A.N. Hey guys, I finally got this chapter done, sorry about how short it is, and the next chapters going to be even shorter, but I need them to be because a lot of suspense is coming up, so please bare with me, I'll try to update faster now that their shorter though. So hopefully I'll have the next one up by next weekend at the latest! Now on with the story!

I smiled again, then turned from him and went to the closet to get a blanket. I grabbed the biggest one and threw it over him before turning off the desk lamp and climbing back into bed, falling asleep to the sound of will's slow even breaths, but my mind was filled with the russet skinned Paul.

Gabriella's POV

The next day, I awoke too late to see Jamie and David. Jamie had left for work early, and David had school, so it was just Will, Drew, and I. They however were busy talking tactics about my mother. Will didn't know the whole story, so Drew was filling him in, and I really did not want to be a part of that. So I found myself doing laundry.

While I was sifting through my clothes however, I found a folded up piece of paper in my jeans from yesterday. I looked at it for a minute before carefully unfolding it.

There, written in a scribbled handwriting, was a phone number with the name, 'Paul' written above it.

I was confused for a moment, unsure how this had come into my possession. That's when I remembered yesterday morning. Just as I was leaving he slipped me a piece of paper, telling me to think about it. I must have just stuck it into my pocket after all the commotion yesterday. Now I was looking at it intensely, my hand in my pocket, carefully fingering the edge of my cell phone. Should I call him? But what would I say?

I deliberated, weighing the pros and cons, soon finding myself pulling out my phone and pressing the numbers scrawled onto the slip of paper.

Once I put it to my ear and heard the first ring my heart accelerated quickly. Why was I doing this? Why was I calling him? He had been the one who practically told me he loved me! But I had to hear his voice. I wanted to hear his voice.

"Hello?"

There it was, his beautiful, rough voice, sounding rougher than before because of tiredness. I quickly checked the clock, it said it was ten in the morning.

"Hello?" He repeated.

"Um, hi," I said carefully. I heard him inhale sharply.

"Gabriella?" He questioned, disbelief coloring his voice.

"Ya, it's me," I confirmed, not sure what else to say. He seemed at a loss as well, because all I could hear was his accelerated breathing.

"Um, hey, I'm sorry about um, running out on you-" I began, but he cut across me.

"No, it's ok. I mean, well, in your position anyone would, so I don't blame you," he said, sounding as though he really didn't mean as much as he wanted to.

"I still wanted to apologize," I said.

"Well, apology accepted!" He laughed. My heart throbbed involuntarily at the sound.

"Ya, thanks," I chuckled awkwardly, my cheeks heating up.

"So, you want to do something today, so I can, you know, make it up to you?" He asked, sounding awkward as well.

"Um, well, I'm not really in town at the moment," I said, feeling let down that I couldn't hang out with him.

"Oh, really? That sucks," he said, sounding thoroughly depressed.

"Ya, it does, especially the reason why I'm not in town," I said, hinting for him to ask, he didn't let me down.

"What happened?" He asked, sounding genuinely concerned.

"Well, um, after I left you yesterday, I went to the park to meet will," I began.

"Did he hurt you?" He asked, sounding angry "'cuz if he did I swear I'll-"

"No, he didn't do anything, it's um, my mother," I explained.

"Your mother?" He questioned.

"Ya, uh, well, let's just say there were some problems when I was younger, so the issue was brought to court in a custody battle between her and my older brother Jamie. He ended up winning and she wasn't too happy about that. So we moved here to Seattle and changed our phone numbers so she wouldn't find us, but yesterday she called me." I said, hoping he would get the extent of the situation.

It took him a while to respond, so I assumed he did because I heard his breathing accelerate drastically. He sounded mad, and when he spoke it was in a voice of forced calm.

"Where are you? Are you safe?" He asked softly.

"I-I'm at my brother's house a ways outside Seattle, and I'm fine. Will and Drew are with me now," I told him, hopefully calming him down.

"Do you want me to come?" He asked, sounding as though it was more of a demand than a request.

"Oh, you don't have to, I mean, you probably have things to-"

"If you need me, I'll be there," he told me sternly. I was shocked at how serious he sounded. I had just met him after all.

"Um, ok, I-if you insist-"

"No, Gabriella. This is up to you. Do you need me to come?" He asked.

I paused, contemplating. It was less of a need and more of a want for him to come. Yet maybe that want was a need. I couldn't really tell.

"I do want you to come, but I don't know if I need you to come, and that doesn't mean you should come," I said at last. "Does that make any sense?"

"None at all," he answered, a smile in his voice.

"Well, uh, I kind of want you to come, but I have four guys here to protect me, so I don't necessarily need you to come. Then, I don't know how Will and the other's will feel about this, so I'm not sure if you should come. Any better?" I asked hopefully, not wanting to explain again, I was getting confused myself. It made sense when I first said it.

"Kind of, but what does it mean? Should I come, or should I not come?" He asked, still smiling.

Ugh, god, this was horrible! I had no idea what he should do, or what I wanted, or needed him to do! I was so confused!

"Ugh, I don't know!" I cried, and to my confusion, he began to laugh. Why the hell was he laughing at me? This was so unfair!

"What the hell is so funny?" I demanded. He continued laughing, unable to speak until it quieted slightly.

"It's just funny that you're so confused, and you were the one who thought it all up," he chuckled, I frowned. This guy was lame!

"Ya, well, that's the best way I could think of to explain it ok?" I said angrily. "Fine! I want you to come! But I don't know how my boyfriend will handle it because… because…" I said, not wanting to finish my sentence.

"Because?" He repeated, smiling again, I nearly growled in frustration.

"Because I think I'm in love with you stupid! Are you happy now?" I yelled, praying to god the men downstairs hadn't heard me, or I'd be screwed.

Paul was silent for a minute, then let out a long sigh.

"Yes, I am happy," he said finally.

"I don't know how the hell it happened, and it's scaring the shit out of me! But it happened, and now I've got to deal with it," I sighed.

"You're not in this alone, you know that right?" He asked.

"It sure ad hell feels like it," I muttered, trying to calm myself.

"Well, you're not, ok? I'll be there whenever you need me, so how about you think it over for a while and then call me back," he suggested.

"That could take a while," I warned.

"I can wait," he told me cheerily.

"Alright, I'll think about it," I told him finally.

"Good, and remember, I'm just a phone call away, ok?"

"Ok… um, Paul?" I asked.

"Mmm?"

"Thank you."

"Don't worry, it's my pleasure," he said, I then said a quick goodbye and hung up the phone. My heart was racing faster than it has in a while, but this time it was in a good way.