This chapter is SOOO long, I can't seem to stop myself with these long chapters at the minute, I was going to split it into two but i don't see the point so here it is, a long chapter, lets get this story started! :D Keep reviewing, reading, following, telling people about my story ect! This is probably my favourite story right now to write so I hope everyone else is enjoying reading it !
Something was bothering me. I had woken up with the thought yesterday and now I couldn't get it off my mind. Paul, obviously, he was always bugging me but the last two days it wasn't because he had been horrible it was because he had been nice. Which was crazy because I spent weeks wanting him to be decent and now he was I just felt confused? The thought that had hit me was that Paul had a girlfriend, which I knew because I saw them together, but he hadn't mentioned her at all the other night nor seemed to be bothered about taking me out even though he had a girlfriend. Sure it hadn't been a date but that wasn't the point, surely his girlfriend wouldn't want him out with a teenage girl while she did whatever she was doing and then another idea hit me, maybe he took me all the way to Forks because taking me somewhere in La Push meant someone would see him and tell the girlfriend, not that it was a date. Either way I looked at it, it was bugging me.
"What is your problem?" A voice snapped at me from behind and I jumped as I slammed my locker shut. Kim, she rose her eyebrows at me as I turned around. I was in a grouchy mood, I hadn't got to sleep until at least 1 am because of my over active brain and then by the time I fell into a decent sleep Sam was pounding on my door to wake me up. I felt like death and I was over thinking everything and it just sucked. "I've been talking to you for like ten minutes and I've had nothing back"
"Oh, it's nothing I'm just tired" It wasn't a lie and I yawned for effect as I shoved my phone in the back pocket of my jeans and walked with Kim toward the lunch hall. This school was growing on me, it was much smaller than my old one meaning it was less likely I would get lost and there weren't many kids meaning there weren't as many horrible kids to deal with. Nobody had even made new girl comments at me yet which had surprised me.
"Does it have anything to do with a little something Emily told me?" Kim sung out teasingly and I glanced at her, she was grinning in the same sly way Emily had done the other night.
"That depends what Emily told you" I asked a little warily.
"A certain Mr Lahote taking you for dinner for the other night" As she said it a choked laugh left my mouth and she dropped her mouth open as if I had just told her the best piece of gossip she had ever heard. "He did? I thought Emily was winding me up, he actually took you for dinner?" She stopped dead in the middle of the corridor sending some poor freshman into our backs as he made his way to the lunch hall.
"Yes but it wasn't dinner as in dinner it was just dinner" I argued as she pulled me out of the walk way.
"Is there a difference?" She looked at me like I was stupid so I nodded back at her like she was stupid; of course there was a difference.
"Yes after Embry dropped me home I went downstairs and found him rummaging around the fridge, I startled him and he dropped the food Emily had put in there for me meaning there was no dinner so he took me to get a pizza. He was just being decent because he ruined my food" I tried not to get wound up as I explained myself but I was tired of repeating this story, Sam and Emily had questioned me on it and now Kim was. They were his friends they knew he was with that other girl so I didn't know why they were making such a big deal out of pizza.
"Why was he in the fridge?" She questioned and I shrugged.
"Something about Emily telling him I was with you and there was dinner for him at their house, I don't know ask Emily, but it was just pizza and he didn't even talk to me that much he was just being nice I guess"
"But now you're grouchy about something, what else happened?" Kim laid a hand on her hip and raised one eyebrow at me as if I was lying to her but I wasn't. Nothing happened, I just confused myself. "What else happened? He was a jerk wasn't he?" She rolled her eyes and her voice fell into a fed up tone as if she had expected me to say that but it wasn't even that.
"No, he was nice it's me I just I guess it confused me a little"
"What did? Him being nice?" She smiled a little more now and I shook my head.
"He didn't mention her" I was going to sound like an idiot, an idiot with too much interest in Paul and his girlfriend.
"Who?"
"The girl, his imprint I guess" I whispered as I said the word imprint and Kim's face fell into a frown but her body went rigid.
"His what?"
"Imprint, girlfriend, I don't know I just thought if he was so in love with her he would have mentioned her or something but he didn't. But then he took me to Forks so I guess that was so no one saw and got the wrong idea right?" I sounded stupid, I was talking quickly trying to get my point out before she realised just how much I had thought about this.
"That's what's been bugging you?" Her frown turned into amusement and she started chuckling. "I've had to deal with you being in a bad mood for two days because of that?" She watched me as she finished laughing, I just stared at her. This wasn't funny, it was annoying. "Savannah, the girl you saw him with isn't his imprint she's not even really his girlfriend and other than two restaurants in La Push there is nowhere to go but Forks" Her hand had come down on my shoulder. "Don't worry so much, just take his nice mood while he has it because trust me it doesn't last long with Paul"
"I'm not worrying I was just thinking about it. If she's not his girlfriend who is she?" I asked as she started walking to lunch again, her smile went a little forced and she gave me a quick glance. She didn't want to tell me. "She's obviously someone, she was hanging off him like a stripper on a pole" The comment came out before I could stop it and I slapped my hand to my mouth as Kim started laughing.
"Meow, someone is getting catty today" She laughed harder and I had to join in, maybe my mood was a little grouchy. I had never met the girl; she hadn't done anything to me yet I couldn't stop myself think badly of her. "Don't let Jake hear you say that"
I frowned at her comment but then another thought hit me, maybe Paul was screwing Jake's girlfriend. "She's Jake's girlfriend?"
Kim laughed harder as I said it and shook her head. "No, Jake's only girl would be a little kid this height, Nessie. Actually the stripper on a pole is Jake's sister" Her hand came up to her hip and I remembered Renesmee, I knew that, I don't know why I said that. It was something Sam had explained and Emily but still bugged me, Claire and Nessie were kids yet they were imprints. I understood it wasn't romantic yet which relieved me but I guess it confused me just as much as everything else was.
"Oh sorry" I scrunched my face as I apologised but Kim shook her head at me.
"I've never met her but like I said don't call her a stripper in front of Jake, he can get quite protective"
"I didn't mean she looked like a stripper I just meant she was hanging off him all like never mind" I flapped my hand up as I tried explaining myself but it just made Kim laugh all over again. We walked into the cafeteria and I clocked the table of guys toward the back, Seth started waving like an excited child to us but Kim held her hand out to stop me.
"Don't mention anything to Jacob" She hissed so quietly I nearly missed it.
"I won't I said I wouldn't"
"No, I mean anything about Paul and her. He doesn't know, nobody does and if he found out there would be so much drama. I only know because of Jared but no one in Jake's pack know so try not to spill it, Paul's not really into her it's just you know" She hissed again and I felt myself getting annoyed, Paul was secretly seeing Jake's sister. If it was a secret then it can't mean that much, like Kim said they weren't actually dating. What kind of asshole used a girl, the one who didn't care, Paul. Then again what girl lets her be used, maybe she was a stripper.
As soon as the thought entered my head I mentally slapped myself, I so needed to stop with the bitchy comments. It shouldn't bother me so much but it was bothering me, more than anything ever bothered me.
"Come on before Seth pulls a muscle trying to get our attention" Kim looked passed me to the table of guys and I followed her gaze; Seth was now jumping around and pointing to a tray of food beside him. I guess they had got our lunch already.
...
I let it get to me; I had sat for the whole of lunch just pushing my food around my plate until Quil got so fed up of me not eating it he ate it. Then I snapped at Brady and Collin, I felt bad for it but by the time I realised how mean I had been they had gone and I was left with Jake who was making meow noises at me. They were only kids and I had snapped at them, to be fair it had been annoying me the last few days but still, they were kids. They kept staring at every girl who walked past our table and if the girl didn't look they would make a noise so that she did and then they would awkwardly stare her in the eyes, it's what they did to me when I first met them and they did it to a tiny girl who looked about 12 and scared her so I snapped, maybe I shouldn't have but I did. So now I was in my last class feeling like crap because I snapped at them and because Paul and his bit on the side were still bothering me. What made it worse was I was in gym; I couldn't even escape the guys to talk about it to Kim because gym was mixed and we were with the guys.
"Shorts are a bit short aren't they ChicAAgo?" Embry appeared beside me nudging me as he went and doing his usual accent that sounded nothing like me.
"Naa her big bootay just stretches them out" Quil appeared on my other side and I let out a groan, he was so inappropriate sometimes. Poor Claire, she had to deal with him for the rest of her life, maybe he would have grown up by then though.
"Sam is going to kill you two if you keep terrorising her" Jake's harsh yell came from somewhere but I couldn't see him.
"I'm going to kill you if you keep terrorising me" I muttered not expecting them to hear but they did, I wasn't used to their hearing skills yet and I received two big nudges into my arms on both sides of me.
"You couldn't hurt a fly, look all I have to do is flick you and you fall over" Quil spoke first and flicked my arm but it wasn't a flick it was more like a mammoth push and I went stumbling toward Embry, he didn't catch me though he simply flicked me back toward Quil and I felt like a tennis ball. Quil went to do it again but I slapped his hand away.
"Don't you have to go play with some dollies or something?" I snapped and he made an 'ooo' noise while Embry started laughing.
"I'm going to go over here before she goes at me like poor Brady and Collin" Quil held up his hands in defeat and backed away towards where I know saw Jake was stood. Now I felt like a double bitch, my mood needed to improve.
"So I'm guessing you're not in a very good mood today?" Embry swung around so he was looking at me, a little grin on his face and I had to give an exasperated laugh as he pointed the obvious out. I don't think I had ever been in such a heavily bad mood that I snapped at people I barely knew. I had never even snapped at my best friends in Chicago and we had been friends for years.
"Sorry, I'm just tired and I've had enough of being around all these people, I just need some peace" I moaned as I watched Kim talk to a girl that was in most of my classes but I had never spoke to her.
"You're going to have fun tonight then" Embry grumbled and I looked back up at him.
"What's tonight?"
"Jake's dad's birthday we are doing a thing at Jakes house, like food and stuff I guess. Sam didn't tell you?"
My heart dropped as annoyance built and I shook my head. "Sam never tells me anything, eurgh I just want to sleep and oh my god do your gym teachers ever actually do any gym or do they just stand and flirt?" I snapped again as I saw the two gym teachers stood talking and laughing with one another, the woman was twiddling her hair while the man was laughing and flexing his non-existent muscles. We were half way through class and I had just stood being annoyed.
"Stand and flirt, that's what makes indoor gym so fun, wait until the weather picks up and they make you run for the whole lesson, you'll be dying for it to rain" He laughed as I rolled my eyes and began walking for the row of chairs at the side of the hall.
"I'm just gonna sit here and watch Quil try to do whatever he thinks he's doing" I sat myself down and Embry copied me but a few seats away, both of us looking at Quil who was being cheered on by Jake and a few other guys from their class while he did something that looked like it was meant to be a sit up but he was getting halfway and straining so much he looked like he was about to cry.
"I honestly don't know how he is part of the pack, that should be easy for him yet he can't do it" Embry shook his head as he watched his friend and I finally cracked a smile.
"I can do that yet he can't, the kid worries me" I smiled more as Quil flopped to the floor and Jake started beating on him for being a wimp. Embry just nodded in agreement, I thought the wolves were meant to be strong but Quil didn't seem it.
We went silent for a while, just watching as Quil continued to fail at being strong. Everyone in class were just sitting around watching as the teachers failed to flirt with one another, Kim kept giving me quick waves and promising to be over in 1 minute but that 1 minute never came. Not that it bothered me, I didn't mind sitting with Embry.
"Hey"
A sudden voice caught my attention and a body came sitting down in the chair separated Embry and I, a boy who was in a few of my classes sat down and smiled at me, his smile painfully white.
"Uhh hi" I glanced at Embry, his lips were pursed together as if fighting a laugh and he looked away as he saw me looking. Who the hell was this kid? I looked back at him, his hair was in an over styled flop across his forehead and he was wearing a hat but backwards, for which I never understood. He was good looking in an obvious kind of way.
"I'm Brad, I'm a senior too" He squinted his eyes at me as if trying to seduce me or something, he looked like he had something in his eyes.
"Ok" I didn't quite know how to reply, I knew he was a senior because this was a senior gym class.
"You're the new girl from Nashville, right?"
"Chicago" I corrected and he nodded still squinting.
"Same thing"
Embry's body jerked again and I noticed him trying not to laugh, he was coughing instead. "Uhh no actually, different states, like completely different states you know different as in one is over here and the other over there" I made a movement with my hand trying to show that it was two separate places but I don't think he really got it. Embry coughed harder as I spoke and I had to bow my head to keep from smiling.
"Yeah well I was just thinking you were from Tennessee because you're the only ten I see" He squinted at me again and Embry started spluttering from the other side of him as he held in his laughter, I couldn't even laugh. This guy was just something else; he was way above awful at chatting someone up.
"Are your eyes ok?" I asked as they squinted harder now and he felt them with his fingers as if checking for something.
"Yeah why?"
"You're just squinting a lot, I was worried you had something in there, just yeah see you're squinting again" I pointed at his eyes and he started doing it again but this time his lips puckered up. Ok, this guy was just something else.
"How about you come out with me Friday and you can look at my eyes some more but up close, you know" He nodded now and I backed away as his face came far too close to mine for comfort. This kid actually thought he was working his charm on me, he kept puckering up.
"Ahh if you'd asked a few minutes earlier sorry, I've already made plans" I slapped my leg as if it actually bothered me and he stopped squinting to frown at me.
"With who?"
I glanced around, with who? I didn't know anyone here. Embry coughed again and I pointed at him. "With him, Embry, he just asked me out like two minutes before you came over, I didn't really want to but I felt sorry for him so I don't want to let him down you know. Sorry though, maybe some other time" Embry stopped coughing and looked over at me as Brad turned to look at him, I thought Embry was going to out me but Brad stood up too quickly and turned back to me. Squinting again.
"Yeah definitely another time, see you around" He winked, he actually winked whilst squinting.
"Yeah just go wash your eye I think you've got something right in there, yep you keep squinting that's just lovely" I mumbled as he backed off watching me. Embry stayed quiet until Brad had fully gone and then he started laughing hysterically.
"Who the hell is that kid?" I asked trying my hardest not to laugh but it wasn't working.
"Brad, he told you, he's Brad and he's a senior" Embry laughed harder while trying to copy the squint Brad had done only seconds before, it made Emrby look like a creep. "That has to be the best line I have heard him give out to anyone, I'm so using that one" Embry carried on while the teachers yelled for everyone to go get changed.
"You have no hope, I was actually worried I mean his eyes, it can't be good to squint that much" I started doing it to Embry and he did it back as we stood up and walked toward the changing rooms.
"He's over there going on about how you want him" A new voice joined our laughs and Jake walked beside us, him and Quil had obviously heard it too. "I feel sorry for him, I don't think he realises how awkward he makes girls when he does that"
We all looked behind us as Brad started high fiving his friends; the poor guy had no idea. "Bye Tennessee" Embry called out as we reached the changing room doors and both him and Jake turned to give me squints and puckers as they fell in through the boys door.
"Why was Brad talking to you? The guy is so weird" Kim squealed as she stopped beside me in the changing room, I guess she had seen.
"I'll explain later" I giggled remembering it and she smiled back at me.
"Well he obviously made you happier" She grinned before grabbing for her clothes. I didn't reply, I guess he had made me laugh but it was at him and his awful skills not because he was remotely interesting.
...
I guess Brad had cheered me up, I had spent the ride home laughing about it too Kim as she traded stories about him, he had been trying the whole squinting thing on girls since they were in Kindergarten and it had never worked. The poor guy. I hadn't even got annoyed when I got back to the house and Sam again failed to mention Billy's birthday until ten minutes before I had to leave, it was strange how one thing can change your mood completely but as I sat in the back seat of Emily's car Kim text me with a simple winking face and I found myself smiling all over again.
Jacob's house was small and sweet; it looked like a little red log cabin that you would stay in if you went on a mountain hunting trip or something. Cars were piled around the small house along with a couple motorbikes and run down trucks, there was a police car out front too which Sam saw and mentioned someone called Charlie being here. I didn't know a Charlie so I just nodded and walked behind Emily as she carried the present and a bottle of wine, Sam had a crate of beer and for me he had brought a juice carton, it made me feel about 5 again but I just smiled and nodded as he asked me if it was ok.
As I walked toward the front door my stomach flipped and I slowed down, this was the first time I had been around the whole pack of guys since finding out. All of them in the same room.
"You ok?" Emily pulled herself back and Sam walked straight in, the door letting a buzz of conversation and light out as it swung open.
"Uhh yeah I think I left my phone in the car" I went to turn around but Emily held her arm out stopped me.
"It's in your hand" She glanced at my clasped hands and I realised my phone was clenched tightly between them, I gave a sheepish smile and she rose her eyebrows at me. "You'll be fine Savannah, you've seen them in school and you have me and Kim, come on it'll be fine trust me" She held her arm out still blocking me from running back to the car and I nodded at her. I had seen them at school but that was public and this wasn't, this was an enclosed space with all of them. I didn't have a choice though because I was here now and Emily was hovering waiting for me to follow her in. I gave her another nod and a semi smile which seemed to please her and she stopped blocking me but instead stood behind me making me go in first.
"I think I" I glanced back at her but she shook her head at me, I had no choice. I suppose I had to do it at some point so why not tonight, sooner rather than later. Then I could go back to being normal and Sam's house wouldn't be off limits to them all. I was such a wimp. I had to do this, I took a big breath and shook my hands apart like I did before a big show and walked for the open door. I could hear them all, big growling manly voices all shouting over one another.
"Oh Savannah, I didn't realise you had come" A voice stood out to me as Emily pushed me further into the house, I was stood in the kitchen and I looked around for the voice. Billy, he wheeled himself to me from the sink area and gave me a big grin.
"Uhh yeah, umm happy birthday" I offered as he took my hand in his huge one and rubbed it kindly, the gesture you gave someone you didn't know very well. He was in a wheelchair but he was a big man, I imagine if he stood up he would easily be as tall as Sam and maybe as widely built.
"Thank you, and Emily good to see you" He turned to Emily who was behind me and she leant down to kiss his cheek and hand the present to him. "Thank you, Kim is about somewhere and oh Savannah have you met my daughter" Billy glanced around and I clocked Kim walking toward me from the group of guys all huddled together in the living area, her smile widening as she reached the counter. "Rach" Billy yelled over his shoulder and a girl popped up from behind the kitchen island, her appearance startling me both because it was sudden and because of the recognition that hit me as she flew up. I hadn't connected the dots between Jake's sister and being at Billy's house. It was Paul's girlfriend/not girlfriend.
Her smile faltered as she looked back at me and her eyes flashed from me to the living room where Jake was sat and back to me, she knew I knew her dirty secret. As we stared at one another a hot feeling of bitchiness hit me again and I found myself scanning her outfit as if I was dressed remotely better than her when in actual fact we were wearing similar clothes, skinny jeans and a top, I had to quit being so bitchy.
"Anyway, I'm going to grab a beer" Billy hadn't noticed the awkward encounter and wheeled straight past me toward the guys all howling with laughter while Emily pushed me toward the kitchen.
"Uhh Rachel" The girl with long raven black hair and a pretty face offered her hand to me and I stared at it for a second completely forgetting what I was supposed to do when a hand was offered to me. I gave a quick look to Kim and she started giving me harsh glares trying to tell me to take the hand and so I did but it was uncomfortable and stiff.
"Savannah, Sam's sister" Emily jumped in when I didn't reply and I dropped the hand that was burning me with discomfort. "She's a little shy" Emily came to stand beside Rachel giving me a wary smile and Rachel nodded at her. "This is Jacob's sister, just came back from college for a couple months right?" Emily looked up at the girl who seemed to fill me with cattiness and she nodded.
"I know" I slipped out and Rachel's mouth clamped shut before stuttering open again.
"Yeah I umm just graduated so I'm back home for a while, can I get you a drink?" Her voice went a little high and she turned away from me to grab a can of soda before I could answer. "You're in high school?" She was awkward, she didn't meet my eye as she handed the can of soda to me and I couldn't look at her either. Every time I did a nasty comment sprung to mind so I focused on Kim instead who was smiling falsely at me.
"Yep a senior, with Jake" I'm not sure why I added the Jake part in because she would know that but as I mentioned him her awkward glance left the kitchen counter and went to her brother.
"Savannah why don't you come sit with me I need to talk to you about umm our homework" Kim's hand slammed down on the counter making me and Rachel jump, Kim looked sort of deranged as she stared me down and I realised I was sounding bitchy as I spoke, I hadn't meant to make it sound threatening but I obviously had. I had no idea what was wrong with me, I was being stupid. I nodded at my friend and turned to leave the kitchen area while Emily stayed with Rachel. I didn't get far before Kim had my hand and began squeezing it so hard I wanted to cry out.
"Stop it" She hissed as she dragged me to the only piece of carpet not taken up by a huge body. I hadn't meant to sound rude, I was never rude especially to people I didn't know. This place was changing me.
"Here she is little miss Nashville" I glanced up at the voice as I sat down, Embry and Jake were both sat beside one another opposite and began doing a squinting and puckering up as I looked at them.
"Stop" I tried not to giggle, I honestly felt bad for the kid he had thought it would work. "Poor kid" I commented as the guys around us began hushing up listening to what Jake and Embry were saying and doing it. My eyes flew over everyone, Brady and Collin wouldn't meet my glance probably scared I would bitch them out again but the person sat next to them did and he lingered on it longer than I had expected, Paul. He didn't just look at me he was watching me.
"You say that now but you wait until next week, he'll be back" Jake warned and as he did Paul's blank expression turned to a small frown, wondering what Jake meant. I couldn't look away, I wanted to because I could feel everyone else watching me but I couldn't.
"Where am I taking you on Friday anyway?" Embry piped up and Kim gave a little stiff giggle as if she found it funny but wasn't ready to fully laugh.
"What's Friday?" Emily butted in from somewhere near Sam.
"We have a hot date" Paul's eye contact dropped from mine as Embry spoke, his head snapping straight to his friend and I had to look too, Embry was over exaggerating the squint as he spoke to me and Jake started rocking with laughter while Quil finally looked up from Claire and started grinning too.
"You have a what?" Paul exploded, he wasn't shouting but he didn't sound happy. I noticed Rachel appear beside her father and her own frown entered her face as she looked at the guy she was shacking up with. Embry was still laughing, blissfully unaware that Paul had snapped out at him while Sam shuffled to the edge of his seat as if waiting for something to kick off. I wasn't sure what his reaction was for though, nor Paul's, it was obviously a joke.
"You honestly should have heard it today in gym" Quil started but Embry held his hand up shaking it to stop Quil.
"Oh don't, it make me feel bad, he tried so hard" I interrupted trying to ignore Paul's current stiff posture.
"So hard it was cringey, that Brad Kinslow kid came over to us right and squeezed himself between me and Savannah and started chatting her up using the worst lines I had ever heard. He didn't pick up on the fact she was taking the piss out of him with her replies he thought it was working, I couldn't take it, I honestly don't think anything has made me laugh as much in ages" Embry stopped as he chuckled and Jake nodded along.
"Yeah he asked her out on Friday and she was quick as a flash making an excuse"
"I didn't know anyone else's name so I had to use Embry" I reasoned as Jake was about to say what I had said, my eyes glancing between Paul and Sam, neither of them finding it as funny and Embry and Jake were right now.
"So now her and Embry have a date on Friday" Quil offered up and Claire started singing in laughter copying what Quil was doing, her fake laughter overpowering anyone else's. I gave another look to Sam but he wasn't paying attention he was staring at Paul who was staring right back, it was like they were having a silent conversation but Paul's fists clenched together even harder.
"Aww Brad Kinslow, his sister was in my class they are a lovely family, you should get to know him" I didn't recognise the voice at first but Jake and Embry both turned to look at the girl beside Billy, Rachel. She had spoken, I couldn't meet her in the eyes I just shook my head. Brad was not my type, I didn't have a type but if I did then he wouldn't be it.
"The kids a looser Rach" Jake argued back and she hit out at him.
"He is not, he is a lovely boy so stop poking fun at him" She snapped back at her brother and I looked away completely, Kim was giving me a small smile but her eyes were shooting all over the place nervously.
"She can't get to know him until I've had my date" Embry piped up again and shot a pout at me causing Jake to laugh all over again but a movement to the right of them grabbed my attention back. Paul shot up from his seat on the sofa and pushed himself past Billy and Rachel before storming outside, Rachel stared after him obviously hurt but I couldn't help but feel a twisted smugness about the fact he had stormed past her. Sam and Jared both followed suit but calmer while Emily started questioning Jake on it more so that nobody noticed the disruption taking place.
I had noticed though and I didn't understand why he had done it, if it was because what Jake and Embry were saying then it was even more confusing, he shouldn't be bothered by that, he isn't my brother or friend so why would it matter to him?
I glanced across to Kim, her eyes fell from mine to her lap and I had the feeling something was being hidden.
...
I was so hot; I couldn't breathe properly sat between these crowds of men. The night had ticked by, food had been served, stories and jokes had been told and happy birthday had been sung but Paul had barely been inside. After his storm out earlier he had drifted in and out but he hadn't said a word to anyone he had just sat and stared blankly at the wall opposite, it was as if something had upset him and he didn't know how to deal with it. He had gone again about ten minutes ago, no one had mentioned him and so I guess he had left.
I glanced around at the small space as about fifteen people sat squashed together talking and laughing, Claire and Renesmee had fallen asleep about twenty minutes ago after bugging me for an hour to show them ballerina moves, I hadn't and they had soon got the message that I was not a ballerina. Kim had eased up and drifted into conversations with me about anything she could find to talk about while Emily had occupied the kitchen with Rachel who was beginning to really grind me, she kept giving me nervous glances every time I got into a conversation with Jacob. I mean I made me slightly smug knowing I held her big secret but I wasn't that much of a bitch that I would say anything. I began feeling stupid by the sixth time she did it; I was acting like a jealous little girl when I had no reason to be jealous of her. Everyone was here now, except Leah, she hadn't made an appearance but nobody seemed to take it as unusual and so I didn't ask Kim about it.
Brady crawled past me in an attempt to take Kim's left over cake but Jared beat him too it and the two guys hovered around sending new waves of uncomfortable heat over me. I could barely breathe, I needed air.
"I'm just going for some air" I told Kim as she chatted to me about wanting to go shopping and she nodded while I heaved myself up.
Sam held his hand out stopping me as I tried squeezing past him, his worried eyes frowning at me.
"You ok?" He sounded worried, the type of worry you had when somebody was about to burst into tears and I felt myself give a fake smile.
"Yeah I just need some fresh air" I sounded off, I could hear it in my own voice that I didn't sound right, I didn't feel right but then again nobody would if they were sat amongst this heat. He nodded and let my arm go giving me a clear path to the front door that was hanging slightly ajar. I didn't miss the glance Rachel shot me from the kitchen as I walked past, the bitchy part of me jumped up and I felt like staring straight back at her but I didn't, I needed to quit with the nastiness. She hadn't done anything to me.
The air that hit me as I pushed myself through the gap in the door fell over me in relief, I was so hot inside. My breathing became easier and I took a big breath in through my nose, the chill of the fresh air giving a burning sensation. It was so quiet out here; nothing made a movement or a sound and I let it relax me as I walked down the small steps to the big yard that ran right around the little red house. There was a bench beside the garage and I walked to it, my arms springing in goose bumps as the wind hit my bare arms but I didn't mind, being cold was a welcome feeling after what I just experienced. The closer I got to the bench the more I became aware of a noise from inside the garage, it sounded like a guitar but a very off tune one. Someone was in there. The lights were on and the door hung open slightly, I knew I shouldn't snoop but I found myself walking straight past the bench and toward the door. My breath hitching as I reached the old building, it was a guitar, if it was off tune it would be a nice melody, I stopped at the door and my hand fell over the handle pulling it open so I could see inside. It was a garage but not the usual one; it looked like a real mechanics garage with tools everywhere and a car with its bonnet open. I kept scanning until I found the reason for the noise, the person had their back to me perching on a stool, his thick arm muscles moving as he twiddled with the guitar sat in his lap; it was Paul. The tattoo I knew sat on each guys arm poked out from his grey t-shirt and I watched it as the muscles beneath it made it dance. He could play the guitar.
I shouldn't stand here watching him but I couldn't move, I was just stood listening to the melody his fingers created and I was hooked, it was beautiful even with the off tune twangs. My hand gripped harder at the door and it fell backwards giving off a loud creak as it sent me flying inwards. Paul snapped around at the noise, his body flying off the stool as he saw me and he dropped the guitar to the floor beside him.
"Sorry" I squeaked and walked in so he could see me, his surprised face turning to a blank discomfort, just standing watching me. I was such an ass. "I wasn't umm I just came for a walk and heard sorry, I should go" I turned to leave again but he called out stopping me.
"No wait" He yelled a little louder than I expected and I looked back at him, his arm was outstretched as if trying to hold me there. "You can stay if you like" He dropped his hand to his side and started twiddling with the loose material of his jeans, not that there was much because his clothes were so tight against his tree trunk thighs. I hovered for a minute not sure if I should, he seemed upset earlier and I always made him worse but I couldn't find it in myself to just walk away so I nodded and edged myself closer to him.
He kicked the guitar away from him as I went and moved so I had room to get past him, there was a few chairs dotted around and I hovered by them awkwardly, I could feel him staring at me and I wasn't ready to stare back so I turned and let my fingers run over some of the tools laying on the countertop.
"It's Jake's garage he works on cars a lot, we all come here to hang out and stuff, it's kind of dirty but umm" Paul stuttered his words out and I looked around me, the guys all hung out here, maybe they had hung here more because I took their other hang out when I freaked out to Sam about them being near me. I felt bad for that, they had proved tonight they were perfectly normal.
"You play guitar" I stated more than asked as I noticed Paul kicking the musical instrument away from him some more. He let out a noise like he couldn't decide what to say before appearing at the counter beside me and taking a bottle of beer from the top. It surprised me a little but I'm not sure why because I knew he was 21.
"No" He grunted walking back to the stool and I turned to finally look at him as I rested my body against the counter. He crunched his nose up and shrugged. "Yes, I used to but I haven't in a while. That's Jake's from when he was a kid he lets Ness play on it when she's out here with him so it's completely ruined hence why it sounded so awful"
"It didn't" I cut across him too quickly and he looked up from the floor. "I mean it sounded good, how come you stopped playing?" That was too personal and I knew it the minute I asked because he dropped his head back down and took a long swig of beer. "Sorry" He shook his head at me as I apologised and looked back up.
"I umm haven't really had time to play or write music, or a reason" He looked at me taking over my attention and I couldn't look away, my heart tugged as he spoke and I understood his words, maybe it was like me with dancing, I had nothing to dance for so maybe he had nothing to play or write for. No inspiration meant a lost talent; he had talent I could hear that from the short minute I heard him play. "Anyway, how come you are out here and not in there? Shouldn't you be making plans for your big date" He sat bolt upright on his stool and a fake smile slipped over his face, his mouth was smiling but his eyes were narrowing in dislike. For a minute I thought I saw the jealousy I had felt earlier but I shook the thought out, he wasn't jealous he was just in a bad mood.
"It got too hot in there; I don't think Brady and Collin have any awareness of personal space" I smiled at him hoping his annoyance would fade and it did, he barked a little laugh and nodded at me obviously not noticing I avoided the Embry comment.
"Just tell them to go away and they tend to listen" He was still grinning as he spoke but I shook my head, I couldn't do that.
"I've already shouted at them once today if I said anything else I think they would be scarred for life" I winced as I remembered how I had spoke to them at lunch and Paul gave me a puzzled look. "They were doing that thing where they stare at girls, they did it to me when I first met them and they keep trying it but today every girl who walked past us they were practically stopping them and just staring, one girl looked ready to cry"
"So you shouted at them?" Paul was grinning even wider now and I nodded at him, my own guilty smile spreading over my lips.
"It was annoying me and I was already in a bad mood, why do they even do that?" I stood upright and pushed myself onto the counter so my legs were swinging off the edge and Paul's smile changed into a guilty one.
"They think that's how you imprint, staring at a girl until it's so awkward you imprint" He started chuckling and took another mouthful of beer.
"Is that how it happens?" I was smiling but it had dropped, Kim hadn't said about how it happened she just said what it was. Paul's own grin dropped and he gave me a quick glance before shaking his head.
"Not quite" Was all he said and the way he sounded as he said it made me feel like he knew, Rachel wasn't his imprint though so maybe he didn't know, maybe Sam had told him.
"Why do they do it then?"
Paul started laughing again, his guilty smile growing and a somewhat evil glint in his eyes sprung up. "I told them they had to stop and stare at the girl until she either walked away or they imprinted, I didn't think they were still doing it"
My eyebrows rose as he said it was him; I hadn't expected Paul to have that playful streak to him. "It's so awkward when they do it; they've done it to me about six times since I got here. I can't believe they believed you" I shook my head as he laughed harder; I hadn't heard him laugh like this. His laugh was just as rumbling as his voice, I kicked myself for thinking it but his laugh was sexy as hell.
"It's not going to work on you, don't look so worried" He calmed his laugh down and looked at me, I wasn't worried I was more annoyed at myself for thinking the sexy comment, thinking things like that would only make me blush more around him. His comment made me jerk back, why not me? Couldn't I be an imprint?
"Why wouldn't it work on me?" I sounded offended, I was offended. Why wouldn't it work on me? I wasn't a hideous person, I didn't want Brady or Collin but it could work if it was supposed to. Paul gave me a quick look before shaking his head and looking back down to his lap, his amusement gone and replaced by a stiffness that I hadn't seen him have since the first week I was here.
"It only takes a quick glance; it would have happened within the first few seconds of meeting you and they wouldn't be able to even look at another girl for a split second let alone stare at her or touch her, the other girls wouldn't be you" His voice became quieter as he spoke and my heart beat began thumping harshly at my chest. He sounded like he knew; his words were full of a knowing and it made my breath catch in my throat. Kim could be wrong, maybe he had imprinted on Rachel because he talked like he knew and if what he said was true then he wouldn't have been able to touch Rachel unless she was his imprint. The reasoning I came up with made my whole body sink, it was a horrible thought mainly because I had an uncalled for dislike about Rachel.
"You talk like you know" A sudden wave of confidence fell over me and I just said it, he looked at me as I spoke and he didn't look away, he just held my gaze. I could look at him all night; he had the most amazing eyes.
"Something like that" He was sad, his eyes glazed over as if ready to cry and I made a movement to get off from the countertop but the squeaking of the door stopped me.
"There you are" The female voice called out and the hot annoyance that had lay dormant since I had come out here reared its head, Rachel. I didn't look away from Paul nor did he from me we just stared as she came closer into the garage. "You're brother is ready to go" She was talking to me and I nodded still not looking away from Paul.
It was only as she came to a stop beside him I looked away, I didn't want to see her draped over him. I hopped off the counter and went to walk away, Paul was still sat stiffly watching me when I turned to say bye but I couldn't get my words out.
"Oh enjoy Friday with Embry" I glanced at Rachel as she smiled sweetly, I couldn't decide if she was being bitchy or nice because she was damned good at her sweet smile but the annoyance still grew within me. Paul shuddered as she spoke and completely turned away from me, maybe he was annoyed at Embry.
I didn't reply, it wasn't worth it because I knew the annoyance would take over and I would say something rude. Instead I kept walking and slipped out of the garage but not before I heard Paul say one last thing.
"Get off me Rachel" He snapped as I shut the door behind me and the hot annoyance seemed to cool itself down, it was nice to know she wasn't just bugging me tonight. Maybe she wasn't his, Kim was right he couldn't be with her because I was sure he wouldn't talk to her like that if he was.
"What's that grin for?" Emily appeared alongside me as I walked toward her car, I hadn't realised I was grinning but as she said it I felt the smile that was spread across my face, maybe I was a little smug.