Note: Hi, sorry I am still stuck and haven't made any more progress on writing this story. Sometimes I want to throw in the towel. But not yet! If you read and were a fan of the OG story "A Twist of Fate", below is an alternative part of chapter 13 I toyed around with when I was drafting where my story was going. When I was writing that story, I struggled with Chapter 13 and it took me months to finally post *_* Below is one of many drafts I tried out for the story's progression. I am sharing this to let y'all know I am still working on this story. Read if you care to. Originally typed on my iPhone so please forgive any typos. My next update will be a real update, whenever that comes. ~Pixelephant
A Twist of Fate
BONUS CONTENT
Chapter 13
[Kami left Kim in Port Angeles. Kim returned back to La Push on her own. She runs into Paul and his grandmother in the parking lot of the local market. Paul begs/forces her to pretend she is tutoring him to account for time he is not at home during the day lately.]
Kim has known Paul Lahote all her life. Well, that's a bit of a stretch. It's more accurate to say she has known Paul since she could start retaining memories. They were the same age. La Push was small. He even stuck out to her before Jared had.
But not in a good way.
More like a malevolent spirit you want to avoid at all costs. The brat she avoided at all costs on the playground upgraded into an asshole with a temper just by third grade. Paul was a reputable bully. Yet he was popular enough to get away with it. And his bully tactics were sneaky in their younger years so you could not complain without evidence. As Paul got older, he didn't have to be so covert about his nasty operations. Kim has avoided him like the plague...when possible. Since he happened to be close friends with Jared, Kim had to endure scoping Paul out as well when she watched (not stalked!) Jared on occasions.
But why is this important to cover? Well because Kim was currently racking her brain trying to piece together how on Earth she found herself in this current predicament. She was in the middle of lying to Paul's grandmother (a council member!) that she was tutoring him. When only four hours ago her day was normal and she was shopping with her sister.
"Are you sure you want to tutor this grandson of mine?" Elder Lahote asked in a low voice with a hint of skepticism before grabbing Kim's chin with her hand, forcing Kim to look her in the eyes. Kim steeled her resolve, not willing to betray her dishonesty. "Hasn't he picked on you in the past?"
Kim's face flushed a bright red as she darted her eyes to the ground. Of course she was embarrassed. She wanted to disappear into the wall behind her. But! Her ability to think on her feet would never fail her.
"If I was petty enough to refuse a customer over that, I wouldn't have the college savings I have recently accrued," she mumbled to her feet. Sadly, it was not a lie. Paul wouldn't be the first tormentor of her past she would 'tutor'. But he was by far the worst of them. Embracing her desire to leave for college one day and needing the money to do so, Kim lifted her head to meet the Elder's stare and her words to follow came out confident and resolute. "Do you know how many of my fellow classmates or their siblings I have tutored who have made fun of me in the past? If I had a dime for every rude comment said to my face or behind my back, I wouldn't need to rely on saving money and a scholarship for college."
The wrinkles lining the corner of Elder Lahote's mouth stretched into a wide smile and Kim could not help but notice how her eye's seemed to sparkle with amusement.
"Splendid," Elder Lahote crooned. The hand once under Kim's chin was now patting her check with a strange affection. "Looks like he won't scare you away then. Cash work?" The same hand traveled to the beaded fanny pack strapped around the Elder's waist.
"It's preferred." Kim smiled softly at the elder and ignored Paul's confused expression as he shook his head between the two. Kim admired the artistry of the fanny pack that was covered in tiny beads strung together to create an open landscape with a horse galloping across a field.
Once the money was exchanged and Elder Lahote left them alone to discuss their tutoring schedule for the rest of the summer…
"What did you do to be so desperate to need this cover story?" Kim asked, fidgeting under Paul's glare.
"You think I don't want tutoring?" he snarked back. Kim sighed and wondered why she even bothered, for a split second. And then a wave of annoyance crashed through her and she found a filter removed to speak her mind
"Cut the shit, Lahote. I am mentally drained between you, Jared and my sister right now."
Paul scoffed before crossing his arms. "How does Jared factor in this equation?"
"We're dating," Kim lied. She paused when the lie fell from her lips. Why had she done that? Wouldn't Paul know the truth that Jared and Kim hadn't definitely decided what they were? But this may be her chance to see if Paul agreed. If he did...it meant that Jared wanted it too. Right?
"Interesting. He hadn't mentioned that. Must have slipped his mind," Paul mentioned casually. Too casually. His mouth twitched like he wanted to laugh, and Kim knew that he knew.
"Fine! I lied," she admitted.
He arched a brow. "Explain." He uncrossed his arms and waited.
Kim's mouth fell open. She had expected him to make fun of her or something worse. Why was he treating her tolerably today?
"We haven't decided that yet. I don't know why I lied. I mean I have been stressed out because we haven't talked about if we are on the same page. Can you just tell me? Does he like me like that?"
"He doesn't." Kim stopped breathing. Literally. Paul's abrupt response that was clear cut truth was a knife to the heart. Or perhaps lungs. Since she stopped breathing.
"You can't be sure! Did he out right say that?" Her voice was small as her emotions were in thrown into chaos. She wasn't given a fair chance. And this was her only chance. It made her want to die knowing it slipped away through her fingers.
Paul sighed. "He didn't have to. He likes someone else, Kim. I'm sorry." His words sounded sincere, but Kim didn't care anymore about why Paul was acting out of character. Her focus was on Jared. Only Jared.
"But he noticed me. Then there were signs that made me believe... who!? Who is she? Is she someone I know?" Kim questioned frantically. "Maybe if I know who I can make peace with it."
Paul shook his head. "That's not for me to say."
"I liked you better when I avoided you," she seethed. Green was clouding her vision. Who was this girl? Why her? Kim needed to know.
"Don't most people. Why do you like Jared?" Paul asked.
Kim blinked, the green bleeding from her sight as she focused on Paul who was acting like a normal human being. Still.
"I can't tell you. You'll just tell him." Kim cradled her head in the palm of her hands waiting for him to respond.
When Paul didn't refute her accusation, her head snapped up. "Really? You can't even lie and say that whatever I say will be just between us?"
Paul snorted. "Jared and I share everything. Now you have been warned. But I'll still listen if you just want to get it out."
"Why are you being nice to me?" She questioned, bewildered by today's version of Paul she encountered.
Paul's mouth twisted into a frown before he took a step forward towards Kim. "Let's just leave it at this. I don't think you're wrong. I think it was you he should have liked too. But sometimes fate has this sick sense of humor. But you're better off. Golden boy comes with baggage you couldn't dream of. One day you'll get over this unrequited love and maybe just look back at it as a fond memory."
"I would have accepted his baggage. I would have accepted everything," Kim mumbled.
"I don't doubt that. But someone else shares that burden now. And I wouldn't envy her, Kim. Everything has a price." His words were brutal but honest. Despite herself, Kim respected that.
"It sure does," she sighed. "Speaking of price. Remember, it's fifteen dollars a session. We can start next week." She offered Paul a thumbs up, ready to turn away to head back to her car. She wanted to go home and cry for a while.
"You can't be serious," she heard the disbelief in his tone and smirked.
"Paul, I know you see me as a doormat. But when it comes to my studies, you'll soon to come to understand why I am the valedictorian of our class and helped Jared pull off a B for his Calculus grade. That's my domain."
She genuinely smiled and waved her hand in his direction for her goodbye.
That was the punchline of this whole situation. Paul knew she would have been perfect for Jared. She wanted him and loved him before the imprint took place. Sure she probably would have driven Paul psycho if it had been her, but at least Jared would have ended up with someone who wanted him.
Between the twins, the one who escaped being chained from this fate by the imprint was the lucky one. She dodged a bullet and would never know it.