I own nothing apart from Lorelai and the plot

Chapter Three

Paul P.O.V

I continued to watch Lorelai as she walked away, my chest filling with relief that she hadn't rejected me. I could hear the guys whistling and cheering behind me but it took me a moment to get my legs to work and get me back over to the seats. When I was seated some of the guys slapped me on the back, others throwing me comments.

It wasn't a common thing for me to ask someone out. Actually it hadn't happened in the three years that I had been at university. I was too worried about getting involved with someone and then imprinting after getting too attached to someone else. In the end staying clear of the dating scene had paid off.

"Congrats man."

I looked up at Lee and I was sure I looked like an idiot, "She said yes."

Lee shock his head incredulously, "I don't understand how you can be this hopeless around girls. Did you avoid them or something?" He leaned and whispered, "In case no one's told you, girls don't have cooties."

I glared at him, "You're an ass."

"Yeah, but I rock." He said with a sharp grin. "Now what are you doing tonight?"

I raised an eyebrow, "Isn't this a little…girly to be discussing what I'm going to do with Lorelai on the date?"

He rolled his eyes and ignored my comment, "Well I know you're not going to be having sex." He ducked when he saw my hand flying at him, "Hey, watch it. I'm just trying to give you some advice; it's not like you're experienced in the dating department."

"Gee thanks for the confidence." I muttered, standing up.

Lee walked beside me, sighing dramatically, "I just want to make sure you don't scare off the first girl you've shown interest in because you lack the ability to take her out on a decent date."

"For your information I already know what I'm doing for our date." I shot back irritated.

He raised an eyebrow, "Alright then, what are you planning?"

"I'm going to take her to the small café outside of the uni," I began, mentally ticking off the places in my list, "and then I'll take her for a walk to the ice cream place for desert and then back here."

Lee was nodding, considering what I had said, "Why don't you take her to the park while you have the ice cream and then come back here?" He suggested.

I thought it over and nodded in agreement, "Sounds good. See I can come up with a good date." I said smugly.

He rolled his eyes and slapped my shoulder, "Alright I'll catch ya later Wolf."

I watched as he separated down another path that led to one of the classrooms and I continued on to my room. Lee had been the one who began calling me Wolf after I told him about what I was. After a while Wolf was the only name people knew me by and even today some people didn't know my real name so they stuck with calling me what they knew.

When I got back to my room I had to kick through the piles of dirty cloths. I stared at them disgusted and bundled them up, dumping them into the laundry basket that I continually forgot I had in the corner of my room. I would need to do a trip to the laundry and soon otherwise I was worried I might receive complaints about the smell of the room from others.

I shook those worries away and began shuffling through the clothes that were clean and folded away in my cupboard. I threw out a pair of decent jeans and finally settled on a black shirt. I had a quick shower, using that time to calm down and think about the upcoming date with my soul mate. I could see her shock when I turned down Sarah and I hoped that by doing so, she believed me to be a decent guy instead on of the typical guys that chased after every girl they see.

I will show her the type of guy I am.

Lorelai P.O.V

When I got back to my room I practically squealed when reality sunk in. I was going on a date with Paul, the sweet and funny guy that helped me when I was lost. I was never one to date, knowing rationally that relationships in high school never lasted properly and after seeing firsthand the result of relationships gone bad I decided to wait until university.

I pushed away from the door, going to my cupboard and flicking through my clothes. I pulled out a knee length red dress that was casual but the black embroidery across the chest made it dressier if the situation required it to be so. I pulled out a pair of leggings to wear underneath and a black cardigan to keep me warm if required.

I took a shower, scrubbing my hair until I was sure it would look clean. I dressed quickly, seeing that I had just an hour to get ready. I pulled on my clothes while my hair straightener heated, slipping on a pair of black flats and dried my hair. I pulled the straightener through my hair, taking care to make sure I was getting it evenly straight.

As I got closer to the top I curled large strands and by the time I was done I was pleased with the result. I added a small touch of gold eye shadow and black mascara, adding some pink lip gloss and just as I grabbed my purse to check the amount of money there was a knock on the door.

I took a deep breath and opened the door, startled to see Paul dressed in casual jeans and a black shirt. He looked so hot I couldn't form words. Once again I was reminded that I was going out with an incredibly gorgeous guy.

I blushed as I finally registered the dazed look on his face, "You look more beautiful than normal." He finally got out, his eyes trailing over my face, never once straying down to any inappropriate places.

I swear I just went five shades of red after he said that. "Thanks. You look pretty good yourself." I said shyly, biting my lip softly.

"Are you ready?" He asked, offering me his arm courteously.

I wrapped my arm through his giggling slightly, "So do I get to know where we're going?"

"It's a secret." He said lightly, "I would have blindfolded you but I don't think people would realise that I'm not kidnapping you." Paul joked.

I nodded in agreement. "Somehow I don't think they would." We continued walking but I couldn't help but ask again, "So you can't even give me a tiny clue?"

He laughed, "You don't like secrets do you?"

"Nope, so you'll just have to tell me." I said with a note of finality.

He stopped just outside of a small, and cosy, café, "Well since we're already here I guess it wouldn't hurt to tell you."

I slapped his arm playfully, unable to miss just how muscular he was, "That was mean, keeping me in suspense for all that time."

He looked at me incredulously, "It wasn't even a five minute walk from campus."

I pouted playfully, realising for the first time that we were both flirting with each other. "Yes but it was five minutes that I didn't know what we were doing."

Paul shook his head in amazement and led me to the door, holding it open for me. The waitress was obviously from school, having stopped and looked in horror at Paul standing here with me. Her mouth hung open, still shocked as she led us to a table in the middle, the crowd around us making it hard to hear each other.

"Can we have something more private, please?" Paul asked politely, though I could sense his irritation at the waitress.

She threw me a filthy glare but did as he asked obviously hoping that she would get some attention from him, "If there's anything else you need, just call out." She said, winking at Paul and handing him the menus.

Paul didn't give her another glance, instead handed me the other menu with a small apologetic smile. With a huff the waitress finally disappeared and Paul let out a small groan.

"I'm so sorry about that. You'd think with the way she acted she was my ex or something." He muttered and then his eyes open, "But she's not. She's not my ex." He added hastily looking nervous.

I smiled reassuringly, "I know; you've already told me that you haven't dated. Even if she was your ex it wouldn't bother me." I lied, trying to hide the jealousy that rose up inside of me at the thought of him dating other people.

We looked through the menu, each of us arguing over what we wanted and finally Paul ordered a large plate of meat with roast vegetables while I got fish and chips.

"So what are you studying?" I asked him, thinking it would be something like mechanics.

He shrugged, "I'm studying medicine. I'm in my final year."

My mouth dropped open, "You're kidding! Wow, you're a smart person then." I said with nod.

He blushed, yes actually blushed (it was so cute), "I was surprised to get the scholarship."

My eyes widened, "You got a scholarship as well?"

He shifted uncomfortably, "Yeah, otherwise I wouldn't have been able to come."

"Are you interning at the hospital or doing work there?" I asked, moving the conversation away from what he was clearly uncomfortable talking about.

He smiled gratefully at the change of topic, "Yeah I've been working down at the hospital a couple of blocks away since half way through my second year. I've already got a job for when I finish." He took a sip of his water and looked at me curiously, "What are you studying?"

"I'm doing a double degree in teaching and arts. I did my first two years in Australia and I've got my final two here." I told him.

"What type of teaching?" He asked with interest.

"High school teaching; I don't think I could teach primary school." I said, wrinkling my nose slightly at the idea.

"I think you'd be a good teacher." He murmured.

The food came then, the waitress glaring at me but threw Paul a flirty smile. Does she think that because he's on a date that he's going to start dating everyone now? Paul ignored her, keeping his attention on me and we continued our conversation. We began eating, casting small glances up at each other now and then. I could tell immediately that he was trying to refrain from stuffing his face full of the food on his plate. He finished before I did and I could see him throwing looks at my chips. With a small laugh I turned my plate so that he could pick some off my plate. He gave me a small grin and helped himself, the silence between us calm and comfortable.

It wasn't until we were just about to leave that something happened or rather someone happened.

I stood, about to follow Paul to the counter when someone ran straight into me. I stumbled and knocked into Paul who caught me straight away and helped me up. I mumbled thanks, turning around and my eyes narrowed into a glare when I saw Sarah smiling smugly at me.

"Are you alright?" Paul asked me worriedly, not even noticing Sarah.

I saw a look of annoyance flash across Sarah's face before she threw herself into Paul, "Oh Paul thank god you stopped her. I thought she was going to hurt someone." She babbled.

Paul looked at her as though she was insane, "You pushed her." He said in a cold tone, turning away.

She latched on to his arm, "Of course I didn't. She just gave me this awful glare and charged through. I thought she was going to hurt someone!" Sarah said, trying to sound earnest.

Paul swiftly removed her hand off his arm, looping an arm around my waist, "Come on, there's still more."

"But Paul!" Sarah whined, trailing after us. "She's trying to come between us…"

Neither of us paid attention to her as we paid for the bill and walked out of the restaurant. We walked in silence, our hands brushing against one another. I was shivering, my black cardigan barely keeping the cold wind out.

"I'm sorry." Paul said suddenly.

I looked over at him, surprised to find him looking at the ground disheartened, "What for?" I asked in confusion.

He ran a frustrated hand through his hair, "For Sarah's annoying infatuation with me. I hope she hasn't ruined the night…"

"Paul nothing she could think of doing what ruin tonight. I'm having a great time, really." I said earnestly, gathering my courage and taking his hand, squeezing reassuringly.

He didn't let go of my hand and he noticed how cold I was, "Why didn't you say you were cold?" He muttered, pulling me closer to him so he could wrap an arm around my shoulder, pinning me against him.

I let myself fall into his warmth, surprised by the amount of heat that radiated off him. I let him guide me through the streets of the city. I didn't feel scared or worried about where we were going or whether Paul would lead us astray. I trusted him with no questions asked and I surprised myself at how easily I trusted him.

Trust wasn't something I was used to feeling around others. My previous boyfriends hadn't helped my ability to trust others and neither did my family life. I was used to relying solely on myself but for the first time I saw myself relying on Paul, trusting him to take care of me. The thought terrified me that I trusted him so quickly.

"I hope you're not too cold for ice cream." Paul spoke quietly, stopping us just outside of a small ice cream parlour.

I brightened, "It's never too cold for ice cream." I said firmly, practically dragging him inside.

Neither of us had to look at the displayed ice creams, both saying at the same time, "Cookies and cream with mint choc chip."

We looked at each other and I let out a giggle as we waited for the person to scoop up the two ice creams and hand them to us. Who would've thought that we'd chose the same type of ice cream? I couldn't help but see this as a sign that Paul might be something more than just the guy who showed me around campus.

We didn't stay in the ice cream parlour to eat. He continued leading me through the streets and finally we came across a park that I realised was close to the school. We picked a spot near a tree so we could lean back and stare up at what we could see of the stars.

"I can't believe you can see so few stars out here." I murmured, resting my head unconsciously on Paul's shoulder.

He shifted and then his arm wrapped around my shoulder so I could cuddle in closer, "I guess I've gotten used to it. I haven't been back out in the country for a long time."

"Where did you used to live?" I asked, no longer shivering from the abnormal heat he provided.

He tensed slightly and I couldn't help but wonder whether he had gotten into a fight with his parents before leaving, "I used to live in Washington, a small Indian reservation called La Push. Now there's a place where you can see the stars." He said and I could hear the smile in his voice.

"Have you been back there since?" I asked hesitantly, looking up at his face to see whether I had questioned too far.

He looked down and gave me a small smile but I could see his nervousness, "There are things that I can't tell you right now about me. Not because I don't trust you, because I do even though we've only known each other for two days or something like that." He babbled, "I just can't talk about it." He ended quietly, closing his eyes as if waiting for a blow.

I considered what he said, and couldn't help but think how cute he had been babbling like that, "Okay." I said simply, resting my head back down on his firm shoulder.

His eyes shot open and I could feel him studying me in shock, "Okay? I just told you…"

"That you weren't ready to blurt out your whole life story." I ended, smiling up at his baffled face, "Paul it's understandable that you keep things to yourself until you feel that it's right to tell me. I'm sure there will be things that I'll need to wait to tell you as well." I said with a shrug.

Paul's face broke out into a smile, "Thank God I found you." He muttered and I couldn't help but wonder if there was more than one meaning behind that sentence.

We sat in silence, the mood comfortable between us and I began to hear the light snapping of branches around us. I tensed, turning my head to scan the area around us but found nothing. Paul also began to tense and I was thankful that I wasn't becoming paranoid. After all, who would want to pick a fight with a guy as big as Paul?

No one in their right mind, that's for sure.

Except Paul did something I didn't expect, "Lee if you don't get your ass out of those bushes and away from here within the next two minutes, you are dead." He growled, looking over my head and over at a particularly shifty set of bushes.

Sure enough Lee emerged looking guilty, "Hey man, it's funny to see you here." He faked a look of surprise when he saw me, "Oh, hey Lorelai; didn't see you there."

"There wouldn't be anyone else with you now, would there?" I asked, trying to stop my lips from curving into a smile and trying to be scary.

Okay I failed, I'll admit it.

He shifted, a panicky look crossing his features, "No, just out for a little stroll…"

I blinked as he suddenly disappeared from my sight. I looked down and my eyes widened when I saw Lee standing up and rubbing the back of his head while another guy was apologising hastily to him, standing up quickly. The other guy was a bit shorter than Lee, his dirty blond hair covered in leaves, and his brown eyes looked nervously at Paul.

"Oh, hey man. Whatcha doing?" He asked lightly, lifting his hand to get the leaves out of his hair.

I looked over at Paul who looked amused but annoyed at the two guys in front of us, "Well we're kind of in the middle of our date, as you both know." He added with a growl.

I put a calming hand on his arm, "Did you want something or were you just here to spy on us?" I asked lightly, already knowing the answer.

"Just here to spy on you." The guy said without thinking and Lee whacked him over the head and hissed something unintelligible at him.

Paul sighed, "We'd better get back to school anyway." He said glumly, standing and holding out a hand for me.

He lifted me to my feet as if I weighed nothing, wrapping an arm around my shoulders to keep me warm, "You guys can walk ahead; at least ten feet." He added when they swapped an excited look between them.

Their excitement dimmed and they grumpily walked in front of us, staying at the distance that Paul told them too. He shook his head, exasperated at his friends but he kept me close to his side, shielding me from the cold air. I couldn't help but wonder why he was so warm and I voiced my question.

Paul shrugged as though it was nothing, "It's a genetic thing I got from my dad's side."

I knew there was more to it then that but I figured it was one of those things that he wanted to tell me after a while. We walked back into campus, a few people still lingering around the courtyard and watched us with wide eyes. I couldn't stop the blush that rose onto my cheeks, shrinking in t Paul to hide from the eyes that were watching me unabashedly.

"Why are they staring at us?" I whispered.

He chuckled, "I told you; no one's used to me dating a girl."

"It's that weird?"

"It's extremely weird." He said, leading me back to my room.

I hadn't even noticed that Lee and the other guy had disappeared. It wasn't until we were at my door that I realised we were finally alone. I looked up at him nervously; did we kiss now? Or was it too soon to kiss? Did we hug or would that seem like I'm not interested?

Oh God what do I do?

A/N so that's nine pages for you. I'm not sorry for leaving it there; I've got to keep you interested somehow. Thanks for all the reviews, keep them up! For anyone who's read Gifts in Life I need help! I'm stuck and I don't know what to write next, hence the delay in updating. Read and review!