Thank you all so much for your reviews and adds! I'm glad you enjoyed the last chapter. I hope you like this one as well. It's more of a filler chapter, but I hope you like it all the same. Thanks for reading and let me know what you think!

Disclaimer: I own nothing associated with the Twilight series.

Chapter 17

I had made quick friends with Trevor and I was lucky enough to be partnered with a rather nice girl named Anna in my physics class. She was quiet and shy, but since the teacher gave us the last fifteen minutes free I was able to get her to open up a bit. Once I got her talking, I found out that we had a lot in common. We liked the same type of music and movies. I told her about Jason and how I had just moved to Forks over the summer. I did most of the talking, and if Paul would have been there, he would have started calling me a chatterbox.

"I've got lunch now, what about you?" I asked Anna when the bell rang signaling the end of class. Anna pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose and nodded. "Great, we can sit together," I said as we followed our classmates to the door. She looked surprised, so, I quickly backtracked. "Unless you've already got plans with your friends; if so, I can sit somewhere else."

"That's not it," she said quickly as she shook her head and held her binder close to her chest. The girl really was terribly shy, more so than I had ever been. She reminded me of, well, me before I met Paul; and for some reason I wanted to help her come out of her shell a bit. My shyness had been more out of fear, and now that I didn't have that anymore, I really had nothing holding me back. "I moved here last year and I haven't really made any friends. I usually just sit alone."

"You moved here last year?" I asked and she nodded.

"Yeah, to live with my aunt," she said. "She's not the most popular lady in town, and as you know, I'm not very talkative. I think everyone thinks I'm like her."

"Well, that won't due," I said with a warm smile that she slowly returned. "We'll sit together; however, you'll have to point me in the right direction. I'm too lazy to get my map out to find the cafeteria." Anna laughed as she led me to the cafeteria and it was easy to see that it wasn't something she normally did. It didn't take us long and we stopped at the doors so I could scan for a decent table.

"Harper!" a familiar deep voice called and my eyes caught a standing, waving, and smiling Trevor a few tables over from where Anna and I stood. I smiled at him and waved back before I looked at Anna.

"Come on, we can sit with Trevor," I said and her eyes widened even more, which made me laugh before I latched onto her arm and pulled her further into the cafeteria to Trevor's table. "Hey Trevor," I said with a smile as Anna and I came to a stop at the table. Besides Trevor, two other guys and two girls sat at the round table and I let go of Anna's arm. Trevor smiled at me as he stood and gestured to everyone at the table.

"Guys, this is Harper," he said. "Harper this is Luke," he said as he pointed to a brown haired, brown eyed guy that gave me a smile, "Carl," he said as he pointed to the African American boy who nodded his head as he looked at me and smiled, "Nora," he continued as he pointed to the black haired, green eyed girl who gave me a genuine smile, "and Kara," he finished as he pointed to the blonde who was sitting in the chair next to the one Trevor had stood from.

"Hi," I said with a smile and a wave to all of them. "You guys know Anna, right?" I asked as I gestured to my quiet as a mouse friend and Kara scoffed. I raised an eyebrow as I looked at her and watched as she tossed her hair over her shoulder and looked at me with a challenge in her dark brown eyes. I opened my mouth to say something when Trevor cut me off.

"Yeah, you're in my lit class; third period," Trevor said and I looked at him to see him giving the brunette next to me a kind smile. I glanced at Anna in time to see her nod as she blushed lightly. Trevor nodded and chuckled quietly before he returned his eyes to me. "You guys want to join us?" he asked.

"Sure," I said as I took off my backpack and sat it in the vacant chair next to the one Trevor sat down on. Anna slowly did the same, putting her things in the chair between mine and Luke's. "We're just going to grab some food and we'll be right back." Trevor nodded and returned to his lunch and his friends while Anna and I made our way to the line. "What do you feel like; pizza or salad?" I asked when I saw what was being served in the hot line and when I noticed the salad bar.

"Doesn't matter," Anna said and I gave her a pointed look that made her blush as she laughed nervously. "Salad?" she suggested and I nodded before the two of us headed towards the salad bar line. "How do you know Trevor Mallory?" Anna asked me quietly as we fell in line.

"We literally ran into each other this morning when I was leaving the office," I said. "We have our first two periods together and we just sort of hit it off. He's a really nice guy."

"Yeah," Anna said softly as she blushed a light pink and I realized something about my new friend. She had a crush on Trevor and probably thought that there was something going on between the two of us; a thought that I needed to correct immediately.

"I don't know him very well yet, but I think he'd get a long pretty well with my boyfriend," I said absently as I picked up a tray and a bowl from the counter when I reached it.

"You have a boyfriend?" Anna asked as she copied my movements and I smiled at her as I nodded.

"Yeah," I said. "He lives in La Push, on the reservation."

"Oh," she said before we started to fix our salads. I paid for my salad and water and then Anna paid for hers before we made our way back to the table. Trevor smiled at us and kindly moved our bags out of our seats. "Thank you," Anna said quietly as she sat down and I smiled at Trevor.

"Yeah, thanks," I said and he nodded before he sat back in his chair.

"So, your brother's dating Trevor's cousin?" Kara asked as she flipped her long blonde hair over her shoulder again and I nodded as I picked up my plastic fork and mixed around my salad.

"Yeah," I said before I stabbed some lettuce and a cherry tomato with my fork. I had only been in her presence for less than five minutes and I already didn't like Kara, especially after the face and noise she made when I introduced Anna.

"Your brother's a lucky man," Luke said, drawing my eyes to him and I practically choked on my food as I started to chew the bite that I had taken.

"Gross, man, that's my cousin," Trevor said and Luke laughed.

"Yeah, well Lauren's not here for me to give you a hard time about, so, she'll have to do," Luke teased Trevor with a cocky grin, which made Trevor roll his eyes.

"Lauren's got a permit stick up her ass," Trevor said and I was confused because I didn't know who Laruen was. "Clarissa's not as bad, but she's got her moments."

"Who's Lauren?" I asked after I swallowed my bite of salad and Trevor looked at me.

"My older sister," he said and I gave a curt nod as I tucked my hair behind my left ear. Why he would talk about his sister like that, I wasn't sure; but I'm assumed he had his reasons.

"Oh my God, what happened to your face?" Kara asked sharply and I looked away from Trevor and to Kara who had a disgusted look on her face. The table and the two surrounding us went silent. Carl and Luke looked at me and Nora gasped quietly. I'd completely forgotten about my scar, first time in forever really, and I blushed deeply as I pulled my hair out from behind my ear to hide the scar from view.

"Harper?" Trevor asked, sounding concerned, and I looked at him before I looked away from him and at Anna, who looked just as concerned as Trevor did. I looked away from Anna and at my lunch in front of me before I cleared my throat and looked at Kara.

"It happened a long time ago, and I don't like to think about it," I said and thankfully Trevor quickly changed the subject.

"So, you guys excited for the Seahawks' first game on Sunday?" he asked. Luke and Carl seemed to get the idea and the conversation turned away from me. I owed Trevor for that and I'd be sure to thank him later.

After lunch the rest of the day had gone pretty smoothly. Anna was in my last two classes and we had exchanged numbers before the day was out and I made her promise that she would come over to my house sometime that week. Anna and I parted ways once we reached the parking lot and I was almost to my truck when a voice called out behind me.

"Hey Harper!" the voice called and I stopped and turned around to see Trevor jogging over to me. I gave him a small smile as I turned around to face him and wrapped my arms around my stomach to ward off the chill in the air.

"What's up?" I asked and he ran his hand through his hair before he let out a sigh.

"I wanted to apologize for Kara," he said. "She can be a bit of a bitch. I think she idolized my sister a little too much."

"It's okay, Trevor," I said as I shook my head. "If I would have met her a few months ago, it would have hurt more than it did. Girls like her don't bother me anymore. Thanks for changing the subject by the way."

"You're welcome," he said as he smiled. "So, will you and Anna sit with us again tomorrow?" I was glad he mentioned Anna because I really liked her and if he wasn't seeing anyone, I had plan.

"Sure," I said and his smile grew.

"Good," he said as he nodded his head in a way that made laugh.

"I should get going," I said as I gestured behind me towards my truck. "I've got to get dinner started. I've been seriously lacking in my portion of the chores lately, and Jason will probably have my head if he comes home and dinner's not even started." Trevor chuckled and nodded his head.

"Okay, I'll see you tomorrow," he said and I nodded.

"Yeah, see you tomorrow," I said before I turned and jogged over to my truck. I tossed my bag into the cab and after fastening my seatbelt, I started the truck. Several eyes turned my way, but instead of ducking my head in shame I just smiled and waved at the kids looking my way before I left the lot and headed home. I didn't know what had gotten into me that day because I felt like I didn't have a care in the world.

When I got home I was surprised to find Paul's and Jason's trucks parked in front of the house and the two of them standing on the porch talking. They both looked my way and Paul smiled when his eyes met mine through the windshield. He jumped over the railing of the porch before he started over towards my truck. Jason laughed and shook his head before he went into the house.

"Hey," I said as I grabbed my backpack and climbed from the truck. I no more closed the door when he wrapped his arms around me and hugged me tight to his chest. I laughed, but the noise was muffled by his shirt since my face was buried in his shoulder.

"How was your first day?" he asked and I smiled as I pulled back from him and he took my bag from me.

"It was good. I made a few new friends," I said before I tugged on his t-shirt. "What are you guys doing here? I thought you were on a job."

"We were, but we finished early," Paul said. "I followed Jason home to see you and to find out if the truck ran okay."

"It's as loud as a jet plane, but it ran perfectly," I said and he laughed. "Do you want to stay for dinner?" I asked as I laced my left arm with Paul's right and the two of us headed towards the house, Paul holding my bag in his left hand. I may have considered myself a modern girl, but I liked that Paul carried things for me, opened doors, and pulled out my chair.

"If you want me to," he said and I rolled my eyes as we walked up the porch steps.

"Of course I want you to," I said and he chuckled before he put my bag on his shoulder and opened the door for me. "Would you put that in my room for me?" I asked and he nodded as I let go of Paul's arm and jogged into the kitchen to see Jason pulling a can of soda from the fridge. "Hey," I said before I walked over to him and hugged him. He laughed and hugged me back.

"You're in a good mood," he said and I smiled as I pulled away from him and went to the fridge to get a soda for myself.

"I had a good day," I said. "I met Clarissa's cousin, Trevor. He's in a few of my classes."

"Yeah, he's a good kid," Jason said as I pulled out two sodas, one for me and one for Paul.

"Jeez, you sound like your eighty when you say stuff like that," I said with a smile as I closed the fridge and Jason chuckled. Paul joined us in the kitchen then and I smiled at him before I walked over and handed him the soda.

"Thanks," he said quietly and I went over to the table and sat down, Jason and Paul soon joining me.

"Paul's going to stay for dinner, is that okay?" I asked Jason before I took a drink of my soda and Jason looked at Paul and then at me.

"Actually, I'm going out with Clarissa tonight, but Paul can stay," Jason said and I nodded as Jason turned his eyes to Paul. "I'll be home before nine, so, I suggest you to also go home before then." He gave Paul a pointed look that made me blush, but Paul just nodded his head.

"I will," Paul said and Jason looked at his watch.

"I'm going to take a shower and get ready," Jason said. "We're going out to Port Angeles to some restaurant she likes and she'll have my head if I take her out smelling like sawdust and sweat." Jason stood from the table and I waited until I heard the bathroom door close before I looked at Paul.

"He'll be gone in about an hour, and we'll have the house to ourselves," I said with a smile that Paul easily returned. Over the summer, when Jason would take Clarissa out, Paul and I would spend the evenings together in the house. We'd order in and watch a movie, but our attention never stayed on the screen for too long. We always ended up making out. I'd seen the first twenty minutes of the same movie about eight times and I still had no idea how the movie ended. "So, pizza and a movie?" I asked and Paul's smile grew as he took my right hand into his left.

"Pizza and a movie," he repeated before he brought my hand to his lips and kissed the back of my hand.

An hour and a half later I had had my customary two pieces of the extra large sausage, pepperoni, mushroom, and extra cheese pizza we always ordered and Paul had finished off the other six with ease. We were settled on the sofa, getting ready to watch a movie when my cell phone, which was resting on the coffee table in front of us, started ringing. Paul was poised with the remote in his hand, but waited for me to answer the phone.

"Hello?" I asked without even bothering to look at the ID. I knew it was one of three people; Kim, Emily, or Anna; since Jason would have called the house number if he was checking in on me.

"H-hi, Harper, it's Anna," came Anna's soft voice and I smiled.

"Hey Anna," I said as I stood from the sofa and gestured at Paul that I would be right back before I walked down the hall and into my bedroom. I left the door open because I knew Paul would hear me anyway, but I didn't need to see the curious looks he was bound to give me. "Did you need something?"

"I was . . . did I call you at a bad time?" she asked and I laughed lightly.

"No, you're fine. I was just getting ready to watch a movie with my boyfriend, but he can wait. What's up?" Just then Paul appeared at the door his arms crossed over his chest and an eyebrow rose at my words, but I ignored him and listened to Anna.

"Well," she said with a soft sigh. "I was wondering if we could . . . hang out tomorrow after school. My aunt works late on Tuesdays and I thought we could do something."

"Sure. You could even show me a bit around Forks," I said. "I may have moved here three months ago, but I know La Push better than I do Forks cause I spend most of my time there. I only know where the school and the grocery store are but that's not saying much." Anna laughed then and I smiled.

"Great, well, I'll see you tomorrow," she said.

"Yeah, see you tomorrow," I said and we ended our call. I put my phone on the nightstand and looked up at Paul, awaiting the question I knew he was going to ask.

"Who was that?" Paul asked as he pushed himself off of the doorframe and uncrossed his arms as he walked over to me only to sit down on the bed next to me.

"That was Anna," I said, "a new friend." He nodded and raised his right hand to my hair, pushing the loose curls from my face, but when his fingers brushed my cheek the familiar rush of heat spread through my body and it only intensified when I remembered several things.

We were in my bedroom, sitting on my bed, with the house completely to ourselves. It was still early, barely even six, and Jason wouldn't be home for a long while yet. I quickly pulled away from him and stood from the bed, my heart pounding hard in my chest as I turned around and looked at him. He looked up at me with a frown and opened his mouth to say something, but stopped when I straddled his lap and wrapped my arms around his neck.

"What are you doing?" he asked quietly and quickly as the fingers of my left hand played softly against the skin of the back of his neck. Out of instinct, his right arm wrapped around my waist and held me close to him while his left hand rested on the back of my jean clad right thigh.

"I don't know," I said honestly before I leaned in and placed a soft kiss upon his lips and rested my forehead against his. "You should probably show me," I whispered.

"You're going to be the death of me, Harper," he breathed before he tilted his head and captured my lips with his. When he pulled his lips away both of us were breathing heavily, like we had just ran a marathon, and the only sound in the room was that of our heavy breaths mixing together. Who knew that the mood between two people could change so quickly? "Jason will be home soon, Harper," he said as he looked at me with hooded eyes. "I don't want to rush this."

"We're not rushing anything, Paul," I said. It was the first time since the Fourth of July that his kisses and gentle touches over my clothes were not enough. I needed to feel his skin against mine, and if I went by what I read in magazines and heard on talk shows, three months was a long time to wait to sleep together. Granted the first month was me coming to terms with my past, but it had been two months from the time I told him that I loved him until that moment. I needed all of him.

"Harper," he said slowly as his left hand slid up my leg to join his right on my back. "I want to take my time and truly enjoy the experience of being with you for the first time. I don't want the thought of Jason coming home any minute to be in the back of my mind. I want all of my attention to be on you."

"And how long do I have to wait for that?" I asked, exasperated, and he laughed before his hands settled on my hips.

"Now that I know how you feel, not long," he said. "I don't think I can stand waiting much longer myself."

"When did you become the girl in this relationship?" I asked, teasing him and trying to get my focus back on the straight path and not the windy path I had turned on.

"When you started thinking with other parts of your body," he teased back and I smacked his shoulder playfully before I kissed him chastely and climbed off of him and the bed.

"Come on, maybe this time we can actually pay attention to the movie and understand what the hell is going on in it," I said and he laughed before he took my extended hand into his. The two of us went back out into the living room and sat down on the sofa. Paul grabbed the remote and I settled into his warm side as the opening credits started rolling. Much to my surprise we made it through the movie without making out, however, I still missed the ending because with fifteen minutes left I was out like a light.