HEARTBLOOD - Paul Lahote

NINE

The days after Sam's return were a mix of chaos and silence. He'd come back, but things were nowhere near fixed. Emily was still scarred, both inside and out, and Sam was barely holding himself together. Leah's anger was still simmering, her gaze cold whenever Sam was near, and as for the rest of the pack, everyone was just trying to make it through without something else breaking.

I took it upon myself to try to bridge the gap. Maybe it was foolish, maybe it wasn't even my place, but I couldn't stand to see Emily hurting, trapped in her house, her once-bright spirit buried beneath the pain and scars that now marked her face. I started spending more time with her, gently nudging her out of bed in the mornings, trying to coax even the smallest smile from her.

Most mornings, I'd arrive early, bringing coffee or some breakfast pastry to tempt her. She'd open the door, still in pajamas, her hair mussed from sleep, but each day, her eyes would light up just a little more when she saw me. I'd make small talk, filling the silence with stories from school or the latest goofy thing Angela or Ben had done in class. Sometimes, I'd even talk about my dad and the quirky stories he'd come home with from the police station. Slowly, over time, she'd start responding, her eyes lingering on mine a bit longer, her lips turning up in a shy smile.

One day, I decided to take her out. She was hesitant, her hand moving to her cheek self-consciously, but I just gave her a reassuring smile and gestured that she looked beautiful, scars and all. She let out a deep breath and nodded. We went for a drive down to the coast, finding a quiet spot along the cliffs where the ocean stretched out in front of us, endless and wild. We sat in silence, the sound of waves crashing below, and I could feel some of her tension easing. She glanced at me, her face softening.

"It's been hard," she murmured, her voice barely audible. "I know he didn't mean it. But... it still happened."

I nodded, letting her know I understood. She didn't have to say more. I just reached over, squeezing her hand. Sometimes, words weren't needed.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Meanwhile, Paul wasn't exactly thrilled with my schedule. He'd always been patient, always there when I needed him, but lately, I'd been so focused on helping everyone else—Emily, Leah, even Sam—that I could feel the distance growing between us. Every time he texted to ask if I wanted to hang out, I was either at Emily's or trying to help smooth things over with the pack. He'd smile and nod whenever I explained, telling me he understood, but I could see the disappointment in his eyes.

One afternoon, when I finally carved out some time for myself, he showed up at my doorstep, his expression somewhere between relief and exasperation.

"You've been MIA for days, Nicolette," he said, his tone light, but there was an edge of hurt beneath it.

I signed back slowly, "I'm sorry, Paul. I didn't mean to leave you out."

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I get it, really. Everyone's been going through a lot, and you've been amazing, holding us all together. But... I miss you."

I felt a pang of guilt, looking down. "I miss you too. It's just... hard right now."

Paul stepped closer, gently tilting my chin up to meet his gaze. "Hey, you don't have to do it all alone. We're in this together, remember?"

I nodded, leaning into him. He wrapped his arms around me, and I let out a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding. It felt good, just being here with him, letting myself lean on someone for a change.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Things in Forks were different. With Angela, Ben, and some of the others, I felt like a normal teenager. It wasn't complicated or weighed down by pack drama; it was just... fun. One weekend, Angela invited me and a few others on a small hiking trip to some waterfalls hidden in the mountains nearby. It sounded perfect—no responsibilities, no heavy talks, just the forest, fresh air, and laughter.