Chapter Twelve

Red

Paul

A bunch of the pack choose to hang out at Jacob's house. I'm still not a fan of the kid, but whatever. I can push Jared between us as a buffer.

We're just stepping out onto the stoop to go cliff diving when a beat-up Lexis pulls into the Blacks' driveway. Kelsey Swan cuts the engine and turns away from the window for a moment. When she turns back, she looks minorly annoyed about something.

She's wearing her hair down today, and her eyes are more green. She's wearing beaded hoop earrings this time, although they are still big. And she has a bit more color to her cheeks than she did last time I saw her.

A beat-up pickup truck pulls into the driveway and Bella Swan hops out. She immediately stares Sam down with what I can only assume is her best attempt at a death glare.

A few minutes later, Kelsey follows suit, slamming the car door shut with her hip. She immediately yanks it back open and reaches in to detangle a wire that's connected to the boxlike object clipped to her belt. She shuts the door again and turns to Bella.

"Bella, starting off this conversation with your pathetic attempt at a death glare isn't gonna get you anywhere." She rolls her eyes. Then, a moment later, "Come on, Bella. This was a bad idea."

"Listen to the girl." I step off the porch, stopping a few inches from the leech-lover. And then she smacks me across the face.

I phase quicker than I thought possible, ready to rip her into pieces. This leech-lover thinks she can slap me?

"Holy fucking shit." Kelsey's lyrical voice hits me as she takes a couple steps backward towards her car.

I begin to phase back when Jacob attacks me from behind. And before I know it, we're fighting.

Piece of shit, I think at him.

Rich, coming from you, he thinks back.

Half my attention is drawn to Kelsey. She's breathing much too quickly, her face rapidly paling. The leech-lover is just screaming at the top of her lungs.

A look of determination crosses Kelsey's face. She puts her hands palms up in front of her and begins to creep backwards towards her car. She jerks the door handle and turns to look inside her car for a moment. By this point, Sam has jumped into try to separate Jacob and me.

About five minutes later, Kelsey turns around, looking much more composed than she did when we first phased. The scent of lavender hangs around her more prominently now. It strikes me again how strange it is that she and the leech-lover are sisters.

Sam finally phases in order to pull me and Jacob apart. He sends Jacob inside to cool off and I phase back. Sam is giving me a stern look.

Bella's banshee scream abruptly cuts off. Kelsey massages her temple for a second while simultaneously rolling her eyes.

"Damn, Bella." Kelsey gives her sister a real death glare. "You've lost your fucking mind. I had my suspicions before, but you proved them."

"Like you're one to talk about crazy." Bella snaps. Kelsey tenses. She looks like she's ready to take a swing.

"Excuse me?" Kelsey's eyebrow shoots up; just one, damn I'm jealous. I can't do that.

"If you know what's good for you," she says in a calm and deadly tone, "you won't finish that." Bella does the smart thing; she shuts up.

Kelsey turns back to face the four of us still on the the stoop. "Okay. Who the fuck wants to explain what the fuck just happened? And if someone could grab me a couple Tylenol, that'd be great."

I go to grab her the Tylenol while Sam explains about werewolves and vampires. I enter Sam and Emily's house because it's right next door.

"Paul? What do you need?" Emily gives me a small smile.

"Some Tylenol." Emily nods, gives me a knowing grin, and heads into the kitchen.

She comes out with a cup of water and two pills. "Here."

"Thanks." I like Emily; she's good people.

"No problem. Oh, and Paul?"

"Yeah?"

"Talk to her. Explain it. It'll work out."

I stand there for a minute, just trying to force my brain to comprehend what Emily is suggesting. Be open. Explain imprinting to Kelsey. Hope she doesn't destroy me.

By the time my mind's finally compartmentalized Emily's advice and I'm able to move again, half an hour has passed. Shit; Kelsey. The Tylenol. I jump the stoop and rush back over to the Blacks'.

Kelsey's sitting alone on the stoop when I get there. She's leaning back onto her hands, her face tilted up to the rare Forks sun, eyes closed.

"Kelsey?" I call from a distance so as to scare her.

She sits up, tucks some of her hair behind her ear and nods to me. "Thanks." she says when I hand her the medicine.

"You're welcome. You okay?" I ask, studying her.

"It makes more sense now." Kelsey absently twists her fingers together. "Why Edward was always so weird; why Jacob hated him so much (can't say I blame him there, dude gave me the creeps); Bella's sudden and paralyzing fear of getting old..." her voice trails off there. Finally, she looks at me. "I'm good. It's just... a lot."

She pops her knuckles absently. I nod; I can understand that.

"Where'd Bella go?" I ask to fill the silence.

"She ran like the chicken shit she is." Kelsey rolls her eyes. Hmm. So Kelsey's not a fan of Bella, either.

She stands, movements easy and fluid. Much more graceful than her sister, too. How the hell are they related?

"I've gotta run. Coach'll make me run laps if I'm late and I'm already cutting it pretty close."

She jumps off the stoop and waves as she makes her way to her Lexis. "Later, Paul!" she calls before getting in her car and driving away.

"Did you tell her?" Emily offers me a a Coke.

"No. It didn't seem like a good time." I say, downing my drink.

"It's a lot at first." Emily says, smiling slightly.

"That's exactly what Kelsey said." I say.

"Yeah. Well, give it time. These things tend to work out." Emily tosses out her empty soda can.

"Thanks." I say, getting to my feet.

"No problem." Emily smiles.

A/n: Sorry I updated late. Here's the deal: if we get to 32 reviews, I'll update Wednesday. If I don't, it'll most likely be Friday. Thanks! Later!

Lauren.

Replies to Reviews:

TemporaryShadow: I'm glad you're loving the story. I hope you like the chapter, too. Please review and let me know.

Twilightfanjm: Yeah, Bella's a piece of shit. I hope you enjoyed Paul's take on that scene, please review and let me know.

Alwaysandforeveryou1: I'm glad you love this. I hope you like this chapter, too; please review and let me know.

Loves to Read Books: Yeah, that was an awful thing to say. I live with OCD myself, and if anyone said that to me, I'd go off on them. I hope you enjoyed this chapter, too; please review and let me know.