Bella's POV

I saw Jake glare at Paul before his gaze settled on me. He looked sad and angry. I wonder why? I wanted to break the tense bubble that had settled around the kitchen. "Hey Emily do you mind if I use your phone to call my dad? I want to know if he has any special requests for dinner since I'm going grocery shopping on my way home."

"No problem Bella, here you go. If you want you can take it into the den, it's just down the hall." I smiled and walked out of the room. I dialled Charlie's work number and he picked up after two rings.

"Chief Swan here." He sounded run down.

"Hey dad it's me."

"Hey Bells! What's up kiddo?"

"I am going to the Thriftway on my way home, anything you want me to pick up?"

"Yah could you get some coffee please? We are running low. You know how I am with my coffee." I laughed.

"Yes I know! Heaven forbid Chief Swan doesn't drink a pot of coffee every morning!" He laughed too.

"I can't think of anything else, but I'll see you tonight Bells." I said goodbye and hung up. Charlie was so easy to live with. I was smiling as I entered the kitchen to see a pissed Jake muttering to Sam.

"Jake?" I asked softly. He looked up at me with sad eyes.

"Yah?"

"I'm leaving now; I need to go get food for Charlie. I'll talk to you later." I said goodbye to everyone else, but I noticed Paul was not in the room. I walked out to my truck and hopped in.

"You're not going to say bye to me Bella?" Came a low voice from behind me. I was just about to close my truck door when he had spoken.

"Sorry Paul, but you weren't there. I need to get going, but I'll see you later. Bye!" I closed the door and slowly drove away in my old red truck.

Paul's POV

I watched as Bella pulled out of Sam's driveway smiling to myself. My girl was truly amazing the way she took care of her dad like she did. I couldn't keep myself from wondering if she would take care of me like that one day...fuck man! I need to stop thinking like a girl! I will never live this down!

"Paul man I need you to run patrol tonight with Jared." Sam said from behind me. He was outside with Emily in his arms.

"No problem man. Jared let's go!" Jared and I walked into the forest and phased. I could hear him in my head, but didn't think much of it. We started running the patrol path, talking now and then.

"So man, I can't believe you imprinted on Bella Swan!"

"I know I'm a lucky fuck." Jared snorted, thinking how lucky he was to have Kim. Normally I would have teased him but now I understood how he felt.

"So are you going to tell her?" He asked. Memories of how scared he was to tell Kim what he was and explain the imprint to her.

"I will, but I want her to fall for me. I don't want her to feel pressured or trapped. I want her to make her own choices. I'm just glad I don't have to explain werewolves to her."

"I hear you man. That was the scariest shit I ever had to do...well no. Going to the store to buy Kim tampons was the scariest. The things our imprints can get us to do." I was laughing after that.

"I don't think even my imprint could make me do that man! You just officially lost your man card for the time being! Jesus Fuck! That is so embarrassing!" I laughed harder, sensing his irritation.

"I can't wait till Bella has you doing that shit for her too man. Then I will laugh at you!" Jared rolled his eyes and we ran in silence for a little while. My mind kept wandering back to the feel of Bella's touch on my hand. Amazing.

"Dude! You sound like a chick!" Embry complained. He had just phased and was already on my nerves. "Hey man don't get touchy! I came to relieve you, you should thank me!"

"Well thank you Embry. Have fun thinking of fucking masturbating hippos!" I snorted and phased back, clearly hearing Jared's wolfy laugh.

I walked out of the trees and headed home. I lived in a house much like Sam's and Emily's, only it was not cherry colors like theirs. My house was a plain dingy white with a brown door. The inside was just as boring, the only real decorations were in the den. Pictures of me and my mom. I sighed when I saw the last picture ever taken of the two of us.

*Flashback*

"Paul! Are you ready Sweetheart?" My mom called from the bottom of the stairs. We were going to visit my Grandpa in Seattle at the senior home he was at. My mom was very enthused at seeing her dad again.

"Yah mom, just a sec!" I grabbed my sweatshirt, pulling it over my head and dashed down stairs. At fifteen I should not be excited about spending the day with my mom and grandpa, but I was. I rarely saw my mom truly happy, and I would spend millions of boring days with the old man to see her smile like she is right now.

We got into her car and she pulled out of the drive. We talked happily for about an hour when I heard a screech. I looked up just in time to see my mom's eyes widen as a semi hit her side of the car. I could see the life draining her eyes instantly. That alone about killed me.

Why? That is what I asked myself every day. Why? Why? Why? My mom never deserved that. She was the kindest sweetest person I knew. She loved unconditionally and was forgiving. My mom had survived so much in her life. She made it through my father, who had finally gotten his ass thrown in jail. She had survived the death of her twin sister. She was a survivor. And now she is gone.

*End of Flashback*

Looking at the pictures sent pain rippling through my heart. The accident had happened four years ago and it hurt every damn day. Jared was the one who got me through it, always being there to help. Hell his entire family helped me through it, taking me in when I had no one else to turn to. Jared was my brother in every way except for blood. I sighed before I walked upstairs to have a shower.