Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight or any of the characters you recognize.

Thanks for the reviews and for adding me to your alerts. Please review.

CHAPTER 21

Emily walked to the door and opened it and saw Sam and Paul sitting on the porch.

"Paul," Emily said and both guys turned to look at her. "Can you step in here and help me for just a second?"

"Of course," Paul said and stood up.

"He'll be right back," Emily told Sam and he nodded.

"What's wrong?" Paul asked worriedly when they were inside.

"Nothing's wrong but we need to get Zoey's jeans off of her and it hurts for her to put pressure on her foot."

"Ok just tell me what I need to do," Paul said.

"Don't use this as an opportunity to try to check Zoey out naked." Emily warned him.

"Emily, that never even crossed my mind, I wouldn't do that to her." he said quietly.

"You actually really like her and care about her don't you?"

"Yes I do Emily," Paul sighed as they walked in the room. Paul walked over to Zoey and extended his hands to her. She placed both hands in his and he pulled her up and Zoey stood not putting pressure on her right foot.

"So looks like I'm finally going to get to see you naked," Paul teased and Zoey shook her head.

"Paul," she said embarrassed.

"Well I guess not completely naked," he said. "Ok Emily is going to get your jeans off of you just hold on to me, I won't let you fall."

"I know," she said and Emily slid her jeans down.

"Ok Zoey I need you to get these off your legs.

"Hold on," Paul said and he placed his hands on her bare hips and picked her up and Emily slid them off her left foot and then gently pulled them off her right foot. She winced a little as they came off and Paul put her back down. Zoey noticed Paul didn't even try to look at her while she was standing there in nothing but a t-shirt and panties, the Paul she met the first day she got here would definitely be looking at her. Emily laid her jeans on the couch and then Paul picked her up again Emily slid the shorts over her feet and he sat her back down and Emily pulled them up and then Paul helped her sit back down.

"I'm going back outside with Sam, Emily will come and get me when she's got your foot all checked out."

"Ok," she said quietly and Paul walked out of the room and went back to join Sam outside.

"Ok now lets have a look at your ankle," Emily said and she started feeling around her ankle and Zoey winced when she touched it.

"I really don't think its broken, its swollen so we need to put some ice on it and keep it wrapped for a while. Which also means you're gong to have to stay off of it for a little while."

"Ok," Zoey sighed clearly not happy about not being able to walk on her ankle.

"I'm going to get Paul and Sam and some ice," Emily told her. "Plus everyone else will be over soon,"

"Really, isn't it kind of late?"

"No they all went out on dates tonight and Leah will be finishing up patrol so we're all getting together to watch a movie."

"Ok," Zoey sighed and Emily walked away and told Paul and Sam to come back in. She put some ice in a bag and handed it to Paul.

"Go take care of Zoey," she told him and he took the ice and walked into the other room and sat down with her on the couch.

"Let me see your ankle." he said and he placed it in his lap and put the ice on it.

"You need anything or want anything?" Paul asked her.

"No, I'm ok," she told him.

It was only about thirty minutes later when Jacob and Mikaela walked in Sam's house and saw that Zoey was on the couch with Paul and she now had her ankle wrapped.

"What happened?" Jacob asked when he saw her and rushed over.

"Date didn't go so well," Zoey told him.

"Brayden did this," Jacob asked angrily.

"Yep," Zoey said.

"Brayden may have done this but it all comes back to Embry," Paul said angrily.

"How is this Embry's fault?" Jacob asked and Paul looked over at Zoey.

"Might as well tell him," she sighed and Paul quickly explained what happened.

"Damn it," Jacob said. "I'm going to kick Brayden's ass." he growled.

"And I'm going to deal with Embry, this has gone on long enough," Paul growled angrily.

"Paul," Zoey said. "Don't go getting into any trouble."

"Z," he said. "Don't worry about it ok." she shook her head. "He'll be here soon," Paul told her and stood up. "I'll be back in a few minutes." he told her and stood up and walked out of the room. Jacob sat next to her.

"Zoey," he said and she looked over at him.

"I'm ok Jake," she told him.

"Zoey tell me the truth, are you in love with Paul?" Jacob asked.

"Jake it doesn't matter," she sighed.

"Zo," he said.

"Jake," she sighed.

"Just tell me Zoey, I won't get mad."

"Yes Jake," she admitted. "I've somehow managed to fall in love with Paul." she told him. "But I can't do anything about it because he could imprint on some other girl so I'm ok with it."

"Zo," Jacob said softly and she looked over at him and he saw a tear run down her cheek. "I'm sorry Zoey," he said quietly and wrapped his arms around her and she laid her head on his shoulder. "I think he might actually feel the same way about you Zoey, without an imprint."

"I doubt it," she sighed.

"I don't," Jacob said. "I see how he looks at you and treats you." she smiled and shrugged her shoulders. "So Paul's the one who came and got you."

"Yes, I couldn't get anyone else on the phone." she said quietly.

"But what about Tori Phillips?" Jacob asked curiously.

"He left without fucking her," Zoey told him.

"Really, that's so unpaul like," he said.

"I know."

"He left a girl he's been after for weeks to come and get you, because you needed him." Jacob said.

"I know," she sighed. "but I doubt he feels the same way."

"Why?"

"Because he had to help Emily get my jeans off because it hurts to put pressure on my right foot and he didn't even try to look at me, while I was standing there in nothing but a t-shirt and panties," she told him. "And you know Paul would definitely be trying to look at a half naked girl if he was attracted to me."

"That doesn't mean anything Zoey," he told her.

"Whatever Jake," she sighed.

Paul walked outside to get some time by himself. He couldn't believe Sam told him to tell Zoey the truth about how he felt, like she would ever feel the same way about him. Like Zoey could love him without an imprint. If she did love him without an imprint would he even want to try with her. Maybe he should just look her in the eyes and get it over with and he either imprints on her or he doesn't but at least he managed to fall in love with her without an imprint, at least that was something for him at least. A few minutes after Paul walked outside Embry was walking through Sam's yard. When Paul saw him he walked off the porch to meet him.

"Did you talk to Brayden before his date with Zoey?" he asked angrily.

"Well I thought he deserved to know what kind of girl Zoey was."

"Embry you have no idea what kind of girl Zoey is because you're to busy making her life miserable and intentionally hurting her to get to know her." he said as he was shaking slightly.

"Whatever," Embry rolled his eyes and went to walk past him but Paul grabbed his arm.

"Zoey is not what you think she is and Brayden did try to sleep with her and when she refused he pushed her out of his truck and she hurt her ankle," he said angrily.

"Maybe she shouldn't have been teasing him and he wouldn't have pushed her out of truck," Embry told him and Paul drew back and his fist connected with Embry's face and Embry fell to the ground. Embry stood up and glared at Paul they were both shaking as Paul hit him again and they both exploded into wolves and started fighting, rolling around and biting and growling at each other. Jared and Kim walked in Sam's yard at this time and Jared saw them.

"Embry and Paul, damn it." he cursed. "Go inside, hurry, get Sam and Jake," he told her and she ran past them as Jared started stripping his shorts off to see if he could do anything.

When Kim ran inside Sam was in the kitchen with Emily.

"Kim what is it?" Sam asked.

"Embry and Paul, fighting, in wolf form," she told him.

"Damn it, Embry's had this coming for a while," Sam said. "I actually hope Paul's winning," he added.

"JAKE!" Sam yelled "Embry and Paul are fighting outside," he said and Jacob jumped up and ran out.

"Damn it guys you can't leave me here on this couch." she told them as Jacob and Sam stripped off their shorts and phased as they jumped off the porch.

When Jacob and Sam got outside it seemed as if Paul was getting the best of Embry but they both seemed to be bleeding. Jared was running around them trying to figure out the best way to break them up as Quill walked in the yard.

"Damn it," he cursed. "Go inside ok," he said to Amanda and she ran inside as Quill phased.

"Somebody help me get off this damn couch right now because I want to know what the hell is going on," Zoey said angrily and Emily and Kim walked over with her.

"I think you should stay here," Kim told her.

"No help me get up and get to the kitchen because when Paul walks through that door he's not going to avoid talking to me," she told them.

"Fine," Kim said and she helped Zoey stand up and they somehow managed to get her to the kitchen table.

Outside Sam and Jacob managed to break up Embry and Paul but Paul was still furious as he stared at Embry.

Look at what you've done to Zoey- Paul said and he replayed the whole night for them in his mind. Being with Tori and getting the phone call from Zoey, how she had called everyone and no one answered the phone, how he told her he was busy, the internal battle he had with himself about going to get Zoey before telling Tori he was leaving to go get Zoey without fucking her and what Tori had said:

"Actually that phone call was important and I have to go." he told her.

"Are you serious?" Tori asked in disbelief.

"Yes, my best friend needs me, she's hurt."

"She?" Tori asked.

"Yes her name's Zoey, I have to go."

"Paul you've been trying to get me to sleep with you for weeks and you're just going to walk out on me?" she asked appalled.

"Yes," he said.

"Paul if you leave right now, you won't get another chance with me." she told him. "This is it."
"Well I guess I missed my chance then, Zoey needs me and she means a hell of a lot more to me than you do,"

All the guys were to shocked to say anything because next Paul showed them what she looked like when he found her the ripped shirt, how she had been crying. Then he flashed to him carrying her on his back as a wolf to Sam's. Then he showed them how much Embry hurt Zoey with his words, he replayed one time when they talked about it and all the guys stood there in their wolf form shocked. Embry phased back to human first and looked at the wolf Paul in front of him who phased back seconds later.

"I didn't realize you imprinted on Zoey," Embry said quietly.

"I haven't imprinted on Zoey," Paul said as the rest of the guys phased back and put their shorts on.

"But you love her, I can see that," Embry said.

"Jared go get some shorts for Embry and Paul." Sam told him and he nodded and ran to Sam's house.

"Embry you need to apologize to Zoey because this has gone on long enough," Sam told him. "And if you can't say anything nice to her, just don't talk to her," he added and Embry nodded. Jared ran back out and handed Paul and Embry their shorts and they put them on.

"Lets get inside," Sam told them and they all walked inside. All the girls were in the kitchen when they walked in. Embry looked at Zoey who was sitting at the table. He noticed her ankle was wrapped up. He walked over to her.

"Zoey," Embry said.

"Alright everyone, to the other room," Sam told them and everyone walked out of the kitchen and to the living room.

"Zoey," Embry said as he sat in the chair by her. "I'm sorry about what happened with Brayden, I should never have said anything to him." he told her. "I'm sorry about all the things I've said to you and I know I've hurt you a lot and I now know the things I've said aren't true," he sighed. "I'm sorry you got hurt Zoey."

"I'm ok," she told him and he nodded and stood up but sat back down.

"I'm really sorry I was to busy being mad at you to realize I was hurting you."

"Its fine Embry," she sighed.

"Paul may not have imprinted on you but he loves you," Embry told her and stood up and walked to join everyone else.

When Embry walked in the other room to join everyone else Paul went to go talk to Zoey. When he got in the kitchen he saw Zoey standing up and trying to walk into the other room. She turned and grabbed onto the table and tried to walk to join everyone else but her foot got caught on the chair and she started to fall but Paul ran over and caught her.

"I've got you," he said.

"Thanks," she whispered.

"I want to talk to you before you go back in there." he said and she nodded and Paul helped her sit down in a chair. He walked over and knelt down in front of her.

"Z," he said. "I…." he placed his hands on her legs. "I…" he said and he laid his head on her lap.

"Zoey," he said.

"What is it Paul?"

"Will you…Do you think you'll feel like having lunch with me tomorrow, just the two of us at my house?"

"I think I will," she told him.

"There's something I want to talk to you about."

"Why can't we talk about it now?" she asked.

"To many ears listening," he told her and she nodded.

A few hours later everyone was leaving. Jacob was going to take Mikaela home before he went home.

"Zoey do you want to ride with us?" Jacob asked.

"No Jake I'm ok, go take Mikaela home."

"Zoey…."

"I'll make sure she gets home Jake," Paul said and Jacob looked over at Paul.

"Ok," he said. "We'll talk when I get home Zoey ok,"

"Ok Jake, be careful." she told him and he nodded and left with Mikaela.

"Are you ready?" Paul asked Zoey.

"Yeah because its going to take a while for us to get me home with my ankle."

"You really think I'd make you walk," Paul said and he scooped her up in his arms and she wrapped her arms around his neck and he walked out of Sam's house and headed towards Zoey's house.

"Paul maybe we can talk now since we're alone," she suggested. "Whatever it is you want to talk to me about tomorrow."

"ok," he sighed and he stopped walking and gently sat her down. "Lets sit," he said and he helped her sit on the ground then sat beside her.

"Ok Zoey this isn't easy for me and the truth is I've never done this before with anyone especially a girl."

"Paul just tell me," she said. "You can tell me anything?"

"I really hope so Zoey because I don't want to ruin things between us."

"Paul just tell me ok," she said and took his hand in hers. "Please just tell me."

"Ok, I'll tell you Zoey." he said and took a deep breath.

"Paul."

"Zoey we've been hanging out a lot and I really like you."

"I really like you to Paul," she told him and he smiled.

"We've been spending so much time together which I really like, I wasn't sure if this would work with us at first but it has." he said. "You've become my best friend, a girl I would do anything for." he went on. "But somewhere, somehow things changed at least for me and I kept trying to find more excuses to be around you." he admitted nervously. "And picking a fight with you over going out for Brayden for no other reason than I just didn't want you to go out with him because I was a little jealous." he told her and Zoey looked shocked. Why would he be jealous over her going out with a guy?

"Paul, why would you be jealous?"

"Because I wanted to be the guy going out with you, I don't want to share you with other guys," he told her.

"But you don't date or do relationships." Zoey said surprised.

"I would for you," he whispered. "Because the truth is I somehow managed to fall for you Zoey, you managed to somehow break through everything and make me fall in love with you."

"What?" she said shocked. "Paul."

"I said I'm falling in love with you Zoey Black, I love you and you're the only girl I want."

"Paul did you imprint on me?" she asked.

"No Zoey, I haven't imprinted on you yet, I fell for you all on my own." he told her.

"But what if you imprint," she asked. "I love you to Paul but I don't want to get my heart broken when you imprint on someone."

"Zoey, I haven't looked directly in your eyes to see if I would imprint on you."

"Why?" she asked.

"I'm afraid I won't imprint on you and I don't want anyone else but you."

"I don't want anyone else but you either Paul," she told him as she laid her hand on his cheek. "I only went out with Brayden because I knew you would never ask me out."

"I want to take you on a real date," he said.

"Look me in the eyes first Paul," she told him.

"Z, I…" he said and he nodded. "Ok Zoey, its better to find out." he said nervously and she nodded. "I still love you imprint or not."

"I love you to, imprint or not," she told him.

"I want to kiss you first and then I'll look in your eyes and I will imprint on you," he said firmly.

"Ok, kiss me Paul," she whispered and Paul leaned in to her, Zoey could feel his breath on her face he leaned in closer and his lips touched hers, Zoey felt as if a jolt of electricity ran through her body starting at her lips and going all the way to her toes. Zoey leaned into him as his lips moved against hers Paul slipped an arm around her waist and pulled her closer and he threaded his fingers in her hair. Zoey slid his arms up his chest and around his neck as Paul deepened the kiss, Zoey felt like her heart was about to beat out of her chest and when Paul finally pulled away she looked down and took a deep breath.

"Wow!" she exclaimed and Paul smiled.

"Z," he said and she glanced up. "I love you ok."

"I love you to," she told him and he smiled. He placed one hand on each cheek so he held her face in his hands.

"Zoey," he whispered and leaned down and touched his lips to hers one more time. Paul closed his eyes and pressed his forehead against hers. He would never admit it but he was terrified of opening his eyes.

"Paul open your eyes and look at me," Zoey whispered. "Just please open your eyes." she pleaded. Paul took a deep breath and slowly opened his eyes and his eyes met Zoeys for the first time and he felt it, his whole world shift so that everything disappeared but Zoey, he felt the pull to her and that now she was the only thing in the world that mattered, she was his reason for living now, his whole world revolved around her. She was so beautiful her brown eyes had green flecks in them and they seemed to sparkle when she smiled up at him as he stared at her. Paul smiled down at her.

"Zoey," he whispered.

"You imprinted on me," she smiled and he nodded.

"Yes," he whispered. "Yes you're my imprint," he added as he smiled and leaned down and kissed her lips. "You're mine," he growled possessively and pulled her to him.

"So does that mean you're mine," she asked.

"Yeah baby I'm all yours," he said and kissed her lips.

"No looking at other girls, no more Jennifer Corona," she said.

"No Z you're the only girl I want now and if I'm being honest you're the only girl I've wanted for a while, I just thought you would never want me."

"Paul I've wanted you for a while, I just wasn't brave enough to tell you." she said

"I should get you home," he said and stood up and extended his hands down to her, Zoey placed her hands in his and he pulled her up. Zoey placed her hands on his chest and ran her fingers across his chest and over his six pack. "Careful little girl," he growled and leaned down and kissed her lips, Zoey leaned into him as Pauls arms wrapped around her pulling her closer to him so their bodies were pressed together. Zoey ran her hands across his back as she felt Paul's tongue run across her lips begging for entrance. Zoey's lips parted and Paul slipped his tongue inside her mouth and touched his tongue to hers, their tongues battled for dominance until Zoey gave in as Paul's tongue explored her mouth, she moaned when his tongue touched hers. When Paul pulled away Zoey laid her head on his chest trying to catch her breath.

"Damn Paul," she panted.

"Think about it Zoey, that's just a kiss."

"I know," she sighed and Paul wrapped his arms around her holding her to him.

"I really should be getting you home Z," Paul said.

"I know," she sighed. "Lets go," she said and he slipped an arm around her waist and helped her walk towards her house.