Golden - P.L.

12. Sweet Kisses and Oreos

"She's got golden curls that leak sunshine into this cold, dark world." - Unknown

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"Four o'clock on the dot. Is he trying to brown nose me or something?" Charlie asked as Bella walked through the front door. I curled up on the couch with a blanket tucked tightly around me. My nose was shoved into Pride and Prejudice but my mind was far away.

"He has a name. And now he's too punctual for you?" Bella asked as she turned to go up the stairs. After Bella got back from Italy she spent every second with Edward. He seemed nice but I still had some harsh feelings towards him for leaving Bella. I was just happy to see Bella be brought back to life again.

"Wait a sec." Charlie said, Bella turned on her heel to face him again.

"You understand why you're being punished, right?" Charlie asked. Bella nodded her head and glanced at her feet.

"I know, I put you through hell." She said slightly guilty. That wasn't an understatement, Charlie was broken when Bella went to Italy.

"Not just me, your sister too." Charlie said gesturing to me as I gave a shy smile. I hated being brought into these types of conversations.

"I know." She said, turning and looking at me with guilt in her eyes.

"I have other reasons for grounding you. Like, I just want you to get some separation from him." Charlie said referring to Edward. I knew Charlie really didn't like him. Even before everything happened Charlie was never Edward's biggest fan.

"Dad, there is nothing you can say. Edward is in my life." Bella said sounding slightly annoyed.

"Yeah, I'm gathering that. How about this? I'll make you a deal. You're not grounded anymore if you use your new found freedom to see some of your other friends. Like Jacob." Charlie suggests. I couldn't listen to the conversation anymore. I closed my book shut and quickly rolled off of the couch as gracefully as possible. I hadn't seen Jacob or been to the reservation since that morning at Emily's. Paul had been calling me and texting me for two weeks now. I couldn't bring myself to answer. Part of me swelled with guilt every time his name would appear across my phone. Maybe I was overreacting about the entire thing but my heart ached at the thought of our special night just being another day to him, with another girl.

I escaped out of the back door and sat on the steps leading to the backyard. I sighed leaning my head against the chipped white paint. My eyes scanned the thick tree line, fog hung around them. I pulled the blanket tighter around me as the cold bit at my exposed skin. My fingertips gently traced the beautiful pattern engraved on the cover of the book.

"You're gonna catch a cold." I jumped making the book fall from my hands and onto the concrete step near my feet. Paul walked out from the tree line in nothing but tan cargo shorts. The only word to describe him was beautiful. His bare chest slightly glistened from the fog and dew. His black hair was slightly messy. His perfect jaw was set and his dark brown eyes searched my face, looking for a reaction.

"I have a blanket." I said flatly, wrapping it tighter around my body.

"I'm sorry, that was kind of rude." I mumbled with a sigh.

"You've been ignoring my calls." He stated flatly crossing his big arms over his chest. Stop it Lilah. We're supposed to be mad at him, not looking at his arms. I shifted my eyes away from him and decided to look at the tree line instead.

"I know. Were you watching me?" I asked realizing the situation we were in. How did he know I was outside? The thought of him watching me was slightly creepy but I know he meant no harm. If anything it made me feel safer.