Chapter Twelve
Free falling. In more ways than one…
Disclaimer.
Rachel's POV
Today, I was convinced that it wasn't the hangover that was making me not have the terrible nightmares. One because for the second night in a row, I woke up not drenched in sweat. And two because if it was I would still be grimacing every time I saw the light of day.
"Morning dad!" I smiled as I let Frodo out the back door. He had learned his lesson not to run away last time he ran into a skunk. Well at least I hope he did.
"Your happy today." He smiled knowingly.
"Well it's a beautiful day!" I smiled, sitting down and grabbing a bowl of cereal.
"You planning on getting your car back anytime soon?" he chuckled.
"Oh! I totally forgot about that. Ill have to ask Jake to drop me of at Kayla's to pick it up." I said shrugging.
"Mhhmm." He answered reading the paper.
I laughed rolling my eyes and hurriedly finishing my cereal.
"Hey Jake!" I smiled, grabbing him a bowl.
"Please don't be all mushy around me." He moaned leaning his head in his hand as he sat at the table.
"Alright. Grain, wheat, sugar? What do you want, I don't have all day." I joked, rolling my eyes.
"Oh haha very funny." He said sarcastically, though he cracked a smile.
I ruffled his hair and set the cereals next to him.
"Do you mind driving me into Forks? I need to get my car." I asked hopefully.
"Sure!" he smiled eagerly.
I furrowed my eyebrows, unsure of why he was so wiling. Then it hit me. Bella lived in Forks. I rolled my eyes, smiling, and took my plate to the sink and headed for my room to take a shower.
After the shower I considered what I should wear. The day was relatively sunny, which was good because I knew the events planned for today would be better with sun. I decided on wearing my black bikini under some tattered old dark jean shorts and a white racer back tank top with a picture of Marilyn Monroe on the front.
Hearing a honk outside from Jacob I quickly grabbed my bag and slipped some flip-flops on. As I exited the door Frodo ran in past me.
"Be good Frodo!" I called behind me as I went toward Jakes car.
"So how was you're um, date?" Jake asked awkwardly.
"Great! He was totally sweet." I smiled, not mentioning we would be going cliff diving. God knows he would freak. He knows I'm not that great of a swimmer.
He rolled his eyes, keepings his eyes on the road as his mouth turned into a thin line.
"Jake, you know I would never go out with him unless I didn't know he was a good guy, right?" I asked him softly.
"That's not the point Rachel. He is a good guy and I know that but-" he started angrily.
"But what, Jacob? He isn't the right one? Because I'm pretty sure I would know that better than you would." I said, angry.
So he is a good guy but just not good enough? Who was Jacob to decide that? Even my dad liked him!
"Rachel, there are a lot of things you don't know about him!" he said furious.
"There are also a lot of things he doesn't know about me, but that's why we are getting to know each other better Jacob!" I said getting madder.
"Those things don't make you dangerous!" he said lividly.
"Oh come on Jacob, just give it up will you?" I said leaning back.
"Rachel, you cant just- he's-" he said looking like he was struggling to get the words out of his mouth.
"What Jacob? If you going to say it just say it!" I said, fuming.
"He – isn't what you think he is!" he said struggling.
"You know what? Were close enough to Kayla's I'll see you later. Say hi to Bella." I said rolling my eyes and getting out when he stopped at a stop sign.
Walking into the neighborhood I considered what he had said.
Was this Jacob just being over protective? Or was he telling the truth? And if he was did I really… care? Sure I'd have to be more cautious but something in me would never really see Paul as a danger.
Sighing when I finally reached my car, I hopped in and drove home.
…
"Dad? Can I ask you something?" I asked him, sitting on the couch next to his wheelchair.
"Anything honey," he smiled.
"Do you think Paul has something to hide?" I asked.
"What do you mean?" he asked cautiously.
"Well Jake started saying all this stuff about how dangerous he is and well I wanted to ask your opinion." I said biting my lip.
"Do you think its true? Or I guess the better question is does it matter? Would you be wiling to stop seeing him?" he asked me seriously.
"Probably not." I said looking down.
"Then I say wait for Paul to tell you. You know Jacob as well as I do, he always blows things out of proportion." He grumbled.
"Thanks dad," I said kissing his forehead.
"I think someone's here," he smiled nodding to a black truck puling into the driveway.
I smiled grabbed my bag and headed out.
"Well good afternoon, Miss Black!" Paul beamed, opening the car door for me.
I smiled getting in and putting my seat belt on.
"So I was thinking, we should go to lunch before we go cliff diving. Anywhere you want to go?" he asked turning the car on.
"Umm, what about that little pizza place across from the pharmacy?" I suggested.
"Sounds great!" he smiled heading towards the small pharmacy.
Since the pizza place wasn't far from my house we arrived pretty quickly. He ordered the pizza while I took the drinks to a small booth.
"So what's your favorite color?" he asked sitting down across from me.
I took a sip from my soda contemplating my answer.
"Red. What about yours?" I smiled.
"Navy blue." He smiled.
"What's your favorite food?" I asked, smirking at our little game.
"Pizza. Yours?" he asked.
"Lasagna." I smiled.
"Really?" he asked amused.
"Really." I smirked.
"Um excuse me?" a girl about my age asked holding a large pizza.
"Oh sorry!" I said leaning back from the table, as Paul did he same.
As soon as she left Paul and me each grabbed a slice and dug in. Though he was done with his third when I just finished my first.
"So my turn, what's your favorite type of soda?" I asked, taking a bite.
"Coke! Definitely. Favorite animal?" he asked.
"Wolf. Ever since Becca and me used to go to the bonfires with dad, I've always loved wolves. What about you?' I asked, smiling. It was like I just couldn't stop.
"Same." He smirked.
…
"Where here." Paul said turning the ignition off.
Suddenly I got a bunch of nerves in my stomach. Breath in breath out, I repeated over and over in my head.
He got out and came to my side and opened the door for me.
"Were going to be jumping from the lower cliffs so it should be better for you. We just have to go put our stuff on the beach then we will get going on up there. " He smiled grabbing some towels from the back.
I smiled and got out, following him towards the beach.
"Were jumping together right?" I asked tense.
"Yeah, of course." He said taking my hand.
Soon we got to the beach next to the cliffs and set down the towels. All my nerves suddenly were not the things on my mind. Paul had taken off his shirt and I had almost forgotten how beautiful he is. Almost.
I blushed, and started taking off my shirt and shorts.
He smirked and held out his hand. I took it eagerly and we started up a steep hill that leads to the cliffs.
"Your sure this is safe right?" I asked.
"If it wasn't do you really think I would be taking you?" he asked quirking his eyebrow.
"Rachel, you know you don't have to do this right?" he asked tightening his hold on my hand.
"I know. I want to though." I smiled.
"You ready?" he asked as we cam to the cliff.
I nodded and went to look over the edge. Oh god.
"Okay were gong to take a couple steps back the on the count of three we jump, alright?" he asked.
I nodded stepping back and tightening my hand.
"One." He said softly, leaning forward. I copied his movements.
"Two." He said looking ready to jump.
"Three!" he said lunging forward. Even if I had forgotten to jump, I'm sure he alone would have been enough for me to go over the edge.
As soon as we stared falling, I could hear myself screaming. The feeling was amazing. Like there was nothing below you at all and you would keep falling forever. The wind kissed every aspect of my skin and my hair flew like crazy. I loved I every second of it.
Then we hit the water. I had never felt colder water in my life. As we plunged deep, the water felt as if it were freezing me in place. Paul pulled us up above the water and held me close. I wrapped my arms around his neck, as we both swam towards the beach.
As soon as we were on land, the wind felt like it was slapping my bare, frozen skin. Paul hurriedly grabbed a towel and wrapped it around us. I was extremely grateful for his high running temperature.
My lips where trembling so much that I started laughing. Paul soon joined in, hugging us together even tighter.
"That felt amazing!" I smiled.
"Yeah, the water was freezing." He smirked.
"Please you run a way higher temperature than me, you have no idea how cold that water is." I giggled.
"Want me to warm you up?" he smirked.
I smiled leaning up to kiss him. With one hand he held the towel up on my back, and with the other he cupped my face. I wrapped both my arms around his neck and pulled myself up to his towering height, though with some help from him. I laughed as I felt him smiling into the kiss. With a small nip on my lip he pulled apart setting me on my feet.
"You warm enough?" he smirked.
"Not quite. " I smirked, pulling away and racing him towards the hill again.
"Ahh!" I squealed as he scooped me up and ran the rest of the way.
"Okay! Okay!' I laughed swatting his arm, so he would put me down.
"I want to try jumping separately, is that alright?" I asked looking up at him.
"Um are you sure?" he asked cautiously.
"If I need you you'll only be a jump away." I laughed smiling up at him.
"If you're sure." He said tensely.
"Count for me?" I asked smiling.
"One." I took a couple steps back.
"Two." I leaned forward.
"Three!" I lunged jumping forward.
Screaming I threw my arms forward, letting myself fall in a dive. The gust of wind wisped my hair, striking my face. I felt unbelievably free.
This time my face hit the water first. This time the water whacked my face in a cold unyielding force. This time I felt blood ooze from my forehead. This time Paul wasn't pulling me up. This time I didn't catch my breath. And this time, my world went black.
…
Hey guys! Thanks so much for the reviews! Though I haven't been giving you guys much time to review the past couple of days what with a chapter a day :P I hope you liked it! I thought I should leave a cliffy ;) please review and tell me what you thought!
P.S. I am now a Beta! Well at least I will be when someone requests me haha :D need a beta? Ask me! ;P