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CHAPTER 10

Jared led Lissi a few steps away from the house and towards the woods.

"Paul said I should stay out of the woods," she told him and Jared smiled.

"We're not going into the woods, just far enough away where people can't hear what we're talking about." he told her and he stopped a few steps later and sat down against a
tree. Lissi sat beside him.

"What did Paul tell you?"

"His parents were killed in an accident that someone fell asleep at the wheel and hit them. He said his mom died instantly and his dad died on the way to the hospital," she told him. "Paul told me his little sister was just a baby but she survived the accident but was taken away they wouldn't let any of you have her and he has no idea where she is now."

"That's pretty much the truth leaving out how all this affected him," Jared told her. "He moved in with my family until recently, it wasn't like my parents were kicking him out or anything he could have stayed as long as he needed to but he…."

"Didn't want to burden your parents any longer."

"Yeah," Jared nodded. "You know Paul has a bad temper and anger issues, it was worse after he lost his parents and then they just took his sister away to." he said. "My parents tried everything to keep her but it wasn't enough," Jared said softly. "Paul just lashed out at everyone, got into a lot of fights, he still does that," Jared said and she nodded. "He
just used anger to express how hurt he felt, he lost his mom, dad and sister in like two days and he was just a kid," Jared told her. "Under all that anger and the bad temper he
was just a little boy who was brokenhearted over losing his family."

"That's horrible." Lissi whispered.

"He would cry at night, I used to hear him in his room when he thought we were sleeping. I never told Paul because I knew it would embarrass him." Jared said quietly and he
looked over and saw a tear run down Lissi's cheek.

"Don't do that," Jared said wiping her tear away. "I don't need Paul or Jake threatening to kick my ass because I made you cry." he said and Lissi smiled. "His temper only got worse as he got older of course and as he got older he used other things as an outlet for his anger besides fighting."

"Oh you mean like sleeping with lots of girls," she said and he nodded.

"He never really cared about any of them and they all knew that," Jared told her. "No girl has ever managed to make Paul care about them even a tiny bit," he added. "Until you
came along."

"What?" she asked. "Paul doesn't…I mean he can't….He doesn't…."

"Yes he does Lissi, he does care about what happens to you," Jared told her. "Do you think he would have punched Colton if he didn't care about you?"

"Yeah," Lissi said smiling.

"Well you're right about that he's always looking for an excuse to hit Colton," Jared smiled. "Do you think he would take you on non dates and invite you to his house and just want to get to get to know you better if he didn't care about you." Jared told her. "Paul's a good guy and he's got a lot to offer, even if he doesn't think he does."

"I know that Jared, yesterday he kept making excuses for his house like there was something wrong with it," she told him. "It looked fine to me, it was nice and clean and I didn't
see anything wrong with it." she said and Jared smiled.

"You know Paul's not as angry since he's met you," Jared told her. "You're good for him." Lissi smiled.

"You think so?" she asked as she tucked her hair behind her ear.

"Yes Lissi I do," he smiled. "And I also think Paul is good for you."

"You think so?" she asked.

"Yes Lissi I think so," he told her. "Want to head back?" he asked and she nodded and the two of them stood up and started walking back.

"How are things going at home with you and Jake?" Jared asked.

"We're getting along, I like Jake," she told him. "We're getting to know each other as a brother and sister, I don't know if we'll ever be that close though."

"Why do you say that?" Jared asked curiously.

"Did I mention I met Bella yesterday?"

"Oh," Jared said nodding his head. "You don't like her either then," he stated.

"So far I don't, and from what I can tell no one else likes her either," she sighed.

"Not even Kim and Emily." he told her. "We're nice for Jake." he added and she smiled. "What did she do?"

"Well we were talking and I went and got the three of us something to drink and when I came back and gave them their drinks and Bella started talking about how nice it was that Jake and I were getting along now and I mentioned it was a lot easier getting along with Jake than it was to fight and argue with him all the time." she sighed. "Then she started talking about how he told her how awful I was to him and how he was nice to me even though I didn't deserve it," she began. "And before you say anything I know that's true I
was awful to him and mean for no reason." she told him. "She said Jake told her he hates me." she whispered.

"He does not hate you," Jared told her.

"He says he doesn't." she sighed. "But I don't know if he would tell me if he did."

"Lissi, don't listen to Bella ok," Jared told her. "She probably saw how close you two were getting and got a little jealous." he added and Lissi nodded.

"You think so?" she asked softly.

"I kind of do," he told her. "And she won't like how close you two are getting."

"Well she's going to have to get over it," Lissi told him. "Did I mention she's coming back over next weekend?"

"I don't think so."

"Jake told me today, so I have to hang out with her again," she shook her head.

"You don't have to," Jared pointed out.

"Jake asked me to and when I told him I was afraid I'd make him mad if I hung around Bella to much he said he understood but he looked so sad Jared so I said I'd give it another shot."

"You're a lot nicer than you want people to think you are," he said and she let out a sigh.

"Maybe," she smiled as they finally got back to Sam's. "Thanks Jared," she told him and he smiled.

"No problem," he said and they walked inside. Kim was helping Emily clean up the kitchen and Jacob was watching football with Sam and Embry.

"There you are," Jacob said when she walked in with Jared. "I was waiting for you to get back so you wouldn't have to walk home by yourself."

"Sorry if I kept you waiting," she said quietly.

"Its fine," he said. "You ready to head home?"

"Sure," she said and Jacob stood up and walked over to her and after telling everyone good bye they left for the walk home.

"So, I have to admit when Kim said you left with Jared it kind of surprised me." Jacob told her as they began their walk home.

"Why?"

"Because Kim doesn't like any girls around him and I was curious as to what you two would have to talk about that would make you leave the house." he said and Lissi nodded. "Then I realized Jared has known Paul the longest and knows him better than any of us and that you probably wanted to talk about Paul."

"That's right." she whispered.

"Did you get the answers you were looking for?"

"Yeah and a whole lot more," she told him. "More than I asked for." she added quietly.

"Lissi." Jacob said.

"So Paul told me last night he wasn't going to ask me out again," she told Jacob and he stopped walking and looked over at her shocked.

"What?"

"He said that if I wanted to go out with him I'd have to be the one to say something, I'd have to let him know I wanted to go out with him on a real date."

"Unbelievable," Jake said shocked.

"I know and I didn't believe it either but he said he hadn't even dated or been with a girl since he met me."

"He hasn't," Jacob told her and she nodded.

"I just think he's going to get tired of waiting for me," she told him.

"I don't think he will Lissi." Jacob assured. "Paul does like you, you're not just another girl to him."

"You believe that?" she asked.

"I know it," he told her and she smiled. "And you like him," Jacob smiled. "You can tell me."

"Jake," she said embarrassed. "We're going to talk about boys?" she asked.

"No we're talking about Paul but we don't have to," he told her and she nodded and they fell silent. "So um…thanks for agreeing to hang out with Bella again," he said. "To give
it another shot."

"I guess everyone deserves a second chance," she said quietly.

"Lissi."

"But I can't promise we'll ever get along or that I'll even like her Jake."

"I know," he whispered. "But thanks for trying again."

"No problem." she said giving him a small smile.

The next morning Paul met Lissi by her locker before classes.

"Hey," she smiled.

"Morning Red?" he said. "I'm going to walk you to class." he told her and pushed himself off his locker and walked off.

"Alright," she said and she quickly got her books out of her locker and closed it and fell in step beside Paul to her first class.

"I know you talked to Jared yesterday after I left," he said and Lissi stopped walking and looked over at him

"You didn't get mad at Jared did you?" she asked.

"Well I was a little mad he would talk about me, but we didn't fight or anything if that's what you're asking."

"Good," she said. "And now you're upset."

"Just a little bit," he admitted. "Maybe a little more hurt than upset."

"Why?"

"Why didn't you just ask me what you wanted to know?" he asked her.

"I guess because I know that Jared knows you well, that you two are really close and I knew he might tell me things you would hold back."

"Lissi, you'll ask me from now on," he said. "If you want to know something."

"If you promise to answer honestly or not at all," she said quietly.

"I promise," he said.

"Ok because I would rather you tell me you don't want me to know something than to lie to me."

"I never want to lie to you Lissi but I do have a secret, a big secret I'm keeping and when the time is right I'll tell you."

"Ok," she said and let out a shaky sigh and continued walking to her class. Paul caught up and fell in step beside her. "And I thought you might be a little upset about me asking Jared about you anyway and I shouldn't have done it." she said softly. "I thought maybe some part of you would be happy I'm trying to get to know you better," she whispered. "Isn't that what you want?" she asked and Paul stopped walking and gently grabbed her arm to stop her. Lissi turned to look at him and Paul brushed a stray hair away from her face.

"Yes Lissi that's what I want," he whispered. "you know that."

"Well who knows you better than your friends Paul." she said.

"That's true," he sighed. "Jared didn't say what you talked about exactly but it was my parents and Zuri wasn't it?" he asked sadly.

"Yes Paul."

"You could have asked me."

"I didn't want to hurt you anymore. I saw the look on your face, heard the sadness in your voice and saw in your eyes how hurt you still are over losing your family Paul," she told him. "I didn't want to be the reason you relive all that again." she said softly.

"Lissi, its not like I don't think about it all the time," he said softly. "I was about to turn eleven when it happened, Zuri had just turned one, our birthdays are a few days apart." he told her and she smiled. "And I'd rather not get into this at school. I'll take you home after school, we can talk, maybe you can help me with English and I can help you with your math like we talked about."

"Ok," she agreed.

"So we'll go to my house after school then, is that ok?"

"Its fine, I'll let Jake know I'll be home later." she told him and he smiled and they continued walking to Lissi's class.

After school Lissi went with Paul to his house. The two of them sat down on the couch together and Paul took a deep breath and looked over at her. Then he looked towards the window and Lissi heard him let out another sigh.

"Paul," she said softly and touched his arm. He turned to look at her. "We don't have to do this, you don't have to talk about it Paul, I know it has to still hurt and be painful to think or talk about."

"It always hurts," he whispered. "My whole family was taken from me." he told her. "I was lucky to have Jared and his parents and I know that," he told him. "I don't want anyone to think I'm not grateful that they took me in and put up with all the trouble I caused them because I am," he said. "Its why I got out on my own as soon as I could, they didn't need to have to support me longer than necessary."

"But you know they would have, Jared said they weren't kicking you out." she said quietly.

"I know that," he said. "This was just something I needed to do."

"Ok," she said. "And at least you knew your parents loved you," she told him.

"Yeah I know," he smiled. "I loved my parents to and Zuri, even though I wasn't to crazy about her in the beginning," he admitted. "I wanted a brother, a little sister would be no fun," he sighed. "That was until she smiled at me the first time, gave me my first slobbery baby kiss," he said and Lissi smiled. "Or held my finger and fell asleep on me while I was holding her."

"Paul, there is a chance you could find her one day,." Lissi told him and scooted closer to him and laid her hand on his arm. "If you wanted to."

"I know, but why would she want a brother who abandoned her," he said sadly.

"You didn't abandon her Paul. She was taken from you and you were just a kid there was nothing you could have done."

"I realize that," he sighed and Lissi moved even closer to him. "But she's the only family I have left now and even the thought that she might hate me, I don't know if I could handle
it. It's the one thing that keeps me from looking for her."

"Paul," she said softly.

"I don't know if I could take it if I found her and she hated me or wanted nothing to do with me," he said sadly.

"Paul," she said softly. "If you want to find her you should try, eventually," she told him and laid her head against his chest, Paul smiled and wrapped an arm around her holding her to him. "Do you want to look for her one day?"

"Yes I do, I don't know if I'm ready now though."

"Well when you are I'll help you and I bet Sam and Emily and Jared's parents would help you to Paul," she told him.

"I know they would," he said.

"But you know what you're going to have to do if you want a chance at getting her back?"

"What?"

"Stop getting into fights," she told him. "No lawyer or judge or social worker is going to give a child to someone who fights because they will see it as you having a history of violence," she told him. "And I'm not saying that to upset you or make you mad."

"I know you're trying to help." he said and she nodded. "I should get you home."

"Ok," she said reluctantly and slowly pulled away from Paul.

"You don't want to go home?" he asked surprised a smile threatening to appear across his lips.

"I like being here with you," she said so quietly that if it wasn't for his wolf hearing he wouldn't have heard her.

"I like having you here," he smiled. "You can stay for dinner, its just pizza but you can still stay," he told her

"I would love to stay for dinner," she said and he smiled.

"Well I'll go put the pizzas in the oven then," he said and stood up and went into the kitchen. When he was in the kitchen Lissi leaned back against the couch and let out a sigh. Paul was so different than she would have ever thought that first night she met him. She never would have imagined she would like hanging out with Paul, spending time with Paul. Paul walked back into the living room and sat with Lissi on the couch.

"Dinner will be ready in about twenty minutes," he told her and she smiled.

"So um…are you busy this weekend?" she asked him nervously and Paul noticed she was rubbing her hands together as she waited for his answer.

"Actually I'm free all weekend," he said and Lissi nodded. "Do you want to do something or have something in mind?" Paul asked.

"I was hoping you would want to do something together, still just as friends," she said and Paul looked over at her and she saw a smile appear on his face.

"I definitely do," he said and Lissi smiled and let out a relieved sigh.

"Good," she said relieved.

"Did you think I would say no?" he asked.

"I wasn't sure," she said quietly.

"You decide what you want to do ok," he said. "You just tell me where we're going and when I need to pick you up."

"Really, you'll do whatever I want?" she asked.

"Yes," he said.

"Well can we do something together Friday night?"

"Yes," he answered.

"And Saturday after I give Bella another chance?" she asked.

"Definitely," he said.

"Would I be pushing my luck if I asked for Sunday to?" she asked.

"No Red you wouldn't," he smiled. "I like that you want to spend so much time with me," he said and she nodded and smiled. "You just decide what you want to do and we'll do it."
he said.

"Well why don't I decide on something for Friday and then you pick something for Saturday and I'll pick something for Sunday and then next time it will be your turn to pick."

"Sounds fair," he smiled.

"Well be thinking about what you want to do Saturday night then," Lissi smiled and Paul leaned closer to her and ran his finger across her cheek.

"And you'll do anything I want," he whispered and Lissi looked up at him and she felt her heart start to pound in her chest. How in the hell could he make her feel this way? Paul smirked he could hear how her heartbeat sped up when he moved closer to her.

"Not anything Paul," she said embarrassed and pushed him away. Paul smiled and moved away like she wanted.

"So you'll do anything I want right?" Lissi asked.

"Yes, I told you I would," Paul said.

"Even if you think its stupid or boring?" she asked.

"Yes Alessandria," he sighed.

"And you won't complain about it?" she asked.

"Well that I won't promise," he smirked.

"Well I guess I can live with that," she sighed.

"So you're going to hang out with Bella again this weekend?" Paul asked.

"Only for a little while on Saturday morning hopefully no longer than an hour," she told him.

"You know you'll have to stay longer than an hour," Paul told her and she let out a sigh and nodded.

"I don't like Bella and I know I've only met her briefly but I see how she hurts Jake and makes him feel and yet he can't bring himself to stay away from her," Lissi said frustrated. "And I know if I hang around her like Jake wants I'm going to end up kicking her skinny ass," Lissi told him. "And I think that will really piss Jake off," she added and Paul smiled.

"That would definitely piss Jake off but it would make me happy, just don't fight with her unless I can be there to see it," he smirked.

"You are no help whatsoever Paul Joseph Lahote," she said and he smirked and shrugged his shoulders.

"I'm going to check on the pizza," he said and got off the couch and walked to the kitchen.

"Lissi, its ready you can come in here and eat," he said sticking his head in the room. Lissi stood up and walked to the kitchen. "Get whatever you want," Paul told her and handed her a plate. Lissi cut a couple of pieces of pizza for herself and then went to the table to sit down. "You want something to drink?" Paul asked.

"Yes," she said and Paul opened the refrigerator and took a soda out and walked over to the table and set it down in front of her. "Thank you," she whispered and he smiled and went and got himself something to drink and his plate and sat down with her.

When Lissi finished eating she looked over at Paul who was still eating.

"Where do you put all that food?" she asked curiously.

"I don't know," he answered as he finished his last bite of pizza. "Well I don't think I can put off taking you home much longer," he added.

"I know but you didn't even help me with my math and I didn't help you with English," she said.

"Well that gives us something to do tomorrow," he smiled and Lissi nodded.

"Sounds good to me," she smiled and got up from the table. "I'll get my stuff together and you can take me home," she told him and walked into the living room. Paul followed her and watched as she grabbed her bag and slung it over her shoulder.

"Ready?"

"Yeah," she sighed and Paul walked over and opened the front door and gestured for Lissi to go first then he followed her out and closed the door behind them. A few seconds later Lissi was sitting with Paul in his truck as he drove her home. The two of them rode in silence until Paul parked the truck outside her house and got out and opened the door for her to get out. He closed the door and Lissi looked up at him.

"Thanks," she said quietly and started walking to the front door. Paul fell in step beside her until she stopped in front of her door. "Good night Paul," she whispered.

"Good night Red," he said softly and leaned down and pressed his lips against her forehead. Lissi reached up and placed one hand on each of his cheeks before he could move and stood on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek. When she pulled away Paul looked at her shocked, not believing she had just kissed him, even if it just was on the cheek.

"Be careful going home Paul," she told him and opened the door and slipped inside. Paul stood there and stared at the door and slowly brought his hand to touch the spot she kissed and a real genuine smile spread across his lips and he turned and ran to his truck and drove back home thinking maybe it was possible for her to really like him and maybe, just maybe he was getting closer to that first real date instead of just a bunch just as friends dates.