A/N - Hello all! Thank you for all of the positive reviews so far!
To answer the question "Did Paul imprint?" No, he did not. Imprinting was supposed to be rare, so in this story only Sam will have imprinted. There will be another author's note at the end for other explanations.
***Disclaimer*** Twilight content belongs to Stephenie Meyer.
Chapter Three
I woke up before Charlie had left for work, my body was not yet used to the time difference between Florida and Washington. The alarm clock blinked that it was only 6:15am from where it sat on the nightstand, at least I could get an early start on the day. I grabbed my cellphone and unplugged it from the wall charger deciding that I should let Jake know that I was ready whenever he was to go to the store.
I passed the bathroom on my way downstairs to the kitchen, I could hear the shower running and Charlie humming a tune while he was getting ready for work.
The lack of warm aroma in the air alerted me immediately that coffee had not yet been made. Did Charlie drink coffee? I wondered, hoping he at least had some for visitors.
Once in the kitchen I noted that there was an old coffee maker next to the stove and after searching the cabinet above it I learned that Charlie did indeed drink coffee. All he had was store brand dark roast, I would have to remember to get a lighter roast while shopping today. By the time I had made the coffee, I had a text from Jake saying that he would be here by eight o'clock. Perfect.
"Mornin' Bella." Dad grumbled as he entered the kitchen. He walked over to the counter and grabbed the cup of coffee I had poured for him. He took a sip and grimaced. "Where's the sugar at?" He said putting the cup down and then rummaging through the cabinet above.
"Sugar is bad, dad. The best coffee is black, maybe not this dark one though." I said frowning into the cup. It did taste bitter, but it will still do the trick.
"Bella, I am grown man and have lived on my own for years. Might I also point out that I am still alive and not bedridden due to my dietary choices? Everything will be fine." And he poured in what looked to be an entire cup of sugar into his coffee. He walked up to me and placed a kiss to my forehead. "Thank you for the coffee, hun. I'll see you tonight and will bring burgers from the diner for dinner, call me later with what you want."
I still had a little over an hour before Jake was supposed to be here, so I decided to go back to my room and look through the syllabi again for the four classes that I would be starting next week. The classes shouldn't be that difficult I decided. They were all basic classes that had to be taken before I could start the classes for my major. Only one of the four classes would be on campus and the others I would be taking online. I was not looking forward to taking biology and its lab, science had never been my best subject. Maybe it would be better this time around being that I had just taken it a few months ago in high school. I would need to go to Port Angeles soon to pick up my books and supplies so that I could start my online classes on Monday, which was in three days.
I glanced down at the time and realized Jake would be here any minute. I closed the laptop and quickly got dressed. I had never been big into fashion, my outfit of the day as every other day consisted of a pair of jeans, t-shirt, and plain tennis shoes. I heard his car pull up as I finished tying my shoes. I grabbed my purse and met him at the door before he could knock.
"Psychic, Bells?" He asked once I opened the door while his hand was raised to knock.
"Yes, if you need my services please call my hotline so that I can charge by the minute."
Jake yawned, "Is that coffee I smell?" he asked as his walked into the kitchen and poured a glass and then mimicking Charlie by adding a cup of sugar.
I leave against the counter as he drank, "Do you want some coffee to go with that sugar?"
"Ha ha, I didn't peg you as a morning person."
"It's actually noon in Florida."
"Oof, okay. Well, it's good we're starting early. I have a shift on the reservation at three. Ready to roll?" he asked sitting his empty coffee cup down.
"Ready, can we take your car since it has a trunk? I don't want the groceries to get wet." I asked.
"Your carriage awaits, Lady Bella." He said beckoning towards the kitchen door.
When Jake started his car, classic rock came blaring out of the speakers.
"Sorry, I needed it to help me wake up this morning." He said as he lowered the volume, Lynyrd Skynyrd barely audible now.
"No worries, thanks for helping me out this morning. Dinner tomorrow will be credited to you."
He beamed, "Will there be chocolate pound cake?"
"There might."
"Then all of this is worth it."
I am glad Jake knew where we were going. Everything was passing by in a blur of green for me. I will probably have to GPS how to go to the store when I am on my own, I thought feeling embarrassed. I had never been great with directions, which is why my mom bought me a smart phone as soon as I got my license.
We pulled into the almost empty parking lot in front of the grocery store. It was small with high windows that had items that were on sale painted on them in bright colors.
The store diagonal from it is what captured my attention. It was built like a log cabin with a sign in front that read "Netwon's Outfitters" and beneath that "Help Wanted."
"Hey, can we go over there really quick so that I can get an application?" I asked pointing across the street.
Jake looked to where I was pointing. "Sure, it's usually pretty busy with tourists and hunters. Hope you have excellent customer service skills."
We walked across the street, the mist clinging to our skin and dampening our clothes. As soon as we entered the store we were greeted by a tall woman with blonde hair who stood behind the counter to the right of the entrance.
"Good morning! Can I help you find anything today?" She asked too cheerfully for this time of morning according to Jake winced in response.
"I was wondering if I could have an application? I just moved to town to go to college and I would like to have a part time job to help cover costs." I told her.
"Are you Bella Swan? Chief Swan's daughter?" She asked from over the counter.
"Yes, how did you know?" I didn't realize my arrival was town news.
"Oh honey, everyone knows. This is a small town, news of newcomers travels faster than a wildfire here. Plus, your father has been talking about it non-stop for months."
"Oh, well. At least I won't have to introduce myself to everyone in town since they already know who I am."
"That's the attitude to have, sweetie. Anyway, about your application, you're hired." She said.
I stood there staring at her, flabbergasted by her response.
Noticing my confusion, she explained. "I am short staffed, my son and all of the other kids that worked here the past two years graduated and have moved off for college. I really need the help. Plus, like I said it's a small town. I know your dad, which means hopefully you will be as well rounded as him. You start next Friday since it's the beginning of a new pay period if that works for you."
"Next Friday works, I have to drive to Port Angeles on Tuesdays and Thursdays, but I am free every other day of the week." I responded.
"Great! You will regret telling me that. I look forward to seeing you on Friday."
I didn't expect landing a job to be so easy. On the high from that excitement the shopping trip went by in a blur. Due to my distraction Jake convinced me to buy enough ingredients to make two chocolate pound cakes. The store was clean with not an item out of place. I guess with having so few shoppers on a daily basis it was easier to keep everything organized on the shelves, which only contained store brand items I noticed. I saw only a handful of name brand items during the trip.
After we loaded the groceries into the trunk of Jake's car we headed back home. The ride was going smoothly as we planned what we wanted to do together before he had to start his shift, we agreed on watching an action film that we had both been wanting to see. However, those plans came to an end once his car started making aggressive clanking noises from the engine midway through one of his sentences.
"Shit!" He groaned. "It must need an oil change. I just changed it a month ago, I'm not sure why it is almost out. There must be a leak." Jake turned to me, "Sorry, Bells. I need to take a rain check on our afternoon together. Gotta get this fixed before more damage happens."
I frowned, I had been looking forward to us hanging out together one on one to catch up and last night definitely didn't count.
"No worries, would it be okay if I tagged along to help? I need to learn how to change my own oil too."
"You know I will change it for you when the time comes." He responded.
"Yeah, but I need to be independent and not count on you for everything." Noticing the look of rejection on his face I quickly added, "But I will always need you to change the tires."
"Alright, it should be an easy fix. It won't be exactly the same as changing yours, but you'll understand the process."
Once we got back to the house we quickly unloaded and put everything way in their respective places in the kitchen.
I followed Jake back to his house in my own truck that way I could leave before he got ready for work. His car led down a short dirt driveway to a small red house with worn, aged shutters. The porch light was still left on from the night before.
I parked my truck in front of the house as he stopped his inside of a small garage in the backyard.
The dirt crunched under my shoes as I made my way to where he stood inside of the garage. Jake was already sorting out tools from inside of three tier black box by the time I made it inside.
"So you don't need much to do this, just the oil filter, oil, wrench, jack, and a pan to collect the old oil. It's easy peasy." Jake explained as he raised the car with the jack.
"Hmm… Would I be able to use the jack by myself?" I asked. Cars seemed to be fairly heavy as far as my experience with them goes. I doubted I could do that alone with as weak as I am.
He patted the car, "Yep, you shouldn't have a problem. With physics and all this thing will do all of the hard work for you."
After that explanation he walked me through how to drain the old oil and do the rest of the maintenance required. It was kind of interesting being able to do all of this myself. Being independent wasn't going to be a problem at all. I could do this easily once he showed me how to do it on my truck. Once we were finished and properly covered in oil and grease from being under the car, he asked me to close the hood while he finished putting away the tools.
Which shouldn't have been an issue, but then again, I am me and nothing is as simple as it should be.
After I closed the hood I went to put away the bar that was used to prop it open but managed to trip over a large lugnut and hit my head on the tool box as I fell down.
Jake ran over from where he had been standing and helped me to sit up.
"Gosh, Bells! Are you okay?" he asked crouching in front of me. His warm hands pushed my hair back. "Your forehead is pouring blood. We have to get you to the hospital, you probably need stitches."
"I'm sure I'm fine, I fall the time. This isn't new." He frowned then grabbed a clean rag off of the toolbox that I hit and placed it to my head then held it in front of my face. It was soaked in dark red blood from only being placed for a moment. After noticing that I felt the liquid slowly begin to drip down my face and my head began throbbing. "Well, maybe I should go to the ER just to be safe."
I held the rag to my face as he drove us to the hospital in my truck, going much faster than he needed to. Forks had one hospital that was not very large, but had a surprisingly good reputation and people from nearby towns came here before driving all the way to Port Angeles or Seattle.
Jake quickly ushered me into the hospital clutching my arm like I would fall over at any moment. I'm surprised he didn't ask for a wheelchair.
A male nurse in blue scrubs approached us before we made it to the check in counter. He looked us both up and down then his gaze stopped on my face.
"Ah, head injury. We can get you seen right away. Please follow me." He led us through a door and then through a hallway of curtains, stopping at one in the middle. "Please have a seat on the bed and fill out these papers, Dr. Cullen will be in to see you shortly." He said handing me a clipboard with insurance forms and then walked away.
I looked to Jake who seemed, if possible, more tense than before. He started pacing.
"You okay, Jake? I'm the one with gash on my head leaking more blood than Dracula could even stand." I joked.
He looked at me sharply, "Not funny, Bells. I'm sure you're fine. Just wish there was another doctor on shift today. Dr. Cullen isn't.. isn't the best." I suppose with it being a small town and all, he would know each doctor that worked here and their individual reputations. Hopefully this doctor wouldn't be too awful.
Jake sat on a chair that was next to the bed as I began to fill out the paperwork. I didn't know the answers to over half of the questions.
As if someone read my mind, the nurse from before popped inside the curtain and took the clipboard out of my hands.
"You don't actually need to worry about this. The receptionist called Chief Swan and he will stop by after work to fill it out for you." And with that he was gone again. Not sure how he knew who I was.
Jake and I sat in silence for several minutes. He was on his phone trying to work out his shift, not wanting to leave until I was released. I kept the rag pressed to my head, the headache not as bad as it was before.
After about twenty minutes of waiting a voice appeared on the other side of the curtain.
"Knock, knock Ms. Swan, I am Dr. Cullen, is it okay if I come in?" he asked from the other side.
"Yeah, sure." I responded. Jake left the chair to stand next to where I sat on the bed, annoyance visibly lurked within his dark eyes.
Dr. Cullen was not what I was expecting. I had been imagining an older, balding man who had been practicing for years. But this man looked too young with otherworldly beauty to be able to be my doctor. His blonde hair was neatly trimmed and combed back, his pale white skin contrasted with dark topaz eyes. He could have passed for someone in their early twenties still in undergraduate studies.
He looked at Jake after entering, "Good afternoon, Mr. Black. It is good to see you." He said.
Jake nodded in response and moved closer to me.
He then looked towards me with his hand outstretched, "Hi Ms. Swan. I am glad to finally meet you. Everyone has been waiting on your arrival for weeks." I took his hand to shake it, not anticipating that it would be as cold as ice. He must have just washed them after visiting another patient.
After letting the hand go, Jake took my hand and his warmth washed away the cold chill that had set in.
"Let me see your head, please." Dr. Cullen asked.
I removed the rag from my forehead and he brushed my hair away then performed a simple examination to test my eyesight and to determine whether or not I had received a concussion.
"Well, I believe you are fine. Though you will need three stitches, which shouldn't take long. You will need to be monitored over the next twenty-four hours just to be safe. We can get you a room here –"
Jake cut him off.
"I can take Bella home and stay her until Chief Swan gets off. No need for her to stay any longer than necessary. Can you please do the stitches so that we can leave?" He asked curtly. I was a little embarrassed by how rude Jake was acting, Dr. Cullen had seemed pleasant so far.
"Of course, it shouldn't take but a moment." He replied.
Surprisingly, the stitches did not hurt at all, just a slight pinch.
Once back in the truck, I asked Jake what was up with his standoffish attitude towards the doctor.
"Those of us from La Push don't trust Dr. Cullen or his family. They're different, Bella. Not in a good way. Just trust me on this, please? I wouldn't ever lie to you." He sounded serious which wasn't like him. He was usually carefree and jovial, nothing phased him. It worried me.
"Yeah, okay Jake. I'll take your word." I said.
We drove the rest of the ride home in silence. When we pulled up in front of the house an unfamiliar truck was parked on the lawn. It was an older black Ford from the 70s with chipping paint. It must have been one of my dad's friends. I don't know why I thought his only friend was Billy, I'm sure he has other pals that stop by all of the time. I'll just let them know he's at work until later tonight.
Jake stopped the truck but did not get out.
"I'm sorry Bella, Sam wouldn't let me out of my shift. I still have to be at work in less than an hour." He said.
"Oh, I'm sure that's fine. Charlie will be here in a few hours anyway."
"I'm not leaving you alone. Sam was sending someone over to hang out with you, I don't want your dad murdering me when I get off tonight if something were to happen to you."
"That explains the mysterious truck then." I responded.
"Yeah. . . he sent Paul since he had just gotten off his paying job. I thought it was going to be Quil or Jared though."
My heart leaped a bit. Why? I didn't know. I had only met the man once but was oddly thrilled to be seeing him again so soon. Jake didn't seem as thrilled. He was still reeling from his overprotectiveness from earlier.
"Why is he here? We don't know each other." I asked.
"Sam and your dad trust him. Plus there wasn't any other option and you don't know anyone in town. It'll be fine, he probably won't talk."
"Alright, that's fine. I just didn't want to be a bother. I doubt anything would happen if no one were here."
"Sorry, Bells. You're not talking your way out of this." He glanced at the clock on the dash, "I gotta go, but I will text you after my shift to see how you are. If he does anything, just let me know and I'll take care of it. I'll bring your truck back tomorrow too."
"Okay, thanks Jake. I'm sorry I crashed our day."
"You did no such thing, life is going to be more entertaining with you around." He said smiling.
I slid out of my truck and turned back to wave bye to Jake before heading to the porch.
Paul was leaning against the railing on the bottom step with his arms crossed over his wide chest.
"Hey Bella, I heard you were in need of protection from yourself." He said with a smug grin.
A/N
Just some notes on why things are the way they are in my head.
Paul didn't imprint, but being from a small town myself, everyone is always intrigued by the newcomer. Which is why they seem to be interested in one another. Also, girls will always want what they're told to stay away from. But instead of her everyone saying to stay away from Edward, they're warning her away from Paul.
Jake isn't obsessed with Bella as he was in the actual series, because he will have been long distance friends with her for the past two years and the same age. She isn't some older new girl. Having that consistent platonic friendship in my opinion would have led to a more sibling relationship instead of romantic.
Please correct me if you feel different! I don't mind making adjustments. These are just my thoughts for why things are the way they are.