The time period for this chapter goes by fast. They are the same age as they were in the last chapter, so enjoy!
I woke up feeling like I just got hit by a truck… oh wait, I did. Or it was just a dream. I touched my forehead and felt the crinkled up bandage. My head was overwhelmed as a hole started forming in my chest. I looked around and saw that Paul had left. I got up and slowly climbed down my ladder. Becca was already awake, probably shopping with Leah or something like that. I walked down the dark hallway to my bathroom. There was a note on the mirror.
The doctor said that you won't have to wear that bandage anymore. Your wrist is sprained because of impact; you only have to wear it for about another week.
-Dad-
I took the note off the mirror, crumpled it up, and threw it away. I looked at myself in the mirror. The purple circles under my eyes were fading, and my face looked brighter. Then, I started peeling off the crumpled, white bandage off of my forehead. A long, ragged cut started forming all the way across. It was stitched, and probably perfectly healthy, but it still was bright red around the the bandage was all the way off, I threw it in the trash. I looked at myself again. That would leave a scar, always showing me what I did. I undressed and threw my clothes into the close hamper. Little cuts and bruises covered my body. I climbed into the shower and let the hot water and steam relax me.
Only it didn't. I started thinking. Mom wouldn't ever see Becca and me graduate. She would never see our wedding or our own kids. She would never see Jacob grow up to be a heartbreaker. She would never see him be heartbroken. She wouldn't see any of that. Dad would have to live without her. Dad wouldn't be able to do to certain things. He wouldn't be able to go to anything that isn't handicap accessible.
I couldn't bear to stand anymore, so I sat down in the shower, and put my head in my hands. Before I knew it, I was crying, again. But I couldn't stop. I just sobbed until I couldn't cry anymore. I stood up and finished my shower like a zombie. I stopped the water, and I heard something outside the bathroom door. I listened a little bit more, and realized the noises were footsteps. My heart was pounding in my chest as I wrapped myself in a towel. I pressed my ear against the door and heard the footsteps come closer to the bathroom door. I held my breath. I hate it how when you hear something when you're home alone, that you immediately assume you're going to be killed.
Still holding my breath, I opened the door slowly until there was just a crack that I could peer through. Nothing. The house lights were off, and there were no signs of someone there. I could have sworn I heard footsteps. I opened the door completely open and saw no one. I walked into my living room and looked around. I walked over to the door and checked the lock. It was unlocked. My heart pounded in my chest and I stood still, squeezing my eyes shut.
"Rachel?" I nearly jumped out of my skin as I spun around to see one of my most favorite faces in the world. I held my hand over my heart as I held my towel up with the other.
"God, Paul, what are you here for?" I asked in between gasps.
"Oh man, I'm sorry; I just wanted to check on you!" He looked so innocent and scared. I rubbed my eyes and smiled.
"It's ok, you just scared me," I stood on my tiptoes to kiss him. He pressed his lips to mine gently, but it still made my heart race. I tangled my hands in his hair and his hands pressed against my back as the kiss grew stronger. Something in me wanted something, something more. I started unbuttoning Paul's shirt and he pulled us over to the couch. I just now realized that I'm in only a towel, but now, it's just in the way. We managed to get his shirt off, but we were slowed by his undershirt. I wanted it off right then. He left my lips and pulled it off. More like ripped it. Paul sent a trail of kisses on my cheek, to my ear, and started nibbling on it. I started giggling. Then, like instinct, my hand reached for his belt buckle and I started taking it off. He stopped and looked at me.
"Are you absolutely sure?" He asked staring me dead in the eye; he knew that if I showed any sign of worry, he wouldn't go on with it. I nodded.
"Yes, never been more sure in my life," I said honestly. His lips met mine again before he slowly pulled off my towel. Now I'm working on that stupid buckle.
I woke up on Paul's chest, his arms wrapped around me. I looked up at him and saw that he was dead asleep. I slowly crawled out of his arms and grabbed my towel. I tiptoed across the room and into my room. I looked at myself. My cheeks were red and my hair, well, it was rather messy. I walked in my closet and it didn't take long to decide what I was going to wear. I decided on a pink and brown plaid skirt along with a simple, light pink blouse. I wore brown flats and walked out of my closet. Now, my hair is awful. I brushed all the knots out and straightened it. My straight bangs covered the stitches barely. A tiny corner of the ragged cut showed. I fluffed my long hair and tried to put on makeup. It's rather hard when you have a messed up wrist.
I walked out of my room and saw Paul pulling up his pants. I smiled and walked over to him. He looked up and smiled. He stood up and I realized how tall he was.
"Dang Paul, you got tall," He looked at me and smirked.
"Well, yeah I've been growing a lot," He kissed my forehead softly and then grabbed my hand. "Do you want to go somewhere?" He played with my fingers and started walking out the door. I nodded and we headed for Paul's truck. We drove for about ten minutes and pulled into his driveway.
We walked into a dark house of his and were surprised by a "Happy Birthday." I looked at Paul confused. He started laughing and I was still confused. My sixteenth birthday came like it was nothing. I started laughing with him and we walked around greeting people. My dad rolled up smiling. It broke my heart seeing him.
"Hi Dad," I managed to say, voice cracking.
"Happy Birthday, sweetie," He smiled his warm smile and I almost started crying from guilt. I hugged him and then walked around with Paul. We saw Sam and Leah talking on his couch. Well, more like Leah talking and Sam listening, but he is a tad bit distracted.
I nudged Paul, "Hey, what's up with Sam?" I asked staring at him.
"I don't know. Leah doesn't either. Sam says that he's been noticing things and so he's all like I'm awesome," Paul said annoyed. I walked over to Sam and smiled obliviously.
"Sam, I heard you were extremely sick," I said sounding worried, "I'm glad to see that you're ok now." I smiled.
Sam shifted uncomfortably and looked at me sternly and said, "Well, good things come out of bad ones. Happy Birthday." He stood and I gasped. Sam was huge! He was like seven feet tall! My eyes widened and Sam held out his arms. I hugged him cautiously.
"So Paul," I said turning to him, "Do you want to go on a walk in the woods or something like that?" I was getting claustrophobic from all the people around. He nodded and I grabbed his hand as we started to walk outside.
"Wait!" Sam said as he grabbed my arm with a really hot hand. I turned and looked at him angrily. "Don't go in the woods."
"Why?" I asked and looked up at him, I may only be five one, but I can so take care of myself.
"There are more bears than normal for some reason," He lied, "We're taking care of it."
Paul nodded but I wasn't going to let him be all I know everything on me. "Why do you think you're so badass?" I asked. "It's annoying and you need to learn not to be full of yourself." I walked away and he grabbed me angrily.
"Don't go in the woods," he warned. I pulled my hand away and pulled Paul with me outside.
"Ok, what the hell is his problem?" I asked.
"Told you," Paul said shrugging. I rolled my eyes and then tried to kiss him, but I'm too short. He laughed and bent over to kiss me. I kissed him sweetly and then stared at him.
"How are you getting so tall? Seriously!" I said, "I'm too short!"
"I have no idea, but I don't mind," He said, "I've even been buffing up." He stretched and then flexed to show me.
"Wow Paul, you would be worried about your muscles," I laughed and then there was thunder followed by rain. "So much for going in the woods," I mumbled. Sam stormed out of the house and I looked at him, confused.
"Get inside!" He yelled and ran into the woods. I looked at Paul and he shrugged and we walked inside. The rest of the day was mostly boring. Apparently I got a car, but Becca is using it at the time because we have to share it. I'm not going to drive anyways. The next few days were boring, people in school were freaked out and they all felt bad for me. It was quite annoying. My mom's funeral was depressing, Jacob and Becca cried the most, but I couldn't. I was empty. I looked at Dad and he was holding them back.
After the funeral people would say they were sorry and crap like they always do. We went to the beach and had a bonfire so her spirit wouldn't have trouble going into the afterlife. I leaned into Paul and he kissed my forehead and whispered, "I love you." In my ear. Weeks went by before things finally went back to normal, well, almost normal. Sam still thinks he the shit and stuff and that he runs the tribe. April came around the corner and Leah isn't so bubbly anymore because Sam won't tell her anything and she never sees him.
I sat on my couch and changed the channel.
"Aw come on!" Paul said raising his arms, "That was a good show."
"I don't like it," I said and changed it to some Lifetime movie. Paul tickled me and I jumped away from him. He grabbed me and started to lift me up. I squealed and Jacob came to my rescue.
"Let her go!" He yelled with a nerf gun in his hand aimed at Paul. Paul ignored him and so Jacob shot him right in the forehead. Paul dropped me and went after Jacob. Jacob shot him continuously until the nerf gun made a clicking sound. Jacob's eyes widened, "I'm out of ammo, one minute," he said holding up a finger. He ran away from Paul and Paul grabbed his foot, angrily. He knew Jacob was kidding, but he was still really angry. He lifted Jacob by his ankle and held him upside down. Jacob screamed and I ran to grab him. I pulled at Jacob's waist and Paul's grip tightened.
"Ow Paul, that hurts," Jacob whined. I pulled harder.
"Paul, let him go now!" I yelled. Paul let go of Jacob and we went flying backwards.
"Sorry," Jacob said sadly.
"It's fine sweetie," I said, "Why don't you go in your bedroom." I looked at Paul and pointed outside.
When we got outside I looked at Paul angrily, "What the hell is your problem!"
"That little ass of a brother of yours is the problem!" He yelled back.
"He was playing and you know that!"
"Right, he needs to grow up."
"No, you need to! Jacob is only ten!" I yelled.
"You're brother is an annoying twerp and you know it!" Paul yelled back and I slapped him.
"Don't you dare talk about my family like that!" Paul's face started getting red and I backed up. Randomly, Sam came running out of the woods.
"Rachel, leave him alone! Paul, come with me!" He grabbed Paul and started shoving him towards the woods.
"Don't bother coming back!" I yelled at him while he was leaving, "It is fucking over!" Paul looked at me with sad eyes and they ran completely in the woods. My heart broke, but I knew it had to happen. I went inside, slamming the door and Jacob looked scared.
"Are you mad at me?" Jacob asked. I shook my head and ran into my room. As soon as I closed the door I sat down and cried.
"What have I done?" I asked myself and started crying harder. Most likely Paul will call tonight apologizing, but there's this raw feeling in my gut that tells me that he isn't. I curled up in a ball and cried until Becca opened the door on my back.
"Rachel, what happened?" She asked me kneeling down beside me.
"I broke up with Paul," I whispered. Her eyes widened.
"I, I don't know what to say," She said and stood up. "You guys dated for a long time, and it sucks, but you're going to have to get over it. Not now, obviously, but you can't do this all the time, understand?" I nodded and stood up.
"He'll call tonight," I said, lying to Becca and myself. Only he didn't. He didn't go to school or call me. I started getting worried after a month went by. He dropped out of school and he won't answer my phone calls now. I didn't cry anymore, but it still hurt that after that day, he won't even talk to me.
After sitting on my no longer bunk bed, I decided to call Paul one day in July. I hadn't called since May, so maybe he'll answer now. The phone rang and I crossed my fingers.
"Hello?" My heart pounded in my chest hoping it was Paul.
"Hey," I said quietly, "Is Paul there?"
The person on the other end of the phone started talking to someone and then sighed, "Rachel, he doesn't want to talk to you and he won't, so don't call back." My heart shattered and a tear rolled down my cheek.
"Is this Sam?" I asked. Sam said he hadn't seen Paul, but I know it was a lie. There was a silence.
"Rachel, what do you want?" He asked annoyed. I was getting angry.
"Tell Paul right now that this is his last chance, ever. If he doesn't answer then he has no chance of seeing me or hearing my voice again," I tried to say calmly.
"Rachel," Sam said, "Don't do that."
"No, I am. Tell that to Paul, right now!" I said angrily. Sam sighed and I heard him tell Paul. Then, there was a silence. I held my breath as I heard someone pick up the phone.
"He said he was sorry, but no," Sam said finally. My heart literally stopped and I held on to a chair.
"Ok then, I promise him I will never see or talk to him again and I won't call. I say that and I call anyways sometimes, but this time, I'm not. He has no chance ever again," I said. As soon as I finished those words I started crying.
"Rachel, are you ok?" Sam asked frantically. I hung up the phone and then threw it against the wall. And that was it. I didn't talk to Paul again. I stopped going to bonfires on the beach where I know I'd see him and I didn't go to any parties where he was also invited. I never went to Sam's house or Leah's. I cut myself off from that group because I knew I wouldn't be able to stand it.
The day before school started again for my junior year, there was a knock on the front door. I was in the kitchen cutting vegetables for dinner. "Becca!" I yelled, "Can you get that for me?" She walked across the room in her sundress and fixed her hair before she answered the door.
"Oh, hi Paul," Becca said slowly. I put the knife down, took off my gloves, and started walking towards my room.
"Can I talk to Rachel?" He asked. Becca looked at me and I shook my head.
"I'm sorry," She started, "She's not home."
I walked past the door while getting to my room and I'm pretty sure Paul saw me because he said, "I just saw her, please."
Becca shifted her weight uncomfortably, "You had your chance and you ruined it. I'm sorry, but you can't talk to her."
Paul cleared his throat and said, "Please."
Becca opened the door for him and I dove into my room and shut the door. I leaned up against it and heard Paul walk over to my room. He knocked on my door and I locked it.
He sighed after a few seconds of silence and said, "Rachel, don't do this." I didn't answer. "Rachel, please, I need to talk to you." I walked across the room and grabbed a notepad. I quickly wrote on it and started to slide it under my door.
Paul, I'm sorry, but you ruined your chance. Say what you want to say now but it won't make a difference.
"Rachel, please, I was confused at the time. I just need to hear your voice again," He said sadly.
I grabbed the notepad and wrote on it again and slid it back under the door.
So confused it took you three and a half months to get over, right…
"Rachel, please, I just need to see something," He said.
I wrote on the notepad again.
No.
"Rachel, at least let me hear your voice," he pleaded.
I waited a minute before whispering, "Goodbye Paul." I heard his footsteps leave until the door closed. I sighed and my heart broke again. That year went by slowly without him, but I took Becca's advice and didn't let it get to me. The only reason I feel this hurt is because we were together for so long, right?
I was fine without Paul. I actually lived. I went to parties with Becca getting extremely drunk and making out with some random guy. My grades stayed at a 4.0 the entire year, so I had nothing to worry about. Senior year came around the corner like nothing. I was ready for Julliard; I could actually see them accepting me, saying that I did wonderful. I couldn't wait to go to the big city of New York. I especially couldn't wait to get out of LaPush. Away from Paul's presence. Julliard was coming to LaPush to hear me. I played my absolute best piece I have ever played and I played it perfectly I had a huge grin on my face and they asked me why I wanted to go there and I told them answers honestly. I love piano and I could spend my life doing that.
A month before senior year ended, I got a package in the mail. From Julliard. I carefully opened it and read as they accepted me. But instead of excitement and me jumping around, screaming, I was disappointed. Something in me wanted me to be declined. I couldn't leave Paul my body wanted to stay here and see him. So I stood there, in the kitchen, staring at the paper until Dad rolled up in his wheelchair.
"Did you get accepted?" He asked. I showed him the paper and he smiled his warm smile. "Congratulations! I am so proud of you, your mother would be too," He said still grinning. It faded when he realized that I wasn't that excited. "What's wrong?"
I thought of my words for a minute before finally saying, "I think I'm only going to go there for a year or two."
He nodded, "You don't want to leave here, do you?"
"No," I said sadly, "All my life I've been waiting for this moment, and now that it's here, I realized that I wasn't happy about it. What am I going to do after Julliard? I think I'm going to go to Washington after that to do something, I don't know yet though."
"Rachel, are you sure about this?" Dad asked.
"Positive, I can't leave LaPush, and as much as I don't like it, I think it has something to do with Paul," I admitted for the first time.
"You'll learn soon," Dad said and then rolled away. I sighed and looked at the acceptance letter on more time. I have a lot of figuring out to do.
"That is why I am proud to present this year's senior class of LaPush High School." I smiled as I finished my valedictorian speech. People clapped and I raised my arms so everyone would stand. The crowd cheered and my cheeks hurt because I couldn't stop smiling. This was it. I was leaving tomorrow for New York for summer classes. I would miss everyone terribly, especially Paul. I didn't get over him like a normal person would. My smile faded as I tried to find Paul in the mass of people. I didn't see him. I sighed and everyone started to leave. I quickly joined the rest of the class by Becca. We found Dad and Jacob who was now taller than me.
"Hey Jake! Now you have an entire house to yourself, no girls ever!" I smiled and hugged him.
"Yeah, but I am going to miss you a lot," He said sadly.
"Don't worry, I'll come visit when I can," I smiled even bigger and added, "If you need any girl advice, just call me, I'll hook you up." Jake smirked and went to go hug Becca. I hugged Dad and then went to go find Becca with Jake. When I found her she pounced on me.
"Rachel! Can you believe it?" she asked, "We graduated!" I laughed and we started heading towards the beach where Leah was having a bonfire for a graduation party. Paul is not going because graduates only, thank god. We quickly got to our car and started driving to the party. It was fun, but I couldn't stay long because I had to pack. I gave everyone hugs and we all took pictures and we also cliff dove.
I was just about to leave when I ran into Sam. "Oh, hi." I said.
"So you're moving to New York?" He asked, crossing his arms.
"Yeah, Julliard," I said nodding, "Finally made it."
"Does Paul know?" Sam asked looking at me with concern.
I shook my head, "I haven't talked to him since last summer. I can't face him right now."
"He's not going to be happy about it you know."
"I know, but I've always dreamed about going there. Will you tell him that I'm going there and will you also tell him that he can come visit when he likes?" I asked. Sam and I may have not gotten along that well, but he's Paul's best friend.
"Yeah I will," He said and then hugged me. I hugged him back and then looked at him with sad eyes.
"It was a mistake to send him away and I regret that big time. Tell him I'm also sorry and I always will be." Sam nodded and then walked away. I left the party and finished packing. A new life where people didn't know me, and I didn't know them. How exciting.
So there we go, they are now in college. I don't know how many chapters until Rachel and Paul will be back together, but it's definitely not going to be in the next one, sorry :(... I might look into Paul's POV so we don't leave him completely. REVIEW!