wilderness | paul lahote

{28}

It was finally the day of the bonfire. The date had been pushed forward for three weeks due to the weather and situations I had not been told about. Paul had been gone for the whole time. Sam had told me I had nothing to worry about. But how could I not think about him disappearing all the time?

Was it always going to be like that? I couldn't handle it if it was. I craved his presence. I wanted him to be near. But he wasn't. And it frustrated me.

I helped Emily pack up the things for the bonfire and we headed off to Jacob's house once again. Jacobs dad, Billy, would be telling us the legends of the tribe today. Thankfully I was not the only one to hear them first. Kim, Jared's girlfriend, was coming as well. Along with Seth and Leah, the Clearwaters children. I was nervous, yet excited to meet them. Even though Jacob had warned me about Leah.

It was already 8pm when we arrived. Dark clouds had almost completely taken over the sky above us. It was expected to rain, but we all hoped that it would not. Otherwise the night would be cold, and ruined.

As I was getting the picnic baskets out of the trunk of the car, a warm hand snaked around my waist. I instantly knew it was Paul. I turned around to face him, his smirk was contagious. I hated it. I wanted to be mad at him for not being here. But any time I saw him, my knees got weak and my brain went mushy. All the worries and thoughts faded. There was only him.

"Hi," he whispered. "I missed you." His hand was still firmly around my waist. I sighed and leaned into his body, my face against his chest. I felt all the tension in my body disappear. Peace. I felt at peace.

He rubbed my back gently, kissing the top of my head. "Everything okay?"

I nodded. "I missed you too."

He chuckled. "I can see that."

I pulled away from his body and continued to grab the baskets. He ended up carrying most of them. After all, he was stronger than me anyway.

People had already gathered in the back yard when we walked over, with the expected new faces. Only instead of three, there were five of them. I looked over the crowd sitting around the already started fire.

Jared was sitting with a girl in his arms, obviously Kim. They looked so cute and happy together, making me instantly smile at them. There was also a small bit of sadness laced in that smile though. As much as I didn't admit it, I had wished me and Paul were the same way. Without him disappearing.

Next to Sue sat a boy and a girl, I had assumed them to be Seth and Leah. The girl was beautiful, her black hair in a short pixie cut. Her russet skin glowing in the light of the flames. Her face stayed cold and serious as she looked at Sam and Emily. I had heard about the situation between them all from Jacob. How Leah and Sam had been together once, until Sam imprinted on Emily. I had felt bad for Leah. But I knew there was nothing to do to help it now. Imprinting was stronger than any other force or feeling on earth for the wolves.

Next to Leah sat a young boy, Seth, his face was childish as he was laughing at something that was said from someone in the group. He looked like a younger Jacob.

Jacob was sitting with a girl. Her hair long and brown. Her skin as pale as mine. Definitely not someone from around here, my best guess had been it was Bella. What she had been doing here, I had not understood. But I was in no place of judging. In a way, I too was still an intruder to the tribe.

And finally, the fifth person who I didn't recognise. He looked like the other guys - big and burly. His hair short, but evidently curly. He sat in between Embry and Jacob.

Paul had noticed me looking over the group as we placed the baskets down on the table by the house. "The two next to Sue are Leah and Seth," he said as if reading my mind. "The girl with Jake is the leech-lover." His tone was mocking, cold. Out of all of them, Paul seemed to despise Bella the most. "And the guy next to Embry is Quil. Leah, Seth and Quil all shifted lately."