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Chapter 12

Dinner started out as a good idea then terrible and then okay again. Everyone was friendly and laughed a lot with each other. They were one of those too good to be true happy families you see on TV, but this was real life and nothing was this perfect. My theory was a cult. The guys had to be in some kind of stay-young-and-fit club because they all looked the same: tall, muscular, short hair, and tattoos.

Fight club – it might be a fight club. Except that none of them are bruised or injured.

A new clone had settled down in the seat across from me, and he looked agitated. He grabbed a slice of pizza and chewed it with a scowl.

"Quil?" I guessed as he looked up at me.

"Hey," his eyes softened.

"Claire?" Paul asked softly, and Quil nodded.

"She's on a date with some punk. I don't say anything because it'll just make it worse, but god I hate that kid." He looked heartbroken and tired.

"Alright, we're heading out. The kids are about to fall out," Sam waved to everyone, carrying Jo. I hated to admit it but I really did like Sam Uley and his little family.

I liked everyone really, even Jacob's little friends Quil and Embry who actually weren't so little. Everyone except Paul… It was strange to see him with his friends because I'd thought he'd be loud and joking around like the other clones, but he was mainly silent and the others didn't seem to notice any weirdness. Or maybe they knew he was being different because of me? Why would he even be acting different? Sometimes I would get the feeling that he really liked me too, and then other times it would be like he didn't want to be around me.

I looked back at Quil who was still moping and being depressed.

"Quil, did you drive here?"

"Yeah…"

"Can you give me a ride home?"

"Rachel, I can drive you dammit," Paul groaned.

"Please Quil? I'll owe you one…"

"Okay," he stammered glancing at Paul.

More people were leaving, so Quil and I joined them saying all the goodbyes. Jared called out Paul and asked him to take Kim home because he had to stay late. I snickered because I knew Paul was planning on follow us and then yelling at me at home.

Quil was dead quiet in the car, and I wondered if my plan would work.

"Hey, is that bar Flynn's still open?"

"Yeah…"

"Want to get a drink?"

"Uh… I don't think-"

"Come on, I'm buying. It'll help you relax…"

"Um…"

"It'll help relax me… Please… succumb to peer pressure…" I smiled.

"Alright, just one drink."

…

One drink turned into four, and I was most definitely relaxed.

"Quil… my best advice for you is to never ever never cheat. If you don't like what you're getting then say something. Sheeee'll change to make you happy. Then make sure you're both happy… If you don't lover her then leave."

"What happened to you?"

"Derg cheated."

"Doug? Doug with the funny last name cheated on you?"

"Derg slept with his secretary Patricia. How boring is that?"

"Really stupid of him," he nodded.

"We were so exciting when we were younger, now he's so boring. I'm boring."

"Rachel, you're not boring, and I just watch you eat a barbeque chicken and Hawaiian pizza. That's not boring."

"So I eat weird food. I'm still boring, and I'm going to live a long, lonely, boring life."

"Do you believe in soul mates, Rachel?"

"Once."

"Everyone's got a soul mate. It's just that not everyone finds theirs, but you'll find yours – Doug wasn't it. Maybe you've found it already, but you just don't know it yet."

"Quil… that's a very nice pick up line," I kissed his cheek. "You were always a stupidly sweet boy. Embry was the stupidly stupid boy, but you were good friends for Jake."

"We still are. How bout I drop you off now? Sound good?" he asked moving me from the bar.

"Sounds boring, let's dance."

"No dancing, Paul's going to kill me for just this."

"Why does that matter? Why does Paul care? Why does everyone care about what Paul cares? Paul's a jerk… Why do I care so much?"

"Looks like you do know it…"

Know what?

…

Carol45: how are you this morning?

You: awesome. I haven't had a hangover in years.

Carol45: oh I hope you were with a certain someone and got a little something something…

You: no actually, was with my little brothers friend

Carol45: that's a little pathetic

You: ouch

Carol45: you've got a hunky man around to get drunk and naked with and you aren't doing it?

You: someone's in a bad mood. Are you okay?

Carol45: I'm sorry. I just found out that the Man is dragging me to see some in-laws who I particularly don't like

You: you can't get out of it?

Carol45: no I really have to go.

You: tell Thomas and them that your old friend Rachel is dying and needs you and then we can finally meet and hang out.

Carol45: I wish… then I would lock you and paul in a closet until I heard some hangers thumping.

You: have you and Thomas ever done it in a closet?

Carol45: yes we have seen many closets.

Carol45: and speaking of closets, I have to pack so it might be a week before I'm on again.

You: no problem, see ya in a week and try not to kill someone.

…

I closed my lap top and moved from my chair to the floor where Van Gogh was laying. He was sleeping and I traced along his face and down his nose. It probably wasn't smart because you would think that a wild animal would attack something if it was sleeping, but not Van Gogh. He was sweet and playful and annoying as hell when he wanted to be. He was actually a very good dog – except for the small bit about bringing dead critters into the house.

Knocking startled the both of us, and Van Gogh jumped up from his position. He hurried to the front door, barked once, and came back to nudge me. Once I sat up, I laid right back down because through the glass I could see Paul standing there. I was in no mood to deal with him and stupid feelings.

Van Gogh barked again and the door lock clicked. I covered my face and silently cursed to myself. Why does he have to have a key?

"Rachel, are you okay? Are you hurt?" he knelt down, picking up my leg and grabbing my elbows to move my hands away from my face.

"I didn't injure myself," I scoffed. "You didn't have to barge in here."

"I'm sorry – it looked like you were unconscious or something from the door," he argued.

"Well I'm okay so…"

"Shit Rachel, I'm sorry about last night and for back then. I was a stupid kid, and it's not funny that I hurt you - which was not what I meant to do. It was just something stupid for Embry to do. He annoyed the hell out of me and I figured he'd get caught and you'd tear him to pieces."

"I did catch him, but he still stole a pair of my underwear. And it was my favorite pair and Blake Stoolings probably still has them somewhere."

"Don't worry, he doesn't," he shook his head. I gave him a pointed look for him to continue. "I gave him fifty bucks for them – half my damn paycheck…"

"You paid for them? That's worse! Now you probably have them in a drawer with all the other pairs you took from the women you've conquered," I rolled my eyes.

"That was offensive. You should apologize."

"Right, you should apologize for being an asshole," I shot back.

"And I thought you said you couldn't curse like a grownup?" he smirked.

"I can when I'm really pissed or really turned on…" I bit my lip and clenched my eyes, regretting what I just said.

"Can it be both?" he asked. I didn't have to open my eyes to see that he was hovering over me, and I felt the tension grow tenfold between us.

"I kissed Quil last night…" On the cheek. On the cheek… I didn't say it out loud. The heat disappeared, and Paul was standing up and out the door before I could stop him.

AN: lots of foreshadow in this chapter, I basically gave it all away… ;)

Also I based Rachel's ex on Doug Funnie – the old Nickelodeon cartoon… it's random I know, but I had a crush on Doug when I was little. Haha

Thanks for Reading!