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Chapter Four

PPOV

The group divided up in three different SUV's to head toward Port Angeles where they would be hitting an upscale steakhouse restaurant first for dinner before hitting the club. Bella, Angela and Embry had all volunteered to be the designated drivers for the night. Paul wasn't too surprised, as the three of them were the lightest drinkers of the group.

At the restaurant, Paul was seated beside Bella since they were the only two in the group that were not in any kind of relationship and all the others sat beside their significant other. He was surprised how nice it was to be seated with Bella, as they spoke freely through out the whole dinner. She talked more of the tutoring program and funny stories of Collin, while Paul filled her in on the progress of his company. He felt free and enjoyed how there was no awkwardness as they just meld together like old times.

The food was amazing, but the company was better. Paul missed this! He missed his friends and just relaxing. Other than Charlie and Billy, this was his family! For the last almost ten years, he had been so consumed with school and work. He had not allowed himself any time for just living, but that was about to change.

"Hey Jared, you remember that one time that Sam and you dared Paul to run naked down the beach at the end of senior year? I will still never forget old man Bugwa trying to cover his wife's eyes or her hitting his hand away as she wolf-whistled at the 'Young Buck' running down the beach!" Jacob loudly asked across the table.

The group roared with laughter as Paul groaned and threw a piece of bread at Jacob's head.

"Man, you just had to bring that up!" Paul chuckled. He noticed Bella giggling at his expense. He poked her in the side with his finger, which only caused her to laugh harder.

They all continued telling stories of old times, of jokes played on one another. Paul never felt so light in his life. Friends, good food and the woman he adored at his side.

After dinner was finished and the tab was paid for by Paul, the group loaded back up to go to new club in PA Cliff Hangers. The guys were ready to get a drink and the girls were all excited to dance. They weren't going to stay out too late, since they would have the wedding to get ready for the next day.

Once in the club, they were taken to the reserved group area upstairs that overlooked the club's dance floor and bar. The waitress came by to take the first round of drink orders and left quickly to get them filled. Most of the girls had already headed down to the dance floor, while the guys hung around the tables chatting. Paul noticed Bella standing off at a table near the back with Angela talking.

Paul knew that Angela and Bella had been best friends since preschool. The two women had similar quite and kind personalities, but Bella could be more of a spitfire. Both ladies had even chosen to go into the same career of education and were currently teaching at the same elementary school.

He remembered a story Charlie told him while fishing of the girls when they were in elementary school. Charlie had gotten a call at the station to come to school for a situation. After rushing to the school worried that something was wrong with Bella, he was told she had been in a fight.

Completely shocked, Charlie demanded to see his daughter. He was walked around the corner to find Bella and Angela, who at the time were only in the second grade sitting on a bench across from Lauren Mallory. Bella's hair was messed up and she was holding the hand of a very teary Angela. Bella glared over that the blonde Mallory girl and was so focused on her enemy that she never noticed Charlie come in. Looking over at Lauren, he noticed a bruise forming on her cheek. After hearing footsteps, Angela looked up to see Charlie standing there accessing the situation and she jumped up to defend her friend. With big fat tears now pouring down her cheeks, worried that Bella would be in trouble, she explained that Bella was just defending her. Charlie helped her to sit back down and kneel in front of the two brunettes.

"Bella, want to tell me what happened here today?"

"SHE!" Bella gritted out through her teeth as she looked over Charlie's should at Lauren, "She was pulling Angela's hair and called her four-eyes! So I hit her!"

Paul remembered Charlie howling with laughter as he told the story, but had told him that it was extremely hard to not laugh when she said those words to her father. Since that moment, Lauren Mallory stayed clear of the two brunettes.

"It will be fine Ang. I am going to have a meeting with Principal Green Monday morning." He hear Bella tell her friend.

"I am just worried about you B. I am not liking how things are going with them!" Angela said to Bella. Paul could tell almost feel the worry pouring off Angela.

Bella noticed Paul paying attention to their conversation and touched Angela's arm.

"So how about we hit the dance floor before I have to call Collin?" The young women were like sisters, so Angela caught on quick and nodded. Paul watched as they headed down to the dance floor.

The waitress came up an gave him his beer, delivering the rest of the drinks for the group. Paul leaned over the edge of the railing and nursed his beer as he watched the girls group together to dance. The rest of the guys came up to the balcony and were sitting around drinking their drinks as they watched their women. Sam walked over to where Paul was leaning with his own beer in hand.

"When are you going to pull your head out of your ass and make a move?" Sam asked. His best friend was always to the point, never bullshitting.

Paul took another pull off his beer as he continued to watch Bella in the middle of the group of women. Her hands were in the air, hips swaying and a peaceful smile on her face. It never failed to amaze him how beautiful she was. Bella had a simple beauty about her, the girl next door with a fire deep in her soul. Her chestnut brown hair had gotten longer since he last saw her, now reaching right above her ass with a sun kissed highlights. She had light makeup on, but Paul had always thought she was beautiful in no makeup, hair up in a messy bun and wearing a t-shirt and jeans.

"I had to become the man worthy of her." Paul simply stated, never taking his eyes off the woman dancing below.

"You know, sometimes you are blind man. She has cared about you before you left to 'make something of yourself'." Sam even used his fingers to make air quotes. "She saw something in your ass years ago. You were the one that didn't see yourself worthy, not her."

Paul looked up at Sam, shocked at his words. He never thought Bella cared for him more than friends. Sam's words made it seem that there was more to her feelings. His friend clapped him on the back before walking over to their other friends.

Paul glanced down at the dance floor to see Bella walking toward the door. He decided to put his beer down and follow her.

Once outside, he looked to the right and didn't see her. Looking toward the left side of the building, he walked that way and found her around the corner. She had her head down with her cell phone to her ear.

"Are you having fun with Grandpa?" He noticed she was nodding as she listened and could tell from her side profile that she was smiling. Collin must be telling her all about the fun he was having with Charlie.

"Mommy will be by early in the morning to eat breakfast with you and Grandpa before we go get ready for Uncle Sam and Auntie Emmy's wedding. You sleep good and have sweet dreams, okay?" He heard her voice soften before continuing, "I love you too sweet boy! Good night!"

Bella ended the call and turned to head back in the club, but stopped short when she saw Paul standing at the corner.

"Hey, is everything okay?" She asked him.

"I saw you come out here and thought I would make sure you were okay. PA can be dangerous at night." He shrugged.

"I wanted to come out where it was quite to call Collin and tell him good night. He spends the night with dad every once in a while, but I still worry and miss him." She smiled a small smile.

"You want to head back in?" Paul asked and she nodded. Now was not the right time for them to talk, but he knew they would need to soon. Before they got to the door, he stopped her.

"Would you and Collin like to have dinner with dinner with me Sunday evening? I figure we will all be crazy busy tomorrow with the wedding and reception. I can come get you guys and we can go to the diner?"

She smiled up at him. "I would like that. It's been a long time since we had a good talk over food at the diner, so I think that would be nice."

Paul finally made the right choice where it comes to Bella and knew he would have to work for this. He wasn't afraid of much, but he knew this was going to be the biggest and toughest task he has ever faced. Rebuilding his relationship with Bella.