The Silent Guardian

by Sorceress of the Cat

One shot from Paul's eyes! Very short but please R&R! Set after the last book. It's set around the idea that Paul isn't completely evil so if you hate him then you should read it anyway and you can complain to me about it! Just read it!

There she was, radiant as always. The way her hair shone in the light was mesmerising. She was surrounded by her countless 'fans'. He almost considered walking over and talking to her. A few months ago he would have done just that. But things had changed now.

The clock struck three and everyone bustled out of their classrooms. He followed her from a safe distance. She walked excitedly as always out into the car park. And, just as he did every afternoon, Jesse met her with a smile. They walked hand in hand to Father Dominic's old car and he watched them sneak a quick kiss before getting in. with a pang he remembered the feel of her lips against his. But now Jesse had that privilege!

"Why does she love him so much?" he thought "Why couldn't she love me?" But even as these thoughts crossed his mind he dismissed them with another "You don't even deserve to feel sorry for yourself!" he scolded "You blew your chance with her big time and there is nothing you can do about it!"

Why hadn't he moved? Why hadn't he saved her? Had he even really loved her? The answer to that question was undoubtedly yes. He loved her. He still did. Then why couldn't he put her above himself? The truth was that he already had.

He loved her so much that his own happiness was unimportant. When he went back to save Jesse form dying, he had only thought about his own selfish dreams. But when she had been stuck in that fire, he realised that he could never be happy when she was miserable. So he used all his will power to stop himself from jumping into those flames. He let Jesse do it. He let Jesse be the hero. He made her happy.

He assumed that she would just shift and Jesse would die in the fire. Then they would be the same as always.

But Jesse didn't die! She brought him back with her!

Now it was worse than ever. And he just had to pretend that he had been too afraid to save her! After seeing them together, he often thought about going back again and changing things. But he couldn't do that to her.

So he left them be. The silent guardian. Always watching, but never close enough to touch. Riddled with pain from knowing the one he loved only had eyes for someone else.