After that first time, I had seen Paul a few more times the next week, before he seemingly vanished off the face of the earth. I had chalked it up to him having had his fill of me and moving on. While I'll admit it had stung I knew that I had used him, and in doing so, he owed me nothing. Each time after the first time, there was no talking. Either he or I would text the other. We'd meet, fuck, then part ways. I never spent the night after that first night. Then suddenly he stopped texting and my texts went unanswered. I had seen him once around town after he ghosted me. I was out to eat with my dad and the Blacks. Paul was there also with a few of his buddies. He was seated a few tables across us. I couldn't help but stare. He had really changed. It would be subtle to one who wasn't as familiar with Paul's body as I was. I, however, could see that his muscles were just a bit bigger. His face was slightly more hardened. Before he could look up to catch me assessing him, I sidestepped so I was in front of Jacob. I grabbed his hand and asked him to sit next to me, my pathetic attempt at making Paul jealous. I thought I had heard a growl coming from Paul's table but when I looked up Paul was gone. After that, I had started spending all my spare time with Jacob hoping to see Paul. Pathetic I know, I felt bad for using Jacob, and when it seemed like he was taking our time together as something more, I broke down and told him about my time with Paul. He was angry at first, but he could see how it had affected me, and while he had hoped it would have been him; He could tell I had fallen hard.

So here we are six weeks later and I was standing on Billy Black's front porch. I was mentally preparing myself for the conversation I was about to have with my father's best friend. When I read that little white stick that changed my life, I knew I needed help. I couldn't face my police chief father alone, I was too much of a coward for that. Also, I needed to tell Paul, but seeing as he wasn't speaking to me, I had hoped that the Chief of his tribe could help me with that as well. So I had decided to talk to Billy, a neutral third party so to speak. I brought my hand up to knock, taking a shuddering breath before letting my fist fall against the door. I didn't have long to wait for the door to open.

"Bella! What a nice surprise. Jake didn't tell me you were coming over." Billy greeted me with a wide smile, but as soon as he took in my appearance his smile faltered slightly.

"Actually Billy I came to talk to you. I…um…I need your help." I couldn't help the break in my voice and the tear that escaped from my eye. Billy squared his shoulders and rolled his chair back from the door.

"Come on in Bella." He said motioning me towards the couch opposite the front window. I sat taking a deep calming breath. I would get through this. The road ahead was not going to be easy and I would need to be strong for myself and the little bean that was growing inside me. It seemed like Billy was waiting for me to start so I cleared my throat and began.

"I'm pregnant." Way to just rip off the band-aid I thought.

"Excuse me? Did you just say you're pregnant? Does Charlie know? Why are you telling me…it's Jake's isn't it? I'm going to kill him! JACOB!" I was stunned. His tirade surprised me Billy was always so calm. As Jacob came grumbling into the room muttering something about losing a match in his most recent video game. I shoved myself in front of Billy forcing him to look at me.
"It is not Jacob's," I said each word slowly making sure he heard each word. I turned my head slowly to Jacob. This was not how I wanted to tell him. But it was out of my hands now. Jacob froze then he began to shake.

"Tell me it isn't true?" Jacob all but begged.

"Look, Jacob, I know okay. I don't know how it happened, but I can't change it and I can't run from it."

"You told me you used protection." He spat.

"We did." I replied lowering my head as I shyly continued, "it must have broke. We weren't exactly gentle with each other."

"OUTSIDE JACOB NOW!" Billy shouted at Jacob as he took out his cell phone. "Sam?" he said into the phone after a moment. "It's happening…Yes now…Just outside the house…No Bella is here there is a problem…No I can't discuss it just yet, but she needs my help…YES, it's IMPORTANT!… Look, Sam, I know okay. I am sorry I yelled, but Bella is like a daughter to me and Jake has you and the boys…Yes, thank you I'll call as soon as I can." Billy ended the call taking a cleansing breath before turning to look at me. "Sorry about that Bella, now let's start again. Does Charlie know?" I shook my head.

"I can't face him alone. I'm scared."

"Bella, you know your father adores you. He will be disappointed, but he will never hurt you."

"I know that…that's not what I am afraid of. I am afraid I'll be so ashamed I won't be able to say everything I need to." He seems to understand moving on to his next question.

"Okay so it's not Jake's, but I am assuming he knows who it is. Does the father know?"

"No, he doesn't. That's the other thing I need your help with." I said steeling myself looking at the floor. "It's Paul Lahote, but he isn't returning any of my calls or texts. I had hoped as Chief, and since you live so close to him, that you would be able to get him to talk to me." I looked up after Billy had been silent for a bit. He was pensive. His eyebrows drawn together. He seemed to be searching through the thoughts in his head.

"Bella, I don't want to seem insensitive, but are you sure it's Paul's child?" I stiffened slightly and nodded.

"Yes, I am sure. Paul is the only man I have ever been with." I said through clenched teeth. Billy seemed to come to some conclusion as he settled a little further into his wheelchair.

"I am sorry Bella. I know you aren't that type of girl and I didn't mean to imply…It's just that I know certain things that would make it difficult for Paul to father a child. I need to call Sam." It seemed like Billy was no longer talking to me. He again took out his phone. "Emily, is Sam there? Okay, thank you." Billy ended the call turning to me gesturing me to follow him outside. Once we were on the back porch Billy bellowed, "SAM!" I was confused then startled as a giant of a man came out of the woods a few minutes later. He easily was taller than Paul was and man was he intimidating. He stopped halfway across the yard before saying,

"What's up Billy?"

"Is Paul with you?" Billy asked as I sucked in a breath my heart racing at the possibility of seeing him again. Sam seemed to sense my movement, for he looked at me quizzically.

"Yes, he is…Billy what's this about I gave an order he can't be here." Sam seemed to be challenging Billy.

"I see," Billy said then continued. "As Chief of the Quileute Nation, I order you to rescind your order and bring Paul here." Billy was radiating power. Sam seemed to deflate a little. He shook his head.

"I'm sorry Billy…it's been a bit rough with Jake. I can't make sense of what he's saying…something about Paul and killing him. I've had to be a bit firmer with him if you know what I mean. It's difficult to switch modes so to speak." I was so confused at this point and I guess it showed because Billy chuckled at me while continuing to Sam.

"It's alright Sam I understand. Could you please have Paul come here and speak with Bella. He needs to look her in the eye when she tells him what she needs to." Billy seemed to have a double meaning to his words. I took it as I need to be brave. Sam called for Paul and immediately I saw him emerge from the woods. He had the strangest look on his face. He was almost hopeful. I couldn't help but drop my eyes to the ground. He walked straight up to me. All I could see was Paul's bare feet. They were covered in mud and bracken. It confused me. What was I doing? I needed to be brave. I took a shuddering breath as I heard Paul's voice pleading with me to look at him. I complied raking my gaze from his feet, over his muscled abdomen, his chiseled chest and finally into his obsidian eyes. As our eyes locked we both stopped breathing. I saw before my eyes a little girl with caramel skin, curling brunette locks framing the most beautiful obsidian eyes. Eyes that I was intimately familiar with. Paul and I seemed to start breathing again at the same time saying "WOW" at the same time. While I heard from Billy beside me,"I knew It."