Take Me Home
DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN THE TWILIGHT SERIES. ALL THE RIGHTS BELONG TO STEPHANIE MEYER. I ONLY OWN THE PLOT AND OC'S IN THIS STORY.
CHAPTER TEN
With two paint tins in hand Paul left the hardware store. Sky followed behind him with a shopping bag full of supplies pulled over her shoulder. The parking lot had a few extra cars in it now than when they had first arrived. One being a dual cab truck painted a bright purple, parked three spaces past Paul's beat up blue truck. The truck was running, and Paul didn't have to look in the cab to know who he would see. A truck that nice didn't belong in this town.
Addison sat behind the wheel talking, or more like yelling at someone on the phone. Over the truck engine Paul could make out words like, Time, Need, and Promised. Paul put the paint in the back of the truck and made sure Sky was buckled in as Addison's phone call abruptly ended with "Well you do it then!"
Paul shut Sky in the truck and looked over at the purple truck. Addison had her forehead rested against the steering wheel. Paul hesitated for a few minutes before walking over to Addison's truck. He tapped lightly on her window trying not to startle her, but she still jumped at the noise. She looked up at him with fluttering eyes and rolled down her window.
"Hey umm, we're going to get breakfast at the diner. Did you want to join us?" Paul offered.
"I... would love too," Addison smiled.
"Great, just follow me it's just up the road," Paul said patting the side of the truck.
"Okay great," Addison nodded. Paul smiled going back to his own truck.
...
Paul and Sky sat on one side of the booth and Addison sat on the other. The diner was quite with most people already at work or school.
"So, what's good here?" Addison asked looking down at the menu.
"The breakfast burger is good, bacon, eggs, mince patty, cheese-"
"I'm actually a vegetarian," Addison laughed.
"Really?" Paul asked. He couldn't imagine a life without meat and didn't think he had ever met a vegetarian before. It must be a city person thing Paul thought.
"Yeah really," Addison shrugged.
"What's vege-veget-on?" Sky asked stumbling on the large word.
"It means I don't eat meat," Addison smiled. "Pancakes look good though." Sky nodded agreeably.
"Okay easy, three servings of pancakes it is then," Paul said flagging over a waiter. "Do you drink coffee?" He asked Addison.
"Yes, I definitely drink coffee," Addison nodded. Paul placed the order, and the waiter brought their drinks over a few minutes later along with a colouring place mat and crowns for Sky.
"So have you always lived in La Push?" Addison asked Paul before taking the first sip of her coffee.
"No, I was actually born in Tacoma. I moved to La Push with my father when I was eight, after my parents got divorced," Paul said.
"Oh, sorry to hear," Addison said with sympathy.
"Don't be, they never got along. How about you, where did you grow up?"
"Port Angeles. After my parents... separated," Addison said slowly as though she wasn't sure that was the correct word to use. "We moved there, and my father remarried a few years later. Margret, lovely woman, best mother anyone could ask for."
"That's nice," Paul smiled. "Does your daughter live there still?" He asked.
"Yes, she lives with them just out of the city." Addison said.
"Her dads not in the picture?" Paul asked.
"He died before she was born. Dad and Margret looked after her as my life was a bit of a mess at that time. They have done a good job raising her though." Addison stared into her coffee, a dark expression on her face.
"I'm sure you did what you thought was best for her," Paul said placing his hand on her arm with a reassuring squeeze.
"I think that's just a part of parenting, as long as you do what's best for them that's all that matters." Three plates of pancakes were placed on the table.
"So how long are you in town this trip?" Paul asked.
"I actually just brought a house."
"Wow, so you'll be sticking around for a while then?" Paul asked.
"Yeah, I still have to go back to Port Angeles every few weeks, but I'll spend most my time here until the house is finished. It's a bit of a fixer upper. You don't know any good builders in the area by chance?" Addison asked.
"I'm actually a builder, I have my own small business," Paul said eagerly. "If you wanted, I would be happy to give you a quote."
"That would be amazing!" Addison smiled.
"No problem. So, what do you do for work?"
"I used to write books, taking a bit of a break from that though. Writer's block." She shrugged.
"Like real books?" Paul asked, realising how dumb it sounded as soon as he said it.
"Yeah, with pages, words and all that booky stuff," She smiled.
"Sorry, that was a stupid question." Addie laughed nodding her head.
"That's why I gave you a stupid answer. It definitely wasn't what I planned to do with my life, but plans change." They finished eating in silence and a waiter came over with the bill. Addison handed her a large note and told the young girl to keep the change.
"You didn't have to do that. I was going to pay," Paul said.
"No, it's fine I don't mind. Would you be free this afternoon to come look over the house?" Addison said changing the topic.
"Ah yeah sure is after four okay?"
"Perfect." Addison smiled.
"What's the address?" Paul asked grabbing one of Sky's crowns and writing the address down on a napkin as Addison told it to him.
"I need to get moving but thanks again for the food and conversation. I guess I'll see you later," Addison said standing up.
"No problem, anytime."
"Bye Sky," Addison said.
"Bye," Sky said returning the smile.
"Bye Paul," Addison said.
"Bye Addison," Paul said watching her leave. Once Addison was outside and out of sight he turned to Sky. "Don't worry kid we'll see her again." He looked at the picture Sky had been drawing. It was three stick figures. One was drawn in blue with a big head and short hair Paul believed that was meant to be him. The smallest figure was drawn in red wearing rain boots and a big jacket must have been Sky. The last figure was drawn in all the colours available wearing a rainbow dress and her face covered with a huge smile, that was Addison.
...
"Wow, it's so- yellow," Jared said looking into Sky's room. The smell of fresh paint filled the small room.
"Sky picked it," Paul said handing Jared a cold beer.
"Nice. She talking yet?" Jared asked quietly. Sky was in the kitchen with Kim helping make sandwiches.
"Yes, but not really to me," Paul said sipping his beer.
"Then who?" Jared asked confused.
"Addison," Paul said.
"She's still in town? I thought she left."
"She's actually moving to town," Paul answered.
"You didn't imprint on her right?" Jared asked.
"No, no, definitely not. Sky seems to like her but that's it."
"So, you two are just what- Friends?"
"Yeah, I guess. Is there something wrong with that?" Paul asked as Jared smiled oddly.
"Paul, for as long as I've known you, you have never once had a girl as a friend."
"What about Kim and Emily?" Paul countered.
"Doesn't count, you have to be nice to them," Jared said focusing on the 'have'.
"I don't have to do anything," Paul said walking back to the kitchen with Jared following.
"Sure, sure," Jared mocked.
"Hey Paul, you have to buy more bread," Kim said with a cheeky grin as she sat a plate of sandwiches down on the table.
"Sure thing Kim," Paul said sitting down at the table.
"And you call me whipped," Jared laughed.
"What's whipped?" Sky asked. Kim broke out laughing and Paul glared at Jared.
"Yeah Jared, what's whipped mean?" Paul asked. Jared didn't have a good answer and took a long sip of his beer before changing the subject to the weather. Paul couldn't help but laugh though, glad Sky had joined into conisation even if it was at a bad moment.