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Chapter 13

"Dude that was not awesome," Seth grumbled plopping down on the couch next to me.

"What?" I quirked my head at him as he stuffed a hand full of chips into his mouth.

"Oh I kissed Quil blah blah blah," he mocked in a high pitched voice.

"I did it to make him mad. I didn't mean – wait, what happened? What did he do? Is Quil okay?"

"Yeah he's fine, but please don't ever use me. Pleeeassse."

"Okay, I'm sorry I won't. Should I call Quil to apologize?"

"No, he doesn't care," Dad entered the living room and stole the remote from Seth. I stayed silent knowing that something did definitely happened and that it wasn't good. Who was Paul to even do something like that?

"Dad, do you know when Rebecca's coming home?"

"Dave and her still haven't decided. Thanksgiving or Christmas," he shrugged.

I jumped up when I saw Paul outside the window. Again no shirt and wearing cargo shorts. Really?

"Don't you ever wear clothes? I know you owe some. I've seen you wearing them…" I mocked him, shutting the back door behind me.

"Why do you care so much?" he looked at me sternly, and I tried my best to remember that I was mad at him.

"Why do you? Why do you care who I kiss or what I do?"

"I…" he gaped staring at me before looking down. "I don't know."

"You don't know? Well you need to figure it out. If you like me, stop acting like a third grader and tell me. If you don't, stop acting like you do because… I like you."

He just stood there and I shifted awkwardly, stepping back to go inside.

…

Later after Seth and I played a couple of games of Sorry, I stepped out on the back porch for some fresh air… and to spy on Paul who was digging a hole or something near the tree line.

"You shouldn't bury the body so close to the house. It'll be too easy for the police to find," I said wryly. Paul stopped stretching his back and gave me the weirdest look before thrusting the shovel back into the ground again. "Please don't really be burying a body. I don't want to have to testify in court; I've had jury duty before. Those ice cubes suck," I grumbled standing up to go inside.

It had only been a few hours since I confronted him, and Paul had left me alone. Not a single word from him to me. So I guess Paul had made his decision… It wasn't the one I'd been hoping for, but at least there wouldn't be any more confusion.

Dad was in the living room flipping through channels secretly trying to watch a Lifetime movie. The scene of a man trying to cover up a woman's body with dirt gave me chills as Paul popped into my head. He wasn't really burying a body… was he?

"Dammit," Dad muttered at the screen – some game was on. I had to bite back a laugh when he switched it to the movie not bothering to hide it.

"So I think I'm going to head out Dad. I don't think I left any hard food out for Van Gogh," I tried to remember.

"Wait, uh I didn't want to say anything, but we've got special visitors coming over for dinner. It was supposed to be a surprise…"

"Special visitors?"

"Yep, from out of town…"

"Oh, do you want me to start dinner? It's already six thirty."

"No no, they're bringing dinner," Dad shook his head. I was excited and I was hoping it was Rebecca, but what kind of visitor brings the meal?

"Alright then, I think I should run home and change and check on Van Gogh," I pulled my keys out of my pocket.

Dad didn't protest as I pulled on my shoes and walked out of the house, but I stopped short at the sight of three people on the porch. The blonde woman was super pale but totally beautiful – I'd never seen anyone like her – except for the other girl standing next to her. Her hair was a mess of copper and her smile was friendly, but I felt uneasy. The guy – clearly Quileute - was huge just like Seth and Paul but his face was …

"Jacob?"

"Rachel!" he grinned, leaning down to hug me.

…

The kitchen table was crowded as we ate. Jake and his girlfriend Renesmee ….. Nessie as I was supposed to call her…. And her cousin Rosalie brought steaks for dinner – already cooked and everything with potatoes and vegetables. Weird but it was good. Nessie had a week off from school and decided to visit since they wouldn't be here for Thanksgiving.

Jake was so… different yet was still the same little boy. He'd still cram food in his mouth as he ate and had that big goofy smile. He was always such a happy kid, and my absence in his life hadn't affected him at all – which made me feel upset and relieved at the same time.

Nessie was… kinda strange but so in love with Jacob. It was eerie how they interacted with each other. It was kinda like they revolved around each other like magnets or something. I still wanted to scream at them to stop and slow down - I'd been in their situation. You think your relationship will last forever, but it won't.

Rosalie… was quiet and scary and definitely had an eating disorder. I'd have to say something to Jake later.

After dinner as I was taking out the garbage, I found Paul sitting on the porch's wooden steps.

"Paul? Have you been out here this whole time? You could have come inside and gotten something to eat. You should have-"

"Rachel," he stopped me, moving to stand up. His voice was low and sounded wrong and his eyes were sad.

"What's wrong? Are you okay?" I asked as he stood in front of me. He held out his hand and there was Van Gogh's orange collar. "What…?"

"He must have gotten into a fight with … a mountain lion or something. He wasn't in good shape when I found him otherwise I would have let you say goodbye properly. I'm so sorry Rachel." It took a while for it all to sink in – for me to understand. Van Gogh was dead.

"What?" I choked out, my eyes burning. "Why?"

"I'm so sorry," his warm arms wrapped around me and I couldn't care at that moment that I was being smooshed into his hard chest.

"No…" I gasped for breath. I'd joked that Paul had burying a body earlier and he had been…

My friend was gone.

AN: yikes, so yeah… hopefully ya'll weren't attached to Van Gogh because he's definitely gone now… um ill try to post the next chapter tomorrow :)

thanks for reading!