Chapter 10
Waiting

And I can't hold on.
This light is breaking into the day
This life is going to change seems like it's taking me forever
Waiting- The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus

This was way worse than I thought it was going to be. After the arrival of the rest of the guests, which included the police chief and his daughter Bella, the red house turned into something worse than a comedy movie. Comedies are funny...when they don't involve you.

The younger boys, along with my brother and Paul, were currently engaged in a Rock Band competition. Sue was trying to find a way to make the turkey less dry. Really, it's a turkey. It's impossible for it not to be dry. There were not enough regular plates for everyone, so Emily was trying to decided if she should just have everyone use paper plates or just make up the difference of regular plates with paper ones. Someone had bought up politics and the older men, including my dad, were "loudly discussing" the current president.

Plus, Bella was sitting in the only chair in the living room, her legs pulled up to her chest, her arms wrapped around them. She looked little more than a zombie, her skin paler than pale and dark circles that rimmed her eyes. She looked like she could be pretty, but it was hard to see past the large sweatshirt and lifeless eyes. I had introduced myself, but she only muttered her name in a soft whisper before brushing past me and settling in the chair. I didn't take it personal since she did it to everyone that was there. I could only imagine what had happened to her to make her like that.

I wanted to go and hide in my room, but every time I made a break for it, someone saw me and made me stay.

"Come on, Cate!" Lucas yelled. He had been asking me to join his "band" ever since the game had started and I had planted myself on the couch with Leah and Kim. "I know you are a great singer. I've heard you plenty of times in the shower!"

"Shut up, Luke," I muttered murderously. "I don't 'do' singing, and you know that,"

"But Catie," he whined. "We need a better singer,"

"Hey!" Quil protested as he was their current lead singer.

"Cate," Paul's deep voice caught my attention. He was guitar for my brother's 'band'. "Just one song," He cocked his head to the side and smiled. "Please, for me," My heart skipped a beat.

Stupid heart.

"Fine,"

Stupid Paul.

I stood up and took the mic from Quil who joined the other band to be the bassist.

"I pick the song and you guys go first," I told the other band who consisted of Jake on drums, Embry on guitar, Quil on bass, and Seth on vocals. Seth wasn't too bad of a singer, kind of a roughed up pop star, but I'm sure once his voice got lower he would sound more like a rock singer. They nodded as I scrolled through the songs and picked out the one knew best. Seth groaned but I merely smiled.

The song started and Seth struggled through it, but still managed to score decently. Jake rocked out on the drums as did Embry.

Now it was my bands turn. Lucas was on guitar, Paul on bass, Jared on drums and me as vocals.

The strong bass line started and I started singing.

"I will break into your thoughts with what's written on my heart. I will break! Break!"

"Shit," I heard Seth mutter as I continued singing.

"I'm so sick, infected with where I live."

"She sounds just like the chick who sings this song," Kim said to Leah, who disagreed, of course.

"I'm so sick." The song ended then. We waited the few seconds it took for the scores to come up and my band cheered as we saw that we were the winners.

"Kids!" Sue yelled as she poked her head into the living room. We all turned to look at her. "Dinner," Everyone rushed out of the room, everyone being the boys, and out to the heated tent where dinner was being held. Paul grabbed my hand and we walked out together to the tent.

"You have a great voice," He said as we took our seats next to each other.

"Thanks," I managed to blush and everything was quiet while Old Quil said grace from the head of the table. The minute he said "Amen", hands were flying to the dishes and Paul was no exception. He had his plate loaded with food before I could even reach for a dinner roll. Soon enough, everyone had their food and dim conversation was going up around the table, politics forgotten, thank god.

I picked at my food, though. A funny feeling had taken over my stomach, making any food I ate settle uneasily. Maybe it was the fact that I crammed at a table inside a small tent. Or maybe it was the fact that I was sitting next to Bella Swan, who also only picked at her food, not eating, not meeting anyone's gaze and certainly not talking to anyone.

I suddenly felt a nudge at my side and turned to look at Paul who eyed me as he took a bite of a roll.

"What's wrong," He asked with his mouth full.

"Manners Paul," I smirked at him as he swallowed and stuck his tongue out at me. I nearly came apart at the sight. "Nice,"

"Stop evading and tell me what's up,"

I sighed. "Stomach ache,"

"Sorry, Princess," He squeezed my thigh and went back to eating. I tried to eat a little more but gave up after a few bites. I decided to try and talk to Bella.

"So Bella," She barely turned her head to acknowledge that she had heard me.

This girl is kinda creepy.

Shush.

"How old are you," I asked her. She looked like she was older than me, but still in high school, maybe a junior or senior.

She winced before she answered. "Eighteen,"

"Nice. You're legal. I'm only fifteen. Have you always lived in Forks?" I tried my best to ignore her dead and monotone voice.

"No,"

"Me either. I lived in Manhattan," I swallowed the uneasiness and tried to continue my one-sided conversation with her. "How do you know the Blacks? That's who you came with, right"

"My dad's friends with Billy," She muttered, wincing again for some reason. Okay, was this girl in pain or something, talking to me?

"Oh, I see," I decided to end the conversation there.

Geez, did someone die?

That made me wonder what had happened to Bella to make her so...dead. Maybe she did lose someone and was having trouble getting over it. That's all that I could really think of that could have effected her so much to make her so lifeless.

Suddenly, Bella stood up and bolted back into the house. Her father followed after her after thanking Sue and Harry for inviting them.

That was strange.

"Paul," He turned to look at me. "What's up with that Bella chick," I asked him in a hushed voice. He didn't look at me as he answered.

"I'll tell you later," Was all he could say as he busied himself with his food. Soon enough dinner was over and the men took over the living room, settling in for the football game. I helped by dishing the food into containers for everyone to take home. After I finished with that I found my dad and sat at his feet while the game played. During the commercials we would talk. I asked about my aunts, uncles and cousins and heard that they were all fine. My cousin Mark had gotten an early acceptance to NYU and my aunt Suzie was pregnant. That surprised me.

"I didn't know she had a boyfriend,"

"She doesn't," My dad replied as the game came back on. Right.

By the time the second quarter started I was bored out of my mind. My eyes flashed over to Paul who was talking to Sam and Lucas. He met my eyes and I looked up, hoping he would get what I was trying to say. He nodded slightly and I took that as my que. I stood up, telling my dad that I was tired. He smiled and told me to go lay down. I made my way to my room. I pulled off my shoes and changed out of my dress. I quickly changed into a pair of knee length sweatpants and a loose t-shirts, pulling on a pair of knee socks. Just as I finished Paul came into my room, shutting the door behind him. He was next to me in two long strides and had me wrapped in his arms. I buried my face into his neck and inhaled his scent.

"Today was exhausting," I sighed. Suddenly, my feet were off the ground and I was on lying on my bed with Paul next to me. We laughed together and then I snuggled closer to him. After a couple of quiet moments I asked, "Is it later,"

Paul sighed. "Yeah. It's later," I pulled back a later to look at him. His eyes were hard, his mouth set. "Bella Swan is like that because her boyfriend broke up with her," To say that I was shocked by his words was an understatement.

"What?"

"Yeah, him and his...family," He spit out the words. "Up and left. Good riddance to the bloodsuckers,"

"What?!" I nearly shrieked as I pulled back from Paul. "You don't mean-" My words were muffled as Paul put his hand over my mouth.

"Do you want someone to hear you," He asked me in a rushed whisper. He removed his hand and continued. "Yes, they were...vampires,"

"No way,"

"Yeah. Bella was all googoo gaga for them and when they left, well, it was like she left too."

"Wow," I breathed. "She must of really loved him,"

"What are you talking about," Paul demanded.

"Bella must of really loved this vampire for her to be like that. I mean, she looks like someone didn't leave, but that someone died." I suddenly felt a huge rush of sympathy for Bella Swan. I just wanted to hug her and tell it that it would all be okay, although things would probably never be okay for her.

"Bella is better off now that the leeches are out of her life. She isn't in danger anymore," Paul's tone was so sure.

"How can she be better off when she looks like she wants to die? Think about it Paul," I pulled him closer to me. "Imagine if I left to never see you again, even if you were better off without me, how would you feel,"

Paul's jaw clenched and I felt his hands turn into fists. I was about to open my mouth to say something else but Paul's lips were suddenly on mine. I let out a surprised whimper, but pressed myself against him, letting my lips move with his. Our bubble of heat and light wasn't just a bubble anymore. It had exploded and turned up a thousand notches.

Then, when I felt his tongue against my lips, I let him. The heat, the fire was spreading. It encompassed the whole house and the surrounding forest. Paul's hand landed on my hip and he ran his fingers across the bare skin there. The entire forest was ablaze now.

I felt the heat build up inside of me, begging to be released. Paul had already gotten rid of his button up shirt, leaving him in only a thin, white t-shirt. I let my hands sneak underneath it, running my hands up his back. Paul ripped his lips away from mine, letting us both breathe. I opened my eyes only to see darkness. I could have sworn the lights on.

What do you think happened, you stupid faery?

"Oh shit," I left my head fall against Paul. "I think I blew up the house again,"

Paul snickered. "Let's go check it out then," He stood up and then helped me up. I tried my light switch and groaned when no light came on. We made our way down the dark stairs only to find everyone getting their things together to leave.

"What happened," Paul asked Jared.

He shrugged. "Don't know. One minute everyone was just watching the game and then next the TV and all the lights just blew out," He shook his head. "They were just about to tie up the game,"

Paul and I shared a look. Yup. This was, for sure, my fault. Again.

I buried my face in Paul's shoulder. I felt his lips next to my ear. "I'm that good of a kisser, am i," He chuckled while I groaned.

"I hate you," I pouted.

"No you don't," He laughed quietly.

"Shut up," I really need to stop blowing things up.

AN: Hey everyone! I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I don't know. I felt weird while I was writing it. This whole chapter just feels weird.

Let me know if you find any grammar errors or typos. I didn't look this chapter over, so let me know!

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