And then I crashed into you,
And I went up in flames.
Could've been the death of me,
But then you breathed your breath in me.

And I crashed into you,
Like a runaway train.
You will consume me,
But I can't walk away.

Daughtry - "Crashed"

(X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X)

Bella woke up the next morning with a groan. Izzy had stayed out so late with Paul that she was silent in their shared head space. Bella texted Angela that she was not coming to church and to make something up when her parents started asking where she was. A very Izzy-like move that just proved to her how much the other was rubbing off on her.

She gathered a set of her new clothes and went to shower. She giggled when she looked down and instead of little flowers, there were little skeleton people. Izzy had tried to tell her it was from some nightmare movie involving Christmas but she couldn't connect them. She'd have to watch the movie.. She'd even gotten new shampoo and conditioner, a new scent for a new start. It smelled like rain and petrichor and she loved it.

She stared at herself in the mirror for awhile. Memories of her "mirror" with Izzy came to mind and she smiled softly. Izzy could be a pain and infuriate her like no other, but it was almost like having a twin sister... Or like she was the girl in THE HOST by Stephanie Meyer. But Izzy wasn't a perfect alien and Bella wasn't a rebel bent on non-conformity. Such a change from the weak female she used to be.. She even dressed in a way that made her feel alive. She was wearing jeans! They were some brand called "Apple Bottom" that Izzy had insisted upon but she loved them. She was also wearing something called a racer-back tank top.. It was black and had a beautiful winged cross design on the front.

She gently ran her fingers over the pink streak in her hair. Her excuse to her parents would be that she 'went pink' in honor of Breast Cancer for the month of October, but really it was a colorful reminder that she was going to be her own person.

Walking out of the bathroom, she let out a small squeak when she saw Paul laid out on her couch. Izzy had left her no warning! She'd tuned out of whatever they'd been doing after around 1am... She took a moment to make some observations about the man Izzy had brought into her world.. He did not fit on her couch and she honestly couldn't see how he was comfortable. Their new furniture would be delivered around lunch, and she knew the old thing was scratchy. But he was laid out as if he was sleeping on a feather bed! His face was relaxed and there was no trace of the player persona she had come to associate with him. He didn't snore, it was just a rough sort of breathing. He had one hand behind his head with the couch pillow and another resting gently on his stomach. She could see the attraction Izzy had to him physically..

She made her way into the kitchen as quietly as she could and hit the start button on the coffee pot, sighing happily as the warm aroma of the magical liquid started to fill the space. Izzy had gotten this coffee from the place Jared's parents owned; the coffee shop from her "dream." Waiting for the coffee to percolate, she pulled out a few items to start breakfast, including bacon. All her life she'd been told that bacon was a monstrosity that would cause her to lose her girlish figure, but Izzy had been eating it like it was going out of style! It was Bella's new favorite food.. She even made enough for Paul, but bacon was first come, first served.

She heard a groan and stifled a giggle. Seems that couch got it's own revenge for Paul's sleeping.

There was some shuffling and then Paul filled the space in her small doorway. "Your couch hates me. Do I smell bacon?"

Bella giggled, "That couch hates everyone. I do believe Izzy is planning on making a bonfire out of it after the new furniture arrives today. Coffee?"

"Good morning then, Bella."

Bella nodded, handing him a cup of coffee. "Good morning, Paul. I would ask if you slept well but I know better."

"Don't avoid the question about the bacon."

"You caught me. Yes, there is bacon. It is my new love and I was hoping you would be misled."

"I'm a man, sweetheart." He drawled, sipping his coffee. "We know very little, but bacon is always a priority."

Bella dished up their breakfast and motioned Paul to sit at the island bar before sliding him a plate. They ate in companionable silence, each in their own thoughts. Bella finished first and started washing the few dishes she had.

"You're almost the exact opposite of Iz, ya know." He stated, watching her intently.

"How so?" She asked, placing a rinsed plate in the drying rack, ignoring the dish-washer completely.

"For one, Izzy is never up early enough for breakfast. Izzy prefers her coffee with six sugars and a lot of creamer. As much as she cares, she would never save me any bacon. AND! I don't think I've ever known her to clean up anything in her life."

'I resent that,' Izzy sleepily groaned in their head, causing Bella to giggle again.

"She says she resents that."

"More like resembles it." Paul quipped, finishing off his coffee.

"Being the 'other me' she wouldn't really have the chance to be up for breakfast, since I would naturally have had to get up for school or church. I was never allowed to have such items in my coffee since I wasn't even supposed to have coffee, so naturally that would be what she loves. And I love to clean. As for the bacon, you're just lucky you woke up. Izzy and I are probably opposite because she's everything I used to want to be.. I used to have what I thought were dreams about her. About her doing what I wanted to do. But..."

"But?"

"But after the walls fall apart and there she was, we both realized that it was like looking through a window into each others lives."

Paul smirked, "So you dreamed about me then, sweetheart?"

Bella laughed, "I dreamed about a rough, motorcycle having man who was very attractive and seemed to like me. Isn't that what most women dream of?"

"So you admit I'm attractive?"

Bella rolled her eyes, "I never said I didn't find you attractive. I said I thought you were a player. And I was put in my place."

Paul watched a blush cross her face, knowing what she was remembering. Yeah, she was nothing like Izzy but it sure was beautiful to see a blush on that face. He shook the thoughts from his head.

"Did you want me to help with the furniture stuff?"

Bella seemed to snap back to herself, "Oh! Uhm.. Sure. If you feel like it. I can push it all around if I have to.."

She almost melted at Paul's smile, "Nah. Just let me ride home to shower and change and stuff and I'll be back. Need me to bring anything?"

She shook her head, "Everything is covered. Thanks Paul."

"Anytime, Sweetheart."

(X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X)

Walking in to the place he shared with Jared, he rolled his eyes at the scene he was greeted with. Zoned into the Xbox playing Destiny, his room mate had not even noticed his arrival. He wondered if the fucker had even noticed he didn't come home..

Jared had pulled the couch up closer to the TV and was still leaning forward in almost anticipation. If Paul hadn't thought the game was kinda cool too, he would have called Jared a nerd.

He walked behind the couch and into his room. Looking longingly at his bed, he thought of how amazing it would feel to just lay down for a bit longer. He shook the thought out of his head. Bella was expecting him back and he needed the brownie points; he had promised Izzy after all...

He grabbed some random clothes that he knew would look fine no matter what they were and stepped into his shower. He made a mental note that he was running out of Old Spice Wolfthorn body wash.. Something about the scent was feral and manly. It also drove Izzy wild, which was a plus.

It didn't take him long and then he was ready to go.. Except for one thing. He glanced around the corner and saw Jared was walking around the Tower in the game, so he would probably surface if...

"HEY DICKWAD! I need the keys to the truck!"

Jared was immediately interested. He put down the controller and looked over at his friend. "The truck? You're taking the truck instead of your bike? Are you turning redneck on me?"

Paul threw his wet towel at him, slapping Jared in the face with it. "No. I'm going back over to Izzy's. Their furniture is getting delivered today. I'm going to help Bella moving it around and stuff and then she mentioned Izzy planning to burn their damned uncomfortable evil couch."

Jared raised an eyebrow, "How would you know that it's uncomfortable?"

"You really didn't notice I was gone all night?"

"Dude, I didn't realize it was morning. Angie should be out of church soon..." As if on cue, Jared's phone started buzzing.

"You're turning domestic!" Jared yelled on his way to his room, answering the phone after his door slammed closed. Paul noticed the keys on the table and picked them up before yelling out a bye.

(X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X)

"You and Paul seemed friendly this morning." Izzy chirped, her smirk apparent inside their shared headspace.

Bella huffed and pulled at the ancient entertainment center again, "And you seemed very worn out. Are we going to keep stating the obvious?"

"I'm just glad you're getting along. I really like him, Bells. Really really!"

Bella laughed, "I know you do. I wish you were a twin instead of a weird head-version of me. I could use the help."

"I thought Paul was coming to help?"

"He said he is. But I can-"

"Bells! That's what men are for! Besides, it'll be fun to stare at his butt."

"You stare, I'm moving stuff. Stuff YOU picked out. Why aren't you the one doing this?"

"Because YOU are the brains and I use Paul as my brawns."

"Knock-knock"- Bella swiftly turned and ended up flat on her butt.

Paul was leaning in the entrance of their open front door with a smirk on his face. "Falling for me? Izzy might not like that."

Bella huffed and stood, "We were just talking about you. Kinda."

Paul laughed, "I heard. You really should have your door closed if you're going to talk to each other. People are going to think you're crazy."

"Or I could just wear a blue-tooth all the time?"

"That only works if you don't answer yourself."

Bella's face began to heat up as Izzy started enjoying the view of Paul. Her inner musings were quite... expressive. 'Oh come on, Bells! He looks like a hot construction worker in those jeans and his tight white tee and his boots! All he needs is a hard hat.. This is him, without trying to look nice.' Bella shook her head, 'He's all yours, Iz.'

There was a very awkward silence that Bella would ask about later. Before she could say anything, Embry's head filled the door. She heard Sam yelling at him to move away and sounds of shoving. Paul scratched the back of his head like a child caught in the cookie jar, "I asked Embry and Sam to come along and help.. Jared was doing something with-"

"Nope! Here!" Angela's voice rang out. She pushed past the men and entered the apartment, dragging Jared along with her. "Hey!"

Bella laughed, hugging the girl. "You dragged Jared here?"

Angela shrugged, "You're much more fun now that you're not listening to mommy and daddy. I mean, I liked you before as my good girl friend and now that Izzy's out you are the total best friend package."

"And you brought your boyfriend to move my furniture because...?"

"Don't say boyfriend. I prefer paramour. And because I am DYING to hang out with the new Bella.. I know Izzy isn't out to play yet."

'In Angela language, she wants to pump you for information.'

'And you know that how?'

'Because I know Angie, and you knew Angela...'

Bella shrugged. The delivery truck pulled up and she signed the first slip authorizing delivery and went into the kitchen to have coffee and talk with Angela while it was unloaded. She then inspected the furniture for any damage before signing again and instructing the guys on where everything was to go. Paul had Sam and Embry taking the old stuff and putting it on the truck or attached trailer while he and Jared moved everything around.

"So, Bella. What do you think of Paul?"

Bella almost growled at Izzy's 'told ya so' but took a sip of her coffee and smirked, "He's decent enough. He did thank me for sharing my bacon this morning."

Angela started coughing and then cleared her throat, "Please tell me you're not using one of Izzy's phrases and you literally meant bacon."

"Of course I did!"

"Sorry! I'm just not used to you talking normally.."

"ANYWAY! I'm going to make an effort to get to know him. Izzy likes him and I think I'm starting to see he's not such a bad guy..."

Angela smiled softly but was interrupted by a rather large yell.

Bella entered the living room to find Edward Cullen in her doorway, facing off against the four other men. The loud yell had come from Embry, who had apparently been trying to hold Edward off from coming in the home.

"Edward? What on Earth are you doing?!"

"Isabella, please tell this ruffian to remove himself from my person and to allow me entry. I came to check on you since your absence in church was apparently from illness but now I see otherwise."

"Edward, you were not invited to my home. I believe you were basically told to leave me alone. And my name is not Isabella."

"I tend to disagree. It is your legal name as per your birth certificate and ID. Shortening it shows a lower standard of class."

Bella rolled her eyes, "So does engaging in sexual activities with another woman while you're supposed to be in a committed relationship."

"I still have no idea what you mean. However, you are behaving as a common whore. There are four men here! Are they all taking turns?"

Bella froze and felt a slow wash of ice go through her body. She'd been called a great many things in life, but never a whore. She looked down, refusing to let the tears coming to her eyes out. She was also refusing to let IZZY out for fear of being arrested.

"Please excuse me." She rushed into her room, Angela hot on her heels. She missed the look of pure anger pass over Paul's face.. The protective look of Jared and Sam and the look of caring Embry shot towards her.. She simply ran.