A.N. Hey guys! So we've finally reached the end of this fic? It's kinda sad isn't it? Thank-you for all your support and for staying with this story until the end
This chapter is based on Arms by Christina Perry. Btw, it's a great song so check it out
Chapter 15: Arms
"You did this?" Bella asked Paul, trying to keep the hysteric laughter that was building inside her from bursting out.
"Yep." He answered, with his arms crossed over his chest.
Bella stared down at the canvas again; her head cocked to the left.
Then to the right.
Yep, it was still terrible.
"This one is me, right?" Bella asked as she pointed to the stick man on the left with long muddy brown coloured hair and melon-sized circles poking out on either side of its chest.
"Yeah, the bodies were already black so I painted your hair brown." Paul explained.
Bella coughed to hide a laugh.
"And this is you… with knives pointing out of your sides?" She asked unsurely as she pointed to the other one.
"No." He replied like it was the stupidest question he had ever heard. "…Those are my abs."
That was it.
Bella burst into laughter.
Louder than she ever had before.
It was just that funny.
Paul watched her with grumpy yet amused eyes.
On one hand, he was annoyed that she found his work of art so hilariously funny…
But on the other, he was glad to see her so happy.
He had never really seen her laugh, not like this.
"But you like it, right?" Paul asked once she had finally calmed down.
Bella nodded her head as she wiped at her eyes.
"I love it."
The sincerity in her voice made him smile; for a second there, they really connected.
They were almost wolf and imprint.
"What are you grinning at?"
"Nothing."
Paul watched her as she walked into the kitchen and returned with a nail and hammer.
Then without saying a word, she began to hit the nail into the wall.
He was kind of impressed at the way she did it with ease.
Then he realised that she had been doing everything alone for a long time.
But she didn't have to.
Paul has here now, and he wasn't leaving her side for anything.
Bella checked the nail was properly stuck in the wall before mounting Paul's painting on it.
She smiled widely, but quickly stopped herself.
She turned around to see Paul standing right behind her with his stupid lob-sided smirk on his face.
"What?"
"It's time for my Christmas present."
"I didn't get you anything." Bella answered defiantly.
Paul shrugged and took a step towards her.
"I know."
Bella watched his movement carefully.
"…But you know what I want." He reminded her.
Her eyebrows furrowed.
And then she remembered.
"I dunno, I just did the first thing that came to my mind, is all. I guess it was like Christmas present." There wasn't much else to say.
"Why the hell would that be the first thing that came to your mind?... And why don't I get a kiss for Christmas?"
Bella took a step towards Paul; he looked kind of surprised.
He didn't think she'd actually go for it.
Her slim arms wound themselves around his neck as her face got closer and closer to his.
Paul closed his eyes just before her lips touched his, only to feel them graze lightly across his cheek.
But he wasn't disappointed.
Not at all.
In fact he was more determined than ever.
This was the first time that she had actually initiated the contact between the two of them.
"This doesn't change anything." She reminded him. "I still hate you."
It was funny, because he knew that those words held no meaning whatsoever.
Paul chuckled.
"I know."
February 4th
Bella was sort of worried.
Worried about Paul.
He was behaving, well odd.
She could count the number of times she had seen him in January on one hand.
And that was including when they were at school.
She wondered how many days he'd missed so far.
He was always so busy with work.
But Bella could feel that it was more than that; sort of like a chill down her spine.
She could tell that something was coming.
Something big.
And every now and then, one of her paintings would catch her eye.
It was the one that she had painted about a month and a half ago; the one with the glittery people on one side and wolves and more glittery people on the other.
She couldn't shake the feeling that whatever was happening had something to do with the sudden changes in Paul.
His behaviour earlier this week was what had her really thinking:
"Can't you just do as you're told for once?" He was getting pissed now.
Bella gave him a look that could wither plants.
"No. I can't. Who do I look like to you? Jared? Well, I'm not. You can't tell me what to do."
She was tired of him thinking that she could be controlled.
They were both silent for a minute.
"Just do this one thing for me, Bella. Please." Paul pleaded with as he stood in her doorway.
Bella looked at him more carefully.
What it just her or was he a lot… bigger?
He was. Taller and wider.
"Paul, what's going on?" She asked him seriously.
He took another look to the forest behind him.
"I wanna tell you. I really do… But I can't, not right now. I have to do it properly."
This wasn't making any sense.
"Do what properly? Paul, you're not making any sense."
"Please, Bella." Her mouth snapped shut.
"…Just… Just stay home this Saturday."
Bella shook her head.
"Like I said, I can't. I have to go to the art fair. How do you think I pay the rent, Paul? Money doesn't grow on trees." She began to lecture him.
"I'll give you the money so…"
"No! I've told you so many times, Paul. I don't want your money."
"Okay, sorry." He massaged his nose with two fingers.
It was all getting too much.
"Just do this for me, Bella. Please." He repeated.
She exhaled heavily and crossed her arms over her chest.
Bella frowned as she remembered that day.
Who did he think he was anyway?
Turning up at her doorway to order her to stay at home.
Not even so much as a greeting to break the tension.
"Asshole." Bella muttered as she pulled on her coat and then her gloves.
There was no way she was staying home today.
She needed the money.
Not only for the rent, but for a plane ticket. She wanted to visit Renee for her birthday.
Bella stopped with her hand on the door handle; a tiny voice inside her was saying that she really should stay at home today.
Plus, the look that Paul had on his face that day really made her feel guilty for what she was about to do.
Knock, knock.
Bella's jumped in surprise at the knock at her door.
"Who is it?" She called cautiously.
"It's Quil."
She relaxed a little; it was just one of Paul's friends.
She opened it and stared at the tall, beefy man.
"What are you doing here?" Bella asked in a less-than-impressed voice.
Quil sauntered in, ignoring her.
"Holy shit! You really don't have a TV?!"
How did he even know where she lives?
Bella had a pretty good idea.
"Did paul send you here to spy on me?"
"Yes." Quil answered honestly.
"Did he offer you money?"
"Yes."
"Did you take it?"
He smirked, knowing he had done the noble thing for once.
"No."
"Oh …. Well." His smirk grew even wider.
"Pity, we could have split the cash."
Quil's smirk faded instantly. Shit!
"Quil, will you tell me what's going on? You know, right? You know where Paul's gone and why I can't go out today."
He exhaled heavily.
"Just trust him on this one, okay Bella? Paul's doing his best for the tribe. For you… and so are the rest of us. So just go easy on 'im okay?"
Bella thought about his words.
It was the first time she had heard Quil sound so serious over something.
"Is he safe? Whatever he's doing today… will he get hurt?" Even as Bella asked the question, her heart started to hurt.
"He might." Quil answered honestly.
It didn't matter how talented the wolves were, or how well they did their jobs.
They were outnumbered.
Even with the Cullens.
And it didn't hurt that Quil was here baby-sitting Paul's imprint instead of fighting along-side his brothers.
Bella sat down, afraid.
"You got something to eat?" Quil asked as he got up and walked towards her kitchen.
"Yeah, there's some noodles in the cupboard… or some left-over Chinese in the fridge."
"I'll take both."
Two days later
"Hello? Paul?" Bella asked enthusiastically as she answered her phone.
It was the first time she had spoken to him since Saturday.
"Yeah, it's me."
She let out a breath that she seemed to have been holding since this afternoon.
"You're okay."
"Yeah, I'm good." He answered her.
"You're lying." She told him, already getting her coat on.
"No, I'm o…" Bella cut him off.
"I'm coming over."
She put the phone down before he could argue with her.
It didn't take her long to drive to Paul's home.
Not when she was going as fast as her bust-up truck would take her.
His front door creaked open slowly.
If she hadn't already prepared herself mentally for what she was about to see, she might have gasped.
"Bella…" She cut him off.
"You're a mess."
Paul was a mess.
He was leaning on one side, suggesting that he had injured one of his legs. His left arm was in a sling across his body.
There were bruises all over his right… and Bella would bet her life savings that there were bruises underneath the t-shirt he was wearing as well.
She slapped her hand onto his forehead.
His skin was even hotter than usual.
"You really do have a fever!" Bella was surprised.
She didn't think his skin could get any hotter than it already was.
She was wrong.
"Bella…" She cut him off again.
"How the hell did you get this bruised? You know what? Don't tell me… But look at your arm." She shook her head as she spoke.
"I wonder why the hospital let you out so early."
It wasn't the hospital that had patched Paul up. It was actually Carlisle Cullen…
But he wouldn't tell her that.
"Or maybe you forced your way out of the hospital." She speculated.
Bella could totally imagine that.
"…Anyway, go lie down." She ordered before starting towards the kitchen. "I'm gonna get some ice."
"Bella, I…"
"Just go lay down."
"Bella." He said a little firmer this time. "I…" But she still cut him off.
"Never mind, just get into bed stupid!" He recoiled a little at the sudden outburst and stared at her tense back.
Bella readied her herself before turning back to him.
Paul's eyes widened.
She looked so sad.
Her eyes were watery, they were pleading with him.
"Please…. Just get well…." She said before disappearing into the kitchen.
Paul had just settled under his quilt covers when she walked in with some crushed ice in a cloth.
Bella placed it over his forehead.
He relaxed instantly, it felt so good.
"Are you eating right?" Bella asked tentatively.
He avoided her eyes.
He hadn't been eating well at all.
After breaking his arm, Paul soon found that he couldn't do much in the kitchen with one arm.
Not to mention, he didn't feel like eating right now.
Bella left again.
He missed her.
Soon, a peculiar smell began to waft into his nose.
She returned around twenty minutes later with a large pot, a small bowl and a spoon.
Bella opened the lit of the pot and Paul's stomach flipped.
"You overcooked the rice and now it looks like cream soup. Bella, your cooking skills are just…"
"I'm sorry I'm so bad at cooking! Don't eat it if you don't want it. I'll eat it myself!" Bella replied angrily.
"I'll eat it."
She froze and looked at him hopefully.
She was surprised that he actually wanted it.
"But I can't hold a spoon so you have to feed me."
Her eyes narrowed a little. So that was the catch.
Her cheeks reddened as she blew on the rice before lifting the spoon to his lips.
Then Bella awaited his verdict.
"I'm amazed… to think that you can kill the flavours of food this much…" She stuffed his mouth with another spoon before he could finish.
"Just shut up and eat."
Only ten minutes had passed since Bella had cooked the rice and the whole pot was finished.
"If you can eat like this, I guess you'll be fine." Bella shrugged, still a little amazed at the fact that he had actually eaten it.
"There's no way I'd leave it uneaten…. It's the first meal you've ever cooked for me."
Bella chuckled at his words and nudged his arm, only to hear him hiss in pain.
"Sorry!" She said quickly.
He pouted.
"That really hurt, Bella."
"I'm really sorry, Paul." She actually felt really bad.
He moved the arm that she had nudged and grunted loudly.
"Oh my god, Paul. What can I do?" She was afraid. What if he had broken it even more?
Was that even possible?
"Get under the duvet with me."
"What?"
"Just get under. It'll make me feel better."
Her eyes narrowed and she sat back on her heels.
"I am not getting under there with you."
Bella replied adamantly.
"Really? Because I think that's the least you could do. Ow!" He shouted fakely as he moved his arm again.
She quickly slid under the quilt was him, her head buried into his chest.
His arm squeezed at her body and hugged her close.
"Liar." She murmured.
She could feel the rumble of laughter in his chest on her cheek.
Then he was asleep.
"Paul?"
"Paul, are you awake?"
There was no response.
She smiled into his chest and held onto him even tighter.
Bella's smile weakened as she wandered what the hell this was.
This thing between her and Paul.
She was confused and above all, scared.
That was why she always pushed him away.
Bella was afraid that she wanted him a lot more than he wanted her.
"I never thought that you would be the one to hold my heart,
But you came around and you knocked me off the ground from the start,
You put your arms around me,
And I believe,
That it's easier for you to let me go,
You put your arms around me and I'm home,
How many times will you let me change my mind and turn around?
I can't decide if I'll let you see my life or if I'll drown,
I hope that you see right through my walls,
I hope that you'll catch me,
Coz I' already fallin',
I'll never let our love get so close,
You put your arms around me and I'm home."
The world was coming down on her and she couldn't find a reason to be loved.
He baffled her.
With him, she felt clueless.
She had never felt this way about anyone before.
But she if there was anything she knew; it was that somewhere between their stupid arguments, long talks, and making fun of each other…. She'd somehow fallen in love with him.
Thoughts?
Thanks again for sticking with this! If you liked this one, please check out 'Untouchable' and 'A Quarter Mile at a Time'.
Add me to your AUTHOR ALERT for more stories as I am planning to get another new short story, like this one, out soon.
Also, there may be a sequel to this one but it might not be for a little while. But not sure yet.
Review one last time?
