tongue twister • paul lahote

v

W H E N T H E F I R E was diminishing, the group slowly filed off the beach. First to go was Quill, followed by Jared and Kim. Santana and Paul had been too deep in conversation to really notice that they had even left. Sam and Emily left after a period of inactivity from the others. Jake had never came back, and although she was still hurt, Santana found a way to bury her emotions in Paul, who easily kept her mind at bay.

Embry had waited around patiently, knowing what was going on between the two. She was coming back to his house for the night, but he didn't have the heart to rush them. Paul eventually just told him that it was okay for him to leave, and he would walk her back to his house after a while. Embry felt bad leaving her there, but Santana was more than happy with that. She was having a blast getting to know Paul. He was so different from anybody she'd ever met. His eyes told her he was something else for sure, and she couldn't wait to figure him out.

The pair sat atop one of the washed up log, and buried themselves in each other. They hung off every word, and marvelled in it. It was dark outside, and probably nearing the closer hours of the morning. The cold air whipped at the two, but Paul still sat shirtless, seemingly unbothered. Santana, on the other hand, was freezing. Her lips were tinged a pale blue, and her shivers were becoming harder and harder to ignore.

"Are you alright? Do you want to go home?" Paul couldn't continue to brush off her obvious temperature. The last thing he wanted was for her to get sick.

"N-no, I'm okay." Her body trembled with another course of shivers. Paul sighed at her stubbornness, and put his arm around her. She was shocked at the sudden touch, and his unfathomable body heat. Her body immediately relaxed and she practically melted into the side of him. "How are you so warm?" She rested her head on his shoulder, and he let out a laugh.

There was no way in hell he could tell her everything yet. In time, she would find out, but it was too soon. He didn't need to scare her off. Hopefully it doesn't bother her too much. After all, she is an involuntary pack member now. Paul thought to himself quietly for a while, not really having much to say. It didn't bother either of them much. Just being with each other was enough. Her eyes blinked slowly as she stared at the fire that was mostly embers now. His body heat transferred to her, and he couldn't help but smile at her.

"So what exactly happened between you and Jacob?" He asked slowly. She let out a huff and made a small move closer to him.

"We were best friends since we were babies. Everybody joked we were secretly soulmates, but jake was like my brother." Something in his heart twang at the sound of the word soulmate. "We were inseparable, and maybe it was a bit unhealthy, but whatever. He stopped talking to me not long after school started this year. Apparently Bella Swan is his new best friend, and he doesn't have time for me anymore." She sounded hurt when she spoke, and it killed Paul. He wish he could just make it easier for her, but there was nothing he could do. Jacob made his decisions. "She's just using him to forget about the Cullen's. They were so disgustingly close before they just up and left—I'm shocked they didn't take her with her." She muttered. Paul let out a breathy laugh.

"You're not the only one. But I'm glad they're gone. They were weirdos." He said in light terms. He watched her as she agreed with him, bobbing her head slightly. Her pale cheeks were tinged red from the cold, and he felt bad he was keeping her outside so late. He didn't regret spending time with her, though. "Well, I better get you home." Paul sighed, and she looked up at him with disappointment in her eyes. "We can hang out tomorrow, if you want." He laughed as her expression relaxed. "You need to get some sleep. And I bet you a million bucks Embry is up worrying about you." He said as a matter of fact.

"I guess." She trailed off, and stood up with him in tow. They slowly made their way off the beach, walking in time with the other. Paul still had his arm around her in an attempt to keep her warm, which she was appreciative of.

The streets of the reservation were quiet. Not even wildlife seemed to want to come out tonight. The stars twinkled in the atmosphere, and Santana looked up as she walked in awe. Forks rarely had clear nights, and if you wanted to see the stars you really had to dedicate yourself to watching the sky. "Paul look at how pretty they are." She sounded amazed and he smiled at her in adoration. The stars could never be as perfect as her in his eyes. She was his stars.

"Yeah, they really are pretty, aren't they?" He spoke lowly, glancing up at the sky every once and a while. The urge to kiss her came over him so strongly that even he had to do everything in his power to resist it. He shook himself off mentally, and they continued to walk. He could nearly see Embry's house, and his heart ached. He didn't want to drop her off. He wished he could spend forever just like this with her, and it was crazy. He barely even knew her.

She seemed to slow down her pace even more, savouring the last minutes they were going to spend with each other. "You know, I'm sorry if this sounds weird, but I have to get this off my chest." She started and his heart hit against his rib cage erratically. "I feel like I've known you forever. I just can't explain it. Tonight's been one of the best nights I've ever had, and it's all thanks to you. It doesn't make any sense to me, and I'm just hoping that you feel the same way so I don't sound like a complete idiot." She laughed to herself more than anything as he gave her a chuckle.

"I do know what you mean. I don't even feel this way around Sam and Jared, or any of them, and they're my brothers." Paul sighed. "You're something new, and foreign to me. I don't know how to deal with it yet," He said, honestly. "But I'm so excited to find out." He finished and his words made her stomach do somersaults. Without realizing it, they had made it to the door of the Call house.

The two stood and stared at each other for a while, feeling a sense of warm and calm wash over them. Santana hasn't been at this much peace since her and Jake were still friends. Paul broke their staring contest, and pulled her into a hug. She stood in shock for a moment, before wrapping her arms around him and returning the favour. The embrace lasted minutes, but to them it felt like seconds. Embry finally came to the door, opening it and startling the two apart.

"It's about time you got home. I was worried." Embry said, even though he knew very well Paul would have done everything in his power to keep her safe.

"Sorry, Em. We just got caught up and forgot the time." He laughed at her apology and shook his head. "Goodnight, Paul." She turned to look at him and he gave her a smile.

"Night, Tana. I better see you two around tomorrow." He said, and made eye contact with Embry. He gave him a suspicious look before a grin erupted on his face.

"Get home and get to bed. You're out way past your bedtime." Embry teased and Paul flipped him off, turning and walking back out the driveway. His head was spinning and his chest felt like it was about to explode. He was not ready for Santana, and now he wasn't ready to walk away from her.