A/N: Super long chapter this week. Hope you enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight. If I did there were would be a lot more werewolves and a lot fewer vampires.
Rachel:
I woke up in a sweat. Paul was next to me on his stomach. I was lying on my back with his arm draped over my stomach. I could barely breathe. I shifted slightly, trying not to wake him. I took a deep breath and looked at the clock. It was nine o'clock.
I groaned internally as I thought of the eight hour drive I had ahead of me. I needed to leave by noon at the latest to make it back to school at a decent time. Not that I had any real desire to go back. I just didn't want to make it worse by having to drive in the dark.
As I shifted back into Paul, he tightened his arm around me. I glanced at his face. It was so peaceful as he slept. I sighed, knowing I would have to move soon and wake him. I wasn't going to leave him alone in the house with Jake. That was just inviting trouble.
I wasn't sure know how Paul was going to take me leaving. He'd said many times that he hated being apart from me, but I had to go back. I had two finals coming up, and I had to figure out what I was doing about grad school. I had been wavering back and forth about it for awhile, and the decision absolutely had to be made this week. I knew I had decided that I wasn't going back after my fight with Katie, but that was just in the heat of the moment. Now that I'd thought about it, I realized that I needed to base my decision on what I wanted and nothing else. And I needed to make that decision sooner rather than later. If I was going to grad school, I had to put down my housing deposit for next year. If I didn't go, I needed to find a job and a place to live. I didn't think that grad school was going to do that much for my job potential, but I wasn't sure I wanted to take that chance. I had no idea what to do, and this new romance with Paul was a complicating factor.
I stared at him for as long as possible, but when it got to be ten I knew I had to get moving. I had to get all of my stuff together and get a shower, not to mention talk Jake into giving me some gas to get me to the gas station in Forks. I definitely rolled in on fumes the other day. I had to fold my laundry, and I was sure Dad would make me eat before I left. I needed to start now.
As much as it pained me to do so, I lifted Paul's arm off of me and placed it gently at his side as I attempted to exit the bed. He stirred slightly and opened his eyes to look at me, still half asleep.
"Running out on me?" he asked as he stretched and rolled onto his back. I smiled at him as he grabbed my hand, keeping me on the bed. "I don't think I can allow that."
I leaned in close. "If I was running, you'd catch me," I said, placing a kiss on his jaw line. He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me close, attempting to bring my mouth to his.
I shook my head. "Morning breath," I explained.
He nodded, though I could tell me was disappointed. "When are you leaving?" he asked. He shifted so that I was lying on top of him with his arms wrapped tightly around me.
"Too soon," I said reluctantly. He pouted, and I couldn't help but smile. That was cute.
I couldn't resist any longer and I leaned in. I kissed him with the slow fire from last night, but it appeared Paul had different intentions. Instead of slow fire, I got raging inferno. His lips moved urgently against min,e and his tongue traced my bottom lip.
Paul's left hand was moving from my back to my hip when the door to my room flew open.
Jake was standing in the door looking livid. "Hands off," he warned, staring straight at Paul. Paul's hand stopped moving but didn't retreat to my back.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" I asked angrily. The location of Paul's hands was none of his business. Especially when he was drumming his fingers on my side like that. That could go on forever.
"I'm keeping you two from going at it like bunnies when I'm in the next room."
I sighed with irritation. "Jake we were not going at it like bunnies. As you can see," I said waving my hand between Paul and me, "we are fully clothed."
Jake's eyes narrowed. He addressed Paul. "Where's your shirt?" I vaguely remembered Paul pulling his shirt off in the middle of the night. I think he might have still been asleep because he muttered, "Too hot," threw his shirt off, then settled back into the bed as if nothing had happened. I wouldn't have known this at all except I woke up when he moved away from me to pull his shirt off. And it felt like forever until he moved back to me. Oh, man, I had it bad.
"Where's your shirt man?" Paul countered, raising an eyebrow as Jake's outfit. Cut-offs only, how typical.
"I'm not in bed with my sister," Jake stated before thinking.
Paul and I busted out laughing, and Jake gave us a dirty look. "That's not what I meant and you know it," he said through clenched teeth.
Then he had an idea. "Paul, I'm making a new rule." Paul groaned, and I had a feeling neither of us was going to like this rule. "I'm instituting Emily's Rule for Rachel too. Whenever you are with her you will always have a shirt on." Paul rolled his eyes. I had a better way to get back at Jake, since this rule was punishing me too.
"What if I take the shirt off of him?" I asked, innocently. Paul's eyes widened. I would need to tell him that I wasn't thinking of it in a sexual way; I just wanted to look at his abs. They were pretty impressive. Okay, I guess that was sort of sexual. I really had to stop this obsession before I took it too far. I had a feeling it was already too late.
"You won't," Jake said with narrowed eyes. "Because if Paul knows what's good for him, he won't let you." He turned his focus to Paul and glared.
Paul just scoffed. "You think I could stop her if she really wanted to?"
When Jake didn't answer, Paul continued. "I'll make you a deal. I will keep my shirt on as long as Rachel wants me to. That's all."
When Jake nodded he turned to look at me, expecting me to tell Paul to put his shirt on. I smirked as I looked into Paul's eyes. "You can keep your shirt off."
He smiled and brought his face up to kiss me quickly. I sighed and settled my head on his chest, looking at Jake who was rolling his eyes.
"You can leave now," I prompted him. "We'll be out in a few minutes."
"That's all it takes for Paul," Jake mumbled as he left room, closing the door behind him. With that remark I was reminded of a certain mechanical device that kept going as long as the batteries held out. I always made it a point to use lithium batteries. I smirked slightly at the thought.
"What's funny?" Paul asked.
Ooh. I so did not want to talk about this right now. Or ever really. Now that I was sort of in love with Paul, I really didn't want to tell him about my previous relationship with…ahem, Thor. It wasn't that I was embarrassed about it, I just knew that people's opinions of me always changed after they found out I kept a power tool in my bedroom.
I wasn't a whore, and I was pretty sure Paul already knew that. In fact, contrary to popular belief (including Becca), I was a still technically a virgin. I'd gotten close before, but I'd always felt like I wasn't ready. Unfortunately, even though but head wasn't ready, my body certainly was. That's where Thor came in quite useful.
I wasn't sure if Paul would understand. I mean, obviously I knew he would once I explained it to him, but I didn't want to have to explain. I just wasn't ready to have this conversation just yet, so I did what any normal person would do. I avoided the subject at all costs.
"Nothing," I said. "Just Jake being Jake." I leaned in and kissed him again, slowly. His hand picked up where it left off and kept drifting to my hip. It settled on the waistband of my shorts, and I groaned into his mouth. We had to stop if I was ever going to be able to leave.
I pulled back, and he looked disappointed. I didn't blame him; I was too.
"I really have to get ready to go," I said with regret.
He nodded, and I rolled off of him. I stood from the bed and stretched, cracking my back in several places. Paul did the same as he exited the bed, though his back cracked in quite a few more places. I couldn't help but chuckle.
"Breakfast?" he asked me.
"Eh," I said shrugging my shoulders. "I don't really eat breakfast."
He gave me a smirk. "Breakfast is the most important meal of the day," he said with feigned importance.
I laughed. "I believe you. But I don't like breakfast foods."
He looked shocked. "I'll just have to change your mind then," he said, taking my hand.
He tried to pull me out of the room, but I didn't budge. "How about I get my stuff together then hit a drive thru on my way back?" I suggested. I knew he was hungry, but I wouldn't subject myself to breakfast foods. He could eat after I left. I shuddered to think of how lethargic I would be driving back with pancakes and sausage weighing me down.
Paul made a noise of disgust. Apparently he had a vendetta against fast food, though I doubted where his food came from really mattered to him most of the time.
"I really do like fast food," I assured him. And I guess I sort of did. Two or three times a year.
He nodded. "Ok, I guess. What can I help you do to get ready?" he asked.
I thought for a moment. There really wasn't a lot for me to do other than fold my laundry and get gas from Jake, and I didn't really want him to do either. I also had to shower, which I definitely didn't need his help with. Not that I didn't want it . . .
Wow, I needed get a grip. It had only been 12 hours.
I shook my head. "There's really nothing you can help with."
He raised his eyebrows at me. "Absolutely nothing?" he asked sweetly.
"Unless you want to get Jake to put some gas in my car then no," I said. He wouldn't want to do that. He couldn't be alone with Jake. Jake would almost certainly kill him.
Paul had an opposite reaction. His eyes lit up. "Don't worry. I'll get it taken care of," he said, kissing me on the cheek. "You take a shower and you'll be all ready to go by the time you're done." He darted out of the room, looking excited.
I really didn't understand what he was so excited about. Jake was never going to give him any gas. It would take me almost an hour to get it out of him, and I was his own flesh and blood. Did Paul really think he stood a chance? I probably shouldn't have let him go. One of them was bound to get injured. Severely.
I considered going outside to break up the inevitable fight, but I knew that sooner or later Paul and Jake were going to have to work out their differences. And Paul knew I wouldn't be happy if he hurt Jake too badly, so the only thing I had to worry about was Jake killing Paul. Which I didn't think he would do. Hopefully.
I sighed and walked into the bathroom. I turned on the faucet and climbed into the shower, allowing the hot water to beat on my skin. It felt so good to stand there and truly relax. I stayed in longer than usual, and the water started going cold. I turned to faucet off and wrapped a towel around me.
I stepped into the hall, checking for Paul. He wasn't in the hallway, and I didn't hear any crashing outside. I was pretty sure he and Jake weren't fighting, but in theory, one of them could be dead right now. I smirked a little then kicked myself for thinking the danger of my boyfriend killing my brother or vice versa was funny. I stopped walking abruptly.
Boyfriend? When had I decided that he was my boyfriend? I knew things were headed in that direction, but I was never the person who was interested in titles. I had never cared whether I was someone's girlfriend, or friend, or significant other. It never used to matter what we called each other. Now I was very excited about the word boyfriend. I shook my head and kept walking. What has happened to me?
I dressed quickly, then folded the rest of my laundry. I tossed a couple of odds and ends on top and hauled my basket out to the family room, dropping it on the coffee table. I turned to find Jake sitting at the kitchen table with cereal in a mixing bowl. He was glaring at Paul, who was sitting across from him.
My dad was pulling up to the table with a normal sized cereal bowl. "Are you going to eat anything?" he asked me.
I shook my head no. "You know I don't like breakfast. I'll just get McDonalds or something on the highway."
Jake opened his mouth to say something, forgetting he hadn't swallowed yet. His cereal fell out of his mouth and back into the bowl.
"Have I ever told you, you're a pig?" I asked Jake, handing him a napkin to wipe the milk off of his chin.
He glared at me as Paul snickered. I shot Paul a warning glance letting him know I didn't want him starting any fights. He looked down at the floor, and it was just about the cutest thing I ever saw. I smiled at him. He was really getting to me.
"Are you ready to go?" he asked me with a smile on his face. He was excited for me to leave? I thought me being gone would cause him physical pain. He was looking forward to that? This kid was sick.
I nodded and he smiled, grabbing my basket and leading me outside. I stopped to kiss my dad on the cheek.
"When will you be home again?" he asked me, eyes hopeful. I pretended not to notice his eagerness as he looked at Paul.
"I'm not sure," I told him. And I really wasn't. If I started grad school it would be awhile. If I decided against grad school then I would be home for good in a week. I wasn't sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing.
Paul walked outside, passing my car and walking to his truck that was parked behind me. He pulled up the tarp in the bed of the truck and put my basket under it. I just stared at him with my mouth gaping, utterly confused.
"What do you think you're doing?" I blurted.
Paul:
I dreamed that I was in a furnace. I'd felt a strange pull to look inside the furnace, and I had fallen in head first. Though I knew I was trapped, I couldn't bring myself to be afraid. I felt the air getting hotter until I could barely breathe. I took deep breaths in and out, but it didn't do any good. I was going to suffocate if I didn't get out of here. I searched for a door or any other way to escape but it was only half hearted. I didn't want to get out. I wanted to stay in this furnace forever with the suffocating heat taking over me.
I suddenly found myself able to take a deep breath, and my eyes shot open. It had only been a dream. I glanced to my right and saw Rachel was still nuzzled next to me. She was the furnace. She was the one that was surrounding me with suffocating heat. I would gladly stop breathing if I could be around her forever. There was a simple solution to this problem however. I needed to take off my shirt. I just wasn't sure how willing I was to do it.
I wasn't sure what Rachel's reaction would be when she woke up and saw me shirtless. I didn't think she would mind, but I didn't know for sure. I didn't really want to risk moving too fast, but I was going to get heat stroke if I didn't do something soon. I couldn't remember the last time I'd slept with a shirt on. It had been even before I phased. It felt uncomfortable.
Finally I sighed, resigned. If I didn't take off my shirt, I wouldn't be able to stay in the bed. And I really wanted to stay in the bed. Breaking contact with Rachel to sit up was almost more painful than my dreamed suffocation. I ripped my shirt off quickly, mumbling 'too hot' before I settled back into my previous position. I closed my eyes and allowed my dreams to carry me off again.
My dreams shifted through the night, always of Rachel, but never lingering on one long enough for me to remember it. All I knew was that I was happy.
I was just starting another dream when I felt my arm moving. I fluttered my eyelids. I wasn't ready to wake up. I saw Rachel sitting up and knew she was intending on getting out of the bed. I wasn't sure if I could allow that just yet.
"Running out on me?" I asked her, putting my hand on her wrist. "I don't think I can allow that." I smirked at her, letting her know that it was way too soon for her to be moving. Unless she was moving toward me. That was acceptable at any time, day or night.
She leaned in to me, running her lips along my jaw line. "If I was running, you'd catch me," she said. I knew it was a big step for her, to admit that she didn't want to run away. I smiled as I wrapped my arms around her, ready for my good morning kiss. I was disappointed when she pulled away, claiming morning breath, but it didn't last long. Once she realized how quickly she was leaving, she didn't seem to be able to keep her mouth off of me. Yep, I was a stud.
I didn't want her to leave but I was excited to find out that she wasn't ready to go either. She started kissing me, slowly and sweetly. I wanted to prove to her that she didn't really want to leave. I wanted to make her think about staying.
I slipped my tongue out of my mouth and traced her bottom lip. God, she tasted so good. I found myself moving my hand from her back to her side. I worried that I was moving too fast for her, but she didn't seem to mind. I was about to rest my hand on her hips when Jacob burst through the door.
"Hands off," he growled at me. I stopped moving my hand, but I wasn't about to move it back. I could let him even consider that I would do what he told me to do just because Rachel was his sister.
I stared at him angrily, and to my surprise Rachel did too. "What the hell do you think you're doing?" she asked him.
Jacob's eyes narrowed. "I'm keeping you two from going at it like bunnies when I'm in the next room."
I really hated him sometimes. He knew perfectly well that we weren't doing anything other than kissing . . . yet. But I'm sure I would have stopped it before it went too far. Pretty sure. Ok, I was just hoping I had that kind of self control.
Jacob's answer seemed to irritate Rachel. She waved a hand between us. "Jake, we are not going at it like bunnies. As you can see we are fully clothed," she pointed out. I really wished she hadn't said that, because technically I wasn't.
Jacob noticed this too. He stared me down. "Where's your shirt?"
I wasn't about to take this from him. "Where's your shirt man?" I asked. He wasn't wearing one either. So obviously he should understand that I was just doing what everyone else in the pack does. Avoiding wearing a shirt at all possible moments. However, since it was his sister he had a little bit of tunnel vision.
"I'm not in bed with my sister."
My mouth just hung open. Did he really just say that? Wow, he needed to start thinking before opening his mouth. I was going to make sure the pack would never let him live this down. Or at least torture him about it for quite a while.
I made the mistake of making eye contact with Rachel, and the look on her face sent me into fits of laughter. When we caught our breath, Jacob's hands were shaking. What a wuss he was. He curled his hands into fists and clenched his teeth.
"That's not what I meant, and you know it." He glared at both of us and looked like he was about to leave. I could only hope. Unfortunately I wasn't that lucky. His eyes lit up, and I knew I was in for it.
"Paul, I'm making a new rule," he stated. I groaned. I had an idea of where this was headed. "I'm instituting Emily's Rule for Rachel too." Ugh. He was such a bastard. "Whenever you are with her you will always have a shirt on." I rolled my eyes at him. This was ridiculous. I'm sure he didn't always wear a shirt when he was with vampire girl. I was about to point this out when Rachel interrupted.
"What if I take the shirt off of him?" she asked deviously. I raised my eyebrows at her. There would be nothing I could do if she wanted the shirt off of me. If it would make her happy I would streak across the rez. Plus, I hated wearing a shirt, so anything that got me out of one was fine with me. If I was desperate enough, I'd probably even let Jacob take my shirt off of me. I almost dry heaved at the thought. Maybe I'd better just stick to thinking about Rachel offering to remove articles of my clothing.
Jacob narrowed his eyes at her. "You won't. Because if Paul knows what's good for him, he won't let you." So he thought I should have been scared? I had news for him. For every minute I spent shirtless with Rachel he could break one of my ribs. It would be worth it. Although I kind of wished he wouldn't. A rib was one of the more painful bones to break, no matter how fast we healed.
"You think I could stop her if she really wanted to?" I asked him. I wasn't even speaking of her as my imprint, though that was a big part of it too. Rachel could be very persuasive when she wanted to be. I would never keep my shirt on long, even if I tried.
A light bulb went off in my head. I had a compromise that Jacob couldn't argue with. "I'll make you a deal. I will keep my shirt on as long as Rachel wants. That's all." That was the best I could do. He had to take it or leave it. But I wasn't going to say that out loud. I was too comfortable lying here with Rachel. I wasn't going to say that out loud either.
Jacob seemed to accept my plan and nodded his head. He looked at Rachel to hear her input on the subject. I could tell he was hoping she would be disgusted with my abs. I hoped she would disagree.
She looked me straight in the eye, completely ignoring Jacob as she said, "You can keep your shirt off."
I smiled at her and resisted the urge to send Jacob a smug look. I kissed her lightly and looked back to Jacob, hoping he would take the hint and leave. Either he was dense or he was just being an asshole, because he wasn't leaving. I was pretty sure it was a little of both.
Rachel stared at him for a few seconds before telling him to leave. "We'll be out in a few minutes," she said, though I wasn't sure if we really would. I hoped not. I could have stay here with her forever.
Jacob turned to leave, but not before mumbling, "That's all it takes for Paul."
He was such a douchebag. Like he had any idea how long it took for me. Even I didn't know. Though looking at her right now, I had a feeling it wouldn't be incredibly long. Was he trying to get Rachel to think I wasn't a virgin? Because honestly that would have been preferable. I was terrified of the eventual conversation that would end with me telling her I was a virgin, and her laughing in my face.
Apparently the laughing was starting now. She snickered slightly, but it wasn't the all out hilarity that I expected eventually. She just thought of something funny.
I wanted to know what it was. "What's funny?"
She thought for a second then just answered, "Nothing. Just Jake being Jake."
I started to consider this response, but then she kissed me again effectively ending my train of thought. I closed my eyes tightly, focusing on the feeling of her skin under my hand. I moved my hand that had been resting on her waist down to her hip, resting it on the waistband of her shorts. I was about to run my finger under the waistband, tracing it across her stomach but she groaned. And not in a good way.
She pulled back, and I pouted. "I really have to get ready to go."
I contemplated keeping her in the bed against her will but decided that probably wouldn't go over so well. I nodded at her, and she rolled off of me, standing up to stretch. I watched her extend her arms above her head, twisting side to side, allowing her back to crack. I smirked when I saw a sliver of stomach peeking out just below the hem of her shirt. She looked so beautiful.
I rolled of the bed as well and decided to show her how to really crack your back. I put both of my fists behind my back and leaned onto them, pushing up. My back cracked in quite a few places, and I felt so much better. She chuckled at me but she would have alignment issues too if she couldn't go to the chiropractor after turning into a giant wolf multiple times.
I smiled back at her. "Breakfast?" I asked. I was starving. Not that it was a new development or anything. I was always hungry.
"Eh, I don't really eat breakfast," she shrugged. I was mildly horrified. Who doesn't eat breakfast? Did she just not want to eat because she wanted to stay here forever? I could deal with that. But she still needed food.
I smirked at her. "Breakfast is the most important meal of the day," I informed her, crossing my arms across my chest, looking at her sternly.
She just laughed. "I believe you. But I don't like breakfast foods."
I was now completely horrified. Breakfast foods are the best out of all foods. Pancakes, French toast, eggs, bacon, sausage, waffles, hash browns, muffins, bagels . . . Ooh, I was getting hungry just thinking about eating.
I grabbed her hand, leading her out of the room. "I'll just have to change your mind then," I announced.
She didn't budge though. She really didn't want to eat. I needed to change her mind somehow. I needed to do anything to keep her here as long as possible. She was trying to hustle out the door as quickly as possible.
"How about I get my stuff together then hit a drive thru on my way back?" she proposed. I resisted the urge to dry heave. Fast food was just about the most disgusting thing in the world that was still technically considered food. I only ate it as an absolute last resort, but I didn't have occasion to eat it ever often. There weren't any fast food places in La Push, and I rarely went farther away than Forks, which was more than close enough to drive home to eat. Assuming I had any food in my cupboards. Which was pretty rare I guess.
She noticed my reaction. "I really do like fast food," she assured me. I didn't exactly believe her, but it was her stomach, not mine. Maybe I should pack some Tums for her. That would be very thoughtful of me, wouldn't it?
I nodded. "Ok, I guess. What can I help you do to get ready?" I asked. I didn't really want to do anything that made her leave more quickly, but I didn't think she would appreciate it if I tried to keep her here.
She thought for a moment then shrugged her shoulders. "There's really nothing you can help with."
I doubted that. Wasn't there something that she needed done? Honestly the only this she needed to do that I couldn't help with would be her shower. Though I could help her if she wanted . . .
Ok, can't think about that now. I'm sure there was something I could do. I raised my eyebrows. "Absolutely nothing?" I asked sweetly.
"Unless you want to get Jake to put some gas in my car then no," she informed me. Yeah, she was right. I didn't want to do that. Why didn't she have any gas in her car? I could give her some of mine.
Then an idea hit me like a ton of bricks. I had been trying to think of a way to keep Rachel here with me, but what was stopping me from going with her? I'd more than earned some time off after covering for Jacob for the last two months. I could go with her to Wazzu for a few days.
She said she only had a couple of finals to take before she was done right? I could help her study. Plus she had that ridiculous roommate situation to deal with. I could help her out with that, if only to keep her distracted.
I smiled to myself, hoping that she wouldn't shoot me down. And if I went with her I could make her stop and eat real food instead of letting her go through Burger King or something else equally horrifying.
"Don't worry. I'll get it taken care of," I informed her as I kissed her cheek. "You take a shower and you'll be all ready to go by the time you're done." I chose my words carefully, hoping to keep her in the dark as long as possible. I hoped my going with her would be a pleasant surprise. I exited the room quickly. I had a lot of things to do.
I walked past Jacob in the living room, not stopping to hear the speech I was sure he'd been planning. As I was walking out the door he called after me. "Did she kick you out?"
I turned back a little bit in the doorway and smirked. "You wish."
I chuckled as I walked away, getting into my truck. I would stop at home and pack up for the week, then I'd call Sam and let him know. I wasn't going to ask permission. This was non-negotiable. I'd covered for everyone. Now I was taking my turn. I just hoped he didn't get all Douchey Alpha on me and order me to stay. I narrowed my eyes just thinking about it. He wouldn't do that. At least he better not.
I pulled up to my house and jumped in the shower quickly. I was very proud of the fact that I could shower in less than 3 minutes. The rest of the guys could barely get it under 4. And yes, I was actually clean when I was finished.
I loaded all of my stuff in the back of my truck and pulled the tarp out, attaching it around the bed. I walked back into the house, grabbed a box of pop tarts and did a once over, seeing if I was forgetting anything. Then my eyes landed on something that would be more than a little important.
I tried to remember the last time my wallet had left my nightstand. It had been a couple of weeks at least. It would have sucked if I'd gotten all the way to Wazzu then forced Rachel to feed me for a week. The poor girl would go broke.
I picked it up and opened it, hoping I had some cash. I sighed in relief, silently thanking Embry for dragging me to the bank with him a couple of weeks ago. If he hadn't needed to make a deposit for his mom's store I wouldn't have had cent on me.
I grabbed my phone off of the counter and dialed Sam's number. I looked at the clock. It was 10:45. He'd better be up by now. I waited while it rang three times, and I was about to hang up. I'd go over to his house and leave him a note. He'd just have to deal with it since he couldn't be bothered to answer the phone. That was sounding like a great plan, and I was disappointed when he finally picked up the phone.
"What?" he answered angrily. He was pissed I'd woken him up. And I was about to make him even more pissed. Maybe this wasn't the best idea.
"It's Paul. I just wanted to let you know that I'm driving Rachel back to Wazzu, and I'm going to stay with her for the week," I informed him all in one breath.
He sat in silence for a few seconds. "What?" he finally asked, confused.
"I'm going back with Rachel for the week. I think I deserve a week off."
He took in a sharp breath, and I knew he was planning his argument to keep me here. I couldn't allow that.
"Look Sam, I covered for Jacob for two months. I pick up extra shifts all the time. I was going to need a break eventually. I'm just taking it now."
He was silent a little while longer, and I hoped he was considering it. Finally he sighed. "All right. But you have one week. Next Monday you're pulling a double."
"Okay, I'll be back. Thanks, Sam."
"Yeah, yeah," was all I heard as I turned the phone off.
I was actually going to get to go with Rachel. I had honestly been expecting Sam to say no. I did my victory dance around my living room, ending it with a horrible imitation of the moonwalk. I made mental note never to do that in front of Rachel.
I got back into my truck and sped back to Rachel's. I parked behind her and strolled into the house, not even bothering to knock. Jacob was still sitting at the kitchen table, though now he had a giant bowl of cereal in front of him. The look that he gave me was nothing short of murderous.
Billy was just rolling in from down the hall. "Hello, Paul," he greeted me formally.
"Hi, Billy," I replied nervously. I glanced over at Jacob before I spoke again. "I guess you heard I imprinted on Rachel."
Billy nodded. "Yes, Jacob told me. I can't say that I'm happy about it, but if it will give Rachel a reason to come home more often then I guess it's okay."
I nodded. I knew if I kept quiet I would keep myself out of trouble. If Billy was willing to accept this without an explanation, then I was fine with that.
"However," he continued, and I knew I was screwed. "I don't want you sleeping in her bed. Last night was the only time until there is a ring on her finger." Damn.
I held my hands up in surrender. "I can only promise that I won't do anything that Rachel doesn't want me to. That will have to be good enough." I didn't like disobeying Billy, but he knew that his daughter had more authority over me than he did. She was the one who decided where I slept.
Billy contemplated it, and for a second I thought he was going to ram me with his wheelchair. "I don't like it, but my daughter is old enough to make her own decisions. But not under my roof," he stated sternly pointing his finger directly at me. I wouldn't argue that.
I nodded to him. "I'll do my best." Then I remembered I should probably ask his permission to spend the week with his daughter at school. Not that he really had any say over what she did at school. But I should probably ask anyway.
"I was just wondering, would you mind if I drove Rachel back to school? She's been having a hard time, and I thought having a familiar face might help her getting through finals a little easier," I asked, hoping he wouldn't object.
Jacob looked livid. "No, you are not going away for a week. You're just going to dump your patrols on the rest of us? What the hell man? What kind of loyalty is that?"
I narrowed my eyes. "Are you really one to talk about dumping patrols on people?" I asked.
He looked at the ground. He knew he had no right to talk. And unlike him, I had a specific return date.
Billy was still contemplating. I decided to add on an incentive. "When I'm there, I'll do my best to talk her into coming home after graduation instead of going to grad school," I told him seriously.
He nodded, smiling. "Now that's an arrangement I can live with," he said with a chuckle. "You can go with her as long as she comes back with you at the end of the week."
I smiled at him. I was pretty sure that I would be able to accomplish this. Hopefully. I knew I wouldn't be able to talk Rachel into anything she didn't want to do, but she was already wavering on the idea. I just hoped to give her a nudge in the direction I wanted her to go.
I looked at Jacob with a smile and sat down at the table to wait for Rachel.
After a few minutes she walked out from her room and dumped her folded laundry on the coffee table. She turned to face us and my heart swelled. She was so beautiful.
"Are you going to eat anything?" Billy asked her. I wished she would, but she was already shaking her head.
"You know I don't like breakfast. I'll just get McDonalds or something on the highway," she said. I groaned inwardly. There was no way we were stopping at McDonalds unless it was the last restaurant on Earth.
Jacob opened his mouth to say something, no doubt obnoxious towards me, but hadn't quite finished everything he'd been eating. Some half-chewed cereal dribbled down his chin and onto the table.
I smirked as Rachel handed him a napkin. "Have I ever told you, you're a pig?" she asked him.
I snickered slightly and Rachel gave me a look. I knew I couldn't start anything with Jacob, but he was making it too easy. I looked down at the floor, embarrassed she had caught me acting anything less than gentlemanly.
"Are you ready to go?" I asked her. Now that I was driving, I was in a hurry to get out of here. I wanted to get there before dark.
She nodded, and I grabbed her basket off of the coffee table, leading the way outside. She stopped to kiss Billy goodbye, and he asked her when she would be home again. I was glad he didn't say anything about expecting her home next week. That would make it all the harder for me to casually talk Rachel into coming home.
She said she wasn't sure. If she had decided on going to grad school, she would have said Christmas. Her uncertainty made it clear that she was still on the fence about grad school. I smiled to myself. Maybe this wouldn't be as hard as I thought it was going to be.
When she rejoined me, I walked outside, passing her car and placing her basket in the back of my truck. I was about to walk around the truck to open the door for her, when I caught sight of her face. She locked completely and totally shocked.
"What do you think you're doing?" she practically yelled.
Maybe I should have talked about this with her first. Yeah, that probably would have been a good idea.