Telling the Truth

Disclaimer: all characters and copyright belong to Stephanie Meyer.

A/N-Once again a big thank you to everyone who has kindly taken the time to leave reviews on this story, your kind feedback has really been an inspiration. Nikki

Part Nine

"This is my house..." Paul said dully as he led Bella by the hand toward the small shack.

"You live here?" Bella asked incredulously as she examined the run down house. Peeling paint and a general air of neglect radiated from the small wooden structure.

"Well we all can't live in luxury. I told you my dad's a drunk, it's not like we have piles of money to do the place up or even paint it." Paul sneered as his natural defensiveness came to the fore.

Bella flinched at his harsh tone. "That's not what I meant...stop being so stroppy. I am getting tired of it."

Paul dropped her hand and stepped back. "You're not the only one darlin' I'm getting tired of trying with you. I..."

"Could have any girl you want, yeah I've heard that one before Paul. Well if I am such hard work go and find one, I'm sure Jake will keep me company..." Bella spat back at him.

"Well what are you doing here then? Off you go little girl."Paul yelled back at her. Bella glared at him briefly before turning away and marching off in the opposite direction.

Paul's stubbornness kicked in and he stood there fuming, watching her small figure disappear off into the distance. How had things gone wrong again so quickly? As soon as he lost sight of her however he found his feet moving in the direction she had taken and after cursing to himself he began to run. Within a moment he reached her side and grabbing hold of her arm, Paul yanked her round to face him.

"What the hell are you doing Paul, let me go?" Bella shrieked at him. She hit her fists against his chest as she let out all her hidden emotions. The fear and the constant need to keep everything a secret overwhelmed her and she took her rage out on Paul.

Paul caught hold of her and pulled her against his chest as she collapsed into tears. Her strength ebbed away and she slumped in his embrace as he just held onto her."I'm sorry..."he finally whispered.

Bella just clung to him and she did not protest when he swept her up in his arms and carried her back to his house. He kicked the unlocked door open and placed Bella down on a ratty old couch. It was dark inside the little house as all the curtains were closed. The smell of stale beer reeked through the room. Paul did not speak for a moment as he pulled the curtains back, letting in some light and opened the windows so that the cool air chased away the smells.

"Better?" He asked Bella stiffly.

"Yeah...Paul I didn't mean to hit you."Bella confessed as she began to glance around the room. Beer cans and bottles were piled up in one corner. There was no carpet on the floor and the wooden flooring was cracked and there was dust everywhere.

Paul saw her shocked expression. "Now you see why I prefer living in a cave to this?"

Bella felt tears of sadness welling in her eyes again and cursed her inability to stop crying. Her tears this time were for him, not pity, just an intense feeling of protectiveness and something else...love?

"Paul come here..." Bella said softly.

"Why?" He replied, his tone bitter.

"Because, I am asking you to, please?"

Paul trudged over to the couch and sat down next to her, he leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees and his eyes fixed to the floor. Bella reached out with her hand and began to run her fingers through his short hair, she massaged his scalp gently and he closed his eyes. He found her touch soothing and he let himself relax and enjoy the sensation. Bella felt the tension leave Paul's body so she ran her hands down his neck and then began to massage his shoulders. Her fingers traced the outline of his muscles and she became fascinated by the way they moved as he shifted around slightly. She continued with her ministrations for a good ten minutes and enjoyed watching Paul's whole demeanour relax.

After a while Bella's fingers began to tire and she settled back down next to him and they just sat next to each other, not speaking, just relishing the fact that the strained atmosphere between them was diminished.

It was Paul who first broke the silence. A question he had wanted to ask her was burning through his mind. He was not used to being the one to admit to how he was feeling, but he really needed to know hers in relation to how she felt about him. Bella saw the conflicting expressions crossing his face and she guessed he was building up to ask her something important. She waited patiently for him to speak.

In the end Paul just asked her bluntly. "How do you feel about me? I mean you seem to like me...you let me kiss you and I know that you enjoyed it. I need you to tell me the truth Bella, how do you feel?"

Bella chewed on her bottom lip, a sure sign that she was nervous. Her life had taken a turn for the unexpected, to end up here with Paul was not a situation she could have foreseen. Since finally taking the plunge and dismissing Edward from her life Bella had felt like a weight had been lifted from her shoulders. Even though there was still danger ahead and also the as yet unresolved problem about what to do about Jacob's feelings for her, she knew that she was in love with Paul Lahote. No amount of denial or lying to herself was going to work anymore. Bella was sick of keeping her own feelings hidden. Gathering all the courage she had, she shifted awkwardly around next to Paul and knelt beside him on the couch, taking his face in her hands. His dark eyes gazed at her intently. The next words out of her mouth would either make or break him.

"I love you Paul..." Bella breathed the words, not trusting the sound of her own voice.

Paul felt like all the air had been taken out of his lungs as he heard her whisper. "Say it again."

"I love you..." Bella was about to add more but suddenly Paul's burning lips met hers and his mouth coaxed hers open. She gasped at the contact of his tongue against hers and they shared the most intense, passionate kiss either of them had ever experienced.

XXXXXX

They were interrupted as the front door slammed open and hit the sheetrock with a loud crack. Paul's father staggered in, he was holding a bottle of whisky and he took a deep draught as he focused blearily on his son and a young girl he did not recognise spooned together on the couch.

"Not another one...where do you find them boy?" Paul's father mumbled.

Bella felt Paul stiffen behind her at his father's words. She stared over at the drunken man as he weaved his way over to the only other chair in the room and sat down on it heavily. He took another swig out of the bottle. "Got nothing to say...you're as dumb as your mother was. Better run fast girlie, you don't know where this boy's been, but then again you can't have any morals yourself if you ended up with him..."

It all happened so fast that Bella hardly had time to react. Paul launched himself off of the couch and was beside his dad in seconds. His fist came out and there was a loud crack as it connected with his father's jaw. Bella screamed as she heard the sound and she scrambled off the couch and stumbled her way over to Paul. His chest was heaving as he took heavy breaths in and out. His father was sprawled on the floor, blood trickling from his jaw and down his neck.

"I always knew you were a brute..." His father slurred as he glared up at his son. "Get out and never come back here again..."

"You are pathetic old man, not me...I am nothing like you. Do not ever insult my mother or Bella ever again do you hear..." Paul yelled, his arms were shaking and Bella could tell how close he was to losing it completely, gripping his hand in both of hers she tugged him toward the door.

"Paul come on he is not worth it...we need to go." Bella begged him as his feet stayed planted where they were. Her voice eventually penetrated the fog in his mind and he allowed her to lead him out of the house and into the fresh open air.

XXXXXX

It took an age for Bella to get Paul to move from the front of his dilapidated house. He seemed in a daze and totally spaced out. His body was no longer shaking and she was relieved that he seemed more under control in that respect, but it seemed as if all of his fire had burnt out and he was once again closing in on himself. She remembered the night that Paul had told her about his dad, but to see the reality before her eyes had shocked her to the core.

Eventually he allowed her to lead him back toward the coast and they trudged slowly toward Second beach, Bella keeping a tight hold on Paul's hand. After an hour of torturous silence they reached the entrance to the cave. Bella began to lead the way inside but Paul stopped her.

"I need you to go now Bella..." He said dully.

Bella turned around in surprise.

"What? Why? I don't understand...I thought..."Bella stammered and fell silent as she took in his distraught expression. It hit her then like a freight train, how could she have been so blind? Paul believed what his father had said about him. Anger swept through her as she pictured the scene again in her mind.

"Can you go now? I need some space..." Paul repeated in the same monotone.

"No...I won't go. I love you and I am not leaving. You can't push me away. I won't let you."

Tears glistened in the corners of Paul's eyes. It was the first time Bella had ever seen anything remotely like that from him and it made her heart hurt.

"I'm not good enough Bella. My dad is right...go to Jacob, he is the right choice. "

"Don't you dare Paul Lahote? What about my choice? Mine...I choose you. I choose to love you. Get used to it." Bella shot back fiercely.

Paul gazed at Bella desperately wanting to believe the words she was saying, that he could be good enough. That all the other people who said he was a wrong'un and a monster didn't know the truth. He swallowed trying to get past the barriers that he always put up to keep people at a distance. He so wanted to just let Bella in properly and tell her the truth. The words he wanted to say stuck in his throat and he just continued to stare at her, agony clear on his face.

Bella stepped close to him and placed her arms round his waist, resting her head against his chest. She listened to his rapidly beating heart and closed her eyes. "You don't have to say it back to me Paul...I already know that you love me too...I know that you aren't ready to say it, but that's okay, I can wait."She whispered.

Paul felt the vice around his heart easing as he took in what she was saying. His arms wound round her and he held her close, laying his head on top of hers. They stood there for a long time...

A/N-Well this story is writing itself...what I had planned for this chapter was not this. It was very sad and angsty but I felt that we needed a bit more of an insight into Paul's home life and why he is so guarded about letting Bella in...I would love to hear your thoughts about this chapter as it was one of the hardest I have ever had to write! Thanks for reading...Nikki :)