Chapter 12

All Characters (besides OC's) belong to Stephanie Meyer and the world she created.

A/N You asked for more so here you go ;)

Em had a full-fledged wedding panic attack the next morning so I decided to stay home with her and let one of the guys man the desk at the shop for the day. Despite the wedding being over two months away and it not being the most formal affair she felt that we were too far behind already and wanted to spend the day in Seattle gathering decoration supplies. She and I had easily spent hours in the craft store, buying things for the lanterns, centerpieces, table markers, and flower crowns she and I planned on making over the next few weeks. By the time we were done shopping it was almost 2:30 and we were an hour away from home still needing to eat lunch ourselves and grab food at the grocery store for the party tonight. We made our way to the diner when we got into town and ate quickly before heading to the local grocery store where we stalked up on wings, chips, queso supplies, soda and wine. By the time we got home it was nearing 5 and I still needed to get ready before people got here at 7.

"I'm gonna jump in the shower!" I yell at her after we finish unloading the car. I'm so jittery knowing I'm going to see Paul soon and not sure which Paul I'll get; hot and heavy throw you against the wall Paul, cold and basically ignore you Paul, or sweet tender Paul that I only barely got a glimpse of during the movie last night. As I'm drying my curls, Em enters my room.

"Soooo, what ya gonna wear?" Her eyebrows wiggling as she asks her question and saunters past me to the clothing rack in the corner of the room.

"Ugh, I don't know, I wanna wear something fun but also hot?" She laughs and pulls out a lowcut romper and tosses it on the bed.

"You shaved your legs right?" Yes..and other places…I nod. "Good, wear that! Lowcut and sexy but also loose and light. Also…are we going to talk about your date with Adam then the fact Paul came out of your room shirtless last night or…" I throw her a glare, I'm not ready to talk about either at the moment, I felt guilty enough about leading Adam on and I didn't want to jinx anything with Paul since we've literally only kissed once. She threw her hands in the air, "okay, okay, we don't have to talk about either! But hurry up its 6:15 and I need help finishing the food!"

After my hair and makeup are done I slip on the romper. My boobs are just big enough to hold the front in place, the slit of it going almost down to my belly button. The bottom of the romper flares out, making my ass look waaay larger than it actually is, which I'm not complaining about. I throw on a simple long gold necklace and some small wedge sandals and do one more appraisal in the mirror before going to help Em in the kitchen. She and I spend twenty minutes prepping the food as Sam sets up game tables and the barbeque in the backyard.

I hear voices from the yard and look out the window to see Paul single handedly carrying a keg. His muscles ripple under his gray tshirt, my mouth physically waters. Get it together woman, I chant in my head. "Those boys sure are hot." Em says behind me, "mmhmm" I reply then turn to her with a sheepish smile.

"So are you EVER going to tell me what happened between you and Paul yesterday?" Ugh, of course she's not going to let this go.

"I'll tell you what's going on once I know myself." I reply and she makes a sour face but doesn't push it.

"Fine, let's take a shot, maybe I'll be able to weasel it out of ya." I laugh but nod my head, I need a shot.

Paul and Jake enter the room as we slam our shot glasses down on the counter. "Oh Fuck ya!" Jake whoops, "I want in!" He comes to stand by us, guess we're doing another. I look over at Paul who's watching me, well staring at me.

"Want one?" I ask and reach across the counter for a shot glass, his eyes follow my hand but stops as it passes my cleavage which I'm hyper aware looks particularly good when my boobs are smooshed together like this. I grab a glass and look back at him expectantly.

"Uh, wh-yeah, yeah I'll have one." Jake cackles next to me and Paul swats the back of his head as he comes to take the glass from my hand. We all turn to Em so she can pour them and all four throw them back, Em and I using chaser after, the men scooting their glasses onto the counter and going outside to meet Sam who called their names mid-shot.

"That boy was just looking at you like you were a fucking snack, holy shit!" Em exclaimed when they shut the yard door.

"Shut up," pushing her with my shoulder but I couldn't help the huge smile that spread across my face.

By 11pm everyone was pretty much hammered. Em was on her third giggle fit and second piece of cake, Seth had trolled beer pong twice and was currently sitting under the beer pong table with Jared and a bottle of Jack, Jake and Seth were arm wrestling and Quil and Sam were shotgunning beers outside with Paul cheering them on. The birthday boy was sitting on the back porch watching everything unfold and drinking champagne straight from the bottle while dj-ing for no one in particular via his phone. I left Em with Kim and Rachel who were both equally smashed and made my way outside, desperate for some fresh air. I stumble a bit over the door frame which catches Paul's attention, his brows furrow together as he claps both Quil and Sam on the back and makes his way over to me.

"You good?" He lowers his head so we were eye to eye and it took every ounce of my self-control not to throw myself at him. I nod and push past him instead.

"Yeah, no I'm fine. Just need some fresh air is all." Walking past the other men I make my way towards the trees, hoping to get some distance from everything and hoping desperately that he'd follow me. We had been making intense eye contact throughout the night but he hadn't so much as touched my hand and I was itching to feel his skin on mine again. Sure enough I hear his footsteps follow mine as I make my way to the trail that led to the overlook Em showed me one of the first days I arrived. We walk in silence, him a few steps behind me the whole way. When we got close enough to see the ocean and far enough away that the house had disappeared, I stop. The moon's light is bouncing off the ocean's surface, swaying with the waves, it's mesmerizing.

"It's so beautiful out here," I murmur. I thought he was next to me til I feel movement behind me. He brushes the hair from my right shoulder aside and presses his chest to my back, bringing his face down to kiss my neck. His kisses are slow, tantalizing and so fucking hot. I close my eyes and let my head fall back against his shoulder, my heart rate quickens as his hand comes around my front, sliding underneath the romper material where it lay on my stomach.

He runs his mouth from my shoulder up to my ear and nibbles on my earlobe. "Yes, you are beautiful" he murmurs and I spin around, launching myself at him. My arms wrapping around his neck as our lips meet. He tastes like beer and chocolate cake. He grabs my waist guiding me backwards so I'm against a tree trunk. I lean off of it, arching myself into him and his hands run up my body, sliding over the sides of my breasts and my breath catches in my throat. God I want him so bad I felt like I was going to burst. I press my groin against his once more needing the friction. There was that growl again, I swear if anyone else growled while we were hooking up I'd chalk it up to being one of the weirdest fucking things but it was so primal when he did it and so hot.

One of his hands made its way down to the side of my thigh-thank god I shaved-moving up under the thin material of my romper and I broke away from the kiss, gasping for air as he bent his head placing hot and wet kisses on my neck, down my chest, between my breasts. Oh. My. I couldn't take it anymore, I grab his hand from the outside of my thigh and move it to where I wanted it between my legs. He inhales sharply, bringing his hand up under the material of the romper, when he finally made contact with my core I couldn't help but let out a moan and throw my head back against the tree trunk. His fingers expertly surpassed the thin layer of underwear I was wearing as he slips a finger inside me. He attacks my neck with his lips, each kiss setting a fire to my skin. I can barely think straight as his long fingers fill me, first one then two pump in me, making circles inside me and hitting the perfect spot over and over. I take it upon myself to undo his pants, he uses the hand that's not in me to scoot his pants and boxers down then braces himself with the same hand against the tree above me. I take him in my grasp and marvel at how big he is. Fuck I want him inside me but I'm wearing a romper and that would not be easy to maneuver. Plus I really don't want a one night stand with him, I want to drag this thing out for as long as possible. I pump him at the same rhythm as his fingers tread inside me, he moves his hand so his palm hits my clit and I can't help but cry out his name.

"Fuck." He moans and his cock twitches in my hand. "You're so fucking hot and wet," normally I hate it when men describe my vagina like a drink, but when he says it, I can't help but lose it. He moves his hand two more times and I increase the speed on my end as he pushes me over the edge.

"Paul, Paul" He cums with me as soon as I say his name, grabbing my arm that's holding him and angling it away so he doesn't make a mess on my clothes. I grind my hips down on his hand as I ride out my orgasm. We stand there for a few minutes as we come down from our high and he pulls his fingers out of me, I wince at the loss of contact. Without thinking I grab the two fingers that were just in me and pull them to my lips, running my tongue around them and sucking all of my remnants off of them, letting them go with a little 'pop' out of my mouth. I look up to see him watching with hooded eyes, mouth agape. Giving him a coy smile I start to straighten my clothes and fix my hair as I pull away from him. I'm not quite sure where that came from but it seemed to have taken him by surprise so I'll chalk that up as a win.

Just then, we hear yells from the distance, no doubt coming from the party. "We should probably get back" I murmur, looking at him once more, he appears to still be in shock. He shakes his head from side to side slightly as if waking up from a dream and quickly pulls his pants and boxers up.

"Yeah...yeah you're right" leading the way toward the house, I follow slightly behind. We make it about ten feet before he turns around suddenly, pulling me flush against him with one hand and bringing the other up to caress my cheek. The moonlight casts shadows across his face as his eyes scan mine, slowly he lowers his head placing a smooth warm kiss on my lips. "Trouble," he utters and pulls away, "come, someone might notice we're gone."

"Where the hell have you two been?" Jake shouts down to us as we're crossing the grass of Em and Sam's backyard.

"Took a walk" Paul's reply was curt and left it clear he didn't want to be asked about it again.

"Mmhmm, run into a tree on your walk, Elle? You got some bark in your hair." I rake my hands through my hair at his words but come up empty. "I'm just messing-" he's cut off by Paul standing directly in front of him, whispering something low and threatening that I can't hear. "Jesus Paul, I'm kidding, you tease Ness all the time what the fuck?" Paul pushes past him, ramming his shoulder into his as he does, and makes his way to the beer pong table where everyone is slowly congregating.

Jake gives me an apologetic look as I near him, "sorry I was just kidding, I didn't mean anything."

"No no, I know, you're good." I'm so confused by everything that Paul does, does he really not want people to think that anything happened between us? How can we be hooking up one second then jump right back to him making me feel inferior the next?

I'm drawn from my thoughts by a very drunk Em who's making her way over to me, "Elle! Kings cup!" Oh lord.

"I think I'm gonna have to cut you off babe" Sam says from the table.

"WHAT?!" She screeches in reply.

"Here, we'll be a team Em, don't worry." I grab her hand and squeeze. Em, Jake and I all stand on one side of the table, Sam and Seth are at the ends, and Paul is opposite us with Jared and Kim. Both Rachel and Embry are sitting on the porch swing smoking a joint and deep in conversation. Sam goes over the rules and passes around beers for everyone to play with. The game is loud and obnoxious and near the end of it I am well aware of how truly intoxicated I am. As it gets down to the last few cards I'm praying that I don't get the King and have to drink the now full "kings cup". There's only one king left and Seth draws a 3, Em, claiming she's good luck chooses for our team…king.

"Greeeeat, Em, thank you!" I throw her an annoyed look and grab the cup out of the center of the table.

"Oh shit! Elle I'm so sorry! Here, let me help!" She reaches for the glass in my hand but before she can get to it I bring it to my lips and start chugging. It takes me an almost embarrassing amount of time but I down it all, only letting a few drops dribble down my chin.

"Fuck me Elle, your New York City tolerance is no joke!" Kim blurts out and I send her a wink across the table making her giggle. The beer hasn't hit me yet but when it does I'm pretty sure it'll knock me on my ass seeing as though Em and I are slightly swaying together.

"I need some fucking weed" I say to no one in particular, but I suspect Seth will be the one to reply.

"I got a piece in my car, I'll get it." To my surprise, Seth was not the one offering, but Paul; who I had been avidly avoiding the whole game, still confused by the way he responded to Jake teasing us about possibly hooking up and the way my body still had not recovered from us actually hooking up.

"Yessss, get Paulina!" Em responds from next to me.

"Shut up Em, you know that's not her name." He shoots back walking away from us and around to the front of the house.

"Who's Paulina?"

"His piece, I gave it that name when he first got it because it looks super intimidating but hits really nice and smooth, just like him. Well not just like him, he doesn't hit, well humans. Fuck, nevermind I'm so drunk." I can't help but laugh over her sputtering of words and the fact that my own drunk ass kept up with each one of them.

My heart fluttered when Paul returned with a rather large bong with multiple percs and a huge bowl attached to it's side. I'm drunk, but I'm also 99% sure it's not the bong that made my body react so strongly. I really wish I knew what it was that made me so beyond drawn to Paul, that in his presence I felt nervous and excited both at the same time, that his touch ignites an unbelievable fire and desire in me.

"Paulina" Em uses both her arms to gesture to the bong in a showcasing manner.

"Ahhh" I tilt my head a bit in understanding.

"Yes, yes, Paulina" Paul concedes, rolling his eyes.

"Bless, but can we smoke inside, these mosquitos are eating me alive." Kim whines and hurries towards the back door with Jared hot on her tail, grabbing her waist and hugging her to him once they were inside. I really have never wanted to be in a relationship so much as I do being here, surrounded by all these happy couples. I feel pathetic thinking about how badly I want to have that with someone and even more pathetic at how badly I want that someone to be Paul.

"Is there a lot of weed in NYC, Elle?" Kim asks as we all get settled in the family room, Paul once again claiming a spot directly across from me.

"Oh yeah, I mean there's basically every drug you can imagine, but weed is the only one I fuck with anymore."

"Ah yes, remember our Molly days?" Em asks wistfully, leaning her head on my shoulder as we sit next to each other on the couch. A serene remembering smile creeps across both of our faces.

"You did Molly?!" Sam asks, his tone dripping in shock.

"Yeah, a couple of times, there's still things you don't know about me my love." Em replies.

"What's it like?" Kim asks us, it's so common of my friends back home to have done multiple drugs by the time their 18 it's weird to have a room full of young adults unaware of these things.

"It's really…euphoric" I struggle to find the right words, "like, it'll make you so unbelievably happy, and your skin feels amazing, when someone touches you it's just..." I trail off, a huge smile casted on my face. "But it's also really bad for you and doesn't last that long" I shrug.

"Whoa" is all I get in return from Kim.

"Bong's packed!" Paul chimes in, drawing the conversation away from MDMA and to a much safer, lowkey drug.

"Yessss" Em replies with a deep satisfied groan.

After one giant rip, I become so crossed that everything starts to blur. Jared, Seth and Jake shotgun some more beers, Sam takes Em to bed after she falls asleep on my shoulder, both Kim and Rachel talk at the kitchen table while sharing cereal directly from the box and Embry and Quill crash on the living room couch. I scroll through social media, laughing to myself over stupid memes and hear the lighter ignite again, looking up to see Paul, even closer to me now taking a huge rip. When he goes to exhale he makes eye contact with me and blows it in my direction. I fake a cough and wave my hand around to disperse the smoke as he laughs, sending him a scowl, I can't help the smile I feel appearing on my face.

"Wanna get some fresh air?" He gestures to the front door with his head as he asks.

The thought of being alone with him again makes a tingle break out at the top of my spine, curl around my stomach and land in my groin. I nod and he stands in one fluid motion extending his hand to me, lifting me to my feet with such strength and ease I spring up in an instant, but lose my balance. Stumbling slightly forward, I brace myself against his chest as his arms encircle the back of mine.

"Sorry," he murmurs and I can feel his breath make my curls dance slightly. I smile up at him, our faces just inches apart, if I go on my tiptoes right now I could easily crash my lips to his. His eyes flicker between mine, a heat slowly igniting in them. "Come," with that he steps away from me but grabs my hand, pulling me behind him as he springs out the door.

I expected him to continue down the porch steps but he pulls me away from the doorway, pressing me against the wall, his arms bracing it on either side of my shoulders. Not waiting for him to make the first move, I grab his waist pulling him flush against me, his hands move to my face angling it towards his as he plants an urgent kiss on my lips. Electricity and desire course through me like a race horse being let out of their cage, relishing in the freedom. My nails rake down his back and he shutters from the contact, I open my mouth as his tongue skirts along my lips, then he deepens the kiss, leaning his body into mine. I break our lips apart only to suck in a long breath of air as he does the same, placing his forehead against mine. Our breathing is ragged, but in sync.

Just then the door next to us unlatches about to swing open, Paul grabs me, whirling me away from the door and to the wall on the side of the house. The movement was so fast that I didn't even have my feet on the ground, he just floated me away from spot. I lean my head against the wall to catch my breath, holding onto his arms to steady myself.

It hits me that yet again he was trying to hide me, anger begins to rise in my chest. "Why do you keep doing this?" I say, pushing him away from me.

His face contorts with confusion at my tone. "Doing what?!"

"Hiding me, are you really that afraid of people knowing we've hooked up? Will it tarnish your bad boy reputation to be seen with someone?"

"Hiding you?!" His face covered in shock then he let out a small chuckle and it feels as if someone threw lighter fluid on the angry fire within me.

I move to push past him and he catches my hand with his; "whoa Elle! I'm sorry, I just, I mean who would ever want to hide you?"

I turn my face to him expecting to see the cocky grin I hate so much but was met with a sincere gaze, his eyes boring into mine. Placing my hands on my hips I challenge, "you tell me."

He rakes a hand through his hair and I try to ignore the fact that I'm starting to love that nervous habit of his. "I'm not trying to hide you Elle, I just...I just don't want to share you. Here, especially with the guys, once news spreads of anything happening between people it becomes everyone's business and not just those that it involves."

What kind of pathetic excuse? "Why would it become everyone's business?"

"Haven't you ever formed strong opinions of people your brother dated? Your mom? We're family here Elle, people will involve themselves in our business whether we want them to or not. Once we are whatever it is we are in front of them all, there's no going back."

The anger that had risen inside me has yet to subside, his explanation of the situation not helping. "I'm not asking for us to get into a relationship and to start parading around this place like the couples here do, I'm just saying I don't want to feel like I'm an embarrassment. If you're going to jump every time someone could see us being close, or only touch me when no one can see, I'll find someone around here who won't." My tone's harsher than I anticipated, but I'm pissed and I want him to know it. For the past few weeks he's been making me feel small, I'll be damned if I let him continue to do it and get to hookup with me at the same time.

His eyes widen slightly at the end of my speech, looking down, then back up at me; "you're right."

This was truly not the answer I was expecting. Based on what Em has told me, Paul can be quite the womanizer and I half expected him to give up the whole thing. I ignore the discomfort in my chest at the thought of having to end whatever we had after so little time. "I never meant to make you feel like you're an embarrassment Elle, you're the opposite, you must know that."

Before I can form a response, yelling came from the front of the house. Jake and Seth must've been the ones who stumbled out a few minutes ago and were now in a full fledged screaming match. They were both yelling over one another so I couldn't make out what either was saying but instinctively both Paul and I rush to the porch. I go to move around Paul but he extends an arm, stopping me and pushing me behind him.

I can barely make out their figures as both men are crouched to the ground and slowly making their way in a tight circle. It was as if two animals stalking one another, waiting for one to lunge first. Before anyone could strike, the front door clanged painfully against the wall as Sam stepped onto the porch with such force I think the ground under me actually shook.

"Enough" he said with such a commanding tone that both Seth and Embry stood stock straight and looked to him. "Jake go inside and get to bed, Seth, go home." The two aggressors began to make their way apart from one another. Sam then turned to Paul, "go with him will you? Make sure he makes it home alright?" Paul gives him a tense nod as Sam makes his way back into the house.

"What the fuck just happened?" I murmur as Paul turns to me.

"Nothing important, they send jabs at each other whenever they're drunk, sometimes taking it too far."

"Must've been a hell of a jab, they were ready to tear into each other!"

He shakes his head a slight smile making his way to his lips. "Nothing to worry about. I gotta make sure Seth doesn't hurt himself walking home, I'll be by tomorrow?"

"Okay"

"Paul!" Seth damn near squeals from the bottom of the driveway.

"Fuck, I gotta go, I'll see you tomorrow," he gives me a small smile and races down to meet Seth. Turning back before they go he yells "go inside Elle, there's bears out here." It came as more of an order than a request which made me want to stay outside out of spite, maybe take a walk around the yard to prove something to him-I'm not sure what, but something. I didn't though, because it was cold and I was exhausted.