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

We got a new puppy today! He's so adorable, a basset hound. I was so excited I thought I would share the excitement. Hehe.

Enjoy!

Chapter 37

The next day after waking up at Leah's and having breakfast with them, I decided to head over to Bella's. I needed to know what was going on with her and the Cullen's.

Before I head towards her house I decided to take a detour to see Paul. I tried calling and texting him a couple of times last night but when I got no response I just figured he was either phased or passed out.

When I got to his house Jason was walking out. He smiled brightly when he saw me, "There's my beautiful some day future daughter in-law." I giggle at him, "Hi dad." He pulls me into one of his bear hugs.

"Did you enjoy the rest of your birthday?"

I nod, "Yes it was fun. Wish Paul didn't have patrol," I shrug. He nods, "Yeah...I know. He's inside but passed out if you want to go in. He didn't get in until after two this morning."

That surprised me. "Really? That was the longest shift he's ever done." That was fourteen hours. They never do more than nine at a time.

Jason clears his throat, "I know. Well I got to get going before your dad beats me with a bat for being late."

"You and dad are hanging out?"

"Yeah, their wedding anniversary is coming up in a few weeks and wants me to help him pick something out."

I nod, "Yeah, he always seems to need help with that. I'm glad he's taking you this year. He's a pain in the butt to go shopping with."

Jason groans, "Oh great." I giggle as I watch him go to his truck and head towards my house.

I get inside and make my way to Paul's room and see him completely passed out on his bed on his stomach. He was still wearing his torn denim shorts. I lean down beside him and run my fingers through his cropped hair. He's sleeping so peacefully.

As much as I wanted to wake him up, I just didn't have the heart to do it.

I take a piece of paper out of one of his notebooks and write him a little note.

My Dearest Paul,

I came to see you before heading to Bella's and saw that you were sleeping. I didn't have it in my heart to wake you up when you look that peaceful.

Hope you're available later this evening.

Let me know.

I love you so much.

Forever Yours,

Gemma.

I tape it to his door frame at his eye level so I know that he'll see it. I lean back down beside his bed and kiss him on his forehead. "I love you so much Paul," I whisper to him and he whispers back my name lovingly making my heart swell.

I get up and before I walk into the hall I glance over at him once more.

How did I get so lucky?

...

As I ride to Bella's house I sing to myself to help keep me entertained and to make it go a little faster. Right before I get to the border, a low bark catches my attention almost making me crash.

When I gain my balance I look to my right and can see the face of the masked wolf of Jared. I lay my bike down in the grass and walk into the woods to where I know no one will see us. When I'm close enough to him, he gives me a big lick from my chin to my hair line. "Oh my god Jared! Seriously?" I whine while wiping off his slobber.

Jared gives a wolfy laugh.

"I'm heading over to Bella's right now."

He gives me a huff. "I know, I just want to see what's going on." He nods his head. I step closer to him and scratch behind his ear, "I'll see you later." As I start to walk away, he gives me a big nudge with his nose almost knocking me over. I give him a glare to earn another wolf laugh before he takes off further into the trees.

I just shake my head laughing as I go back to my bike.

...

Charlie answers the door and smiles at me, "Morning Gemma. Come on it." I give him a hug as I step through the door.

"Is Bella here?" I ask following him into the dining room where he has his shot-gun and gun cleaning stuff.

"Yeah, she's upstairs. I heard the shower start right before you got here."

"Ok, thought I would see if she wanted to hangout. Mind if I join you until she's out?"

He gives me a smile, "Of course not."

I watched him for a couple of minutes as he started cleaning his gun. "So things seem to be pretty serious with you and Paul from what I gathered at breakfast yesterday."

I laugh lightly, "If you're talking about the kid talk, yes."

He nods, "Kind of threw me off guard."

"I think it threw everyone off."

He chuckles, "So are you planning on having kids?"

"One day but not anytime soon. We've talked about the future and we all want the same things. We're taking the first big step by moving in together when we graduate."

He looks up at me with his eyes wide a little, "That is a big step. If I didn't know you so well I would say that you're too young and it's too soon," he takes a sip of his beer, "But I've known you since you were born, you're like a niece to me. I don't know Paul all that well but I know you've two have been together for a long time and from what Billy has told me, Paul is a good boy and will take good care of you."

I smile brightly at him, "That means a lot to me Charlie. You've always been like an uncle to me. Uncle Billy was right, Paul does take good care of me. He would never hurt me and if he does, I have my military dad, Uncle Billy, Harry, and you the chief of police who all know how to handle a gun. I'm even positive Jason would go after him, his own son, too."

Charlie let out a full-blown laugh which made the smile on face spread even more if possible. Charlie never really laughs, just chuckles.

"That we all do and will."

We made small talk for a little longer until Bella comes out of the kitchen with a beer.

"Here, I got you another one," She says as she places it next to Charlie's other beer. She looks at me and smiles, "Hi Gemma. I didn't know you were coming today."

I shrug, "I wanted to surprise you and see if you wanted to hangout since you were at the Cullen's yesterday."

She gets a little bit of a guilty look. "Yeah, I'm sorry about missing breakfast. Happy late birthday."

I just smile not knowing what to say.

"But I have a date with Edward Cullen today."

My stomach dropped and Charlie snapped his head up looking at her. "I thought you didn't like any boys in town."

"Edward doesn't live in town...technically," She says awkwardly. "I thought you liked the Cullen's."

I so badly wanted to jump in this conversation but knew that it wasn't my place.

"He's a little old for you isn't he?"

"Um...no. He's a junior...I'm a junior." She looks over at me, "I'm sorry I can't hangout."

I just shrug my shoulders. I know that if I open my mouth to say something to her, but it won't be good things at all.

"He's right out side," Bella says looking back down at Charlie.

"He is?"

My stomach dropped some more. I really didn't want to be anywhere near him or his kind. Animal drinkers or not.

She nods, "He wanted to me you...officially."

Charlie looks at me and then at his gun. He picks it up whipping it to close it, "Bring him in."

I had to cover my mouth to keep from laughing. I'm so glad dad never did that with Paul, but if he did I'm sure mom would've stopped him.

"Can you be nice?" Bella says leaning in a little, "He is important."

Damn it. I could see the look in her eyes when she said that. She's in this deep.

Charlie circles his hand around his head like a halo and a giggle slipped through my lips. As Bella walks away to get him, I lean over the table and slap his shoulder to see a smile on his face. "You kill me you know that?" He shrugs his shoulders innocently.

As we hear footsteps approach, Charlie gets up but I stay seated. When I see him, I get chills all over my body. Even if I didn't know about him, I would still get that bad vibe from him. I really wish I was anywhere else but here right now; preferably with Paul where I know I'm safe.

"Hello Chief Swan, I'm Edward Cullen. I wanted to formally introduce myself."

Damn, he sounds like he's stepped out of a Jane Austin novel with his formality. I believe that chivalry isn't dead but come on.

Charlie takes his hand, "Hello Edward."

"I hope you don't mind, Bella is going to play baseball with me and my family."

Charlie and I both start chuckling.

I could not imagine Bella playing baseball or any other sport. She can't even walk a straight line on a flat surface without tripping.

"Bella's going to play baseball?" Charlie asks amused.

"That's the plan yes."

Charlie scratches his neck, "Well...good luck with that."

They start to walk away when Charlie stops her. Edward walks away. Charlie lifts up his hand like he's spraying something. "Do you still have your pepper spray." I had to bite by lip to control myself. Bella's eyes go wide, "Yeah, dad. Bye Gemma."

As I hear the front door shut, I couldn't contain it anymore and busted out laughing with tears threatening to spill over. "Oh my god Charlie, I love you!"

He shakes his head, "Did you see the looks that boy has? I should send her to an all girls school, he's going to be trouble."

My laughter died down and spoke my thoughts, "I have a gut feeling that even if you did, that won't keep them away from each other."

He nods. "I hate to say it but I think you're right."

It was quiet between us for a little bit until my phone started ringing with Paul's ringtone.

"Hey you," I answer smiling.

"Hey beautiful," It sounds like he's just waking up.

"Did you just get up?"

He grunts. "I saw your note. You still at Bella's?"

"Yeah but it's just me and Charlie. Bella's on a date."

He sighs, "It's with the blood sucker ain't it?"

"Mmhm. You working today?"

"No. You want me to come get you?"

"Please. I don't feel like riding my bike all the way back."

"Ok. I'll be there in about fifteen minutes. I love you."

I smile, "I love you too."

As I set my phone on the table, Charlie is looking at me with a pointed look. "What?"

"You really are in love with that boy," He points out.

I nod smiling, "I am. He's on his way to pick me up."

"Ok. It was nice having you here."

I smile at him, "Yeah it was fun." Besides being in the same room as a vampire.

...

When Paul picks me up he asks about what happened with Bella and Edward.

"I'm telling you Paul, even if I had no idea that he was a vampire, I got that vibe that lets you know that something isn't right. With his unnatural flawless face, and the way he talks...it's no wonder Bella was drawn into him."

Paul gives me a look, "Were you?"

I laugh at him, "Definitely not!"

Relief was in his eyes, "I said it was unnatural. It's what draws in their prey or I guess in this situation...a girlfriend."

"Do you think she knows?"

I sigh, "I don't know but with the look in her eyes, I can tell that she's in this deep. A girl like Bella doesn't fall in love easy. She's a smart girl though and probably pieced things together with the "scary story" Jacob told her and things she noticed about him."

"Well she's plain out stupid and suicidal if she continues with this knowing what he is."

I nod, "I know. Bella is my friend but she has no idea what she's getting herself into. As much as I liked being around her...I don't think I can anymore as long as she's with him." Paul gives me a sad look. "I've never been so uncomfortable in my life. Unless she's at Uncle Billy's when I'm there, I can't be around her."

Paul takes my hand in his and kisses the top of it. God I love it when he does that.

"So why did you have such a long shift last night?"

"Because Sam let Leah have her birthday off and needed me to take hers as well as mine." I give him a look.

"There has been days that Leah couldn't do it because of being at the hospital or getting things needed for college and none of you had to do it for fourteen hours." And it's true. I might not be the closest to Sam but I know that he wouldn't work them that hard.

He's quiet for a minute. "Well he really needed me to yesterday. I don't question Sam unless necessary."

I have a feeling that there is something else to this but with how Paul is, I know he won't tell me anything right now. I know it can't be anything bad and that he would never hurt me.

...At least I hope not.

Let me know what you think and what you would like to see besides what's going on with Paul. You'll find out soon with that I promise. Remember to review!