Chapter 18 - Change Of Plans

Bella's Point Of View

It's been three weeks since Sam had his unfortunate date with the bathroom. For six hours. Graduation went by without a hitch, and a lot of my time was soaked up by the extra hours I pulled at the diner. When the girls and I did manage to have any free time, we laid low. Hanging out at each others houses. Going to the movies. Doing normal teenage things.

Dad decided to sit me down when he found out about our "hellish ways." He lectured me relentlessly for two hours, about what I was doing. How it was wrong.

Twenty minutes into the heated debate between what his version of wrong was, I asked him why he never felt it was wrong that they did those things to me. Why he never sided with me, but he'd side with them.

He said he'd always been aware of the tribal secrets. Billy was his best friend, and they needed something to talk about on those long fishing trips.

I asked how the tribal secrets had anything to do with what I was put through two years ago. He dropped his head and said that he regretted a lot of things he'd done in his life. But, his biggest regret was not standing up for me, when I needed him most. He said that he hated what I went through.

But then he started in on me again about what I was doing in retaliation. He didn't understand how I could hold a grudge for so long. On why, I would hold a grudge.

I guess he wouldn't understand.

The girls and I were invited to a bonfire tonight. So here I am. Sitting in my dimly lit room while Kenda and Angela raced around me, getting ready.

Sam came by the diner a couple of nights ago, to formally invite us. I still chuckle a little bit because he won't look me in the eye. I didn't feel bad for him, though.

Emily and I have formed a solid friendship. I've found myself going to her house when Angela and Kenda were working.

"What are we wearing?" Kenda asked, as she threw a t shirt onto the floor and grabbed another one from my dresser.

"I'm not dressing to impress anyone." I said, as I stood and walked over to the short stack that I had lying on my desk. "Jeans and a sweatshirt it is." I finished as I pulled the sweater over my head.

"What time does it start?"

I glanced over to the clock on my nightstand. "We should be there in twenty minutes, Angela," I said, as I brushed my hair and then threw it into a high pony tale on top of my head.

"Well, let's go then." Kenda said as she moved to the door.

We all piled into the truck and headed for the cliffs. It didn't take long to get the small patch of grass between the trees and the woods, where we usually parked. Climbing out of the truck, we headed for the path had been beaten down by the numerous trips that everyone's made over it, throughout the years.

Ten minutes later, after nearly breaking my face on an overgrown tree root, we walked onto the rocky ledges. The guys were all there, running around, and gathering wood for the bonfire that would be set ablaze when it was dark enough. A pit was built right in the center of the small expanse of land. Rock's lined the sphere directly in the center. About two feet out from the rocks were large pieces of old driftwood, that were used for seating.

I ignored the commotion, and walked towards the ledge.

I haven't been back up here in a few years. I've always tried to avoid this place. I'm not going to lie, and say that it wasn't… beautiful. Even if this place had once been the place of heartbreak. Of pain.

The sky was cast in countless shades of orange's, yellows and reds. A sign that tomorrow was going to be just as nice as today. The waves crashing on the rocks below, gave that since of serenity. That serenity you found when you truly, weren't looking for it. You never really could find it if you searched. No matter how much effort you put into it.

"Nice isn't it?" He said quietly into my right ear.

"Not here, Paul." I sighed.

"Why not?"

"I can handle that shit anywhere but here." I said, as I turned to face him. "Do you have to destroy every moment that I find a semblance of peace in?"

"I'm not trying to ruin it, Bella." He said, as he moved forward a step. "I just want to share it with you." He lifted his hand and brushed it lightly against my cheek.

"Paul, you have to stop." I tried, as my body shuttered at the feeling.

"Stop fighting, Bella." He watched me for a moment, and then turned and walked away.

Sighing, I turned and glanced out the water below.

I was hoping that it would be quiet, at least until the bonfire started. But that hope shattered when I heard a screeching, nasally voice, behind me.

"So, you're the new bitch, huh?"

"You're not welcomed here." Kenda said, and I closed my eyes,

Why me?

Deciding to ignore her presence all together, I opened my eyes and continued to enjoy the breathtaking view. Until someone shoved me. A shove that almost, almost, caused me to nose dive over the edge of the cliff.

"What. The. Fuck." I growled as I turned to the bleached blonde bimbo that was jutting her breasts out in, I'm sure what she thought, was a provocative stance.

"You need to leave my man alone." She said, snapping her fingers in front of her.

Seriously. I can't make this shit up.

"What the hell are you talking about, Jess?"

The group around us began to expand in size, as everyone wanted to see the confrontation.

"Paul." She said, flipping her hair over her shoulder.

I glanced around waiting for someone to yell 'you got punk'd' but it didn't happen.

Sighing, I locked eyes with Jessica. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"He's mine!" She screeched as she took a step closer.

I laughed. Hard. Right in her face.

"You should go tell him that." I said, as I glanced around for the current topic of conversation.

Figures he'd be no where around. Seems he disappeared.

"Has he kissed you?" She asked as she lifted a finger and stuck it in my chest. "Don't lie to me! He kissed you didn't he?" She raked her hand through her hair. "I knew he'd do this to me."

"Listen, Jess…"

"No, slut, you listen…" She cut me off.

I took a deep breath and glared at her. "I'll give you to the count of three, Jess, to back the hell off, before I end up hurting you."

When the large group that gathered around, moved in closer to us, I yelled, "if any of you take a step closer, I swear on all that I fucking am, that I'll start all over again."

They all took a step back, but continued to stare.

"Just keep the hell away from him, or I'll… I'll…."

"You'll what?" I laughed. "Three."

She took a step closer to me, and Angela said quietly, "man, she really isn't all that bright."

"Two."

She took another step.

"Jess, man, back the fuck up off of her before you get hurt." Jake said, as he reached out to grab her arm. She shoved him off of her and took another step.

"I'm not scared of this bitch." She said, nodding towards me. "She is after all, only Izzy Swan." She threw her head back and laughed.

"One" I sang, as I drew my fist back and let it fly as hard as I could. Right into the bitches nose.

The loud crack, and crimson red pouring out, signaled that I had hit my intended target.

"You broke my nose." She screeched as she turned in a circle. "You broke my fucking nose."

"Why are you twirling? It's not like it fell on the ground you dumb bitch."

"Just wait Izzy." She yelled. "I'll get you for this shit." She turned and began stomping away. But not fast enough. I brought my foot up, and kicked her square in her flat ass, sending her flying forward onto her hands and knees.

"It's Bella, you stupid bitch." I said, as I turned away from her and took a deep breath.

"You cunt!." I heard her scream.

Everything happened entirely too fast after that.

"No!" A chorus of screams and shouts erupted in my ears.

But it was too late.

She hit me. Hard. Right in the center of my back. I lost my footing for a fraction of a second, but it was enough. I toppled. Straight down. Right over the edge of the cliff.

Adrenaline. That's all that I felt as I turned my body, to brace myself against the impact of the dark, raging water below. My heart was in my throat. I lost the ability to hear... anything. I saw nothing. I just felt.

The self inducing wind, rushed angrily against me. It was the biggest rush I'd ever felt. I thought I heard screaming, but I couldn't find it in myself to care.

I focused on inhaling. I knew that I had to hold my breath for as long as possible while I fought my way back to the surface.

I hit the water, like a brick hitting pavement. It hurt. Hurt, everywhere. Thousands of pins and needles attacked my body. For a brief second, I thought about gasping against the pain. Thankfully, my mind won against the painful onslaught.

I kicked. I kicked with everything that I had in me. When the faint setting sunlight began to break through the overwhelming darkness, a little of the fear that I had begun to feel started easing from my joints. Just a little bit further. My body ached. My limbs screamed in protest. But I fought.

What else could I do?

I felt his presence before I saw him. I was never more thankful for him in that moment.

When he reached out for me, I hurriedly grabbed his hand. He dragged me to the surface, and when my head finally broke through the heavy water, I gasped.

He turned, long enough to grab my elbow and to swing me around.

My legs wrapped, snugly, around his waste. My arms were tight around his neck. He held onto my clasped hands with one of his own, as he used his other to push forward.

When he was close enough to the beach, he stood and wrapped his free hand around my thigh. Holding me tightly to his back.

"A little farther." He said, as he squeezed gently.

Relief washed over me, and I closed my eyes, and rested my head on his back, between his shoulders.

When my back hit the warm sand, with a quiet thud, I gasped again, and arched.

Ouch..

"Fuck, Bella!" Paul said, as he moved his body over the top of mine. His knees bent on either side of my dripping wet, legs. "Please say you're okay." He wiped the hair from my forehead. "I'm going to kill that Bitch."

"I'm..." Swallowing, "I'm good."

"Are you sure?" He asked, as he moved his hands down the length of my arms.

"Yea. Just... Just give me a minute."

He reached under my arms, and pulled me up. Wrapping his arms around me, he crushed me to his chest. "I was so fucking scared." He whispered.

"How did you get here so fast?" My breathing was returning to normal.

He laid me back down, and hovered above me. "I saw her push you. I went to my car for a second, and when I came back, I saw you go over." He raked his hands through his wet hair. "I jumped in after you."

"Thank you." I whispered.

Nothing else was said for a few moments. I was trying to pull myself together. To come to terms with what had just happened.

I was exhausted though.

"We have to move." Paul said, as he stood from the sand, and reached his hand out for me to take. "You have to change. You're going to get sick."

When I reached out to grab the offered help, and he pulled, a sharp rush of pain shot through my wrist and up my arm. "Fuck!"

"What the fuck?" Paul asked, as he dropped back down to his knees.

"I think I broke it." I cradled my injured wrist to my chest, and stood on my own.

"Fuck!" He growled.

I stood on my own, and walked down the beach, towards the parking lot.

"I need to go to the hospital. Again."

"I'll take you." He said, as he placed his hand on the small of my back and guided me towards his car.

When we finally reached the black beauty, he tore open the passenger side door, and pulled the front seat forward, nodding towards the back.

"What?" I asked, confused.

"You have to get out of those clothes." He said, waving his hand up and down in front of me. "There's an extra pair of sweatpants and a t shirt I keep back there." He nodded again, "Go on."

I raised an eyebrow in silent challenge. No way in hell. Just... no.

"Bella." He said, glaring. "Get into the fucking car, and change your clothes." He reached out and grabbed my elbow, and pushed me into the direction of the open door.

"Fine," I grumbled, defeated. "But you better keep your eyes trained somewhere else."

It took me a moment to climb into the back seat. It was awkward. Cramped. And down right uncomfortable.

When I glanced out the window, I smiled at myself, to see that Paul had indeed turned around. His back was placed firmly against the closed door. His eyes looking out over the beach.

Lifting my sweater slightly, with a cringe of pain from my injured hands, I reached down and managed to get the button of my jeans undone. But, the pain was so bad, that I couldn't pull them down with both of my hands out of commission.

Fuck my life.

Now what?

Sighing, I turned to the window again, and lifted my arm to bang on it with my elbow.

Paul turned, and opened the door.

"Why aren't you changing?" He asked, as he leaned into the car.

"My hands are messed up" I said, as I lifted them both up to show him. "I can't..."

He smirked, and then reached in to the car, and pulled me back out. "I didn't think I'd be able to have the pleasure this soon." He said as he reached for the waste of my jeans and began tugging.

"What the fuck are you doing?" I yelled as I took a step back.

"You need to get out of these, Bella." He said, as he reached for my pants again. "Shut up so I can help you."

"Paul..." I argued. But I was cut off by his rough hands yanking my jeans down my legs.

I squeezed my eyes shut, and lifted my face to the sky directly above me.

So embarrassing.

When he started laughing, I snapped my eyes back to him.

"I don't know what you find so damn funny." I growled, which only caused him to laugh harder.

"You." He said, chuckling. "Step out."

I had no choice but to comply. The sooner this was over the better.

"Hello Kitty."

"What?"

When he snapped the waistband of my panties against my skin, I shrieked and move to turn.

"I like them." He said, winking as he turned me back around to face him.

"You're an asshole."

He laughed and then reached around me, back into the car, to grab the sweats that were on the floor board.

Kneeling down, he helped me into them, and then folded them down a few times at the waste, to ensure they'd remain where they were.

When he reached for my sweater, I cringed.

"Bella." He growled.

"Ugh, Fine." I said. "Just get it over with."

I lifted my arms so he could pull it directly up and over my head. He didn't comment on my bra, which I was entirely too grateful for.

He grabbed his sweatshirt, and helped me get into it, as gently as he possibly could.

"Thank you."

"No problem." He said, as he guided me towards the car, and helped me into its comfortable seat.

We pulled out of the lot a couple of short minutes later. The quiet rumble of the engine was calming.

I chanced a glance at Paul every few minutes, but his eyes were focused on the road ahead of us.

I was surprised at the emotions he radiated when he pulled me from the water. I haven't seen him that vulnerable since... since...

Well that didn't matter anymore, did it?

My throat closed up, as memories of more carefree times, assaulted my head. They were relentless.

Thing's that I'd try to forget.

"You okay?"

"Yea." I answered back as I knotted the hem of his sweatshirt in my hands. "Why did you help me, Paul?"

He glanced over to me for a second, before he downshifted the car, and pulled it into the parking lot of the hospital.

"I had too." He whispered.

It was silent as he slipped into a parking spot and turned off the engine.

"What happened... between...us?" I asked, brokenly.

He sighed, but didn't answer.

Opening the door, he climbed out and raced around to my side. He helped me, gently, from my seat, and with his hand firmly placed on the center of my back, he guided me into the emergency room.

It wasn't broken, thank God! But, I did have to wear a brace, because of the sprain.

When the doctor cut the soaking wet cast off of my other hand, he asked me what had happened.

When I told him that my fist accidentally connected with a hard headed fake bitch, he wasn't... impressed.

Paul snickered, but relayed the incident to the doctor.

His version was much more... clean?

Either way, I walked out with two new shiny braces, as the doctor didn't see a reason for my healed, now sprained, hand to be re-casted.

See, a win! Even if it is a small one.

"Where too?" Paul asked, as he started the engine and pulled out of the hospital parking lot.

"Is everyone still up at the bonfire?" I asked. I really did want to go, tonight. To be... normal.

"Yea," He said, studying me for a moment. "Everyone will still be there."

I smiled and then turned to look out my window. "Then let's go."

The drive was short. An uncomfortable silence, engulfed the car. Neither of us were willing to break the silence. I know I wasn't.

I wanted answers.

Answers to questions that I'm not sure I'd ever get.

But, I wasn't really ready to destroy the small moment of... friendliness... that we'd both experienced between each other today.

It felt almost... normal.

Fuck, what I wouldn't give for normal.

"Bella?" His question, pulled me out of my mental meltdown, and I realized we were back at the beach.

"Yea?"

"You coming?"

"I'm coming." I said, as I opened the door and stepped out into the blackened night air.

Paul was beside me almost instantly and we walked together towards our group of friends. They were loud. Boisterous. You could hear their laughing from the beginning of the trail that led up.

Unfortunately, that laughter died as soon as we broke through the trees.

Can we say, party killer.

"Bella, are you okay? Oh my god, I was so worried." Angela said, as she raced over to me and pulled me into a crushing hug.

"I'm fine. Just messed up my other hand." I laughed as I pulled back and held up both of my hands for her to see.

Sam came up and clapped me on the shoulder. "We saw you walking up the beach with Paul. We knew you were in good hands with him."

I smirked and glanced at Paul, who was sitting on one of the driftwood logs, looking into the fire.

"It's no big deal." I said, turning to look at Sam again. "Really."

Everyone's posture relaxed, and the majority of them moved to sit back down next to the fire.

"Where's Angela?" I asked, when I noticed that she was no where in sight.

"She left right after you did." Kenda said, as she handed me a small card. "Officer Jenkins wanted you to call him as soon as you could."

"Why?" I asked, as I grabbed the card from her outstretched hands.

"We told him what happened."

I sighed and rubbed my temple. I really wish they didn't get the police involved. Now, I have to explain this to dad.

My bag was still sitting in the place I left it, and with my mind made up I grabbed my phone from the side pocket.

It rang twice before anyone answered.

"La Push Police Department, this is Officer Jenkins Speaking, How may I help you?"

"Mr. Jenkins, this is Bella Swan." I said into the phone, as I turned my back on the group of listening teenagers. "I was informed that I needed to call you?"

"Bella, yes." He said, as I heard paper crunching on a the other end. "I was called earlier regarding an incident with a Miss Jessica Stanley. I needed to get your side of what happened."

"Nothing happened, sir." I replied.

Someone growled quietly behind me, but I stuck my arm back and waved to shut them up.

"I'm led to understand, that there was an incident earlier, which manifested to a violent assault in which you were shoved over the cliff."

I raised my eyebrow at his attempt at telling me what happened.

"Mr. Jenkins, she did come out to the bonfire that my friends and I had been planning, that she was not invited too. She became extremely vulgar with me, and when she put her hands on me, I defended myself and hit her back." I supplied, bending the truth just a little.

"Are you sure that's all that happened, Bella?" He pushed.

"Positive."

"I was led to believe that you were physically pushed over the edge of that cliff, ma'am."

"No sir, she didn't push me." I said. The growling intensified behind me. "I jumped. Us teenagers can be prone to stupid ideas sometimes."

"Well, if that's all that happened, I'll go ahead and release her."

"Thank you, sir."

"Tell your father I said hello." He said.

"I will. Bye now"

Hitting the end button, I slid the phone into the pocket of my... Paul's...pants, and turned around.

The glares coming from the pack of wolves, were unlike anything I'd ever seen before.

"What the fuck, Bella?" Paul yelled, as he moved to stand right in front of me. "She pushed you. You're just going to let her off the hook?"

He raked his hand through his hair and paced in front of me, before stopping and throwing his arms above his head. "Are you fucking insane?"

I ignored him and turned to Kenda. "Can you pass me one of those sticks and the bag of marshmallows, please."

"Bella! You can't let this go!" Paul yelled from behind me.

"I'm not!"

"You just did!"

"I didn't." I said sweetly as I stuck the marshmallow on the end of the stick and passed it over the open flame.

I watched the gooey confection set ablaze and then drop into the fire.

Turning to stare at Paul, I snarled between clenched teeth.

"That bitch is next."