Hello Readers! I hope all is well where you are! Please welcome my new Beta reader to the story Mable2210, here's to a long and successful partnership! *Pops champagne bottle*
I hope you're all enjoying the story so far! This chapter is continuing in Bella's POV.
Paul quickly caught up with Bella and walked silently beside her. Bella offered up a silent prayer of thanks, she was in no mood to speak. She was grateful that Paul seemed to appreciate this.
It became increasingly hard to navigate the forest, Bella's eyes had become quite accustomed to the darkness but she still struggled.
Having Paul's intense heat next to her made the forest seem even colder. She limped along brushing past ferns, spilling the rainwater that collected on the leaves. Bella tried to focus on the chill spreading through her, trying to avoid thinking about Paul and the other one.
"Careful, there's a nasty root just ahead." Paul interrupted her concentration softly. He pointed by a shadowy lump along the path.
"I remember it fondly," Bella mumbled, sarcasm dripping from her tongue. "I think that's the one that tripped me the first time." She said a little louder. Their voices sounded intrusive in the empty forest.
"Where you cut your knee," Paul continued, almost to himself.
Bella stopped suddenly, she looked up at Paul. "How did you know I had cut my knee?"
"I saw it, when you were… you know." He replied softly, his dark eyes shimmered in the moonlight breaking through the canopy, the clouds had rained themselves into nonexistence.
His eyes were strangely intense, Bella looked away. She felt like he was expecting her to say something or do something.
Bella cleared her throat. "So, if we're at this root already then we've made great time. We're almost out of the woods!" There was a ghost of a smile on her face as the cliché tumbled out of her mouth.
Paul's smile was gentle and he nodded. "You've done well. You know, being crippled and stuff."
He continued walking before Bella could respond, his form was wrapped in shadows as he glided through the ferns, back onto the path. Bella huffed and stomped after him. His cheeky comment was exactly what the tense atmosphere needed, but she wouldn't tell him that.
The forest was now silent, save for Bella's breathing. Her sprained ankle was sending burning jolts of pain up her whole leg. It was becoming more difficult to walk, maybe she should have taken Paul up on his offer to carry her.
Bella paused to call Paul back but just beyond him she could see Charlie's ridiculously bright porch light. That beacon was calling her home but it made the forest around her blacker and the path difficult to follow. Bella didn't care, she increased her pace and threw her branch/crutch into the bushes and began limping/running towards home.
Paul was still several paces ahead of Bella when she tripped over her laces which had slowly fallen undone as they became damper. She squeezed her eyes shut and held her hands in front of her preparing for an impact that never came.
Strong, hot arms closed around her. Bella's eyes snapped open as Paul gently lifted her into his arms, being careful not to jostle her already injured legs.
"Woah little missy, you shouldn't get so carried away. We still have a bit to go."
"Thanks Paul, you can put me down now." Bella said stiffly.
"If I let you walk the rest of the way home, especially without your crutch, that sprain will turn into a broken ankle. It isn't far, you've made a heroic effort. Just let me do this?" Paul stared into Bella's eyes, his gaze was uncomfortably intense. Bella felt like a rabbit caught in headlights. She nodded slowly and he turned, carrying her through forest. Her feet dragged across the tips of the shrubs, the relief was instant. Bella's ankle began to hurt much less and she felt like she was floating. Gentle smiles floated across both their faces, mirror images of contentment. His heat began to ease her tense muscles and warm her through her soaking layers of clothes.
"Bella, before I take you home, I need to tell you something." Paul said, his smile had faded.
"You're a psychotic murderer? Going to feed me to the wolves?" Bella quipped.
"Not quite. Look. I know… ah… I know about the Cullens. What they are and what they do. I know you'll need some time to get yourself feeling better but when the secret gets too much come to La Push. I'll find you." He looked scared.
Bella didn't know how to respond. The Cullens, even the name hurt her heart. Their departure hurt beyond words, but what was worrying her was not being able to discuss it. Paul was offering her a lifeline. She couldn't be anything other than grateful. She can ask questions later.
"I can't face talking about this tonight, but thank you. Can I ask you questions when I come to La Push?" Bella asked softly. She looked up at Paul cautiously. He smiled at her, it was a beautiful smile, the moonlight danced across his white teeth like stars.
"Of course. We're almost back."
Bella looked around them, she was so absorbed in their little bubble she forgot they were in the woods. She could see her white house through the trees. It had never looked more perfect, she ached from inside to just go into her bed. Charlie was bent over the picnic bench behind the house, he was barking orders at a group of men around him.
"Chief, I have her." Paul shouted, his voice was so loud compared to his whispers in the forest.
Charlie looked up and sagged with relief. Bella smiled at her dad and he ran over to her. Paul kept her in his arms, Bella knew he wasn't going to put her down until they were inside.
"Oh baby, you had me so worried, are you ok? What happened?"
Bella's smile wobbled as she took a breath. "Edward and I went on a walk when we got home from school, he broke up with me. He ran away in the woods and I stupidly tried to follow, I think I've sprained my ankle." Bella tried to sound nonchalant but her voice broke.
"Oh baby. Did he hurt you?" Charlie's eyes glittered like obsidian behind his eyes.
"No, I mean, it hurt that we broke up but he didn't do anything." Bella looked her dad right in the eye. 6 months of guilt rushed into her, from the moment she met that Edward until this moment. She had put her poor dad through so much. His moustache had grey hairs littered through it.
"Ok Bells, we'll get you inside and warm. Can you carry her in… uh?" Charlie looked at Paul.
"Paul, sir, my name's Paul Lahote. When you called Billy he told Sam to get us rez wardens looking for Bella in the woods." Paul's voice was strong, unwavering.
"Ok Paul, thank you for all you have done so far, can you please bring her inside? I don't want to move her bad leg." Charlie said.
"Of course, sir." Paul walked further into the light and Bella got a proper look at him. He was right, they had met at the beach party all those months ago. She began feeling guilty for forgetting him but was soon overcome with a wave of tiredness.
"Dad, what time is it?"
"Uh, it's 1 in the morning Bells. Don't worry, we'll get you upstairs soon." Charlie said, his voice was tender. "I'll go in first and get some blankets for her bed. I don't think she'll have the energy to change." This he said to Paul. Paul nodded as Bella yawned again.
Charlie shuffled past them and got an armful of blankets out of the linen closet. He thumped upstairs and Bella followed in Paul's arms. Charlie laid out half the blankets on top of her covers and Paul placed her on the bed. Bella wrestled out of her jacket and Charlie took her shoes off.
Paul stood off to the side, his eyes were burning into Bella. They shared a look of understanding before Bella yawned again. Paul smiled at her.
Charlie gently arranged the other half of the blankets on top of Bella. He backed up and turned Bella's small bedside light off. Bella didn't have the energy to turn onto her side for her normal sleeping position. She couldn't even look around her room to seek comfort in its familiarity. She was too tired.
She did see Charlie and Paul's silhouettes shake hands. They sounded so far away but she was sure she heard Paul ask for the home phone number. He said he wanted to check on Bella later. Charlie shook his hand again, saying how lucky the Swan family was that Paul had found her.
The final tear of that day had escaped Bella's eye and she slipped into sleep, dreaming of green forests and dark eyes.