Final Note From The Author

I just want to thank everyone who came on this amazing journey with me. This started as a oneshot and became so much more! I loved every minute of it. I can't believe it's actually over! As fun as this story was for me, and as happy of an ending as it was for Paul and Jared, not everyone in the LGBTQ community gets their happily ever after, because they don't have that support system. So if you or someone you know is having a hard time coping with their sexuality, reach out and tell someone. We've lost too many young lives to the notion that being gay is something to be ashamed of. If you're a reader of mine and need someone to talk to, my inbox is always open and I do my best to help in any way I can. If you need help right away, reach out to the GLBT National Hotline: 1 888 843 4564.

Thank you to every single one of you that read/reviewed/liked/followed ect. As much as I loved taking this journey, it was a lot more fun with you guys along.

For anyone interested, I am working on another story that will hopefully be going up soon. I'm more than halfway done with it, and it's a Bella/Paul story. See below the cut for more information. If it's not your thing, thanks for coming this far! Be well, guys!

The Burn List

Summary: What if Bella never went comatose after Edward left, because the least likely person saved her in more ways than one? Paul makes it his mission to help Bella check off the things she wants to do on her burn list. As she gets over Edward, will she fall for a completely different supernatural creature?

Excerpt:

He smiled easily, his dark lips pulling over pearly white teeth. For a moment the phrase big bad wolf entered my mind. "I suggest you don't ask too many questions, Swan. You might not like the answers you get."

I didn't want to argue. I was too tired and too confused to deal with anymore supernatural stuff, so I did as he said and shut up. Slouching into the chair opposite him at the small four-person table, I huffed. What now? Did we sit here in silence? Braid each other's hair and talk about how horrible men were? The thought almost made me smile, but I suppressed it. I didn't want to have to explain that mental image.

"You know, when my sister used to go through breakups, she would make a burn list." Paul turned his large body to sit correctly in the chair and face me. I forced my eyes to remain on his face, and not his admittedly amazing chest. "She would write out everything the asshole used to keep her from doing and burn through the list. It usually ended up being sex and drinking, which I'm more than happy to help you with," his smile was at full force, and I tried not to blush, " but with you, I figure the leech kept you from doing normal things."

"I wouldn't say Edward ever kept me from anything." I frowned and pulled my sleeves over my hands. Sure, he had stopped me from going to La Push a few times, but he was just trying to protect me… Right?

"Bella…" My name in his voice made me inhale sharply. My eyes flew to his, nearly drowning in the depth of their warmth. "When was the last time someone asked you what you wanted to do?"

I frowned. Alice usually made the plans when Edward didn't. My ideas were typically shot down as being too boring or too dangerous. I never really got to call the shots. "I – I can't remember…"

"Here." He pulled one of the college pamphlets from the stack Edward had made me promise to go through. Uncapping the pen, he handed them both to me. "Those leeches might not have turned you into one of them, but they sure as hell made you act like you were already dead." He growled, but I could see him work to control his face. "Make a burn list and we'll go through the whole thing. Anything that you want to do that would make you feel alive…"

I wearily took the pen and pamphlet from him. "We?"