Hi guys, just want to clear something up- if you got an alert email saying i added a chapter before this one, that chapter was a mistake. My other story, Because of You, also had nine chapters, so i mixed them up by accident. I added chapter 9 of that story instead of this one. I changed it, though. but i you get a double email or a random chapter that you don't understand, that's why. Sorry:)

Review please!

MICHELLE'S POV

This morning I woke up hot. There was sweat on my body which was weird because I never sweat. I turned around and realized it was because I was wrapped in Paul's arms. I smiled and snuggled closer to him. I acted like I was mad at him most of the time because of what he was making me do, but I actually really liked him. He mumbled my name in his sleep and hugged me closer to his body. He looked so much nicer when he slept, and younger. Like a little boy. I never noticed how perfect his jaw was. Or how soft his lips looked. I studied his features. He definitely was handsome, more than anyone else I had ever known. He opened his eyes and beamed down at me.

"How long have you been awake?" he asked sleepily.

"Half an hour," I answered.

He looked over at the clock, "It's like seven! Man you wake up early."

I giggled and tried to stand up, but he hugged me tighter.

"Don't leave me," he mumbled.

"Alright," I said happily.

He sighed after a few minutes, "Time for breakfast."

I suppressed my groan. I didn't want to argue today. He carried me to the kitchen and set my down in a chair.

"What do you want?" he asked.

"Can I cook this morning?" I asked.

He looked at me and nodded, sitting in the chair. I stood up and made us scrambled eggs and toast. I put a large portion on his plate and small amount on mine.

"Michelle," he warned. I rolled my eyes and put some more eggs on my plate.

"Who's going to watch me today?" I asked sarcastically, apparently there was a schedule. It was embarrassing.

"Emily," he answered.

"Don't talk with your mouth full," I said.

He swallowed loudly, but shoveled more food in his mouth. I ate slowly. I needed to stay in control.

"Did you sleep okay?" he asked.

"Yeah, did you?"

"Alright. I was worried about you. You sleep like a rock. I couldn't even hear you breathing," he stated.

"I've been told," I giggled.

When breakfast was finished, Emily arrived. I wasn't planning on making myself sick or not eating today. I was in too much of a good mood. I spent the day talking and watching TV with Emily. Our relationship had really grown regarding the age difference. She was really easy to talk to and she was an amazing cook. That actually might be her only drawback to me. At the end of the day, Paul relieved Emily from her babysitting duties and hid in my room when my dad came home. I was just setting our dinner down. He was surprised that I was eating with him, but he didn't say anything.

"So how was Kim's," he asked me.

"Uh, good."

"What did you guys do all weekend?"

"You know, we watched movies and went to the beach," I answered.

"That's great. I'm glad you're getting along with everyone here so well," dad commented, "This is much better that Alabama."

"Yeah," I mumbled, hoping Paul didn't hear that.

"You're so much happier that you used to be. See what friends can do for you?" my dad thought he was helping.

"Yeah," I muttered and finished my dinner.

I cleared the table and ran back upstairs. Paul was sitting on my bed.

"Did you hear?" I asked quietly.

He nodded, "You don't have to explain."

"It's alright. I… after my mom died, that's when I started gaining weight. I stopped talking to everyone and I became the weird girl that sat by herself at lunch," I explained, "I was a miserable little girl. I had no friends. I was fat. I had glasses. I'm never going back to that."

Paul just looked at me. I felt like I had said too much.

"I'm sorry," he whispered.

"Why are you sorry?"

"I'm sorry I couldn't be there sooner for you."

"Paul, it's not your fault," I said, at least he didn't think I was weird.

He pulled me into his arms and we laid across the bed together. I fell asleep for the second night, knowing that I had him to protect me through the night.

The week passed uneventfully. By Friday, I was eighty-five pounds, but I didn't want to gain anymore weight. I would sneak food onto other people's plates or skip meals all together. When my dad came home and we ate together, I would only eat a few things on my plate. Paul wouldn't notice. He was upstairs the whole time.

"How was work, dad?" I asked.

"Fine fine. It's slower here than in Alabama," he said and then started coughing, he had a really bad cold or something, "How has your week been?"

"Good. My friends came over a lot," to babysit me I added mentally.

"That's good. Any boys you're interested in?" he hinted.

"No," I snorted, maybe.

"Come one, there are tons of guys around here," he said.

"No dad," I giggled.

"You're right. No guy is worthy of my daughter," he said gruffly.

I laughed along with my daddy, but his laughs turned into coughs, "You know you really should get that cough checked out," I said.

"I'm fine, I'm fine," he said, waving his hands in dismissal, "Just a cold."

"If you say so," I muttered.

My phone buzzed and I opened the text from Paul. Less talking. More eating.

I replied Yes sir, and took a bite of chicken.

"I ran into Edward's dad the other day," dad said and I chocked on my food.

"Oh yeah," I said, trying to swallow properly.

"Yeah, he seems like a nice guy. Apparently he's a great doctor," dad mused.

"What did you guys talk about?"

"Just every day stuff. He asked how you were. I said you were great of course," he said.

I laughed and took my plate over to the sink. I tried to keep myself calm until I reached my room. Dad couldn't find out. As soon as I saw Paul, I relaxed. Why did he have such an effect on me?

"Who is this guy?" he asked me, pointing to one of the pictures in my photo albums.

I got a better look. Crap. "Uh, nobody."

"He's obviously somebody," the picture was of him and me when we were five and ten at the beach. We were all sandy. Those were the days when my life was perfect.

"Paul, I don't want to talk about it," I mumbled.

He sighed and put the album back under my bed, "What do you want to talk about?"

"Nothing. I'm tired. Night," I said, climbing into bed next to him.

He put his arms around me and I fell asleep.

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