Blame It On Me [Paul Lahote x OC]

Chapter 9: Pizzas and dancing.

Leah just ordered your favourite spicy pizza and you're lying on the hard, wooden floor of her front porch, waiting anxiously. Seth and her are sitting on bean bags that Susan gave away since you barely use them. Sue didn't want anything to do with such presents, but you made a deal with her that if you ever get into an argument with Leah and leave, you'll take the bags home. Not that it'll ever happen. And she couldn't say no to her own kids' puppy dog faces, and yours.

Ricky Martin's Viva La Vida Loca comes on and you look at Leah with a smirk. She gets up and you follow, starting to dance on the front porch just like the women and pairs in the music video. It took you long to perfect the dance, but after you did you never forgot. Seth isn't even phased, only raises an eyebrow at the two of you. At the end of the song, you fall on the beanbag next to Seth, Leah on her own.

»I forgot how tiring it is to dance.«
You laugh at her remark, relaxing so much you roll off the bag, making the Clearwater siblings die laughing.

Unbeknownst to you, another conversation was going on while the three of you were having fun. Sam comes up to Paul who's standing in the forest, observing you from the shadows.

»What happened at the beach, Paul?«
»I punched Seth.«
»You almost caused Leah to blow our cover, and your temper wasn't better.«
The young man aims to walk away, but Sam grabs his upper arm, holding him in place. The two share a look that tells Sam everything. It's the same look he had when he first saw Emily and imprinted on her.

»I understand why you hurt Seth, but we don't go against one another. You're my Beta, this isn't the right example we have to show the others.«

Paul almost growls at his Alpha, regretting it immediately. But he knows Sam heard it.
»Invite her to the meeting tonight. We'll show her.«
»I can't.«
»You have to. She's your imprint, she has to know. Unless you wanna continue punching Seth every time.«
»It won't matter. They're friends.«
»She needs to know regardless of the choice she makes afterwards. Tonight.«

He walks away and Paul continues observing you for a few more minutes. He sees the pizza delivery truck pull up at the house, you running in to the house to get the money. Leah and Seth go inside to get the living room ready for pizza and movies. Paul walks towards you while you're paying for the two pizzas. Both Seth and you love pizza, so you'll probably end up fighting for the last slice.

»Kya.«

You turn around to the voice calling you and smile, noticing Paul make an appearance. Without a shirt as always.

»Hey, Paul. You aren't here to punch Seth again are you?«
It was supposed to be a joke, you even chuckled at the end, but it made Paul look at the ground in silence. You sigh and run into the house to put the pizzas on the coffee table in front of the TV. Then you look at your two friends with a sad smile, »I'll be right back, okay?«
»Careful in the woods,« Seth grins, »they're dangerous.«

Giving him an army salute, you grab your sneakers and hop on one leg, putting them on. You call out Paul's name and he sees you stumbling down the steps of Leah's house.

»You okay?«
»I've been clumsier. Let's go for a walk, dearie. And you can tell me all about this magical fascination of yours over punching Seth.«

He chuckles and feels elevated when you sling your arm over his, walking into the forest.