Wave of Heat (A Paul/Bella Fanfic)

Chapter 2: Warning

I plan to update this weekly :) , thanks for the views so far!

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Six months later...

Four pairs of dark eyes stared as I tried my best to focus on what was being said on the speaker pressed against my ear. Despite looking up all there had been to look up, and listening to way too much advice, it all sounded like utter nonsense. The situation wasn't helped by the ghoulish look on Sue Clearwater's face either.

"Can you repeat that?" I asked sheepishly. Leah snorted

"They're offering two-hundred," Mrs. Stanley anunciated to the nth degree, her high-pitched voice railing through my focus and once again rendering me stupid. "It is still below market value, but it is the best one we've snagged so far. I'm thinking that-"

Heat crept up my neck as my ex-friend's mother kept blabbing on. Was it enough for what I was losing? As soon as I'd overcome the shock of Charlie being gone, the realization that there was nothing of him left haunted me. Because I had destroyed it all. Again. Now it felt like the ultimate betrayal to sell his home, but it was the only way to cut my ties to Forks and have the revenue to leave LaPush. To get everyone out of harm's way.

"Bella?"

I jumped when Sue put her hand on my shoulder and gently pried the cellphone out of my shaking hand. Mrs. Stanley's voice could still be heard as Sue took over the conversation and controlled the situation on my behalf.

A service that she had performing with grace and aplomb for the last six months.

Chaos reigned in Billy Black's living room. All the lights were shining despite the bright sunshine coming through the windows, but it was difficult to focus my gaze on anything but the cuts on my hands. Why had he brought me here?

There was nothing to stop Victoria from killing us all, and Billy, Harry, and Sue didn't deserve that. No one did.

Paul Lahote was ruining my plans. He leaned against the door with his arms crossed as if he somehow knew that escape was the first and only thing on my mind. Which was most likely obvious from the fact that not even once had I looked at the yelling Billy or crying Sue. They were worried.

Pain sliced through as Sue brought out a first-aid kit and began cleaning up the bloody mess that were my arms, hands and feet. She spoke in low soothing tones which I didn't bother to decipher. But I couldn't stop the tears going down my cheeks.

My mother had never taken care of me like this.

And so, after Paul found me, I had spent the last half year living with the Clearwaters against my will. And by against my will, I mean that every time I tried to leave the Rez, He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named dragged me back. Maybe next time I should point out that I'm an adult and the Clearwaters weren't my godparents in any legal capacity, but no matter how hard I tried, the words wouldn't leave my mouth.

Because all of the mysterious deaths had stopped with Charlie, maybe I was being foolishly hopeful.

Seth poked my arm, startling me out of my brooding, and smiled as he waved his fork over a plate full of eggs, bacon, and french toast which Harry had cooked up for everyone. Family Saturday breakfasts had taken time to get used to, but my father's friend was an amazing chef when Sue allowed him in her kitchen. Which was on Saturdays only.

"She agreed to hold out for a bit more," Sue settled down next to Leah and smiled at me. "I recall your parents putting more than that down and Charlie always kept good care of everything. It won't hurt to wait."