Paul Lahote's entire life shifts at the sight at Valentina Thurston. Her warmth and kindness effectively forces him to reconsider his bad boy persona he'd put on for so long. Though, she does have her own small, ever-growing, obstacles to overcome...
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Valentina was buzzing that Friday. Bella was still shocked that Paul Lahote had ever asked her on a date.
"I mean, from what Jake's said, Paul doesn't date," Bella said, not even thinking.
"How does that happen?! The man's a real life Adonis!" Val took a bite of her apple.
"No, Val, he doesn't date," Bella motioned her hands to emphasize her point.
Val let out a silent, "Oh."
"I cannot believe you've managed to change the man's whole philosophy!" Val smiled at that.
"He seemed so interested to talk about the babies, like, genuinely interested." A part of her brain was now focused on the idea that maybe Paul just thought she was easy. However, the kind part of her brain defended with the argument that not all easy girls are pregnant - with twins!
Stealing one of Val's apples, Bella asked, "So when does Adelina get here?"
Val checked the clock that hung on the wall of the cafeteria, "My dad's picking her up now."
Not too soon after that, the bell rang, and the girls parted. Once the day had ended, Bella offered to drive Val home, hoping she would say yes, another start of a mending friendship. Val accepted the invitation, deciding that Bella should get to meet her sister anyway.
"Would you wanna stay for dinner? Maybe it'll make it a little easier for me to tell her if you're there," Val justified herself, sure that Bella's presence would aid the tension, at the very least.
"Uh, isn't an announcement of this sort something you usually do privately?" Bella bit her lip nervously.
"I'm sure my parents wouldn't mind." As far as Valentina was concerned, she didn't really care if they did mind. She needed Bella there.
Bella eventually conceded to her friend's request, Val's trembling voice replayed in her head. I was the problem and you two were sick of me. The doe eyed girl had shared that sentiment, feeling like she could have done more to make the Cullens stay. She hoped Val had never felt the depths of emptiness as she had.
When the two girls walked through the door, Valentina was attacked by a mop of thick blonde hair. The first thing Bella noticed was exactly how much Adelina Thurston resembled her mother. Their green eyes, shared by Val, even seemed to sparkle in the same way. A mess of wavy honey colored locks fell to the middle of Adelina's back, any shorter and she would look exactly like Daniela. Valentina's sister had sharper features, a more demanding presence.
Addy paid no mind to how much more pronounced her sister's stomach was, it was none of her business. Instead she focused on the warmth in her smile, the blush brought to her cheeks by the frigid Washington air, and - most importantly - how much older she looked.
"You look so grown up!" Addy announced, and no one made the move to argue. Valentinawas grown up, even as young as she was. Addy took a piece of Val's carmel hair in between her fingers, "This looks lighter, young lady."
