Eighth Time's a Charm!

7:30 AM

The alarm goes off jolting me from my usual slumber and scaring me half to death, and I once again make the mental note to buy a new one. This morning seems entirely ordinary; at least until I realize that the house is silent. It is 7:30 and usually by this time I have several hungry boys yelling at me to 'hurry up' because they 'are starving.'

The odd peace that has taken over my house is quite unexpected, even though I admit to taking a moment to reminisce of about two weeks ago, when my house was always this quiet at this time of morning, and I could step out on the balcony for a cup of coffee while I reveled in the peace of the morning and listen to the birds singing and the bees humming and…

Oops… getting off track here…

Anyway, I decide to go look for Tommy, I search throughout the entire apartment. When I have decided that he is, in fact, not here, I come to a very distinct conclusion. He has yet again, left in the middle of the night, without telling me, because 'they' needed him. AND I still don't know what for!

I groaned, not really in the mood to deal with Tommy's teenage antics right now, so I decide not to. I need to get to work, and deal with Tommy when I have had at least four coffees's and am slightly more awake. I make the decision knowing full well, that after a long day at work, the situation is not going to be better after I come home emotionally, mentally and physically exhausted, but decide to get in the shower before I can change my mind and end up being fired for missing yet another day of work.

9:37 AM

On the second ring I grab my ringing, or singing, cell phone without even looking at the caller ID.

"Hello," I answer in my cool professional tone.

"Hey Meg! It's Paul, I was wondering if you were busy for lunch?"

"Yes," is my simple reply before bidding him hurried good-bye and basically hanging up on him knowing full and well how angry he is going to be with me.

Deep down, a part of me knows I shouldn't be mad with Paul, but another part just can't help it. They're a great bunch of guys, but I'm mad at them all. If there's one thing I hate, it's being out of the loop, which is exactly where they're keeping me right now.

12:05 PM

A knock… more like a pound actually, interrupts my not so romantic office lunch with Tony a nice guy from accounting, and before I have a chance to say anything, Paul is strolling into the room holding a bag full of home cooked food, by the smell of it. Upon seeing Tony however, a look of shock and anger stretches across his face and I wince at that look, but at least now he knows I hadn't been lying about being busy for lunch.

"Sorry," he mutters gruffly, "I didn't mean to interrupt anything," and he rushed from the room.

I heave a sigh and excuse myself from Tony to chase after Paul, I follow him as quickly as my heels will allow.

"Paul?" I say in exasperation as I catch up with him when he gets to the elevator.

He turns and glares at me before jerking me in behind him into the small metal prison. This isn't exactly the place I want to have this conversation. I mean, I'm not scared that Paul will hurt me, but I am aware of his temper and considering he is at least a whole foot taller than me; I will admit… I am a little intimidated…

"Who the fuck is he?" he questions, livid.

I'm taken aback not only by his language, but also by the look of pure rage boiling in his eyes.

"His name is Tony…" I start quietly.

"Are you dating him?" He returns, the pure rage still contemptuously swirling in his gorgeous eyes.

"No," I mutter, "but if I was, what would it matter to you?"

"He is not good enough for you, he isn't right for you."

"Paul, you don't get to decide that."

"Like hell I don't!" He starts to shout.

"Don't you think for one second that you are allowed to come into my life and tell me what to do! Damn it Paul I am a grown woman! I will date whoever I damn well please and there is absolutely nothing you can do about it!"

By the end of my little rant, Paul was practically vibrating. He was shaking so hard, with his shoulders hunched over and a look unlike any I had ever seen- like he was fighting his own personal demons in his head. The emotion contorting his face showed me that the fight between utter rage and the rational side of him was being won by his pure anger.

A cheerful ding signals the end of the tension filled elevator ride and Paul mutters a quick 'I have to go' before he drops the bag of food on the ground and bolts out the door. I stared after him hesitantly, but decide against it knowing it wouldn't be the best idea at the moment.

I had never thought that independent me would ever see the day where I actually felt like standing up for myself had been the wrong thing to do, because the look of utter pain and despair that engulfed his entire visage before he turned and ran absolutely broke my heart.

As the elevator door shut and a tear slid down my face, I couldn't help but notice that I had been crying a lot lately over stupid boys…

5:51 PM

"~ Want you make me feel like I'm the only girl in the world, Like I'm the girl that you'll ever love, Like I'm the only one that knows your heart, Only girl in the world, Like I'm the only girl that's in command, Cause I'm the girl who understands, how to make you feel like a man, only girl in the world~!"

I dance around in the car as a drive the familiar road to Emily's house, singing out of key the entire time. I love the fact that I have my car all to myself and I am able to mentally prepare myself for the meeting I'm about to have. I bob my head as I hear the song change to 'Bottom's Up' and begin to dance and sing along to the song.

Just as the song ends I pull up into the drive way of the Uley's house and get out of the car. Emily is out of the house in a minute.

"Paul isn't here sweetie…" she says looking at me as if afraid I'm going to burst into tears any moment.

"Ok…" I say giving her an expression equivalent to 'what the hell?'

"I'm not here to see Paul."

"Oh."

"Yeah, I'm here to kick Tommy's ass…" I knew this would happen. After such an emotionally charged day, this was not going to be a calm discussion over Tommy's inability to let me know what was going on.

"Why? What did he do?" Emily looked shocked. He was probably an absolute angel when it came to dealing with Emily. I just incited the worst kind of rebellion in him.

"Oh, well… you see he kind of… left in the middle of the night without telling me after I told him not to." I stated sarcastically in my anger.

"He told us you were fine with it!" she says in alarm.

"Well… I'm not," I say as I start toward the house only to be stopped by Emily.

"We can't go inside." She burst out quickly, looking slightly panicked.

"Why not?" I question confused.

"Umm… My house! It's a mess! Horrible mess!" Emily shook her head, as if it killed her to let me know her house was in disorder.

"Emily you know I don't care about that."

"Well… I do! It's my house and I want it to be clean!"

"Ok… well is Tommy even here?"

"No?"

"You don't sound very sure."

"I am…" She let out slowly.

"Hey Meg!" yells Seth as he comes barreling out of the house.

"Hey Seth," I say as I turn to the overzealous boy barreling toward me. When he gets to me I give out a squeak as he grabs me and twirls me in the air.

"PUT ME DOWN!" I yell in annoyance as he continues to spin me around.

I blink and steady myself before glaring up at the teen; he returns my glare with an easy smile and sheepish scratch of the head.

"What was that for?"

"No reason… Just missed you is all…"

"What is going on? And why are you all acting like crazy people?"

"We are not acting like crazy people!" Emily says indignantly.

"Well since Tommy isn't here and I can't go in the house to wait for him, even though Seth just came out of the pig sty, I'm going home. If Tommy shows up tell him he should have been home three hours ago."

"Will do! Bye Meg!" yells Seth practically shoving me into my car.

6:10 With Seth and Emily

"Well that was close…"

"Yeah, good thing you came when you did otherwise she would have wondered why a wolf the size of horse was running through the back yard."

"Yeah the others went after her; actually I should probably get going and help! See ya later Emily!" Yells Seth as he flashes her a quick smile and runs off into the woods.

"Yes… A little too close Megan Grace…"