Disclaimer: I do not own twilight... even if i did wish that... a lot.
Okay so here is chapter 11. And finally the whole chapter is Maddy/Paul!! Woot! And i noticed that when i do all the thank yous in one spot it gets long, so i will do one at the top and one at the bottom.
First off is someone who definitely, without a doubt deserves an award!! She is completely amazing!! I don't even have the words to let you people know how much i owe her or how much i need to thank her! The person i am talking about is, of course, my wonderfully talented beta. MidnightEmbryMisery. That girl is... freaking magnificent.
And now onto the story! Enjoy!
Maddy's POV
We spent at least an hour sitting on that bench while I cried and shook in his warm arms. It was about 8 in the morning, so he took me to a small restaurant to get breakfast.
I was still shaken from my encounter with Aperio; but I couldn't help but wonder about the fact, and be thankful, that Paul knew where I was.
Or maybe he didn't know, and he was just walking around Port Angeles all alone, at 6 in the morning?
"Are you two ready to order?" The slutty-looking waitress asked, even though she was only looking at Paul. Licking her lips, she cocked her head to one side and raised an eyebrow.
Paul gave her one glance before pressing his lips together, and looking over at me. I sent him a confused look, but he only pointed to the menu. It looked like he wants me to order first.
Scanning over the tiny menu, I picked the first thing that sounded good to me, "Umm… I will have one chocolate-chip pancake please?" My voice was small, and the order sounded more like a question. My normal confidence was gone, leaving only self-doubt and hurt behind in the dust.
She rolled her eyes – or at least I think she did, her eye make-up was so heavy, I wasn't really sure where the whites of her eyes were…- before nodding and writing down my order. Her face went from sour to hopeful when she finally got another reason to look at Paul.
"And for you, sweet heart?" Her voice was sickly sweet as she batted her mascara-coated eyelashes in his direction.
He didn't even look up from his menu as his voice floated up with more poison, then I could muster up right now, "I will have four blueberry pancakes, three chocolate chip muffins, six hash browns, one glass of water and large mocha please."
Was he feeding some army I was not aware of? Damn, that was a lot of food, but seeing that bimbo's mouth drop was pretty funny.
She started scribbling down the order as fast as her small brain could process, before giving Paul one more appreciative glance and walking away (well, it was more like she was trying to swing her hips more then normal, in a kind of way that looked like a spasm to me).
Once she was out of sight, Paul turned his attention to me and put his menu down. I hesitated to release my menu, because since the moment I was calmed down enough to talk, I had been hiding my face from him.
More then anything, I was embarrassed about the bruise, the dried blood and the tears. I didn't want to come across as weak. Paul seemed to notice my reluctance to uncover my face, but he didn't push me. I knew he had seen some of the bruise, but I was hiding the worse part of it. I was also hiding the gashes and blood that blemished my cheek.
His soft and reassuring tone caught my attention, "Maddy, hun, she is here to take the menus." He nodded in the direction of Ms. Bitchy Whore, who was standing at the edge of our table with an out-stretched hand. The fact he called me hun didn't slip under my radar, but at the moment I took it as a caring gesture and nothing more.
I lowered my head before giving away my last hope of blockage. My face was titled towards the table, but I knew the bruises and the blood were in plain view. I felt the table begin to shake under my arms.
Without really thinking, I quickly looked up. Paul was the one shaking the table: his hands, arms, chest and face were all shaking to the point where it was getting hard to identify the parts of his body.
Reaching across the table, I grabbed one of his trembling hands and grasped it tight. My fear was coming back, but I pushed it to the back of my mind. This was Paul and I knew he wouldn't hurt me.
"Paul… Paul!" My voice was becoming frantic. I was trying to calm him down, but he was not relaxing.
"Paul!" His eyes were on me now, but the quivering did not cease.
"He. Hit. You!" His voice was not shaky, but instead strong and angry, as he said each word slowly, like he was trying to justify it to himself.
Talking about what Aperio did was not going to calm him down. Taking a shaky breath, I said that last thing I could think of, "Paul! Please stop! You're scaring me!"
His shaking came to halt as the words left my mouth. His eyes became filled with self- disgust as he took in the words I said.
"Maddy, I am so sorry… I never meant to… I just saw… the bruises… and…I…" He was stumbling over the words but the feeling was there. I knew he was sorry and had never meant me harm.
I placed one finger over his warm soft lips to cut him off. "Paul. It's okay." I smiled as I moved my finger. I tried to move my other hand, but he tightened his grip on my hand, causing my smile to grow a tiny bit.
The moment was a little cliché, but all in all it was a perfect moment.
But as I have learned, perfect moments don't last too long.
"Alright, here are your orders." Paul didn't let go of my hand as the waitress placed the food on the table. Her expression was furious as her eyes zoomed in on our connected hands. Take that, bitch!
She didn't say another word after placing the plates – there were a lot of them – on the table. I looked at my food and I felt my stomach start to grumble, I guess I hadn't noticed how hungry I was before.
Grabbing my fork, I went to dig in, but there was a small problem. I needed to cut my pancake, but that normally involves two hands, and I was only in possession of one currently.
"Paul?" I tentatively asked him. He looked up from his food – somehow he knew how to eat with one hand…weird – his brilliant chocolate-brown eyes shining as they met mine.
My question was lost somewhere in the ocean that formed when his gaze connected with mine. I couldn't even remember the question; to be honest it didn't seem to matter. I know I sounded like some love-struck pre-teen, but I felt really very lucky for having this amazing man in my life.
I never wanted him to let go of me, ever. But that thought reminded me of Aperio's harsh words.
But let me guess, you couldn't wait to go run and find your new prince. I give him a week before something else catches your eye and you break his heart too.
Shaking my head, I returned my focus to the pancake in front of me. "I need my hand back, please." My voice was rough and broken near the end of the statement. Sucking in a deep breath, I forced calming thoughts into my head in order to avoid the tears I felt coming.
My hand felt suddenly cold, as he reluctantly let go of it. I didn't look up from my food while grabbing my knife and fork to cut it up.
We ate in silence for a few minutes, until I remember that I hadn't had time to get a good look at my face, and to clean it up. Standing up, I muttered, "I am going to the bathroom." I didn't even look at him as I walked away.
The face that looked back at me in the mirror was mocking. I couldn't help but think that Aperio and I were even, I left him with emotional scars and he left me with physical ones.
My reasonable side screamed back that what he did was wrong, not only did he use violence but he also insulted me and my family.
Ignoring both sides, I turned on the tap, letting the cold water run over my blood-stained fingers. I watched the red tainted water run along the smooth white inside of the sink, until it finally disappeared down the drain.
Reaching over, I grabbed a handful of rough paper towels, which I placed under the water flow. Bring the wet paper to my face; I wiped it over the blue and purple patch that covered most of my cheek and part of my eye.
Once the red coating was washed away, the bruise was more evident. I examined the bruise, trying to figure out how long it would last, but the closer I looked, the worse it seemed. It masked a good part of my upper cheek, and the bottom part of my eye.
To think that I used to love the person who did this. Now look at me.
I was bruised and broken.
Sighing, I grabbed my purse and walked out of the bathroom. I couldn't stand to look at my battered cheek anymore; it was a constant reminder of what I had done. I took my seat at the booth in silence, and continued to eat my breakfast.
"Maddy?" Paul's voice was small and cautious. Putting my shame away, I looked up at him, "I ordered this for you." He pushed a large cup towards me. I raised an eyebrow in confusion, "It is a large mocha… I dunno… I thought that maybe …you would like one …or something…"
He was really cute when he was shy. Smiling slightly, I took the cup firmly in both hands, and brought it to my mouth so that the warm liquid could flow down my parched throat. After taking a long delicious sip, I smiled bigger, "Thank you." I said appreciatively, and I meant it.
We didn't stay too long at the diner, only long enough to eat our food and leave. Paul refused to let me pay for my own food, and after a small disagreement, I let him pay.
"Well, I guess I should go home now." I said slowly as we continued to walk aimlessly on the side walk outside the diner.
"At least allow me the privilege to walk you to your car, my lady." His voice slipped into a slight southern accent, but his face was all smirks. Giggling a little, I nodded my yes, "And where might we find that car of yours?"
"Umm, well I parked by the hotel, but they have that stupid valet thing so I need to get my keys from the front desk." My voice changed into an annoyed tone, as I remembered that I would have to speak to that lady at the front desk.
"I am definitely coming then. No way am I letting you near that hotel alone, Maddy." His voice was flooded with confidence as he enveloped my small hand in his. We walked in silence, until we made it inside the hotel.
Paul must have noticed my expression of disgust as I spotted the bitch that was still standing behind the front desk, "You okay, Maddy?"
Rubbing my hand over my face, I looked up at him with the best reassuring smile I had, "Yeah, I'm fine. No worries."
"Okay, but just tell me, and we can leave anytime." He answered with a supportive squeeze to my hand. I knew from the look in his eyes he didn't believe me when I said I was fine, but I wasn't going to say nothing when I didn't need to.
Holding my head high despite the bruise, I walked straight to the counter, ready to be polite… well, the best I could be considering recent events. She ignored me when I finally reached the desk, even though I knew she could see me.
Getting annoyed, I rang the little bell and waited for her to look at me. Still nothing. Well shit, this bitch is either stupid or suicidal at the moment. Smiling a very exasperated smile, I once again pressed my finger on the bell.
Her eyes were still glued to the computer screen, not even a glance. My blood was close to boiling, so I did the first thing that came to mind. I chucked the flipping bell at the wall right beside her air-filled head.
That got a reaction, from both her and Paul. She gave me a death glare that could melt the arctic, while I felt Paul's arm snake around me waist in a protective manner. Does he not understand that I am the one who threw the bell? How was I in danger?
"What the fuck was that!?" She screamed in her nasally voice.
I just shrugged in response. She wanted to be arrogant, so then I was going to be bitchy. "I think it was a bell, princess." Her glare got worse, and she half-lunged towards the barrier between us. "Now, I need my car keys. So I am asking nicely for you to hand them over."
She just stood there, arms crossed, and smiled at me. Was she looking for trouble?! I have already been had someone hold power over my head today, and like fuck was I going to let it happen again!
"Look, lady, just give her the keys and we will be on our way." Paul spoke for the first time, his arm still intact around my waist. His voice was menacing enough for me to turn around – breaking my great glare at the snotty bitch – and looked at him.
His face was hard, and I might have been scared if he hadn't thrown me a sideways smirk. She didn't take more then two seconds to evaluate his face before reach into a drawer and offering us a pair of keys.
Paul snatched them from her hands with a relieved sigh; I don't think he wanted anymore tempters... oops, my bad.
"Maddy, let's go, hun." He smiled softy down at me while releasing my waist, but as we turned around he draped his warm arm over my shoulders.
We walked out of the hotel, car keys in hand, and made our way to where I had parked early. Drowsiness hit me at that moment.
I haven't sleep in over 24 hours, and the lack of sleep was taking its toll on me. I leaned against Paul as we walked, and I felt him pull me closer when we reached the car. Letting go of me, he opened the passenger side door, but paused when I raised a confused eyebrow at him.
"You're tired Maddy, please let me drive?" His eyes were pleading and I couldn't argue with his logic. I was tired, and the last thing I needed was to fall asleep at the wheel, causing me to crash.
"Fine, you can drive." As if his point wasn't proven enough, I had to yawn during that statement.
Settling myself into the passenger seat, I looked out the window, and watched as the road flew by due to Paul's speed. The woods looked stunning, but my view was interrupted by the face of someone.
The face belonged to me, nothing scary about that, but the bruise looked worse then before. Running a finger over the purple and blue surface, I tried to place the feeling of déjà vu.
Thinking back over my memoires, one popped out. It seemed obvious now; Tara's face that night in Paris. It was bruised as well, more then mine was currently, but it still sent a wave of uncertainty though my body.
My family was furious when Tara was attacked. Just imagine how they would react when they found out that another member of their family had been harmed. The though of their reaction scared me.
Turning to look at Paul's face, I muttered without even thinking, "Do we have to go home?"
Paul's head snapped in my direction, completely ignoring the road ahead, but that was the least of my problems. "Why do you ask that?" His eyebrows pushed together as he asked.
Sighing, I turned my gaze from his face to the reflective glass, "The last thing I want is the police involved in this." I took the silence between us as a sign to explain, "I know my siblings, and I know they will want this bastard in jail. I don't want that. I just want to forget this whole thing."
"Maddy, hun, that might be hard, but I will respect your decision. I can't control what your family does, though, but I will be right by your side the whole time, if you let me." Paul's words were soft-spoken and honest.
My family was sure as hell going to flip a bitch later, but I might as well sleep now and wait for hell to come get me!
Alright onto the other thank you's! Second is an author/reviwer. She is someone i can count on for no matter what. Every time i douct something i know i can just send it to her and she will let me know if my thoughts are true or not. Her stories are ming blowing, her reviews are enough to make me cry and as a person she is outstanding. And her name happens to be TwilightHeart21.
Those two people are beyond anything i thought i would find on this site, but there they are. I am thankful for them, and for their wonderful stories! READ THEM!I am also thankful for every person who reviews. Those people, i would list every name but it would take some time, are freaking fanastic! I love you all for doing that and giving me the confidence to write. This story is offical dedicated to every reader who reviews!!
Thanks for reading and reviewing guys!
Swimming Cutie xoxo
P.s - after re-reading that note i see sounds like i am saying goodbye but trust me i am not... at all :)
