Tuesday

When I woke up, the sun had risen above the horizon. It was raining pretty hard now. I rushed home through the tall trees, knowing I was already late. I showered and dressed and grabbed three packets of pop tarts, my emergency breakfast for when I didn't have time for proper food.

The school day was totally unremarkable, except for Jared's teasing at lunch. He couldn't believe that I gave up a whole pie.

"I'm not sure I'd give up a whole pie," he said, "not even for Kim."

Kim gave him a light swat on the chest. "You would if I asked."

He looked down at her lovingly. He definitely would. But he was still surprised that I did.

"Kim," I said, "don't tell Isabella the name of Jared's friend that you're setting her up with. I want it to be a surprise."

"She wanted to call off the library plan altogether," Kim said.

"But you convinced her not to, right?"

She nodded. "I said Jared's friend would be fine being just friends, that there's no pressure, but that he is really cute."

"You called me cute?" That was not the description I preferred.

"Yeah, girls like cute," Kim insisted. "It's a compliment."

"I'll take your word for it." I didn't want to be called cute.

"She really likes you, Paul," Kim said. "When are you going to tell her about the pack?"

I gulped. "I don't know. I was kind of counting on Sam to take the lead. It's only been a few days. When did you tell Kim, Jared?"

"After about a week, before we did the nasty. I wanted her to know what she was getting into before we sealed the deal."

"Ok, that's reasonable," I said, nodding. "And how did you handle the news, Kim?"

"I was pretty surprised, honestly. I didn't know the legends well but I had heard them."

"Isabella knows the legends, or some legends. She knows about the treaty. Jacob Black told her."

"So that might make it easier. And she was dating a vampire for months. Being with a wolf man has got to feel more natural than being with a blood sucking vampire, right?"

"I sure hope so."

After school, I got ready like I was getting ready to go out to the club. I wouldn't have to transform into a wolf before I saw her, which always messed up the way I styled my hair. I shaved and brushed my teeth, hopeful for more of her sweet kisses.

Then I waited outside. I was bouncing with excitement. I was whipped for sure but I loved it. The anticipation of seeing her again, of having her in my arms, in my house… it would smell like her!

I heard a very loud engine coming down the road. It could be hers or it could be one of the many loud trucks driven by natives on the rez.

Then I saw her truck drive past the driveway. It slowed to a stop and backed into my driveway so the truck was facing out.

She jumped down from the truck, then reached back in to get the pie.

"That was smart," I said, "facing the truck out. We're so close to the business district here. There's lots of traffic."

"I know," she said, handing me the pie then standing on her tippy toes to give me a quick kiss. "Are you going to invite me in?"

"Please, come in, Isabella," I said, opening the door to the living room. The kitchen was right behind it, although I often ate in the living room.

"Do you want to eat on the couch or the kitchen table?"

"Kitchen table," she answered quickly. "I'm a little clumsy."

"Really? I haven't seen any evidence of that." I held her hand as we walked into the kitchen, then pulled out her chair for her.

"You haven't known me long."

I grabbed two plates and forks, then started looking for something to serve the pie with. A big knife would have to do. "Do you want a drink?"

"Sure, what do you have?"

"Coke, milk, water, juice."

"I'll have coke if that's ok."

I poured two cokes. "Tell me about your clumsiness. I need to know what to look out for."

She blushed a little. "I fall, get paper cuts, trip on things."

"So you're normal," I said, placing the Cokes on the table. "Doesn't everyone fall and trip sometimes? And paper cuts are a bitch. It seems there's no way to avoid them."

"Yeah, I guess. Still, I wouldn't want to mess up your couch by dropping blueberry pie on it."

"That's considerate of you," I said, smiling at her. "How big of a piece can you eat?" I was holding the knife over the pie.

"Can I cut it?" She asked. I handed her the knife and she cut herself a sliver, putting it on the plate. "It's delicious. It's just so rich."

"You've left too much for me." I said, not sure how to proceed. "Would your dad like another slice? I could package one up for him."

She shook her head. "He's not too big on sweets, but thank you. Why don't you have half now and half with your dinner."

"Ok." So I cut the rest in half and put the last piece in the fridge.

"Speaking of dinner," Isabella said, "my dad wants you to come for dinner on Friday."

"He does?" That made me a little nervous. "On Friday?"

"Yeah, I have to work Thursday and I have that library thing tomorrow."

"Right, your date."

"It's not a date," she said, a little defensively. "And you said you'd stop by. Are you still going to do that?" She looked at me hopefully.

"I'm planning on it."

"So can you come on Friday? Or do you have other plans?"

"I have plans now," I said. "I'm coming to dinner with your dad. Is he going to try to intimidate me with his gun?"

"Definitely," she was grinning, "but he's a teddy bear. I think he'll love you if he gives you a chance. He hated Edward and you're nothing like Edward, way better than Edward, so I think he'll like you based on that alone."

"Why did he hate Edward? I mean before he left you for dead in the woods?"

She groaned. "I guess we have to talk about him at some point. Edward was kind of possessive and a little bit obsessed with me. It wasn't exactly healthy. He was controlling, too. That's what my dad didn't like. He also did this thing where he always knew the right words to say to my dad. But my dad, being a cop, somehow he knew that Edward wasn't being genuine at all. So I think a lot of it was a hunch. And of course my dad was right."

I cleared my throat. "You know what our legends say about the Cullens?"

"Yes I do."

"And what do you think of that? You spent more time with them than anyone."

Her heartbeat picked up and her face drained of color. She was scared. She knew the truth, but was scared to tell me.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

I went to the door and looked through the peephole.

"Oh fuck off," I muttered.

"Who is it?" Isabella asked, coming up behind me.

"Take a look." I stepped back from the peephole so she could see.

"Jake!" she squealed with excitement.

"Bells, are you in there?" Jake asked from outside.

Isabella opened the door. I put my arm around her shoulder. She put her arm around my waist. "Hi Jake! What are you doing here? Are you guys friends?" She looked at me hopefully.

"No," Jake said flatly. "I was just wondering what Paul was doing with your truck."

"I'm visiting him. We're on a date so I can't really invite you in but I'm glad you stopped by. You're getting so big!" She gushed over him like my aunt gushed over me when I was younger. Jake shuffled his feet. I think he hated that she saw him as a little kid, but I loved it

"Thanks, let me know if you need anything, ok, Bells? I'm just down the street. Anything at all."

"Thank you, Jake, that's very kind but Paul is taking good care of me."

"I'm sure he is," Jake said sarcastically. "See you around, Bells." Jake turned and walked down the steps, a little dejected.

I shut the door behind him and walked Isabella back to the pie.

"He calls you Bells?" I asked.

"Yeah, it's my dad's nickname for me and Jake calls me it, too."

"But I can still call you Isabella?"

"Yeah, it sounds so pretty when you say it. It makes me feel, I don't know, kind of tingly and warm."

"That's kind of how I feel when you say my name."

"Is that so, Paul?"

I smiled at her. I had finished my pie, but she still had a few bites left.

"Since we're on a date, I was thinking of taking you dancing."

"Where?"

"In the living room." I gestured toward the area. "There's plenty of space."

"Thanks, but I don't really dance."

"Let me show you." I insisted. "It won't be anything crazy, I promise. And if you don't find it fun, we can do the hug and sway."

"Hug and sway?"

"Finish your pie and I'll show you."

I got up and put on one of my dad's old jazz records. In the kitchen, Isabella was putting the dishes in the sink.

She turned to me as the raspy voice sang out. "Is this Nina Simone?"

I nodded and took her hand, leading her into the opening in the living room. "I'll show you the hug and sway first." I pulled her to me. She put her arms around my neck and we swayed.

"This is nice,' she said.

"It is. But what's funny about the hug and sway is that a lot of beginners do it, but it increases the chance that you'll step on each other's feet, so beginners think they're bad dancers. In reality, they've just chosen a bad dance. Here's a fancier version."

I put her hands on my shoulders. I put my hands on her ribcage, dangerously close to her breasts. If I just slid my thumbs up a smidge, I'd have them, but now was not the time.

"Now we can move a little more freely, but there is still the risk of stepping on each other's feet. Can I show you the two step?"

"Ok." She seemed nervous.

"It's really easy," I assured her.

"You say that, but then when I mess it up I'm just going to feel worse."

"Everyone messes up sometimes. Even me."

She smiled up at me. I didn't want to let her down. I took her right hand in my left hand.

"Your hands are so warm."

"Does it bother you?" I asked, self conscious about it for the first time.

"No, it feels really nice."

I smiled. "The two step is two fast steps and two slow steps. I'll lead. I won't let you bump into anything. Don't watch my feet, just move at the same pace as me."

"Ok." She looked into my eyes and we were off. I pushed on her ribcage and she responded. We went around and around in circles, gazing into each other's eyes with such intensity, losing track of time, maybe losing track of reality outside of ourselves.

I had never felt so connected with anyone in my life. She didn't take her eyes off of mine the whole time. I sure as hell wasn't going to look away. Everything that mattered to me was in my arms. What else was there to look at?

Predictably, I heard the needle arm move off the record. We must have been dancing for twenty minutes, but it only felt like a minute or two. How had she done that? How had she made time disappear like that?

"Do you want me to put it on the other side? Or do you want to sit for a bit?"

"I should get home," she said, looking up at the clock.

"Oh," I said, not even trying to hide my disappointment.

"I'll see you tomorrow though?" She looked at me hopefully.

"Yeah, I'll see you tomorrow."

I pulled her to me and our mouths collided. I needed to taste her, to show my passion for her. I wanted her more than ever.

Then I walked her to her truck.

She climbed into the cab and we were almost at eye level. She grabbed my head in her hands and kissed me again, not as long this time, but just as passionately.

"Tomorrow," I whispered, and stepped back.

She shut the door, then rolled down the window.

"You should know, I have the biggest crush on you and all this kissing and dancing isn't helping at all."

I laughed. "I have the biggest crush on you too, Isabella."

She grinned. "See you tomorrow, Paul," she said and drove away.

As I started toward the porch, Anna jumped out from behind a tree like a psychopathic stalker. Who even does that?

"A crush, huh?" She shouted almost menacingly.

"I'm dating her, please leave."

"Why didn't you just say that you had a girlfriend instead of all that 'I don't want you anymore' crap? I can be discreet."

"Because I don't want you anymore!" I was yelling so I tried to calm down before continuing. "I don't want you to be discreet. I just want you to go away."

"Psh. You say that now but in a month or two you'll be singing a different tune," she said tauntingly. "I've seen it a million times before. Men never change."

"Fine. Leave me alone until then. Believe me, if I start singing a different tune, you'll be the first to know."

"Cool. I'll be waiting for your booty call." She gave me a look that was meant to be flirty but it was just repulsive.

"Fuck off until then or else I'll be calling someone else. And if you harass her, you'll never see this dick again." I really hoped that would work to keep her away, hopefully forever.

I finished the pie and the book. I got everything ready for school and the next day. I knew I wouldn't be able to run home after school tomorrow. I'd have to arrive at the library with Kim and Jared.

I ran to Forks for the night. First, I put the granola bar in her seat and did my walk around her house. She was reading tonight. I went to my clearing and lay there in perfect contentment. I thought I might be falling in love. As I drifted off, I imagined gazing into her eyes as we danced.