A/N I am so sorry for the long wait for this chapter, but it was hard to write and I have been suffering from seriousness lack of motivation (that's another way of saying I am lazy!) But anyway, here it is, Chapter 11.
BPOV
I woke up early, the sun only just slipping over the horizon, and I felt fantastic. I had slept through the entire night without a single nightmare, and I felt more relaxed and rested than I had in a long time. I lay in bed for a while, but eventually I swung my legs out and headed downstairs to find breakfast. I was wearing one of Paul's t-shirts and a pair of his boxers. I hadn't got round to going shopping with Emily yet, and I was still borrowing clothes from Leah.
"Good morning," Paul came up behind me, his deep voice shocking me. Werewolves can move almost silently, but even so, I should have heard him approaching.
"Hello," I said, still feeling shy, but I was slowly getting used to the warm feeling I got whenever he is around. I continued walking towards the kitchen, listening to his footsteps behind me. I barely noticed, but I was getting faster and faster, unconsciously trying to get away from him.
"Hey, wait!" he said, as one of his arms slipped around my waist, pulling me to a standstill. "Are you trying to get away from me?" he said, and the hurt in his voice all but broke my heart.
"I am so sorry Paul! I didn't mean it!" I stuttered, and I could almost feel him smile.
"Don't worry. I just want you to trust me," he said, his breath tickling my ear as he leaned in closer. I suddenly became very conscious of the way my body was pressed tightly against his, and he wasn't wearing his shirt. I could feel his rippling muscles against my back. He was so strong, so powerful, if he just squeezed me a little too hard, he could snap my spine in an instant. I doubted that even a werewolf could recover from that quick enough to save their life.
I casually wriggled out of his embrace and continued towards the kitchen, and this time he walked beside me where I could see him. I moved around his kitchen with an easy familiarity. I had been staying with him since I first phased, and I was slowly getting used to it. Paul never did anything I didn't want him to, and he was a real gentleman. The embrace that had just happened was a first, and I was surprised by how easily I had handled it. Sure, I had pulled away, but I hadn't screamed or fainted.
"What would you like for breakfast?" I asked him, rooting through the fridge to see what there was.
"There are loads of eggs. I'll cook if you want. You just sit down." He said, his hand wrapping around my elbow and pulling me away from the fridge.
"It's alright, I can cook." I protested, but he just pulled me over to the table and sat me down in a chair. I sighed and gave in, watching him move around the kitchen. He really was gorgeous, his chest perfectly chiseled, his skin a beautiful russet colour, and his face like that of an angel. I smiled slightly, that was what he called me, his little angel. I didn't mind the term, although it was a bit personal. What was strange was that when he said it, his eyes showed that he was being honest, that to him I really was an angel.
The delicious smell of fried eggs filled the kitchen, and I closed my eyes, inhaling deeply. I was still getting used to the way that I was always hungry, but I was slowly becoming accustomed to the amount I had to eat at every meal.
"What are you going to do today?" Paul asked me as he served up the eggs onto a plate, placing a pile of toast on another plate in the middle of the table.
"I'm not sure. I might see if Leah is free, it would be nice to get to know her a bit better." I said as I began to eat. Paul sat down opposite me, and he was so tall that his legs were brushing against mine.
"Sounds cool." He said, before he started to eat. "I was thinking that maybe we could go out somewhere to eat tonight," he said, and I froze. He was asking me out on a date. I didn't, couldn't say anything. After a date guys always expected girls to go all the way with them, didn't they? I didn't want to, I wasn't ready for that. I couldn't say no though, that would upset him, but if I said yes then I would just have to disappoint him after the date.
"You know, I wouldn't expect anything from it. I just thought it would be nice to get out of the house and have a chat or something." He said, I let out the breath I hadn't noticed I had been holding.
"Ok, that would be cool." I said, relieved that he understood not to push me. The phone rang, the shrill ring startling both of us. Paul stood up and went to answer it.
"Hello?" he said, and I loved the way the depth of his voice seemed to ripple through me. "Yes, here she is." He handed me the phone, mouthing "Charlie" to me. I had completely forgotten that Charlie had absolutely no idea what had happened to me. I took the phone, panicking about what to do.
"Hello Dad," I said.
"Where are you? Are you really a wolf? Why haven't you called? Are you alright? Did you imprint on Paul? Are you…" he said, and I was forced to interrupt the seemingly endless stream of questions.
"You know about me being a wolf?" I said, shocked. I had assumed that I would have to keep this a secret from him.
"Of course I do!" he said, sighing dramatically, and that was when I knew he wasn't really angry with me.
"Oh! I am so glad you know! I didn't want to keep it a secret. And I am staying with, and I did imprint on him." I said.
"Can you come over? I want to talk to you, face to face about what has been happening." He said, and I agreed that it was a good idea and that I would be over in an hour.
"Love you Dad." I said.
"Love you too honey." He said before hanging up.
"I am going to go see him, I need a shower and to get dressed first though." I said, but the phone rang before I could go.
"Hello? Paul's house." I said, answering the phone for him. I glanced at him, worried that he would be annoyed with me for doing that, but he just smiled at me.
"Hi! Is this Bella?" an unfamiliar voice asked.
"Ummm yes, this is Bella." I said.
"Good! I'm Kim, Jared's imprint, and I was thinking that it would be cool if we got to know each other. I am having a sleepover tonight with Emily and Leah. Would you like to come?" she said, and I swear she didn't breath.
"Ummm, ok. Yes! That would be cool." I said. It would be a good idea, all the "wolf girls" getting to know one another.
"Ok. Emily can come over tonight to pick you up, she will show you where I live." She said, before hanging up. Then I remembered that I had agreed to go out with Paul this evening.
"I am so sorry, I completely forgot that we were going out tonight!" I said.
"Don't worry! Tomorrow night instead?" he said, and I smiled at him.
"That would be great. Thank you!" I said, before running upstairs for a shower. I turned the water on hot enough for it to feel warm even against my heated skin, the steady stream against my body soothing me. I washed my hair slowly, taking my time, before finally shutting off the water and getting out of the shower, drying myself off and padding quietly to my bedroom. I opened my wardrobe and found that all of the clothes Leah had lent me were dirty. I had nothing to wear. I cautiously sifted through the pile until I found a pair of denim shorts, then I decided to call Paul.
"Paul! Can I please borrow a shirt?" I called, knowing that he would hear me. Two minutes later he knocked on my door and, pulling my towel a little tighter around me, I opened the door. He froze when he saw me, and I glanced down. I wasn't showing anything much, just a little cleavage, although I guess that the towel didn't cover much of my now longer and tanned legs.
"Ummm, h-here you go." He stuttered, handing me the shirt before turning around and walking away abruptly. I was confused. I knew I wasn't exactly pretty, but my body surely wasn't that repulsive! I mean, my scars had faded now until they were barely visible on my skin. I felt unwanted tears swim into my eyes, and a couple fell down my cheeks. I angrily wiped them away, turning back into my room and shutting the door a little harder than necessary.
I yanked on his shirt, trying to ignore the warm feeling inside me when I breathed in his scent, and wrapped a belt around my waist. I glanced at the clock, before pulling a brush through my wet hair and jogging down the stairs and out of the house. I heard Paul calling my name, but I just ignored him. I thought he was a gentleman, that even if he was repulsed by my body he would at least try to hide it a little.
I sprinted all the way to Charlie's house, and I managed to run most of my anger out by the time I got there. I knocked on the door, and heard his footsteps coming towards the door. The full weight of my nervousness hit me then, and it took all of my willpower to stop myself from running away. I heard him slide the deadbolt back and unlock the door before pulling it open. We stared at each other for one awkward moment and then, to my complete surprise, he pulled me into a rib-cracking hug. I realized then how much I had missed him over the last couple of weeks.
"I'm sorry, dad. I should have come to see you sooner." I mumbled, my head buried in his shoulder.
"It's alright Bells. I just missed you, that's all." He replied, finally releasing me and standing to the side awkwardly. Both of us weren't really the type to show our emotions, and I shuffled past him into the house.
"Sue is spending some time with her kids. I heard about them joining the pack, and it has been quite hard on her." He said, and I followed him into the living room, perching on the armchair whilst he settled himself on the sofa.
"So tell me about what's been happening." He said, and after a hesitant start I began to tell him everything, including what James had done to me, just not in too much detail. He didn't need to know everything, and I was fearful of causing him a heart attack. His face got darker and darker as my story progressed.
I moved onto telling him about what had happened since I had phased. I finally finished my story, and was surprised by how long it had taken me. It was early afternoon, and I was starving. We sat in silence for a few minutes before Charlie eventually spoke.
"Thank you for telling me. I am so sorry that I wasn't there, that I couldn't stop James," he said, his voice thick with emotion.
"Dad! Don't be sorry, you didn't know, and even if you did, you couldn't have done anything." I said, standing up and going over to him, wrapping my arms around his waist. He just grunted.
"Well, I guess we should organize lunch." He said getting up. I grabbed his wrist, pulling him back down.
"I think it would be best if you don't go near the kitchen. I will make lunch." I said, shuddering at the memories of his terrible cooking. He smiled sheepishly at me, and nodded his head. I got up and went into the familiar kitchen, opening the fridge and pulling out some chicken. I began to cook it, slicing some potatoes and making a quick marinade. In no time at all I had the food laid out on the table, and Charlie and I were tucking in, me eating three times as much as him.
I had just finished eating when the doorbell rang. I stood up, telling Charlie that I would get it. I pulled the door open and was surprised to see Emily standing there.
"Hello!" I said.
"I went to Paul's place, and he said you were here. He also told me that you had no clothes, and as I can see you have resorted to wearing his shirts. How about we go shopping?" she said.
"That would be great! Is now good?" I said, grateful to her for offering.
"Yes, now is great. We can easily be back in time for the sleepover." She said.
"Ok, let me just tell Charlie." I said, turning back into the house.
"Dad? Is it alright if I got shopping with Emily?" I asked.
"Sure! No problem. Here," he said, and he handed me an envelope. I opened it curiously and pulled out a credit card.
"Oh, Dad. You don't have to give me this" I said.
"I don't have to, but I want to. There is no limit. Don't worry about spending too much, I am not exactly poor." He said, grinning at me. I grinned back and embraced him in another hug, before turning and heading back to Emily.
She was sitting in the driver's seat of her old red truck. I pulled myself up and into the passenger seat, slipping my new credit card into my pocket and smiling at Emily. I settled into my seat, and closed my eyes. Immediately the image of Paul turning away from me this morning came into my mind, and I opened my eyes, my good mood gone, replaced by hurt.
"Are you ok?" Emily asked.
"Yes, I'm fine." I said, but she obviously didn't believe me.
"You can talk to me. I won't tell anyone, I promise." She said.
"It's just that Paul seems to be really repulsed by my body," I said, my voice choked up with unshed tears. "This morning, he saw me in a towel, and he couldn't get away from me fast enough."
"Ok," Emily said, and to my surprise she pulled into the side of the road and turned the car around, heading straight back to the Rez.
"What are you doing?" I asked.
"Well, Paul has upset you, so you are going to go back and get him to apologise, and then we can go shopping without you being miserable the whole time." She said, and she refused to listen to my arguments.
A few minutes later, she pulled up outside Paul's house.
"Take as long as you need. I'll wait here." She said, and I unwillingly pulled myself out of the car and trudged up to the door, knocking on it and praying that he would be out. I had no such luck, and he answered the door almost instantly.
"Bella," he said. "You don't have to knock, just come in," he said holding the door open as I walked past him, careful not to touch him. I stood just inside the door, and he pushed it closed behind him.
"Am I that repulsive" he asked when he took a step towards me and I took one back.
"I was going to ask you the same thing! You didn't have to act so disgusted this morning," I said angrily.
"What do you mean?" he said, his voice confused and angry.
"I mean, this morning when I was wrapped in a towel, you couldn't seem to get away from me fast enough!" I said back, my voice a little louder.
"I wasn't repulsed! It was hard to concentrate with an almost-naked beautiful girl that I love standing in front of me!" he said back, and we both froze.
"Y-you love me?" I stuttered quietly, my anger gone.
"Yes," he breathed, before walking towards me. This time I didn't step away, and soon he was pressed against me, out heated skin warming a few shades where we touched. "I am completely, totally, head-over-heels in love with you." He whispered in my ear, lifting a hand up to cup my cheek adn turning my face to his. I knew exactly what was going to happen, and strangely I wasn't at all scared.
His lips pressed lightly against mine, and I was shocked by how soft and warm they were. My eyes fluttered shut, and I cautiously lifted my hands and linked them through his silky black hair, pushing myself closer to him. He took a step towards me, forcing me backwards, and I felt my back pressing against the wall as his tongue swept across my lips. That was what started the memory, the time when James had grabbed my neck, shoving me against a wall and forcefully kissing me, his tongue plunging into my mouth. I began to struggle, and Paul realised instantly, taking a step back.
"Too much," I said, gasping for air.
"Sorry," he said, and he too sounded a little out of breath.
"I should go, Emily is waiting outside." I said, pushing myself away from the wall and smiling gently at him. "I am going to the sleepover after that, so see you tomorrow?" I said as I made my way back tot he door.
"Ok," he said, and I pulled the door open. "Wait," he said, and I felt his hand around my wrist. I turned back to him, and wasn't surprised when he gently rushed his lips against mine. I pulled back after a second, not wanting to get carried away again, and smiled at him again, before walking away and hopping into Emily's truck.
"I take it that went well," she said, grinning at me as we pulled out and headed out to Port Angeles again.
"Yes, it did," I said, smiling to myself.
A/N There you go! So shopping, sleepover and general girly bonding time next chapter. Please tell me what you thought of this, I personally am not very pleased with it, but I needed to post something! Also, I want to start writing another story, something non-canon, but I really am not sure what pairing to do, so of you have any ideas or preferences, please don't hesitate to tell me! I need to write something else, otherwise I will get bored of this story. And hank you so much to everyone who reviewed! Relwot xxx