Beyond Love | Paul Lahote | 5 |
A Paul Lahote love story.
(This takes place 2 years after the end of breaking dawn pt 2)
|Previous|----|Next|
The next day I didn’t have work and thanks to the fact that Charlie was pulling a double looking for whatever was killing the girls I was stuck inside the house.
Not that I really minded it was absolutely pouring. Charlie said for late September it wasn’t normal but considering how often it did rain I was willing to call that bluff.
It would be a lie if I said I hadn't been keeping my phone in hand waiting, wanting to get a text or call from Paul that It didn’t look like I was going to get considering it was nearly 7 in the evening and still not a sound. I had put the number he gave me before when we first met into my contacts list so I would know it was him calling. I was sitting there trying to convince myself not to call him. That he would call me if he wanted to.
And he did want to right?
Stop it.
Don’t be stupid and overreact you know EXACTLY what he’s doing.
He will get ahold of you when he has time.
… one text to see if everything's ok won't hurt though…
I sent it before I had time to talk myself out of it. Just a sweet and simple.
-is everything ok? ~Kat
I sat there for a solid 10 minutes with nothing so I just sighed and turned back to watching ghost adventures reruns.
Was it stupid that I felt like this? Why in the hell do I miss him so much?
About an hour later I was half asleep and bundled in an oversized fleece blanket and somehow the cold was still able to creep in and keep me barely awake. I was startled when my phone vibrated in my hand.
-Yeah everything's fine, do you have plans tonight?
I smiled at the message snuggling deeper into the blanket before replying that I didn’t have plans and I was even surprised myself when I asked if he wanted to chill and watch tv or something.
-Definitely, I’ll be there soon.
After I got that message I kind of realized the situation I’d put myself into. Paul’s coming over, I invited him over for what pretty much sounded like Netflix and chill. That wasn’t him being an overbearing asshole that was ME offering. Me?! I’d never asked any guy to do anything but here I was freaking out and tripping up the stairs to the bathroom.
I don’t think I’ve ever showered that quick in my life, I didn’t know I could wash my hair, body and shave in under 10 minutes but I sure as hell did! It took me longer to put on lotion and pick out what I wanted to wear than it took me to shower. Like it really mattered. I was sitting there trying to decide between track shorts and leggings with a tank top or an oversized t-shirt.
I heard my phone ringing downstairs and that made the choice for me Shorts and oversized t-shirt it is then. I hurried downstairs to answer the phone it was Paul who was calling me. “Hey sorry I was upstairs.” I apologized before he had time to speak.
“You’re fine, I just wanted to stop and grab some pizzas. What kind do you like?” He asked. “I’m not really a picky eater Charlie always grabs whatever the special is that day and I’ve never not liked anything if you're talking about the pizza place downtown in forks.” I shrugged.
“Yeah, alright you want something to drink?” He asked. “You don’t have to go out and buy anything we have a pop here.” I offered. “Yeah because I want Charlie on my ass for drinking his pop, he’s already giving me a hard time about you.” He scoffed jokingly but I paused for a second Charlie is a cop. What if he doesn’t like the idea that I’m under 18, is it really a good idea for Paul to be over here?
“A hard time?” I asked the concern evident in my voice because he reacted quickly tripping over his words. “No not like that, he just picks at me with the others. If he really had a problem I’m sure you would know about it.” He muttered before I heard him talking in the background to order the pizza. “I’ll be there in like 20 minutes.” He said. “Alright, see you.” I sighed before ending the call.
I couldn’t shake it though. I mean in less than 2 months I’ll be 18 so I’m able to make my own choices but I AM technically still a minor and Charlie IS a cop. I don’t want him to think that he has to do anything about it… I mean Paul and I aren’t even a thing really. I just like him a lot, no matter how stupid that may be. As long as he’s not lying he likes me too and when two people like each other things can happen.
It's not like I haven’t been thinking about it, I mean I’ve been thinking about a lot of things that I’ve never really thought about before. Now I felt bad for thinking those thoughts at all… a little.
Part of me (probably the hormonal teen part) didn’t give a shit. A very large portion of my just wanted to make out with Paul. The other more reasonable part knew that wasn’t really the best idea… not yet anyway.
It didn’t make sense, I want to be smart and not get hurt. I don’t really know him and the first ‘date’ we had was a fucking disaster! It was horrible I spent the night in jail! I didn’t even do anything! Here I was not even thinking about anything like that and just being excited about him coming over.
God I’m so dumb.
I jumped at the knock on the door even though it was around the time Paul said he was going to be here. I answered it to a soaked to the bone Paul using his coat to shield a stack of Pizza boxes and holding a bag of two leters that I took from him and lead him inside.
His hair was down covering his eyes and the shirt he had on clung to him like a second skin. It revealed all of the muscles that I remembered seeing on the night I met them.
“Sorry.” He said being the first one to speak. “For what?” I scoffed as he flipped his hair back splashing me with the rainwater and making me laugh. “Taking so long, but we’ve got to catch whatever out there.” He sighed as I walked past him towards the steps. “going to grab you a towel and some sweatpants you’ve got to be freezing.” I said before he had the chance to ask me where I was going.
“So why did you buy 5 Pizzas?” I asked as he came back from getting changed I was right in thinking that my old sweatpants would fit him fine and he looked much more comfortable in those than those wet clothes that now tumbled in the dryer.
“I wanted to make sure Charlie had something to eat when he got home.” He said sitting on the couch next to me and pulled the stack close to him and flipped open the top box. “Are those pickles?” I asked looking at the pizza as he picked up as still hot looking slice his face clearly excited. “I asked for the special, it was Bacon cheeseburger.” He said before taking a bite as I reached over and picked up a piece for myself.
“They didn’t even use pizza sauce.” I scoffed not that it tasted bad, it actually tasted very good the sauce was a mix of what tasted like ketchup, mustard and mayo. They had hidden chunks of ground beef, onion, tomatoes and bacon under a thick layer of cheese it was literally a bacon cheeseburger in pizza form.
It was fucking delicious and genius. “Charlie would love this.” I said through a mouthful of food Paul nodded in agreement as we sat there and pigged out on pizza. I got up and poured us each a glass of the pop that Paul had bought and put the rest in the fridge. I came back to the living room to see him opening the second box of pizza eagerly before literally scarfing a piece down in a bite and a half.
“Are you even tasting it? Jeeze slows down no ones going to take it from you.” I scoffed handing him his cup for him to turn it up and down it at once. “Sorry I’m just a big eater.” He said before burping obnoxiously loudly and I couldn’t help but laugh as I reached for another piece of pizza myself and scooting back into the couch.
“So have you guys found out whats killing those people?” I asked he just shrugged not looking at me. “We know what it is just haven’t found it yet. Bastards fast.” He muttered through a mouthful of food before getting up and grabbing the whole 2 letter from the fridge.
“What it is? Charlie thought it was a serial killer or something, I told him it was probably aliens.” I said making him laugh as he took a large gulp so that he almost spat it out of his nose but he was able to stop himself only to bust out laughing so hard that he fell off the couch.
I was kind of in awe if that made sense, even though I was laughing at something about his laughter made me so happy. “It wasn’t that funny, it could be an alien you know.” I said faking offense. “Well I mean I guess.” He cried whipping off his eyes and seemingly making himself comfortable leaning his back against the couch.
“You know you never told me where you’re from.” He said, yeah way to change the subject Paul. “I’m from Florida, but don’t change the subject what do you think it is?” I asked. “Woah, Florida like northern Florida or like Orlando and stuff?” He asked completely ignoring the question and not looking at me. “In between.” I said. “So like did you go to universal and Disney all the time?” He asked a lot more interested than he should be about some theme parks. “A few times but they’re way too expensive and I was too fat to ride the rides. Now stop avoiding the question what do you think is killing those hikers?” I asked annoyed with his avoidance.
“Well, I know exactly what doing it but I’m not really allowed to say but that’s beside the point what do you mean you couldn’t ride the rides?!” He answered and avoided the question at the same time. “What why aren’t you allowed to say?” I asked confused. “I mean they are open investigations not really allowed to say.” He shrugged suddenly way too interested in the commercial that was playing at the moment.
“Charlie had no problems talking to me about it last night, and you know how uptight he is with the rules at work.” I said. “Yeah and he’s the police chief. I’ll get into trouble if you find out whats doing it.” He said phrasing the words weirdly and doing nothing but making me more curious. “So you know it's not a person.” I said thoughtfully. “Kat.” He sighed whining a little at my attempt to guess.
“Because it’s a fucking alien and the government won't let you tell me.” I said faking suspicion. “Totally.” He smirked rolling his eyes. “So what does Charlie have you do? Are you like actually hunting this thing down or just looking for more victims?” I asked. “We hope we can get him, but more often than not we end up finding another person.” He sighed sounding almost deflated at the fact and I mean I’m not a part of that so I don’t understand how he would feel. Looking for a bad guy and only finding more innocent bystanders in pieces probably would be disheartening.
“Its got to be hard on the dogs being out in rain like this looking.” I sighed and Paul looked at me confused and terrified.
“What?” He asked his voice cracking slightly. “The dogs, Charlie said that you guys had dogs out looking.” I said confused as to why he acted so weird about it.
“Oh yeah… those dogs…” he said nodding. “You don’t have a dog? He said that’s why you were helping.” I said confused because someone was lying about it. “Uh who me? No, I um, I don’t have a dog… Sam, he- he has a dog.” Paul stuttered horribly threw the explanation and I didn’t buy a word of it.
My face clearly said so too. “Kujo loves running around outside don’t worry about him.” He said waiving the conversation away. “So what you guys just go out in the woods looking for this thing?” I asked confused.
“Yes? Were really good a hunting, tracking that sort of thing. We’ve come close a couple of times to catch it.” He said making more sense than he did before. “Oh, well why would Charlie make a big deal about one dog?” I scoffed still not quite getting it.
“Yeah, why he would mention anything like that is beyond me.” Paul sighed…
“So whats the east coast like?” Paul asked about an hour later as we sat on the couch cross-legged facing each other knee to knee. We’d been playing 20 questions. Up until now it had just been stupid things like favorite colors, he was blue. Favorite bands, he loves classic rock AC/DC is his favorite with a close tie to Lynard Skynard and Metallica. Favorite foods, he loves quick easy things to make and take out because he doesn’t really know how to cook. Silly little things but it was fun and I enjoyed getting to learn the little things about him.
“The town where I’m from is very old and historic so rich old white people make sure things are as uppity as possible.” I scoffed rolling my eyes. “I mean it's nice but not as relaxed if that makes sense.” I said he nodded as I thought of the question I wanted to ask him.
“If you could go anywhere but here where would you want to go?” I asked. He looked a little confused by the question. “Would it be too cheesy if I said where ever you go?” He scoffed and I nodded rolling my eyes but unable to keep the smile off of my face. “I mean I like it here, this place is my home.” He shrugged. “My people are here.” He added. And that made sense. “A trip to LA sounds fun or maybe someplace cool like new Orleans or something.” He shrugged. I looked at him expectantly because it was my turn to ask a question.
“Why did you come to our little peninsula?” He asked. I paused not really thinking that he would ask something like that but I had to answer. “Uh my family- they uh. There was a car accident and um Charlie was the only person I have left.” I said struggling to not get to the point of where I break down, tonights going too well for me to ruin it with something stupid like that.
“Oh sorry for bringing it-.” He started to apologize. “Don’t be Paul really, it's not like I broadcast it for people to know.” I said forcing a smile. “Still leave it to me to kill the good vibes.” He sighed rubbing the back of his head gripping the hair there. “I need a haircut.” He muttered to himself and I thanked him for changing the subject.
“It's not that long.” I scoffed reaching forward and running my hands through the mop on his head dark straight thick hair that reached a little past his ears. “but it gets too hot when I’m working.” He mumbled and seeming to relax towards where I was running my hand through the front of his hair smoothing it back out of his face.
“I could cut it for you.” I offered knowing Charlie had a pair of clippers in the bathroom upstairs with all the guards in them. “You can cut hair?” He asked. “I always used to cut my brothers and all of his friends hair. I’m pretty good at it.” I scoffed. “Sure.” He said standing up and offering me a hand. “Right now?” I scoffed. “Why not it's not like we're really watching this show anyway.” He shrugged and he wasn’t entirely wrong.
So about 10 minutes later he was sitting in a chair in the kitchen a couple of towels over his shoulders as I sorted through the kit. “So what am I doing? Just taking it all off?” I asked. “Whatever you want.” He offered. “It's your hair, not mine.” I said pointedly as I tied my hair up in a bun on the top of my head. “Yeah but you’re the one who has to look at it so do whatever you want to it.” He said.
“The only thing I can do besides a fade is an undercut.” I mumbled. “An undercut it is then!” He said enthusiastically.
“What do you think?” I asked holding my phone up for him to use it as a mirror. “Dude!” He exclaimed surprised and pleased as he turned his face side to side examining his hair. “I told you I knew how to.” I said as I started sweeping up the mess of hair on the floor. “I mean this is really good!” He said happily running his hand over his scalp.
After cleaning up and putting everything away we made our way back to the living room and were both messing around on our phones sitting shoulder to shoulder. I started watching random videos on youtube mostly DIY Halloween decorations only because one was on my recommended feed and then it spiraled into the both of us watching the videos commenting every once in a while about one we thought was cool or stupid with his chin resting on my shoulder to easily see my phone screen.
It was so natural it was weird. Like we’d done this hundred of times thousands and this was another normal night it was so relaxed. He would move with me when I needed to get more comfortable leaning on me a little more each time not that I minded the weight, he was warm and despite all the muscles he was soft and made of cuddle material.
I didn’t remember the point where I actually fell asleep.
