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Chapter 9

"Andy!" Erica screams in excitement as she opens her front door and squeezes me into an enthusiastic hug. It feels weird knocking on her door – I normally just walk right in – but it's worth it for this reaction. "What are you doing here?"

I laugh, pulling out of her embrace. "Surprising you!"

Her smile is engulfing her entire face. "Oh my god, I can't believe you're here!" Her eyes flicker to her driveway, where Paul is in his truck, just about to back out of the yard. "Is that him? He drove you?"

He must notice her staring at him, because Paul gives us a quick wave and a small smirk before leaving the driveway.

She giggles. "Oh my god, you're right; he is so much cuter in person. I can't believe he drove you up. That's so sweet! Why didn't you invite him in? My parents aren't even home so it would have been –"

"Ricki," I interrupt, gulping, "I have a lot to tell you. And it's not really good."

The excitement on her face vanishes. "Oh god. What happened? Are you okay?" She ushers me inside. "No wait, don't tell me yet. Let's get some candy and hot chocolate. It will make it easier." I follow her into the kitchen, grabbing some mugs from the familiar cupboard. Being around her is definitely making me feel a bit better.

Once her Keurig is heated up, she begins pouring my hot chocolate. "My mom forgot to lock up her Bailey's in the liquor cabinet last night. Want some?"

I roll my eyes, but nod nonetheless. "Is it bad that I feel like a need it right now?"

She shrugs but pulls me into another hug. "Probably, but I won't judge."

We make our way upstairs with our spiked hot chocolate and boxes of Christmas candies towards Ricki's room. Once we're there, I flop onto her bed and groan dramatically.

She joins me. "Okay, Andy, what happened?"

"So," I begin, but I don't continue. I just burst into tears.

She looks alarmed, but instantly goes into best friend-mode – comforting me and telling me it will be okay. Once the tears have slowed, she asks nervously, "Andy, are you pregnant?"

My eyes bulge out of my head. "No!" I exclaim. "Well, I mean I won't really know until I start my period next week, but no. I'm probably not. It's nothing like that."

Erica lets out a sigh of relief. "Okay, good. Because you don't want to have to deal with Liam the rest of your life."

I crack a smile at her joke, but I don't respond.

Which instantly makes her jump to conclusions. "Or would it be Paul's?" she asks, shooting me a knowing smirk.

I cover my face as I feel a blush creep up my neck.

She continues jumping to conclusions. "Cassandra!" she exclaims with too much delight. "What the actual fuck?"

I roll my eyes, laughing at her dramatics. "No, no. It's not that. But god do I ever wish we had. I am such a terrible daughter."

"You're not a terrible daughter for thinking that. Come on. It's okay." When I don't say anything, she sighs. "Okay, what is it you're not telling me?"

"I'm going to tell you. I just don't even know where to start."

"Okay," she conceded, opening a box of assorted chocolates and giving me first pick, "I already know you're attracted to him. I know about the pizza thing. And the walk home after that supper. And the run-in in the hallway. I know about the snow day dates."

"They weren't dates!" I exclaim.

She waves me off. "So what's happened since then?"

"Well, when my dad bailed, Paul offered to drive me up here to see you."

Ricki nods. "That was nice of him. So you guys came up this morning?"

I shake my head slowly. Her attention perks up immediately. "We left last night before the storm. But by the time we got here, the roads were too bad for him to drive home. So we both crashed at my dad's place."

She beams. "Oh my god. The power was out last night. What did you guys do?"

I take a deep breath, feeling ashamed. "Well, it went out right after we got there, and I fell trying to find a flashlight. Paul tried to see if I was okay and – we… we kissed."

She gasps in utter disbelief. "You kissed him?"

"Well, kinda. I mean, he kissed me first."

"He kissed you first?" She's practically yelling, and I'm really glad her parents aren't home. God knows, her mother would tell mine in a second flat. "Was it just like a peck? How was it?"

"It was a bit more than a peck," I admit, sheepishly. I can't help but smile as I whisper, "It was amazing. The best kiss I've had in my life." Ricki looks way too happy for me, so I quickly crush her dreams like Paul crushed mine. "Then he said it was stupid."

Erica looks heartbroken for me. "Andy, you know he had to say that. It doesn't mean that he didn't find it as earth shattering as you did."

I scoff. "He's a guy, Ricki. They don't think like that."

"They do when they really care about somebody," she adds quietly. "And from what you've said, that's really what it looks like."

I shake my head hastily. "He's going to be my step-brother. You should be telling me that I should be ashamed of myself. Not that you think he likes me too!"

Erica rolls her eyes, but listens as I tell her the rest of last night's and this morning's events.. "He obviously likes you. There's literally no sense in denying that." I'm about to object, but she cuts me off, "Nuh-uh. Don't even. If he didn't care about your feelings, he wouldn't ask if you're okay twenty thousand times a day." That makes me chuckle. I always kind of felt like Paul asks me that a lot, but if even Ricki notices, he really must. "And he definitely would've tried something while you were sleeping in the same bed."

"That makes no sense. If he didn't care, he would've tried something?" I ask dubiously, confused at her logic.

"Yes!" she insists. "He could've just tried to get some. There would be no consequences for him – obviously you wouldn't tell anybody in case your parents found out. But he at least respects you enough not to put you through that."

I bite my lip. She might have a point. "It doesn't matter anyway. We're pretending like it never happened, remember?"

She groans. "I cannot believe you told him that," she scolds. "He literally gave you the perfect opportunity to get everything out in the open and you shoot it down with some bullshit lie!"

"Why do I feel like you're taking Paul's side in all of this?"

Sighing, she shrugs. "Because this guy is perfect for you, Andy. I know you better than anyone, and I find it so obvious. I just wish there was a way for you guys to be together, without fucking up your mom's marriage."

"Believe me," I snort, "if there was a way to do that, I would be all over it."

A mischievous overtakes her face. "I'll think of something."

Rolling my eyes, I turn on her TV. "Whatever. We have a lot of other catching up to do." We spend the next few hours doing just that. Erica catches me up on all the gossip going on at school and at the movies that I've been missing out on. I expected to feel a twinge of wistfulness; however, I've been having so much fun in La Push with Paul and his friends that I haven't really missed my life in Port Angeles. Of course, I've missed Ricki, but that's about it.

"Oh, you know what we should do! We should go see that new comedy with that Franco guy in it!"

"Why Him," I supplement.

She nods. "Everyone at work says it's really funny!"

"Ricki," I whine, checking my watch. "Paul's already been wasting time in town for a few hours. I don't want to make him wait around all day long."

Smiling mischievously, she offers, "Invite him!"

I shoot her a dubious look.

Giggling, she rolls her eyes. "I want to meet him before the wedding. Come on! Just ask him."

She sends me puppy dog eyes, causing me to sigh. "Fine." Pulling out my phone, I dial Paul's number.

"Uh, no, speaker!"

I oblige, smirking. Poor Paul. I put my finger over my lips, warning her to stay silent.

"Hello," Paul answers.

"Hey!" I reply, cheerily.

"You ready to go home?"

"Well," I drag out the word slightly dramatically, "Ricki wants to go see a movie and we were wondering if you wanted to come. If not, then we can totally just go home now."

"What kind of movie?" Paul asks hesitantly. I can tell by the sound of his voice that he's smiling, though.

"A comedy. It's supposed to be really good," I assure him. "And she works there, so we can get in for free."

"That's not bad." He laughs. "But I'm not sure if I can trust your taste in movies."

I scoff, but I can't really blame him after all the old movies he's caught me watching on Netflix. "I'll have you know my taste in movies is just as great as my taste in shows."

"I'm holding you to that, so don't disappoint."

I giggle, before asking excitedly, "So you'll come?"

"I'd love to. What time?"

"We'll meet you at the theater in like, half an hour?"

"See you then."

Hanging up, I look up to see Ricki beaming at me. "What?"

"You two are absolutely adorable."

I roll my eyes. "You're insane. That was a conversation."

"Yes, but it sounded way more like a conversation between a couple or two good friends. Not one between step-siblings who met a few weeks ago."

I do my best to brush off her words, but deep down, I really want them to be right. "Let's get ready and go. I don't want to miss the previews."

She gets dressed quickly, while I take our mugs and garbage down to the kitchen. Luckily, the movie theater isn't too far from her house, so we hop in her car and are there on time. I immediately notice Paul sitting in one of the arm chairs in the lobby.

Ricki notices him too; she's literally gawking at him. I elbow her with a quick glare before we join Paul.

"Hey," he greets, standing up from his seat.

"Hey." Now for the awkward introductions. "Ricki this is Paul. Paul, this is Ricki."

Paul shoots her a polite smile, but Ricki grins mischievously. "I've heard so much about you."

I shoot her death glares. God, this was just like when Paul introduced me to Jared.

Luckily, Paul laughs. "All good, I hope?"

She shrugs, before joking, "For the most part."

Paul looks immensely concerned at this, but I interrupt Ricki's teasing attempts. "Alright, let's go get in line before we miss the movie."

We walk over to the lineup, discussing what we're going to get. I'm not surprised when Paul decides he wants a large popcorn all to himself. When it's our turn, Ricki uses her employee passes to get us tickets and then we order our food. I'm relieved when it's one of the newer girls working at concessions and not Liam. I really don't want to talk to him, especially with Paul around.

Ally, the new girl, asks how I'm liking my new home and if I miss it here. I don't think anybody who's ever worked here misses it when they leave.

As we're walking towards our theater, Paul says, "I didn't know you used to work here."

I shrug, "Yeah, for almost two years. I was a supervisor actually."

"I still can't believe they promoted Hanna when you left," Ricki interjects.

Smirking, I tease, "Well, it's not like they could've promoted you." Ricki was a little too easygoing to be a supervisor; that's for sure. But she and Hanna were hired at the same time and she's told me multiple times how upset she is that they didn't pick her.

She glares playfully at me, but doesn't disagree this time.

I sit between Paul and Ricki in the theater, and I think the movie turns out to be quite funny. Initially, I kept sneaking glances at Paul throughout it; however, when Ricki caught me, the satisfied smirk on her face was enough to make me stop.

"Well," Paul tells me as we're walking out, "your taste in movies isn't terrible. But it's definitely not on par with your taste in shows."

I blush, noticing the grin on Ricki's face. She's just loving this. Nonetheless, I shove him jokingly. "Oh shush, it was hilar—" I'm cut off by a familiar voice calling my name.

"Cassie!" I notice Liam walking out of the theater across from the one we were just in, broom in hand. Of course, he was working usher and not at the cash. Just my luck.

Ricki's grin disappears off her face.

"Liam, hey," I reply, awkwardness evident in my tone.

"I haven't heard from you since New Year's?" he says, evidently looking for a reason.

I nod, shrugging. "Yeah, I know. It's, uh, been crazy with moving and starting school and stuff." My excuse is lame, but I don't even care. Ricki has essentially told him – maybe too subtly for his brain? – that I'm not interested.

"I bet," he laughs, eying Paul wearily. Maybe I'm imagining it, but I'm pretty sure Paul stepped closer to me as soon as Liam spoke to me. "How long are you in town for?"

"We're actually heading back to La Push right now," Paul interjects shortly.

My head shoots toward him in surprise; he doesn't look impressed. That confuses me. What the hell could he have against a guy he doesn't even know?

Liam frowns at Paul, before smiling at me hopefully. "Well, maybe next time you're in town, we could meet up?"

Oh god. I don't want to be a bitch and shoot him down, but I have no desire to ever hang out with him again. "Um, I probably won't be in town for a while, with the wedding and all."

Liam grins wryly at me. "Oh yeah, you still need a date for that?"

I notice Paul's hands are trembling slightly, and I swear to god if looks could kill, poor Liam would not be breathing right now. Was he actually jealous of Liam? He's the one who said last night was stupid. And besides, it's not like I was flirting back with Liam. It must be something else; I must just be being paranoid again.

Luckily, Ricki comes to the rescue. "That's not really necessary anymore." She jerks her head in Paul's direction. "Now Cassie and her friend really need to get home before another storm starts. You're working tomorrow right?" He nods, as she's shooing Paul and I towards the exit. "See you then!"

"Bye Erica, Bye Cass!" He calls as we head down the hallway.

"Bye," I call back, waving awkwardly.

"Really Ricki?" I ask dryly once we reach the basically empty parking lot. "My friend?"

"What?" she laughs innocently. "He doesn't have to know he's your step-brother. Besides, it worked. We got away from him."

I roll my eyes, before chuckling. "Thank god." I'm surprised to see relief on Paul's face at my words. Ricki and I say our goodbyes, while Paul stands by awkwardly. He still seems off, like something's bothering him.

"Okay, you guys have to go," Ricki says, giving me a hug. "Let me know when you get back!"

"We will," I promise. "See you later!"

I follow Paul to his truck. He doesn't say anything as we get in. He still looks annoyed, but his hands aren't doing that odd trembling thing. Paul puts the key in the ignition. Before he can start the car, I place my hand on his arm, freezing him in place. "Is everything okay?"

Biting his lip, Paul responds slightly angrily, "Please tell me you never had a thing with that guy?"

Thanks for reading! Let me know what you think :) I know some of you are anxious for him to finally tell her about the wolf thing, but be patient, I promise it's coming soon!