Disclaimer: I only own Gemma and my other OC's.

Ok before I start I want to address some questions that were asked.

Sarahmichellegellarfan1: I plan on writing through all the books but there will be some changes. One will be Leah will phase sooner.

Book-Nerd 4 lyfe: So happy you love this! No Gemma will not phase, I have other plans for her. And you will just have to see what is in store for Leah's imprint (:

I'm soooo happy that you are all loving this so much and I'm proud to say that this is now my most popular fic! Thank you all so much for all the love and support. You have no idea how much it means to me.

ENJOY!

Chapter 21

Monday was finally here and I was trying to not get my hopes to high that Paul would be back today. I still have yet to hear from him and it's killing me inside. We have never gone one day without talking. I was missing him something terrible.

Instead of asking Leah to give me a ride like the past week, I decided to take my bike. If you couldn't tell by now, I do not drive. I have a terrible fear of driving.

When I got to school, I looked around for his truck but did not see it anywhere. I was hoping that I was just early but who knows. Wanting to tune out the world around me, I stuck my earphones in and blasted the music on my ipod on shuffle.

Today was not one of my mornings with Jared and for that I was thankful. I don't think I could concentrate even if I wanted to. My brain seemed to have been slowing down over the past week.

Before heading to my first class I went to the restroom. Right as I went to open up my stall door after flushing, I stop at something particular that a few girls were talking about.

"Did you see Paul?"

"Oh my gosh, I know! He's gone a week and comes back even hotter than before."

What do they mean hotter?

"I tell you what, his girlfriend better watch out. If she thought it was bad enough with how girls were throwing themselves at him before. It's going to be even worse now."

"Tell me about it. I was and still will be one of those girls. Paul Lahote is the hottest guy on the rez. Paul is going to ditch her sooner or later."

"We'll see."

When I hear them leave I come out of the stall and stare at the door. I wasn't really surprised about them talking about throwing themselves at him; that I was use to. But him becoming hotter? I didn't know what they were talking about but the thing I care about most is that he's back, but why wouldn't he tell me he was?

On my way to my class I was looking in both directions to see if I could spot him, but I couldn't.

I met up with Leah on the way to the lunch room. "Did you hear about Paul being back?" I asked her. She rolled her eyes, "It's all the stupid girls keep talking about. He didn't tell you he wasn't coming back today?" I looked down shaking my head.

Before heading into the cafeteria, Leah grabs my arm stopping me. I turn to look at her to see what was going on. She doesn't even look at me but I follow her eyes and my heart skips a beat. At the end of the hallway walking this direction was Paul and now I could see what the girls were talking about.

Paul seemed to be even more buff than the last time I seen him and he cut off his beautiful shoulder length hair to a crop cut. As much as I loved his hair, he looked even hotter if possible without the hair around his face.

He also wasn't alone. Walking by his side with a pack of girls drooling behind them was no other than Jared. My first thought is 'what the hell'. Paul isn't looking around but looking straight ahead over everyone with a blank face.

I remove Leah's hand from around my arm and start to make my way towards him. I had to talk to him, touch him but Jared makes eye contact with me and stops Paul telling him something. Paul closes his eyes and starts to begin to shake. I try to make my way over to him faster through the crowd but before I can get to him he turns around to go back the other way.

I pushed my way harder between everyone and calling out his name but he doesn't stop.

Lucky for me he went down one of the hallways that they lock during lunch. He shook the handle angrily.

"Hey," I call out to him breathlessly. Instead of turning around and looking at me, he tenses up. "Why didn't you tell me you were coming back today?" I ask putting my hand on one of his arms which is extremely hot.

"Are you still sick? You still feel like you have a high fever?" I was now concerned that he came back early.

"I'm fine," He grumbled.

I lean my head against his back with my hands on both of his arms taking in his feverish body heat. I was so relieved to be touching him right now but I couldn't keep the thought that something was wrong from my mind.

"You have no idea how worried I've been about you. This has been such a horrible week."

I swear I hear him mumble 'you have no idea' but I couldn't be sure.

Looking up at his now cropped hair, I run my fingers through it. "I love the new cut," I say making my way in front of him to look at his face but his eyes are shut tightly.

"Paul, honey, what's wrong?" I put my hand on the side of his face and he starts to lean into it but after a second, he stands up straight and takes a step back. "Nothings wrong with me," he growls making me jump.

I take a step closer to him to take his hands in mine but he just steps back jerking his hands away. He won't look at me, just over my head. "Paul?"

He shakes his head, "Not now Gemma. We'll talk later." With that he turns and walks away, his body shaking. But before he turns to go down a different direction he punches a locker making me jump.

It feels like my heart is being crushed. He has never talked to me like that before. I couldn't help but feel scared. The tone of his voice, avoiding eye contact, body shaking, feverish skin; something is wrong with him and right now with what ever is happening with him...I fear the worse.

I'm not sure how long I was standing there before someone starts waving their hand in front of my face, "Gemma?" I look to see Leah looking at me with concern. "What happened?" I slide down the wall and tell her what happened.

"There's something wrong with him Le. And the way he said 'we'll talk later' makes my heart ache." I look at her beside me with tears in my eyes, "I'm scared." It barely came out as a whisper. She wraps an arm around my shoulders and pulls me in close. "He's probably having a bad day. You don't know why he's upset. You said he still felt hot. Maybe he's still sick and isn't completely feeling himself."

"Then why was he with Jared?"

"I don't..."

"When Jared spotted me, he said something to Paul and Paul took off in the other direction. I can't help but think that he was trying to get away from me."

She sighs, "You won't know until you talk to him. Go to his house after school."

I shook my head, "I can't. I start my internship today. Remember?"

She nods, "Come on, lunch is almost over." She helps me up and we walk to our next class but I can't help but notice the huge dent in the locker from Paul's fist.

...

The rest of the day was really slow and it felt like a dark cloud was hovering over me. I didn't see Paul anywhere else during the day. I even waited outside his last class like usual but he wasn't there.

I rode my bike to the Hall of Records hoping this would help get my mind off of what is going on with Paul.

As soon as I walk in the door, I'm greeted by Marsha. She's sixty-five and has been running this place since before I was born. I put on the best smile I can at her warm welcoming smile. "Are you ready for your first day?" Her excitement got me excited as well.

For the next three hours, Marsha showed me how to run the computer filing system on their ancient computer, showed me how things were filed on the shelves, and where their most important records were kept. She informed me for the next couple of weeks I will work on the filing and then she'll show me how to work in the perservation room where the oldest and most important ones are kept. I couldn't wait.

But when I stepped back outside, Benny storm cloud was back over me.

Instead of going home like I should at five o'clock in the evening, I went to Paul's. I had to figure out what was going on.

...

When I arrived at his house, both his and Jason's vehicles were in the yard. I neatly lay my bike on the side of the house and go to the door and knock.

After my second time knocking, Jason answers the door.

"Gemma," he greets me with a flat tone.

I try to look past his frame into the house, "Is Paul here? He said we could talk."

He shakes his head, "No he's not. I'm not sure what time he'll be back either."

"That's fine. Do you mind if I come inside and wait?" What he says next shocks me.

"I think it would be best if you stay outside."

I couldn't tell if I was unwelcome or not with how his tone was. I've never seen Jason like this. He's always a happy guy with no cares or worries in the world. I don't know who this Jason is.

"Um, ok then. I'll just sit out here and wait."

As I sit down on the porch steps, I hear him sigh before closing the door with him inside. I send my parents a text letting them know I'll be a late and will let them know when I'll be home.

I'm sitting out here for about thirty minutes until I see Paul step out of the tree line on the other side of the road with Jared and Sam by his side. I feel my blood start to boil at the sight. This is the first time I've seen Sam sense that night at his house. What the hell does he have going on that has Jared and now Paul following him around?

I watch as Sam says something to Paul which makes him look angry and start to shake.

"Paul?" I call out to him and the shaking seems to stop.

Sam and Jared turn and go back into the woods but not before Jared giving me a sympathetic look. Paul remains in his spot looking down.

Not looking like he's going to come over here, I get up and head to him.

When I reach him I suddenly realize that he doesn't have a shirt on. How did I not notice that earlier. He was ripped before but now...damn! I shake my head, focus Gemma I tell myself.

"Hey," I say but it comes out really soft.

He lifts his head up and opens his eyes looking over my head and not at me. "Gemma."

"Are you feeling well enough to be outside in this weather without a shirt?" I ask but then I notice that he's not even wearing shoes, "Or without shoes?"

"I'll be fine," He says matter of factly.

"Ok..." This is the first time things have ever been this awkward between us. I then notice something on his right shoulder...the exact same thing that Sam and Jared have. "When did you get a tattoo?"

No response.

"I'm going to guess this has something to do with Sam and Jared since you were just with them and their tattoos are the same."

He makes a huff sound.

Now I'm getting aggrivated. "Ok that's enough Paul! Would you please talk to me!"

He turns his head looking down the road, "What do you want me to say?"

"How about some kind of explanation about what happened at school today. First you don't even tell me you were coming back. I had to hear about it in the restroom from some members of your fan club. Then when I finally see you, you take off and I have to chase you down and you pretty much blow me off!"

His body starts to tremble.

"You won't answer my calls or texts. Your dad is even acting strange with me. Everyone is always giving me these sad pathetic looks like they are sorry for me and that they know something that I don't. Then you won't even look me in the eye or even act like I'm your girlfriend!"

His tremble turns to a full shake.

"Well I don't know what to tell you Gemma," He pretty much hisses.

"How about that you love me and that you missed me as much as I have missed you this past week. It killed me. It's the longest we've ever gone without any sort of communication."

Nothing.

"Did you forget that it was just a week ago that you asked me to move in with you after graduation? That you wanted our relationship to take the next step?" Tears were building up in my eyes.

He looks down, "I don't know why I said that." A tear escapes as he says that.

"What is making you act this way towards me? Is it Sam?" He doesn't meet my eyes. "Just drop it Gemma, there is no future with me. We can't do this anymore." My heart sinks at those words. "Look me in the eyes and say that!" I demand. He continues to look down saying nothing. "That's what I thought. I'm not giving up without a fight. I love you too damn much to let you go!"

Before he can say another word, I take his face between both my hands and kiss him with as much love that I can. I feel his hands go to my hips as his shaking suddenly stops. Feeling him kiss me back brings the tears rolling down my face. We kiss until we both need air. When I pull back to look at him with a hopeful smile that maybe we'll be ok; he keeps his eyes shut tight with pain all over his face and he lightly pushes me away knocking my smile away.

"Go home Gemma," he says right before he side steps me. Tears continue to roll down my face as I watch him make his way into his house and slams the door.

I slowly make my way back across the street and get my bike. I don't get on it but push it all the way back home.

When I get home, I just drop it in the middle of the yard. I walk in the door and I can hear my parents calling for me but I just ignore them as I make my way up the stairs and go to my room. I curl up on my bed and just let the tears fall as I clutch my stuffed wolf to my chest.

I hear my parents come in but I can't make out what they are saying. They eventually leave me alone when they realize their going to get nothing from me.

When I felt like I couldn't cry anymore, I grab my phone and send a single text.

Me: I meant what I said. I'm not giving you up without a fight.

Right before the darkness takes over me, I hear my phone go off and frown at the response.

Paul: I know you won't...but you need to.

...

It killed me to write this. I had to fight tears the whole time while writing it. Please tell me what you think!