No copyright infringement intended, purely for recreational purposes
Corrie
Another week passed bringing us to the first week of August. My arms were healed up now but I was still pretty much on a short leash with my parents. I started back babysitting now that I could move around better. Once it was raining, which meant I could not walk, Mom shuttled me to any babysitting job I had in the neighborhood. If I wanted to go by Val, her parents had to be called to verify that I was there. I was not allowed to La Push or First Beach. Basically my parents had grounded me without really saying so, cause they had taken away everything important to me. I was scared Paul would get caught coming into my bedroom through the window, but luckily so far he had been very careful.
I still made it a point not to talk to my parents unless absolutely necessary. They were being ridiculous, my father especially. I couldn't help but think that Dad was mentally unstable, either that or his life needed this melodrama to be worth living. He was putting a strain on everyone. He and Mom were constantly bickering over everything. All they had to do was let me date Paul and everything would go back to normal. I didn't understand why they preferred things to be this way – I certainly didn't. I missed being happy at home. Now I took every chance I could to get out of there.
I was done sitting for Mrs. Fowler for the day, we had arranged a standing appointment for twelve to four every day for this week. She'd come home early so I decided to walk home. It was a little wet out but I just wanted the chance to think and stretch my legs. The air smelled like rain and flowers, just how I liked it. My mind drifted to Paul and I pictured his face as he slept next to me last night. He was so beautiful, my hero, my protector. Sometimes it hit me hard that I was dating a shapeshifter, a wolf-man. How could it be that the legends were real? That they'd been real for centuries?
A car horn jumped me out of my skin and my head snapped to the left to see who it was. It was a blue car…Marlon. I grimaced and kept my head straight, hoping he'd just pass me by. Of course he didn't. My heart sped up, but I reminded myself that we were in public and that he wouldn't be so stupid to try anything now.
"Want a ride?" he asked in a velvety voice which had no effect on me as I'm sure he'd hoped.
"No thanks," I said with zero emotion. I didn't even look at him.
"Come on Corrie, I just want to talk."
"Only people I care about can call me Corrie. It's Corrine to you, and I don't want to talk to you."
"Pshh, are you serious right now?" he scoffed.
"Yes, I am." I crossed my arms over my chest and kept walking while he inched his car along beside me.
"Look I just want to apologize for what I did. I feel really bad about it. I was drunk and I wasn't thinking. I really care about you and I will never forgive myself for hurting you like that."
I sighed. It was nice of him to apologize and everything, but I just wished he would disappear completely from my life. I comforted myself with the fact that he'd go to college in a year's time, I just had to make it til then.
"Hey, aren't you going to say anything?"
I stopped and looked at him then. His face was pretty much back to normal too but he had some scarring still.
"I appreciate your apology Marlon. But I can't be friends with you or talk to you or anything you might want from me! I just want to forget what you did to me, and that means not having you in my life."
His face fell but then anger flashed in his eyes. "If you hadn't gone with Tarzan none of this would have happened! He ruined everything between us I hope you know that!" luckily he pressed the gas and shot down the street, so I didn't have to find a reply for his stupid comment about Paul.
What an idiot.
I was surprised to find Dad's car in the driveway so early – he had just come back from a three day business trip in Puerto Rico last night. Today he was like an hour earlier than usual. I let myself in and found my brother's in front of the television, minus Joey.
"Hey what's going on?"
"Nothing," Connor answered. His head was buried in a book while the twins played a video game.
"Have you two picked up a book all summer?" I asked them, ruffling their hair.
"We're on vacation!" Toby answered, clearly annoyed at my interruption. They were going to be dumb as doornails when they started back school in September.
I was on my way up the stairs to my room, feeling drained and in need of a nap when I overheard my parents talking.
"This has gone way too far Clark, I don't like what has happened to my relationship with my daughter."
"You think I like it? She's like a zombie, and she wants nothing to do with me."
A zombie? Well that was rather harsh!
"We could have compromised with them Clark, we didn't have to keep them apart."
"We are the adults, they are not Julia. I don't want my daughter with that boy."
"Would you prefer to wake up one day and find out that she's gone forever?"
"She wouldn't do that."
I rolled my eyes, he had no idea what I'd do.
"She might cause you're forcing her to! All I'm asking is that we ease up on her. She's a good kid, always has been. I don't want to be responsible for my daughter doing something stupid because she was forbidden to have a boyfriend."
"That boy made us the laughing stock of this entire town, beating up on that Andrews boy! Jim could have sued us! Is he really the kind of boy we want Crrie to date? She could get hurt! He has a temper, and we don't know anything about his family."
"He beat up a boy who hurt her! If Jim tries to sue us then we'll sue his pompous ass right back!"
"Julia!"
"What? Paul defended Corrie. That says a lot about how he feels about her. He will protect her. You didn't see the way he cared for her when she was crying that day. It was as if his heart was breaking. He loves her, I think we can trust him with her. And I think that they truly are in love. Keeping them apart will only force them to rush their relationship. When she turns eighteen we can't stop her Clark, and I will not lose my only girl because you are being stubborn. The dream hasn't happened, she just has a boyfriend, so it's time to just get over it! You're making a mountain out of a molehill!"
I'd never heard my mother talk to my dad like that. He generally was the boss.
"I don't know Julia…they're too serious for teenagers."
"You stopped your kids from visiting their family because your mother had a dream that your daughter would fall in love with a boy from the Reservation. I fell in love with a boy from the Reservation, and he gave me a good life. He didn't have much, but I didn't care. I honestly don't understand your thinking Clark. Am I stupid then? Should I have known better to choose money over love? Should I have ignored you?"
"Julia! You know that was different."
"DO I? You're missing the point! I love you it doesn't matter how much money you make or who else was a better choice than you!"
"No, I'm not missing the point. We know our struggle, I don't want that for her. I've always been grateful for your loyalty to me Jules. But that doesn't mean that you're happy."
"Well you know why I'm unhappy Clark."
"I'll make more time for us, I promise, I'm sorry I've been so busy and I couldn't take you to Puerto Rico for the conference."
"Well, you had your reasons didn't you? So if you want to make it up to me, fix things with our daughter. I remember what it was like to be in love with a boy my parents disapproved of. We rushed things, we ended up here because of that. Let's just offer them supervised visitation. He can come here, and she can go to your mother's house. I know you have issues with Martha, but she has only ever loved Corrie, she would not let her do something we disapprove of."
"Humph, I still don't want him around her. If they can't be together then they'll break up."
"That's what you think! He's going to be around one way or another, it's best we know about it rather than force them to sneak around. Aren't you listening to me? We could lose Corrie if you don't stop trying to keep them apart!"
I was so proud of my mom for stepping out of the box and being the logical adult. But it hurt me to hear about their struggle. Paul was right, love wasn't everything. And yet, their past wasn't enough to change my mind. I was bound to him for life, I was already in too deep. I crept inside of my room and did a little dance, knowing that I could get exactly what I wanted.
Two days later Dad finally caved and I was speeding to La Push on my bike after babysitting. I'd been given the green light to go to Grammie's and see Paul. Mom was to drive me there and pick me up but I threw a fit and she caved. Of course I'd been given a whole list of rules: no alone time, no kissing, no sneaking around, call when I got there, call when I leave. But I didn't care, I planned to break some of those. I mean, really? Had they seen Paul? There was no way I wasn't kissing him or sneaking some alone time.
As soon as I got there I saw him waiting for me at Grammie's, looking extremely buffed and handsome in jeans and a fitted tee. He belonged on the cover of some magazine. My heart swelled with love as I bolted off my bike and into his arms. He picked me up and kissed me hard and passionately, melting my bones.
A grunt from the porch broke us apart and I turned sheepishly to face Grammie.
"You two know the rules, get a hold of yourselves." But the way she said it, it was playful.
"Sorry Grammie," I smiled widely while squeezing Paul to death. "Thanks for agreeing to this Grams, it really means the world to me and Paul."
"I know, I know, just don't do anything reckless okay? I understand what the imprint's like, I know what it was like for my Aunt Lucy. So you two just be careful, please."
"We will Mrs. Redbird, I promise."
"Good. Now, come let's have a chat."
Grammie led us to the living room and she talked to me about my father, my past and our Aunt Lucy and the imprint. Grammie was also pleased to hear that I had started having prophetical dreams and expressed the desire to pass on her knowledge to me.
"One day I will be no longer and it would be good to have someone to carry on my work. Leanne wasn't born with our gifts, unfortunately. I know you are busy with school and whatnot, but in time I hope you will accept my offer Little Shadow."
"I would be honored Grammie." And I truly was.
We shared a warm embrace and I fought back the tears that stung my eyes. I loved this woman so much, it pained me to know how much time we'd lost over the years because of my father.
"We can't do anything about the past, only the future," Grammie said, looking at both me and Paul. I knew that Paul would read between the lines as I did. Her words definitely applied to us and our past mistakes since we met.
"Well, I don't expect you to be here all the time, you can go and visit your friends, I know Sam and Emily will keep you in line."
"Thanks Grammie!" I rushed over and gave her another hug and kiss, and she chuckled as Paul and I headed outside.
"So you ready to go to Sam's then?" Paul asked with a kiss to my nose.
"Yeah, let's go there first, but I wanna go to your house after. I miss you." I gave him a look that let him know that I wanted to make out. He growled and kissed my neck, right on the mark he'd given me before, that I'd been hiding diligently ever since. It was fading now.
"I love you so much Corrie, you have no idea how good it feels to have you here with me. Seeing you in daylight, it's a nice change," he smirked and I rolled my eyes while his arm locked around my shoulder.
"Tell me about it! We can talk above a whisper." I stuck my fingers into the back of his jeans as we held each other close while heading towards the woods. I figured he had a short cut.
"What the hell is going on here?" I startled when I heard the angry voice of my cousin, my heart thumped wildly in my chest. I turned around to face her, feeling the blush spread all over my face and neck. Paul squeezed me gently and I immediately felt calmer but not for long.
"Leanne, hi," I squeaked.
"What are you doing with Paul?" she snapped.
"Er, um, well…Lee I'm sorry, I - " I didn't know how to say it, or what to say. How could I tell her that Paul was my soul mate?
"We're together now, Leanne." Paul finished for me, his voice firm. He wrapped his arm around me possessively for effect.
"What!" Leanne shrieked. "Are you fucking kidding me?
"Does it look like I'm kidding?" Paul snapped.
"Paul!" I reprimanded him. He had started to tremble so I rubbed his hands quickly to remind him not to phase.
"This cannot be happening. Together? You're together?" Leanne was horrified, it was as if the sight of us was making her ill.
"In a relationship, an exclusive relationship," Paul clarified again. I had yet to find my voice or spine to respond. If Paul wasn't holding me so close to his body I just might have melted to the ground.
Leanne looked at him as if he'd slapped her in the face, which was probably exactly how it felt. She then turned on me, pushing her black rimmed glasses up on her face. Her long black hair was in a thick braid across her shoulder. She was in uniform, just having returned from her shift at the diner I assumed. "How did this happen? How could you do this to me? You knew how much I liked him!"
"I'm sorry Lee! I didn't mean for it to happen! I swear it wasn't planned, it just happened!"
"Why her?" she turned away from me then, glaring at Paul.
"Because she's everything I want and need, she's the only one for me."
I blushed at Paul's confession, automatically looking into his eyes to confirm that he meant every word. The love and devotion I saw there made me weak in the knees.
"Oh my God, I can't – I just can't deal with this right now!" Leanne shrieked, slapping her hands to her forehead.
I quick snapped out of it at her outburst. "I'm sorry Leanne, please forgive me. I never wanted to betray you! I tried to stay away from him but I couldn't anymore- I was miserable without him."
Leanna scoffed and rolled her eyes. "Yeah, I can actually imagine just how that felt, me and a thousand other girls can sympathize! God, you're such a backstabbing bitch Corrie!" I flinched and tears immediately came to my eyes. That was the worst thing my cousin could have said to me. It was exactly what I had been afraid of all along.
"Don't do that," Paul growled menacingly, and I felt his body tense and shake again. I squeezed his shoulder in an effort to calm him once more.
"Don't do what?" Leanne asked with fake innocence.
"Don't talk to her like that, she's being honest. I couldn't stay away from her either. What we got is special, it's not the same as any other girl. I'm just asking you to just be understanding and not give your cousin a hard time."
Leanne's mouth hung open in shock as she looked back and forth between our faces. I tried to plead with my eyes for her forgiveness, wanting nothing more than for her and me to be alright.
Leanne huffed and shook her head, then turned and walked away.
"Leanne, wait! Please! I'm sorry!" I cried after her, trying to follow her, but Paul held me back.
"Let her go babe, just give her some time to cool off, she'll come around."
"How can you be so sure?" I asked him with tears pooling in my eyes.
"I'm not, but I hope she will be for your sake. But even if she's not Corrie, that doesn't change anything."
I nodded in agreement. This was forever, and no one would stand in our way.
xxxxxxxxx
Our happiness to finally be together in the outside world just couldn't endure it seemed. When we got to Sam's place the pack was there, grim-faced and anxious. I don't think it was the whole lot of them though. Jacob looked as though he hadn't slept in months. His hair was rumpled and his eyes red-rimmed with worry. I gave him a hug and waved to everyone else. No one was in a happy mood right now.
"What's going on?" Paul asked, noting their grim faces as well.
I went straight to Emily and hugged her. She was in the kitchen preparing food and I decided to help out. But my ears were trained on the conversation the pack was having.
"A hiker was found dead, drained of blood. Jake and Quil found the body. We're meeting the Cullens in an hour."
I dropped the knife I was holding and turned around. Leech? Dead hiker? Cullens? What did they have to do with anything?
"Aww crap," Paul grimaced and looked at me with shame.
"You haven't told her yet?" Sam asked Paul incredulously, causing my wolf to shake his head.
"With all that's been going on with us recently, I never got the chance to talk about that side of things." He looked at me with pleading eyes hoping for understanding.
"Well, maybe you should take her outside now and do that Paul, it's for her own safety that she be aware of what's going on around her. And we gotta go soon - she can stay here with Emily."
Paul nodded to his alpha and motioned for me to follow him. I was suddenly quite nervous as I didn't know what to expect. I sat beside him on the porch step and he wrapped his arm around me, holding me close.
"You know how I told you that the wolf gene is activated when Cold Ones come to our land?"
I nodded and shivered.
"Well, Cold Ones are vampires. The Cullens moved back here a couple years ago and they're the reason why we're wolves."
"VAMPIRES?"
"Yeah babe, bloodsuckers, leeches."
I had grown accustomed to the warm nature of the wolves it was hard to think about vampires being real too – they were ruthless if Sookie's novels were any indication. The thought chilled me to the bone. But then I thought of the Cullens and it worried me more. Like in True Blood, they were integrated into society – but they were moving around in the day time, clearly fiction didn't have its facts right.
"The Cullens are vampires?" I screeched. Paul nodded. "But how? They go to school and live around people!"
"They only drink the blood of animals. They want to live as humans not leeches. The only reason why they live here is because it's always cloudy, once there's no sun they can be outdoors." Paul then told me about Jacob's great-grandfather and the treaty he'd made with them years ago. He explained how the Cullens and the pack have a sort of truce because of Bella and Jake's friendship. I couldn't believe it all and yet, what was there not to believe?
"So Bella is with a vampire?"
"Yup, creepy huh? Their marriage means a lot of vamps coming to Washington. We already had two new kids phase – Zack and Adrian."
"Very creepy." But then I thought about how cute everyone thinks Edward is and I kinda understood, she was under his spell like I was under Paul's. That would explain the Cullen weirdness and why everyone at school besides Bella stayed away from them. I burrowed into his side, relishing in his warmth.
"So when you're out on patrol all the time, you actually find vampires sometimes then?"
"Yeah, we do. Bella's involvement with the Cullens definitely keeps things interesting, she's always finding a way to get into trouble with some bloodsucker."
"So the hiker that Jake found today, is that something to do with her too?"
"I don't know yet. Today we just need to meet with the Cullens and let them know what happened. This means we'll have to patrol more often. They have to patrol their side and we'll keep tabs on ours. Don't worry we'll kill whatever threat's out there, I won't let it get to you."
"I know you won't Paulie, I trust you to keep me safe."
"Just promise me you won't go to the trail okay? The woods are too dangerous right now."
"Okay, I won't."
"I always patrol your area for vampire scent, and I've never found any. But this particular leech is a mystery, so just don't go outside alone, especially at night. I wish you lived on the Rez so I could be certain that you'd always be safe."
"Me too. But don't worry I'll be okay."
"Just understand that vampires are lethal. They have super sight and hearing and most of all incredible strength. They could snap your neck with two fingers. It's nothing to take lightly. They could sneak up on you and suck you dry before you even become aware of their presence." I shivered then, totally creeped out. "I don't want to scare you babe, I just have to be honest. Stay away from anything with red eyes – or gold for that matter."
"I will."
"And for the record, you now know all secrets I was keeping from you, okay?" he smirked at me as only Paul Lahote could.
"Whatevs." I kissed his lips and giggled.
"Come on, let's go back inside. Sorry I can't stay with you."
I squeezed his hand as I followed him inside and went back to helping Emily.
"Are you okay?" she asked.
"Yeah, I guess." I didn't want to dwell on this news for too long. I was officially living in the world of Sookie Stackhouse. We continued to cut vegetables in silence then the thought occurred to me: every time Paul was out there in the woods, he was at risk of being hurt. He could end up fighting a vampire that could kill him. He could be bitten and then what? Turned? I took a deep breath as fear mounted my chest and looked over at him, tears in my eyes. He stood up abruptly and rushed to my side gathering me in his arms.
"We are built to destroy vampires. I'm just as strong, just as fast, just as lethal. Don't be worried."
He knew exactly what I was feeling and I didn't even have to tell him. It was a comforting thing, the imprint bond. I melted into his chest and inhaled deeply, willing myself to calm down. I had to trust my wolf would be okay.
"Awww, Paul I'm so proud of you." Emily said quietly beside us, a look of affection on her face. I blushed immediately, and buried my face in Paul's chest.
He chuckled and pulled away from me, his eyes happy but questioning whether or not I was fine now. I nodded to him so he could go back to his friends and continued to help with the food.
"It takes some getting used to, being worried about them while they're out on patrol. But our wolves need us to be strong in order for them to be strong too. They can't worry about us while they're out there. So try not to give him a hard time about his job, be confident that he's strong enough to handle it, okay? They're very sensitive when it comes to us."
"Thanks Emily, I'll try. I really will." I knew that Paul was strong, I'd seen it with my own eyes. He had probably faced vampires before he even met me, so I just had to have faith that he knew what he was doing. I had to be his rock.
Paul and the pack went to meet the Cullens and I got a phone call from Leanne basically abusing me for 'stealing Paul from her.' I told her about his date to the movies the night after the bonfire as proof that I hadn't done anything, that they weren't ever going to be in a serious relationship. She said that I was a bigger fool than she was, for being with a man who didn't know how to be faithful to one girl. She said that I was scum for involving our grandmother in my mess, that it would all be my fault when eventually Paul dumped me.
I cried, not caring that Emily was there to witness. She held me and shushed me like a big sister would. I was happy to have her there by my side.
"You know, I know how you feel." I looked at her doubtfully. "Yes, I do. Did you know that Leah and Sam were engaged before he met me and we imprinted?"
I gasped and shook my head. "I had no idea!"
"Well, they were. I took Leah's first love away from her without even meaning to. So trust me when I say that I can relate. She was not only my cousin, but my best friend. I came to La Push to help her through a difficult time. Sam had just phased and staying away from town and Leah didn't know what was going on. Instead of helping her deal with everything I stole her heart away."
"Wow. And now she's in the pack? No wonder she's a bit sour huh?"
"Yes, she isn't happy, to hear Sam's thoughts and to feel his emotions towards me, it is extremely hard on her."
"Hear his thoughts?"
"Pack Mind, they can hear each other when they are in wolf form."
"Whoa." Emily nodded. "So you two still talk?"
"Not exactly. She comes here and eats my food and hangs around with the pack, but we aren't best friends and cousins like before. I miss her, but I can't change her feelings. Only when she finally imprints or moves on with her life will the three of us move past this."
"How did Sam handle it?"
"He was upset of course. He didn't want to betray Leah like that, he loved her a lot too; in fact I think he always will love her, his first love. But he couldn't resist the pull towards me. And although I tried to push him away, I couldn't resist for long either. Even after he hurt me I couldn't stay away. I love him." She reached up and gently touched her face.
"He did that to you?" I was shocked.
"Yes, he phased too close to me. He was the only wolf then, and could barely control himself, he had no one to really teach him like the others have had him. I forgave him. He hasn't forgiven himself though."
"You two are perfect together Emily, I hope that Leah will move on."
"And I hope that Leanne will move on too."
I smiled sadly and nodded. "If my parents find out they will hate Paul more. They will think that he's still a man-whore."
Emily grimaced. "Maybe, but you just have to keep proving them wrong by being smart and strong. You know that the imprint doesn't allow for cheating? He sees only you and no one else. One day Leanne will realized that and get over him."
I nodded and hugged Emily fiercely. I was scared of the problems Leanne would cause for us, just like Marlon.
When Paul came back with the pack he pulled me in his arms and held me to his chest.
"It was so hard not to turn around and run back to you, why were you upset earlier?"
"You felt that huh?" I smiled knowingly.
"Yeah, I did."
"Leanne called to tell me off. She thinks you'll dump me like everyone else, that I'm a bigger fool than she was, that I should never have involved Grammie in this."
Paul rolled his eyes. "She's just jealous babe. She doesn't understand cause she doesn't know about the wolves."
"Paul, did you have sex with her?"
The pack stopped talking and looked at us. I forgot they could hear us and crimsoned immediately.
"Uh, no. We didn't do anything actually, she wanted to but I never did. I didn't have sex with every single girl I spent time with Corrie."
I nodded and sighed, burying my face in his t-shirt. I didn't mean to offend him.
"I love you, only you. She'll get over it okay? We weren't in love, no matter what she thinks."
I peeped over at Leah, and blushed. She shook her head with a scowl and left the room.
I wondered if she hates me too.
Well I like to be methodical, and I like storylines that flow and give characters time to express themselves. So I hope you readers are not too bored with me, things will pick up again certainly, so just hang in there and leave a review if you can. Thanks!
