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xo-hugs-n-kisses-ox · 4 months ago

Text

Rumination

Ruminate

(v.) to think about [something] deeply

After Edward left her, Bella Swan fell apart. Desperate to try and save his eldest daughter, Charlie brings his youngest daughter to Forks to see if she can bring her sister out of her depression.

Now, y/n must try to help her sister find her way back to the light while also trying to navigate her Junior year of high school in the odd town of Forks.

Chapter Five: Protection

Now Playing: 15 Step by Radiohead

Warnings: cursing, Paul being an asshole, Paul being a bit controlling, uhhh I think that’s it

When I woke up, I got dressed quickly and ate a quick breakfast. Bella and I would be taking separate trips to Emily’s house, I would go alone with Sam and Paul trailing my truck, and Bella would go with Jacob.

Never had I ever been more thankful for spring break.

I turn onto the road to the Reservation, a thud coming from the back of my truck. In a panic, I look up at the rearview mirror, only to see Sam and Paul sitting in the bed of my truck. I sigh, relief spreading through my chest.

I glance back at them again, and Paul’s laughing at my reaction. I flip him off, and he only laughs more.

---

Sam and Paul stick around the house, and I busy myself by helping Emily start lunch for everyone. The two of us work as an assembly line for sandwiches, and when Bella and Jacob get here with the others, I hand out platters of food to each of them.

As everyone is eating, I start asking my questions from last night and this morning.

“So, my first question is if there’s any way that we can disguise mine and Bella’s scent, since that’s how Laurent found us.” I said, adding, “Like, maybe we could hide some of our clothes around the town to misdirect her, and hide some stuff from each of you around the town and our house too?”

Sam considered it as the rest ate, nodding slowly, “It might work. Wouldn’t hurt to try it, at the very least.”

I nodded, “Also, what’s the difference from then versus now? Like, all of you are a lot taller and stuff, and your physiology has changed, but is there anything else?”

“My sight’s better than anyone else’s,” Jared offered in between bites of food, “And we can all generally see, hear, and smell things better.”

“It’s how we know where the vampire’s been,” Paul clarified, fending off his last sandwich from Embry with an elbow to his chest.

“That sounds like an adjustment,” I mutter, then ask, “Does it hurt when you change?”

Again, Paul answered me, “Does the first time, you get used to it after a while. Kinda like popping joints.”

I nod, taking a bite of my sandwich and thinking.

“Can you still eat chocolate?”

There’s a prolonged pause, and Embry looks distraught.

“I haven’t eaten it since I turned…” he said slowly, and the others think with various expressions of confusion and concentration.

“I’m assuming yes, since I’ve seen Paul, Jared, and Sam tear up a triple chocolate pie at Roy’s.” I say, and there’s various expression of relief on each of their faces.

“Any other questions?” Jacob asks, and I shake my head.

“Not that I can think of right now.” I answer, and he nods.

I eat the rest of my fries, but not the other half of my second sandwich. I open my mouth to offer it to anyone who wants it, but before I can speak, Paul grabs it and dumps the rest of his fries onto my plate as compensation. I smile, eating the rest of the fries as he takes large bites of the rest of my sandwich.

---

Emily sets Bella and I up in the spare room, and I shower and go to bed early.

When I wake up, I slowly make my way out of the room and into the kitchen where Emily is already up and making breakfast.

I glance over at the living room and see Jacob crammed into a chair, asleep. Paul has taken a monopoly over the fold out couch-bed, his calves hanging off the bottom and his wide shoulders taking up most of the space as he presses his face into a pillow. I assume Jared, Sam, and Embry are out patrolling.

“Morning,” I say softly, rubbing my eyes as I make my way to stand beside Emily. She smiles at me, greeting me back.

“I see that Jacob wasn’t exaggerating when he said you and your sister had bedhead,” she teases, and I laugh a bit.

“Yeah, we get it from Renee, our Mom. I move around a lot, but Bella’s restless and kicks.” I say, adding, “Can I help you with anything?”

“Sure,” Emily agrees, “Do you want to make the bacon and sausage, or eggs and toast?”

“Bacon and sausage is good,” I say, trading places with her at the stove so she can mix together the eggs, milk, pepper, and salt.

It takes a while to make everything, since we have to make enough food for five boys with black hole stomachs and ourselves, but we get it done easily enough. Emily and I talk quietly as we make the food, listening to the radio.

When I’m done with the bacon and sausage, I plate them and add eggs as Emily finished with them. As soon as the toast pops, I put it on the plate also, setting everything down on the table as we wait.

“If you want to get Bella, I’ll wake up the boys.” Emily suggests, and I nod. I go get my sister and bring her out to the kitchen, sitting her down beside Jacob as I take my seat across from her, beside Paul.

---

The rest of the day passed relatively easily. Sam, Emily, Jacob, Bella, and I sat around the fire pit as Sam told stories.

I was starting to nod off after a while, the warmth of the fire and the chill in the air making me tired. I was about to drift off when something sat down beside me, and I rested my head against it.

When I felt fur against my cheek, I peeled my eyes open enough to see who it was. When I saw dark silver fur, I knew it was Paul. I closed my eyes again, settling more comfortable against his side.

---

School had started again, much to my displeasure. One of the only good things about it, though, was that Jacob and Paul would pick us up from the school and we would drive in Bella’s truck to Emily’s house.

Charlie was just grateful that Bella was back to normal now, and let us hang out with our friends as much as we wanted.

Bella would play games or watch TV with whichever of the boys was at the house, and I would help Emily make dinner or clean up after the very messy teenage boys that came and went from her home.

---

There was a new boy in my class, he had moved from one of the neighboring towns. I had been tasked with helping him around the school

The boy, Max, was nice enough. He was charming and friendly, and he was eager to help with any homework, so I valued his friendship.

Some people seemed less inclined to accept him.

Bella was afraid that he would be caught in the middle of our mess with Victoria, and Paul just didn’t like the kid.

At the end of the day, I was talking with Max at the side of the school. He was asking about a due date, and I was trying to explain it when I heard footsteps behind me.

Paul came up beside me, his heavy hand resting lightly on my shoulder.

“Y/n, we need to go soon.” He said as I turned to look at him, and I watched his gaze flick to Max coldly, “You’ll have to catch up with your friend later, you and I have stuff to do.”

“I know, I know, I’m coming,” I agreed, turning back to Max, “I’ll explain it tomorrow, okay?”

He opened his mouth to say something, but Paul had already slipped his hand into mine to pull me away. When he opened the door to the truck for me, he flicked his gaze back towards Max. I didn’t catch the odd look Jacob had given him, nor did I catch the look he had pinned to me.

---

The next day, Max cornered me at lunch.

“Who was that guy yesterday?” He asked casually, “He looked like, twenty five.”

I laughed, “That’s Paul, and he’s the same age as us, Max. He’s just tall, it makes him look imposing and older.”

Max shrugged, and didn’t say anything else about it for the rest of the day.

---

“I don’t like that kid.” Paul said, sitting on my bed as I applied moisturizer to my face. I rolled my eyes.

“Not this again,” I muttered, “Why not? He’s a only good friend, Paul.”

“Does he know that?” He muttered, and I turned to look at him.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I asked, my brows drawn together as I frown at him.

“Nothing, Y/n.” He grumbled, “Nothing at all.”

“Don’t get pissy with me because you think he’s in love with me or something, Paul. He’s a friend only.”

I sighed, “Besides, I don’t really care to go on dates when Bella and I are being hunted by some psycho killer vampire.”

“All I’m saying is, Y/n, don’t be surprised when he tries his luck with you.” He said, laying back onto my pillows, “And don’t be upset when I beat his ass for it.”

I roll my eyes, snapping back with, “Well than, you don’t be surprised when you’re wrong. I know it’s not something you’re particularly used to, oh all-knowing Paul, but it can happen from time to time.”

He rolls his eyes at me, huffing.

---

“I don’t think that your friend likes me much,” Max said, glancing behind me at where Jacob and Paul stood waiting with Bella.

I sigh, “That’s just his face, sorry.”

“I’m not so sure, Y/n,” he said slowly, “It’s not his face when he looks at you, or at that other kid, or your sister.”

“Yeah, but it’s his face towards anyone but us.” I say, not so keen to be having this conversation, “Anyway, I’ll see you tomorrow, okay?”

“Okay,” Max sighs, watching as I turn and go back to Bella’s truck.

Paul puts a hefty arm around my shoulders when I get close enough, pulling me into a hug and smooshing my face against his chest. I laugh, trying to push away from him as Jake chuckles.

We go back to Emily’s, and I work on homework as she prepares dinner.

After everyone eats, we all go to the backyard. Jacob and Paul and fending off their leftovers from Embry, who’s in wolf form. In an attempt to keep him from getting to Jacob and the leftover food, Paul grabs Embry around the middle and hefts him up into his arms and tosses him away.

It’s obvious that it takes effort for him to do that, but the sheer fact that Paul could is astounding.

---

A few days pass, and Paul’s dislike of Max only seems to grow.

After a while, I notice that Sam and the others are giving him odd, knowing looks. In return, he gives them all vicious glares. I try not to pay much mind to their odd behavior, but it’s slowly gnawing at the back of my mind.

---

“I don’t want you hanging out with that kid anymore, Y/n,” Paul says as I drive us to the Rez.

“What?” I ask, baffled, “Look, I know you don’t like him, but—”

He rolls his eyes, “Y/n, there’s no buts about it. I’m supposed to protect you, and I’m doing that by telling you to stay away from him.”

“Jake has no problem with him!” I scoff, “You’re the only one who doesn’t like him!”

“Jake’s too busy fawning over your sister to care about that kid—”

“His name is Max.” I tell him sharply, “And he’s my friend, so I’d like if you used his name.”

Paul turns his face away from me, scoffing.

The rest of the night is quiet between the two of us.

---

“Are you kidding me, Paul?” I demand, storming into my room and seeing him already there, sitting in my desk chair.

“What?” He asks defensively, and I glare at him.

“What do you mean, ‘what’!” I shout, pushing an accusatory finger into his chest, “Did you seriously tell Max to stay away from me? Are you kidding me?”

Paul rolls his eyes, “I’m looking out for you, Y/n, and I’m trying to save your little boy toy from being caught in the crossfire of Victoria hunting you and Bella.“

“No,” I counter, “You’re trying to get rid of him because you don’t like him!”

He shrugs, “It’s a bonus, sure—”

I scoff, “You pretend you’re all high and mighty, doing things for me, but you’re only being a selfish asshole!”

He stands, his imposing figure seeming to tower over me.

“I’m trying to make sure he doesn’t get killed because you want to bring human boys into our world, Y/n.” He says, his eyes glinting and his face pinched in anger, “Unless you’re the selfish one and want to get Max killed because you were lonely.”

Before I can stop myself, I slap him.

The sound is loud and my palm stings because of it.

“Get out of my house!” I yell at him, throwing my hand towards the door. “You’re such an asshole, I don’t know how anyone puts up with your piss-poor attitude! I’m not surprised that the only people who can deal with you are the pack!”

“Yeah?” He asks, “Well you’re no picnic either, Y/n, you know that? Maybe it’s no wonder why the only people who’re friends with you are the ones who have to protect you.”

By now, Jacob and Bella have come into the room.

“Hey, now, none of that—” Jacob starts, and I shoot a vicious glare at him.

“Butt out, Jacob, this doesn’t concern you.” Paul snarls, his eyes still fixed on me.

“You think you’re big and bad, don’t you?” I demand, “Run back to Sam like the bitch you are, and butt out of my life if you’re so unhappy being in it!”

“Maybe I will,” He spits, “It’s better than having to babysit your sorry ass all day!”

I scream at him to get out, and he does, stomping out the front door and slamming it shut.

I shove Bella and Jacob out of my room, locking myself inside and crying.

---

Days pass without Paul speaking or even looking at me. My anger burns too brightly for me to care.

Max knows something’s wrong, but I snap at him anytime he mentions it.

Bella’s mad at Paul too, but she seemed to give up on it pretty quickly.

Any time he and I are in the same room, it’s either icy silence or burning insults, and I know it’s taking a toll on the others. I’ve started to just stay away. Now, I’m either at school or I’m at work, and if it’s neither of those, I’m at home.

---

Sooo what do we think so far ??

Trying to incorporate a little more of Paul being an asshole, but I wanted to be brought out in a specific way bc obvi there would be a lot of stress in this situation

Anyway, I’m curious to see what you think is the root of his asshole-ness now so lmk if you feel so inclined 😋

Also the next chapter will be dedicated like exclusively to reader interacting with Paul and them butting heads + Quil turning into a werewolf and all that jazz so stay tuned for when I drop that some time in the afternoon 😘

Ps if there’s anything yall would want me to write either in my series or on the side lmk!! Im open to requests ☺️ kk bye pookies ✌️

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