Bella's POV:

I skipped down the stairs the smile that had been on my face since last night never faltering. I was wearing a pair of yoga pants and an oversize purple shirt that slipped off one shoulder. My hair was loose and curly. I was hyper and excited. Today was my first date with Paul!

He was supposed to pick me up at 7 but I wasn't worried that he was late. Jacob had told me he wasn't much of a morning person. Normally, neither am I. Ask me anything before 10 o'clock and you will probably get a confused look followed by a semi-coherent 'huh?'

I opened the door and there stood my Paul. He was wearing jeans and a button-up shirt similar to one that Sam had worn to the bon fire last night. It sounded like he let out a relieved sigh when he saw me in one piece and he leaned down to capture my lips beneath his.

"You're lucky Charlie had to work early this morning" I teased as I let him into the house again. I headed towards the kitchen knowing that Paul was hot on my heels. "I figured we could have breakfast here and then head out?"

"Sounds great princess" He smiled and leaned against the counter "Anything I can do to help?"

"Set the table. Plates are in the cupboard behind you and cutlery is in the top drawer by the stove." I told him as I pulled out the waffle batter I had mixed while waiting for him, bacon, eggs and sausage. I set up the waffle iron and started melting some butter in a skillet.

He watched me with interest as I fried the bacon and sausage, made the waffles and fried the eggs. It was like he couldn't take his eyes off me and I really didn't mind the attention for once.

"Whatcha looking at?" I asked as I served up breakfast.

"Just the most beautiful girl in the world serving up something that smells absolutely delicious." He laughed as he sat across from me.

I have never in my life seen food disappear so fast. What I had made should have lasted Charlie and I two meals easily. By the time I was done there was no food left.

"Hungry?" I teased as I moved the dishes to the sink.

"Long night." He sighed and moved to help me clean up before we left.

Dishes were cleaned and put away and I grabbed my jacket off its hook by the door. As I grabbed my truck keys Paul took them away from me.

"Nuh-uh." He shook his head "We are taking my truck." I pouted but knew that it was probably the better choice if I didn't want to freeze waiting for a tow truck. However, he was a mechanic maybe I wouldn't have to spend so much time waiting for tow trucks in the future. My pout slowly turned into a grin and I am sure I looked nuts.

Paul led me outside and waited as I locked the door. "Wow!" He laughed at my reaction to his truck. It was a cobalt Chevy Avalanche.

"Like?" He asked as he led me down the walk and helped me into the passenger seat.

"I love it." I smiled "I was actually looking at one of these when I was still living in Phoenix."

He started the truck and pulled out carefully "Well you can borrow mine anytime you want."

I laughed loudly knowing that part of the reason he said this was that he was worried about my truck. Everybody said it, everybody commented that maybe it was time for an upgrade but it was my baby. I loved my truck. It was my welcome home present from Charlie when I moved here last year. Jacob had kept it in pretty great shape when Billy owned it and it was still running pretty well. I mean there were times when it suddenly died and left me stranded but when the Cullen's had been here Rosalie would fix it for me. After they left Jacob would give me a hand.

"So is there anywhere specific you want to go?" I asked as we hit the interstate.

"Anywhere you want to. I brought the list of movies from the paper." Paul pointed to the newspaper sitting on the seat between us which I quickly started flipping through.

"OH! Can we go see Alice in Wonderland?" I asked unable to keep the excitement from creeping into my voice. Alice in Wonderland was one of my favourite stories as a kid. I had been thrilled when I heard that there was going to be a new movie of it. Especially since it was Tim Burton and Johnny Depp!

Paul's deep laugh filled the cab and he nodded "Of course." He reached over and gripped my hand tightly.

I sighed contently and wished I could move closer to him. I wasn't going to but I had missed him so much the night before after he'd left I wanted to be as close to him as possible. I didn't think I was going to get used to that feeling anytime soon. Such an unnatural pull but I loved it. I undid my seat belt before moving into the seat beside me and rebuckling myself.

He smiled at me and kissed my forehead happily. I leaned my head against his shoulder only to feel him tense and hear him wince in pain.

"Paul what's wrong?" I asked immediately concerned.

"It's nothing Bella." He said trying to reassure me.

"It's obviously not nothing Paul. You are in pain and you are lying to me!" I called him out suddenly very angry. Here I am trusting him and he's lying to me!? "Tell me what's going on or pull the truck over and let me out right now."

He looked worried and said slowly "Bella it's nothing. I will be fine. I just don't want to worry you princess."

"Well you are hurt obviously so ya I am worried!" I shouted glaring at him. I just wanted to know what was going on, what had happened that had hurt him.

"There was a vampire near the reserve last night" He said after a few moments silence. I was shocked I couldn't speak and breathing was suddenly harder. As if I had a weight pressing against my chest. He reached an arm around me holding me tightly as we pulled into a rest stop. I was hyperventilating by the time he spoke again.

"She had red hair. We've seen her off and on for awhile but she always gets away. I managed to keep up with her last night and I did have her at one point. She attacked me and gave me some pretty nasty scratches across my chest and threw me into a tree." He held me even tighter as I tried not to cry. My Paul was hurt. By Victoria.

"Victoria hurt you. Victoria is back." I said trying to get my breathing under control.

"You know her?" He asked concern flooding his voice.

"Did Jacob ever tell you how I got hurt at a hotel in Phoenix last spring?" I asked calming down slowly as Paul rubbed circles along my shoulder. When he nodded I continued "It wasn't just me being a klutz. It was a vampire. A vampire named James. His mate was Victoria and they had one other member of coven. A Jamaican named Laurent." I saw recognition in his eyes at Laurent. I had a feeling he had encountered Laurent before.

"James was a tracker. They showed up at the field where the Cullen's played baseball. The Cullen's tried to disguise me as one of them but James caught my scent. Apparently it's very alluring for them. James hunted me and even though they tried to protect me I snuck away. I thought my mother was in danger and went after her myself. He attacked me, broke my leg, multiple ribs and he bit me." Paul tensed as I spoke. "Edward and the others showed up just in time. Any later and I would have been turned. Edward was able to suck the venom out and all I have left of the experience is this little scar" I showed him the crescent scar on my wrist and he growled as he traced his burning finger along the ice cold skin. "and the memories."

"What happened to James?" He asked.

"He was killed. Victoria must be back for revenge." I stated finally calm "Paul I want to see the marks." I said and he looked at me warily. "Please."

He nodded and started undoing the button up shirt. I could see a blue goop filling in some fairly deep gashes. I felt tears burning in my eyes but blinked them back.

"Princess these will be gone by tomorrow. I swear I won't even have a scar" Paul insisted leaning forward to give me a reassuring kiss "We wolves heal fast!" he joked lightly and I smiled.

"Ok we can go now" I said after a few more moments of calming. "Well after you kiss me again!"

He smiled and kissed me again. It was a kiss full of meaning. Happiness that he was safe. Love. Passion. Worry. I didn't want to lose him after I had just found him.