perfect times → EMMETT CULLEN ✓

t w e n t y

CHAPTER TWENTY
❝ our downfall ❞

     HAYDEN STANDS OUTSIDE of Paul Lahote's doorway, her arms crossed over her chest and an expectant look on her face. There was something unfamiliar sweeping through her veins, and she hated it— but that didn't mean it would just go away. Her mind was solely on Paul, and she thought about all of the things she could say to him, then all of the things she should. With her teeth gritted, she stares at the doorway, hugging her cardigan a little closer to her chest as a nightly wind sends chills up her spine.

As Paul opens the door and finds himself staring into her warm, honey eyes, he hesitates— there wasn't a smile on her face like there normally was, nor was there a look of playfulness as her eyes slightly narrow at him. He didn't like that look; it meant nothing good was coming, and he never wanted to see Hayden Marris glaring at him as if he were a criminal. He wondered what her sudden appearance was all about, raising a questioning eyebrow at the girl.

After the dinner with her family, Hayden had caught Jacob outside and demanded that he give her Paul's address so that she could speak to him on her own terms. She needed to hear him say the things Jacob had told her— or else there was no reason in believing it. But at the same time, she was so utterly terrified to hear the words leave his lips. It would mean she would have to rethink everything, and she was sure there would be no turning back now . . . right?

"Tell me he was lying," Hayden's voice comes out soft, despite her urge to do something drastic like yell, or just leave him standing there dazed and confused without another word. "Tell me that if you felt something, anything for me, you'd tell me because that's something important that friends are supposed to share with each other."

Paul swallows, biting his lip as his eyes find the ground. So this was what she had been upset about— and had every reason to be. From the second he met her, he knew that it would cause problems along the way. And when Emmett Cullen came into her life out of nowhere, Paul felt like his life was going to fall apart. But, after all, he had many questions about this himself; why didn't Hayden feel the pull like he did? Why did she fall into the arms of Emmett instead of him? Why couldn't things have been different?

His chest hurt at the sight of her, exasperated in the cold air, and upset with him. He wanted nothing more than to pull her into his arms and tell her that things would be okay in the end; but he also understood that he couldn't.

"I need to explain," he holds up his hands, hoping it wouldn't anger her more. "I didn't plan on telling you anytime soon, but—"

Hayden snorts, throwing her arms in the air in exasperation.

"So you're okay with Jacob coming over to my house, and spouting to my family that you've felt so much more for me than you've cared to admit? I looked like an idiot sitting in front of my parents and telling them about the boy I've been falling for, all the while Jacob Black blurts out anything he can think of to make sure you're on good graces with them." Hayden wasn't sure where her sudden burst of distress was coming from— maybe it was all pent-up from the things she had been through recently. His words stung, as if she'd been slapped; he should've had the intentions of telling her.