He raised his own eyebrow, looking at me as if I were the one being unreasonably weird towards a stranger, smirking.

"What? Do I smell like your favorite flavor of Kibbles and Bits or something?" I asked, Jacob snorted before laughing "Cause you've basically been attached to my hip. Is there something I can help you with? Do you have a question?"

The others had stopped walking and were watching our little chit-chat. Paul looked at me with wide eyes, unsure how to respond. With everyone else he was confident, cocky, always had a response. With me… he just seemed jumbled.

"Well… I… you…" he trailed off, before smirking and finally replying in a full sentence. "Well, you do smell good, but nothing like Kibble and Bits. More like wild flowers and apple."

"Glad you took note of my scent…" I said incredulous, "Do I make you uncomfortable?"

PPOV

Did she make me uncomfortable? She wasn't supposed to, right? I was supposed to feel completely comfortable, peaceful, and in a way I did, but she was still the only person who made me nervous, made me stutter. Looking down at this woman, almost a whole foot shorter than me, looking completely innocent with her big doe eyes, despite her cocky attitude, I decided I'd push my nerves aside entirely and just be myself. I had to get her to fall in love with the real me anyway, right? Plus, I want my balls back damn it… though, if she's the one holding them, I could make this work.

"Not at all," I said and gripped Bella's shoulders, my fingers almost touching around her back, her clothes still damp. I worried for her health and a few ways to get her warm ran through my mind, "it's just that, your natural charm," I moved my hands slowly down to her waist, enjoying the feel of her soft feminine curves under my hands. She gripped my fore arms giving me the 'what the hell do you think your doing' look that she seemed to have down so well. The others watched silently, Jared's mouth trembling in effort to hold back a smile. "just… draws me in." finishing my sentence I hoisted her into the air and gentle laid her across my shoulder, she squealed loudly none the less.

I couldn't help but laugh as he growled, "Paul," Drawing out my name in irritation, her small hands pushing against my back to keep a somewhat upright position. "Put. Me. Down." She said each word slowly, individually, as if to make sure I would understand them.

"Or what little kitten?" I chuckled, even knowing what I am she continued her threatening demeanor, she had no chance. "Besides, I quite like you where you are."

"Paul!" she screamed irritated.

"Yes?" I answered as innocently as could.

She slumped over my shoulder, yelling into my back, her breasts brushing against me. Shouldn't be thinking about that right now! My mind yelled at me, though my wolf thoroughly disagreed,

Pushing against my back again she looked at me over her shoulder the best she could. "What part of 'I don't know you that well' and personal space don't you understand?" she narrowed her eyes at me; "You are clearly in my bubble."

"Oh, is this your bubble?" I asked, using my hand to indicate the general area around her.

"Yes." She said, punctuating it with a nod.

"Oh." I pretended to look surprised before smirking, "Well then." I pointed finger and made the action of poking her 'bubble' while making the 'pop' sound with my lips.

"Ugh!" she slumped back down again. The others were laughing at her expense, Sam and Emily holding it back the best.

"Put! Me! Down!" She punctuated each word with a slap to my rear. Inside I was dancing that she felt comfortable enough to touch me, however menacingly she meant it. "Paul! I'm going to rip off your downstairs cheeks and feed them to the rest of your pack if you don't put me down!"

Jacob made a gagging noise, "I've got better taste than that sweetheart." My wolf growled at the nick name but I held it in, reminding my self that that 'sweetheart' was over my shoulder at the moment.

Jared had to put his input, chuckling, "Paul, the other white meat."

Bella and the others laughed, her laughter like music and her body moving against me softly.

"Alright, alright!" Emily said laughing, "You guys all want dinner, right? We'll never get home at this pace; Paul put Bella down and lets all start walking again."

"Can't I just carry her to the car Em?" I asked, somewhat pretending to pout.

"You should be asking me that question!" Bella said, shooting up as straight as possible, "And the answers no. Put me down." She said indignant.

"Well since you asked so nicely." I said sarcastically, rolling my eyes.

I put her down and we all walked to the car, telling Bella that the others would run home when she asked about car space. Her eyes lit up and she enthusiastically told us how 'neat' that was, I was so happy she accepted us so well. I would occasionally throw my arm around her shoulder and she would push it off and continue talking to whoever had her attention at the moment as if nothing happened. Everyone would talk to her, all wanting to get to know her better. I couldn't help but smile, glad the pack liked her already.

~Sam and Emily's house~

Bella stood next to Emily, dicing mushrooms, laughing and joking with Emily as if they were just old friends reconnecting. Sam, same as I, was watching them with a smile on his face. All of us seated at the table, eagerly awaiting the lasagna Emily had planned. I had watched Bella tense and tight in the beginning, giving short polite response to Emily, thanking her profusely for taking her in. Emily acted casual and Bella soon relaxed and fell in beside Emily's easy personality, they were really comfortable around each other and got along great. The five year age difference made no difference, they were fast becoming friends.

If only it were that easy for me, out of everyone she seemed least comfortable around me. It sent a pang through my heart when she shied away from me. But there were moments when she was comfortable, a couple minutes when she wasn't really thinking about it and she'd fall into this mode where it seemed as if we'd always been friends. She'd slap my arm softly when I'd say something stupid, wouldn't really notice when I had a hand on the small of her back or her shoulder. But then she'd go back to how she was, you could see when she remembered she had known me less than a day and I had been strangely intense to her. She would get this suspicious look in her eye and inch away from me, once again giving her full attention to whatever food she was preparing or diving into someone else's conversation.

I looked forward to the day when she would always be comfortable around me, come to me for comfort, love me as I loved her. I wanted to see her in my kitchen as she is now, comfortable and sexy. She had one of Emily's t-shirts on and old pair of pajama bottoms that ironically had kittens and yarn balls all over them rather than dogs. Her hair pulled up into a messy bun, giving her a tousled, sexy, comfy look. No make-up on and beautiful. I want to wake up with her at my side every morning and fall asleep with her in my arms. I wanted her to be my wife, have my name, and wear the ring that told everyone she was mine. To see her one day glowing and round with our child. I hoped, I prayed that when we explained imprinting and why I was so instantly drawn to her she would give me a chance. Come to love me. That she would not shatter my heart that she already held, as only she had the power to do.

Okay, short chapter, sorry.

Paul is a really hard character for me to depict right. He seems a little like a wuss to me right now and I don't want that. In general it's hard to write a story where a logical person falls in love with a stranger quickly without seeming unrealistic or stupid. Well, its hard for me at least, some of you do this beautifully.

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed : ) If you have any ideas, do tell.

Tell me whatcha think.