A/N: Hello Ladies and Gentleman. I bring to you my third Paul story written in the month of October, 2021. I clearly have a thing for this character. The idea for this very sweet story came to me quickly and the whole thing was written in a matter of days. It will be about 9 chapters and an epilogue and around 15,000 words. So many Paul/OC stories (I have been reading a lot of Paul stories :) pair him with a meek good girl character and I wanted to see him with a strong female lead character. Enter Mallory, who really initiates his growth in this story while also stimulating her own. And also showcases the complicated and awesome dynamic of sisters. My Paul looks less like the actor who plays him in the movies and more like Martin Sensmeier. At least in my head.

This doesn't really follow the cannon timeline, but if anything it takes place during Eclipse before the New Born War. M rating mostly for language, mature content at the end.

If you need more of a Paul fix, check out my two other Paul stories: Pieces of Me (a now COMPLETE Rachel and Paul imprint story that is pretty much on the cannon timeline) and I Want to See You Be Brave (A Leah/Paul story that takes place when Leah is 40 and involves the next generation of wolves).

As always, would love to read your reviews and feedback! This is a big exercise for me and I am interested in all types of constructive comments.

This story is told in the point of view of our heroine, Mallory - Kim's younger sister. Everything in italics is Mallory's thoughts.

Hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own any part of Twilight. All characters from that franchise belong to SM.

Chapter 1:

She stood outside my front door distraught and alone. It was clear she had been crying, pink wet cheeks, glossy eyes. Before I saw her, I heard three loud knocks on the door and knew something was up. Who dropped by unannounced anymore? I could hear her whimpering from inside the doorway. This person outside was upset, panicked even. As I moved toward the door I could see through the side window. Loose ripped jeans, baggy sweatshirt, big messy bun: her signature I don't give a fuck outfit. Something was up with Caroline.

"Hey, what's going on?" I asked, concerned. I was still in my pajama shorts that had maroon hearts all over them and an oversized blue t-shirt that read, "I Dissent" under a picture of Ruth Bader Ginsberg. It was a Christmas present from my sister. I crossed my legs feeling the breeze hit my exposed skin. I urged Caroline in, desperate to close the door as I shivered.

"Mal, it's like 1pm," she said to me, eyeing my outfit.

"Uh, it's Sunday," I said defensively, wondering why she was focusing on my attire when she clearly had more pressing issues on her mind. I exhaled trying to center myself. "Car, what are you doing here? What's going on?"

She brought her hands to her face and started to cry. I hugged her and brought her over to the living room, giving her a box of tissues.

I didn't want to pry, but I knew it had to be bad. Caroline never cried. Not like this. This year we had become super tight and she was the kind of girl that didn't let small stuff bother her. So whatever it was must have been big.

I patted her back as she wiped away tears. Then she started to speak.

"You know that guy I told you about, who I've been really into lately…"

"The guy you met at that party? Brett, from Forks?" I said.

She shook her head no. "I made up the name Brett and he's not from Forks," she said reluctantly. I looked at her confused. Why would she hide something from me?

"It's just Mal, I knew if I told you who it really was you would have freaked out… and I wanted to believe it would turn out differently… that it wouldn't be like…he just made it seem like he really liked me… and I know what you said about Olivia and Syd…"

And then I knew and it hit me like a knife to the heart.

"Paul," I said solemnly. "It's Paul Lahote." She nodded.

"And you… you had sex with Paul?" She started to cry, hard again.

"And now nothing!" She broke out in fret. "No calls, texts, he's completely ignoring me at school. I know what Olivia said about last year… but it just felt different… it felt so real, like he really cared about me…" I hugged her, trying to console her but froze with rage. That fucking woman-hating asshole.

Paul was a senior and was best friend's with my sister's boyfriend. I'd see him sauntering around with different girls, his arm inappropriately slung around random waists, just for them to be discarded like single use plastic. Some after a few months, some after a day. What's worse is he had pulled this trick on two of my best friends, now three. Sydney, Freshman year, Olivia, Sophomore year and now Caroline, Junior year. I'd heard him at lunch talk about his conquests in such a repugnant manner. Body parts. Sexual positions. Numbers. That's all they were to him.

Caroline knew how I felt about Paul. I wasn't about to lecture her. In my mind he was 100% to blame. I picked up my phone and called my sister, knowing she'd know where he was.

"Hey Mal!" She said, ever in a cheery mood.

"Where are you, Kim?" I got straight to the point.

"Um, at First Beach…"

"Are you with Paul Lahote?" I asked, knowing the answer was yes. She spent every waking moment with her stupid boyfriend and all his idiot friends. That girl completely lost herself once she started dating.

"Uh, yeah… they're surfing…"

I cut her off. "I'll be there in 5 minutes." I hung up the phone and yanked Caroline out the door with me, still in my heart pajama shorts. I grabbed the keys to her car and shoved us in.

"Mallory, where are we going?" She asked me, bewildered.

" He's going to fucking apologize to you," I said irately. "He has to see what he's done."

"Oh, no… Mal, I can't face him… don't make…"

"The fuck you can't, Caroline," I was completely inflamed with rage. "You've done nothing wrong here! Nothing. You have nothing to be ashamed of," I was yelling at this point, "he's the asshole. And he will apologize to you." I was so aggrieved. How dare he think he could get away with this shit? Why, cause he's a hot dude? Well fuck that. She sat quietly in the passenger seat of her own car. She wasn't crying and wasn't protesting. I think if anything she was stunned by the turn of events.

We pulled up to the beach and I immediately spotted them. Kim was on a blanket with her friend Emily. Kim's boyfriend Jared, and Paul were in wet suits holding their boards, by the surf. Some other boys from school were in the water.

I turned to Caroline. "Are you ready?" I asked. She nodded, timidly. We held hands and walked to the edge of the parking lot. "Wait here," I said to her tenderly.

I made my way over to Paul and Jared who were talking to each other, probably about disrespecting women, I convinced myself. Jared spotted me first.

"Mallory? What are you wearing?" He drew out, surprised to see me on the beach in my pajama shorts with hearts all over them. I dreaded and avoided hanging with my sister's boyfriend and his friends.

"Shut the fuck up Jared," I barked, totally forgetting that I hadn't even gotten dressed.

I looked straight at Paul who was still looking at Jared, like always he couldn't even bother to look me in the eye. I was just some mousy other, not even worth his consideration.

"Paul, you mother fucker, you think you can nail and bail on every girl in Washington and not get away with it? Not fucking today asshole!" I must have yelled loud enough, as he finally looked up at me, his face indifferent. Then my eyes caught his, his amber eyes locked into mine. I watched as his face changed from almost bored to bewilderment, and then to elation. All his muscles relaxed, he dropped his surfboard and he smiled at me like the dunce that he was.

Jared watched on and took a deep breath. "Alright then," he huffed out. Kim started to walk over looking especially astonished. Other boys started to come closer to us.

I have to admit this threw me off my game a bit. I didn't know what was happening, but tried to refocus.

"Ok, dipshit," I said as directly as possible. "Listen, you are going to go over and apologize to my friend Caroline for having sex with her and never contacting her again and acting like a total asshole."

He continued to look at me deeply, still in some sort of trance. Was he on drugs? Is that why his muscles were so big?

"Fuck man, Christmas dinners are gonna be pretty interesting," Jared quietly piped in. Kim put her hand on her forehead and rubbed her eyes. Paul looked at Jared confused, still stupefied. "That's Mallory Conweller. Kim's sister," he said to Paul softly. Paul stared back at me, his nostrils flaring. Was he smelling me?

"That's right asswipe," I yelled, totally clueless about the Christmas statement and what his nostrils were doing. "Now, go over to my friend Caroline and apologize to her for being a cold-hearted dirt-bag." Everyone was silent.

Paul snapped out of whatever stupor he was in and turned his head away from me and toward Caroline. "Caroline," he uttered seriously. Paul nodded and casually walked over in her direction. She looked on and became rigid as he approached. I followed behind him. Was he actually listening to me? That quick?

"Caroline," he softly said to her. "I'm sorry for being a cold-hearted dirt-bag," he used my exact words. Was he mocking me?

"Make it genuine, fuck face," I oozed out. He took a deep breath.

"Caroline. I should have been honest with you at the party and let you know I don't have feelings for you. I was a coward for not telling you before,"

w coward? Did he really call himself a coward?!

"And It was incredibly cruel of me to not call you back and ignore you. I'm sorry. I understand if you never forgive me, but know that I genuinely regret treating you like shit. You're a sweet girl and you don't deserve it."

What the actual fuck.

Now we were all stupefied. Me, Caroline, Jared, Kim, and all the huge muscly dudes on the beach. We just stood there shocked.

"Um...Thank you for saying that Paul…" Caroline said, soberly. "It's a lot to process. But I appreciate the apology." It was an honest apology. Or at least it felt like one.

"Can I drive you home?" He asked her, seeming to actually care about her well being for the first time ever.

"...N n no. I have my car…"

"Do you want me to drive you home?" I asked her. He turned back to me, gazing again. I winced at him.

"It's Okay, Mal. You go home with Kim. I want to take a shower. I'll call you later, okay?" I glared at Paul and ushered Caroline back to her car and gave her a big hug.

"I can't believe you did that," she said with relief. "I can't believe he actually apologized… and meant it?" she asked me.

"I think so," I said. "It sounded like it."

"Thank you," she said again, hugging me tighter. As she drove away I turned back to the beach. My sister and all her friends were engaged in some sort of big discussion in a circle. I looked more closely now. In addition to the people I originally recognized, I now saw my friend Quil Atera, who was in my Geometry class and took excellent notes.

He was a sweet goofball, why did he hang out with Jared's friends?

Jacob Black, and Embry Call, stood shoulder to shoulder with Quil. I knew them, but not as well. I recognized Seth Clearwater, a really kind boy who would sometimes rake our yard, and his sister Leah. There were two other younger boys, Kim's friend Emily and someone who looked like an actual man. A true motley crew.

I walked over to them, shivering in my shorts as the sea breeze rolled in. Paul immediately noticed my discomfort and got the blanket from the ground that Kim and Emily were sitting on and handed it to me. I took it, but was weary of him.

Why was still looking at me so intently?

I couldn't even muster a thank you, and barely gave a nod of acknowledgment. I turned to my sister.

"Kim, I'm sorry I crashed in like that. Can you give me a lift back home?" I muttered.

"I can," Paul offered eagerly. I looked at him hard. What was up with this guy? I didn't want to find out.

"Stay away from me, Paul," I said flatly. He may have apologized to my friend, but I didn't forget the reason why I asked him to apologize in the first place. The whole group tensed up. I made eye contact with Quil who gave me an apologetic glance.

Kim gave Paul a "take it easy" look, putting her hands up in front of her and then turned to me. "Sure, Mal. I drove with Jared, but we can go home." He nodded and we made our way over to his brown pick up truck.

"That is not how I thought my Sunday afternoon would go," Jared said as he started the engine.

"You're telling me," I scoffed as I stared out the window, totally exhausted.