Stephanie owns it, I just like to play with the characters. Thanks for all the reviews.

BELLA POV

"You know why I'm doing this right Bella?" He said hovering over me.

"Please. Stop."

"Uh-Uh Bella. Now answer me. I asked if you new why I was doing this."

"No. I thought you loved me."

"Love you. Psh. I'll ask another question to give you a little hint. Who do you miss most in life."

"Why are you doing this to me?"

"Now if I told you then the game we're playing won't be any fun."

"Now I'll give you a little hint." He said leaning over and licking one of the cuts he made on my stomach.

"Ah …so good. Don't worry Bella. I'm not going to kill you. That would be to easy."

"Please."

"You miss home don't you Bella? You miss the dogs?" He whispered in my ears.

"How would daddy feel knowing his little girl was with one of us?" He said dragging the blade again down my stomach.

"See they took something away from me. Something I'll never get back."

"I don't know what your talking about. Please."

"Shut the fuck up." He said backhanding me again. But not hard enough to knock me out.

"Daddy's an elder of the tribe now, isn't he?"

"Ye..yes" I said shaking and sobbing.

"And daddy loves his little girl doesn't he?"

"Y….yes….please, it hurts."

"See daddy made some choices a few months ago…. And imagine my surprise when his beloved daughter was here in Arizona, right under my nose." He said licking up the side of my face.

"I wont kill you though… I want him to know who did this." He said slapping me one more time. Then the darkness came.

My eyes opened and I shot up. Panting, and trying to catch my breath. Climbing out of bed , I walked to the bathroom opened the cabinet and grabbed a few Motrin and a glass of water. My head was pounding.

Last night was an emotional night for dad and me. I'm glad I was able to make it through that much without shutting down. 'Progress" I said to myself. Walking into my bedroom and glancing at the clock it was a little after 10. Dad was at the station today, and Paul would be coming in a couple hours so I figured I'd get some laundry done.

By the time most of the laundry was caught up, and I'm kind of thinking that a lot of the boys' clothes were in there too because of the massive amount of cut offs, I glanced at the clock. 11:50. Paul will be here in about 10 minutes. I walked into the kitchen, grabbed the cookies, and the chips. Getting my serving bowl from under one of the other cabinets by the stove I began pouring some of the chips in the bowl.

"Bella, I'm here" I heard coming from the front door.

"I'm in the kitchen Paul."

"What are you up too." He said to me.

"Getting a few snacks together."

"Need any help with anything?" I asked.

"You can grab a few sodas from the fridge." I told him.

I heard the fridge open and then a few seconds later, I heard the sounds of cans being set on the counter.

"Anything else." He said.

I finished what I was doing with the chips and turned around and couldn't help but grin. Paul. Wearing. Shirt.

"What?"

"You own shirts?" I said. And he started laughing. Laughing. It sounded really nice coming from him.

"Sure do, its just easier without them. When we phase its one less thing we have to worry about." When he said that I instantly got an idea.

"Will you let me see that?"

"See what?" He said confusion in his voice.

"You in your wolf form. I'd like to see it sometimes."

"You want to see that?" I guess no one's ever asked him that before.

"Yeah , I mean, you don't have to show me if you don't want to, I just find it kind of fascinating."

"No, I'll show you, just not today. I'll show you another time." He said with a smile on his face.

"I'll hold you to that Mr. Meraz." I said smirking.

"Well I think we have everything for the movie. Why don't we go in the living room and get it started." I told him.

"Alright lets go." He said grabbing the sodas and the containers of dip.

I grabbed the chips and cookies and headed into the living room. Him following behind. I Put the food on the table and sat down at the end of the couch. He moved to the DVD player and pressed start, than sat at the other end.

It was quiet for a few minutes. I don't know what movie was in, I hadn't been watching it.

"Bella, how about we play a game." Ugh thank god.

"What game?" I asked

"How about 20 questions?" He said. I just looked at him for a few seconds. Can I trust him enough not to ask to many questions that brought out to many memories. Yeah…for some reason I can. I do. But 20 is too many.

"How about 10 questions." I said.

"Sounds good to me. I'll go first. What's your favorite color?" he said ,

"Out of all the questions you could ask, you ask what my favorite color is?" I couldn't help smiling at this. But I was internally thanking him for making it light.

"I figured it was an easy one… kind of an ice breaker question."

"O.K …hmm, green….You?"

"Blue….What's your favorite pizza topping." He asked. ….Oh that's an easy one.

"Extra cheese and mushrooms…and you?"

"Supreme."

These questions were all nice an everything, but I kind of just wanted to talk.

"Paul?"

"Yeah Bella?" .

"Will you tell me a little more about you? I know were playing this game and all, but this is all trivial stuff. I'd like to know a little more about my new friend." He looked at me for a minute than looked down at his hands.

"What about? What would you like to know?" He said. Funny thing was his expression mirrored mine most of the time. That internal battle expression.

"Anything, everything."

"Bella I didn't exactly have a normal upbringing…" He started, but I had to cut him off.

" It's alright Paul. I'm good at listening. I can tell you didn't have it easy. I can see it in your eyes. For some reason I can feel the pain your harboring. I'll even tell you what you told me. You can talk to me Paul. I wont judge you."

He sat there for a few more minutes, have what I assumed was an internal debate and then he began talking.

He told me about his mother. His father. His prick of a step father. His friendship with Jared. I saw the sadness. I saw the anger. I saw him.

When he looked at me in the middle of his story, I had already been crying. I wanted him to get through this though. He reached over and wiped a traitor tear away, I smiled at him, and he began telling me more.

By the end of the story I was a wreck but Paul was worst. He looked up at me again , and I didn't think about what I did next. I threw my arms around him. And held to him as tight as I could. When I felt his arms wrap around me I knew. I knew he was going to be ok.

"Its okay Paul." I whispered in his ear.

"Yeah…. It is." Smiling back at me.

I unwrapped my arms from around his neck, and sat there for a few minutes, letting everything soak in. I don't know what it is about this man. I ache when he aches. I feel his pain. When he was telling his story. The anger and sadness that he felt, I felt.

"Bella, its almost 4, the guys will be here soon. Do you want to make dinner together" He said standing up, and effectively pulling out of my stoop.

One problem though. I was in no mood to cook right now. Think Bella. Think.

Ah-ha

"How about we just order pizza tonight." I said.

"Sounds good to me." He said, walking towards the phone.

I grabbed his arm to stop him. I wanted to tell him before I forgot.

"Paul?"

"Yeah Bella?" He said, and I started rubbing his arm.

"Confront the dark parts of yourself, and work to banish them with illumination and forgiveness. Your willingness to wrestle with your demons will cause your angels to sing. Use the pain as fuel, as a reminder of your strength."

Ah there's that smile.

"Where'd you hear that one?" He asked

"August Wilson." I said. And then he started chuckling again.

"Ah Bella, Bella, Bella….I think we can help each other, more than we know."

I dropped my hand , turned and started towards the kitchen.

"I think your right." I whispered to myself. If only he knew.

While Paul was ordering the pizza, I started putting away all the things that I had pulled out for dinner. The guys all started showing up about an hour later. When the pizza showed up they were all jumping up and down sporting cheesy smiles. After a round of arguing from Paul and I, we decided to go in halves for the pies. During dinner I got the chance to look around and everyone was in there own little worlds. Talking, playing games, or just 'hanging out'.

2 hours and 15 pizza's later everyone was saying there goodnights. Paul was the last to leave, but that sad part was I didn't want him to. Walking up to him and giving him a quick hug I whispered in his ear.

"Do you want to go out to the cliffs tomorrow?" I don't know where all this bravery was coming from, but I knew I could trust him.

"Sure how about I come get you at around 3." He said.

"Sounds good. I'll make something for us for dinner, and we can just eat it up there."

"K. I'll see you tomorrow Bella."

"See you."

And he turned and walked out the door.

Shutting the door behind him, I leaned against it and closed my eyes.

"Everything o.k Bells?"

"Yeah dad, Everything's o.k." I said with a smile on my face, heading for the stairs.

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