Ember ↠ Paul Lahote

15

𝐏𝐈𝐂𝐍𝐈𝐂 𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐄
if there is anything i believe in, it's you

CLARY LEANED BACK on her arms, a blanket laid underneath her. Beside her was the one and only Paul Lahote, her imprint, the guy she was currently on a date with it. She kept to her promise and is giving him a chance, even though she's afraid of hurting him or of getting her heart broken.

"The food is delicious," Clary said, breaking the silence between the two of them. "Emily's doing?"

Paul nodded. "Yeah. She was so thrilled to hear that I told you about the... the imprint and how you agreed to go on a date with me." He was blushing.

Clary looked over at him, turning serious. "You didn't tell anyone about what you saw me do, did you?" She was worried, she wasn't suppose to let anyone know what she was, but she already blowed her cover with the Cullen's and now him.

Paul frowned. "I did not. I promise you." He reached over and grabbed her hand. "You can trust me."

Clary moved her hand away from his, even though she didn't want to because his hands were warm and because it just felt right. She looked away from him and towards the cliff that they had just dived from minutes ago.

They had been at the beach for about three hours now. They've cliff dived, swam in the ocean, and even played tag like any cliche movie couple does. Though she was and is having the best day of her life, she was still afraid deep down that she wasn't what he deserved.

Over the course of the three hours she's spent with him, she's grown to actually like him more than a friend and it terrified her. She hasn't been in a relationship since she killed her last boy.

"Clary?"

She hummed and looked over to Paul, a faraway look in her green eyes.

Paul frowned and reached over, tucking a strand of her red hair behind her ear. He them lowered his hand onto her cheek and rubbed his thumb across her cheek bone. "I would never hurt you."

Clary sighed and moved away from him, grabbing a grape from the tableware they were in. She popped it into her mouth and sat up, the wind blowing through her soft, damp hair.

She smiled lightly when she recalled earlier when she had suggested to cliff dive. She's never done it before so she was excited about doing it. But, Paul had declined, not wanting her to get hurt, but she had ran past him and did it anyway. She laughed the whole way up the cliff and even when she flung herself off of it. She was not going to let some boy control her, even if she was his imprint.

She was a independent woman who didn't need no man. Though, deep down in her cold heart, she did want him. She wanted him so bad, but she restrained herself.

"I know," Clary whispered, replying to what he had said moments ago. "But, I've been hurt before, even by those who said they would never hurt me. And even though they physically didn't, they mentally did. They left me — died. So many people, Paul. I've lost so many fucking people that I can't even count anymore." She turned to look at him, her green eyes watering slightly. "That's what I'm scared of; I'm scared of losing you. One way or another, everyone ends up leaving me."

She sniffled, making Paul's heart break. He reached over and pulled the redhead into a warm hug; a hug she needed so very badly.

She looked away from him and let out a trembling breath. "You deserve so much better. The universe should've made you imprint on someone who wasn't as shitty or as messed up as me."

Paul gently grabbed her face and made her look him in the eyes. "Listen to me; you are not a shitty person and you're not a mess."

Clary nodded. "Yes, I am."

Paul thought for a second before smiling. "You know what? You are a mess." Clary let out an inhuman noise and looked at him with a broken expression. "You're a beautiful mess. A wall-of-art kind of mess. You're just exploding with color, pain, love, you name it. And if you're a damn mess, well, so am I. We can be a big, beautiful mess together."

Clary was speechless and just stared at him for a good minute before chuckling, tears skidding down her cheeks. "Thank you, Paul."

Paul smiled and kissed her forehead. "I'm just telling the truth."

Clary pulled away from him and wiped her tears away, not liking how she had shown weakness, but you know what, it made her feel a little better. She's been hard, cold, and always tried to push her pain in the back of her mind, so for her to cry the way she did, it made her feel relieved.

They spent the rest of the day at the beach, swapping stories about their friends and family. They played some more in the water and even cliff dived while holding hands. They even cuddled up to eachother on the beach, watching the sunset with smiles on their faces.

But, no matter how much Clary wanted to kiss him, she didn't. She was too afraid that if she were to give in more than she already has, she will lose him. And she is not willing to lose anybody else, especially not him.