As promised Chapter 11, enjoy!
Chapter 11
"Did she call?" Paul spoke around the half of a muffin that he'd just stuffed in his mouth.
With a gentle pat to his shoulder Emily shook her head and moved about the kitchen getting it ready for Sam and the wolves that were coming off patrol.
Not wanting Emily to figure out he was waiting for his girl's call Paul stuffed the rest of the muffin in his mouth and shrugged his shoulders as if he didn't care. Really though he did care, it had been five days since he overheard the conversation with her parents and while he knew that they were keeping her busy this week he still wondered why she hadn't made time to call. Fuck, he really felt like an ass Paul Lahote didn't wait around for women.
Emily was as always watching him intently and he didn't like it, so he chose to narrow his eyes at her and grab another muffin.
"I'm sure she will, from what Bella says she is pretty busy, getting ready for Prom and all."
Inwardly Paul shuddered at the thought, fuck Prom. He'd never went to one although, he did make sure to participate in the after prom parties and sex. Just the thought of sex and prom made his heart rate double, before he could stop himself his fists clenched and he narrowed his eyes at Emily, "she got a date?"
This time Emily didn't even try to hide her smile, "I don't think so, but you know-"
"Not going to happen."
"But she's your imprint."
"We're friends Em."
"Friends can go to prom together."
"Not happening."
"What if she asks?"
"She won't"
"How do you know?"
"Has she called yet?" There Paul thought with a smug look when Emily's shoulders slumped, that'll shut her up. If she wasn't going to let him meet her parents there was no way in hell she was going to ask him to prom.
~U~
Angela and Bella shot each other harried looks when Jessica asked them for the third time that day when they were going prom dress shopping.
"Jess prom isn't until the end of the month; we still have plenty of time to get dresses." At that Jessica's eyes almost bugged out of her head.
"Are you serious? We only have three weeks until prom, which really is only six shopping days. You can't make a trip up to Seattle after school"
"Seattle" Bella and Angela said in unison.
"Yes, Seattle last year we got our dresses from PA, apparently you two don't remember that they were completely out of style? I wanted to die."
"I'm not going this year." Bella shrugged a shoulder at Angela when she shot her a look.
"WHAT!" Jessica's yell grabbed the attention of nearly everyone in the cafeteria. "You can't not go to your senior prom Bella."
"I went last year."
Angela practically fell off the bench when Jessica's elbow connected with her side, "you have to make her come. I mean she has the hot piece of rez man candy hanging around; he's so hot, I can only imagine what he'd look like in a tux. I thought Edward was smoking last year but that boy," Jessica ended her sentence while waving her napkin in her face and mouthed the words HOT to Bella while doing so.
~U~
As Angela walked with Bella to English she wondered why Bella didn't want to go to prom, instead of not pushing like she normally would she tapped Bella on the shoulder and asked, "So you really aren't going to go to prom this year?"
Groaning Bella buried her face in her hands and halted in the hallway.
Feeling guilty Angela rubbed her shoulder to get her attention, "I mean you guys seem really happy and he seems like he'd do it for you."
"He would," Bella mumbled into her hands, "but I went last year and well…"
"He's nothing like Edward Bella." Angela whispered and winced when she felt Bella's body go rigid under her hand.
"You're right he's not," Bella said head snapping up, "it's just that," Bella paused and looked down the hall before pulling Angela into the nearest girls room after a check to make sure no one was in the bathroom Bella propped herself up against one of the sinks and sighed, "I know Jake would go with me, but I feel bad for asking."
"Why would you feel bad about that?"
Bella bit her lip nervously and hung her head, "with his dad, it's just that," throwing her head back with a groan Bella locked eyes with Angela and shuddered as a tear spilled over, "Jake is just really busy taking care of his dad and helping Sam with his watch and fixing cars to help pay the bills. They're doing ok but I don't want him to waste his money on a tux and anything else he thinks he needs to do to be able to go to the prom.
Angela thought on it and opened her mouth to speak when Bella quickly cut her off, "plus I don't want to waste money on a dress, I'm trying to save for college so Charlie doesn't have that burden."
Angela smiled at Bella and thought on it moment before her face lit up, "If none of that mattered would you still ask him to go with you."
Bella's blush gave her away, "I think I would, he's asked me about it once already because he heard me talking to Emily about it."
"I have a dress from a wedding I was in a couple of years ago!" Angela practically squealed a little more excited than she thought she should be, but Bella's eyes lit up before her face got even redder, "and he doesn't need a tux a suit or slacks and a nice shirt would be fine."
"I'm not sure that it would fit."
Angela shrugged, "we could get it taken in and my cousin is pretty trendy, the dress was really short on me, so it will probably be perfect on you."
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah, it's been hanging in the back of my closet collecting dust since the wedding."
"Maybe I could try it on sometime then."
"Great!"
Angela turned on her heal making her way out of the bathroom when Bella's hand on her elbow stopped her, "what about you?"
"I guess I will head up to Seattle with Jessica one of these weekends, want to make that trip with us?" Angela asked a mock excited look on her face.
"No I mean, who are you going with?"
That stopped her short, "I don't have a date."
"What about Paul?"
Angela's eyes grew wide and her heart rate kicked up, the thought of going to a dance with Paul excited her, at the same time she got the feeling that it was something that would never happen. "He doesn't really seem like the type to want to go to a prom Bella."
"You never know."
"Isn't he a little old, I doubt they'd let him in."
"He's twenty, the same as Sam and Jared."
"We're just friends though, I really don't think he'd go, plus-" now it was Angela who felt uncomfortable.
"I still haven't called Emily for his number, I can't even ask him to come over for dinner how could I ask him to prom, something that's meant for couples?"
Bella didn't know that she still hadn't called Emily, but the sad panicked look on Angela's face made her refrain from asking why. Thankfully the bell interrupted the sudden awkwardness and the girls left the bathroom and headed for class.
Paul had just walked in Sam's house when the shrill sound of the phone echoed through the kitchen, Quil and Jared watched closely as Emily picked up the phone a worried look on her face. It wasn't all too often anyone in the pack got phone calls. If someone wanted something at the rez they usually just showed up at your house to ask for or about it.
"Hello."
"Hi Emily."
Paul froze at the sound of her voice while Jared and Quil made kissy faces at each other.
"It's Angela"
"Hi Angela it's nice to hear from you, are you looking for Bella." Emily asked while nodding toward Bella.
"Um- actually I was wondering if you had, if you maybe had Paul's phone number."
He was frozen in the doorway of the house; Angela's voice flowed through the phone sounding nervous as hell.
Paul was still starring at the phone cradled between Emily's shoulder and ear, her hand gestures for him to hightail it over to her went unnoticed that was until Jared punched him in the side of the thigh. Snarling Paul turned on his friend every intent on picking his ass up and throwing him out the door until he jabbed a finger in Emily's direction. When he finally looked up she was waving at him frantically and gesturing toward the phone.
"Actually he's right-"
"I'm right here," Paul finished Emily sentence before the phone was even to his ear.
"Oh well uh- my um, my parents want to meet you."
"Why?" This time the hand that connected was Quil's. Paul was shooting daggers in his direction because the phone cord only went so far when Angela puffed out a breath.
"Because they want to meet my friend, but if you don't want to Paul that's fine I'll just tell them you aren't interested." The tone of her voice caught him off guard making him realize she took his question the wrong way; maybe it was the tone he used.
"I didn't say that."
"Do you want to come to dinner or not?"
Paul turned toward the wall a small playing on his lips, she was a firecracker this one. "When are where babe."
"Really," the excitement that flowed across the line caused him to shudder, "don't call me babe either," she finished off in an annoyed tone.
"Yeah, name the place I'll be there."
"They just want to have dinner at the house, Friday at six thirty ok?"
Paul shot Sam a look silently asking if there was a way he could get out of his Friday night patrol to have dinner with her, Sam didn't even hesitate before nodding and then pointing at Quil who whined his dislike.
Flipping off Quil with a nasty smile Paul turned back the phone and let her know he'd be there.
~U~
You really are driving me nuts with this shit Embry.
Can it Paul I don't want to hear your shit.
Aren't we a little feisty?
Fuck off.
Paul snarled at Embry who was running half way across the reservation the next day doing his patrol.
What you need to do is go over there and tell her how it is; man I can't believe you fucked her.
Paul smiled to himself when the trees in Embry's vision suddenly swung around and then started blurring around him; the pup was headed his way in a hurry.
I mean Leah is one fine piece, but you knew how she felt about all this shit and you still did her.
I'm going to kill you Paul.
You are so fucked now, you're stuck with her moody ass forever because you couldn't keep it in your pants, and people think I'm the sex fie-
Paul's thoughts cut off when Embry's wolf charged out of the woods and rammed into his side and sending him flying, fuck the little prick could run. Righting himself Paul hunched to the ground waiting to pounce as Embry circled him.
Stop talking about her Paul.
You coulda had what me and Angela have if you'd-
Embry's teeth in his scruff stunned Paul only for a moment before he jerked back slamming them both to the ground. No sooner than they landed did Paul turn on Embry and pin him down.
What the hell were you thinking', do you think she'd fuck you and forget all about Sam? That the imprint would actually erase it? You look like shit Embry and she's doing it to you, she's fucking up our pack.
Suddenly Embry saw himself through Paul's eyes, through everyone's eyes. He looked like shit that much was obvious. In the three days since he'd sealed the bond with Leah she was no where to be found. Even her parents didn't know where she went. It was killing Embry, both physically and mentally not knowing where his imprint was. Not only that but Seth was back to phasing at the drop of a hat out of worry for his sister. She really was fucking them all.
A picture of Leah crying on a porch swing made its way across the mind link and Paul paused, watching as a younger crying Leah wrapped her arms around a body and sobbed into La Push football shirt.
When was that? Sam's voice boomed through the mind link.
Embry went still under Paul's paws and swung his head around the same time Paul did both noticing that Sam was now standing in the trees beside them.
Two years ago after she found out about you and Emily. Embry answered a snarl bouncing off the trees.
And who was that she was hugging.
Paul felt Embry's body tense before he flew backward and Embry jumped to his paws teeth bared at their Alpha.
ME.
Fuck me, Quil's voice whispered through the link as he came up beside Sam, why didn't you tell me bro.
She asked me not to tell anyone, a picture of her begging Embry not to tell anyone slipped through his mind before she was throwing herself around him and then kissing him soundly on the lips.
Dude, Quil yelled out in awe, Leah Clearwater kissed you two years ago and you didn't fucking tell me or Jake!
Sam's snarl was the only warning before he lunged at Embry.
U
Paul never thought he would be looking forward to having dinner with a girl or her parents, but seeing how his pack was in fucking shambles at the moment he couldn't think of anything he wanted more than to spend time with Angela. After Sam saw Leah kissing Embry after his promise two years ago he'd lost his shit, attacking Embry right in front of two members of the pack and to their surprise Jake was the only one that could get him to back down. When it was all said and done they both had a couple of broken bones, and when Sam went home and openly told Emily what happened she ran to her room crying. She hadn't looked at him since, Leah was still missing and Embry had gone missing too.
With two members of the pack out of action and Seth unable to control himself again Paul knew he shouldn't be taking off to go have dinner but he didn't care, he told Angela he'd be there so he was going to be there.
As he rummaged through what little decent clothes he had he wondered how great of an impression he was going to make showing up in nothing but a black t-shirt, faded jeans and work boots. Fuck it he thought, at least he was showing up, no point in putting on a front. Even if her parents didn't approve he was still going to see Angela.
An hour later clean shaven and wearing the best clothes he had Paul pulled up to Angela's house, his heart stuttered a beat when she came running around the house screaming bloody murder. Jumping out of the truck as quickly as he could Paul made a beeline toward her barely noticing the smile on her face when she saw him or his name on her lips when he jerked her up off the ground and took off running toward the woods across the street from her house.
"Are you alright," he screamed at her as he ran.
"Paul, oh my god put me down." She yelled right back at him thumping him in the back as he hurtled himself over downed trees.
"Not until you're safe."
"What?" He felt her body tense and her hands that were now planted in his lower back apply pressure so she wasn't hanging limply anymore. "I'm safe. Isaac was chasing me with a snake."
"A what?" He asked coming to a sudden stop.
"A snake, he found a snake in the woods and was chasing me around with it, Paul are you ok?"
Son of a bitch, Paul bent at the knee and slowly lowered Angela, "a snake."
Nodding her head Angela' jammed her hands in the front pocket of her jeans, "a snake."
"You're scared of a garden snake?"
"Shut up," Angela replied with a smack to his chest. "Where are we?"
Paul looked around realized that he was more than half way to the rez, "the woods."
Cocking her eyebrow at him, Angela turned in a circle, "I gathered as much, we aren't very far in are we, we're going to be late for dinner."
Thankfully Paul was just as quick getting them out of the forest as he was getting them into it, when he came to a stop on the other side of the road her whole family was out in the front yard calling her name searching for her. Angela shot him a worried look before she stepped out of the woods, slowly crossing the road while telling them that she was fine.
Slowly Paul followed watching as her father's eyes narrowed and then shot to Angela slowly scanning her to make sure everything was ok.
"Mr. Webber, Mrs. Webber." Paul nodded as he came to a stop at Angela's side.
"Paul." Her father replied looking him over.
"What were you doing in the woods Angie you scared us to death." Angela's mother asked while picking a pine needle out of her hair and then shooting a worried look at Paul.
This was not going well at all, the looks her parents were shooting in his direction he knew just what they were thinking, and well normally it would be true.
"Isaac is it," Paul nodded looking down at one of the boys standing by their father. "Was chasing Angela around the house with a snake when I got here." Paul smiled when his mother shot him a dark look.
"I thought a bear or something was trying to get her."
"So you ran her into the woods?"
"I can run fast," Paul shrugged it off while looking down at Angela who was nodding her head with a little too much gusto.
Her father looked between the two before giving a grunt and turning toward the house, "Isaac you're on dish duty for scaring your sister, Joshua lets go finish setting the table." The two boys who were obviously twins turned to follow their father into the house.
When Paul's eyes wondered back to Angela and her mom he noticed that Angela was nice shade of pink and her mother was smiling at her while eyeing the both of them. When she caught Paul look at her she jumped a bit and cleared her throat.
"Yes well, let's get to it."
~U~
The dinner with her parent's wasn't nearly as bad as he thought it was going to be. Sure her father had grilled him about damn near everything but he did it in a respectable way. Paul was actually pretty happy with the way things had turned out. He'd learned things a lot of things about Angela that he didn't know before.
"So was it bad?" Angela asked as they stood in the entryway.
"You're parents are nice, the boys seem like they might be a handful." Right on cue Isaac whined to his dad about doing dishes.
"They aren't too bad, Josh is a little more laid back than Isaac, but he lets him talk him into things all the time."
Paul hated the awkwardness of this conversation he shifted toward her and rubbed the side of her arm, "it wasn't as bad as I'd thought it was going to be, never met a girl's parents before," he said waggling his eyebrows at her.
"I'm not shocked by that admission." Angela said while rolling her eyes.
"Well I'd better get going."
Angela looked over her shoulder noticing that her father was standing in the kitchen openly watching them.
"Ok"
Paul rubbed her shoulder again not caring that her dad was standing there watching them, he'd been watching them all night, when her dad narrowed his eyes at the contact Paul pulled her forward and gave her a hug, watching her fathers face morph into a frown when Angela's hands went around his back. He wanted nothing more than to turn his face into her neck and capture her scent but her father was already making his way toward them, "We'll talk, have fun with Jessica this weekend."
When he pulled back Angela was already wearing a frown, but she nodded her head anyway.
Paul had just slammed the door to his truck when his name was called. Her dad didn't sound pissed or angry but he obviously had something to say by the purpose to his stride. Not bothering to get out of the truck Paul rolled down the window and waited.
"She's a good girl, and you've heard that she has plans."
Paul grit his teeth and looked at her father, "yes."
"She loves photography and the church," her father put a heavy emphasis on the word.
"Yeah."
"I just don't want-"
"Listen Mr. Webber, we're just friends."
"How is Miss Chaney?" Angela's dad spit sounding equally surprised and frustrated at the words that just came out of his mouth.
Paul shot her dad a look at the mention of Mindy, and watched as he swallowed thickly "that was very rude of me, I just worry about my girl."
My girl, Paul's wolf snarled
"We're just friends," Paul grit his anger rising. "I'm sure you're not fond of her hanging out with someone like me, but I'm not going to mess anything up for her." With that Paul fired his truck up and left before he'd say or do something he was going to regret.
~U~
She's going to college in Chicago as soon as school lets out. Jared asked in disbelief as he ran the northern border.
Yes, Paul grit out the thought further is fueling his anger as he pumped his legs while patrolling the South.
What are you going to do man
Nothing, why would I do anything
Imprint?
Jare this is working just fine.
Yeah but you still get to see her at least once a week. If she's that far away you aren't going to ever get to see her.
I'll be fine.
You'd better be, Paul you're the best fighter we got.
Paul was just about to answer back when Embry phased screaming through the mind link that the redhead had just passed through Makah and was headed in their direction.