Chapter 11: bloody alphas

Disclaimer: the characters and all recognisable situations belong to Stephenie Meyer- this is a work of fanfiction. Thanks to furyangoddess for betaing.

AN: Bella never can make a decision

Later in the kitchen with a cup of coffee and their books spread out on the table, he looked serious for a minute.

"Before I forget; don't ever text me." She looked confused, "you never know who can read the message." he continued. She frowned. "I caught Sam with my phone; he said he had just picked it up, but it seemed weird, you know?" he shrugged "I thought he might have been checking my messages."

"What business is it of Sam's?" Bella wondered aloud.

"Bloody Alphas; always throwing their weight around. Just wait until Jake steps up." He grumbled.

"Jake?"

"You didn't know? As the descendant of the great Black family; he is next in line for the chief of the whole tribe. Alpha wolf is an extra in that bag of tricks. Sam is just holding the position until he feels ready to step up. Maybe when he is 18 for the Alpha and later for the chief. You didn't realise Billy is basically the chief now?"

"I never thought about it. I knew there was a council of elders; everyone is always so respectful around him. That explains a lot." She muttered to herself.

"Paul, what does that mean for how Jacob feels about me?" she looked stricken.

"Do you want the truth?" he asked quietly.

She nodded.

"Because of his status; who he wants to be with is a tribal matter. Half the tribe thinks you are not an appropriate partner because you are white."

She gasped. "They actually discuss that at a tribal meeting?" she was astonished.

"Sue and Billy are amongst some new, more modern thinkers on the council but a lot of them are pretty old school. Sue took over Harry's position on the council," he continued. "You probably don't realise, but Charlie has done a lot with the tribe and the respect people have for him, extends to you. But you are still not a rez girl."

She sat in thought for a minute. "Poor Jacob," she muttered "Chief of the whole tribe and I turn him down." She giggled to herself.

"But have you?" Paul was serious.

"Have I what?"

"Turned him down?"

"Countless times. I love him but not like that; he put me together after Edward left; I keep telling him he is my best friend," she trailed off. After a little silence she added "I didn't go to him to get laid."

Paul smiled at her "Yeah, but he doesn't know that."

"I've been avoiding him; but I have to see him and make sure he does understand that I don't think of him that way. I mean I have told him enough times haven't I? I kept shaking him off at the bonfire. Why doesn't he get it? You saw me shake him off at the bonfire…didn't you?"

She paused "That's right…you were avoiding me that night." She sighed. "I'll go see him tomorrow and make it very clear that I do not want to date him; again."

"Now," she frowned at him and got to her feet "You are just trying to put off dealing with this essay." She was looking in the fridge. "Did you want to stay for dinner? Charlie is out and I can just as easily cook for two."

"I'd really like that." He pulled her onto his lap and started kissing her and nibbling on her neck. She giggled and slapped him away. "Stop it! You are distracting yourself again."

The phone rang and she wriggled away to answer it.

"Oh, hey, Jake." She rolled her eyes at Paul. She mouthed "again" at him. He snorted.

"Is someone there with you Bella?"

"Yeah…it's Paul… he needed some help on his Jane Eyre essay. You remember I'm tutoring him? I was just saying to him that I wanted to see you tomorrow. Are you busy?" Paul made a thumbs-up sign at her for encouragement.

"No, I'll be around; probably in the garage."

"Great! I'll pop out after lunch and bring some warm sodas." she laughed. "See you then."

She hung up the handset to see an odd look on Paul's face.

"Warm sodas?" he asked.

"Yeah; it's a Jake and Bells thing." she explained "No fridge in the garage."

"Jake and Bells?" he queried further with an arched eyebrow.

"Oh, stop it! God, you still haven't done any work!" she exclaimed "This is all your fault."

"Yeah probably" he smiled.

Late that night she lay in her bed. She was oddly disappointed that they hadn't really made it into the bed and there was little of his scent on her sheets. Wow. Is that weird? You want to smell him.

They had a nice dinner. They chatted easily. He filled her in on more of the pack gossip. She had no idea that the identity of Embry's father was an unknown. Because he had phased it had to be Uley, Black or Ateara. They were the only ones around at the time he was conceived. Everyone suspected Sam's father, as he was a deadbeat. She couldn't imagine it being Billy and if it was, it would disrupt Jake's alpha status as well. Leah was still bitter and angry at Sam; it upset them all.

She had tried to get information out of Paul about his own life but only managed to get that he did indeed live alone. He avoided explaining why.

He had kissed her thoroughly goodnight; she could barely let him go.

She wanted to help him. Charlie said he had it tough but neither Paul nor Charlie would give her any information. She really couldn't quiz Jacob tomorrow. Paul was right; she needed to let Jake know once and for all that she didn't think of him romantically. She needed to work out some way to let him down easy; for want of a better expression.

Paul fascinated her. He appeared so confident, brash and angry and yet he was nothing but nice to her. A seventeen year old boy, living alone; looking after himself. What did he do for money? He had said he couldn't afford to buy a bike helmet, so he must have a job or something to buy food and pay his bills. She didn't know. So much for just being fuck buddies.

She wanted something more from Paul, but wasn't sure what. She wanted to sleep in his clothes; to have her bed smell like him. She was enjoying the sex and he was so sweet to her, but did she want to 'date' him?

Until she worked out what she wanted, maybe it was better to sneak and keep whatever it was they had, quiet.

She fell asleep thinking of him though.

FF_2154210_ - 22/06/2010 12:34:00 AM