Disclaimer: I own nothing

Chapter 14

I woke up very comfortable. It was one of those rare mornings when the sheets were extra warm and soft, and you felt like you could live forever there. I was that comfortable.

I opened one eye to see Paul resting against the wall with a pillow between us. We were laying on my old bed, and I honestly didn't want to leave.

"Good morning," he yawned.

I nodded, not capable of speaking yet.

"I know a lot has happened and you're going through a lot of shit, but before anything else happens, you should know that I like you too," he said seriously with soft eyes as he wiped beneath my eyes with his large thumb. It was soothing, and I didn't feel like crying.

"Hungry?" he asked as I felt my stomach growl.

I nodded, knowing he probably heard it.

"How about you take a shower, I'll fix you something to eat?"

I nodded yes.

"What would you like? Eggs, bacon-"

I immediately shook my head no as a sharp pain rose in my chest. I used to feed Van Gogh pieces of bacon in the morning.

"Okay, maybe pancakes?"

I gave a nod knowing they would be too heavy, but I couldn't resist. His pancakes were amazing. Paul had to lift himself awkwardly over me on one side of his body before slightly hovering over me and rolling off the bed. The loss of warmth was immediately noticeable, and I reluctantly pulled myself out of bed to warm up in the shower.

I finally remembered about Jacob when I found Nessie in the kitchen flipping pancakes.

"Oh, good morning," she smiled, blushing lightly. Paul asked me to make sure you got fresh pancakes. He wasn't sure how long you'd be in the shower…"

Where was Paul? I glanced around the kitchen and living room. I looked out the window and I had to do a double take.

Jacob was standing to the side of Paul and Rosalie acting as a referee as they argued, waving and pointing excessively at each other. Paul had no right to be yelling at a young girl like Rosalie especially since she had body issues - even though she was ridiculously gorgeous and was a normal skinny – not an anorexic skinny.

I moved to the door to stop him, but Nessie spoke, "I wouldn't-"

I cut her off with a glare. Paul was yelling at her cousin; shouldn't she be outside trying to calm them down? Their voices echoed when I opened the backdoor.

"I said I was sorry. I can't-"

"You bitch, sorry doesn't help. Sorry doesn't-"

I cleared my throat to garner Paul's attention.

"We're not done," he muttered to her before he had an arm around me and asking if I'd eaten my pancakes. I was pushed into a chair, and Nessie set down a plate in front of me. I worked slowly on my stack as everyone else sat around the table. Everyone except Rosalie.

"You shouldn't have yelled at her," I spoke for the first time.

"Yes I should've. I should've ripped her arm off."

"You can't yell at someone in a sensitive state like hers. She's-"

"Wait, what do you mean?" he stopped moving, waiting for me to explain.

"I mean," I stammered not really wanting to discuss it, but I had brought it up. "I think that she's got an eating disorder. The way she was pretending to eat last night was an indicator of-" I stopped when I noticed they were all laughing at me. Nessie was trying to hide her smile, but Jacob and Paul were actually laughing.

I pushed back from the table grabbing my shoes and keys trying to make an exit. I was annoyed and frustrated and overemotional. Paul had gotten up to stop me.

"You," I shoved a finger in his chest, wincing as I jammed it. "You can forget everything I said yesterday."

"Rachel…"

"Paul, you can not laugh at me or disregard my feelings because it's rude and makes me feel… ugh, worthless," I sighed. I really felt worthless and it's not the greatest feeling in the world.

"Please don't leave Rachel. None of this makes sense right now, but it can all be explained. I didn't mean to laugh at you and you know you're not worthless."

"Oh do I? And you're going to explain everything?"

"Yes please, just listen."

"Even the part about you being an asshole?"

"Yes…" he sighed.

I stepped around him and moved for the door.

"Rachel…" he whispered, upset.

"I'm just going home to change my clothes," I placed my hand on his shoulder. He turned and hugged me. "I'll be back in twenty minutes."

…

My house was a depressing place without Van Gogh. It was quiet and empty. For now on, I would be alone –

I stopped when Seth came down the stairs with his arms full of Van Gogh's things.

"Uh… hi, sorry, I hope you don't mind I let myself in… I just thought it would help if I cleaned up while you were out. I just gathered his things, so you can decide what to do with them," he looked genuinely sad. And I knew he was because he really loved Van Gogh and Van Gogh loved him right back.

"Thanks," I nodded. "I'm just changing and heading back to Dad's. Apparently Paul is going to explain why he's such a cranky bastard."

"Okay," he laughed. "Wait, really?"

"Yeah, is something wrong?" I asked as he plopped down on the sofa.

"No, but I'm catching a ride with you. This'll be interesting to watch."

…

The living room was crowded when Seth and I walked in. Paul, Jacob, Nessie, Dad were there, but also Sam and Emily and a few other people I didn't recognize. Had someone else died?

"What's going on?" I asked Paul, sitting next to him on the couch.

"We're waiting on you…" he grumbled.

"For…?"

"The talk."

"…The talk? Oh everyone needs to be here for that?" This gathering seemed like there was going to be an intervention – not a personal conversation.

"From what's happened in the past? Uh yes…" Seth chuckled.

"Okay," I sat waiting for someone to start.

"Honey, do you remember the legends I used to tell you when you were little?" Dad asked.

"Yes," I nodded thinking of them - Qwati, Bayak, the spirit warriors and the cold ones, Taha-Aki and Yaha Uta…

"Well… they're true."

"Okay." I had figured that they mostly were like a woman sacrificing herself to save her husband – I'm pretty sure there were movies about that.

"And – and today," he started. "Today, selected members of the tribe still serve as our protectors…"

"Okay," I nodded.

"From vampires…"

AN: slowly getting there!

Thanks for Reading!