A/N: Ok so, I've barely noticed (after a few already posted chapters) that the line breaks aren't appearing after I add a new chapter to the story. Not sure why that's happening so I've added a row of asterisks with the words LINE BREAK so hopefully that comes out. I used to be able to add it after I've uploaded the chapter to ff's doc manager but for some reason it doesn't do that and it also rearranges some paragraphs randomly and messes up the chapter. Forcing me to upload it again which is super frustrating. Anyway, hope it comes out right this time.

Chapter 9

I'm stuck in the place between sleep and wakefulness. Dream and reality. My eyes remaining closed and my body still and calm.

Warmth slowly seeps into my skin. It starts first as a warm caress, as if I were sitting outside in the grass, sun warming my face while a gentle breeze dances along my skin.

It's nice, it's welcoming.

A barely there whisper of a touch grazes my lips. It makes my heart skip a beat, parting my lips and pulling a wistful sigh out of me. A pitiful heartbroken whine shatters the peaceful moment and the touch is gone before I can stop it. I groan unhappily, physically feeling the sound coming from my throat this time.

I guess I'm really awake now.

Disappointed, I refuse to open my eyes to the real world, lifting my hands up to rub my eyes sleepily. I try to go back to sleep, shifting and trying to settle back into the uncomfortable cushion underneath me. Unfortunately there's a sharp spring painfully poking me just at the center of my back. Great, I'll have to buy a new bed and there's definitely no going back to sleep now.

I groan unhappily again, resigning myself to begin the day. When I open my eyes the first thing I see is the sight of Paul high above me, staring down at me with a perturbed frown on his face.

I'm confused for a long moment, trying to figure out if I was wrong and I'm still stuck in a dream. Though it's weird because I've never dreamt about Paul before, I rarely dreamed at all.

While I make sense of things I can't help but to become entrapped in his stare. It doesn't relent, it doesn't let go. It's depthless, like a dark pool pulling me into the even darker recesses of its waters.

Eventually my confusion passes over me and I finally remember where I am and that he must really be there with me. To escape his hold on me I close my eyes again, throwing my arm over my face to hide from him.

"You shouldn't stare at people while they're sleeping. It's creepy."

When Paul doesn't answer I peek one eye open.

He's still there, staring.

"What?" I begrudgingly ask.

It takes him a long stunted moment to answer. "You shouldn't have slept there."

I blink both eyes open this time, surprised to hear his voice while also noticing the very obvious disgruntled look on his face.

"Well it was this or the floor, so–"

"I mean," He licks his lips, remoistening the dry and cracked flesh. "You should have gone home to sleep comfortably in your own bed."

Is it just me or did he just sound concerned for me?

I shrug a shoulder pretending it's not a big deal.

"I'm sorry." He eventually whispers.

I almost fall off the couch, startled by such a sincere apology coming from him and so early in the morning too. He looked guilty, really guilty. Like if his body would've been strong enough to go through this alone, there would have been no need for me to be here at all.

What he didn't understand is that I wasn't here because I needed to be but because I wanted to be. There was no need for his apology. Not for something he had no control over.

I release a breath and sit up on the couch looking up at him from my now sitting position. "Don't be." I reply gently. "Breakfast?" I offer next to shift our morning to a more chill atmosphere.

He nods and I mimic the action, having something productive to do to distract my mind. Getting up from the couch I lift my arms above my head stretching my back to release the kinks I procured last night while sleeping on a barely standing couch.

"You cleaned."

I turn back to look at him, following his eyes as he looks around himself as if not recognizing his own home.

"Yeah, unfortunately most of your furniture wasn't salvageable. That's why it looks so sparse in here." I start to explain, moving into the kitchen and barely hearing his slow dragging footsteps following behind. "I moved the broken furniture outside and the guys said they would come to pick up the garbage and take it to the dump… whenever you were ready, of course."

He doesn't comment but I know he's avidly listening.

I continue while I move around his kitchen to make us some breakfast. "They offered to buy you some furniture too but I told them to wait for you to pick it out yourself. That is, whenever you feel up to it, no pressure. But unfortunately for you, I had to take the initiative to order a couch myself because seriously that couch is super uncomfortable and if I'm going to be staying here for another night I'm really going to need it. Anyway, Sam and Jared said they would pick it up from the store this evening and drop it off tonight. I couldn't get around denying the guys from coming over to do so because… well, obviously I'm too weak to pick up a whole couch all on my own and I figured you'd prefer to have the pack dropping it off rather than some random delivery guys you don't even know. However, they both promised to call ahead of time to give you a heads up. They also promised they would only come inside to drop it off and leave immediately after."

He doesn't say anything but since I'm so used to him mostly not responding to me when I'm speaking to him, I don't wait for an answer. But after a few minutes his deep raspy voice breaks the silence.

"You didn't have to do that."

I stop what I'm doing, turning to look at him.

He's quietly leaning on the doorway to the kitchen, his captivating dark brown eyes watching me like I'm some sort of inexplicable creature. His expression is serious but inviting, waiting for me to say something back.

It forces me to answer honestly and without sarcasm, which I rarely do unless it's Jacob. It's my own way of keeping things light and carefree but it felt like I couldn't do that now because if I did I was afraid Paul would start shutting down too and I needed to do whatever it took to get him back to his normal self.

"I know... but I wanted to. And honestly, I–" I shut my mouth and look away from his laser-eyed focus. I collect myself and try again. "I'm the one who's sorry for not coming sooner. I didn't know things were this bad. Not until Jacob asked me to come when you wouldn't let anyone else in after two weeks. When I found out I– I just couldn't live with myself if I didn't at least try to reach you. Even if I failed at the attempt."

We both stand there staring at each other. Both trying to make sense of everything that's happened while also discovering new facets of each other we never knew existed before today.

I can feel the shift. Like we're finally coming to some level of understanding. It's like planet earth tilts on its axis.

He straightens up from his slouched position against the doorframe and walks closer. I can't help but to take notice of how much easier it's becoming for him to move around on his own. He no longer needs to cling onto every wall or surviving furniture in his path to keep himself upright.

I secretly cheer with joy inside my head.

When he finally reaches me stopping just a foot away he looks down into my eyes without a mask hiding his emotions, leaving his face wide open for me to see, like he's tired of holding up the wall of protection he's built around them and is willing to let me see the real him for the very first time.

"Thank you." He finally whispers.

I tighten my jaw, trying to hold myself together during this suddenly very intimate moment. "You're welcome… though you really don't have to be. Look, maybe I haven't said it before, and that's completely my fault but…If you ever need me, I'll be there."

And I think without meaning to, he instinctively reaches forward and pulls me into his arms. A grunt leaves him at the contact but it doesn't stop him from wrapping his arms around me.

His breath becomes uneven and he progressively gets stiffer and stiffer the longer he holds me. Eventually turning into a wall of hard muscle and releasing an unwanted whine from deep in his throat. Still he doesn't let go, wrapping his arms even tighter around me as if defying the invisible force.

Not until I physically press my palms against his chest to force him to let go, does he release.

His breath wheezes out of him and he closes his eyes, shaking his head as if trying to shake the lingering feeling away.

When he finally opens his eyes again, I tilt my head at him in suspicion, thinking over our past physical interactions and beginning to slowly connect the dots. I open my mouth to ask for confirmation when he interrupts me, already aware of what question I'm about to ask.

"I'm sorry." He says for the second time today. A regretful, albeit scornful, look in his eyes. "It's not just when you touch me. When Emily and Kim touch me it hurts too."

For a minute I just look at him, remembering all the times I've touched him since I arrived yesterday. I instantly felt guilty that I had inadvertently caused him such excruciating pain. In the back of my mind I also realize that even though I hurt him every time with my touch, Paul had never once tried to push me away.

And what exactly did that mean?

Yeah… I don't think it's wise for you to go there, sis.

"Then why the hell would you hug me, you idiot?!" I question incredulously.

A spark of humor suddenly fills his eyes and I can almost see him absorbing the light energy from around him. I refrain from smiling when he rolls his eyes at me.

"For the same reason I'm trying to reject the imprint," He starts "Because I wanted to."

That's an answer. And a big one.

I force myself not to read too much into it, at least for my own sake. Paul is in a very sensitive state right now and it would be unwise for me to start trying to read between the lines when Paul has always outright spoken his thoughts and nothing more.

Still, it sounds incredibly caring and my face softens at the declaration. "You're still an idiot."

A rough chuckle comes out of him, "So I've been told."

I motion for him to sit down and he follows my unspoken order, sitting on the only surviving chair left of his dining table.

"So what do you want to do today?" I ask while continuing on with my task.

Paul remains silent for a moment, forcing me to turn back to look at him to see if he's giving me a non-verbal response like yesterday.

He's not. He's staring at me as though he's trying to figure out how to solve a complicated math equation in his head. I didn't think my question had been a difficult one.

"Paul." I call cautiously, hoping he'll respond without me having to go over there and prod him with my touch.

He doesn't respond. If anything it seems like he's fallen deeper and deeper into his own mind. Until his eyes flash a bright green, his eyes taking a non-human form like the one I've seen several times since he first shifted.

Seeing those eyes, a sharp thrill runs down my spine, so strong I have to physically shake it off to stop it from taking over my being. It's overwhelming to be seen by those eyes. Before I freeze into them like Paul has, I attempt to call his name a little louder this time.

"Paul."

As if falling out of the trance, his eyes blink back at me rapidly, focusing back onto my face again.

"Hmm...?" He mutters as if not having been aware that just happened.

Unsettled by it I choose to ignore it instead. "What do you want to do today?"

He frowns and I turn away from him to plate the giant pile of scrambled eggs I just made, separating a small fraction for myself.

"You don't have to stay. I can walk on my own again. I'm fine now."

Without bothering to turn around I answer. "And I have nothing left to do for the rest of the weekend before I have to go back home Sunday, so we might as well hang out."

He watches me in thought as I place his food on the table in front of him, staring down at his plate as if he doesn't know what to do with it.

I grab the fork in my hand and pierce some egg onto it, presenting it to Paul right in front of his face to give him a clue.

Annoyed, he rips the fork out of my hand. "I guess I can spare your presence in my house for another couple of days."

I chuckle and roll my eyes. "Yes, however will we bear more time together? The world might just implode."

He ignores me and starts digging into his breakfast, when he gets halfway through the pile he says, "I guess we can keep watching that garbage from yesterday… if you want." He clarifies, pretending to be doing me a favor.

I purse my lips to stop my smile from coming out. "You want to watch it from the beginning, don't you?"

He scoffs in denial and I chuckle.

We're so watching it from the beginning.

******LINE BREAK******

"Ok, what is up with that guy?"

I laugh outright, looking away from the screen to give Paul my attention. "Ed? He's a surprisingly awful guy. And so damned old to still be so toxic."

"Probably because he didn't think to date again until he was in his fifties and then got famous because of this show and now he can't figure out what to do with so much available pussy around."

I gasp and smack him on his shoulder, pursing my lips so as not to laugh again.

Paul is doing the exact opposite, there's a giant smile on his face that tells me he'd meant to shock me with his crude observation… and words.

"I never thought of it that way. Plus since he hasn't dated in like, ever, he doesn't know how to function in a relationship. That part I totally get. I wouldn't know what the hell to do in one either. Though I'm not a narcissist asshole like he is so I'm pretty sure I'd manage to do somewhat better at least."

His face shifts, his head tilting to analyze me curiously. "You've never been in a relationship before?"

I snort unladylike, was that what he got stuck on? "Not really. The closest thing to a relationship I've had was with Jacob. We were sixteen and so not experienced whatsoever. It only lasted like a month. Which is why I don't really count it."

"That's it?" He asks disbelievingly.

I shrug. "I mean, I guess there was the vamp guy too but we never even kissed so I don't count it as one either. Relationships just aren't my thing."

He watches me analytically, his eyes sharp and assessing.

"What?"

After a silent moment he shakes his head. "Nothing. I guess it's just weird. Even I've been in a relationship."

"Oh, do tell."

He rolls his eyes. "Granted it wasn't that big either but I still count it as one. Her name was Bree, we dated for a few months give or take."

"So what happened?"

"I found out she wanted to get married young and start popping out babies as soon as possible. I was twenty and thought the idea ridiculous. We broke up pretty quickly after that."

"Damn, that's insane. I can barely take care of myself now. Add a husband and babies into the mix and it sounds terrifying."

"In the future it doesn't sound so bad… with the right person, of course."

I hum quietly but don't add any other comment.

He arches a brow at my silence. "Say it."

"Say what?"

"Your thoughts."

I shrug an indifferent shoulder. "I don't know…. The whole baby thing is not appealing to me at all."

He looks at me a bit incredulously. "You don't want to have kids?"

I shake my head, scrunching my nose. "It's a lot of work. They take a toll on the body and it's a lifelong responsibility I'm not willing to take. I mean this whole being is going to be solely dependent on me, influenced by the things I do and say. It's never appealed to me."

"And yet you're so good with Kaden and Athena." Paul says in interest, though not seeming at all judgmental over my thoughts and feelings on the subject.

"I mean just because I don't want kids of my own it doesn't mean I dislike them. They're cute but only for short periods of time."

He nods at me but doesn't add anything else.

"What about you?"

It's his turn to shrug this time. "I've never really thought about it."

I hum again.

"Okay, what about marriage?" He asks next. "Does that appeal to you at all or is that 'a lot of work' too?" He lightly throws my own words back.

I narrow my eyes indignantly. "You're judging me."

He chuckles and shakes his head. "I swear I'm not. I'm just curious, is all."

I narrow my eyes even further to gauge if he means it or not. When I deduce he's being honest I decide to answer. "This is weird but I've had this conversation with Jake and Embry before. In case you haven't figured it out by now I'm a 'hit it and quit it' kind of gal. We're a rare breed, but we exist. Anyway, they asked if I would ever settle down and I said I would. Like maybe if I found the right guy I would actually want to."

"You mean like a– ?" He stops before the word can even begin taking shape. The word imprint officially out of his vocabulary.

"No!" I say with a chuckle. "My mom is the Disney princess stuck in her make-believe fairytale romance. My whole childhood was spent avoiding my mother and her monthly boyfriends. After watching her getting in and out of endless failed romances, I now know better. I just think that when the right person comes along it'll just happen."

He nods in understanding. "But you're not looking for it."

"Definitely not. I love being single. I'm also in school right now, hanging around the pack and focusing on building my life. I don't feel like it's the right time… maybe when I'm older and wiser."

He hums quietly but doesn't look away from me.

"So you're open to the whole marriage thing?"

"Yes." He says immediately.

"You sound so sure."

He smiles at me with an almost indulgent smile. "My dad might have been a shitty father but he'd been an amazing husband while my mother had been alive. When she passed away… it was like it broke him. He couldn't continue on, couldn't be a good parent because he grieved her even after all those years. Now that I'm older I understand him better... doesn't mean I'm willing to fix our relationship but I understand why he gave up. My mom was…" He sentence fades away, as if the words to describe how amazing she was didn't exist in our vocabulary.

Must've been nice to have had a mom like that, even if it had been for a short time. I instinctively reach over and take a hold of his hand, watching the moment of pain that flashes across his face at the thought of her.

He looks down at our joined hands and frowns, but he doesn't release it. Even when I can tell his body has become slightly stiffer than before.

"So they are your inspiration?"

His eyes finally look up at me and he gives me a tentative smile. "I guess so. Though I can't fathom the pain of losing someone like my father did."

I frown a little at that. He tugs on my hand to silently signal me to speak my thoughts.

"But what you're going through right now… isn't it like that?"

"It's different." He says instantly. "This feels like I'm fighting an almost physical pull. Something inside of me that is foreign but wrapped around every cell of my body. Like a force that's pulling me in her direction. But I don't actually feel it."

"Feel what?" I ask in confusion.

"Love."

That answer leaves me even more confused. It sounded so contrary to what Sam and Jared have expressed to me before, of how they felt over their imprints. So why was it so different for him?

"But how would you know what love feels like when you haven't experienced it before, or does that mean you've been in love?"

"Yes."

I'm even more confused now. He said he's only been in a relationship with one woman. I doubted anyone would be able to fall in love with someone in a few months, if he had, I don't think it would've been so easy for him to break up with her as he had.

"It's not the same." He says almost just as quickly, "It's… artificial. I know it is. I feel it in my gut. It's why I can't give up. Why I can't give into the pain and follow that magical force pulling me to the last person I want to be with. I've already given up so much… but that is one thing I'm not willing to give up."

A part of me wished I felt the same way about love as he did. It sounded so wonderful, so meaningful, sounding a thousand times better than I ever imagined it myself. And it was crazy to me that we were discussing these so very deep things, even after not having spent that much time together. We were still getting to know each other. And yet it felt as though we've been friends forever. It's weird to think about. Especially after how we grew up together as kids and then the not-so serious interactions we've had since he'd returned to La Push.

"Well, if anyone can get through that then I guess it would be you."

He chuckles softly. "Thanks for the vote of confidence."

"Anytime."

"Remember when we were kids and we swore to hate each other for all of eternity?" He suddenly asks.

I laugh loudly, falling onto his bed in a fitful of laughs. I hear him chuckle roughly in response.

"I think I'm ready to break that pact." He finally adds.

I force myself to sit up and get a hold of myself, trying to force my face into a more serious expression. "I don't know... I mean we shook on it with spit and everything. We even considered doing a blood oath but we were too scared to do it."

He smiles and shakes his head. "Seems so long ago."

It really did, I barely had memories of it now.

"It does. But how the hell am I supposed to let it go? If you're no longer my mortal enemy then I'll be forced to find another one."

"Do you actually need one? Because I think most people go through life without an assigned mortal enemy."

"And I'm not like everyone else."

"That's true." He acquiesces, then a little smirk appears on his face. It's the first time I've seen it since the imprint. It's nice to see again. "But we've officially watched trash TV together and I feel like that's bonded us on a whole other level."

"Has it now?" I tease back, my own smirk taking over.

He stays quiet, his eyes moving away from mine to glide over my face, like he's taking in every detail. "You've helped me more than anyone, Bella." He finally says softly, his eyes turning tender. "I wouldn't have gotten through that if it weren't for you."

I blink back at the sudden emotional declaration, my smile disappearing. I take a moment to watch him too, to see how serious he seems. But I can't hold it for much longer and I smile again to dissipate the intense mood.

"Fine." I huff reluctantly, "I guess we can be friends."

"We have to shake on it again." He informs me, spitting directly into his hand. I make a disgusted face and he chuckles in response, reaching over to grasp my hand with the other. He flinches only slightly at the contact but schools his features quickly, "Spit."

I scrunch up my nose but do as he says. "Are we vowing to be friends forever this time?"

He clasps his saliva-covered hand in mine, pulling them to lay in between us. "Something like that." He says softly, his eyes never leaving by face again.

My phone chooses to ring just then, interrupting the moment. I break away from him to look down at my phone.

"It's Jared." I inform him before answering.

"Belly!"

"Jerry!"

He huffs over the receiver before he says, "That's not my name."

"And neither is Belly but here we are."

"For fucks sake!" I hear Leah's disgruntled voice. "We're coming over!" She yells in the background. "Tell the catatonic wolf boy we're coming."

No longer catatonic wolf boy rolls his eyes but nods nonetheless.

"Cool. He's officially warned. See you guys in a bit."

"Dammit, Leah, why can't you let me–?"

I end the call before he finishes. Jared was known for staying on the phone without realizing he'd never actually hung up the call in the first place.

Paul chuckles too. "Never fails."

I arch a brow at him curiously.

"Jared." He clarifies, stating the obvious. "He never hangs up the phone."

"You know about that particular habit of his already?"

He looks confused by the question. "Uh, yeah?"

"How?"

He tilts his head as if questioning my sanity now. "The same way you have? By talking to him on the phone."

"You talk to each other?"

"Yes, on and off throughout the year. We've kept in touch since I left."

"Oh." I say in surprise, wondering why Jared has never bothered to mention that before. "I wasn't aware."

He shrugs an uninterested shoulder and then moves heading to the restroom while I stay where I am, wondering why Jared has never bothered to mention it before. I mean not that it would casually come up in conversation, I guess, but also… why wouldn't it?

One time Jared called me just to tell me he got a papercut in his right index finger, venting about how much it bothered him when he had to do… anything, basically. Another time he'd called me to tell me some random car had cut him off on the road and I had to hear him vent about stupid drivers for almost thirty minutes. Jared could be very random sometimes. Still, if he'd called for other insignificant events in his life I wondered why he'd never bothered to mention Paul at all. I also wondered if the other guys were just as unaware as I was or if they kept communication with him as well.

Feeling suddenly stupid for thinking about it more deeply than it warranted, I climb out of Paul's bed. Since there was no other viable furniture in the house we were left to use his bed to sit down on during most of the day. It wasn't ideal but it was fine temporarily. I was glad Jared and Leah were coming over to bring the new couch, though.

Paul had asked to see a picture of it ahead of time but I'd refused, telling him I'd much rather it be a surprise. He'd groaned in annoyance and warned me that if it was anything close to the shade of pink he would make me pay for it instead. Just to fuck with him I'd pouted at the threat, trying to get him to think that's the exact color I'd picked. Boy was he going to be surprised when he finally saw it with his own eyes.

I'm already climbing down the stairs when Paul comes out of his restroom and I hear his footsteps coming closer, I'm assuming after noticing I was no longer in his bedroom.

"Come on, slow poke." I tease, throwing him a sassy look. "Can't let our guests come over with no food available. They'd think us horrible hosts."

He rolls his eyes, taking the stairs slowly on his own using just one hand to assist himself. "Yes, dear, we'd hate for that to happen." He mutters in slight annoyance.

I snort and leave him in the dust, going to work in the kitchen to make some sandwiches because I was so not in the mood to make anything else.

Paul drops himself onto his chair in the kitchen and I carry all of the necessary ingredients to the table to get him to assist.

He does so without even asking. His hands only slightly trembling as he moves.

While we're assembling the last one I hear the tires of a truck crunching over rocks in front of Paul's property. Two doors open and I clean my hands first before going to open the front door.

"You stay here." I order, pointing a finger at him.

He gives me a dead stare and goes back to finishing the last sandwich.

I step outside into the sunlight smiling happily when I see them effortlessly pulling the couch out of the back.

"Can't even pretend to be normal, huh? I bet those guys at the furniture store were blatantly gawking watching Lee lifting that giant couch over her head."

Leah practically cackles while Jared turns to look at me, a very aggravated expression on his face.

"Oh do tell." I coax.

Jared grunts in annoyance. "I told those assholes Leah was the last person they should be sending anywhere to carry heavy shit in public. But noooo, Sam said something came up last minute and everyone else said they were too busy and somehow Leah randomly volunteered so very willingly. I should have known better."

From the devious look on Leah's face I know he's more than right in his assumptions.

"You're so uptight." Leah finally comments, shaking her head. "Besides Quil, you're the only other funny one to go along with it. But no. You had to be all embarrassed about it."

I sigh before she goes off on a never-ending rant. "Never mind, I don't want to know what Leah did that would potentially expose you for who you are. Now shut up and take out the old couch before you put in the new one."

They both nod and get on with it. They both greet Paul from the living room but don't make a move to get any closer. I see the relieved expression on Paul's face and I'm thankful the guys were thoughtful enough to keep that in mind.

I make conversation as they do their thing, Paul remaining silent in the kitchen while they're there.

I take the opportunity to ask them to take some of the destroyed furniture and once they're done I hand them they're sandwiches and they're off, but not before Leah silently signs for me to text her later.

I nod to her just to get her to leave but I'm definitely not going to. At least not until I'm back home.

"You good?" I ask Paul when I reenter the kitchen, taking a bite of my own sandwich now.

Paul is already done with two and chewing on the third when he nods.

I'm tempted to ask why he'd acted distant while Jared and Leah were here but if I've learned anything from Paul in the last almost two days, is that if he wants to tell you what's on his mind, he will. So I choose to skip over it, not even making a comment.

After some time he finally loosens up again.

"Their smells hit me hard."

I look up from my phone, he'd taken so long to say anything I'd started to play a game. When he starts speaking though I put it away, waiting for him to explain it more.

"The wolf–" He starts then abruptly stops, frowning down at the table. "He can smell the other wolves and wants to join them, in his wolf form I mean… I can't let that happen."

"Is that why you wouldn't let them come help you anymore?"

"Partially." He answers, biting the inside of his cheek. "I don't want anything remotely supernatural near me."

That would explain the wolves, and the imprints, though the latter having more to do with the fact that touching them caused him a lot of pain. But what about the Elders? They weren't actually supernatural themselves, more so just immersed in it, much like I was.

"You're different." He answers, as if hearing my thoughts.

"Different how?"

He reaches forward, letting a single finger touch the top of my hand. He flinches slightly but keeps it in place, adding more fingers as he says, "You're just different."

There's crickets in my head. My mind not open to thinking about that statement any more after hearing it.

"So what do you think of the couch?" I ask, standing up and making a sweeping motion with my hands as if showcasing a car. It's a deep marine blue, with giant comfortable as hell looking cushions. It's the main reason why I bought it. I wanted to be comfortable if I was going to sleep there often.

He turns his body towards the living room but doesn't get up to inspect it.

"It's not pink."

I roll my eyes. "Of course not. Even I don't like pink."

He shrugs his shoulders in indifference.

"Such enthusiasm." I comment sarcastically.

"It's a couch. What do you want me to say about it?"

"That it's beautiful and you can't imagine yourself picking a better one."

"Sure. Let's pretend I said that."

I huff indignantly.

"Seriously, Bella. It's great, I'd trust you to pick out the rest of my furniture if you wanted to do it."

My eyes widen. "Really? You don't want to do that yourself?"

"I don't really care, just don't overdo it."

I place a hand on my hip when I ask, "Do I look like the kind of person who would overdo it?"

He looks me over then, as if I'd given him permission to. And I had not at all meant it that way but here he was doing just that. Weird. "No, guess not." He finally says in the end.

"Do you read?" I question randomly.

His eyes lift to my face and a small smile finally appears. "Do you think I'm illiterate or is that a question relating to my interest in reading books?"

I roll my eyes. "Obviously the latter, though it would not surprise me if it were the first."

He roughly chuckles, shaking his head. "I read every once in a while."

"So not an avid reader. You think you could bear the sunlight on your skin?"

He purses his lips, refusing to smile at my jest this time. "Sunlight as in, going outside?"

I nod.

He frowns at the confirmation, looking thoughtful as if really considering his ability to do so without causing him harm.

"We can try another day." I say in easy dismissal when he takes too long to answer.

"No." He says quickly, swallowing hard. "I want to try."

I nod and get up to gather the items while giving Paul some time to gather his wits. I grab a large blanket from his closet and go outside to lay it on the grass in his front lawn. I gather two pillows and place them on top, along with a few books I'd brought with me in case I got bored, and even some snacks if we got the munchies.

I come back inside to I tell him it's ready and leave without any more persuasion, letting him take as long as he needs. There wasn't an urgency, and if he couldn't do it we could always go back inside.

I take a book and start reading, it's a fantasy book about dragons. From the corner of my eye I watch him hesitating at the doorway, his body slightly hunched over as if in fear. And I don't know if I find it sad or if it's just one of those weird wolf things he mentioned earlier when Leah and Jared had been here.

It takes him a whole ten minutes to get to the blanket, dropping stiffly to the ground and remaining in that position for a long while. Not even flinching when I look up at him. His neck is strained, and he looks to be visibly in pain.

"We can go back inside."

His eyes shift to mine and they turn green.

Is it weird that his eyes have turned green every day in my presence since he's first shifted?

The green eyes follow my form, gliding over my body as I'm laid down on my stomach.

I don't move. I remain where I am. Usually I'm not scared of the wolf's green eyes but this time they seem as if they're looking for something. Don't know exactly what but something I will probably never come close to comprehend so I don't even try.

After a minute Paul blinks and his dark brown eyes reappear. He tilts his head as if he were slightly confused. He opens his mouth to say something but it's like he changes his mind at the last second. After a long pause he tries again.

"The smell of the woods calls to the wolf."

I nod slowly, not exactly sure if I'm interpreting that correctly.

"It makes me want to shift and if I shift I'm afraid he'll go find–" His mouth clamps shut, grinding his teeth and making an audible sound.

"Right." To side-step that conversation I change the subject. "Want me to read to you or do you want to pick one for yourself?" I ask, gesturing to the pile of books.

He silently nods in my direction.

I read aloud, feeling Paul's eyes on me the entire time. He doesn't say anything and just like yesterday, I don't have to glance at him to know he's watching me.

After some time he lies down, laying on his side and watching me still. More time passes and he picks up a book from the pile, reading the back covers of each of them until he finds one he likes.

I stop reading when I see him opening the chosen book and reading for himself.

We lie next to each other, quietly reading our own books. After a while the sounds of the nearby forest and the soft breeze drifting by lull me into a sense of peace. My body relaxing and begging me to give in.

I can't fight it for long, eventually the book drops onto the blanket and I unconsciously snuggle into my pillow to get comfortable.

When I'm tipping right at the edge of sleep, I feel the warmth of his skin. It starts lightly at my hand, a fingertip, then another, until his hand engulfs mine entirely.

I'm too sleepy to come back into consciousness and I let go completely, falling into the warmth of the sun on my body and the much more distinct heat enveloping my hand.