Tell No Lies

We Touched the Sun

"Holy shit, this is the place?" Paul said as Jared pulled up the drive to the large house nestled among the trees. Already, tons of cars lined the drive and Paul was beginning to wonder just where Jared intended to park.

That and he had seen the McLaren house before when it was an abandoned dump and he almost couldn't believe this was the same place. How the hell had they been able to fix it up as quickly as they did? Must be really rich. Like, richer than the Cullens rich.

Thankfully as they pulled up into the driveway in front of the large house, there was enough room, though Paul felt like his eyes would bug out. It was just as big as the Cullens', but seemed grander in a way, appearing more English manor than a house.

"I know, right? Who thought you could fix up the McLaren place?" Jared said with a chuckle as he parked and the two got out.

To the left was a large detached garage that connected to the main house by an awning with more cars parked back behind it. Paul could feel the thump of bass and while the front of the house was lit up, it seemed like there were strobe lights or something going on inside.

"Right, well... let's see what Embry and Quil are getting on about," Jared said with a grin as he pushed the door open. "And maybe find your imprint..."

When they walked in and stopped at the edge of the room for a moment, Paul thought he was in a club. Just in front of them was a large, open space that seemed to have been cleared of the furniture just for the party. There were flashing lights, pumping music, and far more people there than he thought even lived in the area.

Apparently these parties were popular.

For a moment, Paul felt the same tingling he got at the shop come over him. His eyes roved through the crowd of dancers, searching for the source. But before he could spend too much time looking, Jared had thumped him on the chest and motioned for him to follow.

They made their way along the edge of the crowd, Jared finding a bar off to the side in front of a large fireplace.

"Shit, how much alcohol do you think is here?" he asked, looking back at Paul.

Paul took in the numerous bottles of everything from tequila to rum and vodka, and then looked around the room, seeing nearly everyone with a cup in hand. There were obviously others around elsewhere.

"Rich people," he said dryly as Jared turned back to the bar and quickly poured Coke for himself and made up another drink for Paul, holding it out to him once he was finished.

They then turned back to watch the party, Paul sipping at his drink. He didn't recognize a lot of people and assumed most were from Forks, though he saw plenty of others from La Push. Though, where were Embry and Quil?

"When did you guys get here?!"

Paul looked over, seeing Jacob walk up, looking as though he'd rather be anywhere else. Great. Of all the people to run into here. Already he felt the mood sink as he took in Jacob's scowl and the suspicion in his eyes.

"Where's Embry and Quil?" Jared shouted over the music. Jacob rolled his eyes, looked over and pointed towards the crowded dance floor.

Paul looked over, finally finding Embry through a break in the crowd, his hands roaming up the mostly bare back of some girl with red (at least he thought it was red - the lights, man), wavy hair tucked over her shoulder and a large tattoo of fairy wings on her back.

While he normally would snort at that, he found it hard to look away from her, the tingling getting stronger.

He then took a drink, and forced himself to look away, but found his eyes being drawn back to Embry and the girl. There was something about the way she moved with the music that was entrancing. He noticed there were other guys watching her as well, a few moving closer, as though they were waiting for the second that Embry let her go. A spike of possessiveness hit Paul, which he didn't understand. He didn't know her - hadn't even seen her face - so why was he suddenly feeling so protective?