Chapter 9

The blaring alarm woke Angela Monday morning and she found herself shooting out of bed, not normally a morning person she moved around her room heart pounding with excitement. After the bonfire she hadn't been back to the reservation, rather she and Bella spent the remainder of their spring break in Forks, hanging out at the library, bringing an often grumpy Jessica lunch at the park where she continued to pick up litter or holed up in her bedroom watching movies. Even though she and Bella were reconnecting and they were having fun Angela couldn't help but feel a slight wave of disappointment when the rest of her spring break passed and she didn't see or hear from anyone from the reservation. That was until Sunday night just after she finished telling her parents about her week including the party, as she stood clearing the dinner dishes the phone rang. When her father told her Emily Young wanted to speak with her, Angela practically sprinted across the room. Emily had invited her and Bella down to have girl time and thankfully her parents agreed that it would be ok given that she be home by curfew.

Angela looked at the clock and sighed, she still had another forty five minutes to go and Jessica was once again retelling the story of her horrible spring break. The day seemed to be never ending; even her photography class couldn't hold her attention.

"I couldn't believe it could you Ange." Jessica asked gaining her attention with a nudge of her elbow.

"Oh I'm sorry what?"

"That Bella's dad put us in the back of his cruiser; I mean we're her friends."

Angela frowned, this was the second time Jessica brought up the fact that Charlie had put them in the back of his cruiser making it a point to scrunch her nose when she brought up Bella's name, "you were pretty drunk that night Jess, I think he was just worried about getting you some where safe and he couldn't have walked you down the street to my house."

"Oook" Jessica said wide eyed before flipping her hair smacking Angela in the face as she turned her head toward Lauren.

Thankful for her friend's dismissal Angela looked back up at the clock and smiled when she realized that it was now two thirty, only thirty minutes to go.

"Angela could you please come here," Mrs. Thompson asked waving a folder in the air.

As quickly as she could Angela made her way around the clusters of desks to the front of the room. "I need you to take this down to the lab and give it to Mr. Greene, they're the photos we took and are approved of the pep rally for this week's article. When you're done don't worry about checking back in you're dismissed."

Nodding her head Angela took the folder and darted out the room, once in the hall she breathed a sigh of relief. By the time she delivered the prints and talked to. Mr. Greene about the upcoming edition of the newspaper Angela opened the doors to the parking lot just as the bell rang, at least she would miss all the hallway traffic.

Halfway down the steps she froze for a beat then smiled when Jake waved at her, without realizing it her eyes scanned the parking lot looking for someone else. When her search came up empty she swallowed the disappointment and made her way toward Bella's truck.

"Heard you guys were coming down to spend some time with Em this afternoon."

"Yeah I got out a little early, Bella's still inside" throwing a thumb over her shoulder Angela nodded toward her car, "Bella said she'd pick me up at the house so I can drop my car off, it's acting up on me."

"Why don't we just follow you down and I can check it out at the house, I've done all the work on this sweet ride." Jake beamed while patting the front fender of Bella's truck.

"You sure, my dad said he'd take it to Dowling's"

Jakes face twisted into a scowl, "no way, he'll just rip you off; I don't mind checking it out."

"If you're sure?"

"No problem," Jake answered as his head snapped up a smile lighting of his face, "hey Bells."

Turning Angela caught the blush that lit up Bella's face but smiled when she realized her friend was just as excited to see Jake was he was to see her.

"We're going to stop at my place first, I'm gonna take a look at Angela's car while you two are at Emily's."

Twenty five minutes later Angela was pulling up to a run down shed next to a little red house. Out on the front porch a man was slowly making his way down a small ramp toward them. As he slowly wheeled himself across the yard, he nodded at both Bella and Jake with a smile, "nice to have you back Bella."

Angela watched as Bella bent over and hugged the man in the chair, not missing when Bella's face turned red, "it's been a while Billy."

"We've missed you around here."

"Dad," Jake interrupted. "This is Bella's friend Angela." Jake's eyes grew wide and he tilted his head toward Angela for a second seemingly trying to convey something to his father. The recognition flashed quickly across Billy's face before a smile that matched Jake's took over.

"Well it's nice to finally meet you, I've heard great things."

Assuming Billy had heard about her from either Bella or Jake Angela didn't ask the question that was lingering on the tip of her tongue; instead she smiled and told him it was nice to meet him too.

Jake told his father he was going to work on Angela's car while she and Bella hung out with Emily before shuffling them both quickly into the cab of Bella's truck.

Twenty minutes later she and Bella were sitting in Emily's kitchen laughing when the hair on her arms stood on end she knew who was shuffling making their way across the porch. Her eyes swung toward the porch just as Paul opened the back door.

~U~

Paul knew the second his feet touched the backyard that Angela was in the house. He could smell her and hear the rhythm of her heartbeat before her laughter flowed out of the open kitchen window. The smell of Emily's pot roast came along with it making his stomach growl and clench at the same time. The gash at his side was nearly healed but it was deep enough that he had been leaking like a sieve and since his wonderful Alpha had ordered him right here he couldn't stop and clean himself up before making his appearance. Damn it all to hell she was going to see him half naked and bloody.

Paul stood in the doorway gritting his teeth as Angela's eyes locked on the blood that covered his left side. Keeping his hand where the wound once was he moved quickly into the house jerking the first aid kit off of the refrigerator. Just as the bathroom door slammed closed he could hear Angela's shaky voice ask if he was going to be ok.

Paul sneered at himself in the mirror before jerking the shower curtain open and turning the water on as hot as it would go. Scrubbing the blood off his side as quickly as he could Paul growled when he heard Emily ask Angela if she would sit a clean pair of shorts and a towel outside the bathroom door while she got Bella out of the house, Paul snorted at that, and the girl thought she could be a vampire. Just as he flipped the water off there was a soft knock at the door.

"Paul," her voice shook even more this time as she spoke, "Paul are you alright, do you need any help?"

Resting his head against the wall he clenched his eyes and grit his teeth. Damn that red headed vamp for fucking with them, this time he'd been so fucking close to having her.

When another soft knock echoed through the room Paul pushed himself from the wall taking a deep breath to calm his nerves. "Give me a minute Tom; it's a mess in here."

The sound of her huff made him smile, at least that would get her mind off of it for a minute.

Stepping out of the shower Paul made his way over to the door and thrust his arm out waiting for the towel and clothes. As soon as the clothes hit his hand he jerked back and slammed the door. Making quick working of drying off then wrapping his stomach with gauze Paul jerked on his pants wiped up the blood that was on the floor and balled his soiled clothes into fist and swung the door open.

~U~

Waiting for Paul to open the door was torture. Her heart was pounding so hard in her chest she was starting to get a dizzy. Unlike Bella Angela was used to the sight of blood, the younger of her twin brothers Joshua was prone to horrible nosebleeds. The thing was she couldn't help but wonder what had happened and if he was ok, did he need to go to the doctor?

As soon as the door swung open Angela bolted from the wall catching herself before she wrapped her arms around his newly bandaged waist, "what the heck happened." She asked unable to keep her fingers from ghosting over his side.

Paul shrugged but held still as she continued to inspect the gauze, "just a mishap at work."

"Do you need to go to the doctor I can-," her head shot up in a panic when she realized she couldn't go anywhere, "Jake is working on my car but we could call someone."

"Why is Jake working on your car?"

Frowning Angela wondered why he would even care, he had a hole in his side for Pete's sake. "I don't know its acting funny, come over here and sit down; you've got to be dizzy that was a lot of blood."

As she wrapped her hand around his wrist a zip of electricity shot through her arm before she realized that he wasn't moving, "Paul please just, come over here."

With a tug he let her lead him to a chair in the kitchen, "Emily had to take Bella outside I thought she was going to pass out, do you need me to get you some juice or something." Her hand went to his forehead her eyes shooting wide at the heat coming off of him. "Oh my god you're burning up!" Just as she turned to find the first aid kit he took with him Paul wrapped his arm around her waist and brought her down to his lap.

~U~

Ok Paul thought as Angela's ass came in contact with his lap, maybe it wasn't his best idea ever, he was always high strung and in need of a realize from the tension after a fight with a vamp, that's where the girls came in. He really was trying to do the right thing but the mix of her fawning all over him and then her skin on his he couldn't resist. Her eyes were bugging out of her head and her heart was going a mile a minute but for the most part she was keeping her cool, not only that but she was taking care of him. No one had taken care of him since he was eight. He liked it, he couldn't help that he wanted to hold her in an effort to calm her down. Thankfully as soon as her butt made contact with his lap she stilled and locked eyes with his, "I'm ok, not dizzy, not hurting any more I've got some Advil in me and the bleeding has slowed down, just a hazard of the job."

Paul watched as her eyes scanned his face and the slowly made their way down his chest, he knew she was looking to see if the blood was leaking through the bandage, yeah he nearly snorted out loud nothing to worry about there.

She looked skeptical as her eyes swept back up his body locking on his face again, "you're sure you're ok?"

~U~

The heat from her body, her scent and the worried poutty look on her face was really testing his nerves not only his but the wolfs too, there was only so much they both could take before things got out of hand, especially since Paul could tell she still felt the need to care for him.

Jerking his head toward the fridge Paul managed to find a way to get her off his lap, "I could use a drink."

"Oh ok."

As Angela went to stand his hand moved slower at unlatching her wrist than his mind intended and she shot him a worried frown, "are you really-"

"Fine just thirsty, and hungry."

Paul sucked in a silent breath when she was finally out of reaching distance, maybe it was a dick move getting her to make him a plate and a drink when he could damn well do it on his own, but he didn't really feel the need to test himself or his wolf anymore than he already had, he was more than thankful for the space the counter supplied.

As Angela made her way toward him plate of roast in one hand his drink in the other Sam walked in the back door and took in the scene. His eyes met with Paul's then slid over to Angela and back to Paul before a smile split his face. Paul followed the movement barked out a laugh. She was standing mouth fully agape as red as a tomato, "I- I-" she stuttered as her eyes shot from Paul to Sam to the plate in her hand, "he was hungry and Emily is helping Bella."

Sam laughed his eyes still on Angela, "Just make sure you get some of that before he eats it all." As Sam passed behind Paul on his way to the hall his hand clamped onto the back of his neck before giving it a reassuring squeeze, his wolf relaxed even further the action from his Alpha soothing beyond words.

When Angela sat the plate down in front of Paul he latched on to her wrist and jerked her into his lap again. He could feel her body tense up for the slightest beat before she relaxed against his chest. Paul looked from her too Sam and wanted to snarl a warning at the loser watching their every move like some crazy stalker. Instead he nudged Angela with his arm and nodded toward the plate, "Sam's right you should eat some."

"Oh I'm not-"

The image of his fork slipping in between her lips made his body fire to life causing his wolf to stir once more, he couldn't help that shit. He missed the taste of her if he was being completely honest, if her eating from his plate sharing his fork was the only way he'd get to taste her again so be it.

"You're not one of those chicks that doesn't eat are you?" Paul waited until she was getting ready to answer then cocked an eyebrow at her, "cause that shit is annoying." He watched as her brows pinched together and she leaned away from him, "I eat, I'm just-"

"Maybe she would be more comfortable on a chair Paul."

Paul new Sam was giving him a hard time from the chuckle that came from him as he lifted the cup of coffee to his mouth, still he didn't want her moving from his lap. He liked the closeness of her it was calming him more than he ever thought just holding someone could. "The rest of them assholes are going to be barging in here wanting food she sure as hell isn't going to sit on someone else's lap."

Paul saw the blush creep up her neck and her eyes go wide out of the corner of his eye, that's right she was his, she wasn't going anywhere.

~U~

Rather than die of embarrassment Angela leaned forward and loaded her fork with a couple of carrots, a slice of potato and a good portion of roast. As soon as the food touched her tongue she groaned causing Paul to stiffen and his fingers to dig into her side. Turning she looked at him with her mouth full of food and almost chocked. His eyes were as black as they were the night he came to her house and filled with something that made her stomach clench. Swallowing the lump of food Angela fought the urge to tunnel her hands in his hair and jerk his lips toward her own. As their eyes stayed locked his thumb slowly started to move in slow circles along her waist. With every circle she could feel the hem of her shirt rise and she froze waiting for his hand to touch her skin. The second she sighed letting her eyes close taking in the feeling of his hands on her skin again. Paul was so much trouble, this she knew but when he touched her she couldn't help but want him to go further touch her more. No matter how loud the voice in her head told her to stop it her body didn't want to listen. His index finger joined his thumb on her skin and she felt her body sink further into his, he really was all kinds of trouble.

The sound of thunder caused Angela's eyes to snap open and once again lock with his. As she took him in she realized that her hand had come up to rest on his bare chest and the sound she thought was thunder wasn't. It was him; she could feel the vibration through his chest and on her palm. The fact that it was so loud should have scared her, but it didn't it only excited her more.

Paul squeezed her waist slightly, his entire hand now on her skin and she whimpered embarrassingly, "maybe you should sit in one of the chairs." Angela wanted to frown but his other hand slid off the table and gripped his side where the bandage was and she shot up from his lap her knee smacking the table as she went, "did I hurt you, I'm so-"

"I'm fine"

A bark of laughter from across the room caused Angela to turn toward the sound a scowl on her face and not nice words in her head until she realized that Sam wasn't the only one in the room. Jake and Quil were leaning against the wall and counter watching the two smiles on their faces. The scowl dropped from her face when Quil quirked an eyebrow at her and laughed again.

~U~

Quil was in the middle of yet another joke as everyone sat around the table, when the words died on his mouth and everyone's head shot toward the door. Sam jerked up from his chair so fast that it went tumbling to the floor behind him with a loud crack. Angela watched with wide eyes as all the guys including Paul stood to their feet and watched the door. As she scanned the room she realized that she wasn't the only one who didn't know what was going on. Emily, Kim and Bella had made their way behind the backs of the guy's looks of pure terror on their faces. When she locked eyes with Claire she merely shrugged and shuffled behind Quil her hand latching onto his forearm. When Emily's hand latched onto Sam's forearm in much the same fashion his head swung down his eyes full of pain and he whispered Leah.

Jerking her head toward the door she waited to see who this Leah was but after a minute she turned back toward Sam and caught him swiping a tear from Emily's cheek. She watched as Emily nuzzled his hand and then scooted back against the counter.

A woman's voice bellowed Sam's name and the air in the room filled with tension, the noise Angela heard coming form Paul earlier was now coming from all of the guys around her and it made every hair on her body prickle with fear.

"What the fuck have you gotten my brother into you son of a bitch?" The girl bellowed from the yard.

Angela could see her through the kitchen window, standing with her hands clenched at her sides. The shirt she was wearing was ripped barely covering her midsection, her shorts were covered in dirt and she wasn't wearing any shoes. The girl was tall, from what Angela could guess she was a couple of inches taller than her own five eleven. Her jet black hair was parted down the middle and hung nearly to her navel on either side despite its ratty condition. The shrill ring of the phone caught Angela's attention but no one made a move to pick it up.

"Get out here you piece of shit and tell me what the hell is wrong with Seth and why my dad sent me over here to get you. He's sick Sam what the fuck did you do to him."

Sam was moving his arm pushing Emily further behind him as he made his way toward the door, the guys in the room slid to the side so he could get past and then slowly fell in line behind him making their way out the door. The girls moved to the window as the guys filed onto the porch, as soon as Sam stepped foot into the yard Leah came running at him from across the yard. Angela could hear Emily gasp but she couldn't take her eyes off the scene in the yard just before Leah made it to the gravel path leading up to the porch Embry shot out of the side yard in a crouch latching onto her waist when he stood her feet went off the ground as her fists pounded his back.

"Set her down," Sam's voice boomed so loud everyone jerked.

When Leah's feet hit the ground she pushed back from Embry and froze her hand midair. Everything went still until Leah shook her head and her first shot out connecting with the side of Embry's head. Inside the house there was a resounding gasp, outside Quil hooted his arms wrapping around his waist as he doubled over in laughter Paul and Sam shared a string of healthy curse words while Leah stomped her way up the gravel path.

When Leah was practically chest to chest with Sam she opened her mouth again only to be cut off by his deep voice, "you can yell at me later Lee Lee we'd better get to Seth."

Angela watched as Leah's face twisted in anger and what looked to be pain before she jabbed Sam in the chest with her long slender finger, "you better not have given him any of the drugs you have these other losers hooked on Uley, I'll fucking kill you if I find out that's what's wrong with him." With that Leah turned on her heel and marched back down the steps, stopping to look down at Embry who was still laying on the ground watching her every move. When she started walking again Embry shot to his feet said something to Sam and then followed the two of them down the gravel driveway.

The silence that followed once the guys came back into the kitchen was uncomfortable at best. Angela didn't dare say a word even though all she wanted to do was interrupt Bella and Jake's hushed conversation so she could ask Jake if her car was ready so she could get the heck out of there. The things Leah said made the wheels in her head spin and if they didn't stop soon she knew she was going to get a migraine. Thankfully Bella saved her.

"If you're ready Ange I can drive you home, Jake said that you're fuel filter is clogged so he needs to get parts to fix your car."

All too eager to leave Angela stood and shoved the chair under the table, while nodding her head. She could see Paul out of the corner of her eye watching but she couldn't look at him. Was it true? Had Sam given Leah's younger brother drugs? She'd heard the rumors around school about a gang in La Push but there was no way she thought it could be these people. When Paul wrapped his hand around her wrist she jerked and shot him a look far meaner than she had intended, she felt a flash of guilt when he shook his head sadly at her and then spoke not meeting her eyes. "I'll bring your car to you when he's done with it." She twisted her wrist just slightly and he dropped it without making eye contact.

~U~

Angela had made her mind up; as soon as Bella stopped the truck she was going to bolt. A hundred and one different scenarios played in Angela's mind on the ride back to Forks and not a one of them was good. The only thing she didn't get was if those people really were a gang who did drugs why the heck was Charlie letting Bella hang out with them? Either way, she didn't want to have any part of it and that thought while a smart one made her feel bad. The look on Paul's face as he watched them back out of Sam's drive way had her finger twitching at the door handle. She'd talked herself out of wrenching the door open and running to comfort him.

Bella's truck lurched forward pulling her from her thoughts and her hand shot to the door handle. Just before she could flee Bella's small hand gripped her forearm hard enough to cause some discomfort.

"They aren't like that." Bella said firmly as her hand squeezed Angela's arm. "If you let me come in I can explain what that was about."

Angela looked down at Bella's hand then up at her pleading eyes, she just couldn't do it, not after everything she had cooked up in her mind about the gang in La Push, "I can't Bella not tonight, I'm already almost late for curfew and I've still got some homework to do."

Angela could tell Bella wanted to push her, but thankfully she let go and shook her head sadly, "don't believe what you hear about them, I'll talk to you at school tomorrow."

Without answering her Angela opened the door and slid out of the truck.