I don't own twilight, I just like to make up completely non canon stories about the characters.
Chapter 3
I walked into La Push High School, the whirlwind of pre-homeroom chaos was erupting around me. Kids were slamming lockers and stealing kisses, shouting at each other about some sports game, and there was even a kid getting shoved into a locker. I went to go help the scrawny looking kid, but then the bell rang loudly and the students dispersed instantaneously. He ducked into his classroom before I could say a word. This all seemed like such a foreign environment, strangely enough, since only three years had passed since I was in high school. I was so used to not being in any kind of physical school, I was slightly overwhelmed. It had been a few semesters since my student teaching, where I had gotten a slight feel for school again. That feeling was no more. I walked quickly to the principal's office, taking a deep shaky breath. I wanted to teach ninth grade english, this interview was the only thing standing between me and my dream job. Principal Mathers waited for me outside of his office.
A smile spread across his face as he spoke.
"Hello, Ms. Swan! It's nice to see you, How was your drive in?" A little bit of the tension dissipated from my shoulders and I slightly relaxed, at least he wasn't intimidating.
"It went perfectly, Mr. Mathers. I'm so used to this drive I could probably do it in my sleep. I come out to La Push a few times a week. I'm good friends with the Uley's and the Black's."
"I'm very glad that you have some connections down here. Heritage is very important in these halls. We care deeply about where we come from." He took a long breath and continued, "I see that you are set to graduate in the fall and you just finished up your last undergraduate class recently. That's very impressive you were able to finish so quickly."
I smiled, glad that someone was impressed with how hard I had worked, "Thank you, it took a lot of dedication and I would be able to graduate now, but there is no summer graduation at my college and I wasn't able to apply for spring commencement, so I am stuck waiting for winter commencement. However, I've already taken and successfully completed the praxis tests for licensure and I will be fully licensed the second I receive my diploma. As for caring about our area, part of the reason I went to college online is because I couldn't leave this area. I love Forks, I love La Push, I can't see myself living anywhere else."
Principal Mather's smiled and our interview continued on easy as pie. We finished up and he offered me the position. He had explained to me that the previous teacher was having a baby in December and had decided she wanted to be a stay at home mom. Her decision to leave halfway through the school year next year left the school in quite the predicament of having to hire a teacher for early next year. This school year was just ending, I couldn't wait for December. I would be a teacher at La Push High School after winter break. It seemed so far away but I was so proud of myself. I had done it, I quickly pulled my phone out once I got to the parking lot, Charlie picked up on the first ring.
"Hey, bells. How'd it go? I know you got it, there's no way you didn't. You're going to be the best damn teacher in Washington. Hell, you're going to be the best teacher in the country." That's when he took a breath waiting for my response. "Dad, I didn't even tell you I got the job! I can't be the best teacher anywhere if they don't hire me as a teacher. Thankfully for us they hired me! I know it's six months away, Dad, but I have never been more excited for anything in my life. Literally, nothing has compared to this." I could practically feel Charlie smiling through the phone, "Bells, you, me, the diner, 6:00PM. It's time to celebrate!" I just chuckled. "Ok, old man, Love you. See you at six." He laughed a hearty hopeful laugh, "Don't go calling me old man now, kid. Love you, too. See you tonight!" With that my phone went silent.
Paul POV
I was driving past the school when I saw Bella pull up to the high school. Why the hell was the leech lover going to a high school? Let alone the La Push High School... She never had much sense, maybe something happened and her ditzy ass got lost. She would get lost on a reservation she's been coming to since she was in diapers. I gaffed it off, why did I care was she was going anyways, what she did was none of my business.
A few hours later...
It was a warm Friday night, I had just gotten home from the shop and I was ready to spread my wild oats. Today had been long, we had countless cars come through where their owner hadn't kept up with proper maintenance. In simple terms these cars were fucked. I worked on rusted bolts and black oil for hours. Jake had gotten frustrated with having a busy day today, but I think there was trouble in paradise with his new girlfriend. Whatever it was, I wanted to get away from the drama, hence why I was at home getting ready for my night on the town.
I showered, shrugged on my leather vest and my black faded jeans and I was on my way. The Moonshiner was my favorite place outside of La Push. I liked to let loose as much as any other guy but I hated getting drunk in my town. Forks provided a better cover for when I wanted to have a better time. It saved my reputation the headache, I had cleaned up a lot since high school but I was still Paul Lahote, ladies man extraordinaire and that wont look as good for me when I'm sitting on my seat on the council if I keep it up in La Push.
I was growing seriously tired of the chicks that hung around these towns. Half of them were nice, quiet girls who didn't have any business messing around with a guy like me. The other half were wild and free, not looking to get tied down unless it fed their booze and shopping addiction. They were fun for a night, but they were terrible in large doses. There didn't seem to be any girls that could have fun but weren't entirely self centered.
I pulled up to the Moonshiner around 9:30pm… The drinks had just started flowing and I recognized a few faces from my times coming down here. I filed through the crazy drunken mess of the dance floor, to the bar. A few people were sitting around the tall stools making small talk and I instantly relaxed. I hadn't seen anybody from the Rez yet, which was always a good sign. A large commotion was coming from the center of the dance floor. I heard loud hollering which was sensitive to my wolf hearing and I turned around…
Seriously, I couldn't have one night away…
There the leech queen herself was hooping and hollering like a fool with some older guy, I couldn't quite see from this distance. He was standing facing her and away from me. She was laughing and smiling and it was the most free I had ever seen her look. They were both dancing terribly to the music and he seemed to be spinning her around until she nearly fell flat on her face, which seemed to make them both bend over laughing in stitches. Finally she spun around and I noticed the older man was her father. The chief of police, who looked slightly drunk with ruddy red cheeks was smiling from ear to ear. Something big must've happened today, they both looked to be celebrating. Whatever it was, I turned away, not wanting to encroach on what seemed like a private moment.
I sighed… Looking for my next distraction, looking for anything to take my mind off of her. She was slowly wiggling her way into my subconscious and it was pissing me off. I saw a tall brunette with long lean legs giving me the eyes and I locked on target. Tonight was going to end in my favor. I soon was buying her drinks and all thoughts of Bella trickled out of my mind.
Bella POV
Charlie and I had a great dinner at the diner and apparently he wanted to go out and get drinks since we were not done celebrating. I invited Emily and Angela, too, but they were busy and couldn't make it. I was a little bummed by that but I understand people have lives and it was really last minute invite.
The Moonshiner was packed tonight, which was a little odd for a week night but we rolled with it. Charlie's deputy Mike was sitting the bar with a few of the other guys and had offered to buy me a round. He was tall and handsome and I don't think dad would be more proud to have me date someone like Mike. Charlie wasn't a big fan of the only person I've dated. He had hated Edward, and in hindsight I don't disagree with him. I shuddered purging myself of the thoughts of Edward as Deputy Mike came up to me and gave me a light hug, and handed me a beer.
"Congrats, Bella. We are all really proud of you. Chief has been telling us about how you finished early and got a job almost immediately. That's no easy feat. We'll all celebrate with you all tonight if you want."
I smiled, Mike was a good choice. He wasn't supernatural. He wouldn't love me because he had to or because I intrigued him. He would like me for me. I nodded, "Sure thing Deputy, I haven't celebrated myself in a long time so I'd love the company." I took a few healthy swigs from my beer and swayed to the live band playing.
A few drinks later we were all out on the dance floor and I had almost broken my neck a few hundred times. A bunch of the guys went outside to get some fresh air so Charlie and I danced like fools. We had been there almost an hour or two when I felt the hair on the back of my neck stand up. I danced around and saw Paul sitting at the bar. I wondered if I should go up and talk to him, lord knows my heart wanted to. My head wouldn't let my feet move so I stood there talking to Charlie. He was a little buzzed and I had to look out for him, heaven forbid the chief said something he regretted drunk. For some reason I couldn't keep my eyes off of Paul. I didn't even want to stare but I couldn't help it. I watched as Paul went to go cozy up to a beautiful girl way out of my league and my heart shattered a little bit. Good thing Mike was just outside. I felt like the walls were closing in on me. How could I ever like someone who would never like me? I was being so damn stupid. There wasn't any wolf magic, he wasn't interested, and I would get over it. Edward didn't want me either, so it must be some weird supernatural thing. Let's torture the one girl who knows about all of us. Ugh, shut up Bella, that's not fair. Paul doesn't owe you. Plus he had no idea I even liked him so I couldn't blame him for being with anyone at all. That was his prerogative. I yanked myself out of my inner monologue and headed out to see what the guys were up to. I wasn't about to let my night for me go to waste. I drudged my way past all the drunken dancers and pushed my way through the heavy outside door. Deputy and some of the officers were standing around a few of them were smoking cigarettes. They all nodded and gave their greetings.
Mike greeted me with a soft smile, he had a bright twinkle in his green eyes and his dark brown hair shone in the moonlight. "Hey, Bella, we were just talking and I wanted to ask you something."
I got slightly nervous at that because I had no idea what he would possibly want to ask me so I nodded my head in response. "Uh, sure, shoot. Whatya need to ask?"
He cleared his throat scuffing his cowboy boots along the gravel in the parking lot, I guess he was half as shy as I was. "Um, well, I was wondering if you'd want to go out with me this week? I was afraid to ask before because I didn't know how you'd feel about going out with me since I work for your dad and everything. I'm only 26, so I'm the youngest deputy this town has ever seen and so I figured there wasn't too much of an age gap. I just think you're really beautifully and incredibly driven and I would be stupid to let the opportunity pass me by. I'm kinda ranting a little aren't I?" He awkwardly chuckled and looked at me expectantly with a tinge of redness spreading across his cheeks letting me know he was just as nervous as I was.
I was excited and a little shy. Someone actually wanted to go out with me... For me. What a weird concept. I gave him small hug, "Sure, I'd love that. Just let me know when and where and I'm there."
Relief washed over his slightly panicked face, "Okay awesome. How bout I pick you up around 7 on Friday?"
I thought long and hard and I was slightly conflicted since the usual La Push Bonfire Bashes were on Fridays around that time but I figured, I wasn't really apart of that life completely. I knew, but I wasn't considered family in the same way. I wasn't an imprint or a wolf or a family member. I was kind of in limbo, so one Friday away from it all couldn't hurt. No one would notice I was gone.
"Friday at seven sounds great, don't be late or Charlie may threaten to shoot ya." I chuckled and we made our way back inside as his hand slowly entwined with mine.
AN: I know, I know I'm taking forever to get these stories out. I have much more inspiration for this story compared to Another One Bites the Dust. I can't seem to find a muse to get out a good chapter for it. I know this is quite the plot twist but this is a Paul/Bella story I just realistically have to build up their relationship. it wouldn't make much sense for them to just fall into bed and be happy and perfect. Let me know what you think of the chapter, and thank you for all of your reviews, favorites, and follows~ they mean the world to me and make me want to actually right this story. Also, as usual I don't have a beta, all spelling errors are my own.
