Hey,

I hope no one is going stir crazy. I hope everyone is doing well and thank you to those who have favored, followed and reviewed. I hope you guys liked Chapter 3. I'm excited/nervous for you to read Chapter 4. I have posted Scarred Angel on Quotev, and Archive of our own as well. I had fun writing this chapter and I hope you enjoy reading it!

Always and Forever,

Ari.

Warnings: Mentions of anxiety, stress.

Disclaimer: I only own my OC's and parts of the plot you do not recognize from the Twilight Saga.

Chapter 4: Getting To Know You

"The first duty of love is to listen." - Paul Tillich, Theologian

8:29 a.m. La Push High, La Push, Washington

"You are oddly quiet today," Seth commented, leaning against my car. "You okay?"

I smiled at his worried tone. I reached over musing his soft hair lightly, "Of course." I looked around the lot trying to find Kim. I shivered when a gust of wind picked up. "I'm going to head inside, see you two after school."

I frowned clutching the bag containing the brownies tighter to me. "Laryssa," I jumped when Kim popped up next to me, wrapping her arm through mine. "Sorry, Jared was being needy," She grinned to herself looking over her shoulder. I glanced back noticing Jared and Paul trailing after us. I sent a small smile to the guys. "He wouldn't let me go."

"I didn't get to see her last night," Jared explained, tossing his arm across Kim's shoulders. "I missed her." Warmth blossomed in my chest when I saw how he looked at her.

I grinned at Kim's blush. "That's sweet." I nudged her, stopping in front of my locker setting my bag on the ground. I pulled Kim's coconut brownies out of the other bag, watching as she started bouncing slightly. Kim grinned when I set the brownies in her palm.

She opened the container, biting into one. I laughed when her eyes widened and she tossed her arm over my shoulder, "I love you." Jared took one out of the container, purposefully ignoring Kim's gaze.

I smiled at her as I pulled out the other container, turning to Paul. "These are for you," I held them out for him to take.

Paul took the container, a grin overtaking his face."For me," He asked, opening the container. "I love brownies."

"C'mon I have to get that thing out of my locker," Kim murmured, grabbing Jared's arm, tugging him away from Paul and I. "See you in gym class. Thanks again." Jared pointed at the brownie container sending me a thumbs up.

I watched them go, seeing Jared pull her close again. I looked back at Paul, "You helped me and it's just a small appreciation." I bent down grasping my bag.

"Thank you," He said, closing the lid holding the container closer to his body. "How did it go yesterday?" He leaned against the locker, tapping on the container thoughtfully.

I turned to open my locker. "They liked it, so I have another deadline in a month." I took out three chocolate bars setting them down.

"How do you feel about that," He questioned, opening the container. Paul broke off a piece biting into it. "These are really good." I sighed out in relief when I realized my stress didn't seep into the batter.

"Do you really want to know," I regretted the words as soon as they came out of my mouth.

Paul froze eyeing me. "Yeah, I do," he paused, "Why wouldn't I want to know?"

"You know feelings," I mumbled out, shutting my locker. I eyed the scuff marks on my shoes, wondering why he wanted to know. I looked around, seeing several students eyeing me. I froze when I realized how close I was standing to him.

Paul looked around, straightening up putting space in between him and me. "I guess people can't mind their own business," He stated loudly glaring at the others. Paul watched me, closing the brownie container again. "It seems important to you and I won't judge."

"That sounded awful and I didn't mean it like that," I offered, tugging my bag closer. I glanced around again realizing that everyone was avoiding looking at us. "I'm not sure how I feel yet." I froze when I heard the warning bell. I stared down the hallway, not really wanting to go to class. "We should go."

"I'm gonna head down to my locker," He jerked his thumb in the opposite direction. "See you in a sec." I nodded watching him walk to his locker. I shook myself from my daze, jogging to my class.

8:34 a.m. Room 10, La Push High, La Push, Washington

I set my folder on the desk sending a small smile towards Alex. I sat down, trying my best to ignore the tension radiating off of Alex. I ran my fingers through my hair, turning to stare out the window.

"What happened yesterday," Alex bit out. I winced not bothering to look at him. I knew that I would see his glare. "Are you ignoring me right now?"

I inhaled sharply, pushing down my irritation. "I was busy."

Alex scoffed moving closer to me. "Busy enough to bake brownies."

I glared at him, moving closer to the window. "I don't want to talk to you if your gonna be an ass," I whispered angrily. He glared back at me, settling back in his chair muttering under his breath. I turned my attention back to the window, watching the breeze rustle the leaves. I faintly heard Ms. Blu telling the class to get with our partners.

"We are talking about this later," Alex hissed in my ear, moving away from our desk.

I forced a smile on my face, watching him settle into the desk clump across the room. "What was that about," I tensed when Paul pulled out the chair next to me. "Didn't mean to scare you," He trailed off, rubbing the back of his neck.

"He has a thing for theatrics," I joked, not wanting to drag him through Alex and my drama. Paul laughed pulling out his notebook. I stared at his notebook, admiring the different sketches. "You like to draw."

Paul traced his fingers over the sketch, "These are just ideas I sketch out. I like to carve."

"Do you mind," I gestured to the notebook wanting to pick it up to get a closer look. He nodded, sliding it closer. I picked it up, tracing my fingers against the wolf. "How do you feel when you carve?"

"It's nice because I don't have to think. I can just focus on the wood and it feels peaceful." I smiled. I knew that feeling all too well. I put his notebook back on the desk, opening mine up. "Is that how you feel when you do your art?"

I tapped my pen against the table. "Sometimes I can get lost in the canvas when I'm painting. But, sometimes it brings me stress." I shrugged, turning in my seat so that I was facing him. "If it's like the projects I work on, I get stress because I need them to be perfect."

Paul turned to face me. "So you're a perfectionist," He asked with a small grin, flipping through his notebook.

"At times I can be," I pulled out the biography questions, scanning them. "I just want them to be good." I set the sheet down, starting to doodle in my notebook when I felt my anxiety start to flare. I wanted them to be good enough for my mom, I wanted her to know she made the right decision picking me. "Who taught you how to carve?"

I peeked at Paul, offering him a pen when I noticed him watching me. I offered him half of my notebook, "My dad. He taught me." Paul took the pen adding more flowers to mine. "I was bored at home one summer, and he suggested that I do something to keep myself busy." Paul's hand brushed against mine, making my flower lopsided. "Sorry."

"We don't make mistakes, just happy little accidents," I murmured with a smile, starting to draw more flowers.

"Bob Ross was a genius," Paul said, drawing sunflowers. I peered at his field of flowers. "What?" He asked, looking down at the page. "It's my first time drawing flowers."

I smirked, at his mock defensive tone. "Sunflowers are my favorite and I wasn't judging, they look awesome for it being your first time." He laughed, going back to drawing. "What did you do with your first carving?"

"It was a small wooden bear and I gave it to a girl I was trying to impress," Paul pulled away from the page to rub the back of his neck. I held my smirk when I noticed how nervous he seemed to be.

"That's sweet," I said, grinning at him. I was trying to imagine a smaller Paul handing over a small carving of a bear to a girl. "Did she like it?"

"Yeah, but I moved away." He shrugged, turning to look at me. "What?" Paul set the pen down, turning in his chair to face me.

I grabbed my car keys, holding them so he could see the wooden elephant. "Jacob gave this to me when we were younger. Must be a Quileute thing." Paul reached out touching the elephant. "I was trying to imagine a smaller version of you handing a bear carving to a girl you liked."

"So was Jake trying to impress you?" Paul questioned with his jaw clenched tight. He set my keys back on my desk.

"God no," I snorted, wincing at how loud that came out. "Not like how you were impressing the girl. He's my cousin. My dad and Billy used to teach him." I watched Paul, nod releasing his jaw. "I had a stuffed elephant that I lost," I trailed off, looking at the carving. "He used this to replace it."

"Jake never mentioned that you guys were related," Paul mumbled picking the pen back up. He murmured it so low that I pretended to not hear it. I picked at a thread on my sleeve. "Does your dad still carve?"

I yanked the thread causing Paul to jerk up at my accidental use of force. "No, he passed away three years ago." I avoided looking at him because I knew I would see pity. "But, I'm sure he would still be carving," I offered to try to lighten the mood. "He would stay in the art room for hours with me." I smiled at the memories of him and me, bonding over our art.

"Was he your biggest fan," Paul questioned, setting the pen in my line of sight. I glanced at him, taking the pen, starting to add trees to the forest of flowers.

I was grateful that he wasn't pitying me. "Yeah," I smiled tucking my hair behind my ear. "He was my number one." Paul started sketching an animal form in the corner of the page. "Who is your biggest fan?"

"My dad," He said, his shoulder brushing against mine. I nodded in understanding. I looked up from my tree when the bell rung. He set his pen down, stuffing his notebook in his bag.

"Hold on. Sign it," I offered the pen to him. He eyed me curiously, taking the pen signing his name on the top. I took the pen back, signing my name under his quickly. I snapped my notebook, pushing it into my bag.

"Why did you have me sign it?" He asked, standing as if he were waiting for me.

"An artist always signs their work," I grinned, hicking my bag on my shoulder. "Even if they are just doodles."

He shook his head with a laugh. "Where is your next class?"

"Gym," I answered, walking beside him, ignoring Alex's glare. I didn't feel like arguing with him, so I was going to avoid him until I couldn't.

"Mind if I walk with you," He asked, moving so Alex was blocked from me.

"Not at all," I answered, walking out the door. I dared to peak behind me as we started walking in the direction of the gym, only to see Alex come out of the classroom. I turned around, breathing out a sigh of relief.

9:55 a.m. Hallway, La Push High, La Push, Washington

Paul watched Laryssa peer behind them before she turned around quickly. "Everything okay," He asked, turning to see Alex sending a glare at him.

"Yeah, of course," She dismissed, walking slower as they turned the corner. He moved closer to her so the other students parted so they could walk through with ease. "At least I won't be late for class." He heard her whisper to herself.

"Are you usually late for gym," He asked, letting his hand brush against hers. He smiled at her when her eyes darted up to meet his. She smiled back before she looked away, crossing her arms against her chest.

"Yeah, Kim and I usually run extra laps together," Laryssa brushed against him, to avoid colliding with someone. "Sorry." Paul switched sides with her, so he was the one brushing against the other students. He eyed the kids who tried to glare at him, only for them to turn away sheepishly when the realized who he was.

"I guess we will be seeing each other out there," He said, seeing Kim and Jared standing by the girl's locker room doors. Laryssa looked at him curiously, "Jared and I have to leave early, so we are allowed to make up our gym hour."

"I mean it's not like you guys need too," She said, gesturing to his body. "It's not like if you miss one gym class, all of this is going to go away. I mean if it did it would suck, but-" She cut herself off abruptly.

"What do you mean by that," He tried to hold his grin, at the pretty blush appearing across her cheeks when she realized what she said.

"Nothing," She mumbled out, rushing towards Kim. He smirked jogging after her, nodding to Jared and Kim.

"What are you guys doing," Kim pressed, looping her arm through Laryssa. She eyed Laryssa, before sending him a questioning glance.

"What were we talking about Laryssa," Paul teased watching her eyes widen and the blush on her cheeks turn darker.

Laryssa avoided his eyes as she turned to Jared, "I was going to ask Jared if he thought the coconut brownies were too sweet?"

Jared's eyes darted between Laryssa and Paul, "No they were good. I can see why Kim loves them."

"Oh, good good," Laryssa mumbled sending a pleading glance to Kim. Paul eyed Jared silently telling him to give him a moment alone with Laryssa.

"Well Laryssa and I are going to go change, see you guys out there," Kim stated pulling Laryssa towards the girl's locker room. Laryssa looked at Paul one last time, sending him an apologetic smile before she disappeared through the doors.

"What was that about," Jared questioned, staring the door. "What did I miss?"

"Some harmless teasing," Paul smirked, pushing Jared towards the boy's locker rooms. "She gets flustered easily," He commented, thinking about how beautiful she looked when she blushed.

"Whipped," Jared teased, opening his locker. "Kim was the same. In time you'll see the confidence shine through." Jared tossed Paul a black shirt. "Did you invite her to the beach yet?"

"Not yet," Paul shrugged the shirt on, leaning against the wall.

"Better hurry before Alex gets to her," Jared said, popping his neck. "He was pissed off when Kim and I passed him this morning."

Paul growled lowly, thinking back to the ass that made her uncomfortable. "I know." Paul signed his name on the sheet, passing it off to Jared. "How many laps do we have to run?"

"Ten," Jared murmured, setting the paper down, heading into the gym. Paul followed him, looking for Laryssa. He perked up when he saw her laughing with Kim. "It's nice isn't it?" Paul quicked an eyebrow at him. "Knowing that there is something that connects you two."

"It wasn't at first, it was-" Paul paused, seeing Kim tugging Laryssa towards them.

"How many laps do you guys have to run today," Kim asked, starting to stretch. She glanced at Laryssa, who rolled her eyes before she started to stretch. Paul sighed when she refused to meet his gaze. Maybe he went too far and made her uncomfortable.

"Ten," Jared answered her, taking her by the elbow. "Are you going to run with me today?"

"Nope," Kim smirked, tying her hair up. "Sorry babe, Laryssa will always be my running partner."

Paul ignored the playful banter between Kim and Jared. He stood beside Laryssa, "Can we talk?"

Let me know what y'all think!

Edited on April 6, 2020.