Chapter Five
Mr. Intense
Rachel's POV
Grabbing a couple of grocery bags I headed inside.
"You know it would help if you guys grabbed some of-"I started to say grumpily, before I looked up. Guess who was sitting in my living room talking to my dad and Jacob?
Mr. Intense. That's who. You know that incredibly sexy guy I met at the beach?
I started walking toward the kitchen when my foot caught the rug and I did a face plant, sending all the food spiraling in different directions. On the way down I managed to bite my lip too. Phooey.
"Are you okay? Do you hurt anywhere?" Mr. Intense asked me, suddenly right next to me. He proceeded to lift me up by my forearms.
"I-I'm fine." I mumbled quietly, fixing my shirt as it rose slightly.
"You're bleeding!" he said panicked.
"Huh?" I asked. I will admit I was a bit distracted by his… well everything.
Without answering me he grabbed my hand and pulled me into the kitchen, grabbed a paper towel and ran it under water. When he started dabbing my bottom lip with the paper towel I swear I almost fainted.
"She can do it herself!" Jacob said suddenly. Reminding me that Mr. Intense wasn't the only one in the room.
I turned to glare at Jacob. This seemed to surprise everyone.
"I-I should clean up the mess…" I whispered.
After picking up everything salvageable, I grabbed a trash bag and cleaned the rest. When I came back from throwing that away, I was surprised to find Mr. Intense drying up the spilled milk.
" I'm Rachel by the way." I smiled. Why did it take so much courage for me to say that? I'm such a dweeb.
"Paul Lahote." He beamed. Holding out his hand for me to shake.
I didn't realize that in my daze I was taking awhile to respond, so when I saw his hand retreating I quickly grasped his. With maybe a little too much eagerness.
To my horror his smile widened.
"It's getting late Paul. Don't you think you should go home?" Jacob asked entering the room.
"Its only six o'clock…" Paul said with a quirked eyebrow.
I laughed, which made Paul laugh. I looked up only to see Jacob storm out off the house.
"Sorry my brother is still kind of in his hormonal teen years." I smiled getting up.
"Its okay I'm used to him by now." He grinned.
"Wait your friends with my brother?" I asked, trying not to let my horror show.
"No, we work together. Strictly business." He chuckled.
"Oh okay, I was going to say… he wasn't acting friendly with you." I said shrugging and heading into the kitchen to rinse the milk out of the rags.
"Where do you guys work anyway?" I asked him.
"We uh, help Sam out." He grunted, sounding unsure.
Wait so this 'Help Sam' thing was a regular occurrence? So much so they called it their job?
'Keep out of his business Rachel! Your just going to annoy him!'
STAY OUT OF THIS CONSCIENCE!
"So uh Paul, would you like to stay for dinner?" dad asked him from the table.
"As much as I wish I could, I've got to the late shift today." he said sounding almost pained.
He must really not like his job or something.
"Tomorrow?" I asked hopefully.
'Why do you have to be so desperate?'
Would you just be quiet? No one cares what you have to say!
"Sure!" Paul said, his eyes lighting up.
Dad smiled, with something intangible glinting in his eyes.
"So uh do you work anywhere?" Paul asked after a moment of silence.
"Not at the moment, but I was thinking about applying to the little bookstore down the street." I shrugged, as I started to clean the dishes just to have something to occupy my hands with.
"Oh really? I know the owner I'm sure she'll give you the job." He smiled knowingly.
"Who is it?" I asked suspiciously.
"My grandmother." He chortled.
"Really? I love that book store!" I smiled. When I was little mom would always get me tons of books. I was a bit of a bookworm.
"I'm glad." He grinned.
"So what time do you work?" dad asked him, an annoyed edge to his voice.
"Pretty soon. I got stuck with the long shift too." He grumbled, rubbing his hands over his face. He looked tired.
"Toughen up, kid. They aren't working you harder than they work the rest of them." Dad said rolling his eyes.
"Yes sir." Paul said quietly.
"And stop sucking up." Dad said rolling his eyes and making his dramatic roll away exit.
"Dad!" I screamed, horrified.
… … …
"Have you seen Jacob?" I asked dad after I was done cleaning the kitchen after diner.
"Nah, he might be a while. I think he went to Sam and Emily's." dad shrugged.
"What was up with him this morning anyway? Does he have some dish on Paul?" I asked curiously. Usually my brother is an extremely friendly guy.
"You bet ya!" dad laughed.
"Well? What is it?" I asked.
"You! Come on Rachel, don't tell me you didn't notice the way Paul was looking at you? What kind of brother likes to see a guy looking at his sister like that?" dad said, like it was completely obvious.
I blushed a tomato shade of red.
"That is not true! Paul wasn't looking at me any different than he would anyone else." I said stubbornly.
"Sure, and you weren't looking at him like that either, right?" dad laughed.
"What!" I said incredulously. No way! … was it that noticeable?
… … …
Hey guys! I know this was a really short chapter and I apologies! I couldn't really think of another way to end it…
I know some of you might think their relationship is going a little fast… but remember in the book? It says that with them it was like love at first sight!
Anyhow … I'm stuck on what should happen next? I feel it needs more drama… ;) suggestions are fully encouraged.