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CHAPTER 10

After school Lierah went to her car and waited for Paul to show up. She wondered if he was actually going to show up. She had already been waiting five minutes for him. She didn't know why he wanted to spend time with her anyway, why he seemed to have done a complete turn around all of a sudden. Lierah let out a sigh, deciding he wasn't going to meet her after all, that he had been playing some game with her. She had been waiting ten minutes for him already. She turned to open her car door and get in the car to go home, when she heard Paul's voice behind her.

"Were you leaving without me?" he asked and Lierah turned around and looked at him.

"I thought you changed your mind, backed out or something," she told him and he looked down at her.

"No Lierah," he said. "Although I wouldn't have blamed you if you left without me." he added.

"Where are we going?" she asked quietly.

"Somewhere quiet," he said. "Is your uncle home?" he asked.

"Yeah, he had the day off," she answered quietly.

"We can go to my house or the beach," he suggested. "Although someone is more likely to interrupt us at the beach."

"Where do you live Paul?" she asked curiously.

"About a mile from you," he told her and she nodded.

"Alright," she sighed. "Where do you want to go?"

"My house," he suggested.

"Alright your house it is I guess," she sighed. "Get in and tell me how to get there," she added and Paul smiled, a real genuine smile instead of his usual smirk and Lierah couldn't help but think what a nice smile he had and how it made him even more attractive. Paul walked around her car and slid into the passenger seat as Lierah got behind the wheel.

"You ready?" she asked.

"Yep," Paul said. "Let's go." he added and Lierah started the car and drove away from the school.

Neither one of them said anything as Lierah drove towards Paul's house. He spoke up occasionally to tell her which way to go and a few minutes later Lierah pulled into Paul's driveway. Lierah looked at his house. It was a small one story house, A little smaller than most La Push houses but definitely not the smallest. It was painted blue with white trim. It wasn't falling apart, it actually looked like it was taken care of, very nice.

Paul looked over at Lierah wondering what she was thinking of his house. He knew it wasn't much, not even by La Push standards. But Lierah hadn't said anything about his house she was just looking at it.

"I know its not much," Paul sighed and Lierah looked over at him.

"There's nothing wrong with it Paul," Lierah said softly and Paul nodded.

"Come on then," he said and got out of the car. He walked to the front of the car and waited for Lierah to get out. Lierah let out a sigh and got out of her car and the two of them walked into his house together.

When Lierah walked in his house she looked around shocked. It was beautiful on the inside. All the floors were hardwood and he had brown leather couch and chair in his living room. He had shelves that he most likely installed himself in the corners of the room with various photos on them. Lierah walked over and saw they were all of his friends from school and Sam and Emily.

"Wow," she whispered. "Its so nice," she added to herself and Paul smiled.

"You can sit down if you want," he told her and Lierah walked over and sat down on the couch and ran her hands over the smooth surface of his coffee table.

"So you like it?" he asked.

"Yes Paul and I've only seen one room." she told him and he smiled.

"Do you want to see the rest?" he asked.

"Really?" she asked hopefully.

"Yeah come on," he told her and stood up and led her into the next room which was the kitchen.

"The kitchen." he said and Lierah looked around the kitchen. He had wooden counter tops and an island in the middle of the kitchen.

"Wooden counter tops," she said and walked over and ran her hands over them. "And an island."

"So you like it?" he asked.

"Yes Paul," she told him

"Come on then," he said and led her down the hallway. "Extra bedroom," he told her and she peeked in and saw a simple full bed and chest of drawers. He then opened another door. "Bathroom," he said and it looked like most bathrooms. "Well the only room left is my bedroom and the laundry room but there's no reason for you to see the laundry room but you can see my bedroom if you want."

"Ok," she said softly. "I mean its not like I'm the only girl to ever see the inside of your bedroom." she added and Paul stared down at her.

"Lierah," he said softly. "I don't bring girls back to my house," he told her. "No girl has ever seen the inside of my bedroom." he told her. "Or been in my house."

"Not even Rori?" Lierah asked shocked.

"Not even Rori," he told her.

"That's…..strange,"

"Maybe but my bed is only for me and the woman I eventually marry." he told her.

"Oh so you do actually want to settle down and get married, I never would have thought that," she said and he smiled.

"Yes Lierah, I want to get married one day, don't you?" he asked.

"Of course I do but I don't know what guy will want to marry me," she sighed and looked away.

"Well no one," he said and Lierah looked over at him and shook her head. "Not with that attitude." he added.

"Paul, I don't look like Rori or any of those beautiful girls you like and most guys like and I'm never going to." she told him.

"It doesn't matter Lierah," he told her and opened his bedroom door.

"Since when?" she asked.

"Since it never should have," he told her and Lierah peeked in his room. He had a huge sleigh bed in the center of the room. He had a small chest of drawers on one side and desk on the other. The most surprising thing was that there weren't any clothes thrown anywhere around his room, it was really neat and clean.

"I've always wanted a sleigh bed," she told him and he smiled and shut the door back.

"Come on," he said and led her back to his living room and they sat on the couch.

"You have a really nice house Paul," Lierah said quietly.

"Thanks."

"It seems like you put a lot of work into it."

"I have," he told her. "I'm actually not to bad around the house, Sam helped with the counter tops in the kitchen but I did a lot of it myself, laying the floors and stuff."

"That's impressive," Lierah said and he smiled.

"You think so?" he asked and she nodded.

"Yeah I mean your house looks great." she said again and he smiled.

"I'm glad you think so," he said quietly.

"So," Lierah said and looked around nervously. "Did you have something in mind when you invited me here?"

"No I was just wanting to be alone with you and I knew no one would think to look for us here," he said. "Because I never bring people here."

"Why?"

"My home is the one place I don't have to pretend," he told her.

"Oh," she said softly.

"Lierah, I'm not going to promise that I'm going to stop being a jerk," he told her. "Because I can't promise that," he sighed. "I am a jerk and don't think anyone would argue that I'm not a jerk." he told her. "I'm not a nice person, I'm trying to be a little nicer," he told her. "But I can't promise I won't be mean or hurt you but I won't do it intentionally." he said.

"Its ok Paul," she told him. "I'm still working on trying to forgive you for everything." she told him. "Its not easy."

"I get it Lierah, I've been horrible to you and I don't deserve it," he sighed. "I just hope you can one day." he told her and she smiled.

"We'll see," she sighed and Paul nodded.

"So um…you have a favorite color?"

"Purple," she answered.

"A favorite flower?"

"Orchids."

"Orchids are nice," Paul sighed.

"I think so," Lierah said. "Embry drew one on my cast."

"Oh," Paul said. "Yeah he's actually really good at drawing." Paul told her.

"Well I haven't seen anything but the orchid on my cast but just from seeing that I can tell he's really good at drawing."

"So you have anything you're really good at?" Paul asked curiously.

"No," she told him. "I'm untalented Paul just like you said."

"Lierah I…"

"Didn't mean it," she finished for him. "I think you did mean it Paul," she added. "Just like you meant all the other stuff you've said to me for the past two years." she sighed and stood up. "I don't even know why I'm here Paul," she said.

"Lierah I…." Paul began.

"I need to go," she told him and walked towards the door.

"Lierah don't go," he pleaded.

"Give me a reason to stay." she told him. "Or just tell me why you're so interested in me all of a sudden, why you want to be friends or whatever with me suddenly?" she asked.

"I can't explain that right now Lierah," he said quietly. "And the only reason I can give you to stay is I really want you to."

"I need to get home Paul," she told him.

"Lierah," he said and she shook her head.

"Bye Paul," she told him and opened the door and walked out. Paul covered his face with his hands. Things were never going to work with Lierah, he had really messed up by teasing her and making fun of her for the past two years and now he was going to pay for it. Unless he could find someway to make things right, which he had no idea what could make things right for how he acted. But he couldn't stop trying until he did. He had to keep trying so Lierah would know he meant he wanted to make things right with her and he wasn't just playing some game with her.

Lierah walked away from Paul's house and slid behind the wheel of her car. She sat there a few seconds before starting the car and driving away, ignoring whatever it was that was urging her to go back. When Lierah got home her uncle was in the living room watching TV.

"Hey," he said.

"Hey Uncle Jeff," she sighed.

"Where have you been?" he asked.

"With Paul," she answered.

"I thought you didn't like him," he stated.

"I don't but for some reason he's decided to like me," she sighed. "And I have no idea why?"

"What do you mean by that?" he asked.

"Well because its just not the Paul I've known the past two years."

"He's not nice." Jeff stated.

"Of course not, he's a jerk, I just wish he'd tell me what he's up to," she sighed. "I'm going to go put my stuff up." she told him and went to her room. Lierah threw her bag down in her room and laid down on the bed, replaying the afternoon with Paul in her head. He was nice to her, he took her to his house and claimed no girl had ever been to his house or in his bed, he apparently always went to their house. It just didn't make sense to her that Paul would just all of a sudden be nice to her without some hidden agenda or it just being another way to embarrass her or hurt her because Paul Lahote didn't do nice. Lierah covered her face with her hands and let out a frustrated sigh. Lierah sat up in the bed and ran her fingers through her hair as her phone rang. She picked it up and saw it was Jacob calling her.

"Hello."

"Lierah," Jacob said. "You still with Paul?"

"No, I'm at home," she told him.

"Are you busy?" he asked.

"No Jake," she sighed.

"You want to meet me?" he asked.

"Sure," she agreed.

"Just meet me at the beach," he said. "Is that ok?"

"Its fine, I'll see you in a few minutes," Lierah said.

"See you soon," he said and Lierah ended the call and got off the bed. She went to the bathroom and brushed her hair and washed her face and then headed to the beach.

When she got to the beach she saw Jacob was already there sitting on the sand looking at the water. When she walked up Jacob turned to look at her.

"Hey," he said and Lierah sat down by him.

"What's going on?"

"Nothing," he sighed. "So how did it go with Paul this afternoon?" he asked curiously.

"Ok I guess," she sighed. "I left."

"Oh," he said. "Where did you two go?"

"His house."

"Paul took you to his house," Jacob said shocked.

"You sound surprised."

"I am because Paul is really weird about who he lets in his house and he never takes any girls back there."

"Really," she said.

"Yeah."

"He told me that but I didn't really believe him." Lierah admitted.

"So why did you leave?"

"Because he won't tell me why he's so interested in me all of a sudden. I asked and all he said was he couldn't tell me right now but that he means it when he says he wants to make things up to me."

"He does mean that Lierah," Jacob told her. "I've known Paul a long time and he's always a jerk but he does want to make things up to you and make things ok between you two." Jacob told her.

"Oh, he does?" Lierah asked.

"Yeah he does," Jacob sighed. "Any chance of that happening?"

"I don't know Jake," she admitted. "Its kind of difficult to just forgive him for everything."

"I know it has to be Lierah," Jacob said. "But is there even a chance he can make it up to you?"

"I really don't know Jake," she admitted. "Everyone says he wants to make things right but I can't help but think he's playing some game with me to embarrass me."

"He's not Lierah," Jacob sighed. "I know you don't trust Paul but you do trust me right?"

"Yeah I do," she said.

"Then believe me when I say Paul is trying to make it up to you," Jacob sighed. "He may not deserve for you to forgive him but that's up to you."

"Jake I just…"

"You know what lets not talk about Paul right now." he said. "Are you driving to school tomorrow?" he asked. "I thought I might ride with you or something."

"I thought I might walk tomorrow, its really not that far and now that my foot's healed, it might do me good to walk more."

"Oh," he said. "So would it be ok if I walked with you tomorrow?"

"Yeah I guess so," she said and Jacob smiled

"Ok, I'll meet you at your house in the morning," he said softly.

"Ok Jake," Lierah said. "Are you ok?" she asked concerned.

"I'm fine," he sighed and ran his fingers through his hair.

"You sure," she asked and he let out a sigh and nodded. "You would tell me if something was wrong right?"

"Its ok Lierah, I'm fine," he told her and glanced over at her. "Do you like Paul?"

"Jake I…." she began but he shook his head and looked away from her and down at the ground.

"I shouldn't have asked that its just I…."

"Jake please don't," she whispered as her eyes filled with tears. "You're like the only real friend I have," she told him. "Don't complicate things."

"You could have other friends if you would spend time with other people. Kim and Emily would be your friends. Embry, Quil and Jared would to." he told her. "Even Sam." he added. "You could have plenty of friends if you would try."

"Jake I…." she said and shook her head. "I'm going home," she told him and stood up but he grabbed her hand.

"Don't," he said.

"What do you want?" she asked quietly.

"Nothing," he whispered and Lierah sat down by him.

"Jake, talk to me, what the hell is going on?" she asked.

"Its nothing to worry about Lierah, I promise." he assured her.

"Ok," she sighed and looked towards the water. "I know its something but you don't have to tell me," she sighed and laid her hand on his back. "Why did you call me and ask me to meet you?"

"I just wanted to see you and find out what happened with Paul," he told her.

"Oh," she said. "Nothing really happened with Paul. You know why he all of a sudden wants to be friends with me, why's he's suddenly taken an interest in me don't you?"

"Yeah I do Lierah and its not my place to tell you, its Paul's." he told her.

"Ok," she sighed. "I just wish he'd tell me. It might make it a little easier to trust him."

"I know it would but Paul has to be the one to talk to you because it won't be right coming from me or anyone else."

"I should get home Jake," Lierah said. "I'll see you in the morning."

"Ok," he said.

When Lierah left the beach Jacob stood up and made his way to Paul's house to talk to him about Lierah. He knew he shouldn't interfere but Paul probably needed the help. When Jacob got to Paul's house he knocked on the door. Paul opened it and crossed his arms over his chest when he saw Jacob.

"What do you want Jake?" he asked angrily.

"I want to talk to you about Lierah," Jacob said.

"We don't have anything to discuss concerning Lierah." he told him.

"Paul have you considered you may have to go ahead and tell Lierah the truth about everything." Jacob said and Paul uncrossed his arms and let out a sigh. He moved aside to let Jacob come in and closed the door behind him.

"I can't Jake because she'll think the imprint is the only reason I like her."

"Isn't it?" Jacob asked.

"No Jake it isn't," Paul told him. "And if I tell her the truth now she's just going to run away from me."

"Maybe so. But it may also be the only chance you have of getting her to trust you."

"I don't know Jake," Paul sighed. "You know Lierah better than I do, what do you think?"

"She just wants to know why you're suddenly paying attention to her and she just wants to know this isn't some game your playing with her."

"I don't know what else to do Jake. I'm trying, I really am. I can't make her like me but I'm not going to give up either. I have to keep trying so she knows I'm serious." he told him.

"I guess so Paul," Jacob said. "Just try to be nice, don't loose your temper."

"I'm trying Jake, its not easy." Paul said. "Not when she really doesn't want anything to do with me."

"All you can do is keep trying Paul," Jacob told him. "I may not like that you imprinted on her but I'm not going to make things harder for you."

"Thanks Jake," Paul said. "I know Lierah seems to like you and trust you and actually listen to you." he said.

"We're friends Paul," Jacob told him. "That's all we can be."

"You didn't like her did you as more than a friend?"

"No Paul," Jacob sighed. "And she doesn't think of me like that anyway." he added. "Just be careful ok."

"I will Jake," Paul said.

"I should get home," Jacob told him.

"Alright, see you tomorrow Jake," Paul said and Jacob left. When he was gone Paul went and sat on the couch and tried to think of something to start making it up to Lierah to put him on the road to becoming her friend and then maybe more than friends but he knew he'd be lucky to make it to friends with her.