Chapter 17

"Have you heard that Harry Clearwater is gone missing?" Johana asked Bella.

"Yes, Paul told me this morning. What do you think that has happened to him?"

"No one knows. Sue is terrified that he had gotten himself too drunk and has drowned on his fishing trip. They are looking for him now," Johana said as she leaned closer and whispered, "if anybody can find him the wolves can."

Bella nodded. "I really hope he's alright. Seth must be so worried." It was awful to think that Harry might be lying injured helplessly somewhere or even worse. She liked Harry; he'd been such a good friend to her father, and it warmed her heart that he tried to help her and Paul.

Bella and Johana were having lunch together at the diner. Paul had made them delicious sandwiches and salads which they had already eaten and were now drinking freshly squeezed orange juices. Paul would have his lunch break soon and would be joining them.

"So, what happened to your hand?" Johana asked looking at her wrist bracer on her left hand.

Bella blushed a bit, it was so hard for her to lie.

"Um... I fell on it at the tide pools. It's fractured."

"That's terrible. Does it hurt? Is that why you haven't gone back to Seattle?"

"It's not too bad but I can't play so there is no use for me to be in Seattle now."

There was nothing wrong with her wrist really, but it was something they'd come up with to use as an excuse for her staying and not going back to Seattle. It had been Rosalie's idea after she had heard that Bella wouldn't go back. Rosalie said that it was wrong Bella would lose her job because of Edward, and she had asked if Carlisle as he was a doctor would help her. He had agreed to write a doctor's certificate for Bella it even included x-ray to show the fracture. Bella had gone to see him in the Fork's hospital when he had put the bracer on and given the sick note to her. Bella was given time off for as long as she needed to get well and to be able to play again. Bella did feel bad for lying but Paul had talked her into accepting the cover story. It was to keep her safe after all.

And she had to admit that it made all the difference to explain to people why she hadn't gone back. It's not like she could tell the real reason to anybody. The alternative would be saying something like she had quitted playing and that was too much of a lie, one she wouldn't be able to tell. Patrick would kill her if she said something like that.

"Were you there when Paul and Jacob got into a fight?" Bella asked. Paul had come home after a pack meeting few nights ago and he had had his other eye swollen shut and lip split open. He had been very elusive about what has happened and caused the fight between them two.

"Yeah, it was pretty nasty," Johana said.

"What was it all about? Paul doesn't want to tell me, says he wants to keep me out of the pack issues," Bella asked.

"I'm not sure if I should tell you then either," Johana said twisting napkin between her fingers.

"Please. I want to know. I do realize that it has something to do with me, and Paul doesn't want to make me feel uncomfortable. But I need to know. It's not like I don't feel bad already causing all the trouble for the pack."

Johana sighed. "Okay. They were talking about setting up a meeting with the Cullens the one they are having tomorrow night when Jacob said he didn't understand the need since you are not an imprint and hence not under the protection of the pack."

Bella winched. No wonder Paul had lost it.

"Jacob is mad at Paul because he is refusing his sister and says things that aren't true, just to piss Paul off," Johana said. "None of us really think that way, not even Jacob. The wolves are protecting all human life and you are also friend to many of us. Jacob is an ass."

Bella smiled at Johana. She really felt terrible to be the cause of the fighting between the pack members. Oh, how she wished that she and Paul could just leave and let these people live their lives and they could live theirs.

The bell at the door rang and Bella heard loudly chatting group of women entering the diner. When she glanced behind her back she saw Rachel, Katie, Claire, Kim and Milly.

Oh great. Bella turned back to Johana who had seen them as well and didn't look too pleased.

"If you want to go to sit with them, I don't mind really. It's your group after all," Bella said. She wouldn't mind; Paul would come soon to have lunch with her.

"Don't be daft. I honestly can't stand them when Rachel is around. She is a terrible person and Milly isn't much better."

Just as the group of imprints sat down to the other side of the diner Paul came from the kitchen carrying a tray with his food and something that looked like three pieces of cake of some sort.

Paul smiled widely, looking at her. He didn't even look at the other group where Rachel was. If Rachel hadn't hated her before, fat chance for that, she sure hated her now. Johana had told her how Rachel felt humiliated when Paul ignored her. Bella couldn't help it, but she felt sorry for Rachel. It was sad that Rachel didn't understand to let go. Only person she could blame for being humiliated was herself. Why didn't she see that?

"Hi baby," Paul said and after he had placed the tray to the table, he pulled her close and kissed her. It wasn't a kiss for a public display, and Bella tried to pull away, but he didn't let her. She moaned involuntarily when Paul pressed his warm hand on the small of her back sliding it inside the hem of her jeans making her shiver. He smiled against her lips and pecked once more before letting her go.

Johana was blushing and looking out of the window.

Thanks Paul, she swatted his bicep. The loud group of imprints was now silent. It was lucky the diner was full of other chatting customers, so it wasn't too weird.

"So how was your food?" Paul asked as he tugged in his sandwich.

"Excellent, Paul. Thank you," Johana said.

"Yeah, I especially loved the pastrami on that sandwich and the walnut salad was so good. You have to make it at home sometimes," Bella said.

"God Bella you are lucky girl to have such a cook at home."

"Don't I know it," Bella winked at Paul and skimmed her hand over his thigh.

"Here's some carrot cake. Have a taste. I made it with a little different twist and you're the first ones to taste it," Paul said and took another big bite from his sandwich. Bella's eyes glued into his mouth as he licked some sauce off from the corner of his mouth.

Paul noticed it and his eyes grew darker. Their eyes locked staring each other. She knew the look and it made her think about their last night. Paul's nostrils flared the damn wolf smelled her.

"Oh, it is amazing, Paul," Johana gushed and dragged them out of their lust-filled haze.

Bella tore her eyes off Paul's and cleared her throat, "is it?" She sliced her cake with her spoon and put it into her mouth. It tasted terrific just as Johana had said.

She let the flavors spread inside her mouth. "Is that coconut and lime?" she asked.

Paul nodded, mouth full of food.

"I'm getting good at tasting things, aren't I?" Bella beamed.

"Yes, you are, baby. There is also nutmeg."

Just as they finished their lunch, Jared and Seth came into the diner. They stopped at the door, clearly confused, but it didn't take long to find their respective imprints. Jared walked to the other side of the diner while Seth came to them.

"Hi Jo," Seth said and sat down kissing Johana lightly on the lips. "Paul and Bella." he nodded at them and sat down, pulling Johana onto his lap.

"Have you found anything that might lead us to Harry's whereabouts?" Paul asked.

"No, he hasn't gone to his boat or to any of his regular fishing spots, there isn't any fresh traces of him anywhere in the res, the last trail leads to the council hall and vanishes after that," Seth said looking tired. Harry had been missing a bit over 24 hours now. "It seems that he's taken a car, but I don't know what car. Ours is still on the driveway at our house."

"But it's just so unlike him to leave and not to tell anybody where he's going, isn't it?" Bella asked.

"Not when he's on his drunken sprees, he says nothing to anybody, but then we know where to find him. When he's wasted, he never leaves the Res. Oh hell, he hardly ever leaves the Res. But now he's vanished into thin air."

"I'm sure he'll show up," Paul said, pulling Bella closer to him.

"Have you told Leah that her father is gone missing?" Bella asked.

"Not yet. We don't want Leah to worry. It's been a bit over 24 hours since anybody last saw Dad. We'll call her tomorrow morning if he doesn't show up before then," Seth said yawning. "Are you finished?" he asked Johana, "I was thinking to crash at your place for a while I need break from mum."

"Yeah, let's go," Johana said. "I'll see you later."

"Bye Johana, Seth," Bella waived. Paul captured her lips for a tender kiss. Bella sighed and melted against him.

"I'm off around 4. I think long night in bed is in order, hmm?" he murmured against her neck.

"It sounds perfect," she said.

She watched as Paul walked back to the kitchen and turned to leave. She knew she had a silly smile on her face, a smile that only Paul could put there. But she couldn't help but grin.

She waved at the table where the imprints and Jared were sitting, but they all just huffed and turned away, all except one. Rachel looked at her with cold stare and she didn't know what came into her, but she winked at Rachel. Rachel gasped and murderous look spread on her face. It probably wasn't the wisest thing to do to agitate her, but she just found this all so childish, it was like going through high school all over again.

It was a beautiful day in June. She'd been with Paul almost two weeks now. She had to say that having some time off from the busy rehearsal and concert schedule was a welcome change. She did play and practiced at Paul's place since he didn't have any noisy neighbors no one couldn't hear her play.

She breathed in fresh sea air and decided to go for a walk to the beach.

She was just going to cross the street when she heard someone coming after her and when she glanced behind her and saw Rachel walking briskly towards her.

For the love of God, Bella really didn't need any of her bullshit now. But she stopped to hear what she wanted to say, this confrontation was going to happen at some point anyway, why not now.

Rachel came to stand so close their feet were almost touching. Bella sifted a bit further from her, some people didn't have any respect for others personal space, Rachel seemed to be one of those people.

"Listen to me you bitch," Rachel spat and jabbed forefinger into her chest, "you think you've won, that Paul is all yours. But you are wrong. Our Gods don't lie. He is MINE! Paul will get weak if he doesn't accept ME and he will end up begging me to fuck him, so he can breathe again, continue to phase. It is already hard for him to phase. If you really love him, you let me have him. Ne needs ME! "

Bella was so stunned she didn't know what to say. Why had Paul not told her he was getting weaker and so much weaker it was hard for him to phase? What did that mean? Was it true? But he'd told her he was feeling good, when she was with him. Had Paul lied to her? Bella felt dizzy. For a while she just stared at Rachel and didn't hear a word she said although she saw her mouth moving. Had Paul really lied to her?

A passing car snapped Bella out of her haze. Rachel saw the confusion on her face and sneered at her. "Oh, Paul hasn't told you has he. Paul will be MINE. Do us all a favor and just fuck off. No one wants your pale face ass here. Leave him to the real woman who knows how to please a man." She flipped her raven black glossy hair behind her shoulder bangles jingling on her wrist. And at that she left back to the diner leaving her stunned at the corner of the road.

"What do you mean it's hard for him to phase?!" Bella shouted after the initial shock had eased. But Rachel didn't answer.

Wow, what the hell was that all about? Bella felt like tsunami had washed over her all energy escaping her body and mind.

Was there something Paul hadn't told her? Was the imprint affecting him after all? Even though she was with him? Why he hadn't told her?