Hello everyone! I hope you all have had a nice weekend and Happy Valentine's Day! Thank you all so much for your reviews and adds. I'm so glad you all are enjoying this story as well. I'm not so sure about this chapter, but I hope you all like it. Please let me know what you think!
Disclaimer: I own nothing associated with the Twilight series.
Chapter 5
"Harper," a deep voice said from somewhere above me and I fought against the consciousness that tried to pull me from the best sleep I had gotten in ages. I didn't want to wake up, but the voice was insistent. "Harper," the voice said again and I sighed before I slowly opened my eyes only to gasp and pull my head back when I realized where I was. I was in Paul's arms and he was standing on my porch. He gave me a small smile as I looked up at his face and I blushed a bit before I looked away from him and at the door to my house.
"Put me down, please," I said and slowly he did as I asked. He settled me on my feet and once I was steady, I looked up at him. "Thank you, Paul," I said and he nodded his head before I turned away from him. I quickly went to the door and pulled the small ring of keys from my jacket pocket. I unlocked the door and opened it. However, I didn't go inside. I turned slightly with my hand still on the doorknob and I looked up at Paul. "Do you want to come in for a bit?"
"Trust me when I say that I would love to, but I think its best that I don't. You should lie down and get some more sleep," he said gently as he looked down at me and I nodded. I was still tired and thankfully I hadn't had any nightmares while I had been asleep in Paul's arms. Maybe since I was so tired, they wouldn't make an appearance again . . . at least for a little while. Tentatively he reached out with his right hand and since I was more coherent, I tensed but didn't move away as he tucked my hair behind my left ear. I looked away from him when he lowered his hand and into the house. After a second I looked back at him and took a deep breath before I spoke.
"Thank you again, Paul," I said. "I probably would have ended up in the ditch again and out cold if you hadn't carried me."
"I'm glad I was there," he said with a small smile. "Get some rest, Harper. I'll come by tomorrow and check on you while Jason's at work, if that's okay." I didn't know what to say, but the hopeful look on his face made the words fly from my mouth before I fully thought them through.
"Sure, maybe I could fix you some lunch; you know, as a real thank you," I said and his brilliant smile made an appearance again.
"Sounds good," he said and I smiled softly at him.
"Do you . . . want anything particular?" I asked and he shook his head negatively, the smile still on his face.
"I eat just about anything and Jason says you're a pretty good cook," he said. "Whatever you come up with, I'm pretty sure I'll enjoy it."
"I'll see you tomorrow then," I said.
"Tomorrow," he said and I quickly went inside, locking the door once I had it closed behind me. My heart was racing in my chest. It was pounding so hard that it actually hurt and I raised my right hand to my chest to try and calm it.
I had no idea what had come over me to offer to make him lunch, but it was done and I wasn't able to take it back. In the short time I had known Paul I was acting very much unlike myself around him. With Paul there was a deep familiarity, like I had with Jason, but it was very different at the same time. I wanted to be near him and yet I had the imbedded need to keep my distance. I didn't understand what it was that I was feeling. I was afraid of it and I didn't want any part of it. Whatever it was that made me feel so flustered couldn't possibly be good.
I was so confused and my confusion was only fueled by my still sleep deprived brain. I knew when the fog cleared; I could think again and maybe figure out just what it was about Paul that had me in all sorts of knots. I sighed quietly as I lowered my hand and took off my shoes, leaving them by the door. I walked through the living room and took my cell phone out of my jacket before I took my jacket off. I went into my bedroom and closed my bedroom door.
I sat my phone on my nightstand, put my jacket in the closet, and tugged off my jeans and my socks. I slipped on my pajama shorts and threw my hair up into a ponytail before I crawled into my bed that was still unmade. I wrapped my arms around my pillow after I pulled the blankets up around me and sighed as my body relaxed into a deep sleep.
I sat on the pebble laden sand of a beach, looking out at the water in front of me, with my knees drawn up and my arms wrapped around my legs that were bare thanks to my jean shorts. It was slightly chilly so close to the water, but the sun was shining and warm against my skin so I didn't feel the chill of the air. Someone was suddenly settled on the sand behind me, but I didn't turn around to see who it was. It was like my body already knew who it was without needing my eyes to confirm it. I knew it was a man, but I wasn't afraid.
His long jean clad legs and work boot covered feet stretched out on either side me and I smiled softly when a heated hand slid across my stomach. I was gently pulled back and pressed against a warm chest. I sighed contentedly and leaned back as I unwrapped my arms from around my legs, stretched out my legs, and then covered the large hand on my stomach with both of my own.
"You're late," I said as I tilted my head back against his shoulder and the man behind me chuckled.
"Sorry, I couldn't exactly tell your brother why I had to leave," he said. His voice was slightly distorted, so, I didn't even know who he was through his voice. "When are we going to tell him about us?"
"I was thinking never," I said with as much seriousness I could muster in my voice and his deep laugh rumbled in his chest and in turn vibrated through my body.
"We're going to have to tell him sometime," he said before he kissed the side of my head and tightened his hold on me.
"I know," I said softly as I closed my eyes, "but right now I don't want to. We'll tell him before too long though."
"All right," he said and I opened my eyes. The sun was setting over the water and the sky was a mix of blues, pinks, purples, and gold. There were thin high clouds that reflected the setting sun much like the water and the golden sun seemed large as it drew closer to the horizon of water.
"The sunset's beautiful isn't it?" I asked.
"It is, but it's not as beautiful as you," he said and I scoffed and rolled my eyes before I turned my head to look up at him only to close my eyes when his lips descended upon mine. My mind was reeling from the feel of his lips against mine, but the way my body reacted to it . . . it was rather obvious that it wasn't the first time I had been kissed by him. His lips were soft and yielding against my own; and my body tingled from my lips all the way down to my toes. I couldn't get enough.
"One of these days you're going to believe me," he whispered against my lips and no matter how hard I tried I couldn't open my eyes to see his face. "All you have to do is smile and it's like the sun is shining. You're just . . . perfect." His lips captured mine again and I melted against him, moaning quietly against his lips as I did so.
He was torn away from me though when the earth started shaking and as suddenly as he was there, he was gone. My eyes shot open and the trees behind me broke apart and fell to the shaking ground. I grabbed handfuls of sand as I looked around me but everything was crumbling. Soon, the ground fell away from me and I started falling into a black abyss only to scream in fear.
I woke with a sharp gasp as I sat up and I heard shuffling next to my bed. I looked up and to the right only to see Jason standing there with his hands held up as he looked at me with an unsure smile on his face. "I didn't mean to scare you but you were out cold," he said and I sighed heavily as I ran my hands over the top of my head and looked up at Jason. "I said your name five times and you didn't even budge. Sorry for shaking you."
"It's fine," I said as I tried to tame my hair. I could feel that it was wild about my head, and I doubted that I was helping it any. "What time is it?" I brought my hands to my face and rubbed the sleep from my eyes before I looked back up at Jason.
"Nearly six," he said and I frowned. I hadn't looked at the clock before I had crawled into bed, but I figured that it had to have been around noon when I had laid down. I'd slept the afternoon away and even though I was still a little tired I felt much better.
"Sorry, I didn't start dinner," I said when I remembered and I tossed the covers away before I stood.
"Don't worry about it, Harper," he said with a smile. "We'll just throw in a frozen pizza or something." I sighed heavily, scratched my head, and tugged at my t-shirt which made him laugh and shake his head. "I'm going to go and wash up and we can figure out what to have for dinner." He started to turn away to go out the door, but stopped and smirked. "You might want to run a brush through that hair of yours." He winked at me and left the room. I laughed and shook my head before I brought my hands to my hair. A brush was definitely needed.
I walked over to my dresser and pulled the hanging on for dear life hair tie from my hair before I looked at my reflection and laughed quietly at the rat's nest my hair had become. I picked up my brush and started to try and get it through my hair before succeeded after several maneuvers and sharp tugs. As I looked at my reflection and brushed my hair, I remembered my dream. It had felt so real; so real that I could feel the mystery man's lips upon mine and his hands gently holding me.
I had never thought about ever having any sort of romantic relationship. Unlike most girls my age, I wasn't a fan of romance and love in movies and books. I always thought it was pointless for me to dream of any guy ever looking at me the way the guys looked at the girls in the movies or how the hero practically worshiped the heroine in books. I was a mess, literally, and there was no guy in his right mind that would ever be willing to take me and my baggage on. For yet another unknown reason, Paul suddenly came to mind.
I laughed at my reflection as I secured my now neat hair into a high ponytail and lowered my hands. I was definitely crazy if I thought that Paul would have any sort of romantic interest in me. Granted he seemed to be genuinely concerned about me, but he was friends with Jason. He probably just didn't want to see me hurt because I was his friend's little sister. I still didn't know what it was about Paul that had me so out of my element, but whatever it was I hoped it would fade once I got used to hanging out with more people than just Jason.
"Come on! You're hogging it all," I cried as I tried to get my spoon into the pint container of ice cream Jason and I were sharing. Jason laughed as he raised it away from me and laughed. "Jason!" I said with a laugh of my own and he smiled as he lowered the pint so I could get a spoonful of the chocolate fudge ice cream. "Thank you," I said as I took a large spoonful and slowly ate it. I looked at Jason to see him still smiling at me. "What?" I asked before I ate the rest of my scoop of ice cream.
"Do you know how long it's been since I heard you laugh like that?" he asked and I shrugged before I took another scoop of ice cream from the container.
"A while," I said and he smiled at me.
"It's strange but nice to hear at the same time. I forgot what a great laugh you have," he said and I blushed a bit as I smiled. "Did you do anything before you laid down?"
"I went for a walk this morning," I said and he raised an eyebrow. I decided then to leave the part about Paul out of the sum of my day. "Then I came home and took a nap. I didn't have any nightmares and I'm feeling good for once."
"I'm glad," Jason said. "I really think that this place just might be bringing back the old Harper, and it's about time she comes back. I've missed her." I smiled at him and he dug his spoon into the ice cream and took a bite. I missed the old Harper too, but she was only sticking her foot out from behind the cracked door. She wasn't ready to make her presence known just yet. However, maybe moving to nowhere Forks was really a good thing and just maybe Jason knew what he was doing when he said a change was what I really needed to move on.
The next day I didn't wake up until almost nine, and my sleep had been completely dreamless. It was too late to call Dr. Hamilton since she was with her patients, so, I was going to have to wait to call her and talk to her about the events that had taken place over the last couple of days. I had showered, dressed for the day, and had a light breakfast before I settled on the sofa to watch boring daytime television since I really didn't have anything better to do until Paul arrived. I didn't know what time he would be coming, but I had a feeling it would be sooner than later.
The midday news was just about to start when a swift knock sounded at the door and I laughed quietly since I knew it was Paul. I turned off the television and stood from the sofa before I made my way to the door. I unlocked it and opened it only to smile up at Paul, who was dressed in a dark green t-shirt and a pair of loose jeans. His smile was bright and of all things, he was holding small bouquet of flowers in his right hand. I looked at the flowers curiously and he chuckled nervously.
"I thought I'd bring you a little something," he said as he brought his left hand to the back of his neck and held out the flowers to me.
"Thanks," I said as I took the flowers from him and opened the door further for him to come inside. I led him to the kitchen after I closed the door and I went in search of a vase.
"You look better today," he said and I turned my head as I brought a small clear vase out from the bottom cupboard. He was sitting at the dining table and I nodded as I smiled at him again.
"I slept pretty much the whole afternoon yesterday and then I got plenty of sleep last night," I said as I put the flowers down on the counter and filled the vase with water.
"Good," he said softly and once I had the flowers settled in the vase I turned to look at him, only to find him staring at me again. I cleared my throat and turned to the fridge.
"Would you like something to drink?" I asked as I hid myself behind the door and looked through the items on the shelf of the fridge as I tried to think of something to fix for lunch.
"No thanks, I'm fine for now," he said. I pulled out the container of deli meat. Instead of frozen pizza for dinner the night before, Jason and I had made hoagies after he had run to the store for the ingredients. We still had plenty of lettuce leaves, sliced tomatoes, cheese, and everything else; so, hoagies it was.
"Are hoagies okay?" I asked as I started to gather everything.
"Yeah, perfect," he said and I quickly set to getting everything out of the fridge. Once everything was settled on the counter, I reached for the bread only to jump when Paul's voice came from directly behind me. "Do you need some help?" he asked and I quickly turned around to look up at him. "Sorry," he said as he took half a step back and I nodded nervously before I tucked a few strands of hair that had escaped my hair clip behind my ears. He had already seen my scar, so, there wasn't any point in hiding it from him.
"If you want you can get the chips out of the pantry," I said as I gestured towards the closed door that was next to the open door that led to the mudroom. He smiled at me and nodded before he walked over to the pantry and opened the door. I let out a heavy breath before I returned to making the sandwiches after I had grabbed two plates from the cupboard. "Do you prefer mustard or mayo?" I asked.
"Both," Paul said and I nodded as I put both condiments on his sandwich.
"Turkey or ham?" I asked and he chuckled as he put the chips on the counter next to me.
"Both if that's okay," he said and I smiled as I nodded but didn't look at him.
"Tomatoes and lettuce?" I asked.
"Yes please," he said through yet another chuckle.
"So, basically everything," I teased and his chuckle turned into a full laugh.
"Yeah," he said and my smile grew as I finally looked up at him over my right shoulder. He was smiling down at me and my stomach flipped and my heart sputtered, making me gasp quietly before I quickly looked away from him. "Hey, what's wrong?" he asked gently as he put a hand on my upper back. I stiffened when my heart rate increased, and Paul was quick to lower his hand.
"Nothing," I said softly with a small frown. I didn't like the feelings that coursed through me, but at the same time I didn't want them to go away.
"Are you sure?" he asked and I nodded as I finished fixing his sandwich and cut it in half before I put it on the plate and grabbed the chips on the counter without looking at him. I heard him sigh before I felt his body heat leave my side and as I put some chips on a plate for him I heard him pull out the dining room chair and sit back down. I picked up his plate and carried it over to the table. He looked up at me with a frustrated scowl on his face.
"I didn't mean to bring down the mood," I said. "I'm sorry." He sighed as he shook his head and I put the plate down in front of him.
"Don't be," he said. "I'm still trying to figure you out."
"What do you mean by that?" I asked.
"You're very confusing," he said and I wanted to laugh, but I didn't. I just shrugged and went back to the counter so I could make my own sandwich. At least I wasn't the only one confused by what was going on between the two of us.