So here it is, finally! Just a heads up you may not like the way this chapter ends BUT I am almost done with the next one so the wait should be minimal, minimal as in next week. OK that being said don't forget to check out the amazing banner goldengirl2707 over at Printing Paws cooked up for me, her talent is amazing. I've also added some pics for this story to my photobucket account if you'd like to check em out the link is in the bio.

Chapter 22

Despite the buzz of excitement and anticipation from her friends and fellow classmates Angela's mood was solemn when she got to school the next day. When she awake her bed was cold and empty the covers barely disturbed on his side, a sign he hadn't stayed long. Walking through the halls taking in the excitement Angela wondered if she'd ever get that giddy feeling about her upcoming graduation. When Angela noticed Bella leaning against her locker a blank stare on her face she picked up the pace.

"Hey what's up," Angela questioned bumping Bella's shoulder.

Angela fought a smile when she saw Bella's cheeks flush and her eyes shift away. Bella's lip went into her mouth and she worried it for a bit before shaking her head, "Charlie keeps asking me what I want to do to celebrate my graduation hinting around that he thinks I need to have a party."

"What's wrong with that, I think it's nice that he wants to have one for you."

"There's nothing really wrong with it, I just think it's a waste of money that he could be doing something better with. I don't have any real plans for college at least until the fall so I don't really need a party. It's not like my mom and Phil would come anyway I already talked to her and she said they have plans to go on a cruise."

"Oh Bella," Angela said as she pulled Bella into a quick hug, "I'm sorry that really stinks." Pulling back Angela could see the sadness on Bella's face before she shrugged it off and tried to smile.

"So if you don't mind me asking what's going on with you? Are you still not feeling ok, you don't really look yourself."

With a huff Angela slammed her locker a little too hard startling Bella, "Paul. Me. Paul and me, honestly I don't really know."

"Is everything ok with you two," Bella asked worry etched across her face.

"I just feel really silly," Angela cried ass he slumped against her locker.

Bella waited and when Angela didn't continue she bumped her shoulder, "did he do something Angela; you know you can tell me right."

"It's not him Bella it's me. We've been doing this thing, and that's one of the problems, I don't really know what to call it. I mean are we together are we not? I never thought I'd need that with Paul because I'm happy I really am but then the other night made me realize that I know nothing about him. I don't know his phone number or where he lives, Bella I've never been to his house. I don't know anything about his family; I mean what does that say about me?"

"Despite his reputation Paul is a really private person."

Bella startled when Angela jerked up right and latched onto her forearms, her eyes wide as her mouth worked to spit something out. "Come with me," Angela grit out as she dragged Bella down the hall.

Angela pulled Bella into the girl's bathroom and made a quick check to see if anyone was there before she took a deep breath, "I've done things with him Bella, things I never thought or had the desire to do with Ben. I've done things with him that I never would have pictured myself doing with someone unless I was married to them." Angela pulled in a deep breath tears brimming her eyes, "Bella we almost slept together and I didn't know until last night that he doesn't even have a phone, what does that say about me? What kind of-" Angela stopped mid-sentence and wiped the tear that fell down her cheek, "I'm just like those other girls he's just keeping around longer."

It was Angela's turn to start when Bella grabbed her by the arms pulling her close almost nose to nose, "you are not like those other girls Ange, you're just in love." As soon as Bella realized what she her hands clapped over her mouth and took a step back.

Angela saw her reflection in the mirror and almost burst out laughing, her mouth was agape her face flushed, "Bella what are you talking about?"

Angela waited as Bella opened her mouth to answer her but the bell rang cutting her off, "we have to go, we'll talk at lunch I promise."

Before Angela could protest Bella darted out of the bathroom and disappeared down the hall.

~U~

To Angela's dismay the graduation committee had a last minute meeting in the library during lunch. Unable to talk her way out of attending Angela sat through the meeting not really listening more or less spacing out as she tried to figure out what exactly Bella was thinking by her earlier comment. She hadn't seen Bella at all during the day and when she walked out to the parking lot after the last bell rang she couldn't hide her frustration when Jake was standing against Bella's truck a smile on his face.

Not wanting about what Bella had said earlier with Jake around Angela jerked her backpack up higher on her shoulders and groaned inwardly and made her way across the parking lot. As she approached she saw Jake's face tighten and then his face brightened with his smile as he made his way toward her. Meeting her at the front bumper Jake pulled her into a hug, "your day's been that good huh?"

Angela was surprised that the hug made her feel at ease rather than uncomfortable and almost latched onto him as he drew back.

"You could say that."

"Anything I can do to help?"

Angela shuffled her feet as she wondered just how rude it would sound of her to ask Jake to leave so her and Bella could talk.

"Anything you need Angela don't hesitate to ask," Jake followed up with another quick hug that made her feel not as guilty for asking.

"Is there anyway I can steal Bella for a little bit? We were talking this morning when the bell interrupted us and we never got to finish."

Smiling as he nodded Angela ducked away when he went to ruffle her hair, "sure thing, will you let her know that Charlie is coming down for dinner so she can just come down when you guys are done?"

"No problem," Angela answered as Jake turned to walk away, "and Jake thanks."

Jake smiled and shot her a wave, "sure, sure:"

~U~

Another ten minutes had passed before Bella made her way out to the truck, she looked nervous as hell and she wouldn't meet Angela's eyes. Without a word Bella nodded toward the back of the truck and dropped the tailgate. Throwing her backpack into the bed Bella pulled herself onto the tailgate and waited for Angela to do the same.

Angela saw the worry in Bella's eyes as she turned toward her, "I don't want to say that I didn't mean what I said this morning but I'm not really sure if that was about you or me."

Angela cocked her eye at Bella clearly confused as to what she was talking about.

At Angela's lost look Bella tuned toward her friend and blushed, "Jake and I we…" Bella stopped and sucked in a deep breath, tears filling her eyes.

Panicked Angela leaned forward ready to give her friend a hug, confused because Jake had looked more than happy when she saw him waiting for Bella, they couldn't have broken up or gotten into a fight could have they?

"What is it," Angela whispered rubbing Bella's knee.

"We had sex," Bella breathed out and smiled as her face flushed as red as a tomato.

Gasping Angela pulled back and bit back the smile, "are you ok? Why are you crying?"

"It was perfect Ange, everything about it. You know Jake he was just as nervous as me but he was still so sweet and gentle. He took his time and didn't push, Ange, I just I'm so in love with him and I was stupid to ever think that I'd be happy with Edward, that I'd be happy if I were like him."

Angela wanted to ask what Bella meant by that statement but Bella flushed again her blush reaching making its way down her neck and up to the tips of her ears, "he's so big, I couldn't believe." Bella paused her fingers on her lips, "sorry."

Angela smiled and rubbed her knee again, letting her know it was ok.

"It hurt but it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be and Angela I didn't realize it would make me love him more than I already did, more than I was willing to admit but it did. The way he was with me and they way I felt after it was like I broke free from all of that like something was lifted and I felt powerful. He's perfect for me Angela, just like Paul is for you. I see the way you are with him Ange, I know that you feel it when you're with him, you do right? Paul makes you feel stronger?"

Angela hung her head unsure how to answer, she knew what Bella was saying. She knew that feeling; she would feel it when Paul listened to her, when he held her and especially when he touched her. He had some kind of power and when he touched her it would seep into her bones and make her feel more confident and comfortable in herself, in her actions. But when it wasn't there she felt empty as if it was all in her head.

"I do feel that way with him Bella sometimes, but right now I feel like I've taken this huge leap outside of myself. Like I'm not me. I feel like this clueless girl that has been making these crazy decisions because a boy is paying her attention, I don't like it. I don't like that I could do such intimate things and not for a second wonder why my boyfriend, if that is what he is never gave me his number. Why I never even thought to ask to meet his parents. He knows my family almost all of them; he's at my house all the time. I feel like I let the power I get from his attention consume me so much that nothing else mattered. You know what that's like Bella."

Angela felt a stab in her chest when Bella's face paled.

"I'm sorry, I didn't-"

"No," Bella said waving away Angela's worry. "What is going on with you and Paul, the way you feel for each other is nothing like what happened between me and Edward, what I let happen between us. Deep down I knew he wasn't good for me but I couldn't pull myself away. I couldn't even question what was going on. I was lost Angela, you aren't lost in Paul, if you were we wouldn't be here having this conversation."

"Then what is it? How could I really love someone I know nothing about?"

Angela could see Bella's frustration as she sucked in a breath, "but you do Ange, you know him, know things about him."

"But it's not enough Bella."

"I know all the stupid little things, I know his favorite color is navy, that he listens to classic rock, his favorite food is pineapple. I know the way his hands and breath feel on my skin, I know that his smell and his warmth make me feel safe, but I don't know HIM Bella and he has no intention of letting me get to know him."

Bella went to respond but her mouth snapped shut and her eyes went wide.

"I never said I didn't want you to know me."

Angela closed her eyes as she fought the shudder that rolled through her as Paul's angry voice floated across the parking lot.

"You didn't have to say anything Paul; your actions speak for you." Angela breathed out without looking at him.

"I tried to talk to you last night but you didn't want to."

"Of course I didn't want to," Angela yelled as she jumped down from the truck, "why would I want to after you yelled and cussed at me the way you did?"

Paul stood a few feet away his arms crossed over his naked chest.

When he didn't answer Angela turned back around grabbed her backpack, "I'm happy for you Bella, but I have to go."

"No you don't," Paul rumbled as he took a step toward her, "Leah and Seth took the boys down to the rez, you're parents know where they are. You trying to run away? Don't want to talk; to get to know me now," Paul taunted as he took another step toward her.

Angela slung her backpack over her shoulder and took a step toward him, "I don't want to talk to you."

Paul widened his stance as his nostrils flared, "I don't care."

"I know you don't."

"Damn it," Paul snarled as he took a step forward, "why are you doing this?"

"Doing what Paul?"

Paul's booming laugh startled her as he took a step forward waving his hand, "why are you acting like a little brat, this isn't you."

"How do you know this isn't me? All you know is what color my panties are and what you think I'm going to give up."

Bella's gasp caught Angela's attention and her eyes shot to her friend. Angela could hear Paul's bare feet slapping against the pavement as he made his way closer to her, his labored angry breaths. When Angela finally turned toward him she couldn't take her eyes off him as he walked in a circle muttering curses under his breath.

When Paul stopped suddenly and placed his hands on her shoulders Angela drew in a deep breath and waited. His eyes scanned every inch of her face before he gave her a shake. Looking up at him Angela's stomach dropped. Paul's eyes were filled with rage and something else she'd never seen before.

"You and I both know if I wanted just a fuck from you I could have slipped right into you up on that cliff before prom, you were so wet and ready for me."

"Stop it," Angela grit trying to back away.

"Stop what baby? You don't want Bella hearing that it wasn't the only time my bare dick was that close to your sweet pussy? You don't-"

"Paul," Bella growled as she jumped down from the truck.

Paul sneered at her and continued on, "you don't want your bestie knowing how many times I've made you come, how many times you've screamed my name? In you daddies house no less, you know, I'd expect more from a preacher's-"

Paul's words stopped as Angela's palm connected with his cheek.

~U~

Paul stood stunned the slap like a zap of electricity, his body was burning. Pain and shame consumed his as Angela covered her face and wailed into hands. He couldn't believe the shit he'd just said to her, how he ever let it get that far he wasn't sure. All he could think about when she tried to walk away is that he had to stop her, she couldn't walk away from him, and that if he let her she wouldn't come back. He couldn't let that happen. Things maybe shitty between them but he couldn't let her make any rash decisions, couldn't let her walk away from him or the way they felt about each other.

When Angela turned away from his stomach dropped, she was leaving and it was because he was a dumbass that pushed her away.

~U~

Turning toward Bella Angela waved her hand toward Paul, "this is what I mean Bella. I don't know this person, I had no idea he could be so cruel."

As Bella's mouth hung open in shock and Paul stood stunned Angela hitched her backpack onto her shoulders walked to her car and drove away.