Title: The Best Of Times
Chapter 14: Tracking Down A Vampire And Why The Fuck Did I Do That
Rating: T, for language I guess. If the rating changes, you'll be the second to know.
Disclaimer: I don't own any aspect of Twilight and all its proceedings, they continue to belong to Stephenie Meyer.
Summary: Ava Swan never expected to move to Forks, Washington permanently. Then again, she never expected to be imprinted by a hot-headed shapeshifter. Eventual Paul/OC. No Bella-bashing. Follows New Moon (mostly). There's no way I can make this sound original, ever.
Notes: This is mainly an OC-insert story into the films, meaning the Paul/OC will take a backseat for now!
Sarah Lahey: I'm glad you're looking forward to it! I don't know, I feel like it's kind of hard to hide the fact that someone imprinted. And Bella finds out in this chapter, nothing insane!
brankel1: Thank you! :)
Love.Fiction.2019: I'm glad you think so! I hope you continue to enjoy the story!
"So you're just hunting her down? Is that...safe?" You wondered aloud, "what if someone gets hurt?"
Paul scoffed haughtily, "that leech doesn't stand a chance. Took one out a week ago."
After leaving the beach and making it back to Emily's, you realized it was beginning to get a little late. When you tried to leave, amongst the protest of everyone in the house, Paul insisted he accompany you back to your house.
"I don't know. Why you want to ride with me when you're just going to have to walk all the back."
"Friends?'
"Be honest, how many friends have you had because this is insane."
When you parked in your driveway, you both climbed out and hovered nervously around each other. The casual and playful attitude that you had before dissipating slightly, before you asked, "...this wasn't some ploy to find out where I live, right?"
"The one in the forest," you nodded, recalling the conversation that Bella had with you after her hike, before asking uneasily, "you just...killed him?" Jacob never mentioned the vampire and after Bella explained the speed of them, you just assumed that he had gotten away.
Paul shrugged nonchalantly, not bothered by the topic in the least, "yeah. Just had to catch him first."
You weren't sure what to make of this, obviously you were aware of the rivalries that vampire and werewolves had, but not really to what extent. Jacob had only briefly told you about the treaty and that's the only reason that the pack hadn't hunted down the Cullens.
Noticing your discomfort, he added, "the ones that are a threat. That's actually what we do when we patrol," remembering your question at the bonfire, "make sure everything's running smoothly."
"How long will you be tracking?"
He heaved a sigh and lifted his shoulders, "whenever we find her, I guess. Sam's in charge, so I don't know."
"So, a long time then?" You said uneasily.
"I think you're underestimating how good we are."
You held back a laugh at his petulance, "we'll see then. I'll time how long it takes you to come back," you said without thinking. "Won't be long," he promised, satisfied with your response before glancing behind you and scanning the landscape, "...you're good here. Nothing'll happen."
You were going to ask what he meant when you were interrupted with the unmistakable sound of a familiar red pickup; Bella and Jacob parked in front of the house and made their way towards the pair of you. Jake and Paul nodded at each other before turning towards you and Bella, "don't worry," Jake said firmly, "we've got this place covered. She won't get near you guys, or Charlie."
You realized Paul was talking about Victoria earlier and you reached up to your necklace, unknowingly tugging. Now you were nervous, recalling Bella telling you about how James had gone to enormous lengths to get to her. You weren't sure how much danger you were in, exactly...but now that you were living with Bella and Charlie...and Paul, a shape-shifter part of a pack that was hunting her had imprinted on you, you were unsettled.
Bella fidgeted with her fingers, "look, you have to be careful. She's fast, you don't know how fast she is."
"You two really are related," Paul blew out, annoyed.
"You know, your lack of confidence in us is a little insulting." Jake remarked, giving her a small smile. Bella just scoffed lowly at him and Jake nodded his head once at Paul, "we'd better go."
Paul looked apprehensive but agreed. "You have to?" You tried asking cooly, but the whole situation was beginning to worry you. It's just one vampire, you thought, how hard could it be? They already got one, what's another?
"Yeah," Jacob answered, looking slowly from you and Bella, "got a vampire to kill." Bella looked down, accepting the answer, and turning slowly to walk to the front door.
Jake motioned his head towards the street to Paul, who looked still looked hesitant; you didn't know what possessed you but it was almost instinct or...gravity, ironically enough...but you moved forward and wrapped your arms around his instantly frigid frame.
Just as quickly you pulled back and brushed past him, moving towards the front door while mumbling a quick goodbye. You shut the door quietly behind you, immediately meeting Bella's inscrutable expression.
"...what?" You hissed, defensively.
"Nothing," she replied, "we just have a lot to talk about."
"So, the way I see it is, it's like vampires finding their mate?" Bella compared, "like Carlisle and Esme?"
"Or Sam and Emily," you pointed out quietly, "I think they're a...better example."
You had been explaining everything; from finding out about Jacob being a shape-shifter, to the bonfire, and being unwillingly imprinted on. Speaking to Paul that day definitely put you at ease, knowing he didn't expect anything more from you than a friendship. Plus Sam approaching you to give a clearer understanding on Paul's end of everything, was comforting.
Bella took things a lot easier than you thought. Apparently, Jacob had mentioned the imprinting in passing earlier that day when they went on their walk. Thankfully, in Bella's case, being with a vampire really lessened the impact of most things that people would find shocking; she just asked about what that meant for your future.
"Well, I can't exactly turn into a werewolf," you joked, trying to alleviate the tension.
Bella cracked an uneasy smile, "...is this what you want, though?" You lifted your shoulders half-heartedly, "I don't know. You fell in love with Edward in, like, a day."
She frowned, "that's different."
"How?" You raised an eyebrow. In your opinion, Edward finding his mate in Bella was pretty much the same as Paul imprinting on you.
"It just is," Bella insisted, "this life is...it's dangerous, Ava."
You scoffed lowly, "do you even realize how hypocritical you sound right now?"
"How?" She asked this time, a genuinely confused look on her face; you stood up from her bed and crossed your arms, her expression being the last straw, "Bella, you're dating a vampire. You're basically engaged to the guy, and he's turning you into one. How is Paul imprinting more dangerous than what you're doing?"
"You weren't supposed to-I didn't want you getting involved," she reasoned, "you weren't supposed to find out about any of this."
"But I did, Bella," you threw your hands in the air, exasperated, "I did and you telling me that this is dangerous just makes you sound like an idiot."
"Ava-" Bella frowned, standing up from her desk. You shook your head and walked towards the door, "no. This isn't fair. You sound so-"
"I'm sorry," she rushed out in a breath, "...I didn't mean to-I'm worried, okay?"
Pausing at the door, you shifted for a few seconds before turning on your heel to stare at her. "I'm sorry," she repeated, "...really. Can you just..." she gestured to the bed, "sit down. Please."
As much as you were a fan of dramatics, fighting with Bella didn't seem like a good idea.
Letting out a heavy sigh, you plopped back onto her bed. "I know, that you know, what you're doing," Bella continued after a beat, "I just...can't see you get hurt. You're already in danger because of me, and-and dad's in danger, and I'm trying to help."
You began fiddling with a loose thread in her duvet, "I get that," you wound the thread around your finger tightly, "...I'm doing the same, but you can't write off my choices by saying they're dangerous when yours are nearly identical."
She nodded slowly, "I know..."
"Nothing is even...I don't know what I'm doing, Bella," you confessed finally, looking up and revealing how you felt about the situation. You didn't want to admit it but the way you had been acting...it was starting to feel like a crush, "I feel like knowing this is making me act weird."
"You did hug him," she said pointedly. You scowled at her before turning your attention down to your hands, "I know I did. That's what I'm saying."
"Imprinting," she said pursed her lips, "...so, Jake is...or-or has he..." Bella frowned, inclining her head down. You furrowed your eyebrows, "you didn't ask?"
"I didn't...I don't know," she fidgeted, "I don't really want to know."
You frowned and after a beat of silence, you spoke, "I...don't think he has. Imprinted, I mean..." before adding emotionlessly, "...considering how he is with you. If he had, then he wouldn't be...you know."
"What?"
You narrowed your eyes sharply at her, "You know, Bella. You know how he feels about you."
She looked down sheepishly, "...yeah. You said that the...moment...Paul saw you, he felt it. But maybe it's not that way with every werewolf? Like, maybe it takes a while." Bella sounded almost like she was trying to convince herself.
"Sam said it was involuntary. I don't remember if he said it was instant," you recalled slowly, "but, I don't know."
There was a pregnant pause before you looked up again, saying quietly, "...Bella, you shouldn't...lead Jake on. You know he likes you. A lot."
"I do," she insisted vehemently, "and-and maybe I don't know what I feel. When I'm with him, I feel alive. After…"
"Edward," you finished.
"Exactly. And he's gone. So, maybe I can make myself feel something for Jake, he's-he's better right now."
You sighed heavily. You had no idea what to do; on one hand you wanted to smack some sense into her for trying to force feelings and on the other, you thought that maybe she could feel something for Jake. Even if it was eventually.
"Just...don't do anything to hurt him," you implored, "...please, Bella. I've known him-we've known him a long time. He's one of my best friends and you're like a sister. I don't want to pick sides, if things go wrong."
"There won't be any sides," she reassured, "I know what I'm doing and if I can help it, no one is going to get hurt."
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Incorrect Quote(s) of the Chapter:
Bella: You've been through a lot recently, how are you feeling?
Ava: Hold on, let me get my mood ring.
.+.
Paul: You're everything I could ever want.
Ava: You must have depressingly low standards.
.+.
Ava: Paul is the worst thing to ever happen to me. All this pressure from everyone to be together is really wearing me down and I just want everyone to shut up. It's like he was created to mess up my life, specifically.
Bella: You just doodled 'Ava Lahote' all over the back of your notebook.
Ava: Irrelevant.
.+.
Paul: I know you think my judgement is clouded because I like Ava a little bit.
Jacob: You drew your wedding invitation.
Paul: That's our joint tombstone.
Jacob: My mistake.