My cab stopped in front of Layla's house and I walked to the front door to give it a knock. Within a few seconds, Layla opens the door and immediately embraces me in a tight hug.

"My goodness! You're all grown up, it's so good to see you, Willow. Come inside." Layla smiles at me and I step inside the familiar and comforting home.

Seeing Layla again brings back happy memories from my childhood. She hasn't seemed to change up the house one bit since the last time I saw it.

"How are you? I think the last time I saw you and your mother you were about six. That was so long ago." I can tell Layla is just as happy to see me as I am happy to see her. Quil's mom has always been so sweet, not just to her family but to everyone she meets. I smile politely as we take a seat at the dinning room table. Layla looks the same, her raven hair is shoulder length and straight, her smile is still contagious and her brown eyes as kind as ever.

"I'm doing well, I really like it here in Forks. I'm glad I decided to move back." Layla nods her head before replying to me.

"Good. Now all we need to do is persuade your mom to move back here and it will be perfect." She says and I chuckle leaves my lips at her suggestion. My mom wasn't the easiest person to persuade into things but I wish she would decide to move back to Forks. I miss her so much, even though I'm the one who decided to move away from Colorado.

"I know, I wish she would move here too sometimes. But I know she has her job and she really loves it in Colorado." Layla nods in response to my words.

I don't know if my mom might ever consider moving to Forks again. Maybe it wouldn't hurt to subtly ask her when she comes here to visit me next week.

"So, Quil tells me you have been spending a lot of time with Paul Lahote." I choke on the air nervously at her words that have caught me off guard and Layla gives me smirk and a chuckle.

"Yes, we have been hanging out a lot." I answer her, I try to sound as casual as I can.

"The last time I saw Paul was a few days ago but when I saw him he looked so happy compared to a few months ago. You must be the reason he's smiling now." She says and I feel my heart begin to beat quickly at her comment. Could I really be the reason Paul is so happy? I don't think I could ever actually have that type of affect on another person.

"Oh, I mean, I don't know about that. We're just friends." I smile at her shyly as I think about Paul and his smile that makes my heart jump every time I see it. Layla goes to the kitchen and I see her grabbing two tea cups from the cupboard and begin putting the kettle on the stove.

"Are you sure? The way he talked about you to Quil the last time I saw him, maybe you mean a little bit more to him that just a friend. I mean who could blame him, you're gorgeous."

"He talked about me?" The words come out of my mouth as I excitedly wait for a reply. The idea of Paul talking about me makes my eyebrows raise with surprise and I feel very flattered. Layla chuckles softly while she pulls two tea bags from the cupboard.

"Yes, he did. Paul was talking about how you have the most beautiful laugh, the way your smile lights up the room, how sweet he thinks you are. I think he likes you a little bit more than just a friend." Layla pours the water over the tea bags and gives me a smirk.

Hearing Layla tell me the things Paul had to say about me makes me feel so special and complimented. I knew Paul and I had shared a moment at my apartment when we almost kissed, but I didn't really imagine he liked me this much. I feel a smile playing on my lips as Layla brings our tea to the table. I carefully sip the hot tea. My mind begins to wander toward Paul and what it would be like to be his girlfriend. He seems like the type who would take me out on a picnic date at La Push, I smile at the thought. After Layla and I finish our tea, she thanks me for stopping by and I write down my phone number for her so we can stay in contact. I take a cab back to my apartment and I get ready to go to work, reluctantly I take the bus even thought I wish I could just walk to work again.

But I don't want another incident with a creep following me in their car or having a run in with a wild animal. A sigh leaves my lips as I get on the bus, I put my headphones in and stare out the window.

My shift goes by fairly quickly and I go to the back to clock out from my shift.

There stands Jessie, she looks disappointed and annoyed. Her blonde hair is pulled back into a messy ponytail and her lips turned downward, I walk over to her and give her a small smile.

"Hey, are you okay?" I ask her. Jessie exhales through her nose and forces a smile but I can see it's just a mask.

"I will be." Her voice is quiet and soft. "Remember the other day when you filled in for me at work because I had a date?"

I nod my head in response.

"That guy and I had been seeing each other for a few weeks. I really liked him and this morning he texted me this..." Jessie says as she pulls out her phone and shows me the text message.

Good morning, babe. Last night was amazing, I had no idea you could bend like that. ;)

I frown and crinkle my nose in disgust at the text message. I had never met this guy, but he sounded like a complete pig. Jessie puts her phone back in her pocket and sighs exasperatedly.

"I've never had sex with him. We've never even kissed!" She exclaims. "I never texted him back after he sent me that but I'm sure he already realized he sent that message to the wrong person."

I can tell that she's feeling upset and rightfully so, I clock out and I turn to face her.

"I'm sorry, that guy sounds like a pig. If you want to, you can come by tonight. I have a few pints of Ben and Jerry's in the freezer and a unopened bottle of pink moscato we can share." I suggest, Jessie's eyes become a bit brighter and she smiles at me.

"I'm down! Text me your address. I can be over at your place in about an hour." Jessie clocks out of work and we both walk out of the doors to the diner exit.

"See you then" I text Jessie the address to my apartment and I take the bus home.

When I get inside my apartment, I make my way to the shower and wash off before throwing on a pair of leggings and a t-shirt. My hair is still wet so I throw it up in a towel while I do my nightly skin routine. My mind wanders to Paul when I see his toothbrush sitting on the counter of the bathroom sink, my heart pounds and I think about Layla telling me how Paul talks about me.

Does he really like me more than I think he does? Part of me wants to hug him and tell him everything about myself so I can become even closer to him. I've never been an open book but I would like to be that way with Paul. I realize I haven't spoken to him since he left with Quil this morning, he seemed so out of it. I wonder what he could have been in such deep thought about but I don't believe the reason he gave me earlier. There is a knock at my front door and I take my hair down from my towel and go to answer the door. I'm greeted by a smiling Jessie, I've never actually seen her in anything but her work uniform so this will take some getting used to.

"Hey, come in" I smile at her as she steps inside and closes the door behind her.

"Your apartment is really cute!" She compliments. I smile at her and go to the cupboard to grab two wine glasses and the pink moscato.

I pour the glasses halfway full and hand Jessie her glass. She sips her wine and we walk over to the couch.

"What do you like to watch?"

Jessie thinks for a moment before answering. "Have you ever seen The Office?" I grin happily at her question.

"It's one of my favorite shows" I grab the remote and turn the show on. Jessie and I sip our drinks as the show begins with the intro song.

"Thanks for inviting me over tonight," she says "I really needed this after that prick."

"Anytime. Wine and The Office? It can't get any better." I giggle.

Jessie and I make small talk throughout the show and we laugh about the characters during the scenes we both find humorous. I pour myself another glass of wine but Jessie says she's fine with the one as she's driving herself home tonight.

As the night comes to an end, I walk Jessie to the apartment door.

"I'll text you sometime tomorrow, we have to do this again" she grins happily, I give her a nod with a smile. "Agreed. Have a good night, Jessie"

I close the apartment door and slightly stumble to the kitchen, I'm not normally such a lightweight but I haven't eaten anything other than the peach I had for breakfast with my coffee.

My phone rings and I jump at the unexpected sound, I look at the caller id and it's Paul. I feel giddy inside and a smile spreads on my lips. "Hello?"

"Hey, how are you doing?"

I press the phone to my ear excited to hear from Paul. I grab the remote and turn down the volume on my tv a little more so I can focus better on my conversation with Paul.

"I'm good! How was your day the other day?" I'm curious to see if he will mention helping his friend move furniture into his friends new house from the other day.

"It was good, I'm glad I got to see you yesterday."

Paul's demeanor toward the end of our visit yesterday seemed distracted. I want to ask him how things went with his friend because I wonder how it had gone if he's telling me the truth about it.

"It was good seeing you, too. How did everything go with helping your friend?" The question blurts out of my mouth before I have time to stop myself. Paul doesn't say anything for a second before he responds. I bite down on my bottom lip in anticipation to hear his reply.

"Oh, it was fine. We ended up finishing up earlier than I thought we would."

Maybe Paul was telling me the truth about what was on his mind after all, I mentally kick myself for not believing him. I always read way too much into things and I've always over analyzed everything. A sigh sigh leaves my nose.

"You okay?" Paul asks me.

"Yes, I'm just tired. I felt pretty tired all day today." it was the truth, I had felt quite lethargic today. I wasn't sure why.

"Did you have trouble falling asleep last night?" I gulp remembering that I slept alone after Paul went home yesterday.

"Maybe" my cheeks feel warm again and I nervously play with the ends of my hair. Paul's chuckle on the other end of the phone makes my heart jump.

"I guess we're just becoming used to sleeping beside one another" His voice is deep and soft, I bite my bottom lip to hide my smile or what I can hide of it.

"I don't know" but I know he's right, I have become a bit used to sleeping beside Paul. When Paul and I sleep beside each other I feel warm and safe.

Not that I feel unsafe in my apartment but it's nice having Paul around.

"It's okay to admit it, Willow"

I cover my mouth to hide my laugh. "Don't flatter yourself" I tease

"Okay, tell me how you sleep tonight" I can almost see the smug smirk on Paul's face right now. I scoff and then find myself laughing at his reply.

"You'll be the first one I tell tomorrow"

My smile grows and I shake my head at Paul's presumption that I won't be able to sleep that well without him tonight.

I have always managed to sleep just fine by myself until Paul came in the picture, I would win this one tonight.