Only the "Strong" Survive | Paul Lahote |

*chapter twelve*

I wasted my day off with tv and staring at my phone. As I had been for two weeks I kept hoping it would ring, but it never did. Around 5pm I decided to start getting ready for the bonfire, it was going to be colder tonight so I threw on a long sleeve, a sweater, some jeans and boots. I curled my hair and put on some makeup, if he was going to be there I wanted to look put together.

Seth waited for me by the door and I grabbed my keys, we drove down the road and pulled into the parking lot above the beach. The sun was just starting to set and the fire had already been lit. Seth practically jumped out of the car rushing over to Jacob and Embry. I locked the car and followed him looking around. But still didn't see Paul.

"Hi Joni! How are you?" Emily said waving me over to the table she was at.

"I'm good. How are you?"

"Busy, I spent the whole day cooking. It looks like the whole reservation is showing up."

"Yeah looks like it. Can I help with anything?"

"Please! There's some paper plates and napkins in the trunk of my car," she pointed, the trunk was already open.

I nodded and walked in that direction. It was in the parking lot too, just a few cars down from mine. Upon getting to the trunk I  reached for the napkins, but stopped almost frozen, hearing a voice I hadn't expected to.

"Joni Michelle Waters!"

I turned around slowly, hoping it was a sick joke but there he was walking towards me from across the lot, my father. As I watched him everything came flooding back to me. The beer bottle to my forehead, the punches to my sides when I was 15, the chunk of hair I lost at 13 when he decided to pull me over to the kitchen sink to do the dishes, the feeling of his hand across my face at 8 and my mother telling me that would never, ever happen again. Heart racing I tried to stand up straighter, to look intimidating, to show I was no longer scared of him.

He was right in front of me now, "I've been looking for you everywhere. I've knocked on 10 different doors to get no answers."

"I've been gone for three months and now you're looking? Why?"

"Because you're my daughter, I had to know you were safe." He said looking at me like I was the dumb one.

"I am safe. Now."

"It's time to come home. Your mother and I miss you, you can come home and we'll pay for your college and we can forget this whole thing happened," My father reached for my hand and I pulled away.

My nails digging into the palm of my hand I tried to steady myself, "No, I don't want that. I'm good here, I don't want to be around you or mom. I don't want college paid for, hell I don't even wanna go. I will never go back."

"You act like we abused you or something," he laughed.

He actually laughed, as if I didn't have a scar on my head from him.

"It's literally abuse to hit your own children."

"You're an adult now, it was self defense."

"BUT I NEVER TOUCHED YOU!" I screamed at him through clinched teeth, I couldn't breathe, my heart kept racing faster and faster. The overwhelming fear and discomfort I felt in the situation was too much to handle.

In a swift move he grabbed my arm and tried tight and tried to pull me forward some, in the direction of his car. But I tried to fight it. Saying no, and trying to peel off his finger from around my wrist, but that just made him hold on tighter.

"Let. Her. Go." A stern manly voice said from behind me.

My father stopped pulling but wouldn't let go, "Everything's fine, I came here for my daughter. This doesn't concern you."

My head whipped around to see Paul, inching closer to us. His fists clinched and he looked at me. I was hoping that seeing my eyes and his knowledge of my situation would be enough for him to know I didn't want this and that I needed help getting my father to leave.

"It doesn't look like she wants to go with you, I suggest you leave," Paul said stepping between my father and I

"She's my daughter."

"She's an adult who doesn't want to go with you. Let go of her arm."

There was a big yank on my arm, a last ditch effort from my father to pull me on his side so that he could leave with me. I whined as the pain in my lower arm shot up to my shoulder. I looked at Paul, looking into his eyes. They were black, he body was radiating heat, his jaw tight, he was angry and it was obvious.

Paul didn't speak again and neither did my father, but Paul grabbed his arm hitting some sort of nerve because he let me go. I instantly moved so that Paul was between us now.

Paul leaned down, whispering something into my father's ear. Too softly for me to hear, but whatever it was made him nod and simply turn around to his car without even giving me a second glance. It was then that I was able to take my first full breath, and I felt tears in my eyes.

"Are you okay Joni?" Paul asked placing his hand on my shoulder making me jump a little as I leaned back against Emily's trunk.

I just nodded, but it wasn't true and I think he knew that because he wrapped his arms around me holding me tight to his chest.

"I'm supposed to bring this stuff to Emily. I've been gone too long she's gonna be mad."

"She won't be mad, just breathe. I can feel how anxious you are."

I nodded holding onto him, his heartbeat was calming and the way he held me was nice. When I felt better I pulled away some so I could finally grab the plates and napkins, Paul took one pack and the napkins and I took the other. We didn't talk as we walked to the table setting them down for Emily to set up. And when we turned away he grabbed my hand intertwining our fingers.

Maybe it was seeing my dad again, or because Paul stood up for me, or just my body still being in fight or flight mode. But suddenly I didn't care that I hadn't seen him in two weeks, I just wanted him near me now.