TOGETHER [P. LAHOTE]

02

so the whole updating once a week thing was a total bust at first, but I can start to actually try now! go anna go.

"How did your paper go?"

Skylar raised a single eyebrow at Charlie's statement. Surprised that he actually knew what was going on at school, she glanced around the kitchen table before turning her head back towards Charlie. Charlie, seeing the confused look on his daughter's face, quickly responded. "Uh, Bella told me about it. The English paper, at least."

"Ah," Skylar whispered.

Letting out a long sigh, Charlie set down the newspaper and tilted his body to face Skylar. "Look. I don't know exactly what went down between you two but it needs to be resolved, and quickly. I... I don't like seeing the two of you like this."

"I don't know what you want me to do, Dad. Maybe I'm being selfish, or dramatic, but quite frankly I couldn't care less." Placing a hand over her forehead, Skylar pursed her lips. "I told her. I told her what would happen if she picked Edward over me. Now she has to own up to that." Taking the pause of silence that followed after her outburst, Skylar shook her head. "I'll be upstairs."

♦♦♦

"You know if someone sees you here, you could get in trouble. Or, more importantly, I could get in trouble," Skylar stated as Paul walked beside her, taking up a large amount of space in the small school hallway.

The older boy snorted. "Like anybody here would mess with me. C'mon, doll."

"You're still forgetting about me. I am the one that goes to school here."

Snatching Skylar's hand, Paul made them pause in the middle of the hallway. "Mmm. And if anybody her gives you any trouble at all, you just let me know. Okay?"

"I think I can take care of myself. I'm simply trying to look out for you. God knows what could happen to a boy that loses an arm wrestling contest to a girl that doesn't even lift," Skylar responded, clicking her tongue.

"Woah oh. Ouch. First of all," Paul began. "I'm a man. Second of all, I let you win that damn match and you know it."

Scrunching her nose up, Skylar nodded, faking acceptance. "Okayyy. Whatever helps you sleep at night."

Paul released her hand but quickly replaced his grip around her waist, pulling the beaming girl flush with his own body. Ignoring her squealing, he locked his gaze with hers. "You really wanna go the route, baby?"

They both stopped short when someone cleared their throat ahead of them. Paul's face wrinkled as he turned to face the smaller, older man. Pulling slightly away from Skylar, his face remained unimpressed at the man's attempt of breaking them up.

"I believe it is lunch time, Ms. Swan. As for you, young man, I don't believe you can be here without a visitor's pass," the balding man lectured.

With his face hinting at the sudden anger, Paul opened his mouth to snap back before Skylar pulled him back. "He was just leaving, sir."

Glaring at the couple for a silent moment, he nodded. "Very well. Get to lunch." With a final glare directed at Paul, he turned his back on the two and headed towards the teacher's room. Skylar watched as the teacher walked away, then tilted her head at Paul with a smug look on her face. "I believe that is one point for Skylar, zero for Paul."

The anger vanished from the boy's face as he rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah. Whatever helps you sleep at night, babe," he mocked.

Pushing at his chest, Skylar pointed at the door. "Go. Before he comes back and I get detention."

Paul scoffed, tapping his lips. "I don't think I'll be going anywhere until I get what I came for."

"A swift kick in the ass?"

Staring at her for a second longer, he bent down and swiftly connected their lips together. Placing one hand on her waist and another on the small of her back, Paul gently pushed her backwards until Skylar's back hit the concrete wall. Their lips moved in sync until Skylar pulled away to take a breath. Biting her lip as his lips ghosted over her jaw, she laid both hands on his chest and shoved.

"Go."

Chuckling, Paul raised both hands in surrender and backed up. "I'll be seeing you tonight." Giving her one last look, he turned and strutted towards the front doors. "And stop staring at my ass!"

More fluff is never a bad thing???? Maybe??? But I'm thinking that this book will more or less be about the building of Paul and Skylar's relationship as the next book will focus on Bella n Skylar. Skylar and Bella will be interacting (sorta) in the next few chapters though.