Like always I don't own the characters. I just play with them. Thanks for the reviews, they motivate me to keep going.

Chapter 8

Paul POV

I sat on the floor next to the wall listening to the conversation between Charlie and Renee. I have never seen him so mad before. But he had a good point. What kind of parent lets there 16 year old go out on an overnight date with her boyfriend. And what really happened to land her in the hospital. The story wasn't adding up to me either.

When he hung up the phone and dropped his head in his hands it brought tears to my eyes. Charlie was a strong man. He may be an asshole most of the time, but I cant really say that I don't deserve it. There have been plenty of times Charlie showed up on the scene, when I got 'out of control'. Watching him break like that. Especially in a room full of men just added to the respect I held for him.

Sam went over and sat on the couch next to him. Trying to comfort him, as best he could. After speaking with Sam for a few more minutes, Charlie told everyone he was going to go to bed. So everyone made there way to the front door. After saying goodnight to most of them, Sam came up and patted me on my shoulder.

"I need you to patrol at 6 am. Jared will be out there with you."

"O.K, I'll see you tomorrow Sam." And he walked out the door heading towards his own.

I stood in the doorway of the now quiet house taking everything in. I could heart the faint beating of her heart. I could here the intake of breath. I laid my head against the doorframe, and just listened. I didn't know how long I was standing there, but when I opened my eyes I saw Charlie standing there watching me.

"You know I can hear her breathing up there. Her heartbeat."

"I know son."

"I just wish I knew of a way we can help her." I said.

"The best you can do now Paul is be her friend. She needs a friend." And I fully intended to fill that role.

"Do you mind if I come over tomorrow for dinner sir." He was looking at me kind of funny.

"I just mean, I mean, I don't know if you would mind us still coming over like we used to with Bella home. I wouldn't want to make you or her uncomfortable." And it was true. I knew that they had a lot to talk about. I didn't want my presence here to effect anything. If I could at least help there, then so be it.

"No Paul its fine. Really. Can I ask you though where all this is coming from? Your being nice, and there's no hint of attitude behind it. I actually impressed." I saw Charlie grin. Yeah I guess this did seem a little odd to him.

"Its Bella sir. She's saving me, and the worst part is she doesn't even know it. The least I could do is try to save her." And I meant that. I turned and walked out the door.

When I walked the 2 streets down to my house, I climbed the stairs, went into my room , climbed into bed, and let the darkness overtake me.

"What the fuck are you doing home today?"

"Mom said I had a fever, and I couldn't go to school."

"I don't give a fuck what your mom said, you know what, where is that bitch anyways?"

"She said she was going to take a shower."

He looked at me for a minute and then turned for the stairs.

"No please don't, she just wanted to make sure I get better."

"It doesn't matter, I don't like seeing you here when I get home from work. Fuck I put all the food on the table, the least I ask for is the chance to come home to a house were a little fucking punk isn't running around."

I sat there and put my hands to my eyes. Chanting to myself, Please don't hurt mommy, Please don't hurt her. And then I heard it.

SLAP,

"What the fuck did I tell you bitch. I don't want him here during the day."

"Stop, Please, he isn't feeling good. He's running a fever."

"I don't give a fuck, figure out something, and quick." and then I heard the bedroom door slam.

Mom came walking down a few minutes later.

"Maybe you should go out back for a little while Paul."

"Paul…..hey Paul, come on man wake up." I turned my head and came face to face with Jared.

"Come on man, we have patrol."

"Yeah I'm up, I'm up."

"How bad was it this time. I came in and you were thrashing a little." He said to me.

Jared knew everything there was to know about me. He was always there for me. When the stupid fuck came home from work most nights, it was Jared's house I would escape too.

"Not as bad as some nights. I just wish I did something sooner , you know."

"I know man, but its in the past….come on lets get to work." He turned and walked out the door.

See the rest of the pack saw what I went through, through my head when I was phased. Jared kind of lived it first hand with me.

I climbed out of bed, threw on a pair of running shorts and left my room.

I made my way into the kitchen grabbed one of my large serving bowls and the box of cocoa pops. Jared already had the gallon of milk at the table.

"Man you didn't eat at home?" I asked him.

"No I wanted Fruity Pebbles and mom wont buy it. She says there's no nutritional value to it or whatever." His mom was on a new health kick, and I sometimes felt bad for the poor bastard. There's nothing like an oversized werewolf being fed tofu and beans.

"Ah, I see."

We finished off our breakfast, threw the bowls in the sink, and headed out back to the tree line. We stripped our shorts quickly, strapping them to our legs and phased.

"Hey you think you can do me a favor later on?" I asked him.

"Depends on what it is. I've gotten stuck in too many compromising situations here man."

"I was wondering if you can ask the guys to hold off from going over to the chiefs for a little while. I was going to try to catch up with Bella, see if I can get to know her a little better."

"Yeah, I can do that. Just watch yourself there Paul. You wouldn't want anyone to think that the ass hole Paul himself is going soft."

"Man fuck you. You mean soft like you are with Kim. You wouldn't want everyone to know that you were down at the store the other day buying tampons and chocolate would you."

"Alright , alright you win. Let just get this shift over."

The rest of the shift was mostly silent.

When we were done I ran home and climbed back into bed, setting the alarm next to me for the first time since I got the fucking thing. And drifted to sleep.

Beep, beep, beep.

Opening my eyes I reached over to turn the alarm off, but couldn't figure out how so I just pulled the damn cord out of the wall. And went in to take a shower.

Getting dressed in a pair of cutoffs and my flip flops, I headed out the door and over the two streets to Bella's house. Swinging the door open, I heard some of the guys in the living room, but what caught my notice was the noise coming from the kitchen. Making my way to the entrance, I saw Bella standing at the counter cutting something up.

"Need any help?" I asked her. When she jumped the knife went through what she was cutting and sliced her palm. Nice going ass.

"Fuck, shit that hurt. Oh god I'm sorry." She walked over to the drawer next to the sink and pulled out a towel and wrapping it.

"Shit I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you, hold on." I said walking over to her, and pulling her by her wrist to the sink. I turned on the cold water, putting her hand under it and cleaning away the blood. It didn't look deep.

"It doesn't look bad. I don't think you need stitches. Do you have a first aid kit anywhere?" I asked.

When she told me where it was I went and grabbed it really quick, came back downstairs, pulled out the peroxide, Neosporin and an larger band aid.

"This may sting a little", I said to her, while pouring a little on. I noticed her flinch a bit so I started blowing on it. I remember when mom used to do it for me when I was little. I put a little Neosporin on it and the band aid, and put her hand down.

"I think you'll be ok." I said.

"Yeah, thanks." She said turning around and working on something else.

"So was there something you needed Paul?"

"No, Just wanted to come over and see how you were holding up. Can I help you with anything?"

"Well I'm holding up pretty good, and if you want to help you can grab that knife there and start cutting the tops off of the peppers. I'd do it but I think one knife injury tonight is enough" She said giggling. Lighting up her face.

"Sure. I'd be happy to help." I said walking over to where she was before. I grabbed one of the peppers and started cutting the top off.

"You know, your not like I thought you'd be." I got a little worried when she said this.

"Why do you say that?" I asked.

"Its just, when we were younger, you were always so mean to me."

"I was mean to you? I don't remember ever seeing you before."

"Yeah I think it was like 3rd grade or something. Yeah I was 9. You were in 5th grade at the time, I was walking down the hall with Jacob and you tripped me, and kept walking. I think you were even laughing. You used to do things like that to me and Jake all the time." Oh shit.

"That was you? Wow, you have changed a lot." And she had. She looks nothing like she did back in elementary school.

"I did a lot of things I'm not proud of, and I'm sorry if I ever hurt your feelings or anything."

"I didn't need an apology or anything Paul. But I do forgive you. Its all in the past."

"How do you do it?" I asked. She seemed to amaze me more every second.

"Do what?"

"Be so forgiving."

"We are all full of weakness and errors; let us mutually pardon each other our follies."

"Wow, where'd you hear that from?" I couldn't help but ask. The few times I've talked to her she seemed so much knowledge, and old soul I guess you can say.

"Voltaire…. Sometimes its just easier to forgive, than it is to hold on to it. There are a lot of people who do a lot of stupid things, but if we hold onto all that anger and don't forgive, then one day it bubbles up and boils over. And the anger consumes you. I don't want to be like that."

I just stood there sucking it all in. She doesn't know how much of that was me. I was consumed in anger. My mother, my dad, my step dad. I stood there sucking all that was Bella in.

"You alright over there?"

"I am, Thank you."

"No problem, now get your ass over there and finish with the peppers, before I change my mind and hold a grudge. We have a pack of hungry oversized wolves coming over in a little while. Get to it." And I started laughing.

Conversation flowed, between us easily, and I couldn't help but feel comfort in her presence. In a sense I even felt security.

Everyone showed up at around the same time, the food was gone by the end of dinner, the kitchen was cleaned, and the guys headed into the living room to finish watching whatever game was on.

"Bella?" I asked when all the guys were out of the kitchen.

"Yeah?"

"I was wondering if you wanted to maybe hang out or something tomorrow?"

"Uh, it depends on what you want to do."

"I can come over around noon if you want, maybe we can watch a few movies or something."

"Um…sure, I guess we can do that." She said. Internally I was jumping up and down.

"Alright, Well I'm going to go finish watching the game with Charlie. You coming in?"

"Yeah I'll be in, in a few."

I turned and walked back into the living room, sat down on the couch and pretended to watch what was left of the game. My mind drifted completely. It was so easy being around Bella. It seemed as if the conversation we had flowed easily, and when it was quiet, it was in no way uncomfortable. It was definitely something that I could get used

to.

"Paul?"

"Paul, man, come on its time to go."

I looked up to see who snapped me out of it this time….ah Seth. Wait. Time to go. Looking around I noticed the game was over, and everyone was heading for the front door.

Bella stood and walked over to Jake, Quil, and Embry, and gave them all a quick hug, then she turned and walked to me. She lightly wrapped her arms around me, and I returned the hug back. Standing there in her arms there was only a couple of things I could think of. Peace. Hope. Home.

"I'll see you tomorrow Bella." I whispered in her ear.

"Yeah, see you tomorrow, Paul." She said, and I turned and walked out of the house.

I went home, and did what I did every night, fell into bed and closed my eyes.

Slowly opening my eyes, I started reflecting on last night. The dreams came. They always come. But they didn't seem to effect me this morning, the same that they usually do. Rolling over to check the time….ah fuck, I forgot to plug it back in.

I climbed out of bed, threw on some jogging shorts and ran downstairs. The house was surprisingly quiet today, and I had about and hour or so, before I was going over to Bella's house.

I went to my stereo and put some music on, went into the kitchen and started cleaning up. Huh, if only the guys can see me now. Poor Emily and Kim might have more free time this weekend. There always coming over with the younger guys in tow to clean up this place.

Checking the clock, it was 11:45 so I ran upstairs and grabbed a plain white tank from the basket, reminding myself that I have to thank Emily for doing my laundry, slid it over my head, ran down stairs, out the door and continued in the direction to Bella's house.

When I walked into the house, I heard Bella in the kitchen again, so instead of sneaking up on her like I did yesterday, I called out from the front door.

"Bella, I'm here"

"I'm in the kitchen Paul."

Walking in I saw her pouring chips into a large bowl.

"What are you up too."

"Getting a few snacks together."

"Need any help with anything?" I asked.

"You can grab a few sodas from the fridge."

I walked over to the fridge, pulled a few sodas out and put them on the counter.

"Anything else."

She turned around, and grinned.

"What?" I asked

"You own shirts?" she said, and I laughed.

"Sure do, its just easier without them. When we phase its one less thing we have to worry about." I said.

"Will you let me see that?" she asked, confusing me.

"See what?"

"You in your wolf form. I'd like to see it sometimes."

There she goes surprising the hell out of me again.

"You want to see that?" I asked

"Yeah , I mean, you don't have to show me if you don't want to, I just find it kind of fascinating."

"No, I'll show you, just not today. I'll show you another time." I said with a smile on my face.

"I'll hold you to that Mr. Meraz." She replied with a smirk, and I smiled back.

"Well I think we have everything for the movie. Why don't we go in the living room and get it started." She said.

"Alright lets go." I grabbed the sodas off the counter, and the containers of dip, while she grabbed the bowl of chips and the large package of chocolate chip cookies, and we made our way into the living room.

I went over and pressed play on the DVD player, and sat down on the other end of the couch that Bella was sitting on. It was quiet for a few minutes. But the sad part is I cant tell you what movie was playing. I had so many question. I wanted to get to know her.

"Bella, how about we play a game." I said breaking the silence.

"What game?"

"How about 20 questions?" I said hoping she'd agree.

"How about 10 questions." she stated.

"Sounds good to me. I'll go first. What's your favorite color?"

"Out of all the questions you could ask, you ask what my favorite color is?" she said smiling.

"I figured it was an easy one… kind of an ice breaker question."

"O.K …hmm, green….You?"

"Blue….What's your favorite pizza topping." I asked

"Extra cheese and mushrooms…and you?"

"Supreme."

"Paul?" she asked right after I game my answer.

"Yeah Bella?" I asked getting a little nervous.

"Will you tell me a little more about you? I know were playing this game and all, but this is all trivial stuff. I'd like to know a little more about my new friend." This threw me a little off. I didn't know what to tell her. What she wanted to know. I guess asking is the best way to find out.

"What about? What would you like to know?" I said.

"Anything, everything."

"Bella I didn't exactly have a normal upbringing…" I began to tell her.

" It's alright Paul. I'm good at listening. I can tell you didn't have it easy. I can see it in your eyes. For some reason I can feel the pain your harboring. I'll even tell you what you told me. You can talk to me Paul. I wont judge you."

How much of myself can I tell her without making her run off? She's a little more observant than I thought.

"I guess I'll start at the beginning. My mom was really happy. We were happy. My dad was some top executive for some company out in Port Angeles somewhere. We had it good. It was easy. I remember dad taking me the game one time out in Seattle. I don't think I've ever had that much fun. Just me and him." I said drifting off.

"I was at school one day, and the teacher got a call from the office, to have me sent down. When I got there, mom was there, her face was swollen from crying. She grabbed me and hugged me to her so tight I couldn't breath. She….She told me that dad was in an accident. That he didn't make it. I remember it was really cold. We had a pretty decent ice storm the night before. Mom tried talking dad into staying home. Why didn't he just listen?" I said. The tears were coming and my voice was breaking as I was talking.

"About a year after dad died, we were getting better. Things were getting better. Mom was going out more. She met this guy." I said growling. "She really like him. And he was good to her for a little while. He treated me like his own. Then he started drinking. And he became angry. He was angry all the time."

I looked over to Bella to make sure she was taking this ok. She had silent tears running down her face. Without thinking I reached over and wiped one away, and she gave me a small sad smile.

"He started hitting us. Mom got it worse. But there were a few times that I jumped in to try and help her, that ended with me in the emergency room with a broken leg or arm. I fucking hated him. One time I was home from school sick. He came home from work early, and when he saw me there he freaked out. Said he didn't want to see me in the house when he got home. That he deserved a little quiet time. Mom got smacked around a little and she sent me outside so he didn't come after me. I went to Jared's house. He became my best friend. My rock I guess you can say. Its funny because we may beat the fuck out of each other now and then, and we sure as hell get on each others nerves, but we know were always there for each other."

"When I went home that night, I was 14 at the time. Jack, that was my step dads name. Anyways Jack said mom left to go to the store. That she would be back in a few. I went upstairs to get away from him, and waited for mom. Minutes turned into about 2 hours. I came downstairs when I heard a knock at the door. Jack went an answered it, and there was a police officer there. He said that mom got into an accident, and she was at the hospital. After the cop gave him all the information and left the ass hole went back into the living room and sat down with his beer in hand. I asked him to take me to the hospital to see her. He told me 'you'd better find your own way there, the game just started.'

"I couldn't believe this man. My mother was in the hospital dying, and he didn't want to miss the game. I grabbed my shoes and ran down to Jared's house and told them what was going on. Jared's mom put me in the car and she took me. By the time I got there, it was too late. She was already gone. And I knew I couldn't go home. I wouldn't go back to that place."

"Jared's mom let me move in with them, and a couple years ago Jack died from severe alcohol poisoning." I said trying to rush it out.

I sat for a few minutes composing myself, and then turned to look at Bella. Before I could face her fully, she threw her arms around me. Hanging on.

"Its okay Paul." she said

"Yeah…. It is." I said giving her a small smile.

She unwrapped her arms from around my neck, and I got a chance to look at the clock. It was almost 4 and the guys would be here in about an hour for dinner.

"Bella, its almost 4, the guys will be here soon. Do you want to make dinner together, I said standing up."

"How about we just order pizza tonight." She said.

"Sounds good to me." I said walking towards the phone.

I was stopped by Bella's hand on my upper arm.

"Paul?"

"Yeah Bella?" Her hand was still on my arm rubbing up and down.

"Confront the dark parts of yourself, and work to banish them with illumination and forgiveness. Your willingness to wrestle with your demons will cause your angels to sing. Use the pain as fuel, as a reminder of your strength."

I smiled

"Where did you hear that one?" I asked

"August Wilson." she said and I giggled.

"Ah Bella, Bella, Bella….I think we can help each other, more than we know." I said picking up the phone.

She dropped her hand, turned and walked towards the kitchen.

"I think your right." I heard her whisper to herself.

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