Chapter Nine
Somethings Leave Us Paralyzed
Rachel's POV
I woke drenched in sweat, my skin sticking to the bed sheets, my hair pressed against my face.
"Just a dream." I whispered to myself.
I walked around Leah's sleeping form and headed into her bathroom for a quick shower.
Soaking in the warm water I let my dream take over my thoughts.
I had been in the car with my mom. Like all the other times I had this dream I was in the passenger seat while my sister took the back. We were going down a winding road that would eventually lead to a little restaurant called 'Josie's Café', where we were meeting my dad and little brother.
Becca and me had been singing some song on the radio when I turned to look at her, laughing at the silly song, but what I saw rendered me motionless.
Paralyzed by the headlights, I said nothing. I knew I had to say something but my mouth just wasn't moving. It was as if my brain just wasn't forming coherent thoughts.
Maybe if I had, she would still be here.
"Okay so what's first?" Leah asked me, gesturing between the movies.
"I guess we can watch 'The Notebook'." I laughed as she was prominently gesturing to that one.
"Yes!" she said doing a fist pump.
"I don't know what your fascination with that guy is anyway." I laughed.
"Oh so you know someone better looking?" she smirked.
"Do you have popcorn? I feel like popcorn." I got up heading to the kitchen.
"Rachel Black! Get back here!" she said chasing after me.
"What?" I asked.
"Who is this boy and why haven't I heard of him?" she asked me, with a somewhat knowing look in her eyes.
"What boy? I have no idea what you're talking about." I said heading to the pantry continuing my search.
"Don't play dumb with me Miss Black." She said suspiciously.
I ignored her question reaching for the popcorn, only to have her grab it before me holding it above her head.
"Oh come on Leah!" I laughed reaching desperately for the box.
"Not until you tell me who this mystery guy is." She laughed holding it higher when I almost reached it.
"Fine! But only because you're my best friend." I glared at her crossing my arms.
"His name is Paul." I mumbled sheepishly.
"Paul… as in Paul Lahote?" she asked me suddenly serious.
"I think so, why?" I asked.
"Be careful around him Rachel. If he is known for something it's his temper."
"Temper? He has been nothing but sweet. Maybe I'm wrong, were probably talking about two completely different people." I said, sure that my Paul and her Paul were in no way the same person.
"Look I'm just saying to be careful alright?" she said in finality.
"Fine, but I'm just saying he isn't like that." I said persistently.
"Stubborn as always." She laughed.
"Can I have the popcorn now?" I asked, making puppy dog eyes.
She raised an eyebrow.
"Can I please have the popcorn?" I laughed.
"Here take it. I don't eat it anymore, remember?" she smirked handing me the box.
"Even if I promise to tell you if you have it in your teeth?"
"Nope." she said walking to the living room.
"Peter Daniels I will never forgive you." I said shaking my head as I popped a packet into the microwave.
...
"Dad I'm home!" I called into the house setting my keys on the table.
"Hey Rach, how's Leah doing?" he asked Looking up from the T.V. screen.
"She is good, we watched 'The Notebook' again. " I laughed.
"How can you girls watch one movie so many times?" he asked shaking his head in distaste.
I shrugged taking a seat on the couch.
"So you up to watching the game tonight?" he asked me.
"Eh, I don't know..."
"I invited Charlie..." he said trailing off.
"And?" I asked curiously, noticing the unfinished sentence.
"Paul's coming." he smirked.
"What? You should have told me earlier! Look at what I'm wearing! What time is he getting here?" I asked hurriedly.
"He'll probably be here in twenty minuets or less is my best guess." he smirked, holding back an obvious laugh.
Glaring I hurried to get changed. Though what I was wearing wasn't all that bad, it was all wrinkly from the day before.
Grabbing some random white T-shirt and jean shorts I changed quickly and decided to just put my hair up in a bun. I sprayed a quick squirt of my favorite perfume and headed back to the living room.
"Dad, does this look okay? It's not too underdressed right?"
"...I don't know? I guess?" He said looking at me like I was crazy.
"Men. They are no help whatsoever." I laughed.
There was a knock on the door. I ran over opening it quickly.
"Hey kiddo!" Charlie smiled holding out an arm for a hug.
"Hey Charlie," I smiled, trying not to let my face fall when I saw who it was, and returned his hug.
After putting the beer Charlie brought in fridge I joined them on the couch.
"Haven't seen you in a while kiddo, how've you been?" he asked.
"I've been alright, just keeping busy." I shrugged.
"You are the spitting image of your mom." he smiled, seeming amazed.
"Thanks " I smiled looking down.
The conversation dissipated as the game came on. For me it wasn't all that interesting, but I kept up as best I could.
Twenty minuets into the game, and I started to get a little worried.
Where was Paul? Shouldn't he be here already?
I started twirling the ring on my index finger in nervous habit. What if something was wrong?
Deciding to do something productive instead of sitting there worriedly I went to clean up the kitchen. After a while there wasn't anything left to clean.
"His number is on the fridge if you want to call and check on him Rachel." dad said noticing my discomfort.
After another five minuets passed I couldn't help but take his offer.
"Hello?" Paul's voice sounded through the phone.
"Paul? It's me Rachel." It was hard not to let the relief show in my voice.
"Hey! What's going on?" he asked, yawning.
"Oh, did I wake you?" I asked sheepishly.
"No, not at all. " he said unconvincingly.
"I'm sorry, I just... I wanted to check on you. I was worried when you didn't show up." I apologized.
"Wait what time is... Aww man, Rach I'm sorry." he apologized.
"No it's fine really don't worry about it, I just wanted to make sure you were okay. I wasn't calling you to scold you or anything." I laughed.
"Still I should have-" he started, before I stopped him.
"Paul. I'm serious. Stop blaming yourself."
"Is the game over?" he asked.
"Actually it only started thirty minuets ago. I was just over reacting I guess."
"It's sweet." He said and I could here the smile in his voice.
I blushed and stayed silent, not knowing what to say. So much for getting over this crush.
"So uh, is it still okay if I come over?" he asked hesitantly.
"Of course it is Paul, don't be silly. I just don't want you to feel obligated or anything." I said seriously.
"No way, I'll be there in ten." he scoffed.
We said our goodbyes and I went back into the living room.
"Well? Were is he?" dad asked raising an eyebrow.
"He fell asleep, but he is on his way now." I blushed, embarrassed at how worried I had been.
My dad nodded then turned his attention back to the screen.
Biting my nails I let my mind wander. Was it really that bad to like him? Sure he was a couple years younger than me, but maybe we could work. That is if he even thinks of me like that.
I blushed remembering that day in freshman year when in had been so sure this guy named Kevin liked me, only to be totally humiliated when I asked him if he would like to go see a movie and he told me he didn't think of me like that at all.
I have got to stop over thinking this.
A sudden knock at the door made me jump. Fixing my hair I quickly opened the door.
Paul stood there with tired looking eyes and a sum what wrinkly white shirt.
"Hey!" I smiled, stepping aside to let him in.
"Hey Rach," he smiled and then turned to my dad and Charlie. "Mr. Black, chief." he said shaking their hands.
"What took you so long kid? You missed half the game!" Charlie asked, the idea of ever missing a game being completely ridiculous in his mind.
"I fell asleep. I worked the night shift." He said apologetically.
"Anybody hungry?" I asked to fill the sudden silence.
I laughed at their three eager faces, and headed into the kitchen to see what I could cook.
"Hey Frodo," I smiled down at the lazy pooch, whose new favorite sleeping place was right under the table.
Deciding on hot dogs I quickly got to work on cooking them and setting the table.
"Guys the food is ready!" I called.
Dad and Charlie came into the room debating in who would win and quickly grabbed their food and brought it to the living room. Paul came in soon after and sat across from me at the table.
"Not Into the game?" I asked.
"Ehh, it's alright I guess." he shrugged.
"Don't let my dad hear you say that." I laughed.
"Our secret," he winked, chuckling.
I blushed reverting my eyes to my food, smiling slightly.
"So uh what exactly do you do for Sam?" I asked looking up at him.
He suddenly looked tense and unsure. But... why?
"I uh, run patrol around the La Push area. You know making sure everything is alright." he shrugged, obviously uncomfortable with the subject.
"Like a police officer?" I asked curiously.
"You could say that I guess." he shrugged.
"Why is Sam in charge of that then?" I asked, probably being way too nosey.
"He uh volunteered." Paul said shortly.
I nodded dropping the subject.
I jumped as the door suddenly opened and Jacob stepped in.
"You almost gave me a heart attack Jake!" I scolded him.
"Sorry, didn't mean to interrupt." he glared at Paul, and grabbed a hot dog heading into the living room.
"God I don't know what his problem is lately. I'm sorry." I apologized.
"No problem, I completely understand. He's going through a rough time." he assured me.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"Well with the whole Bella situation." he explained, looking surprised I didn't know.
"Bella?" I asked even more confused, though the name sounded somewhat familiar.
"Yeah chiefs daughter. He and her boyfriend are like natural enemies. Plus he is like in love with her and she only thinks of him as a friend." he whispered, as if Jacob would actually be able to hear him talking about him.
"God," I whispered holding my head in my hands.
"What's wrong?" he asked concerned.
"I - I should have been here. But no, I had to be so- so pathetic and leave when they needed me the most. I should have visited more. God even just once might have been better than nothing!" I said angry with myself.
"Hey don't beat yourself up about it, okay? Even if you had been here there is no way you could have stopped all this from happening." He said looking me in the eyes.
I nodded though I didn't believe him. Thankfully the subject was dropped.
After we cleaned up Paul went with the guys while I took Frodo out.
"Come on boy," I called and opened the door to let him out.
How had I been so oblivious to what was happening with my brother? Of all things that can be overlooked, pushing your family aside wasn't one of them.
Suddenly there was movement to the left side of the forest. It went by so fast I could almost say the porch light had been messing with me.
Almost. Until Frodo started barking and suddenly vanished into the forest.
"Frodo!" I yelled running after him.
I heard the porch door open, but ignored it as I ran, chasing a small white blur.
"Frodo I swear if you don't get your white ass back here, you are so not sleeping in the bed!" I hollered breathlessly.
Suddenly I ran into someone almost falling back on impact.
"Rachel, what do you think your doing?" Jake asked me angrily.
"F-rodo ran away," I explained, wheezing in the middle of each word.
"Paul take her back to the house. I'll go get the dog." He said rolling his eyes.
I turned to find Paul standing there looking as mad as Jacob had.
"What?" I asked, still wheezing.
"You shouldn't run into the forest like that Rachel. Especially at night." He said scolding me lightly.
"Frodo- he, he was chasing something." I said, puffing every so often.
"What's the matter?" he asked, referring to the way I was breathing.
"Sorry, I have asthma. I get like this when I run sometimes." I said shrugging it off.
He suddenly looked alarmed and he seemed to be pulling me through the dense forest a little more urgently than before.
"Its nothing to worry about, really. It'll pass in a minuet." I smiled, rolling my eyes.
Soon we reached my house and drank some water, making a mental note to ask the doctor for an asthma medication refill.
Not five minuets after we sat down on the couch, Jacob came in holding Frodo.
"How did you catch him so fast?" I asked in disbelief.
"Please the dog ran right to me. Maybe you're the one who made him run off in the first place?" he laughed setting Frodo down.
"Please. The dog loves me." I smiled rolling my eyes.
As if to prove my point Frodo jumped into my lap snuggling into my arms. I raised a challenging eyebrow at my brother and hugged the furry mutt.
"Obviously!" he laughed.
I smirked, smug.
My smirk fell as I felt a wet spot on my lap.
"Frodo! I am not your property!"
…
Hey guys! I know its been forever but I've been helping my sister a lot what with her being almost nine months pregnant : P I'm super sorry for the long wait! Another problem was my major writers block:/