Chapter 28 - Friends

Jennifer,

Although my family are enjoying the company of our extended family, we are missing Forks and I miss the serenity of Forks hospital. You would dislike the hospital here — its too large, crowded and it's difficult to build a bond with the patients.

I'm very sorry to hear that your family are struggling. It pains me to hear that Bella is suffering, as she means a lot to my family. I have tried to speak with Edward and reason with the issues he has in regards to returning to her. But he simply refuses to listen, despite his continuing love for her. I will continue my efforts in reasoning with Edward, as he is suffering too.

I'm sorry this is not the answer you wanted to hear. I wish you and your sister well.

If you ever need my help or support, I will be there for you. All you have to do is ask.

Carlisle

Jenny read over his letter again, another wave of pain rising within her. She wanted nothing more than to reply, to ask Carlisle for his help. She wanted him to return to Forks, with his family, and fix all the damage their disappearance had caused. She knew all she had to do was ask. But she couldn't. She wasn't selfish enough. And deep down she knew it wouldn't solve all their issues.

She just wanted him back. The confirmation that all she had to do was ask for his return only ignited a new level of pain within her. It began a battle — Jenny's selfish desire fought against her selflessness. They ripped and tore at each other in her mind, like an angel and devil battling for life.

Jenny clenched her fists, squeezing her eyes shut. She willed her mind to calm and make a decision. But her breathing grew quicker and ragged and she could feel the panic rising within her. She couldn't stop it, her body began to shake. Her mind was screaming at her.

I want him back.

But no. She couldn't. As her heart rate peaked, Jenny threw herself upwards, her desk chair clattering backwards. She let out an agonised sound — a mixture between a scream and a cry. She released her agony. Her anger. It poured from her. She ripped her keyboard away from the monitor and hurled it across the room, her body shaking violently. It crashed against her wardrobe door, denting the soft wood, before clattering to the floor.

Silence fell. Jenny stared at the broken keyboard, the frayed wires and the dented wardrobe. A sob escaped her lips — a broken and defeated cry. As her body weakened, she moved towards the bed, tears cascading down her cheeks. She clenched and unclenched her fists, willing herself to stop. She wasn't allowed to lose it at home. She had to help her family.

Another sob ripped through her throat. Then the door burst open and Jenny turned. A wave of terror consumed her as she saw Bella stood at the door, her expression surprised and worried. Jenny was never vulnerable in front of her family. She didn't allowed herself to be.

"Jen…" Bella moved towards her, wrapping her arms round Jenny's neck and pulling her to sit on the bed. Her eyes fleeted over the broken keyboard on the floor.

Jenny leaned her head on Bella's shoulder and allowed the tears to fall, stifling the cries that escaped her.

"What's happened?" Bella asked, rubbing Jenny's arm. It wasn't an awkward or forced gesture — Bella appeared genuinely concerned and able to comfort her. For once, she took Jenny's role. "What's wrong?"

"I just want him back," Jenny whispered through her cries. "I want him back."

"I know."

And Bella did know. She was the only person in the world who understood Jenny's pain. That was the comfort Jenny needed — knowing she wasn't alone in her battle.

~ Solitary Soul ~

A dull throb pounded at Jenny's temples as she dressed herself. It was Saturday again — the day of the week that Jenny dreaded. She didn't want to have the time to think or worry over her patients. At least the headache would distract her from her thoughts.

Jenny grabbed some aspirin from the cupboard in the bathroom. She swallowed two pills with a gulp of water and stared at herself in the mirror. Though she'd grown used to the frequent headaches that had plagued her for months on end, she hadn't had one in a few weeks. She'd thought they'd stopped. If they continued, Jenny knew she'd have to have an examination. But she didn't need the confirmation that her emotional pain was causing it — that it was all in her head. It would only lead to more time off work and that was the last thing she wanted.

Charlie was at work again, so Jenny wasn't surprised to see only Bella sat at the table in the kitchen. They hadn't spoken much since Jenny's outburst a few days previous. But Bella looked a little different — the bags under her eyes were slightly lighter and her skin almost appeared brighter. Jenny couldn't recall hearing Bella's screams that night.

"Hey," Jenny said quietly, before grabbing the milk from the fridge.

"Hey." Bella smiled a little in response, surprising Jenny.

"Have you got much planned today?"

"Actually, I'm going over to Jacob's…" Bella admitted, looking down at the table, her eyes avoiding Jenny's. "I'm going to hangout in his garage with him while he fixes up these two bikes he's found."

Jenny turned to Bella, her eyebrows raised in surprise. A small smile tugged at the edge of her lips. Despite Jenny's lack of help, Bella was finding a life again. Jenny wondered if she'd been at Jacob's the night before.

"You're not planning on riding them, are you? Dad would kill you if he knew you'd even touched a motorbike."

Bella shook her head, but refused to meet Jenny's eyes.

Jenny immediately sensed the lie, but as long as Bella was happy, she wouldn't report it to Charlie. There was no need to worry him.

"What are you doing today?" Bella quickly changed the topic.

"The usual… reading and catching up on some work," Jenny said with a small shrug.

"You're going to be on your own?" Bella frowned and Jenny sensed her rising concern.

"I guess so."

"Shouldn't you…I don't know, call some friends and maybe hangout with them?" Bella suggested quietly. "It was you who told me I shouldn't be in the house alone."

Jenny thought of Paul and his suggestion that they should spend time together. She hadn't spoken to him in the week in-between. She'd practically forgotten the suggestion.

"I don't know if you've noticed Bella… But I don't actually have many friends, not after—" She stopped herself before she slipped up. Jenny knew Bella hated any mention of the Cullen's or a reminder of their disappearance.

Bella noticed but didn't say anything. "Come with me then."

"I'm sure Jacob won't want me there…" Jenny mumbled. "But you're not going to let me stay on my own, are you?"

Bella shook her head.

"Fine. I'll ring a friend." Jenny sighed in defeat. At least she'd been forced into accepting Paul's offer — so she could blame Bella if it all went wrong. "But I'm going to need the truck, so I'll drop you off at Jacobs on my way."

"Who are you hanging out with?"

"An old friend."

Jenny prayed that those words would prove true. She hoped that Paul's only intentions were to be her friend again. Otherwise, Jenny's mounting problems would only grow worse.

~ Solitary Soul ~

Jenny tapped on the steering wheel nervously as she drove through the winding roads. The silence of the car annoyed her, but Bella had been adamantly against any music. It gave Jenny too much time to think.

Paul had sounded happy when she'd called. They'd agreed to meet at La Push beach. Jenny hadn't been there since the day she'd hung out with Bella's friends — the day Paul had angrily warned her away from the Cullen's. Jenny had always loved the beach. She enjoyed the crisp feeling of the pale yellow sand and the sound of the sea beating against the shore.

It will be fine.

She assured herself. But she wasn't sure she believed it. Maybe this had been a mistake. She should've just lied to Bella.

After dropping Bella at the Black's house, Jenny drove towards the beach, taking deep breaths to try and calm herself. She arrived quicker than she wanted. Parking the car in an empty bay, she sighed as she spotted Paul waiting for her at the edge of the beach. He was dressed in a loose white t-shirt and black shorts. Jenny was glad he wasn't shirtless like last time.

Stepping out of the car, Jenny forced a nervous smile, approaching Paul.

He wrapped her in a quick hug. "Hey Jen," he said, a wide grin spreading across his lips.

"Hey," she responded. "Do you not feel the cold or something? Its freezing and you're in shorts."

Paul laughed. "What can I say, I'm just too hot nowadays."

Jenny shook her head and rolled her eyes. She stepped onto the sand, enjoying the smooth feel of it beneath her shoes.

"So what made you change your mind?" Paul asked, walking alongside her.

"What do you mean?" Jenny frowned.

"Well, I don't hear from you for a week then you call all of a sudden wanting to hang out."

Jenny felt a little guilty, but Paul didn't appear bothered by it. The waves crashing against the shores filled her ears, soothing her nerves. "My sister decided to use my own words against me. She wouldn't let me spend the day in the house alone."

"Why not?" Paul asked, confused.

Jenny hesitated a little. "Well, we promised our Dad we'd stop moping around the house. He threatened to send Bella back to Jacksonville." It surprised Jenny how much she revealed. But she felt oddly comfortable around Paul. He was familiar. Maybe they could be friends after all.

"Well if it means I get to see you more, I might need to thank him," Paul said with a grin. He looked down at her with brightened eyes.

"How's your Mom doing?" Jenny asked, quickly changing the subject. She didn't know whether his comment was supposed to be flirtatious or friendly — she didn't intend to give him the wrong impression.

"She's doing great. She's finished the pills you gave her and she's back on her feet," Paul answered cheerfully. "Thanks again, Jen."

"You don't have to thank me. I did my job. I'm glad she's okay." Jenny smiled softly. They edged closer to the sea line and the water slid closer and closer to Jenny's toes.

"So what's new with you?" Paul asked, placing his hands in his short pockets. "What have I missed over the past few years?"

"Not much, to be honest." Jenny thought about her life since the summer she spent with Paul. Only thoughts of Carlisle filled her mind. She quickly pushed them away. "I'm qualified as a doctor now, I guess, so I work most of the time. I still read a lot."

Paul rolled his eyes. "Ugh, don't tell me you're still reading those boring old books."

Jenny shook her head. In that moment, it was difficult not to compare him to Carlisle. Paul had always teased her for her obsession with reading, whilst Carlisle shared her passion for it. It was one of the many reasons they suited each other. Jenny blocked her thoughts again, fighting the urge to flinch.

"They're not old or boring. They're classics."

"Whatever you say, Jen."

"What about you?" Jenny turned the question around, not wanting to think about her past anymore.

"Well, I graduated high school, finally. Now I work part-time down at the local store. I'm trying to decide what job I want to go into."

It was easy to forget that Paul was a few years younger than her, especially as he towered over her. She'd told herself that summer that it didn't bother her, even though Paul's immaturity had been extremely clear at the time. He appeared a lot older now, despite only ageing a few years.

"Do you still hang around with your high school friends?" Jenny asked. She'd always hated his group of friends — he acted different around them.

"No. I haven't spoken to them in probably a year."

"How come?" Jenny pressed curiously. She looked out over the sea, admiring the soft ripple of the waves. A few years ago she and Paul loved going body-boarding in the sea. It'd been one of her favourite pastimes. Those moments felt like a whole lifetime ago.

"We just…Grew apart, I guess." There was a hesitation to Paul's voice and Jenny sensed he wasn't telling her the full story. "You remember Sam Uley?"

"Yeah." Jenny had never spoken with Sam before, but she knew him as Leah Clearwater's boyfriend.

"I hang around with him and a guy called Jared now. You should come meet them sometime," Paul said.

"Is Sam still with Leah Clearwater?" Jenny asked, avoiding his proposition.

Paul hesitated again, his expression pulling into a deep frown. "No, he's with a girl named Emily now. They've been together for nearly a year."

"Oh."

"So how come you moved back here? I always pictured you in some fancy hospital in a big city." Like Jenny, Paul quickly reversed the topic, placing the attention on her. Jenny wondered why he didn't appear to like answering questions about his life. It was like he couldn't tell her parts of it — just like how Jenny couldn't tell him parts of hers.

"I always said I wanted to live in Forks and work at the hospital. I love it here," Jenny answered.

"I know I just always thought…" He paused, shaking his head. "Never mind."

"What?" Jenny looked up at him, her lips pulling into a grin. It was nice to smile again. "Tell me."

Paul shook his head and looked down at the floor. "When you told me that you wanted to live here after college… I thought you just said it because you wanted to be near me. After we broke up, I didn't expect you to come back."

Jenny shook her head, her grin widening. "Wow." She hit him playfully on the arm. "How arrogant," she said jokingly.

"It's part of my charm." Paul winked at her playfully.

Jenny rolled her eyes. "Or lack of it," she teased. "Tell me, do girls like it when you compliment yourself?"

"Do guys like it when you insult them all the time?"

"Well, let's find out," she joked. "So you're arrogant, cocky, you probably spend half your time admiring yourself in the mirror…"

Before Jenny could continue, Paul grabbed her legs and swung her over his shoulder. Jenny squealed in shock as he moved towards the water.

"Take it back, Jen," Paul ordered.

"Put me down!" Jenny shouted, hitting his back. But she couldn't help her responding smile. She felt comfortable and light. This is how they used to be, years ago, before all the complications got in the way. Before his jealousy and anger ruined everything.

"Take it back, or I'm throwing you in the water," Paul threatened playfully.

"No, now put me down!"

Paul ignored her and continued to walk further into the water. She was surprised that the temperature of the sea wasn't affecting him.

"Paul, you wouldn't dare!"

But he continued to walk. The water was raising above his ankles.

"Oh really?"

She felt his grip loosen.

"Fine!" She shouted, accepting her defeat. "I take it back. You're not arrogant or cocky."

"And?" Paul pressed.

"And what?"

"Well you've got to give me some sort of compliment," Paul answered. She could imagine the wide, cocky grin on his face.

"Fine…" She paused, searching for a compliment. "You're… a nice guy."

"That's all you've got?" Paul shook his head. "Well, I warned you…"

Jenny's eyes widened as she realised what he was about to do. A mixture of a squeal and the word 'no' escaped her lips as Paul let go of her. She slipped from his grip, gravity pulling her. She screamed as she slammed to the sea floor, cold water surrounding her, stabbing at her skin. Her mouth hung open in shock. Just as she was about to climb to her feet, a wave hit the back of head, soaking her hair.

Paul burst out laughing. He held out a hand for her.

Jenny shook her head. She ignored his hand and climbed to her feet, water dripping from her soaked clothing. "You're going to pay for that," she warned, pointing a finger at him.

They both stared at each other for a moment. Before Jenny reached to grab him. But Paul was too quick and he ran towards the shore, the water splashing around his legs.

Jenny laughed hysterically as she raced towards him, shivering from the cold. Paul laughed too and turned back to her, his smile wide and bright. He backed away from her, his arms out, ready to push her back.

Just as Jenny was about to lunge for him, Paul's phone went off in his back pocket.

"Give me a minute?" He asked. "Then you can get me back."

"Fine." Jenny shook her head.

"What's up?" Paul answered the phone. After a moment, his expression pulled into a tight frown. "Okay, I'll be there soon."

Jenny frowned, wondering what who he was speaking to. "What's wrong?" She asked, wrapping her arms around herself.

"I've got to go, Sam needs me," He answered, appearing a little guilty. "I'm sorry."

"No, it's fine. Go," Jenny said, hiding her twinge of disappointment. She was surprised at how much fun she was having. "I need to get out of these wet clothes anyway."

"Here." Paul pulled off his t-shirt and Jenny awkwardly averted her eyes. He held out it out for her. "Take this, so you can warm up a little in the car."

"No, it's okay." Jenny shook her head. "Besides, its freezing. You're going to need a shirt on if you're meeting with Sam."

"Honestly, Jen, it's fine."

But Jenny shook her head. "I have a towel in the car and the heaters work. I'll be fine."

"Okay," Paul conceded. "Can we do this again…sometime soon?" He seemed a little nervous. It was strange for him.

"Yeah, sure… I had fun today," Jenny said.

"So did I." Paul smiled widely. He moved forward and pulled her into a hug, despite her soaked clothing and damp hair. Jenny savoured the warmth radiating from his skin.

"Bye, Paul." Jenny smiled before turning around and heading back towards her truck. Instead of following her, Paul took off into the tree line, jogging at a steady pace. Jenny frowned, wondering if he was taking a short cut or something.

As she reached the car, she grabbed a towel from underneath the seat and began to dry off. It surprised her how much she'd enjoyed Paul's company. She hadn't felt this light in months. She'd had fun, despite her worries. For a brief few hours, she'd forgotten about her pain and the Cullen family.


A/N: I'm so sorry it's taken me so much longer to update! I feel like I've barely had a minute these past 3 weeks. I'm working at the moment so I've barely had anytime to write, but now I'm hopefully going to get back on track. Updates will be weekly from now on (fingers crossed). I really hope you enjoyed this chapter!

Please let me know your thoughts by reviewing and thank you so much for following and reading this story!