Chapter 20- Changing Tides

Bella's Point Of View

I was exhausted.

It's been exactly ten days, since Jessica rode out of La Push with her aunt.

I wasn't entirely sure if the guys could handle my idea's against her, but they agreed readily.

Sam laughed, when I made my suggestions and said the he was thankful that they weren't on the receiving end.

I was just thankful for their they even agreed to help. It felt...different, working together, for a change.

Not a bad different. Just...different.

It was a slow Monday afternoon, and I sat perched on top of one of the stools, at the empty bar. Business was always a little slower during the week, after the tourists went home. Our beaches were beautiful, and because of that, a wave of people began to appear on Thursdays, only leaving when their own lives began again on Monday morning.

It's been exactly four days since I've seen Kenda. We talk on the phone nightly. Updating each other on what is going on. Or what isn't for that matter.

The last time I saw her, was actually here at work, when Embry treated her to dinner. She and Embry had become inseparable. She liked him. Really liked him.

He treated her like a queen. And, I've grown to respect him, a lot.

She made it obvious that she wore the pants in their relationship. She'd play on our secret knowledge of the pack. She'd giggle and point to a spot, and tell him to sit. She'd pat him on the head when he pleased her and say 'good boy.'

It seemed almost cruel, in a funny sort of way. He didn't mind. In fact, if I were being completely honest, I'd say that he enjoyed the attention.

She had told me, a few times, over our nightly conversations, that although she was the dominant one, outside in the world. He made it painfully clear, literally, that he was the dominant one behind closed doors.

She loved that shit.

I smiled. I'm glad that she managed to find someone that could keep up with her. That treated her well.

I see Angela every day. She had decided to give Jake a chance. It kind of hurt a little when she asked me if it was alright if she explored a relationship with him.

I didn't want her to think that I was against it. I wasn't. My pride nose-dived when she asked. She shouldn't have to ask. I didn't want to be that friend. The one that held her back.

I smiled and shoved her to the door. I told her to go find her man, and to talk to him. Get to know him.

It didn't stop me from pulling him aside one afternoon, to give him the 'if you hurt her, i'll fuck you up,' speech.

He smiled and nodded and then raced to the drivers side of Angela's truck. She liked him driving.

They decided to take their relationship a little slower. Well, a lot slower, compared to Kenda and Embry.

I wouldn't judge. My girls... both of them... were happy.

I smiled at that.

Even thought it felt like I was slowly losing them, I couldn't be mad.

We were growing up.

Right?

Sighing, I dropped my head onto the counter.

The girls and I had decided a few days ago, to go down to the beach and hang out. We all needed relax time. We all needed to reconnect.

"You can go now, Bella." Mom said, as she came out of the swinging door.

"Thank god!" I shouted, as I swung around the stool and dropped down. "I might not be home tonight." I said as I made my way towards the door, stripping my apron off as I moved.

"No worries." She said, as she filled Mr. Keezer's coffee cup for the fifth time. "Have fun!"

I walked the five minutes home, and continued through the front door and directly into the bathroom. The smell of grease and cobbler, oozed out of every pore of my body. I needed to shower.

Stripping out of my work clothes, I climbed into the tub and set the water to as hot as I could take it.

I placed my hands on the wall, and dropped my head, letting the heat work on the tension that developed in my neck and shoulders.

When the water began to shift to a cooler temperature, I grabbed the soap and began to furiously scrub the smell from my skin.

Wrapping a towel around myself, I climbed out and walked across the hall to my bedroom. I had gathered my clothes for tonight, before work, so walking over to the desk, I pulled the yellow bikini off of the top of the pile and put it on.

Pairing it with a pair of denim cut off shorts and a dark caramel long sleeved shirt, I pushed the sleeves up to my elbow, and sighed.

This is as good as it's gonna get.

I sat on my bed and reached under the edge to pull out the shoe's I had decided to pair with the outfit. The black and brown calf high cowboy boots slipped on seamlessly, and I stood and moved to the dresser to brush out my hair.

A few rings placed on my fingers, and a couple of bangle bracelets on my wrists finished the look, and I grabbed my bag and headed for the door.

I had told Angela and Kenda that I would meet them at the beach. So after making a quick detour to the kitchen to grab a bottle of water, I walked out the front door.

"Hey." Paul said, as he leaned against the side of his car.

"Hey." I replied, lifting my eyebrow. "What are you doing here?" I asked as I turned to lock the door.

It wasn't as tense between us lately. I had grown extremely close to his mother over the last few weeks.

At least she never changed.

But, in light of recent information, I was a little...well, a lot, pissed.

He lifted off of the side of the car, and moved to open the door on the passenger side. "I came to get take you to the beach." He said as he opened the door. "You've been on your feet the last few days. You shouldn't have to walk."

I eyed him warily for a few minutes. "How'd you know that I was going to the beach?" I asked, as I stepped off of the porch and walked slowly towards him.

He looked slightly guilty,as he avoided eye contact and raked his hand through his hair. "Um, I talked to Jared, who talked to Quil, who's close to Embry..."

"Can we get to the point?" I said, raising my voice and moving my hand in a circle gesture.

"Embry said that everyone was going to the beach tonight. He said that you'd be camping out. I was hoping..." He started as his eyes dropped to the ground for a second before lifting and finding mine, "I was hoping that I could go too."

"Everyone?" I asked, a little dumbfounded by this information.

I guess it wasn't just a girls night out.

"Everyone." He said, as he moved to the front of the car and sat on the hood. "Emily and Kim's been cooking all day. Quil even convinced Claire's parents to let her go. Sam and Jared are there now, gathering wood for a bonfire."

"Really?" I asked, a little confused on how a small gathering turned into a huge shindig.

"So can I?"

"Can you what?" I asked, as I walked closer to the car.

"Can I go... with you?" He asked a little, unsure.

I didn't have the energy to be a smart ass. I'm sure I could have come up with a ton of nasty things to say to him.

But I was becoming drained. Physically and mentally.

The conversation that the girls and I had last night, on our three way call, was looping on a constant replay in my mind.

I hated that I didn't know whether or not he was sincere or if he was 'being nice' because he had something to gain.

Groaning, I nodded my head slightly, and he smiled.

"Just..." I started as I walked closer, "just stay away from me, when we get there."

He smiled brighter, and stepped towards me.I flinched, as he reached for the bag on my shoulder.

"I got it." I said,as I took a small step back.

I didn't need his help.

I didn't want his help.

His eyebrow lifted for a fraction of a second, before he dropped his hand and turned, walking back towards his car.

The car I desperately wanted to drive.

Maybe... "Hey, Paul?" I asked, as I willed my legs to move, to catch up to him.

He turned his head and lifted his eyebrow in silent question.

"Can I drive?" I asked as I pointed to the vehicle in question.

His face screwed up in confusion before he grasped what I asked. Then he turned white. Ashy white.

"Bella..."

"I have my license." I said as I lifted my hand and cut him off. "I'm a really good driver. I've never even had a ticket." I said as I crossed my heart with my index fingers. "Promise!"

He gazed at me, and then turned back to the car. Then repeated the pattern three or four more times.

When it appeared like he wasn't going to answer, I huffed and moved around the front towards the passenger side.

"Fine. I get it."

"Wait!" He said, just as I was about to open the door. "You can drive."

I smiled at his willingness to let me have this. I raced around the front of the car, and grabbed a hold of the keys in his outstretched hands. Lifting up on my tippy toes I laid a quick kiss on his cheek, before stepping back.

"Thanks!" I said,as I tried to pull the keys from his steel grip. "You going to let go?" I asked, chuckling as I lightly tugged on the ring again.

He sighed, released the keys, and then hurried around the car to climb in.

Pulling the door open, and climbing in, I turned the key in the ignition and listened as the engine roared to life.

"That's my favorite part." Paul said, as he closed his eyes and rested his head against the headrest. He opened his eyes, and turned his head towards me, "please be easy with her."

"Her?" I asked, smirking, as I shifted her into reverse and backed out of the driveway.

"Yea." He said smiling. "She's the only girl in my life that hasn't screwed me over, besides mom."

I laughed. "You mean the only girl in your life that you haven't screwed over." Shifting the car into gear, I headed down the street towards the corner.

"I haven't screwed anyone over, Bella. Regardless of what you think." He said, his tone was clipped. Edgy.

"Really?" I asked, as I turned the directional on, and stopped at the sign. "If I can remember right, there was a little girl that use to think that you hung the stars." I said before thinking about it. Changing direction quickly, I continued, "You literally fucked and forgot about another girl... all in the course of one weekend. Kind of sounds like screwing people over to me, Paul."

"I'm trying to make amends for that, Bella," he said, as he scratched his jaw. "Kenda's already forgiven me. Why cant you?"

"I... I can't," I whispered,as I pulled into the parking lot of First Beach.

"Can't you try?" He asked.

I ignored his question and put his car in park.

"Thank's for letting me drive." I said, as I turned the engine off, and pulled the keys from the ignition.

"I really like you, Bella."He said, as he reached for the keys from my outstretched hands.

"Don't, Paul." I dropped the keys into his hands and then reached for the door.

"Don't what?" He asked, as he grabbed my elbow to keep me from moving.

"It's the imprint, Paul." I said, as I shook my head and chuckled.

"What?"

I yanked my hand out of his light grip and turned in my seat to look at him. "You all say that imprinting is supposed to lead you in the right path. It the direction of your perfect match."

"Yea?"

"Tell me something then," I asked. "Do you think Jake would have seriously given Angela a chance, if it wasn't for the imprint?"

He sat contemplating my question for a second. "It isn't like that."

"Do you think that Embry would have given Kenda a chance? Fuck, theyve been in the same school the entire time that you all have been there. Not once did Embry or Jake ever even think about one of them. It never even crossed their minds." I yelled as I turned and opened the door. "Then one day, they look into the girls' eyes and , bam, they're all the guys want. It's bullshit!"

I stepped out of the car and slammed the door.

"Bella, come on..."

"Tell me something Paul," I said as I turned and leaned over the top of the car. "Before the imprint, between us," I said as I waved my hand between him and I, "before you looked into my eyes, and suddenly felt your entire world center around me," my lips began to tremble as my thoughts poured from my lips. "How much money did you place on me, when you guaranteed that you could sleep with me within the first couple of weeks? How much was I worth before I became your fucking 'soul mate?" I finished as I swiped angrily at my eyes.

Why was I crying?

Paul stood there, absorbing everything that I had unintentionally, let pour from my lips.

When he didn't answer, I nodded and reached down for my previously forgotten bag. "That's what I thought."

I turned around and began walking away from the car, towards Angela and Kenda, who could be seen down the beach. They smiled and waved, when they noticed my arrival, and then turned back to their men.

"You said you'd be my girlfriend!"

I stopped walking and turned back around to face Paul, who had moved to stand in front of his car.

"What?"

"We were seven." He said as he grinned at the memory. "I asked you to be my girlfriend. You said yes."

"That was a long time ago."

"It doesn't matter." He said, as he pushed off the car and stalked closer to me. "You said that you'd be my girlfriend, Bella."

I rubbed my temple and then dropped my eyes to the sand. "Yea, well... hindsight is twenty-twenty."

"You still can be!"

"Paul, it's not the same. You and I both know that." I said as I turned to walk away.

"Why won't you remember?" He yelled at my back.

"I'm not the one that forgot!" I growled, as I spun around on my heal.

"Yes, Bella. You did." He said, as he dropped his eyes to the ground.

Another tear slipped from my eye and I batted at it, angrily. Choosing my next words carefully, I walked up to him slowly and pressed my hand against my chest.

"You did, Paul. The day that your dad died. You forgot about me."

I dropped my hand and spun on my heel. I needed to get out of here. I couldn't handle much more of this.

Angela and Kenda saw my distress and walked quickly over to me.

"Everything okay?" Angela asked as she glanced back and forth between me and the parking lot.

"Yea." I said, lifting my eyes and smiling; a very fake smile. "I'm starving." .

"Well let's go then." Kenda said, as she threw her arm around my shoulder. "There's all kinds of food. Let's grab something to eat."

Thank god. I needed the distraction.

Author's Note :

This one's short. I know, and I'm sorry for that. But, this chapter demanded that I stop here. The next chapter will start where this one left off. Promise!