Chapter 4: fighting for peace
Bella hesitated when she finally found the grey house, with the American flag posted high.
Paul was right, his family was military. Her father made sure their flag was up too.
She had spent twenty minutes debating as to whether she should even come here. But she knew that if she went home, Edward or Alice would be waiting for her and then she wouldn't have any time to herself.
It hadn't taken her long to find Paul's house, it was exactly as he described it. Grey and white with a wrap-around porch.
He lived alone since his dad was in the military and was stationed in South Korea at the moment.
"wow," Bella exclaimed as she opened the front door with the spare key Paul had given her.
The inside of his house looked like a forest. There were plants everywhere. The layout reminded her of a log cabin. Everything was wood and brown.
She made her way downstairs, looking around the living room, kitchen, and dining room. on the wall was a few pictures of Paul and his mother. The next set was of his father. He and Paul looked exactly alike. Same bright turquoise eyes and long black hair. Rare around these parts. Well, it seemed the picture was before Paul phased.
He looked good with long hair.
Bella made her way upstairs where she found three bedrooms on one level and four bedrooms on the other. A four-story house with 7 bedrooms. It was impressive.
She wanted to be nosey but fought her urges and headed towards the open door that was revealed to be the bathroom.
…
"oh my gosh.." Bella groaned as she sunk into the deep tub. Paul had everything an exhausted woman could need. bath salts, face masks, lavender soap, and soft music.
It scared her at first because as soon as she turned on the light, the music started.
Once she got over her shock, the music helped relax her.
The more she thought about the ambiance of the bathroom, the more it made sense.
Paul was doing his best to control his temper, so why not have things that calmed him down? He needed a space where he could be somewhat free of the supernatural.
Maybe she did too?
She closed her eyes as Paul's turquoise ones reflected in her mind. When she thought about him, she realized he was different from the others in the group.
Most of the guys in the pack were rowdy and loud at least around her. they teased and joked with her endlessly But with Paul, he was quiet. But more like the quiet deadly type. Like if you got too close he'd snap your neck. But with her, it felt different. Not to mention his physique. He was taller than them too. He practically towered over Sam.
She had been wrong about him. All she heard was silly rumors and things Jacob might have told her in passing.
Most of them were complaints after a long day of patrolling.
Paul the jerk, Paul the asshole, Paul the womanizer.
All of them aspects she had yet to see of him.
If she was being honest, Bella was grateful.
Paul wasn't who she assumed him to be.
He was kind, caring and patient.
She dared to think of him as a friend.
…..
Paul pov:
Paul flipped through his manga when his phone buzzed.
He felt a smile emerge when he saw the sender. It was Bella.
Just wanted to say thank you. you've been a great help and a good friend. I appreciate you.
Paul licked his lips as he thought about the girl.
Not less than a month ago, he couldn't stand her. not that she did anything wrong but he at the time found her to be a distraction and threat to his brothers.
She was always on Jacob's mind for crying out loud. Not to mention the ugly breakup slash not break up she and Jacob went through. Not that they were dating but kind of were. It was weird. Jacob wanted her but she didn't want him and then she wanted Jacob but then the leeches came and took any chance they may have had.
It was just one ball of an emotional mess. Therefore he never took the time to get to know her. Not that he had had the time. He was busy with the pack and his job.
But with Chief Swan in a coma. He thought now was the perfect time to slow things down. At least for work, but on the pack side of things they had to tighten their patrol hours and stay close to the reservation. They still had a few extra cold ones hanging around and they didn't want any slip-ups.
He scratched his nose and groaned. A cold one was coming and they smelled horrible. It was two of the Cullens, he knew that for sure.
With ease, he texted Bella back and tried to ignore the cold ones approaching.
It's all good ya helo. I am just glad I could help. Did you find everything you needed?
Paul couldn't help but laugh at Bella's reply
Dude, I am going to live in your bathroom! Officially, this is now my bathroom! What does ya helo mean?
Paul felt his neck warm up at the thought of Bella naked. But it quickly evaporated from his mind when the stench of the cold ones became overwhelming.
He turned just in time to hear a quiet knock on the door.
"It's open." He said stoically.
The door opened to reveal the pretend doctor and his Stepford wife. Surprise evident on their faces.
" oh hello. This is unexpected." Dr. Fang greeted.
Paul nodded to them and offered nothing else.
However, Dr. Fang's stepford wife felt she needed to clarify.
"We are so sorry. We are not trying to be rude. What my husband is trying to say is that we were expecting Bella. Is she around?"
" She went to take some time for herself." That was all Paul said.
He then continued texting Bella.
There are some clothes in the room across from the bathroom. Feel free to put them on. I'll tell you what it means later.
"Oh if that's the case I'll just call Edward. I am sure they will want to see each other." The Stepford wife told Dr. Fang.
" yes. Edward has been quite stressed recently. It's too bad the wedding has been put on hold for this unfortunate event. I don't know how Edward will pull through."
"Maybe they can have a smaller wedding next week? Just family?" the Stepford wife suggested. "I mean Bella has to see how badly this is hurting Edward. It pains him to be away from her."
Paul almost crushed his phone at the cold one's words.
It was Bella whose father lay dying in the hospital and they were worried about the mind reader!?
It was Bella who sat in her old clothes barely eating and yet the mind reader was the one who was stressed out?
They couldn't be serious right? They had to be joking. And now they wanted to plan a wedding!?
Despite holding his tongue Paul couldn't hold himself back anymore.
" do you two hear yourselves?!" he questioned coldly making his voice low and yet full of ice.
"Chief Swan is near death and all you two can talk about is the mind reader? Bella sat here for a whole month by herself and yet the mind reader is stressed out? You two have some nerve!"
"I believe this is a private family conversation." Dr. Fang gestured to the door.
"Well then take it elsewhere," Paul said coldly
Doctor Fang put on a pleasant smile and said "This is forks territory I believe we have the right of passage. It is you who is trespassing. "
Paul laughed and sniffed.
"Count Dracula if you would have read the treaty correctly. It says that while Forks is Cullen territory. Forks Hospital is neutral ground. Therefore neither one of us violates the treaty. Anything else you want to throw at me?"
The cold ones stood there looking at him as if he were crazy but they said nothing.
" so with that said. I am staying put and it seems you can too just stay out of my way."
After thirty minutes of awkward silence, the couple gave up and left.
Paul sighed in relief.
" your daughter is a danger magnet chief swan. I don't know how she does it. She's brave though. I'll give her that." He told the comatose chief of police.
It was then Paul swore he saw Charlie's finger twitch.
Maybe there was hope after all.