AN: interesting theories out there :)
15.
Bella watched the window where Edward had disappeared for a long time. She was sure about loving Paul, and wanting to be with him, but seeing Edward had upset her greatly. She had been strong because of Paul, but her mind was in turmoil.
Paul started pacing nervously. "Fucking great! If that redhead bitch wasn't enough, now we have the Cullens coming back. Fucking fuck!"
Bella took a deep breath, and then sat on her bed. She didn't want to worry Paul, but she knew that Edward wasn't going to give her up so easily, and considering she was dating a shifter that would push her ex to insist on getting back with her for her own safety. She was startled when she noticed Paul kneeling in front of her watching her carefully.
"How are you holding up Bella? It must have been hard for you to see him." He whispered softly.
"I don't know how I feel right now. Honestly, I know that I'm not in love with him anymore, but part of me will always love him. I know I want to be with you, but he's going to make it difficult. He's going to read your mind, and exploit any weakness or insecurity you have about us, he's going to be ruthless." She told him.
"I guessed as much, my shipa. He won't take no for an answer. We'll be under attack on many fronts, but we can make it. You're one of the strongest women I've ever met, and you can do anything you put your mind to. You were great skinning my kills, and you faced our trip to the past with courage." He told her, smiling fondly at the memory of their month with the Quileultes.
She placed her hands around his neck, and pulled him closer for a kiss. "Tomorrow I want to be there when you meet with the Cullens."
He shook his head. "You'll stay safe at school, I don't want you near those filthy things anytime soon."
"Paul, please I need to be there. I want to be at your side." She pleaded with him.
"No Bella, I want you to stay at school and I'll come to pick you up at three and tell you everything. I'm not trying to protect you or forbid you, but tempers will run high and I don't want you to be hurt if everything goes to hell." He told her.
She finally agreed to stay at school, the truth was that she was tired of always being in the thick of the action. For once she would let the supernatural beings sort the mess, she wanted to take a step back because she had nothing to prove to anyone. "Ok, I'll wait for you to pick me up." Paul looked surprised, and she smiled. "Really Paul, I've got no superpowers, and I'm tired of being the only human facing danger, so I'll be good and wait for my man to sort everything out."
He smiled at her, and pulled her into his arms. "I'm happy that you trust me with your life."
"I trust you with my heart too." She told him truthfully.
"I hate leaving you alone tonight, and I'm worried that the creepy ex of yours will try to get back here." He growled.
"Then for tonight you should stay with me, I want to respect Charlie, but this is about my safety. I agree with you that he might try to get back to me if you leave. And he's got the advantage of being able to read minds and to know where everyone of the pack is situated." She told him.
"Damn, that it's a fucking problem, I need to think of a strategy against his mind reading." Paul said. "Now I need to get out and phase, I have to tell Sam about tomorrow, and that I'll stay with you."
"Paul! I've got an idea, his brothers and sisters when they wanted him out for their mind they thought about songs or sex. You might want to pass this information to the others." She told him, not bothered that she was giving away secrets of the vampires' family that she had loved.
He laughed. "Thinking about sex won't be a problem, we're a bunch of teenagers."
She blushed. "Try not to think about me and sex together Paul, that will just make him angrier."
He smirked then. "I'm afraid I can't promise you that, you're the star of my dreams x-rated and not." And with that he jumped out of the window to alert the pack.
She shook her head, she should have known that Paul was going to be difficult. However she liked his honesty, and she appreciated that he didn't think of other women. So overall she didn't care what Paul was going to think when he was with Edward.
A knock at the door startled. Her father put his head inside her room. "Bella, I got a call from the station. I need to go, will you be ok to stay here alone?"
"Yes, dad. Don't worry. Perhaps some time Paul could stay here, to keep me company." She asked him.
Her father blushed. "Well… hmm.. I guess you're old enough for.. well I… so let's talk about it another time ok?" And he ran out of the room.
Bella laughed, she had embarrassed her father. She only hoped that he wasn't going to want to have the sex talk with her.
Paul arrived a second later, and they went to bed. The next day was going to be long and difficult.
—
Bella woke up in Paul's arms, it was amazing how rested and relaxed she was. He was her wolf in shining armor and she loved him.
"Morning my shipa, I've missed waking up with you at my side. How did you sleep?" He asked.
Bella smiled at him. "Very well, considering that I have Victoria and Edward after me."
He sighed. "I'll take care of both, we'll be free soon of leeches. Now remember that you promised to stay at school." He reminded her.
She got out of bed, and started getting ready for school. "Sure, sure. I've got no desider to be there. Let's go to have breakfast and then if you can, you could drive me to school."
"No problem, I'll just phase in the woods next to your school. Let's go, I need time to plan a strategy with the pack." He told her.
They had breakfast and then Paul drove her to school. When they got out of the truck, she hugged him tightly. "Be careful Paul, and try to cooperate with them. They could help you and the pack to take care of Victoria. Be careful because Jasper can read emotions and Alice can see the future."
"I'll keep that in mind, be careful at school too." Paul kissed her quickly and then she got inside.
The day at school dragged on, Bella was feeling on edge, she was worried about the outcome of the meeting. By lunch she was restless, but she wasn't going to do anything stupid, like leaving school, and she stood there until the bell of the final lesson rang.
She ran out into Paul's arms. Then she took a step back to see if he was hurt.
He smiled. "Don't worry, there were a few tense moments, but overall we managed to get an agreement. Let's go to your house and I'll tell you everything."
Bella handed him the keys of the truck, and sat in the passenger's seat. When Paul entered, she scooted close and laid her head on his shoulder.
Paul told her about the meeting and concluded with the plan. "At the end Edward was outnumbered, and we all agreed that tonight you will go to the clearing with me. We'll leave some of your clothes and blood there, so we can herd her there. Then there will be a vampire and wolf at every exit of the clearing and on the mountain. Embry will guard you and the girls and Sam's house and one of the Cullens will be allowed to be there and help him out. The blonde one, Rosalie."
Bella groaned. "Great, Rosalie hates me. She must be really happy to be my babysitter."
Paul laughed. "She seemed a bit stuck up, but she was ok with defending you and the girls."
Bella and Paul arrived home and waited for the evening to arrive. She cooked dinner for her, Paul and Charlie. After dinner Bella and Paul left with her truck, it was time to end Victoria.
