-I Know You
Summary: Paul has never really liked Bella, but he watches her. Observes. Teases her even. As does she in return. For someone that doesn't like her, Paul can say he might be the only one that knows her. When she doesn't show up to a bonfire, Paul makes it his mission to find her.
Bella/Paul
Paul sat the last bag of coal by the grill, giving Sam a look of annoyance. Sam just chuckled and nodded. Sam's attention transferred at that moment, his eyes landing on an alone Jacob. Paul looked as well. It was shocking really.
You always knew she was there. She always came with Jake. Sometimes without him, but she never arrived after him. "Where's Swan?" Paul asked curiously. Jacob rolled his eyes. "I don't know. She didn't show up at my place and Charlie said she wasn't home. I thought she was here. And why do you care? You hate her." Jacob said, heading around Sam to grab a soda from the cooler.
Paul shrugged. "She's alright. She's my teasing bag. It's almost too quiet without her." He said, grabbing the beer Jacob tossed to him. Sam gave him a look of confusion. He shook his head. Only Paul.
"What?" He asked, looking at Sam and Jacob. "She'll show. She's never missed one yet. You know how important these things are to her." Sam stated, hoping to appease the two wolves. More so Jacob than anything. He was afraid that girl would trip on air. Which she does but like...you know..when he's not around.
The bonfire moved on without hesitation, the pack having a grand time as usual. It was almost time for the tribal legends. Paul was actually bored this night. There was no Bella to annoy or vise versa.
He just smelt woods and his pack. Bella smelt like candy. He didn't smell any candy. But Sam was right. Bella never missed the legends. Ever. While everyone sat around the fire, telling old stories of when they were little or did something completely out of the ordinary, Paul slipped into the house, grabbing Sam's keys.
Sam knew what he was doing and just sent Paul the finger, a silent threat that if he fucks his truck up, he's getting fucked up too. Paul started the truck and started making his way down the drive. He pulled out his phone, dialing her number. It went immediately to voicemail and he had to roll his eyes.
So like her to decline his call. He called again. Usually if he called back to back two times in a row, she knew he needed her for something. He moved the phone away from his ear. Maybe it was dead. Paul's first stop was by her house, noting her truck wasn't in the driveway.
He decided not to ask Charlie. He didn't want to worry the man. But was there anything to worry about? No. Nothing. She was probably out. But on a Friday? Past 10. Where is she at 10 on a Friday? The bonfire. Where is she before she comes to the bonfire?
Paul snapped his fingers, tapping his head. "I'm so smart. Newton's Outfitters." It was almost an hour after her shift, which did have him curious. Was Bella messing around with the blonde boy? Paul didn't think so. Even that wasn't her type. But then again...if she was...nah. He shrugged it off and made a U-Turn, heading towards her job.
He whistled as he drove around, his hands tapping to a tuneless beat. He drove Bella to work more often than not despite her annoyance when her monstrosity of a truck did not want to cooperate. So it wasn't long before he pulled up to her job, but finding no truck in sight.
His brow furrowed at that. Bella wasn't a shopper, she wasn't at home...so where was she she? The store still had lights on even though they were closed, and he decided to see if that Mike kid knew where she went.
He turned off the car and pocketed the keys, getting out, closing the truck door. He peered inside the store, and walked inside. Mike was stacking a shelf and glanced at him as he walked in. "Oh hey. Paul right? We're closed, but what can I do for you?" He asked. Paul leaned on the counter and looked around.
"I was wondering where Bella was. I can see she left already though. Do you know where she went?" He asked. Mike shook his head, and turned back around to finish a row. "She told me she was heading to LaPush. Did you try her house? She did say she wanted to stop by before she went." Paul hummed a bit, and sighed.
No luck. He move away from the counter, his eyes catching the brown bag on the side of the stool. Bella never left her purse. It was always a necessity.
"And what time did you say that was?" Paul asked curiously. It was almost 10:30, Bella's shift was over at 9. She would've been to LaPush by now even if she had to make a stop.
"Around 9:15ish. Is she not there?" Mike asked turning around, his eyes conveying worry. Paul shook his head. "Maybe she went to the store." He concluded, watching Mike with keen eyes. Mike shrugged and took out his phone. "Um, I can make some calls." He offered. Paul gave the boy, man, whatever a reassuring shake of his head. "It's alright. She'll turn up." Paul answered.
They stood in an uncomfortable silence, Paul staring Mike down. His sensitive ears picked up a muffled sound, causing him to incline his head in that direction. Paul turned back to Mike with feigned confusion. "Does Bella usually leave her purse?" Paul asked, grabbing the bag. Mike's eyes glanced at it and then him, looking surprised. "Oh, um not usually. She's forgotten it a few times though." Paul wanted to roll his eyes.
That was a lie. "Well I'm going to give her another call. Even if she forgot her purse, she usually has her phone on her." Paul's eyes narrowed at Mikes obvious nervousness. "Now before I make this call is there anything you want to tell me? I might not be very fond of the girl, but nobody messes with her but me." He stated.
Mike looked away shaking is head. Paul could see the beads of sweat forming on his forehead. Paul pressed the number 1, speed dialing her phone. The shrill ring was muffled coming from inside Bella's purse. Paul let it ring for a moment longer before grabbing Bella's purse. He dug inside it, keeping his eyes on Mike.
He hit the end button and glared at him. "So where's her truck? And the keys? I know she's here." Paul said, throwing the bag to the side. Mike gulped. "Look kid, don't make me beat the shit out of you more than I probably will. Is she through there?" Paul pointed to the back.
"Look, you don't understand...I just needed.." Mike struggled to find the words. Paul just scoffed. Him too? "Next time I suggest leave it at friendship. Yeah?" He turned away and started walking towards where he could smell the scent of candy. "Swan? You back there?" He called loudly, knowing she'd know any little noise he'd hear.
His assumption was right as he could hear her muffled yelling. Behind a shelf was a metal door and Paul gripped the lock. He could feel the blast of cold air through a small slit and pulled the lock off. He let it drop to the floor and looked back at Mike who was just staring off to space. Fucking weirdo he thought. He was for sure going to knock the shit out of him before he left.
He used his strength not really caring about pretenses and shoved the door open. He even got cold at the blast of air. She was lying under one of those carts that were in deep freezers of fast food places. "Hold on." Paul lifted up the cart, moving the heavy boxes that landed on her legs.
She was muttering something behind the duct tape over her mouth, her cheeks flushed pink from the cold. He pulled the tape off her mouth first. "You alright?" He asked assessing her quickly. Her teeth chattered, her lips were a light shade of blue and she nodded jerkily. "F-fine." She stuttered. He went about untying the knot that held her ankles and hands together.
"Hold on. Let me..." Paul sighed in annoyance and stood quickly, turning and landing a punch to Mike's face knocking him out. He fell with a hard thud, letting out a slight groan.
He went back to trying to untie the knot and ended up frustrated. This was some strong ass rope. "Are there any knives, box cutters, something?" He asked. Bella nodded her head. "B-b-behind the counter." Paul nods and goes to the front, scrambling to find something sharp. He pulled out a drawer, finding what he needed. He ran back to the freezer, why they have one of these things is beyond him. His knelt back down, cutting the rope, freeing her.
He lifted her up bridal style, her arms immediately wrapping around him. His heat seeped into her body slowly, causing her fingers to slightly burn. He sat her down in the chair, looking her over for further injuries. He grunted slightly as he watched her rubbher hands together. "Be right back." He muttered. He walked back towards the freezer, dragging Mike by the collar of his shirt. He left him on the floor. Paul only shook his head. "Why is it always the crazy ones obsessed with you?" He asked her, half serious. She shrugged shivering.
"I didn't think, think he would do s-something sobcrazy." She rubbed her hands again, hoping to warm up enough. Her teeth were still chattering slightly. Paul went to her side and grabbed her hands, wrapping them in his larger ones. "Better?" He asked. She nodded in relief. She noticed Sam's truck outside and looked at him curiously. "Sam's with you?" She asked. Paul shook his head, glancing out the window. He should probably call 911 right about now.
"Just me." He said, lost in thought. Bella pushes herself up against him, sighing at his warmth. Paul didn't do anything at first, but he lightly wrapped his arms around her, feeling the cold through his shirt. "How'd you know?" She asked. Paul shrugged. "Lucky guess?" He said, although he didn't mean for it to come out like a question.
Bella just hummed. She shuddered again, and Paul wondered what Mike had planned. "You're alright now." Paul soothed. Bella gave him a weak smile. "Look at you getting all sentimental. Playing the hero." Paul chuckled. More than you would ever know. He thought.
"Sit tight. We'll call the police in a moment. Let's wake him up shall we?" Bella gave him a wary look, but sat still as Paul leaned over Mike. He tapped Mike's face hard, an expression Bella never saw on his face before. Not since she slapped him.
"Wake up." He growled. Mike groaned, his blue eyes widening at the angry pool of brown. "Wha.." He tried gathering his thoughts. Paul heaved him up, letting his legs dangle in the air. "What would you have done if I didn't walk in here?" He asked. Mike swallowed, his Adam's apple bobbing.
"I..I don't know." He answered. He truthfully didn't. Paul tilted his head looking murderous. "Really? Why was her truck gone? Where is it?" He asked. Mike didn't answer, his face scrunching up in fear. The man was crying for god's sake. Paul shook him a bit. "Where?" He asked again.
"In the woods." Mike answered quickly. "I drove it into the woods. While she went to the back, I grabbed her keys and pulled her truck into the woods. When she saw it and her keys were missing, she was going to call her dad and that's when I knocked her out. I..I didn't have a plan after that." Mike whimpered.
Paul let him drop to the ground. He kneeled down in front of Mike, grabbing him by the shirt. "Why a fucking freezer? She would've froze to death in there." Paul took the time to look him in the eyes, and it dawned on him. He had that same look in his eyes his father had when he killed his mother in a drunken rage.
She wanted a divorce and wanted to take Paul with her. But his father was spouting on about some heritage and some other bullshit. His mother proceeded to get angry with him, no longer able to take care of his abusive ways. She admitted she'd been seeing another man, and Paul watched the light drain from his fathers eyes, the fire that took over.
His father beat on his mother like there was no tomorrow. Unfortunately there wasn't one for her. He strangled her to death. Paul was only 6 at the time and didn't understand exactly what was going on, but he was too afraid to tell his father no. That what he was doing wasn't right.
But he was frozen in fear. His father even beat on him after the funeral. He never understood how he got away with murder but he did. Once Paul turned 16 though and started to show signs of the eventual fate he was destined to have, his dad backed off.
Until one night, his father was drunk again, and it was the 10 year anniversary of her death. He spouted some bullshit about his mother being a whore and other profanities. It pushed Paul over the edge. He beat the living daylights out of that man. And then phased, breaking furniture, seriously fucking his father up. Unlike Emily, the man had scars all over.
After making up some story about a bear, he was rushed to the hospital and then the man promptly left once healed, afraid of his son. As he should. he had nothing to his name, but Paul found out he had inherited everything his mother owned including the house he was in. It's been 4 years since then. That was his life, and the ones of his pact.
Paul knew that this was more than a sick crush. It would've eventually come down to if he can't have Bella, nobody could. Paul assumed this was the part where nobody could have her.
"You sick fuck." Paul threw back his fist, landing a hit in his chest, relishing in the feel of his ribs cracking. 4 to be exact. Paul threw another punch at his face, breaking his nose. Mike let out a cry as he held his nose. "Oh my god! What the fuck?!" Mike screamed into his hands.
Paul ignored his pain and lifted him up again, meeting his eyes. "You were going to kill her weren't you?" He asked. Mike could barely speak, but shook his head. "I love her. I would never." He said. Paul almost believed him. "You would've. You loved her too much." Paul threw Mike against the wall. He leaned in close, whispering in his ear.
Bella never heard what Paul said, but she remembered Mike's eyes going wide with horror. His face was so pale, he could blend in with snow. Paul threw Mike so hard into the glass window that it shattered, glasss raining down on him as he cried.
Bella knew only a little of Paul's past and he was literally vibrating with anger. Bella hesitantly went to him, her limbs still tingling slightly. She hugged him slowly, and softly. He was tight and tense in her arms. "I know you're not much for hugs and from me most of all, but you need it more than I do. Thank you." She whispered into his shirt.
Paul kisses her head, wrapping his arms around her, a very uncharacteristic thing he would do, let alone to her. We both need it he thought. "Anything for you Swan." He said. She knew that deep down, somewhere he did care for her. It was easy to see.
Do you really mean it? Bella whished she could ask him, but this would push boundaries neither were ready to acknowledge. Sam always said, much to Jacob's displeasure, that it was like watching two elementary school kids pull on each other's hair, only wanting attention from the other.