"What do you think?" Bella jumped. She'd been lost in thought, chewing her thumb.
Getting ready in Leah's bedroom while the radio blared, it wasn't just the cool breeze from the window that had Bella shivering. She stared at the nearly-full moon out the window - Renee always swore she felt the world's mood shifting around its phases, and even Charlie would admit that he was busier when it was full. Bella didn't put much stock in superstition, but she'd felt a thrill as she got dressed and let Leah dab her with lipgloss.
"Well?" Leah prompted, gesturing at her outfit. Bella glanced at her, adorned in low-rise shorts and a football jersey with arm holes that revealed her sports bra underneath. Bella couldn't help but smile wryly. "Oh, you look fine, I guess."
Leah snorted. "Speaking of. C'mere, I wanna get a picture."
Bella jumped up, grabbing the polaroid off the nightstand. "My turn to play photographer."
"If you insist," Leah tossed her hair over her shoulder. Bella came to stand next to her in front of the mirror above the cluttered dresser. She squinted through the viewfinder as Leah leaned her hip against the shorter brunette, almost pushing her over, making them both laugh. Bella swayed, legs feeling a little unsteady after their afternoon jog. The camera snapped and whirred, spitting out the little black rectangular print.
They waited eagerly for the photo to develop. It was a little out of focus, but they were both laughing. "Hm, cute outfit. Wonder who picked it," Leah complimented herself, pointing to her friend - wearing a short denim skirt and short sleeve, cropped v-neck that she'd all but wrestled onto Bella herself.
Bella huffed a laugh. "Thank you, fashion guru." She had to admit, she always felt better about her appearance after seeing it on film. She was beginning to suspect it was another of Leah's coping mechanisms that was rubbing off on her.
"It's gonna be a good night. I can tell." Leah grabbed her backpack off the floor and pulled a strand of Bella's wavy hair. "Ready?"
He'd only just gotten out of the house, away from his father, who was on a bit of a bender that weekend; the young man couldn't leave until after he saw that he was safely in bed. He rooted through the house, finding all the little baggies of pills his aunt had stashed here and there for his dad, flushing them down the toilet. He grimaced at his reflection and sniffed his shirt. Failing to find a cleaner one, he decided the night was warm enough and simply left it on the floor in his room.
Earlier that day, his friend's cousin had picked up a 24 pack of light beer in exchange for the cash to buy some wine coolers for his girlfriend. The taller boy pulled up outside his buddy's house in his dad's ancient, used-to-be-blue truck just as the other boy was climbing through his window. He rooted around in the bushes for the still-cool beers, and then they were on their way to the beach.
Paul's mood was sour. He liked drinking okay, but girls were his vice of preference, and though he was meant to have a date for this party, she'd called him to say her boyfriend surprised her coming down from the reservation 20 miles north. He grimaced, thinking of standing around the fire drinking beers without a girl to keep him company, like the virgins always were at these parties.
Jared didn't mind Paul's silence, just cracked open a beer for both of them as they drove.
They both slurped another beer down as they walked up the beach toward the gathering.
Paul scanned the group, trying not to get his hopes up about meeting a girl here that he hadn't already pissed off. He saw the usual cast of characters - mostly 15 and 16 year olds; a few couples in his grade; the odd 21 or 22 year old guy who got to feel like a hero for supplying the beer.
That's when he saw her; a pale little dark haired girl, a white girl. Dancing, eyes closed, her delicate features looked flushed - like she might have had a few drinks. He watched her for a beat, and while he wasn't the only guy who'd taken notice of her, she didn't seem like she was with anyone. He liked how she moved; her hips, slight but still curvy, wound to the beat. Her cropped shirt ghosted just above her belly button, and her long, dark hair was starting to curl with sweat and the salty air.
He wasn't trying to fuck around and get in trouble with another girl from town. If Jared saw him trying to talk to this girl, he'd never hear the end of it. Besides, his nose still hadn't fully healed from the last fight.
Just then, though, that little brunette heard a song she liked, and though her eyes didn't open, her mouth pulled up into a small smile. Her pink lips were fuller than he'd realized.
Feeling the blood rush out of his brain and decidedly south, his feet took him toward the impromptu dance area; he tried to repress the smile he was sure was stupidly plastered on his face. Catching up to the beat alongside her, he let himself dance, drawing near to her. She twirled and swung her hips and tossed her long, dark hair.
He knew he was dancing a little closer than a stranger ought to with a girl he didn't know, but he couldn't help himself. When it came to girls, he usually couldn't.
Bella was feeling loosened up. She'd had two cups of boozy punch and was dancing, eyes closed tight. She and Leah had brought beer to trade for punch, and they both had red-stained lips, dancing on the beach under the nearly-full moon.
Ever since she'd started running with Leah, she'd felt so much freer in her body. Letting go was beginning to feel more like a release. She still had to close her eyes, though, and pretend no one else could see her. Though Leah worked on her musical aversions tirelessly, as it turned out, it was much easier to dance to music than it was to sit and quietly listen to it, as she had with him- not that-
Bella shook the thought from her head, and then the music picked up the tempo, and she smiled to herself. You'd never have approved of this. Well, look at me now.
Bella didn't notice, at first, the warm presence near her on the dance floor, until they were close enough to touch. She whirled around, hoping she didn't step on someone's foot; she was faced with a boy, tall and brown and shirtless, smirking at her.
Bella opened her mouth to speak, but closed it again.
He had shaggy, black hair that fell over his heavy brow. Brown, almond-shaped eyes that seemed older than his years peered down at her, sizing her up as she was him.
His nose was crooked, like it had been broken and not reset. Though long and lanky, his arms and shoulders were well defined. He had a presence; he looked like he might have been quite strong, if he'd had enough to eat. She forced herself to look up, away from his shirtless form.
His face was angular; a cocky half-smile pulled up one corner of his mouth. Bella felt her lips part, her face flushed. He must have mistaken me for someone else.
He pushed a quarter-step too far and she sensed him. Spinning so fast her hair whipped against his chest, she faced him, and glare she fixed him with almost made him chuckle. She stopped short, though, and he had to work harder to repress the idiot grin that threatened to take over his face as her full bottom lip dropped open.
Her big, chocolate brown eyes widened as he let a hand rest on her waist - her skin was so soft - and he felt a rush of glee as a blush started to spread over her pale face. He could make girls laugh, and sure, he knew he could be easy on the eyes, but he was used to the older girls playing coy with him.
He never stopped moving to the music, and after a beat, she joined him. He mostly swayed and let her twirl, swing and shake, but he caught her gaze in his every chance he could get. He just couldn't make himself speak.
God, what is with me?
The tall boy wordlessly put a hand on her waist, still moving to the music. His hand was warm on her skin; she shivered, still for a beat, before letting him move her to the beat, tentatively at first. His gaze was nearly scorching as his face became serious, watching her dance. An almost-unrecognizable heat smoldered in her belly. Their bare feet kicked up the sand as they danced together.
Bella didn't know his name, but she knew his hand felt strong on her lower back. She felt flushed, overheated, the humid summer air and alcohol layering over the heat from his body. They didn't speak as they danced together through two more mid tempo songs, moving together over the thrumming bass. His gaze was intense as he looked down at her; she would have flushed if she weren't already red. When she needed a break, she closed her eyes, letting him spin her as they danced.
When the music slowed down, Bella went to extricate herself, to fill her drink and cool down and find Leah to demand she tell her everything she knew about this gorgeous boy with cynical eyes.
He did not let her. The shirtless boy wound his arm around her waist and led her away from the informal dance floor. He sat down on a piece of driftwood; Bella stood in front of him, trying not to focus on the space between them, his proximity clouding her mind. His warm hand softly touched the back of her knee.
"I need to find my friend." Bella felt a fluttering in her chest. No boy had ever been this physically forward with her. She was thrilled and flattered and a little afraid to get closer to him.
"Boyfriend?" The boy cocked an eyebrow.
Bella shook her head no. Almost without her permission, her hand reached out and rested on his smooth shoulder. Why am I touching him? God, what is with me? His dark eyes burned, staring up at her.
A flood of cool pride and joy flooded him. He felt he'd won the game.
Only, he hadn't. Because then her friend found her. And her friend was Leah Clearwater, royal bitch of his grade.
"Bella! Been looking for..." Leah went silent, eyes narrowing as they took in his hand wrapped around the girl's ankle.
Bella. He liked her name. He let the grin he'd been repressing slip out now, staring up at the girl as her eyes widened, like a kid caught doing something naughty. Girls always thought of him like that; something naughty.
Leah snatched Bella's wrist and dragged her away. Such a bitch. His heart rate pounded while he watched her be dragged away from him, further down the beach, halfway reaching for him as she was. He wanted to jump up and snatch her right back, pull her down into his lap and wrap himself around her...
Before he could stop himself, he was calling out to her. "See you soon." I promise.
Whoah. What was with him?
Leah was shaking her head as she dragged Bella down to the water line, splashing their feet in the cold sea water.
"Who was that?" Bella was breathless.
"That was Paul Lahote, and you are going to leave him the fuck alone, B." Leah rolled her eyes, splashing cool water over their bare legs. "Christ, you sure can pick 'em."
Bella giggled. The water was doing nothing to cool the heat in her core. She felt her skin flush.
"I can't... oh my god, that guy is gorgeous. Why would he..." Bella trailed off. Leah snorted.
"Wait. What's wrong with Paul Lahote?" Bella demanded.
"He's trouble. Ask Charlie," Leah snapped.
"Oh." That cooled Bella down. "What kind of trouble?"
Leah sighed. "Unfortunately, you're gorgeous. And Paul loves gorgeous girls." Her tone hardened. "B, Please promise me you will ignore him if he tries to talk to you again."
Bella looked over her shoulder. Paul was talking to another boy. He took a swig of his beer and caught her staring at him. He winked at her.
Bella whipped back around, blushing brightly. She pressed her lips together, trying not to smile. Leah groaned.
Shaking his head, Paul turned to see Jared, silently taking in the scene that had just played out with that zen-like expression on his face. Paul stood and turned in one motion so he could adjust his shorts - sue me, he thought - before rolling his eyes and joining Jared and the circle of guys all standing around the fire.
Jared silently handed him a beer and gestured towards the two girls, now sitting in the sand with their feet in the ocean.
Paul took a swig of the beer and caught Bella looking at him, blushing.
He winked at her. She whipped around, robbing him of seeing the reaction on her face, but he saw it all in the way Leah groaned and rolled her eyes.
Paul looked back at Jared. "Gonna ask who that is?" Jared asked smoothly.
"How would you know?" Paul snorted.
"She's Bella Swan. Her dad is Chief of Police Charlie Swan." Jared stared a hole in Paul's face. Paul almost choked on his beer.
He really needed to stop fucking around with these girls.
Paul knew Chief Swan. He'd been arrested by Chief Swan. He'd even been run off the beach by him for drinking at a party much like this one, because Chief Swan apparently socialized with the Tribal Chief Billy Black. They were old friends. As was Leah's dad, Harry.
Paul couldn't deny, though, the way Bella's inaccessibility added to her appeal. Protective friends, a father with all the authority that little Forks could offer, near-uncles with the power to bring the Tribal Council Smackdown squarely on Paul's head...
What a challenge. What a prize.
Waking up to the dim, gray light in the cab of his truck parked on the beach, Paul inexplicably thought of the little brunette. The chief's daughter. Bella. Dancing, blushing, smiling, watching him.
Shaking his head, he rubbed his face, wincing at his still-healing nose. Don't think about that girl. Don't even think about that girl.
The twinge of melancholy he thought at not seeing her again pissed him off. He couldn't be going soft over some girl he didn't even know. She wouldn't want anything to do with him, anyway. He was sure Leah had given her about an earful about what a piece of shit he was. Why wouldn't she? He and Leah had grown up together; they'd gotten into more fights than he could count back before he hit his growth spurt in eighth grade and gained 35 pounds on her overnight. She'd seen him grow from a snotty little twerp to a genuine prick, chasing tail and getting into fights over it. The only girls who wanted anything to do with him were the ones who had nothing else to do; girls who were bored, looking for a good time. He wasn't going to deny them that.
This girl was too good for him; that much was clear. Maybe that's why he'd felt so drawn to her. Even now, letting his eyes close, he wanted to drive up to Forks and find her dad at the Police station and ask for directions to his house. He'd earn an ass whooping, to be sure, and he'd deserve it.
No, he decided, he would leave this girl alone. He was sure she'd thank him for it. Besides, she didn't live on the reservation; she went to school in Forks. How likely was he to see her again?
The girls huddled against the wall on the front porch, taking shelter from the rain, passing their last cigarette back and forth.
They were flipping through a huge stack of polaroids and other prints that Leah had just gotten back from the last two weeks. Bella snickered, pointing to one of Seth balancing his baseball bat on his forehead in the backyard.
Leah stretched her long legs out, letting her feet get rained on. "I didn't take any at the beach last night," she commented.
Bella shrugged. "You don't take your camera to parties."
"It's a shame," Leah blew out smoke nonchalantly. "Woulda been good to get proof of your immodest behavior in the company of a gentleman."
Bella felt her cheeks begin to burn, but she fixed her friend with a look she hoped conveyed the confidence she didn't feel. "I was dancing. A guy danced with me. That's it."
Leah peered at her friend over another print. "You liked it."
Bella took a deep breath. "So what?" Her stomach did a flip. "I was drunk."
Truthfully, she wasn't that drunk - she was tipsy, sure, and the higher-than-average temperature might have contributed. She could never have fathomed even entertaining a guy as good-looking - or with as much of a reputation - as Paul. She didn't know much, but he didn't sound like the kind of guy she'd ever have been interested in before-
His ice-cold words echoed again in her head. Reckless. Bella felt an involuntary shudder, like she could feel his cool gaze on her.
Leah leaned against the house. "Guess Prince Charming wouldn't have approved of such unladylike behavior."
Bella huffed a laugh. "He wouldn't approve of a single thing we've done this summer."
Leah nodded, a glint in her eye. "Good."
Amanda, tall and blonde and bronze, had called Paul on Thursday; he'd weighed the chances of another fight with her brother and the chances of getting another blowjob from her in the truck and made his choice. Jared would have to walk to the party on Saturday.
She was giggly and all over him as soon as she climbed into the cab, exhilarated from sneaking out to see her bad boy date. Yep. That's me. Her long arms snaked around his neck and she pressed her lips eagerly against his; he reacted in kind, hungrily copping a feel while he was at it. She giggled a half-hearted stop, before leaning away from him so he could drive.
He squeezed her thigh as he drove, trying to focus enough to get them to the party.
This party was at someone's cousin's house, and it was incredibly loud. Paul caught up to Jared out front, standing around drinking beers with the other guys.
"Paul." Jared greeted him nonchalantly.
"Virgins." Paul nodded in return.
Amanda smacked his butt. "That's rude," she chided, but she grinned.
Paul knew she was there the moment he walked over the threshold; he didn't need to look over and see her, clutching her red solo cup. He didn't need to watch her face to see how it fell; he could almost feel her palpable disappointment.
Fuck, he thought. Fuck.
Bella's stomach dropped as soon they walked in. He never even glanced in Bella's direction.
He turned and gripped Amanda's ass and guided her into the tiny kitchen, where someone had made a big batch of punch with as much cheap liquor as they could. He poured Amanda a cup and grabbed himself a beer. Amanda couldn't miss church in the morning, she'd told him as she caressed his leg in his truck. She thinks she's so sexy.
Well, she wasn't wrong. She was almost as tall as him, which he liked, and she had a great figure. The things she could do with her tongue... Lord. He would get her home safe tonight. He'd do anything she asked. He was always like that with girls. It's what got him in so much trouble.
He decided on the risky maneuver of walking past Bella and Leah to get to the backyard, where the party had spread. He wanted to give Bella a chance to do what girls always did when they saw him with someone else: scream at him, call him a bastard, maybe slap him. It always made them feel better, and once they did, he always left them alone. Until they called him again.
One look at the room, though, and he realized he'd made the wrong choice. Shit. Bella's posture made his stomach flip. Her shoulders were hunched over; her head was bowed. She looked like she was expecting to get hit herself.
Damnit, Paul, you piece of shit.
Too late to turn around now, Paul had to walk towards them, drawing closer to his own self loathing every step; getting angrier every second. He wished Amanda and Bella and every girl he'd ever known had run in the opposite direction of him the very second he'd laid eyes on them.
Paul glared at the door as he marched forward, towing his date, refusing to take any further notice of Bella or Leah.
Leah gently took Bella's arm and repositioned her as a few people tried to walk past them from the kitchen. She was talking very animatedly, for Leah. She was gesturing wildly when she suddenly knocked Bella's drink out of her hand, sending it flying and dumping the entire contents on someone behind them.
Bella turned to apologize and came face-to-face with a very drenched Paul.
"Oops! My mistake, I'm so clumsy..." Leah laughed. Bella trembled, watching bright-red juice drip down Paul's sharp features. They were so close, their bodies were almost touching.
Paul glowered at Leah, gritting his teeth. When he crushed his beer can in his hand, his date put her hand on his bare chest. "Babe, it was an accident!" The blonde girl rolled her eyes as Paul pushed past them and stalked out the back door.
Bella looked up at Leah, eyes wide; one look at her friend's innocent face made her press her lips together to avoid bursting into laughter. Leah seemed very proud of herself as she dragged the two of them onto the dance floor.
Bella was walking alone on the way back from the little general store, a mile away from the Clearwaters', when a rumbling that could rival that of her own truck made her look up from her feet.
A faded, used-to-be-blue Ford truck groaned to a stop alongside her, and her stomach flipped when she saw the familiar lanky brown boy leaning out the window, grinning at her. "Need a ride?" His smile was lascivious.
Reckless and stupid, her rational mind screamed.
She repressed a smile. "Sure."
She came around the passenger side and realized he was not alone - there was another tall native boy in the front seat. He gave her a less threatening, if laid back smile. "I'm Jared."
Jared helped her past his lap into the middle of the bench seat. Bella's body felt like a live wire between the two of them. Jared noticed her tension and assured her, "We don't bite."
"Speak for yourself," Paul snickered.
Bella stared at the road ahead, biting her lip.
"So where were you heading?" Paul's eyes were on the road, one hand on the steering wheel, the other out the window. His hair was falling down over his eyes; he met her stare for a moment before suppressing a smile and tossing his hair off his face.
Bella swallowed. "I was going to meet my friend at First Beach." She hoped she sounded at ease.
"What a coincidence. Jared and I were just heading to First Beach. Who's your friend?"
Bella felt a mixture of nerves and relief. Maybe they could hang out together on the beach, no party needed. "Leah Clearwater. I think you know her..."
"Yeah, I know her," Paul snorted. "Never known Leah to have a friend."
"Kind of a bitch," Jared supplied helpfully.
Bella gave Jared a look. "I think guys tend to be intimidated by confident, beautiful women. Or maybe just the insecure ones."
Paul let out a guffaw and nudged Jared over Bella's shoulders. He left his arm over the back of the bench seat. Bella squirmed.
"Damn, J. You gonna let her talk to you like that? Is the little Swan intimidating you?" Jared laughed, too. Bella stared at Paul. "How do you know my last name?"
Paul shrugged. "Someone let me know after I saw you the first time. I was discouraged from dancing with the Police Chief's daughter."
Jared chuckled. "Strongly discouraged. By Leah."
Bella gasped, mortified. She could feel the warmth of a deep blush spreading over her cheeks and up her forehead. She groaned and covered her face.
Paul continued. "In fact, she threatened me in the hallway at school. Jared saw it all. Back me up, J."
Jared shrugged. "I try not to make a habit of pissing people off who could beat my ass. Paul here hasn't yet learned that lesson."
"You saying I could get my ass beat by a girl?" Paul's smile hardened.
"Handily," Jared replied dryly.
"I am..." Bella tossed her hair, trying to recover from the embarrassment that threatened to overtake her. "I'm seriously going to kill her."
"Now, that's a fight I'd like to see." Paul grinned again. Bella bit her lip, momentarily distracted.
Paul pulled into the parking lot near the beach and turned the truck off. Jared wordlessly got out of the truck and shut the door behind him, leaving Bella in the cab with Paul, who watched her for a moment, before staring off at the beach. Bella took a deep breath.
"I'm sorry about Leah. She's overprotective."
Paul smirked. "You must be something special," he teased. Bella let out a dark chuckle, then caught Paul in the corner of her eye.
"Did you tell your blonde friend that, too?" She raised an eyebrow. He met her gaze, and she was suddenly very aware of how close they were in the closed cab of the truck. His arm stayed over the back of the seat; her knee was touching his leg. Her breath accelerated, but she didn't back down.
Paul gave her a long look, amused, then leaned over her - his long arm almost brushing her lap, his face inches from hers - and opened the door for her.
Leah glanced between Bella and Paul, watching her friend walk up the beach between the two boys a sheepish smile.
"Delivered her to ya, safe and sound, Ms. Clearwater." Paul pronounced with a sarcastic gravitas. Leah shook her head, smirking.
"Nice to meet you, Bella. Sure I'll see ya around." Jared gave her a nod.
Bella nodded, then turned to say goodbye to Paul, only to find he was already walking away.
"Bye, Paul," she yelled, suddenly irritated.
Paul just waved, not turning around.
Leah leaned against the counter in Charlie's kitchen, watching Bella scramble eggs. They were still damp from their jog; the morning was misty and cool. Bella's face was pink from exertion. Leah snacked on an apple.
"So," she chewed, "what're you gonna do when you see Paul tonight?"
Bella hissed, looking around the corner. Charlie was still asleep upstairs. She hadn't seen enough of him recently, and she certainly didn't need him worrying about her any more than he already did. Although, he just seemed happy to have her moving around on her own accord these days.
Leah took another bite of her apple. "Don't avoid the question."
Bella rolled her eyes. "Wasn't thinking about it."
"Mhm," Leah replied skeptically.
Bella grumbled to herself, piling eggs onto two plates. Leah poured two cups of coffee and brought them over to the table. They began to eat in silence.
Bella finally looked at Leah. "Has anyone else caught your eye? Since-?"
"No," Leah snapped.
Bella looked down at her plate.
Leah was silent for a beat. "I don't think... Like, you're still fucked up from it. This doesn't mean that it didn't fucking ruin you."
Bella nodded. She let her hair fall over her face.
Later, they drove to the thrift store in Forks. Leah started out strong and soon hoisted an armload of clothes from the boys' section; Bella had pulled out a few dresses and a long skirt or two, but she mostly stared through them.
She was thinking about what Leah'd said at breakfast. It was true that this - whatever it was - thing with Paul, it wasn't in spite of her catastrophic breakup. Really, there was no way it would have existed without it.
Aside from the obvious personality clash - everything about Paul stood in stark contrast to Edward. Edward was polished, cool, rich, yes - but more than that, he was, in a way, dead. His heart did not beat. He never got carried away with her; as stirred up as she got when he held her or kissed her, his cold, strong arms always held her at a safe, respectable distance.
Everything about Paul was alive. Impulsive, hot headed, definitely immature. Moving to the beat of a song, and not in a classic step. Warm. And often shirtless.
Leah cleared her throat.
Bella realized she'd been standing still, clutching a black and yellow sundress, probably blushing. She glanced at her friend, who could only shake her head at her hopeless friend.
He was, of course, also an asshole.
She hadn't forgotten the sinking feeling in her stomach when he turned up at that house party with a willowy blonde, giggling and hanging on his shoulder. Even now it made her feel cold.
In the truck on the way back to Charlie's, Bella cleared her throat. "I should probably still leave it alone though, right?"
"Leave what alone?" Leah leafed through her book, seemingly disinterested.
Bella glanced at her friend. "Paul."
Leah peered over her book and waited a beat. "I'm not going to tell you what to do. But, as your long-time best friend-" Bella snorted- "I'd like not to have to heal a brand new broken heart after we just got this one up and running. Also, you should do your best to avoid becoming a single teen mother."
Bella gasped. "I would not-" she spluttered as Leah cackled. The Chevy rolled over the curb into the gas station, the one that never carded pretty girls when they bought cigarettes.