All of the cars in the lot are nice for what I was looking for in a car. Nothing too flashy, I want something to get me from point A to point B without breaking down all of the time and giving me problems every other week. But there is only one car I really and truly have my heart set on.
Paul and I walk around the lot back to the Toyota Camry I had spotted earlier when we first arrived.
"That's the one" I turn as I smile at him.
"Are you sure?" He asks. "You don't want to look around some more?"
"Absolutely sure, I've always wanted a Toyota. This one is the right choice"
The Toyota Camry is finally my own to drive and the feeling of finally saving up enough that I have officially bought my own car makes me feel so proud of myself. I turn the radio on after Paul and I buckle up, Three Doors Down - Here Without You begins to play softly and I sing inaudibly so he doesn't hear me. I have never been one to sing in front of people, in the shower by myself—yes, but never in front of anyone.
I drop Paul back off at his place since he suggested that we take the bus to the car dealership so I could experience driving around Forks -with him.
My drive back to my apartment is sweet and short, but I like it. I finally have my own car, I will have to call my mom today and tell her she won't have to worry about a cab when she flies into town.
The sound of the firewood crackling and the combination of the waves gently crashing against one another makes me feel so calm. Paul places his hand against my own, it feels warm- I like it.
"Willow, things aren't the way you think they are. There are rumors and stories that you've heard that are true."
My eyes look up and meet Paul's serious yet gentle brown ones.
"Like what?" I ask softly.
"Like the legend of the Quileutes phasing into wolves, Willow... That's all reality."
I blink, the words take a moment for me to process. Paul looks down at me patiently waiting for my response.
"You mean, phasing actually happens?"
"I would never lie to you, it's real" He says as he stands up from where we sat on the large log and motions for me to follow him. There isn't anyone else on the beach and I wonder what he's about to show me. We walk for a few moments before he turns to face me, he sighs softly and removes his shirt.
"Paul—What are you doing?"
"Do you trust me?"
"Yes" My answer is honest and truthful.
Paul gives me a half smile and takes off his shoes, he unbuckles his belt and removes his jeans shorts. I blink and my cheeks begin to warm up at the sight of him, he's perfect. I quickly avert my eyes and glance at the water.
"No turning back now" He whispers to himself.
Then it happens.
The human Paul I knew has become the largest wolf I've ever come into contact with. The wolves on the nature shows I watch are the size of bobcats compared to what he has just phased into. My eyes are wide and I feel my lips parting in surprise. The wolf whimpers softly and lays against the beach, it's eyes are gentle and friendly. The wolf is a beautiful, I feel my arm stretching itself out to touch it's fur at the top of his head. I smile softly and Paul rests his head into my hand gently.
"Unbelievable" I whisper. My voice is barely audible. The large wolf stands up and before I can even blink, Paul is back in his human form. The moonlight shines down on the two of us and I keep my eyes on his face, he smirks and places a kiss on my forehead before slipping back into his clothes, he leaves his shirt off.
"You okay?" He asks with tender eyes.
I nod my head slowly I'm trying to process the fact that everything I heard when I was growing up about the Quileute legends are true. It was never just a story, it was all real.
"It's real, all of it. This is real" I half smile and gasp softly. He takes my hand in his own and I look up at him feeling my heart jump nervously.
"What about the cold ones? Is that true?" I ask him curiously.
"Unfortunately, yes. They exist."
"You don't sound thrilled" I bite my lip to hide a smile, he rolls his eyes playfully.
"Bloodsuckers" He mutters and shakes his head. We walk back to the campfire and sit down on the large long beside one another.
"How long have you—been able to phase?"
"Five years now" I wanted to ask him more questions, but I didn't want to annoy him. My curiosity kept tugging at me, I felt so fascinated.
"Do you know anyone else who can phase into a wolf?"
"There are others, we are a pack. When I first phased, I was afraid. I had no idea what was happening to me. I've always had problems controlling my anger and usually that's when the phasing can happen for most of us—but we can make ourselves phase like I just did for you. I'm better at controlling my temper now than I used to be, it used to be hard" His voice is calm and serene, he takes my hand and gently rubs it with his thumb.
"Is Quil...a wolf?" I ask as I lean into his warm body resting my head against his shoulder.
"He is. We phased close to the same time"
"Are you able to tell people you can phase?" I ask, Paul shakes his head back and forth.
"We can't tell anyone, unless-" He stops mid sentence and looks down at our intwined hands, he smirks and looks at the fire.
"What?" I ask him curiously referring to why he suddenly stopped speaking.
"It's nothing" His tone is serious but not harsh.
I want to know what the circumstance is for telling people, he told me. So what's the underlying reason that he told me but he can't tell other people?
Obviously Quil and whoever else that's like him must know but I'm not like them. I don't phase into a wolf, so why did Paul decide to tell me?
I don't want to invade him with question after question and I certainly don't want to annoy him by pushing at him for a answer, I decide to let it go. If he wants to tell me then he will tell me. Instead I choose to ask him about something else other than bugging him to tell me what his reasoning was.
"This morning at your house you mentioned something called Imprinting, is everyone that can phase like you can able to imprint?" He stiffens at my question as his eyes glance down at the fire.
"Yes. Those of us who can phase into wolves can imprint" He replies in a low but gentle voice, I nod my head at his words.
My thoughts wonder back to this morning to when Paul explained to me what imprinting was. He sounded like he really knew what it was like, I suddenly begin to feel a sadness growing inside of me. Has Paul imprinted on someone? What if he has and they have this incredible bond- I could never come between that and I could never hold a candle to whoever he's imprinted on.
Have I just been fooling myself this entire time into thinking that Paul and I might have a chance with one another? What if I've just made a complete idiot of myself by kissing him this morning and throwing myself at him last night.
"Have you- imprinted on anyone?" The words come tumbling out of my mouth before I have a second to stop them. But I can't help it, I have to know if he has.
My heart begins pounding loudly in my ears and I feel a nervousness beginning to grow in me.
Paul looks at me and softly nods his head, I feel my heart sink lower than I ever imagined it could. How could I have been so stupid? I let go of Paul's hand and I stand up from where I was sitting beside him.
"I think I should go home" I turn to walk away from him before he can say anything else.
I walk toward the ocean and stare out at the waves. A few tears begin to form in the corners of my eyes but I blink them away.
"Willow" I can hear Paul walking behind me until I see him out of my peripheral vision.
"Wait- I want to talk to you." He sounds serious now.
I feel annoyance and sadness, I turn to face him and sigh.
"Why?"
"Because you need to know who I've imprinted on"
"Why are you telling me now? I understand you weren't able to tell me all of this when we first met but I can't believe I actually thought I had a chance with you. You should have said something to me earlier about being unavailable. You shouldn't have let me kiss you" The tone in my voice sounds more snappy than I intend it to be. But part of me doesn't care, I feel so embarrassed for throwing myself at Paul.
"Willow, please just listen to me for a second" He sounds worried but for what reason?
"You could have said something before, I thought we could have- I'm just so humiliated! Paul, I kissed you this morning—"
He brings to come closer to me as he suddenly crashes his lips against my own. Before I'm able to get another word in. I pull away from the kiss and step back, I shouldn't be kissing Paul back.
"No—We can't! We shouldn't."
"Willow, it's not what you think. If you would just let me explain" I sigh through my nose in frustration, more tears form in the corners of my eyes.
"What" I breathe out and my heart seemingly stops.
"Willow you're the one I've imprinted on."
The words that leave Paul's lips take a moment to register in my mind, my lips part slightly and my eyes lock with the warm brown eyes that hold complete adoration for me. A soft smile forms on Paul's lips as he slides his hand slowly on the side of my face, I close my eyes and lean my cheek into his warm hand. His lips meet my own once more and he tangles his fingers in my hair while his other arm wraps around my waist pulling us closer.
The kiss ends and Paul presses a kiss against my forehead.
"You- imprinted on me?" My voice is soft and quiet, Paul keeps his arm still wrapped around my waist.
"When?"
"Do you remember the night I first met you at the diner? When we bumped into each other?"
I nod my head.
"It was when I made eye contact with you for the first time, that's when it happened. But I got scared, I didn't think I could ever tell you. I certainly didn't think you knew anything about the Quileute legends. I had to clear my head and figure out what I was going to do. I left the diner that night and I went to talk to one of the other members of the pack, Jacob Black." He takes my hands in his as he smiles softly. "My number was left on that table, but I had no idea that was going to happen. I had planned to come back to the diner to see you and ask you out on a date. I knew I had to see you again."
He presses his lips against my own for a second before pulling away, he picks me up which takes me by surprise. I squeak and laugh as he carries me to the campfire which is beginning to burn out now, the glow of the moonlight being the brightest option of light for us on the beach between the now dying fire.
Paul carefully sets me down on the log and sits down beside me, I rest my head in his lap this time as he begins to plays with my hair- the feeling relaxes me.
I have so many questions that I want to ask him about imprinting- but I know we have all day tomorrow.
