Disclaimer: I do not own any part of Twilight. And the song credit goes to MayDay Parade.
Yet again I am amazed by the quality reviews I have been getting. Keep them coming!
"Stay Safe, Stay strong
And let me know that you'll be here when I am gone
Because I'm coming home
Coming home tonight
Let's get this right
I said I'm coming home
Coming home tonight"
Take This to Heart
Tomorrow was the big day. So, it was decided that I would kick Paul out and Jolie would come over for a girl's night. Jolie was leaving Joanna with Mom and Billy so Kevin and Michael could have their own guy's night; whatever the hell that included.
Paul was not happy about leaving the two of us alone in the house all night when I had a vampire stalker but I assured him that I would call him as soon as I felt threatened. I also knew that Paul would insist that some of his buddies patrolled by here tonight, so I wasn't worried.
Jolie arrived just as few minutes after I had finally convinced Paul to leave. He had yet again tried to distract me with his lips on my neck and his hands on my hips, but I had managed to pull myself away from him and point him towards the door.
"I brought a few movies." Jolie said as she plopped down on the couch and started to dig into the food I had on the coffee table.
I'd made cookies, popcorn, got candy, cheese, salami, crackers, grapes, apple, pineapple, and a whole variety of things that would probably make us sick by the end of the night. Did we care? Well, I didn't. But then again I wasn't about to go on a short honeymoon either.
"So I bought you something, but I swear if you make any comments about you and Kevin I will kick you out." I stated as I placed a gift bag down on her lap. She sent me an innocent smile; as if to ask me 'would I do that?' She dug into the bag and pulled out the little negligee I had felt duty bound to buy; I preferred not to think about Kevin having sex.
"Thanks Hallie." Jolie smiled. "I won't say anything about how Kevin will have this on the floor in less than ten seconds."
"Ah!" I shrieked. "That's disgusting."
"Just wait until you're not a virgin anymore; you won't care anymore." Jolie laughed.
"Probably." I agreed. "So what movies did you bring?"
"The Phantom of the Opera and The Notebook."
"Nice choices; let's start with The Notebook."
Hours later the two of us lay passed out on the couch, remnants of popcorn on our shirts. I was having a delightful dream about a certain masked someone when a snapping sound woke me up from my dream land. I sat upright, a bit disoriented, and looked around the room. The television was still on with the title screen of the movie replaying over and over again. I wiped the popcorn from my shirt and turned it off when I heard the snapping sound again.
I peered out the window and into the darkness, hoping that it was windy and that limbs were snapping from trees. But of course my imagination won over and I pictured my vampire stalker ripping someone's body apart after drinking their blood.
Nothing but darkness greeted my eyes, so I settled back down on the couch and pulled a blanket over the two of us. Jolie's mouth was open and I noticed there was drool at the corner of her mouth. I laughed before I settled back on the couch and closed my own eyes.
***
We arrived at the church before everyone else. Jolie had decided on a church because April weather was unpredictable anyway, but here in La Push it was even worse. It was a small church which Mom and Kate had made easy work of decorating last night.
I pushed Jolie into one of the back rooms, changed quickly, and went back to help her. Our hair had already been done at the parlor, but it was up to me to do our makeup. I could already tell it was going to be a disaster; me and eyeliner didn't always see eye to eye.
I did my makeup while she stepped into her dress and finished just in time to zip it up for her. She smiled at me gratefully, her eyes a bit watery.
"I can't believe I'm getting married today." She stated.
"Believe it."
"I know…I just thought he would never leave her." Jolie sighed.
"Me either, but I'm so happy he did. Not just because I didn't like her, but because I love you."
"Oh Hallie!"
"Don't cry, I'm about to do your makeup!"
Somehow she managed to hold back her tears of happiness while I worked on her. It worked out better than I had thought and we both were pretty happy with my handiwork. I put the makeup away and turned back to Jolie just as there was a knock on the door.
"Who is it?" I called.
"Mom."
"Come in."
She came in and immediately looked the two of us over. Her smile widened and she pulled the two of us into her arms, squeezing us both pretty tight. When she finally released us she turned to me.
"You should go find Michael now." She told me.
I nodded and left the two of them alone in the small room. Jolie needed to have this alone time with my Mother. Her own mother had died six years ago from breast cancer and I knew it tore her up on the inside that her mother wasn't here to celebrate this new found happiness in her life. I was glad to see that my own mother was able to fill the motherly role in Jolie's life, but it still wasn't the same.
I wandered down the hall, aware of the murmuring of the small congregation that was already beginning to gather in the sanctuary. I was about to make another turn in the long hallway when I ran right smack dab into someone. I stumbled back a few steps before a hand shot out and grabbed my arm to steady me. I looked up and was met with a surprised smile.
"Hallie?"
"Michael?"
The years had sure been nice to him. I felt that familiar giddy teenage girl feeling in the bottom of my stomach, but pushed it aside even as his very white teeth flashed down at me. It's true…you really can't forget your first crush.
"How are you?" He asked.
"I'm good, what about you?" I questioned, not able to keep myself from glancing down at his left hand. No ring…Kevin must have been right when he said Michael and his wife were having problems.
"Well, I'm newly divorced like Kevin, but I don't have another one waiting for me." He chuckled. "But who knows?"
Was he coming on to me? Me, his best friend's little sister? Of course I didn't really look like my seventeen year old self anymore. I had actually grown a bit more boob and lost the last remnants of my puberty weight.
"Can I claim a dance for the reception?" He grinned.
I felt my face flush. Seriously?! I have a boyfriend! What is wrong with me? Maybe the fact that one of my most relived fantasies as a teenager is actually coming true.
"Yeah." I replied.
Mom appeared then, my bouquet in hand, and handed it off to me before she hurried off towards the sanctuary. Michael and I followed after and he ran up the aisle while I waited at the doors for the music to start.
I only had to wait a few minutes before the pianist started to play a lovely little melody and I started to make my way up the aisle towards where Kevin waited with Michael by his side. I tried to keep my gaze forward so I wouldn't become nervous with all the people looking at me, but I felt my gaze drift to the side to meet with Paul's intense dark eyes.
I smiled and turned my gaze away quickly before we engaged in our own new found eye sex right here in the church. Lately, all he had to do was look at me and I wanted to jump him; that was something I was sure the church frowned down upon.
Once I took my position the music swelled and Jolie appeared at the doors with her father by her side. I'd never seen a man look that proud except for at my cousin's wedding when I was fifteen. My uncle had been crying as he gave my cousin away, which had practically reduced me to tears. I had a feeling the same thing would be happening today.
Sure enough when the two of them reached the stairs I saw her father's eyes flash with tears as he whispered some words to her. Her own eyes were shining as she came up the three stairs and handed her bouquet to me. She then took Kevin's hands and looked up into his eyes. He gazed down at her with so much love in his eyes that I felt the prick of tears before I turned my gaze away, blinking back my tears.
***
The reception was held under a tent in the backyard of Billy and Mom's house. Thankfully, the skies had not opened up although the sky was filled with gray clouds. The aroma of delicious food assaulted my nose as I stepped out of the car, being careful not to tear my dress on the door.
Holy crap there was a lot of food, but then I remembered that quite a few of the wolves would be here and the food would be gone by the end of the night, no problem.
As usual the wedding party was the last to arrive, so I felt everyone's gaze upon me as I made my way to the wedding party table and took a seat next to Jolie.
"Would you look at that." Jolie smiled as she pointed to where Paul sat next to my Mom with Joanna in his lap asleep. I didn't blame my niece; it was hard not to fall asleep snuggled up in his arms.
"He's going to make a wonderful father." Jolie continued. "Just think, if he's this way with his potential niece…with his own children he'll be ten times as sweet."
I blushed, my gaze still on Paul. He suddenly looked up and our eyes locked in that all too familiar way. I felt warm all the way to my toes and tore my eyes away before I started thinking dirty while he had my niece on his lap!
"Are you alright? You look a little flushed."
"I'm fine, I'm just hungry."
"Well, I think we can go get our food now."
Once I was done eating I left the table and made my way to the table that Mom, Billy, Jake, Kate, Derek, and Paul shared. I was happy to see that Jake, Kate, and Derek were happily talking to each other; in fact Derek had his usual smile on his face.
Joanna was no longer on Paul's lap; instead she was sitting on Mom's eating the food she was shoveling into her mouth. So, I grinned and slid myself on Paul's lap. His arms immediately wrapped around my waist and he placed a kiss on my neck before he looked at me with a grin on his face.
"I heard what you two were talking about." He whispered.
"Damn you and your sensitive hearing." I blushed.
"Your sister in law has a point though."
"Yeah, yeah."
"I love you Hallie."
"I love you too, but you are a bit annoying sometimes."
"So are you." He countered before he captured my lips with his own. We kept it short since we were surrounded by people and when we pulled away he smirked at me.
"That dress is sexy." He whispered. "But I bet it would look even better on the floor by your feet."
I pulled back and slapped his arm. I knew he wouldn't feel it at all, but he would get the point. He just chuckled and placed another kiss on my neck before I got up off his lap and went to get some more to drink.
I felt someone walk up behind me as a ladled some punch into a plastic cup and turned around to see Michael smiling down at me.
"So, I see you have a boyfriend."
"Yup." I replied simply.
"Do I still get that dance?"
"Of course, but you better claim it before Paul gets a hold of me."
"How about now?" He questioned just as the DJ started up the first song of the night.
I drained the contents of my cup before I took Michael's hand and let him lead me out to the makeshift dance floor. I felt Paul's gaze on my back, but I didn't turn to meet his eyes. This was one harmless little dance between the maid of honor and the best man; it happened all the time at weddings. But little did Paul know that I had crushed on Michael for years.
"So, Kevin tells me that you and this Paul guy are pretty serious."
"Yeah, I'm pretty sure he's the one."
"That's too bad…for me I mean. I always had a thing for you back when Kevin and I were roommates, but it just never worked out. And then I came here hoping… but you aren't available."
My eyes widened, "You liked me?"
"Well, yeah."
"I liked you back then too! I just thought it was a silly crush before. But I guess it doesn't matter now huh?"
"I wish it did." He confessed.
"You'll find the right girl. Kevin had to go through a bad apple before he found Jolie."
My philosophy about relationships had sure changed since I first arrived in Washington. I wasn't the bitter old Hallie anymore. Sure I would always have some bitterness, but Paul had changed my total outlook on the love business. Everyone had someone out there; the principle of imprinting backed that up.
"Maybe I need to move out here; everyone seems to be in love." He chuckled.
I let my eyes roam around the tent and found myself agreeing with him. There was a lot of love under the tent today.
"Your boyfriend is glaring at me, so I think I'll go ask Jolie for a dance now."
I smiled at him before I reached up and placed a kiss on his smooth cheek. He smiled down at me one last time before he left me on the dance floor to get Jolie. I wasn't alone for long, I felt Paul's hands on my hips as he spun me around to face him.
"I heard about your crush." He whispered.
"Who told you?"
"Your Mom." He grinned.
"Well, it doesn't matter anymore."
"I know. I just wanted you all for myself."
"Selfish."
"Territorial."
"You're…"
"Sexy? Charming? Wonderful?"
"You're something alright." I rolled my eyes.
***
Paul had to carry me into the house. Not only were my feet killing me from the shoes I had worn all day, but I was dead tired. I hadn't had much sleep the night before with my stomach full of junk food and the strange noises I kept hearing at the house. So, I let Paul scoop me up into his arms and carry me into the house and up the stairs to my room.
He laid me on the bed and started to slip the shoes off of my feet. Once that was done he joined me on the bed and wrapped an arm around my waist.
"Are you going to sleep in that or should I help you remove it?" He questioned; his voice husky.
"I think I've got it handled, buddy." I said through a yawn. "But can you unzip me?"
I stood up and waited as he stood up behind me. He slowly pulled down the zipper and brought his lips down to the skin that he had just exposed. As he continued to pull the zipper down agonizingly slow, his lips followed, leaving a burning trail of desire down my back.
"Paul." I groaned.
"Hmm?"
"You need to leave the room now."
"Are you sure about that?" He questioned before he placed a hot kiss on the side of my neck.
I shivered, very tempted to turn around and jump him, but I held my ground.
"Yes."
"Alright, good night Hallie."
"Night."
I didn't move until the door was shut behind him. I peeled the dress off and slipped into some comfortable pajamas before I slid under the covers and closed my eyes.
Once again a loud noise brought me from my dream world full of bridal flowers and candy necklaces. There was a loud snapping sound outside again. I threw off the covers and went to look out the window. There was nothing out there but blackness, but I still felt uneasy. I started to slip back into bed when I changed my mind and headed for the door.
I tiptoed across the hall and into Paul's room. I tried not to make a sound, but with his extra sensitive hearing he was already sitting up in bed watching me as I entered his room.
"What's wrong?" He questioned sleepily.
"I heard a weird noise outside, and I'd rather not sleep alone now."
"Get in."
I didn't hesitate; I slid under his sheet and snuggled up against his side. He threw his arm across me and kissed the top of my head before I closed my eyes contentedly.