Chapter Seventeen
It's a Two-Way Street
Disclaimer.
Rachel's POV
"Jacob would you stop your complaining? I mean I'm coming back tomorrow!" I said grumbling, as Becca did yoga in the living room, all the while laughing at how exasperated I was with him.
We had just finished packing all her things and already had them in the trunk next to mine, for early tomorrow morning. We had the rest of the afternoon left to do whatever came to mind, before we had to go to sleep and get ready for the morning flight.
"Rachel, he practically lives here now! Everyday he gets worse. Its like he was on drugs and was suddenly taken off them cold turkey!" he nagged, and I could practically hear the force of his body falling onto his mattress.
"Look, I have one day left here, do you think I can enjoy it without having to hear you complain all day?" I asked fiddling with the ring Kayla gave me.
"Do you think that for once I could get out some food from the fridge without being growled at? Maybe once not be woken up because Paul's sleep talking? Once not have my head bitten off for touching some of you things?"
"Wait, why where you touching my things?"
"You know, dad needs me so-" he said changing the conversation.
"Jake!" but he had already hung up.
"Children these days." I grumbled shaking my head as I sat next to Becca on the floor.
…
Solomon woke us extra early in the morning, wanting to get some breakfast before we left.
I quickly dressed in a soft navy blue, cotton dress. It was comfortable, but also nice enough for when I saw Paul. After brushing my hair stepped outside to where Becca and Solomon were.
"Can we go somewhere with blueberries?" Becca asked, while getting in the front seat. I smiled at her as she fell into the seat, getting in the seat behind her.
"Yes dear." Solomon laughed, slamming the trunk and swiftly getting in the drivers side.
"So, you and this guy…" Solomon smirked.
"Solomon." I said warningly.
"I know I know! No prying… But you remember Kyle, right? He was the best man at my wedding. Well he always had a crush on you. So if Paula ever gives you trouble, just give me a call." he winked, laughing.
"As I stated yesterday, I am perfectly fine with just Paul. Thank you Solomon." I glared, resisting the urge to smile. Obviously he wasn't being serious, but even the thought of being unfaithful to Paul made me sick to my stomach.
After we ate at a small café near the airport, Solomon drove us over to a small gift shop. I wanted to get a couple things for some people back at home.
After buying something for almost everyone, Solomon, Becca and me all headed back to the car. The ride to the airport was brisk, and Solomon stayed with us till almost boarding time. Seeing him go was a bit sad, and I made sure to tell him to visit soon cause it was his turn next. He smiled and assured me he would.
"Bye honey. Take care." Solomon smiled, kissing Becca. She smiled sadly, hugging him tightly. He smiled, kissing her belly.
"Bye Rach!" he smiled, hugging me. "Don't let that guy of yours limit your freedom. I've got a bunch of friends back in La Push who would gladly take you out." He winked, waving as he walked backwards.
"Yeah, yeah. Sure." I laughed rolling my eyes.
As they called us to boarding I took Becca's hand in mine and smiled at her. There was nothing like having your sister by your side.
…
Grabbing my luggage, and helping Becca with hers' I lifted them off the baggage claim.
"Who's picking us up?" Becca asked smiling.
"Well, Jake was here on Thursday to pick my car up with one of his friends, cause Paul wanted to be the one to come get us instead of having us drive." I smiled.
"Really? That's so sweet! But why would Jacob even want to do that guy a favor if he is in his overprotective mode?" she asked smirking.
"Well, my guess is that Paul didn't really give him a choice." I laughed.
Suddenly my phone started vibrating in my pocket and I looked at the caller id, smiling.
"Hey, where are you?" I asked looking around.
"Look behind you."
I turned, searching through the crowd. A smile broke out my face when I spotted him. Hanging up I quickly set my bags down, running over to him.
He opened his arms, catching me in a hug. I dug my head in the crook of his neck, savoring the way he held me. God I had missed him. Missed his arms around me. Missed the way he smelled. Missed his smile, his laugh, the way he always scrunched his nose when he was upset. It was as if being away was actually painful in the literal sense.
"Don't you ever leave without saying goodbye again." He whispered into my hair.
"Never." I smiled into his neck. No wonder I was so cold at Becca's house. I was used to being around Paul's steaming hot temperature.
The sounds of someone coughing, well fake coughing, brought me out of my revere. I started to pull away, but was held in place by Paul's rock hard grip.
"Hey. Paul?" I asked, giggling.
"Can you let go? My sister came back with me, and well as much as I missed you, I should probably introduce you guys." I laughed.
He set me down, a blush slightly evident on his russet skin.
"Paul, this is my sister Becca. Becca this is Paul." I smiled biting my lip, hoping she would bite her tongue and not say anything embarrassing.
"Paul, I've heard so much about you! You know all she does is talk about you! Oh and, I don't know if you know this but she is a chatter mouth at night, and you wont believe what-"
I'm guessing it's too late to send her back to Hawaii, isn't it?
"Lalalalala!" I said, covering his ears, well trying to.
He chuckled grabbing my hands and kissing my knuckles.
Smiling at him I turned and walked back to our luggage, picking up my stuff.
"Oh no you don't." Paul said snatching the things out of my hands.
"Paul come on at least let me carry something." I grumbled following after him.
He turned, handing me his keys, smirking.
I rolled my eyes laughing. Becca elbowed me in the ribs winking, as if to say she approved.
"So Paul, where do you work?" Becca asked him as he set the things in the bed of his truck.
"He's sort of a Police man for La Push, the elders pay him to patrol around the area." I said when I saw the panicked look he threw me.
"Oh, so you're a man in uniform?" she asked, winking at me.
Ugh, this was going to be a long two weeks.
…
"Becca!" dad smiled when we arrived at the house.
"Hey dad!" she said hugging him.
"Beck!" Jacob smiled hugging her.
"Hey dad," I smiled embracing him in a hug. I had missed him a lot.
"Rachel! Your home!" Jacob yelled, suddenly tackling me with a hug.
"Hey, nice to see you too." I laughed rolling my eyes at how dramatic he was.
"I thought you would never come home!" he cried. I rolled my eyes pushing away from his chokehold on me.
"Um, Rachel?" Becca said disgustedly, pointing down to Frodo who was wagging his tail while looking up at her.
"That's Frodo." I smiled, laughing at her cautious expression.
"Eh, he's alright… I like cats better." She smiled, though despite her words she leaned down, petting his head.
Smiling at them, I swiftly left the commotion, heading for my room. I beamed as I saw Paul leaning against the wall next to my room.
"I missed you." He grinned pulling me to him.
"Oh! That reminds me!" I smiled, tugging him into my room and to my suitcase, since it was basically impossible to be able to actually pull him.
I rummaged through my bags, pulling out the t-shirt I bought him. It was a faded light blue and had white waves on it the spelled out Hawaii.
"Thanks Rach!" he smiled happily.
"Wait, there's something else too." I smiled, pulling out the black braided string bracelet.
"Me and Becca used to make these all the time. So when I came over there we made them while watching movies or riding in the car." I smiled wrapping it around his left wrist.
"I know it's not much but I thought I would make you one." I shrugged, smiling.
"No, this is more than enough. I love it Rach." He smiled, kissing me.
"You know, I share this room too so you might want to get another room." Becca winked, walking in.
I buried my head in his chest grumbling. God. Overprotective would have been way better than this teasing game she had going on.
"Anyways, I'll leave you two lovebirds alone, I've gotta help make dinner!" Becca winked, leaving the room.
"And you can see how we are really nothing alike." I grumbled, grabbing my bag and hauling it on the bed so I could unpack.
"Yeah, sure." He chuckled, laying on the bed with his feet hanging off one side.
After a while of putting all my clothes away I looked over and saw that Paul had fallen asleep. I smiled softly, removing the now empty suitcase from the bed and laying next to him. Laying my head on his shoulder I let my sleepiness take over.
…
"Dinners ready!" Becca's voice boomed, making me jump and startling me out of my slumber.
Paul jumped startled, throwing an arm protectively in front of me.
"Jeez… why so uptight?" Becca asked laughing and retreating from the room and heading into the kitchen.
I breathed, my heart still beating uncontrollably fast. I turned so I lay on my back, stretching and yawning.
"Mmm." Paul breathed, stretching his arm around me and pulling me to him.
"I know. I don't want to get up either." I laughed," But since when do you ever turn down food?"
"Since I realized how incredible it feels to take a nap with you." He grumbled into the pillow.
"Come on, I'm hungry." I laughed, rolling my eyes.
"Hey sleepyheads!" Becca laughed, handing us each a plate.
"Yeah, remind me to never ask you to wake me up in the morning." I laughed.
"What, why? You guys were so overeating!" she said smiling like an idiot cause she knew she so did it on purpose.
"Okay, I'll make sure to wake you up like that tomorrow morning!" I smirked, serving Paul an extra heap of Pasta.
After we all sat down at the table conversation flowed easily and I was reminded of what it felt like to have all the family eating together.
Paul fit in so well it was like he had always been there. Jake and him seamed to be on better terms, at least slightly. He took Becca's teasing well and didn't seem scared to come back with a retort himself. Him and dad had small conversation here and there, and for once it didn't really seem strained on my dads side. Everything was absolutely perfect.
…
"So he seems like a really nice guy." Becca stated while we lay in bed that night after Paul had left and everyone had retreated to their rooms.
"Oh really? So no interrogation needed?" I asked laughing.
"Nah, the teasing is much more fun." She smirked, giggling when I swatted her.
"So what's going on with Jake?" she asked when I was on the verge of sleeping.
"What do you mean?" I asked confused.
"Aren't you slightly curios why he is so … buff? And as to why the hell I heard him leave the house like five minuets ago?" she asked.
"Well he works out a lot." I said shrugging, trying to settle her curiosity. When Becca was curios, she was dangerous.
"Yeah, cause last time I visited he was a twig! What if he is into drugs or something? No one changes that fast! I mean I really doubt he just left the house to go work out at midnight. " She said not giving up.
"Well Becca neither you or me ever really visited much did we?" I said harshly, desperately wishing she wouldn't ask these things. It was unbelievably difficult for me to just spill the beans, but I knew I had to keep my mouth shut. If being cruel did the job, then that's what I would do.
"Well at least I didn't just live like what a couple hours away? Yeah I was all the way in Hawaii unlike you Rachel!" she said bleakly.
I shut my eyes tightly, not wanting to escalate the fight. But she wasn't having that. That just wasn't Becca's style.
"I probably visited more than you did! I mean come on Rachel did you really think leaving was going to really change the fact that mom was gone? She didn't go on a fricking vacation Rachel! She's dead!"
Tears pricked my eyes, but I fought them away. I knew she didn't mean the things she was saying. Becca had always had a bit of a temper. That had always set us apart at school. I was always more calm and collected than she was. She just wasn't one to turn away a good argument.
"Look Rebecca I'm tired, can we just go to sleep?" I asked, choosing to ignore the slap in the face her words were to me.
"Yeah. Lets just go to sleep and everything will be perfect when we wake up right? Just like you leaving to Collage, cause when you get back, maybe mom will be sitting in the living room right? Get it through your head Rachel." she said sitting up.
"If your not going to sleep then I'll just sleep somewhere else." I said briskly, ignoring the words that so deeply stabbed me in the back. Though I knew she didn't mean the things she said, she had never talked to me in such a way. The girls at school maybe, but never her.
Standing up I quickly left the room and went into the living room. I sat there for a while with my head in my hands, holding back the throbs that escalated through my chest.
Standing up I slipped my sandals on and decided to go for a walk to clear my head. The air was cold, but in a nice way. And the moon was shining down in an iridescent glow. Even without streetlamps, the sidewalk ahead of me was easy to see.
As I walked, getting further and further away from home, I actually started relaxing. It wasn't that I kept all my emotions pent up, but that I just didn't release them the same way others did. Just because I didn't scream and yell didn't mean I had no backbone.
Sighing I turned around ready to head back home. Hopefully Becca-
"Rachel?" Paul's voice boomed, making me scream and throw my hand over my throat.
"Paul! Are you trying to give me a heart attack!" I scream-whispered, turning around to face him. He was shirtless wearing only a pair of kaki shorts, and as much as I would love to go into detail of that, he also looked extremely mad.
"What in the world are you doing roaming the streets in the middle of the night?" he asked, ignoring my last statement, and walking closer.
"Sorry, I just- Becca and me got in a fight, and-" I said trailing off. His angry expression changed to one of concern. I looked down at my sandals, feeling a bit embarrassed.
"Are you alright sweetheart?" he asked, pulling my chin up to look at him.
It was then, looking into his eyes when I let myself truly breakdown. He held me to his chest letting me cry while running his hand up and down my back. I eventually calmed down, feeling thankful to have got it all out of my system.
Maybe this was what the imprint was. The way I helped him calm down and not explode, he helped me unfold and let go.
…
Hey guys :) hope you liked the chapter! Any suggestions on what should happen next are always welcomed! I may or may not use them, but if I don't please don't get offended! Most likely its just because it doesn't run well with what I have planned for later on.
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