Paul. This beautiful, mysterious, demanding name flew through my head at least a million times that week after going to that club with Jessica and Lauren. It wouldn't stop buzzing around; always reminding me of that man who I long to see again. But, the only thing I don't understand is why I feel such a pull to this stranger. What's so different from him compared to another good looking male? Every time I thought the name, his face would pop up through my closed eyelids and I never seemed to be able to open my eyes until he disappeared. My dreams were always about him and how he would kiss me, making me feel like I was the only girl in the world.
At the time I was sitting in my rocking chair by my window. It was late at night and I was thinking of ways of how I could forget about Paul. It's been a week, yet I still haven't had his name not fly through my head at home, school, and even when talking to Charlie. Sam hasn't come by during that week, too; he's been busy with his girlfriend and his group of friends. Thinking of Sam reminded me of his offer he gave me after he took me to the diner for dinner.
Should I go stay with him and his girlfriend? What if she doesn't like me and kicks me out the second I get there?
Cut it out, a part of me, that I had come to hate, said. You're going to enjoy it there. Stop making excuses.
"Tomorrow, then," I say out loud to myself. "Tomorrow."
Unfortunately, the next day came sooner than I expected. I fell asleep in my rocking chair, but woke up in my bed, wondering how I got there. Charlie probably. Once I sat up and went to the bathroom to get ready for the morning, anxiety hit me like a train when I was sitting by the house phone, with Sam's number in my hand. I took a deep breath and pick up the phone. I dialed and waited. And waited. And waited. And waited.
And waited.
Nobody answered the phone. No answering machine. I looked at the time and it was already one o'clock in the afternoon. Where are they? I ended the call and once again dialed. Still no answer. I huffed and slammed the phone down.
"Woah, there, kid. Don't break the phone." I nearly jumped out of my skin when I heard Charlie speak from behind me.
I turned around and looked at him with wide eyes. Was he here all morning? My god, I didn't even know he was home! What day was it?
"Oh, wow, hi," I told him with a hand over my heart, trying to calm my breathing. "What are you doing here?"
"It's my house too, Bells," he smirked.
"No, that's- I mean- like-" I squeezed my eyes shut at my own embarrassment and voiced my thoughts from a few moments ago. "What day is it?" I opened my eyes to see him giving me a weird look.
"Bella, it's Saturday. Didn't you sleep in today?" The smile fell away as he narrowed his eyes. "Were you going to skip school if it wasn't for the weekend?"
"Uh…" I didn't know what to say. "Sorry, um, I guess I'm just stressed right now. Anyway, I apologize for my outburst." I forced a small laugh and tried to get over the awkward moment.
He chuckled slightly. "So, what's got you so mad at the phone that you have to huff and puff?"
I rolled my eyes playfully, trying to lighten up the mood. "I tried to call Sam, but he isn't picking up the phone. I want to visit him, but-"
"Then go to his house." He interrupted.
I raised my eyebrows and waited a moment before I told him, "I don't even know where he lives."
"I do." He shook his head with a small smile. "Just head over to his place. If he isn't there, come back home, call him tomorrow. It's time for you to get out of this house. Besides, he has great friends. I met them awhile back and they were nothing but nice to me. You should meet them, too."
I smiled and agreed. Before I was able to turn around and pick up my keys to my car, Dad stopped me.
"I'm heading to Billy's place this morning. Sam doesn't live that far away from him, so you could just walk from there. I'll drive you."
As embarrassing as it was, Dad drove to Billy's in the police cruiser. After he parked, he went straight inside without hesitation, since he already gave me the address. I didn't bother saying hi to Billy. It was obvious he disliked me because of my old connection with the Cullens. I shivered at the thought of Edward and his family and quickly went on my way to Sam's.
When I walked along the side of the dirt road, near the trees, I tugged on the ends of my dark gray hoodie with my left hand as my fingers played with the paper that had Sam's address in my right. I couldn't help but feel nervous as I saw the long driveway that led to his and his girlfriend Emily's house. Before I could go down this road, I double checked the address on the paper with the address on the sign that was in front of me. Sighing nervously, I walked forward and started down the path.
I couldn't help but stare at the trees to my left as I walked. They were tall, wide, and so alive. It made the forest welcoming to me. On the ground under the trees was tall grass that led into the musky woods. I stopped walking and turned my body to face the woods; I practically froze when I remembered my wolves when Edward attacked me. Pain struck my chest as I thought of Silver, yet I have no idea why. They were just wolves. Why are they so important to me?
I shook my head, trying to get rid of my thoughts, turned forward, and continued walking down the path. I sighed again as my feet started to ache. I haven't been walking around much this week, and the long driveway made my feet hurt. Did they buy this house because of all the privacy?
Finally, a house came into view. It was a small and simple wooden house; brown paint on the front, sides, and everywhere else I could see, a little roof over top their porch for shelter, and even a row of flowers beside the stairs to the front door. Their door was a lighter brown than the brown everywhere else, and the window on the second floor was covered by brown curtains from the inside. The house matched the Earth ground perfectly.
"I don't care, Sam! I should belong to her. Not him! She would be better off on her own than him."
I jumped and froze as I heard somebody yelling at Sam.
"Jacob! Calm down, right now." Sam shouted back, his voice full of authority.
What is Jacob doing here? I left that thought behind me as I unfroze and rushed from the front of the house and down towards the backyard from the right side, where I heard the shouting from, worried about the two fighting.
"Don't tell me what to do, Sam!" Jacob growled.
His yell sounded inhuman, almost animalistic. It made me want to run back and away from the house but I ignored it and fast walked to the back. I was almost turning the corner when Sam replied.
"Jacob, I said calm down." Sam's voice boomed again.
As I finally moved my body around the corner, I froze again. There, 16-year-old, innocent and kind Jacob, was shaking with anger. His frame was vibrating so fast I felt dizzy watching him. He was wearing only cut offs and Sam was wearing the same shorts but had a blue t-shirt on. I gasped and covered my mouth with my hand as Sam started to shake as well, even more than Jacob.
Out of nowhere, three other boys came running through the trees. Out of the three of them, I recognized an older and more buff looking Embry. For a second I was startled because of how much he seemed to grow up in less than a year. I remembered him being so young looking when Jacob brought him and Sam to the beach last year. The other two men that came running toward Sam and Jake I didn't recognize but had the same buff figure. I seemed to go unnoticed, even though if they looked they would be able to see me.
The three of them moved to Jacob and were trying to restrain him from attacking Sam. What could have made Jacob so angry that he shook from the anger? Sam, too?
"I shouldn't have to listen to you! You're just a bastard with a shitty father! I didn't want this life!" Jacob practically growled.
That's enough. I couldn't let Jacob talk to Sam that way, no matter how freaky they both looked.
"Hey! Stop-" my shout was cut short as Jacob shoved all three men away from him and exploded. Literally.
His clothes stretched and ripped away from his body into a million pieces. His bones shifted around in his body, his skinning crawling with anger. And in his place was a wolf.