contrasting colors || p. lahote

chapter four

Molly had gotten directions and made her way to the other side of the reservation, taking the shortcut behind the grocery store like Paul's dad had graciously advised her to do.

The home was run down and dirty and quite honestly looked like it had grown up directly from the forest floor, but somehow, she felt at ease here.

It seemed like no one was home when she walked up to the house, but as if on cue, a woman walked out at the same time Molly stepped onto the front porch.

"Molly, right? Paul's told me a lot about you. I'm Emily."

Molly's stomach dropped faster than she could swallow. Was the female in front of her responsible for Paul's behavior? She didn't know if she could handle knowing.

She was older and gorgeous and slim and the complete opposite of Molly in every single way.

Suddenly, she felt very aware of how red her pale skin had gotten in anger and how messy her hair was from sleeping in her hoodie on and off throughout the day.

Before Molly could turn to run away in embarrassment, a man that Molly recognized as Sam Uley walked up to the two of them, embracing the taller brunette with such passion that the shorter blonde felt the need to look away briefly.

At least she knew now that Emily was not the cause of her problem.

"You shouldn't be here Molly." Sam had a powerful voice that demanded to be obeyed, but Molly was determined to get her way.

"I'm only leaving if I can take Paul with me. He doesn't belong here. He belongs with me." The words felt cheesy and wrong the second they left her lips, but she still meant them.

Sam laughed at the girls innocent naivety. "Sorry. Paul is out at the moment."

"I can wait." Molly faced away from them, sitting herself on one of the creaky wooden steps.

Eventually, the two lovers gave up on her, Sam left and Emily went back inside. Molly nervously twiddled her thumbs and bit at the inside of her cheeks.

She was uncomfortable here now. She knew she was getting closer to the answers she needed, but she didn't know if she wanted them anymore.

She was still clinging onto the love she had with Paul and didn't want it to be ruined by what she might learn.

She contemplated leaving, but something inside her told her she needed to stay here. Maybe this was her last chance to fix things.

Sooner than expected, Sam returned with Paul in tow.

Molly bounced up in shock, Paul had somehow grown larger again, and his long hair was cropped all too short for her liking.

"Paul." She was now closer to him than she had been in what seemed like forever, physically, but mentally they still seemed miles apart.

"Molly why are you here?" Paul was looking down at their feet.

"Because I'm sick and tired of you ignoring me and I need some answers." Molly stepped closer, looking up more than she was used to, to meet her boyfriends eyes.

Jared had been so sure that Paul would imprint on Molly, so when it didn't happen Paul was momentarily crushed. It would have made this all so much easier.

"I don't know what you're expecting, Molly. Do I have to spell it out for you? We're not working out anymore." Paul's eyes were softer than they had been for a while, and full of regret as they looked into Molly's.

"I refuse to believe that, I know that you love me." Molly's voice cracked. "I just want to help you with whatever is going on."

There was an uncomfortable length of silence, that's all that seemed to fill their time together these days, and it broke Molly's heart. They never used to have a quiet moment between them.

She looked him over and over trying to learn who this new person was.

Pauls eyes watched hers intently, hoping it was just delayed, maybe the cloudy weather was casting some shade on her eyes, maybe it could only happen on odd number days of the week, maybe they had to blink at the same time. But it was no use.

There was nothing as their eyes met again.

"I'm really busy right now. Can we talk about this later?" Paul sighed and stepped away from Molly as she tried reaching for his hand. "Leave your window unlocked like you used to for me. I'll be by tonight."

Molly grabbed his hands successfully this time, grasping them tightly. "You have to promise. I can't handle you ignoring me anymore."

"I Promise."