"You're tired." Paul stated in a matter-of-fact way, looking at me from across the cafeteria table.
For a moment, I was struck at his choice of words. People had frequently told me lately that I 'looked tired' or 'seemed tired'. Paul said it with such conviction, like he knew exactly how I was feeling.
I shook it off and sighed, observing a strand of dark hair. "Yes, lack of sleep is usually a guarantee when there is a newborn baby around."
It's like buy one, get something free. You get one baby, and then a free year's supply of ear-splitting wails to go with it.
"Ah, yes. How is the new addition to the family doing?" Paul's eyes flashed with amusement. I gritted my teeth and scowled, dropping my hair to glare at the wall on my left.
Ever since that day, Paul had found it necessary to remind and tease me about how I temporarily turned into a mad woman and tried to jump out of a moving car.
A moving car going 10 kilometres per hour. Hardly a death threat.
I hated him for it.
You love him for it, admit it.
"You guys talking about our new fire alarm, Mila?" Jared caught the end of our conversation as he seemingly appeared from out of nowhere. He and Kim sat down at the table, while I looked between them suspiciously.
Lately I'd been noticing that Jared and Kim have been walking to classes together, and I sometimes caught Jared looking at her with the strangest expression on his face. I still didn't know what to make of it, but I got a weird feeling about the whole thing.
At one point, I considered that Jared had found out about Kim's schoolyard crush and was humouring her, but I dismissed that theory. They're more than likely just close friends after being forced together by my breakdown a few weeks ago, when Kim had spent nearly every day at my house to try to coax me out of my room.
I'm sure Kim was over the moon about the whole thing, considering her crush on Jared.
"Yep." I replied shortly to Jared, turning to glare at the wall again. I waited for my ever-so considerate brother or so-called friend to notice my sullen mood, but they didn't say anything.
"That kid is doing my head in!" Jared chose to complain instead, already shovelling his lunch in his mouth. "Marley never cried that much. I mean, I hardly get enough sleep because of… uh, work. And then I come home to a baby screaming and mom yelling at dad that it's his turn to get up and Marley sulking about how she's getting no attention anymore. Throw in Aria's snoring and you can see why I probably have a better chance of getting to sleep next to a highway."
"Hey!" Kim and I exclaimed simultaneously.
"She's only a baby; she can't help it." Kim scolded softly, hitting Jared's shoulder lightly.
"I don't snore!" I replied indigently at the same time, glowering at Paul when he began to laugh at my expense.
Jared ignored me completely and actually paused from his excessive eating to look at Kim (for a moment too long, I might add), all while Kim started to go her trademark red.
I, however, was still fuming at his totally untrue comment. But then I decided to focus on something else Jared had said.
"So, Jared," I started, interrupting whatever moment was going on between the two. "You've never specifically said what your job is." I rose an eyebrow at him, taking a sip of water.
Ever since my mom mentioned something about Jared having a job, I'd been desperately trying to find out what it is. I'll admit my search hasn't gone that well. Whenever I tried to ask mom or dad, they just mumbled something and ran off because they supposedly heard Mila crying.
Puh-lease. Those were the rare times that she was actually asleep.
"Maybe you could hook me up with a job at your work, too," I continued, recalling my near-empty travel fund.
Why do tattoos cost so much money?
"No!" All of us, including the tables close to ours, turned to look at Paul, who had loudly protested. When he noticed the staring, he cleared his throat. "Um, no." He said again, quieter this time. I rolled my eyes and turned my attention back to my brother.
Jared just swallowed thickly at my question, his eyes darting around the room. I knew that this was a tell-tale sign that he was nervous, but before I could comment on it, his face turned calm again. "It's not really your scene, Aria. I'm just working some security stuff around the Rez."
I choked on my water, making Paul look over at me in alarm. I ignored him, considering I was still annoyed at how much he had been teasing me lately.
"Security?" I coughed, my eyebrows raised. "I mean, that makes total sense. Considering La Push has such a large crime rate and everything."
I saw Paul frown. "It's a lot more dangerous here than you think, Aria." Once again, I ignored him, my eyes never leaving Jared as I waited for an answer. Paul huffed in annoyance and I saw him cross his arms in my peripheral vision.
Jared just shrugged. "Paul's right." He told me simply, picking up half a sandwich.
"Yeah, La Push is really dangerous." I nodded sarcastically. "I mean, I heard a rumour that someone actually shoplifted, like, seven years ago! Oh, and there's that one story about that kid J-walking… across a car park."
Gasp! Shoplifting? J-walking? In La Push? How positively scandalous.
Kim giggled at my sarcasm, but both Paul and Jared had their mouths pressed in thin lines. I decided to make amends quickly, knowing that I'd probably insulted their male ego. If they wanted to pretend what they're doing was important and manly, then I guessed I shouldn't ruin it for them.
"Don't look at me like that, boys." I laughed, trying to lighten the mood. "I'm only joking."
"Say that when you're face to face with leeches." I heard Paul mutter, causing me to wrinkle my nose.
Leeches? As in those ugly parasites in dirty water that attach themselves to you?
Ew.
. . .
"If I see you slow down one more time, Cameron, you'll be doing an extra three laps around the field!" I glared in the general direction of the gym teacher. At least he was under a shelter, instead running laps with the rest of the gym class.
This has to count as some sort of child slavery, doesn't it?
Coach's motto was come rain or shine, gym class (or slave driving, in my opinion) shall always go on.
Right now it was neither rain or shine.
It was almost hailing. And when it hails in La Push, it really hails. The giant ice stones could probably knock someone out. But as it was not quite at that point and nobody was unconscious, Coach was taking no excuses.
As I continued to run, I couldn't help but wonder how teachers like this even get jobs.
By seducing every female in the employment office and her momma.
"Ain't that the truth," I muttered to myself, squinting at the figures of the rest of the class, who were very much ahead of me. I started to run again, but when I neared the tree line of the forest, I stopped briefly. I was near invisible to the Coach, due to the trees and heavy rain, meaning I could have a few moments before he noticed I was gone.
I groaned and whipped my soaking ponytail back, only for my wet hair to stick against my face. "Great," I muttered sarcastically. "Just fucking great."
"That look suits you." I whirled around, my heart beating a mile a minute, only to see Paul leaning against a tree.
"Damn it, Paul!" I half-shouted through the rain, my heart still pumping. "I thought you were a serial killer who was going to kidnap me and torture me in a cellar for decades, before killing me in a horrible way by burying me alive or something!"
Such a dramatic way to die, my inner voice mused, far more interesting than just dying of old age or slipping on a banana peel and paralysing your whole body.
Paul just laughed at my expense, and I found myself getting even angrier when I saw that the thick trees were sheltering him from the worst of the rain.
"What are you even doing out here?" I snapped, pulling my hair away from my face in an attempt to make myself more presentable. "Shouldn't you be learning pi or trigonometry in some classroom?"
Ah, inside. My inner voice said dreamily, as the rain continued to pour. I'll never take it for granted again.
"Statistics, actually." Paul corrected lightly, still leaning against the tree. "But I got bored, and who really wants to sit through Ms Carey's droning? So I thought I'd find you and see if you wanted to get out of here."
I rose an eyebrow. He wanted to ditch school? With me?
Heaven be told. He must have missed the fact that you're a nun when it comes to school attendance.
"You want to ditch school? With me?" I repeated my thoughts aloud, just to make sure I hadn't gotten the wrong idea.
Paul just grinned back, and I knew at once that was what he meant.
I looked across the oval, knowing that even though I couldn't see Coach from where I was standing, he was still there someone. "Can't," I said to Paul. "My gym teacher will know and I'll be sentenced to death by excessive exercise."
"Coach has the memory of a goldfish," Paul brushed off my concerns with a wave. "He'll never notice."
"He will," I insisted. "He's remembered how many times I've walked instead of ran in this lesson."
"Yes," Paul agreed, nodding. "But he only calls you out when you're within his view, yeah? As soon as he can't see you, he forgets until you're back in his eye line."
He's right about that, but I hardly wanted to admit it. I just didn't want to risk ditching school. What if we got caught? Even though my mom couldn't care less, my dad would be furious. I may not be a goody-goody, but when my dad got angry, he really got angry.
"I don't have my bag." I said, shaking my head at Paul. "It's in one of the lockers, back in the change rooms."
Wordlessly, Paul pulled out my backpack from behind the tree he was leaning against. I decided against asking how he got into the girl's change rooms without anyone seeing him, and how he knew which locker I'd put my things in.
He's probably done it a hundred times before, anyway.
"How will we go?" I said desperately, running out of ideas.
"My truck," Paul replied simply, dangling my bag from his index finger.
I frowned, silent. "Come on, Aria," Paul whined slightly. "Quit trying to think of an excuse and just say you'll come with me."
The worst risk is taking no risks. My inner voice had obviously decided to side with Paul, for reasons beyond my knowledge.
"Well, why should I go with you?" I challenged, putting my hands on my hips and pulling out my last card. "How will I know whether or not you'll tease me again? You know, about me turning into a 'crazy woman'?"
Paul's grin transformed into a full blown smile and, for a second, I found myself breathless. "So you're admitting to it, then?"
You walked right into that one.
I curled my lip at my own stupidness and turned around on my heels, ready to march off and continue on with the torturous gym class, when Paul caught my arm.
"Come on, Aria. I was only kidding. I won't say anything about it again, I promise." I faintly heard him talking, but I'm more concerned about the funny feeling I got in my stomach when he touched me.
I brushed it off as a case of indigestion.
'Indigestion'? My God, you really are an idiot, aren't you?
You're right; I muse back to my inner voice, mentally face palming. How could I mix period pains up with indigestion?
One day, I will find a way to control one of your hands. And then I will slap you. Repeatedly. In the face. And believe me, it will hurt.
I turned to look at Paul once more, deciding that it wasn't the best time to have a conversation in my head. "Really?" I demanded, narrowing my eyes at Paul.
He put on a serious face, but his eyes held amusement. "Promise."
I scrutinised his face and pondered over the situation for a few more seconds. Gym was the last period of the day, so wasn't like it was that long until school officially finishes. And it's not like this lesson is technically safe anyway. Why, I could get knocked unconscious by a hail stone any second. My dad would probably applaud my initiative to get out of this weather rather than get angry at my decision to skip school.
Anyway, Paul had probably ditched school a thousand times – he must have mastered the art of not getting caught by now. Nobody would ever know, right?
The longer I considered it, the more I found myself wanting to leave.
I let a small smile slip through. "Fine, but you better have some money on you."
After all, the worst risk is taking no risk.
Now you're starting to make some sense!
...
"You know, Aria," Paul pondered as we trudged through the mud to the student car pack. "Most people who decide to skip school would avoid any public places, and yet you're making me take you to get ice cream." He gave me an amused look, and I immediately got defensive.
"I don't see what's so strange about it," I replied quickly, in an attempt to downplay my sudden ice cream cravings.
Well, ice cream cravings do come with 'period pains'. My inner voice scoffs at me. Idiota!
Idiota?
I subconsciously learnt it off Dora the Explorer when you were doing English homework.
Yeah, right. It seemed like my inner voice has decided to learn how to become multi-lingual in their spare time.
The rain had slowed to a drizzle, and I tried to squeeze the water from my hair and clothes while we walked toward the student car park.
Paul smirked in amusement at my antics and I frowned. "Don't do that," I complained loudly, stopping as we reached his truck. Paul looked up from unlocking his door, confused.
"What am I doing?" He demanded, sounding slightly annoyed.
"Smirk." I told him, just as his phone chimed. "You look better when you smile."
Truth be told, I hated that smirk because it reminded me of the old Paul. The mean Paul. Not the one who showed up a second after I called him to drive my mother to the hospital, or the one who walked across a field in the pouring rain to ask me to skip school with him, or the one who agreed to buy me ice cream.
Sounds like you're going soft there, Aria. Tsk tsk.
Paul sent me a genuine smile at the half-compliment, and pulled his phone from his pocket. He laughed a few seconds later.
"What is it?" I asked curiously, wondering who the message was from. Was it a girl? No. It couldn't be. I would have heard him and Jared talking about it, wouldn't I? Anyway, he always seems to be at school, work, or with me or Jared. When would he have time to see someone else?
"Jared just texted me to ask if I'd give you a lift home after school finished, because he conveniently ditched school, as well." Paul interrupted my thoughts, still snickering at the coincidence. I felt strangely relieved that it was only Jared that texted him and not someone else.
But when his words fully register, I stared at him. "Wait a second. Jared was just going to leave me here? Stranded? Alone? Starving?"
We would be dead within the hour.
Paul gave me an odd look. "Well, I would have given you a lift home anyway, even if he hadn't asked me to. It wouldn't have gotten to the point of you being so hungry that you would have been begging for scraps."
Although Paul was teasing, I'm still annoyed at Jared for thinking it was alright to leave me here. If Paul didn't get the text message and I wasn't ditching the lesson, I would have had to walk home in the rain.
Don't forget dying of starvation or hyperthermia.
Paul shook his head at my annoyed face and opened the truck door for me, taking me back to the moment where he had picked me up for school that one time. Back then, I argued and complained at his attempt of chivalry, but now I just climbed in, thanking him before the door closes.
However, I still continued to curse the idiotic waste of a life form known as Jared Cameron. Out of all the perfect sets of twins in the world, I was stuck with the idiot.
I shook my wet hair, noticing the droplets splattering everywhere as I did so. For whatever reason, this seemed to amuse me, so I continued shaking my hair from side to side like a dog.
"You're one crazy girl, Aria Cameron," Paul informed me, as he climbed in and turned the key in the ignition.
"Don't act as if you've never done it," I warned, turning to the window. I waited for the car to start moving so I could watch the familiar too-green landscape roll by, but that didn't happen.
"Uh, Paul?" I asked, turning away from the foggy window. "Why are we not moving?"
Paul's forehead was scrunched in confusion as he turned the key a few more times, only for a strange noise to be heard from the engine. "Shit." He growled, opening the door roughly and walking to the front of the truck.
I blinked at him through the window and chewed on the corner of my thumb nail as he popped the hood.
A few moments later, he pulled out his phone again. I watched in mild interest as he converses to someone on the other end. He hung up and walked to the car door, and began to explain the problem.
I simply nodded as if I knew what he's talking about, but it all goes over my head. "So," he finished, running a hand through his hair. "I called Jake – you know, Jacob Black - and he said that he could fix it, but after school, of course. So I guess we could just hang here until the end of the day?"
I frowned. "In a car?" I didn't expect my first skipping school experience to be like this.
What's the big deal? It's only your perfect attendance virginity that you're losing, nothing major.
"Yeah," Paul shrugged. "Is that alright?"
"B-but... I thought we were getting ice cream." I said, furrowing my forehead.
"Well, yeah. That was before the car problem though," Paul tried to explain reasonably, but I'm not having any of it.
"Paul," I told him sternly, reaching forward to grab his shoulders so he's facing me front-on. Once again, I am met with the familiar warmth which radiated through his shirt against my hands. "I only agreed to this because I was led to believe that there would be ice cream involved. I want ice cream."
"We have to be here when Jake gets here," Paul told me. "We can get some after school, when the car is fixed."
"Paul." I repeated slowly and deliberately, my eyes narrowing. I even shook his shoulders slightly for emphasis, although he hardly moved. "I want ice cream now." Although I was aware I'm acting like Marley when she throws a tantrum, I couldn't help it. I was cold, wet, and hungry, and felt like I was PMSing.
Paul ran a hand through his cropped hair and narrowed his own eyes. "What do you expect me to do then?"
I could tell he's getting irritated, but I simply stared at him expectantly. Groaning, he pulled out his mobile to call Jake for a second time, telling him we wouldn't be there when he came, and that the keys would be in the glove box, and would he please pick us up when we finished getting ice cream at the diner?
He mock glared at me from talking on the phone while I grinned back triumphantly.
Victorious once again.
. . .
"You're not cold, are you?" Paul questioned, never breaking his stride.
"Nope," I replied, smiling widely. The rain had officially stopped, but the air was still chilly. Fortunately for me, I not only had Paul's sweatshirt (that Paul had found crammed in the back of his truck), but Paul himself. He always seemed to be radiating more heat than the average person typically did, but whenever I questioned him about it, he brushed me off as delusional.
He's right. You are one crazy ass bitch, Aria.
We were currently walking toward the Diner. And when I say we, I mean Paul, considering I was making him carry me piggy-back style all the way there after I stubbed my toe on a gutter.
Such a slave driver, Aria. What would your parents say?
I am not a slave driver.
That sounded convincing.
Shut up.
Great come back. No wonder you were so horrible at standing up to Paul.
I hate you.
I love you.
"What are you thinking about?" Paul asked softly, snapping me out of my daze. I looked down to see him looking over his shoulder at me quizzically.
"Nothing." I blurted out quickly. "I mean, sometimes I just talk to myself, you know?"
OMG, same!
I immediately winced as soon as the words tumbled out from my mouth. 'Sometime I just talk to myself'? I basically just signed my own admission forms into a mental asylum.
To my surprise, Paul dismissed what I had said. "Everyone talks to themselves, Aria."
"But I hear voices," I unintentionally blurted out. Oh my God, Aria just shut up.
Yeah, Aria. Shut up, already. You're word vomit is embarrassing us. My inner voice mimicked in a high pitched voice, sounding way too amused for my liking.
Paul doesn't say anything, and I found my arms tightening around his neck, frightened that he'd call me a freak and walk away. For some reason Paul walking away from me made me feel depressingly sad, especially since we're friends now.
And we wouldn't even get any ice cream! My inner voice wailed.
But then something happened that surprised me even more; Paul laughed. And it wasn't just a chuckle. It's one of those booming, loud laughs that shook your whole body. And the most shocking part was that he wasn't laughing in a mean way; he just seemed genuinely amused.
"I can't believe out of all the possibilities, I get one of the crazies." Paul chuckled under his breath, shaking his head in amusement. Although his words could be taken negatively, he said it almost affectionately.
"It's the diner!" I pointed at the neon coloured building in a desperate attempt to change the subject and redeem what was left of my dignity.
"I can see that, Captain Obvious." Paul replied, still laughing softly.
I pouted, annoyed at my own stupidness. How could I have mentioned the whole 'voices in my head' thing?
Because you're an idiot. Something I believe I have established several times and in two languages. Idiota!
I remained silent until we reached the diner, too afraid of what I might say or do say next.
But when we got to the door of the building I couldn't contain my excitement. I shrieked happily and jumped off Paul's back, ready to order the biggest ice cream sundae they sold. Paul just shook his head in amusement, and followed at a slower pace, definitely looking like the saner of the two of us in the eyes of the general public.
The front counter server watched us in a mix of amusement and shock. A hyperactive teenage girl, wearing soaked gym clothes and a sweatshirt almost longer than her shorts, followed by a giant man who looks like he takes daily doses of steroids would definitely be a sight.
Ten minutes later, I was in paradise with my caramel fudge ice cream whilst Paul had ordered most of the menu, excluding the caramel sundaes because apparently he hated the flavour. I wasn't completely sure that we could be friends after learning this fact, but I would try since he was the one who was covering the bill. Somehow he finished all the food in the time it took for me to eat half of my ice cream.
I wish we could eat that much and not get fat.
I looked thoughtfully down at my sundae for a moment before switching my gaze to Paul. "Tell me more about your and Jared's job," I asked suddenly, causing Paul to frown. Despite getting some information out of Jared at lunch, something has been nagging me about how secretive he and Paul acted.
Paul stretched against the booth, throwing his arms back and letting his shirt ride up a few inches. I tried my best not to ogle at the toned skin underneath, but I suspected I didn't do a good job from the small smirk on Paul's face.
At least you know how to appreciate a good body when you see it, my inner voice grumbled at me, as if that was the only thing I had going for myself.
Paul took his time stretching, as if he hoped I would have forgotten what I asked him by the time he finished. When he saw me waiting expectantly (determined not to focus on any part of his body below his neck), he relented.
"Well, it's just sort of a security thing with me, Jared, Embry, Jacob, and Sam Uley at the moment and -" He started to tell me grudgingly, before I interrupted him.
"I already known it's a 'security thing'. Jared said the exact same thing, remember? And what do you mean 'at the moment'?" I asked, quoting his words. "You're expecting more people to join you?"
I wasn't an idiot; I heard people talk about the 'La Push gang', and all the rumours that went with it. There had been heated debates about whether they're a cult or took drugs or something worse – the theories were endless, and, more often than not, horrible things to say.
Although I made some steroids jokes, I'd never believed what I heard about the 'gang'. Maybe Jared and I weren't as close as we once were, but I knew him well enough to know he wasn't that type of person. Once upon a time, I may have believed that the rumours could be true for Paul, but I now knew he couldn't possibly be like that, either. The same went for Embry and Jake and Sam – they're all just too good for things like that.
Paul gave me a disapproving look at my interrupting but didn't say anything. When he looked down at the table, I immediately knew why: he just wanted me to drop it. I didn't.
You wouldn't be Aria Cameron if you didn't.
"So, what exactly does this security job entail?" I asked curiously, shoving my sundae in my mouth.
Gosh, that's attractive.
Paul's mouth twitched in amusement at my piggish eating. "Why does it interest you so much, Aria Ainsley Cameron?"
At the use of my full name I smiled a sickly sweet smile, my mouth still full of ice cream. "It interests me because I don't want my friend or brother to get hurt when working around the ever-so dangerous La Push, Paul Alen Lahote."
Although Paul smiled when I acknowledged him as my friend, it faded when I said his full name. "Who told you my middle name?" Paul demanded angrily, his cheeks appearing slightly pink beneath his tan skin.
"Jared," I say simply, remembering how I overheard it during their phone conversation not long after Lexi died. "Who I'm guessing told you mine?" I raised my eyebrows at him expectantly.
Paul's pink cheeks turned to red, and I found myself giving a smirk that could have rivalled Paul's.
"What about Sam Uley?" I asked now, changing the subject to another question that was burning a hole in my mind. "He's a few years older than us, right? So is he, like, your boss or something?" I recalled the time he showed up at our house to talk to my parents after Jared went missing ages ago. I never did find out where he had been.
Paul scratched his head thoughtfully. "I guess. We all just see him as more of a brother than a boss." His mouth turned upward at the word 'brother'. "And after work, we'll just go to his house and just eat and talk and stuff. Seriously, his fiancée, Emily, makes the best food. The best." His eyes widen and I giggled at his excitement.
"It's not just about the food or anything though," he continued, becoming serious. "They both give us advice all the time, and they never judge us or anything, and they let us treat their home like our home, and… to be honest, it doesn't even feel like work with them around. They're like family."
"Wow," I murmured, amazed and jealous of how highly Paul spoke about them.
I recalled that day in the cafeteria long ago, back when he still hated me and Lexi punched him. During his outburst, he cursed at Jared about how we were a perfect image of a family. I had heard before that Paul only had his mom left, but the way he spoke of Sam and Emily made it sound like he was so happy to have an unofficial, extended family. It made me want to thank them for what they're doing and how they're impacting Paul's life.
"They sound amazing, Paul." I said truthfully.
"They're great," Paul grinned at me, and I smiled back. "In fact, you should come with me to visit them sometime," he suddenly says.
My smile faded a little.
"Don't worry," Paul amended quickly, noticing the change in my expression. "They won't mind. Emily loves meeting new people, and she's always complaining how she has to put up with all of us boys. She'll love having you around, honestly."
I blinked at him, chewing on my bottom lip. I'm not afraid of intruding on Sam and Emily; I just truly didn't want to visit them. I spoke to Emily briefly at the hospital when Lexi was in surgery, and whilst she was very nice, she's now just reminder of what happened to my best friend. Every time I think of her, I just see how she managed to survive the same fate whereas Lexi didn't.
Fortunately I'm spared from giving Paul an answer, because at that moment the diner's door banged open against the wall. Jacob Black stormed over to our table, looking annoyed.
I cringed back slightly when he reached the table. Lately Jacob Black had been walking around as if he hated the world and everyone who lived in it, but up close he looked even more menacing. His usually open and happy face was scowling, and there's a predominant 'v' between his eyebrows from where they're furrowed. He bore almost no resemblance to the smiling and carefree teenager from the months before.
Damn. He could use with some happy pills.
He eyes flashed to me before returning to Paul. "Your truck's in the parking lot," he grumbled to Paul, "and I expect you to drive me home now, considering I took time to fix up the piece of crap for you."
Obviously could use with a crash course in manners, too.
Paul's face twisted in anger at Jacob's rude words, but he visibly calmed himself. "Fine," he offered grudgingly. "But you're in the back seat."
"Yeah, right," Jake snorted. "Like I'll even fit back there. I'll take the front, thanks."
Paul growled in response. "Aria is in the passenger seat. You are sitting in the back, Black."
Jacob smirked, seeming to like how he was getting a rise out of Paul. "Nope," he replied, popping the 'p'.
When I saw how Paul looked like he was about to blow a fuse, I stepped in. "I'm fine with sitting in the back, honestly. Jacob can have shotgun."
"See? At least Aria's reasonable." Jake continued to smirk, heading back toward the door. "And since I fixed your car, you're doing my next patrol." He called to Paul before walking out.
I furrowed my brow and turn back to Paul. "Patrol?" I asked questionably.
"Security thing," he offered as an explanation, still glaring in the direction Jacob left. He slides out of the booth and offered his hand out to me. I took it and smiled gratefully, before following Jacob out of the diner and to Paul's truck.
When I reach the passenger side door, I realise Paul has stopped walking. I turn to see him standing frozen near the diner door, his eyes scanning the forest that surrounds La Push. Jacob had also stopped near him and was frowning in the same direction.
What do you think it was? A rabbit, maybe? My inner voice was only mildly curious about the whole thing.
"What is it?" I walked next to Paul, looking at the same spot in the forest that Paul was staring at.
Paul snapped out it and forced a smile. "Nothing." He looked down at me and suddenly frowned. "Come on, Aria. Let me get you home." He literally pushed me toward the truck, and I couldn't help but notice that his hands were shaking.
"But what about Jacob?" I asked, looking over my shoulder to Jake as Paul pushed me into the truck. Paul looked over his shoulder as well and exchanged a knowing look with Jake.
"He's staying around here. He's got stuff to take care of," Paul answered, before slamming the door. I scoffed loudly at his words. I had heard Jacob demanding a ride from Paul. Why would he want to stay here suddenly? Paul must think that I was an idiot if I believed him.
Well, I think you're an idiot. I don't find it so hard to believe that he thinks you're one, too.
I looked out the window to see Paul and Jake talking quietly. I wound down the window a fraction to hear the end of their conversation.
"-get Sam and I'll get back as soon as I can." Paul told Jacob, who nodded and started to walk toward the forest.
My forehead furrowed. Why was Jake walking toward the forest? Why did he need to get Sam?
"What's going on Paul?" I demanded as soon as he got in the car. "Where's Jacob going? I thought he wanted a lift. And what were you looking at before? What did you see in the forest?"
Was it a rabbit? I'm putting down a rabbit as my guess, so you'll have to pick something else.
"Don't worry about it, Aria." He grunted as he started driving at a speed that I was sure was above the limit.
"Tell me!" I ordered, glaring at him. What was he keeping from me? More importantly, why did I care so much?
"Aria, leave it!" Paul said harshly, sending me a look that told me not to ask any more questions.
I frowned and folded my arms, but stayed silent for the rest of the way. When Paul stopped at my house and attempted to say goodbye to me, I got out and slammed the door without a word, wondering how such a good afternoon had turned into this.
. . .
Ermahgerd! So much Pauria in this chapter (shout out to mkc120 for thinking of the name)! Hope it made up for the horrible updates. And when I say updates, I mean lack of them. I'm also sorry if this chapter jumped around at some points; I wrote nearly all of it in parts at different times.
I'm sorry for my bad grammar as well at times; I am without a beta at the moment and my own judgement for where commas should and shouldn't go is horrendous.
Thanks to all who reviewed! I love you all and I think I managed to reply to most of the early ones. If I didn't, I am so sorry, but I appreciate and love them just as much. Thanks for the alerts and favourites as well, you guys are great.
Question(s) of the chapter:
What - or who - do you think Paul and Jake saw?
What sort of thing do you want to happen in the next Paul/Aria moment (he's probably going to have to make Aria forgive him for being so rude at the end of this chapter, so ideas are welcome!)?
I have free cookies for all reviewers!