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CHAPTER 24
Lexi parked her car outside Paul's house and took a few deep breaths and wiped her eyes. She grabbed her purse and got out of the car and walked to Paul's front door and knocked on it. Paul opened it a few seconds later dressed in nothing but blue jean cut offs.
"Lexi," he said shocked. "What's wrong?"
"You busy?" she asked.
"Of course not," he said. "I always have time for you. Come in," he told her and he moved aside for her to walk inside and he shut the door behind her. "Lexi," Paul said as he took a step closer to her. Lexi looked down away from him and he placed his hand under her chin and she looked up at him.
"Talk to me Lexi," Paul said softly. "You know you can tell me anything."
"I don't even know why I'm trying with Jake," she said as tears ran down her cheeks, Paul pulled her to him and wrapped his arms around her. Lexi laid her head against his chest and Paul felt her tears hitting his bare chest as her arms wrapped around him. They stood there for a few seconds, Paul giving her time to get all the tears out. When he could tell she quieting down from crying he finally decided to speak.
"Lexi tell me what happened." Paul said and she pulled away and looked up at him and nodded.
"Well I made a quick trip to the store because I didn't pick up something that went with dinner and when I got back Bella was there and they were on the couch," she said as she walked over and sat on the couch. Paul sat by her, "Bella was in his lap, straddling his lap and they were kissing."
"Lexi," Paul said softly. "Did Jake give any explanations."
"That it wasn't what I was thinking," Lexi told him. "Anyway apparently Bella couldn't reach Jake because he had turned his phone off so we wouldn't be interrupted. So she was mad because Jake didn't go see her like she asked him to," she explained.
"Ah Bella didn't get her way, typical she doesn't get her way so she makes sure everyone else is miserable." Paul said.
"Jake told her he had plans with me tonight and anyway things were said so Jake finally told her he imprinted on me."
"What did she have to say to that?" Paul asked curiously.
"That Jake was forced to love me."
"Tell me Jake told you it wasn't like that," Paul said getting upset.
"Bella didn't really give him a chance, she's convinced its true," Lexi told him.
"But its not Lexi," Paul told her as he took her hand in his.
"It makes sense if Jake hadn't imprinted on me he'd still be ignoring me, he obviously prefers Bella." She sighed. "He'll never love me like he loves her, if he ever loves me at all."
"Did you tell Jake this?" Paul asked her and she glanced over at him.
"Yeah I did, I also told him it was clear that if he could choose he'd choose Bella over at me, that he's only with me because of some weird wolf magic that says we're perfect for each other."
"That's not true Lexi, Jake likes you and liked you before he imprinted on you," Paul told her.
"He said that to," Lexi told him and she stood up and walked across the room to the window and looked out of it. Paul followed her and stood behind her.
"Hey," Paul said and Lexi turned around and looked up at him.
"It shouldn't be this difficult." She told Paul. "Being with Jake shouldn't be this difficult."
"Bella's making it difficult for both of you, its what she does," Paul told her and she let out a sigh. "Make everyone miserable and eventually he's going to have to choose between you and Bella."
"What if he doesn't choose me?" Lexi asked sadly.
"I bet he will and you know what else I bet?"
"What?" Lexi asked and Paul smiled as he laid his hand against her cheek.
"That Jake is on his way to you right now," Paul told her.
"He probably went back to kissing Bella once I got out of the way,"
"You can't believe that Lexi," Paul told her. "Jake knows you're here right?"
"Yes he does," she nodded.
"You know he's going to come over here right?"
"We'll see," Lexi sighed. "Thanks for listening to me," she told him and he smiled.
"That's what best friends are for," he told her and she smiled and wrapped her arms around him in a hug.
"Still, thanks." She said and pulled away and looked up at him and reached up and laid her hand against his cheek as there was a knock on the door.
"I bet that's Jake," Paul told her.
"I'm going to go into the kitchen." Lexi told him. "Not sure if I want to talk to him yet," she said, "Even though I probably will," she admitted.
"Sure go on, if you want something to drink or eat or anything just get it, you can have whatever you want."
"Thanks," she said and stood up on her tip toes and Paul leaned down and she placed a kiss on his cheek. "I don't know what I did to deserve such an amazing best friend but it must have been really good," she told him and he smirked.
"Obviously," he said and she rolled her eyes. "But you know I feel the same way," he told her and she smiled as he kissed her cheek.
"Love you," Lexi said.
"Love you to," Paul said and she smiled as there was a knock on the door again then he let go of her and she went into the kitchen and then he walked over and opened the door and saw Jacob standing on the other side.
"Paul," Jacob said softly. "I know Lexi's here, can I please come in and talk to her."
"Well of course you can come in," Paul told him and he moved aside to let him in. "Its up to Lexi whether you talk to her or not," Paul told him and slammed the door behind him. Paul crossed his arms over his chest and glared at Jacob.
"She told you what happened?" Jacob asked.
"Yes she did," Paul growled. "What were you thinking Jake? How could you do that to her?" he growled.
"Paul I…."
"Give me one good reason not to kick your ass right now Jake," Paul said angrily as he gave him a push.
"You should Paul," Jacob told him. "But Bella came onto me and I tried to tell her no but she wasn't listening."
"Jake I'm going to be the one to tell you this because Lexi never will," Paul told him. "Stop seeing Bella, do you want to loose Lexi."
"No" Jacob whispered.
"Is Bella worth it?" Paul asked.
"I made Bella leave and told her not to come back or call me anymore and that she needed to apologize to Lexi and mean it and after she did that we might be able to hangout again but I made no promises to her." Jacob told him. "Its about fixing things with Lexi right now, not about Bella and it should have never been about Bella."
"Well you got that right, it's not about Bella at all." Paul growled. "Its about you fixing things with Lexi and not hurting her anymore
"I can't seem to do anything right," Jacob sighed. "I know I don't deserve her," he admitted. "She might be better off if I just walked away."
"No she wouldn't Jake, she's in the kitchen," Paul told him and Jacob turned around but Paul grabbed his arm and slammed him against the wall. "Don't hurt her again Jake," Paul warned him.
"I won't Paul," he told him.
"Good," he growled and let go of him but not before giving him a not so gentle push toward the kitchen. "Now go and fix the mess you've made of everything." He told him and Jacob made his way to the kitchen. When he walked in the kitchen he saw Lexi standing in front of the sink looking out the window.
"Lexi," Jacob said and she turned around and looked at him.
"Jake," she said softly as she sat down the glass she was drinking out of.
"Lexi there isn't anything going on between me and Bella," he began.
"That's not what it looked like when I walked in," she stated.
"Lexi, you're who I want to be with not Bella," he said as he walked towards her. "I made Bella leave and told her not to call me or drop by anymore."
"Jake I don't want you to stop seeing your friends because of me," she told him.
"Lexi all I care about right now is making things work with us, fixing things with us," he told her as he took her hands in his. "And I've realized as long as Bella's around things between you and me are never going to be ok."
"But I know you love Bella," Lexi said. "I've seen how you look at her, I know how in love you are with her and I know you'll never love me like that, that I'm always going to be second when she's involved."
"Lexi that's not true," he said softly and she looked away. "But don't you think I feel the same way."
"What are you talking about Jake?" Lexi asked confused.
"You and Paul," Jacob said. "I know you love him and that if you could choose you would be with him and not me."
"Jake I'm sorry," Lexi whispered. "But I'm choosing to try and make things work with you," she told him. "And Paul isn't trying to come between us and you know that," she pointed out.
"I know," Jacob admitted. "I know he's not," Jacob sighed. "I just can't seem to do anything right when it comes to us," he said shaking his head. "I'm always messing up."
"Jake, I'm messing up to," she told him. "I over react about everything and run out before you can talk to me."
"Yeah well I guess I deserve it most of the time," he admitted and pulled her closer to him. "But you are the woman I want not Bella," he told her and Lexi looked up at him. "I know you're so tired of hearing my apologies." He told her and she nodded. "But I am sorry Lexi," he said softly and pressed his forehead against hers. "Please forgive me and give me another chance." He whispered. "Please Lexi."
"Jake," she murmured as she pulled one of her hands from his and laid it against his cheek. "You know I'll give you another chance and that I'll forgive you."
"And I know I don't deserve it," he told her before leaning down and pressing his lips to hers, he wrapped an arm around her pulling her closer to him so their bodies were pressed together. When he pulled away he pressed his forehead to hers and Lexi opened her eyes and found herself staring into Jacobs brown eyes. "You want to go home?" he asked.
"Yeah, lets go home," she agreed and he smiled and took her hand in his and led her out of the kitchen.
When they walked in the living room they saw Paul sitting on the couch.
"Everything ok?" Paul asked them.
"Everything's ok," Lexi answered. "We're going to get home," she told them.
"Alright," he sighed. "If that's what you want and you're sure you're ok."
"Can you give me a minute?" Lexi asked Jacob.
"Sure I'll meet you outside," Jacob told her.
"Thanks," she whispered and he nodded and walked outside. Lexi walked over and sat by Paul on the couch.
"So you're really ok?" he asked as he brushed her hair away from her face.
"I'm ok Paul," she assured him as she took his hand in hers. "I promise."
"Ok, if you're sure," he said and she nodded. "So you're going to go home with him?" Paul asked.
"Yes," she told him. "We're really going to try and make things work."
"I hope it does work out for you two," he told her.
"Me to Paul," she sighed. "And I'm still going to talk to that girl about you."
"If you think she'll actually like me."
"I think she's crazy if she doesn't like you," Lexi told him and laid her hand on his arm.
"Well you have to say that because you're my best friend." He said and Lexi smiled and shrugged.
"Maybe," she smiled. "But its also true." She told him. "I'll see you tomorrow and I'll call you after I talk to Josie ok."
"Ok," Paul agreed and she smiled.
"See you later," Lexi said and stood up from the couch and walked out to meet Jacob by her car.
When she walked outside she saw Jacob leaning against her car with his arms crossed over his chest. She couldn't help but think how sexy he looked as he leaned against her car. As she started walking towards him he looked over at her and smiled and pushed away from the car.
"So are you ready?" he asked.
"Yeah I'm ready," she told him and he smiled and walked around and opened the drivers side door for her and she got in and he closed it before running around and sliding in beside her.
The short ride back home was silent between Jacob and Lexi. When Lexi parked the car outside the house, Jacob looked over at her.
"What?" she asked.
"Nothing," he said as he shook his head. "Let's get inside."
When they got inside Jacob walked over and sat on the couch and Lexi sat beside him.
"Jake what's bothering you?" she asked him.
"Its nothing Lexi," he assured her.
"If you say so," she said. "I guess you're hungry," she stated.
"Yeah," he said.
"You still want to have dinner?"
"Sure, I'll help you."
"Well come on then let's get in the kitchen," she told him and they both stood up. Jacob walked over and grabbed the bag she had brought in from the store earlier and carried it into the kitchen.
"If you need me to do anything just let me know alright."
"Alright Jake."
Jacob sat down at the table and watched Lexi as she moved around the kitchen. She was really beautiful and sweet and very forgiving. She had forgiven him a lot, he had hurt her a lot as well, he never meant to hurt her but he knew he had to do something to not hurt her anymore. If cutting Bella out of his life was the only way to never hurt Lexi again, he would do it, it wouldn't be easy but he could do it, do anything so they could move forward. Lexi slid the chicken in the oven and then walked over to the table and sat down with Jacob. He reached across the table and laid his hands over hers.
"Lexi…"
"Jake I don't want to hear any more apologies from you," she told him. "Honestly I'm tired of hearing your apologies."
"I know," he whispered. "I know you are but I'm not going to talk to Bella anymore," he told her.
"Jake I don't want you doing something now you're going to hate me for later," she told him and pulled her hands away from his.
"I'm not Lexi," he said and she shook her head and stood up.
"You are and don't realize it," she told him and walked away to start cooking everything else to go with dinner.
"Alexandria," Jacob growled and she spun around.
"Don't growl at me Jacob Black!" she exclaimed.
"Lexi I…Things with us are never going to work out with Bella always popping up interrupting us," he began as he stood up and walked over to her. He stopped in front of her but Lexi wouldn't look at him."I told her to leave because I want to be with you, I want to try with you." He said but Lexi wouldn't look up at him. "Lexi, please look at me," he pleaded and he placed his hand under her chin and she tilted her head to look up at him and their eyes met.
"Bella's been your friend for years Jake…." She began but Jacob placed his finger over her lips to silence her.
"If she was really my friend she wouldn't have tried to come between us Lexi," he told her. "Or be messing things up for us."
"I know Jake," Lexi replied softly and laid her hand against his cheek. "It seems like every time we make progress we get pushed back and have to start all over."
"I know." He said as he laid his hand over hers and moved it off his cheek, lacing their fingers together and tugging her closer to him. Lexi looked up at him and he leaned down and pressed his lips to hers before wrapping his arms around her and holding her close to him.