AN: thanks for the reviews :)
The friend is the man who knows all about you,
and still likes you.
Elbert Hubbard
By eleven he needed to leave, but he didn't want to. The pull of the imprint was making him feel like he would leave behind a part of him. And he actually was, his heart.
He was at the door and she was there with him, watching him with her intense eyes. "Do you really have to go?"
He put his hands around her waist and pulled her closer; she placed her head on his chest and closed her eyes. "I don't want to go, but I have to. I'll see you Saturday but I'll call you tomorrow, okay?"
Bella pulled her head up and bit her lip. "Aren't you going to kiss me goodnight?"
She was really totally fucking up his world, he felt like a newbie about women. Taking a deep breath he moved one of his hands in her hair and then placed his mouth on hers. She opened her mouth and let him enter with his tongue. They kissed each other until breathing became a necessity, he let her go slowly and when their eyes met they froze.
"You make me feel things that I thought I would never feel again…" She whispered.
Paul swallowed once before being able to talk. "You're quite something Swan. I need to get out of here; otherwise I'm never going to leave. You have to let me go."
Bella took his hand in hers. "I'll see you soon then."
He nodded, she sighed and let go. Paul turned around and went out. Putting a feet in front of the other away from Bella was the only thing he was focusing on. He gritted his teeth, he was stronger than imprinting. By the time he was home he was ready to drive back to her house.
Phasing was really hard; he didn't want to face his pack-brothers.
Weeeeeeeeell, hello lover boy! (Jared)
Anything to report? (Embry)
What the fuck are you both doing here? (Paul)
We were waiting for you; we wanted to congratulate you on your imprint. (Jared)
Right, you're just two nosy bitches. (Paul)
Awww, do you feel the love? (Embry)
I'm going to kick your ass newbie, just you wait. (Paul)
Chill man! You can now be the perfect doggy for Bella. (Embry)
I swear I'm going to kill you! (Paul)
So lover boy is getting pissed, how did it go? (Jared)
I looked into her eyes and imprinted, no big deal. (Paul)
Yeah, what are you trying to hide so hard? (Embry)
Paul felt the memories of the afternoon fly out of his mind, and then heard his two friends laugh. So much for fucking privacy, he grumbled.
So she was the one that kissed you… (Jared)
Yes, I'm still reeling with shock. She's good though, I think we'll get along well. (Paul)
She's my hero, putting up with you is a pain in the ass. I can't imagine how the poor girl could live with you every day… (Jared)
Not that you're any better, sunny boy. Might I remind you that you wrote a poem to Kim? (Paul)
What, really? (Embry)
Shut up newbie! (Paul and Jared)
So, what about the leech at Bella's house? (Paul)
It was a black guy with dreads, we kind of tortured him a bit before killing him. And he told us that this Victoria is after Bella. Apparently Cullen killed her mate and she's out for blood… literally. (Jared)
Shit! (Paul)
I think you'll need to warn Bella soon, when are you going to tell her about imprinting? (Jared)
Not now, I might have to reveal the werewolf bit. Probably at the party… (Paul)
But I won't be there! (Embry)
You'll see her reaction in our mind when we phase newbie. (Paul)
Spoilsport. (Embry)
You make sure that no leeches get to the res and to Charlie, okay? (Paul)
Yes, I know… I'll keep my eyes wide open. (Embry)
Now get the hell out of here, I want to be alone. (Paul)
Have fun lover boy. (Jared)
Paul was finally left alone; he was glad that they had stayed to check on him. But now he wanted some time to think everything through. He had imprinted and he now needed to come up with a plan to make Bella fall in love with him. Not that he doubted that she liked him, but he wanted something more permanent. Besides what if sparkling leech came back? Would she ever consider taking him back?
The thought was unbearable, still he needed to take into account that she might.
But she had initiated both kisses, and that had to mean that she cared at least a bit about him. He just had to keep being there for her and help her through this bad break-up. Cullen had been a fool to leave her, and he was going to pay the price. Paul didn't have any doubt that the sparkling leech would be back, who in his right mind could leave a girl like Bella? Cullen was going to find out what it meant to really loose someone, maybe he was sure that she was waiting for him, well he was in for a big surprise.
… Saturday…
The three days that preceded Saturday had been hell, he had called Bella every evening and then he had basically slept under her window every night. If he thought that he could win over imprinting he had really been a fool.
Sam during those three long days had been very supportive, he even told him of when Emily had refused the imprinting for a while because of Leah and how hard it had been for him. Now Paul had a new respect for his Alpha and was starting to trust him.
Kim and Emily had been really nice with him and although sometimes he snapped at them, they hadn't been bothered much. They had dubbed them the 'Paul PMS' moments and his pack-brothers had teased him to no end. He had growled and complained with the girls but both held their grounds, he was totally losing his touch with the girls. But he didn't mind and the wolf, even though he wasn't pleased about the length of the separation from their mate, well the fucking wolf was living in his happy cloud waiting for the next time to have his Bella in his clutches.
By five-fifteen he was ready to go and get Bella, he was nervous about having her meeting the pack and the imprintees, but it was time. Besides he had discussed with everyone and they were going to tell Bella about werewolves and Victoria. Not about imprinting, he wanted to wait and let her fall in love with him naturally.
Paul knocked at her door and she opened. After a moment he took her head in his hands and placed his lips on hers. Her response was to put her hands on his waist and pull him closer. When they needed air they separated and he said, "Hi."
Bella blushed, but smiled at him. "Hi"
"Ready to go?" He asked and then took in that she was wearing dark fitting jeans and a green long-sleeved t-shirt. "You look beautiful."
She looked down shyly. "You… look handsome too."
He smirked and then took her hand and led her to his truck. "So how was your week?"
Bella relaxed and told him about Jessica and her friends hounding her with questions about her relationship with him. "And Lauren was the usual bitch…"
Paul glanced at her. "Why? What did she say?" He knew that the girl was malicious; he could spot a fucking envious bitch anywhere.
"She just told me that it had been very easy for me to get over Ed-Edward. I really don't know why she hates me so much, well Angela thinks it's because of Tayler, the guy she likes, …because he wanted to go out with me." She sighed.
Paul growled, how many guys wanted to go out with Bella? His jealousy skyrocketed. "So… how many guys have asked you out?"
Bella turned to look at him and probably guessed that he was slightly pissed. She smiled and put a hand on his knee. "A few guys but I always refused. Edward didn't ask at all… he just assumed that we were together… that's something that I didn't like as well."
Paul relaxed slightly at her words. "Well he doesn't seem a good guy to me."
Bella bit her lip and a frown marred her forehead. "He is good, but he torments himself… I actually came to realize that he left me because… because he thought it was better for me. He didn't feel good enough, you were right it wasn't me… it was him that felt unworthy. I can't imagine though leaving someone for their own good. Especially if they didn't ask you."
He thought about her words and part of him understood Cullen. He felt a monster too. "Sometimes it's better to leave, it would hurt less than to stay and make a mess of your life."
Bella's fingers pressed on his leg. "Would you ever think of leaving me for the same reason?"
"Me? No, I wouldn't. I don't know if I could leave you even if you asked me." He told her, he knew that maybe he had said too much but he wasn't going to start to lie to her now. The imprint wasn't letting him lie to her.
She relaxed and smiled. "That's good because I don't think I would let you walk out of my life without a thorough explanation. And then I'm sure I would be able to change your mind."
He smirked. "Really? And what would you do?"
She shrugged her shoulders, but a small smile was playing on her lips. "I would probably seduce you."
Paul laughed. "You really are quite something Swan." He then put his hand on hers and squeezed it lightly. "I like your character."
"I like your personality too, you don't really let people walk over you and you are sure of yourself." She told him.
"That's a way to look at it; another would be to say that I'm rude most of the time… I don't have a good reputation at all… and with the girls even less… I want to warn you now Swan." He told her because he knew that eventually she was going to hear some of his escapades.
"Don't worry Paul, you told me about your behavior with the other girls. But I judge you from how you're with me, it might be selfish but as long as you're like this with me I don't really care what anyone else thinks." She replied, and she seemed confident. He liked her a little bit more.
They arrived at Sam's house and he wasn't ready to share Bella with his friends. If he could he would have spent the whole night talking and reveling in her presence. Instead he was going to tell her that he turned into a wolf. He hoped she would really accept him anyway. Before he opened the door of the truck he took her hand. "Bella… there is something I need to tell you tonight… and I don't really know what you'll think, but I promised you that I would never lie so… I just hope that you'll understand."
She looked at him with a worried expression, but instead of speaking she moved closer and kissed him. When she moved away she whispered. "Paul no matter what I'll be there for you as you've done with me. Really..." She then got out of the truck and waited for him to take her hand and they walked together to Sam and Emily's house.
Her words had made him feel a bit less nervous about his revelation and the wolf was sure that she would be accepting of him. He never prayed in his life, but in that moment he hoped that the Spirits were on his side and that Bella would really be the mate that he needed her to be.
